Hello, Lovely, I'm Maria.

And my name is Rory and we are the host of the IELT Speaking for Success podcast, the podcast that aims to help you improve your speaking skills as well as your listening skills along the way.

We started this podcast because you want you to use high-level words and gorgeous grammar in your I-old speaking

and in your everyday English life. Dear listener, have you noticed any changes? Yay, the music.

We've decided to add some Christmas spirit, some positive vibes into the podcast and change the music to add some Christmasy stuff.

Oh, talking about Christmas. Rory, what's your Christmas plan? I'd really like to take a holiday

in my hometown. I don't know if it's possible, but it certainly seems like a good idea.

Oh, in your hometown, you say? Because what a coincidence! We're going to be

talking about hometown today. Rory, let's talk about hometown. What's your hometown like?

Oh, I don't know. Imagine a dumpster that's on fire. No, not really.

Actually, there have been a lot of changes for the better made there recently. For example,

we've developed the waterfront and all of the historical sites there, so they're more accessible, and just

the whole thing is much more presentable than it used to be. And despite the crisis, the music and

club scene is still quite good, although it's less so than it was just because of everything

that's happening. So I think if you go there, there's actually a lot to write home about.

How long have you been living there? Oh, I've lived there, well, I lived there on and off for about 24, 25 years before I moved to Russia.

So, quite a long time actually, probably about more than 70% of my life.

Do you like your hometown? Most of the time, yes, actually.

There are some cultural aspects.

I wish people wouldn't indulge in so much.

Like, oh, I don't know, there's this thing about people think,

it's like the superior virtue of being from a bad area

...