Practice English Listening B1 Exercises – Judging by appearances

A

1   He’s from England and Spain.

2   He’s in his (late) thirties.

3   He’s a musician (a flamenco guitarist).

B

Name: His name’s Rafael Lloyd – he has a Spanish first name and an English surname. It’s his real name and his stage name.

Parents: His mother was Spanish and his father’s English. He was born in Spain but now he lives in England.

Languages: He’s bilingual (English / Spanish).

Nationality: He feels more Spanish than English, partly because of his job.

He thinks he looks Spanish, but he says he must have an ‘international face’ because when he is abroad people always think he’s from their country – e.g. if he’s in Italy, people think he’s Italian.

Profession:

He’s a flamenco guitarist. He started playing the guitar when he was 9, in Madrid.

He’s been working as a guitarist for 22 years. He started when he was 17.

I = Interviewer, R = Rafael

I    Rafael Lloyd. A Spanish first name and a British surname?

R   Yes. My mother was Spanish and my father’s English.

I    Is Rafael your real name then or your stage name?

R   It’s my real name: my mother was from Cordoba in Spain and Rafael’s the patron saint of Cordoba. But it’s also my stage name.

I    What nationality are you?

R   I’m British and Spanish. I was born in Spain and I was brought up there. I’ve spent a lot of time in Britain too. I’ve been living in Oxford for the last ten years.

I    Oh nice. Are you bilingual?

R   Yes, I am.

I    And, it’s a strange question, do you feel more Spanish than British or vice versa?

R   Well, I think I feel more Spanish in most respects, especially as a big part of my life revolves around Spanish culture. But I do like individuality, eccentricity, and tea. I must feel a little British too, I suppose!

I    Do you think you look more Spanish than English?

R   Well, I think I look Spanish, but when I travel, people always think I’m from their country and people have stopped me in the street, for example in Cairo and in Rome, to ask me for help, so I must have an international face… maybe I should be a spy!

I    When did you start learning to play the guitar?

R   I started when I was nine when my family lived in Madrid. A teacher used to come to our flat and give me lessons.

I    I see, so how long have you been working professionally as a flamenco guitarist?

R   I started when I was 17, I mean that’s when I started to get paid for my first concerts. I’m now 39, so that’s, erm, 22 years.

1   It’s easier to make a living in Britain because there are fewer flamenco guitarists here.

2   In the USA, Germany, and Japan (but flamenco is popular all over the world).

3   The stereotype is of someone with long, dark hair (which he used to have).

4   In Spain (where they believe more in stereotypes). He thinks the British don’t judge people by their appearance.

I = Interviewer, R = Rafael

I    As a flamenco guitarist living in Britain, is it easy to make a living?

R   I think life as a musician is never easy. But I think it’s easier here than in Spain, because there are fewer flamenco guitarists here.

I    And where’s flamenco popular, apart from in Spain?

R   Well, the biggest markets for flamenco outside Spain are really the USA, Germany, and Japan, but I’ve found that it’s popular all over the world. It has a strong identity that people relate to in every corner of the planet.

I    Now, you don’t look like the stereotype of a flamenco guitarist. People imagine flamenco guitarists as having long, dark hair…

R   That’s true. I used to have really long hair, but I decided to cut my hair short.

I    Are people in Britain surprised when they find out that you’re a flamenco guitarist?

R   No, not really. That’s one of the things I like about Britain: no one judges you on appearance.

I    And what about in Spain?

R   Well, actually, in Spain people find it much harder to believe that I’m a flamenco guitarist. I think Spanish people believe in stereotypes more than in Britain. And they judge you more on your appearance. But as soon as people hear me playing the guitar, then they know that I’m the real thing.

I    Could you play something for us?

R   Of course.