English, baby!

Any Volunteers?

Date: May 15 2007

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Albert Einstein thought that community service was necessary for a good life. Some work doesn’t pay anything but very much needs to be done. There is so much that can only be accomplished when people are willing to volunteer and put money aside and work for something they believe in.

There are lots of ways to volunteer. Some people volunteer to save animals and forests. Others work with the sick or poor. Listen to Amanda and Marni talk about the places they volunteer.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Amanda

Marni

Amanda: So, do you volunteer much?

Marni: I do.

Amanda: Do you? What sort of organizations are you…

Marni: Um Cascade AIDS Project which is local and just phenomenal, and SMART, Start Making a Reader Today.

Amanda: Oh, what a great program! That’s wonderful to hear that.

Marni: But it’s interesting how my interest in nonprofits changed when I had a child. So now they’re more family oriented, naturally.

Amanda: Interesting. So before that you would have gone for just different organizations, different causes.

Marni: Probably what was the most trendy. I know that sounds horrible, but whatever people in my company were doing at the time.

Amanda: Oh yeah. Well, it’s easier probably to do it when the whole company is on board.

Marni: Absolutely.

Amanda: Yeah, I love volunteering as well. I certainly don’t do it as…as…enough. I’ll admit that right now. And I have to admit something really terrible.

Marni: Okay, tell me.

Amanda: I have in the past, uh, I had a minor sort of traffic violation and it was you know paying a fine or doing some volunteering, and I opted for the volunteering, uh, for Loaves and Fishes, which is a great organization, provides meals to, you know, elderly individuals. But it was court ordered, eight hours, well now, I’ll admit, it’s on my resume as a, you know, resume booster.

Marni: I have no problem with that.

Amanda: Well, I’m glad to hear it…

Marni: You’re not lying on your resume.

Amanda: No, I’m not lying, but, you know, would I have done it for that organization if I hadn’t been court ordered? Probably not.

Marni: That’s true too. When you volunteer, why are you volunteering?

Amanda: Yeah, exactly.

Marni: Is it out of the goodness of your heart?

Amanda: Or because you want to be recognized.

Marni: And looked at.

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Discussion

Marni volunteers for two local organizations, one that fights AIDS and one that helps children learn to read. She says that having a child changed her interests in where she volunteers. She used to do whatever the people she worked with did.

Amanda also volunteered for a local organization that brings food to elderly people. But she only did so because she was forced to by a judge. She still uses the volunteering on her resume though. Amanda worries that this is wrong, but Marni assures her it’s not. Nonetheless, they agree that it’s good to make sure you volunteer for the right reasons.

Do you volunteer? Wheat causes do you work for? How did you choose them?

Comments

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kimnga

Viet Nam

I used to volunteer at the library in an Elementary near my house when I was in Houston.

sara1998

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I’m not so self confident so i never volunteer in any case!

I always wait for some one else to do sth and after that i do it!even when i take exam and it will finish,I wait for some one else to leave the class and then i will!

Staisy

Russian Federation

I volunteered to work at the archeological expedition for several times, it was interesting there.

Ali Imran

Pakistan

I've never done any volunteer work at all. Guess I'll may do it in the future.

pink angel

Saudi Arabia

a wonderful topic

you made me feel bad that i have never volunteer in any thing before

but this give me the courage to start looking for it in the future and volunteer whenever i have the chance to do

thank you

Jin Ju

Kazakhstan

Fantastic lesson! Volunteering is such an awesome thing! I really appreciate those ppl who volunteer. It is also important to volunteer with sincere heart, not to do it as an obligation.

huangxiaolong36

China

very interesting!

stephanie zhang

China

Before I have been a volunteer to serve in the community, teaching the elderly English song. It made them feel pround to sing in English.

tranlinh

Viet Nam

i want to become a volunteer. i think if do that i can give happiness to other people

Maystro

Saudi Arabia

good

I hope but nothing here in my country .

my country have assistant persons for any thing

Maystro ;0

Jerrys

China

GOOD!BUT SO FAST!HOHO!

vkfgksk123

South Korea

i don't have any clue about it

because

China

This is my first time to come here ,it is good!

catherine3785247

China

me too!

zheyeshiyiqie

Hong Kong

i want to be an volenteer of 2008
oliympic in beijing

ladyheart

Philippines

yah u r right..u feel good if u recieved those as a compliments of ur work. but still u feel good if u are the one who gave them help than u r the one who asked for help from them…what do u want? become a victim? or a to have a helping hand without expecting anything in return? how do u feel that?

Hasan ah

Qatar

who said that volunteers that doesnt get or recived any thing ? i have been volunteer and i will tell u what will u got if u been volunteer u will get smiles,love and hearts of people that u helped…. and that is more expensive than any thing.