LearningEnglishwithCBC Edmonton( Monthly(feature(story ... · 27!!."

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Learning English with CBC

Edmonton

Monthly feature story:

Adapting to life in Alberta in

winter

December 2014 Learning plan created by Justine Light

http://www.cbc.ca/edmonton/learning-‐english/ www.alberta.ca


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Feature Story Objectives

Adapting to life in Alberta in winter

CLB competency outcomes Listening: Reading: Speaking: Writing:

L: Identify factual details and some implied meanings in extended narration; recognize who says what in an interview and focus on phrasal verbs. R: Access, locate, integrate, interpret, and analyze information contained in a two page moderately complex text on a familiar or work related topic; classify information given in an advice text. S: (knowledge and strategies) Produce intelligible and communicatively effective word stress and rhythm W: Take notes of key examples from an audio W: Convey a personal message through email

Language skills Vocabulary: Use vocabulary words in context

Grammar: Understand and identify different parts of speech

Pronunciation: Reduce function words, stress content words

Language Activities (in order of appearance in materials)

Answering discussion questions about a short background text Completing pre-‐listening activities to build vocabulary and prepare learners for audio Listening to the audio to identify facts and details Listening to audio to take notes of specific examples Identifying different parts of speech Learning language rhythm: to reduce function words, and stress content words Completing pre-‐ reading vocabulary activity Recognizing facts and details from a reading Classifying information given in texts Writing advice in an email


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Background Reading

UWALK

UWALK is a program developed by the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, and funded by the Government of Alberta. This program aims to help Albertans find their stride and support them moving forward. You can find your stride through any form of physical activity and track your activity minutes or steps on our website. We are here to provide you with tools and resources to get you started and keep you moving.

Visit their website and see if this exercise program is for you! http://uwalk.ca

Food for thought

Do you enjoy walking? Would a way to track all of your exercise motivate you to exercise more?

Are there any other kinds of exercise you enjoy? Is exercise important to you?

Information excerpted from http://uwalk.ca/pages/about/


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The Audio

In this audio, you will hear CBC producer Adrienne Lamb speak with Angie Mandeville a participant

in the UWALK program about how she tries to stay active in winter. You will then hear an interview

CBC’s Travis Macewan and Mark Connolly and one newcomer to Alberta who is embracing Canada’s

wintertime passion-‐ hockey.

CBC producer Adrienne Lamb with Angie Mandeville, UWALK participant

(CBC file photo)

Before you listen: What is one kind of winter activity that you enjoy so much that you are willing to brave the cold and snowy weather to take part in it?

SPEAKER ADAPTING TO LIFE IN ALBERTA IN WINTER

0:00 Adrienne Lamb

Welcome back to Our Edmonton. My name’s Adrienne Lamb and today we are in the south side community of Summerside. We’re exploring the walking trails in this community and learning about staying active, even when the temperatures plummet. To learn more about that, with me is Angie Mandeville. Hey Angie. [Hi] Tell me a little bit about UWALK and how you stay active even at this time of year.

Angie Mandeville

It’s actually really easy. UWALK makes it super easy. I just put on my pedometer as I am heading out the door and I am able to track my steps and i easily just go on their website and I track my log my steps. They make it really easy. I love it. They have got a great website where I have achievements every day. It’s really great. If I log my 5,000 steps I get a little badge. If I get 10,000 I get another one so it’s fun. It really is.


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Pre-‐listening vocabulary The words below are from the audio. The definitions are next to the words. Read the definitions then complete the sentences on the following page.

WORD DEFINITION

1. plummet (vb) to fall very quickly

2. pedometer (n) a device that measures how far someone has walked by counting the number

of times the feet are raised and put down again

3. badge (n) a reward for achieving something

4. engage (vb) to take part in

5. purposeful (adj) when something is done for a particular reason

6. randomly (adv) when something is done with out a plan or purpose

7. logged (vb) kept a written record of something

8. motivating (adj) making someone enthusiastic about doing something

9. integrate (vb) to become part of a group or society

10. slim (adj) a small amount, perhaps not quite enough

11. embracing (vb) to accept new ideas, beliefs, or methods in a positive way

12. diversity (n) a situation where there are many different groups of people and cultures


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Use the vocabulary words to complete the following sentences.

1. My knowledge of the rules of hockey is quite ______________ so I need to watch a few

more games on TV.

2. My daughter is very ______________ in her life at university and participates in lots of

activities outside of class.

3. If you put your outdoor winter clothes away ______________ , it can be very difficult to find

what you need in the mornings.

4. The price of gas has ______________ over the past few months .

5. In our office we have ______________ how many steps we take each day to see how far

we walk in one year.

6. Giving a one day holiday to the office team with the most steps logged in a month is a very

______________ incentive.

7. In our family we try to be ______________ about taking part in community events so we

can get to know our neighbours.

8. I used to think I was a very active person but when I started to wear a ______________

every day I realize I need to do more walking.

9. When you first arrive in a new country it can be challenging to understand the best ways to

______________.

10. My son has earned eight ______________ for passing his swimming levels over the past 4

years.

11. When I first came to Canada I just stayed inside in the winter, but now I am

______________ the cold weather and finding fun reasons to go outside.

12. I really appreciate living in a country with so much ______________ as it means that

everyone is welcome.

(Answers can be found in the appendix.)


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Listening for meaning Listen to Adrienne Lamb’s interview with Angie Mandeville interviews and answer the following True/False questions.

1. _____ Angie tracks the total number of steps she takes each day on a website.

2. _____ If she walks 50,000 steps a day she gets a badge.

3. _____ So far on the day she was interviewed Angie had walked 3,400 steps.

4. _____ None of Angie’s colleagues participate in the UWALK program.

5. _____ Angie is based in Calgary.

Listen to Gihad Abdelhamid describing his experiences learning to play Canada’s winter sport. Answer the following questions.

1. Which country did Gihad come from?

2. How long ago did he move to Canada?

3. What other sport did Gihad coach before he started coaching hockey?

4. What name did Gihad hope would be the new name for the team?

5. Is Gihad able to skate backwards?

6. What other winter activities has Gihad participated in?

7. Explain why Gihad wants to participate in as many Canadian sports and activites as possible?



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Listening strategies –Take notes using a word web

The goal of the listening strategies section of the monthly feature lesson is to help you to improve your listening skills for all listening situations– not just this audio.

While you are listening, add details to each box in this word web.

Focus on writing only the details and examples that are related to the main points.

Staying acXve in winter

Angie Mandeville

UWALK Program UWALK Rewards

Gihad Abdelhamid

Hockey Coach -‐ Why?

Skakng skills? Other winter sports

Other coaching


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Grammar Activity – Understanding Parts of Speech The Oxford Dictionary recently noted that the English language has more words than any other modern language.1 However, many of these words belong to related families of words, for example, quick, quickly, quicker, quickest, quickness. Understanding how one word’s ‘meaning’ can be seen in many word forms from the same family can quickly improve your reading comprehension.

The suffix (–ly) usually shows an adverb, the suffixes (–ness, -‐ance) usually show a noun, while (-‐ful, -‐ant, -‐al) usually show an adjective. Words ending in (–ed) can be past participle verbs or adjectives. Words ending in (–ing) can be present participles of verbs or nouns (gerunds). The sentence around the word can give you a clue as to the part of speech.

Do you know any other word parts? If not, do you know how to use the dictionary to find the related word?

In a dictionary, the word is followed by the part of speech it represents:

• Quick/ adj./ -‐er/-‐est • Quickly/adv/ Complete the following table – maybe your English vocabulary is bigger than you think, thanks to a better understanding of parts of speech!! (Answers can be found in the Appendix)

Word from the audios Part of speech A second form of the word and its part of speech

A third form of the word and its part of speech

1. active adjective

2. achievements – (verb)

3. fortunate

4. challenge noun (plural)

5. motivating adjective

6. logical -‐ (noun)

7. willingness

8. skate verb

9. successful adjective

10. valuable

1 http://oxforddictionaries.com/page/englishmostwords


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Building Speaking Skills: Reducing function words, stressing content words

The English language is very rhythmic. To speak with a natural English rhythm, certain words are spoken loudly, clearly, and slowly, while other words are so quiet and quick they can barely be heard. Listen two times to the excerpts below.

• The first time, notice that the highlighted words are spoken more clearly, more loudly, more slowly, or with a higher or lower pitch than other words.

• The second time, notice how the word “to” is spoken: very quietly, quickly, with an unclear vowel that sounds like “tuh,” [tə], or just “t”. (You may have noticed that the only time the vowel in “to” had an oo sound is when it was linked to “her”: “to her” sounded like “toower”).

0:00 Adrienne Lamb Welcome back to Our Edmonton. My name’s Adrienne Lamb and today we are in the south side community of Summerside. We’re exploring the walking trails in this community and talking a little bit about staying active, even when the temperatures plummet. With me for more on that is Angie Mandeville. Hey Angie. [hi] tell me a little bit about UWALK and how you stay active even at this time of year.

1:25 Angie Mandeville

Yeah not bad. So I mean I walked my dog around the block; that’s 15 minutes. And then I park a little further that’s a few more steps. I have an office job. I sit in front of a computer all day and so if anything having a pedometer on makes me aware of trying to get more activity in my day. And so, I try to get up out of my chair and walk around. I really try to engage in more purposeful walking. So I just don’t randomly get up and walk around.


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In English, we tend to stress content words (words that carry meaning, like nouns and verbs and adjectives) and reduce function words2. Many function words have two pronunciations: a strong form for when the word is stressed for some reason or is at the end of a word group, and a more common “weak” (often called “reduced”) pronunciation, when the speaker’s lips hardly move and the word is spoken very quietly and quickly. For example:

“to” often sounds like tuh, ti, or just t “them” often sounds like thum, or just um [əm] “her” often sounds like er “been” often sounds like bin

When a speaker reduces function words and speaks them very quickly and quietly, the listener can focus on the content words. This makes it easier for the listener to catch the main ideas.

Now look at another passage from the audio. Highlight the words you think should be stressed, then read it aloud (answers can be found in the appendix). Practice speaking “to” so that it is very quiet, quick, and your lips don’t move. Then listen to Cameron and Adrienne talking.

4:52 CHRIS WRIGHT There's so much we can learn from Gihad and there's so much Gihad can take on future travels and that sort of thing that he gains from minor hockey.

Practice speaking the above passages at the same time as the speakers (Jane, Adrienne, and Cameron). Try to sound exactly like them, stressing the words they stress, reducing the words they reduce, pausing where they pause, and linking where they link. Try snapping your fingers or tapping your toes with each highlighted word.

Note: Adrienne Lamb, a CBC journalist, has a particularly clear rhythmic pattern to her speech. This clear rhythm makes her very easy to understand, as the important words in what she is saying (content words) stand out clearly. You may want to practice reading along with Adrienne through the whole interview (see Appendix), focusing on her rhythm. Give a beat to those words she stresses, and reduce the words she reduces.

2 Function words are grammar words that include prepositions (to, in), pronouns (he, her, them), modals and helping verbs (can, have, is), coordinators (and), and articles (the, a).


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Pre-‐reading vocabulary The following vocabulary activity will help you to understand the reading below.

Match each word to its correct definition.


1. multiple A. feathers used a warm fill for clothing or bedding

2. adapting B. man-‐made, artificial,

3. exertion C. having several parts

4. ventilation D. skill at doing something with your hands

5. insulating E. changing something so it works in a different situation

6. synthetic F. a sweater that has a neck covering

7. turtlenecks G. use of a lot of energy to do something

8. dexterity H. to protect something so heat cannot get out

9. liner I. allowing air to come into or go out of something

10. down J. a piece of clothing that fits inside something else to

provide extra protection


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Reading text: Working outside in cold weather This publication from the Government of Alberta explains how to dress to stay warm when working outside in cold weather


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Best Practice: Working safely in heat and cold http://work.alberta.ca/documents/WHS-‐PUB_GS006.pdf


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Reading for meaning Read the text above about dressing for cold weather. Read each statement below. Based on the information given in the text, decide if the statement is true or false.


1. It is best to wear many layers of clothing to trap the air inside your clothing. True or False?

2. One problem with layering is that it makes it hard to change your clothing when the weather

changes. True or False?

3. Do not allow any ventilation in your clothing. True or False?

4. It is best to avoid wearing cotton as your base layer. True or False?

5. Scarves can be a problem because they are not safe around machinery. True or False?

6. Your head may be cold because you cannot wear anything under a hard hat. True or False?

7. Wet clothing is a problem because it causes the body to lose heat. True or False?

8. Long underwear should be made from cotton. True or False?

9. Extremely cold weather might require gloves under mittens. True or False?

10. Your coat should have a hood. True or False?


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Reading Strategies: Classification activity The goal of the reading strategies section of the monthly feature lesson is to help you to become a better reader of all reading texts – not just this text. Most information can be classified into groups based on certain qualities. The information in the workplace clothing brochure could be classified :

Best approaches to dressing/organizing clothing

and

Types of clothing to wear

Can you classify the tips in the brochure according to this classification system?

Think of two other possible ways to classify the information in the brochure.

Best approaches to dressing/organizing

clothing


Suggested answers can be found in the appendix.


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Writing Activity: Writing an email to give advice

Imagine that a family member is coming to live in Alberta. Send them an email giving them advice about staying active in winter. Use the information from the listening and readings above, as well as any experiences you may have had. Giving advice In your email, think about some ways to give advice. When you give advice in English, modals can be very helpful. Some modals include:

Could: – Could is a friendly suggestion. You could stay active by….. Must: – Must is much stronger than could and emphasizes that you feel very strongly about the advice you are giving and do not think it is optional. You must dress appropriately in winter because…. Should: -‐ The modal should includes a kind of moral emphasis to your advice/opinion. You should stay active in winter because…. Need: -‐ The modal need emphasises that it is the person receiving the advice will get some internal benefit from the advice. You need to be aware of the dangers of frostbite.

____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ A sample email can be found in the answer key.

(Example answers can be found in the appendix).


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Links To get updates about the Learning English with CBC project: Follow us on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/LearnEnglishAB

To watch more videos from CBC TV, and the Our Edmonton show:

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/Edmonton/

An excellent online English language learners’ dictionary:

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/learner-‐english/

To learn about the UWALK program, how to take part and other resources:

http://uwalk.ca/

Advice from the Heart and Stroke Foundation about staying active in winter:

http://www.heartandstroke.ab.ca/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lqIRL1PJJtH&

b=4841325&ct=7598513

Tips for dressing warmly in Canada in winter:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/5-‐tips-‐for-‐keeping-‐warm-‐during-‐a-‐canadian-‐

winter-‐1.1345737

Keeping your kids warm in winter:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/28/how-‐to-‐dress-‐kids-‐in-‐the-‐

winter_n_2568285.html


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Appendix -‐ Answer Keys

Vocabulary

1. My knowledge of the rules of hockey is quite slim so I need to watch a few more games on

TV.

2. My daughter is very engaged in her life at university and participates in lots of activities

outside of class.

3. If you put your outdoor winter clothes away randomly, it can be very difficult to find what

you need in the mornings.

4. The price of gas has plummeted over the past few months.

5. In our office we have logged how many steps we take each day to see how far we walk in

one year.

6. Giving a oneday holiday to the office team with the most steps logged in a month is a very

motivating incentive.

7. In our family we try to be purposeful about taking part in community events so we can get

to know our neighbours.

8. I used to think I was a very active person but when I started to wear a pedometer every day

I realize I need to do more walking.

9. When you first arrive in a new country it can be challenging to understand the best ways to

integrate .

10. My son has earned eight badges for passing his swimming levels over the past 4 years.

11. When I first came to Canada I just stayed inside in the winter, but now I am embracing the

cold weather and finding fun reasons to go outside.

12. I really appreciate living in a country with so much diversity as it means that everyone is

welcome.

Listening for meaning 1. T Angie tracks the total number of steps she takes each day on a website.

2. F If she walks 50,000 steps a day she gets a badge.

3. T So far on the day she was interviewed Angie had walked 3,400 steps.

4. F None of Angie’s colleagues participate in the UWALK program.

5. F Angie is based in Calgary.


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Listen to Gihad Abdelhamid describing his experiences learning to play Canada’s winter sport. Answer the following questions.

1. Which country did Gihad come from? Egypt

2. How long ago did he move to Canada? Two years

3. What other sport did Gihad coach before he started coaching hockey? Soccer

4. What name did Gihad hope would be the new name for the team? Little Pharaohs

5. Is Gihad able to skate backwards? No

6. What other winter activities has Gihad participated in? Tobogganing, skiing, marathon running

7. Explain why Gihad wants to participate in as many Canadian sports and activities as possible?

Because he wants to have diverse experiences and he wants his kids to experience them, too.


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Listening strategies

While you are listening, add information to each box in this word web.

Focus on writing only the examples that give details about the main points.

Staying acXve in winter

Angie Mandeville

UWALK Program • Record steps on a website • Get rewards for achieving certain number of steps

• Teams can parkcipate

UWALK Benefits • Mokvates you to exercise

• Purposeful about walking

• Fun

Gihad Abdelhamid

Hockey Coach -‐ Why? • To spend kme with kids • To integrate into life in Canada

Skakng skills? • Not so good but progressing • Can't skate backwards Other winter sports

• Tobogganing • Skiing • Running

Other coaching • Son's soccer team


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Grammar Parts of speech

Word from the audios Part of speech A second form of the word and its part of speech

A third form of the word and its part of speech

1. active adjective activity (noun) actively (adverb)

2. achievements noun achieve – (verb) achievable (adjective)

3. fortunate adjective fortune (noun) fortunately (adverb)

4. challenge noun (plural) challenge (verb) challenging (adjective)

5. motivating adjective motivate (verb) motivational (adj)

6. logical adjective logic -‐ (noun) logically (adverb)

7. willingness noun willing (adjective) willingly (adverb)

8. skate verb skate (noun) skating (noun)

9. successful adjective success (noun) successfully (adverb)

10. valuable adjective value (verb) value (noun)

Speaking strategies

4:52 CHRIS WRIGHT There's so much we can learn from Gihad and there's so much Gihad can take on future travels and that sort of thing that he gains from minor hockey.

Reading Activity Pre-‐reading vocabulary

1. multiple C A. feathers used a warm fill for clothing or bedding

2. adapting E B. man-‐made, artificial,

3. exertion G C. having several parts

4. ventilation I D. skill at doing something with your hands

5. insulating H E. changing something so it works in a different situation


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6. synthetic B F. a sweater that has a neck covering

7. turtlenecks F G. use of a lot of energy to do something

8. dexterity D H. protecting something so heat cannot get out

9. liner J I. allowing air to come into or go out of something

10. down A J. a piece of clothing that fits inside something else to

provide extra protection

Reading for meaning 1. It is best to wear many layers of clothing to trap the air inside your clothing. True or False?

2. One problem with layering is that it makes it hard to change your clothing when the weather

changes. True or False?

3. Do not allow any ventilation in your clothing. True or False?

4. It is best to avoid wearing cotton as your base layer. True or False?

5. Scarves can be a problem because they are not safe around machinery. True or False?

6. Your head may be cold because you cannot wear anything under a hard hat. True or False?

7. Wet clothing is a problem because it causes the body to lose heat. True or False?

8. Long underwear should be made from cotton. True or False?

9. Extremely cold weather might require gloves under mittens. True or False?

10. Your coat should have a hood. True or False?


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Reading Strategies

Approaches to dressing/Ways of

organizing your clothing


Wear layers

Mittens instead of gloves

Wear an outer layer that is windproof

No scarves

Protect all parts of your body from head to toe

Hat liners & balaclavas

Wear liners inside your outer clothes/ hats

Wool, synthetic fibres and fleece fabric

Have a change of clothes ready

Loose fitting outer coat


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Writing activity: Advice email

Dear Carmen, I am so happy that you will soon be moving to Alberta to join us in this great adventure! Is your flight still arriving on December 6th at noon? Let me know the details as soon as possible. I was thinking that you might be shocked by the weather when you arrive as it is now winter time. At first you might feel like just hiding away for the whole winter, but in time you will see that wintertime is a very fun time here in Alberta. You need to stay active in winter time or you might become unfit and gain weight. You could simply go for walks in the park or try parking your car further away from the entrance to the mall. Tobogganing is a cheap and easy way to enjoy time outside with the kids. Also, if you want to go to the mountains, skiing is fun. In Alberta, one of the most popular sports is skating. If you skate, you should wear a helmet to protect your head and you will need some ice skates. When you go outside in winter here, you must wear appropriate clothing because the weather can be extreme. Lots of layers, a hat and some gloves are very important. But don't worry we have lots of clothes we can share with you to get you started. We cant wait to see you! Take care, Luisa.


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Appendix – Transcript

ADAPTING TO LIFE IN ALBERTA IN WINTER 0:00 Adrienne Lamb Welcome back to Our Edmonton. My name’s Adrienne Lamb and today we

are in the south side community of Summerside. We’re exploring the walking trails in this community and talking a little bit about staying active, even when the temperatures plummet. With me for more on that is Angie Mandeville. Hey Angie. [Hi] Tell me a little bit about UWALK and how you stay active, even at this time of year.


It’s actually really easy. UWALK makes it super easy. I just put on my pedometer as I am heading out the door, and I am able to track my steps and I easily just go on their website and I track my, log my steps. They make it really easy. I love it. They have got a great website where I have achievements every day. It’s really great. If I log my 5,000 steps, I get a little badge. If I get 10,000, I get another one so it’s fun. It really is.

1:09 Adrienne Lamb So show me this pedometer you’ve got on.


So I put mine on this morning before I left the house. I had to walk the dog. So, …

1:19 Adrienne Lamb Should be some steps. And you’re layered up


Yeah because it’s cold this morning. 3,400 steps

1:25 Adrienne Lamb Good for you.


Yeah not bad. So I mean I walk my dog around the block, that’s 15 minutes. And then I park a little further, that’s a few more steps. I have an office job. I sit in front of a computer all day, and so if anything having a pedometer on makes me aware of trying to get more activity in my day. And so I try to get up out of my chair and walk around. I really try to engage in more purposeful walking. So I just don't get up and randomly walk around. I’m like I am going to get up and go for coffee. Let’s go to the coffee shop that’s a little bit further. Right I have to go to the washroom. I am going to go up to the one on the third floor, instead of the one on the main floor. Just little tweaks like that and it adds up. I think that’s what’s really key about UWALK, too. I was really fortunate that my workplace invited UWALK in, and so a bunch of us from work who have signed up for UWALK, there’s a staff challenge. And a few of us who are logging steps towards our challenge – I think we are walking across the country, right now. So we have logged something like 7.3 million steps as a team. Right, so it’s fantastic. Now we are on our way. We started in


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Victoria and we are heading to St. John’s. So it’s those kind of challenges that are really motivating.

3:01 Adrienne Lamb That’s Angie Mandeville. She’s one of the people in Our Edmonton who’s taking part in the UWALK program. Check this out: this is an area at Lake Summerside where they put ice for figure skating and hockey. And of course, pond hockey on the lake, as well. Hockey is everywhere in Edmonton, and now a new Edmontonian taking on the game in a big way. The CBC’s Travis Macewan with one coach’s story.

3:33 Travis Macewan

While getting team picture's taken assistant coach, Gihad Abdelhamid seems cool and comfortable. But on the ice, that's not quite the case.

3:46 Gihad Abdelhamid

I can skate but it's in one direction. Actually, I'm starting to learn moving backwards. Kids are coming in from every direction and I'm like whoa!.

3:57 Travis Macewan

Gihad and his family moved to Canada from Egypt nearly two years ago. He admits prior to that his hockey knowledge was practically non-‐existent. After coaching his son’s soccer team, hockey seemed like a logical next step for the pair. Abdelhamid sees it is a way to integrate into the Edmonton community.


If hockey is the biggest thing in Canada then I have to learn about it. There's no better way than to just dive into it basically. I'm not here to close the door on myself and my kids and stay inside. I can do that in Egypt. I don't have to come here to do it.

4:30 Travis Macewan

With each practice him and his son are progressing together.


Yesterday, for example I did one of the drills with the kids. The easy one. Haha.

4:39 Chris Wright He's watching, he’s learning. He piskcs it up really quick. 4:42 Travis

Macewan Assistant coach Chris Wright says even though Abdelhamid's skill and knowledge of the game is slim. His willingness to learn is valuable for the players.

4:52 Chris Wright There's so much we can learn from Gihad and there's so much Gihad can take on future travels and that sort of thing, that he gains from minor hockey.


We start to use some of our keywords that we use in our language and then they ask questions. We tried to call the name the Little Pharaohs, but we were not successful.

5:09 Travis Macewan

He may not skate backwards, but that isn’t stopping him as he advances forward through Canadian culture. Travis McEwan CBC News Edmonton.

5:19 Adrienne Lamb Gihad also shared some advice on getting out and embracing our winter with Edmonton AM host, Mark Connolly.

5:27 Mark Connolly Since you’ve been here, have you tried other winter sports as well?


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Well, last year we did tobogganing. The first time we have seen snow in our life actually. And I tried skiing a little bit but it's a little bit difficult. And, I did the Hypothermic Half Marathon last winter, in January.

5:49 Mark Connolly Good for you. Were you a runner before?


I call myself a runner yeah!

5:57 Mark Connolly Why is it important for you to do this?


Well its important for my kids to play sports and they want to try new things. And I encourage trying new things. Actually, that's the reason why I try to travel and live in different countries because it’s a learning experience for me and my kids. I learned about diversity when I was very old and this is one thing I would like to teach my kids when they are younger. So, one way to do it is to immerse yourself in a completely different society and start to make it happen.

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LearningEnglishwithCBC Edmonton( Monthly(feature(story ... · 27!!."