The Reading / Listening - Anti-Natalism - Level 1

A man in India is unhappy he was born. He is suing his parents because they did not ask for his permission to be born. Raphael Samuel, 27, is an anti-natalist. He believes in anti-natalism. Anti-natalists believe people should have fewer children. They think that having children is wrong. They believe the world is a better place with fewer children. China's one-child policy was a kind of anti-natalism.

Samuel posted a video on YouTube about suing his parents. It has gone viral. He answers questions from his followers. He said: "I want everyone in...the world to [know]...they are born without their consent....They do not owe their parents anything....We should be paid by our parents to live." He added: "I love my parents...but they had me for their joy." Samuel's mother said her son must explain how she could have asked for his permission to be born.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Anti-Natalism - Level 0 Anti-Natalism - Level 2   or  Anti-Natalism - Level 3

Sources
  • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/love-sex/what-is-antinatalism-and-why-raphael-samuel-of-mumbai-is-suing-his-parents-for-giving-birth-to-him/articleshow/67882775.cms
  • https://www.asiaone.com/
  • https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/2/7/18215586/india-man-suing-parents-giving-birth-antinatalism-raphael-samuel


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. He is
  2. ask for his permission
  3. people should have fewer
  4. They think that having children
  5. They believe the world is
  6. with fewer
  7. China's one-
  8. a kind of anti-
  1. children
  2. child policy
  3. to be born
  4. natalism
  5. children
  6. is wrong
  7. a better place
  8. suing his parents

Paragraph 2

  1. It has gone
  2. I want everyone in
  3. They do not owe
  4. We should be paid by our
  5. I love my
  6. they had me for
  7. her son must
  8. asked for his permission
  1. explain how
  2. parents
  3. viral
  4. to be born
  5. their parents
  6. parents to live
  7. their joy
  8. the world to know

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A man in India is unhappy (1) ___________________. He is suing his parents because they did (2) ___________________ his permission to be born. Raphael Samuel, 27, is an anti-natalist. He (34) ___________________ -natalism. Anti-natalists believe people should (4) ___________________. They think that having children is wrong. They believe the world is (5) ___________________ with fewer children. China's one-child policy was (6) ___________________ anti-natalism.

Samuel (7) ___________________ on YouTube about suing his parents. It (8) ___________________. He answers questions from his followers. He said: "I want everyone in...the world to [know]...they (9) ___________________ their consent....They do not owe their parents anything....We should (10) ___________________ our parents to live." He added: "I love my parents...but they had me (11) ___________________." Samuel's mother said her son must explain how she could have asked for his permission (12) ___________________.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

AmaninIndiaisunhappyhewasborn.Heissuinghisparentsbecausethe
ydidnotaskforhispermissiontobeborn.RaphaelSamuel,27,isananti-
natalist.Hebelievesinanti-natalism.Anti-natalistsbelievepeopl
eshouldhavefewerchildren.Theythinkthathavingchildreniswrong.Th
eybelievetheworldisabetterplacewithfewerchildren.China'sone-ch
ildpolicywasakindofanti-natalism.SamuelpostedavideoonYouTubea
boutsuinghisparents.Ithasgoneviral.Heanswersquestionsfromhisfol
lowers.Hesaid:"Iwanteveryonein...theworldto[know]...theyarebor
nwithouttheirconsent....Theydonotowetheirparentsanything....We
shouldbepaidbyourparentstolive."Headded:"Ilovemyparents...butt
heyhadmefortheirjoy."Samuel'smothersaidhersonmustexplainhow
shecouldhaveaskedforhispermissiontobeborn.

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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