Date: April 12, 2005
Level: Easier (Try the harder lesson.)
Downloads: This Lesson (Word Doc) | Class Handout (Word Doc) | Class Handout (PDF)

Listening (1:10 - 137.9 KB - 16kbps)

THE ARTICLE

The Malaysian Government has made plans to introduce the birds and the bees in its schools. Sex education may become part of schoolchildren’s lessons within the next two years. Even four-year-olds will learn about sex education. This is a big step for Malaysia, which is a largely Muslim country. Most Muslim countries stay away from teaching about sex in schools. In fact, sex is usually a taboo subject outside of the classroom too. However, with sex everywhere on TV and the Internet, it is a good time for Malaysia to teach its youngsters, and to prepare them to understand more about sexual topics. Many important lessons will be learnt about sexual diseases, marriage, sexual harassment, perverts and other areas. Other Muslim countries may soon follow Malaysia’s example.

WARM UPS

1. CHAT: Talk in pairs or groups about: birds / bees / the birds and the bees / sex education / / Muslim countries / taboo subjects / the Internet / sexual harassment.

For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently.

2. SEX BRAINSTORM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word “sex”. Share your words with your partner / group and talk about them.

3. SEXIEST: In pairs / groups / as a class, talk about who is the sexiest actor, singer, sports player, TV personality, person on the planet, person you know. Who has the sexiest eyes / lips / mouth / body / legs…?

4. 2-MINUTE DEBATES: Face each other in pairs and engage in the following (for-fun) 2-minute debates. Students A take the first argument, students B the second. Rotate pairs to ensure a lively pace and noise level is kept:

1. Sex education is unnecessary. vs. It’s very important.
2. Parents are responsible for sex education. vs. It’s too sensitive for parents.
3. Sex education means kids will try it out and get pregnant. vs. Don’t be ridiculous.
4. Kids learn from TV nowadays. vs. TV teaches bad things about sex.
5. “The birds and the bees” is not for kids. vs. Kids need to know.
6. Safe sex should be taught. vs. One sexual partner only should be taught.
7. Boys and girls should have different classes. vs. It’s important for both sexes to know everything about each other.
8. The Bible / Koran / Torah etc is the best teacher. vs. They are too old.

PRE-READING IDEAS

1. WORD SEARCH: Use your dictionary / computer to find word partners (collocates), other meanings, synonyms or more information on the words ‘sex’ and ‘education’.

2. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the headline and guess whether these sentences are true or false:

1. Malaysia has found a new way of teaching sex education.  T / F
2. Malaysian schools will look at how birds and bees have sex.  T / F
3. Four-year-olds will learn about sex education.  T / F
4. Most other Muslim countries teaching sex education in schools.  T / F
5. Sex is everywhere on TV and the Internet.  T / F
6. Many Muslim countries are copying Malaysia’s idea.  T / F

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

(a)	introduce	mainly
(b)	the birds and the bees	no-no
(c)	within	sex
(d)	largely	begin
(e)	stay away from	kids
(f)	taboo	avoid
(g)	youngsters	weirdos
(h)	perverts	inside

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

(a)	Government has made	two years
(b)	the birds	step
(c)	within the next	diseases
(d)	Even four-year-olds	subject
(e)	a big	plans
(f)	taboo	will learn
(g)	sexual	follow Malaysia’s example
(h)	Muslim countries may soon	and the bees

 

WHILE READING ACTIVITIES

1. WORD ORDER: Put the underlined words back in the correct order.

Sex education Malaysian style

The Malaysian Government plans has made to introduce the bees and the birds in its schools. Sex education may become part of schoolchildren’s lessons within the next two years. Even four-year-olds will learn about sex education. This step is for a big
Malaysia, which is a largely Muslim country. Most Muslim countries stay away from teaching about sex in schools. In fact, sex subject usually is taboo a outside of the classroom too. However, with sex everywhere on TV and the Internet, it is a good time for Malaysia to teach its youngsters, and to prepare them to understand more about sexual topics. Many important will lessons about be learnt sexual diseases, marriage, sexual harassment, perverts and other areas. Other Muslim countries may soon
Malaysia’s follow example.

2. TRUE/FALSE: Check your answers to the T/F exercise.

3. SYNONYMS: Check your answers to the synonyms exercise.

4. PHRASE MATCH: Check your answers to the phrase match exercise.

5. QUESTIONS: Make notes for questions you would like to ask the class about the article.

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

POST READING IDEAS

1. WORD ORDER: Check your answers to this exercise.

2. QUESTIONS: Ask the discussion questions you thought of above to your partner / group / class. Pool the questions for everyone to share.

3. VOCABULARY: As a class, go over the vocabulary students circled above.

4. STUDENT-GENERATED SURVEY: In pairs/groups write down 3 questions based on the article. Each student surveys class members independently and reports back to their original partner/  group to compare their findings.

5. ‘SEX’ / ‘EDUCATION’: Students make questions based on their findings from pre-reading activity #1.

6. DISCUSSION:

1. What was the most interesting thing in this article?
2. Was there anything surprising in this article?
3. Do you want to know more about sex education in Malaysia?
4. When did you receive your sex education?
5. Was your sex education good quality?
6. Was it fun, interesting, embarrassing, shocking…?
7. Would you (did / do you) give sex education to your children?
8. Who is the best person to give sex education to children?
9. From what age should children receive sex education?
10. What topics should be included?
11. Are there any topics that should not be in sex education lessons?
12. How do you answer young children’s questions about sex?
13. Is religion important in teaching about sex education?
14. Is talking about love important in sex education lessons?
15. Should children be taught about how to enjoy sex?
16. Is there a danger that teaching about sex will encourage kids to try it?
17. Is television good for teaching about sex to kids?
18. Should boys and girls have different sex education classes?
19. Did you like this discussion?
20. Teacher / Student additional questions.

7. SEX EDUCATION SYLLABUS:

In pairs / groups, make your own sex education lesson plan from the topics included below or others you want to include. Determine the key points of each topic and decide from which age children should be introduced to them.

TOPIC	AGE	KEY POINTS
Reproduction
Contraception and safe sex
Virginity
Having one partner
Internet
Abortion
Prostitution
Perverts and sexual harassment
AIDs
Saying “No”
Other

Change partners. Talk about your lesson plan and give your new partner some feedback on their lesson plan.

8. SEX EDUCATORS: Who should be doing the sex education teacher? Rank the following list of people in order of the “best person for the job”. After you have finished, talk about how comfortable you would have felt about receiving sex education from these people.

• Parent
• School biology teacher
• Religious leader (imam / minister / priest / rabbi …)
• School friends
• Grandparent
• Aunt or uncle
• Police officer
• Doctor or nurse
• Expert counselors on home visits
• Government television programs

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 information on birds and bees. Share your findings with your class next lesson.

3. ONE TOPIC: Choose one topic from the “Sex Education Syllabus” above and make an information poster on it. Present it to your class in your next lesson.

4. SEX EDUCATION: Write a short article about the good and bad points of sex education for elementary school students. Talk about your article in your next class

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

1. Malaysia has found a new way of teaching sex education.  F
2. Malaysian schools will look at how birds and bees have sex.  F
3. Four-year-olds will learn about sex education.  T
4. Most other Muslim countries teaching sex education in schools.  F
5. Sex is everywhere on TV and the Internet.  T
6. Many Muslim countries are copying Malaysia’s idea.  F

SYNONYM MATCH:

(a)	introduce	begin
(b)	the birds and the bees	sex
(c)	within	inside
(d)	largely	mainly
(e)	stay away from	avoid
(f)	taboo	no-no
(g)	youngsters	kids
(h)	perverts	weirdos

PHRASE MATCH:

(a)	Government has made	plans
(b)	the birds	and the bees
(c)	within the next	two years
(d)	Even four-year-olds	will learn
(e)	a big	step
(f)	taboo	subject
(g)	sexual	diseases
(h)	Muslim countries may soon	follow Malaysia’s example

WORD ORDER:

Sex education Malaysian style

The Malaysian Government has made plans to introduce the birds and the bees in its schools. Sex education may become part of schoolchildren’s lessons within the next two years. Even four-year-olds will learn about sex education. This is a big step for Malaysia, which is a largely Muslim country. Most Muslim countries stay away from teaching about sex in schools. In fact, sex is usually a taboo subject outside of the classroom too. However, with sex everywhere on TV and the Internet, it is a good time for Malaysia to teach its youngsters, and to prepare them to understand more about sexual topics. Many important lessons will be learnt about sexual diseases, marriage, sexual harassment, perverts and other areas. Other Muslim countries may soon follow Malaysia’s example.