Unit 3 Section 1: About Habib

This is the first in the series with Habib. He talks about his job, what is involved and why he is a self-employed taxi driver.

Use your listening skills to correct mistakes and answer questions. You can then read an email from Habib, answer questions and write your own email. You will also have the opportunity to discuss and voice your opinions on the ESOL Nexus website. Most of all, you will be able to learn what it’s like to be a self-employed taxi driver in the UK. Please read ‘Before you listen’ first.

Before you listen

How to get the best from the activity:

It is a good idea to have a dictionary so that you can find the meanings to new words. It is also very helpful to have a pen/pencil and notebook. You can write lists of words or phrases you have learned. You can then practise the new words/phrases. If you practise a lot, you will remember them!

Before you listen, you can choose to learn the easier way or the harder way.

The easier way:

Look at the activities before you listen.
Use a dictionary to find meanings of words you don’t understand.
Then listen to the interview.
Listen to parts of the interview separately.
Listen to the interview for as many times as you need to.
Read the transcript after you have listened.
Then do the activities.

The harder way:

Listen to the interview.
Only listen to the whole interview once.
Do the activities.

If you prefer, you can download a printable version of the activities, the answers to the activities and a transcript of the recording.

Printable Version

Answers

Transcript

Preparation

Think about the following:

Have you ever been in a traditional black taxi cab in the UK?
What other kinds of taxis do you see in the area you live?
Are these different from the taxis in your country? How?
Do you think most taxi drivers in the UK are employed or self-employed? (See unit 1 about ‘self-employment’)
Have you ever thought about becoming a taxi driver in the UK? Why/why not?

Task 1 - listening 1: information summary

You are going to listen to the first part of an interview with Habib, a ‘self-employed’ taxi driver from Afghanistan.

Habib Section 1 by ESOL Nexus

In this part of the interview, Habib introduces himself and talks briefly about his background. Follow the instructions in the listening exercise below.

As you listen, try to identify the paragraph that best describes Habib.

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Task 2 - listening 2: find the words

You have learned some information about Habib.

Listen to the interview again:

Habib Section 1 by ESOL Nexus

You are now listening for individual words to complete the sentences in activity 2.

There is a transcript in the tab below, or you can download a printable version of the transcript here.

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Task 3 - answering questions

Practise answering some background questions about yourself. Listen to each question 1- 6 below. As you listen, say your answer out loud. Now read the questions and write down your answers in a notebook:

Where are you from?
How long have you been living in the UK?
What did you use to do in your country?
Have you ever had your own business?
Are you married?
Do you have children?

Transcript

Trudie: So thank you very much for allowing us to interview you. Can I start by asking your name?

Habib: My name is Habib Setari.

Trudie: And, Habib, where are you from?

Habib: I’m originally from Afghanistan.

Trudie: Right, and how long have you been living in the UK?

Habib: Almost 11 years.

Trudie: A long time. And in Afghanistan what did you do?

Habib: Well, back home I used to do a spare parts shop business.

Trudie: Oh, spare parts, yeah.

Habib: I used to do that business. When I came over London it’s changing.

Trudie: Was that your own business?

Habib: Actually it was my own business.

Trudie: Ah OK, and can you tell me a little bit about yourself? Are you married? Do you have children?

Habib: I am married man, I’ve got 3 beautiful kids – a girl and 2 boys.

Trudie: Wonderful! And you’re very proud of them, I can see.

Habib: Yes, of-course, yeah.

Discussion

Have you tried the other activities in this series about Habib?

Try Unit 2: Becoming a Taxi driver

Alternatively, you could find out about Laura, a self-employed cleaner.

For more information about becoming self-employed, go to Unit 1.

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Unit 3 Section 1: About Habib

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