Magazine Article - Building bridges

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/building-bridges
Introduction
This support pack accompanies the magazine article:
Building bridges
To read or listen to the article online, go to:
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/
building-bridges
This support pack contains the following materials:
a pre-reading vocabulary activity;
the article;
a comprehension task

Before you read / listen

Match the words and phrases in the table to their definitions.

1. old people's
2. residents 3. snoring 4. concept
home

5. crèche 6. extended family 7. retired 8. intergenerational

Definitions:

a. A family unit which includes aunts, uncles, and grandparents as well as parents and children

b. Having stopped working (usually because of age)

c. A home for older people where they are supported (given food and help when they need it)

d. A place where children can be left safely freeing parents to work, go shopping, etc...

e. Idea

f. A noise made by some people when they sleep where soft tissues their person’s nose and

throat vibrate

g. Involving more than one generation: children, parents, and grandparents make 3 generations

h. People who live in a specific place

© The British Council, 2010 Page 1 of 4

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
 Magazine Article - Building bridges
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/building-bridges
Article: Building bridges by Linda Baxter
Being old is when you know all the answers, they get a lot more individual attention, and
but nobody asks you the questions. respond well because someone has time for
them. They also learn that old people are
(Anonymous)
not different or frightening in any way. And
Six months before she died, my of course, they see illness and death and
grandmother moved into an old people's learn to accept them. The residents are
home and I visited her there when I was in happy because they feel useful and
Britain. She was sitting in the living room needed. They are more active and more
with about fifteen other residents, mostly interested in life when the children are
women, half of them asleep. The room was around and they take more interest in their
clean and warm, with flowers and pictures, appearance too. And the staff are happy
and the care assistants were kind and because they see an improvement in the
cheerful. 'The Weakest Link' was on the physical and psychological health of the
television ('to keep their brains active' one residents and have an army of assistants to
of the assistants said), and the only other help with the children.
sound was snoring and embarrassing
Nowadays there is less and less contact
digestive noises. People only moved when
between the old the young. There are many
they needed to be helped to the bathroom.
reasons for this, including the breakdown of
It was depressing. Gran talked a lot about
the extended family, working parents with
how much she missed seeing her
no time to care for ageing relations, families
grandchildren (my nieces aged 7 and 5), but
that have moved away, and smaller flats
I knew from my sister that they hated going
with no room for grandparents. But the
to visit her there, and to be perfectly honest,
result is the same: increasing numbers of
I couldn't wait to get away myself.
children without grandparents and old
So I was interested to read a newspaper people who have no contact with children.
article about a new concept in old people's And more old people who are lonely and
homes in France. The idea is simple, but feel useless, along with more and more
revolutionary: combining a residential home families with young children who
for the elderly with a crèche/nursery school desperately need more support. It's a major
in the same building. The children and the problem in many societies.
residents eat lunch together and share
That's why intergenerational programmes,
activities such as music, painting,
designed to bring the old and the young
gardening, and caring for the pets which the
together, are growing in popularity all over
residents are encouraged to keep. In the
the world, supported by UNESCO and other
afternoons, the residents enjoy reading or
local and international organisations. There
telling stories to the children, and if a child is
are examples of successful initiatives all
feeling sad or tired, there is always a kind
over the world. Using young people to teach
lap to sit on and a cuddle. There are trips
IT skills to older people is one obvious
out and birthday parties too.
example. Using old people as volunteer
The advantages are enormous for everyone assistants in schools is another, perhaps
concerned. The children are happy because reading with children who need extra
© The British Council, 2010 Page 2 of 4

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
 Magazine Article - Building bridges
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/building-bridges
attention. There are schemes which involve But it isn't only the individuals concerned
older people visiting families who are having who gain from intergenerational activities.
problems, maybe looking after the children The advantages to society are enormous
for a while to give the tired mother a break. too. If older people can understand and
Or 'adopt a grandparent' schemes in which accept the youth of today, and vice versa,
children write letters or visit a lonely old there will be less conflict in a community. In
person in their area. There are even holiday a world where the number of old people is
companies that specialise in holidays for increasing, we need as much understanding
children and grandparents together. One and tolerance as possible. Modern Western
successful scheme in London pairs young society has isolated people into age groups
volunteers with old people who are losing and now we need to rediscover what
their sight. The young people help with 'community' really means. And we can use
practical things such as writing letters, the strengths of one generation to help
reading bank statements and helping with another. Then perhaps getting old won't be
shopping, and the older people can pass on such a depressing prospect after all.
their knowledge and experience to their
young visitors. For example, a retired judge
may be paired with a teenager who wants to
study law. Lasting friendships often
develop.

© The British Council, 2010 Page 3 of 4

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
 Magazine Article - Building bridges
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/building-bridges
Comprehension task
Multiple choice
Read the questions and choose the right answer.

1. What was wrong with the home that the writer's grandmother was in?
a. The old people weren't looked after properly.
b. Children weren't allowed to visit.
c. The residents had no stimulation.

2. What was the new concept that the writer read about in the newspaper?
a. Old people being allowed to keep pets.
b. A nursery school inside an old people's home.
c. Children visiting old people for lunch and birthdays.

3. Who benefits from this new type of old people's home?

a. The staff.
b. The staff and the old people.
c. The staff, the old people, and the children.

4. What does the writer think is a major problem in society today?

a. The breakdown of the extended family.
b. There isn't much contact between the old and the young.
c. Old people are lonely.

5. Why are intergenerational activities important nowadays?

a. There will be more old people in the future.
b. Western communities are isolated.
c. Old people don't like young people.

Answers

© The British Council, 2010 Page 4 of 4

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.