The Reading / Listening - Level 5

A debate is going on in the USA about whether it is OK for white people to have dreadlocks. A YouTube video of a black female student confronting a white male student about his dreadlocks went viral. The woman questioned the guy about his hair. She told him that he should not have the hairstyle because it was part of her culture. He replied that ancient Egyptians had the same hairstyle and that it did not belong to one culture. The university said: "We are taking the matter seriously and will promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident through applicable university channels."

Dreadlocks are bunches of hair that is woven together. They have existed for thousands of years. Historians are not sure where they first originated. They have found evidence of the hairstyle in ancient Egypt, Europe, the Pacific islands, Australia and Africa. A writer suggested there was an issue with white people with dreadlocks. She said black people often have negative experiences in society because of them. She asked if white people with dreadlocks have the same problems. She said: "Hairstyles are not innocuous. There areā€¦racial connotations and stereotypes attached to them."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/dreadlocks-cultural-appropriation-row-intensifies-as-students-come-forward-to-provide-more-context-a6963251.html
  • http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/31/living/white-dreadlocks-cultural-appropriation-feat/index.html
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/31/can-a-white-guy-have-dreadlocks-this-puzzling-viral-video-wades-into-the-politics-of-black-hair/


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 debate is going

a.

matter seriously

2.

went

b.

of her culture

3.

it was part

c.

this incident

4.

ancient

d.

to one culture

5.

it did not belong

e.

on in the USA

6.

We are taking the

f.

viral

7.

thoroughly investigate

g.

university channels

8.

through applicable

h.

Egyptians



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

1.

Dreadlocks are bunches of hair that

a.

experiences

2.

They have existed for

b.

they first originated

3.

Historians are not sure where

c.

was an issue

4.

They have found evidence

d.

is woven together

5.

A writer suggested there

e.

innocuous

6.

negative

f.

of the hairstyle

7.

Hairstyles are not

g.

attached to them

8.

stereotypes

h.

thousands of years

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A debate (1) ___________________ USA about whether it is OK for white people to have dreadlocks. A YouTube video of a black female student confronting a white male student about his dreadlocks (2) ______________. The woman questioned the guy about his hair. She told him that he should not have the hairstyle (3) ___________________ of her culture. He (4) ___________________ Egyptians had the same hairstyle and that it did not belong to one culture. The university said: "We are taking (5) ___________________ and will promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident through applicable (6) ___________________."

Dreadlocks are bunches of (7) ___________________ together. They have existed for thousands of years. Historians (8) ___________________ where they first originated. They have (9) ___________________ the hairstyle in ancient Egypt, Europe, the Pacific islands, Australia and Africa. A writer suggested there (10) ___________________ white people with dreadlocks. She said black people often have negative experiences in society because of them. She asked if white people with dreadlocks (11) _________________ problems. She said: "Hairstyles are not innocuous. There are…racial connotations and stereotypes (12) ___________________."

DREADLOCKS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about dreadlocks 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.

 

 

 

 

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 dreadlocks for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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