This story is about working with disabled children.
First, listen to what Priya says about why she likes this work:
I love doing volunteer work because it's something that's very close to my heart.
I really think that I've been very privileged in my life so I just believe that it's time
to sort of return that goodness that I've had.
She says it's 'close to my heart'.
This means it's something she cares about very much.
Listen again:
I love doing volunteer work because it's something that's very close to my heart.
I really think that I've been very privileged in my life so I just believe that it's time
to sort of return that goodness that I've had.
I'm going to volunteer for Riding for the Disabled.
The sort of work I'm going to be doing today would be spending time with a child with Down's
Syndrome.
The work I'm 'going to be doing'.
Going to be doing or will be doing refers to an activity that you will do in the future.
She 'will be spending time' with a child with Down's syndrome.
Listen again: The sort of work I'm going to be doing today
would be
spending time with a child with Down's Syndrome,
providing them with a lot of attention.
So what sort of attention will she be providing?
Matthew needs lots of encouragement and high fives when he does something good and just
confidence building, ok, so you'll be able to talk to him along those lines.
She'll be providing encouragement such as 'high fives'.
To talk to him 'along those lines' here means to talk to him encouragingly.
Along those lines refers to something you've just mentioned.
Let's listen to Priya talking to Matthew along those lines:
Yeah I did it.
Yes you did, you did a great job.
There you go.
Good job Matthew.
Good job Matthew, high five.
And what does the organisation think about volunteers such as Priya?
We couldn't do without the volunteers.
'They couldn't do without them."
To 'do without' something is to manage by not having it.
But she said they couldn't do without, so they must have volunteers.
Listen again: We couldn't do without the volunteers.
We have probably about 1700 volunteers in the state
and they're dedicated and they don't let us down and they come every time and we rely
on them.
She said, "They don't let us down."
To let someone down is to fail to do what you've promised.
Next, listen to Priya talking about Matthew: I got along very well with Matthew personally.
I think, I honestly think he did like me.
She 'got along' with him.
To get along with someone is to have a friendly relationship with them.
Now listen for a phrasal verb with 'fall': We had a great time.
I think he was a bit wary on the horse.
He felt like he was falling off a little bit.
Don't worry.
Okay?
But I think we managed that problem and ended up having a great time.
Fall off.
You say that you fall off something higher than the ground, like a horse,
and fall down if you are already on the ground.
Listen again: I think he was a bit wary on the horse.
He felt like he was falling off a little bit.
Don't worry.
Okay.
Okay?
We'll finish with another word that means a good connection with someone, rapport.
Notice it's spelled with a final 't' that is not pronounced: 'rappor':
Priya went well, yeah.
She was open to everything that we asked her to do
and she was confident around the horses so that's always good
and she had a good rapport with Matthew by the end of the session, so that was good.
Bye Priya.
Bye Matthew.