Listen to the recording and while listening write down brief answers to these questions.

1. How old are the first speaker’s parents?

………………………………………………………………………..

2. Does he want to have his parents living with him – why? Why not?

………………………………………………………………………..

3. In India, where do grandparents live?

………………………………………………………………………..

4. Does the Indian woman want to have her parents living with her? Would they agree?

………………………………………………………………………..

5. According to the third speaker, why are old people’s

homes so terrible?

………………………………………………………………………..

6. What is the best solution for elderly people?

………………………………………………………………………..

7. Listen to the recording again and say who these words belong to, 1^st, 2^nd or 3d speaker, and which culture they represent.

1. … Well, I’m about that age where I have to decide what I’m going to do with my parents when they sort of reach an age when they’re not going to be able to look after themselves.

2. … I know that sounds selfish but I really don’t think I would like to have them living with me.

3. … a lot of the grandparents live with their grandchildren and their children and I mean they play a vital role in the home.

4. … I think it would be such an unnatural situation to suddenly have them back or to be in a situation where they’re there in sort of my world.

5. … I suppose if that was the only alternative, yeah that would be what I’d do.

6. … But really, you know, I would feel happier if they if they came to me.

7.… the idea of them living with me does seem pretty weird and wild.

8. … if I were an old person, I would hate to be just surrounded by nothing but old people.

9. … I like some kind of cross section; I think that idea is sweeping them under the carpet.

10. … I think the best alternative, idea is what we call, is to have a ‘granny flat’ which is to have a house next door.

11. … Next door but separate enough to live in your own little space.

8.With a partner and then with the group, discuss the following questions.

1. What idea typical of Western culture does this conversation emphasize?

2. Why wouldn’t 2 speakers have their elderly parents living with them?

3. Why wouldn’t the Indian woman, contrary to their tradition, have her grandfather living with her?

3. The third speaker finds living in a home terrible, but still he doesn’t seem to mind it. How does it characterize him?

4. All the three speakers agree that a granny flat is the

best solution. Why?

²Listening Comprehension

The radio report you will hear includes 3 stories told by women who were faced with a dilemma of either caring for their aged relatives at their homes or sending them to a nursing home. Before listening, look at the words below and make sure you understand them.

caretaker, n -a person employed to look after people or animals.

take up, phr v - if something takes up a particular amount of time, space, or effort, it uses that amount.

sitter, n - a person who provides care and companionship for people who are ill.

companion, n -a person, usually a woman, employed to live with and assist another.

move in, phr v - when you move in somewhere, you begin to live there as your home.

reassurance, n - reassurances are things that you say to help people stop worrying about something.

take its toll - have an adverse effect, esp. so as to cause damage, suffering, or death.

babysit, v - If you babysit for someone or babysit their children, you look after their children while they are out.

fight with smb - quarrel or argue with smb.

resentment, n - bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly.

predicament, n - a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.

trapped, adj - If you feel trapped, you are in an unpleasant situation in which you lack freedom, and you feel you cannot escape from it.

retarded, adj - less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age.

Personal names: Bob Edwards – a radio host; Katherine Ferguson – a reporter, Susan, Margaret, Vivian – women looking after their aging relatives.

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