Breaking News English

Date: April 23, 2007
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WARM-UPS

1. BHUTAN: Walk around the class and find out what you know about Bhutan, or what your image of the country is. After you finish, sit with different students and share the stories you heard.

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

elections / Himalayas / history / warm-ups / democracy / manifestos / thunder / political parties / rooftops / sandwiches / monarchies / values / happiness

Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently.

3. POLITICAL PARTIES: With your partner(s), decide what these political parties stand for. How will they change the world? Change parties and share your thoughts and findings.

• the Yellow Thunder Dragon Party
• the One World Party
• the Back-To-Basics Party
• the Nose and Toe Party
• the Music Party

4. ELECTION ISSUES: What are the biggest issues in elections in your country? Put these in order of the biggest concerns. Change partners and talk about your choices:

the economy crime terrorism education

the environment health the aged jobs

5. QUICK DEBATE: Have this quick debate with your partner(s). Students A think elections are a waste of time and money; students B think elections are a necessary part of a free society. Change partners and topics every two minutes.

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

7. BHUTAN ELECTION: You are voting in the very first Bhutanese election. Talk to the other “voters” in your class about the important issues in the Himalayas.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	Bhutan’s first ever election is just a test, not a real election.	T / F
b.	Bhutan’s government wants people to understand basic democracy.	T / F
c.	The elections ended up being a total disaster.	T / F
d.	The four political parties on voting papers were imaginary parties.	T / F
e.	Kings and queens have ruled Bhutan for a hundred years.	T / F
f.	A key factor in how people voted was their favourite colour.	T / F
g.	The Yellow Thunder Dragon Party stood for modernization.	T / F
h.	Most Bhutanese think happiness is more important than economics.	T / F

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

a.	citizens	consider
b.	cast their ballots	in line with
c.	dummy	voting
d.	evaluate	trial
e.	polling	residents
f.	sandwiched	continuation
g.	put an end to	voted
h.	dress rehearsal	finish
i.	preservation	pretend
j.	consistent	squeezed

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

a.	the remote	with the voter turnout
b.	a warm-up for	the rule of the monarchy
c.	authorities are happy	first and second-place winners
d.	People were given mock	between India and China
e.	decide between the	real elections
f.	An estimated 400,000 people are	to the voters’ favourite colour
g.	sandwiched	manifestos to look at
h.	put an end to	eligible to vote
i.	the deciding factor came down	of Bhutan's traditions
j.	the preservation	Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan

WHILE READING / LISTENING

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

Bhutan practices for first ever election
 

Citizens of the ________ Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan cast their ballots for the first time in their country’s history on Saturday. Bhutanese residents voted in “________” elections, designed as a warm-up for real elections in 2008. Bhutan’s government wanted a ________ run to teach its people about the basics of democracy. Election authorities are happy with the voter turnout and said everything went ________. “The elections will give us a chance to ________ our readiness for ________ the big elections,” an official said. People were given mock manifestos to look at and had to vote for one of four fake political parties – the Blue, Red, Green, or Yellow Thunder Dragon Parties. A second round of ________ will take place on May 28th to decide between the first and second-place winners of Saturday’s ________.		holding smoothly dummy contest evaluate remote polling test
An estimated 400,000 people are ________ to vote in the tiny ________ nation, sandwiched between India and China. In the real elections, people will vote for a new parliament that may put an end to the ________ of the monarchy and end a century of royal rule. However, it is unclear from Saturday’s dress rehearsal how the real thing will ________. Although people considered issues such as the environment, industrial development and traditional values, the ________ factor came down to the voters’ favourite colour. The ________ winner, with around 44 percent of the vote, was the Yellow Thunder Dragon Party, which called for the preservation of Bhutan's traditions, cultures and values. This is consistent with the nation’s ________ that its GDH (Gross Domestic ________) is more important than its GDP (Gross Domestic Product).		rule overwhelming happiness rooftop deciding eligible view go

LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Bhutan practices for first ever election

Citizens of the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan ________________ the first time in their country’s history on Saturday. Bhutanese residents voted in “dummy” elections, designed ________________ real elections in 2008. Bhutan’s government wanted a test run to teach its people ________________  democracy. Election authorities are happy with the voter turnout and said everything went smoothly. “The elections will give us ________________ our readiness for holding the big elections,” an official said. People were given mock manifestos to look at and had to _____________________ political parties – the Blue, Red, Green, or Yellow Thunder Dragon Parties. A second round of polling will take place on May 28th ______________________ first and second-place winners of Saturday’s contest.

An estimated 400,000 people ________________ the tiny rooftop nation, sandwiched between India and China. In the real elections, people will vote for a new parliament that may ________________ rule of the monarchy and end a century of royal rule. However, it is unclear from Saturday’s dress rehearsal how ________________. Although people considered issues such as the environment, industrial development and traditional values, the deciding factor ________________ voters’ favourite colour. The overwhelming winner, with around 44 percent of the vote, was the Yellow Thunder Dragon Party, ________________ preservation of Bhutan's traditions, cultures and values. This is consistent ________________ that its GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) is more important than its GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

• 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. STUDENT “DEMOCRACY” SURVEY: In pairs / groups, write down questions about democracy and elections.

• Ask other classmates your questions and note down their answers.
• Go back to your original partner / group and compare your findings.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

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

remote dummy basics evaluate mock decide

tiny end dress factor overwhelming important

DISCUSSION

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

1. What did you think when you read the headline?
2. What do you know about the tiny rooftop nation of Bhutan?
3. What do you think of Bhutan’s mock elections?
4. What issues do you think are important in a tiny Himalayan kingdom?
5. Is it important to vote?
6. What do you think democracy real is?
7. Do you think citizens need lessons on democracy and elections?
8. Which elections around the world do you take an interest in?
9. Why do you think Bhutan has decided to hold elections for the first time?
10. Do you like reading about elections?

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

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

1. Did you like reading this article?
2. What are elections like in your country?
3. Have you ever voted?
4. What are the key issues you consider when voting?
5. What do you think it’s like living on the rooftop of the world?
6. Do you think Bhutan’s people will vote to end its monarchy?
7. What do you think of voting for a party that has your favourite colour?
8. Do you think Bhutan should modernize or preserve its traditions?
9. Do you think Gross Domestic Happiness is important?
10. Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

1. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
2. Was there a question you didn’t like?
3. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
4. What did you like talking about?
5. Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

ELECTION ISSUES:

With your partner(s), create your own manifesto for the next school / local / national / international elections. Put your key issues in the left hand column. Decide on things you want to increase or decrease in the middle and right hand columns.

Decide a name for your party _____________________________________

The issues	Increase	Decrease
1. ______________
2. ______________
3. ______________
4. ______________
5. ______________

After you finish, change partners and tell each other about your manifestos. Who has the best ones?

LANGUAGE

CORRECT WORD: Put the correct words from a–d below in the article.

Bhutan practices for first ever election

Citizens of the (1) ____ Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan cast their ballots for the first time in their country’s history on Saturday. Bhutanese residents voted in “(2) ____” elections, designed as a (3) ____ -up for real elections in 2008. Bhutan’s government wanted a test run to teach its people about the basics of democracy. Election authorities are happy with the voter turnout and said everything went (4) ____. “The elections will give us a chance to evaluate our readiness for holding the big elections,” an official said. People were given (5) ____ manifestos to look at and had to vote for one of four fake political parties – the Blue, Red, Green, or Yellow Thunder Dragon Parties. A second round of polling will (6) ____ place on May 28th to decide between the first and second-place winners of Saturday’s contest.

An estimated 400,000 people are (7) ____ to vote in the tiny rooftop nation, sandwiched between India and China. In the real elections, people will vote for a new parliament that may (8) ____ an end to the rule of the monarchy and end a century of royal rule. However, it is unclear from Saturday’s (9) ____ rehearsal how the real thing will go. Although people considered issues such as the environment, industrial development and traditional values, the deciding factor came (10) ____ to the voters’ favourite colour. The overwhelming winner, with around 44 percent of the vote, was the Yellow Thunder Dragon Party, (11) ____ called for the preservation of Bhutan's traditions, cultures and values. This is consistent with the nation’s (12) ____ that its GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) is more important than its GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

1.	(a)	revote	(b)	remotely	(c)	remote	(d)	remoteness
2.	(a)	fools	(b)	dumb	(c)	dummies	(d)	dummy
3.	(a)	warm	(b)	cool	(c)	heat	(d)	fire
4.	(a)	calm	(b)	smoothly	(c)	roughly	(d)	uneven
5.	(a)	lock	(b)	rock	(c)	mock	(d)	sock
6.	(a)	take	(b)	give	(c)	put	(d)	in
7.	(a)	editable	(b)	enviable	(c)	edible	(d)	eligible
8.	(a)	put	(b)	hit	(c)	stop	(d)	start
9.	(a)	vest	(b)	dress	(c)	pants	(d)	suit
10.	(a)	on	(b)	in	(c)	up	(d)	down
11.	(a)	when	(b)	why	(c)	which	(d)	what
12.	(a)	look	(b)	view	(c)	sight	(d)	eyesight

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 more information about the tiny rooftop kingdom of Bhutan. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ELECTIONS POSTER: Make a poster about different countries around the world that have had elections recently (France, Nigeria, etc.) How are they different? Show your poster to your class in the next lesson. Vote on the best one(s).

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about the introduction of democracy in Bhutan. In particular, write about how the tiny kingdom’s society might change, and whether this is good or bad? Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?

5. HAPPY MANIFESTO: Create your own manifesto to increase the Gross Domestic Happiness of your country. Show your manifesto to your classmates in the next lesson. Which one was best and why?

6. LETTER: Write a letter to the king of Bhutan. Ask him three questions about why he is introducing democratic elections in his country. Give him three pieces of advice about how to keep his country high in Gross Domestic Happiness. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. T

b. T

c. F

d. T

e. T

f. T

g. F

h. T

SYNONYM MATCH:

a.	citizens	residents
b.	cast their ballots	voted
c.	dummy	pretend
d.	evaluate	consider
e.	polling	voting
f.	sandwiched	squeezed
g.	put an end to	finish
h.	dress rehearsal	trial
i.	preservation	continuation
j.	consistent	in line with

PHRASE MATCH:

a.	the remote	Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan
b.	a warm-up for	real elections
c.	authorities are happy	with the voter turnout
d.	People were given mock	manifestos to look at
e.	decide between the	first and second-place winners
f.	An estimated 400,000 people are	eligible to vote
g.	sandwiched	between India and China
h.	put an end to	the rule of the monarchy
i.	the deciding factor came down	to the voters’ favourite colour
j.	the preservation	of Bhutan's traditions

GAP FILL:

Bhutan practices for first ever election

Citizens of the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan cast their ballots for the first time in their country’s history on Saturday. Bhutanese residents voted in “dummy” elections, designed as a warm-up for real elections in 2008. Bhutan’s government wanted a test run to teach its people about the basics of democracy. Election authorities are happy with the voter turnout and said everything went smoothly. “The elections will give us a chance to evaluate our readiness for holding the big elections,” an official said. People were given mock manifestos to look at and had to vote for one of four fake political parties – the Blue, Red, Green, or Yellow Thunder Dragon Parties. A second round of polling will take place on May 28th to decide between the first and second-place winners of Saturday’s contest.

An estimated 400,000 people are eligible to vote in the tiny rooftop nation, sandwiched between India and China. In the real elections, people will vote for a new parliament that may put an end to the rule of the monarchy and end a century of royal rule. However, it is unclear from Saturday’s dress rehearsal how the real thing will go. Although people considered issues such as the environment, industrial development and traditional values, the deciding factor came down to the voters’ favourite colour. The overwhelming winner, with around 44 percent of the vote, was the Yellow Thunder Dragon Party, which called for the preservation of Bhutan's traditions, cultures and values. This is consistent with the nation’s view that its GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) is more important than its GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - c

2 - d

3 - a

4 -b

5 - c

6 -a

7 - d

8 -a

9 -b

10 - d

11 -c

12 - b

 

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