For Art's Sake, Minneapolis Man Freezes His Pants

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Transcript

Audio Time: 1 min 13 sec

Level: Intermediate and up

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Sake: (for…sake) the benefit of someone or something — used in phrases with for to say that something is done to help a particular person or thing.

Installation: a work of art that usually has several parts (such as a sculpture, lights, and sound) and that is usually shown in a large space.

Resident: someone who lives in a particular place.

Upright: positioned to be straight up: vertical.

Neighborhood: a section of a town or city.

Freezing your pants off: To feel very cold.

Yep: (informal) Yes.

Vignettes: a short written description, scene, or play.

Submerge: to make (someone or something) go under the surface of water or some other liquid: to cover (someone or something) with a liquid.

Shake: to move sometimes violently back and forth or up and down with short, quick movements.

Fellas: (informal) a male person: fellow.

Challenge: a difficult task or problem: something that is hard to do.

Alongside: along or close at the side.

Questions:

1. What would you think if you saw this art installation?

2. Do you consider this to be art?

3. What is or isn’t art for you?

4.  What kind of art installation would you (or do you) create?

5. Why do people make art?

Play Doesn’t End With Childhood Why Adults Need Recess Too

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Transcript

Audio Time: 6 min 51 sec

Level: Upper-Intermediate and up

Vocabulary:  

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Recess: US: a short period of time during the school day when children can play.

Indicate: to show (something).

Playground: an outdoor area where children can play that usually includes special equipment (such as swings and slides).

Overload: to put too great a load on or in (something).

Stuffed animal: US: a toy in the shape of an animal that usually has fake fur and is filled with soft material.

Grownup: Someone who is fully grown: an adult.

Nonprofit: A nonprofit organization uses whatever money it earns or raises to run the organization and to do the work of the organization. Nonprofit organizations usually do work that helps people or supports something valued by many people in a society (such as art or education).

Resilient: able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens.

Deprivation: the state of not having something that people need: the state of being deprived of something.

Competent: having the necessary ability or skills: able to do something well or well enough to meet a standard.

Perseverance: the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult.

Laborious: requiring a lot of time and effort.

Discussion questions:

1. Do you agree with the article that play is important? Why or why not?

2. How do you usually play?

3. How did you play as a child?

4. Do you like to play alone or with others?

5. What can play tell us about ourselves or others?