Unlocking
Word Meanings
Read
the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. lay
off (idiom) [ley] [awf, of] – to end the
employment of someone (sometimes by force)
Example:
A lot of people got laid off during
the recession in the US.
2.
disadvantaged
(adj.) [dis-uhd-van-tijd, -vahn-] – deprived of something that is necessary (e.g., housing, medical
care, education)
Example:
The disadvantaged students were not
provided with enough chance to improve their skills.
3.
abandon
(v.) [uh-ban-duhn] – to leave or give up something completely
Example:
He had no choice but to abandon his
class because he was laid off.
4.
call
off (v.) [kawl] [awf, of] – to cancel an event
Example:
It was raining hard, so they called off
the game.
5.
struggle
(v.) [struhg-uhl] – to exert extra effort, usually with difficulty
Example:
Our team struggled to make sure the
project will be a success.
Article
Read
the text below..
A music teacher from New Jersey continues to teach his students even after he got laid off from work.
Nathan
Thomas, a music teacher from Patterson Public School No. 7, drives for an hour
from his home to a church where he organized free weekend lessons in order to
teach violin to disadvantaged students.
Thomas says
that he could not afford to leave the students, even after school
administrators called off the music
program. He believes that adults, especially teachers like him, play an
important role in the lives of children.
Abandoning his
students broke Thomas’ heart, so despite being jobless, Thomas found a way to
teach the students and organize a Christmas concert with them.
One of his
students, Jesus Rolon, shares how music helped him become an honor student. He
said that he used to struggle with
his grades. But after learning violin from his teacher, people started
believing in him.
Viewpoint
Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Did/do you have music classes in school? How were/are
they?
·
Do you think students need to take music classes?
Why or why not?
Discussion B
·
What are the things you wish to achieve?
·
How do you plan on achieving these things?
