【英語リスニング・中級】Farm Life (No.994)

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Todd and Monica discuss the allure of life on the farm.

Todd: Monica, you mentioned a farm home stay in New Zealand. Have you ever actually ever lived on a farm?

Monica: I haven’t lived on a farm as such, but I’ve visited family friends who have lived on farms.

Todd: Did you like it?

Monica: Yeah, I remember loving visiting my family friends on farms. Yeah, especially riding horses. I loved riding horses when I was young.

Todd: So are you good? Are you an equestrian professional?

Monica: I wouldn’t say that. I do remember one time. My mother always seems to tell people this story about when I was young, and we were at her friend’s farm. I was on a horse, and the horse took off, and I was only about, I think ten at the time and I was hanging off the side of this horse and my mother was really worried for me, and then when the horse finally stopped she … you know … she came running up and asked me if I was OK and things, and apparently I said to her, “Oh, it’s OK. I wanted it to go fast.”

Todd: That’s cute. You’re lucky you didn’t get hurt though.

Monica: Yeah, well, I guess I just didn’t sense the danger.

Todd: Actually, I kind of grew up on a farm. My grandfather had a ranch growing up so I spend every summer on his ranch, so I have quite the … I don’t know … I guess I have a lot of experience on a farm. Yeah, it’s good. I remember when I was young I thought the life on a farm was just the best. I mean I had it so good, and I loved everything about living on a farm and I thought when I was gonna get older, I would want to be on a farm, but now that I’m older, I couldn’t image doing it every again.

Monica: What can’t you imagine doing?

Todd: I don’t know, I guess, I just couldn’t imagine all that work, and I think I’m just so addicted to city life or suburban life and living in a house and just doing work on computers and things like that. I couldn’t go back to that lifestyle, but when I was young, I have to admit, I enjoyed it a lot. So how about you? Could you see yourself moving and living on a farm?

Monica: Well, yeah, I think my thoughts are similar to yours in that I’m very used to being inside using a computer, and I’m used to a very different lifestyle to one that involves being on a farm, but yeah, I’ve never had a long period of time where I’ve stayed on a farm like you so yeah maybe it’s a bit different for me.

英会話ボキャブラリー確認

レッスンの中のいくつかの語彙について学びましょう。

as such

I haven’t lived on a farm as such.

The phrase ‘as such’ functions similarly to the word ‘but’ and can often be omitted. Notice the following:

1. I’m not a professional musician as such, but I’ve played drums at many school parties.
2. I’m not a professional musician, but I’ve played drums at many school parties.

I wouldn’t say that

An equestrian professional? I wouldn’t say that.

We use the phrase ‘I wouldn’t say that’ when something is not 100% true. Here are two samples:

1. I wouldn’t say I’m fluent in English as such, but most native speakers understand me.
2. I love History and I studied it in college, but am I an expert? I wouldn’t say that.

hanging off

I was hanging off the side.

When somebody or something is ‘hanging off’, it is attached from above with no support from below. Notice the samples:

1. As the fire raged, people were hanging off the outside of the building.
2. My neighbor always hangs her laundry off the balcony.

sense the danger

I just didn’t sense the danger.

When we sense something we have a feeling about it, but we don’t know exactly why. Here are some samples:

1. Jogging through the park at night, I didn’t sense the danger people often speak of.
2. Judging by her silence, he sensed his teacher was annoyed.

suburban life

I enjoy suburban life and living.

The suburbs are an area just outside the city. There are a lot of houses and small apartments, but not many tall buildings. Life there is very different from city life. Notice the sample sentences:

1. For me, suburban life is boring and far from places I like to hang out at.
2. Suburban life is great for families. It’s quieter and safer than the city.