(Page 41)
I can recognise differences between American and British English.
1 Look at the British English words below. What are the American English equivalents? Listen to the three voicemails and check. film (n) flat lift (n) petrol tap toilet | LEARN THIS! American English 1 American English uses completely different words for some British words. 2 Some American English words have a completely different meaning in British English. | 2 Read the email and the Learn this! box. Find examples of American English in the email. 
| To: [email protected] Hey Sam! Can't wait for you to arrive! I've organised your accommodation - you'll be staying with a neighbor of mine. He's from Mexico, so you'll be able to practice your Spanish while you're on vacation. Public transportation's pretty good here, and I live near the subway, but bring your driver's license anyhow. Maybe we could take a trip out to the theater one evening? Anyway, I'll meet you at the airport on Saturday. New York's beautiful in the fall, so I know we'll have a great time, even if we just play soccer in the yard! | 3 Read the Dictionary Strategy and the dictionary entry. What is the American word for 'head teacher'? How are the two equivalents labelled? | Dictionary Strategy Many British English dictionaries include information on other varieties of English, for example on differences in spelling or pronunciation, as well equivalents in American English. If you are unsure about the correct way to spell or use a word, remember to check it in the dictionary. | | 4 Match the words in A with the words in B with the same meaning. Which word in each pair is American English? Use a dictionary to help you. A biscuit candy cell phone check motorway queue sidewalk sneakers torch B bill cookie flashlight highway line mobile pavement sweets trainers | →Vocabulary Builder American English: page 109 | | LOOK OUT! 1 Some words are spelled differently in American English. Common differences are: -our / -or, -tre / -ter, -ence/-ense, vowel + II/vowel + /. 2 American English uses -ize instead of -ise, though both may be acceptable in British English. 3 There are some differences in stress and pronunciation between the way British and American speakers pronounce words. | 5 Read rules 1 and 2 in the Look out! box. Find examples in exercise 2 and make a note of the British English spelling. 6 Read rule 3 in the Look out! box. Listen to the words below being said by an American and a British speaker. Which one do you hear first? Write Am or Br. 1 address Br 2 advertisement 3 brochure 4 garage 5 leisure 6 tomato 7 vase 8 vitamins 9 yoghurt 10 zebra 7 Listen to six speakers. Is each speaker American or British? 8 SPEAKING Work in pairs. Each student makes three sentences using the words in exercise 4 and reads them to the other student. The other student will tell their equivalents in British English or American English. | head teacher noun (BrE) (NAmE principal) a teacher who is in charge of a school | |
