Breaking News English

WARM-UPS

1. WAR: Walk around the class and talk to other students about war. Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your partner(s) and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

ceasefire / conflict / tanks / troops / fighting / breathing space / capital city / media / staunch allies / NATO / puppets / the West / peacekeeping missions / arguments

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

3. HOSTILITIES: Why do countries go to war? Look at the possible reasons below. Write your solutions to how to stop countries fighting because of these. Change partners and share your ideas. Can you think of any real-life examples?

Reason	Solutions
Water
Religion
Border lines
Kidnapping
Weapons of mass destruction
Terrorist attack

4. QUICK DEBATE: Students A strongly believe there will be a long war between Georgia and Russia; Students B strongly believe everything will be back to normal very soon. Change partners again and talk about your roles and conversations.

5. CONFLICT: Discuss with your partner(s) the best way to resolve these conflicts.

Georgia - Russia Palestine - Israel North Korea – South Korea Iraq

Afghanistan U.S. – Mexico border dispute Darfur Colombia - FARC

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

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	Georgia’s president has asked South Ossetia’s leader for a ceasefire.	T / F
b.	Russia sent hundreds of airplanes into South Ossetia.	T / F
c.	Georgia’s president said it is difficult for South Ossetian’s to breathe.	T / F
d.	The world’s newspapers and TV say Georgia controls Tshkinvali.	T / F
e.	Georgia is an enemy of the USA and NATO.	T / F
f.	Russia is very keen on Georgia becoming a NATO member.	T / F
g.	Russia’s president said his troops are peacekeepers.	T / F
h.	Angry discussions took place in the U.N. Security Council.	T / F

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

1.	ceasefire	a.	region
2	conflict	b.	friend
3.	province	c.	break out
4.	responded	d.	angry
5.	proposed	e.	truce
6.	erupt	f.	pull out
7.	ally	g.	suggested
8.	puppet	h.	dispute
9.	withdraw	i.	tool
10.	heated	j.	replied

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

1.	Saakashvili has called	a.	mission
2	the breakaway	b.	by sending troops
3.	Georgia responded	c.	ally of America
4.	step back from the region to	d.	took place
5.	stop shelling	e.	for a ceasefire
6.	the conflict might erupt	f.	allow breathing space
7.	Georgia is a staunch	g.	puppet of the West
8.	Kremlin views Georgia’s leader as a	h.	province of South Ossetia
9.	a peacekeeping	i.	Russian forces
10.	Heated arguments	j.	into a dangerous war

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili has __________ for a ceasefire in the conflict with Russia. The two nations started hostilities over the breakaway __________ of South Ossetia. Russia sent hundreds of tanks and troops into South Ossetia on Friday to protect Russian __________ living there. Georgia responded by sending troops and fighter planes to the area. The __________ left over 1,500 dead on both sides. Mr. Saakashvili also proposed that Russian and Georgian troops __________ back from the region to allow breathing space and __________ a full-blown war. He said Georgian soldiers would __________ from South Ossetia’s capital Tshkinvali and would stop shelling Russian forces. Media __________ are that Russia is already in control of Tshkinvali.		step withdraw province fighting reports called avoid citizens
The wider __________ is worried the conflict might erupt into a dangerous war between the two sides. Georgia is a staunch __________ of America and wants to join NATO, something Russia does not want to happen. Many __________ in the West say that Russia may be planning to __________ to Georgia’s capital Tblisi and overthrow Saakashvili. The Kremlin views Georgia’s leader as a __________ of the West. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Russia to __________ its attacks and withdraw from Georgian territory. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he sent his troops into South Ossetia on a peacekeeping __________ and wants a ceasefire. Heated arguments took __________ at the UN Security Council on Friday night as members tried to avoid war.		mission  march place ally analysts puppet world halt

LISTENING:  Listen and fill in the spaces.

Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili has ______________ ceasefire in the conflict with Russia. ______________ started hostilities over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Russia sent hundreds of tanks ______________ South Ossetia on Friday to protect Russian citizens living there. Georgia responded by sending troops and fighter planes ______________. The fighting left over 1,500 dead on both sides. Mr. Saakashvili also proposed that Russian and Georgian troops ______________ the region to allow breathing ______________ a full-blown war. He said Georgian soldiers __________________ South Ossetia’s capital Tshkinvali and would stop shelling Russian forces. Media reports are that Russia is already ______________ Tshkinvali.

The wider world is worried ______________ might erupt into a dangerous war between the two sides. Georgia is ______________ of America and wants to join NATO, something Russia does not want to happen. Many analysts in the West say that Russia may be planning ______________ Georgia’s capital Tblisi and overthrow Saakashvili. The Kremlin views Georgia’s leader ________________ the West. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Russia ______________ attacks and withdraw from Georgian territory. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ______________ troops into South Ossetia on a peacekeeping mission and wants a ceasefire. Heated arguments ______________ the UN Security Council on Friday night as members tried ______________.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘cease’ and ‘fire’.

cease

fire

• 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:

called started protect proposed avoid shelling

erupt ally march views halt heated

STUDENT WAR SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about war 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.

WAR DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘war’?
c)	What did you think when you heard Russia and Georgia were fighting?
d)	Do you think the conflict will escalate into a full-blown war?
e)	What consequences would a Russia-Georgia war have for the world?
f)	Who is most at fault in this conflict?
g)	Should South Ossetia get its independence?
h)	Was Russia right to send its troops to South Ossetia to protect Russian citizens?
i)	Do you think Russia will keep South Ossetia?
j)	What advice do you have for the Russian and Georgian leaders?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article?
b)	Do you think it is a problem if Georgia wants to join NATO?
c)	Do you think it bothers Russia that Georgia is a staunch ally of the US?
d)	Why do you think Russia is so worried about former Soviet states joining NATO?
e)	Do you think NATO should send forces to help the South Ossetian people?
f)	How would the world react if Russia overthrew Mikhail Saakashvili?
g)	Do you think Saakashvili is a puppet of the West? Does it matter?
h)	What do you think the UN Security Council argued about?
i)	What questions would you like to ask Dmitry Medvedev?
j)	What questions would you like to ask Mikhail Saakashvili?

LANGUAGE

Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili (1) ____ called for a ceasefire in the conflict with Russia. The two (2) ____  started hostilities over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Russia sent hundreds of tanks and troops into South Ossetia on Friday (3) ____ protect Russian citizens living there. Georgia responded by sending troops and fighter planes to the area. The fighting left over 1,500 (4) ____ on both sides. Mr. Saakashvili also proposed that Russian and Georgian troops step (5) ____ from the region to allow breathing space and avoid a full-blown war. He said Georgian soldiers would (6) ____ from South Ossetia’s capital Tshkinvali and would stop shelling Russian forces. Media reports are that Russia is already in control of Tshkinvali.

The (7) ____ world is worried the conflict might erupt into a dangerous war between the two sides. Georgia is a staunch (8) ____ of America and wants to join NATO, something Russia does not want to happen. Many (9) ____ in the West say that Russia may be planning to march to Georgia’s capital Tblisi and (10) ____ Saakashvili. The Kremlin views Georgia’s leader as a puppet of the West. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Russia to halt its attacks and withdraw from Georgian territory. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he sent his troops into South Ossetia (11) ____ a peacekeeping mission and wants a ceasefire. Heated arguments took place at the UN Security Council on Friday night (12) ____ members tried to avoid war.

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

1.	(a)	is	(b)	had	(c)	was	(d)	has
2.	(a)	nationals	(b)	nations	(c)	nationalities	(d)	nation
3.	(a)	to	(b)	for	(c)	and	(d)	so
4.	(a)	death	(b)	died	(c)	dead	(d)	dies
5.	(a)	up	(b)	forwards	(c)	back	(d)	in
6.	(a)	pull	(b)	withdraw	(c)	drawn	(d)	withdrawal
7.	(a)	wider	(b)	width	(c)	wide	(d)	widely
8.	(a)	allies	(b)	alliance	(c)	allied	(d)	ally
9.	(a)	analysis	(b)	analysts	(c)	analyze	(d)	analyzing
10.	(a)	throwing	(b)	throw	(c)	thrown	(d)	overthrow
11.	(a)	with	(b)	for	(c)	on	(d)	to
12.	(a)	as	(b)	by	(c)	for	(d)	to

WRITING: 

Write about war for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

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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 the conflict between Georgia and Russia. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. BREAKAWAY: Make a poster about the different states that were once part of the former Soviet Union. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. SOUTH OSSETIAN: Write a magazine article about the future of South Ossetia. Include imaginary interviews with a Georgian and a Russian leader.

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. LETTER: Write a letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Ask him three questions about his country’s military involvement in South Ossetia. Make three suggestions on what he should do to secure peace. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

6. DIARY / JOURNAL: You are a South Ossetian. Write your thoughts on your daily life. Include your opinions on the Russian and Georgian troops fighting on your land. Read your entry to your classmates in the next lesson.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. F

b. F

c. F

d. F

e. F

f. F

g. T

h. T

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	ceasefire	a.	truce
2	conflict	b.	dispute
3.	province	c.	region
4.	responded	d.	replied
5.	proposed	e.	suggested
6.	erupt	f.	break out
7.	ally	g.	friend
8.	puppet	h.	tool
9.	withdraw	i.	pull out
10.	heated	j.	angry

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	Saakashvili has called	a.	for a ceasefire
2	the breakaway	b.	province of South Ossetia
3.	Georgia responded	c.	by sending troops
4.	step back from the region to	d.	allow breathing space
5.	stop shelling	e.	Russian forces
6.	the conflict might erupt	f.	into a dangerous war
7.	Georgia is a staunch	g.	ally of America
8.	Kremlin views Georgia’s leader as a	h.	puppet of the West
9.	a peacekeeping	i.	mission
10.	Heated arguments	j.	took place

GAP FILL:

Georgia calls for ceasefire in South Ossetia

Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili has called for a ceasefire in the conflict with Russia. The two nations started hostilities over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Russia sent hundreds of tanks and troops into South Ossetia on Friday to protect Russian citizens living there. Georgia responded by sending troops and fighter planes to the area. The fighting left over 1,500 dead on both sides. Mr. Saakashvili also proposed that Russian and Georgian troops step back from the region to allow breathing space and avoid a full-blown war. He said Georgian soldiers would withdraw from South Ossetia’s capital Tshkinvali and would stop shelling Russian forces. Media reports are that Russia is already in control of Tshkinvali.

The wider world is worried the conflict might erupt into a dangerous war between the two sides. Georgia is a staunch ally of America and wants to join NATO, something Russia does not want to happen. Many analysts in the West say that Russia may be planning to march to Georgia’s capital Tblisi and overthrow Saakashvili. The Kremlin views Georgia’s leader as a puppet of the West. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Russia to halt its attacks and withdraw from Georgian territory. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he sent his troops into South Ossetia on a peacekeeping mission and wants a ceasefire. Heated arguments took place at the UN Security Council on Friday night as members tried to avoid war.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - d

2 - b

3 - a

4 - c

5 - c

6 - b

7 - a

8 - d

9 - b

10 - d

11 - c

12 - a

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