The Reading / Listening - Birth Certificates - Level 3

Women's rights campaigners in Afghanistan are celebrating a rare victory. For the first time, the names of mothers will be put on their children's birth certificates, alongside the father's name. Mothers' names will also be put on national identity cards. The Afghan government has just announced a new law to allow this. For hundreds of years, only the father's name was allowed on the birth certificate. Campaigners in Afghanistan started their campaign in 2017. They used social media to fight for the right of women to have their names on official documents. It is common in Afghanistan for a woman's name not to be included on wedding invitations.

Afghanistan's Vice-President said: "The decision to include the mother's name on the ID card is a big step forward for women's rights." The founder of the #WhereIsMyName campaign, Laleh Osmany, said the law was good. She said: "By printing her name, we give the mother power. The law now gives her certain powers to be a mother who can, without the presence of a man, get documents for her children, enroll her children in school, and travel." Another campaigner said: "My feeling of happiness may seem ridiculous for women in other countries, but when we live in a society where women are physically and spiritually excluded, achieving such basic rights is a big and difficult task."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Birth Certificates - Level 0 Birth Certificates - Level 1   or  Birth Certificates - Level 2

Sources
  • https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/mothers-in-afghanistan-can-now-have-their-names-included-on-their-childrens-birth-certificates/
  • https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-18/afghan-government-passes-law-mother-name-birth-certificate/12634162
  • https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/afghan-president-approves-inclusion-of-mother-s-name-on-id-cards/30845572.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. BIRTH CERTIFICATES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about birth certificates. 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?
       women's rights / campaigners / rare / victory / birth / certificate / social media / name
       decision / big steps / powers / documents / school / travel / happiness / excluded
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EQUALITY: Students A strongly believe women will get total equality one day; Students B strongly believe this will not happen. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CERTIFICATES: How important are these? What do you need it for? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Importance

What You Need It For

Birth certificate

 

 

Degree certificate

 

 

IELTS certificate

 

 

Employee of the month

 

 

Certificate of appreciation

 

 

Marriage certificate

 

 

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

  • Free speech
  • Work
  • Not be punched
  • Follow a religion
  • Legal advice
  • Vote
  • Education
  • Fresh air

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. rights a. About the government and laws.
      2. campaigners b. A person who actively tries to change something.
      3. rare c. Winning something in a campaign, battle, game, war, etc.
      4. victory d. The basic things we should all have (freedom, working, following a religion, etc.).
      5. announced e. A written request asking someone to go somewhere or to do something.
      6. official f. Not happening very often; unusual.
      7. invitation g. Told people something important.

    Paragraph 2

      8. decision h. A person or thing that is there.
      9. founder i. A rule that a government says everyone must follow.
      10. law j. Stupid and crazy.
      11. presence k. Something you choose after thinking about it.
      12. documents l. A person who starts something like a company, campaign, website, etc.
      13. ridiculous m. Kept out of a place, group or something else.
      14. excluded n. A piece of written, printed, or electronic matter that shows information about someone or something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Women's rights campaigners celebrated a rare victory.     T / F
  2. Mothers' names will not be put on national ID cards.     T / F
  3. A campaign to get mothers' names on documents started in 2007.     T / F
  4. It isn't common for women's names to be on Afghan wedding invitations.  T / F
  5. Afghanistan's vice-president said the new law was a step backwards.     T / F
  6. Afghan mothers can now enroll their children in schools.     T / F
  7. A campaigner said other women might not understand her happiness.     T / F
  8. A campaigner said achieving basic rights was difficult.     T / F

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

  1. campaigners
  2. alongside
  3. announced
  4. allowed
  5. common
  6. step
  7. power
  8. presence
  9. ridiculous
  10. excluded
  1. existence
  2. permitted
  3. left out
  4. next to
  5. silly
  6. declared
  7. move
  8. activists
  9. control
  10. normal

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

  1. celebrating a rare
  2. alongside the father's
  3. national
  4. fight for the right
  5. wedding
  6. a big step forward
  7. The law now gives her certain
  8. without the presence of
  9. enroll her children
  10. achieving such basic
  1. rights
  2. for women's rights
  3. invitations
  4. name
  5. in school
  6. of women
  7. a man
  8. victory
  9. powers
  10. identity cards

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
first
hundreds
invitations
campaigners
identity
common
alongside
social

Women's rights (1) _____________________ in Afghanistan are celebrating a rare victory. For the (2) _____________________ time, the names of mothers will be put on their children's birth certificates, (3) _____________________ the father's name. Mothers' names will also be put on national (4) _____________________ cards. The Afghan government has just announced a new law to allow this. For (5) _____________________ of years, only the father's name was allowed on the birth certificate. Campaigners in Afghanistan started their campaign in 2017. They used (6) _____________________ media to fight for the right of women to have their names on official documents. It is (7) _____________________ in Afghanistan for a woman's name not to be included on wedding (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
powers
task
step
enroll
society
printing
decision
ridiculous

Afghanistan's Vice-President said: "The (9) _____________________ to include the mother's name on the ID card is a big (10) _____________________ forward for women's rights." The founder of the #WhereIsMyName campaign, Laleh Osmany, said the law was good. She said: "By (11) _____________________ her name, we give the mother power. The law now gives her certain (12) _____________________ to be a mother who can, without the presence of a man, get documents for her children, (13) _____________________ her children in school, and travel." Another campaigner said: "My feeling of happiness may seem (14) _____________________ for women in other countries, but when we live in a (15) _____________________ where women are physically and spiritually excluded, achieving such basic rights is a big and difficult (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Women's rights campaigners in Afghanistan are celebrating ______
     a.  a roar victory
     b.  a rare victory
     c.  a rear victory
     d.  arrears victory
2)  Mothers' names will also be put on national ______
     a.  identify cards
     b.  identify cares
     c.  identity cords
     d.  identity cards
3)  The Afghan government has just announced a new law ______
     a.  tour low this
     b.  too a law this
     c.  two allow this
     d.  to allow this
4)  For hundreds of years, only the father's ______
     a.  names was allowed
     b.  name was allowed
     c.  named was allow
     d.  name was allow
5) common in Afghanistan for a woman's name not to be included on ______
     a.  weeding invitations
     b.  welding invitations
     c.  wedding invitations
     d.  wending invitations

6)  The decision to include the mother's name on ______
     a.  the IE card
     b.  the ID card
     c.  the IC card
     d.  the IP card
7)  By printing her name, we give ______
     a.  the other power
     b.  the father power
     c.  the mother power
     d.  the others power
8)  without the presence of a man, get documents for her children, ______
     a.  and roll her children
     b.  end roll her children
     c.  enroll her children
     d.  roll her children
9)  we live in a society where women are physically and ______
     a.  spiritually excluding
     b.  spiritually excludes
     c.  spiritually exclude it
     d.  spiritually excluded
10)  achieving such basic rights is a big ______
     a.  and difficult task
     b.  and difficult tusk
     c.  and difficult tsk
     d.  and difficult ask

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Women's rights campaigners in Afghanistan are celebrating                         (1) ____________________. For the first time, the names of mothers will be put on their children's birth certificates, (2) ____________________ name. Mothers' names will also be put on national identity cards. The Afghan government has just announced a new law (3) ____________________. For hundreds of years, only the father's name (4) ____________________ the birth certificate. Campaigners in Afghanistan started their campaign in 2017. They used social media to fight (5) ____________________ of women to have their names on official documents. It is common in Afghanistan for a woman's name not to be included (6) ____________________.

Afghanistan's Vice-President said: "The (7) ____________________ the mother's name on the ID card is a big step forward for women's rights." The (8) ____________________ #WhereIsMyName campaign, Laleh Osmany, said the law was good. She said: "By printing her name, we give the mother power. The law now gives her (9) ____________________ be a mother who can, without (10) ____________________ a man, get documents for her children, enroll her children in school, and travel." Another campaigner said: "My feeling of happiness may (11) ____________________ women in other countries, but when we live in a society where women are physically and spiritually excluded, achieving such basic rights is a big (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. What are women's rights campaigners celebrating?
  2. Where will the mother's name be put alongside?
  3. On what other document will mother's name be put on?
  4. When did a social media campaign start?
  5. What is it uncommon for women's names to be put on in Afghanistan?
  6. What kind of step did the Afghanistan vice-president call the new law?
  7. What did a campaigner say the law gave women?
  8. What can Afghan women now enroll their children in?
  9. What feeling did a campaigner say might seem ridiculous to others?
  10. What did a campaigner say was difficult to achieve?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What are women's rights campaigners celebrating?
a) a huge victory
b) an unexpected victory
c) a rare victory
d) a loss
2) Where will the mother's name be put alongside?
a) the father's name
b) the child's name
c) the grandparents' names
d) the city of birth
3) On what other document will mother's name be put on?
a) driving licenses
b) school reports
c) marriage certificates
d) national ID cards
4) When did a social media campaign start?
a) 2016
b) 2017
c) 2018
d) 2015
5) What is it uncommon for women's names to be put on in Afghanistan?
a) grave stones
b) websites
c) wedding invitations
d) credit cards

6) What kind of step did the Afghanistan vice-president call the new law?
a) a big step
b) a forward step
c) a backward step
d) a brave step
7) What did a campaigner say the law gave women?
a) confidence
b) happiness
c) equality
d) power
8) What can Afghan women now enroll their children in?
a) English lessons
b) school
c) the ID card system
d) youth clubs
9) What feeling did a campaigner say might seem ridiculous to others?
a) happiness
b) sadness
c) boredom
d) excitement
10) What did a campaigner say was difficult to achieve?
a) a well-paying job
b) a good score at school
c) their goals
d) basic rights

Role play

Role  A – Free Speech
You think the right to free speech is most important. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what isn't so important about with their rights. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these rights (and why): legal advice, vote or fresh air.

Role  B – Legal Advice
You think the right to legal advice is most important. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what isn't so important about with their rights. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these rights (and why): free speech, vote or fresh air.

Role  C – Vote
You think the right to vote is most important. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what isn't so important about with their rights. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these rights (and why): legal advice, free speech or fresh air.

Role  D – Fresh Air
You think the right to fresh air is most important. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what isn't so important about with their rights. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these rights (and why): legal advice, vote or free speech.

After reading / listening

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

'birth'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'certificate'.

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

    • rare
    • alongside
    • just
    • hundreds
    • fight
    • common
    • step
    • founder
    • power
    • children
    • ridiculous
    • difficult

    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 - Birth Certificates

    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 'birth'?
    3. What do you know about Afghanistan?
    4. What do you think of birth certificates?
    5. What information is on your birth certificate?
    6. How important is this "victory" for women in Afghanistan?
    7. Why was only the father's name put on birth certificates?
    8. What official documents is your name on?
    9. What are birth certificates for?
    10. What advice do you have for women in Afghanistan?

    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 'certificate'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How much of a step forward is this for Afghan women?
    5. Where are women less equal in your country?
    6. How does a society suffer when women are excluded?
    7. What was the last thing that made you happy?
    8. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    9. How would you feel if you didn't have equal rights?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Afghan government?

    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)

    Women's rights campaigners in Afghanistan (1) ____ celebrating a rare victory. For the first time, the names of mothers will be (2) ____ on their children's birth certificates, (3) ____ the father's name. Mothers' names will also be put on national identity cards. The Afghan government has just (4) ____ a new law to allow this. For hundreds of years, only the father's name was allowed on the birth certificate. Campaigners in Afghanistan started their campaign in 2017. They used social media to fight (5) ____ the right of women to have their names on official documents. It is common in Afghanistan for a woman's name not to (6) ____ included on wedding invitations.

    Afghanistan's Vice-President said: "The decision (7) ____ include the mother's name on the ID card is a big (8) ____ forward for women's rights." The founder of the #WhereIsMyName campaign, Laleh Osmany, said the law was good. She said: "By printing her name, we give the mother power. The law now gives her (9) ____ powers to be a mother who can, without the presence of a man, get documents for her children, (10) ____ her children in school, and travel." Another campaigner said: "My feeling of happiness may seem (11) ____ for women in other countries, but when we live in a society where women are physically and spiritually excluded, achieving (12) ____ basic rights is a big and difficult task."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     be     (b)     are     (c)     were     (d)     am    
    2. (a)     write     (b)     put     (c)     name     (d)     give    
    3. (a)     long term     (b)     along the line     (c)     longing     (d)     alongside    
    4. (a)     respected     (b)     announced     (c)     given     (d)     direction    
    5. (a)     at     (b)     for     (c)     to     (d)     on    
    6. (a)     do     (b)     have     (c)     be     (d)     marry    
    7. (a)     for     (b)     of     (c)     to     (d)     as    
    8. (a)     ladder     (b)     stair     (c)     step     (d)     shuffle    
    9. (a)     curtains     (b)     certainly     (c)     curtain     (d)     certain    
    10. (a)     rollover     (b)     embroil     (c)     roll     (d)     enroll    
    11. (a)     ridiculous     (b)     spacious     (c)     miraculous     (d)     meticulous    
    12. (a)     touch     (b)     much     (c)     such     (d)     so

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. sgnerpmaaic in Afghanistan
    2. celebrating a rare ictvory
    3. national dentiity cards
    4. lolawed on the birth certificate
    5. names on official ocmdneuts
    6. wedding aviinittons

    Paragraph 2

    1. The ecisidon to include the mother's name
    2. The law now gives her etrcain powers
    3. without the resenpce of a man
    4. My feeling of happiness may seem duicilorus
    5. physically and spiritually xulcdeed
    6. achieving such basic igrths

    Put the text back together

    (...)  gives her certain powers to be a mother who can, without the presence of a man, get documents for
    (...)  women are physically and spiritually excluded, achieving such basic rights is a big and difficult task."
    (...)  her children, enroll her children in school, and travel." Another campaigner said: "My feeling of
    (...)  said the law was good. She said: "By printing her name, we give the mother power. The law now
    (...)  announced a new law to allow this. For hundreds of years, only the father's name was
    (...)  Afghanistan's Vice-President said: "The decision to include the mother's name on the ID card is a big
    (...)  media to fight for the right of women to have their names on official documents. It is common
    (...)  time, the names of mothers will be put on their children's birth certificates, alongside the
    (...)  allowed on the birth certificate. Campaigners in Afghanistan started their campaign in 2017. They used social
    (...)  step forward for women's rights." The founder of the #WhereIsMyName campaign, Laleh Osmany,
    (...)  in Afghanistan for a woman's name not to be included on wedding invitations.
    (...)  happiness may seem ridiculous for women in other countries, but when we live in a society where
    1  ) Women's rights campaigners in Afghanistan are celebrating a rare victory. For the first
    (...)  father's name. Mothers' names will also be put on national identity cards. The Afghan government has just

    Put the words in the right order

    a   victory   .   Campaigners   are   celebrating   Afghanistan   in   rare
    will   identity   Names   be   on   cards   .   put   also
    the   The   on   certificate   .   allowed   name   father's   was
    have   their   to   Women   on   official   names   documents   .
    invitations   .   woman's   isn't   name   on   included   A   wedding
    to   name   .   The   mother's   the   include   decision
    gives   The   powers   .   certain   law   her   now
    of   feeling   may   happiness   seem   ridiculous   .   My
    women   Live   a   excluded   .   are   where   in   society
    task   .   such   Achieving   big   a   is   rights   basic

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Women's rights campaigners in Afghanistan are celebrating a rear / rare victory. For the first time, the names of mothers will be put / write on their children's birth certificates, along / alongside the father's name. Mothers' names will also / and be put on national identity cards. The Afghan government has just announced / announcement a new law to allow this. For hundreds of years, only the father's name was allowing / allowed on the birth certificate. Campaigners in Afghanistan started / starred their campaign in 2017. They used social media to fight for the right / left of women to have their names on official / officially documents. It is common in Afghanistan for a woman's name not to be included on / at wedding invitations.

    Afghanistan's Vice-President said: "The decision at / to include the mother's name on the ID card is a big step forward at / for women's rights." The founder of the #WhereIsMyName campaign, Laleh Osmany, said the law was well / good. She said: "By printing her name, we give the mother power / powerful. The law now gives her certainly / certain powers to be a mother who can, without the presence / presents of a man, get documents for her children, roll / enroll her children in school, and travel." Another campaigner said: "My feeling of happy / happiness may seem ridiculous for women in other countries, but when we live in / on a society where women are physically and spiritually excluded, achieving such basic rights is a big and difficult chore / task."

    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)

    W_m_n ' s r_g h t s c_m p__ g n_r s _n A f g h_n_s t_n _r_ c_l_b r_t_n g _ r_r_ v_c t_r y . F_r t h_ f_r s t t_m_, t h_ n_m_s _f m_t h_r s w_l l b_ p_t _n t h__ r c h_l d r_n ' s b_r t h c_r t_f_c_t_s , _l_n g s_d_ t h_ f_t h_r ' s n_m_. M_t h_r s ' n_m_s w_l l _l s_ b_ p_t _n n_t__ n_l _d_n t_t y c_r d s . T h_ A f g h_n g_v_r n m_n t h_s j_s t _n n__ n c_d _ n_w l_w t_ _l l_w t h_s . F_r h_n d r_d s _f y__ r s , _n l y t h_ f_t h_r ' s n_m_ w_s _l l_w_d _n t h_ b_r t h c_r t_f_c_t_. C_m p__ g n_r s _n A f g h_n_s t_n s t_r t_d t h__ r c_m p__ g n _n 2 0 1 7 . T h_y _s_d s_c__ l m_d__ t_ f_g h t f_r t h_ r_g h t _f w_m_n t_ h_v_ t h__ r n_m_s _n _f f_c__ l d_c_m_n t s . I t _s c_m m_n _n A f g h_n_s t_n f_r _ w_m_n ' s n_m_ n_t t_ b_ _n c l_d_d _n w_d d_n g _n v_t_t__ n s .

    A f g h_n_s t_n ' s V_c_- P r_s_d_n t s__ d : " T h_ d_c_s__ n t_ _n c l_d_ t h_ m_t h_r ' s n_m_ _n t h_ I D c_r d _s _ b_g s t_p f_r w_r d f_r w_m_n ' s r_g h t s . " T h_ f__ n d_r _f t h_ # W h_r_I s M y N_m_ c_m p__ g n , L_l_h O s m_n y , s__ d t h_ l_w w_s g__ d . S h_ s__ d : " B y p r_n t_n g h_r n_m_, w_ g_v_ t h_ m_t h_r p_w_r . T h_ l_w n_w g_v_s h_r c_r t__ n p_w_r s t_ b_ _ m_t h_r w h_ c_n , w_t h__ t t h_ p r_s_n c_ _f _ m_n , g_t d_c_m_n t s f_r h_r c h_l d r_n , _n r_l l h_r c h_l d r_n _n s c h__ l , _n d t r_v_l . " A n_t h_r c_m p__ g n_r s__ d : " M y f__ l_n g _f h_p p_n_s s m_y s__ m r_d_c_l__ s f_r w_m_n _n _t h_r c__ n t r__ s , b_t w h_n w_ l_v_ _n _ s_c__ t y w h_r_ w_m_n _r_ p h y s_c_l l y _n d s p_r_t__ l l y _x c l_d_d , _c h__ v_n g s_c h b_s_c r_g h t s _s _ b_g _n d d_f f_c_l t t_s k . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    womens rights campaigners in afghanistan are celebrating a rare victory for the first time the names of mothers will be put on their childrens birth certificates alongside the fathers name mothers names will also be put on national identity cards the afghan government has just announced a new law to allow this for hundreds of years only the fathers name was allowed on the birth certificate campaigners in afghanistan started their campaign in 2017 they used social media to fight for the right of women to have their names on official documents it is common in afghanistan for a womans name not to be included on wedding invitations

    afghanistans vicepresident said the decision to include the mothers name on the id card is a big step forward for womens rights the founder of the whereismyname campaign laleh osmany said the law was good she said by printing her name we give the mother power the law now gives her certain powers to be a mother who can without the presence of a man get documents for her children enroll her children in school and travel another campaigner said my feeling of happiness may seem ridiculous for women in other countries but when we live in a society where women are physically and spiritually excluded achieving such basic rights is a big and difficult task

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Women'srightscampaignersinAfghanistanarecelebratingararevictor
    y.Forthefirsttime,thenamesofmotherswillbeputontheirchildren'sbirt
    hcertificates,alongsidethefather'sname.Mothers'nameswillalsobep
    utonnationalidentitycards.TheAfghangovernmenthasjustannounce
    danewlawtoallowthis.Forhundredsofyears,onlythefather'snamewas
    allowedonthebirthcertificate.CampaignersinAfghanistanstartedthei
    rcampaignin2017.Theyusedsocialmediatofightfortherightofwoment
    ohavetheirnamesonofficialdocuments.ItiscommoninAfghanistanfor
    awoman'snamenottobeincludedonweddinginvitations.Afghanistan'
    sVice-Presidentsaid:"Thedecisiontoincludethemother'snameonth
    eIDcardisabigstepforwardforwomen'srights."Thefounderofthe#Wh
    ereIsMyNamecampaign,LalehOsmany,saidthelawwasgood.Shesaid
    :"Byprintinghername,wegivethemotherpower.Thelawnowgivesher
    certainpowerstobeamotherwhocan,withoutthepresenceofaman,get
    documentsforherchildren,enrollherchildreninschool,andtravel."Ano
    thercampaignersaid:"Myfeelingofhappinessmayseemridiculousfor
    womeninothercountries,butwhenweliveinasocietywherewomenare
    physicallyandspirituallyexcluded,achievingsuchbasicrightsisabigan
    ddifficulttask."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    All people will have equal rights one day. 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. BIRTH CERTIFICATES: Make a poster about birth certificates. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. EQUAL RIGHTS: Write a magazine article about everybody having the same rights one day. Include imaginary interviews with people who think this will happen and with those who think it will not.
    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 birth certificates. Ask him/her three questions about birth certificates. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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