Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a swap
    • ex. We did a book swap at school, and I got a new story to read.
  2. an accessory
    • ex. Sunglasses and hats are popular summer accessories.
  3. consume
    • ex. You should not consume too much sugar because it is unhealthy.
  4. farm-to-table
    • ex. The restaurant is famous for its farm-to-table meals made with fresh vegetables.
  5. a resource
    • ex. The library has many resources to help students study.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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In many American neighborhoods, people are starting to share things, such as clothes, food, and books. In Portland, Oregon, there is a big clothing swap twice a year. In this swap, people bring and display their used clothes and accessories, such as bags or hats. And anyone can take what they like. Joining the event costs $10 (about ¥1,400), but participants can take any clothes for free. After each event, the clothes left go to another community event.

Meanwhile, in Virginia, Taylor Scott started a project to share food. She grew many tomatoes in her garden, but could not consume them all. So, she opened a community fridge where anyone can take food for free. Now, the group RVA Community Fridges runs 14 fridges and teaches “farm-to-table” classes about healthy food without asking for any payment.

Some neighbors are also sharing books. The group “Little Free Library” puts small book houses in neighborhoods. These book houses give people free resources for reading. Families say they have met new neighbors through these libraries, and children’s reading skills have improved.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Community Sharing

  • In many American neighborhoods, people are starting to share clothes, food, and books. What do you think about this community sharing events and projects (ex. I admire it)? Discuss.
  • Do you think community sharing is good for the environment? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • If you could start a community sharing event, what would it be? Discuss.

Building Relationships with Neighbors

  • How would you describe your relationship with your neighbors (ex. we're friends, we don’t know each other)? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, is it important to build a good relationship with your neighbors? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Do you think community sharing events can help people build a better relationship with their neighbors? Why or why not? Discuss.