B1 English Listening Practice - The Beach

Listening Time

30 Nov 201903:31

Summary

TLDRIn this B1 English listening practice video, the speaker discusses various beach activities, expressing a personal preference for other terrains like mountains and forests. Despite not being a beach enthusiast, the speaker enjoys beach volleyball and highlights other activities such as soccer, sunbathing, boogie boarding, and water sports like surfing and sailing. They also share experiences of sunburn and the appeal of different nature spots. The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their favorite beach activities.

Takeaways

🏖️ The speaker is in the minority of people who do not particularly love the beach but occasionally enjoys it.
🏐 The speaker enjoys playing beach volleyball, appreciating the physicality of the sport and the advantage of their height.
⚽️ While soccer and football can be fun on the beach, the speaker prefers playing them on flat grass fields.
🌞 Sunbathing is not an activity the speaker can partake in due to their tendency to burn easily in the sun.
🚴 Sunburns are a common issue for the speaker, as they recount a painful experience from a bike ride without sunscreen.
🌊 Boogie boarding is a water activity the speaker finds enjoyable and is considering learning to surf, inspired by their students.
🏄‍♂️ Surfing is perceived as cool by the speaker, who has been influenced by conversations with their surfing students.
🪁 Other water activities mentioned include kite surfing, windsurfing, jet skiing, and sailing, with sailing being an activity the speaker has tried.
🛶 The speaker acknowledges that while they have tried sailing, it requires significant commitment and may not be for them.
🌳 Despite not being a 'beach person', the speaker prefers other natural environments such as mountains, forests, and the countryside.
🏡 The speaker recognizes their fortune in living close to the beach for most of their life.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is discussing the beach and various activities one can do there.
What is the speaker's personal opinion about the beach?
-The speaker identifies as part of a small minority who doesn't really love the beach, although they sometimes enjoy going to it.
Which sport does the speaker particularly enjoy playing on the beach?
-The speaker particularly enjoys playing beach volleyball, despite not being a big beach enthusiast.
What is the speaker's physical advantage when playing beach volleyball?
-The speaker's physical advantage is being fairly tall, which allows them to spike the ball over the net.
What are some of the other sports mentioned that can be played on the beach?
-Other sports mentioned include soccer, football, boogie boarding, surfing, kite surfing, windsurfing, jet skiing, and sailing.
Why does the speaker prefer not to sunbathe on the beach?
-The speaker prefers not to sunbathe because they burn easily and cannot get a tan.
What personal anecdote does the speaker share regarding sunburns?
-The speaker shares an anecdote about getting a severe sunburn from a long bike ride while wearing a sleeveless shirt and not using sunscreen.
What water activity did the speaker grow up doing and finds fun?
-The speaker grew up doing boogie boarding and finds it fun.
Why is the speaker considering learning to surf?
-The speaker is considering learning to surf because they have had students who are surfers and they made it sound interesting.
What are the two main reasons the speaker is not a big beach person?
-The two main reasons are that the speaker burns easily in the sun and prefers to spend free time in other natural settings like mountains, forests, and the countryside.
What does the speaker suggest about their relationship with the beach despite not being a big beach person?
-The speaker suggests that they are lucky to have lived close to the beach for most of their life, appreciating its proximity even if they prefer other types of terrain.

Outlines

00:00

🏖 Beach Activities and Personal Preferences

The speaker opens a listening practice video on the topic of the beach, a place most people enjoy. However, they admit to being in the minority who do not particularly love the beach, although they do appreciate it at times. The paragraph delves into various beach activities such as sports like volleyball, soccer, and football, with a personal preference for beach volleyball due to the enjoyment of the physicality and the advantage of being tall. Sunbathing is mentioned, but the speaker confesses to being prone to sunburn, sharing a personal anecdote about getting severely sunburnt during a bike ride without sunscreen. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of water activities, setting the stage for more detailed discussion in subsequent paragraphs.

🌊 Water Activities and Personal Beach Experiences

Continuing the discussion, the speaker talks about water activities they enjoyed growing up, such as boogie boarding, which they find fun despite its simpler nature compared to surfing. They describe boogie boarding as lying on a rectangular board and being pushed to the shore by waves. The speaker expresses interest in learning to surf, inspired by their students who are surfers. They also mention other water activities like kite surfing, windsurfing, jet skiing, and sailing, with a personal note on having tried sailing on a bay but not in the ocean. The speaker acknowledges the appeal of sailing but recognizes the commitment it requires, which they do not see themselves pursuing.

⛰️ Personal Preference for Other Terrains Over Beaches

The speaker explains their lack of enthusiasm for the beach beyond the issues of sunburn. They have a preference for spending free time in other natural environments such as mountains, forests, countryside, and even deserts, indicating a broader appreciation for nature beyond just the beach. Despite this preference, they acknowledge the fortune of living close to the beach for most of their life, which provides them with a unique perspective and appreciation for the beach's appeal to others.

📢 Closing Remarks and Call for Audience Engagement

In the concluding part of the script, the speaker invites viewers to share their favorite beach activities in the comments section, fostering a sense of community and engagement. The video ends with music and applause, signaling the end of the session and leaving the audience with a positive and interactive experience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Beach

A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles, typically sand or pebbles. In the video, the beach is discussed as a common leisure destination where various activities can be enjoyed, though the speaker expresses a personal preference for other types of terrain.

💡Beach volleyball

Beach volleyball is a team sport played on sand with a net separating the teams. It is mentioned as one of the speaker's favorite sports, highlighting the physical activity of moving and diving in the sand, which the speaker enjoys despite not being particularly fond of the beach.

💡Sunbathe

Sunbathing involves lying in the sun to tan or relax. The speaker mentions that this is a common beach activity but personally avoids it due to a tendency to sunburn easily, contrasting with those who enjoy sunbathing for the tan.

💡Boogie boarding

Boogie boarding involves riding a rectangular board on the water, typically lying down, as waves push the rider towards the shore. The speaker reflects on boogie boarding as a fun activity done in childhood, noting it as less impressive than surfing but enjoyable.

💡Surfing

Surfing is the act of riding waves on a surfboard. Although the speaker hasn't surfed, they express interest in learning, influenced by conversations with students who are surfers, illustrating the allure and skill involved in surfing.

💡Kite surfing

Kite surfing is a water sport combining surfing and kite flying, using a kite to harness wind power for propulsion across the water. The speaker mentions it as one of the more exotic beach activities, emphasizing its adventurous nature.

💡Windsurfing

Windsurfing involves riding a board while holding onto a sail that is attached to the board, using the wind to move. It is another beach-related activity mentioned by the speaker, adding to the variety of exciting water sports available at the beach.

💡Jet skiing

Jet skiing is a high-speed water sport using a small motorized vehicle that skims across the water. The speaker lists it as a popular beach activity, highlighting the thrill and speed associated with jet skiing.

💡Sailing

Sailing involves navigating a boat using sails to catch the wind. The speaker shares personal experiences of sailing in a bay, contrasting it with ocean sailing, and notes the extensive training required to master sailing.

💡Sunburn

Sunburn is a skin condition caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, leading to red, painful skin. The speaker discusses their susceptibility to sunburn, using a personal anecdote about a severe sunburn from a bike ride to illustrate the risks of sun exposure.

Highlights

Introduction to the listening practice video for English learners.

The speaker admits to not being a big fan of the beach, unlike most people.

Discussion of various sports that can be played on the beach, such as volleyball, soccer, and football.

Personal preference for beach volleyball due to the enjoyment of moving and diving in the sand.

Admission of being tall and having an advantage in beach volleyball.

Preference for playing soccer and football on grass rather than sand.

Sunbathing is not an option for the speaker due to a tendency to burn easily.

A personal anecdote about a severe sunburn experienced during a bike ride without sunscreen.

Introduction to water activities at the beach, such as boogie boarding.

Boogie boarding is described as fun, but not as cool as surfing.

Interest in learning to surf, inspired by conversations with surfing students.

Mention of more exotic water activities like kite surfing, windsurfing, jet skiing, and sailing.

Sailing experience on the bay and contemplation of the effort required for ocean sailing.

Personal preference for other natural terrains like mountains, forests, and countryside over the beach.

Acknowledgment of living close to the beach and feeling lucky for it.

Invitation for viewers to comment on their favorite beach activities.