You’ll find the scripts for each part of this episode here and don’t forget to check out the glossary at the end for words and phrases you may not have encountered before.

Podcast: Beginner’s luck

English Vocabulary about Luck

Did you ever play a game for the first time, still unsure of all the rules, and yet manage to win? You’d think it should be the opposite way around, especially if playing against an expert. This is known as beginner’s luck. Is it a real phenomenon or is it all just in our heads? Is this something we can harness and use to our advantage? On this episode, we’ll explore beginner’s luck and the benefits of being a novice every day – even in school!

Story One:

First things first. Beginner’s luck doesn’t actually exist, but we do however perceive that it does. So why do we perceive something that isn’t there? 

Well, as humans, we tend to remember things that are interesting and noteworthy. What is the point of remembering all the times when nothing interesting happened? This however, creates a flaw in our thinking. If you try something new 20 times, but only succeed once, are you remembering the 19 times it didn’t work, or the one time you had success?

We also have a tendency to accept evidence that affirms our beliefs – this is known as confirmation bias, and this can come into play when we see beginner’s luck in action. If you were to see an expert lose to a novice, it’s easy to buy into the idea of beginner’s luck because it’s exciting, but in reality we are probably ignoring the causes as to why the beginner performed so well. 

So why does beginner’s luck happen, (or appear to happen)?

To the Beginner, Anything Is Possible

If you are a novice, you are giving yourself the permission to ask silly questions, to look foolish. You have a naive optimism, anything is possible. Because the beginner doesn’t have the experience, they haven’t convinced themselves of the right or wrong moves in a particular situation. This may mean they may try something stupid, but it also could mean they’ll find a more creative solution and take worthwhile risks. Whereas the expert draws upon their experience. When an expert tries to analyse a strategy that isn’t really a strategy at all, that expert is likely to fail and the beginner is likely to win.

Experts Choke Under Pressure

When you’re great at something, you’re under a lot of pressure to continue to perform at that level. This can cause you to choke under pressure. Beginners don’t have these issues because they don’t particularly care how they perform. When you don’t care about the outcome, you don’t have the same pressure. 

Experts May Trust Their Intuition Too Much

Just as over-thinking can cause an expert to choke, trusting their gut can cause problems as well. Most experts have some sort of muscle memory for the things they do and that usually works in predictable situations. When up against a beginner, or in an unusual situation, the predictable goes out the window, and it can be a recipe for failure for the expert.

So, want to channel your inner beginner? Well, throw away everything you know for a moment. Think like a kid and imagine how they would look for a solution. Consider crazy ideas and strategies. When you’re sure something won’t work, consider it anyway. If you have an idea you really like but are afraid to try it, that’s probably a good sign. So even as our skills improve, there are some benefits of keeping that spirit of the novice. 

Story Two:

Singer John Legend learned to swim with his kids when he was 40. Many people took to twitter to thank him for showing that it’s never too late to pick up a new skill. Learning something new and challenging, particularly with a group, has proven benefits for our brain. Not only that but you’ll gain a boost of confidence too. Our next story comes from the UK, where language classes are improving wellbeing and cognition for those with dementia

Lingo Flamingo was started in 2015 specifically with the aim of providing lessons for older adults. Not in the same way as many language schools, but instead in care homes and community centres across Scotland.

The language classes are the brainchild of entrepreneur Robbie Norval who says his idea wasn’t always met with enthusiasm, and many care homes had reservations. But working with Thomas Bak, a psychologist from Edinburgh University, has been key to building credibility.

According to Bak, even for people who aren’t bilingual, learning a language in later life has benefits. He has found improvements among older adults’ attention, verbal fluency and memory. 

Bak believes it is never too late to learn a language and in fact is particularly valuable because of the variety of tasks involved: distinguishing different sounds,  new concepts, grammar. 

Apart from the cognitive research, it increases wellbeing and self-confidence as well. 

The course material has been designed to be accessible, with textbooks printed in a larger font, incorporating colours that those with dementia can recognise, and using sensory learning to include those who might be unable to speak. One group writes postcards to a twinned care home in France, and has held a lesson with local schoolchildren. 

The beauty of being a beginner here is that everyone is on a level playing field. Nobody is any better at speaking the language than anybody else, whether you have dementia or not. For that period of time, the dementia is not there.

Story Three:

The following story is about overcoming the odds. It’s about pride, belief and beginners showing their true colours. It’s time to head to 1988, and you might want to wear an Irish jersey for this one.

If you have ever lived in Ireland, you will have heard of the Green Army. And no I am not talking about a military army, but the Irish soccer supporters. And in 1988, we were all part of Jackie’s army. Jack Charton, that is.

In 1986 something unexpected happened. An Englishman was appointed manager of the Irish soccer team. Unexpected, as Ireland was in the midst of a period of conflict known as The Troubles, and had only gained independence from the UK a little over 60 years prior. To put it lightly, we did not love the English and Jack wasn’t immediately met with open arms.  Not only that but a lot of our national team lived and worked in England but were born to Irish parents. This was a strange setup for an Irish team.

Before his appointment, the team had never qualified for a major tournament. But that soon changed. The Euro 88 qualifying group for the Republic of Ireland soccer team included Bulgaria, Belgium, Scotland and Luxembourg. This was a difficult group for the Irish, but against the odds they fought their way to the European Championships.

The country was going through an economic crisis at the time, and the Irish team qualifying was a symbol of hope we all needed. The Green Army got behind its team, people got loans out to travel to support the underdogs, many of whom had never been abroad before. Excitement was mounting. Ireland was on the world stage.

Then we waited for the group draw: would it be Germany, Spain, Holland? No, the first team we were drawn to play in our group, one who we have a lot of history with, was England – one of the tournament favourites, of which Ireland was not. We were written off by the British pundits before we even began. This wasn’t going to be easy.

So now it’s crunch time. It’s about 28 degrees in Stuttgart that day, people are nervous with how the match will go, there is concern as well with how fans in the stands will react to each other. There is tension in the air. The whistle blows. 

Within the first 8 minutes, the smallest man on the pitch, Ray Houghton jumps up, and with a header scores the first and only goal of the match. Ireland leads against England and now spend the next 82 minutes holding on against their old enemies. The Irish singer song writer Christy More sums it up well in his song ‘That day will be the highlight of many people’s lives’.

In his time in charge, Charlton took the country to Euro 88, and two World Cups but more importantly, he created great memories for supporters, boosted the country’s confidence and became a national hero.

Beginner’s luck? I’ll let you decide…

English Vocabulary from Podcast:

These English phrases and vocabulary about luck accompanies Episode 10 of the podcast series and will provide short definitions of words and terms you heard or read which may be new or unfamiliar to you.

Story One:

• noteworthy – significant
• a flaw – an imperfection, it makes something not perfect
• evidence – proof
• affirms – supports or confirms
• to buy into – to accept that something is true
• naive – an adjective to mean that someone has a lack of experience 
• the right or wrong moves – the right or wrong strategies/tactics 
• to choke under pressure – don’t perform as well as expected because of expectations
• trusting their gut – trusting their intuition, their feelings
• muscle memory – when your body remembers how to do something automatically
• up against – in competition or conflict with someone or something
• goes out the window – gets forgotten about
• to channel – to transmit or become
• throw away – to get rid of, to put in the bin

Story Two:

• the brainchild – the amazing idea
• accessible – everyone can easily use or take part in something, especially people with different or additional needs
• twinned – matched with another similar place (often used for towns and cities)
• the beauty of – the unique advantage of
• the level playing field – a situation where everyone has an equal chance

Story Three:

• overcoming the odds – achieving something even though you are not expected to
• an Irish jersey – an Irish football t-shirt
• in the midst of – the middle of
• the Troubles – conflict/war in the six counties in the north of Ireland 1960s-1990s
• prior – before that
• to put it lightly – a way of understating something
• a strange setup – an unusual situation
• got behind – supported
• got loans out – borrowed money from the bank
• mounting – increasing
• the group draw – the lottery system to determine which teams will paly each other
• favourites – the teams expected to win
• written off – dismissed as having no chance
• pundits – professional commentators
• crunch time – the most important moment
• the stands – the crowd/audience area in a football stadium
• a header – controlling the ball using your head

The post English Vocabulary about Luck – Podcast appeared first on Everest Language School.

In episode nine, we’ll be thinking about kindness and how it can help us in our daily lives. We’ll listen to a story about the power of laughter, hear some good scientific reasons for being kind and we’ll get some tips for how to incorporate kindness to yourself into your life.
You’ll find the scripts for each part of this episode here and don’t forget to check out the glossary at the end for English vocabulary about kindness you may not have encountered before.

English vocabulary about Kindness

I came across a positive news story recently about a random act of kindness that inspired others to continue with the generous turn. One person at a drive through restaurant decided to pay for the meal of the car behind them. The person was so amazed by their generosity, they decided to surprise the car behind them and pay for their meal. And so this chain continued. Strangers surprising strangers. In the end more than 900 cars continued this good deed. Can you imagine the surprise of the staff who worked there? This episode is all about kindness.

MUSIC: Make ‘em laugh

Story One:

You might have heard of the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders. But ever heard of Clowns Without Borders? Their mission is to help spread laughter among children in refugee camps, conflict zones and disaster areas.

Clowns Without Borders works with professional artists to create shows that encourage children living through crises to laugh, dance and play. You will find a mix of circus performers, clowns, theatre and street performers, actors and musicians all offering their skills, humour and time on a voluntary basis. They perform professional shows, teach skills and bring laughter to children and their communities.

When we experience positive emotions through laughter and play, endorphins are released, which reduce pain and generate feelings of wellness, and stress relief. Children learn through play. It’s how they build human relationships, trust, and empathy. Children are naturally resilient even through trauma, but without access to laughter, to play, they’re unable to fully develop and heal.

The charity began in 1993, when children in Barcelona raised funds to send a famous clown, Tortell Poltrona, to refugee camps in Croatia. It unexpectedly attracted audiences of more than 4,000 children! Thus Tortell founded Clowns Without Borders.
It now exists in fifteen countries and every year they complete more than 120 projects in around 50 countries, for over 300,000 children and their communities in around 1,500 shows and 400 workshops.

A reminder that laughter can really be the best medicine at times.

Story Two:

Treat others as you would like them to treat you. This was a favourite motto of my old school principal. And I have to give it to her, there are a number of real-life benefits associated with the way we treat others. Here are a few science-backed benefits of being kind.
1. Kindness prevents illness
Kindness boosts our brain’s feel-good hormone Oxytocin. Oxytocin reduces inflammation which is linked to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, chronic pain, obesity, and migraines. So boost your supply by doing a simple act of kindness.

2. Kindness releases feel-good hormones

Doing nice things for others boosts your serotonin, responsible for you feeling good and satisfied. Like exercise, being kind to others also releases endorphins, a phenomenon known as a “helper’s high.”
3. Being kind is also good for your heart
Oxytocin also expands blood vessels, which reduces blood pressure which we know is good for your heart.

4. It can help you live longer

According to Health.com, you’re at a greater risk of heart disease if you don’t have a strong network of family and friends. When you’re kind to others, you develop strong, meaningful relationships and friendships.
5. It reduces stress
When we focus on the joy we are bringing to someone else, we give our brains a much-needed break from figuring out our own problems. This is one of the amazing benefits of being kind. By focusing on someone else’s happiness, we forget about our problems for a while.

Story Three:

The art of self-kindness.

The global pandemic has had a powerful effect on our mental health as people isolate, restrict movements and are prohibited from contact with friends and family. It has been a trying time for many. Practising self-kindness and self compassion can give our mental health a well-deserved boost and help us navigate future stressful situations.

Give yourself a break. Put away your laptop and your work after work or school! Make sure you take that lunch break. If you’re sick then take time off. It allows us to be more focused and happier in what we do.

Keep a gratitude journal. Write down three things you’re grateful for each day. The more specific the better. Being in the here and now and noticing the smaller things helps us to foster a more positive mindset.

Control your social media feeds. Social media can make you feel worthless about yourself. But it seems very difficult to avoid. Instead of completely shutting it out, take digital detoxes. And filter out anything that could be damaging to you.

Don’t forget to play – this is something we can easily allow to slip away as adults. Whether it’s a board game, sports, finger painting or even having a good old pillow fight – have some fun!

English vocabulary about Kindness:

This glossary accompanies Episode 9 of the podcast series and will provide short definitions of words and terms you heard or read which may be new or unfamiliar to you.

Intro
random – by chance
a good deed – something positive and generous that you do for another person
Story One:
resilient – strong enough to be able to survive something bad
heal – get better
thus – as a consequence
Story Two:
motto – a short phrase that explains your beliefs
I have to give it to her – I have to admit that she is right
figuring out – trying to understand
Story Three:
trying – adjective that means difficult or annoying
the here and now – the immediate present
to foster – to look after and help to grow

The post English vocabulary about Kindness – New Podcast Episode appeared first on Everest Language School.

In this week’s episode you can learn English vocabulary about sleep

Learn English with Everest – Podcast

In this week’s episode, we’ll be talking about the importance of sleep and how it affects our brains. You will have the chance to learn lots of English vocabulary about sleep  There will be an article about the benefits of napping, we’ll hear a story about how one man’s afternoon nap may have changed the world, and there will be some tips on how to get a good night’s rest.

You’ll find the scripts for each part of this episode here and don’t forget to check out the glossary at the end for words and phrases you may not have encountered before.

English Podcast about Sleep

Intro:

How much sleep do you get a night? A good night’s sleep is just as important as regular exercise and a healthy diet. Research shows that poor sleep has immediate negative effects on your hormones, exercise performance, and brain function. But fear not, if you are not getting your 7+ hours’ sleep each night, maybe a nap can help balance things out. This episode is all about sleep…

Story One:

The afternoon nap gets a bad rap. Some see a siesta as a sign of laziness, low energy, or even illness. A recent study however has found that taking a “regular” afternoon nap may be linked to better mental agility.

The study, published in online journal General Psychiatry, examined the sleep patterns of 2,214 healthy people aged 60 and over in several large cities in China.

Of those who took part in the study, 1,534 took a regular afternoon nap of between five minutes and two hours, while 680 did not.

It was found that in addition to reducing sleepiness, naps can offer a variety of benefits such as  better working memory, better verbal fluency, and can aid learning. A short afternoon nap can leave you feeling alert and ready to tackle the rest of the day. When napping, your brain clears out unnecessary information out of your brain’s temporary storage areas to prepare it for the new information to be absorbed.

So if you get caught having a nap at work, this time you have a valid excuse.

Story Two:

Still not convinced that napping is for you? Well our next story takes us back to 1869, where one man’s nap helped revolutionise the world of science. Get your duvet ready!

We all remember it from school science books, you probably had to learn it off for an exam. The Periodic Table. Did you know that 2019 marked the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements?

Let’s go back to 1869, to St Petersburg to be precise, where Dmitri Mendeleev’s discovery was to transform chemistry from a tangle of disorganised facts into a disciplined science. His table would arrange 63 elements, into a recognisable and repeating pattern that all the other 58+ elements, yet to be discovered, would follow.

One morning in 1869, Mendeleev wrote the name of each of the known elements on separate pieces of card, added the atomic weight, a few physical properties and the formulae of its products when reacted with hydrogen or oxygen.

He began to play with these cards, eventually arranging them in rows from left to right. Happy with his morning’s work, he wrote it down on the back of an envelope. He then took an all important afternoon nap. Once he woke up, he was inspired to instead arrange the cards in eight vertical columns instead of horizontal rows and this is the format of the Periodic Table that exists today.

Is the afternoon nap the key to the discovery? I’ll let you sleep on that…

Story Three:

If you are not getting enough sleep at night, it can feel like torture. Maybe you have trouble falling asleep, or wake up in the middle of the night, or maybe you have a baby that is wreaking havoc on your sleep pattern. Either way, not getting enough sleep is cruel. Keeping your bedroom dark and at around 18.5ºC and taking regular exercise can help, as well as the following alternative remedies. As always, make sure you’ve done your homework and always consult an expert. Any tips of your own – be sure to let us know!

The following has been recommended by organic natural health experts:

Herbs

Certain herbs can relax the mind, help induce sleep and reduce disturbed sleep patterns. These include: Valerian, Hops, Passionflower, Wild lettuce.

Essential oils

Some essential oils, such as lavender, have been proven to promote a restful night’s sleep. Roman chamomile is a calming oil and Vetiver is helpful for relieving stress and tension.

Food

Cherries, goji berries, tomatoes, chillies, white or black mustard seeds, sprouted seeds, corn, rice all provide melatonin which aids sleep. Try to avoid junk food, which studies have shown can disrupt restorative sleep.

Supplements

There are certain nutrients that have been specifically linked to improvements in relaxation and a reduction in insomnia.These include: Omega-3 , Magnesium and Vitamin D

Hopefully some of these can help you drift off to the land of nod.

English Vocabulary about Sleep:

This glossary accompanies Episode 8 of the podcast series and will provide short definitions of words and terms you heard or read which may be new or unfamiliar to you.

Intro

• fear not – don’t worry
• a nap – a short sleep during the day, similar to a siesta

Story One:

• gets a bad rap – has a bad reputation
• mental agility – ability to think quickly and easily
• Tackle – to manage or deal with something (often something difficult)

Story Two:

• duvet – something that covers you in bed – also known as eiderdown, comforter, quilt, covers
• a tangle – a confused mix of things, for example, long hair can get in a tangle 
• sleep on that – to sleep on something means to give yourself time, usually overnight, to think through and process an idea 

Story Three:

• wreaking havoc on – destroying
• alternative remedies – non-pharmaceutical medicine, ways of healing people with local or traditional use of plants, herbs, methods
• done your homework – a way of saying do your own research, find out about things yourself
• drift off – fall asleep
• land of nod – another way to say sleep

The post English Vocabulary about Sleep – Podcast Episode appeared first on Everest Language School.

In this week’s podcast you will learn English vocabulary about ageing and longevity.

Welcome to the seventh episode in our podcast series. This week we’ll be listening to stories about older people. Do you think about growing older yourself? Listen to how attitudes towards ageing are changing and hear from people who lived to be over 100 years old on how they lived happily and healthily into old age.

You’ll find the scripts for each part of this episode here and don’t forget to check out the vocabulary about ageing at the end for words and phrases you may not have encountered before.

Episode 7: Growing Old (dis)gracefully

Intro

When I was growing up there was a programme on TV called Supergran. As you can imagine from the name, it was about an elderly grandmother, Granny Smith, who gains superpowers when she is accidentally hit by a magic ray. She then takes on the persona of Super Gran and helps protect her local town from baddies. I liked the idea of the show, and imagined that my nana could have an alter ego too and fight bad guys… The reality is of course that my nana was a super human regardless of whether she had been hit by a magic ray. This episode is about growing old gracefully or disgracefully – your choice, and to start us off, here is a poem for you by Judy Ball.

Story One:

Growing Old Disgracefully by Judy Ball

All my life I worried ’bout,

What others thought of me.

I always tried to watch myself,

And act as I should be.

Mind my manners, stand up straight,

And try to be a lady,

But we all knew that in my heart,

I was a little shady.

There was a wild thing lurking there,

Just below the surface,

Aching just to be set free,

And have myself a circus.

Now I’m old and just don’t care.

You get just what you see.

I’ll dress the way I want to dress,

Be what I want to be.

I’ll ride my horse, run with my dogs,

Climb hills and even trees.

If folks don’t like the way I look,

Too bad, ’cause this is me.

Story Two:

What comes to mind when you think of old age? Walking sticks? False teeth? Or do you think retirement? Freedom? Wisdom? Research has shown that stereotypes can become self-fulfilling prophecies, as they can affect how people view themselves, and their abilities. This next story is about age positivity.

You might be familiar with a road sign that shows two old people crossing the road. They have walking sticks, and are hunched over. But is this really an appropriate and fair representation? 

This question was asked by the charity Centre for Ageing Better, and was the starting point for a competition they launched which asked designers to submit ‘age positive’ alternatives. 

More than 120 entries were received of illustrations that depict the diversity of people in later life. The winning entry gave the original symbol of the couple crossing the road an energetic spin. Instead of hunched over with their walking stick, it depicts two people with a dancing cane, in the middle of a dance move. It’s very uplifting to look at.  

The new design will be used in reports and other materials to represent older people in a positive way. The winning icon will be made publicly available for unlimited use.

Perhaps something as simple as changing the way elderly people are presented to us will cause us to challenge the assumptions we make about ageing.

Story Three:

Studies claim that to live a very long life, it’s important to maintain friendships, to keep a positive attitude, to get some exercise, not to stress out too much, and to have really good genes (the genetic kind that is, not the denim kind). Some centenarians however have also added their personal secrets for living so long. 

1. USE A LOT OF OLIVE OIL.

Jeanne Calment died at the age of 122 years and 164 days old, she is the current Guinness world record holder. She credited her long, long, long life to drinking port every day, eating just under 1kg of chocolate every week, and keeping a sense of humour. She also consumed a lot of extra virgin olive oil which she put in everything but milk, and also rubbed on her skin.

2. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

Besse Berry Cooper-Brown was a retired school teacher who lived to be 116. She took pride in her mostly spotless voting record – since 1920, when the 19th Amendment was passed allowing women to vote, she had only missed voting twice. Cooper-Brown credited refusing to eat junk food as one reason for living so long, but she also “said that her secret was staying out of others’ business.”

3. EAT BACON.

“Miss Susie” Jones was the oldest living resident of New York until she died in 2016 at the age of 116. She never smoked, drank alcohol, wore makeup, or dyed her hair, but did enjoy eating four strips of bacon every morning, alongside scrambled eggs and corn porridge. 

4. DRINK BOILED WATER AND SMOKE CIGARS.

Christian Mortensen passed away at 115 years and 252 days old. He gave credit to living for so long to friends, no alcohol, staying positive, singing, a good cigar, and drinking lots of good water – specifically, boiled water. 

5. EAT UNTIL YOU’RE 80 PERCENT FULL.

Jiroemon Kimura lived to be 116 years and 54 days old. A former post office worker, Kimura ate a breakfast of porridge and miso soup with potatoes and vegetables every day, kept a positive attitude, and always paid attention to contemporary politics in his native Japan. His motto was “to eat light and live long,” never smoking, only moderately drinking alcohol, and eating until he is 80 percent full. 

6. PLAY BOARD GAMES

Kane Tanaka is currently the oldest living person at 118 years old. She likes to keep her mind active, and on a normal day at her nursing home, she wakes up at 6am and in the afternoon often studies subjects like maths. One of her favourite pastimes however is a game of Othello and she’s become an expert at the classic board game, often beating the staff.

END

Vocabulary about ageing

Learn English with Everest Podcast: Vocabulary about ageing:

This glossary accompanies Episode 7 of the podcast series and will provide short definitions of words and terms you heard or read which may be new or unfamiliar to you.

Intro:

• gains – obtains or achieves or gets
• ray – a beam or a long piece of light
• an alter ego – an alternative personality, a second separate identity

Story One:

• mind my manners – be polite, follow good etiquette 
• lurking – hiding
• aching – hurting, but also, wanting something so much that it hurts
• too bad – something you say to mean “I don’t care” and/or that a problem can’t be fixed

Story Two:

• self-fulfilling prophecies – a prediction that comes true because you expect it to happen
• hunched over – with your back bent over, not standing or sitting up straight – you can be hunched over while walking and, for example, while working at a desk
• cane – a walking stick
• uplifting – something that is uplifting will make you feel happier
• ageing – getting older

Story Three:

• centenarians – people who have lived to be 100 years old
• porridge – usually a breakfast food of a type of cereal (in Ireland – oats!) cooked in milk or water
• spotless – clean, with no mistakes or missing information 
• pastimes – hobbies and activities that you do in your free tim

The post Learn English with Everest – Podcast: Vocabulary about ageing appeared first on Everest Language School.

Welcome to our final episode in our current podcast series. We hope you’ve enjoyed the stories we’ve told and we’re delighted to dedicate our final installment to the topic of climate change. We’ll hear a personal story from an Irish person making a real difference, we’ll listen to ten tips for making a difference in your own life, and we’ll hear about teenager Greta Thunberg and the protests she inspired around the world.

As always, you’ll find the scripts for each part of this episode here and don’t forget to check out the English Vocabulary about Climate Change at the end for words and phrases you may not have encountered before.

Episode Six: Vocabulary about the climate crisis

English Vocabulary about Climate Change

When it comes to tackling climate change, people often think, I am only one person, how can I truly make a difference? But the answer is: a lot. Not only can your small actions make an impact, it can also serve to inspire others. This episode is about climate action, and our first story is about Treasa, a 21 year old from Cape Clear Island.

Story One:

My plans for 2020, like everyone else’s, took a big turn back in March. From planning an internship in Vietnam working with a fair trade cooperative for five months to living at home for seven months with my parents. 

I’m from Cape Clear Island in West Cork. It’s just 3 miles long and one-mile wide, and has a population of about 120 people depending on the time of year. On Cape Clear, like on any island, the most basic of tasks aren’t that easy because everything has to go in and out on the ferry. Living here has shaped and strengthened my passion for sustainability.

Throughout the year, I took part in several climate actions. One of my personal favourites was the conservation project with my uncle and cousins. We repaired over 400m of dry stone wall on our family farm. This was an amazing experience. I learned a traditional skill which has been around for hundreds of years. This has given me a whole new appreciation and perspective for the land and the importance of preserving our natural habitats. I also organised a couple of beach clean-ups during spring and summer and received great support. 

It was also during the lockdown that I worked on my main action: co-founding the first ever Cape Clear farmers market. I strongly believe in buying local, and in-season food, to the best of our abilities, so while I was home I realised we were importing all our food from the mainland. Living on an island in a rural area where agriculture is our biggest industry I questioned this. Why could we not buy at least some of our food from local producers on the island? It was in the weeks that followed that I came up with a solution with support from others, and we launched the first ever farmers market in July. It ran every week until mid September. The market gives farmers and producers a place to sell their produce locally and for locals and visitors to buy in season and local produce. We estimate that you can do around a third of your weekly shop at the market whilst also increasing the community’s awareness of their food system. At the market, there was a large emphasis put on packaging for both the stallholders and the customers as we encouraged them to bring their own containers. 

We received great media reaction to this as I was involved in two United Nations’ events at the time speaking about food systems. It just goes to show how one small action can lead to great change. A few things I’ve learnt, 

1. is to question things. 
2. To take opportunities as they come along. 

And finally 3.to make small changes. Because if not you, who, if not now, when.

So have you been inspired by Treasa’s story?

Well here are ten ways you can take Climate Action, and remember, you can just start with one.

1. Limit your amount of fossil fuel:

Have a car-free day a week. Walk and cycle for short trips. Reduce your heating thermostat. Change to energy-efficient light bulbs. 

1. Climate conversations

Talk to family and friends about climate change, listen to them and through conversation we can help bring everyone along with us. Talk to your politicians and ask them what climate action they are taking to address the climate and biodiversity emergencies.

1. Eat a more plant-based diet

Save money and improve your health. If cattle were their own nation they would be the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases!

1. Reduce air miles

By taking less flights throughout the year you reduce your carbon footprint. Think before you fly.

1. Refuse, reduce, recycle and rot

Prevent the waste from entering your home in the first place and refuse what you don’t need, especially single use plastics. Reduce the amount of waste you are producing by reducing the amount you are buying. Recycle what you can’t refuse, reduce, or reuse, and finally rot, or compost! Does your community provide a food waste bin, or a composting program? If not, welcome to the wonderful world of home composting!

1. Shop local, organic and fair trade. 

Look out for your local farmer’s market. By shopping for local grown food not only are you supporting local producers but also reducing how far your food has had to travel.

1. Grow your own food

Even if you have a small garden, or just a balcony, you can have fun watching your delicious, fresh food grow, or why not try your hand at growing a few herbs!

1. Avoid food waste

One third of all food currently goes to waste. So instead of throwing out your food, why not cook up meals in advance and put them in your freezer. 

1. Plant trees

Planting native trees in your area is an excellent way to help remove carbon from the atmosphere, benefiting your locality and the environment.

1. Consume less, waste less

When you buy less, you in turn are wasting less. This gives you more time to go outside and connect with nature, and can make you feel much better than buying stuff.

Story Three: Greta Thunberg

Intro:

If you are looking for more inspiration, then look no further than Greta Thunberg who has become a leading voice when it comes to climate change. Not only did she spark an international movement, but she inspired millions to join protests around the world. This is only part of her journey so far.

Story:

Aged just 15, Greta started protesting in front of the Swedish parliament building, and vowed to continue until the government met the carbon emissions target agreed by world leaders in Paris, in 2015. 

Every Friday she would sit and hold a sign that read “School Strike for Climate”. It started small but soon her protests went viral spreading with the hashtag #FridaysForFuture. By December 2018, more than 20,000 students around the world had joined her in countries including Australia, the UK, Belgium, the US and Japan. She joined strikes around Europe, choosing to travel by train to limit her impact on the environment.

Greta then decided to take 2019 off school to continue campaigning, and attended key climate conferences, and joined other student protests around the world. She even addressed the UN climate conference where she scolded politicians for relying on young people for answers to climate change. She was later named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. 

Thanks to Greta millions of people around the world have woken up to climate change. Sir David Attenborough summed it up well when he told her she had achieved things many others had failed to do, saying: “you have aroused the world. I’m very grateful to you.”

Thanks for listening, we hope you enjoyed today’s episode and the stories you heard. That’s it for now. Goodbye from all of us.

English Vocabulary about Climate Change:

This glossary accompanies Episode 5 of the podcast series and will provide short definitions of words and terms you heard or read which may be new or unfamiliar to you.

Intro:

• tackling – dealing with or trying to manage

Story One 

• dry stone wall – an ancient way of building walls in Ireland without using wet products, such as mud or cement
• in-season food – food that is available and at its best in a particular season, for example, in Ireland, in-season food in January would include kale, broccoli and carrots, but not tomatoes!
• stallholders – people who sell things at a stall (a temporary outdoor shop at a market)

Story Two

• fossil fuel – fuels such as coal, gas, oil or peat
• rot – the process by which plant and animal materials break down (decay), adjective: rotten
• composting – a process which uses rotting plant material (from, for example, household rubbish) to create new material for growing plants

Story Three

• spark – to start
• vowed – promised
• scolded – how you speak to someone (often a child) who has done something wrong. In Ireland we use the phrasal verb “give out to someone” to mean the same thing

The post Climate Change Podcast appeared first on Everest Language School.

In this week’s podcast, we are dealing with fear! This episode will present us with a personal story about a spooky situation, we’ll hear about the physical effects of fear on our bodies and we’ll listen to an article about the Irish connection to everyone’s favourite vampire.

You’ll find the scripts for each part of this episode here and don’t forget to check out the glossary at the end for words and phrases you may not have encountered before.

English Language Podcast – Episode Five: Fear Factor

Are you a fan of horror movies? Do you relish in scary stories? Do you believe in ghosts? There is no denying it, some people love being scared. Horror films made worldwide currently gross as much as 1 billion dollars annually. So our first story today is a young man’s account of performing in an old Irish castle…listen if you dare. This episode is called the fear factor.

Story One:

FX: Old harpsichord style music 

I was lucky enough to be asked to perform my one-man-show as part of Heritage Week in Roscrea Castle in Co. Tipperary. The castle was built in the thirteenth century and  is steeped in history. I performed in the castle itself and used the central fireplace as part of the set for my play. 

I rehearsed the show during the day, and practised singing with my CD, and it all went perfectly.The night of my performance however, I waited in my dressing room for my entrance music to come on. After about ten minutes of waiting, I sneaked out to the sound operator who said he couldn’t get the CD to play. He offered to run home and grab his own CD player, and so I waited with the audience for him to return.

When he got back he plugged in his CD player. We put my CD in and it played perfectly. We announced to the crowd that we were now ready to go but when he pressed play again, and nothing happened.

Thinking maybe it was the CD, I grabbed the backup CD. We put it into the player and once again it played perfectly. We announced to the audience that now we definitely were ready to go but, when he pressed play again, nothing happened.

At this point, I had no choice but to perform the play without music, singing thirteen songs acapella. The audience seemed pleased with this decision and everything was going fine until, in the middle of the show, a tall, dark form appeared in the middle of the audience. The figure moved to the left and, then, vanished before my eyes. I did my best to continue my performance as if nothing had happened.

Later that night an official with Heritage Ireland asked how the show went. When I told her what had happened, she gave a look of concern and, without missing a beat, said, “The ghost of Damer!”

John Damer was a wealthy Englishman who, back in 1722, bought the castle and the entire town of Roscrea. He was a member of the English Ascendency and if he had watched me rehearse earlier that day, he would have heard my songs with their pro Irish independence theme. I don’t think he would have been happy. It was easy for me to understand why he would have wanted to stop me from performing it that night, and he almost succeeded!

Story Two:

Intro:

I remember going to visit one of those scare experiences near London Bridge with my best friend. She was excited, I was terrified. I knew that it was going to be dark rooms with actors in them, and no one actually was going to be murdered, however, I did not stop screaming from the second we went inside. I was exhausted by the end of it and yet fuelled with adrenaline. So here are some reasons we like being scared:

1. The Safety Net

When we get scared, our bodies will go into fight, flight, or freeze mode and our brains will quickly evaluate the situation. If we are sitting at home or in front of a cinema screen, it tells us we’re free from risk. Our bodies calm and many of us enjoy the experience, because we know we are safe. 

2. The Flood

When we get scared, we experience a rush of adrenaline and a release of endorphins and dopamine. This can result in a pleasure-filled sense of euphoria. Coupled with this, when we are reminded of our safety, the fear factor is reduced, and we are left with a sense of relief and well-being.

3. Self-Satisfaction

Some people enjoy seeking thrills and the sense of self-satisfaction that  is often experienced after. You might also gain a bit of confidence after too!

4. Curiosity

Many people are curious about the “dark side.” The fear of the unknown is one of the most natural and instinctive fears that we have — and it is also one of the oldest curiosities. 

Story Three: Bram Stoker

Intro:

There are countless tales of vampires and blood-sucking demons but few are as famous as Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Dracula is a late Victorian novel that created one of the most popular characters in literature. But did you know that Bram Stoker was actually Irish?

Story:

“When the Count saw my face, his eyes blazed with a sort of demonic fury, and he suddenly made a grab at my throat. I drew away, and his hand touched the string of beads which held the crucifix. It made an instant change in him, for the fury passed so quickly that I could hardly believe that it was ever there.”

Bram – short for Abraham – Stoker was born in 1847, in Clontarf, Dublin. He graduated from Trinity College and became a civil servant, working for the Irish court’s service for 13 years and later emigrated to London.

His book Dracula was first published back in 1897, and tells the terrifying tale of Count Dracula and his attempts at breaking out of Transylvania and escaping to England. It is a gothic masterpiece. 

Stoker was notoriously private and was careful never to divulge what inspired the plot of the book. He told his son that the story was inspired by a nightmare he had after a supper of crab salad, however it has been rumoured that Ireland provided some inspiration…

Stoker was born in 1847, which was the very height of the Great Irish Famine when around a million people died of starvation and another million emigrated. It is thought he incorporated the hardship of the Irish and the real-life disturbing scenes he witnessed into his book.

Not only that but his mother lived through a cholera epidemic in Sligo in 1832. It killed around 1,500 people in the small town in less than two months. She explained how people at that time believed cholera came from the sea and travelled overland like a mist, just like her son would later write off Count Dracula.

It has also been written that Stoker had an interest in Irish folklore and the character of Dracula was based on a Celtic chieftain called Abhartach.

Not only that but some people believe that Dublin Castle, where Bram worked as a clerk, inspired Dracula’s castle. Legend has it he suffered nightmares while working there and it wasn’t until the late 20th century, that archaeologists discovered many decapitated skeletons from the medieval period buried underneath.

Today, Dracula is the most portrayed movie character, having appeared in almost 300 films and inspired countless similar vampiric characters and stories, and you have an Irish man to thank for that!

Glossary for this week’s English language podcast:

This glossary accompanies Episode 5 of the podcast series and will provide short definitions of words and terms you heard or read which may be new or unfamiliar to you.

Introduction:

• relish in – to really enjoy something
• There is no denying it – it’s obvious that it’s true 

Story One

• One-man-show – a performance by one person
• Backup – extra or support
•  without missing a beat – immediately and without any uncertainty

Story Two

• a rush of adrenaline – a sudden surge of adrenaline, the term “a rush” can also be used on its own to mean something similar
• seeking – looking for or trying to find

Story Three

• drew away – moved away 
• breaking out of – escaping 
• Divulge – reveal, usually secrets or important information
• Supper – an evening meal, usually light

Remember there are lots more great podcast and English language resources on our blog.

The post Episode Five: Fear Factor – English Language Podcast appeared first on Everest Language School.

Vocabulary about Music – English Language Podcast

In our fourth episode, we’ll be talking about music and how it makes us feel. There will be a story about music and memory, we’ll hear about some of the benefits of singing and we’ll listen to an article about how music affects the brain.

If you want to improve your English, you’ll find the scripts for each part of this episode here and don’t forget to check out the glossary (vocabulary about music) at the end for words and phrases you may not have encountered before.

Episode Four: Thank you for the music

Narrator: Ever wonder what it’s like for someone not to be moved by music? No foot-tapping to a good tune, or jumping along to the beat at a concert, or singing aloud in the car to your favourite song? Music has the power to transport us, and ignite something in us, it even can make the hairs on your arms stand on end. This episode is called Thank you for the music.

Story One:

I recently saw a story covered on BBC news  about an 80 year old called Paul Harvey. A former music teacher who now has dementia, he is an example of how musical ability can survive memory loss. 

Paul’s son gave his Dad a challenge: to compose a piece of music from just four notes. It had been an “old party trick” of his father’s and he would improvise a song. Although diagnosed with dementia, he has continued to be able to play piano pieces from memory and create new ones. The composition was filmed by his son, put up on twitter and it went viral. 

The brilliant performance was aired on Radio 4’s Broadcasting House for World Alzheimer’s Day, and this led to the BBC Philharmonic orchestra getting involved to orchestrate and play his piece. A great honour. Not only that but the song was released as a single,  and it sped to the top of the iTunes and Amazon charts with proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Society and Music for Dementia. Not many 80 year olds can boast at having a top single. 

Music can help relieve depression, anxiety and other problems associated with dementia. Even those in the most severe stages of the disease, who can not speak or dress themselves, can still improvise music.  Needless to say, it is very moving to watch the clip and it reminds us of the healing power of music.

Story Two:

Narrator: People love to sing, whether you are a budding soprano, or tone deaf. In fact, there’s solid scientific evidence to prove that singing is, in fact, good for your body and your mind. 

Here are just some of the benefits of singing:

Singing is a natural antidepressant

Singing has been shown to be a joyful and uplifting experience. It generates a sense of positivity, happiness and enjoyment and helps distract people from any negative thoughts and feelings.

Singing lowers stress levels

Making music in any form is relaxing. Singing releases stored muscle tension and decreases the levels of a stress hormone in your bloodstream.

Singing stimulates the immune response

There’s evidence that singing boosts the immune system and helps fight off illnesses.

It may improve snoring

Regular singing may change the way you breathe, even when you’re not singing. Researchers found that significantly fewer choir members snored. This led them to recommend regular singing as a potential treatment for snoring.

And Improves lung function

Because singing involves deep breathing and the controlled use of muscles in the respiratory system, it may be beneficial for certain lung and breathing conditions.

Finally, it develops a sense of belonging and connection

When you sing together with others, you’re likely to feel the same kind of camaraderie and bonding that players on sports teams experience.

So what are you waiting for, stick on your favourite song, and sing it loud and proud!

Story Three:

Intro: 

Everyone loves music right? Wrong. For roughly 3 to 5 percent of the world’s population, listening to a song is halfway between boring and distracting. This is a phenomena called musical anhedonia. Although these people may be capable of experiencing pleasure in other ways, they don’t enjoy music. 

Story: 

Research shows that the vast majority of people who enjoy music show an increase in heart rate or skin conductance—where a person’s skin temporarily becomes a conductor of electricity in response to something they find stimulating. Musical anhedonics, however, show no such physical change to music. 

Recently, an experiment at the University of Barcelona identified people who didn’t listen to music as a hobby, and then tested them with numerous different pieces of music. One of the pieces included John Williams heartfelt score to Schindler’s List and the other, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Those affected showed no changes during the music, however they were able to identify what they thought they should be feeling. 

A recent study took those findings a step further by studying responses in the brain to music and found that the listening and reward parts of the brain simply didn’t interact in response to music for anhedonics. 

Still seem strange to you? Well, the findings have helped musical anhedonics within their social circles. They now have scientific proof that music really does nothing for them, and can get their well meaning family and friends to stop sending them songs! 

Vocabulary about Music

This glossary accompanies Episode 4 of the podcast series and will provide vocabulary about music you heard or read which may be new or unfamiliar to you.

Introduction

• Moved – affected in an emotional way
• Foot-tapping – moving your foot in time to music – this can also be a compound adjective to mean that music is lively and upbeat
• make the hairs on your arms stand on end – shocks or frightens you (literally makes hair on your body stand up straight

Story One

• top of the charts – very popular, number one or thereabouts in the list of popular songs
• moving – an adjective to mean that something causes a strong emotional response

Story Two

• • budding – beginning or starting but appearing to show signs of being talented
  • tone deaf – not able to hear differences in musical sounds – used colloquially to mean that some can’t sing or isn’t musical
  • stick on – a phrasal verb to mean the same as put on or play (on a device or player)

Story Three

• • took those findings a step further – to develop or progress something
  • does nothing for them – doesn’t affect them in any way
  • pieces of music – an individual song or composition (remember music is usually uncountable)

Find lots more resources and podcasts to help you improve your English in our podcast.

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English vocabulary about Love , Dating and Matt Damon – Podcast

English vocabulary about Love

Here we are with our third episode in our podcast series and in this one we will be dealing with the topic that has been in all our lives this past year: Covid-19. We will listen to a moving story about a loved one who had the disease, we will hear some pointers on dating during this period and there will be a tale of a Hollywood celebrity locked down in Ireland.

You’ll find the scripts for each part of this episode here and don’t forget to check out the glossary at the end for words and phrases you may not have encountered before.

Episode Three: Love in the time of COVID

Intro:

Covid-19 has turned our worlds upside down. Cities, counties and whole countries have been in lockdown as we try to control this virus. Families and friends haven’t been able to see each other, people have lost their jobs, weddings have been postponed, celebrations re-arranged, and sadly many people have lost their lives. 

This episode is called Love in the time of COVID, and the first story is a young man’s personal account of his Dad’s fight for survival. This is Rob’s story written before Ireland went into their second lockdown. Some listeners might find this story sad and you may want to fast forward to our next story in about 2 mins time.

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Story One:

My dad was admitted to Wexford General Hospital with severe lack of breath, a high temperature and chest pains. They did a Covid-19 test and it came back negative. He was sent home with some medication and told to rest up. A few days later, he called an ambulance and was brought back in, again with all the symptoms of Covid-19. They did another test and held him overnight. The next day, they did a chest X-ray and coupled with the results, it was confirmed he had Covid-19. They said the first test most likely was a ‘False Negative’.

He had severe pneumonia in his lungs and was immediately brought to the ICU. For a few days, my dad seemed okay. With an oxygen mask permanently on his face, the nurses said he was upbeat and was very patient with all that was going on.

Sadly his condition worsened and the decision was made to sedate him and put him on a ventilator. A few days later it wasn’t looking good. His blood pressure dropped severely and his oxygen levels were poor. All kinds of things went through my mind. “Will he die? Can he survive this? Do I begin funeral arrangements? Can he have a funeral in this pandemic? If he recovers, how long will he be in hospital?” 

When I saw my dad hooked up to a ventilator, the reality of how dangerous Covid-19 is set in. This wasn’t someone who had ‘the virus’ and would just be able to isolate, rest up and be back to normal in a few weeks. If my dad recovers, which the odds are extremely low, it will take months, even years, for him to get back to some sort of full health and normality. And that’s the best I can hope for.

My dad’s condition continues to be critical but stable and the nurses and doctors at the hospital are some of the most patient, compassionate people and I wouldn’t want my dad to be in anyone else’s care.

Look out for each other. Call your loved ones. Keep your distance and for God’s sake wear a mask.

Story Two: Dating in Covid

Narrator: As if finding love wasn’t tricky enough before Covid-19, the onset of the virus brought a whole new set of challenges for singletons. A typical date breaks just about all of the World Health Organization’s Covid-19 prevention rules and and so dating has had to adapt to a new normal. With that come a new set of dating rules and tips… 

1. We all meet virtually now.

Video dating has seen a massive increase this year. It’s a good way to first connect and chat, without too much pressure and with the added bonus that you get to do it from the comfort and safety of your home! 

If you progress to a few Zoom dates why not think of something you can do together, like cooking a dish neither of you have done before, watching an online concert together, or doing a virtual escape room.

1. Just like Victorian times, long walks are the first, second and third date options.

Like good old fashioned courting, getting out for a socially distanced walk has become a great first date option, (and a second, and third) . This could be a walk through the city, grabbing a takeaway at your favourite restaurant and going on a picnic, or exploring new hiking trails together. If you are the active type, why not go for a cycle together and grab a coffee to go. 

1. We need to talk about Covid! 

It is important to chat early about what risks you are willing and not willing to take regarding coronavirus. Masks of course are still advised, as is consistent hand-washing. And don’t forget the social distancing at two metres. Which means it’s all about the ‘smize’. Smiling with your eyes. When you decide to have the first hand hold or hug, well that’s up to you.

1. ‘Locdating’

People are more willing to date locally these days and long distance now equals anything more than 5km away. Although some daters will be willing to travel further afield for love.

1. Normal timelines don’t apply:

There has been an increase in slow dating and people are taking their time getting to know each other before meeting up. But don’t forget that all important spark might not be there once you do physically meet.

And finally,

The most important rule: If you’re showing symptoms of any kind, stay home. 

Story Three: Matt Damon adopted by Irish Village

Narrator:

You’d be forgiven for thinking that 2020 felt like a movie plot. Global pandemic, travel restrictions, business closures. But for one village nestled by the sea, Hollywood really did come to them. This is a story about how Matt Damon was adopted by Dalkey village in the suburbs of Dublin.

Story:

When quarantine restrictions came into effect, Ireland went into standstill, and people were forced to self isolate. This included actor Matt Damon, who happened to be in Ireland with his family, on a film shoot for Ridley Scott’s new  film “The Last Duel.” It might sound dreadful to be trapped so far away from home during such a terrifying time but don’t you worry for Matt. He was in the right place!

The whole nation fell in love with the actor as he was photographed coming out of the cold Irish waters with his swimming shorts and towel in a plastic bag, like any Irish man on his holidays.

He wowed locals by giving every impression of being normal, going for strolls, for runs, for coffee, earning him the new Irish name of Matt O’Damon. Not only that but he even went on local radio and announced: “It feels like a fairytale. It’s been incredible. This is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been.” He praised the people of Dalkey who worked to keep the actor and his family from the glare of local and worldwide media.”That’s when I realised how great this place was and how protective everybody here is,” he laughed.

He even paid tribute to the Taoiseach (Ireland’s prime minister) at the time Leo Varadkar calling him a badass for returning to work as a doctor during the pandemic. 

Of course his fairytale stay had to come to an end some time, and he returned with his family to LA but did promise that he’d be back. No doubt Ireland’s love affair with the star will continue and he will be welcomed back with open arms!

 

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English vocabulary about Love , Dating and Matt Damon:

This glossary accompanies Episode 3 of the podcast series and will provide short definitions of words and terms you heard or read which may be new or unfamiliar to you.

Introduction:

• moving – an adjective to mean that something causes a strong emotional response
• pointers – advice or tips

Story One:

• held him overnight – kept him in the hospital until the next day
• upbeat – cheerful and optimistic
• look out for each other – similar to take care of each other or look after each other

Story Two:

• tricky – difficult
• singletons – single people
• courting – a very old-fashioned way to say dating
• further afield – further away, not in the nearest place

Story Three:

• nestled – sheltered, this term is used a lot to describe the location of small towns and villages
• went into standstill – came to a stop, nothing was moving, nothing was happening

• happened to be in Ireland – he was in Ireland by chance, or coincidence
• wowed – impressed 
• welcomed back with open arms – very pleased and happy to welcome him back

The post English vocabulary about Love , Dating and Matt Damon – Podcast appeared first on Everest Language School.

Welcome to the second instalment of our new podcast series. Have you ever swum in the sea in Ireland? If not, why not? Listen to our new episode for some encouragement! We’ll hear about a woman who used to swim in the sea every day, we’ll listen to some practical advice and information about how sea-swimming affects us and we’ll get a first-hand account of swimming in icy water.

You’ll find the scripts for each part of this episode about here and don’t forget to check out the glossary at the end for English vocabulary about sea swimming which you may not have encountered before.

Episode Two: Vitamin Sea

Intro: 

Have you ever thought about sea swimming in Ireland? Does it make you feel cold just thinking about it? Did you know, there are loads of benefits to swimming in cold water? In this episode let us try and convince you to get in the sea at least once in Ireland. Make sure you have a cup of hot tea ready for you when you are finished.

This episode is called Vitamin Sea. 

Story One:

SOUND FX: Rogers and Hammerstein music

As a child, I remember visiting my granny in Dublin. She was young at heart, full of life, always singing along to musicals and driving around in her white Fiat Punto. I thought she was great. A super gran. And her cookies were to die for. But I also thought she was crazy.

SOUND FX: Seaside noises

Every morning, she would join her friends and go for a swim in the Irish Sea. That’s right, every morning, no matter the weather, no matter the season!  I’m sure you know Ireland isn’t known for its tropical climate. But I remember her in the depths of winter, getting in with her flamboyant swimming hats. This was then followed by a flask of tea and chats with friends as they got dressed and warm again. This was an important part of the ritual. I could never understand why anyone would get into the sea in Ireland, especially in winter with temperatures averaging 4-6 degrees, and waters as cold as 9 degrees. She tried to get me in, but I preferred to watch from the shore. Her colourful hat bobbing in the water. I can still see it so clearly.

MUSIC LINK

A lot has happened since then, almost thirty years have passed, and although she is no longer with us, she is still very much present. I now live only ten minutes away from her favourite swim spot, and every time I pass it I think of her, and she comes alive again. Not only that, but I also swim here. I must admit, I’m not swimming every day, but I do get in. If only she could see me now, I don’t think she’d believe it.  Even though I thought she was crazy, I find myself doing exactly the same thing – minus the colourful hats. And I completely understand why she did it. Yes it is cold, but wow, it is invigorating, and a great way to start or end a day. Talk about blowing the cobwebs away!

Story Two:

FX: Lapping waves and gulls

Title: The benefits of sea swimming

Narrator: Are you feeling brave yet? If we haven’t convinced you, well science may do the trick. Now I am not a doctor, but taking a dip has a lot more benefits than you realise!

Skin

Sea water has proven benefits for those with skin conditions, due to it being rich in minerals such as magnesium. Magnesium lowers cortisol, calming your nervous system, and reducing the potential for stress-prompted skin issues. It also can help relax muscles to  promote a better night’s sleep!

Mental health

Hydrotherapy of all sorts has been shown to decrease the symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

In fact, a study commissioned by Swim England to coincide with ‘World Mental Health Day’ found that when queried about the impact swimming has on their day-to-day life, 43% of people who swim regularly said it makes them feel happier, 26% are more motivated to complete daily tasks while 15% believe life feels more manageable.

Respiratory issues

As we all know, sea water is salty. This is good for people with sinus issues, providing relief by opening up the area with nature’s very own saline solution! 

The feelgood factor

Cold water (like the Irish Sea or Atlantic Ocean) can give us a jolt of adrenaline. This burst can change our focus from physical pain and clear our minds.

Narrator: But don’t just take our word for it, and remember to always stay safe and never swim alone.

Story Three: Dee from the sea

Narrator: The next story I hope will inspire you. It is about Dee Newell, an Open Water swimmer from Ireland, swimming regularly in the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. In 2019 she completed the English Channel, a relay swim across the Irish Sea and finishing off the year with a swim from Robben Island to Cape Town. But in early 2020,  Dee completed her first ice kilometre in Antarctica. This is her story:

FX MUSIC:

In February 2020, I stepped aboard the Ushuia (Uuh-shoo-why-a), a ship I lived on for two weeks while travelling around Antarctica. This was a trip my friend always wanted to do, and because it is so difficult to get permission to swim in the waters of Antarctica it was an opportunity I could not miss. That meant getting into water ranging from -1.2 to 2 degrees celsius. 

FX: Heart beat, underwater sound

When you swim in cold water, your body goes into survival mode and is generating heat, so you don’t usually feel cold at this point. However, when you stop swimming the “after drop” sets in. This is when you have stopped generating heat from movement and the cold blood starts to circulate. At this point you get the shivers and it can be extreme. For example, in 2016 I completed a 500m swim at 1.9 degrees celsius and the feeling in the tips of my fingers slowly returned after about four months!

On the final day aboard our ship, after testing weather conditions, and battling colds, the day had finally arrived. It was time to swim. There was no turning back, and I am happy to report that I succeeded despite the odds.

In times of adversity or challenge, something within you takes over, a determination and resilience that you didn’t even know you had. Of all of the challenges I have completed this one gives me so much pride because it is the one I really thought I could not do.

English vocabulary about sea swimming:

This glossary accompanies Episode 2 of the podcast series and will provide short definitions of words and terms you heard or read which may be new or unfamiliar to you.

Story One:

• young at heart – thinking and acting like a young person
• were to die for – they were very desirable or popular (or delicious!)
• in the depths of winter – in the coldest, darkest part of winter
• she is no longer with us – she died or passed away
• blowing the cobwebs away – making you feel more mentally alert and refreshed

Story Two:

• taking a dip – going for a swim

Story Three:

• There was no turning back – a way to say that something has been decided and can’t be changed
• despite the odds – when something succeeds even though it was expected to fail

If you enjoyed this podcast and want to listen to another to another podcast to improve vocabulary and grammar, check out this episode.

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English vocabulary about adventure and overcoming challenges – Podcast

Podcast: Episode 1 of our new season of podcasts

Welcome to Everest’s new podcast series where we can experience together a little of the highs and lows and ins and outs of life. In these podcasts, we will listen to real stories from real people, hear about interesting topics from Ireland and around the globe, and get some advice, tips and ideas for ways to change how we live.

Each episode comprises three parts and our accompanying blog posts here will provide you with the scripts and a glossary for each episode. 

While listening to this week’s episode, listen out for vocabulary about adventure and overcoming challenges. We have highlighted this vocabulary below.

Episode 1 – Challenges

In our first episode, we will be talking about life challenges. We will hear a personal story, listen to an account of the challenges faced by a famous writer, and get to grips with a challenge you might find yourself facing in your efforts to learn English in Ireland.

Script from today’s episode

Life is full of challenges. Some of these we face on a daily basis. While others make a bigger impact. Whether it’s setting up your own business, learning to swim, moving to a new country, getting the courage to perform in front of a crowd, or scaling a mountain, these moments can shape your life. 

On this episode, we are talking challenges. 

STORY 1:

Four years ago, almost to the day, I accepted a challenge. A friend of mine was putting together a small team of people to do something that none of us had done before. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Without thinking too much about it, I jumped at the chance. Who doesn’t love a new adventure? In less than a year’s time, I would be packing up, and heading across the world to start a trek through the foothills of the Himalayas, to Everest Base Camp.

The adventure begins in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and known as the City of a thousand temples. The team are tired after the journey, yet giddy with excitement for what lies ahead. From here we take a flight to Lukla, the starting point of the trek. In a plane just big enough to hold 12 of us, we navigate the narrow valleys and land at the world’s most dangerous airport, which boasts a runway of a tiny 527 metres. From here we start walking. You won’t see any traffic anymore, except for yaks, donkeys, locals carrying triple their weight in produce, and lots of fellow trekkers, porters and guides.

It is hard to describe the ever changing landscape as we climb higher, the temperature drops, the smells, the air quality. But one thing is for sure, we have left Ireland behind. We pass imposing gorges, with rivers gushing through them, we cross rope bridges, we pass temples, we walk, and we keep walking, we go up, we go down, and we start to acclimatise. We mostly stay in tea houses along the way, and nothing is more welcomed than some harty grub after a day’s walking. You walk on average 7-8 hours per day.

I’m making it sound easy, but as you climb higher, there is an ever increasing risk of altitude sickness, this affects your sleep, your appetite, your energy and ultimately your breathing. 

By the time we will reach Base Camp, our lung capacity will have dropped by 70%, two of our team will have turned back due to altitude sickness, and a further two will be helicoptered out after reaching Base Camp. This leaves just five of us on our descent, throw in a chest infection, and impending tonsillitis, you can see the challenges were far from over, and we were still walking! 

It took 7 days to ascend, with 2 days of rest, and  three to get back down. And once our feet were firmly back in Kathmandu we were able to celebrate. What an achievement. I had reached my highest point to date, 5545 metres.

STORY 2:

There are so many challenges that you face when moving to a new country, especially when you are trying to learn a new language. Ireland is famed for the friendliness of its people, and their kindness, but what you might find difficult, is understanding us!

Most of the time, students arriving in Ireland will come with a basic knowledge of English. Maybe you studied it at school, or watched a few English language films. However when you land, the reality is a bit different. The accent is not what you expected, and there are phrases you have never heard before.  

But don’t panic. Keep calm. You got this. Here are a few tips to help you get that accent on your ear:

Watch Irish TV Shows and Films: Try to watch them without the subtitles, or at least with subtitles in English first, this will give you two separate routes to understanding – both visual and auditory. And if you watch them over and over, you get more familiar with the accent and understand the phrases. Win. Win.

Listen to local radio:  Soon the radio announcer will become clearer, and get easier to understand, or why not follow Irish youtubers? No matter what they are talking about, listen out for new vocab and phrases.

Listen to podcasts: If you are listening to this, well you are already on the right track! While you are out for a walk why not tune in to an Irish podcast. Listening to audio with an Irish accent, especially those with transcripts, can really enhance your listening skills.

Finally chat away to your neighbours, the man in the local shop, and get practicing!

Need a few phrases to help you out?

What’s the Craic? – This is a direct translation from the Irish language and means fun. We use it to ask you how you are, or what’s happening? 

Grand, Delighted or Class – Grand is probably used the most out of all three of those words. It means fine.  Delighted is used in a similar way to ‘love to’, for example ‘I would be delighted to go to the concert’,  and you use class when something is amazing, ‘that was class’.

Gas – When something is hilarious or funny or just fun – it is gas.

Wrecked – You will hear Irish people say this when they are referring to how tired they are.

Yoke – This is another word for something you don’t know the name of or what to call it, like thingamajig; or that thing, Irish folk will call it a yoke.

Your man/your one – This is not related to your actual man, or your husband or boyfriend. But rather refers to ‘some guy’.

 No Bother – This saying is similar to the way some countries would say ‘no worries’. It means something is no trouble at all.

come here to me –  When Irish people say “come’ere” they just mean listen, no need to actually “come here”. 

Hopefully all of these will all help you overcome the challenges of understanding english in Ireland!

STORY 3:

We are often faced with rejection. Maybe you didn’t get the job you were hoping for, maybe you didn’t get the promotion at work, or the part in the school show, or picked for the sports team. But it is how you face this rejection that can be the making of you. 

Today, muggles of all ages can’t imagine a world without the magic of Harry Potter but, once upon a time, J.K. Rowling wasn’t so sure. 

She was faced with lots of adversity and overcame lots of challenges on her way to becoming a multi award winning  author. 

Soon after she first had the idea for Harry Potter, her mother passed away and she found it hard to write while she was grieving. For a change of scenery she then took a job teaching English in Portugal and set a goal for herself: The first Harry Potter book will be complete by the time she returns from Portugal.

Things however  did not go as planned. During this time, her marriage ended and she was now faced with raising a baby daughter alone, and so came back to England. She had no job, no book, and a baby to support. This is when she says she hit rock bottom. She struggled with depression during this time, but nevertheless she followed her dream and started writing again.

When she finally finished the first three chapters, she sent the manuscript off to a publisher – but it was rejected. She then sent it to another, who also passed on the project. Her manuscript was sent to 12 different publishers before Bloomsbury took a chance on Harry Potter, and the rest, as they say, is history.

After 20 years, and 500 million books sold all over the world in 80 languages, the books still have the power to transport us to a whole new world and will continue to do so for generations to come.

Glossary – vocabulary about adventure and overcoming challenges

This glossary accompanies Episode 1 of the podcast series and will provide short definitions of words and terms you heard or read which may be new or unfamiliar to you. By studying this vocabulary about adventure and overcoming challenges you will be able to understand this podcast episode and to talk about your own great plans for travel and adventure.

Introduction:

• Highs and lows – the good times and the bad times
• Ins and outs – the small details
• Get to grips with – understand or deal with something

Story One:

• daily basis – a term that means ‘every day’
• scaling a mountain – climbing a mountain
• a once in a lifetime opportunity – an experience unlikely to occur more than once in a person’s life
•  jumped at the chance – to immediately accept an offer
• heading across the world – travelling across the world
• giddy with excitement – so happy or excited you find it hard to think or act normally
• what lies ahead – a term that means ‘in the future’
• imposing – impressive in appearance, causes admiration
• Gushing rivers – flowing rivers
• far from over – still so much more to be done

Story Two:

• over and over – repeatedly
• Win. Win. – Good for everyone involved
• on the right track – following a course that is likely to result in success

Story Three:

• be the making of you – if something is the making of a person it is the reason that they become successful or better than they used to be.
• passed away – to die
• hit rock bottom – a time or event in life that causes a person to reach their lowest possible point and it feels like things cannot get any worse.
• passed on the project – phrase that means they did not take the project on

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