Clearing customs can be stressful even in your native language, so imagine handling the situation entirely in English. This role play featuring Charles at customs is packed with cohesive devices, participial phrases, and clever strategies for describing unknown words — all essential tools for anyone looking to sound more natural and fluent in real-life conversations.
What happens when your luggage gets mixed up at customs?
Charles arrives at his final destination only to find customs officers and a K-9 unit — a police dog trained to detect prohibited items — inspecting a suitcase they believe is his [0:38]. The officers explain that a dog has shown interest in the bag's contents, which immediately puts Charles in an uncomfortable position. When they open the suitcase, they discover fruit, vegetables, and Andean pampas grass, an invasive species that is strictly forbidden to bring across borders [2:10].
Charles insists none of these items belong to him. He points out that the clothes inside are far too small for him, which helps convince the officers that a luggage mix-up must have occurred. Eventually, they find a lab coat with a name tag reading "Mike," and Charles recalls meeting someone by that name at the airport before his first flight [4:23].
How does Charles use cohesive devices throughout the conversation?
One of the richest learning opportunities in this role play is the variety of cohesive devices — words and phrases that connect ideas smoothly across sentences:
- Conversely signals a contrast when Charles explains that everything was going to plan until he landed in Mexico City [1:30].
- Furthermore adds information about his uncertainty regarding his belongings [1:42].
- Moreover introduces the fact that he is not a botanist and has no idea what pampas grass is [2:30].
- Being that appears multiple times as a cause-and-effect connector, for example when Charles asks whether he will get into trouble being that the bag is not his [4:02].
- On top of that layers additional evidence when an officer spots a name tag on the lab coat [4:30].
- What's more adds emphasis when Charles describes how delicious empanadas are [3:20].
These connectors make speech sound polished and logical, and practicing them in context is far more effective than memorizing lists.
What strategies help you describe words you don't know in English?
Charles and the officers model excellent techniques for explaining unfamiliar terms without simply translating them:
- Ruana: Charles describes it as "a sort of poncho" used to keep you warm and dry [3:00]. He uses the strategy of comparing to a known item and then adding its function.
- Empanada: when the officer has never heard the word, Charles compares it to "a turnover," a familiar English equivalent [3:12]. This is a classic synonym or near-equivalent approach.
- Mate gourd: Charles explains it by stating its purpose — "it's used for drinking tea" [3:28]. Describing an object by its use or function is one of the most practical communication strategies available.
These techniques are invaluable when you encounter a vocabulary gap during a real conversation.
Why are participial phrases important for fluent English?
Participial phrases use a verb form ending in -ing or -ed to add information efficiently, and they appear frequently in this role play:
- "Having been stationed at the airport for so many years" — the officer explains why he recognizes regional items [3:38].
- "Having been distracted by all the commotion" — Charles explains how the luggage swap happened [4:38].
- "Being that you're the one with the badge" — Charles acknowledges the officer's authority [1:08].
Using participial phrases allows you to pack more detail into a single sentence without creating long, awkward structures. They are a hallmark of advanced-level English and appear constantly in both spoken and written contexts.
How can you practice with this role play?
The instructor suggests three specific tasks to strengthen your skills:
- Listen again and write down every cohesive device you hear.
- Note the strategies used to describe unknown words.
- Identify all the participial phrases in the dialogue.
Try sharing your findings and your thoughts on Charles's attitude — and what the dog might have been smelling — in the discussion panel. Practicing actively like this turns passive listening into lasting learning.
