This short podcast (16:44 min) presents a conversation between two real Bulgarian students, Lachesara and Ekaterina, who discuss how important different roles (such a politician or a teacher) are to our society.
Here's a 55-minute lesson plan designed for 1st Bachiller students:
1. Warm-up: 10 min.
Talk to your partner and choose which two are the most important roles for our society:
- Soldiers
- Teachers
- Scientists
- Politicians
- Football players
2. Listen to the podcast. 17 min.
Listen to the first interview. According to Lachesara and Ekaterina’s discussion, match the correct profession (A-E) to the statement (1-5).
A) Soldiers
B) Teachers
C) Scientists
D) Politicians
E) Football players
1) They help us feel safe.
2) They are good for the economy of a country.
3) They help a person become a citizen of a country.
4) They hold our futures in their hands.
5) They are connected with the development of a country.
Now listen to the second interview. Answer the following questions.
1) Which profession does Lachesara and Ekaterina think has the greater impact on society: Engineers or Politicians?
2) Which is the first profession Ekaterina and Lachesara decide is the most important?
3) According to Ekaterina, why are teachers more important than politicians?
*Comprehension questions taken from Splendid Speaking's own website.
3. Comprehension Questions. 15 min
In pairs, check your answers. Are there any questions you don't agree on?
4. Working with the transcript. 15 min
Students are given a copy of the transcript and, in pairs, they highlight all the expressions and strategies speakers have used in their dialogues. Then, they create a table and try to organise them, grouping them according to its function and/or meaning.
The following class, the teacher will hand in a table with strategies students can use to debate, agree, disagree and come to a conclusion. Studnets will then be able to practise in pairs.
Transcript:
Interview 1
“Ekaterina: OK … so one of the first … things that … catch my attention was the … the teacher and … I really … I … in my opinion teachers are really important for our society because they … they give the basics for … for everybody to … you know to … to build up their personality and to become … citizens … you know.
Lachesara: Aha … yeah, I see your point. They have a great role in our lives and… definitely are important part … OK?
Ekaterina: They can really influence our personality and … consequently the society.
Lachesara: Aha … yes … and … what about … and what about scientists? Do you think they are as important as … teachers?
Ekaterina: Well, yeah … they really have a … a huge … asset to our society … they are really a huge asset to our society mainly because they may find new cures for … new medicines for … curing diseases you know … do you agree?
Lachesara: Absolutely … they hold in some way our future in … in their hands.
Ekaterina: Yeah … yeah … you’re really right. And … it is in some way similar … the situation is … some way … it’s somewhat similar with the doctors … they again are helping us to .. when we .. when we have health problems and … they are also … we can’t go without them.
Lachesara: Yeah, absolutely right. And what about football players? What do you think? In some way they make countries popular and … you know … a lot of countries are famous for their professional … football teams.
Ekaterina: Yeah, that’s … that’s of course … that’s right. And … also football … it’s a really great passion and … it is entertaining for … most of … most of the people and …
Lachesara: Yeah it’s widely spread.
Ekaterina: Yeah and I also believe that it is good for the economic of the … of the country you know maybe there are matches …
Lachesara: Aha … OK.
Ekaterina: Maybe they are not so closely connected with … the development of the society as for example the politicians.
Lachesara: Oh yes, they have … they are very crucial part of the society … yes you’re right especially for … especially when they … they are … just because they govern … the … the … they govern countries and … they decide what to do and how to do … how to cope with different problems and stuff like that.
Ekaterina: They’re our representatives and our guides in some way.
Lachesara: OK … and how about soldiers?
Ekaterina: Well actually I am totally against the war … but … but … they are … they are … it is … the good … the good army is really … important for country for mainly for the people to feel safe in this country. How do you find it?
Lachesara: Well,… I don’t know it’s difficult to say but definitely I think a country … it’s very important a country to have a good army.
Now let’s listen to the second interview.
Interview 2
Lachesara: So … to my … the person who catch … catches my … my attention is … is scientists. And I think he has very … a great role in finding medicine and just the future of a country and … the future of the people.
Ekaterina: Yes … all the human beings and… I definitely agree with you … the science is really important nowadays … scientists and … in some way similar to their job is the job of the … of the doctors. We all know that when we … when we got … when we got sick we can’t … not everybody can heal themselves and …
Lachesara: Yeah … absolutely yes.
Ekaterina: But everybody’s grateful to their doctor that they have helped him.
Lachesara: Yeah they have … a profound impact on our lives …. Yeah … definitely.
Ekaterina: And they are so important.
Lachesara: And what about teachers?
Ekaterina: Well, of course they are … the first people that and primarily these who have the … most influence on the young people so … and you know and so on the society.
Lachesara: Yeah, they … they help us shape … shape our … personalities and have good behaviour.
Ekaterina: And in some way they … they create the society you know … they educate the young children and so and …. the engineers are also … really … useful for .. for … for society for civilization .. you know they … they build our buildings and we feel more comfortable in more beautiful buildings …
Lachesara: But don’t you think that politicians have a greater impact on … on … on our …society and just … the way they … take their responsibilities and cope with … our problems?
Ekaterina: Yeah, I … I do agree with you there … they have a crucial role in the … in the destiny of a … of a nation … and … but it’s difficult to say which one of them is most … has more important … but … what about the … so do you have any idea which one would be maybe the … the … one of the most important people for society?
Lachesara: Well … yes in my opinion doctors are the people who should be honoured but … and I don’t know … what do you think?
Ekaterina: Well … I tend to go along with you but I’m still wondering between doctors and scientists … but OK I agree with you on this.
Lachesara: And so we need one more.
Ekaterina: Well I think about teachers or politicians … and … what’s your idea about this?
Lachesara: Well … I think I’ll go for a teacher … I don’t know … I … I just like them … I don’t know why.
Ekaterina: So … yeah … having in mind that the teachers are those who educate the politicians.
Lachesara: Yeah … ah yes … that’s a great … point.
Ekaterina: Yeah … they’re at the core of everything.
Lachesara: Aha … yeah. Peter: OK … so can I have your two … the two people you’ve chosen then.
Lachesara: Well yes, they are the teacher and the doctor.
Ekaterina: Yeah. Excellent … OK … I’m very pleased you chose the teacher. “
Answers to comprehension questions
Interview 1
1) They help us feel safe.
Ans: A
2) They are good for the economy of a country.
Ans. E
3) They help a person become a citizen of a country.
Ans. B
4) They hold our futures in their hands.
Ans. C
5) They are connected with the development of a country.
Ans. D
Interview 2
1) Politicians.
2) Doctors.
3) Teachers educate the politicians.
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