The Reading / Listening - Ambassador Recall - Level 6

A major diplomatic spat has erupted after France recalled its ambassadors to Australia and the USA. The rift follows Australia cancelling an order for France to supply it with 12 conventional diesel-powered submarines. The deal was signed in 2016 and was worth $37 billion in business to the French. Instead, Australia has opted to buy nuclear-powered submarines, reneging on the 2016 agreement. France's President Macron called the cancellation of the deal a "stab in the back" and a "betrayal" by Australia. Mr Macron also recalled France's top diplomat to the USA. He said the US and Australia were exploring "the possibility of future cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines".

A new, strategic security alliance between Australia, the UK and the USA is the cause of the split. The alliance is called AUKUS – an acronym based on the names of the three countries signed up to it. AUKUS means Australia will be provided with the technology to operate nuclear-powered submarines. France says it was only informed of the alliance hours before it was publicly announced to the world. France is the USA's oldest ally. The French foreign minister said his country's "exceptional decision" was because of the "exceptional gravity" of the situation. It is said AUKUS is to counter China's influence in the region. China accused the three AUKUS powers of displaying a "Cold War mentality".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Ambassador Recall - Level 4  or  Ambassador Recall - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.foxnews.com/politics/france-recalls-ambassadors-to-u-s-and-australia-in-response-to-aukus-nuclear-submarine-pact
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58604677
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/17/politics/french-ambassador-to-the-us-recalled/index.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. AMBASSADORS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about ambassadors. 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?
       diplomatic spat / ambassador / rift / submarine / agreement / a stab in the back /
       strategic / alliance / acronym / technology / decision / influence / region / Cold War
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ARMS REDUCTION: Students A strongly believe we should be reducing arms, not building more; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS: How are your country's diplomatic relations with these countries? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good

Needs Improving

USA

 

 

UK

 

 

Australia

 

 

China

 

 

Japan

 

 

Brazil

 

 
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. SUBMARINE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "submarine". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things to promote positive international relations at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Border security
  • Sport
  • Trade
  • Religion
  • Investment
  • Culture
  • Language
  • Military cooperation

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. spat a. Made a choice from a range of possibilities.
      2. erupted b. Broke a promise to someone in a disloyal way.
      3. conventional c. An argument.
      4. opted d. An official representing a country abroad.
      5. stab in the back e. Broke out suddenly and dramatically.
      6. betrayal f. Non-nuclear (when talking about weapons or power).
      7. diplomat g. The act of being seriously disloyal to someone.

    Paragraph 2

      8. alliance h. The power to have an effect on the development or behaviour of someone or something.
      9. acronym i. A group formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organizations.
      10. informed j. An abbreviation made from the first letters of other words and pronounced as a word (e.g. NASA).
      11. exceptional k. Extreme importance; seriousness.
      12. gravity l. Unusual; not typical.
      13. counter m. Gave someone facts or information.
      14. influence n. Respond to hostile speech or action.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. France recalled ambassadors to Australia, the USA and UK.     T / F
  2. Australia and France signed a submarine deal in 2016.     T / F
  3. The French president said Australia stabbed France in the back.     T / F
  4. The article says Australia and the UK will talk about future cooperation.   T / F
  5. There is a new alliance between Australia, the USA, UK and Canada.     T / F
  6. France was told about the alliance a week before the rest of the world.    T / F
  7. France is the oldest US ally.     T / F
  8. China said the actions of AUKUS were like something from the Cold War. T / F

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

  1. major
  2. rift
  3. conventional
  4. opted
  5. betrayal
  6. alliance
  7. informed
  8. exceptional
  9. gravity
  10. mentality
  1. chosen
  2. seriousness
  3. serious
  4. union
  5. extraordinary
  6. breach of trust
  7. disagreement
  8. outlook
  9. traditional
  10. notified

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

  1. A major diplomatic spat has
  2. The deal was signed in 2016 and
  3. reneging
  4. a stab in the back and a
  5. the possibility of future
  6. A new, strategic security
  7. an acronym based
  8. it was only informed of the alliance
  9. the exceptional gravity
  10. displaying a Cold War
  1. on the names
  2. hours before
  3. cooperation
  4. alliance
  5. on the 2016 agreement
  6. erupted
  7. of the situation
  8. mentality
  9. betrayal by Australia
  10. was worth $37 billion

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
deal
opted
diplomat
spat
cooperation
worth
supply
stab

A major diplomatic (1) _____________________ has erupted after France recalled its ambassadors to Australia and the USA. The rift follows Australia cancelling an order for France to (2) _____________________ it with 12 conventional diesel-powered submarines. The (3) _____________________ was signed in 2016 and was (4) _____________________ $37 billion in business to the French. Instead, Australia has (5) _____________________ to buy nuclear-powered submarines, reneging on the 2016 agreement. France's President Macron called the cancellation of the deal a "(6) _____________________ in the back" and a "betrayal" by Australia. Mr Macron also recalled France's top (7) _____________________ to the USA. He said the US and Australia were exploring "the possibility of future (8) _____________________ on nuclear-powered submarines".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
gravity
cause
informed
mentality
alliance
influence
ally
acronym

A new, strategic security (9) _____________________ between Australia, the UK and the USA is the (10) _____________________ of the split. The alliance is called AUKUS - an (11) _____________________ based on the names of the three countries signed up to it. AUKUS means Australia will be provided with the technology to operate nuclear-powered submarines. France says it was only (12) _____________________ of the alliance hours before it was publicly announced to the world. France is the USA's oldest (13) _____________________. The French foreign minister said his country's "exceptional decision" was because of the "exceptional (14) _____________________" of the situation. It is said AUKUS is to counter China's (15) _____________________ in the region. China accused the three AUKUS powers of displaying a "Cold War (16) _____________________".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A major diplomatic spat has erupted after France ______
     a.  recalled its ambassadorial
     b.  recalled its ambassador
     c.  recalled its ambassadors
     d.  recalled its embassy doors
2)  The rift follows Australia cancelling an order for France ______
     a.  two supply it
     b.  too supply it
     c.  to supply it
     d.  twos supply it
3)  The deal was signed in 2016 and was worth $37 ______
     a.  billion on business
     b.  billion an business
     c.  billion at business
     d.  billion in business
4)  France's President Macron called the cancellation of the deal a "______ back"
     a.  slab in the
     b.  scab in the
     c.  snub in the
     d.  stab in the
5)  He said the US and Australia were exploring the possibility ______
     a.  of future cooperative
     b.  of future corporation
     c.  of future cooperation
     d.  of future operation

6)  strategic security alliance between Australia, the UK and the USA is the cause ______
     a.  of the splitter
     b.  of the sprite
     c.  of the splat
     d.  of the split
7)  an acronym based on the names of the three countries signed ______
     a.  top to it
     b.  tub to it
     c.  up to it
     d.  over to it
8)  France says it was only informed of the alliance hours before it ______
     a.  was publicly announced
     b.  was publicly announce
     c.  was public announced
     d.  was publicity announced
9)  his country's exceptional decision was because of the exceptional ______ situation
     a.  gravity to the
     b.  gravity of the
     c.  gravity on the
     d.  gravity or the
10)  China accused the three AUKUS powers of displaying a "______"
     a.  Warm War mentality
     b.  Hot War mentality
     c.  Cold War mentality
     d.  Tepid War mentality

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A major diplomatic (1) ____________________ after France recalled its ambassadors to Australia and the USA. (2) ____________________ Australia cancelling an order for France to supply it with 12 conventional diesel-powered submarines. The deal was signed in 2016 and was worth $37 billion in business to the French. Instead, Australia has (3) ____________________ nuclear-powered submarines, reneging on the 2016 agreement. France's President Macron called the cancellation of the (4) ____________________ in the back" and (5) ____________________ Australia. Mr Macron also recalled France's top diplomat to the USA. He said the US and Australia were exploring "the possibility (6) ____________________ on nuclear-powered submarines".

A new, (7) ____________________ between Australia, the UK and the USA is the cause of the split. The alliance is called AUKUS - an (8) ____________________ the names of the three countries signed up to it. AUKUS means Australia will be provided with the technology to operate nuclear-powered submarines. France says it was (9) ____________________ the alliance hours before it was publicly announced to the world. France is the (10) ____________________. The French foreign minister said his country's "exceptional decision" was because of the "exceptional gravity" of the situation. It is said AUKUS is to counter China's (11) ____________________ region. China accused the three AUKUS powers of displaying a "(12) ____________________".

Comprehension questions

  1. How many diesel-powered subs did Australia order from France?
  2. When was the deal between France and Australia originally signed?
  3. How much was the original submarine deal worth?
  4. What did France's president call the deal?
  5. What are the USA and Australia exploring?
  6. What is the name of the new strategic alliance?
  7. When was France informed of the new alliance?
  8. Who is the USA's oldest ally?
  9. Who suggested the situation was exceptionally grave?
  10. What did China say Australia, the USA and UK were displaying?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many diesel-powered subs did Australia order from France?
a) 14
b) 10
c) 12
d) 16
2) When was the deal between France and Australia originally signed?
a) 2016
b) 2017
c) 2018
d) 2019
3) How much was the original submarine deal worth?
a) $38 billion
b) $37 billion
c) $73 billion
d) $83 billion
4) What did France's president call the deal?
a) a pain in the neck
b) a kick in the teeth
c) a slap round the face
d) a stab in the back
5) What are the USA and Australia exploring?
a) the bottom of the ocean
b) space
c) future cooperation
d) nuclear fusion

6) What is the name of the new strategic alliance?
a) AUSUK
b) AUKUS
c) USUKA
d) UKAUS
7) When was France informed of the new alliance?
a) days before it happened
b) as it happened
c) minutes before it happened
d) hours before it happened
8) Who is the USA's oldest ally?
a) Australia
b) France
c) China
d) the UK
9) Who suggested the situation was exceptionally grave?
a) China
b) France's foreign minister
c) the UK's leader
d) a submarine commander
10) What did China say Australia, the USA and UK were displaying?
a) a Cold War mentality
b) stupidity
c) aggression
d) diplomacy

Role play

Role  A – Sport
You think sport is the most important thing to promote positive international relations. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): trade, language or culture.

Role  B – Trade
You think trade is the most important thing to promote positive international relations. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): sport, language or culture.

Role  C – Language
You think language is the most important thing to promote positive international relations. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): trade, sport or culture.

Role  D – Culture
You think culture is the most important thing to promote positive international relations. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): trade, language or sport.

After reading / listening

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

'ambassador'

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

    • and 'submarine'.

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

    • • 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:

    • major
    • order
    • business
    • 2016
    • stab
    • top
    • new
    • based
    • hours
    • oldest
    • situation
    • three

    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 - Ambassador Recall

    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 'ambassador'?
    3. What do you know about the diplomatic rift?
    4. How important are submarines?
    5. Should France have recalled its ambassadors?
    6. Was Australia right to cancel the order for France to build submarines?
    7. How damaging could this rift be?
    8. What are the consequences of countries reneging on deals?
    9. How much of a 'stab in the back' is Australia's decision?
    10. What advice do you have for the French government?

    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 'submarine'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Would you be a good diplomat?
    5. What do you think of the AUKUS alliance?
    6. Could the rift affect how NATO operates?
    7. How grave is the diplomatic rift?
    8. Is AUKUS a reaction to China?
    9. Are the AUKUS countries displaying a 'Cold War mentality'?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Australia's government?

    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)

    A major diplomatic (1) ____ has erupted after France recalled its ambassadors to Australia and the USA. The (2) ____ follows Australia cancelling an order for France to supply it with 12 conventional diesel-powered submarines. The deal was signed in 2016 and was worth $37 billion (3) ____ business to the French. Instead, Australia has (4) ____ to buy nuclear-powered submarines, reneging on the 2016 agreement. France's President Macron called the cancellation of the deal a "(5) ____ in the back" and a "betrayal" by Australia. Mr Macron also recalled France's top diplomat to the USA. He said the US and Australia were exploring "the possibility of future cooperation (6) ____ nuclear-powered submarines".

    A new, strategic security alliance between Australia, the UK and the USA is the cause of the (7) ____. The alliance is called AUKUS - an acronym based (8) ____ the names of the three countries signed up to it. AUKUS means Australia will be provided with the technology to operate nuclear-powered submarines. France says it was only (9) ____ of the alliance hours before it was publicly announced to the world. France is the USA's oldest (10) ____. The French foreign minister said his country's "exceptional decision" was because of the "exceptional (11) ____" of the situation. It is said AUKUS is to counter China's influence in the region. China (12) ____ the three AUKUS powers of displaying a "Cold War mentality".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     spit     (b)     spot     (c)     spat     (d)     spate    
    2. (a)     rift     (b)     raft     (c)     loft     (d)     lift    
    3. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    4. (a)     opted     (b)     raptured     (c)     catered     (d)     erred    
    5. (a)     stub     (b)     stab     (c)     slab     (d)     slob    
    6. (a)     by     (b)     as     (c)     at     (d)     on    
    7. (a)     chasm     (b)     cleft     (c)     split     (d)     bust    
    8. (a)     as     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    9. (a)     informed     (b)     reformed     (c)     affirmed     (d)     confirmed    
    10. (a)     really     (b)     ally     (c)     allied     (d)     all    
    11. (a)     brevity     (b)     gravity     (c)     attraction     (d)     breakage    
    12. (a)     bemused     (b)     recluse     (c)     accused     (d)     assuaged

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. A major diplomatic spat has puedret
    2. dotpe to buy nuclear-powered submarines
    3. giegrnne on the 2016 agreement
    4. a "stab in the back" and a earbaytl
    5. elnorpgxi the possibility
    6. future apoocrnieot on nuclear-powered submarines

    Paragraph 2

    1. A new, strategic security alielacn
    2. an anycmro based on the names
    3. his country's teoinelcxpa decision
    4. the exceptional ritvagy of the situation
    5. ueccasd the three AUKUS powers
    6. displaying a Cold War aiytltnem

    Put the text back together

    (...)  region. China accused the three AUKUS powers of displaying a "Cold War mentality".
    (...)  ally. The French foreign minister said his country's "exceptional decision" was because
    (...)  split. The alliance is called AUKUS - an acronym based on the names of the three countries signed
    (...)  says it was only informed of the alliance hours before it was publicly announced to the world. France is the USA's oldest
    (...)  recalled France's top diplomat to the USA. He said the US and Australia were
    (  1  ) A major diplomatic spat has erupted after France recalled its ambassadors to Australia and the USA. The rift
    (...)  up to it. AUKUS means Australia will be provided with the technology to operate nuclear-powered submarines. France
    (...)  submarines. The deal was signed in 2016 and was worth $37 billion in business to the French. Instead, Australia has opted
    (...)  the cancellation of the deal a "stab in the back" and a "betrayal" by Australia. Mr Macron also
    (...)  to buy nuclear-powered submarines, reneging on the 2016 agreement. France's President Macron called
    (...)  A new, strategic security alliance between Australia, the UK and the USA is the cause of the
    (...)  of the "exceptional gravity" of the situation. It is said AUKUS is to counter China's influence in the
    (...)  exploring "the possibility of future cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines".
    (...)  follows Australia cancelling an order for France to supply it with 12 conventional diesel-powered

    Put the words in the right order

    1. submarines   .   12   Supply   conventional   diesel-powered   it   with
    2. nuclear-powered   has   to   Australia   buy   opted   submarines   .
    3. cancellation   was   in   stab   The   back   .   the   a
    4. the   recalled   France's   top   Macron   diplomat   USA   .   to
    5. Australia   exploring   The   US   and   were   possibility   .   the
    6. allies   .   traditional   of   cause   split   The   between   the
    7. countries   .   three   names   on   the   the   Based   of
    8. informed   hours   before   .   It   alliance   the   was   of
    9. gravity   the   situation   .   of   Because   exceptional   the   of
    10. a   China   accused   mentality   .   them   of   War   Cold

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A major / majorly diplomatic spat / spit has erupted after France recalled its ambassadors to Australia and the USA. The raft / rift follows Australia cancelling an order for France to supply it with 12 conventional diesel-powered submarines. The deal was singed / signed in 2016 and was worth $37 billion in business to the French. Instead, Australia has opted / option to buy nuclear-powered submarines, reneging in / on the 2016 agreement. France's President Macron called the cancellation of the deal the / a "stab in the back" and a "betrayal" / "betray" by Australia. Mr Macron also recalled France's top diplomat / diplomacy to the USA. He said the US and Australia were exploring "the possibility to / of future cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines".

    A new, strategic security ally / alliance between Australia, the UK and the USA is the cause / course of the split. The alliance is called AUKUS - an acronym based / biased on the names of the three countries signed down / up to it. AUKUS means Australia will be provided of / with the technology to operate nuclear-powered submarines. France says it was only informed to / of the alliance hours before it was publicly announced to / at the world. France is the USA's oldest ally. The French foreign minister said his country's "exceptional decision" was because of the "exceptional gravity" of the situation / situational. It is said AUKUS is to confer / counter China's influence in the region. China accused the three AUKUS powers of displaying a "Cold War mentality / mental".

    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)

    _  m_j_r  d_pl_m_t_c  sp_t  h_s  _r_pt_d  _ft_r  Fr_nc_  r_c_ll_d  _ts  _mb_ss_d_rs  t_  __str_l__  _nd  th_  _S_.  Th_  r_ft  f_ll_ws  __str_l__  c_nc_ll_ng  _n  _rd_r  f_r  Fr_nc_  t_  s_pply  _t  w_th  12  c_nv_nt__n_l  d__s_l-p_w_r_d  s_bm_r_n_s.  Th_  d__l  w_s  s_gn_d  _n  2016  _nd  w_s  w_rth  $37  b_ll__n  _n  b_s_n_ss  t_  th_  Fr_nch.  _nst__d,  __str_l__  h_s  _pt_d  t_  b_y  n_cl__r-p_w_r_d  s_bm_r_n_s,  r_n_g_ng  _n  th_  2016  _gr__m_nt.  Fr_nc_'s  Pr_s_d_nt  M_cr_n  c_ll_d  th_  c_nc_ll_t__n  _f  th_  d__l  _  "st_b  _n  th_  b_ck"  _nd  _  "b_tr_y_l"  by  __str_l__.  Mr  M_cr_n  _ls_  r_c_ll_d  Fr_nc_'s  t_p  d_pl_m_t  t_  th_  _S_.  H_  s__d  th_  _S  _nd  __str_l__  w_r_  _xpl_r_ng  "th_  p_ss_b_l_ty  _f  f_t_r_  c__p_r_t__n  _n  n_cl__r-p_w_r_d  s_bm_r_n_s".

    _  n_w,  str_t_g_c  s_c_r_ty  _ll__nc_  b_tw__n  __str_l__,  th_  _K  _nd  th_  _S_  _s  th_  c__s_  _f  th_  spl_t.  Th_  _ll__nc_  _s  c_ll_d  __K_S  -  _n  _cr_nym  b_s_d  _n  th_  n_m_s  _f  th_  thr__  c__ntr__s  s_gn_d  _p  t_  _t.  __K_S  m__ns  __str_l__  w_ll  b_  pr_v_d_d  w_th  th_  t_chn_l_gy  t_  _p_r_t_  n_cl__r-p_w_r_d  s_bm_r_n_s.  Fr_nc_  s_ys  _t  w_s  _nly  _nf_rm_d  _f  th_  _ll__nc_  h__rs  b_f_r_  _t  w_s  p_bl_cly  _nn__nc_d  t_  th_  w_rld.  Fr_nc_  _s  th_  _S_'s  _ld_st  _lly.  Th_  Fr_nch  f_r__gn  m_n_st_r  s__d  h_s  c__ntry's  "_xc_pt__n_l  d_c_s__n"  w_s  b_c__s_  _f  th_  "_xc_pt__n_l  gr_v_ty"  _f  th_  s_t__t__n.  _t  _s  s__d  __K_S  _s  t_  c__nt_r  Ch_n_'s  _nfl__nc_  _n  th_  r_g__n.  Ch_n_  _cc_s_d  th_  thr__  __K_S  p_w_rs  _f  d_spl_y_ng  _  "C_ld  W_r  m_nt_l_ty".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a major diplomatic spat has erupted after france recalled its ambassadors to australia and the usa the rift follows australia cancelling an order for france to supply it with 12 conventional dieselpowered submarines the deal was signed in 2016 and was worth 37 billion in business to the french instead australia has opted to buy nuclearpowered submarines reneging on the 2016 agreement frances president macron called the cancellation of the deal a stab in the back and a betrayal by australia mr macron also recalled frances top diplomat to the usa he said the us and australia were exploring the possibility of future cooperation on nuclearpowered submarines

    a new strategic security alliance between australia the uk and the usa is the cause of the split the alliance is called aukus  an acronym based on the names of the three countries signed up to it aukus means australia will be provided with the technology to operate nuclearpowered submarines france says it was only informed of the alliance hours before it was publicly announced to the world france is the usas oldest ally the french foreign minister said his countrys exceptional decision was because of the exceptional gravity of the situation it is said aukus is to counter chinas influence in the region china accused the three aukus powers of displaying a cold war mentality

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AmajordiplomaticspathaseruptedafterFrancerecalleditsambassado
    rstoAustraliaandtheUSA.TheriftfollowsAustraliacancellinganorderfo
    rFrancetosupplyitwith12conventionaldiesel-poweredsubmarines.T
    hedealwassignedin2016andwasworth$37billioninbusinesstotheFre
    nch.Instead,Australiahasoptedtobuynuclear-poweredsubmarines,
    renegingonthe2016agreement.France'sPresidentMacroncalledthec
    ancellationofthedeala"stabintheback"anda"betrayal"byAustralia.Mr
    MacronalsorecalledFrance'stopdiplomattotheUSA.HesaidtheUSand
    Australiawereexploring"thepossibilityoffuturecooperationonnuclear
    -poweredsubmarines".Anew,strategicsecurityalliancebetweenAus
    tralia,theUKandtheUSAisthecauseofthesplitbetweenthetraditionalal
    lies.TheallianceiscalledAUKUS-anacronymbasedonthenamesofthet
    hreecountriessigneduptoit.AUKUSmeansAustraliawillbeprovidedwit
    hthetechnologytooperatenuclear-poweredsubmarines.Francesaysi
    twasonlyinformedofthealliancehoursbeforeitwaspubliclyannounced
    totheworld.TheFrenchforeignministersaidhiscountry's"exceptionald
    ecision"wasbecauseofthe"exceptionalgravity"ofthesituation.Itissai
    dAUKUSistocounterChina'sinfluenceintheregion.Chinaaccusedthet
    hreeAUKUSpowersofdisplayinga"ColdWarmentality".

    Free writing

    Write about the ambassador recall for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    AUKUS is a threat to stability in the region.  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. AMBASSADORS: Make a poster about ambassadors. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. AUKUS: Write a magazine article about AUKUS being a threat to regional stability. Include imaginary interviews with people who agree with this and with people who disagree with it.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on submarines. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make them better. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Also...

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

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

    Buy my book

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    Answers

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

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