Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
Money may not be able to buy happiness, but it can do a lot of good. Thousands of charities and non-profits exist around the world, where you can donate part of your income to a good cause. There are charities that help save children, whales, or trees; charities that support the arts, the schools, or the environment; and even one charity that allows you to buy a water buffalo, llama, goat, or pig for a village in need.
Of course, not everyone can afford to donate to charity. And some people doubt that giving money to a big organization is really the best way to help out. Listen to Marni and Ella talk about what they do to help solve the world’s problems.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
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Marni: Ella, are you someone who donates to charity?
Ella: I wouldn’t say I donate money because I’m a broke college student, sort of. But I do like to donate my time.
Marni: Well right. There is sort of that sweat equity.
Ella: A lot of people see charity and think money automatically, and I was just like, “I can’t do that.” I have to think of something else to do instead.
Marni: Right, but I think that that’s great that you’re willing to say, “Hey, I don’t have a lot of money, but I can give my time.” I think that time is just as valuable in many cases. There’s certainly lots of things you could give money to. I try to donate a little bit of my income here and there, especially around the holiday season, there’s always tons of food drives and places to donate to locally, different charities and things.
Ella: For me money is hard to give because you don’t see how it directly affects someone, but when you give away food or clothes you know what that purpose is directly, the cause and effect. But with money it’s like “Who’s in charge, what are they doing with this?” So I always feel uncomfortable giving money, unless, you know…When I see a homeless person and they’re asking for money, I’d rather give him a bag of chips or some water, because I feel better about that ‘cause I know what I did.
Marni: I think that’s actually a really good idea because then you know exactly…if they’re asking for money for food, you’re giving them food. I think that’s a valid argument. I don’t know, I’ve been trying to give away more, or donate more money if I can. There’s certain organizations I feel passionately about. And, boy, it’s like…I just feel like if I were wealthier, I’d be giving a lot more. This year, I’m not able to give that much. I think I’ll try to donate my time, take your lead.
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Discussion
Ella and Marni both think it’s important to give back, but they have different ways of doing it. Ella can’t afford to donate money to charity, so she donates her time instead. There are different ways of donating your time, like serving meals to the homeless or helping to build new houses for the poor. For Ella, this is the best way to help out because it has the most direct effect on people.
Marni agrees that it’s important to donate your time, but she also tries to give some of her income to charity. There are some charities that she believes in strongly and wants to support. Sometimes large organizations are capable of doing more with your money than you could do yourself.
Do you donate money to charity? What do you think is the best way to help the world, with time or money?
Comments
China |
Japan |
Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Arabia |
American Samoa |
Brazil |
Iraq |
Saudi Arabia |
Ukraine |
Georgia |
India |
Jordan |
Germany |
Philippines |
China |
Philippines |
Andorra |
United Arab Emirates |
Canada |
United States |