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Session 28
Is it better to live in a big city or somewhere quiet? In today’s episode we will be discussing the places where we live.
Magaalaa guddaa tokko keessamoo bakka callisaa ta’e tokko keessa jiraachuu wayyaa? Sagantaa har’aa keessatti bakkawwan iddoo jiraannuu mari’anna.
Session 28 score
0 / 4
- 0 / 4Activity 1
Activity 1
No man is an island
Look at the Session Vocabulary – make sure you know what these words and phrases mean:
- claustrophobic
- inhabitants
- uninhabited
Quiz
Approximately how many islands belonging to the British Isles have people living on them?
a) 50
b) 100
c) 200
Listen to the discussion and find out the answer.
Listen to find the answers. Then check them on the transcript below.

Caalii
Yooyyaa! Gara English Together kan mata duree tibbanaa irratti mari’annuufi qooqa ittiin dubbachuun si barbaachisu siif qoodnutti baga nagaan dhufte. Ani Caaliidha. Akkasumas Toomifi Shaan na waliin jiru.
Tom
Hi everyone, I’m Tom. Welcome to today’s episode, and I’m with…
Sian
And I’m Sian ! Hi everyone!
Caalii
Har’a waa’ee odolawwanii, addattimmoo waa’ee odolowwan Biritish(British Isles) dubbanna. Saganticha ittifufuun dura, gaafiin har’aa kunooti. Odolowwan kan Biritish ta’an keessaa, kan namoonni irra jiraatan tilmaamaan meeqa ta’u?
a) 50
b) 100
c) 200
Deebiisaa, sagantaa kana gara boodaarratti sitti himna.
Tom
I don’t see why anybody would want to live outside London, to be honest.
Sian
What do you mean? Why would you say that?
Tom
Well, London, the city has everything really, doesn’t it? Bright lights! Loads of shops! Huge crowds of people!
Sian
I find it all a little claustrophobic, actually.
Caalii
‘Claustrophobic’ jechuun, bakka xiqqaa fi naannoonsaa cufamaa ta’e keessa jiraachurra soda dhufuudha.
Sian
I’d say my claustrophobia comes from exactly the same things Tom was just talking about! There’s just no space in the city!
Caalii
In that case, you’re probably going to be interested in today’s news story. Kliipiin ykn kutaan kun BBC 4 Faarmiing toodey irra kan fudhatameedha. Innis waa’ee odoleewwan yoo ta’u Iskootlaand keessatti odolowwan irra jiraachuun fudhatama argachaa dhufuusaa kan dubbatuudha.
Presenter
First today, many small island communities struggle to retain their residents, but the people of Papa Westray, or Papay, as it’s known locally, are fighting back. In the last census the population of this tiny Orkney island was recorded at just 90, but that’s a 38 percent increase since 2001. The Papay Development Trust says that more people have moved to the island since then and the future’s looking bright! The island seems to have a strong draw for outsiders. So, what’s its secret?
Guest
Life in Yorkshire was too busy, very stressful. We wanted somewhere that was, for our son, freer, where he could play and have a lot more freedom outdoors and where life was simple and that we could just have a simpler, freer life.
Sian
Wow! That sounds like paradise to me.
Caalii
‘Paradise’ jechuun jannata.
Tom
I mean it’s more of a desert island, really, isn’t it? I mean how many people live there? 92? It’s deserted, nobody.
Sian
Well, we’ve just seen how the population is growing! Considering that the number of inhabitants is growing every year, I’d say they’re doing pretty well!
Caalii
‘Inhabitants’ jechuun jiraattota. But why would anyone want to inhabit somewhere so far away?
Sian
Well, I think a lot of people get tired and want to live somewhere a bit more secluded.
Caalii
‘Secluded’ kan achi-bahe jiruu. But wouldn’t you get lonely, living in such a secluded place?
Sian
No, I don’t think seclusion means that you need to be lonely. Imagine the sense of community you’d get with such a small set of people!
Tom
I’m not convinced. Do you know what they say? No man is an island!
Caalii
What? What do you mean by that expression?
Tom
It means that people need company! Islands stand alone in the middle of the sea and obviously people can’t do that! In fact, did you know the word ‘isolated’ actually comes from the Latin word for island, which is insula?
Caalii
‘Isolated’ jechuun kan qofaatti adda bahe. 90 people living on an island, that’s really isolated, isn’t it?
Sian
But that’s not necessarily a bad thing! We are talking about the isolation of communities, not individuals! You’d probably benefit from a more communal way of life because people would depend on each other.
Caalii
Maalumaafuu, waa’ee odolawwanii otoo dubbannuu, deebiin gaafii har’aa kunooti. Deebiinsaa C- dha; Yunaaytid Kingdam keessa odolawwan namoonni irra jiraatan 192tu jiru.
Tom
192 islands, that’s unbelievable. You see, Sian, you can take your pick!
Sian
I like the sound of the island of Papay, actually.
Caalii
Atihoo? Bakkan jiraattonni ‘inhabitants’ heddu argaman ni jiraattaa? Bakka xiqqaa fi naannoonsaa cufamaa ta’e keessa jiraachuun si sodaachisaa ‘claustrophobic’ sitti ta’aa. Yoo akkas ta’e tarii ati odolowwan bakka jannataati ‘paradise’ jettee yaadda. Odolawwan ‘isolated’ qofaatti adda bahuu akka danda’aniifi ‘secluded’ achi-bahoo akka ta’an dubbanneerra. Turtii waliin qabaanneef galatoomi; barnoota dabalataa “English Together”n torban ittaanu walitti deebina. Nagaatti, Bye!
Meaning & Use
claustrophobic (adjective)
This is an adjective that refers to crowded or enclosed spaces that makes people feel uncomfortable. It comes from the noun claustrophobia - fear of enclosed spaces.
Public transport feels really claustrophobic when it's busy.
I need to get outside - it's too claustrophobic in this flat.
There were so many people coming out of the football match, it felt really claustrophobic.
paradise (noun)
Paradise is a place where everything is perfect and it is very pleasant to be in.
A sunny beach is paradise for me.
It was beautiful, and I was the only person there - it was like paradise!
Paradise for me is somewhere I can just relax and be on my own.
inhabitant (noun)
An inhabitant of a place is someone who lives there (or inhabits it). A place with no inhabitants is uninhabited.
When they found the island, there were no inhabitants.
The inhabitants of the city wanted things to change.
The country has 50 million inhabitants.
secluded (adjective)
A secluded place is somewhere that is private or far from other people.
He loved the secluded beaches on the island.
I like to find a secluded spot to relax in.
She liked a quiet life and lived in a secluded house in the forest.
isolated (adjective)
Somewhere that is isolated is far from other people or settlements and can be hard to access.
It was expensive to buy food on the island as it was so isolated.
Isolated communities can find it hard to access health care.
If people have few friends, they can feel really isolated.
No man is an island
4 Questions
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii ta’e fili.
Help
Activity
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii ta’e fili.
Hint
The adjective describes a place that is far from other places.Question 1 of 4
Help
Activity
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii ta’e fili.
Hint
The word means 'somebody who lives there'.Question 2 of 4
Help
Activity
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii ta’e fili.
Hint
You need a word that means 'makes you feel uncomfortable'.Question 3 of 4
Help
Activity
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii ta’e fili.
Hint
You need a word that means 'a place is perfect for someone'.Question 4 of 4
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Over to you!
Would you like to live on a small island? Do you like to be isolated? Do you need to be with other people? Tell us on our Facebook group.
Join us for our next episode of English Together when we will learn more useful language and practise your listening skills.
Turtii waliin qabaanneef galatoomi, barnoota dabalataa English Together torban ittaanu walitti deebina.
Session Vocabulary
claustrophobic
bakka xiqqaa fi naannoonsaa cufamaa ta’e keessa jiraachurra soda dhufuudhaparadise
jannatainhabitants
jiraattotauninhabited
bakka onaa ykn keessa hinjiraatamnesecluded
kan achi bahe jiruisolated
kan qofaatti adda baheno man is an island
namoonni jiraacuuf kanneen biroorraa gargaarsa fedhu