Learning English with CBC
Listening Lessons for Intermediate Students
Based on CBC Manitoba Radio Broadcasts
February 4, 2011
Lesson 65: Self Study Edition
Level:
CLB 6 and up
Topic:
The Housing Challenge
Language Skills and Functions:
Listening – listening to a short interview for details
and inference
Speaking – giving advice; responding to offers and
excuses
Reading – reading a text for information
Writing – writing a letter; writing tips/advice
Language Competencies:
Language Tasks:
Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Listening and Speaking
Strategies, Socio-cultural/sociolinguistic Competence
Answer questions about newcomer housing preferences and challenges
Listen for detail and inference in a radio interview with Paul Ash, founder
of New Journey Housing
Understand food idioms in context
Understand and respond to offers and excuses from landlords
Read information about the importance of tenant insurance and respond
to scenarios by giving advice
Write a letter to a landlord to request a repair
Essential Skills:
Reading text, oral communication, writing
Appendices: Transcript of the podcast
Top Reasons Why You Need Tenant Insurance
Manitoba Memo
Social policy experts believe housing is at the centre of people’s well-being.
Affordable, good quality, safe and stable housing contributes to our emotional, cultural,
social and economic health. If there’s a crack in Manitoba’s aggressive immigration
policy, some believe it may be in area housing. Manitoba just doesn’t have enough
affordable and subsidized housing to meet the need.
Refugees and immigrants who are in lower income brackets face the toughest housing
challenge. Vacancy rates for apartments and rental units are extremely low in
Winnipeg and Brandon. Some even say there is a “housing crisis” in these cities.
While the price of purchasing a home in Manitoba is still relatively low compared to
other Canadian provinces, the average cost of home ownership has increased
significantly in the past decade.
A lack of availability and affordability often translates into very limited housing choices
for newcomers, especially in their first two years in Manitoba. However, the housing
market is only one part of their housing challenge. According to New Journey Housing,
other challenges include:







A lack of understanding of the different housing options and government
supports which are available;
A lack of knowledge of different neighbourhoods and their advantages and
disadvantages;
Limited English skills, making it difficult to search for housing using the internet
and other sources;
Financial stress, which results in many newcomers spending more than thirty
percent of their income on housing;
The need to learn about more than one kind of housing because newcomers
tend to move several times in the first few years of residence before becoming
truly settled;
The need for a guarantor or co-signer;
A lack of experience owning or renting a home in Manitoba, including learning
about tenant rights and responsibilities; pest control and cleanliness; financial
systems and obligations and home maintenance.
When it comes to meeting these housing challenges, there is some good news. New
Journey Housing is providing newcomers to Winnipeg with information and resources
to help them make good housing choices. Welcome Place offers similar assistance to
refugees. Settlement programs throughout the province also help with the housing
challenge, as do private sponsors.
The second piece of good news is that the provincial and federal governments are
stepping up to the plate. Recently announced new housing projects are a good first
step toward beginning to meet Manitoba’s affordable housing shortage.
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 2 of 19
Background
1. Can you answer the following questions?






Generally speaking, do you prefer to live in the city, in a town or in the country?
If you prefer living in the city, do you prefer living in the downtown area or in the
suburbs? Why?
Would you prefer living in an area where other newcomers from your country
live? Where newcomers from other countries live? Why?
What are some of the other things that are important to you when you are looking
for housing? (For example: affordability; the condition of the home or apartment;
the number of rooms/bedrooms; closeness to schools, transit and stores; the look
and appearance of the neighbourhood; who else lives there.)
What do you see as the greatest challenges newcomers face when they look for
housing in a new country?
What do you think people should know about the housing situation in Manitoba
before they immigrate?
2. Vocabulary definitions
Here are some words you need to know to understand the CBC interview.
options
Options are when you have different alternatives or
choices available to you. An example of a housing
option is having a choice between renting and
owning.
bricks and mortar
The expression “bricks and mortar” refers to the
existence of a physical building.
misunderstandings
Examples of misunderstanding are problems that are
caused when someone doesn’t understand a
question, situation or instruction.
New Journey Housing
New Journey Housing is a private, non-profit
organization that assists and mentors newcomers
who are looking for housing in Winnipeg.
in a nutshell
This idiom means to say something concisely or in
very few words.
a resource centre
A resource centre is a place where someone can go
to find information and assistance.
decent
A decent house is one of good quality or standards.
It would not need a lot of repairs.
born and raised
If you are born and raised somewhere, it means you
were born there and you grew up there.
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 3 of 19
a blue collar worker
Someone who does physical work is called a blue
collar worker. Office workers are often referred to as
white collar workers.
rental accommodation
If you live in rental accommodation, you live in
housing someone else owns. An apartment is an
example of rental accommodation.
shabby
When something is in poor or bad condition it can be
described as shabby.
rundown
A building that is in very bad condition can be
described as rundown.
a chapter in life
This expression refers to a period of time in a
person’s life that has a beginning and an end, just
like a chapter in a book.
struggles
Struggles are difficulties or challenges someone
deals with over a long period of time.
a tenant
A tenant is a person who has the use of a room,
house, apartment, building etc. as long as they pay
rent to the owner.
a landlord
Someone who rents a room, house, apartment,
building etc. to someone else is called a landlord.
references
References are people you ask to provide a landlord
or employer with information about your character
and abilities.
a referral
When you suggest that someone go to another
person or organization for help or assistance, that’s
called a referral.
assumptions
When we assume or believe things are true, but have
no definite proof they are true, we are said to be
making an assumption.
expectations
Things you think or hope will happen are described
as expectations.
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 4 of 19
3. Predict what the podcast is about
In this story, Marcy Markusa interviews Paul Ash about the housing resource centre he
founded. It’s called New Journey Housing and it helps newcomers to Winnipeg
understand how the housing market works. Can you predict the questions Marcy will
ask Paul?
Here are a few examples:
I think she might ask him…if he is a newcomer himself.
She’ll probably want to know… why he decided to start New Journey Housing.
I wonder if she’ll ask him...how the organization is funded.
I’m sure she’ll ask him…what the organization does.
I don’t know have any idea what she’ll ask him.
4. Get ready to listen
In this interview, you will hear:
Marcy Markusa – host and interviewer
Paul Ash – founder, New Journey Housing
In this podcast, both Marcy and Paul speak very quickly. Paul also uses a number of
strategies often heard in informal, fast speech. He uses a lot of fillers or hesitators as he
searches for the right word. His favourite is ah.
Notice Paul’s use of hesitators/fillers when you listen to the podcast? Do you think it
make it easier or more difficult for you as a listener when a speaker uses a lot of fillers?
Play the podcast for the first time.
Did you notice that Paul also reduces certain words? This is also a typical strategy in
spoken English and especially in fast, informal speech. It can make it difficult for listeners
to figure out where one word ends and another begins. One example is y’know. Did you
hear examples of any other reduced words when you listened? For example:
a lot of sounds like a lotta (line 26 on the transcript)
what are sounds like whaddare (line 41 on the transcript)
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 5 of 19
After you listen
a) Review your pre-listening predictions
Were you able to predict some of the things Marcy asked Paul Ash?
b) Listen for detail and inference
Listen to the interview and decide if the following statements are true or false. Sometimes you
will need to listen for details and other times you will need to listen for inference.
The first one is completed for you as an example.
1.
There are three new housing projects in Winnipeg for newcomers.
True False
2.
Paul Ash started New Journey Housing.
True False
3.
New Journey finds jobs for newcomers.
True False
4.
New Journey helps newcomers find good housing.
True False
5.
New Journey Housing is funded by government.
True False
6.
Paul Ash grew up in a wealthy household.
True False
7.
Paul Ash can relate to the challenges newcomers face finding good True False
housing.
8.
Paul got the idea of starting New Journey Housing from friends.
True False
9.
The main goal of New Journey is to help newcomers understand
housing basics.
True False
10. The responsibilities of home ownership and renting are very similar
around the world.
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
True False
Page 6 of 19
c) Understand food idioms
The English language uses many idioms. On first glance, the following idioms seem to be
about food. But don’t be fooled! They aren’t really about food – they have a different meaning
entirely. Match the sentences with the food idiom in context with the option that best shows
what the idiom means. The first one is completed for you as an example.
1. So, what in a nutshell does the organization do?
a) So, what exactly does the organization do?
b) So, what kind of nut shell does the organization do?
c) So, what crazy things does the organization do?
2. Use your noodle and you’ll figure it out.
a) Use your ears and you’ll figure it out.
b) Use your calculator and you’ll figure it out.
c) Use your brain and you’ll figure it out.
3. The best way to impress your landlady is to butter her up.
a) The best way to impress your landlady is to talk to her.
b) The best way to impress your landlady is to take her treats.
c) The best way to impress your landlady is to flatter her.
4. My landlord is very serious. You could say he’s a hard nut to crack.
a) My landlord is very serious. You could say he’s difficult to get to know.
b) My landlord is very serious. You could say he’s very unfriendly.
c) My landlord is very serious. You could say he’s nuts.
5. Yes, I’ve got a cat. But please don’t spill the beans to the landlord.
a) Yes, I’ve got a cat. But please don’t ask me to tell the landlord.
b) Yes, I’ve got a cat. But please don’t tell my secret to the landlord.
c) Yes, I’ve got a cat. But please don’t hide that from the landlord.
6. I heard through the grapevine that our rent is going up.
a) I heard from the landlord that our rent is going up.
b) I heard on the radio that our rent is going up.
c) I heard from some other tenants in the building that our rent is going up.
7. My neighbour is head of the tenant’s association. She’s cool as a cucumber.
a) My neighbour is head of the tenant’s association. She’s well organized.
b) My neighbour is head of the tenant’s association. She’s a bit arrogant.
c) My neighbour is head of the tenant’s association. She’s calm and collected.
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 7 of 19
d) Respond to offers and excuses from a landlord
Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if someone is offering to help or if they’re making an excuse for
not helping. In each situation we need to know their intention so that we can respond
correctly. Read each of the dialogues below in which a tenant is making a complaint and a
landlord is responding. When you read the landlord’s response, decide if the landlord is
making an excuse or offering to help. Depending on what you decide, write offer or excuse
in the brackets. Then decide what you would say in response to the landlord. Your
response might include asking the landlord for more information, asking for a reason or
thanking the landlord. (Possible responses are included in the box at the end of the
scenarios.) The first dialogue is completed for you as an example.
1. Tenant: The window in my apartment has been broken ever since I moved in two `
months ago.
Landlord: Sorry about that. I’ve been swamped with repairs and I haven’t had time.
(excuse)
Tenant:
2.
(h) I think that I have been more than patient. Please have it fixed
immediately.
Tenant: My sink is completely clogged. It won’t drain at all.
Landlord: I’ll bring a plunger and come up to fix it right away. (___________)
Tenant:
3.
_______________________________________________________.
Tenant: Last week you promised to have someone come and check the leak in my
roof.
Landlord: I called the roofer but he hasn’t gotten back to me. There’s really nothing
I can do until I hear back from him. (___________)
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 8 of 19
Tenant:
4.
_______________________________________________________.
Tenant: My television reception is terrible. The picture is fuzzy and distorted.
Landlord: Several other people have called with the same complaint. I will get the
cable company to come out right away. (___________)
Tenant:
5.
_______________________________________________________.
Tenant: The neighbour next door persists in having noisy parties every weekend.
Could you please do something about it.
Landlord: There’s really nothing I can do, because the building superintendent’s niece
lives in that apartment. (___________)
Tenant:
6.
_______________________________________________________.
Tenant: My neighbour has a cat and I’m allergic to cats. Can’t you do something
about that?
Landlord: This block allows pets, so my hands are tied. (___________)
Tenant:
7.
_______________________________________________________.
Tenant: The fridge in my apartment keeps cutting out. I’m afraid it will quit for
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 9 of 19
good one of these days and my food will spoil.
Landlord: I will call a repair service and ask them to send someone to fix the problem
as soon as possible.
Tenant:
8.
(___________)
_______________________________________________________.
Tenant: There’s a bed bug problem in this building!
Landlord: We have a contract with an exterminator. I will ask them to come
immediately. (___________)
Tenant:
_______________________________________________________.
Possible Tenant Responses
a) But it’s supposed to rain. Could you call him again please?
b) I would really appreciate that. Do I have to move out while they spray?
c) Thanks, that would be great. My favourite show is on tonight.
d) Perfect. That means I can do my dishes.
e) Do you know of another block where I might be able to move? I am very allergic.
f) I will be making an official complaint then. It’s not fair that other tenants have
to put up with the noise.
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 10 of 19
g) That’s good news. I just went grocery shopping yesterday.
h) I think that I have been more than patient. Please have it fixed immediately
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 11 of 19
e) Read about tenant insurance and give advice
If you drive a car, Manitoba law says you must have vehicle insurance and liability
coverage. However, if you rent a home or apartment, there is no law that says you have
to have tenant insurance. Many would argue that renters also need insurance to protect
themselves and their belongings.
Read Appendix A. Then read each of the scenarios below. Use the sentence starters to
give insurance advice to the individuals in each of the scenarios.
Sentence Starters for Giving Advice
You really should….
I’d recommend that you….
You really ought to….
It’s a good idea to….
You would do well to….
Scenario 1
I live in an apt., but I really don’t have much except for some expensive sporting
equipment. What do you think?
Scenario 2
I just moved into a rental house. I think I’ll wait a few months before I get tenant
insurance. I want to get settled first. What do you advise?
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 12 of 19
Scenario 3
I live on my own in a small apartment. I can’t think of any reason to purchase
liability insurance. Do you think I ought to have it?
Scenario 4
Our family immigrated to Manitoba a few months ago. We haven’t accumulated many
possessions. All we have is just clothes, a TV, and some household appliances. Won’t
it cost more to purchase tenant insurance that we may never use than to just
replace an item that’s damaged or stolen? What do you recommend?
f) Write a letter to request a repair
If your rental unit needs repairs, it is always best to put your request in writing. Your
landlord may ask you to fill out a form, or you may be asked to write a letter. Always date
your written request and keep a copy. This will help you if you need to seek assistance
from Manitoba’s Residential Tenancies Branch to resolve a repair issue. Can you write a
letter to a landlord to request repairs based on the following scenario? Use the outline to
help you.
Scenario: Date: July 15, 2010
Renter: Daniel Juba
Rental unit: 123 Block Place, Suite 304, Winnipeg, MB, R2G 1R5
Landlord: Jim Loewen, 348 Rouge Road, Winnipeg, MB, R4T 1X4
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 13 of 19
Moved in: July 1, 2009
Repairs requested:
-the window air conditioner has not worked at all this summer
and blows warm air
-the bathtub faucet won’t stop dripping and the problem is
getting worse
Date of letter
Landlord’s address
Who is the letter to?
Dear ….
What apartment /suite is the
letter regarding? (Re: is an
abbreviation for regarding that
you often see in formal letters)
Re: Suite ….
My suite requires some repairs. First, my air conditioner ….
Provide details of the
problem and what needs to
be repaired.
Secondly, the faucet….
Ask the landlord to fix the
problem and to let you know
when it will be fixed.
Can you please ….
Sign the letter.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Want to know more:
New Journey Housing has a website with more information about their services. It’s at:
http://www.newjourneyhousing.com/
For more information on housing/tenancy in Manitoba, try these government websites:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/housing/about_mbhousing.html and
http://www2.immigratemanitoba.com/browse/settle/settle-housing.html
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 14 of 19
The Manitoba Residential Tenancies Branch also has general information on its website.
Under “Resources” some of the materials (for example, information on rent increases, the
responsibilities of landlords and tenants and the role of the Branch) are available in eight
languages. Their website is: http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/cca/rtb/index.html
The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation publishes an information guide for
newcomers. Much of the information is available in eight languages. You can find it at:
http://www.cmhc.ca/newcomers/
The website for the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council/Welcome Place is at:
http://www.miic.ca/Default.aspx
CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external websites
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 15 of 19
Appendix 1: Transcript
January 17, 2011 (broadcast date)
Speaker
Podcast
Line
Marcy
Hi I'm Marcy Markusa and you're listening to Learning English
with CBC. Recently we told our listeners about two projects in
Winnipeg that will soon offer new housing options for immigrants
and refugees in the city. But bricks and the mortar are only part
of the challenge that newcomers face in finding housing. Basic
5
misunderstandings about how things work in Canada can
prevent newcomers from finding – and even keeping – their
apartments or homes. Local businessman Paul Ash founded
New Journey Housing to help newcomers meet the housing
challenge. In this interview, he tells me more about his
10
organization.
Marcy
Good morning.
Paul
Good morning.
Marcy
So what first in a nutshell does the organization try to do?
Paul
Ah well we consider ourselves a resource centre for newcomers
15
to Canada so our our goal really is to ah give newcomers the
tools they need ah to ah help them find decent, affordable
housing, whether that be rental housing ah or home ownership.
Marcy
Now this is not ah sort of a government idea, this is your idea.
Why did you want to start it?
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
20
Page 16 of 19
Paul
Well um it happened ah a few years back, ah I was I found out I
had a little more time ah ah business wasn’t taking as much of
my time ah, and I was talking to my wife one day, we had ah, we
were visiting Montreal where I was born and raised and I was
raised in a blue collar, working class family, we didn’t have
25
a lotta money. We often, well my ah our whole life we lived in
rental accommodation and mo most often it wasn’t the best
rental accommodation, it was could be shabby, somewhat
rundown and it was a chapter in my life where I was saying,
y’know, I’ve got more time to start giving back, wh what’s some
30
of the things I could be doing? And she said well y’know you ah
have you thought about, have you thought about, helping people
with housing? Because at the same time we had some friends,
a number of personal friends, who were newcomers to Canada,
and they were they were having some major struggles with
35
housing and she said, maybe you need to do something in that
area.
Marcy
What are the things you need to equip them (newcomers) with?
If you had to name sort of three big things people just don’t
realize about finding and keeping housing in Winnipeg?
Paul
40
Well a lot of it is just basic understanding ah whadda whaddare
your rights and responsibilities for example ah as a tenant?
What can you reasonably expect from a landlord and what can a
landlord reasonably expect from you? Um a lot of struggles with
ah y’know do I get references? How do I get referrals? How do I
45
just begin the whole process of of looking for an apartment?
With newcomers of course they ah um every porsh1 every part
of the world has different ah expectations, different assumptions
that people have when it comes to owning a home or buying or
renting a home.
50
1
Paul starts to say one word, then decides to use a different word. He begins to say portion but instead says only
the first syllable (which sounds like porsh) before deciding instead to say part.
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 17 of 19
Appendix 2: Top Reasons Why You Need Tenant Insurance2
It is no secret that insurance is vitally important. Car, life, home or medical
insurance coverage is necessary to protect you in the case of emergency or an
accident. Yet, many renters fail to purchase tenant insurance even though the cost
is often less than one dollar a day.
Here are the top misunderstandings about tenant insurance and why you need a
policy to protect you:
1.
My landlord’s insurance policy will cover me.
While your landlord may have insurance coverage on the building where you are
renting, that insurance is in place to protect the structure and the landlord’s own
personal liability in case someone is injured on the property. It will not protect
your possessions. As a renter you should carry your own tenant insurance to
protect your possessions from theft, fire or other damages.
2.
I don’t own that much – I don’t need to insure my possessions.
Though you may not think losing your possessions would be a significant loss to
you, add up what you own. You’ll see the total to replace all these items is more
than you might think. You don’t need to have big screen televisions or expensive
art and jewelry - books, clothing, cell phones, basic furniture and small kitchen
appliances add up quickly!.
3.
If I’m careful, I don’t need to have liability insurance.
Accidents happen. That’s why we need insurance. You may not intentionally injure
someone in your home, or plan on causing damage to another apartment when
your dishwasher overflows, but these things can happen. Having third party
liability insurance as part of your tenant insurance policy will protect you from
these kinds of accidents.
4.
My landlord will look after me if I have to vacate my apartment.
Your landlord isn’t responsible for paying your living expenses if something
happens and you have to move out. This could happen when an insurance claim is
being settled or repairs are being made. If you have tenant insurance, your
insurance provider will help to cover your living expenses while the repairs are
made.
2
Adapted from: http://www.insurancehotline.com/5-reasons-why-you-need-tenants-insurance
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 18 of 19
Answers to Worksheets
Listen for detail
1. F
2. T
3. F
4. T
5. F
6. F
7. T
8. F
9. T
10. F
Food Idioms
1. a
2. c
3. c
4. a
5. b
6. c
7. c
Respond to Offers or Excuses
1. excuse; h
2. offer; d
3. excuse; a
4. offer; c
5. excuse; f
6. excuse; e
7. offer; g
8. offer; b
Self Study: The Housing Challenge
Learning English with CBC
Page 19 of 19