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Views #1312 | Advanced (C1)

Sun, Sea, and Skin

Paul and Amy discuss getting some sun and how it affects their skin and body.

Paul: So being fair-skinned, do you burn easily in the sun?

Aimee: I do! I get really, really freckly, just turn into one big freckle. I have to be careful not to get burned, yeah. I’m careful with my sun lotion. How about you?

Paul: Yeah, I’m not a sunbather. I can’t think of anything more boring to be quite honest with you. I may not get it lying on the beach – you’ve got the sand, you’ve got the surf. I do get it, but I just get too bored. I’d rather be more active, doing some sort of swimming, some sort of activity….

Aimee: I really enjoy swimming in the ocean. If I go to the beach, I don’t sunbathe at all. I sit in the shade until I just want to swim in the ocean: go snorkeling, see something. That’s a lot more fun.

Paul: Mmmm, yeah, see something, explore a bit. Yeah, yeah. I mean the sea creatures are actually fascinating really. You put that snorkel on, it's as if you’ve gone into a new world.

Aimee: I couldn’t do that in Scandinavia, I don’t think.

Paul: Speaking of Scandinavia, I did a home stay when I was a high school student.

Aimee: Oh, did you?

Paul: Yeah, and it was with a Danish family. And the mother was very kind of typically Scandinavian. Uhm, like stereotypically very strong, blond hair, and every day of the year without fail, she would swim in the sea.

Aimee: Oh my goodness.

Paul: You know there’d big blocks of ice in the sea, and she’d still be swimming.

Aimee: A sturdy lass.

Paul: Yeah, she swore by it. I think she really believed that it was good for the circulation and her health. Yes, but admiration, but I won’t want to follow her.

Aimee: I don’t think I could - only certain times a year.

Paul: Yeah.

Answer these questions about the interview.
Audio Lessons about Phrases and Vocabulary

fair-skinned

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So being fair-skinned, do you burn easily?

If you are fair-skinned, you light colored skin. Notice the following:

  1. People from Ireland are fair-skinned.
  2. He likes getting tan to cover his fair-skin.

freckly

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I get really, really freckly.

A freckly person has lots of freckles. Freckles are small dots on the skin. Notice the following:

  1. I was quite freckly when I was little.
  2. I think freckles are cute.

 

I do get it

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I’m not a sunbather. I do get it, but I just get too bored.

If you 'get it', then you understand how people feel about something. If you do not get it,' then you do not understand. Notice the following:

  1. I disagree, but I do get it.
  2. I just don't get it. Tell the joke one more time.

without fail

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Every day of the year without fail, she would swim in the sea.

Without fail means always. It is often used with the word everyNotice the following:

  1. I drink coffee every morning without fail.
  2. Without fail, she calls her mom every weekend.

a sturdy lass

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She is a sturdy lass.

A sturdy lass is a woman who is very tough and strong. Lass means woman. Notice the following:

  1. My aunt was a sturdy lass.
  2. My sister is a sturdy lass. She is as tough as any man I know.

swear by

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Yeah, she swore by it.

When you swear by something, you strongly believe in it, and often share you thoughts about it with others. Notice the following:

  1. My mother swore by the healing power of aloe vera oil.
  2. He drinks cod liver oil every day for his health. He swears by it.

Vocabulary Quiz

fair-skinned • freckly • get it
without fail • sturdy lass • swear by
  1. This is good stuff. I it .
  2. I always lose .
  3. OK, I . I understand now.
  4. If you are , stay clear of the sun.
  5. I was cute and as a kid.
  6. She is a and has a good heart.

Related Lessons

1311 Climate Change
#1311 Choosing a Climate
Aimee and Paul discuss the best place to live.
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Video 1312
How is the weather today?
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Video 1311
What is your favorite season?

Other Lessons

1315 Know a good place?
#1315 Know a good place?
Ideas about where to eat.
1314 The Big Five
#1314 The Big Five
Five popular wild animals.
1313 Zoologist
#1313 Zoologist
Working with animals.

 

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Hello, and welcome to elllo. My name is Todd Beuckens. I've been an ESL teacher for 25 years. I created elllo to provide teachers and students free audio lessons and learning materials not usually found in commercial textbooks.
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