Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. sign language
    • ex. Sarah learned sign language to talk with her friend who has difficulty hearing.
  2. an interpreter
    • ex. The interpreter helped us understand the French speaker.
  3. ensure
    • ex. The teacher asked questions, ensuring that all students understood the lesson.
  4. deaf
    • ex. The school offers special classes for deaf students.
  5. accessibility
    • ex. The library offers wheelchair accessibility.

Article

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

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Thousands of fans gathered at Rock in Rio, one of the biggest music festivals in Rio de Janeiro, to see Katy Perry perform. And for the first time in its 40-year history, the festival featured sign language. Interpreter Laísa Martins appeared on the big screens around the stage. She moved her hands and danced as the music played, ensuring that the deaf people in the crowd could fully enjoy the performance.

The interpreters worked at the back of the stage with their images displayed above the stage. This allowed deaf people in the audience to follow along with the music. The festival also offered a special area for deaf visitors and their friends. In recent years, sign language interpreters have become more common at festivals and concerts in Brazil. 

This change comes from a 2015 law that helps people with special needs experience cultural events. With around 2.3 million deaf people in Brazil, the need for such services is growing. Henrique Miranda Martins, a deaf guest at Rock in Rio, said that it’s very important for deaf people to have accessibility. 

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Sign Language

  • In your opinion, how important is it to learn sign language? Discuss.
  • Imagine that you are good at sign language. Would you work as an interpreter for concerts and big events? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In recent years, sign language interpreters have become more common at festivals and concerts in Brazil. Do you want more events in your country to also feature sign language? Why do you say so? Discuss.

People with Special Needs

  • In your opinion, does your country have good accessibility for deaf people and others with special needs? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • How can we help deaf people and people with special needs in our community? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, how can we learn more about deaf people and people with special needs? Discuss.