Woman: I’m petrified of flying.
Man: This means you are very frightened. For example:
Woman: I’m not scared of flying, but I’m petrified of going to the dentist.
Man: No, I’m not afraid of flying either, but I’m petrified when I drive in Italy.

Woman: I panic when the plane takes off.
Man: Panic means you have a sudden feeling of fear that cannot be controlled and stops you thinking clearly. Take off is a phrasal verb, and in this example it means when the planes leaves the ground.
Woman: I always panic when I have an exam.
Man: I panic whenever I have another birthday, I don’t like getting older, but it’s better than the alternative I suppose.

Woman: I always worry if the plane is going to crash.
Man: A crash means to have an accident in a vehicle.
Woman: My husband is going to kill me. I’ve crashed his car again.
Man: Don’t worry, I’ve had 4 car crashes this year, luckily nobody was injured.
Woman: I’m scared of hijackers.
Man: Hijackers are people who take control of a plane by force, usually for political reasons
Woman: I always sit at the back of the plane, and watch the people to see if anybody looks like a hijacker.
Man: With all the extra security checks at airports these days, it’s unlikely someone could hijack a plane.

Woman: Now let’s listen to an article adapted from CNN about the fear of flying.

People who have a fear of going up in an airplane have to live with flying fears. There are a few specialized centres, such as the Fear of Flying Clinic in California, which offer therapy and workshops designed to help people overcome flying anxiety.
A pilot, a mechanic and an air traffic controller explain the basics of aerodynamics and flight safety procedures and take clients on a tour of the control tower and maintenance area A therapist also works with participants to help them determine what their base phobia is. The seminar ends with a short flight.
The experts also suggest a few tips on how to conquer a fear of flying:

• Learn relaxation techniques that may help you stay calm;
• Introduce yourself to the crew and let them know that flying makes you uncomfortable). They may be able to offer some extra assistance during your flight;
• Dress comfortably and eat before you fly;
• Don’t wait until the hour before the flight to start preparing yourself for the journey.