Listening and Speaking--Guide Dogs

I Read the passage quickly and then make a timeline that shows the different stages in a guide dog’s training

               How guide dogs and their blind owners are trained

    Guide dogs are trained in many countries in the world to help their blind or weak-sighted owners move around the streets independently.

For the first 12 months of its life the puppy lives with a sighted family who give it as many different experiences with people, other animals, traffic and noises as they can. Then, when the puppy is about a year old, it begins 5 months training at a guide dog school. It learns to guide its owner safely around the streets, across busy roads and even onto trains and buses. When the dog is trained, it meets its new owner and the two of them live at the guide dog school for a month while they learn to work together. A trainer then goes to the owner's home to teach the dog and its owner how to get around in their own town or city.

                               Timeline

First 12 months________________________________________________________.

A year old____________________________________________________________.

17 months old_________________________________________________________.

18 months old_________________________________________________________.

II Listen to the whole tape for the first time, choose the main idea of the listening and fill in the following table.

The main idea is to show:

A. How a blind girl struggles to lead a normal life.

B. How a guide dog is trained at a guide dog school.

C. How a guide dog is trained and its usefulness to its owner.

III Listen to Part1 and decide whether it is True of False

1.Sara used to go to work by train on her own.

2.Sara has always been blind.

3.Lucy smells everything in the house and can quickly find out Sara's bedroom.

4. Mum's been driving Sara to work since the accident.

5. First they will show Lucy the way to Sara's work place.

IV Listen to Part2 and answer the questions in groups.

1.How did Lucy go across the street?

____________________________________________________________________.

2.What is Phil going to teach Lucy after lunch?

____________________________________________________________________.

V Listen to the whole tape again and complete the dialogue below.

Part1

PHIL:Definitely.She told me how much you've_______her since her _____________.

MOTHER:Well, I've done my best, but I know Sara wants to be more__________..

PHIL: Well, with Lucy's help she will be. How's Lucy_______________, by the way?

MOTHER: Oh, it's like she's always been here, isn't it, Sara?

SARA: Yes. She's been__________everything in the house and she knew which was my bedroom_________________.

PHIL: That's good. So, Sara, what shall we teach Lucy first?

SARA: How to take me to work. Mum's been_________me but I want so much to be able to get there by________on my own, like I___________before the accident.

Part2

MUM: Wonderful! Clever girl,Lucy. How did she go__________the street?

PHIL: She was______.She sat down at the crossing and waited till the cars ________.

SARA: Then she stood up and took me_________across the road.I wish you could have seen her.

MUM: Me too, but I'll get the chance once you've finished her training.So what's_______?

PHIL: We'll give Lucy__________rest and then we'll ask her___________Sara to the station again.

SARA: Then Phil's going to show Lucy how to_________the train and take me to my ___________. In a few days,Lucy and I will be going to work______________.

VI In groups prepare an interview with Sara, asking her how the guide dog has improved her life. One of you will be Sara and the others will ask questions. You may begin like this:

S1: Hello,Sara. I'm very impressed with your attitude towards your disability. Clearly it is very important for you to be independent. How has Lucy improved the quality of your life?

S2: Well, thank you very much. I can't begin to tell you how much difference Lucy has made to my life......