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.

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!

Self Study: Road Trip to Rolling River

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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

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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

before
listening

meaning

unique

1. the same
2
2. odd
3. special
cultural
1. understanding another way of life
understanding 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 1. a university degree
life
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

after
listening

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.

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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.

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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

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find

say

have

are

Learning English with the CBC

was

gave

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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
annoyed

2.

sad

concerned

worried

uninterested

impatient

sensitive

happy
bored

enthusiastic
sympathetic

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.)
_________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

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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!

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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)

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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.
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

10

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

15

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

them.
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

20

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
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Page 10 of 13

25

a stereotypical kind of information.

Margaux

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

Sheila

Well he told them how much he appreciated their visit and

30

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.

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Answers to Worksheets
Worksheet 1
The answers are in bold.
word

meaning

unique

1. the same
2. odd
3. special
cultural
1. understanding another way of life
understanding 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 1. a university degree
life
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

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Learning English with the CBC

before
listening

after
listening

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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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