Learning English with CBC
Listening Lessons for Intermediate Students
Based on CBC Manitoba Radio Broadcasts
February 28, 2014
Lesson 97: Self Study Edition
Level: CLB 6 and up
Topic: Parenting: The Toughest Job?
Language Skills and Functions: Listening – listening to a short interview for detail and inference
Speaking – expressing opinions
Reading – locating information on a website; reading statements for fact/opinion; identifying supporting ideas in a paragraph
Writing – writing a thank you letter
Language Tasks: Discussing community expectations of parents
Using new vocabulary in context
Listening to a short interview with Kalyn Falk, who has a child with autism, for detail and inference
Identifying supporting ideas in paragraphs from the Manitoba Memo
Reading statements about autism and determining if they are fact or opinion
Finding information about parenting programs on websites; completing a chart comparing two programs
Writing a letter of thanks to Kalyn Falk for sharing her family’s personal story with others
Essential Skills: Reading text, oral communication, writing
Appendices: Transcript of the podcast
Answers to Worksheets
Manitoba Memo
Many people conclude that parenting is the hardest job they’ve ever had. It’s certainly not a dream job. It can be exhausting, rewarding, frustrating and inspiring – all in one day. It’s also a job that others think they know a lot about. Grandparents, relatives, friends, neighbours and even strangers are happy to give parents advice about what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. Sometimes, parents ask for the advice and are happy to receive it. On other occasions, the advice is unwelcome and unhelpful.
Although there are thousands of books about parenting, countless websites and many other parenting resources, there’s no formula that works for every parent or child. Even the experts often don’t agree on the best approach for any given situation. The way in which you were parented, social and economic circumstances and cultural expectations all impact on how you parent your children. What works for one child doesn’t necessarily work for another. Even with all the advice available, parenting often comes down to using your own judgement and making the best decisions you can.
Parenting is about accepting that not all the decisions you make will be the right ones. Everyone falls short of being a perfect parent. Parents have to accept that children are defined by their abilities, dreams, personality and character. No matter how hard parents work, or how many resources they have available to them, there’s no guarantee that their children will fulfill the hopes and dreams they have for them. Parenting is about loving your child for who they are, not for what you dreamed they would be.
Parents of a child with significant mental and/or physically challenges have an even tougher job. Their child is more vulnerable than other children. They need more support. They are more dependent on their parents for a longer period of time.
Kalyn Falk, a Winnipeg mother of two boys, one of whom has severe autism, knows a lot about parenting challenges. Her son Noah, now 15, had a tumultuous couple of months about two years ago. He unintentionally burned the family house down. Then, a few weeks later, in part because of the stress of living somewhere else and having his routine disrupted, Noah jumped into the river at the Forks. Luckily, no-one was harmed in either incident, but Kalyn could sense that people were thinking, “What kind of kid jumps in the river? Where are his parents?” At that point, she decided to go public with Noah’s story and explain how his autism affects his behaviour and their family’s life.
Kalyn’s book is called “Mother of the Year and Other Elusive Awards.” It’s an honest look at their life, the good times and the bad times, the heartbreak and the humour. It’s also a great reminder to all of us that things aren’t always as they appear. In this lesson, Kalyn shares a little of her parenting story.
Background
1. Answer questions about what people expect of parents
Think about the role of parents in your community. What does your community expect from parents? What about parents whose children have mental and/or physical challenges? What additional challenges do they face? Can you describe people’s expectations of parents? How would you answer the following questions on this familiar topic?
1. What do you think is the most difficult part of being a parent? Why?
2. What does your community expect from parents? Do you think your community judges parents if they think they aren’t “perfect” parents or that they aren’t trying hard enough? Can you think of examples?
3. Are there major differences in the expectations of parents in your community and in Canadian society? Explain.
4. Parents of children with significant physical and/or mental challenges face many pressures in our society. Things others take for granted, like learning to read, walking, attending school and going on regular family outings can be a struggle for them and
their children. What kinds of extra supports do you think these parents need?
5. Where can parents whose children face significant challenges go for support? e.g. their family, the community, their faith, organizations like Autism Manitoba or the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, government etc.
6. In Canada, it’s common for parents whose children face significant challenges to be open about these challenges. They are strong advocates for their children. They talk about their child’s disabilities because that is the only way that their children/family will get the kinds of services and supports they need. What about in your community? Do parents talk openly about the challenges their children face or are such challenges often hidden?
7. How do you think our society can best support all parents?
2. Vocabulary definitions
Here are some words you need to know to understand the CBC interview.
Vocabulary
autism Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a neurological disorder that affects how the brain functions. It can be mild, severe or somewhere in between. Children and adults with autism often have difficulty communicating and forming relationships.
to be severe If something is described as being severe, it means that it is very serious or extreme.
elusive Something that is elusive is difficult to find, catch or achieve.
to quote someone If you quote someone, you repeat exactly what they have said or written.
to throw down the gauntlet A gauntlet is a medieval glove worn by a knight in armor to protect his hand in a fight. The idiom “throw down the gauntlet” means to challenge or defy someone. For example, you might use this expression if you are challenging how people think or suggesting a new way of looking at a problem.
suggestions Suggestions are ideas, plans etc. that someone mentions or puts forward.
to be well-resourced If someone is well-resourced, it means they have a lot of resources available to help them. For example, they know about and have access to information, classes or financial assistance.
an assumption If you make an assumption about something, you are assuming or thinking it is true, even though you have no proof that it is true.
a magic button This idiom is used to describe situations where people think that that one object, act or idea can fix a problem and provide a magic solution.
a miracle story A miracle story is a story where something very good or very lucky happens which you didn’t expect to happen or didn’t think was possible.
a breakthrough A breakthrough is an important new discovery in something. The word is usually used to describe a new discovery in something that has been studied for a long time, e.g. a scientific breakthrough.
a distinct story A distinct story is a story that is unique or clearly different than other stories.
to earn someone’s love The way to earn someone’s love is to say and do things that show how important they are to you.
to be imperfect Someone or something that is imperfect is flawed and not perfect.
to look at someone with
different eyes If you look at someone with different eyes, it means that you are able to see them differently than you did before. You look at them in a new way.
to exist If you exist, you are a living person. You are real.
to contribute to society Someone who contributes to society gives something to society to make it better.
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 an English Language Learner’s Dictionary to help you. The first one is completed for you as an example.
Vocabulary Word / Meaning1. _f autism / a) / an idiom which means to challenge or defy someone
2. __ to be severe / b) / something that’s difficult to find, catch or achieve
3. __ to quote someone / c) / to be flawed; to not be perfect
4. __ something that’s elusive / d) / when something good or lucky happens that was believed to be unlikely or impossible
5. __ to throw down the gauntlet / e) / to think something is true, even though you can’t prove it
6. __ suggestions / f) / a neurological disorder that affects how the brain functions
7. __ to be well-resourced / g) / to give something to society to make it better
8. __ to make an assumption / h) / an important new discovery, e.g. in science
9. __ a magic button / i) / to say and do things that show someone how important they are to you and how much you care for them
10. __ a miracle story / j) / to be very serious; extreme
11. __ a breakthrough / k) / to live, to be alive
12. __ to be distinct / l) / ideas, plans etc.
13. __ to earn someone’s love / m) / to think about / look at someone in a new way
14. __ to be imperfect / n) / to have a lot of resources available to help you
15. __ to look at someone with different eyes / o) / to repeat exactly what someone has said or written
16. __ to exist / p) / an idiom used to describe situations where people think that one idea, act etc. can easily or magically fix a problem
17. __ to contribute to society / q) / to be unique; to be clearly different
4. Can you predict what the interview is about?
In this podcast, host Marcy Markusa interviews Kalyn Falk about her book. It’s called “Mother of the Year and Other Elusive Awards.” It tells the story of her family’s experiences with her son, Noah, who lives with severe autism. Can you predict what kind of topics Kalyn might write about in her book? Here are some examples:
Her book might include stories about…her son’s experiences.
There could be information about …the services and supports available for children with autism and their families.
Maybe the book talks about…how other people react to a child with autism.
I wonder if the book talks about …how her family copes on a day-to-day basis.
5. Get ready to listen
In this podcast, you will hear two speakers. You will hear:
Marcy Markusa – host and interviewer
Kalyn Falk – mother and author
Play the podcast for the first time.
After-listening activities
1. Review pre-listening predictions
Were you able to predict what kinds of topics might be covered in the book?
2. Listen for detail and inference
This time listen to the podcast for detail and inference. Inference or inferred meaning is when we form a personal conclusion while we listen based on the context, tone or other information we hear. We use these clues to draw conclusions. Read the following statements, then listen to the interview and decide if they are true or false. The first one is completed for you as an example.
1. / Kalyn Falk’s son Noah lives with severe autism. / True / False2. / Kalyn has written a book about her family’s life. / True / False
3. / The name of her book is “Mother of the Year and Other Awards.” / True / False
4. / Marcy Markusa has met Kalyn before. / True / False
5. / The quote on the cover of Kalyn’s book is meant to get people thinking about what life is like when you live with a child with autism. / True / False
6. / Kalyn sometimes feels that other people are judging her as a parent. / True / False
7. / Kalyn wants people to understand that no matter what she does, or how hard she tries, she cannot solve the problem of autism. / True / False
8. / The miracle stories people tell about children with autism ring true for Kalyn. / True / False
9. / Kalyn loves her son Noah unconditionally. / True / False
3. Identify the Supporting Details in a Paragraph
Read the Manitoba Memo at the beginning of this lesson. Notice how each paragraph has a main idea or topic sentence. The other sentences in the paragraph give supporting details which either explain or give examples that support the main idea. Can you see how the paragraphs work? In this exercise, the topic sentence for the paragraph is given to you. Your task is to find the supporting details in each paragraph from the Manitoba Memo. The first one is completed for you as an example.