Learning English with CBC
Listening Lessons for Intermediate Students
Based on CBC Manitoba Radio Broadcasts
January 15, 2009
Lesson 37: Self Study Edition
Level:
Intermediate/Advanced: CLB 6 and up
Topic:
Out in the C-C-C-Cold!
Language Skills and Functions:
Listening – listening to a short interview for main
ideas
Speaking – repeating first aid instructions; role
playing a dialogue
Reading – reading a text for information
Writing – writing a script
Language Competencies:
Language Tasks:
Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Listening and Speaking
Strategies, Sociocultural/sociolinguistic Competence
Answer questions about the weather
Listen for main ideas in a radio interview with the host of Discovery
Channel’s Out in the Cold
Watch a clip of the TV show and answer questions about it
Read statements about winter safety and decide if they are true or false
Read about frostbite and repeat the first aid instructions
Write a script for a TV show
Essential Skills:
Appendices:
Reading text, thinking skills, oral communication
Transcript of the podcast
Poem: Weather
Answers to worksheets
Attention students: You will need to print the lesson to be able to complete the activities.
Manitoba Memo
This Manitoba Memo won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s lived in this province. We
Manitobans think and talk about the weather a lot! In a long winter cold snap, we can even
become obsessed by the weather. The line “Is it cold enough for you?” is repeated over and
over in workplaces, hockey rinks and homes across the province.
However, interest in the weather isn’t unique to Manitoba. Statistics show that Canadians
look for weather information on the web more often than they look for any other kind of
information. We also check the weather in the newspaper, listen to TV and radio forecasts,
listen to recorded weather forecasts and download weather messages from our cell phones and
blackberries.
Some of our interest in the weather is due to climate change and the incidents of severe
weather which climate change has created. But much of our interest is practical. In winter, we
want to know how warmly we need to dress our children and ourselves. We want to know
whether to begin a long drive in the country or whether an outdoor sporting event may be
canceled. We want to find out if it will take us longer to get to work because of snow, ice or
blizzard conditions. Our need for weather information on a daily, or even hourly basis, keeps us
tuning in regularly for updates.
Given our weather obsession, it’s appropriate that the first Canadian instrument ever to land
on another planet was the weather station that monitors the atmosphere on Mars!
Background
1. Before you listen, read a poem about the weather
Reading poems aloud is a great way to practice pronunciation and rhythm in spoken
English. Try reading this poem aloud.
Weather
Whether the weather be fine
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold
Or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not.
Anonymous
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After you’ve read the poem aloud a couple of times, see if you can do the following:




Clap out the beats and rhythm as you read.
The poem has two words, which rhyme and are repeated throughout whether and weather. Use your English Language Learners Dictionary to
help you with the pronunciation and meaning of these two words.
The poem uses an old English structure for the verb tense. Read the poem
again, using “is” instead of “be.”
What do you think is the main idea of the poem?
2. Before you listen, think about the following questions
Here are some background questions on today’s topic. Remember that thinking about
the topic before you listen to the radio broadcast will provide a context for what you are
about to hear.




Do you think it’s easier to live in a country where it is extremely cold (-30 C or
colder) for part of the year or is it easier to live in a country where it is
extremely hot (+30 C or hotter) for part of the year? Why?
Do you think weather has an effect on people’s ability to do their jobs? Do
you think people are more productive on days that are extremely cold or days
that are extremely hot? Why?
Many countries in the world experience extreme weather. Some are very hot,
some are very cold. Some experience very little rain, others have too much
rain. What are some of the problems countries with extreme weather patterns
face?
Do you think human beings do a good job adapting to the weather of the
country they live in? How hard is it to adapt to a very different climate? What
challenges do people face when they move to or travel to a different climate?
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3. Words you need to know
Here are a few words you need to know to understand the podcast.
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is a specialty TV channel. Its
programs are factual and explore adventure,
science and technology.
documentary
A documentary is a film or television program,
which tells a story about actual events and/or
actual people. A documentary usually has a host
or narrator who tells the story.
participatory
An event or program where people participate and
become personally involved. For example, some
television shows are participatory because the
host and/or guests actively try to do something (eg
dance, cook a meal, do someone else’s job).
Adventure Tours
Adventure Tours are holidays where people spend
a lot of time outdoors having adventures! For
example, tours might include cycling, hiking,
snowshoeing, kayaking, going on a safari,
mountain climbing or camping in the wilderness.
bush pilot
Bush pilots fly in rough and remote areas like
Canada’s north. Their planes are usually equipped
with tundra tires, floats or skis. The planes can
take off and land on short runways.
dog musher
Mushing is a general term for a racing sport or a
type of transportation where one or more dogs are
hooked up to a sled by a harness. The dogs pull
the sled over snow or ice. A dog musher is the
person who drives the sled.
polar research lab
There are several polar research labs (lab is the
short form for laboratory) around the world. They
are located in Arctic regions where temperatures
are extremely cold all year round. For example,
the lab at Ellesmere Island is 1,500 kilometres
above the Arctic Circle. Its main purpose is to
research climate change.
Arctic Survival Training School
The Nunavik Arctic Survival Training School is
located in Puvirnituq, Quebec. The school
teaches traditional Inuit knowledge and skills
through adventure trips all over Nunavik. For
example, participants learn to navigate by the sun,
moon, stars and wind. They also learn how to
build an igloo and sleep in it.
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as a matter of fact
A common idiom used in spoken English which
means “in fact” or “actually.” It is often used to
give an example of something someone has heard
or experienced. For example, “As a matter of fact
(In fact), I was in northern Manitoba last winter and
I tried dog mushing.”
well-intentioned
If someone is well-intentioned, it means his or her
intentions are good or positive. But sometimes
these intentions produce results that the person
did not intend. For example, a substitute teacher
might go into a well-intentioned explanation of a
grammar point that students already know and
then wonder why the students seem bored and
aren’t paying attention. Her intentions are good,
but misguided.
a given
If something is “a given” it means that it is
generally understood or accepted by others as
true.
4. Listen to the podcast
In this story, Terry MacLeod interviews Barry Kennedy. Barry is the host of a television
show on Discovery Channel called Out in the Cold. What do you think Barry’s show
might be about based on the title?
Here are some examples of language you can use to predict what the interview may be
about.
I’m guessing it’s about the weather in Manitoba.
It might be about animals that live out in the cold.
It could be about life in the Arctic.
Maybe it’s about winter clothing.
I have no idea what it’s about.
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5. Get ready to listen
In this podcast, you will hear several speakers. You will hear:
Marcy Markusa – host
Terry MacLeod – interviewer
Barry Kennedy – TV host
Play the podcast for the first time.
6. Listen for the main ideas
Read the questions below before you listen so you will know what to think about when
you are listening. Reading the questions in advance may also give you clues, which will
help you, better understand the interview.
After you have listened a few times, see if you can answer the following questions.
What does Barry Kennedy do on the show? What is his role?
What do the people he interviews do? Why is he interviewing them for the
show?
What does Barry find interesting about people who work in the extreme cold?
How does he describe them?
Why does Terry MacLeod think the show could have been filmed in Manitoba?
7. Watch the video clip with highlights of the upcoming season of Out in the Cold
If your have internet access, you can watch a clip of the highlights of the upcoming
season of the program Out in the Cold on the Discovery Channel website. The clip
shows parts of the shows Barry talks about in the interview and is three minutes in
length. The link is: http://www.discoverychannel.ca/shows/showdetails.aspx?sid=12155.
(You’ll see a 10 second clip of another CTV show first – then the preview.)
Here are a few additional questions to think about after you watch the video.
Would you like to have Barry Kennedy’s job as the host of Out in the Cold? Why
or why not?
Would you like to visit a northern location like the ones Barry visits? What
appeals/doesn’t appeal to you about the far north?
Do you think you would you watch Out in the Cold on TV? Why or why not?
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7. Listen for the strong words in a sentence
Strong words carry meaning. If you hear the strong words, you can often understand
the gist of what is being said. Review the following chart, which compares weak words
and strong words in spoken English.

Strong Words
are often verbs, nouns,
adjectives and adverbs




have clear meanings
are easier to hear
are stressed in spoken English



Weak Words
are often structure or grammar
words, like prepositions, pronouns
and articles
do not have a clear meaning
are harder to hear
are not stressed
When you listen to the interview this time, see if you can hear the strong words, which
are missing in lines 23 to 29. You’ll find the missing words on the chart below.
The ah the ___________ the people are _______________ and it’s
_________________ because here we are going to places that are ______ ______ and
um people _______________ out in the tough conditions and yet um almost without
___________________ everyone we run into _________ what they’re _____ and they
_________ where they ________.
Missing words
working
people
exception
fabulous
loves
interesting
doing
very
love
cold
are
Listening tip: Think about newspaper headlines when you think of the difference
between strong words and weak words. Headlines are much more likely to
contain strong words than weak words.
After you listen
a) Review your pre-listening predictions
Quickly review your pre-listening predictions. Were you able to correctly predict what
the TV was about based on the title?
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b) Expand your winter weather vocabulary by completing the crossword puzzle
Complete the crossword using the clues and the word list in the box below.
Across 
1. when the wind makes the temperature colder
5. rain that freezes as it falls
7. when a few snowflakes are blown in by the wind
8. a big winter storm with heavy snow, strong winds and cold temperatures
9. when a lot of snow rushes down a mountain
10. when the snow is so thick you can't see very far in front of you
Down 
2. when snow blows into large piles
3. ice crystals that form on your windshield, your windows or on the ground
4. water that falls to the earth as rain, hail, mist, sleet or snow
6. partly melted snow
drift / slush / avalanche / whiteout / flurry / precipitation / wind chill / blizzard / sleet /
frost
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c) Are you ready for winter?
How much do you know about preparing for winter and staying safe? Read the following
statements and decide if they are true or false, and why you think they are true or false. The
first one is completed for you as an example.
1
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
8.
7.
9.
10.
11.
12.
You are most likely to get frostbite on your fingers, toes, cheeks, nose or
ears.
It’s almost always safe to drive the speed limit on streets and highways in
the winter.
You should let your vehicle’s engine warm up for two minutes or more on
very cold days before you begin to drive.
It’s dangerous to set your vehicle’s speed to cruise control if the roads are
slippery.
The best way to treat frostbite is to rub the skin to warm it up.
You should always check the weather and road conditions before driving
out of town in the winter.
The best way to stop at an intersection when roads are slippery is to slow
down, look for a patch of snow, pavement or sand, which will give your tires
traction and brake slowly.
You can check road and weather conditions on the internet, on the weather
channel on TV or by phone.
People are more likely to get frostbite on a day when they can really feel the
wind.
If your vehicle gets stuck on a country road in a winter storm, the best thing
to do is to get out and walk until you find someone to help you.
A good way to test whether the plug for your car is working is to see if a hair
dryer or other small appliance works in that plug.
Cat litter is a great substitute for salt or sand on an icy sidewalk.
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d) Read about frostbite and repeat first aid instructions
Read the symptoms of frostbite. Look up any words you do not understand in an
English Language Learner’s Dictionary.
First signs & symptoms of
frostbite:



As the condition gets worse...



Numbness
Tingling
Pain and swelling
Total loss of sensation in your skin
Pale waxy skin will become dark bluish
In severe cases, the skin will look burnt and
charred.
Step 2: Sometimes we need to repeat instructions when someone doesn’t understand. First,
read the first aid instructions. Then see if you can repeat the instructions.
First Aid Instructions for frostbite
1.
Cover the part of the body affected by frostbite.
What does the first instruction tell you to do?
The first instruction tells us to cover the part of the body affected by frostbite.
2.
Never rub the skin as this may cause further damage.
What does the second instruction tell you to do?
The second instruction tells us not _________________________________.
3.
Warm the area gently by putting the affected or frostbitten part of the body in warm (not
hot) water. Continue until the affected area is warm and looks red.
What does the third instruction tell you to do?
The third instruction tells us _________________________________
and to continue to do this until __________________________.
4.
Bandage the frostbitten area with a dry sterile bandage or dressing.
What does the fourth instruction tell you to do?
The fourth instruction tells us _________________________________.
5.
Make sure that the affected area does not become frozen again.
What does the fifth instruction tell you to do?
The fifth instruction tells us __________________________.
6.
Get the person to a doctor as soon as possible.
What does the sixth instruction tell you to do?
The sixth instruction tells us ____________________________.
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e) Write a script for a TV show interview
Not everyone loves winter as much as Barry Kennedy and his guests. And many of us don’t
have the money to escape to a warmer climate. So what’s the best way to get the most out of
winter? Or at least get through it?
Read the following list of ideas and choose the one you would like to talk about. If you have
time, you can do a little internet research on your topic. And if you have an idea about a way to
get the most out winter that’s not on the list, you can use your own idea instead!
Ideas
 Learn how to showshoe/go snowshoeing.
 Learn how to skate/go skating.
 Visit a greenhouse or the Conservatory at Assiniboine Park.
 Go for a winter hike in a park or on a trail. Watch for animal tracks and listen to
sounds of winter – crunching snow, birds singing, tree branches rustling.
 Purchase an indoor houseplant which flowers in the winter. Plant spring bulbs
indoors and watch them grow.
 Host an “Escape Winter” potluck dinner. Have all the guests bring their favourite hot
and spicy dishes.
 Pretend that it’s summer for an afternoon. Warm up a room in your home. Plan
activities you do in summer. For example, wear summer clothes, eat ice cream,
drink lemon-aid, dance or skip or watch movies that take place in warm climates.
 Hibernate. Find a space by a sunlit window. Read a book or listen to music. Sip
hot beverages.
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Role Play Script
Use the role-play outline below to write your script. Then perform it aloud.
Host: (introduces himself/herself and welcomes everyone to Getting the Most
Out of Winter; introduces today’s guest)
Guest: (greets host and those who are watching the show and says he/she is
happy to be there)
Host: (asks guest whether he/she likes winter and asks them to explain why)
Guest: (says that he/she does/doesn’t like winter and explains why)
Host: (asks guest to tell the audience their idea for getting the most out of winter)
Guest: (tells the audience about their idea and gives one or two examples of how
it helps them get the most out of winter in Manitoba)
Host: (asks a follow-up question about the idea)
Guest: (answers the question)
Host: (thanks guest for coming on the show)
Guest: (thanks host for having them on the show)
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Want to know more…
If you want to know more about winter driving, Transport’s Canada’s You, Your Vehicle and
Winter Driving is an excellent resource:
http://www.caa.ca/documents/WinterDriving_E.pdf
Manitoba Public Insurance has several fact sheets on winter driving in the Driving Tips section
of the website:
http://www.mpi.mb.ca/English/dr_tips/60sec.html
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has a one pager called Cold Weather Safety:
http://www.wrha.mb.ca/healthinfo/a-z/winter.php
For everything you could ever need to know about wind chill, go to:
http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/education/windchill/windchill_fact_sheet_aug_10_e.cfm
More information on the polar research lab at Ellesmere Island can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/article/196431
More information on the Arctic Survival Training program can be found at:
http://nastc.ca/training.html
The information on frostbite and hypothermia is from the Red Cross Website:
http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=011344&tid=068
For the dates and times (in Eastern Standard Time) of the show Out in the Cold, go to:
http://www.discoverychannel.ca/schedule/series.aspx?timezone=est&type=series&series_nam
e=Out%20in%20the%20Cold
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external websites)
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Appendix 1
January 15, 20091
Speaker
Podcast
Line
Marcy
Hi I'm Marcy Markusa and you're listening to Learning English with
CBC. Are you someone who complains about the cold, or are you
someone who takes advantage of it? Today, Terry MacLeod
interviews Barry Kennedy, the host of the Discovery Channel’s TV
show Out in the Cold. Barry grew up in Winnipeg and his job takes
5
him to the coldest regions of the world to report on the people who
live and work there.
Terry
We’ve reached Barry Kennedy this morning in Toronto. Good
morning.
Barry
Good morning.
10
Terry
So, whaddya do on Out in the Cold?
Barry
Well essentially we ah we travel to cold places and and it’s it’s sort
of part documentary, part participatory on the on the host’s part, on
my part, and um we go ah not not really talking to people just who
live in cold climates but who actually have to deal with it by working
15
out in it. So we talk to people who um ah live in the Arctic, work
outside, um people who run um ah Adventure Tours, ah bush
pilots, ah dog mushers, ah people who run ah this last this new
series ah set of episodes coming out we went up to Ellesmere
Island to um ah a polar research lab and ah the ah the Artic
20
Survival Training School in Puvirnituq, Quebec, and so it’s been um
it’s quite the little ah little show.
1
The complete interview for this podcast will be available on the Best of Information Radio site until the end of January.
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Barry
The ah the people the people are fabulous and it’s interesting
(continued) because here we are going to places that are very cold and um
people working out in the tough conditions and yet um almost
25
without exception everyone we run into loves what they’re doing
and they love where they are. These are people who have
selected to live in these climates. You know it’s not part of a works
program.
Terry
But it you needed cold, why did you ever leave Winnipeg? You
30
couldda shot the entire series here in Manitoba.
Barry
Precisely, I mean um, as a matter of fact, the first season I was
talking, I was up at Dawson City Yukon, and ah and I was getting
the local lecture about how to keep cold ah or to keep warm…
Terry
In the cold.
35
Barry
…in the cold, when I was outside. And after about 20 minutes ah
of a well-intentioned but um …
Terry
Yes.
Barry
…advice, I said, well you know, I spent many, many years in
Winnipeg and the guy started laughing. He said, oh, oh, oh well
then.
Terry
End of conversation, right?
Barry
Well exactly. (Laughs) It was just a given. I needed no more
instruction.
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40
Appendix 2
Weather
Whether the weather be fine
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold
Or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not.
Anonymous
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Appendix 3: Answers to Worksheets
Crossword Puzzle
Across 
1. wind chill
5. sleet
7. flurry
8. blizzard
9. avalanche
10. whiteout
Down 
2. drift
3. frost
4. precipitation
6. slush
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Are You Ready for Winter?
1
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
You are most likely to get frostbite on your fingers, toes, cheeks, nose or ears.
True. When it's freezing outside, your body tries to prevent heat from
escaping. It sends less blood to your fingers, toes and other extremities.
It’s almost always safe to drive the speed limit on streets and highways in the
winter.
False. Speed limits are set for ideal road and visibility conditions. In winter,
you can actually get a ticket for driving at the speed limit on a day when
conditions are poor.
You should let your vehicle’s engine warm up for two minutes or more on very
cold days before you begin to drive.
False. Your vehicle only needs thirty seconds to warm up. The best way to
warm your engine is to begin to drive at a slow speed. And that’s better for the
environment too!
It’s dangerous to set your vehicle’s speed to cruise control if the roads are
slippery.
True. You have less control over your vehicle on slippery surfaces if it is set to
cruise control.
The best way to treat frostbite is to rub the skin to warm it up.
False. Rubbing the skin can actually cause more damage.
You should always check the weather and road conditions before driving out of
town in the winter.
True. If the conditions are poor or a big storm is coming you may want to
change your plans.
The best way to stop at an intersection when roads are slippery is to slow
down, look for a patch of snow, pavement or sand that will give your tires
traction and brake slowly.
True. If your tires have traction, it’s always easier to stop.
You can check highway and weather conditions on the internet, on the weather
channel on TV or by phone.
True. You can find highway conditions by going to the Manitoba government
website at gov.mb.ca or by calling 945-3704 in Winnipeg or 1-877-627-6237
(toll-free). Weather websites and stations also have road information, as do
newscasts and newspapers.
People are more likely to get frostbite on a day when they can really feel the
wind.
False. It’s actually the other way around. If you can’t feel the wind, you may
not think it is that cold and you may not dress as warmly. This increases your
risk for frostbite.
If your vehicle gets stuck on a country road in a winter storm, the best thing
F
to do is to get out and walk until you find someone to help you.
False. If you are stuck or stalled in a blizzard, pull off the highway. Turn on
your hazard lights and hang a distress flag from the radio antenna or
window. In most situations, experts recommend you remain in your vehicle
for shelter (unless your vehicle is likely to be hit by other vehicles). This
way, you will be protected from the cold and you will be in one location so
rescuers can find you. The emergency winter travel kit you have with you
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11.
12.
will have the supplies you need to stay safe. If you have a cell phone, you
can call for help. Always make sure others know your travel plans. Then if
you don’t arrive at your destination when you are expected, they will know
to send help.
A good way to test whether the plug for your car is working is to see if a hair
dryer or other small appliance works in that plug.
True. If the appliance works, the plug works.
Cat litter is a great substitute for salt or sand on an icy sidewalk.
True. It’s inexpensive to buy and it provides good traction.
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