š§ Listen to our podcast here: fanlink.to/ieltssfs š» We have launched an online IELTS Speaking course! It is partially free! Make sure to visit our website to sign up: bit.ly/sfsieltscourse š You can also support us on Patreon: bit.ly/patreonswi šÆ Book a mock IELTS Speaking test with us: bit.ly/mockieltstest
This episodeās vocabulary
To go by smth (phrasal verb) ā to base an opinion, decision, or judgment on something.
Option (noun) ā one thing that can be chosen from a set of possibilities, or the freedom to make a choice.
Valid (adj.) ā that can be accepted as being true or reasonable.
To go up in smoke (idiom) ā Something that goes up in smoke fails to produce the result that was wanted or comes to no practical result at all.
Borders (noun) ā the line that divides one country from another.
Journey (noun) ā the act of travelling from one place to another, especially in a vehicle.
We have also added these words to a āQuizletā set for you to study and revise in your free time: bit.ly/quizlets03e22
-
Questions and Answers
Maria: Rory, how often do you go on holiday?
Rory: Well, if your observation at the start of the podcast is anything to go by, not often enough! Iād like to go on holiday more often, actually. And I think thatās one of my goals for this coming year.
Maria: Do you like taking one long holiday or a couple of short ones?
Rory: I suppose probably the latter, because you can distribute your holidays throughout the year, whereas if you take one long one, then you donāt really have an excuse for taking any other ones, do you? Between now and I donāt like being away from my work or my routine for too long. I get a bit nervous. So I prefer not to take a long holiday
Maria: Yeahā¦ You prefer controlling everythingā¦
Rory: Well, I like everything to be orderly. Why? Why does it have to sound so bad? You make me sound like some kind of control freakā¦ I just want everything nicely done.
Maria: Yeah. Because you donāt like being away from work for a long time, soā¦
Rory: Yeah, but thatās partially because I like my job, and the other thing is I like to make money, soā¦
Maria: He is a workaholic! A workaholic š¹ Do you prefer a holiday in a city or at the beach?
Rory: Itās an interesting question because I think for me both options are equally valid. I guess it depends on more who Iām with. So if Iām with someone that likes going to the city, then weāll go there, and about with somebody that likes going to the seaside. Then weāll go there, for example. But weāve Iāve gone to a lot of cities recently, I suppose, so maybe a seaside holiday is whatās called for just now.
Maria: When did you last go on holiday?
Rory: Um, that would have been at New Year. Iāve been working since then. I was going to have a holiday in May. I was just going to go back home to Scotland for a little while. But that, sort of, went up in smoke with the virus crisis.
Maria: When will be your next holiday?
Rory: Thatās a good question, I thinkā¦ I think itās likely to be in December because it looks like the borders wonāt be open until then, at the very least. And then, of course, if Iām working, then I can just go and leave the students. So I think itās probably going to be the Christmas holidays, actually.
Maria: Why donāt you just take a holiday somewhere in Russia?
Rory: Well, right now Iāve got nobody to go withā¦ And I suppose itās better to focus on being productive right now. And the other thing is, like I say, Iāve got to focus on being productive and Iāve got toā¦ Well, I canāt just leave work, can I?
Maria: No, you canāt! You should stay and work. Slave away night and day. Whatās the best holiday youāve ever had?
Rory: Well, up until recently, I thought last Christmas was my best holiday. I got to see a lot of my friends and family. And I got to introduce myā¦ Well, I got to introduce my former partner to my family. So that was fun. And we had a really nice time. We did lots of different activities. So that was the best holiday. Hopefully thereāll be more like that in the future.
Maria: Sweet. Do you go on holiday alone or with someone?
Rory: My last few holidays Iāve beenā¦ Well, actually, no, my last few holidays, Iāve made the journey alone. But when I was actually on the holiday itself, I was with someone and we met people while we were there. Generally, I think whether itās for the holiday itself or when youāre making the journey, itās nicer being with someone, you can chat to them and enjoy yourselves.
-
Make sure to subscribe to our social media to see some of the ābehind the scenesā stuff: