Listen to Vance Stevens talking about Abu Dhabi.
Here’s the Voicethread we used to leave comments and questions to Vance.
In the comment area, you’ll see the group’s replies and Vances’ comments to us.
Learning Any Time, Anywhere
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Tks a lot for Vance’s participation on this week. I clearfied me vision about that city. I’vew a frien who travelled to Arabi Emirades and she got impressioned with how amazing is tthe place and the technology they’re using to build things over the sea. Great. See you!
Jaime
It’s always nice to hear both Carla and Vance speak, and this was no exception.
I enjoyed hearing lots of detail about Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I think the most interesting part for me was what Vance said about mail and the fact that there are no real street addresses in Abu Dhabi.
I think this was an excellent listening practice because it was “live” and spontaneous.
Dennis
Dennis in Phoenix
Wow! How interesting listening!
I’m surprised about they have problem with mails, I think they are “full” of technology, why they don’t use it to improve this kind of service there?
And it means that if you plan to visit Abu-Dabhi you’ll really need a tour guide!
I saw a documentary about Dubai and what a wonderful place! I confess that when I saw the activity about Abu-Dhabi I thought Carla was talking about Dubai, after listening to Vance I realized I had made a mistake.
I can imagine the city and the peolple from many other countries walking on the street and speaking different languages.
Visiting there could be a great experience.
It was good experience for me to hear you talking about Abu Dhabi and Dubai.This week I read a lot about the Emirates and the Middle East.
It’s impressive what happening in that region.I don’t know that in Abu Dhabi there aren’t street addresses!How people find each others? I can’t imagine how!!Nice to met you, Vance and my dear teacher Carla…thanks one more time.It was great moment!!
Warm regards from Brasília
Mônica Gill
Hey, what a lovely conversation!
I really like the sound of living in Abu Dhabi! I’ve always wanted to live in an Arabic country and learn Arabic. I’d particularly like to live in Oman as I’ve heard it’s got some amazing history.
Thanks for this Carla and thanks too to Vance.
Seth.
WOW!!!! I never knew that Abu Dhabi was that interesting!!!
Since it is an island, lots of buildings and entertainment should be above the water!!! So cool, I would love to see that!!!
Thanks Vance! Now, I really feel like going there!
Amanda
Carla, Vance
It’s so interesting to hear such a nice conversation. Doesn’t it sound like you never get bored in Abu Dhabi, when you thnk you’ve seen it all, they go out and change the whole scenery.:)
Wow!
Carla, Vance
It’s so interesting to hear such a nice conversation. Doesn’t it sound like you never get bored in Abu Dhabi, when you think you’ve seen it all, they go out and change the whole scenery.:)
Wow!
Hi Carla, Vance
It was a great interview.It is very interesting the mail system adopted there, including because Abu Dhavi is a developped city. I’ve heard something similar for some cities in Asia, including the difficulties to get an address in Tokyo, but it was amazing to know it about Abu Dhabi.I can imagine how difficult is for the postman to find some places wich the landmarks changed..
I believe when Vance says that his life is very confortable.They are investing a lot of money in these emirates to get more tourists. If I would like to visit Dubai, now I am curious to visit Abu Dhabi, too.
Warm regards from Brasilia
Luiz
Hi Carla,
It was very interesting what Vance said about Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I can´t imagine how to live with a service of post office like we was listenig about. In Brasilia it´s so easy going to an adress that I don´t know how it would be. Tanks for the opportunity to learn about a modern place that I haven´t known.
Warm regards from Brasilia
Marcia
Very good explanation about this city. I’ve seen some videos and I liked the city. How far is Abu Dhabi from Dubai? It takes a long time? This city seems to be very interesting because you know different people and share experiences with other cultures.
Hope I can visit it some day!
Thaline
Thank you Carla and Vance for sharing this interview. We could practice a lot our listening skills, and improve our general culture about that region. Here in Brasil we just listen about conflicts at all the Arab world, and we forget that there are a lot of fantastic places like Abu Dabhi. It’s difficult for us (especially in Brasília) to imagine a city without address, and I found curious the part that Vance said that the ocean was farther away and that they built more beach!!!
Hi, Carla and Vance,
Thank you for this good information about Abu Dhabi. This conversation helped me to improve my listening practice and my knowledge about the city and the Arabic Emirates in general. I always thought that the Arabic Emirates was a region of conflict like many others cities from the arabic world.
Thank you!
Valquíria
Dear Carla and Vance,
, it’s really fascinating think of a developed island with many buildings and many expatriates populating that place.
Thanks for sharing such a nice conversation. Except for the address system
Since its very constrained area, they must have an effective control of the island. Can you imagine tearing something old down to put something up new? This is a real proof that money moves human being’s wishes, isn’t it?
Best regards,
Luciano.
Hi Caral and Vance
Thanks to show us a small history about Abu Dhabi. I confess you that I’m surprise with this interesting place: culture, entertainment, views…. So I’d like to register my intencion to visit it as fast as possible beacuese I think that it wil be a great expericence.
Thank you very much.
Hi everyone,
It’s really interesting to read people’s reactions to Carla’s small interview with me. It is true though. I have met Israelis in India who talk to me because my t-shirt has Arabic writing on it and they are quite surprised to hear that there is a state in the Arab world that is tolerant if not exactly liberal, and well developed, as they are not well informed of what goes on in the Arab countries beyond their borders. It is a shame what is going on in the region, all the money wasted on war, when in this country there is an excellent example of how the whole region could have progressed had it not been cursed with oil (or blessed, in the case of the UAE). There are other aggravating factors, but UAE has managed to avoid all of them so far. The only thing they have failed to develop here is the postal delivery system. In fact, there are no door to door postmen in the UAE (they couldn’t function here, how can you have mail delivery if no one has an address?), and getting around the town, finding people’s houses when we go to parties or just to visit, is a constant comedy (do you remember where Al Noor hospital used to be? We’re in the building with the supermarket right across the street from there).
I don’t know if I mentioned my favorite past-time in Abu Dhabi, or more precisely in Dibba on the east coast. We live in the west of the country. Dubai is 2 hours away (or 3 in traffic) and Dibba is about 2 hours beyond Dubai (driving at max 120 km per hour).
http://prosites-vstevens.homestead.com/files/divelogs/dives2008/logs2008.html#080502
Carla, the listening about Abu Dhabi, with you and Vance was really interesting. I couldn’t understand some things, but it was better than I thought before to start the listening. I already have read some articles about Dubai, so I understood almost all the conversation. I was very surprise with the information about mail. It’s really strange, a developed city like that doesn’t have an efficient mail service. Other interesting thing for me, is, a little country like Dubai to get being so different if compared with the others countries from the same region.
Thanks Carla and Vance,
Daniel
Daniel,
The points you mentioned are really surprising. I guess Abu Dhabi not having street addresses and an organized postal service keeps everybody wondering the reasons for it…As for the regional differences, it certainly strikes us.
You said you had read about Dubai before. What did you know before listening to us? Your background knowledge helps you to prepare for the listening.
Oh, yes, guys, and we forgot to mention that besides all the excitement Vance has as an educator living in Abu Dhabi and traveling around, he’s a DIVER! Check his log. It’s a fantastic account of his diving journeys.
First o all thanks you for the Dubai explanation, Vance, for me it’s the first time that I listennig about Adu Dabi this way.
I liked this city, but it’s so far from us and I think that you need much money to live there.You showed me that it’s a smal city,it’s a island, and you are around the ocean, because of this the adress are dificult to find, like this Paquetá, a island close to Rio de Janeiro.I think that you already choose this place to live, you speak with hapiness about this place.
You live well, comfortable, the city doesn’t violence, you can walk on the street without problem, you can see many shows, like Carlos Santana ,you go to restaurants, where you can eat meals an good wines.The most important point is that you make and work for something that you enjoy, teaching computer. ( how I need to learn this.. I’m terrible on computer )Do you always teach computer, since 1997? When you speak that you try to learn arabic and you don’t get,yet; I need to say you that I try to learn english a long time ago…but one day I get it. However, you can listen around, french, spanish,and you improve your listennig plus on several idioms. What pity… You never listennig portuguese…
Well, I think that it’s ok, and it was a great oportunity to me listenning this dialogue.
Thnks. Leila
Dear Leila,
You’re a fast learner! You’re having this first online experience and is blogging, participating in online forums, in audio chats. You’re doing great!
How long have you been practicing English? Have you started and stopped studying it many times?
I’m glad you enjoyed listening to Vance. Wait for more!
I only wish I could have a face2face gathering with us all and Vance. He’s a very nice and funny guy! I had a wonderful time with him in New York where we got together in April with other friends for an international conference.
You can see us here and Vance is the funny guy on the table!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2012/2392104699_34602fb190_m.jpg