Learning English with CBC Edmonton Weekly newscast December 12 th, 2014 Lessons prepared by Barbara Edmondson & Justine Light Objectives of the weekly newscast lesson - to develop listening skills at the CLB 4 level - to increase vocabulary among learners - to increase knowledge of news stories - to provide a self- study tool, as well as, an ESL classroom resource www.alberta.ca http://www.cbc.ca/edmonton/learning- english/ 1
News story #1 Dropping Oil Prices Do you think lower oil prices are a good thing? How does the price of oil affect your life? This story discusses how these low prices affect Alberta s economy and the government s budget. Before you listen to the first news story, complete this vocabulary activity. It will help you to understand the listening more easily. Vocabulary Match the words with their definitions. Answers are in the appendix. Answer Word Definition 1. warn a) to make or create too much of something 2. consequences b) money available for spending; money situation 3. finances c) a length of time 4. dramatically d) results or effects 5. uncertain e) a plan to spend money wisely 6. duration f) not sure what will happen in the future 7. overproduction g) actions that will hopefully solve a problem 8. budget h) to suggest a problem or danger is coming 9. measures i) a great amount or having a large effect Extra definitions to help you understand the reading: price trough a reduction/drop in prices that will continue for some time OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Now listen to the first news story from the audio file. Listening activity: Multiple Choice Choose the best answer to complete the sentences. Answers are in the appendix. 1. Jim Prentice warned Albertans about the consequences of on Alberta s finances. 2. Oil prices have dropped a great amount. 3. Because of the overproduction of oil by OPEC countries Alberta is facing. 4. Alberta s will be planed for an oil price of $65 $75 a barrel. 5. Prentice said the Alberta government will to deal with the price changes. a) the high oil prices b) the low oil prices a) throughout the year. b) since the summer. a) an uncertain duration of oil. b) low oil prices for an uncertain duration. a) next provincial budget b) next government plan a) have to take measures b) measure the changes 6. Prentice said there would be no. a) provincial oil tax. b) provincial sales tax. Discussion Question: What will happen when the world runs out of oil? What actions should people be taking to delay this eventual situation? How can we reduce our dependence on oil? 2
News story #2 Winners of the Nobel Peace Prize What is the Nobel Peace Prize? Do you know who won it this year? Do you know any previous winners of this prestigious award? This story is about the two recipients of the prize this year. Before you listen to the second news story, complete this vocabulary activity. It will help you to understand the listening more easily. Vocabulary Choose the group of synonyms (words with similar meaning) that best match each of the vocabulary words. Answers are in the appendix. Answer Word from the story Related words 1) refuse a) argument fight 2) campaigning b) to say no avoid 3) credited c) existence appearance 4) slave labour d) praised trusted 5) confrontation e) quiet simple 6) modest f) unpaid work forced employment 7) profile g) fighting for something gathering support Extra definitions to help you understand the reading: laureate a person who has been honoured for winning an award activist a person who works hard for a cause or to change a political decision/situation Now listen to the second news story from the audio file. Listening Activity: True/False Decide whether the statements below are true or false. Answers are in the appendix. 1. Malala Yousafzia was shot by the Taliban for not quitting school. 2. Two people are sharing the Nobel Peace Prize this year. 3. The Nobel Peace Prize was given out on Monday. 4. Kailash Satyarthi became the youngest laureate to get the Nobel Peace Prize. 5. Kailash was shot in the head on her school bus in 2012. 6. Satyarthi saved around 8000 children from slave labour. 7. Satyarthi kept a modest profile in Oslo (where the awards are given.) Discussion Question: Malala and Satyarthi have become heroines to many children around the world. Talk about a hero or heroine from your country that has helped people have a better life. How can we help support these heroes/heroines? 3
News story #3 Montreal Canadien Jean Beliveau Dies Have you ever heard of Jean Beliveau? He was a famous hockey player in Montreal. Do you ever watch hockey? What is your favourite team? This story is about Beliveau s funeral. Before you listen to the third news story, complete this vocabulary activity. It will help you to understand the listening more easily. Vocabulary Use one of the vocabulary words below to complete the sentences. Answers are in the appendix. emotional (adjective) Something that causes others to feel deep emotions, usually sadness funeral (noun) A ceremony after someone dies, to honour their life elite (adjective) The most famous (or rich) people beloved (adjective) Loved by others exceptional (adjective) Better than others; showing excellence ideal (adjective) Perfect; a model of what everyone would like class (noun) Of high- quality style; respected behaviour graciousness (noun) Kind, generous and polite Extra definitions to help you understand the reading: sum it up - to make a conclusion; to explain everything in a short sentence or phrase eulogy a speech about a person who has died; a speech praising a person s achievements 1. The of hockey are the best known and most talented players. 2. Wayne Gretzky was an hockey player who played in Edmonton many years ago. He was by Edmontonians. 3. We expect people of high social standing to act with. 4. I was taught to show when welcoming others to my home. 5. The warm weather last weekend was for skiing and walking outside. 6. When famous people die often many elite and attend their. 7. Often eulogies at funerals are very. Now listen to the third news story from the audio file. Listening Activity: Short Answer Read and answer the questions below. Answers are in the appendix. 1. What was held on Wednesday in Montreal? 2. Who turned out (showed up) to honour Beliveau? 3. How did Yvan Cournoyer sum up the greatness of Beliveau in his eulogy? 4. When did Believau pass away? 5. When was Beliveau an exceptional player for the Montreal Canadiens? 6. How will Beliveau be remembered? Discussion Question Talk about some famous athletes in your country. What is the most popular sport in your country? If a famous athlete dies in your country do politicians attend the funeral? 4
Language Focus Identifying present continuous verbs and gerunds Present continuous verbs - (be) + verb ending in ing When do we use the present continuous? To show an action is happening right now that will end in the future (You are studying English.) To show a definite plan for the future (I am going to take a rest later.) Gerund a verb ending in ing that acts as a noun in a sentence. When do we use gerunds? If we put two verbs beside each other often the second verb is an infinitive (to + base form) but it can be a gerund. Only certain verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund (like, love, want, enjoy, regret ) If there is a verb after a preposition (in, on, at, for, by etc.), it will be a gerund. Gerunds can be the subject (at the start) or the object (after the verb) of a sentence To identify the present continuous or gerund: Notice verbs ending in ing Look for the be (am, are, is, were, was) verb before the verb ending in ing If the be verb is present, the word will be the present continuous verb If the be verb is not present, the word ending in ing may be a gerund Be careful, the word could also be an adjective (boring, exciting ) Let s look at some examples from the stories this week. Decide if the present continuous verb or the gerund is being used in each sentence. If the gerund is being used, try to identify the main verb of the sentence. Answers are in the appendix 1. Speaking to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Prentice said Alberta is facing a "price trough...of uncertain duration" due to overproduction of oil by OPEC countries. 2. Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban for refusing to quit school, and Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi received their Nobel Peace Prizes on Wednesday after two days of celebration honouring their work for children's rights. 3. Satyarthi, who is credited with saving around 80,000 children from slave labour sometimes in violent confrontations, kept a modest profile in Oslo. 4. " O captain, my captain, bon voyage, said Yvan Cournoyer, borrowing from poet Walt Whitman in a tearful eulogy 5
Transcripts of Weekly news stories Introduction Story 1 Story 2 Story 3 DECEMBER 12 TH WEEKLY NEWS STORIES Hi, this is Don Bell. You re listening to Learning English with CBC for December 12 th. Premier Jim Prentice again warned on Tuesday of the "consequences" of low crude oil prices on Alberta's finances. But he didn't say exactly what his government might do. Oil prices have dropped dramatically since the summer. Speaking to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Prentice said Alberta is facing a "price trough...of uncertain duration" due to overproduction of oil by OPEC countries. He said his government will plan the next provincial budget for an oil price in the $65 to $75 per barrel range. He warned that the government would have to take measures to deal with price changes that have been "so deep and so dramatic." Prentice said there would be no provincial sales tax. Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban for refusing to quit school, and Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi received their Nobel Peace Prizes on Wednesday after two days of celebration honouring their work for children's rights. Malala became by far the youngest laureate, and was widely praised for her global campaigning since she was shot in the head on her school bus in 2012. "It is the story of many girls," she said. Satyarthi, who is credited with saving around 80,000 children from slave labour sometimes in violent confrontations, kept a modest profile in Oslo. An emotional funeral was held Wednesday in Montreal for Jean Beliveau. On a day when the elite of the hockey world and Canadian politics turned out to honour Beliveau, it was another Montreal Canadiens star who summed it up best. "O captain, my captain, bon voyage," said Yvan Cournoyer, borrowing from poet Walt Whitman in a tearful eulogy to one of the most beloved and respected captains in the Montreal Canadiens history. Beliveau, who died Dec. 2 at 83, was more than an exceptional player who led Montreal to 10 Stanley Cups in a 20- year career from 1950 to 1971. Mostly, he is remembered as the ideal team captain and a man who behaved with class and graciousness in everything he did. TIME 0:00 0:12 1:17 2:14 6
Answer keys News story 1 Vocabulary Answer Word Definition h 1. warn a) to make or create too much of something d 2. consequences b) money available for spending; money situation b 3. finances c) a length of time i 4. dramatically d) results or effects f 5. uncertain e) a plan to spend money wisely c 6. duration f) not sure what will happen in the future a 7. overproduction g) actions that will hopefully solve a problem e 8. budget h) to suggest a problem or danger is coming g 9. measures i) a great amount or having a large effect Listening 1. Jim Prentice warned Albertans about the consequences of on Alberta s finances. 2. Oil prices have dropped a great amount. 3. Because of the overproduction of oil by OPEC countries Alberta is facing. 4. Alberta s will be planed for an oil price of $65 $75 a barrel. 5. Prentice said the Alberta government will to deal with the price changes. a) the high oil prices b) the low oil prices a) throughout the year. b) since the summer. a) an uncertain duration of oil. b) low oil prices for an uncertain duration. a) next provincial budget b) next government plan a) have to take measures b) measure the changes 6. Prentice said there would be no. a) provincial oil tax. b) provincial sales tax. News story 2 Vocabulary Answer Word from the story Related words b 1) refuse a) argument fight g 2) campaigning b) to say no avoid d 3) credited c) existence appearance 7
f 4) slave labour d) praised trusted a 5) confrontation e) quiet simple e 6) modest f) unpaid work forced employment c 7) profile g) fighting for something gathering support Listening 1. T Malala Yousafzia was shot by the Taliban for not quitting school. 2. T Two people are sharing the Nobel Peace Prize this year. 3. F The Nobel Peace Prizes were given out on Monday. 4. F Kailash Satyarthi became the youngest laureate to get the Nobel Peace Prize. 5. F Kailash was shot in the head on her school bus in 2012. 6. F Satyarthi saved around 8000 children from slave labour. 7. T Satyarthi kept a modest profile in Oslo (where the awards are given.) News story 3 Vocabulary 1. The elite of hockey are the best known and most talented players. 2. Wayne Gretzky was an exceptional hockey player who played in Edmonton many years ago. He was beloved by Edmontonians. 3. We expect people of high social standing to act with class. 4. I was taught to show graciousness when welcoming others to my home. 5. The warm weather last weekend was ideal for skiing and walking outside. 6. When famous people die often many elite and attend their funeral. 7. Often eulogies at funerals are very emotional. Listening 1. What was held on Wednesday in Montreal? The funeral for Jean Beliveau. 2. Who turned out (showed up) to honour Beliveau? The elite of the hockey world and Canadian politicians. 3. How did Yvan Cournoyer sum up the greatness of Beliveau in his eulogy? He used words from the poet Walt Whitman, O captain, my captain, bon voyage. 4. When did Believau pass away? December 2 nd (at 83 years old) 5. When was Beliveau an exceptional player for the Montreal Canadiens? 1950-1971 8
6. How will Beliveau be remembered? He will be remembered as the ideal team captain and a man who behaved with class and graciousness. Language Focus 1. Speaking to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Prentice said Alberta is facing a "price trough...of uncertain duration" due to overproduction of oil by OPEC countries. Speaking gerund, it starts a noun phrase. is facing present continuous verb 2. Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban for refusing to quit school, and Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi received their Nobel Peace Prizes on Wednesday after two days of celebration honouring their work for children's rights. Refusing gerund, it is following a preposition (to), and thus is the noun in the preposition phrase. Honouring gerund, beginning a noun phrase that gives more information about the noun celebration. 3. Satyarthi, who is credited with saving around 80,000 children from slave labour sometimes in violent confrontations, kept a modest profile in Oslo. Saving gerund, it is following a preposition (with), and thus is the noun in the preposition phrase. 4. " O captain, my captain, bon voyage, said Yvan Cournoyer, borrowing from poet Walt Whitman in a tearful eulogy Borrowing - gerund 9