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Pope OKs showers for homeless in Rome (15th November, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Pope Francis has given the green light for three showers to be installed in the Vatican so the homeless have a free place to wash. The new showers will be in the world-famous St Peter's Square, a place where millions of pilgrims flock to each year. The inspiration came from Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, who met a man who had been homeless for a decade. Apparently, the archbishop invited the man to dinner to celebrate his 50th birthday. The man declined saying he was embarrassed to accept the invitation because he smelled bad. The archbishop said: “I took him to dinner with me nonetheless….During dinner, he explained to me that you can always find some food in Rome. What is missing is a place to wash."

Construction of the showers will commence on November 17th. The idea has energised city planners, who have already put plans in place to erect a further ten showers across Rome. Archbishop Krajewski has called for volunteers and donations to help maintain the showers. He said the service particularly needed soap, towels and clean underwear. He told reporters: "It is not simple. It is easier to prepare sandwiches than to run a shower service. You need volunteers." When asked by journalists if he thought visitors might be offended by the showers for the homeless, the archbishop replied that it had always been the duty of the church to serve the poor and needy.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.thelocal.it/20141113/italys-homeless-to-get-showers-at-the-vatican
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1404717.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/13/vatican-krajewski-showers-homeless_n_6153540.html

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. HOMELESSNESS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about homelessness. 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?

green light / showers / millions / pilgrims / decade / embarrassed / dinner / missing / construction / volunteers / donations / underwear / sandwiches / journalists / needy

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

3. HOMELESS: What services they get? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Service	Who to provide it?	What it includes
Showers
Healthcare
Legal advice
Careers help
Counseling
Use of a gym

4. SHAME: Students A strongly believe homelessness is a government's shame; Students B strongly believe it isn'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. INVITATIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• a dinner party

• the opera

• a horse race

• an art gallery

• the beach

• afternoon tea

• a workshop

• the movies

6. WASH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "wash". 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 Pope has given an amber light to build showers for the homeless.	T / F
b.	The new showers will be in a world-famous square at the Vatican.	T / F
c.	An archbishop was taken to dinner by a homeless man.	T / F
d.	The homeless man said it wasn't so difficult to find food in Rome.	T / F
e.	City planners say there are no plans to build more showers.	T / F
f.	The showers for the homeless project has enough volunteers.	T / F
g.	A man said the shower project was easier then making sandwiches.	T / F
h.	The archbishop said he thought the showers would offend people.	T / F

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

1.	green light	a.	refused
2.	free	b.	idea
3.	inspiration	c.	invigorated
4.	declined	d.	building
5.	missing	e.	responsibility
6.	construction	f.	go-ahead
7.	energised	g.	lacking
8.	run	h.	answered
9.	replied	i.	complimentary
10.	duty	j.	operate

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

1.	Francis has given the green	a.	the invitation
2.	the homeless have a free	b.	needed soap
3.	where millions of pilgrims	c.	is a place to wash
4.	he was embarrassed to accept	d.	city planners
5.	What is missing	e.	by the showers
6.	The idea has energised	f.	light for three showers
7.	put plans in place to erect	g.	the poor and needy
8.	He said the service particularly	h.	flock to each year
9.	visitors might be offended	i.	place to wash
10.	the duty of the church to serve	j.	a further ten

GAP FILL

Pope Francis has given the (1) ____________ light for three showers to be installed in the Vatican so the homeless have a free (2) ____________ to wash. The new showers will be in the world-famous St Peter's Square, a place where millions of pilgrims (3) ____________ to each year. The inspiration came from Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, who met a man who had been homeless for a (4) ____________. Apparently, the archbishop invited the man to dinner to (5) ____________ his 50th birthday. The man declined saying he was embarrassed to (6) ____________ the invitation because he smelled bad. The archbishop said: "I took him to dinner with me (7) ____________ ….During dinner, he explained to me that you can always find some food in Rome. What is (8) ____________ is a place to wash."

celebrate
flock
nonetheless
accept
green
decade
missing
place

Construction of the showers will (9) ____________ on November 17th. The idea has energised city planners, who have already put plans in place to (10) ____________ a further ten showers across Rome. Archbishop Krajewski has called for volunteers and (11) ____________ to help maintain the showers. He said the service (12) ____________ needed soap, towels and clean underwear. He told reporters: "It is not simple. It is easier to prepare sandwiches than to(13) ____________ a shower service. You need volunteers." When asked by journalists if he thought visitors might be (14) ____________ by the showers for the homeless, the archbishop replied that it had always been the (15) ____________ of the church to serve the poor and (16) ____________.

donations
offended
commence
particularly
needy
erect
duty
run

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Pope Francis has given the green light for three ______
	a. showers to be installs b. showers to be reinstalled c. showers to be installed d. showers to be install
2)	a place where millions of pilgrims ______
	a. frack to each year b. flock to each year c. frock to each year d. float to each year
3)	met a man who had been ______
	a. homeless for a decadence b. homeless for a decayed c. homeless for a decade d. homeless for a deck aid
4)	he was embarrassed to accept the invitation ______
	a. because of the smell b. because he smiled c. because she smelled d. because he smelled
5)	During dinner, he explained to me that you can always ______
	a. find sum food b. find dim sum food c. find some food d. find soon food
6)	The idea has energised city planners, who have already put plans in place to ______
	a. elect a further ten b. erect a further ten c. eject a further ten d. effect a further ten
7)	Krajewski has called for volunteers and donations to help ______
	a. maintenance the showers b. maintains the showers c. maintain the showers d. maintained the showers
8)	It is easier to prepare sandwiches than to run ______
	a. a shower service b. a showered services c. a showers service d. a showers services
9)	he thought visitors might be offended ______
	a. at the showers b. by the showers c. for the showers d. to the showers
10)	it had always been the duty of the church to serve ______
	a. the poor and needless b. the poor and needed c. the poor and needy d. the poor and needing

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Pope Francis has given (1) ___________________ three showers to be installed in the Vatican so the homeless have a free place to wash. The new showers will be in the world-famous St Peter's Square, a place where millions of (2) ___________________ year. The inspiration came from Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, who met a man (3) ___________________ for a decade. Apparently, the archbishop (4) ___________________ dinner to celebrate his 50th birthday. The man declined saying he was embarrassed to accept the invitation (5) ___________________ bad. The archbishop said: "I took him to dinner with me nonetheless….During dinner, he explained to me that you can always find some food in Rome. (6) ___________________ a place to wash."

Construction of the showers (7) ___________________ November 17th. The idea has energised city planners, who have already (8) ___________________ erect a further ten showers across Rome. Archbishop Krajewski has called for (9) ___________________ to help maintain the showers. He said the service (10) ___________________ soap, towels and clean underwear. He told reporters: "It is not simple. It is easier to prepare sandwiches (11) ___________________ service. You need volunteers." When asked by journalists if he thought visitors might be offended by the showers for the homeless, the archbishop replied that it had always been the duty of the church to (12) ___________________ needy.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What kind of light did the Pope give for the new showers?
2.	Who flocks to St Peter's Square every year?
3.	Who did an archbishop meet for dinner?
4.	Why did a man initially decline an invitation to dinner?
5.	What did a homeless man say you could always find in Rome?
6.	When will the construction of the showers begin?
7.	How many more showers are there plans for?
8.	What did the archbishop say was easier than running a shower service?
9.	Who did journalists think might be offended by the showers?
10.	Who is it the duty of the church to help?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What kind of light did the Pope give for the new showers?	6.	When will the construction of the showers begin?
	a) a white one b) a green one c) a red one d) an amber one		a) November 17 b) December 17 c) January 17 d) February 17
2.	Who flocks to St Peter's Square every year?	7.	How many more showers are there plans for?
	a) popes b) shower makers c) sheep d) pilgrims		a) 8 b) 9 c) 10 d) 11
3.	Who did an archbishop meet for dinner?	8.	What did the archbishop say was easier than running a shower service?
	a) a homeless man b) Pope Francis c) a shower company CEO d) a health inspector		a) preparing sandwiches b) making beds c) praying d) driving in Rome traffic
4.	Why did a man initially decline an invitation to dinner?	9.	Who did journalists think might be offended by the showers?
	a) he didn't like the b) he disliked the archbishop c) he thought he smelled d) he wasn't hungry		a) tourists b) the homeless c) shower makers d) the Pope
5.	What did a homeless man say you could always find in Rome?	10.	Who is it the duty of the church to help?
	a) homeless people b) food c) hope d) romance		a) shower makers b) priests c) the rich d) the poor and needy

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Showers

You think homeless people want showers most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): TV, a gym or careers advice.

Role B – TV

You think homeless people want TV most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): showers, a gym or careers advice.

Role C – Gym

You think homeless people want a gym most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): TV, showers or careers advice.

Role D – Careers advice

You think homeless people want careers advice most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): TV, a gym or showers.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

green

light

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:

installed
millions
met
declined
nonetheless
missing

17
planners
maintain
simple
visitors
needy

HOMELESSNESS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about homelessness 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.

HOMELESSNESS DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'homeless'?
3)	What does your town provide for the homeless?
4)	What do you think of the Vatican showers?
5)	Are you surprised there aren't more services for homeless people?
6)	How do people survive being homeless?
7)	Do you ever give money to homeless people?
8)	Why don't you take a homeless person to dinner?
9)	What do you think would be the most difficult thing about being homeless?
10)	What will the new shower mean to the homeless of Rome?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Why are there homeless people in rich countries?
13)	What can governments do for the homeless?
14)	Will ten showers be enough?
15)	What would you give to help the archbishop's project?
16)	Why might people be offended by the showers?
17)	What's the next thing the Pope should do?
18)	Do religious organisations do enough for the homeless?
19)	Do you have a duty to help homeless people?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Pope Francis?

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

Pope Francis has given the (1) ____ light for three showers to be installed in the Vatican so the homeless have a free place to wash. The new showers will be in the world-famous St Peter's Square, a place where millions of pilgrims (2) ____ to each year. The (3) ____ came from Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, who met a man who had been homeless for a decade. Apparently, the archbishop invited the man to dinner to celebrate his 50th birthday. The man (4) ____ saying he was embarrassed to accept the invitation because he smelled bad. The archbishop said: "I took him to dinner with me (5) ____ ….During dinner, he explained to me that you can always find some food in Rome. What is (6) ____ is a place to wash."

Construction of the showers will commence on November 17th. The idea has energised city planners, who have already put plans in (7) ____ to erect a further ten showers across Rome. Archbishop Krajewski has called for volunteers and (8) ____ to help maintain the showers. He said the service (9) ____ needed soap, towels and clean underwear. He told reporters: "It is not simple. It is easier to prepare sandwiches than to (10) ____ a shower service. You need volunteers." When asked by journalists if he thought visitors might be (11) ____ by the showers for the homeless, the archbishop replied that it had always been the duty of the church to serve the poor and (12) ____.

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

1.	(a)	amber	(b)	red	(c)	white	(d)	green
2.	(a)	pride	(b)	herd	(c)	gaggle	(d)	flock
3.	(a)	inspired	(b)	inspiration	(c)	inspires	(d)	inspire
4.	(a)	decline	(b)	declines	(c)	declined	(d)	declining
5.	(a)	nonetheless	(b)	moreover	(c)	reasonably	(d)	whatsoever
6.	(a)	missing	(b)	remiss	(c)	misses	(d)	missal
7.	(a)	infinity	(b)	hold	(c)	store	(d)	place
8.	(a)	donations	(b)	donates	(c)	donuts	(d)	dons
9.	(a)	articulated	(b)	particularly	(c)	recalcitrant	(d)	summarily
10.	(a)	fly	(b)	max	(c)	run	(d)	slew
11.	(a)	offensive	(b)	offender	(c)	offended	(d)	off-ending
12.	(a)	needless	(b)	needy	(c)	needed	(d)	needs

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	showers to be ltldsniae in the Vatican
2.	millions of giipmrls
3.	The inortisinpa came from Archbishop Konrad
4.	homeless for a cddeea
5.	ateplrynAp, the archbishop invited…
6.	I took him to dinner with me henstoneesl
Paragraph 2
7.	eccommen on November 17th
8.	segireend (UK) / igeeendzr (USA) city planners
9.	Krajewski has called for eerusvnlot
10.	tsooniand to help maintain the showers
11.	offdeedn by the showers
12.	the archbishop relidpe

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	place to wash. The new showers will be in the world-famous St Peter's Square, a place where millions
( )	dinner to celebrate his 50th birthday. The man declined saying he was embarrassed to accept the invitation because he
( )	a man who had been homeless for a decade. Apparently, the archbishop invited the man to
( )	visitors might be offended by the showers for the homeless, the archbishop
( )	smelled bad. The archbishop said: "I took him to dinner with me nonetheless….During dinner, he explained to
( )	soap, towels and clean underwear. He told reporters: "It is not simple. It is easier to prepare
( )	planners, who have already put plans in place to erect a further ten showers across Rome. Archbishop Krajewski has
( )	me that you can always find some food in Rome. What is missing is a place to wash."
( )	replied that it had always been the duty of the church to serve the poor and needy.
( )	sandwiches than to run a shower service. You need volunteers." When asked by journalists if he thought
( )	called for volunteers and donations to help maintain the showers. He said the service particularly needed
( 1 )	Pope Francis has given the green light for three showers to be installed in the Vatican so the homeless have a free
( )	Construction of the showers will commence on November 17th. The idea has energised city
( )	of pilgrims flock to each year. The inspiration came from Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, who met

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	where millions of pilgrims flock to each year A place .
2.	invited to celebrate archbishop man to The the dinner .
3.	accept to embarrassed was He invitation the.
4.	you that me to explained He food some find always can .
5.	a What place is to missing wash is .
6.	commence 17 of will Nov Construction showers on the .
7.	erect a further ten showers Put plans in place to.
8.	particularly service the said He soap needed.
9.	thought be the He might by visitors offended showers .
10.	The needy and poor the serve to church the of duty .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Pope Francis has given the green / amber light for three showers to be installed in the Vatican so the homeless have a free placement / place to wash. The new showers will be in the world-famous St Peter's Square, a place where millions of pilgrims flock / gaggle to each year. The inspiration / inspirational came from Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, who met a man who had been homeless for a / the decade. Apparently, the archbishop invited the man to dinner to celebrate his 50th birthday. The man reclined / declined saying he was embarrassed to accept / concept the invitation because he smelled bad. The archbishop said: "I took him to dinner with me evermore / nonetheless….During dinner, he explained to me that you can always find many / some food in Rome. What is missing / miserly is a place to wash."

Construction of the showers will commence / commend on November 17th. The idea has energised / infuriated city planners, who have already put plans in place to erect / elect a further ten showers across Rome. Archbishop Krajewski has called for voluntary / volunteers and donations to help maintain the showers. He said the service particularly / particulars needed soap, towels and clean underwear. He told reporters: "It is not simple. It is easier to prepare sandwiches than to run / walk a shower service. You need volunteers." When asking / asked by journalists if he thought visitors might be offended / offered by the showers for the homeless, the archbishop replied / relied that it had always been the duty of the church to serve the poor and needless / needy.

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)

P_p_ Fr_nc_s h_s g_v_n th_ gr__n l_ght f_r thr__ sh_w_rs t_ b_ _nst_ll_d _n th_ V_t_c_n s_ th_ h_m_l_ss h_v_ _ fr__ pl_c_ t_ w_sh. Th_ n_w sh_w_rs w_ll b_ _n th_ w_rld-f_m__s St P_t_r's Sq__r_, _ pl_c_ wh_r_ m_ll__ns _f p_lgr_ms fl_ck t_ __ch y__r. Th_ _nsp_r_t__n c_m_ fr_m _rchb_sh_p K_nr_d Kr_j_wsk_, wh_ m_t _ m_n wh_ h_d b__n h_m_l_ss f_r _ d_c_d_. _pp_r_ntly, th_ _rchb_sh_p _nv_t_d th_ m_n t_ d_nn_r t_ c_l_br_t_ h_s 50th b_rthd_y. Th_ m_n d_cl_n_d s_y_ng h_ w_s _mb_rr_ss_d t_ _cc_pt th_ _nv_t_t__n b_c__s_ h_ sm_ll_d b_d. Th_ _rchb_sh_p s__d: "_ t__k h_m t_ d_nn_r w_th m_ n_n_th_l_ss….D_r_ng d_nn_r, h_ _xpl__n_d t_ m_ th_t y__ c_n _lw_ys f_nd s_m_ f__d _n R_m_. Wh_t _s m_ss_ng _s _ pl_c_ t_ w_sh."

C_nstr_ct__n _f th_ sh_w_rs w_ll c_mm_nc_ _n N_v_mb_r 17th. Th_ _d__ h_s _n_rg_s_d c_ty pl_nn_rs, wh_ h_v_ _lr__dy p_t pl_ns _n pl_c_ t_ _r_ct _ f_rth_r t_n sh_w_rs _cr_ss R_m_. _rchb_sh_p Kr_j_wsk_ h_s c_ll_d f_r v_l_nt__rs _nd d_n_t__ns t_ h_lp m__nt__n th_ sh_w_rs. H_ s__d th_ s_rv_c_ p_rt_c_l_rly n__d_d s__p, t_w_ls _nd cl__n _nd_rw__r. H_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "_t _s n_t s_mpl_. _t _s __s__r t_ pr_p_r_ s_ndw_ch_s th_n t_ r_n _ sh_w_r s_rv_c_. Y__ n__d v_l_nt__rs." Wh_n _sk_d by j__rn_l_sts _f h_ th__ght v_s_t_rs m_ght b_ _ff_nd_d by th_ sh_w_rs f_r th_ h_m_l_ss, th_ _rchb_sh_p r_pl__d th_t _t h_d _lw_ys b__n th_ d_ty _f th_ ch_rch t_ s_rv_ th_ p__r _nd n__dy.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

pope francis has given the green light for three showers to be installed in the vatican so the homeless have a free place to wash the new showers will be in the world-famous st peter's square a place where millions of pilgrims flock to each year the inspiration came from archbishop konrad krajewski who met a man who had been homeless for a decade apparently the archbishop invited the man to dinner to celebrate his 50th birthday the man declined saying he was embarrassed to accept the invitation because he smelled bad the archbishop said "i took him to dinner with me nonetheless…during dinner he explained to me that you can always find some food in rome what is missing is a place to wash"

construction of the showers will commence on november 17th the idea has energised city planners who have already put plans in place to erect a further ten showers across rome archbishop krajewski has called for volunteers and donations to help maintain the showers he said the service particularly needed soap towels and clean underwear he told reporters "it is not simple it is easier to prepare sandwiches than to run a shower service you need volunteers" when asked by journalists if he thought visitors might be offended by the showers for the homeless the archbishop replied that it had always been the duty of the church to serve the poor and needy

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

PopeFrancishasgiventhegreenlightforthreeshowerstobeinstalledint
heVaticansothehomelesshaveafreeplacetowash.Thenewshowerswil
lbeintheworld-famousStPeter'sSquare,aplacewheremillionsofpilgri
msflocktoeachyear.TheinspirationcamefromArchbishopKonradKraj
ewski,whometamanwhohadbeenhomelessforadecade.Apparently,t
hearchbishopinvitedthemantodinnertocelebratehis50thbirthday.Th
emandeclinedsayinghewasembarrassedtoaccepttheinvitationbecau
sehesmelledbad.Thearchbishopsaid:"Itookhimtodinnerwithmenon
etheless….Duringdinner,heexplainedtomethatyoucanalwaysfindso
mefoodinRome.Whatismissingisaplacetowash."Constructionofthes
howerswillcommenceonNovember17th.Theideahasenergisedcitypl
anners,whohavealreadyputplansinplacetoerectafurthertenshowers
acrossRome.ArchbishopKrajewskihascalledforvolunteersanddonati
onstohelpmaintaintheshowers.Hesaidtheserviceparticularlyneeded
soap,towelsandcleanunderwear.Hetoldreporters:"Itisnotsimple.Itis
easiertopreparesandwichesthantorunashowerservice.Youneedvolu
nteers."Whenaskedbyjournalistsifhethoughtvisitorsmightbeoffend
edbytheshowersforthehomeless,thearchbishoprepliedthatithadalw
aysbeenthedutyofthechurchtoservethepoorandneedy.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Governments should provide the homeless with food, shelter and medicine. 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 homelessness. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. HOMELESSNESS: Make a poster about homelessness. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. SHOWERS: Write a magazine article about the Vatican showers for the homeless. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.

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 the Pope. Ask him three questions about homelessness. Give him three ideas on what more he can do to help the homeless. 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

F

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	green light	a.	go-ahead
2.	free	b.	complimentary
3.	inspiration	c.	idea
4.	declined	d.	refused
5.	missing	e.	lacking
6.	construction	f.	building
7.	energised	g.	invigorated
8.	run	h.	operate
9.	replied	i.	answered
10.	duty	j.	responsibility

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	A green light
2.	Pilgrims
3.	A homeless man
4.	He thought he smelled
5.	Food
6.	November 17
7.	10
8.	Preparing sandwiches
9.	Tourists
10.	The poor and needy

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

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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Pope OKs showers for homeless in Rome (15th November, 2014)

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