full transcript

From the Ted Talk by Sophie Andrews: The best way to help is often just to listen

Unscramble the Blue Letters


A few years later, I mneaagd to get some ctroonl in my life. And I had appropriate sppurot around me to allow me to live with what had happened. I had become a survivor of abuse rather than a victim. And at 21, I contacted Samaritans again. This time because I weatnd to become a volunteer. Wanted to pay something back to the organization that had really saved my life. I knew that the simple act of listening in an eitmeathpc way could have a pnoufrod effect. I knew that somebody listening to me without jegdnmut would make the biggest difference.

So I caught up with my education, found someone I could persuade to give me a job, and I enjoyed my volunteering at Samaritans. And when I say "enjoyed," it's an odd word to use, because no one would want to think of anyone being in absolute distress or pain. But I knew that that profound impact of that listening ear and someone being alongside me at that desperate time had the biggest iamcpt, and I felt a great sense of fulfillment that I was able to help people as a Samaritan.

Open Cloze


A few years later, I _______ to get some _______ in my life. And I had appropriate _______ around me to allow me to live with what had happened. I had become a survivor of abuse rather than a victim. And at 21, I contacted Samaritans again. This time because I ______ to become a volunteer. Wanted to pay something back to the organization that had really saved my life. I knew that the simple act of listening in an __________ way could have a ________ effect. I knew that somebody listening to me without ________ would make the biggest difference.

So I caught up with my education, found someone I could persuade to give me a job, and I enjoyed my volunteering at Samaritans. And when I say "enjoyed," it's an odd word to use, because no one would want to think of anyone being in absolute distress or pain. But I knew that that profound impact of that listening ear and someone being alongside me at that desperate time had the biggest ______, and I felt a great sense of fulfillment that I was able to help people as a Samaritan.

Solution


  1. profound
  2. control
  3. judgment
  4. support
  5. wanted
  6. empathetic
  7. managed
  8. impact

Original Text


A few years later, I managed to get some control in my life. And I had appropriate support around me to allow me to live with what had happened. I had become a survivor of abuse rather than a victim. And at 21, I contacted Samaritans again. This time because I wanted to become a volunteer. Wanted to pay something back to the organization that had really saved my life. I knew that the simple act of listening in an empathetic way could have a profound effect. I knew that somebody listening to me without judgment would make the biggest difference.

So I caught up with my education, found someone I could persuade to give me a job, and I enjoyed my volunteering at Samaritans. And when I say "enjoyed," it's an odd word to use, because no one would want to think of anyone being in absolute distress or pain. But I knew that that profound impact of that listening ear and someone being alongside me at that desperate time had the biggest impact, and I felt a great sense of fulfillment that I was able to help people as a Samaritan.

Frequently Occurring Word Combinations


ngrams of length 2

collocation frequency
older people 5
phone box 3
silver line 3
simple act 2
profound impact 2
years volunteering 2
higher levels 2
chief exec 2
silver circles 2
phone call 2
phone calls 2


Important Words


  1. absolute
  2. abuse
  3. act
  4. biggest
  5. caught
  6. contacted
  7. control
  8. desperate
  9. difference
  10. distress
  11. ear
  12. education
  13. effect
  14. empathetic
  15. enjoyed
  16. felt
  17. fulfillment
  18. give
  19. great
  20. happened
  21. impact
  22. job
  23. judgment
  24. knew
  25. life
  26. listening
  27. live
  28. managed
  29. odd
  30. organization
  31. pain
  32. pay
  33. people
  34. persuade
  35. profound
  36. samaritan
  37. samaritans
  38. saved
  39. sense
  40. simple
  41. support
  42. survivor
  43. time
  44. victim
  45. volunteer
  46. volunteering
  47. wanted
  48. word
  49. years