The Reading / Listening - Asylum Seekers - Level 6

The UK's immigration minister Robert Jenrick is at the centre of a storm for ordering the removal of children's cartoons from the wall of an asylum centre. News agencies say Mr Jenrick instructed staff at the Kent Intake Unit to remove murals of Disney characters that were there to soothe asylum-seeking children. The Unit looks after and processes child migrants who are unaccompanied by parents. The BBC said Jenrick reportedly believed the art sent a message that the UK was "too welcoming". A government spokesperson said: "Our priority is to stop the boats and disrupt the people smugglers." One of the UK government's top five priorities is to stop the arrival of asylum seekers on "small boats".

British artists have responded to the removal of the art by offering their services to redecorate the Unit. The celebrated British illustrator and cartoonist Guy Venables has enlisted other high-profile artists to create works of art that are welcoming for highly distressed child refugees. Mr Venables told The Art Newspaper: "I've offered to repaint the mural…in the refugee centre." Venables was "baffled" that the original murals were painted over. He called it a "display of astonishing, pointless cruelty". He said his artwork might make Jenrick "think twice about vandalising several professional national cartoonists' work just to deny a vulnerable child something fun to look at."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Asylum Seekers - Level 4  or  Asylum Seekers - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/07/06/leading-uk-artists-offer-to-create-murals-in-refugee-detention-centres-after-government-minister-orders-staff-to-destroy-welcoming-artwork
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66132158
  • https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jul/07/robert-jenrick-has-cartoon-murals-painted-over-at-childrens-asylum-centre


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. CHILD ASYLUM SEEKERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about child asylum seekers. 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?
       immigration / storm / cartoon / asylum / murals / soothe / processes / art / smugglers
       artists / illustrator / refugees / baffled / pointless / cruelty / think twice / vulnerable
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. OPEN BORDERS: Students A strongly believe there should be open borders for children seeking refuge; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. REFUGEES: What do you know about these countries? How can we help refugees from them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

How To Help

Syria

 

 

Afghanistan

 

 

Ukraine

 

 

South Sudan

 

 

Myanmar

 

 

Congo

 

 
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. IMMIGRATION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "immigration". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ART: Rank these with your partner. Put the best kinds of art at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Cartoons
  • Graffiti
  • Manga
  • Pop art
  • Photographs
  • Oil paintings
  • Architecture
  • Installation art

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. immigration a. Told or ordered someone to do something, especially in a formal or official way.
      2. instructed b. Gently calm a person or their feelings.
      3. mural c. The action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.
      4. soothe d. A thing that is regarded as more important than others.
      5. unaccompanied e. Having no companion or escort.
      6. priority f. A person who moves goods and people illegally into or out of a country.
      7. smuggler g. A painting or other work of art painted directly on a wall.

    Paragraph 2

      8. celebrated h. Exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
      9. enlisted i. Totally confused, bewildered or perplexed.
      10. distressed j. Deliberately destroying or damaging public or private property.
      11. baffled k. Greatly admired; renowned.
      12. vandalising l. Engaged or got a person or their help or support.
      13. deny m. Refuse to give something requested or desired to someone.
      14. vulnerable n. Suffering from extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The UK immigration minister removed refugees from an asylum centre.   T / F
  2. The children at the asylum centre are there without their parents.     T / F
  3. Robert Jenrick said the UK is a very welcoming country.     T / F
  4. The UK's top priority is to stop refugee boats.     T / F
  5. British artists have repainted the asylum centre.     T / F
  6. A UK artist couldn't understand why the Disney paintings were erased.   T / F
  7. The artist said it was cruel to remove the Disney paintings.     T / F
  8. The artist said Robert Jenrick needed to think three times.     T / F

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

  1. storm
  2. removal
  3. instructed
  4. soothe
  5. priority
  6. responded
  7. celebrated
  8. baffled
  9. cruelty
  10. vulnerable
  1. replied
  2. calm
  3. puzzled
  4. helpless
  5. erasure
  6. callousness
  7. prime concern
  8. controversy
  9. admired
  10. ordered

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

  1. The UK's immigration
  2. at the centre
  3. child migrants who are unaccompanied
  4. the art sent a message that the UK was
  5. One of the UK government's
  6. I've offered to repaint
  7. Venables was
  8. He called it a display of astonishing,
  9. think twice about
  10. deny a vulnerable
  1. vandalising
  2. baffled
  3. top five priorities
  4. child
  5. of a storm
  6. "too welcoming"
  7. the mural
  8. minister
  9. pointless cruelty
  10. by parents

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
murals
processes
priorities
storm
smugglers
soothe
instructed
message

The UK's immigration minister Robert Jenrick is at the centre of a (1) _____________________ for ordering the removal of children's cartoons from the wall of an asylum centre. News agencies say Mr Jenrick (2) _____________________ staff at the Kent Intake Unit to remove (3) _____________________ of Disney characters that were there to (4) _____________________ asylum-seeking children. The Unit looks after and (5) _____________________ child migrants who are unaccompanied by parents. The BBC said Jenrick reportedly believed the art sent a (6) _____________________ that the UK was "too welcoming". A government spokesperson said: "Our priority is to stop the boats and disrupt the people (7) _____________________." One of the UK government's top five (8) _____________________ is to stop the arrival of asylum seekers on "small boats".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
twice
responded
distressed
astonishing
redecorate
deny
baffled
art

British artists have (9) _____________________ to the removal of the art by offering their services to (10) _____________________ the Unit. The celebrated British illustrator and cartoonist Guy Venables has enlisted other high-profile artists to create works of (11) _____________________ that are welcoming for highly (12) _____________________ child refugees. Mr Venables told The Art Newspaper: "I've offered to repaint the mural…in the refugee centre." Venables was "(13) _____________________" that the original murals were painted over. He called it a "display of (14) _____________________, pointless cruelty". He said his artwork might make Jenrick "think (15) _____________________ about vandalising several professional national cartoonists' work just to (16) _____________________ a vulnerable child something fun to look at."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The UK's immigration minister Robert Jenrick is at the centre ______
     a.  of ace storm
     b.  of ayes storm
     c.  of a storm
     d.  offer storm
2)  remove murals of Disney characters that were ______
     a.  there to soothe
     b.  there to enthuse
     c.  there tooth ooze
     d.  there to smooth
3)  The BBC said Jenrick reportedly believed the art sent a message that the UK ______
     a.  was truly welcoming
     b.  was to welcoming
     c.  was too welcoming
     d.  was two welcoming
4)  Our priority is to stop the boats and disrupt ______
     a.  the people snuggles
     b.  the people stragglers
     c.  the people smug glows
     d.  the people smugglers
5)  One of the UK government's top five priorities is to stop the arrival ______
     a.  off asylum seekers
     b.  of asylum sneakers
     c.  of asylum seek hers
     d.  off asylum seeks

6)  The celebrated British illustrator and cartoonist Guy Venables has enlisted other ______
     a.  high-profile artists
     b.  high-profile artist
     c.  low pre-file artists
     d.  low prof aisle artists
7)  create works of art that are welcoming for highly ______
     a.  distrust child refugees
     b.  distressed child refugees
     c.  distrusted child refugees
     d.  these stressed child refugees
8)  He called it a display of ______
     a.  astonish shin, pointless cruelty
     b.  astonishing, pointless cruelty
     c.  astonishing, point less cruelty
     d.  astonishing, pointless cruelly
9)  He said his artwork might make ______
     a.  Jenrick think thighs
     b.  Jenrick think twits
     c.  Jenrick think twice
     d.  Jenrick think thrice
10)  vandalising several professional national cartoonists' work just to deny ______
     a.  a vulnerable child
     b.  avail enable child
     c.  a venerable child
     d.  a vulnerability child

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The UK's immigration minister Robert Jenrick is at the centre of (1) ____________________ ordering the removal of children's cartoons from the wall of an asylum centre. News agencies say Mr Jenrick instructed staff at the Kent Intake Unit (2) ____________________ of Disney characters that were there to (3) ____________________ children. The Unit looks after and processes child migrants who (4) ____________________ parents. The BBC said Jenrick reportedly believed the art sent a message that the UK was "too welcoming". A government spokesperson said: "Our priority is to stop the boats and disrupt (5) ____________________." One of the UK government's (6) ____________________ is to stop the arrival of asylum seekers on "small boats".

British artists (7) ____________________ the removal of the art by offering their services to redecorate the Unit. The celebrated British illustrator and cartoonist Guy Venables has enlisted (8) ____________________ artists to create works of art that are welcoming (9) ____________________ child refugees. Mr Venables told The Art Newspaper: "I've offered to repaint the mural…in the refugee centre." Venables (10) ____________________ the original murals were painted over. He called it a "display of (11) ____________________". He said his artwork might make Jenrick "think twice about vandalising several professional national cartoonists' work (12) ____________________ a vulnerable child something fun to look at."

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the UK's immigration minister at the centre of?
  2. Who were the paintings intended to soothe?
  3. Who were the children unaccompanied by?
  4. What was Jenrick worried the art might make the UK look?
  5. What is one of the UK government's top five priorities?
  6. Who is Guy Venables?
  7. Which newspaper did Guy Venables talk to?
  8. How did Venables feel that the original murals were painted over?
  9. How many times might Jenrick think about vandalizing artwork?
  10. Who would vandalising artwork deny something fun to look at?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What is the UK's immigration minister at the centre of?
a) a boat
b) a storm
c) a government
d) a refugee centre
2) Who were the paintings intended to soothe?
a) refugee centre workers
b) Robert Jenrick
c) the artists
d) asylum-seeking children
3) Who were the children unaccompanied by?
a) the police
b) border patrol officers
c) their parents
d) their friends
4) What was Jenrick worried the art might make the UK look?
a) too welcoming
b) cruel
c) closed
d) uncaring
5) What is one of the UK government's top five priorities?
a) build more asylum centres
b) stopping asylum seekers
c) to give the children citizenship
d) to help asylum seekers

6) Who is Guy Venables?
a) a British illustrator and cartoonist
b) a border patrol officer
c) an artist
d) a journalist
7) Which newspaper did Guy Venables talk to?
a) The Daily Refugee
b) The Times
c) The Art Newspaper
d) The Migrant Times
8) How did Venables feel that the original murals were painted over?
a) baffled
b) waffled
c) ruffled
d) muffled
9) How many times might Jenrick think about vandalizing artwork?
a) 4
b) 3
c) 2
d) 1
10) Who would vandalising artwork deny something fun to look at?
a) the centre staff
b) Robert Jenrick
c) a vulnerable child
d) a poor artist

Role play

Role  A – Cartoons
You think cartoons are the best form of art. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): photographs, graffiti or oil paintings.

Role  B – Photographs
You think photographs are the best form of art. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): cartoons, graffiti or oil paintings.

Role  C – Graffiti
You think graffiti is the best form of art. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): photographs, cartoons or oil paintings.

Role  D – Oil Paintings
You think oil paintings are the best form of art. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): photographs, graffiti or cartoons.

After reading / listening

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

'immigration'

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

    • and 'asylum'.

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

    • • 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:

    • centre
    • wall
    • soothe
    • processes
    • message
    • five
    • services
    • works
    • offered
    • display
    • twice
    • deny

    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 - Asylum Seekers

    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 'cartoons'?
    3. What do you think of immigration?
    4. What do you know about immigration in the UK?
    5. What do you think of the removal of the cartoons?
    6. What do you think Robert Jenrick thinks of asylum seekers?
    7. Do you think a lack of cartoons will deter asylum seekers?
    8. How can we stop people smugglers?
    9. How can we help asylum seekers?
    10. What advice do you have for Robert Jenrick?

    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 'asylum'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What is your country's immigration policy?
    5. What do you think of the response of the British artists?
    6. What would help highly distressed child refugees?
    7. Do you think removing the art was 'pointless cruelty'?
    8. Should the cartoonists create a new mural at the asylum centre?
    9. What is your message to the refugees?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Robert Jenrick?

    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 UK's immigration (1) ____ Robert Jenrick is at the centre of a storm for ordering the removal of children's cartoons from the wall of an asylum centre. News agencies say Mr Jenrick (2) ____ staff at the Kent Intake Unit to remove murals of Disney characters that were there to (3) ____ asylum-seeking children. The Unit looks after and processes child migrants who are unaccompanied (4) ____ parents. The BBC said Jenrick reportedly believed the art sent a message that the UK was "too welcoming". A government spokesperson said: "Our priority is to stop the boats and (5) ____ the people smugglers." One of the UK government's top five (6) ____ is to stop the arrival of asylum seekers on "small boats".

    British artists have responded to the removal (7) ____ the art by offering their services to redecorate the Unit. The celebrated British illustrator and cartoonist Guy Venables has enlisted (8) ____ high-profile artists to create works of art that are welcoming for (9) ____ distressed child refugees. Mr Venables told The Art Newspaper: "I've offered to repaint the mural…in the refugee centre." Venables was "(10) ____" that the original murals were painted over. He called it a "display of astonishing, pointless (11) ____ ". He said his artwork might make Jenrick "think twice about vandalising several professional national cartoonists' work just to (12) ____ a vulnerable child something fun to look at."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     ministry     (b)     minster     (c)     minister     (d)     monster    
    2. (a)     instructed     (b)     insulted     (c)     instilled     (d)     insulated    
    3. (a)     soothe     (b)     booth     (c)     mooch     (d)     prove    
    4. (a)     by     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    5. (a)     concept     (b)     abrupt     (c)     interpret     (d)     disrupt    
    6. (a)     prioritise     (b)     priories     (c)     pyrotechnics     (d)     priorities    
    7. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     on    
    8. (a)     others     (b)     another     (c)     otherly     (d)     other    
    9. (a)     highly     (b)     height     (c)     highs     (d)     heighten    
    10. (a)     buffed     (b)     baffled     (c)     biffed     (d)     battled    
    11. (a)     cruelly     (b)     cruelty     (c)     cruel     (d)     cruelty-free    
    12. (a)     deny     (b)     defy     (c)     delay     (d)     decry

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The UK's oiagrnitmmi minister
    2. Mr Jenrick ttensicdur staff
    3. hotoes asylum-seeking children
    4. looks after and processes child gntraism
    5. niocdacpanume by parents
    6. Our rtyiirop is to stop the boats

    Paragraph 2

    1. The celebrated British rsottlirlua and cartoonist
    2. I've offered to repaint the rlamu
    3. Venables was febflda
    4. a display of astonishing, pointless tuyrcle
    5. think twice about avidgiansnl
    6. just to deny a velaulnreb child

    Put the text back together

    (  1  ) The UK's immigration minister Robert Jenrick is at the centre of a storm for ordering the removal
    (...)  of children's cartoons from the wall of an asylum centre. News agencies say Mr Jenrick instructed staff
    (...)  parents. The BBC said Jenrick reportedly believed the art sent a message that the UK was "too
    (...)  cruelty". He said his artwork might make Jenrick "think twice about vandalising several professional national
    (...)  welcoming". A government spokesperson said: "Our priority is to stop the boats and disrupt the people
    (...)  profile artists to create works of art that are welcoming for highly distressed child refugees. Mr Venables told
    (...)  British artists have responded to the removal of the art by offering their services to
    (...)  redecorate the Unit. The celebrated British illustrator and cartoonist Guy Venables has enlisted other high-
    (...)  smugglers." One of the UK government's top five priorities is to stop the arrival of asylum seekers on "small boats".
    (...)  cartoonists' work just to deny a vulnerable child something fun to look at."
    (...)  "baffled" that the original murals were painted over. He called it a "display of astonishing, pointless
    (...)  seeking children. The Unit looks after and processes child migrants who are unaccompanied by
    (...)  at the Kent Intake Unit to remove murals of Disney characters that were there to soothe asylum-
    (...)  The Art Newspaper: "I've offered to repaint the mural…in the refugee centre." Venables was

    Put the words in the right order

    1. is   Jenrick   of   centre   storm   .   the   at   a
    2. to   children  .  Disney  soothe  characters   asylum-seeking  there
    3. by   are   who   migrants   unaccompanied   Child   parents   .
    4. the   is   Our   to   stop   priority   boats   .
    5. UK   One   priorities   .   top   the   of   five   government's
    6. removal   .   have   to   British   artists   responded   the
    7. works   welcoming   refugees   .   are   child   for   that   Art
    8. murals   were   original   painted   over   .   the   Baffled   that
    9. of   cruelty   .   astonishing,   pointless   is   display   a   It
    10. look   to   at   .   children   something   fun   vulnerable   Deny

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The UK's immigration ministry / minister Robert Jenrick is at the centre of a strop / storm for ordering the removal of children's cartoons from the wall of an asylum centre. News agencies say Mr Jenrick instructed / insulted staff at the Kent Intake Unit to / for remove murals of Disney characters that were there to soothe / smooth asylum-seeking children. The Unit looks after and processes child migrants who are unaccompanied / accompanied by parents. The BBC said Jenrick reportedly / reports believed the art sent a message that the UK was "too welcoming". A government spokesperson said: "Our priority is for / to stop the boats and disrupt the people smuggles / smugglers." One of the UK government's top five priorities are / is to stop the arrival of asylum seekers on "small boats".

    British artists have responded to / for the removal of the art by offering their services to redecorate the Unit. The celebrates / celebrated British illustrator and cartoonist Guy Venables has delisted / enlisted other high-profile artists to create works of / on art that are welcoming for highly / high distressed child refugees. Mr Venables told The Art Newspaper: "I've offered to repaint / repent the mural…in the refugee centre." Venables was "baffled" that the original murals were painted under / over. He called it a "display of astonishing, pointless cruelty / cruel". He said his artwork might make Jenrick "think double / twice about vandalising several professional national cartoonists' work just to deny / defy a vulnerable child something fun to look at."

    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_  _K's  _mm_gr_t__n  m_n_st_r  R_b_rt  J_nr_ck  _s  _t  th_  c_ntr_  _f  _  st_rm  f_r  _rd_r_ng  th_  r_m_v_l  _f  ch_ldr_n's  c_rt__ns  fr_m  th_  w_ll  _f  _n  _syl_m  c_ntr_.  N_ws  _g_nc__s  s_y  Mr  J_nr_ck  _nstr_ct_d  st_ff  _t  th_  K_nt  _nt_k_  _n_t  t_  r_m_v_  m_r_ls  _f  D_sn_y  ch_r_ct_rs  th_t  w_r_  th_r_  t_  s__th_  _syl_m-s__k_ng  ch_ldr_n.  Th_  _n_t  l__ks  _ft_r  _nd  pr_c_ss_s  ch_ld  m_gr_nts  wh_  _r_  _n_cc_mp_n__d  by  p_r_nts.  Th_  BBC  s__d  J_nr_ck  r_p_rt_dly  b_l__v_d  th_  _rt  s_nt  _  m_ss_g_  th_t  th_  _K  w_s  "t__  w_lc_m_ng".  _  g_v_rnm_nt  sp_k_sp_rs_n  s__d:  "__r  pr__r_ty  _s  t_  st_p  th_  b__ts  _nd  d_sr_pt  th_  p__pl_  sm_ggl_rs."  _n_  _f  th_  _K  g_v_rnm_nt's  t_p  f_v_  pr__r_t__s  _s  t_  st_p  th_  _rr_v_l  _f  _syl_m  s__k_rs  _n  "sm_ll  b__ts".

    Br_t_sh  _rt_sts  h_v_  r_sp_nd_d  t_  th_  r_m_v_l  _f  th_  _rt  by  _ff_r_ng  th__r  s_rv_c_s  t_  r_d_c_r_t_  th_  _n_t.  Th_  c_l_br_t_d  Br_t_sh  _ll_str_t_r  _nd  c_rt__n_st  G_y  V_n_bl_s  h_s  _nl_st_d  _th_r  h_gh-pr_f_l_  _rt_sts  t_  cr__t_  w_rks  _f  _rt  th_t  _r_  w_lc_m_ng  f_r  h_ghly  d_str_ss_d  ch_ld  r_f_g__s.  Mr  V_n_bl_s  t_ld  Th_  _rt  N_wsp_p_r:  "_'v_  _ff_r_d  t_  r_p__nt  th_  m_r_l…_n  th_  r_f_g__  c_ntr_."  V_n_bl_s  w_s  "b_ffl_d"  th_t  th_  _r_g_n_l  m_r_ls  w_r_  p__nt_d  _v_r.  H_  c_ll_d  _t  _  "d_spl_y  _f  _st_n_sh_ng,  p__ntl_ss  cr__lty".  H_  s__d  h_s  _rtw_rk  m_ght  m_k_  J_nr_ck  "th_nk  tw_c_  _b__t  v_nd_l_s_ng  s_v_r_l  pr_f_ss__n_l  n_t__n_l  c_rt__n_sts'  w_rk  j_st  t_  d_ny  _  v_ln_r_bl_  ch_ld  s_m_th_ng  f_n  t_  l__k  _t."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the uks immigration minister robert jenrick is at the centre of a storm for ordering the removal of childrens cartoons from the wall of an asylum centre news agencies say mr jenrick instructed staff at the kent intake unit to remove murals of disney characters that were there to soothe asylumseeking children the unit looks after and processes child migrants who are unaccompanied by parents the bbc said jenrick reportedly believed the art sent a message that the uk was too welcoming a government spokesperson said our priority is to stop the boats and disrupt the people smugglers one of the uk governments top five priorities is to stop the arrival of asylum seekers on small boats

    british artists have responded to the removal of the art by offering their services to redecorate the unit the celebrated british illustrator and cartoonist guy venables has enlisted other highprofile artists to create works of art that are welcoming for highly distressed child refugees mr venables told the art newspaper ive offered to repaint the muralin the refugee centre venables was baffled that the original murals were painted over he called it a display of astonishing pointless cruelty he said his artwork might make jenrick think twice about vandalising several professional national cartoonists work just to deny a vulnerable child something fun to look at

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheUK'simmigrationministerRobertJenrickisatthecentreofastormfo
    rorderingtheremovalofchildren'scartoonsfromthewallofanasylumce
    ntre.NewsagenciessayMrJenrickinstructedstaffattheKentIntakeUnit
    toremovemuralsofDisneycharactersthatweretheretosootheasylum-
    seekingchildren.TheUnitlooksafterandprocesseschildmigrantswhoa
    reunaccompaniedbyparents.TheBBCsaidJenrickreportedlybelievedt
    heartsentamessagethattheUKwas"toowelcoming".Agovernmentsp
    okespersonsaid:"Ourpriorityistostoptheboatsanddisruptthepeoples
    mugglers."OneoftheUKgovernment'stopfiveprioritiesistostopthearr
    ivalofasylumseekerson"smallboats".Britishartistshaverespondedto
    theremovaloftheartbyofferingtheirservicestoredecoratetheUnit.The
    celebratedBritishillustratorandcartoonistGuyVenableshasenlistedot
    herhigh-profileartiststocreateworksofartthatarewelcomingforhigh
    lydistressedchildrefugees.MrVenablestoldTheArtNewspaper:"I'veof
    feredtorepaintthemural…intherefugeecentre."Venableswas"baffled
    "thattheoriginalmuralswerepaintedover.Hecalledita"displayofaston
    ishing,pointlesscruelty".HesaidhisartworkmightmakeJenrick"thinkt
    wiceaboutvandalisingseveralprofessionalnationalcartoonists'workj
    usttodenyavulnerablechildsomethingfuntolookat."

    Free writing

    Write about child asylum seekers for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    No country should ever turn away child asylum seekers. 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. CHILD ASYLUM SEEKERS: Make a poster about child asylum seekers. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. OPEN BORDERS: Write a magazine article about making open borders for child asylum seekers. 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 child asylum seekers. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to help them. 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.)

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