# Living and working in Sydney **Language:** English **CEFR Level:** A2 > Listen in as Abigail and Lucas talk about the realities of daily life and local culture in Sydney in real, everyday English. By the end of this course their conversation will feel easy to follow, and you'll be ready to join in. **Setting:** Abigail and Lucas are expatriates working at the same design agency in Surry Hills, Sydney. They regularly chat during their morning coffee runs and daily train commutes about navigating their new lives in the city. ## Lessons ### 1. Describing your daily commute Abigail and Lucas run into each other before work and compare their morning commutes to the cafe. ### 2. Talking about where you live Lucas describes his new studio apartment, while Abigail shares details about living near the beach with a roommate. ### 3. Discussing your weekend habits Abigail talks about her weekend beach routines, and Lucas reveals his interest in surfing. ### 4. Comparing different places Lucas and Abigail compare the waters of Seattle and Sydney before heading inside the cafe to order. ### 5. Expressing preferences for coffee Lucas and Abigail order their favorite drinks and discuss why they love the coffee culture in Sydney. ### 6. Discussing your after-work plans Lucas offers to pay for their coffee, and Abigail asks him about his plans for shopping after work. ### 7. Discussing the cost of living Lucas and Abigail talk about the high cost of food and rent in Sydney and agree that living near the beach is worth it. ### 8. Suggesting a weekend activity Abigail invites Lucas to a beach day in Coogee this Saturday and recommends a new cafe near her apartment. ### 9. Discussing local food experiences Lucas and Abigail talk about popular Australian foods like Vegemite and meat pies, and Lucas shares his experience eating a pie at a sports game. ### 10. Describing a sports event Lucas tells Abigail about his experience watching an Australian rules football match and describes the fast pace of the game and the loud crowd. ### 11. Describing your roommate Lucas and Abigail discuss how much Australians love sports before Abigail shares what it is like living with her helpful roommate. ### 12. Explaining local slang words Abigail shares some funny Australian slang words she learned from her roommate, and Lucas talks about his own experience hearing them. ### 13. Describing local people and places Abigail and Lucas talk about how friendly and relaxed the local people are as they receive their coffee and walk through a beautiful park to work. ### 14. Talking about what you miss Lucas and Abigail admire the trees in Sydney, leading Lucas to share what he misses about his rainy hometown of Seattle. ### 15. Discussing winter weather and activities Abigail and Lucas compare winter weather in Boston and Sydney, and Lucas explains how the warm climate allows him to surf year-round. ### 16. Expressing fears about outdoor activities Lucas tries to reassure Abigail about surfing safety, but she admits her fear of waves and sharks, preferring to stick to hiking on land. ### 17. Asking about hiking trails Lucas asks Abigail about local hiking trails, and she recommends a scenic coastal walk from Coogee to Bondi. ### 18. Planning an outdoor activity Lucas and Abigail discuss taking photos of the cliffs during their walk, and Abigail invites him to go this coming Sunday. ### 19. Agreeing on meeting details Lucas and Abigail coordinate the details for their Sunday walk, deciding on a start time and a meeting spot outside her apartment. ### 20. Asking about public transportation Lucas asks Abigail how to get to the starting point of their walk, and she explains which bus to take. ### 21. Talking about daily habits Abigail and Lucas discuss the length of their bus ride and joke about Abigail's heavy coffee consumption. ### 22. Asking about someone's workday Lucas explains how coffee helps him focus, and Abigail asks him about his scheduled meetings for the day. ### 23. Complimenting a coworker Lucas and Abigail realize they are in the same meeting and exchange compliments about their creative talents. ### 24. Asking about a work project Abigail and Lucas take a moment to sit on a bench outside their office, where Abigail asks Lucas for an update on his design project. ### 25. Describing work challenges Lucas explains why his current work project is difficult, and Abigail sympathizes with his frustrating client situation. ### 26. Comparing workplace cultures Abigail and Lucas discuss how work culture and hours here are much more relaxed than in America. ### 27. Correcting a vocabulary mistake Lucas makes a small mistake with the phrase "work-life balance," and Abigail gently corrects him before they head inside. ### 28. Inviting a coworker to lunch Lucas invites Abigail to have lunch together, and they agree to meet in the office kitchen at noon.