Podcasts – Themes – Beaches

Introduction
Download the LearnEnglish Themes podcast. You’ll find more information on this page:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-podcasts-themes.htm

This support pack contains the following materials:

• the article that you can listen to in the podcast
• a comprehension activity based on the article
• links to other activities on the LearnEnglish website on this theme (beaches).

Read the article

A beach
by John Russell

Imagine a beach; a quiet place, with only the Storms

noise of the sea and the gulls in the background. Although the sea can be beautiful, this beach is
There are boats floating near the shore and a few sometimes a dangerous place to be. When the
people swimming in the water next to them. It’s a weather is bad there are often storms with strong
hot day, and there are some people lying on the winds. When this happens the waves can get up
sand enjoying the sunshine and slowly going to 2-3 metres high – definitely not weather for
brown. There are no shops, no people making swimming. Every year some of the boats
noises, no loud music, everything is peaceful. anchored on the beach are lost because the sea
There is just the sea, the sun, and the beach; a is so rough. I remember holding down our tent to
little paradise. stop the wind blowing it away on many
occasions! However, if the waves weren’t too
Where is it? high all the children (and some adults) used to go
The beach is on the south coast of Scotland, near swimming in life jackets, as it was very exciting.
a little town called Gatehouse of Fleet in the
county of Dumfries and Galloway. 22 years ago
my family and I found this place for the first time
and we have never really left it. Every year in the
summer while other people go on holiday to
foreign countries and exotic places, we go to our
private paradise and relax. There is a little
campsite with tents and caravans next to the
beach, and this becomes our home for one
month every year.

Growing up
For a child a beach is a wonderful place. Here I
found lots of space to run and play on the sand or
to swim in the water. Being a campsite there
were always lots of other families with children to
play with. Another of my favourite activities was
climbing on the rocks and cliffs around the beach.
Rock pools were very educational places where I
used to study the little fish and sea animals.
Silence was also important; at school I was
always surrounded by people and noise but the
beach gave me the chance to be on my own and
think, or read, away from anyone else.
The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
An interesting hobby
Sailing is a very serious activity in the UK, this
beach is no different. There are large racing
boats for three or more people, smaller boats
(such as the Topper) for just one or two people,
fishing boats and windsurfers. In fact people on
this beach are willing to try any type of water-
sport; water skiing, speed boating, even the
recent sport of sail surfing is becoming popular.
Over the years my family has had 4 different
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 Podcasts – Themes – Beaches

boats, from a small Topper to a large Caprice for Galloway can be seen. Lots of photographers
racing. We have sailed, raced, and fished off the and artists come to the area (also known as the
boats, and have even capsized in bad weather a Solway) because they can capture such beautiful
few times. scenery.

Surroundings
If this beach had been next to a town or near a
popular tourist area I don’t think we would have
continued going there. But its location is very
beautiful indeed. It’s in the middle of green
countryside with many different types of plants
and flowers, and in the background the hills of
A refuge
Even after 22 years, the beach is still a sanctuary
for me. It’s a place away from the rest of the
world where I can forget about life’s problems,
and just relax. In today’s modern, busy world,
everyone should have a place like this.

Glossary
Anchor (v): to make something or someone stay in Life Jacket (n): a piece of equipment, like a jacket
one position by fastening them firmly without sleeves, which is filled with air or light
Campsite (n): a piece of land where people on material and designed to help someone float if they
holiday can camp, usually with toilets and places for fall into water
washing Paradise (n): a place or condition of great
Capsized (v): to (cause a boat or ship to) turn happiness where everything is exactly as you would
upside down accidentally while on water like it to be
Capture (v): to record or take a picture of Refuge (n): (a place which gives) protection or
something using a camera shelter from danger, trouble, unhappiness, etc
Caravan (n): a wheeled vehicle for living or Rock pool (n): a small area of sea water contained
travelling in, especially for holidays, which contains by the rocks around it
beds and cooking equipment and can be pulled by Sanctuary (n): protection or a safe place
a car Tent (n): a shelter made of cloth, which you can fold
Cliff (n): a high area of rock with a very steep side, up and carry with you and which is supported by
often on a coast poles and ropes
Float (v): to stay on the surface of a liquid and not Water-sport (n): sports which take place on or in
sink water
Gulls (n): a sea bird with black and white or grey
and white feathers

After reading

Exercise 1: Answer the 10 questions below about the text.

1. Where is the beach?

2. How long has the author been going there?
3. What's the name of the nearest town?
4. What is next to the beach?
5. Where can you study sea creatures?
6. In bad weather what do people wear to swim?
7. What is a Caprice?
8. What new sport can be tried on the beach?
9. Why is the area popular with artists?
10. Why does the author keep returning to the beach?

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The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
 Podcasts – Themes – Beaches

More activities on this topic

You’ll find links to all the following activities connected to the theme of beaches at:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-charities-beaches.htm
• Word game: Beach. Find 10 words related to the beach in this word square.
• Story: The Golden Boys. A bored teenager cannot take any more of the golden boys after twelve
years of humiliation on holidays.
• Trivia: Everything you (n)ever wanted to know about beaches.
• There are also 2 beach-related cartoons and some carefully selected external links.

Answers
Exercise 1: 1. In Dumfries and Galloway (Scotland); 2. 22 years; 3. Gatehouse of Fleet; 4. A campsite;
5. Rock Pools; 6. Life Jackets; 7. A sailing boat; 8. Sail surfing; 9. It has beautiful scenery; 10. Because
of the peace and quiet

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The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.