The Reading / Listening - Level 1

Colombians are happy because the government signed a peace deal with the rebel group FARC. It ends 52 years of fighting. Over 220,000 people died and millions lost their home. There were two years of talks between the two sides. Colombia's president said it was, "the beginning of the end to the suffering, pain and tragedy of war". A spokesman said: "This agreement opens the door to a more inclusive society." Both sides will now work together for the victims.

FARC started during the Cold War. It will now help in the process to shape Colombia's future. In the capital city, thousands of people celebrated the peace on the streets. One Colombian said: "I can die in peace because finally I'll see my country without violence, with a future for my children." Colombians will vote on the peace deal in October. The president said: "It will be the most important election of our lives."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37180752
  • http://thebogotapost.com/2016/08/24/farc-peace-talks-conclude-comprehensive-agreement/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FARC


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 :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. Colombians are
  2. the government signed
  3. the rebel
  4. It ends 52 years
  5. Over 220,000 people
  6. millions lost
  7. two years of talks
  8. tragedy of
  1. died
  2. of fighting
  3. war
  4. group FARC
  5. happy
  6. between the two sides
  7. a peace deal
  8. their home

Paragraph 2

  1. Both sides will now
  2. FARC started during
  3. It will now help
  4. shape Colombia's
  5. In the capital
  6. thousands of people
  7. I'll see my country without
  8. the most important election
  1. celebrated
  2. in the process
  3. city
  4. violence
  5. work together
  6. of our lives
  7. the Cold War
  8. future

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Colombians are happy because the government (1) ___________________ deal with the rebel group FARC. It ends 52 (2) ___________________. Over 220,000 people died and millions (3) ___________________. There were two years of talks between the two sides. Colombia's president said it was, "(4) ___________________ the end to the suffering, pain and tragedy of war". A spokesman said: "This (5) ___________________ door to a more inclusive society." Both sides will now work together (6) ___________________.

FARC (7) ___________________ Cold War. It will now help in the (8) ___________________ Colombia's future. In the capital city, thousands of people (9) ___________________ on the streets. One Colombian said: "I can die (10) ___________________ finally I'll see my country (11) ___________________, with a future for my children." Colombians will vote on the peace deal in October. The president said: "It will be the most (12) ___________________ of our lives."

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Colombiansarehappybecausethegovernmentsignedapeacedealwith
therebelgroupFARC.Itends52yearsoffighting.Over220,000peopledi
edandmillionslosttheirhome.Thereweretwoyearsoftalksbetweenthe
twosides.Colombia'spresidentsaiditwas,"thebeginningoftheendtoth
esuffering,painandtragedyofwar".Aspokesmansaid:"Thisagreemen
topensthedoortoamoreinclusivesociety."Bothsideswillnowworktoge
therforthevictims.FARCstartedduringtheColdWar.Itwillnowhelpinth
eprocesstoshapeColombia'sfuture.Inthecapitalcity,thousandsofpeo
plecelebratedthepeaceonthestreets.OneColombiansaid:"Icandieinp
eacebecausefinallyI'llseemycountrywithoutviolence,withafuturefor
mychildren."ColombianswillvoteonthepeacedealinOctober.Thepresi
dentsaid:"Itwillbethemostimportantelectionofourlives."

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

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

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

Write about this topic 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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