Listening Exercise: A Mother’s Love

In this lesson you will understand more about a mother’s love by listening to a beautiful story called “The Icing on the Cake”

The video was created by the StoryCorps YouTube Channel.

This lesson has three stages that every listening lesson should have so I hope that you enjoy the activity and learn more about what mothers do for their children.

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#1 Pre-Listening: A Mother’s Love

The pre-listening stage has three important tasks that will prepare you for the actual reading.

Task #1: Read the Introduction

Blanca Alvarez and her husband risked crossing the border to immigrate into the U.S. and then struggled to make ends meet.

They hoped to shelter their children from these harsh realities, but Blanca’s daughter Connie reveals how much children can really see of their parents’ lives—and the inspiration they draw from their struggles.

Task #2: Check the Meaning of these Words

to immigrate	snack
to struggle	to put kids to bed
to make ends meet	to go  through  a lot of  things
gardeners	to raise  children,
night shift	to  neglect
candy dishes	to  finish  college
to achieve dreams	icing on the cake

Task #3: Thinking about Mother’s Love

Ponder about and answer these  questions before  watching the  video

• Do  you recognize  what  parents  do or have  done  for you?
• What is the best examples  that  you have seen  in your parents lives?

#2 While Listening: A Mother’s Love

Watch the video The Icing  on the cake and think  of these  questions while  watching it

• What   were the  first jobs that the family  had  when  they arrived   to the  country?
• What is  one  of the memories that Connie  had when  her mom  took her  and her brother  to  work?
• What was   the  things  that  the family had to go  through when arriving to the United States?
• What  would  Blanca   had done  different  if   she had the opportunity to  raise  her kids  again?
• How was Blanca’s example an inspiration for  Connie?

#3 Post-Listening Stage: A Mother’s Love

Write a  50-word  paragraph stating  how  your  loved ones  have served  as  an inspiration to achieve  your  goals.