Open Day Voices

Rosa’s Open Day script (with Ms Green’s notes)

Rosa: Good morning, and welcome to Sunshine International School. My name’s Rosa, and I’m in Year 11. I’ll be showing you round for the next forty minutes.
Ms Green (note): Lovely. Don’t say “I will be showing you round” word by word. Say “I’ll be showin’ you round” — link it, let it flow.
Rosa: We’ll start at the science block, which was opened last September. It’s got six labs, and the biggest one has a weather station on the roof that students built themselves.
Ms Green (note): “last September” — the /t/ in “last” almost disappears: “las’ September”. Don’t fight it. Native speakers do it too.
Rosa: Next, we’ll go past the library. People often ask whether students actually use it. They do. It’s open until six, and it’s usually full after school, especially before exams.
Ms Green (note): Great place for emphasis. “They DO.” Pause, then stress “do”. It answers the doubt in the question.
Rosa: Then we’ll walk through the garden to the sports hall. If you look to the right, you’ll see the green bike shed. Most of our students cycle or walk to school.
Ms Green (note): “green bike” — the /n/ turns into /m/ before /b/: “greem bike”. You don’t need to plan this; it happens when you speak at a normal pace.
Rosa: Finally, we’ll visit a Year 9 English lesson. You’re welcome to ask the students anything. They’re not shy, I promise.
Ms Green (note): Slow down a little for “anything”. That’s an invitation, and you want them to hear it. Then speed up again for the joke.
Rosa: Do you have any questions before we start? … No? Then let’s go. And do mind the step on the way out — everybody trips on it.
Ms Green (note): Perfect. Emphatic “do” again, but this time to sound polite and friendly, not to argue. Smile when you say it.