READING BASICS

A. What is reading comprehension?

Reading is the interaction between the reader and the text. Reading
comprehension consists of three elements: the reader, the text, and the activity or
purpose of reading. To become an efficient reader one must possess some skills in
reading. They are: recalling word meanings, drawing inferences about a meaning of a
word in context, finding answers to questions answered explicitly or in paraphrase,
weaving together ideas in the content, drawing inferences from the content, identifying
a writers technique, following the structure of a passage, and recognizing a writers
purpose, attitude, tone, and mood (Davis in Alderson, 2001: 9-10).

B. Types of questions found in Reading Comprehension:

1. Factual question
Sample questions are:
a. Stalagmites are formed by?
b. Sinkholes are?
c. Which speleothem grows upward from the floor ?
d. Which of the following are NOT caused by dripping water ?
e. Which of the following is not an example of an Eastern stallion?
f. All of the following are stated EXCEPT ?
g. Which of the following is not true?
h. Which of the following is true?
i. Which phrase indicates that the company is an established firm?
2. Vocabulary questions
Sample questions are:
a. The phrase take place in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ?
b. The word forced in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by?
c. In line 11, "lithe" most nearly means?
d. To conceive is to?

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 3. Inferential question
Sample questions are:
a. It can be inferred from paragraph 1 that?
b. According to the passages, it is NOT true that?
c. According to paragraph 2, it is NOT true that?
d. It is implied in paragraph 2 that
e. What can be inferred about the slaves' pidgin language?
f. Why would an animal parent not be able to care for its litter?
4. Main idea question
Sample questions are:
a. What is the BEST title for this passage ?
b. What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?
c. What does Paragraph 1 talk about?
d. What is the best topic sentence for paragraph 5?
5. Referential question
Sample questions are:
a. The word it in paragraph 1 refers to ?
b. The word which in paragraph 2 refers to
6. Developmental question
Sample questions are:
a. Which of the sentences below expresses the essential information in the first
highlighted sentence in paragraph 1?
b. The information in the passage is most relevant to which field of study ?
c. In paragraph 1, why does the writer include information about the Cherokee
language?
d. What is the tone of the passage?
e. Who would most likely go to this establishment?
C. Reading Strategies
In order to work out the problems on reading comprehension, we must have reading
strategies, they are:
1. Skimming: quick reading to find out the topic and main points on reading
texts
For example:

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 Reading text
Lead poisoning in children is a major health concern. Both low and high doses
of paint can have serious effects. Children exposed to high doses of lead often
suffer permanent nerve damage, mental retardation, blindness, and even death. Low
doses of lead can lead to mild mental retardation, short attention spans,
distractibility, poor academic performance, and behavioral problems.
Question:
What is the main idea of the passage?
a. Permanent damage caused by lead poisoning
b. Health problems caused by lead material
c. Lead poisoning is affecting childrens health
d. Lead paint which can be found in older homes
2. Scanning: careful reading to find out the writers ideas
For example
Reading text
The next hormone is epinephrine, or adrenaline. This hormone is a natural
secretion of the adrenal glands in the human body. Its primary function in the
human body is to assist the body in coping with sudden surges of stress. When a
person unexpectedly finds himself in a stressful situation filled with fear or anger, a
large amount of epinephrine is released into the blood and the body responds with
an increased heartbeat, higher blood pressure, and conversion of glycogen into
glucose for energy to enable the body to deal with the stress.
Question:
The paragraph preceding the passage most probably discusses
a. further uses of epinephrine
b. the treatment of cardiac arrest
c. a different hormone
d. the secretions of the adrenal glands

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 LESSON 1
LEARNING STYLES
Have you ever had trouble learning something? Did you overcome the problem? How?

Have you ever sat in class wondering if you would ever grasp the information that was
being taught? Maybe the presentation didnt fit your learning style.
Our minds and bodies gather information in different ways and from all around us:
seeing, hearing, and doing. Then our brains process that information, organizing it, and
making connections to things we already know. This process can also work in different
ways. Do we think in pictures or words? Do we remember details or the big picture?
When were trying to learn, it helps to know how our brain works. How do we best
gather and organize information? Different people have different learning styles. For
example, one person might struggle with written information but understand it
immediately in an illustration. Another person might have problems with the picture,
but not the written text. Psychologists have identified seven basic learning styles:
1. Linguistic: These people learn by using language listening, speaking, reading,
and writing.
2. Logical: these people learn by applying formulas and scientific principles.
3. Visual: these people learn by seeing what they are learning.
4. Musical: instead of finding music a distraction, these people learn well when
information is presented through music.
5. Kinesthetic: movement and physical activities help these people learn.
6. Intrapersonal: these people learn best if they associate new information directly
with their own experiences.
7. Interpersonal: these people learn well by working with others.

You will often encounter situations that do not match your strongest learning style.
If you know what your strengths are, you can develop strategies to balance your
weaknesses, for a more successful learning experience.

A. Read the article. Find the words in italics in the article. Then match each word with this
meaning.

. 1. grasp a. try hard to do something

. 2. the big picture b. understand
. 3. gather c. something that takes attention away

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 . 4. struggle d. show one thing is connected to another
. 5. distraction e. a general view of a situation
. 6. associate f. pick up or collect

B. These sentences are false. Correct each one to make it true.

1. If you can understand something, you arent concentrating hard enough.
2. Linguistic learners will not comprehend written information.
3. A visual learner will probably learn best by listening and speaking.
4. A musical learner needs peace and quiet to focus on something.
5. Intrapersonal learners generally work well with other people.
C. Word Power: Personal Qualities

1. Pair Work
How do we learn each of these things. Check ()
your opinions. Then think of three other things we
learn from our parents, from school, and on our
own.

2. Group Work
How can you develop each personal quality in part
A? Use the activities listed in the box or your own
ideas.

Example:
A: You can learn artistic appreciation by going to
museums
B: You can also learn it by studying painting or
drawing

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 LESSON 2
Find the Job Thats Right for You

Pre Reading Activity

a. Which of the skills do you think are most important? Why?
b. Check () the skills that you think you have.
c. Look at the skills you checked. What jobs do you think
you might be good at?

EIGHT IMPORTANT JOBS

Here are some skills that employers look for
1. Can you solve problems? 1. Are you good at math and science?

2. Do you work well with people? 2. Can you manage money well?

3. Can you use a computer? 3. Do you speak other languages?

4. Can you teach others how to do 4. Can you manage other people?

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 things?

1. Nearly 50% of all workers in the United States have jobs they arent happy with.
Dont let this happen to you! If you want to find the right job, dont rush to look
through the classified ads in the newspaper. Instead, sit down and think about
yourself. What kind of person are you? What makes you happy?
2. According to psychologist John Holland, there are six types of personalities.
Nobody is just one personality type, but most people are mainly one type. For
each type, there are certain jobs that might be right and others that are probably
wrong.
3. Considering your personality type can help you make the right decision. Liz is a
good example. Liz knew she wanted to do something for children. She thought
she could help children as a school counselor or a lawyer. She took counseling
and law courses and hated them. After talking to a career counselor, she
realized the problem was that shes an artistic type. Liz studied film, and she
now produces childrens TV shows and loves it!
4. Below are some personality types you probably belong to:
a. The realistic type: they are usually practical and like working with tools.
b. The investigative types: they are curious and like to learn, analyze situations,
and solve problems.
c. The artistic type: they are imaginative and like to express themselves by
creating art.
d. The social type: they are friendly and like helping or training other people.
e. The enterprising: they are outgoing and like to persuade or lead other people.
f. The conventional type: they are careful and like to follow routines and keep
track of details.
A. Read the article. Then find these sentences in the article. Decide whether each
sentence is the main idea or a supporting idea in that paragraph. Check () the correct
boxes.

Main idea Supporting

idea
1. Nearly 50% of all workersthey arent
happy. (par 1)
2. According to psychologisttypes of
personalities. (par 2)
3. For each type, there arethat are probably
wrong. (par 2)
4. Considering your personalitythe right job
decision. (par 3)
5. After taking to a career counseloran

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 artistic type. (par 3)

B. For each personality type, write three examples of appropriate jobs.

Realistic Investigative Artistic Social Enterprising Conventional

C. Clauses with because

The word because introduces a cause or a reason
Example: Id make a good journalist because Im good at writing.
I could be a teacher because Im very creative.
I wouldnt want to be a teacher because Im very impatient.
I could never be a stockbroker because I cant make decisions quickly.
D. Complete the sentences in column A with appropriate information from
column B then compare with a partner.

A B
1. I wouldnt want to be a nurse a. because I dont like hospitals.
2. Id like to be a novelist b. because I really enjoy travelling.
3. I could never be an accountant c. because I have terrible memory.
4. I would make a bad writer d. because Im terrible with numbers.
5. I could be a flight attendant e. because I love creative writing.

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 LESSON 3

A. Pre reading activity

Answer the questions below:
1. How do girls and boys behave differently?
2. Are there things that boys are better at than girls and that girls are better at than
boys?
3. How are they treated differently?
4. Can men and women do the same jobs?
What's the Difference Between Boys and Girls?
Girls talk Boys talk
Do boys or girls mature faster? Do boys or girls mature faster?
Girls definitely mature faster! Some boys Girls definitely mature faster! At fifteen,
behave like absolute babies when they are we (boys) are still joking around and
with their friends. enjoying doing silly things. At fifteen, girls
behave like adults and wear smart clothes.

Do you act differently when you are with
girls?
I talk about different things but I don't act
differently. There's no point acting
differently with boys. You must just be
yourself.
What can boys do better than girls?
I'm not sure.
Do you act differently when you are with
girls?
I talk about the same things to both boys
and girls. However, I probably behave less
violently with girls.
What can boys do better than girls?
Play rugby and football because they are
rough contact sports.

Are boys more practical than girls?

Are boys more practical than girls? In general, yes! This is because we can
No, I think boys and girls are equally think more simply. We don't complicate
practical. things!!

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What can girls do better than boys? What can girls do better than boys?
Horse-riding and listening to people's Art subjects. Girls are more creative than
problems. boys. Girls are also better at looking after
children.

Do you think there are some jobs which Do you think there are some jobs which
women or men should not do? women or men should not do?
No, both women and men can do the same No they can both do the same jobs well.
things and should get the same pay.

When you are married, will you share the When you are married, will you share the
housework with your husband? housework with your wife?
Absolutely! I don't want to be just a Yes, I will probably cook, clean and look
housewife. after the children

Do parents treat sons and daughters
differently?
Yes, some fathers treat their sons
differently to their daughters. Some
mothers treat their
daughters differently to their sons. Also, in
some families the daughters must 'speak
nicely' and they have to look smart but the
boys don't have to.
Do parents treat sons and daughters
differently?
Not really. It depends on the parents. Some
parents worry more about daughters. I
suppose this is fair, especially during
puberty. Also some parents try to
encourage their daughters to be more
feminine. For example, the daughters must
not swear but the sons can.

Are girls more sensitive than boys?

Are girls more sensitive than boys? Im not sure. I know some very sensitive
No, I don't think so. I think both girls and boys. However, in general boys are braver
boys are equally sensitive but boys don't and less sensitive.
like showing their
feelings.
Do girls gossip more?
Do girls gossip more than boys? Yes. However, there are some boys at my
No. I think they gossip the same amount school who gossip all the time
but about different things.
What annoys you about girls?
What annoys you about boys? They are impossible to argue with. They
When they are in a large group they act ignore you when they dont want to listen!
like idiots but if they are alone, they are Also some girls are very unforgiving; they
nice. It also annoys me that they pretend to dont forget arguments or mistakes.
be brave and never show their feelings. Another thing I dislike is that girls always
expect boys to make the first move if a
boy and girl like each other.

Will you marry?

Will you marry? Probably, if I meet Miss Right!
If I find someone I like, yes!

Do you agree with their opinions? Explain your reasons!

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5. Vocabulary
Match the words or phrases with the correct definitions from the list below.
Phrases Definitions
1. to mature a) to chat about unimportant things
2. practical b) good at artistic things like drawing,
3. to treat people differently music,
4. restrictions writing poems or telling stories
5. sensitive c) the time during teenage years when your
6. to gossip body starts changing
7. to annoy someone d) to make something seem more difficult
8. an eating disorder than it really is
9. a contact sport e) an illness that makes people eat too
10. to complicate something little,
11. creative usually because they are worried about
12. puberty how they look
13. to ignore someone f) to become more like an adult in the way
14. unforgiving you behave or look
g) to not listen to someone
h) rules that stop you doing something
i) a sport where you can touch other
people to get the ball off them, like rugby
or basketball
k) not wanting to forget arguments or
believe
that someone is sorry
I) good at making things work well or
fixing
things
m) caring or emotional
n) to make someone angry, but not very
angry
o) to behave differently with different
people

C. Scan reading
In pairs, look at the following statements and discuss the questions about each
statement:
a) Is the statement about boys or girls?
b) Who made the statement - a boy or a girl?

1. They definitely mature faster!

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2. At fifteen they behave like adults and wear smart clothes.
3. They think more simply. They don't complicate things!
4. They are better at looking after children.
5. They don't like showing their feelings.
6. They are impossible to argue with. They ignore you when they don't want to listen.
7. When they are in large groups, they behave like idiots!
8. They are better at horse-riding and listening to people's problems.

C. Follow up activity
Choose a partner. Interview your partner using the list of questions as either the girls or
the boys talk. Feel free to express your opinions!

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 LESSON 4

A BABY, MAYBE?
Why are American high schools giving dolls out to their teenage students?

The answer is simple. They are worried about teenage pregnancy. The number of
teenage girls who get pregnant in the USA is increasing rapidly. Many teenagers do not
realise what it is like to have a baby until they have one. They admit that they thought
babies were easy to care for. Schools want teenagers to THINK before they have
children.

They cry during the day and the night

They are giving these dolls to both boys and girls who have to look after them for three
days. It sounds easy, doesn't it? However, these are special computerised dolls. They
contain computer programs which cause them to cry at random intervals. They cry
during the day and the night (as loudly as a real baby). The only way to stop them
crying is to hold them for twenty minutes. This is as long as the time you need to feed a
real baby.

These dolls also record how many minutes they cry before someone picks them up. In
fact they are so clever that they also record the response of the person who picks them
up, so it is possible to hear if the person is angry or not. Most schools say that the
teenagers enjoy having the dolls though they are normally extremely happy when they

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can return them. After they had had the dolls for three days, most of the students said
they wanted to wait a long time to have children.

A. Vocabulary
Match the words and phrases with their definitions.
A B
1. to increase a) to store or copy information or sound
2. rapidly intervals b) to care for someone or something, such
3. to admit something as a child or a pet
4. to look after c) to tell someone something (usually that
5. at random you are ashamed of)
6. to record d) quickly
7. a response e) at any time (rather than every ten
minutes or every hour)
f) to get bigger
g) a reaction to something

B. Comprehension
Read the article and decide if the following sentences are true or false.
1. There are a lot more teenage pregnancies in the USA.
2. The dolls cry every twenty minutes.
3. The dolls don't cry as loudly as real babies.
4. The dolls record how many minutes it takes for someone to pick them up.
5. It's impossible to tell whether someone was angry when they picked the doll up.
6. Most high school teenagers enjoy looking after the dolls.
7. Most high school teenagers are happy to return the dolls.

C. More Reading

Teen pregnancy is the term used when an underage girl become pregnant, usually
refers to girls from 13-17 years old. There are no easy choices in teen pregnancy. As
the problem continues, teen pregnancy becomes a serious social issue.

A. Put the following tittles in the table below.

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 Causes
Methods of prevention

Meaning Consequences

Teenage pregnancy
A pregnancy in a young woman who will not reach her 20th birthday
before the expected birth.
Unmarried minors who become pregnant unintentionally.
Lower educational levels and poverty.
Lack of knowledge on birth control because of embarrassment to seek
such information.
Improper consumption of drugs and alcohol may possibly encourage
unintended sexual activity.
Problems in raising the children with proper upbringing especially in
terms of economic factor.
Loss of personal space and freedom.
The teen mother usually neglects her education and may experience
medical complication due to early pregnancy.
Some teenage mothers tend to receive physical abuse from the father
of their child.
Learning about methods of birth control.
Resisting pressure from peers and partners for having sex. Many
pregnant teenagers do not know how to say no to sex.
Learning about the facts and risks associated with sex and about ways
on how to prevent premarital sex.

B. Find the words for the following definitions, in the table above.

1. Not wanted
2. Classmates
3. Underage
4. Look for/search
5. Give little attention

D. Follow up Activity
Designing a doll
1. Imagine that you are now working for a company that makes the baby dolls. The
babies have been a great success, but now they want to make a second range of
dolls. These dolls are going to be toddlers (one to two year-old children).

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2. Work in groups of 4-5 to make a list of things the dolls will do. Consider that the
main difference between babies and toddlers is that toddlers can move and talk. You
must also draw your dolls creation.

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 LESSON 5
A. Pre-reading:
Match the words or phrases from the article with their definitions.
Words/phrases Definitions
1. broken home a) harm that you do to yourself deliberately, eg: cutting or
2. to snap at someone burning yourself behaviour.
3. to lose touch b) to recover quickly
4. to snap out of it c) a family where the parents have separated
5. to cope d) to deal successfully with a situation
6. blue e) to lose contact
7. help line f) a telephone advice service
8. self-injury g) a person professionally trained to talk to people about their
9. counsellor problems
h) to speak to someone angrily
i) unhappy (informal)

Teenage Depression
According to Young Minds, in a school of 1,000 pupils aged 14 -18, 50 of them might be
seriously depressed. As many as 1 in 5 could be affected at some time. We investigate why
more and more teenagers are suffering from mental illness.

A difficult time
Being a teenager has always been difficult. Emotions and moods change rapidly. Many
teenagers feel confused and afraid when the safety of childhood is left behind. These days,
experts say that things are even harder. Peter Wilson, the Director of Young Minds, says, "We
live in particularly difficult times for a growing youngster. There are huge cultural pressures
and a lot of broken homes. Kids may have difficult relationships with parents, or in other
cases, have no one to support them."

No one is happy all the time

Everyone feels unhappy, lonely or misunderstood from time to time. But a small number of
teenagers become depressed for weeks or months without change, and they begin to find that
they can't continue with their normal lives. Many teenagers don't want to ask, or don't know
how to ask for help. Perhaps they don't even realise they are depressed. It is usually other
people - friends, parents and teachers, who identify the symptoms of depression and offer
help. One teenager explained that after a close friend had died, "I stopped believing that
anything could be any good anymore. I became very aggressive, I snapped at my parents and
I lost touch with friends. Things were bad for me for a year until, fortunately for me, a
teacher noticed that things were wrong."

If you recognise these symptoms in yourself or a friend, there are lots of things that can be
done. You can't expect yourself, or someone else to just 'snap out of it'. You need to find ways
to cope with the feelings.

How to help yourself or someone else

If you are worried about a friend, listen to their problems and try to be sympathetic, and be
patient. Most importantly, try and help them find help. If you're feeling blue yourself, don't
panic you need to try and understand your emotions. You are not the first person to feel like
this. Try writing things down in a diary or talking to a friend. Perhaps writing a poem or song,
drawing a picture or listening to music will help you express and understand your emotions.
But most importantly of all, do something you enjoy, whether it's watching TV, playing sport
or just going for a walk.

Talk to someone
It is a good idea for teenagers who feel depressed to try and talk to someone they like and feel
comfortable with. But if they don't want to talk to friends and family, there are lots of people
who are there to help. They could talk to their teacher or school nurse or maybe their doctor.
Alternatively, there are telephone helplines which give confidential help to anyone with a
problem. Talking to someone might help others to cope with how they are feeling.

There is someone who can help

Sometimes, depression can become a very serious problem, and teenagers think about trying
to escape their feelings. They might consider suicide or selfinjury. When the problem has got
so bad, professional help from qualified specialist counsellors is vital. Counsellors are trained
to talk to people about their worries and problems.

It is important to remember that everyone feels sad and unhappy sometimes, it is natural.
Remember that, no matter how bad you feel, the feelings of sadness and happiness will come
to an end.

B. Comprehension
According to the text are the following sentences true or false? (Put a 'T' for true and an 'F'
for false next to each sentence.)
1. Teenagers don't want to become adults.
2. Teenagers often don't know how to get help with their depression.
3. Other people are usually the first to see you are depressed.
4. A common symptom of teenage behaviour is moody
5. It is easy to recover quickly from serious depression
6. Talking to a person who is depressed is a good way to help.
7. Telephone help lines are a private way to talk about your problems.
8. Anyone can be a counsellor.
9. Everyone feels miserable

C. Follow up activity
1. Divide the class into pairs. Act out based on the role play card that you get.
2. After all of the pairs have acted out the situation, write a new roleplay situation. Write
roleplay cards for Student A and Student B.
3. Swap the cards with another pair and act out the roleplay in front of the class.
Roleplay cards
Student A Student B
You are depressed because you think you are You are worried about your friend. He she is
ugly. You try to talk to people but they just depressed about the way they look, but you
tell you that you're being silly. You are can't understand it because he/she is good-
desperate to lose weight and become more looking. Recently your friend has lost a lot of
attractive. weight and started to look ill.

LESSON 6
 Childbirth in Manitoba, Canada
In all countries and cultures, women who have experience in childbirth have traditionally
attended births. One generation of women trained the next generation of women. Even today,
it is estimated that eighty percent of babies around the world are born into the caring and
skilled hands of a midwife.

In the Canadian context, midwifery historically played an important role in Aboriginal

communities. And when the European settlers arrived, it was often Aboriginal midwives who
delivered their offspring. Later, as more waves of immigrants came to Canada, immigrant
women brought their cultures midwifery knowledge and practices with them.

By 1865, as doctors began delivering babies, midwifery was criminalized in Canada.

Midwives continued to practice however. In fact, many worked with and trained the very
doctors who were taking over their roles.

The biggest decline in midwifery in Canada came in the early 20th century. Anaesthetics
were becoming more popular with women in childbirth and only doctors could provide them.
Hospital births were becoming more common than home births, especially in urban areas.
While many industrialized nations continued to support midwife attended births, North
America moved in a completely different direction. Doctors, acting in part in their own self-
interest, told the public that midwife attended births were unsafe. They also resisted proposals
for more formal training of midwives, who were mostly female.

In the 1980s women in Canada began looking for less medically intrusive birth experiences.
They wanted the option of a birth process which was viewed more as a normal, natural part of
life and less of a medical procedure. Slowly, but surely, pressure from expectant mothers for
birth alternatives has led to a resurgence of midwives across the country. Formal midwife
training programs have been developed. The demand for midwife services continues to
increase.

Manitoba has the highest percentage of births attended by midwives of all the provinces.
Publicly funded and regulated midwifery was introduced here just over a decade ago. Since
that time, trained midwives have provided services for 1,000s of families across the
province. Midwives care for women throughout their pregnancy, their labour and birth.

They also care for mother and baby for six weeks after the birth. Licensed midwives can
order and interpret lab tests, write prescriptions related to maternal and newborn care and
consult with or refer to family doctors and specialists.

Midwives in Manitoba care for women and children in the community, in their homes and in
clinics and hospitals. Soon women in Winnipeg with low-risk, normal pregnancies will be
able to give birth at a birth centre staffed by midwives. The Minister of Health hopes that
eventually there will be birth centres in other regions of the province.

Vocabulary
a birthing centre A birthing centre is a specially equipped facility with
trained staff where women can go to give birth.
to be staffed by Staff are the employees (or in some cases the
volunteers) who work at an organization.. For
example: Birthing centres are staffed by midwives.
to deliver a baby When someone delivers a baby, they assist the mother in
the birthing process.
a midwife A midwife is a person (usually a woman) who is trained
formally or through experience to assist women in
childbirth.
a natural birth A natural birth is a birth that happens naturally, without
medical intervention. It does not involve anaesthetics.
a mother-focused birth If a birth is mother-focused, it means that the needs of the
mother are seen as very important. Every effort is made to
ensure she is comfortable and has the supports she needs.
Obstetricians Obstetricians are doctors who specialize in
pregnancy and delivering babies.
a normal birth A normal birth is a birth where there are no

a plain vanilla delivery
an incident-free pregnancy
complications. Everything proceeds as expected.
This idiom is from the world of ice cream. Vanilla ice
cream is a basic flavour of ice cream with no additional
flavours added. When a mother experiences a plain
vanilla delivery of a baby, it means that the birth is
straight forward and without complications.
An incident-free pregnancy is a pregnancy where nothing
unexpected happens and there are no complications.

A. Expressing Regrets and Canceling an Appointment

Sometimes we need language to cancel an appointment and express regrets. What should we
say? How do we express regrets? First, read the following scenario with your partner.
Second, complete the role play. One of you will play the receptionist and the other will play
the parent. If you have time, reverse roles and do it again!

Scenario
You and your couple had your baby at the birth centre four weeks ago. Its your first child.
You have signed up for counseling offered to new parents. The appointment is for Thursday
at 4:00 p.m. But your baby hasnt slept much the past two nights and you are both exhausted.
You decide to call the birth centre first thing Thursday morning to cancel the appointment.
You express regrets and ask to reschedule the appointment for the following week.

Language to Use to Express Regrets/Cancel an Appointment

Begin with Continue with End with...
Im sorry..., but cancel my appointment.
Im very sorry, I need to/I have to re-schedule my appointment.
I have to apologize, /Im afraid I have to
Im sorry for the inconvenience
I regret to say that cancel my appointment.
Im sorry to say I need to/I have to re-schedule my appointment.
/Im afraid I have to

Role Play: Can You Express Regrets and Cancel an Appointment?

Receptionist : (Greets the caller and asks how she can help)
Winnipeg Birth Centre, good morning. How can I help you?
Caller : (Introduces herself/himself and says why she/he is calling)
Receptionist : (Asks for the time of the appointment)
Caller : (Says the time. Expresses regret about cancelling and tells reason for
cancelling)
Receptionist : (Says cancelling isnt a problem. Offers sympathy about lack of sleep.)
Caller : (Thanks him/her for understanding. Asks if the same day and time is
available next week.)
Receptionist : (Confirms appointment date and time. Wishes caller more sleep tonight.)
Caller : (Says he/she is hoping they will get more sleep. Says thanks and good
bye.)
Receptionist : (Says youre welcome. Says he/she hopes to see them next week.

Writing a birth announcement

One Canadian tradition is sending a birth announcement after a baby is born. The
announcement may be published in a newspaper or sent in greeting card form to friends and
relatives. Younger parents may send a birth announcement by email or post one on their
Facebook page. Usually the announcement is accompanied by a picture of the new baby.

Heres an example of a recent birth announcement from the Winnipeg Free Press:
PLANTE
Leon, Jocelyn, big sister Arianna and big brother Eric would like to welcome the newest
member of the family. Alyssa Rachelle Plante was born September 14, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., 7
lbs., 5 oz., and 20 inches long. Proud grandparents are Johanne Plante, Germaine and
Maurice Van Den Bussche. She is loved by all.
This is a typical birth announcement because it includes these main components:
Components Examples
An introduction (Names of parents and/or siblings) would like
to welcome
(Childs name) welcomes her/his new baby
brother/sister
We are thrilled to introduce
We welcome with love
The babys name Parents may use the babys first and second name
only, or their entire name.
The birth details This usually includes the babys birth date and the
weight and height. Sometimes, the time and/or
place of birth are added.
Names of other family members who If the parents arent mentioned at the beginning,
welcome the baby they are mentioned at the end, as are the
grandparents. Often, the word proud is used to
describe the parents and/or grandparents. Some
birth announcements may even include aunts and
uncles and cousins!

B. Discussing Birth Traditions across Cultures

When you are finished, discuss the following questions with a small group. Try to make sure
your group includes students from different countries. That will make your discussion even
more interesting! Practise turn-taking in your conversation.
After a baby is born in your country, what kinds of celebrations and/or rituals are undertaken?
Are birth announcements sent to friends and family?
Do you hold a naming ceremony?
Do you invite family/ friends/ co-workers to a shower where people give gifts for the baby?
- Does the shower take place before or after the baby is born?
Do people donate money?
Is a faith-based gathering or ceremony held?
Do you wait for a period of time (e.g. a month) before celebrations take place? Why?
What other things do you do in your country when a baby is born?

LESSON 7

Nutritional Counseling during Pregnancy and Lactation

among Immigration Population in USA
by: Cox, J.T., & Phelan, S.T.
Nutritional issues in pregnancy have gained greater importance in routine prenatal
care as obesity issues, low birth weight (LBW) concern, and neural tube defect (NTD)
prevention strategies have moved into the forefront of prevention measurement. The
pregnancy weight gain goal was set to optimize pregnancy outcome. However, only 30-40%
of pregnant women in USA stay within the recommend ranges and immigrant women (i.e.
Mexican and El Savador) are considered as the vulnerable one. Therefore, special attention is
needed.
Serving an immigrant population provides its own set of challenges, apart from
language differences. Health-related behaviors often decline from first to second generation
and greater acculturation has been linked to worse birth outcome. With immigration, dietary
patterns often change. Physical availability (what food is sold in market) and cultural
availability (what is considered acceptable) may change, and although food preferences and
habits are often held tightly as a way to maintain ones culture, the dominant culture will
exert a strong influence. In addition, as people have higher incomes, they tend to increase
their intake of animal proteins, fats, and sugars and decrease their intake of vegetable proteins
and carbohydrates. Positive aspects of traditional culture need to be actively reinforced,
including the tradition of eating homemade food rather than eating out which usually lower in
added fats, salt, and sugars. The cultural norm to breastfeed and the higher value placed on
children and childbearing in traditional culture.
Some traditional practices or beliefs may be harmful and only these should be
modified. Immigrant women may feel that they cannot breastfeed long term because they
have been told their breast milk is not good after 6 months. Some are afraid to breastfeed long
term because they have coraje (strong anger) that will make the milk dangerous for the
baby. They have heard that low-fat milk is just watered down whole milk and so would not be
good during pregnancy. However, one must be careful not to generalize because individuals
will not necessary follow the cultural stereotype.
In addition, reported problems may be inconsistent. No complying with a craving may
cause something to be missing from the baby (Mexico) or may cause the baby to be born sad;
never be able to close his/her mouth, and so will always drool (El Salvador). The patient
herself may not necessarily believe, but will be given instructions by her family on what to do
or what to avoid. These underlying assumptions and fears will affect a patients ability to
understand and act on prescribed suggestions, and as much as possible, teaching needs to fit
into patients cultural framework.

Task A
Reading Comprehension
Questions:
1. What problems are mainly addressed for prenatal care in USA?
2. In USA, who are in more danger of health issues in prenatal period?
3. provides its own set of challenges, apart from language differences. The
synonym of the phrase apart from is
 4. What are the challenges to serve immigrant population mentioned in paragraph 2?
5. What is the effect of higher income toward ones diet?
6. Which of the traditional customs mentioned in paragraph 2 that must be preserved as
healthy habits?
7. What is the main sentence of paragraph 3?
8. Why are some women afraid of giving their breast milk for a long period of time?
9. What incidental problems are reported by the immigrants?
10. How to effectively teach immigrants about what they should do to fulfill their
nutrition needs?

Task B
Vocabulary Focus
The words below can be found in the text above. Match the words with its closest meanings!

A B
1. forefront a. at risk
2. vulnerable b. consumed
3. decline c. supported
4. intake d. pregnancy
5. reinforced e. fulfill
6. childbearing f. salivate
7. stereotype g. label
8. complying h. decrease
9. craving i. important
10. drool j. strong desire
k. excessive
References
__________. 2011. Learning English with CBC: Special Delivery by Midwife: Winnipegs
New Birth.

Alderson, J. Charles, 2001. Assessing Reading. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Grisewood, Emma and Meyers, Juliet. Timesaver Reading Lessons. Mary Glasgow Magazine
Scholastic.

Richards, Jack C., et.al. 2005. Interchange 3rd Edition: Book 2 (Students Book). New York:
Cambridge University Press

Richards, Jack C., et.al. 2005. Interchange 3rd Edition: Book 3 (Students Book). New York:
Cambridge University Press

Judhiastuty, Februhartanty, et al. 2009. A Handbook: Introduction to Nutritional

Anthropology. Jakarta: SEAMEO TROPMED RCCN UI - Percetakan Karya
Mandiri

LESSON 7
FOOD AND MOOD

Skim the article. Then check () the statement you think will be the main idea.
- Certain foods cause stress and depression
- Certain foods affect the way we feel
We often eat to calm down or cheer up when were feeling stressed or depressed. Now new
research suggests theres a reason: Food changes our brain chemistry. These changes
powerfully influence our moods. But can certain foods really make us feel better? Nutrition
experts say yes. But what should we eat and what should we avoid? Here are the foods that
work the best, as well as those that can make a bad day worse.
The Outsmart Stress
Whats good? Recent research suggests that foods that are
high in carbohydrates, such as bread, rice, and pasta, can
help you calm down. Researchers say that carbohydrates
cause the brain to release a chemical called serotonin.
Serotonin makes you feel better.
Whats bad? Many people drink coffee when they feel
stress. The heat is soothing and the caffeine in coffee might
help you think more clearly. But if you drink too much, you
may become even more anxious and irritable.

To Soothe the Blues

Whats good? Introduce more lean meat, chicken, seafood,
and whole grain into your diet. These foods have a lot of
selenium. Selenium is a mineral that helps people feel more
relaxed and happy. You can also try eating a Brazil nut every
day. One Brazil nut contains a lot of selenium.
Whats bad? When theyre feeling low, many people turn
to comfort foods or foods that make them feel happy or
secure. These often include things like sweet desserts. A
chocolate bar may make you feel better at first, but within
an hour you may feel worse than you did before.
A. Read the article. The sentences below are false. Correct each sentence to make it
true.
1. We often eat when we feel calm.
2. You should drink coffee to relieve stress.
3. Foods like chicken and seafood are high in carbohydrates.
4. Carbohydrates cause the brain to release selenium.
5. Serotonin makes you feel more anxious and irritable.
6. People usually eat comfort foods when they are feeling happy.
7. You shouldnt eat more than one Brazil nut a day.
8. Chocolate will make you feel better.
B. Pair work. What foods do you eat to feel better? After reading the article, which
advice you will follow?