Belgium to allow euthanasia for children

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Belgium became the first country to pass a law to allow euthanasia for dying children. There were 86 votes for the bill, 44 against, and 12 no-votes. The controversial law is only for children in great pain. There are several rules before any euthanasia can happen. The child must be mentally aware, and ask for it. An adult must agree, and a medical team must write a psychological report. There must also be no treatment that would reduce the child's suffering.

The law has many opponents. They call it immoral and say children are not mature enough to decide such things. A man shouted "murderers" at the lawmakers. A Christian newspaper said: "In the 21st century, when parents…worry that children are growing up too quickly, [this will] hand kids one more responsibility." Children aren't old enough to drive or vote, so to decide when it's time to die "is one step too far". Many doctors said medicine could reduce pain.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26181615
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0213/Slippery-slope-Belgium-moves-to-extend-euthanasia-rights-to-children
http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/Politics/140213_Euthansie_vote

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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	the first country to pass	a.	report
2.	allow euthanasia for	b.	child's suffering
3.	The controversial law is only for children	c.	a law
4.	The child must be mentally	d.	in great pain
5.	write a psychological	e.	dying children
6.	reduce the	f.	aware

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

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	The law has many	a.	immoral
2.	They call it	b.	too far
3.	not mature enough	c.	reduce pain
4.	this will hand kids	d.	opponents
5.	one step	e.	one more responsibility
6.	medicine could	f.	to decide such things

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Belgium became the first country (1) ___________________ allow euthanasia for dying children. There were 86 (2) ___________________, 44 against, and 12 no-votes. The (3) ___________________ is only for children in great pain. There are several rules before any euthanasia can happen. The child must (4) ___________________, and ask for it. An adult must agree, and a medical team must write a (5) ___________________. There must also be no treatment (6) ___________________ the child's suffering.

The law has (7) ___________________. They call it immoral and say children are not (8) ___________________ decide such things. A man shouted "murderers" at the lawmakers. A Christian newspaper said: "In the 21st century, when parents…worry that children (9) ___________________ quickly, [this will] (10) ___________________ responsibility." Children aren't (11) ___________________ or vote, so to decide when it's time to die "is one step too far". Many doctors said medicine (12) ___________________.

EUTHANASIA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about euthanasia 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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