2010年ESL之就医和人际交往 21 War-Related Disabilities（在线收听）

21 War-Related Disabilities

GLOSSARY

veteran – a person who served in the military during a war; a person who hascompleted military service

* Jake’s great-grandfather is a World War II veteran.

rewarding – giving one a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction; worthwhile andmaking someone feel good

* It must be so rewarding to work to find homes for orphaned children.

returning vet – a returning veteran; a person who served in the military during awar and is completing or has recently completed that service, coming back home

* Returning vets sometimes have difficulty relating to their spouse and childrenonce they move back home.

physically – relating to the body and things that one can feel and see

* Unloading boxes from trucks is a physically demanding job.

injured – for a part of the body to be hurt, damaged, or broken

* I can’t believe nobody was injured in that car accident!

to adjust to – to adapt to something; to transition from one condition or thing toanother; to become accustomed to something

* How long did it take you to adjust to living in this country?

medical disability – a condition that does not allow one to use part of one’sbody as other people do

* Her hearing is so bad that it’s a medical disability and she needs to wearhearing aids.

limb – an arm or leg

* Is the pain worse in your right or left limbs?

amputated – removed surgically, especially when talking about an arm, leg, orfinger

* Bobby’s arm got caught in the machines at the factory and it had to beamputated.

hearing loss – a reduction in one’s ability to hear well; losing one’s ability to hear

* Felipe has severe hearing loss because he worked at the airport for 20 yearswithout the right ear protection.

visual impairment – a reduction in one’s ability to see well; losing one’s ability tosee

* Yolanda isn’t blind, but she has to wear very thick glasses because of her visualimpairment.

inspiring – motivating; making one believe that anything is possible and want totry to do difficult things in one’s own life

* That movie about Mother Theresa was so inspiring! I hope I can accomplishsimilar things in my life.

paralyzed – unable to move part of one’s body, usually because there is amedical problem that prevents the brain from communicating with the muscles inparts of one’s body

* After the stroke, the left side of Vreneli’s face was paralyzed.

paraplegic – paralyzed from the waist down; unable to move one’s legs

* Mitch is a paraplegic, but he has full use of his arms and hands.

quadriplegic – paralyzed from the neck down; unable to move one’s legs andarms

* Some computer programs help quadriplegics type by speaking into amicrophone.

wheelchair – a special chair that moves on wheels, used by people who cannotwalk

* Chuck uses a motorized wheelchair that can go up to 10 miles per hour.

prosthetic limb – an artificial arm or leg, used by people who have lost their realarm or leg

* Geraldo has only one leg, but hardly anyone knows because his prosthetic limbis so realistic-looking.

seeing-eye dog – a dog that is trained to help a blind person in daily activities,such as crossing the street

* Please don’t pet seeing-eye dogs, because they’re working and they shouldn’tbe distracted from their job.

modified – changed; altered

* This keyboard has been modified to be more ergonomic and prevent wristinjuries.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. Who would need a seeing-eye dog?

a) A blind person.

b) A paraplegic.

c) A quadriplegic.

2. Who would need a prosthetic limb?

a) An amputee.

b) A person with hearing loss.

c) A person with a visual impairment.

______________

WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

vet

The word “vet,” in this podcast, means a veteran, or a person who served in themilitary during a war: “On Veterans’ Day, we honor all the vets who have servedour country.” The word “vet” also can mean “veterinarian,” or a doctor who treatssick and injured animals: “Do you know any good vets who specialize in pigs?”

As a verb, “to vet (something)” means to share an idea or document with anotherperson to observe his or her reaction and request feedback: “It’s always a goodidea to vet your proposals with your co-workers before you present them to thedirector.” Or, “If you have time, I’d like to vet a few of my ideas with you beforethe next budget meeting.”

limb

In this podcast, the word “limb” means an arm or leg: “Please keep your limbswithin the vehicle at all times.” Or, “He was born with one limb shorter than theother.” The word “limb” can also refer to a branch of a tree: “Let’s hang thechildren’s swing from that long limb on the left-hand side of the cherry tree.” Thephrase “to go out on a limb” means to do something even though one knows it isrisky: “Edgar knew Rebecca already had a boyfriend, but he decided to go out ona limb and ask her out to dinner anyway.” Finally, the phrase “to risk life andlimb” means to do something even though one knows it is dangerous and mightcause injury or death: “Would you risk life and limb to help a cat that got stuck ina tree?”

CULTURE NOTE

The United States Department of Veterans “Affairs” (issues; things someone isinvolved in) provides many types of financial support for American vets, andespecially for vets who were injured while serving in the military and are nowdisabled.

Vets who were injured during military service may be “eligible for” (able to receiveor apply for) monthly “compensation” (money received; payments). The amountof the payment depends on the type and “severity” (how bad something is) of theinjury and the resulting disability. For severe disabilities, the compensation maybe more if the vet has “dependents” (people who financially depend on the vetand live with him or her, usually a husband or wife, or child).

If a vet is “killed in action” (killed while fighting in a war), the “surviving spouse”

(the husband or wife who is still alive) and/or other dependents may be eligiblefor financial compensationThe “GI Bill” and other programs give vets money for “higher education” (classesleading to a college degree). The amount of money received depends on howlong the vet served in the military and which school he or she plans to attend.

The money can be used for tuition, fees, textbooks, and more. Injured ordisabled vets can apply for “vocational rehabilitation” services that help vets trainfor new jobs that they can do with their disabilities.

Vets can also apply for special “home loans” (money one can use to buy a home,but must pay back) and “life insurance” (a policy that pays money to one’s familymembers if one dies).

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – a

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 646: War-RelatedDisabilities.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 646. I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

Our website is eslpod.com. You can download a Learning Guide there that willhelp you improve your English even faster than not downloading the LearningGuide.

This episode is called “War-Related Disabilities.” “Abilities” are things that youare able or can do; “disabilities” are things that you cannot do. War-relateddisabilities are usually injuries, something that happens to your body thatdamages it – that hurts it somehow. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Elena: How do you like your new job at the Veteran’s Hospital?

Wieland: I like it a lot. It’s really rewarding.

Elena: What do you do there, exactly?

Wieland: My job is to help returning vets who have been physically injured adjustto living with their medical disabilities.

Elena: You mean people who have lost limbs?

Wieland: Yes, some of the vets have had one or more limbs amputated. Butthat’s only one of the many disabilities we see at the hospital. For instance, thisweek I’m working with a vet who suffered serious hearing loss and a woman whohas developed a visual impairment.

Elena: It sounds like a very hard job.

Wieland: It can be, but it’s also inspiring sometimes. I’ve seen people who areparalyzed – paraplegics and quadriplegics – overcome their disabilities and leadfull and happy lives. With the help of wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, seeing-eye dogs, and modified cars, a lot of people with disabilities can learn to beindependent. That’s part of my job.

Elena: Then you’re just the person I need to help my brother.

Wieland: Is he disabled?

Elena: Yes, he has a serious case of paralysis, cause by extreme laziness. Isthere any help for him?

[end of dialogue]

Elena begins our dialogue by asking Wieland, “How do you like your new job atthe Veteran’s Hospital?” A “veteran” (veteran) is a person who has been in themilitary, usually during a war. A person who is no longer in the military, in thearmy or navy for example, but they used to be; they were in military service. Myfather was a veteran. He was in the U.S. Army during World War II. A “veteran”

can also be a more general term to refer to someone who has been throughsome difficult experience or in an organization that had problems and this personhas a lot of experience. Or it can just mean someone who’s very experienced inwhat they do. “She’s a veteran news reporter,” meaning she has a lot ofexperience; she’s been doing it for many years. Here, however, “veteran” meanssomeone was in the military. The U.S. government has special hospitals forveterans, especially those who are coming back from war who are injured, whoperhaps have lost their legs or one of their arms. We call these veteran’shospitals. There’s one here in Los Angeles; there’s one in almost every big cityin the United States, and they are operated by the U.S. government.

Wieland says, “I like it a lot (I like my job). It’s really rewarding.” Something thatis “rewarding” is something that gives you a sense of satisfaction, that makes youfeel this is worthwhile. Certainly for me, recording these podcasts is veryrewarding. Elena says, “What do you do there, exactly?” What kind of work doyou do at the hospital? Wieland says, “My job is to help returning vets who havebeen physically injured adjust to living with their medical disabilities.” Lots ofterms there; let’s start with “returning vet.” A “returning vet” is a returningveteran; “vet” is short for veteran. This is a person who is coming back from awar zone, or from a place where they were stationed – where they were working.

They’re coming back to the United States; they’re returning, and hence –therefore we have the term “returning vets.” “Vet” (vet) actually has a couple ofdifferent meanings in English; take a look at our Learning Guide for some moreexplanations.

These returning vets have been “physically injured.” “Physically” refers to yourbody, things that you can feel and see. “Injured” is the same as hurt or broken.

If you injured your foot it hurts; you did something to it that has damaged itsomehow. “To adjust” means to adapt to something, to go from one situation toanother situation – “to adjust to.” “Medical” refers to medicine, things that areused to help you get better. A “disability” is something that you cannot do. Here,it means some typically part of your body that isn’t working the way it should, orperhaps you’ve lost a leg or you’ve lost a finger; you have a medical disability.

Why do we say “medical disability,” since we are talking about the body? Well,it’s possible to have other disabilities. In school, sometimes we talk about“learning disabilities,” things that are related to the way you learn, things that youperhaps have difficulty with. Here, it refers to injuries – physical injuries to thebody.

Wieland says, “My job is to help returning vets who have been physically injuredadjust to living with their medical disabilities.” Elena says, “You mean peoplewho have lost limbs?” A “limb” (limb – the “b” is silent, we don’t pronounce it) iseither an arm or a leg. You have four limbs: two arms and two legs. Wielandsays, “Yes, some of the vets (some of the veterans) have had one or more limbsamputated.” “To amputate” (amputate) means to remove either an arm or a legor possibly a finger or toe. To physically remove it from your body, we would sayto remove it surgically. You have a special doctor called a “surgeon,” who isresponsible for things like “amputations,” which is the noun. So yes, some of thevets have had limbs amputate. We call someone who has a limb amputated an“amputee,” that’s a person who has had a limb amputated. Wieland says, “Butthat’s only one of the many disabilities we see at the hospital. For instance, thisweek I’m working with a vet who suffered serious hearing loss and a woman whohas developed a visual impairment.” “Hearing loss” is when you are unable tohear very well. There could be a lot of causes for that. “Visual” refers to youreyes, what you can see. An “impairment” is something similar to a disability; it’ssomething that you cannot do or cannot do very well. A “visual impairment” iswhen you can’t see very well.

Elena says, “It sounds like a very hard job (a very difficult job).” Wieland says, “Itcan be, but it’s also inspiring sometimes.” “Inspiring” means motivating, makingyou believe that anything is possible, making you want to try harder. Wielandsays that he’s seen people who are paralyzed – paraplegics and quadriplegics –overcome their disabilities and lead full and happy lives. “To be paralyzed”

means to be unable to move some part of your body, usually because there’ssome medical problem. We also have an expression “to be paralyzed with fear,”

meaning you’re so afraid that you can’t move. But normally, “paralyzed” is amedical condition – a disability. There are two common types of paralyzed conditions. One of them is to have no ability to use your legs; from your waistdown you can’t move your body. We call someone who has that condition a“paraplegic” (paraplegic). That’s from the waist down, the bottom half of yourbody. If you can move the top or the bottom half of your body we would call youa “quadriplegic.” This is someone paralyzed we would say from the neck down,meaning anything below their neck. You can move your head perhaps, but notanything else. Unfortunately that happens sometimes when people have seriousinjuries; it could be in war, it could even in a car accident.

Wieland says that the patients, the people at the hospital, often overcome theirdisabilities. They are able to go beyond them and lead, or have, full and happylives. “With the help of wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, seeing-eye dogs, andmodified cars, a lot of people with disabilities can learn to be independent.” A“wheelchair” (one word) is a special chair that has wheels on it so that a personwho cannot walk can be moved or move him or herself. “Prosthetic limbs” areman-made or artificial limbs: a leg or an arm for people who have lost their leg orarm. “Seeing-eye dogs” are specially trained dogs that help blind people –people who cannot see – in their daily activities. They help them walk, movefrom one place to another. Finally, a “modified car” is a car that has beenchanged; we might also say “altered” so that someone who has a disability canuse it.

Elena says, “Then you’re just the person I need to help my brother.” Wielandsays, “Is he disabled?” Elena says, “Yes, he has a serious case of paralysis,cause by extreme laziness. Is there any help for him?” Remember we talkedabout being paralyzed with fear. Well, Elena says that her brother is paralyzedbecause he’s extremely lazy, he won’t get up and move. Of course, she’smaking a joke here.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Elena: How do you like your new job at the Veteran’s Hospital?

Wieland: I like it a lot. It’s really rewarding.

Elena: What do you do there, exactly?

Wieland: My job is to help returning vets who have been physically injured adjustto living with their medical disabilities.

Elena: You mean people who have lost limbs?

Wieland: Yes, some of the vets have had one or more limbs amputated. Butthat’s only one of the many disabilities we see at the hospital. For instance, thisweek I’m working with a vet who suffered serious hearing loss and a woman whohas developed a visual impairment.

Elena: It sounds like a very hard job.

Wieland: It can be, but it’s also inspiring sometimes. I’ve seen people who areparalyzed – paraplegics and quadriplegics – overcome their disabilities and leadfull and happy lives. With the help of wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, seeing-eyedogs, and modified cars, a lot of people with disabilities can learn to beindependent. That’s part of my job.

Elena: Then you’re just the person I need to help my brother.

Wieland: Is he disabled?

Elena: Yes, he has a serious case of paralysis, cause by extreme laziness. Isthere any help for him?

[end of dialogue]

We hope you found listening to this script rewarding. Thank you Dr. Lucy Tse forwriting it.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Comeback and listen to us again on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2010 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.