ROLE PLAY
Role A – A traditional healer
You are shocked you may have to pay more tax. Tell the others three reasons why. You think the king should pay more. He spends most of the country's money on himself. You do a valuable job for your country. You should not be singled out to pay tax. |
Role B – King Mswati III
Your citizens all need to pay tax. Tell the others three reasons why. The traditional healers make good money and should pay more. Their fees quadrupled recently but their tax has stayed the same. You hate criticism. You do everything you can to look after your people. |
Role C – A Swazi farmer
You think the traditional healers should pay more tax. Tell the others three reasons why. You are a poor farmer and you pay your taxes. You love your king and hate people who attack him. He needs a good lifestyle. He looks after his people. The healers are moneygrabbers. |
Role D – IMF economist
You are an expert on the Swazi economy. The king spends too much of tax revenues on himself, his family, his army, etc. He needs to spend more on his people. Tell the others three reasons why. Any tax on traditional healers will bring in very little extra revenue. It's a really bad idea. |
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'witch' and 'doctor'.
- 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:
- tiny
- solve
- ripe
- recent
- share
- short
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- trade
- little
- 15
- wives
- rid
- studying
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TRADITIONAL HEALERS SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about traditional healers 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.
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STUDENT 1
_____________ |
STUDENT 2
_____________ |
STUDENT 3
_____________ |
Q.1.
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Q.2.
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Q.3.
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Q.4.
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Q.5.
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- 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.
TRADITIONAL HEALERS 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 'healer'? |
c) |
What do you think of traditional healers? |
d) |
What is healthcare like in your country? |
e) |
What do you think of the proposed tax hike on Swaziland's healers? |
f) |
Is the tax system in your country fair? |
g) |
How is your country's economic situation? |
h) |
What do you think the sangomas might say about the proposed tax? |
i) |
Does everyone pay their fair share in tax in your country? |
j) |
What should happen to people who avoid paying tax? |
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STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
a) |
Did you like reading this article? Why/not? |
b) |
What do you know about Swaziland? |
c) |
Should Swaziland treat its traditional healers better? |
d) |
Do you think traditional medicine can be better than modern medicine? |
e) |
Have you ever been in dire financial straits? |
f) |
How should a country get its budget deficit down? |
g) |
What do you think of King Mswati III for the way he spends his country's money? |
h) |
What do you think of the label "witch doctor"? |
i) |
What questions would you like to ask King Mswati III? |
j) |
What do you think his answers might be? |
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B) |
1. |
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2. |
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3. |
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4. |
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5. |
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6. |
________________________________________________________ |
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STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A) |
1. |
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2. |
________________________________________________________ |
3. |
________________________________________________________ |
4. |
________________________________________________________ |
5. |
________________________________________________________ |
6. |
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MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE
A politician from the (1) ____ southern African kingdom of Swaziland has proposed a (2) ____ in the tax rate on the nation's traditional healers. Majahodvwa Khumalo has urged the government to (3) ____ the tax to help solve his country's worsening economic situation. He believes the time is ripe for (4) ____ the tax on the healers, known as 'sangomas'. Mr Khumalo said the sangomas have quadrupled their fees in recent years but are still paying very little in tax. He told the Swazi parliament the healers (5) ____ to pay their fair share towards the country's economic recovery, saying: "A majority of our people consult traditional healers but the money they pay to government falls (6) ____ too short of the money they make."
The sangomas currently pay an annual fee of 10 emalangeni ($1.15) to (7) ____ their trade. Many Swazis visit the healers, who are a key part of the nation's health service. (8) ____ say raising taxes on the sangomas would bring in very little revenue. Swaziland is in dire financial (9) ____. Its budget deficit has skyrocketed to 15 per cent of its (10) ____. Many say King Mswati III should do more to help his country. He spends a small (11) ____ on his many wives, lavish lifestyle, and a bloated military. The sangomas feel they are being singled out. They have already spent decades trying to (12) ____ themselves of a "witch doctor" label given to them by Europeans. Western pharmacists are now studying their cures and medicines.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1. |
(a) |
tiny |
(b) |
tinny |
(c) |
tin |
(d) |
tinted |
2. |
(a) |
trek |
(b) |
march |
(c) |
hike |
(d) |
walk |
3. |
(a) |
heavy |
(b) |
gravy |
(c) |
levy |
(d) |
envy |
4. |
(a) |
upper-class |
(b) |
uppity |
(c) |
uppers |
(d) |
upping |
5. |
(a) |
needed |
(b) |
needy |
(c) |
needless |
(d) |
needing |
6. |
(a) |
lots |
(b) |
far |
(c) |
such |
(d) |
so |
7. |
(a) |
flay |
(b) |
fly |
(c) |
play |
(d) |
ply |
8. |
(a) |
Combatants |
(b) |
Opponents |
(c) |
Foes |
(d) |
Supporters |
9. |
(a) |
straightens |
(b) |
straight |
(c) |
straits |
(d) |
strait |
10. |
(a) |
GDR |
(b) |
POD |
(c) |
GOP |
(d) |
GDP |
11. |
(a) |
karma |
(b) |
cookie |
(c) |
chance |
(d) |
fortune |
12. |
(a) |
bid |
(b) |
rid |
(c) |
lid |
(d) |
hid |
SPELLING
Paragraph 1 |
1. |
the tiny tsohreun African kingdom |
2. |
dreug the government |
3. |
rgsoneniw economic situation |
4. |
upaurdlqed their fees |
5. |
the Swazi imleatpran |
6. |
A traojymi of our people |
Paragraph 2
|
7. |
onpptnose say… |
8. |
Swaziland is in dire financial sttrsia. |
9. |
budget itdcfei |
10. |
spends a small efunrto |
11. |
a bloated ariylimt |
12. |
Western mtshrcisapa |
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( ) |
his country's worsening economic situation. He believes the time is ripe for upping the tax on the healers, known |
( ) |
money they pay to government falls far too short of the money they make." |
( ) |
little in tax. He told the Swazi parliament the healers needed to pay their fair share towards the country's economic |
( ) |
recovery, saying: "A majority of our people consult traditional healers but the |
( ) |
15 per cent of its GDP. Many say King Mswati III should do more to help his country. He spends a small |
( ) |
given to them by Europeans. Western pharmacists are now studying their cures and medicines. |
( ) |
The sangomas currently pay an annual fee of 10 emalangeni ($1.15) to ply their trade. Many Swazis |
( ) |
out. They have already spent decades trying to rid themselves of a "witch doctor" label |
( ) |
fortune on his many wives, lavish lifestyle, and a bloated military. The sangomas feel they are being singled |
( ) |
rate on the nation's traditional healers. Majahodvwa Khumalo has urged the government to levy the tax to help solve |
( 1 ) |
A politician from the tiny southern African kingdom of Swaziland has proposed a hike in the tax |
( ) |
as 'sangomas'. Mr Khumalo said the sangomas have quadrupled their fees in recent years but are still paying very |
( ) |
in very little revenue. Swaziland is in dire financial straits. Its budget deficit has skyrocketed to |
( ) |
visit the healers, who are a key part of the nation's health service. Opponents say raising taxes on the sangomas would bring |
PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
1. |
kingdom African southern tiny The Swaziland of. |
2. |
rate healers on the The nation's tax traditional. |
3. |
levy to government the Urged tax the. |
4. |
tax He believes the time is ripe for upping the. |
5. |
people traditional . of A healers consult our majority |
6. |
fee to Pay ply an their annual trade. |
7. |
nation's key health part service of the A. |
8. |
should to say III more Many Mswati do help King. |
9. |
themselves rid to Trying label doctor" "witch a of. |
10. |
pharmacists Western cures their studying now are. |
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)
A politician from the tiny / tinny southern African kingdom of Swaziland has proposed a hike / hiking in the tax rate on the nation's traditional healers. Majahodvwa Khumalo has urged / purged the government to levy the tax to help solve his country's worsens / worsening economic situation. He believes the time is ripe / raw for upping the tax on the healers, known as 'sangomas'. Mr Khumalo said the sangomas have quadrupled / quadruplets their fees in recent years but are still paying / paid very little in tax. He told the Swazi parliament the healers needed to pay their fair / fare share towards the country's economic recovery, saying / said: "A majority of our people consult traditional healers but the money they pay to government falls far too short / shorten of the money they make."
The sangomas currently pay an annually / annual fee of 10 emalangeni ($1.15) to ply / play their trade. Many Swazis visit the healers, who are a key / lock part of the nation's health service. Opponents say raising / rising taxes on the sangomas would bring in very little revenue. Swaziland is in dire financial straits / straightens. Its budget deficit has skyrocketed to 15 per cent for / of its GDP. Many say King Mswati III should do more to help his country. He spends a small fortunate / fortune on his many wives, lavish / slavish lifestyle, and a bloated military. The sangomas feel they are being singled out / in. They have already spent decades trying to rid themselves of a "witch doctor" label given to them by Europeans. Western pharmacists are now studying their cures and medicinal / medicines.
Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.
INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)
_ p_l_t_c__n fr_m th_ t_ny s__th_rn _fr_c_n k_ngd_m _f Sw_z_l_nd h_s pr_p_s_d _ h_k_ _n th_ t_x r_t_ _n th_ n_t__n's tr_d_t__n_l h__l_rs. M_j_h_dvw_ Kh_m_l_ h_s _rg_d th_ g_v_rnm_nt t_ l_vy th_ t_x t_ h_lp s_lv_ h_s c__ntry's w_rs_n_ng _c_n_m_c s_t__t__n. H_ b_l__v_s th_ t_m_ _s r_p_ f_r _pp_ng th_ t_x _n th_ h__l_rs, kn_wn _s 's_ng_m_s'. Mr Kh_m_l_ s__d th_ s_ng_m_s h_v_ q__dr_pl_d th__r f__s _n r_c_nt y__rs b_t _r_ st_ll p_y_ng v_ry l_ttl_ _n t_x. H_ t_ld th_ Sw_z_ p_rl__m_nt th_ h__l_rs n__d_d t_ p_y th__r f__r sh_r_ t_w_rds th_ c__ntry's _c_n_m_c r_c_v_ry, s_y_ng: "_ m_j_r_ty _f __r p__pl_ c_ns_lt tr_d_t__n_l h__l_rs b_t th_ m_n_y th_y p_y t_ g_v_rnm_nt f_lls f_r t__ sh_rt _f th_ m_n_y th_y m_k_."
Th_ s_ng_m_s c_rr_ntly p_y _n _nn__l f__ _f 10 _m_l_ng_n_ ($1.15) t_ ply th__r tr_d_. M_ny Sw_z_s v_s_t th_ h__l_rs, wh_ _r_ _ k_y p_rt _f th_ n_t__n's h__lth s_rv_c_. _pp_n_nts s_y r__s_ng t_x_s _n th_ s_ng_m_s w__ld br_ng _n v_ry l_ttl_ r_v_n__. Sw_z_l_nd _s _n d_r_ f_n_nc__l str__ts. _ts b_dg_t d_f_c_t h_s skyr_ck_t_d t_ 15 p_r c_nt _f _ts GDP. M_ny s_y K_ng Msw_t_ ___ sh__ld d_ m_r_ t_ h_lp h_s c__ntry. H_ sp_nds _ sm_ll f_rt_n_ _n h_s m_ny w_v_s, l_v_sh l_f_styl_, _nd _ bl__t_d m_l_t_ry. Th_ s_ng_m_s f__l th_y _r_ b__ng s_ngl_d __t. Th_y h_v_ _lr__dy sp_nt d_c_d_s try_ng t_ r_d th_ms_lv_s _f _ "w_tch d_ct_r" l_b_l g_v_n t_ th_m by __r_p__ns. W_st_rn ph_rm_c_sts _r_ n_w st_dy_ng th__r c_r_s _nd m_d_c_n_s.
PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS
a politician from the tiny southern african kingdom of swaziland has proposed a hike in the tax rate on the nation's traditional healers majahodvwa khumalo has urged the government to levy the tax to help solve his country's worsening economic situation he believes the time is ripe for upping the tax on the healers known as 'sangomas' mr khumalo said the sangomas have quadrupled their fees in recent years but are still paying very little in tax he told the swazi parliament the healers needed to pay their fair share towards the country's economic recovery saying "a majority of our people consult traditional healers but the money they pay to government falls far too short of the money they make"
the sangomas currently pay an annual fee of 10 emalangeni ($115) to ply their trade many swazis visit the healers who are a key part of the nation's health service opponents say raising taxes on the sangomas would bring in very little revenue swaziland is in dire financial straits its budget deficit has skyrocketed to 15 per cent of its gdp many say king mswati iii should do more to help his country he spends a small fortune on his many wives lavish lifestyle and a bloated military the sangomas feel they are being singled out they have already spent decades trying to rid themselves of a "witch doctor" label given to them by europeans western pharmacists are now studying their cures and medicines
PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
ApoliticianfromthetinysouthernAfricankingdomofSwazilandhasproposedahike
inthetaxrateonthenation'straditionalhealers.MajahodvwaKhumalohasurgedthe
governmenttolevythetaxtohelpsolvehiscountry'sworseningeconomicsituation.He
believesthetimeisripeforuppingthetaxonthehealers,knownas'sangomas'.Mr
Khumalosaidthesangomashavequadrupledtheirfeesinrecentyearsbutarestill
payingverylittleintax.HetoldtheSwaziparliamentthehealersneededtopaytheirfair
sharetowardsthecountry'seconomicrecovery,saying:"Amajorityofourpeople
consulttraditionalhealersbutthemoneytheypaytogovernmentfallsfartooshortof
themoneytheymake."Thesangomascurrentlypayanannualfeeof10emalangeni
($1.15)toplytheirtrade.ManySwazisvisitthehealers,whoareakeypartofthenation's
healthservice.Opponentssayraisingtaxesonthesangomaswouldbringinverylittle
revenue.Swazilandisindirefinancialstraits.Itsbudgetdeficithasskyrocketedto
15percentofitsGDP.ManysayKingMswatiIIIshoulddomoretohelphiscountry.He
spendsasmallfortuneonhismanywives,lavishlifestyle,andabloatedmilitary.The
sangomasfeeltheyarebeingsingledout.Theyhavealreadyspentdecadestrying
toridthemselvesofa"witchdoctor"labelgiventothembyEuropeans.Western
pharmacistsarenowstudyingtheircuresandmedicines. |
FREE WRITING
Write about traditional healing for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.
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ACADEMIC WRITING
Rich people should pay a much higher rate of tax than ordinary workers. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this.
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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 traditional healers (sangomas) in Swaziland. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. TRADITIONAL HEALERS: Make a poster about traditional healers. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. TAX HIKE: Write a magazine article about the proposed tax hike in Swaziland. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.
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. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to a sangoma. Ask him/her three questions about traditional healing. Give him/her three pieces of advice on what to do about the proposed tax hike. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS
TRUE / FALSE (p.4)
a |
F |
b |
T |
c |
T |
d |
F |
e |
F |
f |
T |
g |
T |
h |
F |
SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)
1. |
tiny |
a. |
encouraged |
2. |
hike |
b. |
terrible |
3. |
urged |
c. |
increase |
4. |
consult |
d. |
yearly |
5. |
make |
e. |
very small |
6. |
annual |
f. |
remedies |
7. |
dire |
g. |
tag |
8. |
lavish |
h. |
earn |
9. |
label |
i. |
seek advice from |
10. |
cures |
j. |
luxurious |
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)
1. |
A tax hike / increase in tax on traditional healers |
2. |
Upping the tax |
3. |
Traditional Swazi healers |
4. |
Four-fold / By four times |
5. |
A majority (of the population) |
6. |
To ply their trade (work) |
7. |
A key part |
8. |
It skyrocketed to 15 per cent of its GDP |
9. |
His wives, lifestyle and military |
10. |
"Witch doctors" |
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)
1. |
c |
2. |
a |
3. |
a |
4. |
b |
5. |
d |
6. |
b |
7. |
a |
8. |
c |
9. |
d |
10. |
a |
ALL OTHER EXERCISES
Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)