A nurse named Tincy Jose found out she had a sickness called Parkinson’s disease. She was very surprised and sad when she learned about it. But Tincy decided to use her experience to help other people who have the same sickness. She first knew something was wrong when one of her feet made a louder sound than the other when she walked.

Tincy’s boss at the hospital told her she could still do her job and be with her kids even with her sickness. She told other people at work about her sickness and felt it was her special mission. Tincy is also part of a group of hospital workers who have Parkinson’s. They want to make sure people in the hospital get their medicine when they need it.

Tincy won an award for being a really good nurse. She thinks it’s important to stay happy, strong, and kind to yourself when you’re sick. Tincy’s son is proud of her because she takes care of her family and keeps working. She is thankful for the love and help from her family.

Original news source: Parkinson’s disease: ‘You can have a career after diagnosis’ (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have the students read the article and write a brief summary of the main points. They can then share their summaries with a partner or in small groups.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Provide the students with a list of vocabulary words from the article. They must draw a picture that represents each word and their classmates have to guess what the word is.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set amount of time (e.g. 1 minute) to summarize the article to their partner. After the time is up, they switch roles and summarize again. Encourage them to use their own words and not read directly from the article.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Have the students discuss in small groups the pros and cons of Tincy sharing her diagnosis with her colleagues. Encourage them to think about how it may have affected her work, relationships, and personal well-being.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the students to think about a time when they or someone they know faced a difficult situation or illness. They should then pair up with a classmate and share their experiences, offering support and advice to each other. Finally, ask a few volunteers to share their stories with the whole class if they feel comfortable doing so.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What sickness does Tincy have?
2. How did Tincy feel when she found out she had Parkinson’s disease?
3. How did Tincy know something was wrong with her?
4. What did Tincy’s boss at the hospital tell her?
5. What is Tincy’s special mission?
6. Why is Tincy’s son proud of her?
7. Who does Tincy thank for their love and help?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A nurse (1)______ Tincy Jose found out she had a sickness called Parkinson’s (2)______. She was very surprised and sad when she learned about it. But Tincy (3)______ to use her experience to help other people who have the same sickness. She first knew something was wrong when one of her (4)______ made a louder sound than the other when she walked.

Tincy’s boss at the (5)______ told her she could still do her job and be with her kids even with her sickness. She told other people at (6)______ about her (7)______ and felt it was her special mission. Tincy is also part of a group of hospital (8)______ who have Parkinson’s. They want to make sure people in the hospital get their medicine when they (9)______ it.

Tincy won an award for being a really good (10)______. She thinks it’s (11)______ to stay happy, strong, and kind to yourself when you’re sick. Tincy’s son is (12)______ of her because she takes care of her family and keeps working. She is thankful for the love and help from her family.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Parkinson’s disease?
2. How do you think Tincy felt when she found out she had Parkinson’s disease?
3. How would you feel if you found out you had a sickness like Parkinson’s disease?
4. Do you think it’s important to help other people who have the same sickness as you? Why or why not?
5. How do you think Tincy’s boss at the hospital reacted when she told him about her sickness?
6. Do you think it’s possible to still do your job and take care of your family even if you’re sick? Why or why not?
7. What do you think Tincy means when she says it’s her special mission to help other people with Parkinson’s disease?
8. How do you think Tincy’s son feels about his mom?
9. Do you think it’s important to stay happy, strong, and kind to yourself when you’re sick? Why or why not?
10. How do you think Tincy’s family helps her?
11. Do you like helping other people? Why or why not?
12. Do you think it’s important to give love and help to your family? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. sickness
2. Parkinson’s disease
3. surprised
4. sad
5. experience
6. boss
7. hospital
8. medicine
9. award
10. strong
11. family
12. thankful

Meanings:
(A) A type of sickness that affects the way you move
(B) Not feeling well or being healthy
(C) Having a lot of power or energy
(D) The person in charge at your job
(E) Something that happens to you that you can learn from
(F) Feeling unhappy or down
(G) Feeling shocked or caught off guard
(H) Something you take to make you feel better when you’re sick
(I) Feeling grateful for something or someone
(J) A prize or recognition for doing something well
(K) The people you live with and care about
(L) A place where sick people go to get better
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What sickness does Tincy Jose have?
(a) Cancer
(b) Parkinson’s disease
(c) Diabetes
(d) Asthma

2. How did Tincy first realize something was wrong?
(a) She had a fever
(b) She couldn’t sleep at night
(c) One of her feet made a louder sound when she walked
(d) She had a headache

3. Who told Tincy that she could still do her job and be with her kids?
(a) Her boss at the hospital
(b) Her doctor
(c) Her friend
(d) Her neighbor

4. What is Tincy’s special mission?
(a) To become a famous nurse
(b) To travel the world
(c) To win awards
(d) To help other people with Parkinson’s disease

5. What does Tincy and her group of hospital workers want to make sure of?
(a) That people in the hospital get enough sleep
(b) That people in the hospital get their medicine when they need it
(c) That people in the hospital eat healthy food
(d) That people in the hospital exercise regularly

6. What did Tincy win an award for?
(a) Being a good mother
(b) Being a good friend
(c) Being a good cook
(d) Being a really good nurse

7. What does Tincy think is important when you’re sick?
(a) To stay sad and weak
(b) To stay angry and mean to yourself
(c) To stay happy, strong, and kind to yourself
(d) To stay scared and lonely

8. Who is proud of Tincy?
(a) Her son
(b) Her boss at the hospital
(c) Her doctor
(d) Her neighbor

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Tincy’s son is ashamed of her because she neglects her family and refuses to work.
2. Tincy decided to use her lack of experience to help other people with Parkinson’s disease.
3. Tincy’s boss at the hospital told her she could still do her job and take care of her kids despite her sickness.
4. Tincy was surprised and happy when she found out she had Parkinson’s disease.
5. Tincy noticed something was right when one of her feet made a softer sound than the other when she walked.
6. Tincy won an award for being an excellent nurse.
7. Tincy is part of a group of hospital workers with Parkinson’s disease who ensure patients receive their medicine on time.
8. Tincy Jose is a nurse who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What did Tincy Jose find out she had?
2. How did Tincy feel when she learned about her sickness?
3. What did Tincy’s boss at the hospital tell her?
4. Why does Tincy think it’s important to stay happy, strong, and kind to yourself when you’re sick?
5. Who is proud of Tincy and why?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What sickness does Tincy have?
Tincy has Parkinson’s disease.

2. How did Tincy feel when she found out she had Parkinson’s disease?
Tincy felt surprised and sad when she found out she had Parkinson’s disease.

3. How did Tincy know something was wrong with her?
Tincy knew something was wrong with her when one of her feet made a louder sound than the other when she walked.

4. What did Tincy’s boss at the hospital tell her?
Tincy’s boss at the hospital told her that she could still do her job and be with her kids even with her sickness.

5. What is Tincy’s special mission?
Tincy’s special mission is to help other people who have Parkinson’s disease and make sure people in the hospital get their medicine when they need it.

6. Why is Tincy’s son proud of her?
Tincy’s son is proud of her because she takes care of her family and keeps working despite her sickness.

7. Who does Tincy thank for their love and help?
Tincy thanks her family for their love and help.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) disease
(3) decided
(4) feet
(5) hospital
(6) work
(7) sickness
(8) workers
(9) need
(10) nurse
(11) important
(12) proud
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. sickness
Answer: (B) Not feeling well or being healthy

2. Parkinson’s disease
Answer: (A) A type of sickness that affects the way you move

3. surprised
Answer: (G) Feeling shocked or caught off guard

4. sad
Answer: (F) Feeling unhappy or down

5. experience
Answer: (E) Something that happens to you that you can learn from

6. boss
Answer: (D) The person in charge at your job

7. hospital
Answer: (L) A place where sick people go to get better

8. medicine
Answer: (H) Something you take to make you feel better when you’re sick

9. award
Answer: (J) A prize or recognition for doing something well

10. strong
Answer: (C) Having a lot of power or energy

11. family
Answer: (K) The people you live with and care about

12. thankful
Answer: (I) Feeling grateful for something or someone
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What sickness does Tincy Jose have?
Answer: (b) Parkinson’s disease

2. How did Tincy first realize something was wrong?
Answer: (c) One of her feet made a louder sound when she walked

3. Who told Tincy that she could still do her job and be with her kids?
Answer: (a) Her boss at the hospital

4. What is Tincy’s special mission?
Answer: (d) To help other people with Parkinson’s disease

5. What does Tincy and her group of hospital workers want to make sure of?
Answer: (b) That people in the hospital get their medicine when they need it

6. What did Tincy win an award for?
Answer: (d) Being a really good nurse

7. What does Tincy think is important when you’re sick?
Answer: (c) To stay happy, strong, and kind to yourself

8. Who is proud of Tincy?
Answer: (a) Her son
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Tincy’s son is ashamed of her because she neglects her family and refuses to work. (Answer: False)
2. Tincy decided to use her lack of experience to help other people with Parkinson’s disease. (Answer: False)
3. Tincy’s boss at the hospital told her she could still do her job and take care of her kids despite her sickness. (Answer: True)
4. Tincy was surprised and happy when she found out she had Parkinson’s disease. (Answer: False)
5. Tincy noticed something was right when one of her feet made a softer sound than the other when she walked. (Answer: False)
6. Tincy won an award for being an excellent nurse. (Answer: True)
7. Tincy is part of a group of hospital workers with Parkinson’s disease who ensure patients receive their medicine on time. (Answer: True)
8. Tincy Jose is a nurse who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧