Audio Script

Glossary

slasher film (n.) – a film in which people, in particular young women, are killed very violently with knives

gory (adj.) – involving blood and violence

tense (adj.) – filled with suspense

sinister (adj.) – something which is very bad and evil

zombie (n.) – a dead person who has been brought back to life by magic, and in films, zombies are the 'living-dead' who usually attack or bite the humans

hurricane (n.) – a tropical cyclone with very strong wind which occurs especially in western Atlantic. A hurricane usually goes with rain, thunder and lightning.

Discussion

Why do you think people enjoy watching horror films?

What is your favourite film genre (e.g. action, comedy, drama, horror)? Why do you like that particular genre?

Have you watched any Alfred Hitchcock’s films? Do you think there are any differences between psychological thrillers and horror films?

Audio Script

I wanna talk about why I love Mac computers.

Firstly, let me just say that I'm not going to turn this into an "I love Mac, I hate PC kind of thing". I don't hate PCs or Windows, I just prefer using a Mac and I'm lucky enough to be able to use a Mac at both home and work.

I've been using Macs for about 10 years now - I think the first Mac I bought was the original iMac G3 and it was a very distinctive design, it was kind of egg-shaped, translucent blue plastic. I can't quite remember why I bought it but it was probably the aesthetics more than anything that attracted me. In fact Apple famously declared at the time that "the back of our computer looks better than the front of anyone else's".

So the first thing I love about Macs is the appearance of the hardware. It's also about the attention to detail, for example on my latest Mac when the computer is in sleep mode there's a small light on the front that pulses like a heart beat - just a really nice touch.

So if it was the hardware that appealed to me first, it's probably the software that keeps me a Mac user now. I think that Apple has always focussed on the user in designing the hardware and software and Mac OS X, that's the Mac operating system, is just a joy to use and great to look at too. I find using OS X incredibly intuitive and I know that long-time PC users often have trouble switching to the Mac because they have to unlearn Windows and is complex procedures. I suppose the greatest compliment to the design and usability of Mac OS X is the fact that Microsoft have tried to make an exact copy with Windows vista....but it's still not as good as OS X!

So the other thing about Macs is what is called "the out of the box experience". When you buy your Mac you take it out of the box, you plug it in and switch it on and it's ready to go. Again this is Apple focussing on the user.

So I love the way it looks, I love the attention to detail, I love the usability of the software, I love the out of the box experience ... this may sound stupid, but I love the box that the Mac comes in too. The whole packaging of Apple products is amazing.

Anyway in closing, I'll quote a friend of mine who recently converted from PC to Mac. He told me that he still uses his PC for work, but when he wants to feel good about himself he gets his Mac out. He doesn't switch it on he just puts it on his desk and looks at it...and that's why I love Macs.

Glossary

distinctive (adj.) - easily recognisable, very different from the others

translucent (adj.) - almost transparent, like letting light pass through

aesthetics (n.) - the study of beauty

intuitive (adj) - able to understand something immediately, without the need to think or learn about it

compliment (n.) - an action that expresses approval or respect

Discussion

Do you regard computer as a helpful tool or just a machine to help you finish your work?

In choosing a computer, what are the key qualities that you look for?

Can you think of any examples that the use of a computer has completely changed your way of life?