EnglishClub Podcast

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

retire: to stop working often due to old age
decade: a ten-year period
serenade: to sing with passion to someone in particular
OB/GYN: a doctor who specializes in delivering babies and in women's reproductive health (obstetrician/gynaecologist)
beloved: well-known and loved
gentle: kindhearted, soft
bedside manner: a doctor's approach to taking care of patients


"The Singing Doctor" Retires in Pittsburgh
Dr. Carey Andrew-Jaja of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has retired after serenading over newborns. The OB/GYN was known for babies into the world by singing songs like "Happy Birthday" or "It's a World" after their delivery. The beloved doctor was so well-known for his gentle bedside manner at a hospital in Pittsburgh that many mothers refer to their children as "Jaja babies" even years after giving birth. Dr. Jaja spent four decades delivering and singing to babies with the goal of making the experience of childbirth less stressful for everyone.
Comprehension Questions

What is the report mainly about?
Why does the reading mention "Happy Birthday"?
What are "Jaja babies"?

Discussion Question
What good experiences have you had with doctors and nurses over the years? Have you ever experienced a medical professional with a poor bedside manner?


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"The Singing Doctor" Retires in Pittsburgh
Dr. Carey Andrew-Jaja of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has officially retired after serenading over 8,000 newborns. The OB/GYN was known for welcoming babies into the world by singing songs like "Happy Birthday" or "It's a Wonderful World" after their delivery. The beloved doctor was so well-known for his gentle bedside manner at a women's hospital in Pittsburgh that many mothers refer to their children as "Jaja babies" even years after giving birth. Dr. Jaja spent four decades delivering and singing to babies with the goal of making the experience of childbirth less stressful for everyone.

The report is mainly about a retired doctor who always sang to the newborns he delivered.
The reading mentions "Happy Birthday" because this is one of the songs the doctor sang to welcome newborns into the world.
"Jaja babies" were those delivered by Dr. Carey Andrew-Jaja, "The Singing Doctor" of Pittsburgh.