mar20_2015

CBC 2015 Permission is granted reproduction of these pages for educational purposes only. For more information on copyright please see http://www.cbc.ca/permissions/

1

Learning English with CBC Edmonton

Weekly newscast

March 20th, 2015 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/


2

News story #1 Headache for Commuters

How do you get to work or school? Do you drive or take the bus? This story is about some construction in Edmonton that has created problems for some commuters.

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. commuters a) plan of how to build something 2. setback b) to put in or build 3. install c) a type of metal that is very strong 4. buckle d) to put off; to take more time than planned 5. speculation e) a problem or obstacle that prevents work from being completed 6. design f) to bend or warp under stress 7. steel g) people traveling (driving) to work 8. delay h) guesses about what might have happened; prediction Extra definitions to help you understand the reading: girders steel beams that are used to support a structure abound to have many around or in existence

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) Groat Road will be closed until at least April 7th because of _______________________.

a) a major setback. b) crews are delayed.

2) Four girders that crews _________________ on the new bridge buckled.

a) were installing b) were speculating

3) People have questioned the bridge design and the __________________ being used.

a) quantity of steel b) quality of steel

4) If the bridge needs new girders it might take ____________ to repair the bridge.

a) a month b) a year

5) The delay would __________________ for drivers and businesses in the area.

a) create a headache b) be a problem

Discussion Question: Taking public transportation may help reduce the headaches experienced by commuters. How can people and governments promote public transportation in Edmonton (or your city?) How is public transportation in Alberta different from public transportation in your hometown?


3

News story #2 Falling Oil Prices

What are some positive things about the falling oil prices? What are some negative effects of the price of oil being so low? This story is about people losing their jobs because of the price of oil.

Before you listen to the second 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. latest most recent layoff / termination to let employees go because there is no more work for them uncertainty unknown future cutting / slashing to reduce or eliminate (get rid of) something or someone majority most people; more than half corporate company; company headquarters boom / spike a fast and sudden increase in something overwhelmed to have much work to do; to be very busy Extra definitions to help you understand the reading: human resource companies / recruitment agencies companies that help people find jobs Armageddon referring to the last fierce battle between good and evil 1. When companies have to _______________ jobs they need to decide which positions are not

necessary. _______________ can help a company save money but they can also hurt productivity. 2. For many people working in the oil industry there is _____________ about their job security now. 3. The ________________ decrease in the price of oil reduced how much people spend on gas but it

also has created a __________________ in unemployment. 4. The _________________ of oil companies have their _________________ offices in Calgary. 5. If many people are terminated from a company, the employees remaining will be

____________________ and may feel stressed.

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. ____ Companies are laying off employees because of the rising oil prices. 2. ____ There is uncertainty over whether the price of crude will keep falling or not. 3. ____ Conoco Phillips is laying off 200 people and Nexen is cutting 400 employees. 4. ____ There have been many corporate layoffs in Edmonton recently. 5. ____ Because of the layoffs, human resource companies are losing employees. 6. ____ Recruitment agencies have seen a huge increase in applications. 7. ____ Companies that deal with employee terminations are also busy these days.

Discussion Question: Do you know anyone who has lost his/her job? What are some things people can do to deal with the stress of losing their job? Can you offer some advice for people looking for work?


4

News story #3 Amazing Northern Lights

Have you ever seen the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis? Explain what they are to your partner. This story is about the amazing northern lights that were seen last week.

Before you listen to the third 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) observers a) strong

powerful 2) aerial b) show

entertainment

3) parade c) to cause to set off

4) severe d) witness viewers

5) burst e) air vapor

6) trigger f) in the sky flying

7) gasses g) explosion blast

Extra definitions to help you understand the reading: Solar storm when the magnetized gases in the earths atmosphere are disturbed

Listening Activity: Short Answer Read and answer the questions below. Answers are in the appendix.

1. In which provinces of Canada were people able to see the Northern Lights? 2. Which day was there an aerial parade of green lights? 3. What caused this rare sighting of the Northern lights? 4. How far south could the lights be seen? 5. When was the last time we had such an awesome display of the aurora borealis?

Discussion Question Aurora borealis is a very beautiful natural phenomenon that makes people really appreciate nature. Can you think of other amazing things that exist in nature? What are some natural wonders you have seen or would like to see?


5

Language Focus

Cause and Effect

Cause and effect relationships are very important in the news. This lesson will introduce some of the most common expressions to show the cause and effect and explain how they are used in a sentence.

These expressions are conjunctions and usually they come in the middle of the sentence. Conjunctions are used to join two complete ideas, thus the cause and the effect must be stated in complete sentences with a subject and a verb. It is possible two of these expressions at the beginning of a sentence, but you must have a comma and the effect after. Effect because cause. Because cause , effect . Effect since cause. Since cause , effect . Effect as cause. Effect for cause. These expressions come at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle a sentence. If they are used at the beginning the expression should be followed by the cause stated as a noun phrase, then use a comma and state the effect in a full sentence (subject + verb). If they come in the middle the effect should be stated first, in a full sentence and no comma is needed. The cause follows this phrase as a noun phrase. As a result of cause (noun phrase) , effect . Effect as a result of cause (noun phrase) Owing to cause (noun phrase) , effect . Effect owing to cause (noun phrase) Due to cause (noun phrase) , effect . Effect due to cause (noun phrase) Because of cause (noun phrase) , effect . Effect because of cause (noun phrase) Thanks to cause (noun phrase) , effect . Effect thanks to cause (noun phrase) Now, look at some sentences modified from our first story this week. Underline the cause and double underline the effect in each sentence.

1. Groat Road will be closed until at least April 7th because of a major setback. 2. Traffic has been terrible since the bridge has been closed for repair. 3. Because four girders buckled, the repair will take longer than expected. 4. As a result of the setback, people are questioning the bridge design and steel quality. 5. It has also been suggested that the buckled girders are due strong winds. 6. Thanks to this road closure, businesses are suffering.

Now write some example sentences with the structures above about the second and third story.

(Example answers are in the Appendix)


6

Transcripts of Weekly news stories

MARCH 20TH WEEKLY NEWS STORIES TIME

Introduction Hi, this is Don Bell. Youre listening to Learning English with CBC for March 20th.

0:00

Story 1 Edmonton commuters have a huge headache. Groat Road will be closed until at least April 7th because of a major setback. Crews were installing girders on the new 102 avenue bridge over Groat Road when four of the girders buckled. Speculation about what happened abounds, with questions about the design of the bridge and the quality of the steel as well as the possible effect of strong winds. If the bridge needs new girders, the bridge's opening will be delayed for a year. That would be a big problem not only for drivers, but businesses in the area.

0:12

Story 2 Talisman Energy, Nexen Energy and ConocoPhillips are the latest companies to announce layoffs in response to falling oil prices and uncertainty over whether the price of crude will keep falling. ConocoPhillips is cutting about 200 jobs. Talisman is slashing 150 to 200 employees at its Calgary head office. Nexen will cut 400 positions, of which the majority will be at its Calgary office. The series of corporate layoffs in Calgary in recent months is leading to a boom in business for human resource companies. Recruitment agencies are overwhelmed with applications, while firms specializing in employee terminations are seeing a spike in demand. Jason Elvy with JAB recruiting in Calgary says "It's a little like Armageddon right now."

1:11

Story 3 The skies over Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and parts of B.C., Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland gave observers an aerial St. Patrick's Day parade of green lights on Tuesday. The cause was a severe solar storm set off by bursts of magnetized gases from the sun that triggered northern lights over much of Canada and as far south as northern California. It is the strongest solar storm to blast Earth since the fall of 2013.

2:33


7

Answer keys News story 1 Vocabulary

Answer Word Definition g 1. commuters a) plan of how to build something e 2. setback b) to put in or build b 3. install c) a type of metal that is very strong f 4. buckle d) to put off; to take more time than planned h 5. speculation e) a problem or obstacle that prevents work from being completed a 6. design f) to bend or warp under stress c 7. steel g) people traveling (driving) to work d 8. delay h) guesses about what might have happened; prediction

Listening

1) Groat Road will be closed until at least April 7th because of _______________________.

a) a major setback. b) crews are delayed.

2) Four girders that crews _________________ on the new bridge buckled.

a) were installing b) were speculating

3) People have questioned the bridge design and the __________________ being used.

a) quantity of steel b) quality of steel

4) If the bridge needs new girders it might take ____________ to repair the bridge.

a) a month b) a year

5) The delay would __________________ for drivers and businesses in the area.

a) would create a headache b) be a problem

News story 2 Vocabulary

1. When companies have to cut/slash jobs they need to decide which positions are not necessary. Layoffs / Terminations can help a company save money but they can also hurt productivity.

2. For many people working in the oil industry there is uncertainty about their job security now. 3. The recent decrease in the price of oil reduced how much people spend on gas but it also has

created a spike / boom in unemployment. 4. The majority of oil companies have their corporate offices in Calgary. 5. If many people are terminated from a company, the employees remaining will be overwhelmed

and may feel stressed.


8

Listening

1. __F__ Companies are laying off employees because of the rising oil prices. 2. __T__ There is uncertainty over whether the price of crude will keep falling or not. 3. __T__ Conoco Phillips is laying off 200 people and Nexen is cutting 400 employees. 4. __F__ There have been many corporate layoffs in Edmonton recently. 5. __F__ Because of the layoffs, human resource companies are losing employees. 6. __T__ Recruitment agencies have seen a huge increase in applications. 7. __T__ Companies that deal with employee terminations are also busy these days.

News story 3 Vocabulary

Answer Word from the story Related words d 1) observers a) strong

powerful f 2) aerial b) show

entertainment

b 3) parade c) to cause to set off

a 4) severe d) witness viewers

g 5) burst e) air vapor

c 6) trigger f) in the sky flying

e 7) gasses g) explosion blast

Listening

1. In which provinces of Canada were people able to see the Northern Lights? Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and parts of B.C., Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland 2. Which day was there an aerial parade of green lights? Tuesday, March 17th St. Patricks Day 3. What caused this rare sighting of the Northern lights? The cause was a severe solar storm set

off by bursts of magnetized gases from the sun 4. How far south could the lights be seen? As far as northern California 5. When was the last time we had such an awesome display of the Aurora borealis? Fall of 2013


9

Language Focus 1. Groat Road will be closed until at least April 7th because of a major setback. 2. Traffic has been terrible since the bridge has been closed for repair. 3. Because four girders buckled, the repair will take longer than expected. 4. As a result of the setback, people are questioning the bridge design and steel quality. 5. It has also been suggested that the buckled girders are due strong winds. 6. Thanks to this road closure, businesses are suffering.

Example sentences: Story 2 1. Because of the falling oil prices, many companies must lay off employees. 2. As a result of the corporate layoffs, there has been a boom in business for human resource companies and recruitment agencies. 3. Recruitment agencies have been busy since oil companies laid off employees. 4. Companies specializing in employee terminations have been overwhelmed due to the layoffs. Story 3 1. Owing to a severe solar storm, the northern lights were very visible last week. 2. The northern lights could be seen as far south as California because a severe solar storm triggered the lights.

mar20_2015

Documents