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Session 3
Penguins have a distinctive walk, or ‘waddle’. Today we discover the scientific theory that explains why penguins waddle.
Pengunoonni deemsa adda ta’e, ykn ‘deemsa gatantarri’ qabaatuu. Har’a yaadrimee (theory) saayinsaawaa kan maaliif pengunoonni deemsa gatantarri fakkaatu akka deeman hubanna.
Activity 1
Why do penguins waddle?
Penguins are lovable creatures that can instantly be recognised by their distinctive walk, or ‘waddle’. Today we discover the scientific theory that explains why penguins waddle.
Pengunoonni uumamoota jaalatamoofi deemsasaanii adda ta’een ykn ‘gatanttarri’n salphatti adda baafamaniidha. Har’a yaadrimee saayinsaawaa maaliif pengunooonni akka gatantaran hubanna.
Before you listen/Pre-listening
1) How many words can you think of that describe penguins and the way that they walk?
2) How can scientists compare animals today to animals in the past?
Listen to the audio and take the quiz.

Caalii
Yooyyaa! Odeessaalee Afaan Inglizii sirri ta’an akka hubattuuf bakka itti si barsiifnutti dhihaate caqasuuf baga nagaan dhufte! An Caaliidha.
Tom
And hello again everyone, I’m Tom. Good news for animal lovers! Today we are discussing penguins and asking the question ‘why do penguins waddle?’
Caalii
‘To waddle’ – gatantaruu, kun akkaataa itti adeemaniidha - yeroo baay’ee daa’immaniifi ijoollee waliinille ni fayyadamna.
Tom
Let’s listen to the first part of today’s clip! The reporter is in the zoo.
Caalii
Yaada gaarii! Dhiheessitutiin,waa’ee adeemsa gatantarurratti qorannoo yaalii saayinsaawaa ta’e hojjetame moora mooraa bineensotaa Landan, kutaa pengiyuunootaarra dabarsa jirti. Peengiyunoonni gosa allaatti kan fakkaataniifi miilla xixiqqoo kan qabaniidha. Akkaataa deemsa penguin ibsuuf jechoota kam fayyadamtii?
Presenter
With its tiny legs and stiff, upright posture a penguin has a waddle that's more than a little ungainly. But by installing a high-tech track in London Zoo, scientists will measure every tiny movement the birds make.
Tom
Did you hear that penguin? She mentions posture.
Caalii
‘Posture’- jechuun akkaata ijaarsa qaamaati. Jicha kana yeroo baay’ee akkaataa ijaarsa qaama namaa ittiin ibsuuf fayyadamna. Akkaataan ijaarsa qaama pengiyuun, ‘stiff’ ‘kan hin dadachaane’ fi ‘upright’ ‘ol-sorooraa’ ykn ol-dhaabbataa akka ta’eetti ibsiti.
Tom
And she also describes the waddle as ‘ungainly’.
Caalii
‘Ungainly’, gatantaraa deemu. Kana jechuun ‘awkward’ fi ‘clumsy’wajjin walfakkaata.
Tom
The presenter actually uses a phrase before ‘ungainly’. But, what is it? Listen again after ‘the penguin has a waddle’…
Insert
With its tiny legs and stiff, upright posture, a penguin has a waddle that's more than a little ungainly.
Caalii
‘More than a little’, asitti ‘quite’ jechuudha.
Dhiheessitutiin akka jettetti saayintistoonni sochiiwwan penguunotaa yeroo yerootiin hordofuun galmeessu. Daataa kanas kan yeroo darbe galmeessan waliin walbira qabanii ilaalu.
Tom
We can find stones or rocks with animal remains inside them. What’s the name for these? Let’s listen again!
Insert
But by installing a high-tech track in London Zoo, scientists will measure every tiny movement the birds make. The researchers will then compare this data with penguin fossils.
Tom
Aha! She said penguin fossils!
Caalii
‘A fossil’ - jechuun ambaadha. Asitti haa dhaabnumee. Peengiyunoonni ‘stiff, upright posture’ akka qabaniifi ‘tiny legs’ akkamii akka qaban dhageenyeerra. Peengiyunoonni jabanaa kanaa kanneen durii waliin walfakkaatu jettee yaaddaa? Adda baafachuuf caqasi!
Insert
The researchers will then compare this data with penguin fossils. They think that the ancient birds didn't waddle and had a more horizontal posture with different leg anatomy. The scientists suspect that as modern-day penguins became better adapted to swimming, they became more clumsy on land.
Tom
So, they aren’t the same!We’ve heard how modern penguins have an upright posture. Penguins in the past were the opposite! They had a horizontal posture.
Caalii
‘Horizontal’, jechuun dalga. Which means they were lying flat!
Tom
Right! Their legs have probably adapted over time as their posture changed.
Caalii
‘To adapt’ jechuun itti baruu jechuudha. Yeroo mara ijaarsa ‘adapt to’ jedhu [maqaa ykn gocha-ING] itti eda’uun fayyadamna. Hima isa dhumaa irradeebinee haacaqasnu. Pengiyunoonni maalitti baranii, ‘adapt to’ godhanii?
Insert
The scientists suspect that as modern-day penguins became better adapted to swimming, they became more clumsy on land.
Tom
So, penguins adapted to swimming. This means the anatomy,or structure, of their legs changed to become more suitable for water.
Caalii
And that’s why they’re ‘clumsy’, laamsha’oo jechuudha.
Tom
Exactly! So, have you adapted to presenting Listen Here yet?
Caalii
I think I’ve adapted by now! And we hope your ears are adapting to our show!
Join us next time to learn more Listen Here! Nagaa dhaami, Tom!
Tom
Bye everyone! See you next time!
Language features
horizontal / upright posture
Posture relates to position. It describes someone’s position when they are standing or sitting.
- You should sit up straight at your desk! A bad posture can cause back pain.
Horizontal describes something which lies flat or level with the ground. The opposite of horizontal is vertical. Upright is a synonym of vertical. It’s commonly used when referring to posture.
to adapt
To adapt means ‘to change in accordance with something’.
- After I had a baby, I adapted my bike – it now has two seats instead of one!
To become adapted describes the process of changing when change is influenced by important factors.
- Otters have become adapted to cold water. They have thick fur which keeps them warm.
anatomy
Anatomy is a noun used to refer to the structure of the body.
- The anatomy of a shark is perfect for hunting in the sea. They have sharp teeth and can breathe underwater using gills.
The subject name for the study of bodily structure is also anatomy.
- I need to leave or I will be late for my anatomy class!
Why do penguins waddle?
3 Questions
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii ta’e fili.
Help
Activity
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii ta’e fili.
Hint
Jechi tokko akkaata ijaarsa qaama (dhaabbi) ibsa.Question 1 of 3
Help
Activity
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii ta’e fili.
Hint
Deebiin sirrii hintaane walumaagalatti akkaataa ihjaarsa qaamaa (anatomy of the body) eeraQuestion 2 of 3
Help
Activity
Choose the correct answer.
Deebii sirrii ta’e fili.
Hint
Kun fakkeenya lammataa sagantaa har’aa keessatti eerame ture.Question 3 of 3
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
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Join us for our next episode of Listen Here! when we will learn more useful language and practise your listening skills.
Sagantaa Listen Here kan qooqa daran faayida-qabeessa ta’an keessatti barannuufi daandeettiiwwan dhageettiikee ittiin shaakaltutti yeroo itaanu walitti deebina.
Session Vocabulary
waddle
deemsa akka gatanttarristiff
kan hindadachaane hindachaaneupright
ol-sorooraa ykn ol-dhaabbataaposture
akkaata ijaarsa qaamaa (dhaabbi)ungainly
gatantaraa ykn mudhukaa deemuuclumsy
daagiifossils
ambaaleeanatomy
qo’annoo ijaarsa qaamaato adapt
itti baruu ykn madaquu