The Reading / Listening - The Rohingya - Level 3

The United Nations has said Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are facing a "catastrophic" humanitarian situation. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled from Myanmar over the border to Bangladesh. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said the Rohingya are escaping continued attacks from Myanmar security forces. Over 379,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since violence began last month. The BBC reports that whole villages have burned down. The Myanmar army denies it is targeting the Rohingya. The Rohingya are a mostly Muslim people who live in the state of Rakhine in Myanmar. They have lived there for generations, but Myanmar says they are illegal immigrants.

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi is under pressure to act over the Rohingya. Many people are calling for her to be stripped of her Nobel Peace Prize, which she won in 1991. They say she cannot keep the prize while journalists are reporting 'ethnic cleansing' of the Rohingya in her country. Ms Suu Kyi has not condemned the attacks on the Rohingya. Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has asked Myanmar to take the Rohingya refugees back. However, the Myanmar army said Myanmar could not accept them back. A spokesman said: "Rakhine ethnics (Buddhists) are our indigenous people who had long been living in Rakhine since the time of their forefathers."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    The Rohingya - Level 0,  The Rohingya - Level 1   or  The Rohingya - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.dw.com/en/myanmar-crackdown-on-rohingya-people-aung-san-suu-kyi-cancels-un-trip-amid-global-outrage/a-40478110
  • https://www.voanews.com/a/al-qaeda-warns-myanmar-of-punishment-over-rohingya/4026597.html
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41260767


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. THE ROHINGYA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Rohingya. 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?

       United Nations / catastrophic / border / attacks / violence / villages / immigrants /
       under pressure / calling / ethnic cleansing / refugees / indigenous / spokesman

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

3. OWN COUNTRY: Students A strongly believe a new country should be created for the Rohingya; Students B strongly believe they already have a country.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. REFUGEES: Why are these people refugees? What must happen before they can go home? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Why are they refugees?

How can they go home?

Syrians

 

 

Afghans

 

 

South Sudanese

 

 

Rohingya

 

 

Yemenis

 

 

Other ________

 

 
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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

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

6. HELP: Rank these with your partner. Put those who can help the Rohingya most at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Thailand
  • India
  • the United Nations
  • China
  • Bangladesh
  • Myanmar's army
  • Aung San Suu Kyi
  • the USA

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The UN says the Rohingya people are facing a catastrophe.     T / F
  2. A million Rohingya have escaped over the Bangladesh border.     T / F
  3. The BBC said entire villages were destroyed by fire.     T / F
  4. The Myanmar government said the Rohingya are illegal immigrants.     T / F
  5. Aung San Suu Kyi has lost her Nobel Peace Prize.     T / F
  6. Journalists in Myanmar are reporting about ethnic cleansing.     T / F
  7. Bangladesh's leader doesn't want to send the Rohingya back.     T / F
  8. The Myanmar army said the Rohingya are indigenous to the country.     T / F

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

  1. catastrophic
  2. fled
  3. continued
  4. denies
  5. generations
  6. act
  7. journalists
  8. spokesman
  9. indigenous
  10. forefathers
  1. take steps
  2. ancestors
  3. rejects
  4. tragic
  5. representative
  6. ongoing
  7. original
  8. a long time
  9. reporters
  10. escaped

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

  1. facing a "catastrophic" humanitarian
  2. fled from Myanmar over the
  3. The BBC reports that whole villages have
  4. They have lived there for
  5. Myanmar says they are illegal
  6. under pressure
  7. ethnic
  8. Ms Suu Kyi has not condemned
  9. take the Rohingya refugees
  10. indigenous
  1. burned down
  2. immigrants
  3. back
  4. situation
  5. cleansing
  6. border to Bangladesh
  7. the attacks
  8. generations
  9. people
  10. to act

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
border
targeting
violence
illegal
situation
state
attacks
whole

The United Nations has said Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are facing a "catastrophic" humanitarian (1) ____________. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled from Myanmar over the (2) ____________ to Bangladesh. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said the Rohingya are escaping continued (3) ____________ from Myanmar security forces. Over 379,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since (4) ____________ began last month. The BBC reports that (5) ____________ villages have burned down. The Myanmar army denies it is (6) ____________ the Rohingya. The Rohingya are a mostly Muslim people who live in the (7) ____________ of Rakhine in Myanmar. They have lived there for generations, but Myanmar says they are (8) ____________ immigrants.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
keep
accept
stripped
time
condemned
indigenous
pressure
refugees

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi is under (9) ____________ to act over the Rohingya. Many people are calling for her to be (10) ____________ of her Nobel Peace Prize, which she won in 1991. They say she cannot (11) ____________ the prize while journalists are reporting 'ethnic cleansing' of the Rohingya in her country. Ms Suu Kyi has not (12) ____________ the attacks on the Rohingya. Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has asked Myanmar to take the Rohingya (13) ____________ back. However, the Myanmar army said Myanmar could not (14) ____________ them back. A spokesman said: "Rakhine ethnics (Buddhists) are our (15) ____________ people who had long been living in Rakhine since the (16) ____________ of their forefathers."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Muslims in Myanmar are facing a "catastrophic" ______
     a.  humanitarian situations
     b.  humanitarian station
     c.  humanitarian situation
     d.  humanitarian stations

2)  Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled from Myanmar ______
     a.  over the border
     b.  on the border
     c.  over a border
     d.  ever the border

3)  the Rohingya are escaping continued attacks from Myanmar ______
     a.  security force is
     b.  security forces
     c.  security farces
     d.  security farce is

4)  The Myanmar army denies it is ______ Rohingya
     a.  target in the
     b.  targeting in the
     c.  target tin the
     d.  targeting the

5)  They have lived there for generations, but Myanmar says they ______ immigrants
     a.  are illegally
     b.  are illegal
     c.  are illegals
     d.  are ill eagle

6)  Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi is under pressure ______ the Rohingya
     a.  two act over
     b.  to act over
     c.  to acts ever
     d.  to act ever

7)  They say she cannot keep the prize while journalists are reporting ______
     a.  'ethnic cleansing'
     b.  'ethnically cleansing'
     c.  'ethnic cleanse in'
     d.  'ethnically cleanse in'

8)  Ms Suu Kyi has not condemned the ______ Rohingya
     a.  attacks in the
     b.  attacks on the
     c.  attack sin the
     d.  attacking on the

9)  However, the Myanmar army said Myanmar could not ______
     a.  except them back
     b.  accept then back
     c.  except then back
     d.  accept them back

10)  people who had long been living in Rakhine since the ______ forefathers
     a.  time off their
     b.  time off there
     c.  time of their
     d.  time of there

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Nations has said Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (1) ___________________ "catastrophic" humanitarian situation. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya (2) ___________________ Myanmar over the border to Bangladesh. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said the Rohingya (3) ___________________ continued attacks from Myanmar security forces. Over 379,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since violence began last month. The BBC reports that (4) ___________________ have burned down. The Myanmar army (5) ___________________ targeting the Rohingya. The Rohingya are a mostly Muslim people who live in the state of Rakhine in Myanmar. They have lived there for generations, but Myanmar says they are (6) ___________________.

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi (7) ___________________ to act over the Rohingya. Many people are calling for her to be stripped of her Nobel Peace Prize, which (8) ___________________ 1991. They say she cannot keep the prize while journalists are reporting 'ethnic cleansing' of the Rohingya in her country. Ms Suu Kyi has (9) ___________________ the attacks on the Rohingya. Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has asked Myanmar to take the Rohingya (10) ___________________. However, the Myanmar army said Myanmar could (11) ___________________ them back. A spokesman said: "Rakhine ethnics (Buddhists) are our indigenous people who had long been living in Rakhine (12) ___________________ of their forefathers."

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the United Nations call the humanitarian situation?
  2. Which border did the Rohingya cross?
  3. How many Rohingya have fled?
  4. What did the BBC say had burned down?
  5. How long have the Rohingya lived in Myanmar?
  6. What did the article say Aung San Suu Kyi was under?
  7. When did Aung San Suu Kyi win the Nobel Peace Prize?
  8. What has Aung San Suu Kyi not condemned?
  9. Who asked Myanmar to take the refugees back?
  10. Who did the Myanmar army say were the indigenous people of Myanmar?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the United Nations call the humanitarian situation?
a) catapulting
b) calamitous
c) catastrophic
d) catabolic

2) Which border did the Rohingya cross?
a) the Bangladesh border
b) the Thai border
c) the Indian border
d) the eastern border

3) How many Rohingya have fled?
a) more than 379,000
b) less than 379,000
c) about 379,000
d) exactly 379,000

4) What did the BBC say had burned down?
a) a border
b) whole villages
c) mosques
d) a bridge

5) How long have the Rohingya lived in Myanmar?
a) decades
b) since the 1600s
c) 82 years
d) for generations

6) What did the article say Aung San Suu Kyi was under?
a) fire
b) pressure
c) her boss
d) orders

7) When did Aung San Suu Kyi win the Nobel Peace Prize?
a) 1991
b) 1996
c) 2001
d) 2006

8) What has Aung San Suu Kyi not condemned?
a) a prime minister
b) the army
c) the attacks
d) the people

9) Who asked Myanmar to take the refugees back?
a) China
b) Thailand
c) India
d) Bangladesh

10) Who did the Myanmar army say were the indigenous people of Myanmar?
a) Buddhists
b) the army
c) Burmese
d) Thais

Role play

Role  A – Bangladesh

You think Bangladesh can help the Rohingya most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their countries / groups. Also, tell the others which is the least able of these (and why): the United Nations, Myanmar or the USA.

Role  B – The United Nations

You think the United Nations can help the Rohingya most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their countries / groups. Also, tell the others which is the least able of these (and why): Bangladesh, Myanmar or the USA.

Role  C – Myanmar

You think Myanmar can help the Rohingya most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their countries / groups. Also, tell the others which is the least able of these (and why): the United Nations, Bangladesh or the USA.

Role  D – The USA

You think the USA can help the Rohingya most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their countries / groups. Also, tell the others which is the least able of these (and why): the United Nations, Myanmar or Bangladesh.

After reading / listening

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

'humanitarian'

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

    • and 'crisis'.

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

    • • 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:

    • pressure
    • won
    • ethnic
    • asked
    • back
    • time
    • facing
    • border
    • forces
    • last
    • mostly
    • lived

    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 - Rohingya in humanitarian crisis, says UN

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'humanitarian'?
    3. What do you know about this news?
    4. What do you know about the Rohingya?
    5. How can this kind of thing happen in the year 2017?
    6. What do you think it's like to flee your country?
    7. What can the United Nations do about this problem?
    8. Why can't Buddhists and Muslims live together in Myanmar?
    9. What should the Myanmar government do about this situation?
    10. What advice do you have for the Rohingya in Myanmar?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'crisis'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How much pressure is Aung San Suu Kyi under?
    5. Should Aung San Suu Kyi be stripped of her Nobel Peace Prize?
    6. What do you think of the term 'ethnic cleansing'?
    7. How much should Myanmar's neighbours help the Rohingya?
    8. Should only indigenous people be allowed to live in a country?
    9. What will life be like for the Rohingya in 10 years from now?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Aung San Suu Kyi?

    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 United Nations has said Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are (1) ____ a "catastrophic" humanitarian situation. Hundreds (2) ____ thousands of Rohingya have fled from Myanmar (3) ____ the border to Bangladesh. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said the Rohingya are escaping continued attacks from Myanmar (4) ____ forces. Over 379,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since violence began last month. The BBC reports that (5) ____ villages have burned down. The Myanmar army denies it is targeting the Rohingya. The Rohingya are a mostly Muslim people who live in the (6) ____ of Rakhine in Myanmar. They have lived there for generations, but Myanmar says they are illegal immigrants.

    Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi is (7) ____ pressure to act over the Rohingya. Many people are calling for her to be (8) ____ of her Nobel Peace Prize, which she won in 1991. They say she cannot keep the prize while journalists are reporting '(9) ____ cleansing' of the Rohingya in her country. Ms Suu Kyi has not condemned the attacks (10) ____ the Rohingya. Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has asked Myanmar to take the Rohingya refugees back. However, the Myanmar army said Myanmar could not (11) ____ them back. A spokesman said: "Rakhine ethnics (Buddhists) are our indigenous people who had long been living in Rakhine (12) ____ the time of their forefathers."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     facing     (b)     face     (c)     faced     (d)     faces    
    2. (a)     by     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     to    
    3. (a)     under     (b)     in     (c)     over     (d)     off    
    4. (a)     secure     (b)     securities     (c)     securing     (d)     security    
    5. (a)     whole     (b)     holy     (c)     holy     (d)     while    
    6. (a)     station     (b)     state     (c)     stating     (d)     stated    
    7. (a)     on     (b)     over     (c)     off     (d)     under    
    8. (a)     striped     (b)     stripped     (c)     strapped     (d)     stropped    
    9. (a)     ethnically     (b)     ethnicity     (c)     ethnic     (d)     ethnics    
    10. (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    11. (a)     excerpt     (b)     concept     (c)     except     (d)     accept    
    12. (a)     by     (b)     since     (c)     as     (d)     last

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. over the drbeor to Bangladesh
    2. attacks from Myanmar iescyutr forces
    3. since clevonie began last month
    4. The Myanmar army edneis it is
    5. They have lived there for rgaetieonsn
    6. they are ilagell immigrants

    Paragraph 2

    1. under rsuspeer to act
    2. while nartsslojui are reporting
    3. chitne cleansing
    4. odndcmeen the attacks
    5. take the Rohingya egseruef back
    6. dusniiegon people

    Put the text back together

    (    )     not accept them back. A spokesman said: "Rakhine ethnics (Buddhists) are our indigenous

    (    )     border to Bangladesh. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said the Rohingya are

    (    )     for her to be stripped of her Nobel Peace Prize, which she won in 1991. They say she cannot keep the prize while

    (    )     take the Rohingya refugees back. However, the Myanmar army said Myanmar could

    (    )     began last month. The BBC reports that whole villages have burned down. The Myanmar army denies it is

    (    )     escaping continued attacks from Myanmar security forces. Over 379,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since violence

    (    )     targeting the Rohingya. The Rohingya are a mostly Muslim people who live in the state of Rakhine in

    (    )     the attacks on the Rohingya. Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has asked Myanmar to

    (    )     people who had long been living in Rakhine since the time of their forefathers."

    (    )     Myanmar. They have lived there for generations, but Myanmar says they are illegal immigrants.

    (    )     Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi is under pressure to act over the Rohingya. Many people are calling

    (  1  )     The United Nations has said Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are facing a "catastrophic" humanitarian

    (    )     situation. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled from Myanmar over the

    (    )     journalists are reporting 'ethnic cleansing' of the Rohingya in her country. Ms Suu Kyi has not condemned

    Put the words in the right order

    1. thousands   Rohingya   fled   of   of   have   Hundreds   .
    2. security   Escaping   attacks   Myanmar   forces   continued   from   .
    3. Over   have   379,000   fled   to   Bangladesh   Rohingyas   .
    4. The   is   Myanmar   targeting   army   the   denies   Rohingya   it   .
    5. Muslim   The   are   mostly   people   Rohingya   a   .
    6. is   to   Aung   San   Suu   Kyi   pressure   Myanmar's   under   act   .
    7. for   her   to   be   stripped   of   her   Nobel   Peace   Prize   Calling   .
    8. cleansing'   'ethnic   reporting   are   Journalists   Rohingya   the   of   .
    9. Suu   Kyi   not   attacks   Rohingya   has   the   the   condemned   on   .
    10. Rohingya   Myanmar   refugees  to   back   take   Hasina   the   asked   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The United Nations has said Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are faced / facing a "catastrophic" humanitarian situation. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled / flied from Myanmar over the border to Bangladesh. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said the Rohingya are escaped / escaping continued attacks from Myanmar security / securities forces. Over 379,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since violent / violence began last month. The BBC reports that whole / hole villages have burned down. The Myanmar army denies / defies it is targeting the Rohingya. The Rohingya are a mostly / must Muslim people who live in the state of Rakhine in Myanmar. They have lived there for generation / generations, but Myanmar says they are illegal immigrants / immigration.

    Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi is under / over pressure to act over the Rohingya. Many people are calling for her to be striped / stripped of her Nobel Peace Prize, which she wins / won in 1991. They say she cannot keep the prize while journalists are reported / reporting 'ethnic cleansing' of the Rohingya in her country. Ms Suu Kyi has not concerned / condemned the attacks on the Rohingya. Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has asked / talked Myanmar to give / take the Rohingya refugees back. However, the Myanmar army said Myanmar could not accept / except them back. A spokesman said: "Rakhine ethics / ethnics (Buddhists) are our indigenous people who had long been lived / living in Rakhine since the time of their forefathers."

    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_ _n_t_d N_t__ns h_s s__d R_h_ngy_ M_sl_ms _n My_nm_r _r_ f_c_ng _ "c_t_str_ph_c" h_m_n_t_r__n s_t__t__n. H_ndr_ds _f th__s_nds _f R_h_ngy_ h_v_ fl_d fr_m My_nm_r _v_r th_ b_rd_r t_ B_ngl_d_sh. Th_ _N S_cr_t_ry-G_n_r_l, _nt_n__ G_t_rr_s, s__d th_ R_h_ngy_ _r_ _sc_p_ng c_nt_n__d _tt_cks fr_m My_nm_r s_c_r_ty f_rc_s. _v_r 379,000 R_h_ngy_s h_v_ fl_d t_ B_ngl_d_sh s_nc_ v__l_nc_ b_g_n l_st m_nth. Th_ BBC r_p_rts th_t wh_l_ v_ll_g_s h_v_ b_rn_d d_wn. Th_ My_nm_r _rmy d_n__s _t _s t_rg_t_ng th_ R_h_ngy_. Th_ R_h_ngy_ _r_ _ m_stly M_sl_m p__pl_ wh_ l_v_ _n th_ st_t_ _f R_kh_n_ _n My_nm_r. Th_y h_v_ l_v_d th_r_ f_r g_n_r_t__ns, b_t My_nm_r s_ys th_y _r_ _ll_g_l _mm_gr_nts.

    My_nm_r's __ng S_n S__ Ky_ _s _nd_r pr_ss_r_ t_ _ct _v_r th_ R_h_ngy_. M_ny p__pl_ _r_ c_ll_ng f_r h_r t_ b_ str_pp_d _f h_r N_b_l P__c_ Pr_z_, wh_ch sh_ w_n _n 1991. Th_y s_y sh_ c_nn_t k__p th_ pr_z_ wh_l_ j__rn_l_sts _r_ r_p_rt_ng '_thn_c cl__ns_ng' _f th_ R_h_ngy_ _n h_r c__ntry. Ms S__ Ky_ h_s n_t c_nd_mn_d th_ _tt_cks _n th_ R_h_ngy_. B_ngl_d_sh's Pr_m_ M_n_st_r, Sh__kh H_s_n_, h_s _sk_d My_nm_r t_ t_k_ th_ R_h_ngy_ r_f_g__s b_ck. H_w_v_r, th_ My_nm_r _rmy s__d My_nm_r c__ld n_t _cc_pt th_m b_ck. _ sp_k_sm_n s__d: "R_kh_n_ _thn_cs (B_ddh_sts) _r_ __r _nd_g_n__s p__pl_ wh_ h_d l_ng b__n l_v_ng _n R_kh_n_ s_nc_ th_ t_m_ _f th__r f_r_f_th_rs."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the united nations has said rohingya muslims in myanmar are facing a "catastrophic" humanitarian situation hundreds of thousands of rohingya have fled from myanmar over the border to bangladesh the un secretary-general antonio guterres said the rohingya are escaping continued attacks from myanmar security forces over 379000 rohingyas have fled to bangladesh since violence began last month the bbc reports that whole villages have burned down the myanmar army denies it is targeting the rohingya the rohingya are a mostly muslim people who live in the state of rakhine in myanmar they have lived there for generations but myanmar says they are illegal immigrants

    myanmar's aung san suu kyi is under pressure to act over the rohingya many people are calling for her to be stripped of her nobel peace prize which she won in 1991 they say she cannot keep the prize while journalists are reporting 'ethnic cleansing' of the rohingya in her country ms suu kyi has not condemned the attacks on the rohingya bangladesh's prime minister sheikh hasina has asked myanmar to take the rohingya refugees back however the myanmar army said myanmar could not accept them back a spokesman said "rakhine ethnics (buddhists) are our indigenous people who had long been living in rakhine since the time of their forefathers"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheUnitedNationshassaidRohingyaMuslimsinMyanmararefacinga"c
    atastrophic"humanitariansituation.HundredsofthousandsofRohingy
    ahavefledfromMyanmaroverthebordertoBangladesh.TheUNSecreta
    ry-General,AntonioGuterres,saidtheRohingyaareescapingcontinue
    dattacksfromMyanmarsecurityforces.Over379,000Rohingyashavefl
    edtoBangladeshsinceviolencebeganlastmonth.TheBBCreportsthat
    wholevillageshaveburneddown.TheMyanmararmydeniesitistargeti
    ngtheRohingya.TheRohingyaareamostlyMuslimpeoplewholiveinthe
    stateofRakhineinMyanmar.Theyhavelivedthereforgenerations,but
    Myanmarsaystheyareillegalimmigrants.Myanmar'sAungSanSuuKyi
    isunderpressuretoactovertheRohingya.Manypeoplearecallingforher
    tobestrippedofherNobelPeacePrize,whichshewonin1991.Theysaysh
    ecannotkeeptheprizewhilejournalistsarereporting'ethniccleansing'o
    ftheRohingyainhercountry.MsSuuKyihasnotcondemnedtheattackso
    ntheRohingya.Bangladesh'sPrimeMinister,SheikhHasina,has asked
    MyanmartotaketheRohingyarefugeesback.However,theMyanmarar
    mysaidMyanmarcouldnotacceptthemback.Aspokesmansaid:"Rakhi
    neethnics(Buddhists)areourindigenouspeoplewhohadlongbeenlivin
    ginRakhinesincethetimeoftheirforefathers."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    The world never dies enough to help helpless people. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. ETHNIC CLEANSING: Write a magazine article about whether or not the world should step in to help the Rohingya people. 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 the Rohingya people. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to help them. 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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