A life lesson from a volunteer fire-fighter

A life lesson from
a volunteer fire-fighter

Volunteer firefighters in the U.S. help with many types of emergencies. They respond to fires, medical problems, car accidents, natural disasters, and dangerous materials. They also do other important jobs, like teaching people how to prevent fires, raising money, and taking care of their equipment.
These firefighters work part-time and come to the station when there is an emergency. They also train regularly to keep their skills strong and be ready to help protect people and property.

Do you think it is a good idea for a city to set up volunteer fire brigades?

Mark Bezos works at a charity and is also a volunteer firefighter. He works for Robin Hood, a charity in New York City that helps people living in poverty. He has been working there since he sold his advertising business.
Mark is also the assistant captain at a volunteer fire station in Westchester County, New York. He lives there with his wife and four children. He feels inspired by the small and big acts of bravery he sees every day.

Volunteer firefighter Mark Bezos tells a story of an act of heroism that didn't go quite as expected - but that taught him a big life lesson.
.

What life lesson do you think Mark wants us to learn?
What story do you think he tells to illustrate this lesson? 

Match

Match the words and phrases in bold to their definitions.

• He was stunned with jealousy when he saw his friend’s new bike.

• I beat my brother in chess for the first time!

• Our teacher gave us a writing assignment for homework.

• In the story, the hero faces his old nemesis in the final battle.

upset 'cause you want what sb else has

win against another person in a game

a task or job

a long-time enemy

• upset 'cause you want what sb else has

• win against another person in a game

• a task or job

• a long-time enemy

Lex Luther is Superman's nemesis.

Match

Match the words and phrases in bold to their definitions.

• Note above all that you must be kind to others.

• The police were quickly on the scene after the accident.

• I had a footrace against my friend, and I barely won!

• She walked barefoot on the beach, feeling the sand under her feet.

remember something as the most important

at a place where something is happening

a running race between two people

without any shoes or socks on

• remember something as the most important

• at a place where something is happening

• a running race between two people

• without any shoes or socks on

Drag and Drop

Complete the sentences from the talk with the words.



1) I was the second volunteer on the ​

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​​.
2) It was a real ​​​

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against the other volunteers to get to the captain in charge to find out what our ​

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​​ would be.
3) She was standing outside in the pouring rain, under an umbrella, in her pajamas, ​​​

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, while her house was in flames.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

scene

footrace

assignments

barefoot

Drag and Drop

4) The dog! I was stunned with ​

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​​.
5) He ​

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me by five seconds.
6) I met my ​

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​​ and the precious dog by the front door.
7) The act of kindness she ​​​

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above all others: someone had even gotten her a pair of shoes.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

jealousy

beat

nemesis

noted

Reorder

Watch the talk again. Put the events in the order they happened in the story.

• Mark arrived at the fire scene. He found the captain who was talking to the homeowner.

• Mark realized that another volunteer ('Lex Luther') had come first.

• Mark got his assignment, and he found the shoes.

• Mark met 'Lex' and the dog at the door.

• A thank-you letter arrived a few weeks later.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

At the end of the talk Mark says, 'Serve food at a soup kitchen. Clean up a neighborhood park. Be a mentor.'

Can you think of some more ways people can help each other on a daily basis?

Poll

PRESENTATION SKILLS 

When you give a talk, it’s important to be yourself and for your personality to come through. Which presentation tips do you think Mark Bezos follows in his talk?

• Write your talk yourself. Use words and expressions that you would normally use so that your words convey your personality.

• Speak from the heart. Talk about things that you know about and believe in.

• Don’t worry if you are nervous. An audience sometimes warms more to someone who is nervous than someone who is full of confidence. They want
  you to succeed.

• Relax your body. Try to move and gesture as you normally do.

Svetlana Khairutdinova: A life lesson from a young mom
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- What life lesson do you want to teach us?
- What story can you tell to illustrate this lesson? 

Poll

How challenging was Mark's talk?

• 1 (not at all)

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5 (super hard)

Poll

How interesting was his talk?

• 1 (not really)

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5 (very interesting)

Poll

How difficult was it to give your own talk?

• 1 (not at all)

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5 (very challenging)