节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2014-02-06
难易度:High
关键字:sauna, stimulate, ethnic, inland, crepe
We are continuing with the second day of our lesson on Spectacular Sochi.
Today we have spent a lot of time discussing the Russian sauna, or banya.
It's a great place to relax and remove bad things from the body through the hot,
wet steam.
Well, let's continue learning more about this fascinating city as we continue
the second section on the food and read about Krasnaya Polyana.
Read up... open up your magazines as we continue.
And then we'll join Michelle in the Language Lab.
(Music).
Spectacular Sochi.
Snack on Georgian khachapuri (cheese bread), sink your teeth into Caucasian
specialties like khinkali (dumplings),
and don't forget to leave room for blini, the Russian version of a crepe.
Krasnaya Polyana.
Travel inland a bit and you'll find Krasnaya Polyana, a far suburb of Sochi in
the Caucasus Mountains and the location of several ski resorts.
If skiing and snowboarding are your passion, you'll love hitting the slopes here
during winter.
Well-maintained facilities, a variety of runs and several cozy hotels and
restaurants made Krasnaya Polyana a Russian vacation favorite you'll have to
experience for yourself.
Whether it's summer or winter, on the beach or in the mountains, if you visit
Sochi, you're sure to have a fun and relaxing vacation!
(Music).
OK.
(Chinese).
OK, let's go to our teacher.
Thank you, Michelle.
This food section is great.
Yes, I'm feeling hungry already, Carolyn.
Not to mention the verbal phrases used to introduce each of these foods.
Yes, I suppose those verbal phrases are good, too.
But I'm much more interested in the food, like the Georgian cheese bread.
Well, that's one that you can snack on, which means that it's not a meal but it
would make a great snack.
Well, I would certainly enjoy it here right now.
There are lots of things that you can snack on, like chips.
You can snack on chips.
But you can also snack on healthy things like vegetables and fruit.
Very true.
I also wouldn't mind sinking my teeth into some of the dumplings mentioned in
our lesson.
And that's another great phrase, Gabe.
If you sink your teeth into something, then you do it with a lot of enthusiasm.
You are very excited about it.
And this actually isn't just for talking about food.
You could say that she was eager to sink her teeth into designing a new tourism
package.
Or we are ready to sink our teeth into this lesson.
And of course, Gabe wants to sink his teeth into some dumplings.
Yes, of course I do.
And of course I'm going to leave room for some Russian crepes as well.
And that's the last phrase in the section: to leave room for something.
If you leave room for it, then you make sure that there is extra space left for
something else.
So I always make sure to leave room in my stomach for dessert.
You could also leave room in your travel plans to spend the day just exploring
the city without going to the usual tourist destinations.
Well, we want to make sure to leave room in our lesson to talk about the next
section, so let's move on.
Good idea.
We've moved on to a suburb of Sochi that is located in the mountains.
And it is the home of several ski resorts.
That's right.
You can go there to hit the slopes.
Another fantastic phrase, Gabe.
What does it mean if you would hit the slopes?
Well, it means that you are going to do something on the ski slopes, so either
skiing or snowboarding.
So you aren't actually hitting anything, you are going skiing or snowboarding on
the slopes of the mountains.
There is another word used here as well: runs.
Now this is not a place that you go running, right, Carolyn?
Right. This is another name for a ski trail.
So ski resorts usually have several different runs that skiers and snowboarders
can enjoy.
And this particular ski resort town will host some of the Winter Olympic events.
Many additional hotels and ski lifts have been built to accommodate for the
increased number of guests and Olympic medal hopefuls.
So, even if you don't go there during the Olympics,
there will still be lots of hotels, restaurants and convenient ski lifts to
choose from in this Sochi suburb.
And I think that these are all things that you should experience for yourself.
But right now it's time for us to visit Steve and Ken in the Information Cloud.
They want to tell us more about how to tell which runs are suitable depending on
a person's level of ski experience.
If you ever go downhill skiing, you should know how the runs or trails are
categorized.
Very important.
If you don't know what kind of a run you're skiing down, you are apt to hurt
yourself because the run may be too difficult for you to handle.
So let's talk about the different categories of runs you'll find at a ski area.
But first, if you've never skied before, you should start on the bunny hill,
which is a section of a ski area set aside for children and those who are new to
skiing.
It's nice and wide and has a very gentle slope, the perfect place to learn how
to ski.
Once you learn how to turn and stop, you can go for runs that are marked by a
green circle.
Those are the easiest trails on the mountain.
Green circle trails are gentle and groomed, meaning the surface is nice and
flat.
If you're an intermediate skier, you can try going down runs marked by a blue
square.
Blue square runs are a bit steeper, and they make up the majority of trails at
most ski areas.
Now if you're a very good skier, you might be tempted to try the black diamond
trails, which are among the most difficult at a particular mountain.
Black diamond trails tend to be steep and may or may not be groomed.
And then there are the double black diamond trails, which are extremely steep
and usually narrow and bumpy.
These are intended only for the most experienced skiers.
You enter them at your own risk.
(Chinese).
Hi there, friends.
My name is Liz.
And thanks for joining me here at the Grammar Gym.
Let's have a look at today's Grammar Tip sentence:
Well-maintained facilities, a variety of runs and several cozy hotels and
restaurants make Krasnaya Polyana a Russian vacation favorite...
Basically, it means Krasnaya Polyana is a Russian vacation favorite because of
three things:
well-maintained facilities, a variety of runs and several cozy hotels and
restaurants.
Notice the pattern in today's sentence:
[Quality 1], [quality 2] and [quality 3] make [something] a [description].
So when you want to describe how several qualities make something what it is,
then consider using this pattern.
For example:
Easy adjustable straps, a waterproof outer cover and various built-in pockets
make this backpack a popular choice for many travelers.
Or: Children-friendly menu, wide open spaces and an indoor playground make this
restaurant a popular place for families.
If you'd like to see some more example sentences, they're available in today's
Grammar Tip section in your Studio Classroom magazine.
That's all the time we have for today.
Thanks again for joining me here at the Grammar Gym.
This is Liz. I'll see you next time.
Thank you, Liz.
Well, there is a lot to do in this little area.
So whether it's summer or winter, you can enjoy visiting Sochi and the
surrounding areas.
Gabe, you used another great grammar pattern that we should look at: whether
it's something or something else.
You can use this pattern to show that something is true regardless of the
situation.
For example, whether it's hot or cold outside, I'm always in the mood to eat hot
pot.
Or whether you're young or old, you can enjoy going to the hot springs or maybe
the Russian saunas.
And as we read in the article, whether it's summer or winter, on the beach or in
the mountains, Sochi is a great place for a relaxing vacation.
It sounds like it.
And right now it's time for us to enjoy a review skit.
And then we'll join our editor Linda for a summary of today's lesson.
Hey, look here!
Who? Me?
Yes. It says that all eyes are on Sochi, Russia.
Oh, really?
Yes. It's the location of the Winter Olympics.
Yes, I know that.
And it's a popular summer resort.
Well, I didn't know that.
So no matter what time of year it is, the region is full of things to see and
do.
Well, maybe I'll go there someday.
You should go there someday.
You don't want to miss out.
Well, what else is in that area?
The Russian navy and a stunning war memorial.
How patriotic!
And there are parks and tea gardens.
Well, that region does have a lot to offer.
It says here you can sweat your troubles away.
What? How?
Well, in the saunas and spas, people actually beat each other with tree
branches.
Oh, how rude!
It stimulates circulation.
Well, no, thank you.
Are you interested in food?
Well, sure. Who isn't?
Sochi has ethnic foods you won't find anywhere else.
Can I sample Russian foods?
Yes, and food from surrounding countries, too.
Cheese, dumplings, crepes.
Wow! What else does that place offer?
Mountain ski resorts and cozy hotels and restaurants.
Wow! That sounds great! Let's go!
But I don't even know you! Huh!
Oh, yeah.
We continue our visit to Sochi today by taking you to experience a Black Sea
sauna.
They use tree branches to beat one another to stimulate circulation.
And of course we can't forget the ethnic foods.
Russian, Georgian and Caucasian specialties are all waiting for you to try.
And if you need even more adventure, go inland where you will find ski resorts,
cozy hotels and restaurants and even more for you to explore.
Winter or summer, go to Sochi.
Thank you, Linda.
We've had a fantastic two days learning all about the spectacular city of Sochi.
Carolyn, what is one thing you want to do when you visit this place?
Well, you know, I'd really like to go to the Park Arboretum and just explore.
What about you, Gabe?
You know, I want to try all the exciting food and relax in a banya.
Well, what do you want to do?
Talk about it in English.
And of course we'll see you next time right here at Studio Classroom.