The Reading / Listening - Level 6

A Syrian refugee who could hardly speak a word of English two years ago has just passed his high school exams in Australia with flying colours. Saad Al-Kaab, 19, has just graduated with the top marks at one of Australia's biggest high schools. His outstanding overall grades put him in the top 4 per cent of all graduates in Melbourne. Saad fled the civil war in Syria to start a new life in Australia. He said: "Coming to a place where you don't know how to speak, where you don't understand people - it was really hard…because it just felt unreal." He added: "It really makes me sad to think that I have friends in my school back in Syria who were as good as me, but who didn't have the opportunity that I've had."

Saad said that he tried to learn English from his cousins for his first two months in Australia. Then he started to watch a popular political programme on television. It is a live broadcast of Australia's politicians questioning their prime minister about the issues of the day. He explained how the show helped his English. He said: "They use the best, persuasive language in parliament. They speak slowly and you can find the words." He said it was very different to Syrian politicians and parliament, where "all they do is clap". Saad is very appreciative of his new beginning. He said: "I just want to say thank you so much to Australia for giving me the opportunity. It's revived me and given me a new life."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www. bbc.co.uk /newsbeat/article/38293680/syrian-refugee-gets-top-results-at-australian-school
  • http://www. abc.net.au /news/2016-12-12/syrian-refugee-tops-year-12-class-with-96.65-atar/8112424
  • http://www. theage.com.au /national/secondary-education-victoria/it-all-started-with-a-shovel-how-one-vce-dux-escaped-a-bloody-war-20161212-gt97tx.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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. GRADUATION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about graduation. 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?

       refugee / high school / exams / graduated / grades / a new life / understand / unreal /
       cousins / politics / television / prime minister / persuasive language / clap / thank you

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

3. ENGLISH: Students A strongly believe English is the most important school subject; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. STUDYING : How can these help (or not help) with studying? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Help

Not help

Internet

 

 

Music

 

 

Library

 

 

Exercise

 

 

Parents

 

 

Friends

 

 

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

6. SCHOOL SUBJECTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • maths
  • art
  • sports
  • cookery
  • language
  • IT
  • physics
  • religion

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The Syrian refugee wasn't very good at English two years ago.     T / F
  2. The boy (Saad) attended Australia's biggest high school.     T / F
  3. Saad was in the top 4% of students in the whole of Australia.     T / F
  4. Saad is sad when he thinks about his friends in Syria.     T / F
  5. Saad learnt English from watching a politics programme on TV.     T / F
  6. Saad said the politicians spoke quickly and that helped him learn.     T / F
  7. Saad said politicians in Syria clap a lot in the Syrian parliament.     T / F
  8. Saad thanked Syria for giving him a new life.     T / F

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

  1. hardly
  2. marks
  3. outstanding
  4. unreal
  5. opportunity
  6. live
  7. persuasive
  8. clap
  9. appreciative
  10. revived
  1. imaginary
  2. excellent
  3. convincing
  4. chance
  5. thankful for
  6. energized
  7. barely
  8. real-time
  9. applaud
  10. grades

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

  1. A Syrian refugee who could hardly
  2. passed his high school exams in Australia
  3. outstanding overall
  4. it just felt
  5. have the opportunity
  6. a live
  7. questioning their prime minister about the
  8. persuasive
  9. Saad is very appreciative
  10. It's revived me and
  1. with flying colours
  2. language
  3. that I've had
  4. of his new beginning
  5. issues of the day
  6. speak a word
  7. given me a new life
  8. unreal
  9. grades
  10. broadcast

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
place
hardly
back
outstanding
opportunity
flying
unreal
civil

A Syrian refugee who could (1) ____________ speak a word of English two years ago has just passed his high school exams in Australia with (2) ____________ colours. Saad Al-Kaab, 19, has just graduated with the top marks at one of Australia's biggest high schools. His (3) ____________ overall grades put him in the top 4 per cent of all graduates in Melbourne. Saad fled the (4) ____________ war in Syria to start a new life in Australia. He said: "Coming to a (5) ____________ where you don't know how to speak, where you don't understand people - it was really hard…because it just felt (6) ____________." He added: "It really makes me sad to think that I have friends in my school (7) ____________ in Syria who were as good as me, but who didn't have the (8) ____________ that I've had."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
live
cousins
clap
persuasive
politicians
popular
revived
issues

Saad said that he tried to learn English from his (9) ____________ for his first two months in Australia. Then he started to watch a (10) ____________ political programme on television. It is a (11) ____________ broadcast of Australia's politicians questioning their prime minister about the (12) ____________ of the day. He explained how the show helped his English. He said: "They use the best, (13) ____________ language in parliament. They speak slowly and you can find the words." He said it was very different to Syrian (14) ____________ and parliament, where "all they do is (15) ____________ ". Saad is very appreciative of his new beginning. He said: "I just want to say thank you so much to Australia for giving me the opportunity. It's (16) ____________ me and given me a new life."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  just passed his high school exams in Australia with ______
     a.  flying colouring
     b.  flying coloured
     c.  flying colours
     d.  flying colour

2)  His outstanding overall grades put him in the top 4 per cent ______
     a.  of all graduate
     b.  of all graduates
     c.  of all graduation
     d.  of all graduated

3)  Saad fled the civil war in Syria to start ______
     a.  a newly life
     b.  a new live
     c.  a new life
     d.  anew life

4)  it was really hard…because it just ____
     a.  felt not really
     b.  felt really
     c.  felt non-real
     d.  felt unreal

5)  friends in my school back in Syria who were as good as me, but who didn't ______
     a.  have the opportunity
     b.  have the opportunities
     c.  have an opportunity
     d.  have an opportunities

6) he started to watch a popular political programme on television. It is ______
     a.  alive broadcast
     b.  a life broadcast
     c.  an alive broadcast
     d.  a live broadcast

7)  Australia's politicians questioning their prime minister about the ______
     a.  issues of a day
     b.  issues off the day
     c.  issues of the day
     d.  issue of the days

8)  very different to Syrian politicians and parliament, where "all ______"
     a.  they do is chap
     b.  they do is clap
     c.  they do is crap
     d.  they do is cap

9)  Saad is very appreciative of his ______
     a.  anew beginning
     b.  newly beginning
     c.  news beginning
     d.  new beginning

10)  thank you so much to Australia for giving me the opportunity. ______
     a.  It's revered me
     b.  It's revival me
     c.  It's revived me
     d.  It's revved me

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A Syrian refugee who (1) ___________________ a word of English two years ago has just passed his high school exams in Australia (2) ___________________. Saad Al-Kaab, 19, has just graduated with the top marks at one of Australia's biggest high schools. His (3) ___________________ grades put him in the top 4 per cent of all graduates in Melbourne. Saad (4) ___________________ war in Syria to start a new life in Australia. He said: "Coming to a place where you don't know how to speak, where you don't understand people - it was really hard…because it (5) ___________________." He added: "It really makes me sad to think that I have friends in my school back in Syria who were as good as me, but who didn't have (6) ___________________ I've had."

Saad said that he tried to learn English (7) ___________________ for his first two months in Australia. Then he started to watch a popular political programme on television. (8) ___________________ broadcast of Australia's politicians questioning their prime minister about the (9) ___________________. He explained how the show helped his English. He said: "They use the best, (10) ___________________ in parliament. They speak slowly and you can find the words." He said it was very different to Syrian politicians and parliament, where "(11) ___________________". Saad is very appreciative of his new beginning. He said: "I just want to say thank you so much to Australia for giving me the opportunity. (12) ___________________ and given me a new life."

Comprehension questions

  1. How much English could Saad speak two years ago?
  2. With which colours did Saad pass his high school exams?
  3. What percentage of top students in Melbourne is Saad in?
  4. How did Saad say it felt when he first arrived in Australia?
  5. Who is Saad sad for?
  6. From whom did Saad try to learn English when he got to Australia?
  7. What did Australian politicians ask their prime minister about?
  8. How did Saad say the politicians in parliament spoke?
  9. What did Saad say politicians in Syria's parliament did?
  10. What did Saad say being in Australia has given him?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How much English could Saad speak two years ago?
a) he was fluent
b) he was pre-intermediate level
c) 83 words
d) hardly a word

2) With which colours did Saad pass his high school exams?
a) the colours of the rainbow
b) flying colours
c) red, orange and green
d) bright colours

3) What percentage of top students in Melbourne is Saad in?
a) 14%
b) 40%
c) 4%
d) 0.4%

4) How did Saad say it felt when he first arrived in Australia?
a) unreal
b) unnerving
c) unearthly
d) uneven

5) Who is Saad sad for?
a) himself
b) other students
c) his friends in Syria
d) children

6) From whom did Saad try to learn English when he got to Australia?
a)  a kind old lady
b) his cousins
c) teachers
d) children

7) What did Australian politicians ask their prime minister about?
a) kangaroos and koalas
b) his private life
c) football
d) the issues of the day

8) How did Saad say the politicians in parliament spoke?
a) slowly
b) beautifully
c) perfectly
d) without an accent

9) What did Saad say politicians in Syria's parliament did?
a) fought
b) danced
c) clapped
d) cheered

10) What did Saad say being in Australia has given him?
a) an apartment
b) a new life
c) a car
d) a taste for vegemite

Role play

Role A — Language

You think language is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so important about their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): religion, sports or cookery.

Role B — Religion

You think religion is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so important about their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): language, sports or cookery.

Role C — Sports

You think sports is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so important about their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): religion, language or cookery.

Role D — Cookery

You think cookery is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so important about their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): religion, sports or language.

After reading / listening

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

'flying'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'colours'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • cousins
    • day
    • best
    • words
    • clap
    • thank
    • colours
    • 4
    • civil
    • unreal
    • good

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Syrian refugee top student in Australia school

    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 'refugee'?
    3. Have you ever been the top student in your class?
    4. What do you think about what you read?
    5. What exams have you passed with flying colours?
    6. Why do you think the term 'flying colours' is used to describe success?
    7. Why do you think Saad did so well?
    8. What is it like being in a place where you can't speak the language?
    9. What do you know about the civil war in Syria?
    10. What advice do you have for Saad?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What kind of example has Saad set for other students?
    3. How did you learn English?
    4. What do you think of the way Saad learnt English?
    5. What do you think of programmes of politicians discussing things?
    6. How important is English in the world today?
    7. How can we help more refugees to get a good education?
    8. How useful has English been to you?
    9. What are you appreciative of?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Saad?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A Syrian refugee who could (1) ____ speak a word of English two years ago has just passed his high school exams in Australia with (2) ____ colours. Saad Al-Kaab, 19, has just graduated with the top marks at one of Australia's biggest high schools. His outstanding (3) ____ grades put him in the top 4 per cent of all graduates in Melbourne. Saad fled the (4) ____ war in Syria to start a new life in Australia. He said: "(5) ____ to a place where you don't know how to speak, where you don't understand people - it was really hard…because it just felt unreal." He added: "It really makes me sad to think that I have friends in my school back in Syria who were as good as me, but who didn't have the opportunity (6) ____ I've had."

    Saad said that he tried to learn English from his cousins (7) ____ his first two months in Australia. Then he started to watch a popular political programme on television. It is a (8) ____ broadcast of Australia's politicians questioning their prime minister about the issues of the day. He explained (9) ____ the show helped his English. He said: "They use the best, persuasive language in parliament. They speak slowly and you can find the words." He said it was very different (10) ____ Syrian politicians and parliament, where "all they do is (11) ____". Saad is very appreciative of his new beginning. He said: "I just want to say thank you so much to Australia for (12) ____ me the opportunity. It's revived me and given me a new life."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     hardly     (b)     hard     (c)     harder     (d)     harden    
    2. (a)     sailing     (b)     driving     (c)     flying     (d)     gliding    
    3. (a)     overalls     (b)     overall     (c)     overarch     (d)     overreach    
    4. (a)     civilize     (b)     civilian     (c)     civility     (d)     civil    
    5. (a)     Coming     (b)     Comes     (c)     Come     (d)     Came    
    6. (a)     what     (b)     that     (c)     much     (d)     so    
    7. (a)     as     (b)     that     (c)     of     (d)     for    
    8. (a)     life     (b)     live     (c)     alive     (d)     lifer    
    9. (a)     which     (b)     what     (c)     how     (d)     whoever    
    10. (a)     by     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    11. (a)     cap     (b)     chap     (c)     crap     (d)     clap    
    12. (a)     given     (b)     giving     (c)     gave     (d)     gives

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. with ygnfli colours
    2. His outstanding loravle grades
    3. the top 4 per cent of all dtrgeaaus
    4. Saad fled the liicv war in Syria
    5. it just felt auelrn
    6. have the ttoupioyrnp that I've had

    Paragraph 2

    1. learn English from his usocnis
    2. a popular lioitlacp programme
    3. a live abtaocdsr
    4. rpeeuiavss language
    5. politicians and apetmilran
    6. Saad is very iprcaevaepit

    Put the text back together

    (    )     biggest high schools. His outstanding overall grades put him in the top 4 per cent of all graduates in Melbourne. Saad fled

    (    )     clap". Saad is very appreciative of his new beginning. He said: "I just want to say thank

    (    )     the civil war in Syria to start a new life in Australia. He said: "Coming to a place

    (    )     in Australia with flying colours. Saad Al-Kaab, 19, has just graduated with the top marks at one of Australia's

    (    )     his English. He said: "They use the best, persuasive language in parliament. They speak slowly and you can find

    (    )     watch a popular political programme on television. It is a live broadcast of Australia's politicians

    (    )     you so much to Australia for giving me the opportunity. It's revived me and given me a new life."

    (    )     felt unreal." He added: "It really makes me sad to think that I have friends in my school back in Syria who

    (    )     where you don't know how to speak, where you don't understand people - it was really hard…because it just

    (    )     questioning their prime minister about the issues of the day. He explained how the show helped

    (    )     were as good as me, but who didn't have the opportunity that I've had."

    (    )     the words." He said it was very different to Syrian politicians and parliament, where, "all they do is

    1  )     A Syrian refugee who could hardly speak a word of English two years ago has just passed his high school exams

    (    )     Saad said that he tried to learn English from his cousins for his first two months in Australia. Then he started to

    Put the words in the right order

    1. English  hardly  word  Syrian  could  a  A  who  speak   of refugee  .
    2. exams  with   Passed  school   Australia  colours   high  in   flying  his   .
    3. 4%   His   him   outstanding   in   overall   the   grades   top   put   .
    4. place   where   you   don't   know   how   to   speak   Coming   to   a   .
    5. school  Friends  good  who  back  in  as   were  in  my   me  as  Syria   .
    6. cousins   his   from   English   learn   to   tried   He   .
    7. started   political   to   programme   watch   Then   a   he   popular   .
    8. persuasive   use   language   the   in   best   parliament   ,   They   .
    9. words   you   They   can   speak   find   slowly   the   and   .
    10. Saad   beginning   new   his   of   appreciative   very   is   .

     

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A Syrian refugee who could hardly / hardest speak a word of English two years ago has just passed his high school exams in Australia with flying / sailing colours. Saad Al-Kaab, 19, has just graduated with the top markings / marks at one of Australia's biggest high schools. His outstanding overall / overalls grades put him in the top 4 per cent of all graduation / graduates in Melbourne. Saad fled the civil / civility war in Syria to start a new life in Australia. He said: "Coming / Come to a place where you don't know how to speak, where you don't understand people - it was really hard…because it just felt unreal / reality." He added: "It really makes me sad to think that I have friends in my school back / backed in Syria who were as good as me, but who didn't have the opportune / opportunity that I've had."

    Saad said that he tried to learn English from his cousins for his first two months in Australia. Then he started to watch a popularity / popular political programme on television. It is a live / lived broadcast of Australia's politicians questioning their prime minister about the issues / issuances of the day. He explained how the show / showing helped his English. He said: "They use the best, persuasive / pervasive language in parliament. They speak slowly and you can find the words." He said it was very difference / different to Syrian politicians and parliament, where "all they do is clap / chap". Saad is very appreciative / appreciation of his new beginning. He said: "I just want to say thank you so much to Australia for giving me the opportunity. It's revived / revival me and given me a new live / life."

    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)

    _ Syr__n r_f_g__ wh_ c__ld h_rdly sp__k _ w_rd _f _ngl_sh tw_ y__rs _g_ h_s j_st p_ss_d h_s h_gh sch__l _x_ms _n __str_l__ w_th fly_ng c_l__rs. S__d _l-K__b, 19, h_s j_st gr_d__t_d w_th th_ t_p m_rks _t _n_ _f __str_l__'s b_gg_st h_gh sch__ls. H_s __tst_nd_ng _v_r_ll gr_d_s p_t h_m _n th_ t_p 4 p_r c_nt _f _ll gr_d__t_s _n M_lb__rn_. S__d fl_d th_ c_v_l w_r _n Syr__ t_ st_rt _ n_w l_f_ _n __str_l__. H_ s__d: "C_m_ng t_ _ pl_c_ wh_r_ y__ d_n't kn_w h_w t_ sp__k, wh_r_ y__ d_n't _nd_rst_nd p__pl_ - _t w_s r__lly h_rd…b_c__s_ _t j_st f_lt _nr__l." H_ _dd_d: "_t r__lly m_k_s m_ s_d t_ th_nk th_t _ h_v_ fr__nds _n my sch__l b_ck _n Syr__ wh_ w_r_ _s g__d _s m_, b_t wh_ d_dn't h_v_ th_ _pp_rt_n_ty th_t _'v_ h_d."

    S__d s__d th_t h_ tr__d t_ l__rn _ngl_sh fr_m h_s c__s_ns f_r h_s f_rst tw_ m_nths _n __str_l__. Th_n h_ st_rt_d t_ w_tch _ p_p_l_r p_l_t_c_l pr_gr_mm_ _n t_l_v_s__n. _t _s _ l_v_ br__dc_st _f __str_l__'s p_l_t_c__ns q__st__n_ng th__r pr_m_ m_n_st_r _b__t th_ _ss__s _f th_ d_y. H_ _xpl__n_d h_w th_ sh_w h_lp_d h_s _ngl_sh. H_ s__d: "Th_y _s_ th_ b_st, p_rs__s_v_ l_ng__g_ _n p_rl__m_nt. Th_y sp__k sl_wly _nd y__ c_n f_nd th_ w_rds." H_ s__d _t w_s v_ry d_ff_r_nt t_ Syr__n p_l_t_c__ns _nd p_rl__m_nt, wh_r_ "_ll th_y d_ _s cl_p". S__d _s v_ry _ppr_c__t_v_ _f h_s n_w b_g_nn_ng. H_ s__d: "_ j_st w_nt t_ s_y th_nk y__ s_ m_ch t_ __str_l__ f_r g_v_ng m_ th_ _pp_rt_n_ty. _t's r_v_v_d m_ _nd g_v_n m_ _ n_w l_f_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a syrian refugee who could hardly speak a word of english two years ago has just passed his high school exams in australia with flying colours saad al-kaab 19 has just graduated with the top marks at one of australia's biggest high schools his outstanding overall grades put him in the top 4 per cent of all graduates in melbourne saad fled the civil war in syria to start a new life in australia he said "coming to a place where you don't know how to speak where you don't understand people - it was really hard…because it just felt unreal" he added "it really makes me sad to think that i have friends in my school back in syria who were as good as me but who didn't have the opportunity that i've had"

    saad said that he tried to learn english from his cousins for his first two months in australia then he started to watch a popular political programme on television it is a live broadcast of australia's politicians questioning their prime minister about the issues of the day he explained how the show helped his english he said "they use the best persuasive language in parliament they speak slowly and you can find the words" he said it was very different to syrian politicians and parliament where "all they do is clap" saad is very appreciative of his new beginning he said "i just want to say thank you so much to australia for giving me the opportunity it's revived me and given me a new life"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ASyrianrefugeewhocouldhardlyspeakawordofEnglishtwoyearsagoh
    asjustpassedhishighschoolexamsinAustraliawithflyingcolours.Saad
    Al-Kaab,19,hasjustgraduatedwiththetopmarksatoneofAustralia'sbi
    ggesthighschools.Hisoutstandingoverallgradesputhiminthetop4per
    centofallgraduatesinMelbourne.SaadfledthecivilwarinSyriatostarta
    newlifeinAustralia.Hesaid:"Comingtoaplacewhereyoudon'tknowho
    wtospeak,whereyoudon'tunderstandpeople-itwasreallyhard…beca
    useitjustfeltunreal."Headded:"ItreallymakesmesadtothinkthatIhav
    efriendsinmyschoolbackinSyriawhowereasgoodasme,butwhodidn't
    havetheopportunitythatI'vehad."SaadsaidthathetriedtolearnEnglis
    hfromhiscousinsforhisfirsttwomonthsinAustralia.Thenhestartedtow
    atchapopularpoliticalprogrammeontelevision.ItisalivebroadcastofA
    ustralia'spoliticiansquestioningtheirprimeministerabouttheissuesof
    theday.HeexplainedhowtheshowhelpedhisEnglish.Hesaid:"Theyuse
    thebest,persuasivelanguageinparliament.Theyspeakslowlyandyouc
    anfindthewords."HesaiditwasverydifferenttoSyrianpoliticiansandpa
    rliament,where,"alltheydoisclap".Saadisveryappreciativeofhisnewb
    eginning.Hesaid:"IjustwanttosaythankyousomuchtoAustraliaforgiv
    ingmetheopportunity.It'srevivedmeandgivenmeanewlife."

    Free writing

    Write about graduation for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    The best way to learn English is to watch English television. 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 this story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. LEARNING ENGLISH: Make a poster about learning English. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. TV: Write a magazine article about watching TV being the best way to learn a language. Include imaginary interviews with people who agree and disagree with 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 learning English. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on the best way to learn English. 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

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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