Learning English with CBC

Transcription

1 Learning English with CBC Listening Lessons for Intermediate Students Based on CBC Manitoba Radio Broadcasts October 16, 2008 Lesson 29: Self Study Edition Level: Topic: Skill areas: Language tasks: Language competencies: Extend your learning: Benchmark 5 and up Living in Rental Housing Listening, Reading, Writing Listening listening to a short interview for main ideas, details and inference Reading reading letters Writing making notes; writing a letter to give advice Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Listening and Speaking Strategies, Sociocultural/sociolinguistic Competence Give advice on tenancy issues using a Dear Abby format Learn common terms used in a lease Essential Skills 1 : Writing, reading text, thinking skills, problem solving Appendices: Transcript of the podcast Dear Abby letters Answers to worksheets Attention students: You will need to print the lesson to be able to complete the activities. 1 Essential Skills are the skills required to successfully participate in the Canadian Labour Market and they are a natural extension of EAL lessons. In 2008, the Essential Skills which are included in Learning English with CBC lesson plans will be noted on the cover page. Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 1 of 17

2 Manitoba Memo Adequate housing is a basic human need. Yet throughout the world, the United Nations estimates that one billion people live in inadequate housing and 100 million are homeless. While a majority of Canadians are fortunate enough to own their homes or to rent accommodation which is safe and well maintained, that s not the case for everyone. Low income Canadians, newcomers and refugees are among the groups who often face challenges finding suitable housing for their needs. In Manitoba, newcomers and refugees generally start out in rental housing situations. They may rent from a private landlord, a non-profit agency or Manitoba Housing. The Residential Tenancies Branch of the Manitoba government provides information to both landlords and tenants. The Branch can investigate, mediate and help resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. The Branch also oversees the provincial regulations on rent increases. Each year, rent increases must fall within the guidelines set by the government. Tenants can appeal rent increases they do not think are justified. Landlords can apply to raise rents above the guidelines. However, not all rental housing falls under the rent increase guidelines. Background 1. Before you listen, read the Manitoba Memo and think about the following questions What do you think are the main responsibilities of landlords? What do you think are the main responsibilities of tenants? 2. Think about the kinds of issues faced by landlords and tenants When you are in rental housing, it is important to be able to describe problems or concerns. Do you have the language to describe the kinds of issues you think landlords and tenants may have to deal with? Use point form to list issues that landlords and tenants may face on the chart which follows. Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 2 of 17

3 Issues landlords might have with their tenants - old mattresses and other items are left on balconies Issues tenants might have with their landlords - the hallways in the building are not kept clean Issues tenants might have with other tenants - a neighbouring tenant is too noisy Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 3 of 17

4 3. Words you need to know Here are a few words you need to know to understand the podcast. West Broadway area Manitoba Housing landlord tenant Granite Gates units renovations build a presence stringent rules integral mix array The area of Winnipeg on the west side of Broadway Avenue between Osborne Street and Portage Avenue. Manitoba Housing is a provincial government agency which provides a variety of affordable housing options. This includes subsidized accommodation for families, seniors and single people who are living on low or moderate incomes. A landlord is the owner of a room, apartment, home, office or building which they rent to someone else. A tenant is the person who pays to rent a room, apartment, home, office or building from a landlord. Granite Gates is the name of the property management company that owns several apartment buildings in the West Broadway area. Units are the number of apartments in a building or group of buildings. For example, Granite Gates has 300 rental units in the West Broadway area. Renovating means repairing or improving a home or building. For example, Granite Gates has completed all the renovations or improvements on their buildings in the West Broadway area. To make something more noticeable. For example, Granite Gates has built a presence in West Broadway by fixing up buildings and promoting these buildings as good places to live. Very strict rules which must be obeyed. Integral means a necessary part of something. In housing, policy experts believe it is integral or very important to have a mix of household incomes in an area. The word array is commonly used to describe a group of people or things which is very impressive. For example, there is a wide array or selection of colour options to choose from when you go to a paint store. Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 4 of 17

5 4. Predict what the podcast is about In this story, Terry MacLeod interviews a landlord who is involved in improving the safety and attractiveness of a downtown Winnipeg neighbourhood. Can you think of questions Terry might ask the landlord? Here are a few ideas to get you started. 5. Get ready to listen I think he might ask how many buildings the landlord has in the area. I don t think he ll ask whether there are bed bugs in any of the buildings. One thing he might ask is I hope he ll ask about It would be interesting if he asked a question about I can t think of anything Terry would ask. In this podcast, you will hear several speakers. You will hear: Marcy Markusa introduction and host Terry MacLeod CBC reporter Sherry Doherty landlord Play the podcast for the first time. 6. Listen for details and inference When you listen for the second and third time, take notes of the key points Sherry Doherty (the landlord) is making. Taking notes of key points helps the listener pay closer attention to what is being said. It also helps you remember key details later on. A good note taking strategy involves: listening closely for the main ideas writing down key words or phrases Can you write down the main idea Sherry Doherty is trying to get across to listeners in one or two sentences? After you listen a) Review your pre-listening predictions Quickly review your pre-listening predictions. Were you able to correctly predict some of the questions Terry asked? Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 5 of 17

6 b) Word confusion Word confusion happens to all of us, not just learners of the English language. As a student of English, you know that English isn't the easiest language in the world to learn. Even native speakers confuse words that sound similar or have similar meaning, or sometimes they just use the wrong word altogether. Listen closely to the podcast one more time and follow the transcript. In lines there are two words in bold. In line 32 we hear intrical but that is not actually a word you will find in a dictionary. Given the context, it s likely this word should be integral. In line 35 the speaker talks about letting the building run array. Array is an actual word. Check the meaning of array under the Vocabulary section of the lesson. Do you think this meaning fits the context in which the speaker uses the word? What is it she is trying to say? This word could possibly be awry. When something goes awry it means it doesn t go as planned (my plans to go for a walk went awry when it poured rain) or isn t in the proper position (her hat was awry as she ran down the street.) In this case, only the speaker knows what word and meaning they intended. Tell students that word confusion happens in spoken language when people are thinking on their feet and must find the right word quickly. It s also common when we are in situations which may make us uncomfortable or nervous, like being interviewed on the radio! Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 6 of 17

7 c) What are reflexive pronouns? Reflexive pronouns usually refer to the subject of a sentence. In line 28, Sherry Doherty uses the reflexive pronoun ourselves. Here are other examples of reflexive pronouns: myself, yourself, herself, himself, itself, oneself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves Here s what Sherry said: We ourselves run a low-income housing project in that neighbourhood. Note that she could have said: We run a low-income housing project in that neighbourhood. What do you think Sherry accomplished by adding the reflexive pronoun ourselves into her sentence? In this case, the reflexive pronoun is used to place extra emphasis on the subject of the sentence which is we (Granite Gates). Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 7 of 17

8 d) Practise using reflexive pronouns Review the following chart on reflexive pronouns. Then complete the sentences below. Some of the sentences have more than one possible answer. For example, you may be able to use the reflexive pronoun (for example, herself) or by + the reflexive pronoun (for example, by herself). In either case, the sentence is correct. You can check your answers by looking at Appendix 3. Reflexive pronouns myself yourself himself herself itself oneself ourselves yourselves themselves Using Reflexive Pronouns 1. He thinks of himself a responsible landlord. 2. He renovated the apartment himself. He himself renovated the apartment. 3. She lives by herself in a Manitoba Housing unit. Meaning A reflexive pronoun usually refers to the subject of a sentence. He and himself are the same person. He renovated the apartment himself, not a contractor. In this example, the reflexive pronoun is used for emphasis. When you use the word by with a reflexive pronoun, it means alone. 1. You need to call the landlord yourself if your sink isn t draining properly. I can t call for you. 2. I plan to paint the apartment. 3. The apartment is nice enough, but the halls are dark and narrow. 4. I ll go and see the landlord if necessary, but it would be better if you would come too. 5. My mother successfully appealed the rent increase. Nobody helped her. 6. Thanks, but I think we can move the furniture. I don t think we need to hire a moving company. 7. My brother can fix the sink. He s very handy. 8. I told the tenants, You need to take up the fight to clean up the building. You re the only ones who can make a difference. 9. Tenants need to be responsible for keeping their balconies clean. Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 8 of 17

9 e) Give advice in a Dear Abby letter For years, many newspapers around the world had an advice column called Dear Abby. Readers wrote to Abby for advice on their problems with everyday human issues. You will find an example of a Dear Abby letter and a typical response in Appendix 2. Choose one of the two Dear Abby letters about tenancy issues. Write a response to this letter using the outline below. What advice would you give the letter writer? Here are some ways to start sentences which give advice. I think you should/could I think you ought to The most important thing you need to do/remember is One thing you might do is I think it would be a good idea to Use the following framework to help you write your letter. Dear: Summarize the problem the writer is facing What is your advice? Close the letter Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 9 of 17

10 f) Learn common terms used in a lease The language of legal agreements like leases can be very difficult to understand. But it is important to know what you are signing. If you don t understand the terms, be sure to ask for assistance. Some of the terms found in a standard lease agreement are included in the list below. See if you can find the right term to fill in the blanks in the story which follows. There are hints in the text and in the brackets ( ) to help you find the term you are looking for. You can also use your dictionary for English language learners. You don t need to write the term you can write in the number instead. The first paragraph is completed as an example. Terms used in a lease 1. security deposit 2. services and facilities 3. basic rent 4. Residential Tenancies Act 5. signed 6. Residential Tenancy Agreement 7. fixed term 8. periodic leases 9. landlord 10. tenant 11. occupants 12. written consent 13. total rent 14. discounts 15. residential 16. terminate Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 10 of 17

11 The Li Family Signs a Lease The Li family recently moved to Winnipeg. They have found an apartment to rent and now need to complete a Residential Tenancy Agreement (#6), which is often referred to as a lease. This is an agreement between a landlord (#9) and a tenant (#10). The Li s lease is for a tenancy. This means that their lease is fixed for one year. It does not go from week to week or month to month. Leases that are for short periods of time are called. The landlord has asked the Li family for a before they move in. The landlord keeps this deposit for as long as the family rents the apartment. If there is no damage done to the apartment the family gets this deposit back when they move out. The is the standard monthly rental charge for the apartment. But sometimes the is more than that amount as it may include other charges. For the Li s, their basic rent plus the cost of a parking space equals their total monthly rent. Unfortunately, their landlord does not offer any (rent reductions). The family will also pay for some additional. For example, they will pay for their phone line and to use the washer and dryer located in the basement of the building. The Li s will be the only of the apartment. If other family members come to live with them, their lease says they must let the landlord know. They have also agreed they will use the apartment for purposes only. If they want to set up any kind of business, they must get from their landlord. The agreement the Li s have signed comes under provincial legislation known as the. The Act describes situations where the tenant or landlord can (end) the lease. To be official, the lease must be and dated by the landlord and the tenant. Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 11 of 17

12 Want to know more The website of the Residential Tenancies Branch is: The Manitoba government s settlement portal has information on rental accommodation: For information on Manitoba Housing: The Community Legal Education Association answers common questions about rental issues on its site. The Association also has a law phone-in and lawyer referral program. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation has a publication for newcomers: ftp://ftp.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/rd-dr/en/ah-la/newcomer.pdf They also have some information available in other languages: (Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external websites) Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 12 of 17

13 Appendix 1: Transcript October 16, 2008 Speaker Podcast Line Marcy Hi I'm Marcy Markusa and you're listening to Learning English with CBC. Many people in Winnipeg s West Broadway area live in rental housing. Some buildings are owned by Manitoba Housing, others are owned by private landlords. How can landlords and tenants work together to improve the safety and 5 appearance of their neighbourhood? Terry MacLeod interviews a landlord who has some ideas on what needs to happen. Terry Sherry Doherty owns the majority of the buildings in what s called Granite Gates, that s in the West Broadway neighbourhood, and she s here now. Hello there. 10 Sherry Good morning. Terry Now you have about what, 300 units in this neighbourhood right, in a number of buildings? Sherry Yes we do. Um we ve been actually building our presence in the this area since Terry And you ve recently been doing renovations on your buildings, new windows, new exteriors, new lawn, new fences, those kinda things, right? Sherry Yes, actually we ve been trying to build up our presence and um really just um solidifying the fact that ah we are a presence in the 20 neighbourhood. Terry So what would you like Manitoba Housing to do? What do you want them to change? Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 13 of 17

14 Sherry Well I guess a number of things. What we d like them to do is actually place more stringent management policies on their buildings. Now that comes to a number of things. Number one, is making sure that their um their tenants ah make keep their their balconies and their areas clean. I mean we ourselves run a low income housing um project complex in that neighbourhood and ah we have great people, people who care for their properties, people that participate in the community, living in those buildings and they are a welcome sense of the intrical mix of the people in our neighbourhood and the thing is that we are able to show that just because you are low income doesn t mean that you have to run run your building um array Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 14 of 17

15 Appendix 2 Here is an example of a Dear Abby letter which appeared in the Bangkok Post 2 : Letter Dear Abby: We have lived in a small apartment complex for four years. The family next door has lived here a little longer. We get along well with our neighbours and respect each other s boundaries. However, I have a habit that I fear may be inappropriate, and I would like your opinion. Our neighbours subscribe to the local newspaper, which is delivered very early every morning, long before they get up. I m an early riser and I always hear it hit their front porch. As soon as it does, I reach over and "borrow" it. I always fold it carefully and place it on their porch before they wake up. Am I doing wrong by sneaking a peek from their daily newspaper? I hope to read your response in their paper. Sneak-a Peek Neighbour Response Dear Sneak-a-Peek: Yes, the paper belongs to your neighbours. Since they pay for the subscription, they have a right to receive it fresh off the press, not after it s been rifled through by you. (Don t assume they can t tell.) Ask if they mind you "borrowing" their newspaper and offer to split the cost of their subscription. It s the honourable thing to do. Abby 2 This example comes from The Bangkok Post Educational Services: Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 15 of 17

16 Choose one of the following letters and write your response using the outline in the lesson. Letter #1 Dear Abby: I live in an apartment complex where the management company s rules are stringent. Our lease is very clear no pets allowed. Here s my dilemma. An elderly woman recently moved in next door to me and she owns a cat. She has tried to hide it from her neighbours, but I can hear the meows very clearly at times. The cat isn t bothering me, but I am worried that if the management company finds out, they will insist she gives away the cat or they will terminate her lease. What should I do? Should I say something to my neighbour about this or should I do nothing? Quiet as a mouse Letter #2 Dear Abby: Several of the tenants in my block have been talking and we have found out that we have common problems in our suites. The faucets leak, we are too hot in winter and too cold in summer and the hallways are not kept clean. We have all called the landlord individually about these problems but there has been little action taken. We are thinking about calling a meeting to discuss our common concerns and asking our landlord to attend. But some tenants are nervous. They fear that if we create a fuss, the landlord might decide to kick us out of the building. Do you think we should push ahead and try to organize this meeting? I read your column regularly and I need your advice! Can t take it any more Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 16 of 17

17 Answers to Worksheets Reflexive pronouns 1. yourself 2. by myself or myself 3. itself 4. by myself or myself 5. by herself or herself 6. by ourselves or ourselves 7. by himself or himself 8. yourselves 9. themselves The Li Family Signs a Lease Self Study: Living in Rental Housing Learning English with CBC Page 17 of 17