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250 million children cannot read or write (2nd February, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A new report from the United Nations says more than 250 million children of primary school age cannot read or write. It said they could also not do basic mathematics. The report said that 120 million children have spent little or no time in school. The researchers said children not going to school means countries lose money. Each year, governments lose up to $130 billion. Vibeke Jensen, a U.N. spokeswoman, said there was a global "learning crisis". She said this was because there were not enough well-trained teachers in poor areas. She said that in a third of countries, 75 per cent of primary school teachers do not have enough training. She added: "The issue now is to put the focus on quality."

The report said that most of those not going to school were girls. It said it was important that developing countries educate girls. Sending girls to school can increase a country's wealth by 25 per cent over 40 years. The report said that almost two-thirds (66%) of girls in Arab countries and sub-Saharan Africa would never go to school. In Yemen, just 36 per cent of young women are literate. The Reuters news agency said: "If current trends continue, the poorest part of the young female population in developing countries won’t achieve literacy until 2072" There was some good news. In Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam, the number of children not going to school fell by 85 per cent in the last five years.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/29/kid-literacy-rate_n_4691196.html?utm_hp_ref=world
http://www.dw.de/unesco-report-higher-illiteracy-rate-more-waste-in-education-than-previously-believed/a-17393234
http://www.trust.org/item/20140130051043-gzad3/
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/efareport/reports/2013/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. LITERACY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about literacy. Change partners often 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.

United Nations / primary school / mathematics / learning / teachers / poor / quality / developing countries / girls / wealth / literate / good news / in the last 5 years

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

3. SCHOOL: Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

Subject	How good were you?	How important is it?	What was difficult?
English
Maths
Art
Sports
History
Literature

4. READING: Students A strongly believe reading is more important than writing; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. SCHOOL SUBJECTS: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the most important at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• literature

• English

• maths

• art

• geography

• science

• history

• sports

6. READ: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "read". 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.	A U.N. report says 250 million children cannot do basic mathematics.	T / F
b.	120 million primary-school-age children have never been to school.	T / F
c.	Countries lose $130 million a year when children do not go to school.	T / F
d.	The U.N. says there are not enough well-trained teachers.	T / F
e.	Educating girls can increase a country's wealth by a quarter.	T / F
f.	Three-quarters of girls in Arab countries might never go to school.	T / F
g.	The article says it will take some nations 100 years to achieve literacy.	T / F
h.	The number of Vietnamese not going to school fell by 85% in 5 years.	T / F

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

1.	basic	a.	as much as
2.	little	b.	present
3.	up to	c.	growing
4.	global	d.	educated
5.	enough	e.	worldwide
6.	developing	f.	elementary
7.	literate	g.	dropped
8.	current	h.	sufficient
9.	achieve	i.	not much
10.	fell	j.	reach

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

1.	they could also not do	a.	to $130 billion
2.	governments lose up	b.	countries
3.	a U.N. spokeswoman, said there was	c.	focus on quality
4.	teachers do not have	d.	25% over 40 years
5.	The issue now is to put the	e.	enough training
6.	developing	f.	continue
7.	increase a country's wealth by	g.	basic mathematics
8.	sub-	h.	in the last five years
9.	If current trends	i.	a global "learning crisis"
10.	fell by 85 per cent	j.	Saharan Africa

GAP FILL

A new report from the United Nations says more than 250 million children of (1) ____________ school age cannot read or write. It said they could also not do (2) ____________ mathematics. The report said that 120 million children have spent (3) ____________ or no time in school. The researchers said children not going to school means countries lose money. Each year, governments lose (4) ____________ to $130 billion. Vibeke Jensen, a U.N. spokeswoman, said there was a global "learning (5) __________". She said this was because there were not enough well-trained teachers in poor (6) ____________. She said that in a (7) ____________ of countries, 75 per cent of primary school teachers do not have enough training. She added: "The issue now is to put the (8) ____________ on quality."

areas
up
basic
focus
primary
third
little
crisis

The report said that most of those (9) ____________ going to school were girls. It said it was important that developing countries educate girls. Sending girls to school can increase a country's (10) ____________ by 25 per cent over 40 years. The report said that almost two-thirds (66%) of girls in Arab countries and (11) ____________ -Saharan Africa would never go to school. In Yemen, just 36 per cent of young women are (12) ____________. The Reuters news agency said: "If current (13) ____________ continue, the poorest part of the young female (14) ____________ in developing countries won't achieve literacy until 2072" There was some good news. In Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam, the (15) ____________ of children not going to school (16) ____________ by 85 per cent in the last five years.

population
wealth
fell
literate
not
number
sub
trends

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	It said they could also not do ______
	a. basics mathematics b. bay sick mathematics c. basic mathematics d. base sick mathematics
2)	The researchers said children not going to school means countries ______
	a. gain money b. invest money c. lose money d. find money
3)	a U.N. spokeswoman, said there was a global ______
	a. "leaning crisis" b. "yearning crisis" c. "learn in crisis" d. "looming crisis"
4)	75 per cent of primary school teachers do not have ______
	a. enough train in b. enough trainers c. enough training d. enough tray ning
5)	The issue now is to put the ______
	a. focus on quantity b. focus on qualities c. focus on quarterly d. focus on quality
6)	It said it was important that developing countries ______
	a. educates girls b. educated girls c. education girls d. educate girls
7)	Sending girls to school can increase a country's ______
	a. wealth by 25% b. wealthy by 25% c. well the by 25% d. wells by 25%
8)	In Yemen, just 36 per cent of young women _______
	a. are literacy b. are literate c. are litter rat d. are reiterate
9)	The Reuters news agency said: "If current ______…
	a. friends continue b. trains continue c. treads continue d. trends continue
10)	the number of children not going to school _______
	a. fall by 85% b. fell by 85% c. full by 85% d. fill by 85%

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A new report from the United Nations (1) ___________________ 250 million children of primary school age cannot read or write. It said they could also not (2) ___________________. The report said that 120 million children have spent little or no time in school. The researchers said children not going to school (3) ___________________ money. Each year, governments lose up to $130 billion. Vibeke Jensen, a U.N. spokeswoman, said there was a (4) ___________________. She said this was because there were not enough well-trained teachers in poor areas. She said (5) ___________________ countries, 75 per cent of primary school teachers do not have enough training. She added: "The (6) ___________________ put the focus on quality."

The report said that most of (7) ___________________ school were girls. It said it was important that developing countries educate girls. Sending girls to school (8) ___________________ country's wealth by 25 per cent over 40 years. The report said that (9) ___________________ (66%) of girls in Arab countries and sub-Saharan Africa would never go to school. In Yemen, just 36 per cent of young (10) ___________________. The Reuters news agency said: "If current trends continue, the poorest part of the young female population in developing countries (11) ___________________ until 2072" There was some good news. In Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam, the number of children not going to school fell by 85 per cent (12) ___________________.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What else could the children not do besides read and write?
2.	How much time do 120 million children spend in school?
3.	How much money do countries lose by not educating children?
4.	What kind of crisis did a UN spokeswoman talk of?
5.	What did the woman say countries should focus on?
6.	How much richer could a country get by educating girls?
7.	What proportion of girls in Arab countries may not go to school?
8.	In what country can only 36% of girls read and write?
9.	When might developing countries achieve literacy?
10.	How much did the rate of children not going to school fall by in Laos?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What else could the children not do besides read and write?	6.	How much richer could a country get by educating girls?
	a) speak English b) do maths c) cook d) sew		a) 25% richer b) 40% richer c) 66% richer d) 85% richer
2.	How much time do 120 million children spend in school?	7.	What proportion of girls in Arab countries may not go to school?
	a) 50 hours a week b) 7 hours a day c) 4 days a week d) little or no time		a) four-fifths b) three-quarters c) two-thirds d) nine-tenths
3.	How much money do countries lose by not educating children?	8.	In what country can only 36% of girls read and write?
	a) $130 billion b) $13,000,000 c) $130,288,634,722.99 d) $130 million		a) Yemen b) USA c) Madagascar d) Bhutan
4.	What kind of crisis did a UN spokeswoman talk of?	9.	When might developing countries achieve literacy?
	a) a not-so-serious one b) a humanitarian one c) a learning crisis d) an urgent one		a) 2072 b) never c) 2280 d) the end of this year
5.	What did the woman say countries should focus on?	10.	How much did the rate of children not going to school fall by in Laos?
	a) English b) quality c) science d) quantity		a) 82% b) 83% c) 84% d) 85%

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Literature

You think literature is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): science, art or sports.

Role B – Science

You think science is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): literature, art or sports.

Role C – Art

You think art is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): science, literature or sports.

Role D – Sports

You think sports is the most important school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): science, art or literature.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'read' and 'write'.

read

write

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:

age
120
130
crisis
75
issue

educate
25
two-thirds
36
2072
85

LITERACY SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about literacy 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.

LITERACY 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 phrase 'read and write'?
c)	How good was your school?
d)	How important is reading and writing?
e)	What can we do to help children get to school?
f)	Some children in rich countries hate school and misbehave? Why?
g)	What's the best way to teach children to read and write?
h)	What is the "global learning crisis"?
i)	Were all your teachers well-trained and good at teaching?
j)	Should parents teach children to read and write?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What would life be like if you couldn't read or write?
c)	How has technology helped with literacy skills?
d)	Why do so few girls go to school in some countries?
e)	Malala Yousafzai said: "One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world." Is this true?
f)	How do you think it feels to not be able to go to school?
g)	How has your education helped you?
h)	Malcolm X said: "People don't realize how a man's whole life can be changed by one book." Do you agree
i)	Do you prefer reading or writing? Why?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the writer of the report?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A new report from the United Nations says more than 250 million children of primary school (1) ____ cannot read or write. It said they could also not do basic mathematics. The report said that 120 million children have (2) ____ little or no time in school. The researchers said children not going to school (3) ____ countries lose money. Each year, governments lose (4) ____ to $130 billion. Vibeke Jensen, a U.N. spokeswoman, said there was a global "learning crisis". She said this was because there were not enough (5) ____-trained teachers in poor areas. She said that in a third of countries, 75 per cent of primary school teachers do not have enough training. She added: "The issue now is to put the focus (6) ____ quality."

The report said that most of those not going to school were girls. It said it was important that developing countries (7) ____ girls. Sending girls to school can increase a country's wealth (8) ____ 25 per cent over 40 years. The report said that almost two-thirds (66%) of girls in Arab countries and (9) ____-Saharan Africa would never go to school. In Yemen, just 36 per cent of young women are literate. The Reuters news agency said: "If current (10) ____ continue, the poorest part of the young female population in developing countries won't achieve (11) ____ until 2072" There was some good news. In Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam, the number of children not going to school (12) ____ by 85 per cent in the last five years.

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

1.	(a)	aged	(b)	age	(c)	aging	(d)	ageist
2.	(a)	spends	(b)	spent	(c)	spending	(d)	spend
3.	(a)	same	(b)	equal	(c)	is	(d)	means
4.	(a)	over	(b)	up	(c)	along	(d)	down
5.	(a)	good	(b)	well	(c)	fine	(d)	average
6.	(a)	by	(b)	at	(c)	on	(d)	in
7.	(a)	education	(b)	educating	(c)	educate	(d)	educational
8.	(a)	as	(b)	at	(c)	by	(d)	for
9.	(a)	cub	(b)	dub	(c)	tub	(d)	sub
10.	(a)	trends	(b)	fronds	(c)	glands	(d)	blends
11.	(a)	literacy	(b)	literate	(c)	illiterate	(d)	illiteracy
12.	(a)	stumbled	(b)	tripped	(c)	fell	(d)	sank

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	prairym school
2.	do basic casamtmthie
3.	enenotsgmvr lose up to $130 billion
4.	a global learning ssrcii
5.	in a hirtd of countries
6.	focus on aqtuily
Paragraph 2
7.	egvldnpieo countries
8.	edtecau girls
9.	increase a country's aewlth by 25 per cent
10.	just 36 per cent of young women are etrtelia
11.	current dsertn
12.	female anpulotoip

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	Africa would never go to school. In Yemen, just 36 per cent of young women are literate. The Reuters news
( )	agency said: "If current trends continue, the poorest part of the young female population in developing
( )	spokeswoman, said there was a global "learning crisis". She said this was because there were not enough well-
( )	countries educate girls. Sending girls to school can increase a country's wealth by 25 per cent
( )	The report said that most of those not going to school were girls. It said it was important that developing
( )	means countries lose money. Each year, governments lose up to $130 billion. Vibeke Jensen, a U.N.
( )	age cannot read or write. It said they could also not do basic mathematics. The report
( )	said that 120 million children have spent little or no time in school. The researchers said children not going to school
( )	over 40 years. The report said that almost two-thirds (66%) of girls in Arab countries and sub-Saharan
( )	trained teachers in poor areas. She said that in a third of countries, 75 per cent of primary school teachers do not have enough
( )	countries won't achieve literacy until 2072" There was some good news. In Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam,
( 1 )	A new report from the United Nations says more than 250 million children of primary school
( )	training. She added: "The issue now is to put the focus on quality."
( )	the number of children not going to school fell by 85 per cent in the last five years.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	children of primary school age 250 . million
2.	they not mathematics said also basic It could do.
3.	school lose Children to countries going means money not.
4.	there was a global learning crisis A UN spokeswoman said.
5.	is to put the focus on quality The issue now.
6.	those to girls of going were Most not school.
7.	to increase wealth girls can country's Sending school a.
8.	Just cent women per young literate 36 of are.
9.	2072 until literacy achieve won't countries Developing.
10.	five years Fell by 85 per cent in the last.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A new report from the United Nations says more / over than 250 million children of primary school age cannot read or write. It said they could also not do basic / basically mathematics. The report said that 120 million children have spending / spent little or no / none time in school. The researchers said children not going to school means countries losing / lose money. Each year, governments lose down / up to $130 billion. Vibeke Jensen, a U.N. spokeswoman, said there was a global "learning crash / crisis". She said this was because there were not plenty / enough well-trained teachers in poor areas. She said that in a third / thirdly of countries, 75 per cent of primary school teachers do not have enough training. She added: "The issue now is to put the focus in / on quality."

The report said that most of those / them not going to school were girls. It said it was importance / important that developing countries educate girls. Sending girls to school can increase a country's health / wealth by 25 per cent over 40 years. The report said that most / almost two-thirds (66%) of girls in Arab countries and sub-Saharan Africa would never gone / go to school. In Yemen, just 36 per cent of young women are literacy / literate. The Reuters news agency said: "If current / currant trends continue, the poorest part of the young female populated / population in developing countries won't achieve / achievement literacy until 2072" There was some good news. In Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam, the number of children not going to school fell / fall by 85 per cent in the last five years.

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)

_ n_w r_p_rt fr_m th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns s_ys m_r_ th_n 250 m_ll__n ch_ldr_n _f pr_m_ry sch__l _g_ c_nn_t r__d _r wr_t_. _t s__d th_y c__ld _ls_ n_t d_ b_s_c m_th_m_t_cs. Th_ r_p_rt s__d th_t 120 m_ll__n ch_ldr_n h_v_ sp_nt l_ttl_ _r n_ t_m_ _n sch__l. Th_ r_s__rch_rs s__d ch_ldr_n n_t g__ng t_ sch__l m__ns c__ntr__s l_s_ m_n_y. __ch y__r, g_v_rnm_nts l_s_ _p t_ $130 b_ll__n. V_b_k_ J_ns_n, _ _.N. sp_k_sw_m_n, s__d th_r_ w_s _ gl_b_l "l__rn_ng cr_s_s". Sh_ s__d th_s w_s b_c__s_ th_r_ w_r_ n_t _n__gh w_ll-tr__n_d t__ch_rs _n p__r _r__s. Sh_ s__d th_t _n _ th_rd _f c__ntr__s, 75 p_r c_nt _f pr_m_ry sch__l t__ch_rs d_ n_t h_v_ _n__gh tr__n_ng. Sh_ _dd_d: "Th_ _ss__ n_w _s t_ p_t th_ f_c_s _n q__l_ty."

Th_ r_p_rt s__d th_t m_st _f th_s_ n_t g__ng t_ sch__l w_r_ g_rls. _t s__d _t w_s _mp_rt_nt th_t d_v_l_p_ng c__ntr__s _d_c_t_ g_rls. S_nd_ng g_rls t_ sch__l c_n _ncr__s_ _ c__ntry's w__lth by 25 p_r c_nt _v_r 40 y__rs. Th_ r_p_rt s__d th_t _lm_st tw_-th_rds (66%) _f g_rls _n _r_b c__ntr__s _nd s_b-S_h_r_n _fr_c_ w__ld n_v_r g_ t_ sch__l. _n Y_m_n, j_st 36 p_r c_nt _f y__ng w_m_n _r_ l_t_r_t_. Th_ R__t_rs n_ws _g_ncy s__d: "_f c_rr_nt tr_nds c_nt_n__, th_ p__r_st p_rt _f th_ y__ng f_m_l_ p_p_l_t__n _n d_v_l_p_ng c__ntr__s w_n't _ch__v_ l_t_r_cy _nt_l 2072" Th_r_ w_s s_m_ g__d n_ws. _n L__s, Rw_nd_ _nd V__tn_m, th_ n_mb_r _f ch_ldr_n n_t g__ng t_ sch__l f_ll by 85 p_r c_nt _n th_ l_st f_v_ y__rs.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a new report from the united nations says more than 250 million children of primary school age cannot read or write it said they could also not do basic mathematics the report said that 120 million children have spent little or no time in school the researchers said children not going to school means countries lose money each year governments lose up to $130 billion vibeke jensen a un spokeswoman said there was a global "learning crisis" she said this was because there were not enough well-trained teachers in poor areas she said that in a third of countries 75 per cent of primary school teachers do not have enough training she added "the issue now is to put the focus on quality"

the report said that most of those not going to school were girls it said it was important that developing countries educate girls sending girls to school can increase a country's wealth by 25 per cent over 40 years the report said that almost two-thirds (66%) of girls in arab countries and sub-saharan africa would never go to school in yemen just 36 per cent of young women are literate the reuters news agency said "if current trends continue the poorest part of the young female population in developing countries won't achieve literacy until 2072" there was some good news in laos rwanda and vietnam the number of children not going to school fell by 85 per cent in the last five years

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AnewreportfromtheUnitedNationssaysmorethan250millionchil
drenofprimaryschoolagecannotreadorwrite.Itsaidtheycouldalso
notdobasicmathematics.Thereportsaidthat120millionchildrenh
avespentlittleornotimeinschool.Theresearcherssaidchildrennot
goingtoschoolmeanscountrieslosemoney.Eachyear,governmen
tsloseupto$130billion.VibekeJensen,aU.N.spokeswoman,saidt
herewasaglobal"learningcrisis".Shesaidthiswasbecausetherew
erenotenoughwell-trainedteachersinpoorareas.Shesaidtha
tinathirdofcountries,75percentofprimaryschoolteachersdonoth
aveenoughtraining.Sheadded:"Theissuenowistoputthefocuson
quality."Thereportsaidthatmostofthosenotgoingtoschoolwe
regirls.Itsaiditwasimportantthatdevelopingcountrieseducategir
ls.Sendinggirlstoschoolcanincreaseacountry'swealthby25perce
ntover40years.Thereportsaidthatalmosttwo-thirds(66%)o
fgirlsinArabcountriesandsub-SaharanAfricawouldnevergotosc
hool.InYemen,just36percentofyoungwomenareliterate.TheReu
tersnewsagencysaid:"Ifcurrenttrendscontinue,thepoorestparto
ftheyoungfemalepopulationindevelopingcountrieswon'tachieve
literacyuntil2072"Therewassomegoodnews.InLaos,Rwandaand
Vietnam,thenumberofchildrennotgoingtoschoolfellby85percent
inthelastfiveyears.

FREE WRITING

Write about literacy for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Reading is more important than writing. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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

3. LITERACY: Make a poster about literacy. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. ILLITERATE: Write a magazine article about being illiterate. Include imaginary interviews with people who cannot read or write.

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 literacy expert. Ask him/her three questions about literacy. Give him/her three ideas on how to help children who cannot read. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	basic	a.	elementary
2.	little	b.	not much
3.	up to	c.	as much as
4.	global	d.	worldwide
5.	enough	e.	sufficient
6.	developing	f.	growing
7.	literate	g.	educated
8.	current	h.	present
9.	achieve	i.	reach
10.	fell	j.	dropped

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Do basic maths
2.	Little or no time
3.	$130 billion
4.	A global learning crisis
5.	Quality
6.	25% richer
7.	two-thirds (66%)
8.	Yemen
9.	By 2072
10.	85%

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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250 million children cannot read or write (2nd February, 2014)

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