The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The Turkish government is increasing its efforts to detain those it deems responsible for the weekend's failed coup attempt. It has arrested around 6,000 members of the judiciary and military, including top judges and senior-ranking generals. It has also suspended nearly 8,000 police officers suspected of having links to the coup attempt. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to purge all government institutions of what he calls the "virus" that caused the uprising. The president is taking a very hard line with all those suspected of wrongdoing and has announced that Turkey would consider reinstating the death penalty. This would hurt Turkey's efforts to join the European Union.

Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag announced that: "There are currently around 6,000 detentions. It will surpass 6,000. The legal process on these will continue." He added that: "Suspects are being charged with membership of an armed terrorist organisation and of attempting to overthrow the government of the Turkish Republic using force and violence, or of attempting to completely or partially hinder its function." At least 290 people were killed and thousands wounded in the coup attempt. President Erdogan addressed the country via mobile telephone, urging people to "take to the streets" to defeat the coup and to reclaim democracy. Forces loyal to the president soon retook control of the country.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36824045
  • http://www.turkishweekly.net/2016/07/18/news/6-000-detained-from-turkish-army-judiciary-in-probe-into-failed-coup-attempt/
  • http://in.reuters.com/article/turkey-security-idINKCN0ZY082


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. TURKEY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Turkey. 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?

       government / responsible / judiciary / military / purge / virus / institutions / efforts /
       detentions / legal process / suspects / armed / terrorist / function / wounded / loyal

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

3. STABLE: Students A strongly believe the world will be a more stable place in the future; Students B strongly believe it will be more unstable.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. COUP: What responsibilities do these people have in defeating a coup? Discuss this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • The president
  • The media
  • The army
  • The police
  • The public
  • The world
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5. ARRESTED: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "arrested". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. TAKE TO THE STREETS: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that would get you to take to the streets most at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • declaration of war
  • religious intolerance
  • immigration
  • defend an elected leader
  • increased taxes
  • corrupt government
  • education cuts
  • nuclear power stations

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The Turkish government has detained 6,000 members of the judiciary.    T / F
  2. The Turkish government has suspended 8,000 police officers.     T / F
  3. The Turkish president said he had a virus during the attempted coup.     T / F
  4. Turkey has absolutely no intention of bringing back the death penalty.     T / F
  5. The justice minister says there won't be more than 6,000 detainees.     T / F
  6. Suspects are being charged with terrorism offences.     T / F
  7. Over 290 people were killed in the coup attempt.     T / F
  8. Turkey's president made use of a mobile device to talk to the nation.     T / F

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

  1. increasing
  2. deems
  3. military
  4. purge
  5. death penalty
  6. currently
  7. surpass
  8. partially
  9. hinder
  10. loyal
  1. armed forces
  2. to a limited extent
  3. presently
  4. considers
  5. exceed
  6. hamper
  7. rid
  8. faithful
  9. intensifying
  10. capital punishment

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

  1. increasing its
  2. members of the judiciary
  3. including top judges and
  4. Erdogan has vowed to purge all government
  5. The president is taking a very hard
  6. membership of an armed
  7. overthrow
  8. completely or
  9. urging people to take
  10. Forces loyal
  1. to the streets
  2. institutions
  3. partially
  4. and military
  5. to the president
  6. the government
  7. line
  8. efforts
  9. terrorist organisation
  10. senior-ranking generals

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
suspected
judiciary
uprising
efforts
hurt
ranking
line
purge

The Turkish government is increasing its (1) ____________ to detain those it deems responsible for the weekend's failed coup attempt. It has arrested around 6,000 members of the (2) ____________ and military, including top judges and senior-(3) ____________ generals. It has also suspended nearly 8,000 police officers (4) ____________ of having links to the coup attempt. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to (5) ____________ all government institutions of what he calls the "virus" that caused the (6) ____________. The president is taking a very hard (7) ____________ with all those suspected of wrongdoing and has announced that Turkey would consider reinstating the death penalty. This would (8) ____________ Turkey's efforts to join the European Union.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
armed
partially
take
currently
loyal
process
wounded
overthrow

Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag announced that: "There are (9) ____________ around 6,000 detentions. It will surpass 6,000. The legal (10) ____________ on these will continue." He added that: "Suspects are being charged with membership of an (11) ____________ terrorist organisation and of attempting to (12) ____________ the government of the Turkish Republic using force and violence, or of attempting to completely or (13) ____________ hinder its function." At least 290 people were killed and thousands (14) ____________ in the coup attempt. President Erdogan addressed the country via mobile telephone, urging people to "(15) ____________ to the streets" to defeat the coup and to reclaim democracy. Forces (16) ____________ to the president soon retook control of the country.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The Turkish government is increasing its efforts to detain those ______
     a.  it seems responsible
     b.  it deems responsible
     c.  it reams responsible
     d.  it teams responsible

2)  It has arrested around 6,000 members of the judiciary and military, ______
     a.  including tops judges
     b.  including topping judges
     c.  including topped judges
     d.  including top judges

3)  It has also suspended nearly 8,000 police officers suspected of having ______
     a.  links of the coup
     b.  links at the coup
     c.  links by the coup
     d.  links to the coup

4)  purge all government institutions of what he calls the "virus" that ______
     a.  caused the up rinsing
     b.  caused the op rising
     c.  caused the uprising
     d.  caused the uprise in

5)  The president is taking a very hard line with all those suspected ______
     a.  of wrong do in
     b.  of long doing
     c.  of long do in
     d.  of wrongdoing

6)  There are currently around 6,000 detentions. It ______
     a.  will surpass 6,000
     b.  will suppress 6,000
     c.  will sir pass 6,000
     d.  will suppers 6,000

7)  … an armed terrorist organisation and of attempting to ______ government
     a.  overthrown the
     b.  overthrow the
     c.  overthrows the
     d.  overthrowing the

8)  using force and violence, or of attempting to completely or partially ______
     a.  hinder its function
     b.  tinder its function
     c.  kinder its function
     d.  minder its function

9)  Erdogan addressed the country via mobile telephone, urging people to ______
     a.  take two of the streets
     b.  take two off the streets
     c.  take to the streets
     d.  take too the streets

10)  Forces loyal to the president soon retook ______ country
     a.  control off the
     b.  controls of the
     c.  control of a
     d.  control of the

Here

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Turkish government is increasing (1) ___________________ detain those it deems responsible for the weekend's failed coup attempt. It has arrested around 6,000 members (2) ___________________ and military, including top judges and (3) ___________________ generals. It has also suspended nearly 8,000 police officers suspected of having links to the coup attempt. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has (4) ___________________ all government institutions of what he calls the "virus" that caused the uprising. The president is taking (5) ___________________ with all those suspected of wrongdoing and has announced that Turkey would consider reinstating the death penalty. This would hurt Turkey's (6) ___________________ the European Union.

Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag announced that: "There are currently around (7) ___________________. It will surpass 6,000. The legal process on these will continue." He added that: "Suspects are being charged with membership (8) ___________________ terrorist organisation and of attempting (9) ___________________ government of the Turkish Republic using force and violence, or of attempting (10) ___________________ partially hinder its function." At least 290 people were killed and thousands wounded in the coup attempt. President Erdogan addressed the country via mobile telephone, urging people to "(11) ___________________" to defeat the coup and to reclaim democracy. Forces loyal to the president soon (12) ___________________ the country.

Comprehension questions

  1. What people in senior-ranking positions have been detained?
  2. How many police officers have been suspended?
  3. What did Turkey's president say caused the coup?
  4. What is Turkey's president thinking about reinstating?
  5. What might it be difficult for Turkey to join?
  6. Who is Bekir Bozdag?
  7. What did Bekir Bozdag say would continue?
  8. What are those involved being charged with attempting to overthrow?
  9. How many people were wounded in the coup?
  10. What forces retook control of the country?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What people in senior-ranking positions have been detained?
a) presidents
b) economists
c) generals
d) journalists

2) How many police officers have been suspended?
a) almost 8,000
b) around 8,000
c) exactly 8,000
d) more than 8,000

3) What did Turkey's president say caused the coup?
a) institutions
b) a virus
c) religion
d) economics

4) What is Turkey's president thinking about reinstating?
a) an old prison
b) institutions
c) conscription
d) the death penalty

5) What might it be difficult for Turkey to join?
a) the UN
b) NATO
c) the EU
d) the IMF

6) Who is Bekir Bozdag?
a) a high-ranking general
b) Turkey's justice minister
c) a journalist
d) a police officer

7) What did Bekir Bozdag say would continue?
a) suspects
b) detentions
c) institutions
d) the legal process

8) What are those involved being charged with attempting to overthrow?
a) the judiciary
b) the government
c) the military
d) institutions

9) How many people were killed in the coup?
a) less than 290
b) more than 290
c) exactly 290
d) around 290

10) What forces retook control of the country?
a) those loyal to the president
b) supernatural forces
c) magnetic forces
d) presidential forces

Role play

Role A — Increased taxes

You think increased taxes is the best reason to take to the streets. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): education cuts, immigration or religious intolerance.

Role B — Education cuts

You think education cuts is the best reason to take to the streets. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): religious intolerance, immigration or increased taxes.

Role C — Immigration

You think immigration is the best reason to take to the streets. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): education cuts, religious intolerance or increased taxes.

Role D — Religious intolerance

You think religious intolerance is the best reason to take to the streets. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): education cuts, immigration or increased taxes.

After reading / listening

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

'coup'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'attempt'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • 6,000
    • legal
    • armed
    • function
    • mobile
    • soon
    • deems
    • members
    • top
    • vowed
    • line
    • join

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - 6,000 held after failed Turkey coup

    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 'coup'?
    3. What news images did you see of the coup?
    4. What do you know about this story?
    5. What do you think will happen to the coup leaders?
    6. What do you think will happen to Turkey in the future?
    7. How surprised are you the coup attempt ended so quickly?
    8. What do you know about Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan?
    9. What do you think about talks of reinstating the death penalty?
    10. Should Turkey become a member of the European Union?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What punishments do you think those involved will get?
    3. How serious are the charges against those involved?
    4. How much organising do you think the coup took?
    5. What would have happened if the coup had been successful?
    6. How important is democracy?
    7. How important is the stability of Turkey, and why?
    8. What would have to happen for you to take to the streets?
    9. What three adjectives best describe this story, and why?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Recep Tayyip Erdogan?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The Turkish government is increasing its efforts to (1) ____ those it deems responsible for the weekend's failed coup attempt. It has arrested around 6,000 members of the (2) ____ and military, including top judges and senior-ranking generals. It has also suspended nearly 8,000 police officers (3) ____ of having links to the coup attempt. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to (4) ____ all government institutions of what he calls the "virus" that caused the uprising. The president is taking a very hard (5) ____ with all those suspected of (6) ____ and has announced that Turkey would consider reinstating the death penalty. This would hurt Turkey's efforts to join the European Union.

    Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag announced that: "There are currently around 6,000 detentions. It will (7) ____ 6,000. The legal process on these will continue." He added that: "Suspects are being charged with membership of an (8) ____ terrorist organisation and of attempting to overthrow the government of the Turkish Republic using (9) ____ and violence, or of attempting to completely or (10) ____ hinder its function." At least 290 people were killed and thousands wounded in the coup attempt. President Erdogan addressed the country (11) ____ mobile telephone, urging people to "take to the streets" to defeat the coup and to reclaim democracy. Forces (12) ____ to the president soon retook control of the country.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     maintain     (b)     retrain     (c)     detain     (d)     obtain    
    2. (a)     judiciary     (b)     jewellery     (c)     juddery     (d)     judokas    
    3. (a)     suspected     (b)     inspected     (c)     respected     (d)     spectacles    
    4. (a)     purge     (b)     urge     (c)     verge     (d)     merge    
    5. (a)     box     (b)     curve     (c)     angle     (d)     line    
    6. (a)     done doing     (b)     doing     (c)     ongoing     (d)     wrongdoing    
    7. (a)     surpass     (b)     suppers     (c)     surprise     (d)     suppress    
    8. (a)     eyed     (b)     eared     (c)     elbowed     (d)     armed    
    9. (a)     force     (b)     fierce     (c)     farce     (d)     forceps    
    10. (a)     partial     (b)     partially     (c)     partition     (d)     particular    
    11. (a)     vis-a-vis     (b)     via     (c)     vile     (d)     vista    
    12. (a)     loyal     (b)     legal     (c)     regal     (d)     royal

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. detain those it deems berioesplsn
    2. members of the ycjidurai and military
    3. cstepsedu of having links
    4. purge all government insstiuintto
    5. the "virus" that caused the srnpguii
    6. consider nrgsttenaii the death penalty

    Paragraph 2

    1. around 6,000 tteneodnis
    2. It will aspsrsu 6,000
    3. stsuscep are being charged
    4. using force and oenevlci
    5. rtapilaly hinder its function
    6. reclaim rodcmyace

    Put the text back together

    (    )     attempt. It has arrested around 6,000 members of the judiciary and military, including top

    (    )     to the coup attempt. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to purge all government institutions of what he

    (    )     coup and to reclaim democracy. Forces loyal to the president soon retook control of the country.

    (    )     judges and senior-ranking generals. It has also suspended nearly 8,000 police officers suspected of having links

    (    )     the country via mobile telephone, urging people to "take to the streets" to defeat the

    (    )     surpass 6,000. The legal process on these will continue." He added that: "Suspects are being charged with

    (    )     membership of an armed terrorist organisation and of attempting to overthrow the government of the Turkish

    (    )     of wrongdoing and has announced that Turkey would consider reinstating the death

    (    )     Republic using force and violence, or of attempting to completely or partially hinder its function." At

    (    )     calls the "virus" that caused the uprising. The president is taking a very hard line with all those suspected

    (    )     least 290 people were killed and thousands wounded in the coup attempt. President Erdogan addressed

    (    )     penalty. This would hurt Turkey's efforts to join the European Union.

    (    )     Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag announced that: "There are currently around 6,000 detentions. It will

    (  1  )     The Turkish government is increasing its efforts to detain those it deems responsible for the weekend's failed coup

    Put the words in the right order

    1. responsible   deems   it   those   detain   to   efforts   Its   .
    2. the   judiciary   It   has   arrested   around   6,000   members   of   .
    3. attempt   links   Officers   to   suspected   the   of   coup   having   .
    4. has   Erdogan   institutions   government   all   purge   to   vowed   .
    5. very   those   hard   suspected   line   Taking   with   a   all   .
    6. terrorist   armed   an   of  membership   with   Charged  organisation   .
    7. Turkish  the  Republic  government  Attempting  of  to  the  overthrow  .
    8. completely   to   Attempting   function   its   hinder   partially   or   .
    9. to   the   streets   to   defeat   the   coup   Urging   people   to   take   .
    10. loyal   Forces   control   retook   soon   president   the   to   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The Turkish government is increasing / increased its efforts to detain those it deems responsible for the weekend's failed / foiled coup attempt. It has arrested around 6,000 members of the judiciary and military, inclusive / including top judges and senior-ranking generals. It has also suspending / suspended nearly 8,000 police officers suspected of having links to / of the coup attempt. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to purge / splurge all government institutions of what he calls the "virus" that caused the surprising / uprising. The president is taking a very hard line / lane with all those suspected of wrongdoing and has announced that / what Turkey would consider reinstating the death penalty. This would hurt Turkey's effects / efforts to join the European Union.

    Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag announced that: "There are currency / currently around 6,000 detentions. It will surpass / suppress 6,000. The legal process on these will continue." He added that: "Suspects are been / being charged with membership of an armed / elbowed terrorist organisation and of attempting to overthrowing / overthrow the government of the Turkish Republic using force / farce and violence, or of attempting to completely or partially minder / hinder its function." At least 290 people were killed and thousands wound / wounded in the coup attempt. President Erdogan addressed the country via mobile telephone, urging people to "take to the streets / motorways" to defeat the coup and to reclaim democracy. Forces loyally / loyal to the president soon retook control of the country.

    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)

    Th_ T_rk_sh g_v_rnm_nt _s _ncr__s_ng _ts _ff_rts t_ d_t__n th_s_ _t d__ms r_sp_ns_bl_ f_r th_ w__k_nd's f__l_d c__p _tt_mpt. _t h_s _rr_st_d _r__nd 6,000 m_mb_rs _f th_ j_d_c__ry _nd m_l_t_ry, _ncl_d_ng t_p j_dg_s _nd s_n__r-r_nk_ng g_n_r_ls. _t h_s _ls_ s_sp_nd_d n__rly 8,000 p_l_c_ _ff_c_rs s_sp_ct_d _f h_v_ng l_nks t_ th_ c__p _tt_mpt. T_rk_sh pr_s_d_nt R_c_p T_yy_p _rd_g_n h_s v_w_d t_ p_rg_ _ll g_v_rnm_nt _nst_t_t__ns _f wh_t h_ c_lls th_ "v_r_s" th_t c__s_d th_ _pr_s_ng. Th_ pr_s_d_nt _s t_k_ng _ v_ry h_rd l_n_ w_th _ll th_s_ s_sp_ct_d _f wr_ngd__ng _nd h_s _nn__nc_d th_t T_rk_y w__ld c_ns_d_r r__nst_t_ng th_ d__th p_n_lty. Th_s w__ld h_rt T_rk_y's _ff_rts t_ j__n th_ __r_p__n _n__n.

    T_rk_y's J_st_c_ M_n_st_r B_k_r B_zd_g _nn__nc_d th_t: "Th_r_ _r_ c_rr_ntly _r__nd 6,000 d_t_nt__ns. _t w_ll s_rp_ss 6,000. Th_ l_g_l pr_c_ss _n th_s_ w_ll c_nt_n__." H_ _dd_d th_t: "S_sp_cts _r_ b__ng ch_rg_d w_th m_mb_rsh_p _f _n _rm_d t_rr_r_st _rg_n_s_t__n _nd _f _tt_mpt_ng t_ _v_rthr_w th_ g_v_rnm_nt _f th_ T_rk_sh R_p_bl_c _s_ng f_rc_ _nd v__l_nc_, _r _f _tt_mpt_ng t_ c_mpl_t_ly _r p_rt__lly h_nd_r _ts f_nct__n." _t l__st 290 p__pl_ w_r_ k_ll_d _nd th__s_nds w__nd_d _n th_ c__p _tt_mpt. Pr_s_d_nt _rd_g_n _ddr_ss_d th_ c__ntry v__ m_b_l_ t_l_ph_n_, _rg_ng p__pl_ t_ "t_k_ t_ th_ str__ts" t_ d_f__t th_ c__p _nd t_ r_cl__m d_m_cr_cy. F_rc_s l_y_l t_ th_ pr_s_d_nt s__n r_t__k c_ntr_l _f th_ c__ntry.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the turkish government is increasing its efforts to detain those it deems responsible for the weekend's failed coup attempt it has arrested around 6000 members of the judiciary and military including top judges and senior-ranking generals it has also suspended nearly 8000 police officers suspected of having links to the coup attempt turkish president recep tayyip erdogan has vowed to purge all government institutions of what he calls the "virus" that caused the uprising the president is taking a very hard line with all those suspected of wrongdoing and has announced that turkey would consider reinstating the death penalty this would hurt turkey's efforts to join the european union

    turkey's justice minister bekir bozdag announced that "there are currently around 6000 detentions it will surpass 6000 the legal process on these will continue" he added that "suspects are being charged with membership of an armed terrorist organisation and of attempting to overthrow the government of the turkish republic using force and violence or of attempting to completely or partially hinder its function" at least 290 people were killed and thousands wounded in the coup attempt president erdogan addressed the country via mobile telephone urging people to "take to the streets" to defeat the coup and to reclaim democracy forces loyal to the president soon retook control of the country

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheTurkishgovernmentisincreasingitseffortstodetainthoseitdeemsr
    esponsiblefortheweekend'sfailedcoupattempt.Ithasarrestedaround
    6,000membersofthejudiciaryandmilitary,includingtopjudgesandse
    nior-rankinggenerals.Ithasalsosuspendednearly8,000policeoffic
    erssuspectedofhavinglinkstothecoupattempt.TurkishpresidentRece
    pTayyipErdoganhasvowedtopurgeallgovernmentinstitutionsofwhat
    hecallsthe"virus"thatcausedtheuprising.Thepresidentistakingavery
    hardlinewithallthosesuspectedofwrongdoingandhasannouncedthat
    Turkeywouldconsiderreinstatingthedeathpenalty.ThiswouldhurtTur
    key'seffortstojointheEuropeanUnion.Turkey'sJusticeMinisterBekirB
    ozdagannouncedthat:"Therearecurrentlyaround6,000detentions.It
    willsurpass6,000.Thelegalprocessonthesewillcontinue."Headdedth
    at:"Suspectsarebeingchargedwithmembershipofanarmedterroristo
    rganisationandofattemptingtooverthrowthegovernmentoftheTurkis
    hRepublicusingforceandviolence,orofattemptingtocompletelyorpart
    iallyhinderitsfunction."Atleast290peoplewerekilledandthousandsw
    oundedinthecoupattempt.PresidentErdoganaddressedthecountryvi
    amobiletelephone,urgingpeopleto"taketothestreets"todefeattheco
    upandtoreclaimdemocracy.Forcesloyaltothepresidentsoonretookco
    ntrolofthecountry.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    No country should ever use the death penalty. Discuss.

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    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 Turkey's failed coup attempt. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. WORLD HELP: Write a magazine article about the world giving greater help to Turkey to help keep it strong and stable. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on Turkey. Ask him/her three questions about the country. Give him/her three of your ideas on what Turkey can do to maintain its security and stability. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Also...

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

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

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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