Interview with Alex Chemla
- Nick Nantais NEWN
- Feb 8, 2021
- 3 min read
Play the episode here and follow along with the text
3 PARTS
Importance of being physically active during COVID
University life so far
Alex’s cultural background/heritage and how it ties in to his identity as a French- Italian-Canadian
INTRO
Where are you from?
Why did you come to Ottawa?
If there’s one thing that Ottawa can offer you that Toronto can't, what would it be?
STUDIES
What do you study and what made you choose it?
Is there a specific environmental issue off the top of your head that you think needs to be resolved ASAP?
If you hadn’t chosen to take environmental studies, what is another program you would be interested in taking?
What do you think are some advantages and disadvantages of moving out of your home city to study?
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING COVID
How has working out helped you deal with the uncertainty of COVID?
I know you’re big into soccer, what’s your favourite team and what was your plan sports wise before COVID hit in terms of joining school teams at the university?
Do you think that closing gyms across the province is an effective way of reducing the spread of COVID? What are some of the drawbacks of doing so?
CULTURE
As a 3rd generation Italian-Canadian, what Italian traditions if any are part of your life at home?
Have you been to Italy? Where did you go and how did you like it?
What are three things you think Italy does better than Canada?
You speak mostly French at home right? What advantages has being bilingual brought you?
How does french play a role in your life?
How do you think the European lifestyle differs from the North American one?
Listen #2
Most Difficult Words & Expressions
Let’s get into it (1:09)= let’s get started
That sounds like a prime location(slang) (2:20)= That seems like a great location
A getaway (5:03)= a vacation
to tackle an issue/ challenge (5:28)= to take on, deal with
Standpoint (5:35)= point of view
To do a co-op= to get on the job experience in a subject related to your field of study; similar to an internship. It can be paid or unpaid.
ASAP (7:38)= as soon as possible ( a common spoken abbreviation)
To be big on something (8:53) (slang)= to be a supporter of something
To pick out (informal) (10:39)= to identify
To be reliant on someone/ something (10:48)= to be dependant on someone/ something
To be tough (informal) (11:00)= to be difficult
To go after something/ someone (11:14)= to pursue/chase something/ someone
To take a toll on someone (12:00)= to make you tired, have negative effects on you
To be overwhelmed/ get overwhelmed (13:05)= to feel like you have too many things to do at once, overstimulated
To have something in store (13:53)= to have something planned
For example: What do you have in store for today?
Alex said “Torino” which is Italian. In English, it is called the city of Turin in Italy. (14:16)
To make it (14:30)= to do well in practise for a sport’s team that you make the team; you are asked to be on the team.
To try out for a team (14:35)= to “audition” for a team, to try to get on the team.
“Intramurals” (14:48)= an organized series of sporting events created by an institution to encourage healthy living.
To go wrong with (informal) (14:50)= to make a bad decision
For example: you can’t go wrong with that ( that can’t be a bad decicion)
To be on your radar (15:25)= to be something you are thinking about, aware of
A drawback (15:40)= a negative consequence
To have a picnic (18:02)= to get together with friends and/or family and go to a park and eat outside on a blanket
To catch up with someone (18:07)= to talk about things you haven’t had the chance to talk about since you haven’t seen each other
To go to mass (18:40)= to go to church
A good vibe (slang, mostly young people use it) (18:48)= a positive atmosphere
Loads of (informal) (19:25)= a lot
that’s bless (Toronto young people slang)= that’s great
It slaps!/ that slaps (Toronto slang young people)= that’s so good (food), that’s awesome
To be chill ( a person) ( slang) (24:30)= to be relaxed, nice to be around
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