ESL with Stella

Charity Work, Social Activities & Animal Welfare

Charity Work & Community Service

We started by discussing charitable activities, particularly feeding the homeless.

• “My Rotary Club serves dinner to homeless people once a month at a shelter.”
• A shelter is a place where people without homes can get food and sometimes a place to stay.
• “We prepare the food and serve it at their tables, like in a restaurant. It makes them feel special.”
• Many local clubs take turns providing meals.

Cooking for a Large Group

• “We cook in a big industrial kitchen, like a restaurant.”
• “We serve chicken, rice, beans, and vegetables—they love the way we make the chicken!”
• “We buy the ingredients in bulk from special stores that sell to restaurants, which makes it cheaper.”
  • Example: “Chicken costs $1.20 per kilo. A full meal for 100 people costs under $200.”
• “Each club takes a turn, so it’s not too expensive.”

Fundraising Events

We also talked about how charity organizations raise money.

1. Poker Tournament
   • “We hold a poker tournament once a year to raise money for scholarships.”
   • “Participants pay $75 to enter, and we charge for drinks.”
   • “After expenses (e.g., renting poker tables, dinner), we raise about $20,000.”
2. Restaurant Fundraiser
   • “Today, a local pizza restaurant is donating 100{3e76333c54b122e6e9695664683ffbf1b68f2e2181d9597fd0081fd6992a73ce} of its profits to our charity.”
   • “People still buy their pizza, but the money goes to the cause.”

Homelessness & Government Policies

We discussed why people become homeless and what the government does to help.

• “Some homeless people lost their jobs or don’t have family support.”
• “Others struggle with mental illness or addiction, making it hard to work.”
• “The government has a policy to encourage work, but it’s difficult for some people.”

Where do homeless people live?

• “Some stay in shelters.”
• “Others camp in the woods or under bridges in tent cities.”
• “In cities like Los Angeles, there are large homeless camps.”

Social Safety Net

• “If someone loses everything, a social safety net (family, friends, government support) can help.”
• “If they have no support, they might end up homeless.”

Animal Shelters & Adoption

We shifted the discussion to animal welfare and pet adoption.

1. Dog & Cat Adoption
   • “In the U.S., adopting a dog from a shelter costs around $400 because the shelter provides vaccinations and spaying/neutering.”
   • “Sometimes, shelters have discount days, making adoption cheaper.”
2. Verifying Good Homes for Pets
   • “Volunteers check potential owners to make sure they can care for a pet properly.”
   • “Some shelters visit homes to ensure fenced yards, safe windows, and good living conditions.”
   • “In China, you said people provide videos instead of home visits—smart way to check!”
3. Helping Stray Animals
   • “Some charities trap stray cats, neuter them, and release them back into their environment.”
   • “This prevents overpopulation while allowing them to live freely.”

Dog Shows & Westminster Kennel Club

We also talked about dog shows, particularly the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

1. What makes a winning dog?
   • “Dogs are judged on appearance, movement, and temperament.”
   • “They must be purebred and match breed standards perfectly.”
   • “Handlers run them around the ring to show off their training and physical condition.”
2. Audience Reactions
   • “My daughter attended and said the crowd went wild for the small, funny dog!”
   • “People have favorites, but only one dog wins ‘Best in Show.’“
3. Why Can’t Mixed Breed Dogs Compete?
   • “My dog is a mutt (mixed breed), so he can’t enter big dog shows.”
   • “There are small fun events for mixed breeds, but not at the championship level.”

Vocabulary from Today’s Lesson

1. Shelter (SHEL-ter) – A place where homeless people can get food or temporary housing.
2. Bulk (BULK) – Buying large amounts of something at a lower price.
3. Fundraiser (FUND-ray-zer) – An event to collect money for charity.
4. Scholarship (SKOL-ar-ship) – Financial support for students to go to school.
5. Social safety net (SO-shul SAYF-tee net) – Family, government, or community support for people in crisis.
6. Neuter/Spay (NOO-ter / SPAY) – A medical procedure to prevent animals from having babies.
7. Adoption (ah-DOP-shun) – Taking in an animal or child to care for them permanently.
8. Mutt (MUT) – A mixed-breed dog.
9. Breed standard (BREED STAN-durd) – The official description of a purebred dog’s appearance and behavior.
10. Best in Show (BEST in SHOW) – The top award at a dog show.

Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

We had a great discussion covering charity work, homelessness, animal welfare, and dog shows.

“It was fun talking today! Hope you have a great day, and see you next time!”