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Joy English · Level B1 · Communityjoy-english.com

A radio interview with a volunteer

Name:Date:

A local radio presenter talks to a volunteer about a monthly event in her town.

Audio and answer checking: https://joy-english.com/listening/repair-cafe-volunteer

Understand the interview

Listen to the interview. Choose the best answer.

  1. What is a repair café?
    • a) A shop that sells second-hand furniture
    • b) A free event where people get help fixing their things
    • c) A café where volunteers cook for the community
    • d) A class that trains people to become engineers
  2. How did Mina first become involved?
    • a) She brought a damaged coat to the café
    • b) She saw a notice at the community hall
    • c) Her bank asked staff to volunteer
    • d) She wanted to learn to repair bikes
  3. What does Mina do during the week?
    • a) She is an engineer
    • b) She teaches sewing
    • c) She works in a bank
    • d) She runs a café
  4. What does Mina say a volunteer needs?
    • a) Patience and curiosity
    • b) Professional training
    • c) Their own tools
    • d) Lots of free time
  5. What is the café's one rule?
    • a) Each visitor can bring only one item
    • b) Owners must stay and help with the repair
    • c) Visitors must book before they come
    • d) Volunteers cannot repair electrical items
  6. How does Mina feel about the number of things they manage to fix?
    • a) She is disappointed
    • b) She is surprised it is so high
    • c) She thinks it should be much higher
    • d) She thinks it is quite good
  7. Why does the café want more volunteers who can repair bikes?
    • a) Bikes are the hardest things to fix
    • b) Their bike expert has left
    • c) Many people bring bikes and have to wait
    • d) They want to start selling bikes

Listen for details

Listen again and type the missing word or number. You can write numbers as words or digits.

  1. The repair café takes place on the first ___ of every month.
  2. It is open from ten until ___.
  3. The community hall is on ___ Street.
  4. They usually get around ___ visitors.
  5. About ___ of the things people bring get fixed.
  6. The young man's radio belonged to his ___.

Answer key

Understand the interview

  1. b) A free event where people get help fixing their thingsMina says it is a free event where people bring broken things and volunteers help them fix them.
  2. a) She brought a damaged coat to the caféHer favourite coat tore, a neighbour told her about the café, and she went along to get it fixed.
  3. c) She works in a bankShe says she is not an engineer and works in a bank during the week.
  4. a) Patience and curiosityShe says you don't need to be an expert, just patient and a bit curious.
  5. b) Owners must stay and help with the repairMina says their one rule is that owners stay and help, because they want them to learn.
  6. d) She thinks it is quite goodShe says the result is pretty good, really.
  7. c) Many people bring bikes and have to waitMina says there is always a long queue for bike repairs.

Listen for details

  1. SaturdayIt happens on the first Saturday of every month.
  2. one / 1 / one o'clock / 1 o'clock / 1pm / 1 pm / 1:00 / 1.00 / 13:00 / 13.00Mina says it runs from ten until one.
  3. MillThe event is at the community hall on Mill Street.
  4. forty / 40Mina says they usually get around forty visitors.
  5. two thirds / two-thirds / 2/3Mina says about two thirds of things get fixed.
  6. grandfather / grandad / granddad / grandpaThe radio belonged to his grandfather.

Transcript

Jamal: Good morning, and welcome to Community Corner. With me in the studio is Mina Haddad, who volunteers at the Riverside Repair Café. Mina, what exactly is a repair café?

Mina: It's a free event where people bring things that are broken, and volunteers help them fix them. We see lamps, kettles, bikes, torn jackets, all sorts of things.

Jamal: How did you get involved?

Mina: Three years ago, my favourite coat tore at the pocket. A neighbour told me about the café, so I went along. A volunteer showed me how to sew it, and by the end of the morning I was helping other people with their clothes.

Jamal: So you're not an engineer?

Mina: Not at all. I work in a bank during the week. You don't need to be an expert, just patient and a bit curious.

Jamal: When and where does it happen?

Mina: On the first Saturday of every month, from ten until one, at the community hall on Mill Street. We usually get around forty visitors.

Jamal: And does everything get fixed?

Mina: About two thirds of things, which I think is pretty good, really. Our one rule is that owners stay and help. We want them to learn, not just collect their things.

Jamal: Do you have a favourite moment?

Mina: Last spring, a young man brought in a radio that belonged to his grandfather. When it played music again, he was so happy he nearly cried. Moments like that make it all worth it.

Jamal: And are you looking for more volunteers?

Mina: Yes, especially people who can repair bikes. There's always a long queue for those!

Joy English · free English practice · https://joy-english.com/listening/repair-cafe-volunteer