Task 2 · Listening · Variant 12

Mary: Hi, Jack! I didn't expect to see you here today.

Jack: Hello, Mary! A pleasant surprise, isn't it? How are you doing?

Mary: All in all — fine, I guess. I'm glad I ran into you. This is my first time attending such an event. Would you keep me company?

Jack: Absolutely! Let's take a seat. So, why volunteering?

Mary: Well, my mom volunteered when she was at school. She had to communicate with so many people that it helped her to overcome her shyness. It seems that I have a similar issue. Mom calls it 'an awkward self-consciousness of adolescence.' So, here I am — following in my mom's footsteps. What about you?

Jack: Oh, I enjoy interacting with others, and a bunch of regular meetings is part and parcel of volunteering. It allowed me to make many friends from other schools last year.

Mary: It seems like volunteering brings people together. Do you know the projects our school participates in?

Jack: Didn't you read the brochure before coming here? It's all there.

Mary: Nope, I didn't have time.

Jack: Well, there are roles within the local community where you work mainly with people from our area, and support them with some tasks in their daily lives. These are based mostly in hospitals, health centres, and libraries.

Mary: I don't think those ones are for me. I'm not into health or working with the elderly.

Jack: Then probably you can make a difference at our school — helping primary school students.

Mary: What does it include?

Jack: You can become their reading partner and help them turn into proficient readers. Or, if you are of the artistic mind — which you are, as I know — you can tutor them in drama or give free art lessons.

Mary: Should I have good grades?

Jack: I'm not sure, but I would say that's taken for granted. You may ask Ms Rodrigez. I'm sure she knows the answer.

Mary: I see... Is there anything that can take me outside our town?

Jack: I'm not sure about this year, but two years ago they offered a few places at a rainforest conservation program in Costa Rica.

Mary: Wow, that sounds like just what I need — living in the heart of the jungle, meeting jaguars, riding sea turtles...

Jack: Hey, daydreamer, you should stop right here unless your second language is Spanish. It was a must, if I'm not mistaken.

Mary: I've been studying French for some time, but I can take up Spanish classes as well. Oh, look, the meeting is about to start.

Jack: Yeah, let's listen.