Q2e Listening & Speaking 5: Audio Script Unit 2

Unit 2: Education from our routine. It was actually a lot of fun.

Plus there were donuts!
The Q Classroom
Teacher: Sounds like you have a smart
Activity B., Page 30
manager. Well, we’ve covered a lot of bases in
Teacher: It’s time for us to start talking about
this discussion: work, education, and fun can
the Unit Question, which is: “Where can work,
clearly overlap at school, on vacation, and in the
education, and fun overlap? First of all, can they
workplace. We’ll keep discussing this idea as we
overlap? What do you think, Yuna?
go through the unit.
Yuna: Yes. When I enjoy my work, it’s fun. And
usually I only enjoy my work if I’m learning
LISTENING 1 Voluntourism
something.
Activity A., C., Pages 34, 35
Teacher: What do you think, Sophy? Where can
(Music)
work, education, and fun overlap?
Chris Christensen, Host: Amateur Traveler,
Sophy: They can overlap at school. For example,
Episode 125.
if you take a field trip, it’s fun, and you’re
Today we talk about volunteer travel, or
learning, and you’re also preparing the report
voluntourism. Find out what kind of person is
or whatever other work you have to do for it.
doing this kind of travel, what they’re doing
Teacher: Felix?
when they get there, and just who it is they’re
Felix: I agree with Yuna, that work is fun when
meeting. On today’s Amateur Traveler.
you’re learning, but I think fun can be
Christensen: Welcome to the Amateur Traveler;
educational as well. To me, fun is more fun
I’m your host, Chris Christensen. I’d like to
when I’m learning something. When I go on
welcome to the show Linda Stuart. Linda is the
vacations, I love to learn all about the places I
executive director of the Global Citizens
visit. I’m one of those tourists who reads all of
Network. Linda, welcome to the show, first.
the brochure information. That’s not work, I
Linda Stuart: Thank you Chris. Glad to be here.
guess, but it’s definitely fun and learning.
Christensen: What is the Global Citizens
Teacher: OK. We’ve talked about fun at school
Network?
and learning on vacations—what about fun at
Stuart: Global Citizens Network is a nonprofit
work? When is work fun? Marcus?
organization based out of St. Paul, Minnesota,
Marcus: I think work is fun when you’re doing
that’s in its 16th year. We’ve been providing
something out of your normal routine, and
cross-cultural expeditions to indigenous
especially if you’re working on something in a
communities around the world.
group. At my job, we needed to change some of
Christensen: OK, and so what we’re talking
our procedures, and the manager wanted us all
about on this show is volunteer travel, or
to be a part of the change, so she set up
voluntourism is the other phrase that’s been
informal meetings for us to discuss how we
used. Let’s start with the why. Why after I’ve
wanted to change things. We got a chance to
been working so hard for the whole year would
talk to each other in a way we usually don’t, we
I want to go and work someplace else?
got some good planning done, it was a learning
Stuart: Yeah, that’s a great question. We’ve
experience because none of us had done
seen an increase over the last couple of years in
anything like that before, and it was a break
individuals, families, groups, couples that are
interested in an experience where they feel like

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Q2e Listening & Speaking 5: Audio Script Unit 2

they’re able to contribute, or give back, and so in Cantel, there’s the center where the youth
while going to see new lands, meet new people come and they learn about Mayan weaving,
is still very enticing, there is something to be medicinal medicines, traditional dance, et
said about going and doing good, and that is an cetera, and our presence there is really to also
opportunity that Global Citizens provides with kind of validate the culture and the
its cross-cultural trips and the service aspect on preservation of the culture. So that’s a really
the trip. And there’s an opportunity to meet significant project that we feel like we’re
others, meet friends, see new places and new working on. So there’s a wide variety of
lands, taste new foods, but then in addition, opportunities for people if they feel like they
there’s an opportunity to work on a service want to go together as a team, if they want to
project that will make a contribution to the go as an individual, if they want to go 50s and
community where we’re partnering. older, there’s also an opportunity for baby
Christensen: Before we get into specifically boomers and senior citizens to be together. And
what you guys are doing, can you tell us a little one thing about GCN is that we are an age-
bit more about what are the ranges of diverse organization so families, children eight
opportunities when we talk about volunteer and up are welcome on our program.
travel? Christensen: Can you describe your volunteers?
Stuart: Everywhere you turn around now, you’ll Can you give us a couple of examples of people
see volunteer opportunities. Voluntourism is on who volunteer for you?
the rise. And one thing that our organization Stuart: Well, two-thirds of our volunteers are
has maintained over the last 16 years is the women.
opportunity to travel and volunteer together as Christensen: Interesting.
a team. And so we do solicit intact teams, but Stuart: The other demographics of our
also individuals are welcome to come and join volunteers would include, as I just mentioned
us on any group trip. There is a wide range of some sort of family combination. But I would
opportunities. Others include individual say that the majority of the people that travel
placement; some are in rural areas versus urban with us do range between probably 30 and 55
areas. Others may be more of a tutoring or years old. And then the second group after that
English teaching placement— would be the youth, because the one area I
Christensen: Mm-hmm. guess that we don’t see as many is the kind of
Stuart: —others may be in orphanages. Our the university-aged individuals, and that’s
organization partners with indigenous because I think oftentimes they’re looking for
communities and works with them on small- credit or possibly more of a longer-term
scale development projects of their choice and program and our programs are short-term.
so it often focuses on physical labor, Christensen: Mm-hm.
construction of health clinics, schools, Stuart: They’re one to three weeks long and so.
community centers, et cetera. But other . . . There are many motivating reasons for this
projects may include, for example, in a village in kind of experience, in addition to giving back
Guatemala, in Cantel, we’re partnering with the and contributing. Another one is the
Mayan Peace Center on youth empowerment camaraderie and sharing that meaningful
projects. And that is, again, of the community’s experience with a family or, like as you
choice and by their initiation and direction. So mentioned, allowing children to have that kind

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Q2e Listening & Speaking 5: Audio Script Unit 2

of eye-opening experience and seeing not it’s us if we actually went someplace with GCN, what
versus them, but it’s us all together. countries are you in, first of all?
We do stress that there’s always something for Stuart: We partner here in the United States,
everyone, and so while maybe the construction with several Native American reservations—
on a health center, sometimes it can be as Christensen: OK.
simple as hauling some sand, assisting in sand— Stuart: —as well, First Nations in Canada. We
the project usually occurs in the morning, are in Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala. We’re
followed by a community lunch and in the in Africa, Asia, Kenya and Tanzania specifically.
afternoon there’s opportunity for interacting Christensen: And what’s the average group
with the community members in weavings and size?
classes and lessons, learning, educational Stuart: Our groups are small. They range
forums at the clinics. anywhere from 4 to 12.
I mean, there’s always such a wide variety Christensen: OK. And then what kind of cost, I
because the goal is to really immerse yourself know it’s going to vary depending on whether
in the daily lives of the village people and to see we’re going to Arizona or Tibet.
how they live. Stuart: Our program fees range anywhere from
Christensen: So what was your personal $900 to $2,400, depending, yeah, on where you
experience with how you got so involved in go and for how long. If it’s a week to three
volunteer travel? weeks long.
Stuart: Well, as a youth I was fortunate enough Christensen: And that’s not counting airfare, I
to have an experience to go on an alternative assume?
project when I was in high school. It was very Stuart: Airfare is in addition to that as well as
eye-opening for me. It was an ecological project any visa costs or any immunizations that would
in Dominica in the Caribbean. And it was my be needed.
first taste of what alternative travel is, and Christensen: OK.
everyone is pretty aware of a lot of what the Stuart: But the program fee does cover your
mass tourism opportunities are, but I was really lodging, transportation, food, and a portion of it
touched by that experience and very moved goes to the project.
that at that time, someone was raising my Christensen: Well, I thank you so much for
awareness and my realization and my coming on the show and telling us a little bit
conscientiousness about supporting the local about this different kind of, uh, opportunity for
economy . . . versus buying all the souvenirs travel and just appreciate you sharing your
that you would buy on a cruise ship per se. And experience with us.
so there was something that really resonated Stuart: Great. Thank you.
with that experience for me. And then just kind
of prompted a lifetime of seeking those kinds of LISTENING SKILL Listening for examples
experiences, learning a second language, doing Example, Page 38
research and study abroad in college, and just Stuart: There is a wide range of opportunities.
one experience led after another, so . . Others include individual placement; some are
Christensen: And then if you could get a little in rural areas versus urban areas; others may be
more specific in terms of what we would expect more of a tutoring or English teaching
placements . . .

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Q2e Listening & Speaking 5: Audio Script Unit 2

Activity A., Page 38 an internship, cost-of living expenses may be

1. Stuart: Our organization partners with similar and students have to factor that into
indigenous communities and works with them their budget. Even though both living abroad
on small-scale development projects of their and interning sound like fun, they also require a
choice and so it often focuses on physical labor, lot of hard work, no matter how interesting the
construction of health clinics, schools, experience is. EAP students need to remember
community centers, et cetera. that they will have to communicate and do
2. Stuart: There are many motivating reasons school work in a foreign language. And even
for this kind of experience, in addition to giving though internships are almost always in the
back and contributing. Another one is the same country as the home campus, the
camaraderie and sharing that meaningful technical hands-on work may still be harder
experience with a family or, like as you than interns expected. Both opportunities are
mentioned, allowing children to have that kind enticing to college students as they provide an
of eye-opening experience and seeing not it’s us opportunity to branch out and gain new
versus them, but it’s us all together. experiences.
3. Christensen: And then if you could get a little
more specific in terms of what we would expect LISTENING 2 Science Fairs and Nature Reserves
if we actually went someplace with GCN, what Activity A., C., Pages 41, 42
countries are you in, first of all? Report 1
Stuart: We partner here in the United States, (Music)
with several Native American reservations— Narrator: The climax of many outreach
Christensen: OK. programs run by the University of Cambridge
Stuart: —as well, First Nations in Canada. We occurs in March each year with a science
are in Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala. We’re festival. Sober university buildings take on a
in Africa, Asia, Kenya and Tanzania specifically. carnival atmosphere in a week-long celebration
of science.
NOTE-TAKING SKILL Nicola Buckley: It’s a unique chance for all the
Activity B, Page 40 scientific, mathematical, engineering
F: Many students are torn between joining an departments to get together and put on this
Education Abroad Program (EAP) and finding an amazing week of activities for kids and adults.
internship during their junior year in college. And you’ve never seen anything like it with all
Everyone agrees that both programs provide of these quite staid university buildings being
students with an opportunity to expand their sort of overrun by children that week, and it’s
horizons. Only in another country, however, can just a chance to open the doors and interest
students experience new cultures. Money is people in science, really. The science festival is a
always an important consideration for college very large event at the university. It’s the
students. They will usually end up paying tuition largest public event we run each year. We
for an EAP program at their home campuses. record over 45,000 visits to all of the events.
On the other hand, they usually do not pay The atmosphere on the Science on Saturday is
tuition during internships. In fact, internships absolutely fantastic.
often pay a minimal salary, so students can earn Narrator: This experiment is part of a project
money. Whether living abroad or off campus for called “Crash, Bang, Squelch!” By mixing corn

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Q2e Listening & Speaking 5: Audio Script Unit 2

flour and water, you get a material that can activities that go on throughout the system.
both be a liquid and a solid at the same time. Here UC faculty and staff are exploring ways to
It’s strange, and fun to play with, but there is a preserve the state’s disappearing oak
serious point. It might cause a child to begin to woodlands and restore native grasslands,
think differently about the materials of delving deep into the earth to understand the
everyday life. In the week before the festival, microorganisms that support California’s
Sebastian Watt and his fellow volunteers from ecosystems, and pioneering new ways to serve
the Earth Science department climb into their the state’s diverse student population.
time truck and tour many of the local schools. Narrator: Community support is essential to the
Buckley: Which is packed with interactive success of the reserve. Many people in the area
exhibits about geology, volcanoes, and these volunteer to serve as docents at the reserve,
sorts of things, little demonstrations. The aims leading public tours and conducting educational
of the festival are to enthuse the general public programs for school groups. Dr. Michael
about science, especially children, young Williams is the reserve director.
people, to encourage them to be the next Michael Williams: Without an outreach
generation of scientists. And that’s why the program, you can’t get people excited about a
science festival is so important. It breaks down site. And the outreach also is a, it fits into the
barriers between scientists and the wider mission of NRS for public service. And to
community and the university and the wider actually show people, in a very controlled
world. And we think that’s a benefit to both. Of setting—we don’t allow open use of the
course, we want to encourage children and reserve, but with trained docents, um, we can
young people to study science at this and other have classes come out here and see research
universities, but above all, we want children happening. The nice thing about outreach, for
and parents to understand how wonderful me, for me personally, is I like to see kids get
science is and how important a part it plays in excited about science, to see it in action.
all our lives. The special programs we have that are under,
(Music) um, the oversight of the outreach coordinator
Report 2 is one program in particular called “Kids in
Speaker: In this report on the Sedgwick Nature Nature,” where we bring low-income, uh, poor-
Reserve, you will hear a narrator and two performing school district kids from throughout,
speakers: Dr. Michael Williams, the reserve currently Santa Barbara county, but that will be
director, and Professor Jennifer Thorsch of the expanding into other adjoining counties this
University of California, Santa Barbara. next year. Uh, we bring them in for almost, um,
Narrator: The University of California Natural a whole year of interaction. And that includes a
Reserve system provides a testing ground for number of field trips here to work on a
developing innovative solutions to California’s restoration project, and to work on the biology
tough environmental and educational of the plants they’re using in the restoration
challenges. With more than 30 sites dedicated project, and to understand the communities
to teaching, research, and public outreach, NRS under which the restoration project is taking
Reserves can be found throughout the state. place. And it just keeps multiplying itself out.
The Sedgwick reserve, near UC Santa Barbara, Then they go on campus and they actually learn
provides a perfect example of the kinds of about plant anatomy. And they look at the

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Q2e Listening & Speaking 5: Audio Script Unit 2

anatomy of the very plants they’re planting out so we try and show them that you can be
here. And then they’ve got computer games anything you want to be. And also, I think
that they can take back with them to the science is really interesting, and by and large,
classroom that are developed specifically of it’s not taught in a really hands-on, “teaching by
plants at Sedgwick. They come back out here doing” rather than “teaching by telling.” And so,
and they start asking more questions that this program not only has them doing
they’ve learned or that’s been generated by the experiments in the labs at UCSB, but they’re out
game. here in this beautiful environment.
Narrator: The Kids in Nature program draws on
the resources of both the reserve and the PRONUNCIATION
campus. Professor Jennifer Thorsch and her Page 50
students at UC Santa Barbara played a key role Example 1
in creating and running the program. With GCN, we can take an expedition to
Jennifer Thorsch: My concept was to bring Mexico, Peru, or Argentina.
botany to K through 12 students and bring them Example 2
to the university for experiences in the They need to find out if that institute is in China
laboratory and also at our natural area sites on or Japan.
campus. Sedgwick Reserve was running their Example 3
own schools program. We learned about each Did they visit Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, or Egypt?
other’s program, so we met, and a Is it a science fair or a science camp?
collaboration was born, and Kids in Nature was Example 4
the result. What did they build in Mexico, schools or
I think the impact that Kids in Nature is having houses?
is probably more far-reaching than we will even Where are the exhibits, in the school, at the
begin to understand. Not only are they beach, or in the park?
introduced to the university environment— Activity A., Page 51
many of these children have never, ever been 1. Who paid for the travel expenses, the
on a university campus, and the concept of students or the school?
going to college is not in their realm. The visits 2. Would you choose to initiate a new project or
to the university familiarize them with what a work on an old one?
university is, and we all try and be extremely 3. I’m not sure if I prefer Cambridge, Oxford,
positive when these students are on campus Harvard, or Stanford.
and show them that they can come here too. 4. Which adjective is best: compelling,
Williams: I think that’s a wonderful use of a liberating, or enticing?
natural reserve site. Again, it’s very controlled, 5. You have your choice of staying in a tent, a
research sites are protected, uh, the kids are, home, or a hotel.
get to meet a lot of the researchers doing these 6. Can everyone go on a volunteer vacation,
programs. including children, teens, and adults?
Thorsch: And I think often, especially young
girls, at the ages between the 4th grade and 6th
grade, begin to believe that they cannot be
scientists or that it’s not a cool thing to do. And

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