Breaking News English Lesson on Compensation

Home | Help This Site

Dutch railway to compensate Holocaust victims (30th June, 2019)

The Reading / Listening - Compensation - Level 3

Holland's national railway company is going to compensate victims of the Holocaust. World War II ended over 70 years ago, but the Dutch railway has decided to give compensation to people who were taken to Nazi concentration camps on their trains. The company is known as NS. After Germany invaded Holland in 1940, NS trains transported thousands of Jews and other minorities to Nazi death camps. By the end of 1943, most Jews in the Netherlands had been removed and deported. Seven decades later, NS will pay tens of millions of euros to about 500 survivors and to members of their direct family. The company will pay between 5,000 euros to 15,000 euros to each victim.

The company said the payments were part of the company's historical responsibility. It said the company was paid by the Nazis to take the victims to the border. The victims were put on German trains and taken to concentration camps. A spokesman said this was "a black page in the history of the company". He added: "There is no reasonable or appropriate amount of money that [we can pay to] compensate in any way for the suffering inflicted on the victims." The committee said the payments were "a moral gesture". It added: "NS wishes to express the recognition of its share in the individual suffering inflicted by the occupying forces on those involved and their direct surviving relatives."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Compensation - Level 0, Compensation - Level 1 or Compensation - Level 2

Sources

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/27/world/europe/ns-dutch-railway-holocaust.html
https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Dutch-rail-company-to-pay-Holocaust-survivors-compensation-593836
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/holocaust-compensation-survivors-families-dutch-railway-ns-nazi-death-camps-a8977921.html

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. COMPENSATION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Compensation. 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?
national / railway / compensation / Holocaust / minorities / survivors / victim / euros /
payment / responsibility / border / history / appropriate / committee / moral / gesture
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. VICTIMS: Students A strongly believe all victims and/or surviving family members of past horrors should get compensation; Students B strongly believe they shouldn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TRAGEDIES: What do you know about these tragedies? How should they be remembered? Go online and then complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What You Know	How To Remember It
The Holocaust
The Slave Trade
The Black Death
The Partition of India
North Korea Famine
Cambodia Genocide

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. RAILWAY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "railway". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. REMEMBERING: Rank these with your partner. Put the best ways of remembering tragedies at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Prayer
A worldwide memorial day
A global museum
An Internet site
Lessons in school
A minute's silence
A website
Other ____________

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	national	a.	Sent someone out of a country, usually because they have done something bad.
2.	concentration camp	b.	Sent an army into another country to take it over.
3.	invaded	c.	A place where large numbers of people are imprisoned and killed.
4.	minorities	d.	In a straight family line from parents to children to aunts, uncles and cousins, etc.
5.	deported	e.	About a country.
6.	decade	f.	Groups of people living somewhere they are in smaller numbers than most people.
7.	direct	g.	A period of ten years.

Paragraph 2

8.	payment	h.	The state or fact of being to blame for something.
9.	responsibility	i.	Caused something unpleasant or painful to be suffered by someone or something.
10.	border	j.	Having pain, distress, or hardship.
11.	reasonable	k.	A line between two countries, or areas inside countries.
12.	inflicted	l.	An action performed to convey one's feelings or intentions.
13.	gesture	m.	Fair.
14.	suffering	n.	An action of giving someone money for something.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

A private Dutch railway company will compensate Holocaust victims. T / F
The article said Germany invaded Holland in 1941. T / F
The railway said it would pay hundreds of millions of euros. T / F
The railway will pay up to 15,000 euros to each victim or direct family. T / F
The company said it had no historical responsibility. T / F
The railway company's trains took victims as far as the German border. T / F
The company suggested the compensation amount was not enough. T / F
The company recognized its role in the suffering of the victims. T / F

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

national
compensate
invaded
deported
victim
responsibility
reasonable
suffering
gesture
relatives

action
expelled
duty
repay
hardship
sensible
state
sufferer
relations
occupied

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

Holland's national railway company is going
The company is known
thousands of Jews and
NS will pay tens of millions of euros to
pay between 5,000 euros to 15,000
payments were part of the company's
take the victims to
a black page in the history
suffering inflicted
suffering inflicted by the

other minorities
occupying forces
euros to each victim
the border
as NS
of the company
to compensate victims
on the victims
about 500 survivors
historical responsibility

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

known
pay
thousands
each
victims
direct
decided
deported

Holland's national railway company is going to compensate (1) ____________ of the Holocaust. World War II ended over 70 years ago, but the Dutch railway has (2) ____________ to give compensation to people who were taken to Nazi concentration camps on their trains. The company is (3) ____________ as NS. After Germany invaded Holland in 1940, NS trains transported (4) ____________ of Jews and other minorities to Nazi death camps. By the end of 1943, most Jews in the Netherlands had been removed and (5) ____________. Seven decades later, NS will (6) ____________ tens of millions of euros to about 500 survivors and to members of their (7) ____________ family. The company will pay between 5,000 euros to 15,000 euros to (8) ____________ victim.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

reasonable
border
way
surviving
part
share
black
gesture

The company said the payments were (9) ____________ of the company's historical responsibility. It said the company was paid by the Nazis to take the victims to the (10) ____________. The victims were put on German trains and taken to concentration camps. A spokesman said this was "a (11) ____________ page in the history of the company". He added: "There is no (12) ____________ or appropriate amount of money that [we can pay to] compensate in any (13) ____________ for the suffering inflicted on the victims." The committee said the payments were "a moral (14) ____________ ". It added: "NS wishes to express the recognition of its (15) ____________ in the individual suffering inflicted by the occupying forces on those involved and their direct (16) ____________ relatives."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Holland's national railway company is going to ______
     a. compensated victims
     b. compensate victims
     c. compensates victims
     d. compensation victims
2) camps on their trains. The company is ______
     a. knowing as NS
     b. known as NS
     c. know in as NS
     d. know on as NS
3) NS trains transported thousands of Jews ______
     a. and other minorities
     b. and another minorities
     c. and others minorities
     d. and the others minorities
4) most Jews in the Netherlands had been removed ______
     a. and deport it
     b. end deported
     c. and deported
     d. end deport it
5) pay tens of millions of euros to about 500 survivors and to members of ______
     a. their directly family
     b. their directs family
     c. their directed family
     d. their direct family

6) The company said the payments were part of the company's ______
     a. historical responsibilities
     b. historical response ability
     c. history call responsibility
     d. historical responsibility
7) It said the company was paid by the Nazis to take the ______
     a. victims to the border
     b. victimize to the border
     c. victims to the borders
     d. victims to the bordered
8) A spokesman said this was a black page in the ______ company
     a. history off the
     b. this story on the
     c. this story of the
     d. history of the
9) money that we can pay to compensate in any way for the ______
     a. suffer in inflict it
     b. suffers in inflicted
     c. suffering inflict it
     d. suffering inflicted
10) The committee said the payments were a ______
     a. moral jester
     b. moral gesture
     c. moral just your
     d. moral guess chore

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Holland's national railway company is going (1) ___________________ of the Holocaust. World War II ended over 70 years ago, but the Dutch railway has decided to give compensation to people (2) ___________________ to Nazi concentration camps on their trains. The company (3) ___________________ NS. After Germany invaded Holland in 1940, NS trains transported thousands of Jews and (4) ___________________ Nazi death camps. By the end of 1943, most Jews in the Netherlands had been removed and deported. Seven decades later, NS will pay (5) ___________________ of euros to about 500 survivors and to members of their direct family. The company will pay between 5,000 euros to 15,000 euros (6) ___________________.

The company said the (7) ___________________ of the company's historical responsibility. It said the company was paid by the Nazis to (8) ___________________ to the border. The victims were put on German trains and taken to concentration camps. A spokesman said this was "(9) ___________________ in the history of the company". He added: "There is no reasonable or appropriate amount of money that [we can pay to] compensate in any way (10) ___________________ inflicted on the victims." The committee said the payments were "(11) ___________________". It added: "NS wishes to express the recognition of its share in the individual suffering inflicted by the occupying forces (12) ___________________ and their direct surviving relatives."

Comprehension questions

When did the article say World War II ended?
What is the Dutch Railway company known as?
By the end of which year were there few Jews in Holland?
How much in total will the company pay in compensation?
What is the maximum amount the company will pay victims?
What did the company say the payments were part of?
What did the company call its historical actions?
What did the spokesman say there was no reasonable amount of?
What kind of gesture did the company call the payments?
Who did a spokesman say had inflicted suffering?

Multiple choice quiz

1) When did the article say World War II ended?
a) 69 years ago
b) over 70 years ago
c) 72 years ago
d) decades ago
2) What is the Dutch Railway company known as?
a) HR
b) DR
c) RR
d) NS
3) By the end of which year were there few Jews in Holland?
a) 1945
b) 1942
c) 1943
d) 1944
4) How much in total will the company pay in compensation?
a) tens of millions of euros
b) hundreds of millions of euros
c) 100 million euros
d) 10 million euros
5) What is the maximum amount the company will pay victims?
a) 5,000 euros
b) 15,000 euros
c) 10,000 euros
d) 20,000 euros

6) What did the company say the payments were part of?
a) its historical responsibility
b) its financial responsibility
c) its moral responsibility
d) its railway responsibility
7) What did the company call its historical actions?
a) a moral chapter in its history
b) a chapter in its history
c) a black page in its history
d) a page in history books
8) What did the spokesman say there was no reasonable amount of?
a) money for compensation
b) apologies
c) suffering
d) time to apologize
9) What kind of gesture did the company call the payments?
a) a grand gesture
b) a kind gesture
c) a financial gesture
d) a moral gesture
10) Who did a spokesman say had inflicted suffering?
a) NS
b) navies
c) occupying forces
d) generals

Role play

Role A – Prayer
You think prayer is the best way to remember tragedy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ways aren't as effective. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): a memorial day, a minute's silence or a school lesson.

Role B – A Memorial Day
You think a memorial day is the best way to remember tragedy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ways aren't as effective. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): prayer, a minute's silence or a school lesson.

Role C – A Minute's Silence
You think a minute's silence is the best way to remember tragedy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ways aren't as effective. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): a memorial day, prayer or a school lesson.

Role D – School Lesson
You think a school lesson is the best way to remember tragedy. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ways aren't as effective. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): a memorial day, a minute's silence or prayer.

After reading / listening

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

'victim'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'relative'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

part

black

amount

way

share

forces

going

decided

known

other

later

each

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 - Dutch railway to compensate Holocaust victims

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'compensation'?
What do you know about the Holocaust?
Why has the compensation taken 70 years to come?
Should the railway company or the government pay?
Who else in World War II should receive compensation?
What other countries or companies should pay compensation?
What do you think of NS for paying the compensation?
What do you think about the compensation amount?
What advice do you have for the victims?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'railway'?
What do you think about what you read?
Should compensation also be paid to victims of slave trades?
Should the company do anything else for the victims?
What other companies have black pages in their history?
Is a 'moral gesture' enough?
Should there be a time limit for paying compensation?
What three adjectives best describe this story?
What questions would you like to ask NS bosses?

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)

Holland's national railway company is (1) ____ to compensate victims of the Holocaust. World War II (2) ____ over 70 years ago, but the Dutch railway has decided to give compensation to people (3) ____ were taken to Nazi concentration camps on their trains. The company is known as NS. After Germany (4) ____ Holland in 1940, NS trains transported thousands of Jews and other minorities to Nazi death camps. By the end of 1943, most Jews in the Netherlands had been removed and deported. Seven decades later, NS will pay tens (5) ____ millions of euros to about 500 survivors and to members of their direct family. The company will pay between 5,000 euros to 15,000 euros to (6) ____ victim.

The company said the payments were part of the company's (7) ____ responsibility. It said the company was paid by the Nazis to take the victims to the (8) ____. The victims were put on German trains and taken to concentration camps. A spokesman said this was "a black (9) ____ in the history of the company". He added: "There is no reasonable or appropriate amount of money that [we can pay to] compensate in any (10) ____ for the suffering inflicted on the victims." The committee said the payments were "a moral gesture". It added: "NS wishes to express the recognition of its (11) ____ in the individual suffering inflicted by the occupying forces on those involved and their (12) ____ surviving relatives."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) going (b) gone (c) goes (d) go
(a) ending (b) ends (c) ended (d) end
(a) whose (b) whom (c) who (d) which
(a) faded (b) pervaded (c) evaded (d) invaded
(a) by (b) on (c) of (d) for
(a) those (b) each (c) all (d) their
(a) historian (b) historical (c) history (d) historically
(a) edge (b) border (c) rim (d) side
(a) mail (b) letter (c) page (d) contents
(a) mean (b) low (c) high (d) way
(a) shale (b) shave (c) shade (d) share
(a) spoken (b) frank (c) non-stop (d) direct

Spelling

Paragraph 1

vstciim of the Holocaust
thousands of Jews and other nestiiimro
removed and eperdtod
seven aecdeds later
about 500 ruorvssiv
members of their tircde family

Paragraph 2

the company's ihitcosral responsibility
take the victims to the robrde
There is no reasonable or proppirtaae amount
the payments were a moral seegutr
rfusiefng inflicted by the occupying forces
their direct surviving areilvets

Put the text back together

(...) inflicted by the occupying forces on those involved and their direct surviving relatives."
(...) The company said the payments were part of the company's historical responsibility. It said the company was
(...) paid by the Nazis to take the victims to the border. The victims were put on German trains and
(...) camps. By the end of 1943, most Jews in the Netherlands had been removed
(...) and deported. Seven decades later, NS will pay tens of millions of euros to about 500 survivors and to members
(...) gesture". It added: "NS wishes to express the recognition of its share in the individual suffering
(...) of their direct family. The company will pay between 5,000 euros to 15,000 euros to each victim.
(...) way for the suffering inflicted on the victims." The committee said the payments were "a moral
(...) people who were taken to Nazi concentration camps on their trains. The company is known
(...) reasonable or appropriate amount of money that [we can pay to] compensate in any
(...) taken to concentration camps. A spokesman said this was "a black page in the history of the company". He added: "There is no
(...) as NS. After Germany invaded Holland in 1940, NS trains transported thousands of Jews and other minorities to Nazi death
(...) ended over 70 years ago, but the Dutch railway has decided to give compensation to
( 1 ) Holland's national railway company is going to compensate victims of the Holocaust. World War II

Put the words in the right order

Dutch The railway to decided has give compensation .
were concentration to Nazi camps . who taken People
and of minorities . Jews other transported Trains thousands
in Netherlands Most Jews been removed . had the
will millions NS pay euros . of tens of
part company's Payments were of historical responsibility . the
were trains . German on put victims The
company's page black the in A history .
said were It moral payments gesture . the a
their Those relatives . direct involved and surviving

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Holland's national railway company is going to compensate victim / victims of the Holocaust. World War II ended / ends over 70 years ago, but the Dutch railway has decision / decided to give compensation to people who were taken / taking to Nazi concentration camps on their trains. The company is knowing / known as NS. After Germany invasion / invaded Holland in 1940, NS trains transported thousands of Jews and other minorities to Nazi dead / death camps. By the end of 1943, most Jews in the Netherlands had been removal / removed and deported. Seven decades later, NS will pay tens of millions of euros to about 500 survivors / survives and to members of their direct family. The company will pay between 5,000 euros to 15,000 euros to each / all victim.

The company said the payments / pays were part of the company's historical responsibility. It said the company was paid by the Nazis to take / taken the victims to the bordered / border. The victims were put on German trains and taken to concentration camp / camps. A spokesman said this was "a black page in / on the history of the company". He added: "There is no reasonable or appropriate volumes / amount of money that [we can pay to] compensate in many / any way for the suffering inflicted on the victims." The committee said the payments were / was "a moral gesture". It added: "NS wishes to express the recognition of its shave / share in the individual suffering inflicted by the occupying forces on those involved / revolved and their direct surviving relatives."

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)

H_l l_n d ' s n_t__ n_l r__ l w_y c_m p_n y _s g__ n g t_ c_m p_n s_t_ v_c t_m s _f t h_ H_l_c__ s t . W_r l d W_r I I _n d_d _v_r 7 0 y__ r s _g_, b_t t h_ D_t c h r__ l w_y h_s d_c_d_d t_ g_v_ c_m p_n s_t__ n t_ p__ p l_ w h_ w_r_ t_k_n t_ N_z_ c_n c_n t r_t__ n c_m p s _n t h__ r t r__ n s . T h_ c_m p_n y _s k n_w n _s N S . A f t_r G_r m_n y _n v_d_d H_l l_n d _n 1 9 4 0 , N S t r__ n s t r_n s p_r t_d t h__ s_n d s _f J_w s _n d _t h_r m_n_r_t__ s t_ N_z_ d__ t h c_m p s . B y t h_ _n d _f 1 9 4 3 , m_s t J_w s _n t h_ N_t h_r l_n d s h_d b__ n r_m_v_d _n d d_p_r t_d . S_v_n d_c_d_s l_t_r , N S w_l l p_y t_n s _f m_l l__ n s _f __ r_s t_ _b__ t 5 0 0 s_r v_v_r s _n d t_ m_m b_r s _f t h__ r d_r_c t f_m_l y . T h_ c_m p_n y w_l l p_y b_t w__ n 5 , 0 0 0 __ r_s t_ 1 5 , 0 0 0 __ r_s t_ __ c h v_c t_m .

T h_ c_m p_n y s__ d t h_ p_y m_n t s w_r_ p_r t _f t h_ c_m p_n y ' s h_s t_r_c_l r_s p_n s_b_l_t y . I t s__ d t h_ c_m p_n y w_s p__ d b y t h_ N_z_s t_ t_k_ t h_ v_c t_m s t_ t h_ b_r d_r . T h_ v_c t_m s w_r_ p_t _n G_r m_n t r__ n s _n d t_k_n t_ c_n c_n t r_t__ n c_m p s . A s p_k_s m_n s__ d t h_s w_s "_ b l_c k p_g_ _n t h_ h_s t_r y _f t h_ c_m p_n y " . H_ _d d_d : " T h_r_ _s n_ r__ s_n_b l_ _r _p p r_p r__ t_ _m__ n t _f m_n_y t h_t [ w_ c_n p_y t_] c_m p_n s_t_ _n _n y w_y f_r t h_ s_f f_r_n g _n f l_c t_d _n t h_ v_c t_m s . " T h_ c_m m_t t__ s__ d t h_ p_y m_n t s w_r_ "_ m_r_l g_s t_r_" . I t _d d_d : " N S w_s h_s t_ _x p r_s s t h_ r_c_g n_t__ n _f _t s s h_r_ _n t h_ _n d_v_d__ l s_f f_r_n g _n f l_c t_d b y t h_ _c c_p y_n g f_r c_s _n t h_s_ _n v_l v_d _n d t h__ r d_r_c t s_r v_v_n g r_l_t_v_s . "

Punctuate the text and add capitals

hollands national railway company is going to compensate victims of the holocaust world war ii ended over 70 years ago but the dutch railway has decided to give compensation to people who were taken to nazi concentration camps on their trains the company is known as ns after germany invaded holland in 1940 ns trains transported thousands of jews and other minorities to nazi death camps by the end of 1943 most jews in the netherlands had been removed and deported seven decades later ns will pay tens of millions of euros to about 500 survivors and to members of their direct family the company will pay between 5000 euros to 15000 euros to each victim

the company said the payments were part of the companys historical responsibility it said the company was paid by the nazis to take the victims to the border The victims were put on german trains and taken to concentration camps a spokesman said this was a black page in the history of the company he added there is no reasonable or appropriate amount of money that we can pay to compensate in any way for the suffering inflicted on the victims the committee said the payments were a moral gesture it added ns wishes to express the recognition of its share in the individual suffering inflicted by the occupying forces on those involved and their direct surviving relatives

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Holland'snationalrailwaycompanyisgoingtocompensatevictimsofth
eHolocaust.WorldWarIIendedover70yearsago,buttheDutchrailway
hasdecidedtogivecompensationtopeoplewhoweretakentoNaziconce
ntrationcampsontheirtrains.ThecompanyisknownasNS.AfterGerma
nyinvadedHollandin1940,NStrainstransportedthousandsofJewsand
otherminoritiestoNazideathcamps.Bytheendof1943,mostJewsinthe
Netherlandshadbeenremovedanddeported.Sevendecadeslater,NS
willpaytensofmillionsofeurostoabout500survivorsandtomembersoft
heirdirectfamily.Thecompanywillpaybetween5,000eurosto15,000e
urostoeachvictim.Thecompanysaidthepaymentswerepartofthecom
pany'shistoricalresponsibility.ItsaidthecompanywaspaidbytheNazis
totakethevictimstotheborder.ThevictimswereputonGermantrainsa
ndtakentoconcentrationcamps.Aspokesmansaidthiswas"ablackpag
einthehistoryofthecompany".Headded:"Thereisnoreasonableorapp
ropriateamountofmoneythat[wecanpayto]compensateinanywayfor
thesufferinginflictedonthevictims."Thecommitteesaidthepayments
were"amoralgesture".Itadded:"NSwishestoexpresstherecognitiono
fitsshareintheindividualsufferinginflictedbytheoccupyingforcesonth
oseinvolvedandtheirdirectsurvivingrelatives."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Compensation should be paid to all victims of past horrors. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. HOLOCAUST: Make a poster about the Holocaust. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. COMPENSATION: Write a magazine article about paying compensation to victims of past atrocities and injustices. 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. COMPENSATION: Write a letter to an expert on compensation. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on paying compensation to victims of historic injustices. 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.)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English Lesson on Compensation

Home | Help This Site

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS