Learning English with CBC

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1 Lesson 94: Self Study Edition Learning English with CBC Listening Lessons for Intermediate Students Based on CBC Manitoba Radio Broadcasts December 16, 2013 Level: Topic: Language Skills and Functions: CLB 6 and up Flavie Laurent Centre Listening listening to a short interview for mood, emotion or attitude; listening to questions for meaning Speaking expressing purpose; responding to questions Reading reading and analyzing a graph Writing writing a thank you note Language Competencies: Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Listening and Speaking Strategies, Socio-cultural/sociolinguistic Competence Language Tasks: Discuss how your community helps people in need Use new vocabulary in context Listen to an interview with a client of the Flavie Laurent Centre for mood, emotion or attitude Understand and respond to questions Express purpose using the expression so that Read and analyze information on a bar graph and answer detail and inference questions Write a thank you letter to the Flavie Laurent Centre on behalf of the client who was interviewed in the podcast Essential Skills: Reading text, oral communication, writing, document use Appendices: Transcript of the podcast Answers to Worksheets Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 1 of 17

2 Manitoba Memo When we think of the holiday season, we think of the many traditions that have to do with giving and receiving. There is the tradition of gift-giving amongst families and friends. Some employers offer a lunch, dinner or office party to celebrate the season. Holiday cards bring greetings from people from afar. Many of us choose to donate items for Christmas hampers or buy a toy to donate to the Christmas Cheer Board, the Salvation Army or other organizations. We might make a special donation to the local food bank, as their resources are always stretched at this time of year. Or we may respond to a year-end donation request from a charity that does work we value. What we sometimes forget however is that for charitable organizations and their clients, giving and receiving isn t limited to the holiday season. It happens all year round. Those who are on some form of government assistance but still cannot make ends meet, the homeless, people dealing with mental or physical disabilities, pensioners, the unemployed, immigrants and refugees, or others who are just down on their luck, rely on charitable organizations every month of the year. Take, for example, the Flavie Laurent Centre in the St. Boniface neighbourhood in Winnipeg. For thirty years, the centre has been providing free furniture and clothing to between 350 and 500 clients a week. People whose circumstances make them eligible for the centre s services come there looking for everything from a bed to a kitchen table and chairs to warm winter clothing. Unlike the many other charitable organizations that provide these items at a low cost, the Flavie Laurent Centre provides them free of charge. Their clients are eternally grateful. The Flavie Laurent Centre has its roots in faith. It was founded by the Grey Nuns and continues to have close ties to the Catholic Church. Its stated goal is to reduce poverty by offering support and physical goods for free for people in need. The centre has a board of directors, a small staff and many volunteers. It is funded through a variety of private and non-profit sector grants and government programs. Many individuals also donate money to the centre. The household items and clothing collected comes from the community at large and from businesses. Under Canada s income tax law, contributions to registered charities are eligible for a charitable tax receipt. A portion of the donation amount can be claimed when an individual or business submits their tax return. This tax provision helps charitable organizations raise the money they need to operate. It is important to have organizations like the Flavie Laurent Centre in the community. They meet a need that other programs and resources are not meeting. However, the fact that the number of clients the centre serves keeps growing is a little unsettling. It speaks to the fact that there are still many in our community who do not have sufficient financial means to support themselves or their family. In addition to being grateful for the services provided, it s also important not to lose sight of the broader mission. That mission is to reduce poverty, not only in our own community, but around the world. Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 2 of 17

3 Background 1. Answer questions about how your community helps people in need Think about people in your community who need food, clothing and household items. Think about how your community deals with the situation. Read the following questions. Do you have the speaking skills to answer the questions and describe the services that exist in your community? Are there a lot of people in your community who need free or inexpensive clothing and household items? Where do people find help when they need these items? Who organizes and runs services to help people in this kind of situation? How do people help and support these organizations? e.g. donation of items or money, volunteering etc. How do people in your culture feel about getting second-hand clothing or furniture? What would you do if you needed this kind of help? Do you donate clothing or household items? Why or why not? Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 3 of 17

4 2. Vocabulary definitions Here are some words you need to know to understand the CBC interview. Vocabulary household items income assistance Radio Canada a radio-a-thon to charge someone (money) hit-and-miss to drop off an item to dog-sit to collect disability to be grateful a vest Household items are things you use in your home, for example, furniture, dishes, appliances and beds. Income assistance is a term used to describe government programs that exist to help individuals and families meet their basic needs for food and shelter. These programs provide money to those in need to help them purchase necessities. Radio Canada is the French language station of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). A radio-a-thon is a way to fundraise. During a radio-a-thon, a radio station asks for donations from its listeners for a particular organization or cause. If you charge someone for something, it means you expect them to pay for it. We use the expression hit-and-miss to describe unpredictable situations where we sometimes succeed and sometimes don t succeed. For example: You never know whether the Flavie Laurent Centre will have the clothing items you need until you go there and look. It s hit-and-miss or hard to predict what will be available. If you drop off an item, you leave it at a designated place. For example, you drop off or leave gently used clothing at the Flavie Laurent Centre so that others can pick it up and use it. Someone who dog sits is paid to look after another person s dog. Someone who collects disability receives regular payments from government or from an insurance company. People collect disability because an injury or illness has left them unable to work. If you are grateful for something, you appreciate it and are thankful for it. A vest is an item of clothing that looks like a sweater or jacket but does not have sleeves. Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 4 of 17

5 braces (for clothing) stretch material leggings to skip something to allude to something a success story Braces are two long pieces of material or elastic that stretch over someone s shoulders and fasten to their trousers / pants at the front and back so that the pants can t fall down. Stretch material is a type of fabric that increases in length or width when you pull on it. When it increases in size, it does not tear. For example, bathing suits are made of material that stretches. Leggings are tight fitting pants made out of material that stretches. If you skip something, you miss it. For example, if you skip lunch, you don t eat lunch. If someone alludes to something, they mention it indirectly or hint at it. For example, the client in the interview mentions or alludes to how busy it is at the Flavie Laurent Centre but she doesn t provide any details. A success story is when a person or organization achieve what they want or intend to achieve and tell others about it. Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 5 of 17

6 3. Use your new vocabulary in context Learning vocabulary before you listen helps you understand the podcast. Can you match each vocabulary word or phrase with its meaning. You can use the vocabulary definitions in this lesson and an English Language Learner s Dictionary to help you. The first one is completed for you as an example. Vocabulary Word Meaning 1. _f household items a) a type of fabric that increases in width or length when you pull it 2. income assistance b) to receive payment from government or an insurance company because an injury or illness leaves you unable to work 3. Radio Canada c) when a person or organization is successful in achieving what they wanted or intended 4. a radio-a-thon d) tight fitting pants made out of stretch material 5. to charge someone (money) e) the French language radio station of the CBC 6. to drop off f) e.g. furniture, clothing 7. to dog sit g) to leave things somewhere, e.g. at a charity 8. to collect disability h) a clothing accessory that clips to the front and back of a pair of trousers / pants and stops them from falling down 9. to be grateful i) a fundraising campaign by a radio station 10. a vest j) to be paid to look after someone s dog 11. braces (for clothing) k) money provided by government to individuals / families in need to assist them in paying for food, housing etc. 12. stretch material l) to miss something; to not do something 13. leggings m) to be appreciative; to be thankful for something 14. to skip something n) to mention something indirectly; to hint at it 15. to allude to something o) to expect someone to pay for a product or service 16. a success story p) an item of clothing that looks like a sweater but doesn t have sleeves Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 6 of 17

7 4. Can you predict what the interview is about? The Flavie Laurent Centre provides clothing and household items free of charge to low income clients. In this interview, we hear a client talk about how the centre has helped her prepare for winter. Can you predict what kinds of winter clothing items she might be looking for? I think she ll be looking for a warm coat. She ll likely be looking for a hat, a scarf and mitts. I bet she ll be looking for winter boots. If I were her, I d be looking for clothing I could layer. I have no idea what she ll be looking for. 5. Get ready to listen In this podcast, you will hear three speakers. You will hear: Marcy Markusa host Flavie Laurent Centre client Gilbert Vielfaure Executive Director, Flavie Laurent Centre Play the podcast for the first time. After-listening activities 1. Review pre-listening predictions Were you able to predict what kinds of winter clothing the client was looking for at the centre? Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 7 of 17

8 2. Listen for mood, emotion or attitude Listen to the interview with the client from the Flavie Laurent Centre. Do you have the listening skills to identify the mood, emotion or attitude of the speaker? Listen carefully to their tone and intonation. Choose words from the box below to describe what the speaker is saying. The first one is completed for you as an example. 1. I keep looking for some boots. c) expressing a need 2. Please drop it off here. 3. I could have skipped breakfast hearing that. 4. Good morning Marcy. 5. I was lucky to get this. 6. Somehow I manage. 7. I m so grateful. 8. So even if they re too big they ll get held up with braces. 9. Isn t this a wonderful coat? a) expressing extreme happiness b) expressing good fortune c) expressing a need d) expressing amazement e) making a request f) expressing a practical approach g) greeting someone h) expressing appreciation i) expressing ability to cope Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 8 of 17

9 3. Asking and responding to questions It s important to understand and respond to questions that we are asked. Listen to the interview with the client from the Flavie Laurent Centre again. Although we do not hear an interviewer asking questions, it sounds like the client is answering questions when she speaks. Here is a list of possible questions the interviewer might have asked. Can you match each question with an answer from the box below? When you have finished, practise asking the questions and answering them out loud. Question Answer 1. What are you looking for today? d) I m looking for a jacket and boots. 2. What do you like most about the Flavie Laurent Centre? 3. How can our listeners help the Flavie Laurent Centre? 4. How do you personally manage to make ends meet? 5. What did you find to help keep you warm this winter? 6. Is there anything else you re hoping to find today? 7. What was the best thing about coming to the Flavie Laurent Centre today? a) It helps a lot of people and we don t have to pay. b) I found a coat, a vest, a pair of pants and shoes. I ll just layer whatever I get to stay warm. c) I dog sit to make extra money and I collect disability. I go to the Food Bank. d) I m looking for a jacket and boots. e) Maybe some stretch material so I can make some leggings. f) If you have anything to drop off, drop it here. This is where they help people the most. g) The best thing was getting this wonderful coat! Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 9 of 17

10 4. Express purpose in an sentence using the expression so that The subordinate conjunction so that introduces a purpose clause in a sentence. A purpose clause often answers the question why and describes the purpose involved. We commonly use the expression so that when we are talking about the activities or goals of an organization. Read the following questions about the Flavie Laurent Centre. Use these examples to practise asking and answering questions. The first one is completed as an example. Questions 1. Why was the Flavie Laurent Centre set up? (c) The centre was set up so that no cost furniture and clothing is available to people in need. 2. Why do they have a delivery service? 3. Why do you need to download an application? 4. Why has the centre had to move five times since it opened in 1979? 5. Why is the centre officially registered as a charity? 6. Why does the centre need volunteers? 7. Why was there an official blessing at the opening of the centre s new location? a) so that they can offer delivery of large items at a minimal cost b) so that they could have more space, collect more items and serve more clients c) so that no cost furniture and clothing is available to people in need d) so that people who donate to the organization can receive a tax receipt e) so that you can apply for items that you need f) so that people were reminded of the centre s strong ties to the Catholic faith g) so that they can serve their clients more efficiently and effectively Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 10 of 17

5. Read and analyze a graph for detail and inference Being able to find and analyze information from a graph is an important skill. Graphs are used in school, at the workplace and in the media.

11 5. Read and analyze a graph for detail and inference Being able to find and analyze information from a graph is an important skill. Graphs are used in school, at the workplace and in the media. This graph is from the Flavie Laurent Centre s website. It tells you how many clients the centre served in each of the last eight years. Note that the title and labels on the graph are in French and English. Can you find and analyze information from the graph and use that information to answer detail, inference and opinion questions? Answer the following detail and inference questions using the information from the graph. The first one is completed for you as an example. 1. The number of clients served by the centre increased each year between 2006 and True False 2. Between 2006 and 2007, the number of clients served doubled. True False 3. There were 1,980 more clients served in 2012 than in True False 4. The number of clients served in 2010 was more than 11,500 but less than 12, If the trend line on the graph does not change, the Centre will serve over 20,000 clients by March 31, The graph explains why client numbers at the Flavie Laurent Centre are increasing. True False True False True False How would you answer these opinion questions? a) Why do you think the Flavie Laurent Centre continues to serve more clients every year? What kinds of factors could influence how many clients are served? b) Is the fact that the centre s client base keeps growing a good thing for Winnipeg? Why or why not? Give reasons for you answer. Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 11 of 17

12 6. Write a thank you letter on behalf of a Flavie Laurent Centre client It s important to be able to express appreciation for things other people do to help you or your community. Can you write a letter to thank an organization for its work in the community? Using the guide below, write a letter of thanks on behalf of the Flavie Laurent Centre client you heard interviewed on the podcast. What do you think she would want to say based on her experience at the Flavie Laurent Centre? Fill in today s date., Who is she writing to? (e.g. the Executive Director) Why is she writing the letter? What was her experience? How has the organization helped her? Dear : I am writing to thank the Flavie Laurent Centre for. What additional information could she provide so that the organization understands how much it has helped her? I want to say how much I appreciate. Are there others involved with the organization she might specifically want to thank (e.g. the volunteers, the staff)? Close the letter. I would like to specifically thank. Thank you all once again. Yours sincerely, Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 12 of 17

13 Want to know more on this topic? The website for the Flavie Laurent Centre is: This is a link to a CBC news story about the Centre: The Winnipeg Harvest Food Bank website is: If you live in a rural community, you can call Winnipeg Harvest s toll free line and they will help you find a food bank near where you live: The Salvation Army is one organization that helps the homeless and collects gifts for children for the holidays. It s website is: The website for the Christmas Cheer Board in Winnipeg is: The Brandon Westman Region Christmas Cheer Board also has a website: Many rural communities have Christmas Cheer Boards. Check to see what is available in your community. Here is some information on charitable tax receipts: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external websites Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 13 of 17

14 Appendix 1: Transcript 1 November 13, 2013 (broadcast date) Speaker Podcast Line Marcy Hi I'm Marcy Markusa and you're listening to Learning English with CBC. Every week, more than 400 families turn to the Flavie Laurent Centre for help. The local charity gives out clothing and household items for free to low income people. Their clients include people living on disability and other forms 5 of income assistance. Radio Canada held a radio-a-thon to raise money for Flavie Laurent, and in this podcast, you ll hear a client talk about how the centre has helped her. You ll also hear from the centre s Executive Director, Gilbert Vielfaure. Client Well I had to come back twice to find a jacket, and I didn t find any boots today, cause I keep looking for some boots, but I found a pair of shoes, so I can wear the shoes til I can come back and find a pair of boots. But it s all, um hit and miss, it s whatever they put out, I was lucky to get this, cause I was freezing. I m glad for for this ah Flavie Laurent because they help a lot of people and if I ever have anything to give away, it s Flavie Laurent that s gonna get it, because they don t charge people. So you know, like a lot of people just drop stuff off places, please drop it off here because this is where they help the people the most. We don t have to pay. And it s help. And it s I m going to be warm. I got a jacket. I dog sit to make extra money and I collect disability, and ah, but the dog sitting, it does basically a meal, and ah I use the Food Bank and ah I manage, somehow I manage, I don t know how. But I try and um, if I can find material or something I ll make myself something, but I m so grateful for this coat today For the complete interview or other recent CBC Information Radio podcasts, go to: Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 14 of 17

15 Marcy Gilbert Marcy Gilbert Ya and I got a warm ah vest and a pair of shoes and a pair of pants with braces on them. So even if they re too big they ll get held up with the braces. And I ll just layer my clothes, that s all, just layer whatever I can get to keep warm. We do what we gotta do to get by, right? So if I could find some stretch material, I could make some leggings. I ll manage. Isn t this a wonderful coat? Gilbert Vielfaure is the Executive Director of Flavie Laurent. Good morning! Good morning Marcy. What s it like for you to hear how happy that woman was you know about about the coat she found at your centre? I could have skipped breakfast hearing that. That that was very encouraging and ah you know ah she alluded to ah the the number of people or how busy we are and how difficult sometimes it is to find things, so you know we we are so grateful to hear the stories of, the success stories as they come out Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 15 of 17

16 Answers to Worksheets Vocabulary 1. f 2. k 3. e 4. i 5. o 6 g 7. j 8. b 9. m 10. p 11. h 12. a 13. d 14. l 15. n 16. c Listen for Mood, Emotion or Attitude 1. c 2. e 3. a 4. g 5. b 6. i 7. h 8. f 9. d Asking Relevant Questions 1. d 2. a 3. f 4. c 5. b 6. e 7. g Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 16 of 17

17 Expressing Purpose Using so that 1. c 2. a 3. e 4. b 5. d 6. g 7. f Read and Analyze a Graph for Detail and Inference 1. T 2. F 3. T 4. T 5. T 6. F Answers to opinion questions will vary. Self Study: Flavie Laurent Centre Learning English with CBC Page 17 of 17

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