Breaking News English Lesson on Newspapers

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Turkey takes over biggest newspaper (7th March, 2016)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Turkish police have used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon against protestors outside the offices of a national newspaper in Istanbul. The demonstrators were protesting against the takeover of a private newspaper by the Turkish government. Turkish authorities seized control of the company that owns Turkey's best-selling newspaper Zaman. The paper was once a supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but then became one of his fiercest critics. Authorities say Zaman has links to the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who the government says plotted a coup to oust President Erdogan. Commentators say it is another blow for freedom in Turkey.

The takeover of Zaman by the Turkish government has sparked concerns in Europe about Turkey's readiness to join the European Union. European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said the latest developments jeopardised recent progress made by Turkey. The chairman of Germany's foreign affairs committee said, "the violent action against a critical newspaper" and "the fact that the government takes over the whole paper is a severe blow…against the freedom of press". The editor-in-chief of Zaman's English newspaper lamented: "Our [final] headline is about us again, and that should give an idea about the kind of democracy in the country. There's no rule of law left in Turkey."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://news.sky.com/story/1654121/paper-takeover-protesters-tear-gassed-in-turkey
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-turkey-zaman-newspaper-takeover-20160305-story.html
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/police-disperse-supporters-of-zaman-media-group.aspx?pageID=238&nid=96076

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. FREEDOM: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about freedom. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

police / tear gas / rubber bullets / newspaper / protesting / supporter / critic / freedom / concerns / progress / committee / headline / democracy / editor / rule of law

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

3. PROTESTS: What would make you demonstrate in the streets? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What would make you protest?	Why?
Food prices
Corrupt government
No freedom of press
Immigration policy
Declaration of war
Rise in taxes

4. GOVERNMENT: Students A strongly believe a government should never own a newspaper; Students B strongly believe it should. 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. NEWSPAPERS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best sections at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• Politics

• Weather

• Fashion

• Business

• TV

• Sport

• World news

• Local news

6. EDITOR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "editor". 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.	Police used rubber bullets against protestors in Istanbul.	T / F
b.	Protestors were angry about the sale of a government newspaper.	T / F
c.	The Zaman newspaper once supported Turkey's president.	T / F
d.	Authorities said the paper was linked to someone who plotted a coup.	T / F
e.	Europe is wandering if Turkey is ready to join the EU.	T / F
f.	An EU commissioner said the situation did not jeopardise anything.	T / F
g.	Germany's foreign affairs committee welcomed the paper's takeover.	T / F
h.	The paper's editor-in-chief said Turkey still had a strong rule of law.	T / F

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

1.	protestors	a.	shock
2.	seized	b.	backer
3.	supporter	c.	worries
4.	fiercest	d.	grabbed
5.	oust	e.	complained
6.	concerns	f.	demonstrators
7.	readiness	g.	remaining
8.	blow	h.	drive out
9.	lamented	i.	strongest
10.	left	j.	preparedness

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

1.	tear	a.	of law left
2.	rubber	b.	oust President Erdogan
3.	became one of his fiercest	c.	blow
4.	plotted a coup to	d.	bullets
5.	another blow for	e.	gas
6.	sparked	f.	made by Turkey
7.	jeopardised recent progress	g.	freedom in Turkey
8.	foreign	h.	concerns in Europe
9.	a severe	i.	critics
10.	There's no rule	j.	affairs

GAP FILL

Turkish police have used (1) ____________ gas, rubber bullets and (2) ____________ cannon against protestors outside the offices of a national newspaper in Istanbul. The demonstrators were protesting against the (3) ____________ of a private newspaper by the Turkish government. Turkish authorities (4) ____________ control of the company that owns Turkey's best-selling newspaper Zaman. The paper was once a (5) ____________ of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but then became one of his fiercest (6) ____________. Authorities say Zaman has links to the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who the government says (7) ____________ a coup to oust President Erdogan. Commentators say it is another (8) ____________ for freedom in Turkey.

water
supporter
tear
plotted
seized
blow
takeover
critics

The takeover of Zaman by the Turkish government has (9) ____________ concerns in Europe about Turkey's (10) ____________ to join the European Union. European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said the latest developments jeopardised recent (11) ____________ made by Turkey. The chairman of Germany's foreign affairs committee said, "the violent action against a (12) ____________ newspaper" and "the fact that the government takes over the (13) ____________ paper is a severe blow…against the freedom of press". The (14) ____________ -in-chief of Zaman's English newspaper (15) ____________: "Our [final] headline is about us again, and that should give an idea about the kind of democracy in the country. There's no rule of (16) ____________ left in Turkey."

progress
whole
lamented
sparked
law
readiness
editor
critical

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Turkish police have used tear gas, rubber bullets and water ______ protestors
	a. cannons against b. pistols against c. cannon against d. pistol against
2)	authorities seized control of the company that owns Turkey's ______ Zaman
	a. best-sales newspaper b. best-sell-in newspaper c. best-selling newspaper d. beast-selling newspaper
3)	once a supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but then became ______ critics
	a. one of his fierce is b. one for his fiercest c. one of this fiercest d. one of his fiercest
4)	Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who the government says plotted ______ President Erdogan
	a. a coup to oust b. a coup to east c. a coup to west d. a coup to arrest
5)	Commentators say it is another blow ______ Turkey
	a. of freedom in b. for freedom in c. from freedom in d. four freedom in
6)	The takeover of Zaman by the Turkish government has ______ Europe
	a. sparkled concerns in b. sparked concerns in c. specked concerns in d. speckled concerns in
7)	the latest developments jeopardised recent ______ Turkey
	a. progress made at b. progress made in c. progress made by d. progress made of
8)	the fact that the government takes over the whole paper ______
	a. is a severe bow b. is a severe blow c. is a severe blew d. is a severe blown
9)	The editor-in-chief of Zaman's English newspaper lamented: "Our final ______ us again"
	a. headlines is about b. headline this about c. headline was about d. headline is about
10)	that should give an idea about the kind of democracy in the country. There's ______ left
	a. no rules of laws b. no rule of laws c. no rules of law d. no rule of law

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Turkish police (1) ___________________, rubber bullets and water cannon against protestors outside the offices of a national newspaper in Istanbul. The demonstrators were protesting against (2) ___________________ a private newspaper by the Turkish government. Turkish authorities seized control (3) ___________________ owns Turkey's best-selling newspaper Zaman. The paper was once a supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but then became (4) ___________________ critics. Authorities say Zaman (5) ___________________ US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who the government says plotted a coup to oust President Erdogan. Commentators say it (6) ___________________ for freedom in Turkey.

The takeover of Zaman by the Turkish government (7) ___________________ in Europe about Turkey's readiness to join the European Union. European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said the latest developments jeopardised recent (8) ___________________ Turkey. The chairman of Germany's (9) ___________________ committee said, "the violent action against a critical newspaper" and "the fact that the government takes over the whole paper (10) __________________…against the freedom of press". The editor-in-chief of Zaman's English newspaper lamented: "Our [final] headline (11) ___________________, and that should give an idea about the kind of democracy in the country. There's (12) ___________________ left in Turkey."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What kind of bullets did police use?
2.	In what city did the protests take place?
3.	What was once a supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan?
4.	Where do authorities say the cleric Fethullah Gulen is based?
5.	What did commentators say the takeover is a blow for?
6.	Where has the takeover of the newspaper sparked concerns?
7.	What did Johannes Hahn say the latest developments jeopardised?
8.	Which member of Germany's foreign affairs committee was quoted?
9.	What was the final headline of Zaman's English newspaper about?
10.	What did an editor-in-chief say there was no more of in Turkey?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What kind of bullets did police use?	6.	Where has the takeover of the newspaper sparked concerns?
	a) rubber bullets b) live bullets c) plastic bullets d) hollowed-out bullets		a) Syria b) the USA c) Ankara d) Europe
2.	In what city did the protests take place?	7.	What did Johannes Hahn say the latest developments jeopardised?
	a) Trabzon b) Ankara c) Istanbul d) Izmir		a) foreign affairs b) progress c) Ankara d) the police
3.	What was once a supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan?	8.	Which member of Germany's foreign affairs committee was quoted?
	a) the government b) the Zaman newspaper c) the press d) authorities		a) the speaker b) the vice-president c) the CEO d) the chairman
4.	Where do authorities say the cleric Fethullah Gulen is based?	9.	What was the final headline of Zaman's English newspaper about?
	a) Australia b) Iran c) Ankara d) the USA		a) freedom b) Ankara c) the newspaper d) a football match
5.	What did commentators say the takeover is a blow for?	10.	What did an editor-in-chief say there was no more of in Turkey?
	a) freedom b) literature c) journalism d) bubbles		a) newspapers b) rule of law c) freedom d) democracy

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Politics

You think politics is the best section of a newspaper. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sections aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): fashion, sport or local news.

Role B – Fashion

You think fashion is the best section of a newspaper. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sections aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): politics, sport or local news.

Role C – Sport

You think sport is the best section of a newspaper. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sections aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): fashion, politics or local news.

Role D – Local news

You think local news is the best section of a newspaper. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their sections aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): fashion, sport or politics.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

press

freedom

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:

tear
private
best
once
links
another

sparked
join
recent
action
editor
left

NEWSPAPERS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about newspapers 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.

NEWSPAPERS DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'newspaper'?
3)	How important are newspapers?
4)	What do you think about what you read?
5)	Should newspapers be in government control?
6)	What is your favourite newspaper, and why?
7)	What role do newspapers have in society?
8)	Would you protest to protect freedom of the press?
9)	What does Turkey's government hope to achieve?
10)	How good are your country's newspapers?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What is freedom of the press and how important is it?
13)	What is the link between freedom of the press and democracy?
14)	Why would this action jeopardise Turkey's EU membership?
15)	Should governments own any newspapers?
16)	Will the government takeover mean people will go to the Internet more?
17)	How important are journalists?
18)	Which is better to get news – newspapers or the Internet?
19)	Do you believe what you read in newspapers?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the newspaper's editor?

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

Turkish police have used (1) ____ gas, rubber bullets and water cannon against protestors outside the offices of a national newspaper in Istanbul. The demonstrators were protesting against the (2) ____ of a private newspaper by the Turkish government. Turkish authorities (3) ____ control of the company that owns Turkey's best-selling newspaper Zaman. The paper was (4) ____ a supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but then became one of his fiercest (5) ____. Authorities say Zaman has links to the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who the government says plotted a (6) ____ to oust President Erdogan. Commentators say it is another blow for freedom in Turkey.

The takeover of Zaman by the Turkish government has sparked concerns in Europe about Turkey's (7) ____ to join the European Union. European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said the latest developments jeopardised recent progress (8) ____ by Turkey. The chairman of Germany's foreign (9) ____ committee said, "the violent action against a critical newspaper" and "the fact that the government takes over the (10) ____ paper is a severe blow…against the freedom of press". The editor-(11) ____-chief of Zaman's English newspaper lamented: "Our [final] headline is about us again, and that should give an idea about the (12) ____ of democracy in the country. There's no rule of law left in Turkey."

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

1.	(a)	tear	(b)	fear	(c)	wear	(d)	bear
2.	(a)	overtake	(b)	takeaway	(c)	takeover	(d)	undertake
3.	(a)	razed	(b)	fazed	(c)	seized	(d)	lazed
4.	(a)	owner	(b)	own	(c)	one	(d)	once
5.	(a)	critical	(b)	critiques	(c)	critics	(d)	critic
6.	(a)	soup	(b)	coup	(c)	coop	(d)	loop
7.	(a)	readied	(b)	readiness	(c)	readily	(d)	readies
8.	(a)	had	(b)	made	(c)	been	(d)	done
9.	(a)	fears	(b)	offers	(c)	affairs	(d)	afar
10.	(a)	holy	(b)	wholly	(c)	hole	(d)	whole
11.	(a)	to	(b)	at	(c)	on	(d)	in
12.	(a)	kindling	(b)	kindly	(c)	kindred	(d)	kind

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	rubber lsulteb
2.	trrotopsse outside the offices
3.	Turkish itrioahuets
4.	zdesie control of the company
5.	one of his ricestfe critics
6.	plotted a coup to suto President Erdogan
Paragraph 2
7.	sparked esoncrnc in Europe
8.	eisojapredd (UK) / dajoidpezer (USA) recent progress
9.	foreign affairs tocmemtei
10.	toevlin action
11.	a ervsee blow
12.	the kind of ocmcryade in the country

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	idea about the kind of democracy in the country. There's no rule of law left in Turkey."
( )	against the takeover of a private newspaper by the Turkish government. Turkish authorities seized
( )	developments jeopardised recent progress made by Turkey. The chairman of Germany's foreign
( )	readiness to join the European Union. European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said the latest
( )	chief of Zaman's English newspaper lamented: "Our [final] headline is about us again, and that should give an
( )	to the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who the government says plotted a coup to
( )	supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but then became one of his fiercest critics. Authorities say Zaman has links
( 1 )	Turkish police have used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon against
( )	over the whole paper is a severe blow…against the freedom of press". The editor-in-
( )	oust President Erdogan. Commentators say it is another blow for freedom in Turkey.
( )	protestors outside the offices of a national newspaper in Istanbul. The demonstrators were protesting
( )	affairs committee said, "the violent action against a critical newspaper" and "the fact that the government takes
( )	The takeover of Zaman by the Turkish government has sparked concerns in Europe about Turkey's
( )	control of the company that owns Turkey's best-selling newspaper Zaman. The paper was once a

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	protestors cannon and Rubber against water bullets .
2.	against private the newspaper takeover of Protesting a .
3.	newspaper company Turkey's selling The owns - that best .
4.	coup a Plotted Erdogan President oust to .
5.	blow for freedom in Turkey Commentators say it is another .
6.	about to Sparked Europe readiness in Turkey's join concerns .
7.	progress The developments recent latest jeopardised .
8.	whole paper The fact that the government takes over the .
9.	democracy of kind the about idea an Give country the in .
10.	of law There's left no in rule Turkey .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Turkish police have used tear / fear gas, rubber bullets and watery / water cannon against protestors outside the offices of a nationally / national newspaper in Istanbul. The demonstrators were protesting against the takeover / overtake of a private newspaper by the Turkish government. Turkish authorities seized controller / control of the company that owns Turkey's best-selling newspaper Zaman. The paper was once a supportive / supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but then became one of his fiercest critiques / critics. Authorities say Zaman has links / link to the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who the government says plotted / blotted a coup to oust President Erdogan. Commentators say it is another puff / blow for freedom in Turkey.

The takeover of Zaman by the Turkish government has fired / sparked concerns in Europe about Turkey's readiness / ready to join the European Union. European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said the lately / latest developments jeopardised recent digress / progress made by Turkey. The chairman of Germany's foreign affairs / affair committee said, "the violent / violence action against a critical newspaper" and "the factual / fact that the government takes over the holed / whole paper is a severe blow…against the freedom of press". The editor-in-chief of Zaman's English newspaper lamented: "Our [final] headline is about us against / again, and that should give an idea about the kind of democracy in the country. There's no rule of law left / remain in Turkey."

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)

T_rk_sh p_l_c_ h_v_ _s_d t__r g_s, r_bb_r b_ll_ts _nd w_t_r c_nn_n _g__nst pr_t_st_rs __ts_d_ th_ _ff_c_s _f _ n_t__n_l n_wsp_p_r _n _st_nb_l. Th_ d_m_nstr_t_rs w_r_ pr_t_st_ng _g__nst th_ t_k__v_r _f _ pr_v_t_ n_wsp_p_r by th_ T_rk_sh g_v_rnm_nt. T_rk_sh __th_r_t__s s__z_d c_ntr_l _f th_ c_mp_ny th_t _wns T_rk_y's b_st-s_ll_ng n_wsp_p_r Z_m_n. Th_ p_p_r w_s _nc_ _ s_pp_rt_r _f Pr_s_d_nt R_c_p T_yy_p _rd_g_n, b_t th_n b_c_m_ _n_ _f h_s f__rc_st cr_t_cs. __th_r_t__s s_y Z_m_n h_s l_nks t_ th_ _S-b_s_d M_sl_m cl_r_c F_th_ll_h G_l_n, wh_ th_ g_v_rnm_nt s_ys pl_tt_d _ c__p t_ __st Pr_s_d_nt _rd_g_n. C_mm_nt_t_rs s_y _t _s _n_th_r bl_w f_r fr__d_m _n T_rk_y.

Th_ t_k__v_r _f Z_m_n by th_ T_rk_sh g_v_rnm_nt h_s sp_rk_d c_nc_rns _n __r_p_ _b__t T_rk_y's r__d_n_ss t_ j__n th_ __r_p__n _n__n. __r_p__n _nl_rg_m_nt C_mm_ss__n_r J_h_nn_s H_hn s__d th_ l_t_st d_v_l_pm_nts j__p_rd_s_d r_c_nt pr_gr_ss m_d_ by T_rk_y. Th_ ch__rm_n _f G_rm_ny's f_r__gn _ff__rs c_mm_tt__ s__d, "th_ v__l_nt _ct__n _g__nst _ cr_t_c_l n_wsp_p_r" _nd "th_ f_ct th_t th_ g_v_rnm_nt t_k_s _v_r th_ wh_l_ p_p_r _s _ s_v_r_ bl_w…_g__nst th_ fr__d_m _f pr_ss". Th_ _d_t_r-_n-ch__f _f Z_m_n's _ngl_sh n_wsp_p_r l_m_nt_d: "__r [f_n_l] h__dl_n_ _s _b__t _s _g__n, _nd th_t sh__ld g_v_ _n _d__ _b__t th_ k_nd _f d_m_cr_cy _n th_ c__ntry. Th_r_'s n_ r_l_ _f l_w l_ft _n T_rk_y."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

turkish police have used tear gas rubber bullets and water cannon against protestors outside the offices of a national newspaper in istanbul the demonstrators were protesting against the takeover of a private newspaper by the turkish government turkish authorities seized control of the company that owns turkey's best-selling newspaper zaman the paper was once a supporter of president recep tayyip erdogan but then became one of his fiercest critics authorities say zaman has links to the us-based muslim cleric fethullah gulen who the government says plotted a coup to oust president erdogan commentators say it is another blow for freedom in turkey

the takeover of zaman by the turkish government has sparked concerns in europe about turkey's readiness to join the european union european enlargement commissioner johannes hahn said the latest developments jeopardised recent progress made by turkey the chairman of germany's foreign affairs committee said "the violent action against a critical newspaper" and "the fact that the government takes over the whole paper is a severe blow…against the freedom of press" the editor-in-chief of zaman's english newspaper lamented "our [final] headline is about us again and that should give an idea about the kind of democracy in the country there's no rule of law left in turkey"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Turkishpolicehaveusedteargas,rubberbulletsandwatercannonagain
stprotestorsoutsidetheofficesofanationalnewspaperinIstanbul.Thed
emonstratorswereprotestingagainstthetakeoverofaprivatenewspap
erbytheTurkishgovernment.Turkishauthoritiesseizedcontroloftheco
mpanythatownsTurkey'sbest-sellingnewspaperZaman.Thepape
rwasonceasupporterofPresidentRecepTayyipErdogan,butthenbeca
meoneofhisfiercestcritics.AuthoritiessayZamanhaslinkstotheUS-
basedMuslimclericFethullahGulen,whothegovernmentsaysplotteda
couptooustPresidentErdogan.Commentatorssayitisanotherblowforf
reedominTurkey.ThetakeoverofZamanbytheTurkishgovernmentha
ssparkedconcernsinEuropeaboutTurkey'sreadinesstojointheEurope
anUnion.EuropeanEnlargementCommissionerJohannesHahnsaidth
elatestdevelopmentsjeopardisedrecentprogressmadebyTurkey.The
chairmanofGermany'sforeignaffairscommitteesaid,"theviolentactio
nagainstacriticalnewspaper"and"thefactthatthegovernmenttakeso
verthewholepaperisasevereblow…againstthefreedomofpress".Thee
ditor-in-chiefofZaman'sEnglishnewspaperlamented:"Our[final]h
eadlineisaboutusagain,andthatshouldgiveanideaaboutthekindofde
mocracyinthecountry.There'snoruleoflawleftinTurkey."

FREE WRITING

Write about newspapers for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Governments should never run newspapers. 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 freedom of the press. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: Write a magazine article about freedom of the press. Include imaginary interviews with people who think it exists and with people who think it doesn't.

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 an expert on press freedom. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three reasons why it is so important. 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	protestors	a.	demonstrators
2.	seized	b.	grabbed
3.	supporter	c.	backer
4.	fiercest	d.	strongest
5.	oust	e.	drive out
6.	concerns	f.	worries
7.	readiness	g.	preparedness
8.	blow	h.	shock
9.	lamented	i.	complained
10.	left	j.	remaining

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Rubber bullets
2.	Istanbul
3.	The newspaper Zaman
4.	The USA
5.	Freedom
6.	Europe
7.	Progress (made by Turkey)
8.	The chairman
9.	About the newspaper
10.	Rule of law

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

b

4.

d

5.

a

6.

d

7.

b

8.

d

9.

c

10.

b

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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Turkey takes over biggest newspaper (7th March, 2016)

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