A Confectioner in Poland

 
 
 
 

Vocabulary

bake	take time	property (2)
flavor	right (4)	I can tell
cream	weather	just right
moist	whether	consistency
earn	expect	just like
realize	Caribbean	look back (2)
joint	massage	satisfied
pain	dream (2)	take a vacation
heal	take over	healing property
suffer	creative	whatever

 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

My name is Elzbieta Zieciak. I work here in the village of Pobierovo. I came to Pobierovo when I was 16. Now I’m 58. I work a lot but I love it.

What makes you happy?

I think my grandson will take over the business someday. He’ 12 years old and lives in Germany. But he comes here to help me. He started baking cakes as a small child.

What’s your favorite food?

I like everything. And I love to eat at night. It’s important to be relaxed and take time when eating food. Then I can tell when the flavor is right: whether it’s too moist. Or if the cream has the right consistency.

I can live without bread — but I have to have cake, just like my family.

What do you expect for your future?

The future? When I was young, I wanted to earn a lot of money. I liked Pobierovo. I wanted to work here. Looking back, I realize that everything I have done has been for my children, so that they would never go hungry.

I’m satisfied and happy about it.

What country would you like to visit?

I’m thinking about taking a vacation. I suffer from joint pains. My dream is to go to the Caribbean. That would be the best because the water has healing properties. A few massages and everything would be alright. Then I could be creative again, not in just baking cakes, but whatever I do.

 

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Questions

1. Who is this person?

2. Does she live in a city or in a village? Was she born there?

3. Elzbieta owns a bakery. True or false?

4. Her grandson lives in the same village. Is this correct or wrong?

5. Does she only like cake?

6. What things does Elzbieta want or like? What is important to her?

7. She would like to visit………..because………………
 
 
A. There is a bakery near my home. True or false? What do they bake and sell there?

B. I work a lot but I love my job. Yes, no, and and no, maybe?

C. Do you live in Poland? Are you from Poland? Have you ever been to Poland?

D. Have you met people from Poland? Who were they? What were they doing?

E. Describe the geography and climate of Poland.

F. Describe the economy of Poland. What does it import and export?

G. What problems or challenges does Poland face?

H. What is Polish food or cuisine like?

I. What are some tourist attractions (cultural, historic, natural)?

J. What do you associate with Poland? What comes to mind when you hear the name “Poland”? What are some stereotypes about Poland?