The Reading / Listening - Level 2

A court in Turkey has said the country's Twitter ban stops free speech. Blocking Twitter takes away people's right to express themselves. Turkey blocked Twitter in March. The Prime Minister was angry because someone posted audio files of his advisors days before the country's elections. The files had details of possible corruption that could be embarrassing for the government. Mr Erdogan is a critic of social networks. He also ordered YouTube to be blocked for a while. He said in an election speech: "We will wipe out Twitter. I don't care what the international community says."

Turks have found many different ways to use Twitter. Internet companies say there was an increase in tweets after the ban but now tweets are half of what they were. Many Turks are angry with the government for banning Twitter. They will try anything to access the micro-blogging site. The court said: "Everyone has the right to express and [share] his/her thoughts and opinions by speech, in writing, in pictures." Twitter was happy with what the court said. Twitter's global public policy team tweeted: "We hope to have Twitter access restored in Turkey soon."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   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 court

a.

blocked for a while

2.

people's right to express

b.

elections

3.

days before the country's

c.

community says

4.

details of possible

d.

networks

5.

social

e.

in Turkey

6.

He also ordered YouTube to be

f.

out Twitter

7.

We will wipe

g.

themselves

8.

I don't care what the international

h.

corruption



MY e-BOOK
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 to

a.

the right

2.

an increase in tweets

b.

anything

3.

tweets are half of

c.

restored

4.

They will try

d.

after the ban

5.

Everyone has

e.

thoughts and opinions

6.

express and share his/her

f.

the court said

7.

happy with what

g.

use Twitter

8.

We hope to have Twitter access

h.

what they were

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A court in Turkey (1) ___________________ Twitter ban stops free speech. Blocking Twitter (2) ___________________ right to express themselves. Turkey blocked Twitter in March. The Prime Minister was angry because someone (3) ___________________ of his advisors days before the country's elections. The files had details of possible corruption that (4) ___________________ for the government. Mr Erdogan is a critic of social networks. He also ordered YouTube (5) ___________________ a while. He said in an election speech: "We will wipe out Twitter. I don't care what the (6) ___________________ says."

Turks have found many (7) ___________________ Twitter. Internet companies (8) ___________________ increase in tweets after the ban but now tweets (9) ___________________ they were. Many Turks are angry with the government for banning Twitter. They will try (10) ___________________ micro-blogging site. The court said: "Everyone has the (11) ___________________ [share] his/her thoughts and opinions by speech, in writing, in pictures." Twitter was happy with what the court said. Twitter's global public policy team tweeted: "We hope to have Twitter (12) ___________________ Turkey soon."

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AcourtinTurkeyhassaidthecountry'sTwitterbanstopsfreespeech.B
lockingTwittertakesawaypeople'srighttoexpressthemselves.Turk
eyblockedTwitterinMarch.ThePrimeMinisterwasangrybecauseso
meonepostedaudiofilesofhisadvisorsdaysbeforethecountry'select
ions.Thefileshaddetailsofpossiblecorruptionthatcouldbeembarras
singforthegovernment.MrErdoganisacriticofsocialnetworks.Heals
oorderedYouTubetobeblockedforawhile.Hesaidinanelectionspeec
h:"WewillwipeoutTwitter.Idon'tcarewhattheinternationalcommu
nitysays."TurkshavefoundmanydifferentwaystouseTwitter.Intern
etcompaniessaytherewasanincreaseintweetsafterthebanbutnowt
weetsarehalfofwhattheywere.ManyTurksareangrywiththegovern
mentforbanningTwitter.Theywilltryanythingtoaccessthemicro-
bloggingsite.Thecourtsaid:"Everyonehastherighttoexpressand[
share]his/herthoughtsandopinionsbyspeech,inwriting,inpictures.
"Twitterwashappywithwhatthecourtsaid.Twitter'sglobalpublicpoli
cyteamtweeted:"WehopetohaveTwitteraccessrestoredinTurkeys
oon."

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)

________________________________________________________

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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