sep22s_2007

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

Broadcast date: September 22, 2007 Self Study Edition: Lesson 2 Level: Benchmark 5 and up Topic: Newcomers Take a Road Trip to Rolling River Reserve

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, Pronunciation, 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.

Self Study: Road Trip to Rolling River Learning English with the CBC Page 2 of 13

Manitoba memo Aboriginal peoples are the descendants of the original inhabitants of North America. They were here thousands of years before the first explorers arrived from Europe. The aboriginal people in Canada consist of three groups - First Nations people (once called Indians), Mtis and Inuit. All are distinct peoples with unique histories, cultures and beliefs. Manitoba has the second highest population of First Nations people in Canada (Ontario has the highest). Just over 60 percent of Manitobas First Nations people live on reserves in rural and northern regions of the province.

Background First read the Manitoba memo (above) for background on the story you are about to hear. Todays podcast is about a very unique road trip to Rolling River Reserve. The purpose of the trip was to improve cultural understanding between newcomers (new immigrants to Manitoba) and First Nations people by introducing the two groups to each other. You will hear from Marcy and Sheila who work for CBC radio. You will also hear from Hani, who works with newcomers, and from the Grand Chief of the reserve. Lets get started!


1. Before you listen, think about the following questions

` Are there aboriginal people in your own country? ` What do you know about aboriginal people in your country, or

in other countries of the world?

2. Predict what the podcast is about Now that you know a little about the topic, can you predict what the podcast might 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.

Maybe its about what the newcomers and First Nations people have in common. Probably its about . It could be / might be about


3. Words you need to know Before you listen, chose the phrase you think provides the best meaning for each word and write the number in the before listening column. Dont be afraid to guess based on what you know already about the topic! word meaning before

listening after listening

unique 1. the same 2. odd 3. special

2 3

cultural understanding

1. understanding another way of life 2. knowledge of art and music 3. ability to speak several languages

orientation 1. to complete a task 2. to prepare someone for an experience 3. to complete a form

philosophy of life

1. a university degree 2. attitudes or beliefs which guide behaviour 3. a reality TV show

stereotype 1. a belief or idea about what a particular type of person or thing is like 2. a true fact about a person or thing 3. a scientific fact

reserve 1. to serve a second time in a game of tennis 2. to take a second helping of a meal 3. an area of land set aside for First Nations people

Grand Chief 1. a new kind of truck 2. the leader of a First Nations community3. the head cook in a restaurant

Note: Central Park, which is located in downtown Winnipeg, is mentioned by both Hani and the Grand Chief. This area is home to many newcomers and to First Nations people who move to Winnipeg from the reserve.


4. Get ready to listen

Listening tip: There are important clues in key words and intonation. Intonation is when the level of your voice changes to add meaning to what you are saying. Listening to how a speaker says something may provide information which will help you guess what they are talking about and how they feel about the topic. You are about to hear part of the CBC story of the trip to Rolling River Reserve. Play the podcast for the first time and just listen to the voices.

5. Check your vocabulary worksheet

Now listen for the vocabulary as it is used in the story. Do you think you have the correct meaning for each word? If you think your first guess is not correct, change it and put the right number in the after listening column. You can use the transcript to help you.


6. Listen for the verbs

Verbs are important words they carry meaning. Read over the following comments made by Hani and Sheila. Then listen for the missing verbs and find the correct one to fill in the blank from the list below. You may use some verbs more than once. If you need help, use the transcript. Hani I tell our clients when they ______ some people, the native people in the Central Park

and they think when we ah try to provide them with housing, because we assist people

to _______ their permanent housing, and they say, please I dont want to be closer to

those people and I _______, listen, those people, there was a time where they, it was

part of the philosophy of life that they cannot even cross the river before they ask for

permission not to disturb the water, the water, you know the flow of the water. So you

______ to know about who ______ these people and why are you saying the way

youre saying, you talkin the way youre talkin about them. And its all based on a

stereotypical kind of information.

Marcy Now Sheila, what did the Grand Chief ______ about that?

Sheila Well he ______ them how much he appreciated their visit and how happy

he ______ that people from other cultures wanted to learn about

aboriginal people through their reserve and he ______ them his

explanation of how the aboriginal people they see in Central Park ended

up there.

told see find say have are was gave


7. Listen to get to know Hani

Listening to how a speaker says something may provide information which will help you guess what they are talking about and how the feel about the topic. As you listen, think about the following questions. Discuss the answers with your group. 1. How would you describe Hanis tone of voice when he speaks about First

Nations people? Circle the adjectives you think best describe his tone of voice from the list below. angry sad concerned uninterested happy enthusiastic annoyed worried impatient sensitive bored sympathetic

2. Do you think Hani understands First Nations people? What makes you think that? (e.g. I think he understands native people because he aggress with what the Grand Chief says.)

_________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

3. Why do you think Hani feels this road trip is so important? (e.g. I think he feels it is important because he wants to improve understanding between newcomers and First Nations people.)

_________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

4. What story does Hani tell about First Nations people and the river? Why do you think he tells that story? (e.g. He tells the story to help newcomers understand that First Nations people have a special relationship with the river and the land.)

_________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________


8. After you listen

a) Pronunciation Tip Take a look at the transcript and play the audio again. When Sheila North Wilson speaks (lines 9 to 17 in the transcript) note how words which end with a consonant sound are linked to words beginning with a vowel sound, making the two words sound like one. For example: Line 9 trip as sounds like tripas Line 13 but ultimately sounds like butultimately Line 16 heres a sounds like heresa Try pronouncing these words. Can you find any other examples of this kind of linking in Sheilas comments? b) Think about it practice what youve learned

The Grand Chief uses the word lost to describe the First Nations people newcomers may see in the Central Park area of Downtown Winnipeg. You have a chance to interview him and to learn more about Manitobas First Nations people. For example: What would you ask if you wanted to know why the Grand Chief refers to First Nations people as lost? What would you ask if you wanted to know about the cultural traditions of First Nations people? What would you ask if you wanted to know what challenges face First Nations people today? Tip: Dont be afraid to think aloud and practice your pronunciation!


Want to know more?

` For answers to frequently asked questions about aboriginal Canadians and their rights go to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/info/info125_e.html

` For information on issues, art, events, health, and various related issues go to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs http://www.manitobachiefs.com

` For information on Manitoba First Nations go to http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/mb/mbfns_e.html

(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external websites)


Lesson 2: Road Trip to Rolling River Reserve

Transcript

Speaker Podcast Line

Marcy Hello, I'm Marcy Markusa and you're listening to Learning English with the CBC. Today you will hear Margaux Watt

interview Sheila North Wilson about a very unique road

trip. Sheila took two newcomers from Afghanistan and

Somalia, as well as a staff person from Welcome Place, to

visit the Rolling River Reserve. The purpose of the trip was to

improve cultural understanding between two groups of

Manitobans - First Nations and newcomers.

5

Sheila Well Hani wants to use this trip as a model. A model for uhm for more or all newcomers to learn from, perhaps as a model

for a regular trip for newcomers to go on, or at least ah using

the information to be included in orientations for them when

they arrive in Winnipeg. But ultimately Hani wants all

newcomers to gain a greater understanding of Canadas First

Nations people and its basically what he said to the Grand

Chief. Heres a portion of what they said between the two of

them.

10

15

Hani I tell our clients when they see some people, the native people in the Central Park and they think when we ah try to provide

them with housing, because we assist people to find their

permanent housing, and they say, please I dont want to be

closer to those people and I say listen, those people, there

was a time where they, it was part of the philosophy of life that

they cannot even cross the river before they ask for

permission not to disturb the water, the water, you know the

flow of the water. So you have to know about who are these

people and why are you saying the way youre saying, you

talkin the way youre talkin about them. And its all based on

20

25


a stereotypical kind of information.

Margaux Now Sheila, what did the Grand Chief say about that? 30Sheila Well he told them how much he appreciated their visit and

how happy he was that people from other cultures wanted to

learn about aboriginal people through their reserve and he

gave them his explanation of how the aboriginal people they

see in Central Park ended up there. 35

Grand Chief A lot of those people that ah they see in Central Park are lost. Hani Yeah, thats right. Grand Chief Theyre gone from their home territory thinking maybe theres

a better place for me, maybe theres a better place.


Answers to Worksheets Worksheet 1 The answers are in bold.

word meaning before

listening after listening

unique 1. the same 2. odd 3. special

2 3

cultural understanding

1. understanding another way of life 2. knowledge of art and music 3. ability to speak several languages

orientation 1. to complete a task 2. to prepare someone for an experience 3. to complete a form

philosophy of life

1. a university degree 2. attitudes or beliefs which guide behaviour 3. a reality TV show

stereotype 1. a belief or idea about what a particular type of person or thing is like 2. a true fact about a person or thing 3. a scientific fact

reserve 1. to serve a second time in a game of tennis 2. to take a second helping of a meal 3. an area of land set aside for First Nations people

Grand Chief 1. a new kind of truck 2. the leader of a First Nations community 3. the head cook in a restaurant

Worksheet 2 The missing verbs are in bold.

Hani I tell our clients when they see some people, the native people in the Central Park and they think when we ah try to provide them with housing, because we assist people to

find their permanent housing, and they say, please I dont want to be closer to those people and I say, listen, those people, there was a time where they, it was part of the philosophy of life that they cannot even cross the river before they ask for permission

not to disturb the water, the water, you know the flow of the water. So you have to know about who are these people and why are you saying the way youre saying, you talkin the way youre talkin about them. And its all based on a stereotypical kind of

information.

Marcy Now Sheila, what did the Grand Chief say about that?

Sheila Well he told them how much he appreciated their visit and how happy he was that people from other cultures wanted to learn about aboriginal people through their reserve and he gave them his explanation of how the aboriginal people they see in Central Park ended up there.

Worksheet 3 1. Hanis tone could be described as concerned, sensitive and sympathetic The remaining questions ask for opinions and answers will vary.


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