The Reading / Listening - Level 4

A Syrian refugee who couldn't speak English two years ago has passed his high school exams in Australia. Saad Al-Kaab, 19, graduated with top marks. His grades put him in the top 4 per cent of graduates in Melbourne. Saad escaped civil war in Syria to start a new life. He said it was "really hard" in Australia because he could not understand English. He said he is sad for his friends in Syria who have not had the opportunity he has had.

Saad studied English with his cousins in Australia. He also watched a live show on TV. It was politicians asking their prime minister questions about different issues. The show helped his English because: "They use the best, persuasive language in parliament. They speak slowly and you can find the words." Saad said: "I just want to say thank you so much to Australia for giving me the opportunity. It's revived me and given me a new life."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 5 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www. bbc.co.uk /newsbeat/article/38293680/syrian-refugee-gets-top-results-at-australian-school
  • http://www. abc.net.au /news/2016-12-12/syrian-refugee-tops-year-12-class-with-96.65-atar/8112424
  • http://www. theage.com.au /national/secondary-education-victoria/it-all-started-with-a-shovel-how-one-vce-dux-escaped-a-bloody-war-20161212-gt97tx.html


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. couldn't speak English
  2. graduated with
  3. His grades put him in the
  4. Saad escaped civil
  5. start a new
  6. he could not understand
  7. He said is sad
  8. the opportunity
  1. for his friends in Syria
  2. two years ago
  3. life
  4. he has had
  5. war in Syria
  6. top marks
  7. top 4% of graduates
  8. English

Paragraph 2

  1. Saad studied English
  2. He also watched a live
  3. politicians asking their prime
  4. about different
  5. persuasive
  6. They speak
  7. I just want to
  8. It's revived me and
  1. minister questions
  2. slowly
  3. issues
  4. given me a new life
  5. with his cousins
  6. say thank you
  7. show on TV
  8. language

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A Syrian (1) ___________________ speak English two years ago has passed his high school exams in Australia. Saad Al-Kaab, 19,                     (2) ___________________ marks. His grades (3) ___________________  4 per cent of graduates in Melbourne. Saad escaped civil war in Syria to start a new life. He said it (4) ___________________ in Australia because he could not understand English. He said (5) ___________________ his friends in Syria who have not had (6) ___________________ has had.

Saad studied English (7) ___________________ in Australia. He also watched (8) ___________________ TV. It was politicians asking their prime minister questions about (9) ___________________. The show helped his English because: "They (10) ___________________, persuasive language in parliament. They speak slowly and (11) ___________________ the words." Saad said: "I just want to say thank you so much to Australia for giving me the opportunity. It's revived me (12) ___________________ new life."

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ASyrianrefugeewhocouldn'tspeakEnglishtwoyearsagohaspassedhis
highschoolexamsinAustralia.SaadAl-Kaab,19,graduatedwithtopma
rks.Hisgradesputhiminthetop4percentofgraduatesinMelbourne.Saa
descapedcivilwarinSyriatostartanewlife.Hesaiditwas"reallyhard"inA
ustraliabecausehecouldnotunderstandEnglish.Hesaidheissadforhisf
riendsinSyriawhohavenothadtheopportunityhehashad.Saadstudied
EnglishwithhiscousinsinAustralia.HealsowatchedaliveshowonTV.It
waspoliticiansaskingtheirprimeministerquestionsaboutdifferentissu
es.TheshowhelpedhisEnglishbecause:"Theyusethebest,persuasivel
anguageinparliament.Theyspeakslowlyandyoucanfindthewords."S
aadsaid:"IjustwanttosaythankyousomuchtoAustraliaforgivingmeth
eopportunity.It'srevivedmeandgivenmeanewlife."

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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