Prime Time 6, Coursebook mit Audio-CD und DVD

Homelessness: Myths and facts a) With a partner, quickly discuss the following questions. Present some of your ideas to the class. • What goes through your mind when you walk past homeless people? • What does homelessness say about a society? • Why do many people look down on the homeless? • What could be done to help the homeless? • Do you think homelessness will ever disappear, even in rich countries? b) Study the myths about homelessness in the table below. c) You are going to listen to an interview with a representative of a support centre for homeless people. Fill in some of the information you hear to prove the myths wrong. Myths Facts “Homeless people are dangerous.” “Not many children are homeless.” “Homeless people are uneducated, unemployable, or just don’t want to work.” “Most people who are homeless are substance abusers.” d) Rephrase in your own words statements from the interview that attracted your attention. What people say about homelessness a) Study the quotes below and explain what the speakers could have wanted to express. b) What problems associated with homelessness are addressed? “Chronically homeless means constantly homeless; it means repeatedly homeless.” Linda Lingle (* 1953, Governor of Hawaii) “No one is asking what happened to all the homeless. No one cares, because it’s easier to get on the subway and not be accosted.” Richard Linklater (* 1960, US film director) “I mean, I don’t think I’m alone when I look at the homeless person or the bum or the psychotic or the drunk or the drug addict or the criminal and see their baby pictures in my mind’s eye. You don’t think they were cute like every other baby?” Dustin Hoffman (* 1937, US actor) c) Why is nobody “asking what happened to all the homeless”? Discuss what else they could do and what difference it would make. d) Put yourself in somebody else’s shoes: How do you think a person becomes homeless? Discuss whether you feel it could happen to anybody. 2 1.7 3 53 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv