Notice: Did you know you can get an instant definition of any word on this page, just by double-clicking on it?

Try it now! Double-click any word on page to see the definition!

Views #10 | High Beginner 3

Africa Life

Leath is from Africa. He talks about life around his city in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Views Listening Lesson

Todd: OK. Leath, you're from Zimbabwe. Could you talk about that?

Leath: Yeah, OK. Well, I'm from Harare which is the capital of Zim. I was born there.

My folks are British. My dad is from Manchester and my mom is from Scotland. They went out a long time ago. Yeah, growing up in Zimbabwe was "lacker" as we say there. That means really cool in Africans.

It was like you grow up in a big open free place with animals and sunshine and it's just a really healthy place to be. Well at least it was. Today it's not doing too well because the economy has crashed but growing up there was really slick.

Todd: Wow! What animals could you see?

Leath: Just about an hours drive out of any city, you are able to come across just about anything. I've seen leopards often at night about an hour out of the capital where I live. You see monkeys along the road, right up to the city outskirts. In certain areas you'll have to stop for elephants. There's quite a few buck warning signs because they are actully quite dangerous at night. They jump across the road and your cars hit them at windscreen height. It is a bit of a problem. So, there's buck everywhere. Away from residential areas, there's you know your big five, rhino, lion being the most... well interesting and I guess for foreigners. They are never really never around human settlement cause they are very very dangerous. They do take people from time to time.

Todd: Wow! That's fascinating. Thanks a lot Leath.

Leath: You're welcome buddy. OK.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

economy has crashed

Today, Zimbabwe is not doing too well, because the economy has crashed.

If an economy 'crashes' it goes from doing very well, to doing very poorly. Notice the following:

  1. Has the economy ever crashed in Japan?
  2. After the economy crashed many people had problems with money.

slick

Growing up in Zimbabwe is really slick, "lecker" as we say there.

If something is 'slick' it is really cool or fun.  Notice the following:

  1. Your new clothes are really slick.
  2. The hotel was pretty slick.

come across

Just about an hour's drive from any city, you're liable to come across just about anything.

When you 'come across' something, you discover it by chance.  Notice the following:

  1. Did you come across my jacket in the basement?
  2. We came across tons of fruit trees.

city outskirts

You can see monkeys along the road, right up to the city outskirts.

The 'city outskirts' is the outside part of the city far from the city center.  Notice the following:

  1. There is a lot more space around the city outskirts.
  2. How far is it from your apartment to the city outskirts?

from time to time

These animals do take people from time to time.

'From time to time' is another way to say once in a while. Notice the following:

  1. Do you take a vacation from time to time?
  2. We eat in restaurants from time to time.

Vocabulary Quiz

crashed • slick • come across
outskirts • time to time
  1. Do you a lot of wild animals?
  2. The market here a few months ago.
  3. I still see her from .
  4. Is life in the city pretty ?
  5. We have a lot more space now that we live in the city .
Answer the following questions about the interview.

Bình luận (0)

Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Michael Gough
Learning English Everyday