The Reading / Listening - Level 1

A Turkish court has said the country's Twitter ban damages free speech and people's right to express themselves. Turkey blocked Twitter in March. The Prime Minister was angry because someone posted details of possible corruption online before the country's elections. The posts could be embarrassing. Mr Erdogan is a critic of social media. He said in a speech: "We will wipe out Twitter. I don't care what the international community says."

Turks found different ways to use Twitter. There was an increase in tweets after the ban but now they are down by half. Many Turks are angry because of the Twitter ban. They will try anything to access Twitter. The court said: "Everyone has the right to express and [share] his/her thoughts and opinions." Twitter was happy with what the court said. A company spokesperson tweeted: "We hope to have Twitter access restored in Turkey soon."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/04/03/turkey-twitter-idINL5N0MV0YA20140403
  • http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/constitutional-court-orders-authorities-to-unblock-twitter.aspx?PageID=238&NID=64481&NewsCatID=339
  • http://www.cnet.com/news/court-deems-turkeys-twitter-ban-unconstitutional/


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.

A Turkish

a.

Twitter in March

2.

people's right to express

b.

possible corruption

3.

Turkey blocked

c.

out Twitter

4.

someone posted details of

d.

be embarrassing

5.

The posts could

e.

community

6.

We will wipe

f.

court

7.

I don't

g.

themselves

8.

the international

h.

care


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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.

different ways

a.

half

2.

There was an

b.

the right

3.

they are down by

c.

access Twitter

4.

Turks are angry because

d.

restored in Turkey soon

5.

They will try anything to

e.

to use Twitter

6.

Everyone has

f.

thoughts and opinions

7.

express and share his/her

g.

increase in tweets

8.

have Twitter access

h.

of the Twitter ban

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A Turkish (1) ___________________ country's Twitter ban damages free speech and people's (2) ___________________ themselves. Turkey blocked Twitter in March. The Prime Minister was angry because someone (3) ___________________ possible corruption (4) ___________________ country's elections. The posts could be embarrassing. Mr Erdogan is a critic of social media. He (5) ___________________: "We will wipe out Twitter. I don't care what the (6) ___________________ says."

Turks found (7) ___________________ Twitter. There was an increase in tweets after the ban but (8) ___________________ by half. Many Turks are angry (9) ___________________ Twitter ban. They will try anything to access Twitter. The court said: "Everyone has the (10) ___________________ and [share] his/her thoughts and opinions." Twitter (11) ___________________ the court said. A company spokesperson tweeted: "We hope to have Twitter (12) ___________________ Turkey soon."

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ATurkishcourthassaidthecountry'sTwitterbandamagesfreespeech
andpeople'srighttoexpressthemselves.TurkeyblockedTwitterinM
arch.ThePrimeMinisterwasangrybecausesomeoneposteddetailsof
possiblecorruptiononlinebeforethecountry'selections.Thepostsco
uldbeembarrassing.MrErdoganisacriticofsocialmedia.Hesaidinasp
eech:"WewillwipeoutTwitter.Idon'tcarewhattheinternationalcom
munitysays."TurksfounddifferentwaystouseTwitter.Therewasani
ncreaseintweetsafterthebanbutnowtheyaredownbyhalf.ManyTur
ksareangrybecauseoftheTwitterban.Theywilltryanythingtoaccess
Twitter.Thecourtsaid:"Everyonehastherighttoexpressand[share]
his/herthoughtsandopinions."Twitterwashappywithwhatthecourt
said.Acompanyspokespersontweeted:"WehopetohaveTwitteracc
essrestoredinTurkeysoon."

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)

________________________________________________________

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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