Extensive listening: A video game to cope with grief

When Amy Green's young son was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor, she made up a bedtime story for his siblings to teach them about cancer. What resulted was a video game, "That Dragon, Cancer," which takes players on a journey they can't win.

In this beautiful talk about coping with loss, Green brings joy and play to tragedy. "We made a game that's hard to play," she says, "because the hardest moments of our lives change us more than any goal we could ever accomplish."

Amy Green writes and designs video games for Numinous Games, whose first title, That Dragon, Cancer, was an intimate autobiography of the life and death of her son Joel Green. Along with her husband and a team of six other developers, she used a video game to artistically portray the surreal emotional landscape of raising a child with a terminal illness.

You can read the full transcript here.

Extensive listening: Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness

We all go through challenges — some you can see, most you can't, says Michele L. Sullivan.

In a talk about perspective, Sullivan shares stories full of wit and wisdom and reminds us that we're all part of each other's support systems. "The only shoes you can walk in are your own," she says. "With compassion, courage and understanding, we can walk together, side by side."

Michele L. Sullivan is known for her sustainable and collaborative approach to philanthropic investing.

Sullivan strongly believes monumental and sustainable change in our largest global challenges can only happen through partnerships and collaboration between public, private and non-profit entities. This strategy resulted in the Caterpillar Foundation's transformation into one of the most influential corporate foundations and, ultimately, the launch of the Foundation's collaborative impact platform, Together.Stronger.

You can read a full transcript for the talk here.

Extensive listening: B Is for Book

B is for Book is a BBC documentary following a group of primary schoolchildren over the course of a year as they learn to read.

We can see how even at this early age, some children make a flying start, while others struggle even with the alphabet.

The film takes us into their home lives, where we find that some parents are strongly aspirational, tutoring children late into the night, while others speak English as a foreign language, if at all.

As the children master the basics, they discover the magical world of stories and look with fresh eyes at the world around them.

The film gives us privileged access to a profound process that all of us only ever do once in our lives.

The Pint-Size CEO

Moziah Bridges started making bow ties when he was 9 years old. Now he is 13 and at the helm of his own company, Mo’s Bows. But when it comes to the business, who is really in charge?

Self-study activity:
Watch the video and answer the questions below.



1 How much money has Mo made so far?
2 How long has Mo's grandmother been in the sewing business?
3 What does $5 and $40 to $60 refer to?
4 Who is the most important person is Mo's life?
5 Where does most of the money the business makes go?
6 What's the biggest challenge for Mo's mom?
7 Why does Mo have problems at school?
8 What are boys who are Mo's age into?
9 What criticism do Mo's parents get?
10 Why does Mo feel he has a lot more freedom at 13?

I'm a little guy. But I'm a little guy with the big business.
He's the bow tie guy.
Let me tell you something about bow ties.
You've made about $165,000.
He does have a CEO of Mo. And that's Mama. And Mama makes the decisions.  We are not going to sacrifice his childhood for the business.
Bow ties make you look good and they make you feel good.
When they asked me about my bow ties, I told them my story. When I was nine, I just wanted to look good.
I asked my lovely, lovely grandmother, who's been sewing for over 50 years, to teach me how to sew. And after that, ba-zam. My company took off.
He was his own walking model. He started selling them for $5.  And fast-forward to three years later, he's selling them for $40 to $60. I worked in sales when we started Mo's Bows, and it quickly took off. And I decided that my boss could be 12.
I have five seamstresses -my mom, my grandmother, my whole family, basically.
Also, if you're getting it for a gift for someone, he can certainly include a personal note.
You have people loving each other, and still achieving a dream or a goal. I don't think I would be able to be where I am without my mom. She's the one who holds Mo's Bows together. She's doing pretty good, I can say.
We don't live an elaborate life. We're still very conscious of what we have and where we want to go.  So a lot of the profit definitely goes back into the business.  Ultimately, he wants to have a clothing line. We're looking into neckties.  We recently added pocket squares. We definitely want to make Mo's Bows a household name.
Red.  You out of green.
Oh, really?
Yeah. They took them all.
Dealing with my mom, that's probably the most challenging part.
Maybe 20 more times be good?
We didn't sell too many.
By we you mean?
Me.
Really.
We're like fire and ice.
Ma, I love you.
But at the end of the day, we come up with a good solution.
Sometimes we have to walk on eggshells. You just never know what day it is for him. So it's kind of having to work around him as a teenager, as a child, and as a student and a businessman. Just really keeping the balance has been the biggest challenge.
What is this on your tie?  Is that toothpaste?
Yes, it is.
Good morning, Mr. Bridges.
How you doing, sir?
Great.
Great.
Belt?
Thank you, sir.
Socks?
Hands.  Feet.  Lips.  Go ahead.
We've run into problems at school with him sitting in business meetings, and then having to sit in class and be quiet.
Dimples is a recessive trait.
It seems ridiculous to me, because I want to talk.  But you have people who tell you, it's time to be quiet. No, it's not time to be quiet.  So I think I should talk.  So I'm going to talk.
Boys his age, they're not really into fashion.  A lot of them are into sports, rap music, and all that good stuff.  And it's just not what he's into.
Can you talk a little bit about some of the bow ties you brought with you today?
Well, some of the bow ties…
I would hope to see that Mo will grow up to live out his dreams, no matter what it is.  I feel like Mo is the future we want to see in our children. And I believe that's why everyone is so proud of him.
I was going to try to get you to make a sale before you leave here.
He called you an innovator. Do you know what that is?  Something that not everyone else is doing. Right?  What do you think?  Does that fit you?  You can understand what a big deal this is. You're the youngest inductee.
I'm being inducted into the Tennessee State Museum.  And that's a big thing, because it's my family history that is going to be in the museum.  It's going to be here forever.
Our first recipient tonight- we've just hugged him all night long. He's probably got sore bones by now… is Moziah Bridges.
Thank you for having me, everyone.
Bring this here, Mo.
Gonna sit here, at the head of the table?
You're an official teenager.
Dear Father, we come to you through your son Jesus Christ.
We get criticism not very often, but sometimes it's the fact that this is not Mo's business, it's his parents putting him in the spotlight. But I always tell Mo, any time you feel like you are overwhelmed and you need to pull the plug, it's OK.  I will need to be prepared for that.
I appreciate y'all coming over and helping us celebrate 13 years.  I was telling Mo this morning, I was like, Mo, you don't understand. This is a big deal.  When I brought you home, you were this little. And I had no idea what I was doing. I had to feed you and clothe you. And with a lot of love and nourishment, you turned out pretty good.
13 feels great. I have a lot more freedom, like staying up past eight. That's the main thing. 

Key:
1 $165,000
2 fifty years
3 the price he started selling his ties for ($5) and the price he's selling them for now ($40 to $60)
4 his mom 
5 into the business
6 keeping the balance, as Mo is a teenager, a child, a student and a businessman.
7 he has to keep quiet
8 sports, rap music, and all that good stuff
9 this is not Mo's business, it's Mo's parents putting him in the spotlight
10 He can stay up past 8.

Reading test: British teenagers among least satisfied in western world

In this week's reading test we are going to practise the 'insert-a-word' kind of task.

Read the Guardian article British teenagers among least satisfied in western world and choose the word or phrase that best fits into each space 1-12. There are four words you do not need to use. 0 is an example.

British teenagers among least satisfied in western world

British teenagers feel pressured at school, worry they are too fat and drink too much alcohol, according to an international study that finds they are among the least satisfied with their lives compared with their (0) … around the world.

Researchers who conducted the study of children in 42 countries concluded that 15-year-old girls in England, Wales and Scotland appeared to be at particular risk, suffering from high levels of (1) … and worries about health.

The World Health Organisation report found that 15-year-olds in England and Wales were among the least (2) … to report high levels of satisfaction with their lives, with only children from Poland and Macedonia being less satisfied.

(3) … boys and girls in England, Scotland and Wales were also among the most stressed at school, with Scottish 15-year-olds feeling most pressured by schoolwork in the UK and coming second only to Malta.

Dr Joanna Inchley, the deputy director of the child and adolescent health research unit at the University of St Andrews, pointed out researchers were struck by the (4) … in life satisfaction among young people between the ages of 11 and 15.

“Particularly concerning is the increase in school-related stress which may be contributing to poorer mental wellbeing, especially among 15-year-old girls. It is essential that we look at ways of (5) … support to young people to help them navigate the challenges they (6) … during adolescence.”

The study of almost 220,000 young people across Europe and North America found that girls reported poorer mental health than boys. By the age of 15, 20% of girls described their health as fair or poor, (7) … half experienced multiple health complaints more than once a week.

Obesity is higher among boys, yet girls were more inclined to think they were fat, with a quarter of 15-year-old girls being (8) … a diet.

One UK success story is that (9) … of weekly drinking and smoking have halved in the last decade, but the report still showed that drunkenness among British teenagers persists.

Internationally, sexual activity appears to have declined, dropping from 29% to 24% and for girls from 23% to 17%. Boys were more inclined than girls to (10) … they had experienced sexual activity, except in England and Wales where girls reported it more.

Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, the WHO European regional director, commented: “Health behaviours and social habits and attitudes acquired in the critical second decade of a young person’s life can carry on into (11) … and affect the entire life-course. Despite considerable advances in adolescent health, (12) … the welcome reduction in adolescent smoking behaviours, many still have to deal with huge inequities; girls and children from lower-income families consistently report poorer physical and mental health and lower rates of physical activities than boys and children from more affluent families.”

adulthood
decline
face
in
likely
on
peers 0
probably
providing
rates
rise
say
stress
such as
teenage
tell
while

Photo: inlifehealthcare.com

KEY:
1 stress
2 likely
3 teenage
4 decline
5 providing
6 face
7 while
8 on
9 rates
10 say
11 adulthood
12 such as

Talking point: Bullying

This week's talking point is bullying. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below so that ideas flow more easily when you meet up with your friends and you can work out vocabulary problems beforehand.

What is the relationship of this picture with school life?
What recent (news) stories have you heard about it?

DISCUSSION
1. What different types of bullying are there?
2. What kind of person is a bully?
3. What kind of person is bullied?
4. Why do people bully other people?
5. Is bullying a big problem in Spain?
6. Was bullying a problem when you were at school?
7. What advice would you give to someone who is being bullied?
8. What can be done to prevent bullying?
9. What do you know about cyber-bullying?
10.What advice would you give to someone who is being bullied online?

What are the PROS and CONS of the solutions below?
•All classrooms should have web cameras so children could be monitored at all times.
•Bullies should be put in special children’s schools away from normal children.
•Parents of bullied children can sue the school.
•Parents of bullies should be held legally responsible for their children’s behaviour.
•Teachers should receive better training to understand bullies and stop them.
•Teachers who cannot control their classrooms should be declared unfit for the job.

To illustrate the topic, you can watch the short film New Boy about a young African boy who starts school in Ireland, and finds out quickly exactly what it means to be the new kid.You can download the transcript here.

Talking point: Adoption

Our talking point this week is adoption. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below so that ideas flow more easily with you meet up with your friends and you can work out vocabulary problems beforehand.

• What can couples who are unable to have children do to resolve their problem?
• Would you adopt even if you could have, or already have, your own children?
• Why might some couples prefer to have children that are biologically their own? Why do other couples choose to adopt?
• If a couple wants to adopt a child, do you think they have a right to choose the child's age,sex and race?
• When should parents tell the child that he/she was adopted?
• Where possible, should the adoptive parents maintain contact with the natural parents?
• Should the adoptive parents try to let their child be interested in his/her natural cultural background?
• Why do you think some people object to international adoptions?
• Why do some couples volunteer to be foster families (to look after a child for a period of time when the child's natural parents have problem or are in jail)? Would you volunteer to be a foster parent?

To illustrate the point, you can listen to Charlotte and Martin, who were both adopted at a young age, talking about their experience in this BBC4 Radio audio file.



My parents have always sat me down from, from the age of two, from when I could talk really, and really sort of said you’re adopted, you know, told me what it’s about, so when I’ve always had relevant information given to me throughout the years.
Being adopted now feels no different from being normal because I have a family, so it’s great.
Did you, did you not ever feel like you didn’t have anyone to speak to anything?
It’s not been a huge issue for me actually, no, because I’ve never actually felt it’s been a bad thing, I’ve always seen the positive side of it, I’m not sure how it has been, for you has it been the same?
You know, it’s been different for me like before we had the Talk Adoption Group I literally, I felt so lonely like I didn’t have really anyone to talk to about it, so I don’t know, I just thought maybe you might have felt the same because I didn’t know anyone in Cardiff who was adopted, I just, I didn’t realize there were so many people out there.
I knew about the adoption but my family has always put positive on it, so I’ve never really seen the downside of being adopted.
Did you not have like, like in primary school I had this one time when they asked me to do like a family tree and I didn’t have any photos of myself and I felt really bad. Did you ever have that?
I have had photos of myself when I was quite small, I mean a small baby but not when I was like newly born, or anything like that, so it kinda started if on the family tree it kind of started from a few months old and then it kind of escalated from there really, so I kind of had a family tree but wasn’t from the very, very beginning.
Yeah, because I didn’t make one at all because I was told in primary school like because I didn’t have picture, I couldn’t take part.
Oh!
I know, it’s a bit harsh.
Yeah, that was a bit harsh.
I know, I felt, you know I was younger so I saw, I just, you know went along with it.
I think that’s the thing when you’re younger. You don’t quite understand why people are saying things like that, why people are acting towards you in that way. When you get older, you kind of understand it a lot more and you understand.
And the people do as well I find.
Yeah, yeah, I mean, to you you’re completely normal and I think to other people who have a family from the start, I think that’s kind of normal to them and then adoption is normal to us, so it works two ways, and I think that in-between there’s a kind of misunderstanding possibly with them. I mean, I’ve really never been asked the question, would you want to contact them, would you want to do this, and I mean, if I’m gonna answer that now, it would be not really, because I have a family, they’ve been there for me all my life and I don’t really think I need anyone else intruding in the kind of happy family I have now.
Yeah, well I see what you mean like but for me it’s different because a lot of my best friends I’ve told, like they do ask me like quite a lot what you gonna do when you’re 18, like you know, like which is fine for me because it helps me think about it, if I’m not thinking about it I wouldn’t know what I would do, so for that question at the moment I think I am definitely thinking about like having a look at my files and…
Yeah, of course.
… and then I’m gonna like make a decision on that whether I meet my birth parents, but at the moment I think I would like to because I feel like there is something missing and I’d like to see what they look like and things like that.
I think it’s nice to kind of know there is a bit of explanation in the files, but I’m not sure whether I’d actually want to have a look at them.
Really?
Because you’ve always got that chance that it may not be as exciting as you thought it would be, it may, might disappoint you, it may have something a bit kind of negative and I think I might kind of be like, well this is kind of weird because the people who actually gave birth to me weren’t ideal and I think, I don’t know, it’s, it’s a strange, strange thing, actually. I’m inquisitive to see what will be in the files. Whether I’d actually end up meeting them personally, I don’t really know.

Talking point: Childhood memories

This week's talking point is childhood memories. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below, so that ideas flow easily when you meet up with your friends and you can work out vocabulary problems.

What is your earliest childhood memory? Describe it.
What are your best memories of when you were a child?
Was your childhood a happy time? Why/Why not?
Do the photos from your childhood show?
What do your parents tell you from when you were a child?
Were you told off a lot? What for?
What did you enjoy doing as a child? Why?
Did you ever set up any secret groups or societies?
What was your favourite food when you were young? Do you still like it?

Do you ever talk about your childhood with anybody?
If yes, what kind of things do you talk about and who with? If no, why not?

To illustrate the topic, you can watch this Inside Out video where Ryan and Daniele tells us all about their childhood.
You can download the video here.
You can download a worksheet here.
You can download the transcript and the key here.