The Reading / Listening - Yellow Vests Protests - Level 6

France is experiencing social unrest it has not experienced for generations. The country famous for its revolutions and protests has been rocked by a serious of nationwide, violent demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets for the past four weekends and have brought chaos to businesses, transport and the French economy. The protests are being led by the Yellow Vests Movement, so called because protestors don high-visibility yellow jackets usually worn by the emergency services. The protests are motivated by rising fuel prices, the high cost of living, and claims that an unequal burden of new tax reforms were falling on the working and middle classes.

France's President Emmanuel Macron has declared "a state of social and economic emergency". The violence has caused over a billion dollars in damages so far. This figure is set to rise as more demos are planned. Paris has suffered the brunt of the protests and authorities are closing famous sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. To quell public anger, Mr Macron has promised to cancel his proposed rise in fuel prices, deliver tax relief for the poor and cancel a tax on retired people. He called for the havoc and mayhem to end and for calm and order to return. He said: "No anger justifies attacking a police officer...or damaging a shop or public building. When violence is unleashed, freedom ends."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Yellow Vests Protests - Level 4  or  Yellow Vests Protests - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.npr.org/2018/12/10/675425153/macron-promises-minimum-wage-hike-and-tax-cuts-to-end-yellow-vest-protests
  • https://www.thelocal.fr/20181210/bank-of-france-yellow-vest-violence-wipes
  • https://www.liberationnews.org/french-mass-rebellion-grows-and-deepens/


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. STREET PROTESTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about street protests. 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?
       social unrest / generation / famous / revolution / transport / chaos / fuel prices / cost
       economic / emergency / damages / suffer / promise / tax relief / anger / freedom
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BAN: Students A strongly believe street protests should be banned; Students B strongly believe they shouldn't be banned.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HOW TO PROTEST: What are the pros and cons of these? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Pros

Cons

Street protests

 

 

Online petitions

 

 

Hunger strikes

 

 

Marches

 

 

Boycotts

 

 

Labor strikes

 

 

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. VIOLENCE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "violence". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. PROTEST: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things to protest against at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • taxes
  • corruption
  • equality
  • student loans
  • austerity
  • war
  • immigration
  • rising prices

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. social unrest a. The main responsibility for paying for something or for achieving a specific aim or task.
      2. generation b. A state of great unhappiness, disruption, and fighting in a group of people, typically involving public protests or disorder.
      3. rocked c. Put on an item of clothing.
      4. series d. All of the people born and living at about the same time, thought about collectively.
      5. don e. A number of things, events, or people of a similar kind or related nature coming one after another.
      6. chaos f. Caused great shock or distress to someone or something, especially to weaken or destabilize them or it.
      7. burden g. Complete disorder and confusion.

    Paragraph 2

      8. figure h. A number, especially one that is part of official statistics or about the financial performance of a company.
      9. demo i. Be a good reason for.
      10. brunt j. A public meeting or march protesting against something or expressing views on a political issue.
      11. quell k. Great confusion, disorder or destruction.
      12. proposed l. The worst part or main impact of a bad or unpleasant thing.
      13. havoc m. Put an end to a rebellion or other disorder, typically by the use of force.
      14. justify n. Put forward an idea or plan for consideration or discussion by others.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says France has not experienced such unrest for generations. T / F
  2. The article says over a million people have taken part in the protests.     T / F
  3. Many protests are donning high-visibility yellow jackets.     T / F
  4. Protestors are unhappy with having to pay more tax.     T / F
  5. The protests have cost the French economy around $100 million.     T / F
  6. The port city of Marseille has seen the worst protests and damage.     T / F
  7. France's President called for mayhem to start.     T / F
  8. France's President said when violence is unleashed, freedom begins.     T / F

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

  1. unrest
  2. rocked
  3. series
  4. don
  5. burden
  6. declared
  7. brunt
  8. quell
  9. proposed
  10. unleashed
  1. succession
  2. let loose
  3. liability
  4. proclaimed
  5. disruption
  6. calm
  7. planned
  8. shaken
  9. full force
  10. put on

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

  1. France is experiencing
  2. a series of nationwide, violent
  3. brought chaos
  4. protests are motivated
  5. reforms were falling on the working
  6. declared a state of social and
  7. This figure is set
  8. Paris has suffered the brunt
  9. He called for the havoc and
  10. When violence is unleashed,
  1. mayhem to end
  2. by rising fuel prices
  3. of the protests
  4. freedom ends
  5. demonstrations
  6. to rise
  7. to businesses
  8. and middle classes
  9. economic emergency
  10. social unrest

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
series
chaos
unequal
social
taken
classes
famous
visibility

France is experiencing (1) ____________ unrest it has not experienced for generations. The country (2) ____________ for its revolutions and protests has been rocked by a (3) ____________ of nationwide, violent demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands of people have (4) ____________ to the streets for the past four weekends and have brought (5) ____________ to businesses, transport and the French economy. The protests are being led by the Yellow Vests Movement, so called because protestors don high-(6) ____________ yellow jackets usually worn by the emergency services. The protests are motivated by rising fuel prices, the high cost of living, and claims that an (7) ____________ burden of new tax reforms were falling on the working and middle (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
quell
state
proposed
havoc
brunt
unleashed
violence
relief

France's President Emmanuel Macron has declared "a (9) ____________ of social and economic emergency". The (10) ____________ has caused over a billion dollars in damages so far. This figure is set to rise as more demos are planned. Paris has suffered the (11) ____________ of the protests and authorities are closing famous sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. To (12) ____________ public anger, Mr Macron has promised to cancel his (13) ____________ rise in fuel prices, deliver tax (14) ____________ for the poor and cancel a tax on retired people. He called for the (15) ____________ and mayhem to end and for calm and order to return. He said: "No anger justifies attacking a police officer...or damaging a shop or public building. When violence is (16) ____________, freedom ends."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  France is experiencing social unrest it has not experienced ______
     a.  for generations
     b.  for four generations
     c.  four generations
     d.  for generation
2)  The country famous for its revolutions and protests has ______
     a.  bin rocked
     b.  been locked
     c.  being rocked
     d.  been locked
3)  people have taken to the streets for the past four weekends and have ______
     a.  bought chaos
     b.  brought chaotic
     c.  blight chaotic
     d.  bright chaos
4)  the Yellow Vests Movement, so called because protestors don high-______
     a.  visible yellow jackets
     b.  risibility yellow jackets
     c.  ability yellow jackets
     d.  visibility yellow jackets
5)  an unequal burden of new tax reforms were falling on the working ______ classes
     a.  end open
     b.  and middle
     c.  and starting
     d.  end final

6)  The violence has caused over a billion dollars in damages so far. This figure ______ rise
     a.  is let to
     b.  is bet to
     c.  is set to
     d.  is wet to
7)  Paris has suffered the ______ protests
     a.  bunt of the
     b.  blunt of the
     c.  brunt of the
     d.  brand of the
8)  Mr Macron has promised to cancel his proposed rise in fuel prices, ______...
     a.  deliver tax believe
     b.  deliver tax belief
     c.  deliver tax relieve
     d.  deliver tax relief
9)  He called for the havoc and mayhem to end and for ______ to return
     a.  become and order
     b.  calm and order
     c.  calm and disorder
     d.  become and disorder
10)  When violence is unleashed, ______
     a.  freedom mends
     b.  freedom ends
     c.  freedom sends
     d.  freedom tends

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

France is experiencing social (1) ___________________ not experienced for generations. The country famous for its revolutions and protests has been (2) ___________________ series of nationwide, violent demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands of people (3) ___________________ the streets for the past four weekends and have (4) ___________________ businesses, transport and the French economy. The protests are being led by the Yellow Vests Movement, so called because protestors don high-visibility yellow jackets (5) ___________________ the emergency services. The protests are motivated by rising fuel prices, the high cost of living, and claims that an unequal burden of new tax reforms (6) ___________________ the working and middle classes.

France's President Emmanuel Macron has declared "a state of social and economic emergency". The (7) ___________________ over a billion dollars in damages so far. This figure is set to rise as more demos are planned. Paris has (8) ___________________ of the protests and authorities are closing famous sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. To (9) ___________________, Mr Macron has promised to cancel his proposed rise in fuel prices, deliver tax relief for the poor and cancel a (10) ___________________ people. He called for the havoc and mayhem to end and for calm and order to return. He said: "(11) ___________________ attacking a police officer...or damaging a shop or public building. When violence is (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. In how long has France not seen such social unrest?
  2. How many people took to the streets to protest?
  3. What have the protests brought to businesses and transport?
  4. What kind of yellow jackets are the protestors wearing?
  5. Who is affected by new tax reforms?
  6. How much money have the protests cost the French economy?
  7. Why is the figure for damages set to increase?
  8. What has closed because of the protests?
  9. What does France's President want to quell?
  10. What did France's President say ends when violence is unleashed?

Multiple choice quiz

1) In how long has France not seen such social unrest?
a) generations
b) hundreds of years
c) a decade
d) several millennia
2) How many people took to the streets to protest?
a) a million
b) tens of thousands
c) hundreds of thousands
d) millions
3) What have the protests brought to businesses and transport?
a) bigger profits
b) chaos
c) more people
d) traffic jams
4) What kind of yellow jackets are the protestors wearing?
a) bullet-proof vests
b) designer vests
c) construction vests
d) high-visibility vests
5) Who is affected by new tax reforms?
a) the working and middle classes
b) the rich
c) businesses
d) farmers

6) How much money have the protests cost the French economy?
a) under $1 billion
b) around $1 billion
c) exactly $1 billion
d) over $1 billion
7) Why is the figure for damages set to increase?
a) inflation
b) more protests are planned
c) there is more damage
d) unreported damage
8) What has closed because of the protests?
a) France's government
b) ports
c) the Metro
d) the Eiffel Tower
9) What does France's President want to quell?
a) extreme violence
b) ambition
c) public anger
d) dreams
10) What did France's President say ends when violence is unleashed?
a) France
b) freedom
c) hope
d) social cohesion

Role play

Role  A – War
You think war is the most important thing to protest against. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): rising prices, austerity or corruption.

Role  B – Rising Prices
You think rising prices is the most important thing to protest against. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): war, austerity or corruption.

Role  C – Austerity
You think austerity is the most important thing to protest against. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): rising prices, war or corruption.

Role  D – Corruption
You think corruption is the most important thing to protest against. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): rising prices, austerity or war.

After reading / listening

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

'yellow'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'vest'.

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

    • state
    • far
    • brunt
    • sites
    • order
    • ends
    • experienced
    • series
    • past
    • led
    • rising
    • falling

    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 - 'Yellow Vests' protests to continue in France

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'protest'?
    3. What do you know about the Yellow Vests protestors?
    4. What do you think of revolutions?
    5. What do you think of protesting in the streets?
    6. What would make you take to the streets to protest?
    7. How can France avoid the chaos brought by the protests?
    8. How concerned are you about rising fuel prices?
    9. How should the tax burden be shared in a country?
    10. What would happen if people in your country protested like this?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'chaos'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What should the rules of protesting be?
    5. What happens in "a state of social and economic emergency"?
    6. What will happen to the protests?
    7. What do you think of visiting Paris during the protests?
    8. Does freedom end when violence is unleashed?
    9. How might the protests change France?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Emmanuel Macron?

    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)

    France is experiencing social unrest it has not experienced for (1) ____. The country famous for its revolutions and protests has been (2) ____ by a series of nationwide, violent demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands of people have (3) ____ to the streets for the past four weekends and have brought chaos to businesses, transport and the French economy. The protests are (4) ____ led by the Yellow Vests Movement, so called because protestors don high-visibility yellow jackets usually (5) ____ by the emergency services. The protests are motivated by rising fuel prices, the high cost of living, and claims that an unequal burden of new tax reforms were falling (6) ____ the working and middle classes.

    France's President Emmanuel Macron has declared "a state of social and economic emergency". The violence has caused over a billion dollars (7) ____ damages so far. This figure is (8) ____ to rise as more demos are planned. Paris has suffered the brunt of the protests and authorities are closing famous sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. To (9) ____ public anger, Mr Macron has promised to cancel his proposed rise in fuel prices, deliver tax (10) ____ for the poor and cancel a tax on retired people. He called for the havoc and mayhem to end and for calm and (11) ____ to return. He said: "No anger justifies attacking a police officer...or damaging a shop or public building. When violence is (12) ____, freedom ends."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     generalizations     (b)     generation     (c)     generational     (d)     generations    
    2. (a)     socked     (b)     locked     (c)     mocked     (d)     rocked    
    3. (a)     given     (b)     taken     (c)     done     (d)     fixed    
    4. (a)     been     (b)     be in     (c)     being     (d)     be    
    5. (a)     worn     (b)     wears     (c)     wearing     (d)     wearied    
    6. (a)     on     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     as    
    7. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     in    
    8. (a)     set     (b)     bet     (c)     let     (d)     met    
    9. (a)     quick     (b)     quell     (c)     quote     (d)     quack    
    10. (a)     belief     (b)     grief     (c)     relief     (d)     thief    
    11. (a)     purchase     (b)     class     (c)     order     (d)     demand    
    12. (a)     undone     (b)     unleashed     (c)     unaccustomed     (d)     unarmed

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. unrest it has not experienced for nesnroeigat
    2. famous for its ioluvotrens
    3. brought ocash to businesses
    4. protestors don high-vsiiblytii yellow jackets
    5. tmedoavit by rising fuel prices
    6. an unequal nbdeur

    Paragraph 2

    1. suffered the brtnu of the protests
    2. uelql public anger
    3. deliver tax elefri
    4. the avohc and mayhem
    5. No anger eisstfuji attacking a police officer
    6. When violence is uenelahds

    Put the text back together

    1  ) France is experiencing social unrest it has not experienced for generations. The country famous for its
    (...)  services. The protests are motivated by rising fuel prices, the high cost of living, and claims that an
    (...)  emergency". The violence has caused over a billion dollars in damages so far. This figure is set to
    (...)  of people have taken to the streets for the past four weekends and have brought chaos
    (...)  because protestors don high-visibility yellow jackets usually worn by the emergency
    (...)  like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. To quell public anger, Mr Macron has promised to cancel his proposed
    (...)  attacking a police officer...or damaging a shop or public building. When violence is unleashed, freedom ends."
    (...)  revolutions and protests has been rocked by a series of nationwide, violent demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands
    (...)  unequal burden of new tax reforms were falling on the working and middle classes.
    (...)  France's President Emmanuel Macron has declared "a state of social and economic
    (...)  to businesses, transport and the French economy. The protests are being led by the Yellow Vests Movement, so called
    (...)  rise as more demos are planned. Paris has suffered the brunt of the protests and authorities are closing famous sites
    (...)  rise in fuel prices, deliver tax relief for the poor and cancel a tax on retired
    (...)  people. He called for the havoc and mayhem to end and for calm and order to return. He said: "No anger justifies

    Put the words in the right order

    1. unrest   Social   not   generations   .   for   experienced   it   has
    2. of   Thousands   people   have   streets   .   taken   to   the
    3. jackets   Yellow   services   .   the   emergency   worn   by   usually
    4. are   The   rising   motivated   by   fuel   protests   prices   .
    5. reforms   .   burden   of   An   tax   unequal   new
    6. in   a   so   far   .   billion   damages   dollars   Over
    7. of   the   has   Paris   brunt   suffered   protests   .   the
    8. prices   .   in   proposed   Cancel   his   rise   fuel
    9. mayhem   havoc   Called   the   and   for   to   end   .
    10. justifies   a   No   attacking   police   anger   officer   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    France is experiencing social unjust / unrest it has not experienced for generations. The country famous for its revolutions and projects / protests has been rocked by a serious / series of nationwide, violent demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands of people have given / taken to the streets for the past four weekends and have brought chaos / chaotic to businesses, transport and the French economy. The protests are being led by the Yellow Vests Movement, so calling / called because protestors don / don't high-visibility yellow jackets usually adorn / worn by the emergency services. The protests are motivated by rising / risen fuel prices, the high cost of living, and claims that an unequal burden of new tax reforms were falling in / on the working and middle classes.

    France's President Emmanuel Macron has declared / compared "a state of social and economic emergency". The violence has clause / caused over a billion dollars in damages so far / farther. This figure is set to rise as more / amore demos are planned. Paris has suffered the brunt / blunt of the protests and authorities are closing famous sites like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. To quell / dwell public anger, Mr Macron has promised to cancel his proposed rise on / in fuel prices, deliver tax relief for the poor and cancel a tax on retirement / retired people. He called for the havoc and mayhem to end and for calm and order / orderly to return. He said: "No anger justifies attacking a police officer...or damaging a shop or public building. When violence is unarmed / unleashed, freedom ends."

    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)

    F r_n c_ _s _x p_r__ n c_n g s_c__ l _n r_s t _t h_s n_t _x p_r__ n c_d f_r g_n_r_t__ n s . T h_ c__ n t r y f_m__ s f_r _t s r_v_l_t__ n s _n d p r_t_s t s h_s b__ n r_c k_d b y _ s_r__ s _f n_t__ n w_d_, v__ l_n t d_m_n s t r_t__ n s . H_n d r_d s _f t h__ s_n d s _f p__ p l_ h_v_ t_k_n t_ t h_ s t r__ t s f_r t h_ p_s t f__ r w__ k_n d s _n d h_v_ b r__ g h t c h__ s t_ b_s_n_s s_s , t r_n s p_r t _n d t h_ F r_n c h _c_n_m y . T h_ p r_t_s t s _r_ b__ n g l_d b y t h_ Y_l l_w V_s t s M_v_m_n t , s_ c_l l_d b_c__ s_ p r_t_s t_r s d_n h_g h - v_s_b_l_t y y_l l_w j_c k_t s _s__ l l y w_r n b y t h_ _m_r g_n c y s_r v_c_s . T h_ p r_t_s t s _r_ m_t_v_t_d b y r_s_n g f__ l p r_c_s , t h_ h_g h c_s t _f l_v_n g , _n d c l__ m s t h_t _n _n_q__ l b_r d_n _f n_w t_x r_f_r m s w_r_ f_l l_n g _n t h_ w_r k_n g _n d m_d d l_ c l_s s_s .

    F r_n c_' s P r_s_d_n t E m m_n__ l M_c r_n h_s d_c l_r_d "_ s t_t_ _f s_c__ l _n d _c_n_m_c _m_r g_n c y " . T h_ v__ l_n c_ h_s c__ s_d _v_r _ b_l l__ n d_l l_r s _n d_m_g_s s_ f_r . T h_s f_g_r_ _s s_t t_ r_s_ _s m_r_ d_m_s _r_ p l_n n_d . P_r_s h_s s_f f_r_d t h_ b r_n t _f t h_ p r_t_s t s _n d __ t h_r_t__ s _r_ c l_s_n g f_m__ s s_t_s l_k_ t h_ E_f f_l T_w_r _n d t h_ L__ v r_. T_ q__ l l p_b l_c _n g_r , M r M_c r_n h_s p r_m_s_d t_ c_n c_l h_s p r_p_s_d r_s_ _n f__ l p r_c_s , d_l_v_r t_x r_l__ f f_r t h_ p__ r _n d c_n c_l _ t_x _n r_t_r_d p__ p l_. H_ c_l l_d f_r t h_ h_v_c _n d m_y h_m t_ _n d _n d f_r c_l m _n d _r d_r t_ r_t_r n . H_ s__ d : " N_ _n g_r j_s t_f__ s _t t_c k_n g _ p_l_c_ _f f_c_r . . ._r d_m_g_n g _ s h_p _r p_b l_c b__ l d_n g . W h_n v__ l_n c_ _s _n l__ s h_d , f r__ d_m _n d s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    france is experiencing social unrest it has not experienced for generations. the country famous for its revolutions and protests has been rocked by a series of nationwide, violent demonstrations. hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets for the past four weekends and have brought chaos to businesses, transport and the french economy. the protests are being led by the yellow vests movement, so called because protestors don high-visibility yellow jackets usually worn by the emergency services. the protests are motivated by rising fuel prices, the high cost of living, and claims that an unequal burden of new tax reforms were falling on the working and middle classes.

    france's president emmanuel macron has declared "a state of social and economic emergency". the violence has caused over a billion dollars in damages so far. this figure is set to rise as more demos are planned. paris has suffered the brunt of the protests and authorities are closing famous sites like the eiffel tower and the louvre. to quell public anger, mr macron has promised to cancel his proposed rise in fuel prices, deliver tax relief for the poor and cancel a tax on retired people. he called for the havoc and mayhem to end and for calm and order to return. he said: "no anger justifies attacking a police officer...or damaging a shop or public building. when violence is unleashed, freedom ends."

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Franceisexperiencingsocialunrestithasnotexperiencedforgeneratio
    ns.Thecountryfamousforitsrevolutionsandprotestshasbeenrockedb
    yaseriousofnationwide,violentdemonstrations.Hundredsofthousan
    dsofpeoplehavetakentothestreetsforthepastfourweekendsandhave
    broughtchaostobusinesses,transportandtheFrencheconomy.Thepr
    otestsarebeingledbytheYellowVestsMovement,socalledbecauseprot
    estorsdonhigh-visibilityyellowjacketsusuallywornbytheemergen
    cyservices.Theprotestsaremotivatedbyrisingfuelprices,thehighcost
    ofliving,andclaimsthatanunequalburdenofnewtaxreformswerefallin
    gontheworkingandmiddleclasses.France'sPresidentEmmanuelMacr
    onhasdeclared"astateofsocialandeconomicemergency".Theviolenc
    ehascausedoverabilliondollarsindamagessofar.Thisfigureissettorise
    asmoredemosareplanned.Parishassufferedthebruntoftheprotestsa
    ndauthoritiesareclosingfamoussitesliketheEiffelTowerandtheLouvr
    e.Toquellpublicanger,MrMacronhaspromisedtocancelhisproposedri
    seinfuelprices,delivertaxreliefforthepoorandcancelataxonretiredpe
    ople.Hecalledforthehavocandmayhemtoendandforcalmandordertor
    eturn.Hesaid:"Noangerjustifiesattackingapoliceofficer...ordamagin
    gashoporpublicbuilding.Whenviolenceisunleashed,freedomends."

    Free writing

    Write about Yellow Vests protests for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    People should protest in the streets more for a fairer society. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. STREET PROTESTS: Make a poster about street protests. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NO PROTESTS: Write a magazine article about banning street protests. 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 street protests. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on what you might protest about. 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

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    Answers

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

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