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Spare Some Change?

Spare Some Change?

Date: Aug 24 2007

Themes: Work

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.

Since humans first settled into cities there have been those who, for one reason or another, find themselves begging in the street. Some ask nicely for a little money. Some are mean. Some perform tricks or music. Some hold signs and are silent. Listen to Mason and Kevin talk about the different kinds of beggars and how they make them feel.

Dialog

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

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

Mason

Mason

Kevin

Kevin

Mason:  On my way walking here I had like five people ask me to spare some change.

Kevin:  It’s unbelievable in this town.

Mason:  We’re kind of in the area here. Like there’s certain pockets usually in the big city where more homeless people tend to hang out.

Kevin:  Of course. But it really is…It could happen every block. It’s unbelievable.

Mason:  I don’t know what I like more, if I can deal better with the people that just ask or the people standing there with the cardboard signs. They’re more of a visual intrusion, but then it’s like someone actually talking to me that I don’t want talking to me.

Kevin:  I always buy from the people selling newspapers. I’m totally comfortable with that.

Mason:  Oh yeah. It feels like they’re a tradesperson if it’s someone that’s like performing a service or dancing or playing guitar or whatever. I’m serious.

Kevin:  I see what you mean, yeah.

Mason:  Something feels more okay…You’re doing something.

Kevin:  You see someone, I guess, making an effort right?

Mason:  It’s kind of like an audition, why do you deserve me giving you my change?

 

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Discussion

On his way to meet Kevin, Mason was asked for change by five different people on the street. He notes that they are in a dense area that has a lot of people who sleep on the street. Kevin thinks the amount of times he gets asked for change is outrageous.

Mason says he’s not sure which he prefers, someone who clutters his vision with a cardboard sign, or someone who doesn’t hold a giant piece of cardboard but who actually talks to him without being invited.

Kevin says he always buys newspapers from people selling them on the street. In the United States, people experiencing homelessness often come together to make newspapers and sell to make a little money.

Kevin likes that the newspaper salespeople are making an effort and not just asking for a hand out and Mason agrees. He says he prefers people who dance or play guitar as well.

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever seen anyone do for a little money on the street? Juggle? Stand like a statue? Play a dozen instruments at once?

 

Comments

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Duran-198523

China

This social problem is worth thinking! Now someone cheated or forced young children being homolessness to hang out ,even the awful behavior turning into stealing,it's really serious!So we should combine to constrain it together ,initiate civilization all over the world ,and say loudly let's create a life by own effort!!

10:20 AM Aug 25 2007 |

Eason

Eason

China

so serious a problem !it just seems commenin our country!when i met that ,ithink iwill certainly give some my changes.

07:54 AM Aug 25 2007 |

Dick

China

it's nothing to do with them ,the begger. i think the key is that if you have a holy soul and a kind heart!

01:38 AM Aug 25 2007 |

stevenzlt

stevenzlt

China

i know some of the beggars are just hired by one employer and they are just the tool to collect the money for the employer.At one time I met one little boy about 6 years old with one big bowl to ask for money and my classmates advised me not to give him anything as he will then give them to his employer.So it is one bad and sad thing the begging seems to become one job…..........

12:49 AM Aug 25 2007 |

tear_drop

tear_drop

Poland

Some people just perform an art on the streets, and you can not call them beggars, in my country you can see a lot of students, young people who spent their time practising on the streets; playing guitar, dancing, steeping, singing, juggling.

Once I've seen couple of young girls and boys juggle fire-all of them in the same time! it was amazing.

I like it and always stop to look at the streets, I don't think is something wrong, it's the way they practising and showing what they are able to do, I admire that people. I think for them is more like performance than earning the money.

I can not imagine big city without people -statue, jugglers, singers and so one !!

Wherever I go , doesn't matter what country it is, street-artist bring happiness, attraction, good atmosphere and keep city alive. 

07:37 PM Aug 24 2007 |

limaoqi

China

i think that everyone should do their best to make a living.People who want something someone hang out are trusion.We will refuse to give money to anybody for free.

05:09 PM Aug 24 2007 |

abdicm

Somalia

english isn’t hard as you think it needs decision and determin

02:20 PM Aug 24 2007 |

zeus2006

zeus2006Super Member!

Turkey

’’I saw many people who don’t have any clothes on their body,I saw many clothes which doesn’t have any human inside’’ Mevlana(Rumi)

02:08 PM Aug 24 2007 |

lynn0327

lynn0327

China

i  agree with kevin.everyone  should try themself to make better life.  and i think begger ask people to spare some change is common situation of society.er..i prefer look at them dancing or Play  instrument,um or paint in the street.perhaps maybe i think them are so poor that them can't become the famous artist.

12:42 PM Aug 24 2007 |

janeliu8577

China

To spare, or not to, it always makes me confused while looking at those people sitting at the street with a piece of paper signing they don't have enough money back home or else.

I also believe in that no one can obtain things he likes with no efforts paid. Of course that we should show sympathy for those who really at their difficult position. However, when we are cheated once, we don't know if the one who stands right before us is telling the truth.

12:35 PM Aug 24 2007 |

Emiliana0927

China

i think there are some different between those "beggers"someone are professional beggers,those should be treated with bad look;someone are really in bad condition,and they have no ability to earn money or respect from our society.i think we should help them.and first ,our goverment should take responsibility. Also,some people is really in trobule …

11:06 AM Aug 24 2007 |

zeus2006

zeus2006Super Member!

Turkey

A real news about beggars from Turkey.Recently Poilceman don't give permission them to want money from people on the way and one of them was arrested by Policeman and they had been shocked when they saw how much money he had in his pocket and to learnt howmany apartments he has???

In the past I used to give money them but I haven't been giving money them for along time!!

Just I give money a person who performs on the way for example lastday in Istiklal(very famous road in Istanbul) there was a younglady who plays a violin and then I asked where she was from?She was from Russia and I liked her performance really.She graduated from conservatoire in her country.Ofcourse I gave money.

08:49 AM Aug 24 2007 |

reborn2007

China

At first, I give the begers money, but now,I never give them. Because now I know most of them lie.

08:11 AM Aug 24 2007 |

Longking Penn

China

Following could be the answer from the begger: You know, my misfortune deserves your sympathy and your sympathy deserves you giving me your change, even if my mistortune is fake.

07:13 AM Aug 24 2007 |

sisilena

China

and i still remeber the day i had meal with my boss maybe at 2-3 am at night. an old moman walked around and asked for money, i took my bag and wanted to give her some but my boss stoped me. boss asked her why you come here beg money, where is your kids? that old woman said they dont care of me i have no way to live on and then my boss said that's your fault you didnt teach your kid well on their way growing up and now it's the result you must suffer. i didnt know what to say, i didnt agree what my boss said but still i know what the woman said maybe also a fake story. i know very well which be reported on medium it's just like kinda costom in some villages, all members in those villages come out to many other cities for begging and some of them even very rich which you wont believe and somehow beyond your imagination. so i just speechless

07:08 AM Aug 24 2007 |

sisilena

China

yes, these things are very commonly be seen in the street and to my surprise the people march in this group become more and more younger sometimes even dressed well and most of them just kneel down there with a giant piece of board says something like no money for meal or no money back home something like that. at the first, it touch me very much and even cried of course i gave them my money. i just cant stand other girls or boys at my age or under my age lost everything they should enjoy and be a member of those homeless crew. and by time went i knew all that is fake, they just too lazy to do anything, maybe asking for money is easier than work for it. so now i look down them and no longer give my money out. and another situation is those elder people, i really dont know how to deal with them.once i see them i always think about my grandparents, and i pity them very much but it's huge number of them in the street and almost everyday they asking for money there .and bother me very much sometimes even follow you for a while if no money offered. no i just get lost and become cold about it.

06:53 AM Aug 24 2007 |

explorer143

Pakistan

oh, it's realy a big problem in all over the world, a most intereseting or you can say at that time a serious time to me i had passed through, once a marijuana addiction person came to our street, at that time i was standing with my friends, by chance he called me and ask for money, i said that i have no money, he cut his hand by knif and said that he put F.I.R. in Police station if i couldn't gave the money, at last for escaping this matter i gave him some money.

06:43 AM Aug 24 2007 |

castlesweet

Cambodia

i think this problem have also in my coutry and maybe more seriously then any .I want to cut down this porblem but i don't know what i can do.in other way my government take a measure to bar this problem either but not release.

03:18 AM Aug 24 2007 |

MaeL

Canada

I remember when I was small in my hometown, there were some professional beggers who disguised themselves as  monks, dressing in a real monk's robe, standing and chanting on the street with a bowl in their hands, hoping people would drop some offerings in their bowls for a blessing. Their weird behavior didn't convince me, nor their cunning faces won my sympathy, I gave them nothing but a bad look.  

02:55 AM Aug 24 2007 |

Barbie Shmily

China

we have jet leg

01:34 AM Aug 24 2007 |

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