BBC Learning English \ People and places - Barrington Irving Junior | Текст песни

• Тексты песен
• BBC Learning English \ People and places
• Barrington Irving Junior

BBC Learning English
People and places
Barrington Irving Junior
bbclearningenglish.com

Dima: Hello, I’m Dima, and today we are meeting a Jamaican pilot who has recently
impressed the world by becoming the youngest ever man to fly solo around the
globe. The twenty-three year old Barrington Irving Junior began his journey in
March this year in Florida, where he’s lived since the age of six, and finished it
in the same place three months later.
But why and how did Barrington decide to become a pilot in the first place? In
a moment we’ll hear from the man himself. As you’re listening, try to find the
answers to these questions. First, who was Barrington’s inspiration when he
chose his career? And second, what age was he when he first got involved in
aviation? Once again, at what age did he get involved in aviation – and thanks
to whom? Listen out for the word ‘introduced’ meaning ‘made familiar with’:
Barrington 0'19"
No pilots in the family. You know, I was first introduced to aviation by Captain Gary
Robinson who approached me right before I turned sixteen. He said, ‘Hey son, have you ever
thought of becoming a pilot?’ I looked at him crazy and I told him that I didn’t think I was
smart enough to become a pilot. And from that day on he just started to mentor me and work
with me. And here I am today.
Dima: So who was Barrington’s inspiration? It was the pilot Captain Gary Robinson
who suggested that Barrington could become a pilot himself. And how old was
he then? The answer is – just under sixteen, or as Barrington put it, 'right
before I turned sixteen'. Let’s listen again, and this time listen out for these two
words: ‘to approach’ – meaning ‘to make contact with’; and ‘to mentor’
meaning ‘to teach and coach on a daily basis, usually by example’. That’s ‘to
approach’ and ‘to mentor’:
Barrington 0'19"
No pilots in the family. You know, I was first introduced to aviation by Captain Gary
Robinson who approached me right before I turned sixteen. He said, ‘Hey son, have you ever
thought of becoming a pilot?’ I looked at him crazy and I told him that I didn’t think I was
smart enough to become a pilot. And from that day on he just started to mentor me and work
with me. And here I am today.
Dima: So Barrington was 'approached' by Gary Robinson who then 'mentored' him.
Sting
Dima: Now we know a little bit about Barrington, let’s find out some more about his
main achievement so far – his round-the-world flight. The idea of the flight
came about as Barrington was watching young people from his own
community who he thought were often quite negative about life, about
themselves and their future. He decided he had to prove to these young people
that they too can follow their dreams and do something amazing, that you don’t
have to be anything too special to achieve things. As you’re about to hear, there
was at least one time during the flight when he thought he might fail. Where
was it? And what weather factor was the most dangerous? Listen:
Barrington 0'29"
I'd probably say crossing the North Pacific. Here I am, flying in and out of cloud formations
I’ve never seen before, dodging icing conditions … The air, it's just so densely populated with
fog, you know, fog that stretches down, you know, right above the surface of the sea. You
know, I had no radar on this flight and I didn’t have any de-icing on this flight. So I had to
make sure that I was definitely staying within my limits and the limits of the aircraft.
Dima: So where did Barrington feel he was in a serious danger? The answer is – in the
North Pacific. And what was the weather that made him feel this? It was fog.
Let’s listen to him again, and as you’re listening, see if you can catch these
words and expressions: ‘to dodge’ meaning ‘to try to avoid something that may
affect you badly’; and ‘to stay within your limits’, in other words ‘to know how
m

BBC Learning English \ People and places еще тексты