Listening to BBC. Учебное пособие по аудированию для студентов неязыковых факультетов

Appendix. Part I. Different people. Different Places

Callum: Well ‘britpack’, it’s not a real word. You won’t find it in the dictionary but in this context ‘britpack’ is a pack or a group of ‘brits’ — British people. And ‘likeminded people’ is an expression for people who share the same interests as you. Maybe they have the same culture, they come from the same background. ‘Britpack’ and ‘like-minded people’.

Elena: Now listen out for those words as we listen to Michelle.

Michelle: Well, to fit into Australian culture is actually quite difficult. But you very quickly find people similar to yourself. So we immediately found that we met up with this britpack from abroad, and found that we were friends with lots of British people and … you sort of link up with these like -minded people.

Elena: So Callum, what advice, if any, would you have for people thinking about moving abroad?

Callum: I think research very very carefully. It is very difficult to live in another country. You have to be aware that the culture, even if the language is the same, the culture can still be very very different. So do lots of research and visit the country before you make the decision to emigrate there.

Elena: That’s good advice. Let’s listen to another clip. This time from a lady who emigrated to Canada. See if you can hear what her top tips are for choosing a country to emigrate to.

Interviewee

There are differences and I think that’s one of the key things when you’re emigrating is that you match a country with the type of personality and the type of person that you are. Here it’s very laid back and we’ve found it very easy to fit in but I think that’s because our characters match the local culture that is around us.

Callum: It was interesting there that she thought you should match the country you choose to live in with your personality. And I think that’s, that’s very sensible. I think that sort of goes along with what I was saying.

Elena: So Callum, bearing this in mind, what country would you choose to emigrate to?

Callum: Australia or New Zealand. I’ve spent some time in both those countries and I really enjoy the lifestyle there. And how about you? You’re off travelling around many countries. Do you plan to emigrate one day to one of those, perhaps?

Elena: At this moment I have no plans to emigrate. But I think based on my experiences so far I would have to choose Barbados.

Callum: Mm, Barbados! Why’s that?

Elena: This is because I went there a few years ago and I loved the laid-back attitude of the people I met. Now, as you know I’m always running late and what I loved about Barbados was when I arrived somebody said to me “Put that watch away and relax. You’re on Barbados time now.” And I thought that was a fantastic thing to say and I just love to be on Barbados time, the whole time!

Callum: Ah wouldn’t we all?

Elena: Well speaking of time that’s just about all we’ve got. But before we go, let’s go back to our question. Between in year July 2005 to July 2006 how many people emigrated from the UK? The correct answer was 385,000 people.

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Callum: 385,000! That’s still a lot of people.

Elena: It is still a lot of people. So that»s all from this edition of 6 Minute English — Goodbye.

Callum: Goodbye Elena, and have a safe trip. We’re going to miss you.

(URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/ radio/specials/1630_144_6min_backup/page19.shtml)

Transcript 1.2

BBC Learning English 6 Minute English

Home swap

Kate: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m Kate Colin and today we’re talking about home swapping.

Jackie: Hi Kate, yes our topic today is about the growing trend of exchanging your house or apartment with someone in a different country for a limited period. So instead of paying for an expensive hotel to go on holiday, you simply swap your house with someone in a place you want to visit and you can get a low-cost holiday anywhere in the world.

Kate: What do you think Jackie — would you be willing to swap your house with a stranger rather stay in a hotel?

Jackie: Answers

Kate: Before we go any further, here’s my question for this week. According to a recent survey which is the most of the most popular destination for UK home swaps?

a)Australia

b)UK

c)USA

Jackie: Answers

Kate: So how does home swapping work exactly? Well, you just think of a country you’d like to go to, register with one of the many companies which deal in home swapping who will list your house on their website, and hopefully you’ll find another family or individual who wants to swap their house for yours.

Now we’re going to listen to someone who has tried it. She says she’s a tremendous fan of home swapping — which means she likes it. Why is she a fan?

Link 1

Well I’m a tremendous fan of home swapping, for all kinds of reasons not least because it’s free. But also it’s the most marvellous opportunity to become somebody else because you inhabit someone else’s life when you swap homes with them.

Jackie: She says she’s a fan of home swapping because it’s free and it’s a great opportunity to live someone else’s life. I suppose she means it is a unique chance to see how other people live around the world, something you wouldn’t experience so much if you stayed in a hotel.

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Kate: Now she goes on to talk about the cost. She mentions home swapping being part of the mainstream.

Jackie: If something is in the mainstream, it means that some is accepted and known by most people.

Kate: So let’s listen to the next extract — what makes home swapping a cheap holiday?

Link 2

It’s become part of the mainstream. Usually they include cars as well, so when you think about it you’re not paying for your accommodation or your vehicle. It really makes it a cheap holiday. Basically all you’ve got to pay for is the airfares.

Jackie: She said that many home swaps include a car and this means that you get your accommodation and vehicle for free. All you pay for is your travel and airfare.

Kate: Now, let’s look at some words for the different types of homes you could end up swapping with:

A flat is the equivalent an apartment, or you could end up with a penthouse, this is a luxurious apartment at the top of a building. A cottage is a small self-contained house which is usually in the countryside. A townhouse is a house in a town or city, usually a comfortable, expensive one in a fashionable area. A houseboat is a special boat which people use as their home, often kept in one place on a river or canal and a holiday home or 2nd home is where people don’t live full time but visit at the weekends and on holidays.

Let’s listen to the next extract — which of these types of accommodation does she mention?

Clip 3

There’s a wide range of options in unexpected locations from a houseboat in Kerala to an apartment in Fairbanks, Alaska and a friend of mine recently spent Christmas in an apartment on Bondi Beach.

Jackie: She mentioned a house boat in Kerala, India and an apartment in Alaska and a friend of hers spending Christmas on Bondi Beach in Australia.

Kate: Now we’re going to hear from some members of a family from London who regularly house swap. What does the first speaker like about it?

Clip 4

I quite like living in other people’s houses. You’re not living in a hotel so you don’t have to live out of a suitcase. You can unpack and live like you would at home but in somebody else’s house.

Jackie: She said she likes being to unpack and doesn’t have to live out of a suitcase. If you live out of a suitcase you don’t unpack your things, you have to keep then in your bag, so she says she likes this because she can put all her clothes and things in a cupboard and feel at home. What does her dad think?

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Clip5

And I think the other thing I quite like is that because you’re living in someone’s house you can kind of pretend you’re not a tourist and you’re actually nearly a local so you can feel a bit smug about that.

Jackie: He said that because you’re living in someone else’s house, you can feel like a local and not a tourist. That makes him feel smug which means pleased with himself because he’s done something in quite a clever way.

Kate: Yes, I think that’s one of the main benefits of home swapping. Often if you stay in a hotel, you get to see very little of the real culture of the country you’re visiting. What better way of finding out about how people live than living in someone’s house? Before we finish for today, let’s have a look at some of the vocabulary we’ve come across:

Jackie: We had mainstream which that something that happens often and is known. Kate: And we had various different types of accommodation:

A flat is an apartment

A penthouse is a luxurious apartment or set of rooms at the top of a hotel or tall building.

A cottage is a small self-contained house which is usually in the countryside A townhouse is a house in a town or city, usually a comfortable, expensive one in a fashionable area: it can also mean it is joined on to another house.

A houseboat is a special boat which people use as their home, often kept in one place on a river or canal and a holiday home or 2nd home is where people don’t live full time but visit at the weekends and on holidays.

Jackie: And we had that term to live out of a suitcase which means that you have to keep all your things packed and you can’t take them and put them in a cupboard. And we also had the term smug which means to feel pleased with yourself.

Kate: And finally the answer to the question I asked you earlier. According to a recent survey, which country is the most popular this year for home swapping.

Jackie: I think I said Australia.

Kate: I’m afraid you were wrong — the answer is USA with 15 % of respondents preferring to go there. 12 % chose to stay in the UK and 11 % chose Australia.

That’s all we have time for. Thanks for listening everyone. Goodbye

(URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/ general/sixminute/2009/05/090604_6min_homeswap_page.shtml)

Transcript 1.3

BBC Learning English 6 Minute English

Homesickness

Jennifer: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Jennifer and I’m joined by Finn.

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Finn: Hello Jen. In this programme, we’re going to talk about homesickness. That’s the feeling that you get when you’re away from home and miss it — feel sad because you would like to be there. Do you ever get homesick, Jen?

Jennifer: Oh yes. I live in London now, but I was born in the north-east of England, which is a three-hour train journey away. Sometimes I wish I could go back home and see my family. How about you?

Finn: I’ve felt homesick when I’ve spent time in other countries. It’s very common and a lot of people suffer from it.

Jennifer: We’ll talk soon about some tips that you can use to combat, or overcome, homesickness, but first, a quiz question.

Finn: Ok, I’m ready.

Jennifer: What percentage of students experience homesickness in their early days at university?

a)50%

b)60%

c)70%

Finn: I’m going to say b) 60 %

Jennifer: We’ll find out if you’re right at the end of the programme. So, if you are homesick, how does it feel?

Finn: Well, I think you can often feel very lonely, especially if you’ve moved to a foreign country where the language is different to yours. You can feel quite isolated — feeling that you’re on your own with no one to help.

Jennifer: That’s true. It’s often very difficult when you don’t know many people. It’s stressful. It can be hard to make friends, and you will often think about your friends and family back at home.

Finn: You could say that you pine for your home. That means that you really want to go back and see some familiar faces, or people you know.

Jennifer: I miss my friends and family lots. But when I’m feeling homesick, I also miss places, sounds and smells!

Finn: You might see a picture of your hometown, which can make you feel a bit sad, because you’re not there.

Jennifer: Food is something else that I long for — I want it very much — when I’m away from home. There are lots of regional foods which you can’t get in London, but the thing I miss the most is my mum’s home cooking. If I smell something that reminds me of home, I feel extremely homesick!

Finn: You’re starting to make me feel homesick now! Nowadays lots of people live, work or study away from home. People travel all over the world, and homesickness is a growing problem.

Jennifer: Lots of people will experience mild homesickness — so they feel a little sad, but they can deal with it. Other people have more extreme homesickness.

Finn: They might experience panic attacks or nightmares…

Jennifer: … and some people withdraw from society altogether. That means they don’t go out or interact with anyone.

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Finn: Some people think that if you feel that homesick, you should just go home! But often it’s not as easy as that, especially if you are studying or working somewhere.

Jennifer: There are ways to make it better, though. Modern technology has helped a lot of people to stay in touch with their families by using video-calling software, such as Skype or FaceTime.

Finn: That’s a good idea, because actually seeing someone talk to you is much better than just hearing them on the phone. Social media also helps people to communicate with the people they left behind.

Jennifer: Another good idea is to meet up with expat communities. That way, you can make new friends who speak your language — that can take the pressure off a little bit.

Finn: It can… But it’s also good to mix with locals in a new town or city. In my opinion, that’s the best way to stop feeling so isolated when you’re in a different place.

Jennifer: If you’re really struggling or having a hard time, you could try talking to a doctor or professional to get some advice, or even a good friend. Sometimes, even acknowledging, or realising, that you’re homesick can be the first step to feeling better.

Finn: Well, I hope that our listeners aren’t suffering from homesickness — but we need to find out the answer to the quiz question that Jennifer set earlier.

Jennifer: I asked what percentage of students typically suffer from homesickness when they start university. Was it:

a)50%

b)60%

c)70%

Finn: And I said b) 60 %

Jennifer: And you were wrong! Seventy per cent of all students feel homesick when they begin university.

Finn: So it’s very common and completely normal to feel a little bit sad when you are in a new situation!

Jennifer: Now, Finn, we’re almost out of time, so could you remind us of the words we’ve heard today?

Finn: They were:

homesickness — lonely — isolated — stressful — to pine for something — familiar faces — panic attacks — to withdraw from something — to stay in touch — expat communities.

Jennifer: Join us again for another edition of 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Bye for now!

Finn: Goodbye!

(URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/ general/sixminute/2013/09/130919_6min_homesickness.shtml)

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Transcript 1.4

BBC Learning English 6 Minute English

Going where the work is

Rob: Hello, I’m Rob and this is 6 Minute English and I’m joined this week by Jennifer. Hello Jennifer.

Jennifer: Hello Rob.

Rob: This week we’re discussing global migration — that’s the movement of people around the world and particularly those who are moving abroad to look for new work. Is this something you have done Jen?

Jennifer: Yes, when I was a student I moved to France to teach English for a while. Rob: A very good job but luckily for us, you came back to live in the UK. Many people are forced to emigrate — or leave their home country — to go and work abroad and they never return home. We’ll talk more about that shortly and also look at some

of the language associated with migration. But let’s start with today’s question. Jennifer: And this is a question for me to answer?

Rob: Of course it is! So, according to figures from the United Nations, which one of these countries has the largest number of immigrants as a percentage of its national population? Is it:

a)United States of America

b)Qatar

c)Turkey

Jennifer: I think this is an easy one. I think it will be a) The United States of America.

Rob: Well, I’ll let you know the answer at the end of the programme. Now let’s talk more about global migration. It’s something the BBC has been looking at following research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). We know people move from country to country for all kinds of reasons — to join other members of their family, because of war in their own country, or just to find a better lifestyle.

Jennifer: But the biggest reason is to find work — people who do this are called economic migrants. Their profession — or area of work they specialise in — may not be needed where they live. Or the pay may not be very good but their skills might be in demand in another part of the world, so they are forced to move there to get a job and earn more money.

Rob: This is a problem for developing countries because it means skilled people are leaving to work in richer countries — this is what is called a brain drain. Around 214 million people are international migrants — people living and working in a different country from the one in which they were born. So what kind of work are we talking about?

Jennifer: All kinds of things. We know that people in healthcare often move abroad to places like the UK and Australia to work as dentists, doctors or nurses. In other

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countries, such as Belgium, there is a need for chefs. And in countries like Norway, there is a demand for psychologists.

Rob: I’ve also heard that in countries that have been affected by the financial crisis, such as Ireland and Greece, there is a need for accountants. And countries such as Brazil and France are on the lookout for electronic engineers.

Jennifer: But these are all highly-skilled jobs that require qualified people — people with specialist training and qualifications. Sometimes people with such skills take on a job where they are overqualified, such as doing a cleaning job or serving in a cafe.

Rob: So many of the immigrants’ skills are just going to waste and, as we have mentioned, their home country is losing skills that could have helped improve the local economy there.

Jennifer: However, there is evidence that many migrants are working abroad to send money to family back at home — these are called remittances. They are seen as an important source of funds for economic development. In fact, official figures show that last year $US400bn of this money was being sent back to developing countries.

Rob: It must be hard for people to uproot — or move from their home — leave the family behind and go overseas. And it can also be a challenge to get permission to work abroad.

Jennifer: Yes, you mean getting a working visa — that’s a stamp in your passport that allows you to work in a certain country. In Australia for example, points are awarded to people with skills that are needed in the country; those who get the right amount of points are allowed in.

Rob: This system allows a country to adapt to the changes in skills needed to keep the economy growing. Other countries only issue a working visa if someone has been offered a specific job.

Jennifer: Of course, migrants may hope that the new country’s streets are paved with gold — or that they think it’s an easy place to get rich — but if it’s not, they can at least get some work experience that will benefit them when they get home: a sort of brain gain!

Rob: Hmm, how’s your brain Jen? It’s time now to reveal the answer to today’s question. Earlier I asked you, according to figures from the United Nations, which one of these countries has the largest number of immigrants as a percentage of its national population?

Jennifer: And I said a) The United States of America.

Rob: And you are wrong. The answer is Qatar. Around 75 % of its population are immigrants — so that’s people who have moved there but were not born there. The USA has many more immigrants but they only make up around 12 % of the population. OK, well, it’s almost time to go but before we do, Jennifer could you remind us of some of the words we have heard today.

Jennifer: Yes. We heard:

global migration — emigrate — economic migrants — a brain drain — qualified — overqualified — remittances — to uproot — a working visa — streets are paved with gold

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Rob: Thanks Jennifer. Well, that’s all we have time for today. Please join us again soon for 6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.

Both: Bye.

(URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/ general/sixminute/2013/08/130822_6min_global_migration.shtml)

Transcript 1.5

Hitchhiking in Europe

Joe: Hey, you know I ran into John today and he’s gonna actually be doin’ some travelin’ in Europe. He’s, uh, he says he’s gonna spend a lot of time in Prague.

David: Oh, Prague’s awesome. Ah… did I tell you I lived there? Joe: No, get out of here. You never told me that.

David: Yeah, I lived in Prague about 15 years ago. Joe: Oh, whoa, du-, what were you doing there?

David: Well, I was traveling. I didn’t actually know that I would end up in Prague. I was just gonna do whatever came along.

Joe: Wait, where’d you start out traveling? David: I got a one way ticket to Amsterdam. Joe: [laugh] Oh, nice.

David: And one of the only people that I knew in Europe was this chick that I used to go out with. So I figured I’d look her up. I knew she had another boyfriend at that point. But she said she could get me a place to stay and she was in Prague. So I figured I’d go there for a few weeks and see how it went.

Joe: She was from Prague? Or…

David: No, she was American, but she was over there teaching English. Joe: Oh, nice, nice.

David: Yeah.

Joe: So wait, how long did you spend in Amsterdam?

David: I only spent about four days in Amsterdam before I got kind of sick of it. Joe: So you were just goin’, you were just basically like, uh, travelin’ through. David: Yeah, and then I started hitching.

Joe: Oh, nice, nice.

David: And kind of hooked up with some English chicks and just kind of spent a little bit of time with them on the road. And then eventually ended up, uh, on a train late at night and, uh, didn’t have any money, but pretended I didn’t understand what anyone was saying and ended up in Prague.

Joe: Wait, when you first took off, um, from the U. S., were you actually traveling alone?

David: Totally by myself. Joe: Oh, sweet.

David: Yep.

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Joe: Nice…

David: It’s funny, looking back, I didn’t have anything with me, y’know. Joe: Yeah, you could just like basically, uh, take off on a whim.

David: I had like one pair of shoes and no health insurance and I was just, uh, livin’ large.

Joe: [laugh] That’s nice. And you know what, now you would probably look back and think that you were totally broke. And, uh, that, now that you have kids, that would be a difficult, a very difficult thing to think of.

David: If I had to be responsible for them it would be difficult. But, y’know, I, uh, I was only responsible for me. And I kind of… I was, I was in the mood to, uh, to feel anonymous. I wanted to go where no one recognized me.

Joe: Yeah, no that sounds great. So you, I, that’s great that you just traveled alone. A lot of people, uh, are not into doin’ that, y’know?

David: Yeah, well, it’s a big deal. Joe: Yeah, some people…

David: You’ve got to kind of put yourself out there and just see what happens, y’know.

Joe: Yeah, exactly. I actually, I’ve never traveled alone. But, uh, I, I’m sure I could do it, y’know, because, uh, I’m good, I, I feel like I’m pretty good at meeting people, y’know?

David: Yeah, yeah. Well sometimes it’s fun to meet people and other times it’s fun to just truly be on your own. And, y’know, you get into a situation where you, where you realize that nobody knows where you are…

Joe: [laugh]

David: …and you just have this total sense of, uh, freedom. Joe: Yeah.

David: It’s crazy.

Joe: Yeah, I can only imagine.

David: Yeah.

Joe: You took the train from Amsterdam to, uh, to Prague?

David: No, I took the train to somewhere in Germany and then I started thumbing on the side of the road.

Joe: [laugh] Oh, how long did you stay in Germany? David: Uh, like two days.

Joe: Oh, that wasn’t long at all.

David: Yeah, just long enough for a couple of weird people to meet me and, uh, help me out, and take me to different places.

Joe: So they actually picked you up?

David: Yeah, at one point I decided that I didn’t really care what direction the car was going as long as it was warm and dry, I was getting in.

Joe: Wait, did you, were you actually like, uh, did you believe that you were headed to Prague at that point or were you just…

David: Yeah…I was…

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