The Reading / Listening - Army Recruits - Level 3

Australia will soon allow non-Australians into its army. People from countries such as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can apply to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problems getting people to sign up for its army. The government hopes that opening the army up to people from other countries will solve its recruitment problem. The ADF currently has a shortage of around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent residents in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will have their chance. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that in the future, people from more countries could join.

Mr Marles said his country was changing its recruitment policy for security reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because it is essential to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and beyond." A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: "We're being bold in order to grow the ADF. Recruiting from a wider pool of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full diversity of Australia, and is able to draw on the talents of [all] of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham disagreed with the policy. He said it showed government failure. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the confidence to sign up."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Army Recruits - Level 0 Army Recruits - Level 1   or  Army Recruits - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-06-04/adf-opens-its-ranks-non-citizens
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv22v0wg8v3o
  • https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-04/foreign-citizen-australian-defence-force-recruitment-opened/103931146


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. JOINING THE ARMY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about joining the army. 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?
       Australia / army / problems / recruitment / shortage / workers / chance / in the future
       security / challenges / next decade / diversity / talents / society / failure / confidence
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. MULTI-NATIONAL: Students A strongly believe multi-national armies are good; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. NATIONAL SECURITY: How can we deal with these national security issues? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Big a Problem

How To Deal with It

Dangerous neighbours

 

 

Cyber-security

 

 

Drugs

 

 

Terrorism

 

 

Religious tensions

 

 

Food security

 

 

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. DIVERSITY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "diversity". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the jobs which people from other countries should not do at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Soldier
  • Nurse
  • Spy
  • Judge
  • Police officer
  • President
  • Football player
  • Immigration officer

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. apply a. To ask for something, like a job, by filling out a form.
      2. solve b. Lasting or happening for a long time, or forever.
      3. recruitment c. To find an answer to a problem.
      4. currently d. Not enough of something we need.
      5. shortage e. The process of finding new people to join a company or organization.
      6. permanent f. Happening right now.
      7. residents g. People who live in a building, town or country.

    Paragraph 2

      8. policy h. Further than something.
      9. security i. A period of ten years.
      10. essential j. A set of rules or ideas about how to do something.
      11. decade k. Having many different kinds of people or things.
      12. beyond l. Being safe and protected.
      13. diversity m. Not being successful at doing something.
      14. failure n. Very important or necessary.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. British people can join Australia's army, but New Zealanders can't.     T / F
  2. It's easy for Australia to recruit people into its army.     T / F
  3. The Australian Defence Force needs more than 4,500 new workers.     T / F
  4. Canadians will be able to join the Australian Defence Force next year.     T / F
  5. Australia is allowing non-nationals to join its army for security reasons.   T / F
  6. The government is looking more than 10 years ahead.     T / F
  7. Australia wants an army that shows the nation's diversity.     T / F
  8. The opposition Foreign Minister said Australians didn't need to sign up.    T / F

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

  1. allow
  2. such as
  3. solve
  4. residents
  5. chance
  6. chosen
  7. essential
  8. pool
  9. talents
  10. confidence
  1. opportunity
  2. important
  3. citizens
  4. like
  5. skills
  6. supply
  7. opted
  8. let
  9. self-belief
  10. answer

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

  1. Australia will soon allow non-
  2. getting people to sign
  3. solve its recruitment
  4. permanent
  5. in the
  6. changing its recruitment
  7. meet the nation's security
  8. Recruiting from a wider
  9. reflects the full
  10. He said it showed government
  1. pool of people
  2. future
  3. up for its army
  4. policy
  5. diversity of Australia
  6. Australians into its army
  7. failure
  8. residents in Australia
  9. challenges
  10. problem

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
residents
up
such
future
shortage
chance
solve
apply

Australia will soon allow non-Australians into its army. People from countries (1) _____________________ as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can (2) _____________________ to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problems getting people to sign (3) _____________________ for its army. The government hopes that opening the army up to people from other countries will (4) _____________________ its recruitment problem. The ADF currently has a (5) _____________________ of around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent (6) _____________________ in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will have their (7) _____________________. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that in the (8) _____________________, people from more countries could join.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
decade
diversity
essential
disagreed
policy
failure
grow
talents

Mr Marles said his country was changing its recruitment (9) _____________________ for security reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because it is (10) _____________________ to meet the nation's security challenges through the next (11) _____________________ and beyond." A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: "We're being bold in order to (12) _____________________ the ADF. Recruiting from a wider pool of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full (13) _____________________ of Australia, and is able to draw on the (14) _____________________ of [all] of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham (15) _____________________ with the policy. He said it showed government (16) _____________________. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the confidence to sign up."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Australia will soon allow non-Australians ______
     a.  into its army
     b.  unto its army
     c.  onto its army
     d.  as to its army
2)  opening the army up to people from other countries will ______
     a.  shelve its recruitment
     b.  stove its recruitment
     c.  solve its recruitment
     d.  solution its recruitment
3)  From July, New Zealanders who are permanent residents in ______
     a.  Australia can applied
     b.  Australia can appliance
     c.  Australia can apply
     d.  Australia can applies
4)  Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will ______
     a.  have their chance
     b.  have their chants
     c.  have their charts
     d.  have their change
5)  in the future, people from more ______
     a.  countries could adjourn
     b.  countries could adjoin
     c.  countries could joint
     d.  countries could join

6)  Marles said his country was changing its recruitment policy ______
     a.  for security reason
     b.  for security raisons
     c.  for security reasons
     d.  for security reasoning
7)  Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because ______
     a.  it is essence
     b.  it is essentially
     c.  it is essentials
     d.  it is essential
8)  to meet the nation's security challenges through the next ______
     a.  decade and beyond
     b.  decade and behind
     c.  decade and bound
     d.  decade and be yonder
9)  help ensure the ADF reflects the full ______
     a.  diversify of Australia
     b.  diversity of Australia
     c.  adversity of Australia
     d.  university of Australia
10)  We should be seeing more Australians ______
     a.  with the confidants
     b.  with the confident
     c.  with the confidence
     d.  with the confidently

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Australia (1) ____________________ non-Australians into its army. People from countries such as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can (2) ____________________ the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problems getting people to (3) ____________________ its army. The government hopes that opening the army up to people from other countries will solve its recruitment problem. The ADF currently has (4) ____________________ around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent residents in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will (5) ____________________. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that in the future, people from more (6) ____________________.

Mr Marles said his country was changing its recruitment (7) ____________________ reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because (8) ____________________ to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and beyond." A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: "We're being (9) ____________________ to grow the ADF. Recruiting from a wider pool of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the (10) ____________________ Australia, and is able to draw on the talents of [all] of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham disagreed (11) ____________________. He said it showed government failure. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians (12) ____________________ to sign up."

Comprehension questions

  1. What is Australia having problems getting people to sign up for?
  2. How many workers does the Australian Defence Force (ADF) need?
  3. Which country's people will be the first to be allowed to join the ADF?
  4. When will Americans be able to join the Australian Defence Force?
  5. When might people from more countries be able to join Australia's army?
  6. What did Australia's Defence Minister say his country is changing?
  7. For how long is it essential for Australia to meet security challenges?
  8. What does Australia want to reflect by recruiting different people?
  9. What is Simon Birmingham's job?
  10. Who did Mr Birmingham say should be joining the army with confidence?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is Australia having problems getting people to sign up for?
a) a newsletter
b) its army
c) a job
d) voluntary work
2) How many workers does the Australian Defence Force (ADF) need?
a) more than 4,400
b) exactly 4,400
c) fewer than 4,400
d) around 4,400
3) Which country's people will be the first to be allowed to join the ADF?
a) New Zealand
b) Canada
c) the USA
d) the UK
4) When will New Zealanders be able to join the Australian Defence Force?
a) from September
b) from August
c) from July
d) from June
5) When might people from more countries be able to join Australia's army?
a) in two years' time
b) in the future
c) next week
d) soon

6) What did Australia's Defence Minister say his country is changing?
a) its tanks
b) its army uniforms
c) its recruitment policy
d) its mind
7) For how long is it essential for Australia to meet security challenges?
a) a century
b) 20 years
c) forever
d) a decade or more
8) What does Australia want to reflect by recruiting different people?
a) the full diversity of Australia
b) mirrors
c) the changing times
d) the sun's rays
9) What is Simon Birmingham's job?
a) opposition Foreign Minister
b) soldier
c) Prime Minister
d) army recruiter
10) Who did Mr Birmingham say should be joining the army with confidence?
a) Canadians
b) Australians
c) Brits
d) Kiwis

Role play

Role  A – Soldier
You think a soldier is the job someone from another country should never do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs are OK for non-nationals to do. Also, tell the others which is the best of these for a non-national (and why): spy, judge or immigration officer.

Role  B – Spy
You think a spy is the job someone from another country should never do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs are OK for non-nationals to do. Also, tell the others which is the best of these for a non-national (and why): soldier, judge or immigration officer.

Role  C – Judge
You think a judge is the job someone from another country should never do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs are OK for non-nationals to do. Also, tell the others which is the best of these for a non-national (and why): spy, soldier or immigration officer.

Role  D – Immigration Officer
You think an immigration officer is the job someone from another country should never do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs are OK for non-nationals to do. Also, tell the others which is the best of these for a non-national (and why): spy, judge or soldier.

After reading / listening

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

'army'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'country'.

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

    • such
    • problems
    • currently
    • around
    • chance
    • future
    • reasons
    • grow
    • beyond
    • pool
    • society
    • seeing

    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 - Army Recruits

    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 'army'?
    3. What's good about a country's army being multi-national?
    4. Would you think about a career in the army?
    5. Why do you think Australia is having problems recruiting staff?
    6. Does every country in the world need an army?
    7. What would a world be like without armies?
    8. What's the army in your country like?
    9. Why does Australia need an army?
    10. How can Australia recruit more people?

    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 'country'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What security issues are there in your country?
    5. What do you think of your country's army?
    6. Should armies be as diverse as possible?
    7. What do you think of army uniforms?
    8. How is technology changing the role of armies?
    9. What do you think cyber wars will look like?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Australia's leader?

    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)

    Australia will soon (1) ____ non-Australians into its army. People from countries such as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can apply (2) ____ join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problems getting people to sign up for its army. The government hopes that opening the army (3) ____ to people from other countries will solve its recruitment problem. The ADF currently has (4) ____ shortage of around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent (5) ____ in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will have their chance. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that (6) ____ the future, people from more countries could join.

    Mr Marles said his country was changing its recruitment (7) ____ for security reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has (8) ____ to grow the Australian Defence Force because it is essential to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and (9) ____." A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: "We're being bold in order to grow the ADF. Recruiting from a (10) ____ pool of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full diversity of Australia, and is able to (11) ____ on the talents of [all] of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham disagreed with the policy. He said it showed government failure. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the (12) ____ to sign up."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     bellow     (b)     wallow     (c)     allow     (d)     follow    
    2. (a)     to     (b)     for     (c)     by     (d)     at    
    3. (a)     up     (b)     in     (c)     of     (d)     down    
    4. (a)     a     (b)     an     (c)     so     (d)     the    
    5. (a)     residence     (b)     residential     (c)     resides     (d)     residents    
    6. (a)     by     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     in    
    7. (a)     policy     (b)     politics     (c)     police     (d)     polling    
    8. (a)     chooses     (b)     chose     (c)     choose     (d)     chosen    
    9. (a)     beyond     (b)     behind     (c)     beneath     (d)     behest    
    10. (a)     width     (b)     wider     (c)     widen     (d)     widest    
    11. (a)     paint     (b)     draw     (c)     sketch     (d)     brush    
    12. (a)     confidence     (b)     confidants     (c)     confidential     (d)     confides

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. New Zealand can pplay to join
    2. The mgneeonrvt hopes that
    3. solve its erirunmtcet problem
    4. The ADF currently has a tageosrh
    5. eempantnr residents
    6. Richard Marles said it was sloiesbp

    Paragraph 2

    1. yetsciur reasons
    2. because it is tseiaesln
    3. hegsnclela through the next decade
    4. reflects the full irysevidt of Australia
    5. He said it showed government aieflur
    6. with the iefccdonen to sign up

    Put the text back together

    (...)  all of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham disagreed with the policy. He said it showed
    (...)  their chance. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was
    (...)  to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and beyond." A Defence Ministry
    (...)  government failure. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the confidence to sign up."
    (...)  possible that in the future, people from more countries could join.
    (...)  people to sign up for its army. The government hopes that opening the army up to people from other countries will solve its
    (...)  residents in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will have
    (...)  as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can apply to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problems getting
    (...)  Mr Marles said his country was changing its recruitment policy for security
    1  ) Australia will soon allow non-Australians into its army. People from countries such
    (...)  recruitment problem. The ADF currently has a shortage of around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent
    (...)  spokesperson said: "We're being bold in order to grow the ADF. Recruiting from a wider pool of
    (...)  reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because it is essential
    (...)  people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full diversity of Australia, and is able to draw on the talents of

    Put the words in the right order

    1. will   Australia   allow   soon   its   non-Australians   army   .   into
    2. having   sign   people   getting   Australia's   problems   up   .   to
    3. from   to   people   other   countries   .   the   army   Opening
    4. has   of   4,400   currently   shortage   workers   .   It   a
    5. residents   apply   Australia   can   in   to   Permanent   join   .
    6. its   changing   reasons   .   security   for   policy   It's   recruitment
    7. security   challenges   .   nation's   essential   the   to   It's   meet
    8. a   wider   Recruiting   from   pool   of   people   .
    9. full   ADF   diversity   Australia   .   of   The   reflects   the
    10. Australians   the   to   confidence   More   sign   up   .   with

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Australia will soon allowed / allow non-Australians into its army. People from countries such as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can apply / applied to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problem / problems getting people to sign down / up for its army. The government hopes that opening the army up to people from another / other countries will solve its recruitment problem. The ADF currently has a short / shortage of around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent / permanence residents in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will have them / their chance. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that on / in the future, people from more countries able to / could join.

    Mr Marles said his country was changing / chancing its recruitment policy for security reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has chosen to / for grow the Australian Defence Force because it is / be essential to meet the nation's security challenges though / through the next decade and behind / beyond." A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: "We're being bold / bald in order to grow the ADF. Recruiting from a wider pool to / of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full diversity of Australia, and is able to draw on the talons / talents of [all] of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham disagreed with the / a policy. He said it showed government failure. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the confidence / confident to sign up."

    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)

    __str_l__  w_ll  s__n  _ll_w  n_n-__str_l__ns  _nt_  _ts  _rmy.  P__pl_  fr_m  c__ntr__s  s_ch  _s  th_  _K,  C_n_d_  _nd  N_w  Z__l_nd  c_n  _pply  t_  j__n  th_  __str_l__n  D_f_nc_  F_rc_  (_DF).  __str_l__  _s  h_v_ng  pr_bl_ms  g_tt_ng  p__pl_  t_  s_gn  _p  f_r  _ts  _rmy.  Th_  g_v_rnm_nt  h_p_s  th_t  _p_n_ng  th_  _rmy  _p  t_  p__pl_  fr_m  _th_r  c__ntr__s  w_ll  s_lv_  _ts  r_cr__tm_nt  pr_bl_m.  Th_  _DF  c_rr_ntly  h_s  _  sh_rt_g_  _f  _r__nd  4,400  w_rk_rs.  Fr_m  J_ly,  N_w  Z__l_nd_rs  wh_  _r_  p_rm_n_nt  r_s_d_nts  _n  __str_l__  c_n  _pply  t_  j__n.  N_xt  y__r,  th_s_  fr_m  th_  _K,  _S  _nd  C_n_d_  w_ll  h_v_  th__r  ch_nc_.  __str_l__'s  D_f_nc_  M_n_st_r,  R_ch_rd  M_rl_s,  s__d  _t  w_s  p_ss_bl_  th_t  _n  th_  f_t_r_,  p__pl_  fr_m  m_r_  c__ntr__s  c__ld  j__n.

    Mr  M_rl_s  s__d  h_s  c__ntry  w_s  ch_ng_ng  _ts  r_cr__tm_nt  p_l_cy  f_r  s_c_r_ty  r__s_ns.  H_  s__d:  "Th_  __str_l__n  G_v_rnm_nt  h_s  ch_s_n  t_  gr_w  th_  __str_l__n  D_f_nc_  F_rc_  b_c__s_  _t  _s  _ss_nt__l  t_  m__t  th_  n_t__n's  s_c_r_ty  ch_ll_ng_s  thr__gh  th_  n_xt  d_c_d_  _nd  b_y_nd."  _  D_f_nc_  M_n_stry  sp_k_sp_rs_n  s__d:  "W_'r_  b__ng  b_ld  _n  _rd_r  t_  gr_w  th_  _DF.  R_cr__t_ng  fr_m  _  w_d_r  p__l  _f  p__pl_  w_ll  h_lp  _ns_r_  [th_  _DF]  r_fl_cts  th_  f_ll  d_v_rs_ty  _f  __str_l__,  _nd  _s  _bl_  t_  dr_w  _n  th_  t_l_nts  _f  [_ll]  _f  __str_l__n  s_c__ty."  _pp_s_t__n  F_r__gn  M_n_st_r  S_m_n  B_rm_ngh_m  d_s_gr__d  w_th  th_  p_l_cy.  H_  s__d  _t  sh_w_d  g_v_rnm_nt  f__l_r_.  H_  s__d:  "W_  sh__ld  b_  s___ng  m_r_  __str_l__ns  w_th  th_  c_nf_d_nc_  t_  s_gn  _p."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    australia will soon allow nonaustralians into its army people from countries such as the uk canada and new zealand can apply to join the australian defence force adf australia is having problems getting people to sign up for its army the government hopes that opening the army up to people from other countries will solve its recruitment problem the adf currently has a shortage of around 4400 workers from july new zealanders who are permanent residents in australia can apply to join next year those from the uk us and canada will have their chance australias defence minister richard marles said it was possible that in the future people from more countries could join

    mr marles said his country was changing its recruitment policy for security reasons he said the australian government has chosen to grow the australian defence force because it is essential to meet the nations security challenges through the next decade and beyond a defence ministry spokesperson said were being bold in order to grow the adf recruiting from a wider pool of people will help ensure the adf reflects the full diversity of australia and is able to draw on the talents of all of australian society opposition foreign minister simon birmingham disagreed with the policy he said it showed government failure he said we should be seeing more australians with the confidence to sign up

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Australiawillsoonallownon-Australiansintoitsarmy.Peoplefromcount
    riessuchastheUK,CanadaandNewZealandcanapplytojointheAustrali
    anDefenceForce(ADF).Australiaishavingproblemsgettingpeopletosi
    gnupforitsarmy.Thegovernmenthopesthatopeningthearmyuptopeo
    plefromothercountrieswillsolveitsrecruitmentproblem.TheADFcurre
    ntlyhasashortageofaround4,400workers.FromJuly,NewZealanders
    whoarepermanentresidentsinAustraliacanapplytojoin.Nextyear,tho
    sefromtheUK,USandCanadawillhavetheirchance.Australia'sDefence
    Minister,RichardMarles,saiditwaspossiblethatinthefuture,peoplefro
    mmorecountriescouldjoin.MrMarlessaidhiscountrywaschangingitsr
    ecruitmentpolicyforsecurityreasons.Hesaid:"TheAustralianGovern
    menthaschosentogrowtheAustralianDefenceForcebecauseitisessen
    tialtomeetthenation'ssecuritychallengesthroughthenextdecadeand
    beyond."ADefenceMinistryspokespersonsaid:"We'rebeingboldinord
    ertogrowtheADF.Recruitingfromawiderpoolofpeoplewillhelpensure[
    theADF]reflectsthefulldiversityofAustralia,andisabletodrawonthetal
    entsof[all]ofAustraliansociety."OppositionForeignMinisterSimonBir
    minghamdisagreedwiththepolicy.Hesaiditshowedgovernmentfailur
    e.Hesaid:"WeshouldbeseeingmoreAustralianswiththeconfidencetos
    ignup."

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    It's OK for non-nationals to join another country's army. 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. JOINING THE ARMY: Make a poster about joining the army. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. THE ARMY : Write a magazine article about everyone having to spend some time in the army. 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 joining the army. Ask him/her three questions about joining it. Give him/her three of your opinions on armies. 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.)

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You