Watch presentation “Sydney” and say what other sights are mentioned in it
Make similar presentations about other cities of Australia.(optional)
Text 7
Read the following dialogue and make up the one discussing its contents.
In this section of our magazine we interview people who have lived in, or been to a foreign country. This month we are talking to Sam Payne, a British girl, about her time in Australia.
Journalist: Sam, why did you go to Australia?
Same: I went to Australia last December to travel with my boyfriend and to see my family there.
J: What did you expect it to be like?
S: I imagined it to be hot of course! But what most surprised me was that there were so many rural areas, as well as all the national parks, the cities and the outback. When we drove through Victoria, I saw lots of rolling green countryside – didn’t realize how diverse Australia was!
J.: Where did you go exactly?
S.: First we flew to Perth for a couple of days, then to Adelaide where we stayed with family friends. Then, from there we hired a car, drove to Melbourne and travelled on the fantastic “Great Ocean Road”, which is a road that runs along the side of the ocean. It was definitely worth seeing.
It was on this part of the journey that we accidentally took the wrong road into a tropical rainforest sear called “Beech Forest” – a complete contrast to the coastline that we just experienced! We were driving around for hours, and it was beautiful, but also scary because we didn’t know where we were going.
J.: What were your first impressions?
S.: I couldn’t get over how varied the country was from city to city and how long it took to reach anywhere. Coming from the UK where places are so close together, it seemed to take forever to go anywhere in OZ. When I first visited Sydney in 1993, I couldn’t believe how clear the skies were. In Britain, it’s always overcast, it was a real novelty not to see a single cloud in the sky.
J.: What did you do there?
S.: For the first month we backpacked around western and southern Australia, then for the last two months I was based at my sisters’ homes in North Sydney and at Coogee, which is near Bondi Beach.
J.: So you didn’t work?
S.: No, I went there for a holiday and the check out places in OZ that I had never been to. I think, though, if you want to work, you can get at least a one-year working visa before you are twenty-six. They are very strict about the length of working visas. However, I have heard that it’s very easy for foreigners to pick up work wither in bars or doing temping work. When I was there, there was a real demand for manual labourers. Exactly the same thing happens with Aussies coming to Britain.
J.: What were the best things about being in Australia?
S.: For me, it would have to be the beach and the outside sea pools. These are natural pools that you get on the coast. They fill up with water from the sea, but there isn’t any danger of sharks or anything like that. There is a great one called Wylies near Coogee beach. I loved going there with my sister in the afternoons. I also absolutely loved Fruit and Veggie bars where you can buy all sorts of really healthy food. The banana smoothies are real goer. The best thing is the way of life there – you can have a high standard of living at a low cost.
J.: Was it easy to meet people?
S.: When we backpacked around and stayed in hostels, it was very easy to meet people – having an Aussie boyfriend though did help too – we knew at least one person at most places we visited. Australians are very friendly.
J.: What were the worst things about being there?
S.: I would say the sharks. I was at Coogee beach one day when we heard the shark siren, and that was a bit of a shock, I can tell you.
Also, all the spiders, snakes and jellyfish. But it’s just a way of life here and it doesn’t seem to bother people too much. Bush fires and drought are more of a threat to them
J.: How were the people different?
S.: They are more laid-back than the English I would say. Nothing seems to phase them, they are really happy-go-lucky kind of people.
J.: What was the funniest thing that happened to you there?
S.: I suppose it was trying to learn how to boogie board with my sister. It would take me ages to try and catch a wave and when I finally did, I would then get caught up in a rip and need the lifeguards’ help to get me out of the sea! Basically I was unde3r the water for a few minutes. It was a bit scary but my sister thought it was hilarious!
J.: Do you have any frightening stories that happened to you on the beach?
S.: Yeah, I do as a matter of fact, my sister always kept warning me to not turn my back to the sea, even if I was just going for a casual swim. But her words didn’t/t really sink in until one day I had a two-metre wave over my head and then went arise over tit – I couldn’t believe it. The sea is very dangerous and my advice would be to anyone, take great care. And if you do see a giant wave coming towards you either duck or swim into the wave when it approaches. The problem is with tourists like me who don’t how ferocious the sea is. People are continually getting caught up in rips and need the lifeguards to save them!
Another thing with tourists, they don’t know how strong the sun is and often come away with third degree burns. That’s happened to me too. I couldn’t smile for a couple of days after that!
J.: Did you have any problems with the language?
S.: Although I am English, I did have the problems with certain Aussie expressions. They are a strange race the Aussies: instead of saying “cheers” when drinking, they say “get it up ya”; when they ask you where your tongs are, you suddenly think they can see something you can’t, then you realize they are looking at your feet! Then it clicks that tongs in Oz are actually flip-flops.
J.: What advice would you give to somebody who is thinking of going to work in Australia?
S.: I would get in contact with the “Australian Commission”. They’ll be able to help you with all the paperwork you need to get done so you can go to Oz. They’ll also tell you about the work opportunities available. Once you’re there, you should check out “TNT Magazine”, which is great for looking for a cheap deals or even organized tours if you just want to visit the country.
J.: Would you go back?
S.: Absolutely! And of course I’m very lucky as I have family out there to stay with.
Text 8
Listen to the speaker and try to think if you would understand all the phrases the Aussies say.
Text 9
Read about famous Aussies. Did you know that they are considered to be of Australian origin? Are all of them Aussies? What facts about these people have you got to know? Can you recall some other famous representatives of Oz?
Text 10
Look through the text and say what kinds of beach goers can you meet in Australia and what are their characteristic features?
Text 11
Do the laboratory work “English everywhere”
Text 12
Read the text about Australian celebrations. Try to find the ones similar to Russian holidays and the ones that are unique.
Australia celebrations
January 1: New Year’s Day is observed as a holiday nation-wide.
January 26: Australia Day, celebrated as the founding day of the nation
February – March 13: Adelaide Festival of the Arts has earned a reputation as one of the world’s foremost international arts festivals, luring established and experimental international performing companies.
March 4-13: Moomba is one of the country’s best ebullient festivals, beginning early in the month with fireworks over the Yarra River, and culminating with a grand pageant on the river bank.
April 1-4: The Easter holiday is observed from Good Friday through Easter Monday (through Easter Tuesday in Victoria).
April 25: ANZAC Day, which honours the soldiers who died at Gallipoli in World War I, will be observed on April 25 in Victoria and Tasmania, April 26 all other states.
June 13: the Queen’s Birthday is a holiday in every state but Western Australia.
June or July: The Beer Can Regatta in Darwin is an event that shows a fire sensitivity to recycling – the sailing craft are constructed from used beer cans! It takes place during the Bougain-villea festival celebrating the coming of the dry season.
Late September: Warana Festival celebrates Brisbane in spring blossom with a series of gala happenings, including a festive parade.
Late September: Heley-On-Told Regatta in Alice Springs is a boat race with a difference – it’s held on a dry riverbed. Crews “wear” the boats, and leg power replaced rowing.
October 13-29: Melbourne International Festival of the Arts, formerly known as the Spoleto Festival, features Australia’s top performers, along with outstanding international productions, at the performing Arts Centre and venues around Melbourne. Weekend ticket packages are available.
Mid-October: Fun in the Sun Festival in Cairns high-lights the city’s tropical setting. A grand parade with floats climaxes a week of entertainment, exhibitions, a yacht race, and a fun run.
December 25-26: Christmas Day, when almost everything is closed nationwide, and Boxing Day, observed as a holiday in all states except South Australia. (The latter stems from era when English squires “boxed” the remains of their Christmas dinner for their tenants.)