Sydney
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Ann
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Todd
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Todd: OK. Ann, you spent quite a bit of time in Australia recently so why don't you talk about that?
Ann: I really liked living in Australia. I was an international student and I studied education at the University of Sydney. Lliving in Sydney was fantastic becuase I could go to the beach anytime I wanted and there was a great nightlife in Sydney. There are lots of great clubs. People were very, very friendly and easy-going and I met a lot of international people living in Sydney.
Todd: How long were you there?
Ann: I was there for almost a year.
Todd: Oh, OK.
Ann: I travelled a little bit in Australia. I went up the east coast, up to Frasier Island which is a world heritage site. I saw dingos running along the beach and sharks in the water. We climbed cliffs and went through a rain forest and went camping and then we went up to the West Indies, which is a bit further north. The further north you go in Australia, the hotter it gets. We were able to go swimming in the ocean and I went diving for the first time but it was a little bit risky because I didn't have a diving license. I went on an introductory dive and I saw a giant clam that had a really spongy purple inside that I was able to touch and then the clam closed up really quickly.
Todd: So, did you lose your finger?
Ann: Almost.
Todd: Almost. Ah, you're lucky. It's funny, you go in the water and you worry about sharks but not clams.
Ann: Exactly.
Todd: Will you be going back to Australia soon?
Ann: I'd like to go and live there for at least another year. Probably I'll go back to Sydney or I may go down to Melbourne because it's a really interesting cultural city. They have lot of museums and parks.
Todd: OK. You got to choose real quick. Only one city, Montreal or Sydney, which do you choose?
Ann: Sydney, without a doubt.
Todd: OK. All right. Thanks a lot.
Ann: You're welcome.
spent time
You spent time in Australia quite recently, so tell us
about that.
To 'spend time' in a place is to be there for a while. You can also spend time with people. Notice the following:
- You have spent a lot of time in the sun recently.
- Do you spend a lot of time with your grandparents?
nightlife
There was a great nightlife in Sydney.
Nightlife refers to bars, clubs and restaurants that people go to at night to see friends and meet new people. Notice the following:
- It is small town that has no nightlife, so I moved.
- Many people move to the city for the nightlife.
risky
It's risky to go diving without a diving license.
Something that is 'risky' could have bad consequences. Notice the following:
- It is risky to walk alone at night.
- Skydiving is a very risky sport.
lose (your)
finger
You're lucky you didn't lose your finger to that clam.
You can 'lose your finger' if something bites your finger or snaps it off your hand. Notice the following:
- The dog bit me and I thought I might lose a finger.
- He lost his finger in a farming accident.
without a doubt
If I have to choose, I'll choose Sydney, without a doubt.
We use the phrase 'without a doubt' when we have a strong opinion about something. There is no question in our minds about our opinion. Notice the following:
- Without a doubt, you will be offered some type of job.
- This was, without a doubt, the best year of my life.
clams
On my dive, I saw a giant clam.
A clam is a sea creature that lives in a shell that opens and closes. Notice the following:
- We found a pearl inside the clam.
- We had clams for dinner..
Vocabulary Quiz
clams • lost his arm • doubt
