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Ghana visas for all African Union members (15th March, 2016)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Ghana's president, John Dramani Mahama, has announced that his country will issue visas to citizens of African Union member states from July. Anyone arriving at a port in Ghana bearing a passport from an African Union nation will be granted a visa, which could be for up to 30 days. President Mahama said his new initiative was aimed at bridging the gap between African citizens on the continent. He said: "With effect from July this year, we will be allowing citizens of AU member states to enter our country and obtain visas on arrival with the option to stay for up to 30 days and experience what our country has to offer. This measure, with time, should stimulate air travel, trade, investment and tourism."

The African Union Commission chairperson commended Ghana's efforts in helping to bring Africa closer together and reducing barriers to travel. She said: "After Ghana, I am convinced that many other African countries will follow suit, in the interest of achieving an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa." She added that the new visa policy would greatly benefit Ghana in its relations with other African countries. She said more countries needed to follow Ghana's example. Only 25 per cent of countries in Africa offer visas on arrival to other African nationals. This means it is actually easier for U.S. citizens to travel to and within Africa than it is for Africans to visit each other's countries.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.africanews.com/2016/02/25/african-citizens-to-get-easy-entry-into-ghana-in-july/
http://www.newsghana.com.gh/au-agrees-to-ghanas-new-visa-rule-for-member-states/
http://afkinsider.com/121071/121071

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. VISAS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about visas. 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?

Ghana / president / citizens / passport / initiative / continent / air travel / trade / barriers / convinced / integrated / prosperous / visa policy / visa policy / Africa

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

3. TRAVEL: What are the good things about travelling? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good things	Bad things
Visas
Transport
Packing
Hotels
Food
Money

4. NO VISAS: Students A strongly believe there is no need for visas; Students B strongly believe there is. 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. BENEFITS: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest benefits of visas at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• stimulate air travel

• trade

• cultural understanding

• immigration control

• tourism

• investment

• security

• revenue

6. CITIZENS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "citizens". 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.	Ghana's vice-president announced his country's new visa policy.	T / F
b.	Citizens of African Union countries will get a visa for up to 30 days.	T / F
c.	Ghana's president said the visas would help bridge a gap in Africa.	T / F
d.	The president said the visas would be good for air travel.	T / F
e.	An AU spokeswoman doubted that other countries would copy Ghana.	T / F
f.	The spokeswoman said more countries needed to copy Ghana.	T / F
g.	Half of African countries give visas on arrival to other Africans.	T / F
h.	It is easier for Africans to travel in Africa than it is for Americans.	T / F

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

1.	announced	a.	nationals
2.	issue	b.	encourage
3.	initiative	c.	obstacles
4.	allowing	d.	measure
5.	stimulate	e.	made it known
6.	commended	f.	wealthy
7.	barriers	g.	lead
8.	prosperous	h.	provide
9.	example	i.	praised
10.	citizens	j.	letting

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

1.	his country will issue	a.	peaceful Africa
2.	bearing a passport	b.	from July this year
3.	With effect	c.	follow Ghana's example
4.	stimulate air	d.	and tourism
5.	trade, investment	e.	to travel
6.	Ghana's efforts in helping to	f.	visas
7.	reducing barriers	g.	bring Africa closer together
8.	an integrated, prosperous and	h.	travel
9.	more countries needed to	i.	and within Africa
10.	travel to	j.	from an African Union nation

GAP FILL

Ghana's president, John Dramani Mahama, has announced that his country will (1) ____________ visas to citizens of African Union member states from July. Anyone arriving at a (2) ____________ in Ghana bearing a passport from an African Union nation will be (3) ____________ a visa, which could be for up to 30 days. President Mahama said his new (4) ____________ was aimed at bridging the gap between African citizens on the continent. He said: "With effect from July this year, we will be allowing (5) ____________ of AU member states to enter our country and obtain visas on arrival with the (6) ____________ to stay for up to 30 days and (7) ____________ what our country has to offer. This measure, with time, should stimulate air travel, trade, investment and (8) ____________."

port
citizens
issue
experience
initiative
tourism
granted
option

The African Union Commission chairperson commended Ghana's (9) ____________ in helping to bring Africa closer together and reducing (10) ____________ to travel. She said: "After Ghana, I am convinced that many other African countries will follow (11) ____________, in the interest of achieving an integrated, (12) ____________ and peaceful Africa." She added that the new visa policy would greatly (13) ____________ Ghana in its relations with other African countries. She said more countries needed to follow Ghana's (14) ____________. Only 25 per cent of countries in Africa offer visas on arrival to other African (15) ____________. This means it is (16) ____________ easier for U.S. citizens to travel to and within Africa than it is for Africans to visit each other's countries.

prosperous
barriers
nationals
suit
actually
benefit
efforts
example

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	his country will issue visas to citizens of African Union member ______
	a. states for July b. state from July c. state for July d. states from July
2)	Anyone arriving at a port in Ghana bearing a passport from an African Union nation _____ a visa
	a. will be grant it b. will be grunted c. will be granted d. will been granted
3)	his new initiative was aimed at bridging the gap between African citizens ______
	a. in the continents b. on the continent c. on a continent d. on the continents
4)	we will be allowing citizens of AU member states to enter our country and ______ arrival
	a. retain visas on b. detain visas on c. contain visas on d. obtain visas on
5)	with the option to stay for up to 30 days and experience what our country ______
	a. have to offer b. has to offers c. has to offer d. has to offering
6)	Ghana's efforts in helping to bring Africa closer together and reducing ______
	a. barriers to travel b. barriers to travels c. barrier to travel d. barrier is to travel
7)	She said: "After Ghana, I am convinced that many other African countries ______."
	a. will follow suit b. will follow soot c. will follow suite d. will follow shoot
8)	She added that the new visa policy would greatly benefit Ghana ______
	a. in its relation b. in its relatives c. in its relations d. in its relative
9)	Only 25 per cent of countries in Africa offer visas on arrival to other ______
	a. African nationalities b. African nationalise c. African nationals d. African national is
10)	This means it is actually easier for U.S. citizens to travel to ______
	a. and with in Africa b. and within Africa c. and withering Africa d. and witting Africa

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Ghana's president, John Dramani Mahama, has (1) ___________________ country will issue visas to citizens of African Union (2) ___________________ July. Anyone arriving at a port in Ghana bearing a passport from an African Union nation (3) ___________________ a visa, which could be for up to 30 days. President Mahama said his new initiative was aimed at (4) ___________________ between African citizens on the continent. He said: "With effect from July this year, we will be allowing citizens of AU member states to enter our country (5) __________________ on arrival with the option to stay for up to 30 days and experience what our country has to offer. This measure, with time, should (6) ___________________, trade, investment and tourism."

The African Union Commission chairperson commended Ghana's efforts in helping to bring Africa closer together and (7) ___________________ to travel. She said: "After Ghana, I am convinced that many other African countries (8) ___________________, in the interest of achieving an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa." She added (9) ___________________ policy would greatly benefit Ghana in its relations with other African countries. She said more countries (10) ___________________ Ghana's example. Only 25 per cent of countries in Africa offer (11) ___________________ other African nationals. This means it is actually easier for U.S. citizens to travel to and within Africa than it is for Africans (12) ___________________ other's countries.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	From when will Ghana start issuing visas to AU member state citizens?
2.	How long could the visa be for?
3.	What does Ghana's president hope the visas will bridge?
4.	Where (or when) will AU member state citizens be able to get a visa?
5.	What kind of travel might the visas stimulate?
6.	What did the AU chairperson say the visas would reduce?
7.	What did the AU chairperson say other countries would do?
8.	Who did the AU chairperson say the new visa policy would benefit?
9.	How many African countries offer visas on arrival to African nationals?
10.	Who can travel within Africa more easily than Africans?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	From when will Ghana start issuing visas to AU member state citizens?	6.	What did the AU chairperson say the visas would reduce?
	a) June b) July c) August d) September		a) prices b) immigration c) barriers d) costs
2.	How long could the visa be for?	7.	What did the AU chairperson say other countries would do?
	a) 60 days b) 50 days c) 40 days d) 30 days		a) nothing b) close their barriers c) spend more money d) follow suit
3.	What does Ghana's president hope the visas will bridge?	8.	Who did the AU chairperson say the new visa policy would benefit?
	a) the gap between Africans b) a river c) a sea d) ideas		a) Ghana b) Americans c) all Africans d) Europeans
4.	Where (or when) will AU member state citizens be able to get a visa?	9.	How many African countries offer visas on arrival to African nationals?
	a) at their hotel b) on the airplane c) on arrival d) at an embassy		a) 25% b) 35% c) 15% d) 5%
5.	What kind of travel might the visas stimulate?	10.	Who can travel within Africa more easily than Africans?
	a) adventure travel b) air travel c) family travel d) bus travel		a) Chinese b) Americans c) Australians d) Europeans

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Stimulate air travel

You think stimulating air travel is the biggest benefit of visas. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their benefits aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): immigration control, tourism or security.

Role B – Immigration control

You think immigration control is the biggest benefit of visas. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their benefits aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): stimulating air travel, tourism or security.

Role C – Tourism

You think tourism is the biggest benefit of visas. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their benefits aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): immigration control, stimulating air travel or security.

Role D – Security

You think security is the biggest benefit of visas. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their benefits aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): immigration control, tourism or stimulating air travel.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

issue

visa

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:

announced
passport
initiative
effect
experience
air

efforts
suit
peaceful
benefit
25
U.S.

VISAS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about visas 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.

VISAS 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 'visa'?
3)	What do you think about what you read?
4)	What are visas for?
5)	What do you think of applying for visas?
6)	Should all of Africa be visa-free for Africans?
7)	What is the best passport to have?
8)	What do you think of your passport?
9)	What experiences have you had of applying for visas?
10)	What benefits will the free visas have for Ghana?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What do you know about Ghana?
13)	What are the disadvantages of this new initiative?
14)	Should the world be visa-free?
15)	How would visa-free travel help Africa?
16)	What strange questions have you seen on visa forms?
17)	What's the most you would pay for a visa?
18)	Who will benefit most from Ghana's new visa initiative?
19)	Why is it easier for U.S. citizens to travel to and in Africa?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Ghana's president?

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

Ghana's president, John Dramani Mahama, has announced that his country will issue visas to citizens of African Union (1) ____ states from July. Anyone arriving at a port in Ghana (2) ____ a passport from an African Union nation will be granted a visa, which could be for (3) ____ to 30 days. President Mahama said his new initiative was aimed at bridging the gap between African citizens on the continent. He said: "With (4) ____ from July this year, we will be allowing citizens of AU member states to enter our country and obtain visas (5) ____ arrival with the option to stay for up to 30 days and experience what our country has to offer. This measure, with (6) ____, should stimulate air travel, trade, investment and tourism."

The African Union Commission chairperson commended Ghana's efforts (7) ____ helping to bring Africa closer together and (8) ____ barriers to travel. She said: "After Ghana, I am convinced that many other African countries will follow (9) ____, in the interest of achieving an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa." She added that the new visa policy would (10) ____ benefit Ghana in its relations with other African countries. She said more countries needed to follow Ghana's (11) ____. Only 25 per cent of countries in Africa offer visas on arrival to other African nationals. This means it is actually easier for U.S. citizens to travel to and within Africa than it is for Africans to visit (12) ____ other's countries.

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

1.	(a)	members	(b)	member	(c)	membership	(d)	dismember
2.	(a)	boring	(b)	bearing	(c)	barring	(d)	baring
3.	(a)	along	(b)	over	(c)	down	(d)	up
4.	(a)	affront	(b)	effect	(c)	effort	(d)	affect
5.	(a)	to	(b)	by	(c)	in	(d)	on
6.	(a)	yearly	(b)	hour	(c)	time	(d)	period
7.	(a)	in	(b)	at	(c)	on	(d)	to
8.	(a)	reduction	(b)	reduces	(c)	reducing	(d)	reduced
9.	(a)	uniform	(b)	cloth	(c)	dress	(d)	suit
10.	(a)	greatly	(b)	greatest	(c)	great	(d)	greats
11.	(a)	example	(b)	form	(c)	exampled	(d)	stuff
12.	(a)	each	(b)	one	(c)	an	(d)	to

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	issue visas to cietsniz
2.	his new avnteiiiti
3.	African citizens on the tintonnec
4.	natibo visas on arrival
5.	tiusatmle air travel
6.	trade, investment and tmorsui
Paragraph 2
7.	mddceonme Ghana's efforts
8.	reducing srabrrie to travel
9.	I am ivonncedc
10.	an integrated, persrsooup and peaceful Africa
11.	greatly inefetb
12.	other African santlaoin

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	nation will be granted a visa, which could be for up to 30 days. President Mahama said his new initiative was aimed
( )	together and reducing barriers to travel. She said: "After Ghana, I am convinced that many
( )	at bridging the gap between African citizens on the continent. He said: "With effect from July this year, we will be
( 1 )	Ghana's president, John Dramani Mahama, has announced that his country will issue visas to citizens of African Union
( )	for U.S. citizens to travel to and within Africa than it is for Africans to visit each other's countries.
( )	The African Union Commission chairperson commended Ghana's efforts in helping to bring Africa closer
( )	relations with other African countries. She said more countries needed to follow Ghana's example. Only 25 per cent
( )	of countries in Africa offer visas on arrival to other African nationals. This means it is actually easier
( )	other African countries will follow suit, in the interest of achieving an integrated, prosperous and
( )	peaceful Africa." She added that the new visa policy would greatly benefit Ghana in its
( )	to stay for up to 30 days and experience what our country has to offer. This measure, with time, should
( )	member states from July. Anyone arriving at a port in Ghana bearing a passport from an African Union
( )	allowing citizens of AU member states to enter our country and obtain visas on arrival with the option
( )	stimulate air travel, trade, investment and tourism."

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	to African states visas of member Issue citizens Union .
2.	in Ghana bearing a passport Anyone arriving at a port .
3.	bridging citizens the gap Aimed between at African .
4.	country Allowing citizens of AU member states to enter our .
5.	option on the stay visas with to Obtain arrival .
6.	efforts to closer Ghana's helping Africa in bring together .
7.	will many follow other African Convinced countries that .
8.	policy would The greatly new benefit visa Ghana .
9.	needed Ghana's She countries follow more to example said .
10.	actually to easier travel for U.S. This means it is citizens .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Ghana's president, John Dramani Mahama, has announcing / announced that his country will issue / issued visas to citizens of African Union member states from July. Anyone arrival / arriving at a port in Ghana bearing / boring a passport from an African Union nation will be granted a visa, which could be for up to 30 days. President Mahama said his new / newly initiative was aimed at bridging / bridged the gap between African citizens on the continent. He said: "With effect / affect from July this year, we will be allowing citizens of AU member states to enter our country and retain / obtain visas on arrival with the option to stay for up to 30 days and experience that / what our country has to offer. This measurement / measure, with time, should stimulate air travel, trade, investment and tourism."

The African Union Commission chairperson commended / commanded Ghana's efforts in help / helping to bring Africa closer together / apart and reducing barriers to / by travel. She said: "After Ghana, I am convinced that many others / other African countries will follow dress / suit, in the interest of achieving an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa." She added that the new visa policy would greatly beneficial / benefit Ghana in its relations with other African countries. She said more countries needed to track / follow Ghana's example. Only 25 per cent of countries in Africa offer visas on arrival to other African nationals. This means it is actually easily / easier for U.S. citizens to travel to and within Africa than it is for Africans to visit each other's / other countries.

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)

Gh_n_'s pr_s_d_nt, J_hn Dr_m_n_ M_h_m_, h_s _nn__nc_d th_t h_s c__ntry w_ll _ss__ v_s_s t_ c_t_z_ns _f _fr_c_n _n__n m_mb_r st_t_s fr_m J_ly. _ny_n_ _rr_v_ng _t _ p_rt _n Gh_n_ b__r_ng _ p_ssp_rt fr_m _n _fr_c_n _n__n n_t__n w_ll b_ gr_nt_d _ v_s_, wh_ch c__ld b_ f_r _p t_ 30 d_ys. Pr_s_d_nt M_h_m_ s__d h_s n_w _n_t__t_v_ w_s __m_d _t br_dg_ng th_ g_p b_tw__n _fr_c_n c_t_z_ns _n th_ c_nt_n_nt. H_ s__d: "W_th _ff_ct fr_m J_ly th_s y__r, w_ w_ll b_ _ll_w_ng c_t_z_ns _f __ m_mb_r st_t_s t_ _nt_r __r c__ntry _nd _bt__n v_s_s _n _rr_v_l w_th th_ _pt__n t_ st_y f_r _p t_ 30 d_ys _nd _xp_r__nc_ wh_t __r c__ntry h_s t_ _ff_r. Th_s m__s_r_, w_th t_m_, sh__ld st_m_l_t_ __r tr_v_l, tr_d_, _nv_stm_nt _nd t__r_sm."

Th_ _fr_c_n _n__n C_mm_ss__n ch__rp_rs_n c_mm_nd_d Gh_n_'s _ff_rts _n h_lp_ng t_ br_ng _fr_c_ cl_s_r t_g_th_r _nd r_d_c_ng b_rr__rs t_ tr_v_l. Sh_ s__d: "_ft_r Gh_n_, _ _m c_nv_nc_d th_t m_ny _th_r _fr_c_n c__ntr__s w_ll f_ll_w s__t, _n th_ _nt_r_st _f _ch__v_ng _n _nt_gr_t_d, pr_sp_r__s _nd p__c_f_l _fr_c_." Sh_ _dd_d th_t th_ n_w v_s_ p_l_cy w__ld gr__tly b_n_f_t Gh_n_ _n _ts r_l_t__ns w_th _th_r _fr_c_n c__ntr__s. Sh_ s__d m_r_ c__ntr__s n__d_d t_ f_ll_w Gh_n_'s _x_mpl_. _nly 25 p_r c_nt _f c__ntr__s _n _fr_c_ _ff_r v_s_s _n _rr_v_l t_ _th_r _fr_c_n n_t__n_ls. Th_s m__ns _t _s _ct__lly __s__r f_r _.S. c_t_z_ns t_ tr_v_l t_ _nd w_th_n _fr_c_ th_n _t _s f_r _fr_c_ns t_ v_s_t __ch _th_r's c__ntr__s.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

ghana's president john dramani mahama has announced that his country will issue visas to citizens of african union member states from july anyone arriving at a port in ghana bearing a passport from an african union nation will be granted a visa which could be for up to 30 days president mahama said his new initiative was aimed at bridging the gap between african citizens on the continent he said "with effect from july this year we will be allowing citizens of au member states to enter our country and obtain visas on arrival with the option to stay for up to 30 days and experience what our country has to offer this measure with time should stimulate air travel trade investment and tourism"

the african union commission chairperson commended ghana's efforts in helping to bring africa closer together and reducing barriers to travel she said "after ghana i am convinced that many other african countries will follow suit in the interest of achieving an integrated prosperous and peaceful africa" she added that the new visa policy would greatly benefit ghana in its relations with other african countries she said more countries needed to follow ghana's example only 25 per cent of countries in africa offer visas on arrival to other african nationals this means it is actually easier for us citizens to travel to and within africa than it is for africans to visit each other's countries

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Ghana'spresident,JohnDramaniMahama,hasannouncedthathiscoun
trywillissuevisastocitizensofAfricanUnionmemberstatesfromJuly.An
yonearrivingataportinGhanabearingapassportfromanAfricanUnionn
ationwillbegrantedavisa,whichcouldbeforupto30days.PresidentMah
amasaidhisnewinitiativewasaimedatbridgingthegapbetweenAfrican
citizensonthecontinent.Hesaid:"WitheffectfromJulythisyear,wewillb
eallowingcitizensofAUmemberstatestoenterourcountryandobtainvi
sasonarrivalwiththeoptiontostayforupto30daysandexperiencewhat
ourcountryhastooffer.Thismeasure,withtime,shouldstimulateairtra
vel,trade,investmentandtourism."TheAfricanUnionCommissionchai
rpersoncommendedGhana'seffortsinhelpingtobringAfricaclosertoge
therandreducingbarrierstotravel.Shesaid:"AfterGhana,Iamconvinc
edthatmanyotherAfricancountrieswillfollowsuit,intheinterestofachi
evinganintegrated,prosperousandpeacefulAfrica."Sheaddedthatthe
newvisapolicywouldgreatlybenefitGhanainitsrelationswithotherAfri
cancountries.ShesaidmorecountriesneededtofollowGhana'sexampl
e.Only25percentofcountriesinAfricaoffervisasonarrivaltootherAfrica
nnationals.ThismeansitisactuallyeasierforU.S.citizenstotraveltoand
withinAfricathanitisforAfricanstovisiteachother'scountries.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

We shouldn't need visas to enter countries. 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 visas. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. GHANA: Write a magazine article about Ghana's new visa policy. 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 international travel. Ask him/her three questions about visas. Give him/her three ideas on how to make the system 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	announced	a.	made it known
2.	issue	b.	provide
3.	initiative	c.	measure
4.	allowing	d.	letting
5.	stimulate	e.	encourage
6.	commended	f.	praised
7.	barriers	g.	obstacles
8.	prosperous	h.	wealthy
9.	example	i.	lead
10.	citizens	j.	nationals

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	July
2.	30 days
3.	The gap between African citizens
4.	On arrival
5.	Air travel
6.	Barriers to travel
7.	Follow suit
8.	Ghana
9.	25%
10.	Americans

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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Breaking News English Lesson on Visas

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Ghana visas for all African Union members (15th March, 2016)

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