Week Ly English Practice

Weekly Edurne Pasaban: Two Lifetimes in One 21st May 2020 Before you read the article, Last Sunday marked the 10th dedicate my life to climbing them find this vocabulary in the text: www.englishcoachingprojects.net anniversary of Edurne Pasaban all. I just couldn't see myself as a [email protected] becoming the ﬁrst woman to 8000er: a mountain over 8,000 metres high professional mountaineer: there climb all fourteen 8000ers. ECP to be knackered: to be exhausted were too many hurdles, above all coach Rob Hextall ﬁnds out to scupper: to ruin, to sabotage economic,” she said in an more about the Basque climber. feats: achievements, success interview with Planet Mountain. When I reached the summits of gruelling: exhausting, fatiguing But by the end of 2003, with six Aitzgorri, Aketegi and Aitxuri last hurdles: obstacles, barriers 8000ers under her belt, she had summer - that last peak being to settle down: put down roots become a candidate to win the the roof of Euskadi - I was both ‘race’ to be the first woman to English euphoric and knackered. I’d to be crushed: be broken, defeated conquer all fourteen. Economic needed three attempts to climb help came in the form of the ‘the white rock’, poor planning and bad weather Spanish TV programme ‘Al filo de lo imposible’ and having scuppered previous attempts. she became a full-time mountaineer. I’ve set myself the goal of climbing the highest peaks of It’s an exhilarating, addictive and dangerous life. Visit Edurne Pasaban's blog places that are important to me: England, Scotland, Some people never make it back to base camp and Wales, Ireland, the Basque Country, Euskal Herria and Edurne nearly lost her life twice - on K2 and peninsular Spain. My own particular Seven Summit Kachenjunga. Her hardest struggle, however, was Let’s chat challenge. I’ve got three left to do and, quite frankly, returning home. “I was in my thirties and I saw my time is running out. My knees are starting to complain friends settling down and making families. They had about that! and finding a partner in crime for each climb isn’t easy. everything I wanted, that I had left behind. I was Write your opinions in an email So, why do I bother? Well, I’ve always loved walking nearly crushed by this comparison, and it was only and send them to your ECP coach! when I recognised that it was the mountains that gave up hills, I enjoy setting myself challenges and in a humble way it allows me to emulate heroes of mine sense to my life that I managed to find the inner Practice who have achieved far more extraordinary feats. strength to combat my depression.” What mountains/hills have you climbed? Describe them. One of those heroes is Edurne Pasaban who, ten Pasaban has, however, finally achieved her goal of years ago, became the first woman in the world to having that ‘other’ life, the ‘normal’ one. Ten years climb all fourteen eight-thousanders. Her life story is after making the summit of Shisha Pangma to collect What is your opinion of the an absorbing one, like the mountains she climbs, with her final 8000er and the honour of being the first risk involved in this sport? a seemingly simple beginning, followed by a woman to do so (her Korean rival Oh Eun-sun’s claim gruelling journey to the top of her profession and a was not recognised by experts), she has settled complicated descent back to ‘normal’ life. down, formed a family and runs her own business as a What “gives sense” to your Born in Tolosa (1973) to a family of engineers, lecturer and coach. She also organises humanitarian life? Explain your answer. Pasaban’s path seemed to be a clear one. After projects in Nepal and owns a restaurant in Zizurkil. studying engineering and then management, she She has a message for these difficult times too: “When What options are open to began to work in the family’s tool-making business. coming down from a summit, the euphoria of the athletes when they retire? But her passion for climbing soon took her to the Alps moment can mean you let your guard down and that’s and later to the Himalayas, all while still working. when people die. The same applies to COVID-19. We In 2001, she conquered Everest at the third attempt. are all tired of this situation but the danger isn’t over Do you have any goals like “It was my first 8000er but I never imagined I’d and we must continue to act responsibly.” Rob’s Seven Summit challenge? Social Events In English Practical English Stuff Real-Life English in Vitoria-Gasteiz Real Language to Express Yourself Better Improve your English with Friday 29th May What’s the difference between ECP’s Quick Jokes ‘mountain’ and ‘hill’? Don’t say: “I went to the mountain.” A mountain is much higher than a hill and requires a lot of effort to climb. A hill, on the other hand, is easier to walk up and can also be used to describe parts of towns and cities such as streets and parks. “I lived in Windsor Avenue. My house was at the top of the hill.” “There is a hill just outside town that people like to walk up at the weekends.” A big thank you to everyone “A wry and likeable comedy about who participated in our first ever FANTASTIC real people living real lives.” TALENT NIGHT! It was so much fun we Click here to watch the quick will no doubt be organising another one! joke and find out what the correct expression is. Some typical expressions Saturday 6th June We went for a walk in the country. And a round of applause for We went for a walk around town. everyone who entered ECP’s We walked from ‘X’ to ‘Y’. FLASH FICTION competition! We went up/climbed a hill. The winners will be announced We went hiking/trekking. in next week’s WEP..

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