back or forward buttons when using this resource.
Instead, use the extra buttons you see here. There are buttons to:
• go to the next page or a previous page
• play, pause, and rewind a video or audio clip
• change the volume
• open the table of contents
• open the glossary
If part of this resource does not load properly (for example, if you do not see the buttons or if the screen looks blank), try opening the resource in another web browser or updating your web browser.
If problems continue, please contact the Manitoba Trucking Association.]]>Module 1:
At the Scales with Dangerous Goods
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Do a pre-assessment to think about your English at the Scales.
Watch a video of a truck driver and a Peace Officer (the person who works at the Scales).
Test your understanding of the video.
Try out a game using some of the words you need to understand at the Scales.
Think about the grammar used at the Scales (questions).
Practice listening to the English that you will hear at the Scales.
Learn how to ask questions when you do not understand.
Find out which documents you need to show a Peace Officer.
Practice your pronunciation of some of the words that you will hear and use at the Scales.
Learn about the placards (signs) that sometimes go on trucks.
Do a post-assessment to think about the English that you have just learned.
]]>Listening at the Scales]]>Department of Transportation (DOT).
It is the Peace Officer’s job to make sure that trucks are driving safely on highways. They also make sure that truck drivers are not breaking highway laws.
Peace Officers want highways, and drivers to be safe. They also want to protect highways so that they last a long time.
They do things like:
- Look over your paperwork
- Do mechanical checks
- Make sure that trucks enter the Scales when the lights are on
- Stop drivers from continuing to drive if there is a safety issue or a law is being broken
]]> Situation:
Roman was driving his load East and saw the scales were open and the report light was on. He pulled in, and got in line behind some other trucks. He turned off the radio and the fan so that he could hear clearly. After a short wait, he pulled up and rolled onto the scale.
Then the red report light came on.
He heard over the speaker, “Pull into the right hand lane and bring in your paperwork.” He pulled over, parked and brought all his paperwork into the office.]]>First...
First, you predict or guess what the person is going to say.
Second...
Next, you listen closely to see if you are right or wrong just like we did just now.
Finally...
If you have listened and you don't understand, you can ask questions.]]>Asking Questions at the Scales]]>Grammar: Yes/No and Information Questions
When you are at the scales, you will be asked two types of questions:
Yes / No questions
The Peace Officer is looking for you to say “yes” or “no”.
“Yes / no” questions usually start with the verbs am, are, is, was, were, have, has, had, do, does and did.
Information questions
The Peace Officer is looking for more information than a simple “yes” or “no.”
These are also called “wh” questions, because most question words start with “wh” – who, what, when, where, why, whose, which, and how. (There is a ‘w’ and a ‘h’ in “how” as well – they are just mixed up.)]]>yes / no or information.
If you need help at any time, look at the starting words on the right-hand side.
You can also pause, rewind, and resume the audio at any time.]]>word order.
Each language has a different word order. In English, when you are asking a yes/no question, the verb goes before the noun.
Examples:Statement: You have dangerous goods.
To make this into a question, add a question word, and switch the verb and the noun.
Question: Do you have any dangerous goods?
When you are making a “wh” question, the “wh” word goes at the beginning.
Examples:Statement: You are carrying dangerous goods.
To make this into a question, add the 'wh' word at the beginning, and switch the verb and the noun.
Question: What kind of dangerous goods are you carrying?
]]>Word stress is the syllable in a word that is longer and clearer than the others. For example, in the word 'transportation' the stress is on the syllable 'ta'. trans por ta tion
Before we talk about word stress, do you know what syllables are?
Each word has one or more syllables and each syllable has a vowel sound. For example:
'truck' (truck) has one syllable;
'driver' (dri ver) has two syllables;
'dangerous' (dan ger ous ) has three syllables; and
'transportation' (trans por ta tion ) has four syllables.
Ok, now back to word stress.
If you understand word stress, you will find it easier to understand English speakers. Also, when you use the correct word stress, others will find it easier to understand you.
Sometimes, you may find that a word in English is similar to a word in your language, but the word stress might be different. Examples of word stress are, “dri ver,” “in spect,” and “trans por ta tion.”
When you understand syllables and word stress, it is easier to understand and use Canadian English pronunciation.]]>noun is a person, place or a thing, such as driver.
A verb is an action word, such as hauling.
An adjective describes a noun, such as dangerous.
Nouns are usually stressed on the first syllable, such “dri ver.”
Verbs are usually stressed on the second, such as “in spect.”
Adjectives can be stressed on either syllable, such as “dan ger ous.”
Another reason why word stress is important is because the words in the sentence have different uses. The same word can be used as a noun, an adjective, or a verb.
For example: The farm was used to produce produce. (pro duce[verb],pro duce [noun]). This means that the farm was used to make vegetables.
Here are four different examples of stress patterns in words:
● • The stress is on the first syllable such as in the word 'double'.
• ● The stress is on the second syllable such as in the word 'apply'.
• • ● • The stress is on the third syllable such as in the word 'transportation'.
● • • • The stress is on the first syllable such as in the word 'inventory'.]]>Understanding Placards]]>