Polar Explorer

BBC Learning EnglishWeekenderPolar Explorer
Amber 1:  Hello, I'm Amber, and you’re listening tobbclearningenglish.com.
　　In Weekender today, we listen to an interview withexplorer, Rosie Stancer.
　　In March, Rosie sets off on her latest expedition –walking solo (on her own) to the North Pole. Rosie hasalready trekked 2 all the way to the South Pole, so ifshe succeeds in this latest challenge, she’ll be the firstwoman to reach bothPoles solo.
　　We catch up with Rosie on a training exercise in Canada, inResolute Bay. She talks about the landscape she’spreparing to encounter (including the polar bears!), whatit’s like training with the Army and what she thinks aboutwhen she’s on a gruelling solo expedition.
　　First, though, Rosie describes what it is like in theArctic (the northern polar region), where her nextexpedition will take place. As you listen, try to catchsome of the different colours she mentions.
　　Rosie Stancer‘It is quite ethereal. It is quite out of this world. It’
　　s like being on a different planet, and it’sbreathtakingly beautiful – on a good day! The Arctic,unlike the Antarctic, is actually very colourful – you’vegot very rich, spatial 3 blues 4 and aqua-marines, and then you’ve got all thestartlingly different range of whites, and then the treacleblack of the water.
　　Amber:  It sounds stunning 6, doesn’t it? Incrediblybeautiful.
　　Rosie says there are ‘rich’, strong, blues – ‘spatialblues’ – blues that make you think of space, and ‘aqua-marines’ – blues that make you think of the coloursof water. And there are all different kinds of white, andthe water looks ‘treacle 5 black’ – as black as treacle –treacle is a thick, brown, sticky, sweet liquid. Next,Rosie talks about the polar bears she’ll meet - and howshe must‘respect’ them because she’s on their ‘territory’,their land. As you listen, try tocatch how she describes herself while she’s in the polarbears’ environment.
　　Rosie Stancer‘Well, I have to respect them because, after all, I’m ontheir territory - I’m but a ‘house guest’, as it were!
　　They are part of that environment. They are dangerous andthey are very proficient 7 stalkers. But, they’re also …they’re curious.’
　　Amber:  So she’s a ‘house-guest’ of the polar bears whenshe’s in the Arctic! And she has to be very carefulbecause the polar bears are excellent hunters – they are‘very proficient stalkers’.
　　But for now, she’s training hard with the Army. And whatis that like? As you listen, try to catch the expressionthe Army uses to describe thinking problems out in extremesituations, when you are ‘on your knees’ with exhaustion 8.
　　Rosie Stancer‘They’re excellent because they push you physically 9 intothis different zone. In other words, until you’re on yourknees and then they make you think things out – ‘commandtasking’ they call it. So in other words, you’re forcedinto situations where you’re knackered and you have towork things out for yourself, and this is precisely 10 what I’m going to have to do when I’m out there on my own.’
　　Amber:  ‘Command tasking’ – that’s what the Army callthinking through difficult problems in extreme situations.
　　And Rosie uses a very informal word todescribe exhaustion – to be ‘knackered’. Finally, sheexplains what she thinks about when she’s exhausted,desperate and lonely - how does she push herself on?
　　Rosie Stancer‘Well, first of all, strangely, I’ve never felt lonely.
　　Secondly 11, in a perverse 12 sort of way, I actually enjoyed thepsychological challenge. It’s the exploration – it’s notgeographical exploration – it’s the exploration of one’sown boundaries – that you’re pushing yourself beyond, waybeyond, your normal boundaries. And how are you finding it?
　　What are you discovering? How far can you push?’
　　Amber:  So Rosie enjoys exploring her own ‘boundaries’,her own limits as a person.
　　And we wish her well on her solo expedition to the NorthPole in March. Now here’s a list of the language wefocussed on in the programme today.
　　solo spatial treacle territorya house-guest proficient stalkers command taskingexploring your own boundariesMore entertainment news stories and language explanationsnext time at bbclearningenglish.com