The Reading / Listening - Language - Level 6

The English language has been evolving for centuries, if not for millennia. Conversations from the Middle Ages would be almost unrecognisable today. In particular, the use and meaning of vocabulary is in constant flux. The British charity Oxfam has issued a guide that further pushes for changes in how the language is used, especially by charity workers. Oxfam wants to "decolonise" English, which it considers to be, "the language of a colonising nation". It said English needs to change "in order to decolonise our ways of working and shift power". Oxfam has issued a 92-page "Inclusive Language Guide" to advise employees on the use of language "to support everyone to feel empowered to be inclusive in their work".

Oxfam was founded in 1942 to help alleviate global poverty. It now operates in more than 80 countries worldwide. Its new guide recognises the reality that English is the dominant language used by charity workers in former British colonies. Oxfam said: "This guide aims to support people who have to work and communicate in the English language as part of this colonial legacy." The guide focuses on inclusivity for the disabled, the LGBTQIA+ community, migrants, refugees, and others. Suggested language changes include avoiding "colonial" phrases like "headquarters" and "mankind". It said the latter word could be viewed as being patriarchal as "it is often misunderstood as only referring to men".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Language - Level 4  or  Language - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.foxnews.com/media/nonprofit-oxfams-inclusivity-guide-calls-english-the-language-colonising-nation
  • https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23396055.oxfams-inclusive-language-guide-advises-avoid-mother-youth/
  • https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/inclusive-language-guide-621487/


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. ENGLISH VOCABULARY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about English vocabulary. 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?
       English / language / evolving / the Middle Ages / charity / colonising / nation / guide /
       poverty / colonies / legacy / the disabled / LGBTQIA+ / inclusivity / headquarters
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. LANGUAGE CHANGE: Students A strongly believe all languages should change to improve inclusivity; Students B strongly believe too much change isn't good. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. LANGUAGE: How is it best to learn these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

The Best Thing

Why It Works

Vocabulary

 

 

Pronunciation

 

 

Spelling

 

 

Speaking

 

 

Writing

 

 

Reading

 

 
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. COLONY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "colony". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. VOCABULARY: Rank these with your partner. Put the best ways to learn vocabulary at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Translation
  • Flash cards
  • Watching movies
  • Vocabulary books
  • Listening to music
  • Reading books
  • Language school
  • Speaking

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. evolving a. A period of history roughly between the years 1000 to 1453.
      2. millennia b. Sending settlers to a place (another country) and establish political control over it.
      3. the Middle Ages c. Developing gradually.
      4. constant d. Periods of a thousand years.
      5. in flux e. Happening continuously over a period of time.
      6. colonising f. Continuous change.
      7. inclusive g. Giving equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded.

    Paragraph 2

      8. alleviate h. A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
      9. poverty i. Make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe.
      10. dominant j. The lasting impact of events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.
      11. legacy k. The second or second mentioned of two people or things.
      12. refugee l. The state of being extremely poor.
      13. latter m. Relating to a system of society or government controlled by men.
      14. patriarchal n. Having power and influence over 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 English has been evolving for 10,000 years.     T / F
  2. It would be difficult to understand the English used in the Middle Ages.   T / F
  3. A charity called Oxfam said English is the language of a coloniser.     T / F
  4. The charity issued a 92-page guide book on more inclusive language.     T / F
  5. Oxfam was first established in 1492.     T / F
  6. Oxfam's guide is for people speaking any language.     T / F
  7. The Oxfam guide said the word "headquarters" was a colonial word.     T / F
  8. Some people might think the word "people" really means "men".     T / F

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

  1. evolving
  2. constant
  3. issued
  4. empowered
  5. inclusive
  6. founded
  7. alleviate
  8. legacy
  9. avoiding
  10. referring
  1. non-stop
  2. reduce
  3. established
  4. consequences
  5. developing
  6. alluding
  7. published
  8. steering clear of
  9. all-encompassing
  10. unchained

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

  1. language has been evolving
  2. the use and meaning of vocabulary is
  3. shift
  4. advise employees on the
  5. support everyone to feel
  6. Oxfam was founded in 1942 to help
  7. part of this colonial
  8. The guide focuses on inclusivity
  9. the LGBTQIA+ community, migrants,
  10. the latter word could be viewed
  1. power
  2. as being patriarchal
  3. empowered
  4. refugees, and others
  5. in constant flux
  6. for the disabled
  7. use of language
  8. alleviate global poverty
  9. legacy
  10. for centuries

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
flux
nation
inclusive
evolving
advise
charity
particular
shift

The English language has been (1) _____________________ for centuries, if not for millennia. Conversations from the Middle Ages would be almost unrecognisable today. In (2) _____________________, the use and meaning of vocabulary is in constant                          (3) _____________________. The British charity Oxfam has issued a guide that further pushes for changes in how the language is used, especially by (4) _____________________ workers. Oxfam wants to "decolonise" English, which it considers to be, "the language of a colonising (5) _____________________". It said English needs to change "in order to decolonise our ways of working and                           (6) _____________________ power". Oxfam has issued a 92-page "Inclusive Language Guide" to (7) _____________________ employees on the use of language "to support everyone to feel empowered to be (8) _____________________ in their work".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
former
refugees
reality
viewed
legacy
referring
founded
colonial

Oxfam was (9) _____________________ in 1942 to help alleviate global poverty. It now operates in more than 80 countries worldwide. Its new guide recognises the (10) _____________________ that English is the dominant language used by charity workers in (11) _____________________ British colonies. Oxfam said: "This guide aims to support people who have to work and communicate in the English language as part of this colonial (12) _____________________." The guide focuses on inclusivity for the disabled, the LGBTQIA+ community, migrants, (13) _____________________, and others. Suggested language changes include avoiding "(14) _____________________" phrases like "headquarters" and "mankind". It said the latter word could be (15) _____________________ as being patriarchal as "it is often misunderstood as only (16) _____________________ to men".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The English language has been evolving for centuries, if ______
     a.  not four millennia
     b.  not fore millennia
     c.  not form millennia
     d.  not for millennia
2)  Conversations from the Middle Ages would be ______
     a.  almost unrecognised today
     b.  almost on recognisable today
     c.  almost in recognised today
     d.  almost unrecognisable today
3)  further pushes for changes in how the language is used, especially ______
     a.  by clarity workers
     b.  by charity workers
     c.  by charitable workers
     d.  by charities workers
4)  English needs to change "in order to decolonise our ways of working ______
     a.  and shaft power
     b.  and sift power
     c.  and chaff power
     d.  and shift power
5)  the use of language to support everyone to feel empowered ______
     a.  to being inclusive
     b.  to be inclusive
     c.  to be inclusion
     d.  to be includes it

6)  Oxfam was founded in 1942 to help ______
     a.  alleviate global poverty
     b.  alleviate globally poverty
     c.  alleviate globe all poverty
     d.  alleviate glow ball poverty
7)  Its new guide recognises the reality that English is ______
     a.  the dominance language
     b.  the dominate language
     c.  the dominant language
     d.  the imminent language
8)  work and communicate in the English language as part of ______
     a.  this colony all legacy
     b.  this colon nigh all legacy
     c.  this colonies legacy
     d.  this colonial legacy
9)  inclusivity for the disabled, the LGBTQIA+ ______
     a.  community, migrants, refuges
     b.  community, migrants, refugees
     c.  community, migrates, refugees
     d.  commune tea, migrants, refugees
10)  It said the latter word could be viewed ______
     a.  as being matriarchal
     b.  as being patriarchal
     c.  as being hierarchical
     d.  as being monarchal

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The English language (1) ____________________ for centuries, if not for millennia. Conversations from the Middle Ages would be almost unrecognisable today. In particular, the (2) ____________________ of vocabulary is in constant flux. The British charity Oxfam has issued a guide that (3) ____________________ changes in how the language is used, especially by charity workers. Oxfam wants to "decolonise" English, which it (4) ____________________, "the language of a colonising nation". It said English needs to change "in order to decolonise our ways of working (5) ____________________". Oxfam has issued a 92-page "Inclusive Language Guide" to advise employees on the use of language "to support everyone to feel empowered to (6) ____________________ their work".

Oxfam was founded in 1942 (7) ____________________ global poverty. It now operates in more than 80 countries worldwide. Its new guide recognises the reality that English (8) ____________________ language used by charity workers in (9) ____________________. Oxfam said: "This guide aims to support people who have to work and communicate in the English language as part of this colonial legacy." The guide focuses (10) __________________ the disabled, the LGBTQIA+ community, (11) ____________________ others. Suggested language changes include avoiding "colonial" phrases like "headquarters" and "mankind". It said the latter word could be viewed as being patriarchal as "it is often misunderstood (12) ____________________ to men".

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say would be pretty much unrecognisable today?
  2. What does the article say is in constant flux?
  3. What does Oxfam want to shift via a change in language?
  4. How long is the "Inclusive Language Guide"?
  5. Who does the charity Oxfam want to feel empowered?
  6. When was Oxfam established?
  7. Where did Oxfam say English was the dominant language?
  8. What does Oxfam hope to provide for minority groups?
  9. What kind of phrase did Oxfam say the word "headquarters" is?
  10. What might the word "mankind" be viewed as?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say would be almost unrecognisable today?
a) the United Nations
b) charity work
c) famines
d) conversations from the Middle Ages
2) What does the article say is in constant flux?
a) charity work
b) the use and meaning of vocabulary
c) natural disasters
d) aid
3) What does Oxfam want to shift via a change in language?
a) politeness
b) attitudes
c) power
d) workers
4) How long is the "Inclusive Language Guide"?
a) 92 pages
b) too long
c) brief
d) about the right length
5) Who does the charity Oxfam want to feel empowered?
a) the dispossessed
b) poor people
c) charity workers
d) migrants

6) When was Oxfam established?
a) 1492
b) 1942
c) 1924
d) 1294
7) Where did Oxfam say English was the dominant language?
a) the United Nations
b) in charities
c) most of the world
d) former British colonies
8) What does Oxfam hope to provide for minority groups?
a) inclusivity
b) safety
c) better pay
d) equality
9) What kind of phrase did Oxfam say the word "headquarters" is?
a)  a boring phrase
b) an "objectionable" phrase
c) a "colonial" phrase
d) an outdated phrase
10) What might the word "mankind" be viewed as?
a) anarchial
b) patriarchal
c) hierarchical
d) matriarchal

Role play

Role  A – Speaking
You think speaking is the best way to learn vocabulary. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): using flash cards, reading books or listening to music.

Role  B – Using Flash Cards
You think using flash cards is the best way to learn vocabulary. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): speaking, reading books or listening to music.

Role  C – Reading Books
You think reading books is the best way to learn vocabulary. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): using flash cards, speaking or listening to books.

Role  D – Listening to Music
You think listening to music is the best way to learn vocabulary. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): using flash cards, reading books or speaking.

After reading / listening

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

'English'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'language'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • centuries
    • constant
    • pushes
    • considers
    • ways
    • feel
    • help
    • 80
    • former
    • focuses
    • phrases
    • viewed

    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 - Language

    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 'English'?
    3. What do you think of the English language?
    4. How has your language been evolving?
    5. What are your favourite English words?
    6. How do you learn English vocabulary?
    7. What do you think of English words being 'colonial'?
    8. What do you know about Britain's colonial past?
    9. How can language make people more inclusive?
    10. What English words have you learnt recently?

    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 'language'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about Oxfam?
    5. What are your least favourite English words?
    6. Should vocabulary be more gender neutral?
    7. Do you think the word ''mankind' is patriarchal?
    8. Should the word 'woman' contain the word 'man'?
    9. What needs to change in your language?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Oxfam?

    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)

    The English language has been (1) ____ for centuries, if not for millennia. Conversations from the Middle Ages would be almost unrecognisable today. In (2) ____, the use and meaning of vocabulary is in constant (3) ____. The British charity Oxfam has issued a guide that further pushes for changes in how the language is used, especially (4) ____ charity workers. Oxfam wants to "decolonise" English, which it considers to be, "the language of a colonising nation". It said English needs to change "(5) ____ order to decolonise our ways of working and shift power". Oxfam has issued a 92-page "Inclusive Language Guide" to advise employees (6) ____ the use of language "to support everyone to feel empowered to be inclusive in their work".

    Oxfam was (7) ____ in 1942 to help alleviate global poverty. It now operates in more than 80 countries worldwide. Its new guide recognises the (8) ____ that English is the dominant language used by charity workers in former British colonies. Oxfam said: "This guide aims to support people who have to work and communicate in the English language as part of this colonial (9) ____." The guide focuses on (10) ____ for the disabled, the LGBTQIA+ community, migrants, (11) ____, and others. Suggested language changes include avoiding "colonial" phrases like "headquarters" and "mankind". It said the latter word could be viewed as being (12) ____ as "it is often misunderstood as only referring to men".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     evolving     (b)     evolve     (c)     evolves     (d)     evolved    
    2. (a)     peculiar     (b)     peculiarity     (c)     particular     (d)     particulars    
    3. (a)     flax     (b)     flex     (c)     flux     (d)     flix    
    4. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    5. (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     by    
    6. (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     to    
    7. (a)     founding     (b)     floundered     (c)     funded     (d)     founded    
    8. (a)     realism     (b)     reality     (c)     really     (d)     real    
    9. (a)     lethargy     (b)     legality     (c)     legacy     (d)     legging    
    10. (a)     included     (b)     includes     (c)     include     (d)     inclusivity    
    11. (a)     refuges     (b)     refuses     (c)     refuse     (d)     refugees    
    12. (a)     monarchal     (b)     patriarchal     (c)     hierarchal     (d)     matriarchal

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The English language has been oilvvegn
    2. for centuries, if not for lailminne
    3. vocabulary is in constant xluf
    4. advise peemeysol on the use of language
    5. support everyone to feel rpeoewdme
    6. be cvluneiis in their work

    Paragraph 2

    1. help telealvai global poverty
    2. English is the ntdnamio language
    3. part of this colonial cyagle
    4. migrants, rusgfeee, and others
    5. hrspeas like "headquarters"
    6. viewed as being atlahcripar

    Put the text back together

    ( ) Ages would be almost unrecognisable today. In particular, the use and meaning of vocabulary is in constant
    ( ) and communicate in the English language as part of this colonial legacy." The guide focuses on inclusivity for the
    ( ) avoiding "colonial" phrases like "headquarters" and "people". It said the latter
    ( ) be, "the language of a colonising nation". It said English needs to change "in order to decolonise our ways
    ( ) disabled, the LGBTQIA+ community, migrants, refugees, and others. Suggested language changes include
    ( ) flux. The British charity Oxfam has issued a guide that further pushes for changes in how the language is
    ( ) of working and shift power". Oxfam has issued a 92-page "Inclusive Language Guide" to advise employees on the
    ( ) Oxfam was founded in 1942 to help alleviate global poverty. It now operates in more than 80 countries
    ( 1) The English language has been evolving for centuries, if not for millennia. Conversations from the Middle
    ( ) use of language "to support everyone to feel empowered to be inclusive in their work".
    ( ) used, especially by charity workers. Oxfam wants to "decolonise" English, which it considers to
    ( ) word could be viewed as being patriarchal as "it is often misunderstood as only referring to men".
    ( ) workers in former British colonies. Oxfam said: "This guide aims to support people who have to work
    ( ) worldwide. Its new guide recognises the reality that English is the dominant language used by charity

    Put the words in the right order

    1. language   evolving   The   has   centuries   .   English   for   been
    2. The   of   vocabulary   constant   flux   .   in   meaning   is
    3. used   .   the   in   language   Changes   is   how
    4. in   Change   order   decolonise   ways   .   our   to
    5. empowered   their   work   .   Feel   be   inclusive   to   in
    6. poverty   .   alleviate   global   help   Founded   to   in   1942
    7. dominant   used   the   English   charity   by   workers   .   language   is
    8. People   communicate   to   who   have   in   English   .
    9. disabled   .   guide   the   for   focuses   inclusivity   The   on
    10. be   latter   word   patriarchal   .   The   could   as   viewed

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The English language has been revolving / evolving for centuries, if not for millennia. Conversations from the Middle Ages would be almost unrecognisable today. In particularly / particular, the use and meaning of vocabulary is in constant flux / influx. The British charity Oxfam has issued the / a guide that further pushes / push for changes in how the language is used, especially by charity workers. Oxfam wants to "decolonise" English, which / what it considers to be, "the language of a colonising nation". It said English needs to change "in / on order to decolonise our ways of / to working and shift power". Oxfam has issued a 92-page "Inclusive Language Guide" to advise / advice employees on the use of language "to support everyone to feel empowered to be inclusive on / in their work".

    Oxfam was founded / floundered in 1942 to help alleviate globally / global poverty. It now operates in more than 80 countries worldwide. Its new guide recognises the realism / reality that English is the dominance / dominant language used by charity workers in firmer / former British colonies. Oxfam said: "This guide aims to support people who have to work and communicate in the English language as part of this colonial legacy / legality." The guide focuses on / of inclusivity for the disabled, the LGBTQIA+ community, migrants, refugees / refuges, and others. Suggested language changes include avoiding / evading "colonial" phrases like "headquarters" and "mankind". It said the latter word could be viewed as being patriarchal as "it is often misunderstood was / as only referring to men".

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_  _ngl_sh  l_ng__g_  h_s  b__n  _v_lv_ng  f_r  c_nt_r__s,  _f  n_t  f_r  m_ll_nn__.  C_nv_rs_t__ns  fr_m  th_  M_ddl_  _g_s  w__ld  b_  _lm_st  _nr_c_gn_s_bl_  t_d_y.  _n  p_rt_c_l_r,  th_  _s_  _nd  m__n_ng  _f  v_c_b_l_ry  _s  _n  c_nst_nt  fl_x.  Th_  Br_t_sh  ch_r_ty  _xf_m  h_s  _ss__d  _  g__d_  th_t  f_rth_r  p_sh_s  f_r  ch_ng_s  _n  h_w  th_  l_ng__g_  _s  _s_d,  _sp_c__lly  by  ch_r_ty  w_rk_rs.  _xf_m  w_nts  t_  "d_c_l_n_s_"  _ngl_sh,  wh_ch  _t  c_ns_d_rs  t_  b_,  "th_  l_ng__g_  _f  _  c_l_n_s_ng  n_t__n".  _t  s__d  _ngl_sh  n__ds  t_  ch_ng_  "_n  _rd_r  t_  d_c_l_n_s_  __r  w_ys  _f  w_rk_ng  _nd  sh_ft  p_w_r".  _xf_m  h_s  _ss__d  _  92-p_g_  "_ncl_s_v_  L_ng__g_  G__d_"  t_  _dv_s_  _mpl_y__s  _n  th_  _s_  _f  l_ng__g_  "t_  s_pp_rt  _v_ry_n_  t_  f__l  _mp_w_r_d  t_  b_  _ncl_s_v_  _n  th__r  w_rk".

    _xf_m  w_s  f__nd_d  _n  1942  t_  h_lp  _ll_v__t_  gl_b_l  p_v_rty.  _t  n_w  _p_r_t_s  _n  m_r_  th_n  80  c__ntr__s  w_rldw_d_.  _ts  n_w  g__d_  r_c_gn_s_s  th_  r__l_ty  th_t  _ngl_sh  _s  th_  d_m_n_nt  l_ng__g_  _s_d  by  ch_r_ty  w_rk_rs  _n  f_rm_r  Br_t_sh  c_l_n__s.  _xf_m  s__d:  "Th_s  g__d_  __ms  t_  s_pp_rt  p__pl_  wh_  h_v_  t_  w_rk  _nd  c_mm_n_c_t_  _n  th_  _ngl_sh  l_ng__g_  _s  p_rt  _f  th_s  c_l_n__l  l_g_cy."  Th_  g__d_  f_c_s_s  _n  _ncl_s_v_ty  f_r  th_  d_s_bl_d,  th_  LGBTQ__+  c_mm_n_ty,  m_gr_nts,  r_f_g__s,  _nd  _th_rs.  S_gg_st_d  l_ng__g_  ch_ng_s  _ncl_d_  _v__d_ng  "c_l_n__l"  phr_s_s  l_k_  "h__dq__rt_rs"  _nd  "m__nk_nd".  _t  s__d  th_  l_tt_r  w_rd  c__ld  b_  v__w_d  _s  b__ng  p_tr__rch_l  _s  "_t  _s  _ft_n  m_s_nd_rst__d  _s  _nly  r_f_rr_ng  t_  m_n".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the english language has been evolving for centuries if not for millennia conversations from the middle ages would be almost unrecognisable today in particular the use and meaning of vocabulary is in constant flux the british charity oxfam has issued a guide that further pushes for changes in how the language is used especially by charity workers oxfam wants to decolonise english which it considers to be the language of a colonising nation it said english needs to change in order to decolonise our ways of working and shift power oxfam has issued a 92page inclusive language guide to advise employees on the use of language to support everyone to feel empowered to be inclusive in their work

    oxfam was founded in 1942 to help alleviate global poverty it now operates in more than 80 countries worldwide its new guide recognises the reality that english is the dominant language used by charity workers in former british colonies oxfam said this guide aims to support people who have to work and communicate in the english language as part of this colonial legacy the guide focuses on inclusivity for the disabled the lgbtqia community migrants refugees and others suggested language changes include avoiding colonial phrases like headquarters and people it said the latter word could be viewed as being patriarchal as it is often misunderstood as only referring to men

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheEnglishlanguagehasbeenevolvingforcenturies,ifnotformillennia.
    ConversationsfromtheMiddleAgeswouldbealmostunrecognisableto
    day.Inparticular,theuseandmeaningofvocabularyisinconstantflux.T
    heBritishcharityOxfamhasissuedaguidethatfurtherpushesforchang
    esinhowthelanguageisused,especiallybycharityworkers.Oxfamwan
    tsto"decolonise"English,whichitconsiderstobe,"thelanguageofacolo
    nisingnation".ItsaidEnglishneedstochange"inordertodecoloniseour
    waysofworkingandshiftpower".Oxfamhasissueda92-page"Inclusi
    veLanguageGuide"toadviseemployeesontheuseoflanguage"tosupp
    orteveryonetofeelempoweredtobeinclusiveintheirwork".Oxfamwasf
    oundedin1942tohelpalleviateglobalpoverty.Itnowoperatesinmoret
    han80countriesworldwide.ItsnewguiderecognisestherealitythatEng
    lishisthedominantlanguageusedbycharityworkersinformerBritishcol
    onies.Oxfamsaid:"Thisguideaimstosupportpeoplewhohavetoworka
    ndcommunicateintheEnglishlanguageaspartofthiscoloniallegacy."T
    heguidefocusesoninclusivityforthedisabled,theLGBTQIA+communi
    ty,migrants,refugees,andothers.Suggestedlanguagechangesinclud
    eavoiding"colonial"phraseslike"headquarters"and"mankind".Itsaidth
    elatterwordcouldbeviewedasbeingpatriarchalas"itisoftenmisunders
    toodasonlyreferringtomen".

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    All language should be changed to promote equality and inclusiveness. Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    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. ENGLISH VOCABULARY: Make a poster about English vocabulary. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. CHANGE: Write a magazine article about changing English vocabulary to make it more inclusive. 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 English vocabulary. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on what words need to change. 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

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

    Back to the top

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You