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November 12, 2009

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U.N. Creates Nelson Mandela Day

The United Nations General Assembly has created a special day to celebrate Nelson Mandela. July 18th, Mandela’s birthday, is now officially Nelson Mandela International Day. The UN said it decided to create this occasion to say thank you to a “great man”. The day celebrates Mandela’s “promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world”. It also recognises Mandela’s contributions towards improving race relations and human rights. The president of the U.N. General Assembly Ali Treki stated the day highlighted how Mandela suffered to create a better world. Mr Treki said Nelson Mandela played a "leading role in and support for Africa's struggle for liberation...and [made an] outstanding contribution to the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist democratic South Africa.”


Nelson Mandela led the fight against apartheid in South Africa for several decades. He spent 26 years in prison for his efforts. The international community campaigned for many years to get him released. Finally, he was freed in 1990. He worked tirelessly to help South Africa move toward reconciliation and a multi-racial democracy. In 1994, he became his country’s first black president and served for five years before stepping down in 1999. He has won many awards in his life, but perhaps his greatest is the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Since his retirement from South African politics, he has remained active on the world stage. One of his biggest commitments is in the fight against AIDS. He is today one of the world’s most respected statesmen.


 
 

WARM-UPS

1. NELSON MANDELA: Talk to other students about Nelson Mandela. Change partners often. Sit with your first 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.

 

U.N. General Assembly / special days / great man / peace / race relations / struggle / prison / multi-racial / awards / Nobel Peace Prize / retirement / commitments / AIDS

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

3. GREAT PEOPLE: Who are the world’s greatest people? Complete this table with your partner(s) and give reasons. Change partners and share what you heard.

 

Man (Why?)

Woman (Why?)

Politician

 

 

Singer

 

 

Sports star

 

 

Actor

 

 

Teacher

 

 

Other

 

 

4. THE GREATEST: Students A strongly believe Nelson Mandela is the greatest man alive; Students B strongly believe he isn’t.  Change partners and role play again.

5. SPECIAL DAYS: Which of these special days are most important? Rank them – most important at the top. Show your rankings to your partner and talk about them.

  • Nelson Mandela Day
  • Chocolate Day
  • English Language Day
  • Computer Day
  • Me Day
  • Save the Worms Day
  • No Shopping Day
  • Say Hello to Everyone Day

6. PEACE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘peace’. 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.

The United Nations has made a world day to honour Nelson Mandela.

T / F

b.

Nelson Mandela Day is the day he was freed from prison.

T / F

c.

The day is to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s race.

T / F

d.

The U.N. spoke of Mandela’s role in trying to achieve African freedom.

T / F

e.

Mandela spent almost three decades in prison.

T / F

f.

Mandela escaped from prison in 1990 and stayed a free man.

T / F

g.

The greatest of Mandela’s awards is the Nobel Peace Prize.

T / F

h.

Today, Nelson Mandela likes to act on stage in the theatre.

T / F

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

1.

created

a.

around

2

occasion

b.

fight

3.

throughout

c.

finishing

4.

highlighted

d.

event

5.

struggle

e.

drew attention to

6.

several

f.

made

7.

tirelessly

g.

admired

8.

stepping down

h.

dynamic

9.

active

i.

numerous

10.

respected

j.

non stop

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

1.

a special day to

a.

throughout the world

2

The UN said it decided

b.

respected statesmen

3.

a culture of peace

c.

celebrate Nelson Mandela

4.

improving race

d.

create a better world

5.

Mandela suffered to

e.

for many years

6.

Mandela led the fight

f.

on the world stage

7.

The international community campaigned

g.

relations

8.

a multi-racial

h.

against apartheid

9.

he has remained active

i.

to create this occasion

10.

one of the world’s most

j.

democracy

WHILE READING / LISTENING

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

The United Nations General Assembly has created a ____________ day to celebrate Nelson Mandela. July 18th, Mandela’s birthday, is now ____________ Nelson Mandela International Day. The UN said it decided to create this ____________ to say thank you to a “great man”. The day celebrates Mandela’s “promotion of a culture of ____________ throughout the world”. It also recognizes Mandela’s contributions towards improving ____________ relations and human rights. The president of the U.N. General Assembly Ali Treki stated the day ____________ how Mandela suffered to create a better world. Mr Treki said Nelson Mandela played a "leading role in and support for Africa's struggle for ____________...and [made an] outstanding contribution to the creation of a non-racial, non-____________ democratic South Africa.”

 

 

 

peace
liberation
officially
highlighted
sexist
special
race
occasion

Nelson Mandela led the fight ____________ apartheid in South Africa for several decades. He spent 26 years in prison for his ____________. The international community campaigned for many years to get him released. Finally, he was ____________ in 1990. He worked tirelessly to help South Africa move toward reconciliation and a ____________ -racial democracy. In 1994, he became his country’s first black president and served for five years before stepping ____________ in 1999. He has won many ____________ in his life, but perhaps his greatest is the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Since his retirement from South African politics, he has remained ____________ on the world stage. One of his biggest commitments is in the fight against AIDS. He is today one of the world’s most ____________ statesmen.

 

 

down
multi
respected
efforts
active
against
awards
freed

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Nations General Assembly has created _________________ celebrate Nelson Mandela. July 18th, Mandela’s birthday, _________________ Nelson Mandela International Day. The UN said it decided to create this occasion to say thank you to a “great man”. The day celebrates Mandela’s “promotion _________________ peace throughout the world”. It also recognizes Mandela’s contributions towards improving race _________________ rights. The president of the U.N. General Assembly Ali Treki stated the day highlighted how Mandela suffered to create a better world. Mr Treki said Nelson Mandela played a "_________________ support for Africa's struggle for liberation...and [made an] outstanding contribution to the creation of a _________________ democratic South Africa.”

Nelson Mandela _________________ apartheid in South Africa for several decades. He spent 26 years in prison for his efforts. The international community campaigned for many _________________ released. Finally, he was freed in 1990. He _________________ help South Africa move toward reconciliation and a multi-racial democracy. In 1994, he became his country’s first black president and served for five years before stepping down in 1999. _________________ awards in his life, but perhaps his greatest is the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Since his retirement from South African politics, he has remained _________________ world stage. One of his biggest commitments is in the fight against AIDS. He is today one of the world’s _________________ statesmen.


 
 

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

peace

prize

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • special
  • officially
  • great
  • race
  • create
  • struggle
  • several
  • campaigned
  • first
  • awards
  • stage
  • today

STUDENT NELSON MANDELA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Nelson Mandela 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.

NELSON MANDELA 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 name ‘Nelson Mandela’?

c)

What do you think of the idea of a Nelson Mandela Day?

d)

How great is Nelson Mandela?

e)

Which person would you like a UN day for?

f)

How would you promote world peace?

g)

How are race relations in your country?

h)

What do you know about apartheid and Nelson Mandela?

i)

What three adjectives would you use to describe Nelson Mandela and why?

j)

What do you think should happen on Nelson Mandela Day?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article?

b)

What things would you like to / do you… fight against?

c)

Do you think 26 years of prison changed Nelson Mandela?

d)

What would you do on your first day of release if you spent 26 years in prison?

e)

Which award would you like to win?

f)

When was the last time you worked tirelessly? What did you do?

g)

Who do you like better, Nelson Mandela or Barack Obama. Why?

h)

Would you like to meet Nelson Mandela? Why?

i)

Who is your most respected statesman and why?

j)

What questions would you like to ask Nelson Mandela?

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

The United Nations General Assembly has created a (1) ____ day to celebrate Nelson Mandela. July 18th, Mandela’s birthday, is now (2) ____ Nelson Mandela International Day. The UN said it decided to create this occasion to say thank you to a “great man”. The day celebrates Mandela’s “promotion (3) ____ a culture of peace throughout the world”. It also recognizes Mandela’s contributions towards improving (4) ____ relations and human rights. The president of the U.N. General Assembly Ali Treki stated the day highlighted how Mandela suffered to create a better world. Mr Treki said Nelson Mandela played a "leading (5) ____ in and support for Africa's struggle for (6) ____...and [made an] outstanding contribution to the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist democratic South Africa.”

Nelson Mandela led the fight against apartheid in South Africa for (7) ____ decades. He spent 26 years in prison for his (8) ____. The international community campaigned for many years to get him released. Finally, he was freed in 1990. He worked tirelessly to help South Africa move toward reconciliation and a (9) ____-racial democracy. In 1994, he became his country’s first black president and served for five years before stepping down in 1999. He has won many awards in his       (10) ____, but perhaps his greatest is the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Since his retirement from South African politics, he has remained (11) ____ on the world stage. One of his biggest commitments is in the fight against AIDS. He is today one of the world’s most (12) ____ statesmen.

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

1.

(a)

specialty

(b)

specialist

(c)

specials

(d)

special

2.

(a)

officially

(b)

officials

(c)

officialdom

(d)

officialese

3.

(a)

from

(b)

of

(c)

to

(d)

at

4.

(a)

racial

(b)

racially

(c)

race

(d)

racism

5.

(a)

mole

(b)

hole

(c)

role

(d)

pole

6.

(a)

liberate

(b)

liberation

(c)

liberating

(d)

liberated

7.

(a)

severe

(b)

severed

(c)

seventeen

(d)

several

8.

(a)

efforts

(b)

effects

(c)

affects

(d)

affords

9.

(a)

multiple

(b)

multi

(c)

multiply

(d)

multiples

10.

(a)

lively

(b)

living

(c)

alive

(d)

life

11.

(a)

activity

(b)

activeness

(c)

active

(d)

activate

12.

(a)

respected

(b)

respect

(c)

respectfully

(d)

respects

WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 Nelson Mandela. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. NELSON MANDELA: Make a poster about Nelson Mandela and the different stages of his life. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. NELSON MANDELA DAY: Write a magazine article about the very first Nelson Mandela Day. What happened around the world? Include an imaginary interview with Nelson Mandela.

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 Nelson Mandela. Ask him three questions about his life. Give him three opinions on how people should celebrate Nelson Mandela Day. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a.

T

b.

F

c.

F

d.

T

e.

T

f.

F

g.

T

h.

F

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.

created

a.

made

2

occasion

b.

event

3.

throughout

c.

around

4.

highlighted

d.

drew attention to

5.

struggle

e.

fight

6.

several

f.

numerous

7.

tirelessly

g.

non stop

8.

stepping down

h.

finishing

9.

active

i.

dynamic

10.

respected

j.

admired

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

a special day to

a.

celebrate Nelson Mandela

2

The UN said it decided

b.

to create this occasion

3.

a culture of peace

c.

throughout the world

4.

improving race

d.

relations

5.

Mandela suffered to

e.

create a better world

6.

Mandela led the fight

f.

against apartheid

7.

The international community campaigned

g.

for many years

8.

a multi-racial

h.

democracy

9.

he has remained active

i.

on the world stage

10.

one of the world’s most

j.

respected statesmen

GAP FILL:

U.N. creates Nelson Mandela Day

The United Nations General Assembly has created a special day to celebrate Nelson Mandela. July 18th, Mandela’s birthday, is now officially Nelson Mandela International Day. The UN said it decided to create this occasion to say thank you to a “great man”. The day celebrates Mandela’s “promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world”. It also recognizes Mandela’s contributions towards improving race relations and human rights. The president of the U.N. General Assembly Ali Treki stated the day highlighted how Mandela suffered to create a better world. Mr Treki said Nelson Mandela played a "leading role in and support for Africa's struggle for liberation...and [made an] outstanding contribution to the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist democratic South Africa.”

Nelson Mandela led the fight against apartheid in South Africa for several decades. He spent 26 years in prison for his efforts. The international community campaigned for many years to get him released. Finally, he was freed in 1990. He worked tirelessly to help South Africa move toward reconciliation and a multi-racial democracy. In 1994, he became his country’s first black president and served for five years before stepping down in 1999. He has won many awards in his life, but perhaps his greatest is the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Since his retirement from South African politics, he has remained active on the world stage. One of his biggest commitments is in the fight against AIDS. He is today one of the world’s most respected statesmen.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - d

2 - a

3 - b

4 - c

5 - c

6 - b

7 - d

8 - a

9 - b

10 - d

11 - c

12 - a

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