The Reading / Listening - Titles - Level 1

A university in South Africa will no longer use titles like Mr‚ Ms or Mrs when it communicates with students. It wants to support people who are transgender. A statement read: "The university realizes that it is [upsetting] for a person who‚ for example‚ was...female at birth but identifies as male to be constantly addressed by [another] title." Transgender people are choosing the gender-neutral title "Mx". This is legal in many countries.

The decision is very popular. The university said it, "opposes all...discrimination on the basis of gender identity". An official said: "We want people in our university community to feel safe‚ supported and...respected." A law professor said the action was, "the most wonderful moment for true equality". She added: "It's a triumph for an understanding of the diversity of gender identity...and the right to be respected for whomever you are."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Titles - Level 0 Titles - Level 2   or  Titles - Level 3

Sources
  • https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-07-19-wits-drops-mr-ms-and-mrs-titles/
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-africa-44922404
  • http://ewn.co.za/2018/07/23/equality-commission-hails-wits-decision-to-remove-gender-prefixes


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. when it communicates
  2. It wants to
  3. The university realizes that
  4. female
  5. constantly addressed by
  6. Transgender
  7. choosing the gender-neutral
  8. This is legal
  1. another title
  2. title "Mx"
  3. support people
  4. in many countries
  5. it is upsetting
  6. with students
  7. people
  8. at birth

Paragraph 2

  1. The decision is
  2. it opposes all
  3. on the basis
  4. We want
  5. in our university
  6. the most wonderful
  7. true
  8. respected for
  1. equality
  2. community
  3. whomever you are
  4. very popular
  5. moment
  6. discrimination
  7. people
  8. of gender

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A university in South Africa will (1) ___________________ titles like Mr‚ Ms or Mrs when it communicates with students. It wants to (2) ___________________ are transgender. A statement read: "The university (3) ___________________ is [upsetting] for a person who‚ for example‚ was...female at birth but identifies as male (4) ___________________ addressed by [another] title." Transgender people (5) ___________________ gender-neutral title "Mx". This is (6) ___________________ countries.

The (7) ___________________ popular. The university said it, "opposes all...discrimination on (8) ___________________ gender identity". An official said: "We want people in our university community (9) __________________‚ supported and...respected." A law professor said the action was, "the most wonderful moment (10) ___________________". She added: "It's a triumph for an understanding (11) ___________________ of gender identity...and the right to be respected (12) ___________________ are."

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

AuniversityinSouthAfricawillnolongerusetitleslikeMr‚MsorMrswhenit
communicateswithstudents.Itwantstosupportpeoplewhoaretransg
ender.Astatementread:"Theuniversityrealizesthatitis[upsetting]for
apersonwho‚forexample‚was...femaleatbirthbutidentifiesasmaletob
econstantlyaddressedby[another]title."Transgenderpeoplearechoo
singthegender-neutraltitle"Mx".Thisislegalinmanycountries.Thede
cisionisverypopular.Theuniversitysaidit,"opposesall...discriminatio
nonthebasisofgenderidentity".Anofficialsaid:"Wewantpeopleinouru
niversitycommunitytofeelsafe‚supportedand...respected."Alawprof
essorsaidtheactionwas,"themostwonderfulmomentfortrueequality"
.Sheadded:"It'satriumphforanunderstandingofthediversityofgende
ridentity...andtherighttoberespectedforwhomeveryouare."

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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