Breaking News English

Date: May 17, 2007
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WARM-UPS

1. MYANMAR: Walk around the class and talk to other students about Myanmar. Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your original partner(s) and share what you found out.

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

campaigns / governments / pressure / arrests / freedom / parties / elections / temples / capital cities / stairs / cars / laws / rights / world leaders / poverty

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

3. HI. I’M LEADER: Imagine you are the leader of a non-democratic country. Talk to all the other “leaders” in the classroom about ruling a country.

4. DEMOCRACY: Which of these countries do you think are good democracies? Rank them on a scale of 10 (perfect democracy) to 1 (non-democratic).

USA China Russia Saudi Arabia

Zimbabwe Cuba United Kingdom your country _________________

5. HOUSE ARREST: In pairs / groups, talk about what it would be like to be under house arrest for four years. What would you do every day if you were not allowed outside your house?

6. QUICK DEBATE: Have this quick debate with your partner(s). Students A think democracy is important; students B think democracy is not important. Change partners and topics every two minutes.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	Many people have telephoned Myanmar’s leader about Ms. Suu Kyi.	T / F
b.	Fifty of Suu Kyi’s supporters wanting her release were arrested .	T / F
c.	There is an official date for the release of Aung Sun Suu Kyi.	T / F
d.	Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party won a general election in 1990.	T / F
e.	Suu Kyi’s supporters were arrested in a church in northern Yangon.	T / F
f.	They were taken away by the police in a very rough car.	T / F
g.	Nearly 60 ex-world heads signed a letter sent to Myanmar’s leader.	T / F
h.	Myanmar is near the bottom of the list of the world’s poor nations.	T / F

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

a.	campaign	made longer
b.	activists	furious
c.	release	released
d.	extended	campaigners
e.	detention	guarantee
f.	freed	fight
g.	violation	once
h.	secure	freedom
i.	angry	imprisonment
j.	formerly	abuse

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

a.	a new campaign in Myanmar to	pressure
b.	authorities let the 15 supporters	known as Burma
c.	under growing	rights
d.	Suu Kyi has spent more than 11	go a few hours later
e.	Her party won a general	north of the capital city Yangon
f.	a Buddhist temple	of the past 17 years in detention
g.	it was a violation of our civil	people in poverty
h.	help secure	free Aung San Suu Kyi
i.	Myanmar is keeping its	election in 1990
j.	The secretive country, formerly	the release of Suu Kyi

WHILE READING / LISTENING

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

International calls to release Aung San Suu Kyi
 

There is a new ________ in Myanmar to free Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader to the government. Police recently arrested 15 activists who were ________ the release of Suu Kyi. However, authorities ________ the 15 supporters go a few hours later. Experts believe Myanmar’s military government is under growing ________ to end Suu Kyi’s four-year-long house arrest. Although there is an ________ date of May 27 for her freedom, many believe this will be extended, unless more ________ is taken. Ms. Suu Kyi has spent more than 11 of the past 17 years in ________. Her party won a general election in 1990, but Myanmar’s junta refused to ________ the result. Instead, they imprisoned Suu Kyi and attacked members of her pro-democracy movement.		official seeking recognize pressure detention campaign action let
The ________ of 15 supporters was arrested at a Buddhist temple north of the capital city Yangon. Myo Min Soe, a youth member of her party, was ________ those freed. He told reporters: "After our prayers, we climbed down the stairs of the temple and we were ________ taken away in a car…There is no rule of law and it was a violation of our civil ________." International pressure may also help secure the release of Suu Kyi. On Monday, 59 former world leaders signed a letter that was sent to Senior General Than Shwe, the leader of Myanmar. They ________ American Bill Clinton, Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, and Benazir Bhutto from Pakistan. They are angry that Myanmar is ________ its people in ________ and taking away their rights. The secretive country, ________ known as Burma, is among the poorest in the world.		rights among formerly poverty roughly group keeping included

LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

International calls to release Aung San Suu Kyi

There is a new campaign in Myanmar to free Aung San Suu Kyi, the _________________________ government. Police recently arrested 15 activists _________________________ release of Suu Kyi. However, authorities let the 15 supporters go a few hours later. Experts believe Myanmar’s military government _________________________ to end Suu Kyi’s four-year-long house arrest. Although there is an official date of May 27 for her freedom, many believe this will be extended, unless more action is taken. Ms. Suu Kyi has spent _________________________ 17 years in detention. Her party won a general election in 1990, but Myanmar’s junta refused to recognize the result. Instead, they imprisoned Suu Kyi and _________________________ pro-democracy movement.

The group of 15 supporters _________________________ Buddhist temple north of the capital city Yangon. Myo Min Soe, a youth member of her party, _________________________ freed. He told reporters: "After our prayers, we climbed down the stairs of the temple and we were roughly taken away in a car…There is no rule _________________________ violation of our civil rights." International pressure may also help secure the release of Suu Kyi. On Monday, 59 former world leaders signed a letter ____________________ Senior General Than Shwe, the leader of Myanmar. They included American Bill Clinton, Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, and Benazir Bhutto from Pakistan. They are angry that Myanmar is _________________________ poverty and taking away their rights. The secretive country, formerly known as Burma, is _________________________ world.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

house

arrest

• 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 exactly how these were used in the text:

campaign a few hours growing extended detention imprisoned

capital city climbed roughly International angry formerly

STUDENT SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about FREEDOM 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.

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 Aung San Suu Kyi?
3. Do you think she will be released?
4. Why do you think Myanmar’s leaders are keeping her under house arrest?
5. What would you do if you had to stay in your house for four years?
6. Do (will) you belong to any political party?
7. What do you think of Myanmar’s leaders refusing to accept the 1990 general election results?
8. Do you like the name ‘Myanmar’ or the former name ‘Burma’?
9. How important is democracy to you?
10. How democratic is your country?

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

1. Did you like reading this article?
2. Would you take part in a political campaign?
3. How would you feel if the police roughly pushed you into a police car and drove away?
4. Does everyone have the same rights in your country?
5. Would you like to go to Myanmar?
6. What do you think of 59 former world leaders writing to Myanmar’s leader?
7. Why do you think Myanmar’s leaders keep their people in poverty?
8. What question would you like to ask Myanmar’s leaders?
9. What message would you like to send to Myanmar’s people?
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?

 LANGUAGE

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

International calls to release Aung San Suu Kyi

There is a new campaign in Myanmar to (1) ____ Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader to the government. Police recently arrested 15 activists who were seeking the release of Suu Kyi. However, authorities (2) ____ the 15 supporters go a few hours later. Experts believe Myanmar’s military government is (3) ____ growing pressure to end Suu Kyi’s four-year-long house arrest. Although there is an (4) ____ date of May 27 for her freedom, many believe this will be extended, (5) ____ more action is taken. Ms. Suu Kyi has spent more than 11 of the past 17 years in detention. Her party won a general election in 1990, but Myanmar’s junta refused to recognize the result. (6) ____, they imprisoned Suu Kyi and attacked members of her pro-democracy movement.

The group of 15 supporters was arrested at a Buddhist temple (7) ____ of the capital city Yangon. Myo Min Soe, a youth member of her party, was among those (8) ____. He told reporters: "After our prayers, we climbed down the stairs of the temple and we were (9) ____ taken away in a car…There is no rule of law and it was a violation of our civil rights." International pressure may also help secure the release of Suu Kyi. On Monday, 59 (10) ____ world leaders signed a letter that was sent to Senior General Than Shwe, the leader of Myanmar. They included American Bill Clinton, Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, and Benazir Bhutto from Pakistan. They are angry that Myanmar is keeping its people (11) ____ poverty and taking away their rights. The secretive country, (12) ____ known as Burma, is among the poorest in the world.

1.	(a)	free	(b)	freeze	(c)	flee	(d)	flea
2.	(a)	set	(b)	agreed	(c)	let	(d)	allowed
3.	(a)	over	(b)	under	(c)	in	(d)	on
4.	(a)	offer	(b)	officer	(c)	office	(d)	official
5.	(a)	more	(b)	less	(c)	unless	(d)	except
6.	(a)	In the red	(b)	Instead	(c)	Inbred	(d)	Steady
7.	(a)	north	(b)	northern	(c)	northerly	(d)	northernmost
8.	(a)	free	(b)	freely	(c)	freedom	(d)	freed
9.	(a)	roughest	(b)	rougher	(c)	rough	(d)	roughly
10.	(a)	formed	(b)	firmer	(c)	farmer	(d)	former
11.	(a)	in	(b)	as	(c)	on	(d)	of
12.	(a)	forms	(b)	formation	(c)	formerly	(d)	formed

WRITING: 

Write about freedom for 10 minutes. Read and 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 more information about Myanmar. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. NOBEL PRIZE WINNNERS: Make a poster about Aung San Suu Kyi and other Nobel Prize winners. In particular, focus on those who fought for democracy and freedom. Show your poster to your class in the next lesson. Vote on the best one(s).

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article Aung San Suu Kyi.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?

5. LETTER: Write a letter to Aung San Suu Kyi. Ask her three questions about her pro-democracy movement and her house arrest. Give her three pieces of advice about her future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. F

b. F

c. T

d. T

e. F

f. F

g. T

h. T

SYNONYM MATCH:

a.	campaign	fight
b.	activists	campaigners
c.	release	freedom
d.	extended	made longer
e.	detention	imprisonment
f.	freed	released
g.	violation	abuse
h.	secure	guarantee
i.	angry	furious
j.	formerly	once

PHRASE MATCH:

a.	a new campaign in Myanmar to	free Aung San Suu Kyi
b.	authorities let the 15 supporters	go a few hours later
c.	under growing	pressure
d.	Suu Kyi has spent more than 11	of the past 17 years in detention
e.	Her party won a general	election in 1990
f.	a Buddhist temple	north of the capital city Yangon
g.	it was a violation of our civil	rights
h.	help secure	the release of Suu Kyi
i.	Myanmar is keeping its	people in poverty
j.	The secretive country, formerly	known as Burma

GAP FILL:

International calls to release Aung San Suu Kyi

There is a new campaign in Myanmar to free Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader to the government. Police recently arrested 15 activists who were seeking the release of Suu Kyi. However, authorities let the 15 supporters go a few hours later. Experts believe Myanmar’s military government is under growing pressure to end Suu Kyi’s four-year-long house arrest. Although there is an official date of May 27 for her freedom, many believe this will be extended, unless more action is taken. Ms. Suu Kyi has spent more than 11 of the past 17 years in detention. Her party won a general election in 1990, but Myanmar’s junta refused to recognize the result. Instead, they imprisoned Suu Kyi and attacked members of her pro-democracy movement.

The group of 15 supporters was arrested at a Buddhist temple north of the capital city Yangon. Myo Min Soe, a youth member of her party, was among those freed. He told reporters: "After our prayers, we climbed down the stairs of the temple and we were roughly taken away in a car…There is no rule of law and it was a violation of our civil rights." International pressure may also help secure the release of Suu Kyi. On Monday, 59 former world leaders signed a letter that was sent to Senior General Than Shwe, the leader of Myanmar. They included American Bill Clinton, Britain’s Margaret Thatcher, and Benazir Bhutto from Pakistan. They are angry that Myanmar is keeping its people in poverty and taking away their rights. The secretive country, formerly known as Burma, is among the poorest in the world.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - a

2 - c

3 - b

4 -d

5 - c

6 -d

7 - a

8 -d

9 -d

10 - d

11 -a

12 - c

 

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