The Reading / Listening - Anti-Natalism - Level 2

A man in Mumbai, India is unhappy he was born. He is suing his parents because they did not ask him if he wanted to be born. Raphael Samuel, 27, is suing his parents for giving birth to him without his permission. Mr Samuel is an anti-natalist - someone who believes in anti-natalism. This philosophy puts a negative value on birth. Anti-natalists believe people should try not to have children. They believe that having children is wrong and that the world is a better place with fewer children. China's one-child policy was a kind of anti-natalism.

Raphael Samuel posted a video on YouTube about suing his parents. It has gone viral. In the video, Samuel answers questions from his followers. He said: "I want everyone in...the world to realise...that they are born without their consent....They do not owe their parents anything. If we are born without our consent...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 she would accept fault but 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 1   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. giving birth
  3. This philosophy puts a negative
  4. people should try not
  5. They believe that having
  6. a better place with fewer
  7. China's one-
  8. a kind of anti-
  1. children is wrong
  2. child policy
  3. to him
  4. suing his parents
  5. natalism
  6. to have children
  7. value on birth
  8. children

Paragraph 2

  1. Samuel posted a
  2. It has gone
  3. They do not owe their
  4. we should be paid by
  5. they had me
  6. Samuel's mother said she
  7. her son must
  8. asked for his permission
  1. our parents to live
  2. explain how
  3. for their joy
  4. to be born
  5. parents anything
  6. viral
  7. would accept fault
  8. video on YouTube

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A man in Mumbai, India (1) ___________________ was born. He is suing his parents because they did not ask him (2) ___________________ to be born. Raphael Samuel, 27, is suing his parents for (3) ___________________ him without his permission. Mr Samuel is an anti-natalist - someone who believes in anti-natalism. This philosophy (4) ___________________ value on birth. Anti-natalists believe people should try not to have children. They believe that having children (5) ___________________ that the world is a better place with fewer children. China's (6) ___________________ was a kind of anti-natalism.

Raphael Samuel posted a video on YouTube (7) ___________________ parents. It has gone viral. In the video, Samuel answers questions (8) ___________________. He said: "I want everyone in...the world to realise...that they are born (9) ___________________....They do not owe their parents anything. If we are born without our consent...we (10) ___________________ by our parents to live." He added: "I love my parents...but they had me (11) ___________________." Samuel's mother said she would accept fault but her son must explain how she (12) ___________________ for his permission to be born.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

AmaninMumbai,Indiaisunhappyhewasborn.Heissuinghisparentsbec
ausetheydidnotaskhimifhewantedtobeborn.RaphaelSamuel,27,iss
uinghisparentsforgivingbirthtohimwithouthispermission.MrSamueli
sananti-natalist-someonewhobelievesinanti-natalism.Thisphilosop
hyputsanegativevalueonbirth.Anti-natalistsbelievepeopleshouldtry
nottohavechildren.Theybelievethathavingchildreniswrongandthatt
heworldisabetterplacewithfewerchildren.China'sone-childpolicyw
asakindofanti-natalism.RaphaelSamuelpostedavideoonYouTubeab
outsuinghisparents.Ithasgoneviral.Inthevideo,Samuelanswersque
stionsfromhisfollowers.Hesaid:"Iwanteveryonein...theworldtorealis
e...thattheyarebornwithouttheirconsent....Theydonotowetheirpare
ntsanything.Ifwearebornwithoutourconsent...weshouldbepaidbyou
rparentstolive."Headded:"Ilovemyparents...buttheyhadmefortheirj
oy."Samuel'smothersaidshewouldacceptfaultbuthersonmustexplai
nhowshecouldhaveaskedforhispermissiontobeborn.

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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