The Reading / Listening - Learning to Read - Level 6

A 104-year-old woman from Kerala, India has passed a state literacy test. Her name is Kuttiyamma and she only learned to read and write last year. Despite having just a year's tuition and being somewhat older than the average pupil, Kuttiyamma passed her tests with flying colours. She achieved a score of 89 per cent on the Kerala State Literacy Test. Such was her inspirational achievement, Kerala's education minister congratulated her. He tweeted: "With the utmost love and respect, I wish Kuttiyamma…the best." He uploaded a photo of the star student in which she is grinning from ear to ear. Another person tweeted: "I salute Kuttiyamma for her dedication. It will inspire others for sure."

Kerala state has India's highest literacy rate at 96.2 per cent and invests heavily in education. It has a strong focus on adult education, which Kuttiyamma benefited from. Her endeavours prove that age is just a number and that we can achieve anything when we put our minds to it. Kuttiyamma did not have a formal education as she did not go to school. However, her state-assigned tutor called her "a very sharp woman". He said his student was "overjoyed" after she saw her test results. A state official said: "Kuttiyamma is a role model and motivation to all women in adult education". Kuttiyamma said she wants to start writing letters and continue her studies to improve her skills.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Learning to Read - Level 4  or  Learning to Read - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/104-year-old-kerala-woman-sets-to-inspire-scores-89-out-of-100-in-the-literacy-test-1876854-2021-11-15
  • https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/2021/11/16/indian-woman-104-aces-test-after-learning-to-read-and-write/
  • https://www.india.com/viral/never-too-late-104-year-old-woman-kuttiyamma-scored-89-100-literacy-exam-joy-on-her-face-is-evident-see-pic-5095984/


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. LEARNING TO READ: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about learning to read. 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?
       India / literacy / read / write / tuition / average / pupil / achievement / star / sure /
       invests / education / focus / endeavours / minds / tutor / state / motivation / skills
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. LITERACY: Students A strongly believe literacy is more important than numeracy; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TESTS: How can you study for these things? How effective are these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How to Study

Effectiveness

Vocabulary

 

 

Spelling

 

 

Grammar

 

 

Writing

 

 

Listening

 

 

Speaking

 

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

  • literacy
  • numeracy
  • coding
  • first aid
  • mountain survival
  • business
  • music
  • art

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. literacy a. The ability to read and write.
      2. tuition b. Most extreme; greatest.
      3. pupil c. Teaching, especially of individual students or small groups of students.
      4. flying colours d. Having the ability to get others to do something creative or good.
      5. inspirational e. A person who is taught by another person.
      6. utmost f. Very successfully.
      7. salute g. A gesture of respect made to or by a person.

    Paragraph 2

      8. invest h. Being able to think quickly; intelligence.
      9. endeavour i. Appointed by someone.
      10. formal j. Put money into financial schemes, shares, property, etc. to get more money back.
      11. assigned k. Relating to an authority or public body and its activities and responsibilities.
      12. sharp l. Lots of effort.
      13. official m. A reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.
      14. motivation n. Officially recognized.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A 104-year-old woman started learning to read last month.     T / F
  2. The woman was about average age in her class.     T / F
  3. India's education minister congratulated the woman.     T / F
  4. A person on Twitter said the woman was inspirational.     T / F
  5. India's literacy rate is over 96%.     T / F
  6. The woman told reporters that age was a barrier to learning.     T / F
  7. The woman's tutor said she was a sharp woman.     T / F
  8. The woman will now stop studying and enjoy her old age.     T / F

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

  1. tuition
  2. utmost
  3. grinning
  4. salute
  5. inspire
  6. focus
  7. prove
  8. sharp
  9. overjoyed
  10. improve
  1. greatest
  2. intelligent
  3. emphasis
  4. motivate
  5. upgrade
  6. instruction
  7. ecstatic
  8. honour
  9. demonstrate
  10. smiling

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

  1. Despite having just a
  2. passed her tests with flying
  3. Such was her inspirational
  4. she is grinning from
  5. It will inspire others for
  6. Kerala state has India's highest literacy
  7. It has a strong focus
  8. when we put our minds
  9. have a formal
  10. A state
  1. rate
  2. sure
  3. official
  4. colours
  5. year's tuition
  6. to it
  7. education
  8. ear to ear
  9. on adult education
  10. achievement

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
utmost
pupil
inspire
literacy
achieved
just
grinning
inspirational

A 104-year-old woman from Kerala, India has passed a state (1) _____________________ test. Her name is Kuttiyamma and she only learned to read and write last year. Despite having (2) _____________________ a year's tuition and being somewhat older than the average (3) _____________________, Kuttiyamma passed her tests with flying colours. She (4) _____________________ a score of 89 per cent on the Kerala State Literacy Test. Such was her (5) _____________________ achievement, Kerala's education minister congratulated her. He tweeted: "With the (6) _____________________ love and respect, I wish Kuttiyamma...the best." He uploaded a photo of the star student in which she is (7) _____________________ from ear to ear. Another person tweeted: "I salute Kuttiyamma for her dedication. It will (8) _____________________ others for sure."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
skills
prove
sharp
literacy
model
focus
overjoyed
formal

Kerala state has India's highest (9) _____________________ rate at 96.2 per cent and invests heavily in education. It has a strong (10) _____________________ on adult education, which Kuttiyamma benefited from. Her endeavours (11) _____________________ that age is just a number and that we can achieve anything when we put our minds to it. Kuttiyamma did not have a (12) _____________________ education as she did not go to school. However, her state-assigned tutor called her "a very (13) _____________________ woman". He said his student was "(14) _____________________" after she saw her test results. A state official said: "Kuttiyamma is a role (15) _____________________ and motivation to all women in adult education". Kuttiyamma said she wants to start writing letters and continue her studies to improve her (16) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A 104-year-old woman from Kerala, India has passed a ______
     a.  state literacy test
     b.  state literally test
     c.  state literati test
     d.  state literacies test
2)  Despite having just a year's tuition and being somewhat older than ______
     a.  the average pew pull
     b.  the average pupil
     c.  the average pew pill
     d.  the average pup all
3)  I wish Kuttiyamma...the best." He uploaded a photo of ______
     a.  the stars student
     b.  the start student
     c.  the star student
     d.  the startled student
4)  He uploaded a photo of the star student in which she is ______ to ear
     a.  grin in from ear
     b.  grin infer ear
     c.  greening from ear
     d.  grinning from ear
5)  I salute Kuttiyamma for her dedication. It ______
     a.  willing spire others
     b.  wheeling spire others
     c.  will inspire others
     d.  wheel inspire others

6)  Kerala state has India's highest literacy rate at 96.2 per cent and invests ______
     a.  heavily in education
     b.  heave all in education
     c.  heave ally in education
     d.  heft ally in education
7)  Kuttiyamma benefited from. Her endeavours prove that age is ______
     a.  just a number
     b.  justly a number
     c.  adjust a number
     d.  juice a number
8)  and that we can achieve anything when we put our ______
     a.  binds to it
     b.  rinds to it
     c.  kinds to it
     d.  minds to it
9)  However, her state-assigned tutor called her "a ______"
     a.  very sharp woman
     b.  very shape woman
     c.  very chirp woman
     d.  very chap woman
10)  Kuttiyamma said she wants to start writing letters and ______
     a.  continue her stud is
     b.  continue her students
     c.  continue her studies
     d.  continue her studious

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A 104-year-old woman from Kerala, India has passed (1) ____________________ test. Her name is Kuttiyamma and she only learned to read and write last year. Despite having just a year's tuition and being somewhat older than (2) ____________________, Kuttiyamma passed her tests with flying colours. She (3) ____________________ of 89 per cent on the Kerala State Literacy Test. Such was her inspirational achievement, Kerala's education minister congratulated her. He tweeted: "With the (4) ____________________ respect, I wish Kuttiyamma...the best." He uploaded a photo of the star student in which she is (5) ____________________ to ear. Another person tweeted: "I salute Kuttiyamma for her dedication. It (6) ____________________ for sure."

Kerala state has India's (7) ____________________ at 96.2 per cent and invests heavily in education. It has a (8) ____________________ adult education, which Kuttiyamma benefited from. Her endeavours prove that age is just a number and that we can achieve anything when we put our (9) ____________________. Kuttiyamma did not have a formal education as she did not go to school. However, her (10) ____________________ called her "a very sharp woman". He said his student was "overjoyed" after she saw her test results. A state official said: "Kuttiyamma is (11) ____________________ and motivation to all women in adult education". Kuttiyamma said she wants to start writing letters and continue her studies to (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. When did Kuttiyamma start learning to read and write?
  2. What score did Kuttiyamma get on the state literacy test?
  3. Who congratulated her?
  4. What was Kuttiyamma doing in a photo?
  5. Who saluted Kuttiyamma?
  6. What's the literacy rate in Kerala?
  7. What does Kerala have a strong focus on?
  8. What did Kuttiyamma's tutor call her?
  9. How did Kuttiyamma feel when she saw her test results?
  10. What does Kuttiyamma want to start doing?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  When did Kuttiyamma start learning to read and write?
a) last month
b) last year
c) in 2017
d) a few days ago
2) What score did Kuttiyamma get on the state literacy test?
a) 86%
b) 87%
c) 88%
d) 89%
3) Who congratulated her?
a) her family
b) India's Prime Minister
c) the education minister
d) her husband
4) What was Kuttiyamma doing in a photo?
a) grinning from ear to ear
b) studying
c) writing
d) maths
5) Who saluted Kuttiyamma?
a) the army
b) a Twitter user
c) her husband
d) India's Prime Minister

6) What's the literacy rate in Kerala?
a) 96.2%
b) 92.6%
c) 69.2%
d) 69.6%
7) What does Kerala have a strong focus on?
a) writing
b) achievement
c) adult education
d) reading
8) What did Kuttiyamma's tutor call her?
a) a sharp woman
b) a smart cookie
c) one in a million
d) Bob
9) How did Kuttiyamma feel when she saw her test results?
a) disappointed
b) numb
c) confused
d) overjoyed
10) What does Kuttiyamma want to start doing?
a) learning French
b) computer coding
c) writing letters
d) writing a novel

Role play

Role  A – Literacy
You think literacy skills are most useful. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their skills aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): numeracy, art or music.

Role  B – Numeracy
You think numeracy skills are most useful. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their skills aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): literacy, art or music.

Role  C – Art
You think artistic skills are most useful. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their skills aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): numeracy, literacy or music.

Role  D – Music
You think musical skills are most useful. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their skills aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): numeracy, art or literacy.

After reading / listening

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

'reading'

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

    • and 'test'.

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

    • • 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:

    • only
    • pupil
    • 89
    • minister
    • star
    • salute
    • heavily
    • age
    • minds
    • school
    • sharp
    • skills

    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 - Learning to Read

    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 'reading'?
    3. What do you think of reading and writing tests?
    4. How do you prepare for English reading tests?
    5. What problems do you have with reading English?
    6. How important is literacy?
    7. How inspirational do you think Kuttiyamma is?
    8. What advice do you have to improve your reading skills?
    9. What tests are you good at taking?
    10. When was the last time you grinned from ear to ear?

    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 'writing'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How do you prepare for English writing tests?
    5. What problems do you have with writing in English?
    6. How good is your country's education system?
    7. Can we do anything if we put our minds to it?
    8. What advice do you have to improve your writing skills?
    9. Do you like writing letters?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Kuttiyamma?

    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 104-year-old woman from Kerala, India has passed a (1) ____ literacy test. Her name is Kuttiyamma and she only learned to read and write last year. Despite having just a year's (2) ____ and being somewhat older than the average pupil, Kuttiyamma passed her tests with (3) ____ colours. She achieved a score of 89 per cent on the Kerala State Literacy Test. Such was her inspirational achievement, Kerala's education minister congratulated her. He tweeted: "With the (4) ____ love and respect, I wish Kuttiyamma...the best." He uploaded a photo of the star student in which she is (5) ____ from ear to ear. Another person tweeted: "I (6) ____ Kuttiyamma for her dedication. It will inspire others for sure."

    Kerala state has India's highest literacy (7) ____ at 96.2 per cent and invests heavily in education. It has a strong focus (8) ____ adult education, which Kuttiyamma benefited from. Her endeavours prove that age is (9) ____ a number and that we can achieve anything when we put our (10) ____ to it. Kuttiyamma did not have a formal education as she did not go to school. However, her state-assigned tutor called her "a very sharp woman". He said his student was "overjoyed" after she saw her test results. A state official said: "Kuttiyamma is a role (11) ____ and motivation to all women in adult education". Kuttiyamma said she wants to (12) ____ writing letters and continue her studies to improve her skills.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     state     (b)     statute     (c)     statue     (d)     stat    
    2. (a)     fruition     (b)     intuition     (c)     tuition     (d)     diction    
    3. (a)     sailing     (b)     rowing     (c)     flying     (d)     driving    
    4. (a)     mostly     (b)     must     (c)     mast     (d)     utmost    
    5. (a)     grinning     (b)     groaning     (c)     gleaning     (d)     gunning    
    6. (a)     bow     (b)     salute     (c)     proud     (d)     amaze    
    7. (a)     ratio     (b)     rate     (c)     algorithm     (d)     stat    
    8. (a)     on     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     at    
    9. (a)     justly     (b)     just     (c)     adjust     (d)     justice    
    10. (a)     things     (b)     brainy     (c)     minds     (d)     effects    
    11. (a)     scale     (b)     edition     (c)     model     (d)     version    
    12. (a)     found     (b)     launch     (c)     embark     (d)     start

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. passed a state clayiret test
    2. having just a year's uioittn
    3. Such was her rtiionapsnila achievement
    4. nriniggn from ear to ear
    5. I salute Kuttiyamma for her natiidodce
    6. It will nisipre others for sure

    Paragraph 2

    1. invests hivayle in education
    2. Her ounasverde prove that
    3. have a fmloar education
    4. her state-gassnide tutor
    5. ntoiovtima to all women
    6. irmvpoe her skills

    Put the text back together

    (...)       Kerala state has India's highest literacy rate at 96.2 per cent and invests heavily
    (...)  education". Kuttiyamma said she wants to start writing letters and continue her studies to improve her skills.
    (  1  )      A 104-year-old woman from Kerala, India has passed a state literacy test. Her name is Kuttiyamma and she only learned
    (...)  assigned tutor called her "a very sharp woman". He said his student was "overjoyed" after she saw her test
    (...)  to it. Kuttiyamma did not have a formal education as she did not go to school. However, her state-
    (...)  a photo of the star student in which she is grinning from ear to ear. Another person
    (...)  on the Kerala State Literacy Test. Such was her inspirational achievement, Kerala's education
    (...)  tweeted: "I salute Kuttiyamma for her dedication. It will inspire others for sure."
    (...)  pupil, Kuttiyamma passed her tests with flying colours. She achieved a score of 89 per cent
    (...)  in education. It has a strong focus on adult education, which Kuttiyamma benefited from. Her endeavours
    (...)  to read and write last year. Despite having just a year's tuition and being somewhat older than the average
    (...)  prove that age is just a number and that we can achieve anything when we put our minds
    (...)  results. A state official said: "Kuttiyamma is a role model and motivation to all women in adult
    (...)  minister congratulated her. He tweeted: "With the utmost love and respect, I wish Kuttiyamma...the best." He uploaded

    Put the words in the right order

    1. woman   passed   state   A   literacy   a   has   test   .   104-year-old
    2. than   older   being   somewhat   pupil   .   the   average   Despite
    3. tests   colours   .   Kuttiyamma   her   with   passed   flying   literacy
    4. to   from   ear   .   is   grinning   ear   She
    5. saluted   Kuttiyamma   said   her   dedication   .   he   for   He
    6. literacy   highest   Kerala   India's   state   has   rate   .
    7. strong   on   It   a   adult   education   .   focus   has
    8. just   age   is   prove   Her   number   .   a   endeavours
    9. put   our   Succeed   we   minds   to   it   .   when
    10. adult   motivation   education   .   A   women   all   in   to

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

         A 104-year-old woman from Kerala, India has passed a statute / state literacy test. Her name is Kuttiyamma and she only learned to read and write last year. Despite having just a year's tutor / tuition and being somewhat older than the average / averaged pupil, Kuttiyamma passed her tests with sailing / flying colours. She achieved a score of 89 per cent on the Kerala State Literacy Test. Such was her inspiration / inspirational achievement, Kerala's education minister congratulated / congratulations her. He tweeted: "With the adjust / utmost love and respect, I wish Kuttiyamma...the best." He uploaded a photo of the comet / star student in which she is grinning from nose / ear to ear. Another person tweeted: "I salute Kuttiyamma for her dedication. It will inspire others for sure / surely."

         Kerala state has India's highest literacy ratio / rate at 96.2 per cent and invests heavily on / in education. It has a strong / strength focus on adult education, which Kuttiyamma benefited / beneficial from. Her endeavours prove / proof that age is just a number and that we can achieve anything when we put our mends / minds to it. Kuttiyamma did not have a formal education as she did not go to school. However, her state-assigned tutor called her "a very sharp / shape woman". He said his student was "overjoyed" after she saw her test / testy results. A state official said: "Kuttiyamma is a role model and motivational / motivation to all women in adult education". Kuttiyamma said she wants to start writing letters and continue her studies / studious to improve her skills.

    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)

         _  104-y__r-_ld  w_m_n  fr_m  K_r_l_,  _nd__  h_s  p_ss_d  _  st_t_  l_t_r_cy  t_st.  H_r  n_m_  _s  K_tt_y_mm_  _nd  sh_  _nly  l__rn_d  t_  r__d  _nd  wr_t_  l_st  y__r.  D_sp_t_  h_v_ng  j_st  _  y__r's  t__t__n  _nd  b__ng  s_m_wh_t  _ld_r  th_n  th_  _v_r_g_  p_p_l,  K_tt_y_mm_  p_ss_d  h_r  t_sts  w_th  fly_ng  c_l__rs.  Sh_  _ch__v_d  _  sc_r_  _f  89  p_r  c_nt  _n  th_  K_r_l_  St_t_  L_t_r_cy  T_st.  S_ch  w_s  h_r  _nsp_r_t__n_l  _ch__v_m_nt,  K_r_l_'s  _d_c_t__n  m_n_st_r  c_ngr_t_l_t_d  h_r.  H_  tw__t_d:  "W_th  th_  _tm_st  l_v_  _nd  r_sp_ct,  _  w_sh  K_tt_y_mm_...th_  b_st."  H_  _pl__d_d  _  ph_t_  _f  th_  st_r  st_d_nt  _n  wh_ch  sh_  _s  gr_nn_ng  fr_m  __r  t_  __r.  _n_th_r  p_rs_n  tw__t_d:  "_  s_l_t_  K_tt_y_mm_  f_r  h_r  d_d_c_t__n.  _t  w_ll  _nsp_r_  _th_rs  f_r  s_r_."

          K_r_l_  st_t_  h_s  _nd__'s  h_gh_st  l_t_r_cy  r_t_  _t  96.2  p_r  c_nt  _nd  _nv_sts  h__v_ly  _n  _d_c_t__n.  _t  h_s  _  str_ng  f_c_s  _n  _d_lt  _d_c_t__n,  wh_ch  K_tt_y_mm_  b_n_f_t_d  fr_m.  H_r  _nd__v__rs  pr_v_  th_t  _g_  _s  j_st  _  n_mb_r  _nd  th_t  w_  c_n  _ch__v_  _nyth_ng  wh_n  w_  p_t  __r  m_nds  t_  _t.  K_tt_y_mm_  d_d  n_t  h_v_  _  f_rm_l  _d_c_t__n  _s  sh_  d_d  n_t  g_  t_  sch__l.  H_w_v_r,  h_r  st_t_-_ss_gn_d  t_t_r  c_ll_d  h_r  "_  v_ry  sh_rp  w_m_n".  H_  s__d  h_s  st_d_nt  w_s  "_v_rj_y_d"  _ft_r  sh_  s_w  h_r  t_st  r_s_lts.  _  st_t_  _ff_c__l  s__d:  "K_tt_y_mm_  _s  _  r_l_  m_d_l  _nd  m_t_v_t__n  t_  _ll  w_m_n  _n  _d_lt  _d_c_t__n".  K_tt_y_mm_  s__d  sh_  w_nts  t_  st_rt  wr_t_ng  l_tt_rs  _nd  c_nt_n__  h_r  st_d__s  t_  _mpr_v_  h_r  sk_lls.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

         a 104yearold woman from kerala india has passed a state literacy test her name is kuttiyamma and she only learned to read and write last year despite having just a years tuition and being somewhat older than the average pupil kuttiyamma passed her tests with flying colours she achieved a score of 89 per cent on the kerala state literacy test such was her inspirational achievement keralas education minister congratulated her he tweeted with the utmost love and respect i wish kuttiyammathe best he uploaded a photo of the star student in which she is grinning from ear to ear another person tweeted i salute kuttiyamma for her dedication it will inspire others for sure

         kerala state has indias highest literacy rate at 962 per cent and invests heavily in education it has a strong focus on adult education which kuttiyamma benefited from her endeavours prove that age is just a number and that we can achieve anything when we put our minds to it kuttiyamma did not have a formal education as she did not go to school however her stateassigned tutor called her a very sharp woman he said his student was overjoyed after she saw her test results a state official said kuttiyamma is a role model and motivation to all women in adult education kuttiyamma said she wants to start writing letters and continue her studies to improve her skills

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    A104-year-oldwomanfromKerala,Indiahaspassedastateliteracytes
    t.HernameisKuttiyammaandsheonlylearnedtoreadandwritelastyear
    .Despitehavingjustayear'stuitionandbeingsomewhatolderthanthea
    veragepupil,Kuttiyammapassedhertestswithflyingcolours.Sheachie
    vedascoreof89percentontheKeralaStateLiteracyTest.Suchwasherin
    spirationalachievement,Kerala'seducationministercongratulatedhe
    r.Hetweeted:"Withtheutmostloveandrespect,IwishKuttiyamma...th
    ebest."Heuploadedaphotoofthestarstudentinwhichsheisgrinningfro
    meartoear.Anotherpersontweeted:"IsaluteKuttiyammaforherdedic
    ation.Itwillinspireothersforsure."KeralastatehasIndia'shighestlitera
    cyrateat96.2percentandinvestsheavilyineducation.Ithasastrongfoc
    usonadulteducation,whichKuttiyammabenefitedfrom.Herendeavou
    rsprovethatageisjustanumberandthatwecanachieveanythingwhen
    weputourmindstoit.Kuttiyammadidnothaveaformaleducationasshe
    didnotgotoschool.However,herstate-assignedtutorcalledher"avery
    sharpwoman".Hesaidhisstudentwas"overjoyed"aftershesawhertest
    results.Astateofficialsaid:"Kuttiyammaisarolemodelandmotivationt
    oallwomeninadulteducation".Kuttiyammasaidshewantstostartwriti
    nglettersandcontinueherstudiestoimproveherskills.

    Free writing

    Write about learning to read for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Age is just a number and not a barrier to learning. 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. LEARNING TO READ: Make a poster about learning to read. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. LITERACY: Write a magazine article about investing heavily in achieving 100% literacy rates around the world. 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 literacy. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to improve literacy. 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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