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Passing it on: English Listening Exercise
Story Corp is a great resource for listening. They are a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of their lives. There is such an array of beautiful stories that I always get caught up listening to more than one story.
In the Story Corp we used for this week’s English listening exercise, Thomas Weller explains how he started helping complete strangers on the side of the roads in Southern California, and how he believes in passing good deeds on.
Listen to the interesting voice of Weller by clicking here, and then do the exercise.
1. What year does he reference?
2. I was youthful and ____ of _______. What does this phrase mean?
3. What problem did he have? Who helped him?
4. How does he pass it on?
5.What does he carry on his rescue missions?
6. Why did the muscle bound dude cry?
7. When you help somebody else you help ________.
Writing Exercise:
Tell me about the last time you helped someone and when is the last time someone helped you? Were they strangers? Will you help a stranger tomorrow?
January 14, 2014 at 4:41 am, Joan said:
1. What year does he reference? 1964
2. I was youthful and full of myself. What does this phrase mean?
3. What problem did he have? Who helped him? He went of he road. A single individual helped him.
4. How does he pass it on? Helping strangers who break down on the highway.
5.What does he carry on his rescue missions? I didn’t get anything!!! SO hard to get it!
6. Why did the muscle bound dude cry? He was happy, because nobody ever helped him like that.
7. When you help somebody else you help yourself.
Writing Exercise:
Tell me about the last time you helped someone and when is the last time someone helped you? Were they strangers? Will you help a stranger tomorrow?
I use to help completely strangers who need help on WordPress. I’ve been working with WordPress for 10 years, and I make my live out of it. So when I see somebody on twitter struggling about how to do something, I just help them.
My parents help me every single day. I have a couple of children and sometimes I have to work when they are not in school. Then my parents babysit them. It’s really helpful, and I appreciate it so much!
January 14, 2014 at 1:13 pm, LOIEnglish said:
Joan,
Good listening…He has an interesting voice that can be difficult to understand. I sometimes think that older people are more difficult to understand because they have ‘life’ in their voice and use a lot of idioms.
Question #2: full of yourself/oneself- to have an exaggerated sense of self worth/egotistical.
Question #5: he carries a spare tire, a basic mechanic kit and a birthing kit but he hasn’t ever used it.
I useD to help complete strangers who need help on WordPress. (complete is the adjective-complete mess; complete idiot; completely is the adverb-She drove completely out of control. Completely modifies drove…
and I make my LIVING from it.
Thanks for answering! and for helping people on WordPress.
January 14, 2014 at 9:37 pm, Joan said:
Thanks for all the corrections!
Just one question: Why do I have to say “I used to” instead of “I use to”, if I’m currently doing it? I mean, it’s not in the past. I’m doing it, yet.
January 15, 2014 at 1:29 pm, LOIEnglish said:
Ahhh. I think there was some confusion here. You wrote I use to help complete strangers with word press. I thought you made a mistake and meant ‘used to’ help, which is used for something that happened frequently in the PAST. However, I think what you meant was ‘usually’ for something that happens frequently in the PRESENT. I USUALLY help complete strangers….
Does this make sense? You may want to watch our video about the difference of usually and used to: http://www.skypeenglishclasses.com/skype-english-blog/videos/used-to-or-usually-video-and-exercise/
January 15, 2014 at 1:43 pm, Joan said:
Ohhh! I see! I cannot use “I use to” if I mean something that happens frequently in present! I didn’t know that. I get it now. I’ll check out the link! Thanks!!