Listening to BBC. Учебное пособие по аудированию для студентов неязыковых факультетов

Appendix. Part I. Different people. Different Places

a culture tries to avoid uncertainty, or to what extent a culture values masculine or feminine characteristics.

And in recent programme we looked at some of the barriers to successful communication between people from different cultures, and the problem of culture shock. But what are the practical implications of all this? What use can we make of this information? Over to series writer and presenter, Marc Beeby.

Marc: Well, we need to turn these theories into action — when we meet and talk to people from other cultures, for example — or, more particularly, when we go to live in a foreign country. And how do we do that? Sit back and listen as people from around the world help Rebecca Fong — a teacher of intercultural communication from the University of the West of England, present a guide to turning theories about culture into successful — and beneficial — intercultural practice.

Rebecca Fong: First and foremost the biggest barrier to adjusting to a new culture could well be assuming that it’ll be easy and that you’ll be OK. If it is — obviously that’s fantastic — if it isn’t — which it’s much more likely to be — then don’t panic — this is normal, you’re normal. Focus on the idea of cultural relativism — no one culture is right. We shouldn’t use our own standards to judge other cultures with. Begin the process of asking questions about how and why different cultures do things differently.

Eilidh Hamilton: We all believe that our culture is the right way of doing it because we’ve always been told this is right, this is how you behave, this is what you must say, this is what you must do. When you move to another culture often you have to realise that what you have learnt is not intrinsically right — it’s just one way.

Rebecca Fong: Prepare: Arm yourself with the facts before you go — find out about the geography and the history the food the customs. Learn the language — this will give you control in your new culture — it will also give you an opportunity to meet people and socialise and a window on the way the culture works as you come to understand how the language is used.

When you get there: When you get there, try and make friends as soon as you can. A good way of making real friends in a culture is by joining local cookery courses or music or drama courses or sports clubs. Whatever your local neighbourhood has to offer.

Emma Kambangula: Having travelled all over the world and met people from different cultures, I feel it made me quite a rich person. When I go home I know how to treat other people from other cultures and to inform my people how to respect people with their cultures — because sometimes you find them rude, but it’s not that they’re rude, it’s how they take it in their country. But it really educated me quite a lot and I’m really happy about that.

Rebecca Fong: Work on yourself: This is probably the most important thing of all. Raise your self-awareness and remember that culture is not only about what we believe — but much harder to get control of — it’s about the way that we behave — so be observant — watch what’s going on around you and notice behavioural differences. Listen to yourself. Even when you get frustrated, try not to lose your temper; be restrained, reserve judgement, wait until you’ve really made an effort to find out the reasons for your frustrations.

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James Keegan: Making cultural change, it isn’t necessarily that you have to adapt and become part of that culture. But the one thing you owe it, to any other culture, is to be aware. Just be aware that in France you know, things are done differently. Just be aware that when you go to Japan, things are done differently. And don’t stand there and say: oh this isn’t the way we do it, and how strange or how peculiar. You’ve got to sort of recognise that different cultures do things differently.

Rebecca Fong: Be sensitive: When situations are difficult consider that it may in fact be you that is doing something wrong. Be introspective learn to ask yourself questions especially if you can’t understand why it is that things are happening differently around you. Be open and tolerant — try not to dismiss things you don’t know about. Criticising or rejecting the culture’s favourite food or their favourite pastime or their favourite sport might turn out to be offensive. Don’t be judgmental. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the other culture and imagine why their world is as it is.

Be sociable and extrovert: Nobody knows you in this culture — you don’t have your old reputation to live up to. So even if you’re a shy person back home, adopt a new identity — be the person that you’ve always secretly wanted to be. Be wary of stereotypes — remember you can be so busy looking for stereotypes that you blind yourself to all the other characteristics that are also there.

Mahmood Jamal: Just like probably English people saw people from Pakistan or Bangladesh or India as being one homogenous group, I also used to see English people as one homogenous group. So that was the first breakdown of my stereotype of English people — that English people are a variety of people from a variety of classes, a variety of backgrounds, a variety of regions. In a way what I am saying is that that is the way one should look at almost every country, every nation and every culture because there’s no such thing as a monolithic person, you know, or a culture.

Rebecca Fong: Situations to avoid: A common reaction to difference is to seek what you know in the company of other expatriates in the place where you go. This can end up really slowing down your learning process and worse it can turn into super ethnocentric moaning situations where everyone sits around idealising the home country and downgrades the benefits of the host culture. Along the same lines — if all you’re going to do when you go abroad is to try to replicate your home country as closely as you can by eating the same food and dressing the same and kitting your house out the same and doing the same activities — then why did you bother to go at all?

Kyung-ja Yoo: I’m quite fortunate I’m quite the lucky one — because I now have a comparison — comparison of Eastern culture and Western culture so I could possibly understand why people are behaving like that better than the people who never left the country. But sometimes I feel like I don’t really belong to anywhere — in a way it makes me free, much more free.

Rebecca Fong: As soon as you make the decision to change your external behaviour and your habits a little bit to match the culture you’re in you’ll be simply amazed by how much doors open for you, how people will admire the effort you’re making to fit in and how they respond to this by taking you into their inner circles and confiding in you.

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Part II

Talks on politics and law

Transcript 2.1

6 Minute English

Smokers to face one more ban

EPISODE 150115 / 15 JAN 2015

Smoking in cars with children is likely to be banned in England this year, under new laws put forward by the government. Rob and Neil talk about the move and consider the reaction among smokers.

Listen to the conversation and learn some new vocabulary.

Vocabulary

habit — something you do frequently without even thinking and that is difficult to give up

controversy — disagreement expressed in a heated and public way campaigning — working in an organised and active way to achieve an objective second-hand smoke — the smoke from other people’s cigarettes

asthma — an illness about which you hear a lot about when people discuss the effects of tobacco smoke and pollution on people’s lungs. People with asthma sometimes have difficulty to breathe

fine — the money you pay as a punishment for having breached the law vulnerable — someone exposed to harm who can’t defend themselves

personal space — the area around a person’s body which if invaded makes them feel uncomfortable

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Neil: Hello, I’m Neil. Welcome to 6 Minute English. With me in the studio today is Rob.

Rob: Hello, Neil.

Neil: Traditionally, January is the month in which people try to make their New Year’s resolutions work. Some want to get fit, others swear they will drink less alcohol and there are those who want to stop smoking.

Rob: Many people might wish to stop smoking here in England because, according to a plan, smoking in cars with children will be banned under new laws put forward by the government.

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Neil: And a similar move is being discussed in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Today we’re talking about this new proposal restricting where people are allowed to smoke. And you’ll learn some related vocabulary so you can have your own discussion on the subject.

Rob: We usually talk about smoking as a habit — that’s what we do every day without even thinking and it’s difficult to give up. Well, this ban is going to cause controversy, in other words, disagreement expressed in an angry, public way.

Neil: Yes, smokers are trying hard to carry on enjoying their cigarettes. But there are a couple of places where they’ve already lost the battle, Rob.

Rob: And where’s that?

Neil: I’m giving you a chance to tell me. Bans on smoking in cars where children are present already exist in some regions of particular countries. Is it:

a)in the French capital, Paris

b)in some US states

c)in Greece

Rob: I don’t know but I’m gonna go for b) in some US states.

Neil: OK. Well, we’ll have the answer to that question at the end of the programme. Now let’s hear the argument in favour of a ban. Here’s Dr Hilary Wareing. She is the director of the Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre, which works with the World Health Organisation.

Rob: The World Health Organisation is campaigning to discourage people from smoking. Campaigning means working in an organised and active way to achieve an objective.

Neil: Listen out for what Dr Wareing calls the smoke from other people’s cigarettes.

Dr Hilary Wareing, Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre in Britain: Those children who are exposed to second-hand smoke in cars are more likely to end up going to their doctors with respiratory infections, more likely to end up going to hospital with a respiratory infection and much more likely to get a wheeze or actually have asthma through their childhood.

Rob: So Dr Wareing calls smoke from other people’s cigarette second-hand smoke. Second-hand is something which has had a previous owner.

Neil: And she also mentions asthma. This is an illness you hear a lot about when people discuss the effects of tobacco smoke and pollution on people’s lungs. People with asthma sometimes find it difficult to breathe. You faced this problem as a child, didn’t you, Rob?

Rob: Asthma? No, but when I was a kid my brother, who was much older than me, used to smoke in the car. Now, the smell was terrible, the smoke bothered me a lot and even if I don’t have asthma now, I just don’t like breathing in smoke. If people want to smoke, it’s their personal choice, but not near me.

Neil: The proposal under discussion here in England includes a fine of up to £50 — that’s about $ 80 — imposed on the driver of the car if there’s somebody smoking when there’s a child passenger.

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Rob: A fine is the money you pay as a punishment for having broken the law. And the driver is responsible, even if he is not the person smoking in the car. This will really cause some conflict.

Neil: It probably will. But it’s difficult to find anyone who doesn’t defend a child’s right to be healthy. Children are vulnerable — vulnerable means they are exposed to harm and can’t defend themselves. We have to protect them. But many smokers see this proposal with suspicion.

Rob: Yes, in the last few years, smokers have seen restrictions in their ability to smoke. In many countries they aren’t allowed to smoke in closed public places like bars anymore. And cigarette packages show disturbing pictures of diseased lungs.

Neil: Smoking doesn’t look so cool anymore. One of the smokers suspicious of the new ban is Hayley. This British driver said she doesn’t smoke when her children are on board. But that’s as far as she goes in agreeing with the ban.

Rob: What objection — I mean what reason for disagreeing — is she raising? Neil: Listen out for the two words Hayley uses when talking about the physical area

surrounding her which she feels is very personal.

Hayley, a smoker: If they are going to stop it with people in the cars with their children I completely agree with that. I completely understand where they are coming from, but to take it to the next level of stopping it even if you haven’t got children in the car then I think that’s a little bit beyond people’s personal space, really.

Rob: Hayley talks about her personal space — it means the area around her body which she feels is hers and if invaded makes her feel uncomfortable. In this case, Hayley feels that her car is her personal space and she should be able to choose if she wants to smoke in it.

Neil: Well, it seems that enforcing this ban will be a bit of a challenge for the authorities. There’s a ban on smoking inside buses but I tell you, sometimes I can smell smoke from somewhere.

Rob: They breach the law at their own peril. But other places have managed to implement the ban on smoking in cars with child passengers. So what’s the answer to the question you put earlier in the programme, Neil?

Neil: Where are people not allowed by law to smoke in private cars with children on board: is it Paris, some US states or Greece?

Rob: Well, I said some US states. Neil: And you were correct! Rob: Oh good.

Neil: Well, the proposal here in England has yet to be voted for in Parliament and it might be implemented only by October.

Rob: So plenty of time there for a good debate.

Neil: Yes but two people who can’t continue the discussion, at least for the moment, are both of us. That’s because we’ve run out of time, Rob. Let’s just remember some of the words used today.

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Rob: habit — controversy — campaigning — second-hand smoke — asthma — fine — vulnerable — personal space

Neil: That’s it for today. Do log on to www.bbclearningenglish.com to find more 6 Minute English programmes. Until next time. Goodbye!

Rob: Bye!

(URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/ features/6 minute-english/ep-190815 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdEyku5WSzo&list=WL&index=22&t=214s)

Transcript 2.2

6 Minute English

Compulsory voting

EPISODE 150813 / 13 AUG 2015

To vote or not to vote — is it your choice?

For those who are able to vote, should we be made to do it? Listen to Rob and Finn discussing why we should all exercise our right to vote and especially by young people — whilst teaching some related vocabulary.

This week’s question

What is a constituency? Is it …

a)the people who live in and vote in a particular area?

b)the politicians who make and change the laws of a country?

c)a town or district that has its own government?

You can hear the right answer at the end of the programme.

Vocabulary

right — (here) somebody’s legal claim to vote

general election — a vote for a government that runs the whole country compulsory — something that you have to do

duty — something you have a responsibility to do engender — give rise to

slapdash — doing something quickly and carelessly

national service — compulsory government service that usually means military service

conscription — (same as national service)

over and done with — something difficult or unpleasant as quickly as possible pick (a political party) out of a hat — to choose randomly rather than making

an informed choice spoil — waste

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Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m Rob… Neil: … and I’m Neil. Hello.

Rob: Hello, Neil! Today we’re talking about voting. Now I’m sure it’s something you’ve done Neil?

Neil: Of course — and earlier this year we had a general election in the UK where I voted. And I’d feel guilty if I didn’t exercise my right to vote. Now a right in this case means somebody’s legal claim to vote.

Rob: In a general election we vote for a government that runs the whole country, but we also have local and European elections too sometimes.

Neil: Yes but voting in the UK is optional — so you don’t have to do it, whereas in some countries voting is compulsory — and compulsory means something that you have to do.

Rob: So if you were in Australia, where the government passed a law that made voting compulsory, you would have had to pay a fine of $ 20 for not voting.

Neil: And that’s because the Australian government believes that voting is a duty and not just a right.

Rob: Duty means something you have a responsibility to do. Neil: And it’s your duty Rob to ask me today’s quiz question! Rob: Yes, sir! So can you tell me, what is a constituency? Is it …

a)the people who live in and vote in a particular area?

b)the politicians who make and change the laws of a country? or c) a town or district that has its own government?

Neil: Well I’m no expert on politics… but I’m going to go for c) that’s a town or

district that has its own government.

Rob: OK. Well, we’ll find out later on in the show whether you’re right or wrong. Now it’s time to hear what a truly young person has to say about compulsory voting.

Neil: Oh right, unlike me you mean? Well, here’s Michael Yip, who is a student at Warwick University and therefore much younger than me.

Michael Yip, student at Warwick University: A lot of the people that I speak to just say ‘I don’t care’ or ‘I don’t really know what’s going on’ and in this way, another reason why I’m quite cautious about this is because it could sort of engender this sort of slapdash attitude towards politics where you know it’s sort of seen as, you know, being conscripted for national service … you just want to get it over and done with.

Rob: So Michael says he is cautious about the idea of introducing compulsory voting. So why is that, Neil?

Neil: He thinks forcing young people to vote will engender — or give rise to — a slapdash attitude. Now what does slapdash mean, Rob?

Rob: It’s a good word, isn’t it? It means doing something quickly and carelessly.

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Neil: Oh you’ve never do that, would you? Now, Michael compares compulsory voting to national service. National service is compulsory government service that usually means military service and is also known as conscription.

Rob: So when it’s something you haven’t chosen to do, or which you actively don’t want to do — it’s a case of getting it over and done with.

Neil: And that means finishing something difficult or unpleasant as quickly as possible.

Rob: Young people might just pick a political party out of a hat — which means to choose randomly — rather than making an informed choice.

Neil: So some people think that politicians need to improve political education. Now let’s listen to broadcaster and writer Rick Edwards talking about this.

Rick Edwards, broadcaster and writer: If you said to politicians, ‘Right, 3.3 million first-time voters are definitely going to vote’, then they will have to speak to them and they will have to make an effort to go to where they are and I think that’s the change it would create.

Rob: So compulsory voting would mean a responsibility for the politicians too. Neil: That’s right. They need to engage and educate young people. Otherwise

reluctant voters may deliberately spoil — or waste — their votes.

Rob: The government could also include a ‘none of the above’ option on the ballot paper.

Neil: Can you explain a bit more about that Rob?

Rob: Well, it means you tick this option if you don’t want to vote for any of the listed political parties.

Neil: An interesting idea. Well my option for now is to get the answer to the quiz question.

Rob: OK, well, I asked: What is a constituency? Is it … a) the people who live in and vote in a particular area? b) the politicians who make and change the laws of a country? Or c) a town or district that has its own government?

Neil: I said c) a town or district that has its own government.

Rob: Well, you ticked the wrong box, Neil! The answer is a) the people who live in and vote in a particular area. Now, did you know the UK is currently divided into 650 areas called parliamentary constituencies, each of which is represented by one MP in the House of Commons? And each constituency can have a different area. The largest is Ross, Skye and Lochaber in Scotland measuring approximately 12,000 square kilometres. The smallest constituency is Islington North in London measuring a little over seven square kilometres. Now, can we hear today’s words again please, Neil?

Neil: OK. We heard:

right — general election — compulsory — duty — engender — slapdash — national — service — conscription — over and done with — pick (a political party) out of a hat — spoil

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Rob: Splendid! Well, that’s the end of today’s 6 Minute English. I hope it got your vote! You can hear more programmes at bbclearningenglish.com. Please join us again soon.

Both: Bye.

(URL: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6 minute-english/ep-150813 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ea5ZWYsSKY&t=12s)

Transcript 2.3

6 Minute English

Women’s right to vote

EPISODE 161124 / 24 NOV 2016

Alice and Neil talk about British suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst and her struggle to get women a better life.

This week’s question

Which was the first country to give all women the right to vote in public elections? Was it…

a)Finland?

b)New Zealand?

c)The US?

You’ll hear the answer at the end of the programme.

Vocabulary

role models — people looked to by others as examples to be followed suffragettes — women who campaigned for the right for women to vote lobbied — tried to persuade

electorate — people who are allowed to vote plight — bad situation

raised their profile — get noticed impromptu — unplanned militant — aggressive

direct action — the use of demonstrations, strikes, or violence to achieve a goal

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Alice: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m Alice… Neil: And I’m Neil.

Alice: The BBC’s 100 Women season is back this week. It will explore women’s stories of defiance. And it will include stories of women who inspired us. And that’s what we are going to talk about today.

Neil: And which woman has inspired you, Alice?

Alice: Oh, well, I have many female role models — and this means people looked to by others as examples to be followed. But I must say I have a great admiration for the suffragettes.

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