The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Aung San Suu Kyi is to be Myanmar's new foreign minister in the first civilian government the country has had in decades. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won an absolute majority in the general election in November 2015 under her leadership. This happened after decades of military rule. However, Suu Kyi is ineligible to become Myanmar's president as she is blocked by the country's constitution, which bars people with foreign family links from the post - her two sons are British citizens. There are unconfirmed rumours that Ms Suu Kyi could also take on other roles and become the minister for education as well as the energy minister.

Suu Kyi was the sole woman named among 15 ministers. An NLD spokesman told reporters: "She will be the foreign minister, mainly. If she wants to share the duties she has in other ministries with qualified people, she can assign them." The foreign ministry role gives her international influence and a seat at Myanmar's influential military-dominated security council. Suu Kyi has made it very clear that she will rule above the president. She has tried without success in recent weeks to remove the constitutional barrier to her becoming president. Trevor Wilson, a former ambassador to Myanmar, said: "She wants to be at the heart of government. She wants to do it properly and formally and…legally."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.thedailystar.net/world/suu-kyi-run-foreign-ministry-1198318
  • http://www.straitstimes.com/world/aung-san-suu-kyi-may-take-up-multiple-roles-in-new-myanmar-government
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/12200741/Aung-San-Suu-Kyi-Cabinet-nominated-Burma.html


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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. AUNG SAN SUU KYI: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Aung San Suu Kyi. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

 

foreign minister / civilian / decades / majority / general election / constitution / energy / reporters / duties / qualified / influence / security council / success / ambassador

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. FOREIGN MINISTER: What would you do as foreign minister of your country? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What?

Why?

Neighbours

 

 

Terrorism

 

 

The U.N.

 

 

Refugees

 

 

Overseas aid

 

 

Nuclear countries

 

 

4. PRESIDENT: Students A strongly believe Aung San Suu Kyi should be president; Students B strongly believe she shouldn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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

5. GOVERNMENT: Rank these with your partner. Put the best departments to lead at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Foreign affairs

  • President

  • Finance

  • Sports

  • Health

  • Transport

  • National security

  • Environment

6. DEMOCRACY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "democracy". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.

Myanmar has its second civilian government in the past 10 years.

T / F

b.

Aung San Suu Kyi's party won an election last December.

T / F

c.

Aung San Suu Kyi can't become president because her sons are British.

T / F

d.

Aung San Suu Kyi could take on four roles in government.

T / F

e.

Aung San Suu Kyi is the only female minister named.

T / F

f.

An NLD spokesman said she should not share duties.

T / F

g.

Aung San Suu Kyi said she would not rule above the president.

T / F

h.

A former ambassador said Suu Kyi wants to do things legally.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

country

a.

only

2.

absolute

b.

control

3.

rule

c.

correctly

4.

ineligible

d.

prohibits

5.

bars

e.

nation

6.

sole

f.

responsibilities

7.

duties

g.

obstacle

8.

influential

h.

total

9.

barrier

i.

important

10.

properly

j.

ruled out

3. PHRASE MATCH:  (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.

the first civilian

a.

rule

2.

an absolute

b.

barrier

3.

decades of military

c.

for education

4.

unconfirmed

d.

among 15 ministers

5.

the minister

e.

government

6.

the sole woman named

f.

to Myanmar

7.

security

g.

rumours

8.

constitutional

h.

council

9.

a former ambassador

i.

and formally

10.

She wants to do it properly

j.

majority

GAP FILL

Aung San Suu Kyi is to be Myanmar's new foreign minister in the first (1) ____________ government the country has had in decades. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won an (2) ____________ majority in the (3) ____________ election in November 2015 under her leadership. This happened after decades of military (4) ____________. However, Suu Kyi is ineligible to become Myanmar's president as she is (5) ____________ by the country's constitution, which bars people with foreign family (6) ____________ from the post - her two sons are British (7) ____________. There are unconfirmed rumours that Ms Suu Kyi could also take on other roles and become the minister for (8) ____________ as well as the energy minister.

 

 

absolute
rule
links
general
citizens
civilian
education
blocked

Suu Kyi was the (9) ____________ woman named among 15 ministers. An NLD spokesman told reporters: "She will be the foreign minister, (10) ____________. If she wants to share the (11) ____________ she has in other ministries with qualified people, she can assign them." The foreign ministry role gives her international (12) ____________ and a seat at Myanmar's influential military-dominated security (13) ____________. Suu Kyi has made it very clear that she will rule above the president. She has tried without (14) ____________ in recent weeks to remove the constitutional (15) ____________ to her becoming president. Trevor Wilson, a former ambassador to Myanmar, said: "She wants to be at the heart of government. She wants to do it (16) ____________ and formally and…legally."

 

mainly
success
influence
properly
sole
barrier
duties
council

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

the first civilian government the country has ______

 

a.  have in decade
b.  having decades
c.  had in decades
d.  had in decade

2)

Suu Kyi is ineligible to become Myanmar's president ______

 

a.  has she is blocked
b.  was she is blocked
c.  is she is blocked
d.  as she is blocked

3)

blocked by the country's constitution, which bars people with foreign family ______

 

a.  links from the posts
b.  links from the post
c.  links from a post
d.  link from the post

4)

There are unconfirmed rumours that Ms Suu Kyi could also take ______

 

a.  on another roles
b.  another role
c.  on other roles
d.  on other role

5)

become the minister for education as well as ______

 

a.  the energy minister
b.  the energies minister
c.  the energetic minister
d.  the emergency minister

6)

If she wants to share the duties she has in other ministries with qualified people, she ______

 

a.  can a sign them
b.  can assign them
c.  can assign there
d.  can a sign there

7)

a seat at Myanmar's influential military-dominated ______

 

a.  security councils
b.  securities council
c.  securities councils
d.  security council

8)

Suu Kyi has made it very clear that she will rule ______

 

a.  above a president
b.  above the president
c.  above this president
d.  above that president

9)

She has tried without success in recent weeks to remove the ______

 

a.  constitutional barriers
b.  constitutional barrier
c.  constitution all barrier
d.  constitution barrier

10)

She wants to do it properly and formally ______

 

a.  and…legally
b.  at…legally
c.  end…legal
d.  and…legal

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Aung San Suu Kyi is to be Myanmar's new foreign minister in the first civilian government the country (1) ___________________ decades. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party (2) ___________________ majority in (3) ___________________ in November 2015 under her leadership. This happened after decades of military rule. However, Suu Kyi is ineligible to become Myanmar's president (4) ___________________ by the country's constitution, which bars people with foreign family links from the post - her two sons are British citizens. There are (5) __________________ that Ms Suu Kyi could also take on other roles and become the minister for education (6) ___________________ energy minister.

Suu Kyi was the (7) ___________________ among 15 ministers. An NLD spokesman told reporters: "She will be the foreign minister, mainly. If she wants to (8) ___________________ she has in other ministries with qualified people, she can assign them." The foreign ministry role gives her international (9) ___________________ seat at Myanmar's influential military-dominated security council. Suu Kyi has made it very clear that she will rule above the president. She (10) ___________________ success in recent weeks to remove the constitutional (11) ___________________ becoming president. Trevor Wilson, a former ambassador to Myanmar, said: "She wants to be at the heart of government. She wants to do it properly (12) ___________________ legally."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

In how long has there not been a civilian government in Myanmar?

2.

When did the NLD win a general election?

3.

What was there before the civilian government?

4.

What nationality are Aung San Suu Kyi's sons?

5.

What other role could Suu Kyi take on besides energy minister?

6.

How many women have been named in the Myanmar government?

7.

What does Aung San Suu Kyi's role give her a seat at?

8.

What did Suu Kyi unsuccessfully try to remove?

9.

Who is Trevor Wilson?

10.

Where did Trevor Wilson say Aung San Suu Kyi wanted to be?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

In how long has there not been a civilian government in Myanmar?

6.

How many women have been named in the Myanmar government?

 

a) since 1782
b) decades
c) three years and two months
d) 24 years

 

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

2.

When did the NLD win a general election?

7.

What does Aung San Suu Kyi's role give her a seat at?

 

a) January
b) last month
c) last week
d) November, 2015

 

a) the United Nations
b) a cinema
c) Myanmar's security council
d) the table

3.

What was there before the civilian government?

8.

What did Suu Kyi unsuccessfully try to remove?

 

a) military rule
b) democracy
c) a monarchy
d) communism

 

a) a constitutional barrier
b) a tooth
c) a general
d) a post

4.

What nationality are Aung San Suu Kyi's sons?

9.

Who is Trevor Wilson?

 

a) Burmese
b) American
c) British
d) Thai

 

a) a former ambassador
b) a journalist
c) Suu Kyi's biographer
d) a political prisoner

5.

What other role could Suu Kyi take on besides energy minister?

10.

Where did Trevor Wilson say Aung San Suu Kyi wanted to be?

 

a) environment
b) education minister
c) president
d) equal opportunities

 

a) in her hometown
b) on a beach
c) Britain
d) at the heart of government

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Foreign affairs

You think foreign affairs is the best department to be leader of. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their departments aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): finance, sports or national security.

Role  B – Finance

You think finance is the best department to be leader of. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their departments aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): foreign affairs, sports or national security.

Role  C – Sports

You think sports is the best department to be leader of. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their departments aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): finance, foreign affairs or national security.

Role  D – National security

You think national security is the best department to be leader of. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their departments aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why):  finance, sports or foreign affairs.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'general' and 'election'.

general

 

election

 

 

  • Share your findings with your partners.
  • Make questions using the words you found.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

  • Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

  • new
  • general
  • decades
  • bars
  • sons
  • well
  • 15
  • mainly
  • assign
  • clear
  • barrier
  • legally

AUNG SAN SUU KYI SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Aung San Suu Kyi in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1)

What did you think when you read the headline?

2)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'Myanmar'?

3)

What do you know about Aung San Suu Kyi?

4)

What kind of foreign minister will Aung San Suu Kyi be?

5)

What do you know about democracy in Myanmar?

6)

What is the foreign minister of your country like?

7)

How difficult would life be under military rule?

8)

Should Aung San Suu Kyi be allowed to be president?

9)

Why should it matter that her two sons are British?

10)

What will Myanmar be like in 20 years from now?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12)

How important is the position of foreign minister?

13)

What do you know about Myanmar?

14)

What will Aung San Suu Kyi do to change Myanmar?

15)

Should the country be called Myanmar or Burma?

16)

Do you think Aung San Suu Kyi will be able to take on four roles?

17)

Why is Aung San Suu Kyi so popular?

18)

Where does Aung San Suu Kyi rank among world leaders?

19)

What advice do you have for Aung San Suu Kyi?

20)

What questions would you like to ask Aung San Suu Kyi?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Aung San Suu Kyi is to be Myanmar's new foreign minister in the first (1) ____ government the country has had (2) ____ decades. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won an (3) ____ majority in the general election in November 2015 under her leadership. This happened after decades (4) ____ military rule. However, Suu Kyi is ineligible to become Myanmar's president as she is blocked by the country's constitution, which bars people with foreign family links from the post - her two sons are British citizens. There are unconfirmed (5) ____ that Ms Suu Kyi could also (6) ____ on other roles and become the minister for education as well as the energy minister.

Suu Kyi was the sole woman named among 15 ministers. An NLD spokesman told reporters: "She will be the foreign minister, (7) ____. If she wants to share the duties she has in other ministries with qualified people, she can assign them." The foreign ministry role gives her international (8) ____ and a seat at Myanmar's influential military-dominated security council. Suu Kyi has made it very clear that she will rule above the president. She has tried without (9) ____ in recent weeks to remove the constitutional (10) ____ to her becoming president. Trevor Wilson, a (11) ____ ambassador to Myanmar, said: "She wants to be at the heart of government. She wants to do it properly and (12) ____ and…legally."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

civil

(b)

civilian

(c)

civility

(d)

civilised

2.

(a)

on

(b)

in

(c)

at

(d)

to

3.

(a)

absolves

(b)

absolved

(c)

absolutely

(d)

absolute

4.

(a)

by

(b)

of

(c)

at

(d)

on

5.

(a)

secret

(b)

talk

(c)

gossip

(d)

rumours

6.

(a)

give

(b)

leave

(c)

take

(d)

have

7.

(a)

mainly

(b)

manly

(c)

meanly

(d)

measly

8.

(a)

powerful

(b)

copious

(c)

influence

(d)

emerging

9.

(a)

succeeds

(b)

successfully

(c)

succeed

(d)

success

10.

(a)

barrier

(b)

gate

(c)

fence

(d)

ramp

11.

(a)

former

(b)

old

(c)

farmer

(d)

aged

12.

(a)

formally

(b)

formed

(c)

forming

(d)

form

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

the first ilaciniv government

2.

an absolute ayijortm

3.

in the general noleetic

4.

after decades of irtlmyai rule

5.

blocked by the country's tnnsoutticoi

6.

There are foceuidmnrn rumours

Paragraph 2

7.

laqiuiedf people

8.

she can issgan them

9.

international fnnleuiec

10.

security onlcuic

11.

a former sbaadsramo to Myanmar

12.

do it properly and formally and…lelyagl

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

roles and become the minister for education as well as the energy minister.

(    )

decades. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won an absolute majority in the general

(    )

be the foreign minister, mainly. If she wants to share the duties she has in other ministries with qualified

(    )

rule. However, Suu Kyi is ineligible to become Myanmar's president as she is blocked

(    )

Suu Kyi was the sole woman named among 15 ministers. An NLD spokesman told reporters: "She will

1  )

Aung San Suu Kyi is to be Myanmar's new foreign minister in the first civilian government the country has had in

(    )

people, she can assign them." The foreign ministry role gives her international influence and a seat

(    )

at Myanmar's influential military-dominated security council. Suu Kyi has made it very clear that she will rule

(    )

barrier to her becoming president. Trevor Wilson, a former ambassador to Myanmar, said: "She wants to be at the heart

(    )

election in November 2015 under her leadership. This happened after decades of military

(    )

above the president. She has tried without success in recent weeks to remove the constitutional

(    )

of government. She wants to do it properly and formally and…legally."

(    )

by the country's constitution, which bars people with foreign family links from the post - her two sons

(    )

are British citizens. There are unconfirmed rumours that Ms Suu Kyi could also take on other

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

the   country  has   had  in   decades   The  first  civilian  government  .

2.

election  in  November  Won   an  absolute  majority   in  the  general  .

3.

of   decades   after   happened   This   rule   military   .  

4.

with   links   post   people   family   the   Bars   foreign   from   .  

5.

roles   other   on   take   also   could   Kyi   Suu   Ms  that   Rumours   .

6.

sole   woman   named   among   15   ministers   Suu   Kyi   was   the   .  

7.

has   Share   in   the   other   duties   ministries   she   .  

8.

it   made   has   Kyi   Suu   rule   will   she   that   clear   very   .  

9.

her   the   becoming   constitutional   president   barrier   to  Remove   .

10.

to   the   government   wants   at   of   She   be   heart   .  

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Aung San Suu Kyi is to be Myanmar's new foreigner / foreign minister in the first civilian government the country has had in decade / decades. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won an absolutely / absolute majority in the general / generally election in November 2015 under her leadership. This happened after decades of militarily / military rule. However, Suu Kyi is ineligible to become / becoming Myanmar's president as she is block / blocked by the country's constitution, which bars people with foreign family linking / links from the post - her two sons are British citizens / citizenry. There are unconfirmed rumours that Ms Suu Kyi could also take on other roles and become the minister for education as well / good as the energy minister.

Suu Kyi was the soul / sole woman named among 15 ministers. An NLD spokesman told reporters: "She will be the foreign minister, manly / mainly. If she wants to share / shave the duties she has in other ministries with qualified / qualification people, she can assign them." The foreign ministry role gives her international influence and a seat at Myanmar's influence / influential military-dominated security / secure council. Suu Kyi has made it very clear that she will rule / ruler above the president. She has tried without success in recent weeks / week to remove the constitutional barrier to her becoming president. Trevor Wilson, a former / formerly ambassador to Myanmar, said: "She wants to be at the heart of government. She wants to do it properly and formally and…legality / legally."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

__ng S_n S__ Ky_ _s t_ b_ My_nm_r's n_w f_r__gn m_n_st_r _n th_ f_rst c_v_l__n g_v_rnm_nt th_ c__ntry h_s h_d _n d_c_d_s. S__ Ky_'s N_t__n_l L__g__ f_r D_m_cr_cy (NLD) p_rty w_n _n _bs_l_t_ m_j_r_ty _n th_ g_n_r_l _l_ct__n _n N_v_mb_r 2015 _nd_r h_r l__d_rsh_p. Th_s h_pp_n_d _ft_r d_c_d_s _f m_l_t_ry r_l_. H_w_v_r, S__ Ky_ _s _n_l_g_bl_ t_ b_c_m_ My_nm_r's pr_s_d_nt _s sh_ _s bl_ck_d by th_ c__ntry's c_nst_t_t__n, wh_ch b_rs p__pl_ w_th f_r__gn f_m_ly l_nks fr_m th_ p_st - h_r tw_ s_ns _r_ Br_t_sh c_t_z_ns. Th_r_ _r_ _nc_nf_rm_d r_m__rs th_t Ms S__ Ky_ c__ld _ls_ t_k_ _n _th_r r_l_s _nd b_c_m_ th_ m_n_st_r f_r _d_c_t__n _s w_ll _s th_ _n_rgy m_n_st_r.

S__ Ky_ w_s th_ s_l_ w_m_n n_m_d _m_ng 15 m_n_st_rs. _n NLD sp_k_sm_n t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "Sh_ w_ll b_ th_ f_r__gn m_n_st_r, m__nly. _f sh_ w_nts t_ sh_r_ th_ d_t__s sh_ h_s _n _th_r m_n_str__s w_th q__l_f__d p__pl_, sh_ c_n _ss_gn th_m." Th_ f_r__gn m_n_stry r_l_ g_v_s h_r _nt_rn_t__n_l _nfl__nc_ _nd _ s__t _t My_nm_r's _nfl__nt__l m_l_t_ry-d_m_n_t_d s_c_r_ty c__nc_l. S__ Ky_ h_s m_d_ _t v_ry cl__r th_t sh_ w_ll r_l_ _b_v_ th_ pr_s_d_nt. Sh_ h_s tr__d w_th__t s_cc_ss _n r_c_nt w__ks t_ r_m_v_ th_ c_nst_t_t__n_l b_rr__r t_ h_r b_c_m_ng pr_s_d_nt. Tr_v_r W_ls_n, _ f_rm_r _mb_ss_d_r t_ My_nm_r, s__d: "Sh_ w_nts t_ b_ _t th_ h__rt _f g_v_rnm_nt. Sh_ w_nts t_ d_ _t pr_p_rly _nd f_rm_lly _nd…l_g_lly."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

aung san suu kyi is to be myanmar's new foreign minister in the first civilian government the country has had in decades suu kyi's national league for democracy (nld) party won an absolute majority in the general election in november 2015 under her leadership this happened after decades of military rule however suu kyi is ineligible to become myanmar's president as she is blocked by the country's constitution which bars people with foreign family links from the post - her two sons are british citizens there are unconfirmed rumours that ms suu kyi could also take on other roles and become the minister for education as well as the energy minister

suu kyi was the sole woman named among 15 ministers an nld spokesman told reporters "she will be the foreign minister mainly if she wants to share the duties she has in other ministries with qualified people she can assign them" the foreign ministry role gives her international influence and a seat at myanmar's influential military-dominated security council suu kyi has made it very clear that she will rule above the president she has tried without success in recent weeks to remove the constitutional barrier to her becoming president trevor wilson a former ambassador to myanmar said "she wants to be at the heart of government she wants to do it properly and formally and…legally"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AungSanSuuKyiistobeMyanmar'snewforeignministerinthefirstcivili
angovernmentthecountryhashadindecades.SuuKyi'sNationalLeagu
eforDemocracy(NLD)partywonanabsolutemajorityinthegeneralelec
tioninNovember2015underherleadership.Thishappenedafterdecad
esofmilitaryrule.However,SuuKyiisineligibletobecomeMyanmar'spr
esidentassheisblockedbythecountry'sconstitution,whichbarspeople
withforeignfamilylinksfromthepost-hertwosonsareBritishcitize
ns.ThereareunconfirmedrumoursthatMsSuuKyicouldalsotakeonoth
errolesandbecometheministerforeducationaswellastheenergyminis
ter.SuuKyiwasthesolewomannamedamong15ministers.AnNLDspok
esmantoldreporters:"Shewillbetheforeignminister,mainly.Ifshewan
tstosharethedutiesshehasinotherministrieswithqualifiedpeople,she
canassignthem."Theforeignministryrolegivesherinternationalinflue
nceandaseatatMyanmar'sinfluentialmilitary-dominatedsecurityco
uncil.SuuKyihasmadeitveryclearthatshewillruleabovethepresident.
Shehastriedwithoutsuccessinrecentweekstoremovetheconstitution
albarriertoherbecomingpresident.TrevorWilson,aformerambassado
rtoMyanmar,said:"Shewantstobeattheheartofgovernment.Shewan
tstodoitproperlyandformallyand…legally."

FREE WRITING

Write about Aung San Suu Kyi for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

A foreign minister is more important than a finance minister. Discuss.

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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 out more about Aung San Suu Kyi. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. AUNG SAN SUU KYI: Make a poster about Aung San Suu Kyi. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. PRESIDENT: Write a magazine article about whether Aung San Suu Kyi should be allowed to be president. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on Aung San Suu Kyi. Ask him/her three questions about Aung San Suu Kyi. Give him/her three ideas on what Aung San Suu Kyi should do as foreign minister. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

  • News
  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
  • Using headlines
  • Working with words
  • While-reading / While-listening
  • Moving from text to speech
  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

country

a.

nation

2.

absolute

b.

total

3.

rule

c.

control

4.

ineligible

d.

ruled out

5.

bars

e.

prohibits

6.

sole

f.

only

7.

duties

g.

responsibilities

8.

influential

h.

important

9.

barrier

i.

obstacle

10.

properly

j.

correctly

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Decades

2.

November, 2015

3.

Military rule

4.

British

5.

Minister for education

6.

One

7.

Myanmar’s security council

8.

A constitutional barrier

9.

A former ambassador to Myanmar

10.

At the heart of government

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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