Learning English with CBC Listening Lessons for Intermediate Students Based on the podcast Manitoba This Week

Broadcast date: September 1, 2007 Self Study Edition: Lesson 1 Level: Benchmark 5 and up Topic: West Nile Virus Vaccine Skill areas: Listening, Speaking Language tasks: Listening to a short interview for main ideas,

details and inference Speaking asking questions for information

Language competencies: Vocabulary Development, Listening Strategies, Cultural Information

Appendices: Transcript of the podcast

Answers to worksheets Attention students: You will need to print the lesson to be able to complete the worksheets.

Manitoba memo West Nile virus was first identified in Africa in 1937. It came to North America in 1999 and the first human cases in Manitoba were in the summer of 2003. Only certain kinds of mosquitoes carry West Nile virus and most people who are bitten by an infected mosquito do not become ill. Those who become ill usually have mild, flu-like symptoms. In some cases, the virus can cause serious illness and death.

Background First read the Manitoba memo (above) for background on the story you are about to hear. Todays podcast is about West Nile virus. There have been more cases of West Nile virus in Manitoba in the summer of 2007 than ever before. You will hear CBC radio host Terry MacLeod interview a doctor who is working on the development of a vaccine for West Nile virus. Lets get started!

1. Before you listen, think about the following questions

` Are there diseases in your country which are caused by an

insect bite? ` How do humans and animals get West Nile virus? ` Is West Nile virus a problem in other countries? In your

country of origin?

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2. Words you need to know

Fill in the blank with the word from below which matches the meaning. The first one is completed for you. You can use a dictionary or the internet to help you.

Manitobans A common term used to refer to people who

live in Manitoba.

______________ Infectious substances that can cause

disease and illness. The common cold, influenza, chickenpox, smallpox, measles, mumps and yellow fever are among the diseases they cause.

______________ A substance which prevents people and

animals from developing specific viruses and diseases.

______________ To protect a person against a disease by

putting a vaccine in their blood, usually through a needle.

______________ A vaccine which has been tested and is

considered safe for use. ______________ The first models or versions of something.

______________ Testing of drugs, vaccines and other health

related products on humans to see if they work and are safe.

Manitobans vaccinate human trials prototypes viruses vaccine licensed vaccine

Listening note: Did you hear the word sequelae toward the end of the podcast? This is a medical term which means illness or side effects which result from a previous disease. It is not a word you need to remember. Most Manitobans would skip over it as they listened and they would still be able to understand the main ideas in the interview.

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2. Predict what the podcast is about

Now that you know a little about the topic, can you predict what the podcast may be about? Write down your ideas before you listen so you can see if your predictions are correct. Here is an example of what you might say and some ways to start your sentences:

Probably its about research into a West Nile vaccine for people. Maybe its about It could be / might be about.

3. Get ready to listen Listening tip: You do not have to listen for every word to understand what is being said. Listen for key words and thoughts. You are going to hear part of a CBC interview which took place in August 2007 about the development of a vaccine for West Nile virus. Play the podcast for the first time and just to listen to the voices.

4. Listen for key words

Listening for key words helps you understand the main ideas. Put a checkmark beside each word on the following list as you hear it. You may need to play the podcast more than once to complete this Worksheet.

Manitobans _____ virus _____ vaccine _____ vaccinate _____ licensed vaccine _____ prototypes _____

human trials _____

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5. Listen for the details

Often we listen to learn detailed information, like the answers to the following questions. Read the questions over before you begin. Play the podcast again and as you listen, see if you can find the correct answer and circle the answer on your worksheet. Can you can find the answers without using the transcript? You can use the transcript to check your answers.

Question Circle the

correct answer By the end of August, 2007, how many Manitobans had died from West Nile virus?

10 2 200

How many cases of West Nile virus had been reported? more than10

more than 2 more than 200

What time of day did the interview take place? morning

afternoon evening

A West Nile vaccine has been licensed for use in animals. True False

A West Nile vaccine has been licensed for use in humans. True False

Most people who are infected with West Nile virus become seriously ill.

True False

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6. After you listen

a) Review your pre-listening predictions Look back at your notes. Were you able to predict what the podcast was about from the pre-listening clues? b) Speaking strategy Did you notice how often Dr. Nabel says ah? Listen to the podcast again. Why do you think he says ah so frequently? Sometimes when people need more time to say what they want to say they use expressions like ah. Using ah gives Dr. Nabel time to think about what he wants to say next. Does this happen in your first language too? c) Re-order the sentences

When you listen to someone speak, the chunks of information you hear are often in a specific order. If theyre out of order, the meaning may change or the information may not make sense. These sentences from Jaeny Baiks introduction are not in order. Write a number beside each sentence so that they are in the order you heard them. The first one has been done for you.

Today you will hear part of an interview with a doctor who is undertaking research on a topic important to Manitobans West Nile virus.

1 Hello, Im Jaeny Baik and youre listening to Learning English with the CBC.

But West Nile has been an issue for years, so why dont we have a vaccine for it yet?

Information Radios Terry MacLeod spoke with Dr. Gary Nabel.

With two deaths and more than 200 reported cases in Manitoba of the disease, this has been the worst summer yet for the virus.

Hes the Director of the Vaccine Research Centre in Bethesda Maryland.

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d) Think about it - practice what youve learned Now imagine you are the person interviewing Dr. Nabel. What questions would you want to ask him about West Nile virus? What would you want to know about the vaccine? About the symptoms? About the treatment? Here are two examples, as well as ideas on how you could begin your questions.

How long will it be before a vaccine is on the market? What are the symptoms of West Nile? When should ...? What should?

Want to know more? Do you want to know more about West Nile virus and how to protect yourself? Go to http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/wnv/intro.html#whatisit. For general information on health care services in Manitoba, go to http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/ and select infohealth Guide (under Key Initiatives on the left hand side) (Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external websites)

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Lesson 1: West Nile Virus Vaccine Transcript

Speaker Podcast Line

Jaeny Hello, Im Jaeny Baik and youre listening to Learning English with the CBC. Today you will hear part of an interview with a

doctor who is undertaking research on a topic important to

Manitobans West Nile virus.

With two deaths and more than 200 reported cases in

Manitoba of the disease, this has been the worst summer yet

for the virus. But West Nile has been an issue for years, so

why dont we have a vaccine for it yet? Information Radios

Terry MacLeod spoke with Dr. Gary Nabel. Hes the Director

of the Vaccine Research Centre in Bethesda Maryland.

1

5

10

Terry Good morning, Dr. Nabel.

Dr. Nabel Good morning.

Terry So where do we stand with the development of a West Nile virus vaccine?

Dr. Nabel Well ah there are several prototypes that have gone into human trials. There are ah at least three that Im aware of.

Ah all of them are in early stage testing and ah there is also

ah eh - there are also two licensed vaccines for animals, so

based on our studies with ah both small and large animals ah

we have good reason to think that it would be possible to

vaccinate ah against West Nile virus and as you know the

majority of people who get infected by the virus, ah who are

young and healthy, actually do well and have no serious

sequelae of the disease.

15

20

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Answers to Worksheets Worksheet 1

Manitobans A common term used to refer to people who live in Manitoba.

viruses Infectious substances that can cause

disease and illness. The common cold, influenza, chickenpox, smallpox, measles, mumps and yellow fever are among the diseases they cause.

vaccine A substance which prevents people and

animals from developing specific viruses and diseases.

vaccinate To protect a person against a disease by

putting a vaccine in their blood, usually through a needle.

licensed vaccine A vaccine which has been tested and is

considered safe for use. prototypes The first models or versions of something.

human trials Testing of drugs, vaccines and other health

related products on humans to see if they work and are safe.

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Worksheet 3 The correct answer is in bold. By the end of August, 2007, how many Manitobans had died from West Nile virus?

10 2 200

How many cases of West Nile virus had been reported? more than10 more than 2 more than 200

What time of day did the interview take place? morning afternoon evening

A West Nile vaccine has been licensed for use in animals. True False

A West Nile vaccine has been licensed for use in humans. True False

Most people who are infected with West Nile virus become seriously ill.

True False

Worksheet 4

2 Today you will hear part of an interview with a doctor who is undertaking research on a topic important to Manitobans West Nile virus.

1 Hello, Im Jenny Beck and youre listening to Learning English with the CBC.

4 But West Nile has been an issue for years, so why dont we have a vaccine for it yet?

5 Information Radios Terry MacLeod spoke with Dr. Gary Nabel.

3 With two deaths and more than 200 reported cases in Manitoba of the disease, this has been the worst summer yet for the virus.

6 Hes the Director of the Vaccine Research Centre in Bethesda Maryland.

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