Date: April 29, 2005
Level: Easier (Try the harder lesson.)
Downloads: This Lesson (Word Doc) | Class Handout (Word Doc) | Class Handout (PDF)
Listening (1:25 - 167.5 KB - 16kbps)
THE ARTICLE
A historic meeting took place in Jerusalem earlier between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. It is the first ever visit to Israel by a Russian or Soviet leader. This seems a little strange because twenty percent of Israelis are Russian-speaking. President Putin is hoping for a new role for his country in the Middle East. Russia has lost a lot of power in the region since the end of the Cold War. The two leaders will discuss a wide range of issues. A major sticking point will be Russia’s planned sale of missiles to Syria. Israel is still at war with Syria and is worried the missiles may fall into terrorist hands. Israel is also concerned about Russia’s role in Iran’s nuclear programme. Mr Putin has insisted that Russia’s technical help in Iran is only for peaceful purposes, such as energy, and not nuclear weapons.
WARM UPS
1. CHAT: Talk in pairs or groups about: Jerusalem / Vladimir Putin / Ariel Sharon / Russia / Israel / Cold War / Syria / Iran … For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently.
2. JERUSALEM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the Jerusalem. Share your words with your partner / group and talk about them.
3. GOOGLE SEARCHERS: For this activity, become a “Google Searcher” – visit other sites (your classmates) and try to find out what they know about Israeli-Russian history. These “searches” may be good places to start: Soviet Union / Cold War / KGB / Six-Day War / Sinai / Golan Heights / Mikhail Gorbachev / Glasnost.
Start your searches by asking:
- What do you know about…?
- What can you tell me about…?
- Can you tell me anything about…?
- Tell me all you know about…?
- Tell me something about…?
- Do you know anything about…?
- Do you have any information about…?
In groups, share the information you found in your searches. Use these sentence starters:
- I was told that…
- I found out that…
- Student X told me…
- I heard that…
- Apparently…
4. MR PUTIN’S VISIT: Read the following comments on Mr Putin’s visit and agree or disagree with them with your partner / group:
- It is a wonderful event. It will help bring peace to the region.
- Russia will never be a major player in the Middle East.
- Twenty per cent of Israel’s population is Russian-speaking. The visit is natural.
- Mr Putin is jealous of America’s power in the region.
- Israel and Russia are partners in the War on Terror. It is right they should meet.
- Russia’s sale of missiles to Syria is dangerous.
- Better late than never.
- Putin’s visit to Israel shows the Arab world things must change.
PRE-READING IDEAS
1. WORD SEARCH: Use your dictionary / computer to find word partners (collocates), other meanings, synonyms or more information on the words ‘historic’ and ‘meeting’.
2. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true or false:
- Russia’s President Putin went to Israel to visit sights from the Bible. T / F
- President Putin wants a new role for Russia in the Middle East. T / F
- President Putin is the first Russian or Soviet leader ever to visit Israel . T / F
- Mr Putin and Mr Sharon will discuss many issues. T / F
- Mr Sharon has said it is OK for Russia to sell missiles to Syria. T / F
- Israel is still at war with Syria. T / F
- Mr Putin has insisted he is not helping Iran develop nuclear weapons. T / F
3. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
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a.
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historic
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area
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|
b.
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country
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repeated
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c.
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region
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nation
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d.
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wide
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worried
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e.
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sticking point
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momentous
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f.
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concerned
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broad
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g.
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insisted
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reasons
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h.
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purposes
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obstacle
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4. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
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a.
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historic
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a little strange
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b.
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the first
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of issues
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c.
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This seems
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point
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d.
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twenty percent of Israelis
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ever visit to Israel
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e.
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lost a lot of
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purposes
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f.
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a wide range
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power in the region
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g.
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major sticking
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are Russian-speaking
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h.
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peaceful
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meeting
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WHILE READING ACTIVITIES
1. GAP-FILL: Fill the gaps with the words in the column on the right.
Putin’s historic visit to Israel
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A __________ meeting took place in Jerusalem earlier between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. It is the first __________ visit to Israel by a Russian or Soviet leader. This seems a little strange because twenty percent of Israelis are Russian-speaking. President Putin is hoping for a new __________ for his country in the Middle East. Russia has lost a lot of __________ in the region since the end of the Cold War. The two leaders will discuss a wide range of issues. A major __________ point will be Russia’s planned sale of missiles to Syria. Israel is still at war with Syria and is worried the missiles may __________ into terrorist hands. Israel is also concerned about Russia’s role in Iran’s nuclear programme. Mr Putin has __________ that Russia’s technical help in Iran is only for peaceful __________, such as energy, and not nuclear weapons.
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role
fall
historic
purposes
sticking
power
ever
insisted
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2. TRUE/FALSE: Check your answers to the T/F exercise.
3. SYNONYM MATCH: Check your answers to this exercise.
4. PHRASE MATCH: Check your answers to this exercise.
5. QUESTIONS: Make notes for questions you would like to ask the class about the article.
6. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
POST READING IDEAS
1. GAP FILL: Check your answers to this exercise.
2. QUESTIONS: Ask the discussion questions you thought of above to your partner / group / class. Pool the questions for everyone to share.
3. VOCABULARY: As a class, go over the vocabulary students circled above.
4. STUDENT PUTIN SURVEY: In pairs/groups write down questions about Vladimir Putin. Ask other classmates your questions and report back to your original partner/ group to compare your findings.
5. ‘HISTORIC’ / ‘MEETING’: Make questions based on your findings from pre-reading activity #1. Ask your partner / group your questions.
6. DISCUSSION:
- Were you interested in this article ?
- Were you surprised at anything you read in the article?
- Do you believe everything you read in the article?
- What do you think of President Putin’s visit?
- Are you surprised it’s the first ever visit to Israel by a Russian or Soviet leader?
- Do you think Mr Putin’s visit will change anything in the Middle East?
- Should Russia sell missiles to Syria?
- Should America sell arms to Israel?
- Should Russia be helping Iran in its nuclear programme?
- Should Israel have nuclear weapons?
- Will Israel and its neighbours ever live together in peace?
- Does Russia have a role to play in the Middle East?
- Does America have too much power in the Middle East?
- Are relations between Israel and its neighbours getting better or worse?
- Did you like this discussion?
- Teacher / Student additional questions.
7. ISRAEL/RUSSIA HEADLINES: Talk to your partner / group about these imaginary headlines:
- Russia – the new peacemaker in the Middle East
- Israel to pull down its security fence.
- Sharon and Putin to receive Nobel Peace Prize
- Israel agrees to destroy its nuclear weapons in exchange for peace with Arab neighbours
- Iran has nuclear weapons
- East Jerusalem becomes Palestinian capital city
- Bush gives Iran 48 hours to start destroying nuclear weapons
- Israel attends regional Arab development conference
HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find information on Vladimir Putin. Share your findings with your class next lesson.
3. RUSSIAN-ISRAELI TIES: Make a poster of the history between Russia and Israel since 1948. Show it to your classmates in your next lesson.
4. DIPLOMAT’S DIARY: Imagine you are a diplomat for your country. Write the journal / diary entry for one day of your work.
ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE:
- Russia’s President Putin went to Israel to visit sights from the Bible. F
- President Putin wants a new role for Russia in the Middle East. T
- President Putin is the first Russian or Soviet leader ever to visit Israel . T
- Mr Putin and Mr Sharon will discuss many issues. T
- Mr Sharon has said it is OK for Russia to sell missiles to Syria. F
- Israel is still at war with Syria. T
- Mr Putin has insisted he is not helping Iran develop nuclear weapons. T
SYNONYM MATCH:
|
a.
|
historic
|
momentous
|
|
b.
|
country
|
nation
|
|
c.
|
region
|
area
|
|
d.
|
wide
|
broad
|
|
e.
|
sticking point
|
obstacle
|
|
f.
|
concerned
|
worried
|
|
g.
|
insisted
|
repeated
|
|
h.
|
purposes
|
reasons
|
PHRASE MATCH:
|
a.
|
historic
|
meeting
|
|
b.
|
the first
|
ever visit to Israel
|
|
c.
|
This seems
|
a little strange
|
|
d.
|
twenty percent of Israelis
|
are Russian-speaking
|
|
e.
|
lost a lot of
|
power in the region
|
|
f.
|
a wide range
|
of issues
|
|
g.
|
major sticking
|
point
|
|
h.
|
peaceful
|
purposes
|
GAP FILL:
Putin’s historic visit to Israel