Unit 2 A life’s work

Using language

5 Listen to the radio programme and choose its purpose.

Host: Welcome to the show. Today, we're going to talk about traditional crafts that are dying out. My guest today is Emma Hadley, an expert in traditional crafts. Emma, what do you know about traditional crafts that are under threat?

Guest: Well, the UK was once known as the "workshop of the world". But did you know that today there is only one craftsperson in the country making clogs?

Host: Clogs? Like wooden shoes?

Guest: Yes. Clog making, it appears, is dying out. The same situation is there for basket making with oak. There are also very few oak basket makers left.

Host: That doesn't sound promising. But why are all these crafts under threat?

Guest: Well, one reason is simply that the demand for these crafts has fallen along with the times. For example, years ago, people took oak baskets with them when they went shopping. But what do you take with you now?

Host: Erm... a bag?

Guest: Yes! No one goes shopping with a basket anymore.

Host: That's true.

Guest: Well, the cost of making these crafts is also an important reason why traditional crafts like basket making are endangered. Substitutes like shopping bags are massproduced with modern technology and much cheaper. But it takes a craftsperson a lot of time to make the same amount of traditional baskets, let alone the high cost of the materials involved.

Host: I hate to admit it, but you are right.

Guest: Another factor is that the younger generation is not interested in learning traditional skills. They can be difficult to learn and take years to master.

Host: Indeed. Young people are more interested in learning more " modern" crafts, such as computer programming.

Guest: Yes, and with fewer and fewer people learning them, these traditional crafts could die out completely.

Host: That would be terrible! Is there anything we can do to stop this from happening?

Guest: Actually, there's a lot we can do! Governments could set up... [fade out]