, which famously tells the story of an Italian traveler who finds out that "The English" don't always speak the English he learned.
Do the English Speak English? A Lesson from New Concept Lesson 21
Have you ever spent years studying a language, only to arrive in a new country and realize you can barely understand the locals? That is exactly what happens in of L.G. Alexander’s Practice and Progress The Story: Lost in Translation
In this lesson, we follow an Italian man who has studied English for years. Confident in his skills, he travels to England. However, upon arrival at a railway station, he finds that he cannot understand the porter, and the porter cannot understand him!
The humor (and the lesson) comes when he finally meets a friend who explains the reality of "real-world" English. It turns out that textbooks often teach a very formal version of the language that differs from the fast, idiomatic way native speakers actually talk. Why This Lesson Matters
Lesson 21 is a favorite for many students because it touches on a universal truth: language is more than just grammar rules. Formal vs. Informal:
The lesson highlights the gap between "classroom English" and the spoken language used in daily life. Listening Practice:
Using the audio for this lesson is critical. It helps you get used to different accents and the natural rhythm of English that might not be obvious on the page. Building Confidence:
Like the traveler in the story, you might feel discouraged when you don't understand everything. But this lesson teaches us that persistence is key—eventually, your ears will adjust! Study Tips for Practice and Progress
To get the most out of your audio practice for Lesson 21, try these steps: Listen without looking:
Play the audio first to see how much you can catch without reading the text. Focus on Intonation:
Pay attention to how the porter and the traveler speak. Where do they place the emphasis? Shadowing:
Try to repeat the sentences immediately after hearing them to improve your fluency.
Whether you're just starting Book 2 or you're a long-time fan of the New Concept English New Concept English Practice And Progress Audio 21
series, Lesson 21 remains a classic reminder that the best way to learn English is to actually go out and hear it spoken!
Are you finding it difficult to understand native speakers too?
Share your funniest "lost in translation" stories in the comments below!
New Concept English 2 Complete Audio - Practice and Progress
The story for Lesson 21 in " New Concept English: Practice and Progress " (Book 2) is titled "Mad or Not?". Story Summary
The story is narrated by a man who lives in a house located near a busy airport. He explains that while the airport was built years ago, it only recently came into use. Since then, the noise has become unbearable, with planes passing over his house both day and night.
The narrator mentions that over a hundred people have already been driven away from their homes due to the constant noise. Despite being offered a large sum of money to leave, he is determined to stay. He admits that everyone thinks he is "mad" (crazy) for staying, and he ironically concludes that they might be right—because the airplanes are indeed driving him mad. Why It Is "Useful"
This lesson is specifically designed to help English learners practice passive voice and perfect tenses in a natural context. Key language points include:
The Passive Voice: "Passing planes can be heard night and day" or "Over a hundred people must have been driven away".
Modal Verbs: Using "must have been" to make deductions about the past.
Common Phrases: "Mad or not," "Driven away," and "A large sum of money". Audio Features The audio version of this lesson typically includes:
Clear Pronunciation: Standard British or American English (depending on the edition) to help with listening comprehension.
Pacing: A controlled speed that allows intermediate students to follow the sentence structures. , which famously tells the story of an
Dictation Practice: The text is often used for dictation exercises to improve spelling and grammar. developing skills - lg alexander
Master Lesson 21: " Mad or Not? New Concept English If you are following the classic L.G. Alexander series, you know that New Concept English: Practice and Progress
(Book 2) is a cornerstone for moving from basic phrases to fluent storytelling. Lesson 21, titled "Mad or Not?"
, is a fan favorite for its humorous look at modern life and its focus on the passive voice
At this stage in the curriculum, students move beyond simple sentence patterns. Lesson 21 introduces more complex structures that help you sound more like a native speaker. Grammar Focus: The lesson heavily features the passive voice
(e.g., "the airport was built"). Mastery of this allows you to describe events where the action is more important than the person doing it. The Story:
It tells the tale of a quiet village transformed by the construction of a nearby airport. It’s a perfect example of the "incidents and encounters" themes that define the series. How to Use the Audio for Practice
Listening is the "secret sauce" to progressing with this book. Here is a step-by-step guide to practicing with the Audio 21 track: Listen for Gist:
Play the audio without looking at the text. Try to identify the main problem the villagers face. Focus on Pronunciation:
Use the audio to mimic the British or American accents provided in various editions. Pay close attention to how the speaker connects words (liaison). Dictation:
Pause after each sentence and try to write it down. This forces your brain to process every word, not just the general meaning. Shadowing:
Speak along with the recording. Try to match the speed and intonation exactly. Where to Find Resources You can find complete audio playlists for Practice and Progress on platforms like and dedicated learning sites like
By spending just 20 minutes a day on a single lesson like this, you’ll find that "steady progress" is much more effective than occasional cramming. Are you finding the passive voice in this lesson tricky? Let me know if you'd like a breakdown of the grammar exercises or a summary of the vocabulary used in "Mad or Not?" NEW ENGLISH CONCEPT 2 - PRACTICE AND PROGRESS Intonation and Emotion: The actor reading the script
NEW CONCEPT ENGLISH LESSON 1 UP TO 40. LEARN THROUGH STORY. 2:23:00. NEW CONCEPT ENGLISH 2 COMPLETE AUDIO - PRACTICE AND PROGRESS. LEARN THROUGH STORY
Overview New Concept English (NCE), authored by the legendary L.G. Alexander, remains one of the most influential English language teaching systems in the world. The second book in the series, Practice and Progress, is designed to move students from the beginner level to the intermediate threshold.
Audio 21 typically corresponds to Lesson 21 of the textbook. In the standard formatting of the series, this lesson is titled "Mad or not?" It serves as a pivotal example of how the series integrates humor, grammar, and situational context to teach English effectively.
Native speakers pause at clause boundaries. The narrator of New Concept English reads at 130-140 words per minute—slightly slower than natural speech but faster than classroom drills. Lesson 21’s audio includes strategic pauses before the punchline, teaching you comedic timing, which is essential for advanced fluency.
Simply listening to the audio once is a waste of potential. To extract maximum value from the New Concept English Practice And Progress Audio 21, follow this 45-minute framework:
Write down the entire text of Lesson 21 by hand while listening to the audio at 0.75x speed. Check your punctuation. Where does the narrator use a full stop vs. an ellipsis? Punctuation in audio reveals breathing patterns.
The recording for Audio 21 is crafted to aid specific language skills distinct from reading the text.
For decades, New Concept English has remained a gold standard in ESL (English as a Second Language) learning. Among its four seminal books, Practice and Progress (Book 2) stands as the critical bridge between basic sentence construction and complex, fluent communication. Within this treasure trove of lessons, Lesson 21: "Mad or Not?" (often titled "Mad or Not?" or "Daniel Mendoza" depending on the edition) holds a unique pedagogical value.
If you are searching for the New Concept English Practice And Progress Audio 21, you are likely a self-learner who understands that language acquisition is not just about reading—it is about listening, mimicking, and internalizing rhythm. This article will explore why this specific audio track is a milestone in your learning journey, how to use it effectively, and a line-by-line breakdown of the linguistic gold within Lesson 21.
Lesson 21 represents the core philosophy of the Practice and Progress book: "Multi-usage." The text is short—often only 100 to 150 words—but it is dense with teachable content.
By listening to Audio 21, students do not merely learn a story about a noisy airplane; they internalize the grammar of deduction, expand their vocabulary regarding human emotion, and practice the intonation of rhetorical questions. It is a perfect example of how New Concept English turns simple anecdotes into robust language lessons.
Disclaimer: Always respect copyright laws. The official publisher is Longman (Pearson Education).
Option 1: Official Apps (Recommended) Pearson has digitized the New Concept English series. Search for "New Concept English App" on iOS or Android. Lesson 21 is typically free to preview, or you can purchase the full Practice and Progress audio pack for ~$15.
Option 2: YouTube (Free but fragmented)
Many ESL teachers have uploaded the raw audio. Search the exact string New Concept English Lesson 21 audio on YouTube. Look for channels with high subscriber counts to ensure the recording is the authentic British English version (Martin Jarvis or similar narrators).
Option 3: Audiobook Platforms Audible and Google Play Books often sell the entire Practice and Progress audiobook bundle. Search ISBN: 978-0582520460 (for the classic edition).