English
Conversation
NATURE
Focus Points
Nature vocabulary
Better adjectives
Native expressions
Do you like being outdoors or are you
more of an indoor person?
I’m quite outdoorsy. Being in the nature works
wonders after a stressful day.
Definitely an indoor person. I’d rather cozy up on the
sofa than deal with creepy crawlies and the weather.
Notes
Works wonders = has a beneficial / positive effect on
someone.
The skin cream works wonders for my dry skin.
COZY UP = to get cosy (usually with someone).
Cozy (US) / Cosy (UK).
Creepy crawlies = a child-like word for insects.
Is your hometown hilly or flat?
How does this affect your life?
It’s pretty flat where I live, which makes biking around
super easy.
There are some steep hills. It’s worth climbing to the
top because there are some magnificent views. It’s
really picturesque.
Notes
Pretty = quite/a bit.
Pretty = beautiful.
Biking around = not a common expression.
Cycling around = more common.
I am going cycling = for sport / exercise.
I am going for a bike ride = leisure / with the family.
Glottalisation.
Glottal-T.
Steep (adj) = a high gradient in the hill.
Picturesque = beautiful scenery (like a picture).
Are there trees in your neighborhood? If
not, where are the nearest trees?
We’re surrounded by forest in Finland. In the
countryside, the houses are usually dotted along the
edge of the forest.
I live in the city, so trees are few and far between, but
there’s a small garden down the street.
Notes
Preposition collocations (grammar).
Dotted = randomly situated.
“There are castles dotted around the south of England.”
Scattered.
The churches are scattered around the countryside.
Few and far between = in small quantities / not many.
Describe a tree that you see quite often.
There’s a huge tree stump outside my front door. It’s a
100 year old oak tree that was planted in memory of a
child who used to live here.
There are lots of pine trees. They are so straight and
narrow, with needles that stay green all year round.
We forage the young pine needles and often make
pine needle syrup.
Notes
A stump = the remains of a tree when it has been cut down.
Stumpy (informal adjective) = to describe someone who is short and fat.
To use (something).
Used to do something.
To use.
Useful.
To use (pronounced zz).
Used to (pronounced ss).
Narrow.
Wide.
To forage = to gather wild food.
How does your natural environment
change throughout the year?
The winter is ruthless. The sea and the forests freeze
over and it’s usually between -15 and -30 degrees.
In the summer, everything is green and lush, but by
winter, the trees are bare, and it’s covered in snow.
We get four distinct seasons here—late summer / early
autumn is my favourite because you can pick
mushrooms and berries.
Notes
Ruthless = showing no compassion for others.
Ruthless / brutal.
Freeze over = completely frozen.
Lush = very healthy, bright green grass.
Lush (slang) = good looking / good tasting.
A bear = an animal.
Bare = naked.
Bear with me = wait a moment.
Barefoot = without shoes / socks.
Where does your drinking water come from?
Can you safely drink directly from the faucet?
Yeah, tap water is fine to drink and even better if you
use a filter.
The water is treated at the water plant. It’s safe, but
I’d rather drink natural spring water from the
mountains, or glaciers.
Notes
Faucet = tap.
Fine = good / ok.
Fine = safe.
I would prefer to...
I would rather...
How far do you live from the ocean?
Is the ocean important in your life?
I’m a stone’s throw from the sea. It plays an
important part in my life.
I grew up on the coast, so it feels odd to be away from
the water for too long.
Notes
A stones’ throw = very close to.
It plays an important part.
It plays an important role.
Grow up = only humans maturing / getting older.
Grow = plants, for example.
My child has grown (height).
My child has grown up (matured).
What are homes usually made of where you live?
I live in a traditional nordic house. It’s red, and made
of wood. Timber is big business in Finland.
English houses are usually made from brick and
mortar. I think they are colder than Finnish houses,
but maybe it’s because people are too tight to put the
heating on.
Notes
Timber = wood made for construction purposes.
I would prefer to buy my clothes from a brick and mortar
company = from a physical shop (not online).
Tight = unwilling to spend money.
Which natural disaster is most
likely to affect your community?
If I have to choose, I’d say forest fires are the biggest
threat, though they’re not common.
We’re hit with heavy storms every year, so we make
sure to stock up on supplies just in case.
What kinds of insects do you see around you?
Mosquitoes! I can’t stand them!
The usual suspects; spiders, flies and gnats.
Notes
I can’t stand it = I hate it / I can’t handle it.
Usual suspects = the people you would expect to find in a
particular place.
What types of birds live near you?
You can see hundreds of cranes migrating in the
spring and autumn. They’re very graceful but they
make an awful racket!
Occasionally, you can see eagles hovering over the
forest and they sometimes swoop down to catch their
prey.
Which crops grow well in your part of the world?
We have a few veggie patches in the garden. We
usually grow carrots, pumpkins and some green leaf
vegetables.
The farming season is quite intensive here due to the
short summers. Rye, wheat, rapeseed and barley are
popular crops grown in the area.
Are all the animals near you domesticated?
There are many wild animals and you hardly ever see
them because they scarper when humans are around
There are deer, moose, wolves and bears in Finland.
You seldom see bears on the west coast, but there was
a rare sighting recently, just 5km from my house.
Idioms : nature
The tip of the iceberg – A small part of something much
larger and more complex.
"The pollution you see is just the tip of the iceberg—there’s
more damage happening beneath the surface."
Weather the storm – To endure a difficult situation.
"We’ve had some challenges, but we’ll weather the storm
together."
