RUTH: Hello and welcome to another programme in the series 'Say It Again'. My name is Ruth Lowton. Each week, I have a student with me. Bela is from India and she has been with me for the last two programmes. Welcome again, Bela.

BELA: Thank you, Ruth. It has been good to be with you on 'Say It Again'. What are we looking at in the English language today?

RUTH: Well Bela, today our English language lesson is about giving opinions and making suggestions. We also have another installment in our true life stories. We've been hearing about Hui Chan Hop in the last two weeks. Today, we find out what happened to him while he was illegally taking drugs into England. I'll now like to make a suggestion. I suggest that we start with our true story today. What do you think, Bela?

BELA: I think it's a good suggestion, Ruth. Its being read for us by Dick and it's the third of six parts.

Story Testimony

Hui flew back to Thailand. When he got there, none of his old friends wanted to know him. This made him sad. Then he met up with a Thai businessman who gave him some money. The money was to be used to buy drugs. He bought the drugs and flew with them to London in England. He got through customs at the airport without a problem. Once he was in London, he sold the drugs and then flew back home. He was rich again.

In Thailand, he planned another trip to Europe. He would take a lot more of the drugs and let other men take them over for him. He met the three people who would carry the drugs. Their names were Roger, Paul and James. Paul flew out to London first. Then Hui and Roger set off from Singapore to London too. A large amount of drugs was hidden in their suitcases. On the plane, Hui was pleased as he thought he would soon be a very rich man indeed.

They arrived at the airport and went through customs. Once more, Hui got through with no problems. But when he looked back, Roger's suitcase was being searched. As Hui got near the exit, a customs man stepped out in front of him and stopped him for questioning. Hui was searched and arrested. Then he was told to go outside and wait for anyone else traveling with him. Paul came up to Hui and started to talk with him. He too was arrested. Roger and James were caught and they were all put in prison. At the trial, Hui expected to get 12 to 14 years. He'd been carrying over 10 kilograms of heroin when he was caught. Hui was very worried.

RUTH: I do hope that you'll be able to be with us for the next three installments of Hui's story. Maybe I can suggest that you join me for the next three 'Say It Again' programmes.

RUTH: Grace and her younger brother Paul are both giving their opinions and making suggestions about smoking. Before we listen to them, Bela, what do you think about smoking?

BELA: I think it's not a good thing to smoke because it's not good for your health. So, Ruth, I have given you my opinion. What do you think about smoking?

RUTH: Well, Bela. I agree with you. It is very bad for your health and I find it very smelly. But I can understand that some people find it a very hard habit to get rid of. I wonder what your opinion is on smoking. Is it the same as Bela's and mine? Or is it the same as Paul's and Grace's? Do you remember Grace and her other brother Jim? Over the last weeks, Grace has had many disagreements! Today, she's giving her opinions on smoking to her younger brother Paul. In our drama today, listen out for some phrases that we've practiced before and listen out for some new ones.

Conversation

RUTH: Well, Bela, it's good to hear that Grace has the same opinion as we do. Did you hear them use any phrases that you know?

BELA: Yes! I heard, "Come off it!"

RUTH: I thought you'll remember that one! But when do you say, "Come off it! "?

BELA: You'll only say it to a close friend or a relation, just like Grace did to her brother.

RUTH: Right! Did you hear the phrase, "Why don't you...?"

BELA: Yes! I think I heard it a few times.

RUTH: "Why don't you...?" is a good phrase to use when you are making a suggestion. Why don't you say the phrase with Bela after me? "Why don't you try and stop smoking?"

BELA: "Why don't you try and stop smoking?"

RUTH: That's right. Another phrase which has the same meaning is "How about...?"

BELA: "How about ...?" I don't quite see what you mean, Ruth?

RUTH: Well, it means just the same as "Why don't you...?" "How about...?" means "Why don't you...?" It's just another phrase to learn. So I could say, "How about learning it, Bela?" Or I could say, "Why don't you learn it, Bela?" Let me give you a sentence to practice. "How about not smoking so many cigarettes each day?"

BELA: "How about not smoking so many cigarettes each day?"

RUTH: Bela, did you hear Paul say, "I see what you mean, but....?" He was listening to Grace, but he was disagreeing with her. Let's listen again to that part of the drama.

Conversation

RUTH: Did you hear Paul disagree with Grace? He went on to say, "But I don't think I can stop smoking now." There is nothing wrong in disagreeing with someone. Over the last few weeks, we've been looking at ways of having friendly discussions. It's good though to listen quietly to the opinion of others and then politely disagree and give your own opinion, just like Grace and Paul did in the drama.

RUTH: Our theme for today has been giving opinions. The sentences we've practiced are, "Come off it!" Why don't you repeat that sentence with Bela? "Come off it!"

BELA: "Come off it!"

RUTH: "Why don't you...?" Bela, when you repeat that sentence, why don't you add your own ending?

BELA: "Why don't you stop asking me questions?"

RUTH: The last one to practice is, "How about...?"

BELA: "How about...?"

RUTH: Now, could you add something to that phrase?

BELA: How about saying goodbye now?

RUTH: Well, just before we do that, we'll use "Why don't you...?" again.

BELA: "Why don't you...?" Oh Ruth, I've a good ending to that phrase. It's - why don't you join us next week for another programme in our series 'Say It Again?'

RUTH: Thank you Bela, that's just right. Goodbye from us both.

BOTH: Goodbye.