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Six Minute English.

From BBC learning English.

com.

Hello, this is six minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil and I'm

Georgina. Hello Georgina how are you today?

Georgina. Georgina.

Oh sorry Neil I didn't hear you. I was listening to music on my

headphones.

I see. Listening to music stored on your mobile phone or iPod when out on the move

doesn't seem like a big deal now, but the concept of personal portable music didn't

exist until 1979 when the Japanese electronics company

Sony launched the Walkman.

Years before iPods and MP3 downloads, the Sony Walkman was the first

widely available portable music player.

It revolutionised the way fans listen to their favourite bands.

In this program we'll be taking a nostalgic look back at the 1980s and the birth of the Sony Walkman.

And of course we'll be learning some new vocabulary as well.

Now it may not seem so revolutionary to young people nowadays but back in the late 1970s, portable music players were unheard of.

The idea behind the Wartman was simple, a high quality stereo cassette player small enough to hold

in your hand, allowing you to walk down the street. a very

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