Short-answer questions

Narrator: Part 1. You will hear a telephone conversation between a receptionist at a leisure centre and a woman who wants to book a swimming course for her son.

Receptionist: Good morning, Riverside Leisure Centre. How can I help you?

Woman: Oh, hello. I'd like to book some swimming lessons for my son, please. I saw in your leaflet that the new courses start next month.

Receptionist: That's right. Let me just open a booking form. Can I have your son's name?

Woman: Yes, it's Daniel. Daniel Kowalski.

Receptionist: Could you spell the surname for me?

Woman: Of course. It's K, O, W, A, L, S, K, I.

Receptionist: Thank you. And how old is Daniel?

Woman: He's nine. He'll be ten in December.

Receptionist: Lovely. Has he had lessons with us before? Sometimes we already have a child's details on the system.

Woman: No, never. We only moved to the area in the spring. Before that he had a few lessons at his old school, but they stopped when the teacher left.

Receptionist: No problem, I'll set him up as a new member, then. It doesn't cost anything extra. And what's your address?

Woman: It's 27 Harbour Road. That's in Eastfield.

Receptionist: 27 Harbour Road, Eastfield. Right. Now, which course were you thinking of? We have beginners, intermediate and advanced groups.

Woman: Well, I was going to put him down for the beginners' group, but actually he got his first certificate at school last term, so he can already swim about twenty-five metres.

Receptionist: In that case, beginners would be too easy for him. I'd suggest intermediate.

Woman: Yes, that sounds right. Let's do that.

Receptionist: The intermediate lessons run on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Woman: Tuesday would be best for us.

Receptionist: I'm afraid the Tuesday group is already full. There are still a few places on Thursday, though.

Woman: Oh, that's a shame. Well, Thursday will be fine, then.

Receptionist: Good. The lessons are from half past four to a quarter past five, and the course lasts ten weeks.

Woman: Ten weeks. And how much does it cost?

Receptionist: The standard price is sixty-five pounds, but there's a discount for people who live in the local area, so for you it would be fifty-eight pounds.

Woman: Fifty-eight. That's very reasonable.

Receptionist: Is there any medical information we should know about?

Woman: Yes, Daniel has asthma. It's quite mild, but he always carries an inhaler.

Receptionist: OK, I'll make a note of that. The instructor will keep the inhaler by the side of the pool during the lesson.

Woman: Thank you. Is there anything he needs to bring, apart from his swimming things?

Receptionist: Goggles are optional, but he'll need a padlock for the lockers. We don't provide them any more, because so many went missing.

Woman: A padlock. OK. And can I stay and watch him?

Receptionist: Parents aren't allowed on the poolside, but you're welcome to wait in the viewing gallery upstairs. The café is closed in the afternoons at the moment while it's being redecorated.

Woman: That's fine. And what time should he get there?

Receptionist: We ask children to arrive fifteen minutes before the lesson starts, so they have time to get changed. Ten minutes usually isn't quite enough.

Woman: Fifteen minutes. No problem. Oh, and one more thing, while I'm on the phone. Do you run any classes for adults? I haven't swum properly for years, and I thought I might do something while Daniel's in the pool.

Receptionist: We do. There's an aqua fitness class on Thursdays as well, but I'm afraid it doesn't start until six, so it wouldn't be on while Daniel's in the pool. On Saturday mornings there's an adult improvers' group, which might suit you better.

Woman: Saturdays are difficult for me, unfortunately. I work most weekends. Maybe I'll just use the gym while I wait.

Receptionist: That's an option, but you'd need to do a gym induction first. It's free for residents, and it takes about forty minutes. I can book you one when Daniel comes for his first lesson, if you like.

Woman: That would be great. And is there anywhere to park? The car park looked very full when I drove past last week.

Receptionist: It does get busy after school. The main car park is free for the first two hours, and if that's full, there's an overflow car park behind the tennis courts. Most parents use that one.

Woman: That's good to know. Thanks very much for your help.

Receptionist: You're welcome. I'll email you a confirmation this afternoon.