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World mourns Nelson Mandela (8th December, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

South Africans and people from all over the world are mourning the death of Nelson Mandela. In South Africa, thousands of people gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to say goodbye to their country's first ever black president. They danced, sang, cried and prayed for the man they loved. Mr Mandela died aged 95 on Thursday after months of illness. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma broke the news of Mr Mandela's death in a late-night speech on TV. Mr Zuma said: "Our nation has lost its greatest son." Mr Mandela spent most of his life campaigning for equal rights in South Africa. He spent 27 years in jail before becoming South Africa's president in 1994.

Leaders from all over the world heaped praise on Mr Mandela. His long-time friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "God was so good to us in South Africa by giving us Nelson Mandela." US President Barack Obama said: "He achieved more than could be expected of any man. Today, he has gone home." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called him "a giant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration". He added: "Nelson Mandela showed what is possible for our world and within each one of us if we believe, dream and work together for justice and humanity." British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time. A great light has gone out in the world."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25252626
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/world-reacts-to-mandela-s-death-1.1617794#.UqFvFI3fOV8
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Mandelas-death-makes-global-headlines-20131206

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. NELSON MANDELA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Nelson Mandela. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

all over the world / mourning / say goodbye / prayed / illness / equal rights / jail / praise / long-time friend / achieved more / justice / down-to-earth / humanity / hero

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. EQUAL RIGHTS: How equal is your country? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good points	Bad points
Skin colour
Men / women
Straight / gay
Rich / poor
North / south
Religion

4. EQUALITY: Students A strongly believe all the world will have equality one day; Students B strongly believe this will never happen. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. REMEMBER: Rank these ways of remembering Nelson Mandela and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• a website

• a statue at the UN in New York

• a Nelson Mandela park

• an annual national holiday

• scholarships for children

• stamps and coins

• an international concert

• a special UN prize

6. HERO: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "hero". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	The article says thousands gathered in Cape Town to mourn Mandela.	T / F
b.	People danced, sang and prayed in the streets.	T / F
c.	South Africa's president told the world first about Mr Mandela's death.	T / F
d.	Nelson Mandela was in prison for more than 27 years.	T / F
e.	Archbishop Desmond Tutu thanked God for giving Mandela to S. Africa.	T / F
f.	Barack Obama said many people have achieved the same as Mandela.	T / F
g.	Ban Ki-moon said Nelson Mandela was very down-to-earth.	T / F
h.	David Cameron posted on Facebook that Mandela was a hero.	T / F

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

1.	mourning	a.	fairness
2.	gathered	b.	fighting
3.	illness	c.	tributes
4.	campaigning	d.	met
5.	jail	e.	hoped for
6.	praise	f.	grieving for
7.	expected	g.	all people
8.	justice	h.	sickness
9.	down-to-earth	i.	prison
10.	humanity	j.	level-headed

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

1.	people from all over the world	a.	over the world
2.	thousands of people gathered	b.	rights
3.	cried and prayed for	c.	giving us Nelson
4.	campaigning for equal	d.	in Johannesburg
5.	He spent	e.	are mourning
6.	Leaders from all	f.	each one of us
7.	God was so good to us in South Africa by	g.	out in the world
8.	a down-to-	h.	27 years in jail
9.	what is possible for our world and within	i.	earth human
10.	A great light has gone	j.	the man they loved

GAP FILL

South Africans and people from all over the world are (1) ____________ the death of Nelson Mandela. In South Africa, thousands of people (2) ____________ in Johannesburg and Soweto to say goodbye to their country's first ever black president. They danced, sang, cried and (3) ____________ for the man they loved. Mr Mandela died aged 95 on Thursday after months of (4) ____________. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma (5) ____________ the news of Mr Mandela's death in a late-night speech on TV. Mr Zuma said: "Our nation has lost its (6) ____________ son." Mr Mandela spent most of his life campaigning for equal (7) ____________ in South Africa. He spent 27 years in (8) ____________ before becoming South Africa's president in 1994.

illness
rights
gathered
broke
mourning
jail
greatest
prayed

Leaders from all over the world heaped (9) ____________ on Mr Mandela. His long-time friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "God was so (10) ____________ to us in South Africa by giving us Nelson Mandela." US President Barack Obama said: "He (11) ____________ more than could be expected of any man. Today, he has gone home." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called him "a (12) ____________ for justice and a down-to-(13) ____________ human inspiration". He added: "Nelson Mandela showed what is (14) ____________ for our world and within each one of us if we believe, dream and work (15) ____________ for justice and humanity." British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Nelson Mandela was a (16) ____________ of our time. A great light has gone out in the world."

achieved
together
good
earth
hero
praise
giant
possible

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	South Africans and people from all over the world ______
	a. are morning b. are mourning c. are morn in d. are mourned
2)	In South Africa, thousands of people ______
	a. gathers in Johannesburg b. gather in Johannesburg c. gathered in Johannesburg d. gathering in Johannesburg
3)	They danced, sang, cried and prayed for the ______
	a. man they loves b. man they loving c. man they loved d. man they lovely
4)	President Jacob Zuma broke the news of Mr Mandela's death in a ______
	a. late-night speech b. late-night speak c. late-night speeches d. late-night speaking
5)	Mr Mandela spent most of his life campaigning ______
	a. for equality rights b. for equal rights c. for equalling rights d. for equalled rights
6)	Leaders from all over the world heaped ______
	a. prise on Mr Mandela b. praise on Mr Mandela c. precis on Mr Mandela d. prize on Mr Mandela
7)	He achieved more than could be ______ man
	a. expected of any b. expectant of any c. expectedly of any d. expect of any
8)	Ban Ki-moon called him "a giant for justice and a ______ human inspiration"
	a. down-to-earth b. down-to-earthly c. down-to-earths d. down-to-earthed
9)	if we believe, dream and work together for justice and humanity
	a. for just is and b. for just and c. for justly and d. for justice and
10)	Nelson Mandela was a hero ______
	a. of our timely b. of our timed c. of our timing d. of our time

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

South Africans and people from all over the world are (1) ___________________ Nelson Mandela. In South Africa, thousands of (2) ___________________ Johannesburg and Soweto to say goodbye to their country's first ever black president. They danced, (3) ___________________ for the man they loved. Mr Mandela died aged 95 on Thursday after months of illness. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma (4) ___________________ Mr Mandela's death in a late-night speech on TV. Mr Zuma said: "Our nation has lost its greatest son." Mr Mandela spent most (5) ___________________ for equal rights in South Africa. He (6) ___________________ before becoming South Africa's president in 1994.

Leaders from all over the world (7) ___________________ Mr Mandela. His long-time friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "God was so good to us in South Africa by giving us Nelson Mandela." US President Barack Obama said: "He achieved more than (8) ___________________ any man. Today, he has gone home." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called him "a giant for justice and a (9) ___________________ inspiration". He added: "Nelson Mandela showed what is possible for our world (10) ___________________ one of us if we believe, dream and (11) ___________________ justice and humanity." British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time. A (12) ___________________ out in the world."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Which South African places does the article mention?
2.	What did people do besides dance, sing and cry?
3.	Who told the world first about Nelson Mandela's death?
4.	What did South Africa's president say the country had lost?
5.	When did Nelson Mandela become South Africa's president?
6.	What did world leaders heap on Nelson Mandela?
7.	What did Barack Obama say Nelson Mandela achieved?
8.	Who called Nelson Mandela a "giant for justice"?
9.	What did Ban Ki-moon say Nelson Mandela showed us?
10.	What did David Cameron call Nelson Mandela?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Which South African places does the article mention?	6.	What did world leaders heap on Nelson Mandela?
	a) Cape Town and Durban b) Johannesburg and Cape Town c) Durban and Soweto d) Soweto and Johannesburg		a) flowers b) good wishes c) praise d) tweets
2.	What did people do besides dance, sing and cry?	7.	What did Barack Obama say Nelson Mandela achieved?
	a) tweeted b) prayed c) sat d) talked		a) more than could be expected of any man b) a lot c) more than most people d) many things
3.	Who told the world first about Nelson Mandela's death?	8.	Who called Nelson Mandela a "giant for justice"?
	a) The UN Secretary-General b) Barack Obama c) Mr Mandela's wife d) South Africa's president		a) Archbishop Desmond Tutu b) Jacob Zuma c) Ban Ki-moon d) Barack Obama
4.	What did South Africa's president say the country had lost?	9.	What did Ban Ki-moon say Nelson Mandela showed us?
	a) an equal rights campaigner b) a former president c) it's greatest son d) its soul		a) justice b) what is possible c) equal rights d) down to earth
5.	When did Nelson Mandela become South Africa's president?	10.	What did David Cameron call Nelson Mandela?
	a) 1991 b) 1992 c) 1993 d) 1994		a) a hero b) Sir c) a time d) a bright light

ROLE PLAY

Role A – A Website

You think a website is the best way to remember Nelson Mandela. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that might not work with their ideas. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): stamps and coins, a worldwide holiday or a statue at the UN.

Role B – Stamps and coins

You think stamps and coins are the best way to remember Nelson Mandela. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that might not work with their ideas. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): a website, a worldwide holiday or a statue at the UN.

Role C – Worldwide holiday

You think a worldwide holiday is the best way to remember Nelson Mandela. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that might not work with their ideas. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): stamps and coins, a website or a statue at the UN.

Role D – A statue at the UN

You think a statue at the UN is the best way to remember Nelson Mandela. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that might not work with their ideas. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): stamps and coins, a worldwide holiday or a website.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

equal

right

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:

over
goodbye
95
news
son
27

long
good
more
giant
each
light

NELSON MANDELA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Nelson Mandela 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

NELSON MANDELA DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the name 'Nelson Mandela'?
c)	What can we learn from Nelson Mandela?
d)	What were you doing when you heard the news of Mandela's death?
e)	What are your earliest memories of Nelson Mandela?
f)	What is the best way for the world to remember Nelson Mandela?
g)	What do you know about Nelson Mandela's life in prison?
h)	What do you know about Nelson Mandela's fight against apartheid?
i)	Who is your greatest inspiration or biggest hero?
j)	What did Nelson Mandela change?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	How did reading this article make you feel?
b)	How great a person do you think Nelson Mandela was?
c)	What would your tribute be to Nelson Mandela?
d)	How will Nelson Mandela be remembered in history?
e)	What would the world be like if we all followed Nelson Mandela's example?
f)	What other world leaders are loved as much as Nelson Mandela?
g)	What did you like most about Nelson Mandela?
h)	Why was Mr Mandela awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
i)	Nelson Mandela said: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Do you agree?
j)	What questions would you like to have asked Nelson Mandela?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

South Africans and people from (1) ____ over the world are mourning the death of Nelson Mandela. In South Africa, thousands of people (2) ____ in Johannesburg and Soweto to say goodbye to their country's first ever black president. They danced, sang, cried and (3) ____ for the man they loved. Mr Mandela died aged 95 on Thursday after months of illness. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma (4) ____ the news of Mr Mandela's death in a late-night speech on TV. Mr Zuma said: "Our nation has (5) ____ its greatest son." Mr Mandela spent most of his life campaigning for (6) ____ rights in South Africa. He spent 27 years in jail before becoming South Africa's president in 1994.

Leaders from all over the world heaped (7) ____ on Mr Mandela. His long-time friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "God was so good to us in South Africa by (8) ____ us Nelson Mandela." US President Barack Obama said: "He achieved more than could be (9) ____ of any man. Today, he has gone home." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called him "a giant for justice and a (10) ____-to-earth human inspiration". He added: "Nelson Mandela showed what is possible for our world and (11) ____ each one of us if we believe, dream and work together for justice and humanity." British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time. A great light has (12) ____ out in the world."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	where	(b)	all	(c)	totally	(d)	every
2.	(a)	gathers	(b)	gathered	(c)	gathering	(d)	gather
3.	(a)	praying	(b)	prayers	(c)	prayer	(d)	prayed
4.	(a)	cut	(b)	broke	(c)	burst	(d)	divided
5.	(a)	loses	(b)	lost	(c)	losing	(d)	lose
6.	(a)	equality	(b)	equals	(c)	equal	(d)	equalled
7.	(a)	applause	(b)	tribute	(c)	praise	(d)	devotion
8.	(a)	given	(b)	gives	(c)	giving	(d)	gave
9.	(a)	hope	(b)	prepared	(c)	looked	(d)	expected
10.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	up	(d)	down
11.	(a)	within	(b)	wither	(c)	without	(d)	with
12.	(a)	been	(b)	going	(c)	gone	(d)	went

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	gniormnu the death of Nelson Mandela
2.	thousands of people hredaetg in Johannesburg
3.	deapyr for the man they loved
4.	after months of elnsils
5.	Mr Mandela spent most of his life aciagngmpni
6.	aquel rights
Paragraph 2
7.	heaped aserpi on Mr Mandela
8.	He vadieech more
9.	be xpdetcee of any man
10.	a down-to-earth human snpationiri
11.	Mandela showed what is eossplbi
12.	work together for icjtuse and humanity

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time. A great light has gone out in the world."
( 1 )	South Africans and people from all over the world are mourning the death
( )	man. Today, he has gone home." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called him "a giant for justice and a down-to-
( )	campaigning for equal rights in South Africa. He spent 27 years in jail before becoming South Africa's president in 1994.
( )	world and within each one of us if we believe, dream and work together for justice and humanity." British Prime
( )	Leaders from all over the world heaped praise on Mr Mandela. His long-
( )	President Jacob Zuma broke the news of Mr Mandela's death in a late-night speech on
( )	prayed for the man they loved. Mr Mandela died aged 95 on Thursday after months of illness. South Africa's
( )	earth human inspiration". He added: "Nelson Mandela showed what is possible for our
( )	goodbye to their country's first ever black president. They danced, sang, cried and
( )	time friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "God was so good to us in South Africa by giving
( )	TV. Mr Zuma said: "Our nation has lost its greatest son." Mr Mandela spent most of his life
( )	us Nelson Mandela." US President Barack Obama said: "He achieved more than could be expected of any
( )	of Nelson Mandela. In South Africa, thousands of people gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to say

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	the death People from all over the world are mourning.
2.	gathered Johannesburg Thousands people in of.
3.	president goodbye country's black Say their ever to first.
4.	Mr greatest has Zuma son" lost "Our said: . its nation
5.	spent campaigning most of Mr his Mandela life.
6.	us Africa was to South God good in so.
7.	than could be expected of any man He achieved more.
8.	possible Mandela for showed our what world is.
9.	humanity together for Dream justice and and work.
10.	great gone the A has in light out world.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

South Africans and people from all over the world are mourned / mourning the death of Nelson Mandela. In South Africa, thousands of people gathering / gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to say / speak goodbye to their country's first ever / every black president. They danced, sang / sung, cried and prayed for the man they loved. Mr Mandela died / dead aged 95 on Thursday after months of ill / illness. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma broke / broken the news of Mr Mandela's death in a late-night speech / speaking on TV. Mr Zuma said: "Our nation has lost its greatest son." Mr Mandela spent most of his life campaigning for equality / equal rights in South Africa. He spent 27 years in jail before becoming South Africa's president in 1994.

Leaders from all over the world heaped / helped praise on Mr Mandela. His long-time friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu said: "God was such / so good to us in South Africa by given / giving us Nelson Mandela." US President Barack Obama said: "He achieved more than could be expecting / expected of any man. Today, he has gone homeward / home." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called him "a giant / grant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration / inspiring". He added: "Nelson Mandela showed what is possibility / possible for our world and within each one of us if we believe, dream and work together for justice and human / humanity." British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time. A great light has gone in / out in the world."

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

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

S__th _fr_c_ns _nd p__pl_ fr_m _ll _v_r th_ w_rld _r_ m__rn_ng th_ d__th _f N_ls_n M_nd_l_. _n S__th _fr_c_, th__s_nds _f p__pl_ g_th_r_d _n J_h_nn_sb_rg _nd S_w_t_ t_ s_y g__dby_ t_ th__r c__ntry's f_rst _v_r bl_ck pr_s_d_nt. Th_y d_nc_d, s_ng, cr__d _nd pr_y_d f_r th_ m_n th_y l_v_d. Mr M_nd_l_ d__d _g_d 95 _n Th_rsd_y _ft_r m_nths _f _lln_ss. S__th _fr_c_'s Pr_s_d_nt J_c_b Z_m_ br_k_ th_ n_ws _f Mr M_nd_l_'s d__th _n _ l_t_-n_ght sp__ch _n TV. Mr Z_m_ s__d: "__r n_t__n h_s l_st _ts gr__t_st s_n." Mr M_nd_l_ sp_nt m_st _f h_s l_f_ c_mp__gn_ng f_r _q__l r_ghts _n S__th _fr_c_. H_ sp_nt 27 y__rs _n j__l b_f_r_ b_c_m_ng S__th _fr_c_'s pr_s_d_nt _n 1994.

L__d_rs fr_m _ll _v_r th_ w_rld h__p_d pr__s_ _n Mr M_nd_l_. H_s l_ng-t_m_ fr__nd _rchb_sh_p D_sm_nd T_t_ s__d: "G_d w_s s_ g__d t_ _s _n S__th _fr_c_ by g_v_ng _s N_ls_n M_nd_l_." _S Pr_s_d_nt B_r_ck _b_m_ s__d: "H_ _ch__v_d m_r_ th_n c__ld b_ _xp_ct_d _f _ny m_n. T_d_y, h_ h_s g_n_ h_m_." _N S_cr_t_ry-G_n_r_l B_n K_-m__n c_ll_d h_m "_ g__nt f_r j_st_c_ _nd _ d_wn-t_-__rth h_m_n _nsp_r_t__n". H_ _dd_d: "N_ls_n M_nd_l_ sh_w_d wh_t _s p_ss_bl_ f_r __r w_rld _nd w_th_n __ch _n_ _f _s _f w_ b_l__v_, dr__m _nd w_rk t_g_th_r f_r j_st_c_ _nd h_m_n_ty." Br_t_sh Pr_m_ M_n_st_r D_v_d C_m_r_n tw__t_d: "N_ls_n M_nd_l_ w_s _ h_r_ _f __r t_m_. _ gr__t l_ght h_s g_n_ __t _n th_ w_rld."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

south africans and people from all over the world are mourning the death of nelson mandela in south africa thousands of people gathered in johannesburg and soweto to say goodbye to their country's first ever black president they danced sang cried and prayed for the man they loved mr mandela died aged 95 on thursday after months of illness south africa's president jacob zuma broke the news of mr mandela's death in a late-night speech on tv mr zuma said "our nation has lost its greatest son" mr mandela spent most of his life campaigning for equal rights in south africa he spent 27 years in jail before becoming south africa's president in 1994

leaders from all over the world heaped praise on mr mandela his long-time friend archbishop desmond tutu said "god was so good to us in south africa by giving us nelson mandela" us president barack obama said "he achieved more than could be expected of any man today he has gone home" un secretary-general ban ki-moon called him "a giant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration" he added "nelson mandela showed what is possible for our world and within each one of us if we believe dream and work together for justice and humanity" british prime minister david cameron tweeted "nelson mandela was a hero of our time a great light has gone out in the world"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

SouthAfricansandpeoplefromallovertheworldaremourningthedeathofNelsonM
andela.InSouthAfrica,thousandsofpeoplegatheredinJohannesburgandSoweto
tosaygoodbyetotheircountry'sfirsteverblackpresident.Theydanced,sang,cried
andprayedforthemantheyloved.MrMandeladiedaged95onThursdayaftermont
hsofillness.SouthAfrica'sPresidentJacobZumabrokethenewsofMrMandela'sde
athinalatenightspeechonTV.MrZumasaid:"Ournationhaslostitsgreatestson."M
rMandelaspentmostofhislifecampaigningforequalrightsinSouthAfrica.Hespent
27yearsinjailbeforebecomingSouthAfrica'spresidentin1994.Leadersfromallov
ertheworldheapedpraiseonMrMandela.Hislong-timefriendArchbishopDes
mondTutusaid:"GodwassogoodtousinSouthAfricabygivingusNelsonMandela."
USPresidentBarackObamasaid:"Heachievedmorethancouldbeexpectedofany
man.Today,hehasgonehome."UNSecretary-GeneralBanKi-mooncalled
him"agiantforjusticeandadown-to-earthhumaninspiration".Headded:"Nelson
Mandelashowedwhatispossibleforourworldandwithineachoneofusifwebelieve,
dreamandworktogetherforjusticeandhumanity."BritishPrimeMinisterDavidCa
merontweeted:"NelsonMandelawasaheroofourtime.Agreatlighthasgoneoutin
theworld."

FREE WRITING

Write about Nelson Mandela for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Nelson Mandela was the greatest person of the 20th century. 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 Nelson Mandela. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORY: Make a poster about South Africa's recent history. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. NELSON MANDELA: Write a magazine article about Nelson Mandela. Include imaginary interviews with people who worked closely with him.

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 Nelson Mandela. Ask him/her three questions about Nelson Mandela. Give him/her three of your opinions on him. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	mourning	a.	grieving for
2.	gathered	b.	met
3.	illness	c.	sickness
4.	campaigning	d.	fighting
5.	jail	e.	prison
6.	praise	f.	tributes
7.	expected	g.	hoped for
8.	justice	h.	fairness
9.	down-to-earth	i.	level-headed
10.	humanity	j.	all people

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Johannesburg and Soweto
2.	They prayed
3.	Jacob Zuma
4.	Its "greatest son"
5.	1994
6.	Praise
7.	More than could be expected of any man
8.	Ban Ki-moon
9.	What is possible
10.	A hero of our time

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

d

4.

c

5.

d

6.

c

7.

a

8.

c

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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World mourns Nelson Mandela (8th December, 2014)

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