The Reading / Listening - Philanthropy - Level 6

University students receiving their diplomas at a college in the USA got the surprise of their lives during their commencement ceremony. Students at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia were listening to a speech from the philanthropist Robert F. Smith, a recipient of an honorary degree from Morehouse. Mr Smith ended his speech by informing the 400 students that he would pay off their student loans and debt. He said: "This is my class, 2019, and my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans." He added: "On behalf of the eight generations of my family who have been in this country, we're going to put a little fuel in your bus." Mr Smith's kindness is estimated to be worth about $40 million.

Robert F. Smith, 56, graduated from Columbia Business School, where he earned an MBA with honors. In the year 2000, he founded the investment company Vista Equity Partners, which currently manages over $46 billion in assets. His company made him a multi-billionaire. Mr Smith was the first African-American to sign the Giving Pledge, where people promise to commit at least half of their wealth to philanthropic causes. One graduate to benefit from Smith's generosity said it would have an "immeasurable impact" on his life. Dwytt Lewis, 21, whose $150,000 loan is now no more, added: "Just imagine the weight lifted off your shoulders when you have a clean slate coming out of college."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Philanthropy - Level 4  or  Philanthropy - Level 5

Sources
  • https://abcnews.go.com/US/billionaire-philanthropist-shocks-morehouse-grads-promising-pay-off/story?id=63137376
  • https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-is-morehouse-billionaire-robert-f-smith/
  • https://atlantablackstar.com/2019/05/20/billionaire-investor-ceo-robert-smith-shocks-morehouse-graduates-with-promise-to-eliminate-their-student-loan-debt/


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. PHILANTHROPISTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about philanthropists. 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?
       diploma / college / surprise / speech / philanthropist / degree / debt / generation /
       MBA / investment / assets / billionaire / pledge / benefit / generosity / weight / slate
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. GIVING LAW: Students A strongly believe there should be a law that means extremely wealthy people must give to th epoor; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PHILANTHROPY: Who or what would you pledge money to if you were very rich? Why? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

 

Who / What?

Why?

The poor

 

 

Medical research

 

 

Charities

 

 

Building renovation

 

 

Local communities

 

 

Education

 

 

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. LOAN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "debt". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. DEBT: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst kind of debt at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • car loan
  • tax debts
  • debts to friends
  • payday loans
  • student loans
  • mortgage
  • credit card bill
  • medical debts

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. diploma a. A formal religious or public occasion, typically one celebrating a particular event or anniversary.
      2. ceremony b. A person or thing that receives or is awarded something.
      3. philanthropist c. Roughly calculated or judged the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.
      4. recipient d. A person who helps others by donating a lot of money to good causes.
      5. eliminate e. All of the people born and living at about the same time, looked at collectively.
      6. generation f. A certificate awarded by an educational establishment to show that someone has successfully completed a course of study.
      7. estimated g. Completely remove or get rid of something or someone.

    Paragraph 2

      8. MBA h. The action or process of putting money into a project or idea to make a profit.
      9. investment i. Property owned by a person or company, regarded as having value and available to meet debts.
      10. asset j. A fresh start.
      11. pledge k. Set yourself on a certain course or policy.
      12. commit l. A serious promise to do something.
      13. generosity m. Master's (degree) in Business Administration.
      14. clean slate n. The quality of being kind and giving.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Students at a ceremony were told their loans would be paid off.     T / F
  2. A philanthropist will pay off the loans of 400 students.     T / F
  3. The philanthropist said he belonged to the class of 2000.     T / F
  4. Robert F. Smith's family has been in the USA for eight generations.     T / F
  5. Robert F. Smith graduated from a business school with an MBA.     T / F
  6. Robert F. Smith is worth over $46 billion.     T / F
  7. The Giving Pledge commits people to give away a tenth of their wealth.   T / F
  8. A student said he had to put a clean slate on his shoulders.     T / F

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

  1. commencement
  2. philanthropist
  3. speech
  4. eliminate
  5. estimated
  6. founded
  7. assets
  8. commit
  9. impact
  10. clean slate
  1. address
  2. fresh start
  3. believed
  4. set up
  5. benefactor
  6. hand over
  7. graduation
  8. effect
  9. property
  10. get rid of

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

  1. got the surprise
  2. a recipient of an honorary
  3. he would pay off their student loans
  4. On behalf of the eight generations
  5. estimated to be worth
  6. he earned an MBA with
  7. commit at least half of their wealth
  8. have an immeasurable
  9. imagine the weight lifted off
  10. have a clean slate
  1. and debt
  2. impact on his life
  3. about $40 million
  4. honors
  5. your shoulders
  6. coming out of college
  7. of their lives
  8. to philanthropic causes
  9. degree
  10. of my family

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
behalf
recipient
grant
worth
surprise
fuel
listening
informing

University students receiving their diplomas at a college in the USA got the (1) ____________ of their lives during their commencement ceremony. Students at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia were (2) ____________ to a speech from the philanthropist Robert F. Smith, a (3) ____________ of an honorary degree from Morehouse. Mr Smith ended his speech by (4) ____________ the 400 students that he would pay off their student loans and debt. He said: "This is my class, 2019, and my family is making a (5) ____________ to eliminate their student loans." He added: "On (6) ____________ of the eight generations of my family who have been in this country, we're going to put a little (7) ____________ in your bus." Mr Smith's kindness is estimated to be (8) ____________ about $40 million.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
causes
weight
earned
multi
slate
generosity
founded
commit

Robert F. Smith, 56, graduated from Columbia Business School, where he (9) ____________ an MBA with honors. In the year 2000, he (10) ____________ the investment company Vista Equity Partners, which currently manages over $46 billion in assets. His company made him a (11) ____________ -billionaire. Mr Smith was the first African-American to sign the Giving Pledge, where people promise to (12) ____________ at least half of their wealth to philanthropic (13) ____________. One graduate to benefit from Smith's (14) ____________ said it would have an "immeasurable impact" on his life. Dwytt Lewis, 21, whose $150,000 loan is now no more, added: "Just imagine the (15) ____________ lifted off your shoulders when you have a clean (16) ____________ coming out of college."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  students receiving their diplomas at a college in the USA got the ______ lives
     a.  surprise of their
     b.  surprised of their
     c.  surprise off their
     d.  surprise of them
2)  a speech from the philanthropist Robert F. Smith, a recipient ______ degree
     a.  of an honored
     b.  of an honor airy
     c.  of an honor rare
     d.  of an honorary
3)  This is my class, 2019, and my family is making a grant to ______ student loans
     a.  eliminated their
     b.  eliminate their
     c.  eliminates their
     d.  elimination their
4)  we're going to put a little ______ bus
     a.  full in your
     b.  feel in your
     c.  fuel in your
     d.  fool in your
5)  Mr Smith's kindness is estimated to be ______ $40 million
     a.  worth about
     b.  worthy about
     c.  worse about
     d.  worst about

6)  Robert F. Smith, 56, graduated from Columbia Business School, where he ______
     a.  learned an MBA
     b.  yearned an MBA
     c.  earn an MBA
     d.  earned an MBA
7)  Vista Equity Partners, which currently manages over $46 ______
     a.  billion in assists
     b.  billion in assets
     c.  billion in asserts
     d.  billion in ass sets
8)  sign the Giving Pledge, where people promise to commit at least half ______
     a.  off their wealth
     b.  on their wealth
     c.  at their wealth
     d.  of their wealth
9)  One graduate to benefit from Smith's generosity said it would have an ______
     a.  in measurable impact
     b.  immeasurable impact
     c.  in measure a ball impact
     d.  immeasurably impact
10)  Just imagine the weight lifted off your shoulders when you have ______
     a.  a clean state
     b.  a clean skate
     c.  a clean spate
     d.  a clean slate

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

University students (1) ___________________ at a college in the USA got the surprise of their (2) ___________________ commencement ceremony. Students at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia were listening to a speech from the philanthropist Robert F. Smith, (3) ___________________ an honorary degree from Morehouse. Mr Smith ended his speech by informing the 400 students that he would pay off their student (4) ___________________. He said: "This is my class, 2019, and my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans." He added: "(5) ___________________ the eight generations of my family who have been in this country, we're going to put a little fuel in your bus." Mr Smith's kindness is estimated to (6) ___________________ $40 million.

Robert F. Smith, 56, graduated from Columbia Business School, where he earned an MBA with honors. In the year 2000, (7) ___________________ investment company Vista Equity Partners, which currently manages over $46 (8) ___________________. His company made him a multi-billionaire. Mr Smith was the first African-American to sign the Giving Pledge, where people promise to (9) ___________________ half of their wealth to philanthropic causes. One (10) ___________________ from Smith's generosity said it would have an "immeasurable impact" on his life. Dwytt Lewis, 21, whose $150,000 loan is (11) ___________________, added: "Just imagine the weight lifted off your shoulders when you have (12) ___________________ coming out of college."

Comprehension questions

  1. Where were the students when they got the surprise of their lives?
  2. What was the philanthropist Robert F. Smith a recipient of?
  3. How many students will have their loan paid by Robert F. Smith?
  4. For how many generations has Robert F. Smith's family been in the USA?
  5. How much will repaying the loans cost Robert F. Smith?
  6. Where did Robert F. Smith get his MBA from?
  7. When did Robert F. Smith start his company Vista Equity Partners?
  8. What initiative did Robert F. Smith sign up to?
  9. How much of his wealth did Robert F. Smith sign up to giving away?
  10. What did a student say had been lifted from his shoulders?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where were the students when they got the surprise of their lives?
a) at home
b) in a lecture
c) a commencement ceremony
d) in Hawaii
2) What was the philanthropist Robert F. Smith a recipient of?
a) an honorary degree
b) a trophy
c) thanks
d) lots of e-mail
3) How many students will have their loan paid by Robert F. Smith?
a) 500
b) 400
c) 300
d) 600
4) For how many generations has Robert F. Smith's family been in the USA?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8
5) How much will repaying the loans cost Robert F. Smith?
a) well over $40 million
b) exactly $40 million
c) around $40 million
d) just under $40 million

6) Where did Robert F. Smith get his MBA from?
a) Harvard Business School
b) Columbia Business School
c) MIT
d) Morehouse College
7) When did Robert F. Smith start his company Vista Equity Partners?
a) the year 2001
b) the year 2002
c) the year 1999
d) the year 2000
8) What initiative did Robert F. Smith sign up to?
a) Philanthropy Today
b) the Giving Pledge
c) Education For All
d) End The Loans
9) How much of his wealth did Robert F. Smith sign up to giving away?
a) at least a quarter
b) at least half
c) at least a third
d) at least three-quarters
10) What did a student say had been lifted from his shoulders?
a) a weight
b) a friend
c) stress
d) money

Role play

Role  A – Debts to Friends
You think debts to friends are the worst kind of debts. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their types of debt aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): credit card bills, tax debts or payday loans.

Role  B – Credit Card Bills
You think credit card bills are the worst kind of debts. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their types of debt aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): debts to friends, tax debts or payday loans.

Role  C – Tax Debts
You think tax debts are the worst kind of debts. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their types of debt aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): credit card bills, debts to friends or payday loans.

Role  D – Payday Loans
You think payday loans are the worst kind of debts. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their types of debt aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): credit card bills, tax debts or debts to friends.

After reading / listening

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

'student'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'debt'.

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

    • earned
    • founded
    • assets
    • sign
    • impact
    • clean
    • surprise
    • listening
    • ended
    • 400
    • eight
    • fuel

    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 - Billionaire to pay off student debt for class of 2019

    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 'student'?
    3. What do you know about philanthropy?
    4. What do you think of student loans?
    5. What do you remember about your graduation ceremonies?
    6. What do you think of Robert F. Smith?
    7. What has been the biggest surprise in your life?
    8. How will Mr Smith's actions change lives?
    9. What philanthropic actions would you take?
    10. What advice do you have for Robert F. Smith?

    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 'debt'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What should billionaires do with their money?
    5. How do people become billionaires?
    6. Should everyone with money commit to helping the poor?
    7. What has had an 'immeasurable impact' on your life?
    8. When has a weight been lifted from your shoulders?
    9. How can we get more rich people to be philanthropists?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Robert F. Smith?

    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)

    University students (1) ____ their diplomas at a college in the USA got the surprise of their lives during their (2) ____ ceremony. Students at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia were listening to a speech from the philanthropist Robert F. Smith, a (3) ____ of an honorary degree from Morehouse. Mr Smith ended his speech by (4) ____ the 400 students that he would pay off their student loans and debt. He said: "This is my class, 2019, and my family is making a (5) ____ to eliminate their student loans." He added: "On behalf of the eight generations of my family who have been in this country, we're going to put a little fuel in your bus." Mr Smith's kindness is estimated to be (6) ____ about $40 million.

    Robert F. Smith, 56, graduated from Columbia Business School, where he (7) ____ an MBA with honors. In the year 2000, he founded the investment company Vista Equity Partners, which (8) ____ manages over $46 billion in assets. His company made him a (9) ____-billionaire. Mr Smith was the first African-American to sign the Giving Pledge, where people promise to commit (10) ____ least half of their wealth to philanthropic causes. One graduate to benefit from Smith's generosity said it would have an "immeasurable impact" (11) ____ his life. Dwytt Lewis, 21, whose $150,000 loan is now no more, added: "Just imagine the weight lifted off your shoulders when you have a clean (12) ____ coming out of college."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     receive     (b)     receives     (c)     receiving     (d)     received    
    2. (a)     commencement     (b)     commence     (c)     commences     (d)     commenced    
    3. (a)     recipient     (b)     aspirant     (c)     competent     (d)     lenient    
    4. (a)     informing     (b)     information     (c)     informs     (d)     informed    
    5. (a)     grind     (b)     gland     (c)     grand     (d)     grant    
    6. (a)     amount     (b)     cost     (c)     value     (d)     worth    
    7. (a)     earned     (b)     learned     (c)     yearned     (d)     earnestly    
    8. (a)     current     (b)     currants     (c)     currency     (d)     currently    
    9. (a)     multi     (b)     maxi     (c)     midi     (d)     meta    
    10. (a)     up     (b)     at     (c)     as     (d)     to    
    11. (a)     to     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     as    
    12. (a)     slate     (b)     chalk     (c)     debt     (d)     loan

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. pdolimas at a college in the USA
    2. during their commencement ercmenoy
    3. a speech from the ilnprthohipast
    4. a eiripcent of an honorary degree
    5. eight enrgitaoens of my family
    6. estimated to be wroth about $40 million

    Paragraph 2

    1. he earned an MBA with nohors
    2. over $46 billion in sesats
    3. ommcit at least half of their wealth
    4. benefit from Smith's neorgsetiy
    5. have an miasrumaelbe impact on his life
    6. have a clean lstae

    Put the text back together

    (...)  to a speech from the philanthropist Robert F. Smith, a recipient of an honorary degree from Morehouse. Mr Smith ended
    (...)  Robert F. Smith, 56, graduated from Columbia Business School, where he earned an MBA with
    (...)  honors. In the year 2000, he founded the investment company Vista Equity Partners, which currently manages over
    (...)  benefit from Smith's generosity said it would have an "immeasurable impact" on his
    (...)  his speech by informing the 400 students that he would pay off their student loans and debt. He said: "This is my class, 2019, and my
    (...)  life. Dwytt Lewis, 21, whose $150,000 loan is now no more, added: "Just imagine the
    1  ) University students receiving their diplomas at a college in the USA got the surprise of their lives
    (...)  $46 billion in assets. His company made him a multi-billionaire. Mr Smith was the first African-American to
    (...)  in your bus." Mr Smith's kindness is estimated to be worth about $40 million.
    (...)  during their commencement ceremony. Students at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia were listening
    (...)  weight lifted off your shoulders when you have a clean slate coming out of college."
    (...)  sign the Giving Pledge, where people promise to commit at least half of their wealth to philanthropic causes. One graduate to
    (...)  family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans." He added: "On behalf of the eight
    (...)  generations of my family who have been in this country, we're going to put a little fuel

    Put the words in the right order

    1. their   receiving   college   .   students   at   a   University   diplomas
    2. to   speech   a   Listening   from   the   philanthropist   .
    3. recipient   honorary   an   of   degree   A   from   Morehouse   .
    4. pay   their   off   would   He   student   loans   .
    5. behalf   of   eight   generations   of   On   my   family   .
    6. founded   company   investment   the   Vista   He   Equity   Partners   .
    7. company   made   His   a   him   multi-billionaire   .
    8. of   Commit   wealth   their   half   to   philanthropic   causes   .
    9. graduate   to   benefit   One   Smith's   from   generosity   .
    10. the   Just   lifted   weight   imagine   off   your   shoulders   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    University students receiving their diplomas at a college in the USA got the surprise of / in their lives during their commencement ceremonial / ceremony. Students at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia were listened / listening to a speech from the philanthropist / philanthropy Robert F. Smith, a recipient of an honor / honorary degree from Morehouse. Mr Smith ended his speech by informed / informing the 400 students that he would pay off their student loans and debt. He said: "This is my class / classification, 2019, and my family is making a grant / grand to eliminate their student loans." He added: "On half / behalf of the eight generations of my family who have been in this country, we're going to put a little fuel in your bus." Mr Smith's kindness is estimated to be worth / value about $40 million.

    Robert F. Smith, 56, graduated from Columbia Business School, where he earned / learned an MBA with honors / honorable. In the year 2000, he founded / found the investment company Vista Equity Partners, which currently / currency manages over $46 billion in asserts / assets. His company made him a multi-billionaire. Mr Smith was the first African-American to sign the Giving Pledge, where people promise to commit / remit at least half of their wealth to philanthropic cause / causes. One graduate to benefit from Smith's generosity said it would have an "immeasurable impart / impact" on his life. Dwytt Lewis, 21, whose $150,000 loan is now no more, added: "Just imagine the wait / weight lifted off your shoulders when you have a clean chalk / slate coming out of college."

    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)

    U n_v_r s_t y s t_d_n t s r_c__ v_n g t h__ r d_p l_m_s _t _ c_l l_g_ _n t h_ U S A g_t t h_ s_r p r_s_ _f t h__ r l_v_s d_r_n g t h__ r c_m m_n c_m_n t c_r_m_n y . S t_d_n t s _t M_r_h__ s_ C_l l_g_ _n A t l_n t_, G__ r g__ w_r_ l_s t_n_n g t_ _ s p__ c h f r_m t h_ p h_l_n t h r_p_s t R_b_r t F . S m_t h , _ r_c_p__ n t _f _n h_n_r_r y d_g r__ f r_m M_r_h__ s_. M r S m_t h _n d_d h_s s p__ c h b y _n f_r m_n g t h_ 4 0 0 s t_d_n t s t h_t h_ w__ l d p_y _f f t h__ r s t_d_n t l__ n s _n d d_b t . H_ s__ d : " T h_s _s m y c l_s s , 2 0 1 9 , _n d m y f_m_l y _s m_k_n g _ g r_n t t_ _l_m_n_t_ t h__ r s t_d_n t l__ n s . " H_ _d d_d : " O n b_h_l f _f t h_ __ g h t g_n_r_t__ n s _f m y f_m_l y w h_ h_v_ b__ n _n t h_s c__ n t r y , w_' r_ g__ n g t_ p_t _ l_t t l_ f__ l _n y__ r b_s . " M r S m_t h ' s k_n d n_s s _s _s t_m_t_d t_ b_ w_r t h _b__ t $ 4 0 m_l l__ n .

    R_b_r t F . S m_t h , 5 6 , g r_d__ t_d f r_m C_l_m b__ B_s_n_s s S c h__ l , w h_r_ h_ __ r n_d _n M B A w_t h h_n_r s . I n t h_ y__ r 2 0 0 0 , h_ f__ n d_d t h_ _n v_s t m_n t c_m p_n y V_s t_ E q__ t y P_r t n_r s , w h_c h c_r r_n t l y m_n_g_s _v_r $ 4 6 b_l l__ n _n _s s_t s . H_s c_m p_n y m_d_ h_m _ m_l t_- b_l l__ n__ r_. M r S m_t h w_s t h_ f_r s t A f r_c_n - A m_r_c_n t_ s_g n t h_ G_v_n g P l_d g_, w h_r_ p__ p l_ p r_m_s_ t_ c_m m_t _t l__ s t h_l f _f t h__ r w__ l t h t_ p h_l_n t h r_p_c c__ s_s . O n_ g r_d__ t_ t_ b_n_f_t f r_m S m_t h ' s g_n_r_s_t y s__ d _t w__ l d h_v_ _n "_m m__ s_r_b l_ _m p_c t " _n h_s l_f_. D w y t t L_w_s , 2 1 , w h_s_ $ 1 5 0 , 0 0 0 l__ n _s n_w n_ m_r_, _d d_d : " J_s t _m_g_n_ t h_ w__ g h t l_f t_d _f f y__ r s h__ l d_r s w h_n y__ h_v_ _ c l__ n s l_t_ c_m_n g __ t _f c_l l_g_. "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    university students receiving their diplomas at a college in the usa got the surprise of their lives during their commencement ceremony students at morehouse college in atlanta georgia were listening to a speech from the philanthropist robert f smith a recipient of an honorary degree from morehouse mr smith ended his speech by informing the 400 students that he would pay off their student loans and debt he said this is my class 2019 and my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans he added on behalf of the eight generations of my family who have been in this country were going to put a little fuel in your bus mr smiths kindness is estimated to be worth about 40 million

    robert f smith 56 graduated from columbia business school where he earned an mba with honors in the year 2000 he founded the investment company vista equity partners which currently manages over 46 billion in assets his company made him a multibillionaire mr smith was the first africanamerican to sign the giving pledge where people promise to commit at least half of their wealth to philanthropic causes one graduate to benefit from smiths generosity said it would have an immeasurable impact on his life dwytt lewis 21 whose 150000 loan is now no more added just imagine the weight lifted off your shoulders when you have a clean slate coming out of college"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    UniversitystudentsreceivingtheirdiplomasatacollegeintheUSAgotth
    esurpriseoftheirlivesduringtheircommencementceremony.Student
    satMorehouseCollegeinAtlanta,Georgiawerelisteningtoaspeechfro
    mthephilanthropistRobertF.Smith,arecipientofanhonorarydegreefr
    omMorehouse.MrSmithendedhisspeechbyinformingthe400student
    sthathewouldpayofftheirstudentloansanddebt.Hesaid:"Thisismycla
    ss,2019,andmyfamilyismakingagranttoeliminatetheirstudentloans.
    "Headded:"Onbehalfoftheeightgenerationsofmyfamilywhohavebee
    ninthiscountry,we'regoingtoputalittlefuelinyourbus."MrSmith'skind
    nessisestimatedtobeworthabout$40million.RobertF.Smith,56,grad
    uatedfromColumbiaBusinessSchool,whereheearnedanMBAwithhon
    ors.Intheyear2000,hefoundedtheinvestmentcompanyVistaEquityP
    artners,whichcurrentlymanagesover$46billioninassets.Hiscompan
    ymadehimamulti-billionaire.MrSmithwasthefirstAfrican-Americant
    osigntheGivingPledge,wherepeoplepromisetocommitatleasthalfoft
    heirwealthtophilanthropiccauses.OnegraduatetobenefitfromSmith'
    sgenerositysaiditwouldhavean"immeasurableimpact"onhislife.Dwy
    ttLewis,21,whose$150,000loanisnownomore,added:"Justimaginet
    heweightliftedoffyourshoulderswhenyouhaveacleanslatecomingout
    ofcollege."

    Free writing

    Write about philanthropist for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    All millionaires and billionaires should help the poor. 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. PHILANTHROPISTS: Make a poster about philanthropists. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FREE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION: Write a magazine article about all university education being free. 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 philanthropy. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to increase it. 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

    Buy my book

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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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