The Reading / Listening - Level 1

The United Nations says over 250 million children of primary school age cannot read, write or do basic maths. 120 million children have spent little or no time in school. Countries are poorer when children do not go to school. Each year, countries lose up to $130 billion. The U.N. said there was a global "learning crisis". In a third of countries, 75% of primary school teachers do not have enough training. The U.N. said it was important "to focus on quality".

Most children not going to school are girls. Countries get richer if girls go to school – up to 25% richer in 40 years. Almost two-thirds (66%) of girls in Arab countries and parts of Africa may never go to school. In Yemen, just 36% of girls are literate. Reuters said poorer girls in developing countries wouldn't be literate until 2072. The good news is that in Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam, the number of children not going to school fell by 85% in the last five years.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/29/kid-literacy-rate_n_4691196.html?utm_hp_ref=world
  • http://www.dw.de/unesco-report-higher-illiteracy-rate-more-waste-in-education-than-previously-believed/a-17393234
  • http://www.trust.org/item/20140130051043-gzad3/
  • http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/efareport/reports/2013/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

cannot read, write or

a.

was important

2.

spent little or

b.

"learning crisis"

3.

Countries are poorer when children

c.

of countries

4.

The U.N. said there was a global

d.

on quality

5.

In a third

e.

do not go to school

6.

75% of primary school teachers do not

f.

do basic maths

7.

The U.N. said it

g.

have enough training

8.

focus

h.

no time in school

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Most children not going to

a.

developing countries

2.

Countries get richer if girls

b.

in 40 years

3.

up to 25% richer

c.

five years

4.

Almost two-thirds (66%) of

d.

go to school

5.

In Yemen, just 36%

e.

fell by 85%

6.

poorer girls in

f.

school are girls

7.

children not going to school

g.

of girls are literate

8.

in the last

h.

girls in Arab countries

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The United Nations says over 250 million children of primary school age cannot read, write (1) ___________________. 120 million children have (2) ___________________ time in school. Countries (3) ___________________ children do not go to school. Each year, countries (4) ___________________ billion. The U.N. said there was a (5) ___________________. In a third of countries, 75% of primary school teachers do not have enough training. The U.N. said it was important "(6) ___________________ ".

Most children not going (7) ___________________. Countries get richer if girls go to school – (8) ___________________ in 40 years. (9) ___________________ (66%) of girls in Arab countries and parts of Africa may never go to school. In Yemen, just 36% (10) ___________________. Reuters said poorer girls in (11) ___________________ wouldn't be literate until 2072. The good news is that in Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam, the number of children not going to school (12) ___________________ the last five years.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheUnitedNationssaysover250millionchildrenofprimaryschoolagecannot
read,writeordobasicmaths.120millionchildrenhavespentlittleornotimeinsc
hool.Countriesarepoorerwhenchildrendonotgotoschool.Eachyear,countri
esloseupto$130billion.TheU.N.saidtherewasaglobal"learningcrisis".Inath
irdofcountries,75%ofprimaryschoolteachersdonothaveenoughtraining.T
heU.N.saiditwasimportant"tofocusonquality".Mostchildrennotgoingtosch
oolaregirls.Countriesgetricherifgirlsgotoschool–upto25%richerin40yea
rs.Almosttwo-thirds(66%)ofgirlsinArabcountriesandpartsofAfricamay
nevergotoschool.InYemen,just36%ofgirlsareliterate.Reuterssaidpoorergi
rlsindevelopingcountrieswouldn'tbeliterateuntil2072.Thegoodnewsisthati
nLaos,RwandaandVietnam,thenumberofchildrennotgoingtoschoolfellby8
5%inthelastfiveyears.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

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g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about literacy for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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