The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is in hot water over sexist remarks he made about his wife Aisha. He was replying to reports that his wife may not support his bid to be re-elected to power. He stated during a news conference in Berlin that: "I don't know which party my wife belongs to but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room." President Buhari was standing next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the time. Ms Merkel did not express an opinion on Mr Buhari's words but did give him a shocked, stern look. Mr Buhari went on to add fuel to the fire, telling reporters that he can "claim superior knowledge" over his wife after running for president three times.

Nigeria’s first lady Aisha Buhari warned her husband that she would not campaign alongside him in future elections unless he reformed his leadership. Mrs Buhari said her husband's government had been hijacked. The first lady has a master's degree in International Affairs and Strategic Studies. She is a successful entrepreneur. In 1995, she opened northern Nigeria's first beauty parlour. She also published a book called, 'The Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists'. In addition to her business-related activities, she is a human rights activist and has campaigned for the release of the 250 girls kidnapped by the militant group Boko Haram in 2014.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/14/africa/nigeria-president-buhari-wife/
  • https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/10/14/nigerias-president-buhari-owes-apology
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37659863


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. FIRST LADIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about first ladies. 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?

       hot water / sexist comments / reports / power / kitchen / living room / opinion / fire /
       husband / campaign / leadership / hijacked / successful / entrepreneur / human rights

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

3. RESIGN: Students A strongly believe leaders who make sexist comments should resign; Students B strongly believe they shouldn't need to resign.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. SEXISM: What can these people do to reduce sexism? How successful would they be? Discuss this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • National leader
  • Religious leader
  • Company CEO
  • Father
  • Mother
  • You
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. WIFE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "wife". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. SEXIST: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst people to be sexist at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • teacher
  • rock star
  • mother
  • police officer
  • world leader
  • company CEO
  • religious leader
  • father

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Nigeria's president fell into a bath of hot water.     T / F
  2. The president's wife may not support him in a future election.     T / F
  3. The president said his wife belongs in his kitchen and living room.     T / F
  4. The president has run for office three times.     T / F
  5. The first lady said she hijacked her husband's government.     T / F
  6. The first lady finished her education up to bachelor's level.     T / F
  7. The first lady opened a successful beauty parlour in southern Nigeria in 1995. T / F
  8. The first lady campaigned for the release of 250 kidnapped girls.     T / F

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

  1. remarks
  2. replying
  3. bid
  4. stern
  5. superior
  6. alongside
  7. reformed
  8. entrepreneur
  9. campaigned
  10. kidnapped
  1. more advanced
  2. next to
  3. altered
  4. responding
  5. businesswoman
  6. attempt
  7. fought
  8. comments
  9. abducted
  10. unsmiling

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

  1. Buhari is in hot water over sexist
  2. his wife may not support his bid
  3. I don't know which party my wife
  4. give him a shocked,
  5. Buhari went on to add fuel
  6. she would not campaign alongside
  7. unless he reformed
  8. In addition to her business-
  9. she is a human rights
  10. the release of the 250 girls kidnapped
  1. his leadership
  2. belongs to
  3. related activities
  4. to the fire
  5. remarks
  6. activist
  7. by the militant group
  8. to be re-elected
  9. stern look
  10. him in future elections

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
news
stern
other
running
hot
superior
bid
express

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is in (1) ____________ water over sexist remarks he made about his wife Aisha. He was replying to reports that his wife may not support his (2) ____________ to be re-elected to power. He stated during a (3) ____________ conference in Berlin that: "I don't know which party my wife belongs to but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the (4) ____________ room." President Buhari was standing next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the time. Ms Merkel did not (5) ____________ an opinion on Mr Buhari's words but did give him a shocked, (6) ____________ look. Mr Buhari went on to add fuel to the fire, telling reporters that he can "claim (7) ____________ knowledge" over his wife after (8) ____________ for president three times.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
degree
militant
addition
alongside
entrepreneur
activist
hijacked
published

Nigeria’s first lady Aisha Buhari warned her husband that she would not campaign (9) ____________ him in future elections unless he reformed his leadership. Mrs Buhari said her husband's government had been (10) ____________. The first lady has a Master's (11) ____________ in International Affairs and Strategic Studies. She is a successful (12) ____________. In 1995, she opened northern Nigeria's first beauty parlour. She also (13) ____________ a book called, 'The Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists'. In (14) ____________ to her business-related activities, she is a human rights (15) ____________ and has campaigned for the release of the 250 girls kidnapped by the (16) ____________ group Boko Haram in 2014.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is in hot water over ______
     a.  sexism remarks
     b.  sexist remark
     c.  sexist remarks
     d.  sexist re-marks

2)  He was replying to reports that his wife may not ______
     a.  supports his bid
     b.  supported his bid
     c.  supporting his bid
     d.  support his bid

3)  she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and ______
     a.  the another room
     b.  another room
     c.  the others room
     d.  the other room

4)  but did give him a shocked, ______
     a.  stern look
     b.  stern looks
     c.  storm look
     d.  strain look

5)  went on to add fuel to the fire, telling reporters that he can "claim ______"
     a.  superior knowledge
     b.  superiority knowledge
     c.  superiors knowledgeable
     d.  superior knowledgeable

6)  Aisha Buhari warned her husband that she would not campaign ______
     a.  along aside him
     b.  along sides him
     c.  a long side him
     d.  alongside him

7)  Mrs Buhari said her husband's government ______
     a.  has been hijacked
     b.  have been hijacked
     c.  had been hijacked
     d.  having been hijacked

8)  In 1995, she opened northern Nigeria's first ______
     a.  beautiful parlour
     b.  beauty parlour
     c.  beauties parlour
     d.  beautify parlour

9)  a book called, 'The Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete Guide for ______'
     a.  Beauty Specialist
     b.  Beauty Specialism
     c.  Beauty Specialise
     d.  Beauty Specialists

10)  she is a human rights activist and has campaigned for the ______ 250 girls
     a.  realise of the
     b.  relapse of the
     c.  release of the
     d.  realism of the

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari (1) ___________________ over sexist remarks he made about his wife Aisha. He was replying to reports that his wife may not support (2) ___________________ re-elected to power. He stated during a news conference in Berlin that: "I don't know which party my wife belongs to but (3) ___________________ my kitchen and my living room and the other room." President Buhari was standing next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel (4) ___________________. Ms Merkel did not express an opinion on Mr Buhari's words but did give him a shocked, stern look. Mr Buhari went on to add (5) ___________________, telling reporters that he can "claim superior knowledge" over his wife (6) ___________________ president three times.

Nigeria’s first lady Aisha Buhari warned her husband that she would not campaign (7) ___________________ future elections unless he reformed his leadership. Mrs Buhari said her husband's government (8) ___________________. The first lady has a Master's degree in International Affairs and Strategic Studies. She is a (9) ___________________. In 1995, she opened northern Nigeria's first beauty parlour. She also published a book called, 'The (10) ___________________ Therapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists'. In addition to her business-related activities, she is a human (11) ___________________ and has campaigned for the release of the 250 girls kidnapped by the (12) ___________________ Boko Haram in 2014.

Comprehension questions

  1. What kind of water is President Buhari in?
  2. Who might not support President Buhari's bid for power?
  3. Where was the news conference?
  4. What kind of look did Chancellor Merkel give to President Buhari?
  5. How many times has President Buhari run for office?
  6. What did Aisha Buhari say her husband had to reform?
  7. What is Aisha Buhari's highest qualification?
  8. When did Aisha Buhari open a beauty clinic?
  9. What was the subject of a book Aisha Buhari wrote?
  10. How many girls did Aisha Buhari campaign for the release of?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of water is President Buhari in?
a) lukewarm
b) distilled
c) tepid
d) hot

2) Who might not support President Buhari's bid for power?
a) company CEOs
b) Aisha Buhari
c) his children
d) his colleagues

3) Where was the news conference?
a) Cairo
b) London
c) Lagos
d) Berlin

4) What kind of look did Chancellor Merkel give to President Buhari?
a) a horrified, appalled one
b) a bemused, surprised one
c) a shocked, stern one
d) s bored, disinterested one

5) How many times has President Buhari run for office?
a) 6
b) 5
c) 4
d) 3

6) What did Aisha Buhari say her husband had to reform?
a) the other room
b) his mind
c) his leadership
d) his kitchen

7) What is Aisha Buhari's highest qualification?
a) Master's degree
b) PhD
c) Bachelor's degree
d) high-school certificate

8) When did Aisha Buhari open a beauty clinic?
a) 1997
b) 1996
c) 1995
d) 1998

9) What was the subject of a book Aisha Buhari wrote?
a) husbands
b) beauty therapy
c) sexism
d) kitchens

10) How many girls did Aisha Buhari campaign for the release of?
a) 250
b) 260
c) 270
d) 280

Role play

Role A — World Leader

You think it is worst for a world leader to be sexist. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the others why it is also bad for them to be sexist and how to overcome sexism. Tell them who among these has the biggest responsibility: religious leader, teacher or company CEO.

Role B — Religious Leader

You think it is worst for a religious leader to be sexist. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the others why it is also bad for them to be sexist and how to overcome sexism. Tell them who among these has the biggest responsibility: world leader, teacher or company CEO.

Role C — Teacher

You think it is worst for a teacher to be sexist. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the others why it is also bad for them to be sexist and how to overcome sexism. Tell them who among these has the biggest responsibility: religious leader, world leader or company CEO.

Role D — Company CEO

You think it is worst for a company CEO to be sexist. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the others why it is also bad for them to be sexist and how to overcome sexism. Tell them who among these has the biggest responsibility: religious leader, teacher or world leader.

After reading / listening

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

'first'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'lady'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • warned
    • hijacked
    • degree
    • first
    • addition
    • 250
    • hot
    • bid
    • other
    • time
    • fire
    • three

    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 - Nigeria president says wife belongs in the kitchen

    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 term 'first lady'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How sexist do you think the president's words were?
    5. What arguments are there for the president to resign?
    6. Some people said his comment was just humour. Was it?
    7. What does the president's comment mean?
    8. What do you think Angela Merkel was thinking?
    9. What do you think Mr Buhari's wife thinks of the comment?
    10. What advice do you have for Mrs Buhari?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What responsibility do world leaders have regarding sexism?
    3. How damaging might Mrs Buhari's comment be for her husband?
    4. What more can Mrs Buhari do to highlight sexism?
    5. What other sexist leaders do you know of?
    6. What do you think the Buharis said to each other regarding this?
    7. How much sexism is there in your country?
    8. What is the most important thing to do to combat sexism?
    9. What can Mr Buhari do to make amends?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mrs Buhari?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is in (1) ____ water over sexist remarks he made about his wife Aisha. He was replying (2) ____ reports that his wife may not support his bid to be re-elected (3) ____ power. He stated during a news conference in Berlin that: "I don't know which party my wife belongs to but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the (4) ____ room." President Buhari was standing next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the time. Ms Merkel did not (5) ____ an opinion on Mr Buhari's words but did give him a shocked, stern look. Mr Buhari went on to add (6) ____ to the fire, telling reporters that he can "claim superior knowledge" over his wife after running for president three times.

    Nigeria’s first lady Aisha Buhari warned her husband that she would not campaign (7) ____ him in future elections (8) ____ he reformed his leadership. Mrs Buhari said her husband's government had been hijacked. The first lady has a Master's degree in International Affairs and Strategic Studies. She is a successful (9) ____. In 1995, she opened northern Nigeria's first beauty parlour. She also published a book called, 'The Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete (10) ____ for Beauty Specialists'. In addition to her business-(11) ____ activities, she is a human rights activist and has campaigned for the (12) ____ of the 250 girls kidnapped by the militant group Boko Haram in 2014.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)      tepid      (b)      lukewarm      (c)      hot      (d)      distilled     
    2. (a)      to      (b)      on      (c)      of      (d)      at     
    3. (a)      to      (b)      on      (c)      of      (d)      at     
    4. (a)      other      (b)      others      (c)      another      (d)      otherworldly     
    5. (a)      till      (b)      checkout      (c)      service      (d)      express     
    6. (a)      oxygen      (b)      charcoal      (c)      water      (d)      fuel     
    7. (a)      alongside      (b)      along      (c)      sideways      (d)      side     
    8. (a)      less      (b)      relentless      (c)      useless      (d)      unless     
    9. (a)      entrepreneur      (b)      commercial      (c)      magnet      (d)      speculate     
    10. (a)      Guidance      (b)      Guide      (c)      Guides      (d)      Guiding     
    11. (a)      relative      (b)      related      (c)      relation      (d)      relationship     
    12. (a)      release      (b)      free      (c)      captive      (d)      let go

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. sexist arkrmes
    2. during a news ecnefencro
    3. sxsrpee an opinion
    4. a shocked, trsne look
    5. add uefl to the fire
    6. oeriupsr knowledge

    Paragraph 2

    1. maapcnig alongside him
    2. in future tilsneceo
    3. her husband's government had been ecdakijh
    4. a successful rupeneeerrtn
    5. she is a human rights taiscvit
    6. kidnapped by the nimttial group

    Put the text back together

    (    )      room and the other room." President Buhari was standing next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the

    1  )      Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is in hot water over sexist remarks he made about his wife Aisha. He was replying

    (    )      knowledge" over his wife after running for president three times.

    (    )      lady has a Master's degree in International Affairs and Strategic Studies. She is a successful

    (    )      entrepreneur. In 1995, she opened northern Nigeria's first beauty parlour. She also published a book

    (    )      called, 'The Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists'. In addition to her business-

    (    )      time. Ms Merkel did not express an opinion on Mr Buhari's words but did give him a shocked,

    (    )      stern look. Mr Buhari went on to add fuel to the fire, telling reporters that he can "claim superior

    (    )      to reports that his wife may not support his bid to be re-elected to power. He stated during a news

    (    )      Nigeria’s first lady Aisha Buhari warned her husband that she would not campaign alongside him in future

    (    )      of the 250 girls kidnapped by the militant group Boko Haram in 2014.

    (    )      elections unless he reformed his leadership. Mrs Buhari said her husband's government had been hijacked. The first

    (    )      conference in Berlin that: "I don't know which party my wife belongs to but she belongs to my kitchen and my living

    (    )      related activities, she is a human rights activist and has campaigned for the release

    Put the words in the right order

    1. in   over   he   is   water   remarks   Buhari   hot   sexist   made   .
    2. elected  bid  wife  his  his  re-  support  that  be  not  Reports  to  may  .
    3. which   to   party   I   my   don't   wife   know   belongs   .
    4. fuel   fire   went   add   the   Buhari   to   to   Mr   on   .
    5. his   wife   He   can   'claim   superior   knowledge'   over   .
    6. would   elections   in   alongside   not   She   future   him   campaign   .
    7. government   husband's   her   said   Buhari   hijacked   been   had   .
    8. northern  beauty   1995  opened   first   In  she   Nigeria's  parlour   ,   .
    9. book   Beauty   called   Therapy'   'The   Published   Essentials   a   of   .
    10. the  militant  group  The  release   of   the  250  girls  kidnapped   by   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is in hot / tepid water over sexist remarks he made about his wife Aisha. He was replying to report / reports that his wife may not support his bid / bide to be re-elected to power. He stated during a news conference in Berlin that: "I don't know which party my wife belongs / belonging to but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room." President Buhari was stood / standing next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the time / timely. Ms Merkel did not express the / an opinion on Mr Buhari's words but did give / gave him a shocked, stern look. Mr Buhari went on to add fuel to the ashes / fire, telling reporters that he can "claim superior knowledge" over his wife after running by / for president three times.

    Nigeria’s first lady Aisha Buhari warned her husband that she would not campaign along / alongside him in future election / elections unless he reformed his leadership / leader. Mrs Buhari said her husband's government had been hijacked. The first lady has a Master's degree on / in International Affairs and Strategic Studies. She is a successful / successfully entrepreneur. In 1995, she opened northerly / northern Nigeria's first beautiful / beauty parlour. She also published / publication a book called, 'The Essentials of Beauty Therapy: A Complete Guide for Beauty Specialists'. In addition to her business-related activities, she is a human rights activism / activist and has campaigned for the release of the 250 girls kidnapped by the militant group / grouping Boko Haram in 2014.

    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)

    N_g_r__'s Pr_s_d_nt M_h_mm_d_ B_h_r_ _s _n h_t w_t_r _v_r s_x_st r_m_rks h_ m_d_ _b__t h_s w_f_ __sh_. H_ w_s r_ply_ng t_ r_p_rts th_t h_s w_f_ m_y n_t s_pp_rt h_s b_d t_ b_ r_-_l_ct_d t_ p_w_r. H_ st_t_d d_r_ng _ n_ws c_nf_r_nc_ _n B_rl_n th_t: "_ d_n't kn_w wh_ch p_rty my w_f_ b_l_ngs t_ b_t sh_ b_l_ngs t_ my k_tch_n _nd my l_v_ng r__m _nd th_ _th_r r__m." Pr_s_d_nt B_h_r_ w_s st_nd_ng n_xt t_ G_rm_n Ch_nc_ll_r _ng_l_ M_rk_l _t th_ t_m_. Ms M_rk_l d_d n_t _xpr_ss _n _p_n__n _n Mr B_h_r_'s w_rds b_t d_d g_v_ h_m _ sh_ck_d, st_rn l__k. Mr B_h_r_ w_nt _n t_ _dd f__l t_ th_ f_r_, t_ll_ng r_p_rt_rs th_t h_ c_n "cl__m s_p_r__r kn_wl_dg_" _v_r h_s w_f_ _ft_r r_nn_ng f_r pr_s_d_nt thr__ t_m_s.

    N_g_r__’s f_rst l_dy __sh_ B_h_r_ w_rn_d h_r h_sb_nd th_t sh_ w__ld n_t c_mp__gn _l_ngs_d_ h_m _n f_t_r_ _l_ct__ns _nl_ss h_ r_f_rm_d h_s l__d_rsh_p. Mrs B_h_r_ s__d h_r h_sb_nd's g_v_rnm_nt h_d b__n h_j_ck_d. Th_ f_rst l_dy h_s _ m_st_r's d_gr__ _n _nt_rn_t__n_l _ff__rs _nd Str_t_g_c St_d__s. Sh_ _s _ s_cc_ssf_l _ntr_pr_n__r. _n 1995, sh_ _p_n_d n_rth_rn N_g_r__'s f_rst b___ty p_rl__r. Sh_ _ls_ p_bl_sh_d _ b__k c_ll_d, 'Th_ _ss_nt__ls _f B___ty Th_r_py: _ C_mpl_t_ G__d_ f_r B___ty Sp_c__l_sts'. _n _dd_t__n t_ h_r b_s_n_ss-r_l_t_d _ct_v_t__s, sh_ _s _ h_m_n r_ghts _ct_v_st _nd h_s c_mp__gn_d f_r th_ r_l__s_ _f th_ 250 g_rls k_dn_pp_d by th_ m_l_t_nt gr__p B_k_ H_r_m _n 2014.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    nigeria's president muhammadu buhari is in hot water over sexist remarks he made about his wife aisha he was replying to reports that his wife may not support his bid to be re-elected to power he stated during a news conference in berlin that "i don't know which party my wife belongs to but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room" president buhari was standing next to german chancellor angela merkel at the time ms merkel did not express an opinion on mr buhari's words but did give him a shocked stern look mr buhari went on to add fuel to the fire telling reporters that he can "claim superior knowledge" over his wife after running for president three times

    nigeria’s first lady aisha buhari warned her husband that she would not campaign alongside him in future elections unless he reformed his leadership mrs buhari said her husband's government had been hijacked the first lady has a Master's degree in international affairs and strategic studies she is a successful entrepreneur in 1995 she opened northern nigeria's first beauty parlour she also published a book called 'the essentials of beauty therapy a complete guide for beauty specialists' in addition to her business-related activities she is a human rights activist and has campaigned for the release of the 250 girls kidnapped by the militant group boko haram in 2014

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Nigeria'sPresidentMuhammaduBuhariisinhotwateroversexistremar
    kshemadeabouthiswifeAisha.Hewasreplyingtoreportsthathiswifem
    aynotsupporthisbidtobere-electedtopower.Hestatedduringanewsc
    onferenceinBerlinthat:"Idon'tknowwhichpartymywifebelongstobut
    shebelongstomykitchenandmylivingroomandtheotherroom."Presid
    entBuhariwasstandingnexttoGermanChancellorAngelaMerkelatthet
    ime.MsMerkeldidnotexpressanopiniononMrBuhari'swordsbutdidgiv
    ehimashocked,sternlook.MrBuhariwentontoaddfueltothefire,telling
    reportersthathecan"claimsuperiorknowledge"overhiswifeafterrunni
    ngforpresidentthreetimes.Nigeria’sfirstladyAishaBuhariwarnedher
    husbandthatshewouldnotcampaignalongsidehiminfutureelectionsu
    nlesshereformedhisleadership.MrsBuharisaidherhusband'sgovern
    menthadbeenhijacked.ThefirstladyhasaMaster'sdegreeinInternatio
    nalAffairsandStrategicStudies.Sheisasuccessfulentrepreneur.In19
    95,sheopenednorthernNigeria'sfirstbeautyparlour.Shealsopublishe
    dabookcalled,'TheEssentialsofBeautyTherapy:ACompleteGuideforB
    eautySpecialists'.Inadditiontoherbusiness-relatedactivities,sheisah
    umanrightsactivistandhascampaignedforthereleaseofthe250girlski
    dnappedbythemilitantgroupBokoHaramin2014.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Leaders who make sexist remarks must resign immediately. Discuss.

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    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 Aisha Buhari. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. FIRST LADIES: Make a poster about first ladies. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. SEXIST: Write a magazine article about world leaders having to resign after making sexist remarks. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    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 sexism. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to overcome it. 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

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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