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What do you do in those dangerous situations where you need to communicate a problem to someone? For example, if you have just been robbed or attacked, how do you communicate with the police what happened? Well, in our program this evening we will study what to do and what to say.
Have you ever robbed or mugged?
Michiko: Excuse me, Michael. What's the difference between being robbed and mugged?
Michael: When you get robbed, someone just steals something but when you get mugged someone beats you up and then robs you.
Michiko: Oh, I see.
There are lots of different ways to describe a robbery. You can call it a robbery or a burglary or a theft. Or you can say, someone broke into my house and stole something. Let's practice those words:
"robbery" "burglary" "theft" "break in"
What do you do when you discover there's been a robbery?
Read this conversation and find out.
Operator: Hello, 911.
Michael: Hello. I'd like to report a robbery.
Operator: Where?
Michael: It's at the corner of Kapiolani and
Sheridan St at the First American Bank.
Operator: What's your name?
Michael: My name is Bill Williams.
Operator: OK, we'll send someone over to check it out .
Read these example sentences:
"I'd like to report a robbery"
"There's been a robbery"
"Someone's robbing the store"
You could also say:
"There's been a burglary"
or
"There's been a break-in"
If you are witness to a crime, the operator will ask you your name and also where the robbery is taking place and what time. You only need to give the information she asks for.
Now read this next conversation:
Operator: Hello, 911?
Michiko: Yes, I'd like to report a theft.
Operator: OK, when did this happen?
Michiko: I'm not sure. I was gone from 9 to 5. When I got home
after work, I discovered all of my jewelry missing and $500 in
cash from my purse.
Operator: May I have your name and address.
Michiko: My name is Michiko Miller and I live on 986 Wilder Ave. in apartment 2B.
Operator: OK, we'll send an officer over as soon as possible.
After you call 911, a police officer will come to your house and ask you some more questions. It's a good idea to get a piece of paper and write down everything such as the time, what was stolen and the approximate value of the stolen goods. If a robbery is still in progress, then you have to tell the operator to hurry. If the police are going the catch the thief, they have to hurry. Read these example sentences:
"I'm being robbed right now"
"Could you send a policeman over here right away?"
"Please hurry"
When you describe someone, you should say their height and color of hair. Also the color of skin and what kind of clothes they are wearing.
Now, read this conversation at the Police department:
Police: Police, can I help you?
Michiko: Ive just been attacked and robbed!
Police: Calm down. Tell me what happened.
Michiko: I was walking through the park when three guys jumped on me. I screamed and they took my purse and ran.
In this conversation, the woman said:
"I've just been attacked and robbed."
Of course the police will want to know all of the other information such as your name, address and when and where the attack happened. Now, listen to this short conversation:
Police: Could you tell me what happened. Try to be as brief as possible.
Michiko: I was sitting on the beach and some man came up behind me and grabbed my bag.
Police. What did he look like?
Michiko: He was a haole, about 5 foot 8, with dark brown hair.
Besides robberies, people often need the police in situations such as being in a car accident, noise disturbances, kidnapping or missing persons.
Read this conversation in which two people get in a car accident.
(Crash!)
Michael: Are you crazy lady?!! Look at that huge dent in my fender!
Michiko: You didn't put on your turn signal!
Michael: You shouldn't have been following so close!
Michiko: Here comes a policeman. Officer, please settle this.
Police: All right, what happened here?
Michael: This lady hit me from behind! It was here fault.
Michiko: He just turned so quicly that I didn't have enough time to brake.
Police: OK, please exchange names, license plate numbers, and no-fault information.
There are both men and women in the police force,so you can just use the word "officer" because it's neutral. Now, let's practice, everyone. Read these example sentences:
"Officer, please settle this"
"Officer, please help us with this matter"
The officer will probably write a report and tell you what to do. He will tell you to exchange names and other important information. If your neighbors are making a lot of noise, or a big racket, you can call the police. It's called a "noise disturbance."
Read this example sentence:
"I'd like to report a noise disturbance"
Fire has a certain fascination to us, especially for children. One of the most common warnings of parents to their children is:
"Don't play with matches!"
or
"Don't play with fire!"
Let's read this conversation between a mother and her little boy.
Mother: Johnny, don't play with matches!
Johnny: Why, mommy?
Mother: Because you might start a fire and the whole house might burn down.
Johnny: OK. I won't play with matches.
Mother: Promise me you won't play with matches.
Johnny: I promise.
Children love to experiment and even though the little boy promised his mother that he wouldn't play with matches, there's a good chance he will. Sometimes kids learn through a bad experience. Let's practice. Read these example sentences:
"Don't play with fire!"
"Don't play with matches!"
One thing you should notice is that fire is not a verb.
You can't say:
"The house will fire"
or
"You might get fire"
These sentences are not correct. To make fire into a verb, you have
to add "to catch on". Read these example sentences:
"The house might catch on fire"
"My house will catch on fir"
When you first see a fire, you should call 911 immediately. Even if you aren't sure if there is a fire. If your own house is on fire, you can say these sentences. Read these example sentences:
"My house is on fire"
"There is a fire in my house"
"My house is burning"
