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New prayer house for three religions (24th June, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A new project has started in Germany to build the world's first building where Christians, Jews and Muslims can pray. It is called the 'House of One'. The project's leaders hope it will open in 2016. They are asking people to donate money to help build it. The project will cost €43.5 million to finish. The idea started in 2009 after archaeologists in Berlin were digging and found the city's earliest church, called the Petrikirche. An architect called Wilfried Kuehn decided it would be a good idea to build a multi-religion building on the same site. Mr Kuehn said: "We quickly agreed that something visionary and forward-looking should be built on what is the founding site of Berlin."

The project's Jewish leader, Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin, said Berlin was the best place for the building because of what happened to millions of Jews during World War II. He said: "Berlin is the city of wounds and miracles. It is the city in which the extermination of the Jews was planned. Now, the first house in the world for three religions is to be built here." The Christian leader, Gregor Hohberg, agreed, saying: "Berlin is the city of the peaceful fall of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful coexistence of believers from different faiths." Muslim leader, Imam Kadir Sanci, hoped the building would let people from different religions understand each other better. He said: "We want our children to have a future in which diversity is the norm."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/welcome-to-berlins-house-of-one--a-church-synagogue-and-mosque-9507002.html
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/473515-germany-gets-first-multi-faith-prayer-site.html
http://freepressjournal.in/where-jews-christians-muslims-unite-in-prayer/

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. RELIGION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about religion. 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?

project / pray / hope / donate / archaeologists / digging / a good idea / building / site / leader / millions / wounds / miracles / peaceful / Berlin Wall / understand each other

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

3. RELIGIONS: What do you know about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What do you know?
Hinduism
Islam
Christianity
Buddhism
Judaism
Sikhism

4. PEACE: Students A strongly believe religion will bring peace to the world; Students B strongly believe it won't. 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. BUILDINGS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• place of prayer

• school

• police station

• government building

• Internet cafe

• airport

• shopping mall

• museum

6. CHURCH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "church". 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.	Three houses will be built in Berlin, one each for three major religions.	T / F
b.	The project will not be finished in the next five years.	T / F
c.	The building will be on the same site of Berlin's earliest church.	T / F
d.	An architect said Berlin needed a forward-looking building.	T / F
e.	A Jewish leader said Berlin wasn't such a good place for the building.	T / F
f.	The Jewish leader talked about the building and World War II.	T / F
g.	A Christian leader said Berlin was a city of peace.	T / F
h.	A Muslim leader said in the future diversity would be uncommon.	T / F

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

1.	project	a.	construct
2.	build	b.	religions
3.	donate	c.	place
4.	found	d.	occurred
5.	site	e.	venture
6.	happened	f.	difference
7.	extermination	g.	discovered
8.	fall	h.	give
9.	faiths	i.	collapse
10.	diversity	j.	killing

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

1.	where Christians, Jews	a.	were digging
2.	donate	b.	from different faiths
3.	archaeologists in Berlin	c.	looking should be built
4.	a multi-	d.	other better
5.	something visionary and forward-	e.	the norm
6.	what happened to millions of Jews	f.	money
7.	fall of the	g.	during World War II
8.	peaceful coexistence of believers	h.	religion building
9.	understand each	i.	Berlin Wall
10.	a future in which diversity is	j.	and Muslims can pray

GAP FILL

A new (1) ____________ has started in Germany to build the world's first building where Christians, Jews and Muslims can pray. It is called the 'House of One'. The project's (2) ____________ hope it will open in 2016. They are asking people to (3) ____________ money to help build it. The project will cost €43.5 million to finish. The idea started in 2009 after archaeologists in Berlin were (4) ____________ and found the city's (5) ____________ church, called the Petrikirche. An architect called Wilfried Kuehn decided it would be a good idea to build a (6) ____________ -religion building on the same site. Mr Kuehn said: "We quickly agreed that something (7) ____________ and forward-looking should be built on what is the founding (8) ____________ of Berlin."

earliest
donate
site
digging
project
multi
leaders
visionary

The project's Jewish leader, Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin, said Berlin was the best place for the building because of what (9) ____________ to millions of Jews during World War II. He said: "Berlin is the city of wounds and (10) ____________. It is the city in which the extermination of the Jews was (11) ____________. Now, the first house in the world for three religions is to be (12) ____________ here." The Christian leader, Gregor Hohberg, agreed, saying: "Berlin is the city of the (13) ____________ fall of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful coexistence of believers from different (14) ____________." Muslim leader, Imam Kadir Sanci, hoped the building would let people from different religions (15) ____________ each other better. He said: "We want our children to have a future in which diversity is the (16) ____________."

peaceful
planned
understand
happened
norm
built
miracles
faiths

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	the world's first building where Christians, Jews and Muslims ______
	a. can play b. can pray c. can prey d. can pry
2)	They are asking people to ______
	a. donates money b. donated money c. donate money d. donation money
3)	The idea started in 2009 after archaeologists in ______
	a. Berlin were digging in b. Berlin were digging c. Berlin were dig in d. Berlin were dig gin
4)	We quickly agreed that something visionary and forward-looking ______
	a. should be build b. should we build c. should be built d. should we built
5)	on what is the founding ______
	a. site of Berlin b. sight of Berlin c. cite of Berlin d. kite of Berlin
6)	He said: "Berlin is the city of wounds ______
	a. and miraculous b. and mirror calls c. and mere a calls d. and miracles
7)	Gregor Hohberg agreed, saying: "Berlin is the city of the peaceful ______ Berlin Wall…"
	a. falls of the b. fall of the c. falling of the d. fault of the
8)	the peaceful coexistence of believers from ______
	a. difference faiths b. different faiths c. difficult faiths d. the front faiths
9)	let people from different religions understand ______
	a. each others better b. each brother better c. each another better d. each other better
10)	We want our children to have a future in which diversity ______
	a. is the normal b. is the norm c. is the name d. is the north

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A new (1) ___________________ in Germany to build the world's first building where Christians, Jews and Muslims can pray. It is called the 'House of One'. The project's leaders (2) ___________________ in 2016. They are asking (3) ___________________ money to help build it. The project will cost €43.5 million to finish. The idea started in 2009 after archaeologists in Berlin were (4) ___________________ the city's earliest church, called the Petrikirche. An architect called Wilfried Kuehn decided it would be a good idea to build (5) ___________________ building on the same site. Mr Kuehn said: "We quickly agreed that something visionary and forward-looking should be built on what is (6) ___________________ of Berlin."

The project's Jewish leader, Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin, said Berlin was the best place for the building because (7) ___________________ to millions of Jews during World War II. He said: "Berlin is the city of (8) ___________________. It is the city in which the extermination of the Jews was planned. Now, the first house in the world (9) ___________________ is to be built here." The Christian leader, Gregor Hohberg, agreed, saying: "Berlin is the city of (10) ___________________ of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful coexistence of believers (11) ___________________." Muslim leader, Imam Kadir Sanci, hoped the building would let people from different religions understand each other better. He said: "We want our children to have a future in which (12) ___________________."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What will Muslims, Jews and Christians be able to do in the house?
2.	When could the house be open?
3.	How much will the house cost?
4.	What did archaeologists find?
5.	What is Wilfried Kuehn's job?
6.	What conflict did a Jewish leader mention?
7.	In what city was the extermination of the Jews planned?
8.	Who is Gregor Hohberg?
9.	What did the Muslim leader hope people from different religions do?
10.	What did the Muslim leader hope diversity would be in the future?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What will Muslims, Jews and Christians be able to do in the house?	6.	What conflict did a Jewish leader mention?
	a) play b) pray c) pry d) prey		a) Vietnam b) The 100-years war c) WWII d) WWI
2.	When could the house be open?	7.	In what city was the extermination of the Jews planned?
	a) 2019 b) 2018 c) 2017 d) 2016		a) Frankfurt b) Dusseldorf c) Munich d) Berlin
3.	How much will the house cost?	8.	Who is Gregor Hohberg?
	a) €43.5 million b) €45.3 million c) €53.4 million d) €34.5 million		a) a Christian leader b) a Berlin taxi driver c) Berlin's mayor d) head of the World Church Council
4.	What did archaeologists find?	9.	What did the Muslim leader hope people from different religions do?
	a) an underground city b) gold coins c) an old church d) a mummy		a) understand each other b) convert c) pray d) invite each other to tea
5.	What is Wilfried Kuehn's job?	10.	What did the Muslim leader hope diversity would be in the future?
	a) Berlin mayor b) an architect c) an archaeologist d) a priest		a) difficult b) the norm c) unusual d) non-existent

ROLE PLAY

Role A – A place of prayer

You think a place of prayer is the most important building for a town to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their place isn't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): school, shopping mall or a police station.

Role B – School

You think school is the most important building for a town to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their place isn't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a place of prayer, a shopping mall or a police station.

Role C – Shopping mall

You think a shopping mall is the most important building for a town to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their place isn't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a school, a place of prayer or a police station.

Role D – Police station

You think a police station is the most important building for a town to have. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their place isn't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a school, a shopping mall or a place of prayer.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

religion

pray

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:

started
asking
idea
earliest
multi-
quickly

best
millions
planned
fall
different
future

RELIGION SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about religion 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.

RELIGION 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 word 'religion'?
c)	Do you think the project will bring the different religions together?
d)	What do you think of the idea of the 'House of One'?
e)	Is it a good idea to visit places from different religions?
f)	Why do people from different religions fight each other?
g)	What can religious leaders do to bring people together?
h)	Is Berlin a good place for the 'House of One'?
i)	What do you think of the name 'House of One'?
j)	Should every town and city in the world have a 'House of One'?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Why does a Jewish leader think Berlin is "a city of wounds and miracles"?
c)	How often do you go somewhere to pray?
d)	Why are there so many religions in the world?
e)	Why hasn't such a house been built before?
f)	Should the house have been built in a famous religious city?
g)	How important is religion to you?
h)	Will people from all religions respect each other one day?
i)	Will children in the future know that "diversity is the norm"?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the project's leaders?

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

A new project has (1) ____ in Germany to build the world's first building where Christians, Jews and Muslims can (2) ____. It is called the 'House of One'. The project's leaders hope it will open in 2016. They are asking people to (3) ____ money to help build it. The project will cost €43.5 million to finish. The idea started in 2009 after archaeologists in Berlin were (4) ____ and found the city's earliest church, called the Petrikirche. An architect called Wilfried Kuehn decided it would be a good idea to build a (5) ____ -religion building on the same site. Mr Kuehn said: "We quickly agreed that something visionary and forward-(6) ____ should be built on what is the founding site of Berlin."

The project's Jewish leader, Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin, said Berlin was the best place for the building because (7) ____ what happened to millions of Jews during World War II. He said: "Berlin is the city of wounds and (8) ____. It is the city in which the extermination of the Jews was planned. Now, the first house in the world for three religions is to (9) ____ built here." The Christian leader, Gregor Hohberg, agreed, saying: "Berlin is the city of the peaceful (10) ____ of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful coexistence of believers from different faiths." Muslim leader, Imam Kadir Sanci, hoped the building would (11) ____ people from different religions understand each other better. He said: "We want our children to have a future in which diversity is the (12) ____."

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

1.	(a)	started	(b)	starting	(c)	starts	(d)	starter
2.	(a)	play	(b)	prey	(c)	pray	(d)	pry
3.	(a)	delete	(b)	debate	(c)	donate	(d)	dilate
4.	(a)	dug	(b)	digs	(c)	diggers	(d)	digging
5.	(a)	multi-	(b)	maxi-	(c)	mega-	(d)	mini-
6.	(a)	watching	(b)	looking	(c)	viewing	(d)	gazing
7.	(a)	as	(b)	from	(c)	for	(d)	of
8.	(a)	miraculous	(b)	miracles	(c)	manacles	(d)	menaces
9.	(a)	do	(b)	have	(c)	be	(d)	plan
10.	(a)	feel	(b)	fool	(c)	fail	(d)	fall
11.	(a)	set	(b)	met	(c)	get	(d)	let
12.	(a)	been	(b)	norm	(c)	heart	(d)	popular

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	A new rtpjeco has started
2.	They are asking people to dteona money
3.	found the city's ileesrta church
4.	An tcrichate called Wilfried Kuehn
5.	We quickly dearge
6.	something viiaosyrn and forward-looking
Paragraph 2
7.	the best place for the ubdlniig
8.	olsiilnm of Jews
9.	the city of wounds and imrasecl
10.	the cpalufee fall of the Berlin Wall
11.	believers from different fasthi
12.	yrvedstii is the norm

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	Berlin Wall and the peaceful coexistence of believers from different faiths." Muslim
( )	leader, Imam Kadir Sanci, hoped the building would let people from different religions understand each
( )	agreed that something visionary and forward-looking should be built on what is the founding site of Berlin."
( )	city in which the extermination of the Jews was planned. Now, the first house in the world for three
( )	open in 2016. They are asking people to donate money to help build it. The project will cost
( 1 )	A new project has started in Germany to build the world's first building where Christians,
( )	other better. He said: "We want our children to have a future in which diversity is the norm."
( )	of what happened to millions of Jews during World War II. He said: "Berlin is the city of wounds and miracles. It is the
( )	religions is to be built here." The Christian leader, Gregor Hohberg, agreed, saying: "Berlin is the city of the peaceful fall of the
( )	Wilfried Kuehn decided it would be a good idea to build a multi-religion building on the same site. Mr Kuehn said: "We quickly
( )	Jews and Muslims can pray. It is called the 'House of One'. The project's leaders hope it will
( )	€43.5 million to finish. The idea started in 2009 after archaeologists in Berlin were
( )	digging and found the city's earliest church, called the Petrikirche. An architect called
( )	The project's Jewish leader, Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin, said Berlin was the best place for the building because

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	in started has project new A Germany.
2.	will 2016 project's it in The hope open leaders.
3.	million to finish The €43.5 cost will project.
4.	multi - religion building A good idea to build a.
5.	what founding Berlin on the of Built is site.
6.	best place Berlin for was the the building.
7.	War II What happened to millions of Jews . during World
8.	first the three The in for house world religions.
9.	other different religions Let understand people each from.
10.	future diversity norm a which the Have in is.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A new project has started in Germany to build the world's first building where Christians, Jews and Muslims can play / pray. It is called the 'House of One'. The project's leaders hope it will open in 2016. They are asking / questioning people to donate money to help build it. The project will cost €43.5 million to end / finish. The idea started in 2009 after / following archaeologists in Berlin were digging / dug and found the city's earliest church, called / calling the Petrikirche. An architect called Wilfried Kuehn decided it would be a good idea to build a mega-religion / multi-religion building on the same site. Mr Kuehn said: "We speedy / quickly agreed that something vision / visionary and forward-looking should be built on what is the founding / finding site of Berlin."

The project's Jewish leader, Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin, said Berlin was the best place for the building because for / of what happened to millions of Jews during / while World War II. He said: "Berlin is the city of wounds and miracles / miraculous. It is the city in which the extermination of the Jews was planning / planned. Now, the first house in the world for three religions is to be built here." The Christian leader, Gregor Hohberg, agreeing / agreed, saying: "Berlin is the city of the peaceful fail / fall of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful / peace coexistence of believers from different / difference faiths." Muslim leader, Imam Kadir Sanci, hoped the building would let people from different religious / religions understand each other better. He said: "We want our children to have a future in which diversity is the normal / norm."

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)

_ n_w pr_j_ct h_s st_rt_d _n G_rm_ny t_ b__ld th_ w_rld's f_rst b__ld_ng wh_r_ Chr_st__ns, J_ws _nd M_sl_ms c_n pr_y. _t _s c_ll_d th_ 'H__s_ _f _n_'. Th_ pr_j_ct's l__d_rs h_p_ _t w_ll _p_n _n 2016. Th_y _r_ _sk_ng p__pl_ t_ d_n_t_ m_n_y t_ h_lp b__ld _t. Th_ pr_j_ct w_ll c_st €43.5 m_ll__n t_ f_n_sh. Th_ _d__ st_rt_d _n 2009 _ft_r _rch___l_g_sts _n B_rl_n w_r_ d_gg_ng _nd f__nd th_ c_ty's __rl__st ch_rch, c_ll_d th_ P_tr_k_rch_. _n _rch_t_ct c_ll_d W_lfr__d K__hn d_c_d_d _t w__ld b_ _ g__d _d__ t_ b__ld _ m_lt_-r_l_g__n b__ld_ng _n th_ s_m_ s_t_. Mr K__hn s__d: "W_ q__ckly _gr__d th_t s_m_th_ng v_s__n_ry _nd f_rw_rd-l__k_ng sh__ld b_ b__lt _n wh_t _s th_ f__nd_ng s_t_ _f B_rl_n."

Th_ pr_j_ct's J_w_sh l__d_r, R_bb_ T_v__ B_n-Ch_r_n, s__d B_rl_n w_s th_ b_st pl_c_ f_r th_ b__ld_ng b_c__s_ _f wh_t h_pp_n_d t_ m_ll__ns _f J_ws d_r_ng W_rld W_r __. H_ s__d: "B_rl_n _s th_ c_ty _f w__nds _nd m_r_cl_s. _t _s th_ c_ty _n wh_ch th_ _xt_rm_n_t__n _f th_ J_ws w_s pl_nn_d. N_w, th_ f_rst h__s_ _n th_ w_rld f_r thr__ r_l_g__ns _s t_ b_ b__lt h_r_." Th_ Chr_st__n l__d_r, Gr_g_r H_hb_rg, _gr__d, s_y_ng: "B_rl_n _s th_ c_ty _f th_ p__c_f_l f_ll _f th_ B_rl_n W_ll _nd th_ p__c_f_l c__x_st_nc_ _f b_l__v_rs fr_m d_ff_r_nt f__ths." M_sl_m l__d_r, _m_m K_d_r S_nc_, h_p_d th_ b__ld_ng w__ld l_t p__pl_ fr_m d_ff_r_nt r_l_g__ns _nd_rst_nd __ch _th_r b_tt_r. H_ s__d: "W_ w_nt __r ch_ldr_n t_ h_v_ _ f_t_r_ _n wh_ch d_v_rs_ty _s th_ n_rm."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a new project has started in germany to build the world's first building where christians jews and muslims can pray it is called the 'house of one' the project's leaders hope it will open in 2016 they are asking people to donate money to help build it the project will cost €435 million to finish the idea started in 2009 after archaeologists in berlin were digging and found the city's earliest church called the petrikirche an architect called wilfried kuehn decided it would be a good idea to build a multi-religion building on the same site mr kuehn said "we quickly agreed that something visionary and forward-looking should be built on what is the founding site of berlin"

the project's jewish leader rabbi tovia ben-chorin said berlin was the best place for the building because of what happened to millions of jews during world war ii he said "berlin is the city of wounds and miracles it is the city in which the extermination of the jews was planned now the first house in the world for three religions is to be built here" the christian leader gregor hohberg agreed saying "berlin is the city of the peaceful fall of the berlin wall and the peaceful coexistence of believers from different faiths" muslim leader imam kadir sanci hoped the building would let people from different religions understand each other better he said "we want our children to have a future in which diversity is the norm"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AnewprojecthasstartedinGermanytobuildtheworld'sfirstbuildingw
hereChristians,JewsandMuslimscanpray.Itiscalledthe'HouseofOn
e'.Theproject'sleadershopeitwillopenin2016.Theyareaskingpeopl
etodonatemoneytohelpbuildit.Theprojectwillcost€43.5milliontofi
nish.Theideastartedin2009afterarchaeologistsinBerlinwerediggin
gandfoundthecity'searliestchurch,calledthePetrikirche.Anarchite
ctcalledWilfriedKuehndecideditwouldbeagoodideatobuildamulti-
religionbuildingonthesamesite.MrKuehnsaid:"Wequicklyagreedth
atsomethingvisionaryandforward-lookingshouldbebuiltonwhat
isthefoundingsiteofBerlin."Theproject'sJewishleader,RabbiToviaB
en-Chorin,saidBerlinwasthebestplaceforthebuildingbecauseofw
hathappenedtomillionsofJewsduringWorldWarII.Hesaid:"Berlinis
thecityofwoundsandmiracles.Itisthecityinwhichtheextermination
oftheJewswasplanned.Now,thefirsthouseintheworldforthreereligi
onsistobebuilthere."TheChristianleader,GregorHohberg,agreed,s
aying:"BerlinisthecityofthepeacefulfalloftheBerlinWallandthepea
cefulcoexistenceofbelieversfromdifferentfaiths."Muslimleader,Im
amKadirSanci,hopedthebuildingwouldletpeoplefromdifferentrelig
ionsunderstandeachotherbetter.Hesaid:"Wewantourchildrentoha
veafutureinwhichdiversityisthenorm."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

It is better to have one building for all religions. 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 the 'House of One'. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. RELIGION: Make a poster about the world's religions. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. 'HOUSE OF ONE': Write a magazine article about the 'House of One'. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 religion. Ask him/her three questions about the 'House of One'. Give him/her three of your ideas on how people from different religions can understand each other better. 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

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	project	a.	venture
2.	build	b.	construct
3.	donate	c.	give
4.	found	d.	discovered
5.	site	e.	place
6.	happened	f.	occurred
7.	extermination	g.	killing
8.	fall	h.	collapse
9.	faiths	i.	religions
10.	diversity	j.	difference

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Pray
2.	2016
3.	€43.5 million
4.	Berlin's earliest church
5.	An architect
6.	World War II
7.	Berlin
8.	A Christian leader
9.	Understand each other
10.	The norm

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

c

7.

d

8.

a

9.

a

10.

b

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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New prayer house for three religions (24th June, 2014)

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