Self-assesment of online listening to podcast

Chronicle Radio: Gap in care for young stroke victims
http://www.sfgate.com/

Jack Johnson
http://www.bbc.co.uk/



This task was very interesting and important, because the aim of the task was to prepare for the listening exam. Podcasts were not very difficult, but one of theM I have listened two times for the complete understanding. There were no written texts so I had no opportunity to read them. The dictionary was quit understandable, but some unknown words I have checked in the dictionary.

I did this task at home, so it was easier to cope and understand. There were interferences in the listening of documentary of Jack Johnson. The music was playing all the time. Also, it took 25 minutes. But, despite that, this podcast was very interesting and easier than other one.

In my opinion, I managed to do this listening quite well, so I think, I am almost ready for my listening exam.

Health policy

There are many definitions of "health". They include:

• Cultural definition;
• Normative definition;
• Functional definitions.

Health depends on a number of factors, including biological factor, environmental factor, nutrition and standard of living. In other words health can be seen as a function of welfare. Unfortunately, there are inequalities in health care. It depends on a persons' social class or other personal or social things and situations. Health policy is very important in every country.

In both countries, Lithuania and United Kingdom, heath care can be divided into a number of different branches:

• Hospital care;
• Primary care;
• Public health.

The health policy is much expanded in UK. The vast majority of health care in UK is provided by NHS (National Health Service). It is the publicly funded health care system in UK. The NHS is held to protect all citizens and their rights to health care.

Despite being quite developed country, Lithuanian health policy is not as expanded as in UK. The process of formulating a national health policy in Lithuania has undergone several stages. Unfortunately, this process is still facing considerable difficulties.

Street children

"The term street children refer to children for whom the street more than their family has become their real home. It includes children who might not necessarily be homeless or without families, but who live in situations where there is no protection, supervision, or direction from responsible adults. " - Human Rights Watch

The number of children living independently in the streets totals between 100 million and 150 million worldwide, and it is forecasted that - by 2020 – the number will increase to 800 million. As we can see, the problem of growing number of street children is very important. Of course, there are a lot of organizations, charity funds or other institutions, which pay attention to this problem, but it is still hard to solve it. One of the biggest worldwide organization is UNICEF. The United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF - works for children's rights, their survival, development and protection.

UNICEF defines street children into two main categories:

1. Children on the street are those engaged in some kind of economic activity ranging from begging to vending. Because of the economic fragility of the family, these children may eventually opt for a permanent life on the streets.
   
2. Children of the street actually live on the street (or outside of a normal family environment). Family ties may exist but are tenuous and are maintained only casually or occasionally.

Also, UNICEF has defined three types of street children:

1. Street Living Children: children who ran away from their families and live alone on the streets.
2. Street Working Children: children who spend most of their time on the streets, fending for themselves, but returning home on a regular basis.
3. Children from Street Families: children who live on the streets with their families.

There are a lot of problems in the street. For example, poverty, lack of education, AIDS, prostitution, all kinds of abuse, drugs, alcohol and etc. About 50% of girls and 30% of boys tried to commit a suicide or 81 % of street children used any form of drugs , in Lithuania. It shows that street children are the weakest part of our society and we must do everything to make their life easier.