The Reading / Listening - Sensitivity Readers - Level 3

An increasing number of famous books are being edited. Book publishers are worried about sexist and racist words in books. They are worried that language in older books might upset people today, especially children. Two authors that have had their work edited this week are Roald Dahl and Ian Fleming. Dahl is famous for books like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Fleming wrote the James Bond books. Publishers are employing "sensitivity readers" to check books. A sensitivity reader looks for language that describes minorities in an "insensitive or offensive" way. A lot of the language they check belongs to another time. It was written 50 or more years ago. Back then, the language was thought to be okay.

The recent edits of the James Bond books are because of insensitive language about black characters and women. The sensitivity readers decided that the language used by James Bond, also known as 007, was racist and sexist. The 007 books will now be published with a warning. This explains that the books were written in the 1950s and 60s, so they contained "terms and attitudes" that might upset readers today. Many people in the UK are angry that Roald Dahl's books were censored. The UK's prime minister, the future UK queen and the author Salman Rushdie all said the edits were wrong. An example edit is the word "fat" being replaced by "enormous". The word "fat" is now a negative term for a person's body shape.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Sensitivity Readers - Level 0,  Sensitivity Readers - Level 1   or  Sensitivity Readers - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/james-bond-ian-fleming-books-rewritten-b2289747.html
  • https://variety.com/2023/film/news/james-bond-novels-edited-racism-1235536164/
  • https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/james-bond-novels-reprinted-racist-language-removed-1234687052/


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. JAMES BOND: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about James Bond. 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?
       books / edited / publishers / sexist / upset / sensitivity / language / 50 years ago /
       racist / warning / the 1950s / attitudes / angry / the future / fat / enormous / shape
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CENSORSHIP: Students A strongly believe no book should ever be censored; Students B strongly believe censorship is important. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. FAVOURITE BOOKS: What are your favourite books? Why? What's the story? Complete this table with your partner(s) and share what you wrote. Change partners often.

 

What?

Why?

The Story

Children's

 

 

 

Horror

 

 

 

Sci-fi

 

 

 

Action

 

 

 

Biography

 

 

 

Fantasy

 

 

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

  • Spy stories
  • Manga
  • Encyclopaedia
  • Biographies
  • Children's books
  • Sports
  • Cookbooks
  • Travel guides

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. edited a. Being unhappy, disappointed, or worried.
      2. sexist b. A small group of people in a community or country, whose race, religion, language, or politics is different from the rest.
      3. racist c. Corrected or changed a piece of writing.
      4. upset d. Saying bad things about of being unfair to someone because of the colour of their skin.
      5. employing e. Saying bad things about of being unfair to someone because they are a man or a woman.
      6. sensitivity f. Giving work to someone and paying them for it.
      7. minorities g. Being easily hurt damaged or injured by words, actions or small changes.

    Paragraph 2

      8. recent h. Of a book, journal, piece of music, etc. prepared and made to sell.
      9. published i. A word or phrase used to describe a thing or to express a concept.
      10. term j. A writer of a book, article, or document.
      11. attitude k. Happened, begun, or been done not long ago.
      12. censored l. Very, very, very big.
      13. author m. Checked a book, film, etc. and stopped parts of it being seen, read or heard by people.
      14. enormous n. A fixed way of thinking or feeling about something

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A record number of books are being edited.     T / F
  2. Book publishers are worried about ageist and egoistic words.     T / F
  3. Ian Fleming wrote the book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".     T / F
  4. Sensitivity readers look for language that might offend minorities.     T / F
  5. Language that was insensitive to women was edited.     T / F
  6. James Bond books will have a content warning in future.     T / F
  7. The article says we have the same attitudes as we had in the 1950s.     T / F
  8. It is no longer acceptable to say someone is fat.     T / F

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

  1. increasing
  2. worried
  3. famous
  4. employing
  5. okay
  6. recent
  7. warning
  8. attitudes
  9. author
  10. negative
  1. caution
  2. using
  3. concerned
  4. latest
  5. harmful
  6. growing
  7. writer
  8. acceptable
  9. opinions
  10. well known

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

  1. An increasing number
  2. publishers are worried about
  3. upset people today,
  4. the language they check belongs
  5. Back then, the language was thought
  6. insensitive language about
  7. The 007 books will now be published
  8. the books were written
  9. attitudes that might upset
  10. a negative term for a.
  1. black characters
  2. especially children
  3. to be okay
  4. readers today
  5. to another time
  6. with a warning
  7. of famous books
  8. person's body shape
  9. in the 1950s and 60s
  10. sexist and racist words

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
minorities
racist
okay
edited
increasing
time
employing
upset

An (1) _____________________ number of famous books are being edited. Book publishers are worried about sexist and                     (2) _____________________ words in books. They are worried that language in older books might (3) _____________________ people today, especially children. Two authors that have had their work     (4) _____________________ this week are Roald Dahl and Ian Fleming. Dahl is famous for books like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Fleming wrote the James Bond books. Publishers are                      (5) _____________________ "sensitivity readers" to check books. A sensitivity reader looks for language that describes                       (6) _____________________ in an "insensitive or offensive" way. A lot of the language they check belongs to another                             (7) _____________________. It was written 50 or more years ago. Back then, the language was thought to be (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
terms
future
known
enormous
insensitive
example
warning
censored

The recent edits of the James Bond books are because of (9) _____________________ language about black characters and women. The sensitivity readers decided that the language used by James Bond, also (10) _____________________ as 007, was racist and sexist. The 007 books will now be published with a (11) _____________________. This explains that the books were written in the 1950s and 60s, so they contained "(12) _____________________ and attitudes" that might upset readers today. Many people in the UK are angry that Roald Dahl's books were (13) _____________________. The UK's prime minister, the (14) _____________________ UK queen and the author Salman Rushdie all said the edits were wrong. An (15) _____________________ edit is the word "fat" being replaced by "(16) _____________________". The word "fat" is now a negative term for a person's body shape.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) An increasing number of famous books ______
     a.  are being edit it
     b.  are being edition
     c.  are being edit tide
     d.  are being edited
2)  They are worried that language in older books might ______
     a.  upsets people today 
     b.  upset people today
     c.  unseat people today
     d.  unseats people today
3)  language that describes minorities in an "insensitive ______
     a.  or offensive" way
     b.  or defensive" way
     c.  or offends it" way
     d.  or offense sieve" way
4)  A lot of the language they check belongs ______
     a.  too another time
     b.  to other time
     c.  to the other time
     d.  to another time
5)  Back then, the language was thought ______
     a.  to been okay
     b.  too be okay
     c. Toby okay
     d.  to be okay

6)  The recent edits of the James Bond books are because ______
     a.  of intransitive language
     b.  of in sense tiff language
     c.  of incense tiff language
     d.  of insensitive language
7)  The 007 books will now be published ______
     a.  with a warming
     b.  with a warning
     c.  wither warning
     d.  wither warming
8)  Many people in the UK are angry that Roald Dahl's ______
     a.  book swore censored
     b.  book swerve censored
     c.  books were censored
     d.  books we're censored
9)  the edits were wrong. An example edit is the word "fat" being ______
     a.  replaced by "enormous"
     b.  replaced by "enamels"
     c.  replaced by "amorous"
     d.  replaced by "enemies"
10)  The word "fat" is now a negative term for a ______
     a.  person's body shaped
     b.  person's body shapes
     c.  person's body sharp
     d.  person's body shape

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

(1) ____________________ of famous books are being edited. Book publishers are worried about (2) ____________________ words in books. They are worried that language in older books might upset people today, especially children. Two authors that have had (3) ____________________ this week are Roald Dahl and Ian Fleming. Dahl is famous for books like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Fleming wrote the James Bond books. Publishers are employing "sensitivity readers" (4) ____________________. A sensitivity reader looks for language that describes minorities in an "insensitive or offensive" way. A lot of the language they check belongs (5) ____________________. It was written 50 or more years ago. Back then, the language was thought (6) ____________________.

The (7) ____________________ the James Bond books are because of insensitive language about black characters and women. The sensitivity readers decided that the language used by James Bond, (8) ____________________ 007, was racist and sexist. The 007 books will now be published with a warning. This explains that the books (9) ____________________ the 1950s and 60s, so they contained "terms and attitudes" that might upset readers today. Many people in the UK are angry that Roald Dahl's (10) ____________________. The UK's prime minister, the future UK queen and the author Salman Rushdie all said the edits were wrong. (11) ____________________ is the word "fat" being replaced by "enormous". The word "fat" is now (12) ____________________ for a person's body shape.

Comprehension questions

  1. What are book publishers worried about?
  2. Who in particular are book publishers worried about upsetting?
  3. Who wrote the 007 books?
  4. Who does a sensitivity reader try to protect?
  5. When was the edited language though to be more acceptable?
  6. Who was described using insensitive language besides women?
  7. What will James Bond books now contain?
  8. What was upsetting in books written in the 1950s and 60s?
  9. How did the UK prime minister feel about the books being edited?
  10. What word replaced "fat" in one of the edited books?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What are book publishers worried about?
a) ageist and egotistic words
b) rude and explicit words
c) sexist and racist words
d) misspelt words
2) Who in particular are book publishers worried about upsetting?
a) children
b) authors
c) adults
d) lawyers
3) Who wrote the 007 books?
a) Shakespeare
b) Ian Fleming
c) James Bond
d) Roald Dahl
4) Who does a sensitivity reader try to protect?
a) spies
b) majorities
c) Oompa-Loompas
d) minorities
5) When was the edited language though to be more acceptable?
a) last year
b) in 1982
c) more than five decades ago
d) in the 1970s

6) Who did 007 use insensitive language to describe?
a) spies
b) black characters
c) authors
d) people above average weight
7) What will James Bond books now contain?
a) better plots
b) easier words
c) sterile language
d) a warning
8) What was upsetting in books written in the 1950s and 60s?
a) the stories
b) terms and attitudes
c) the endings
d) how the bad guys died
9) How did the UK prime minister feel about the books being edited?
a) upset
b) angry
c) satisfied
d) happy
10) What word replaced "fat" in one of the edited books?
a) enormous
b) overweight
c) bulky
d) large

Role play

Role  A – Novels
You think novels are the best books. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their books. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): encyclopaedia, cookbooks or travel guides.

Role  B – Encyclopaedia
You think encyclopaedia are the best books. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their books. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): novels, cookbooks or travel guides.

Role  C – Cookbooks
You think cookbooks are the best books. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their books. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): encyclopaedia, novels or travel guides.

Role  D – Travel Guides
You think travel guides are the best books. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their books. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): encyclopaedia, cookbooks or novels.

After reading / listening

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

'book'

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

    • and 'edit'.

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

    • • 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:

    • number
    • worried
    • two
    • check
    • lot
    • 50
    • recent
    • decided
    • warning
    • upset
    • future
    • fat

    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 - Sensitivity Readers

    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 'book'?
    3. What are the most famous books in your language?
    4. What are your favourite books?
    5. Are you ever upset by bad words in books?
    6. Is offensive language worse in books or in movies?
    7. Should rap and rock songs that have bad words be banned?
    8. Should offensive language in old books be used as a history lesson?
    9. Does editing a writer take away his/her artistry?
    10. Should the Bible and the works of Shakespeare be edited?

    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 'edit'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about James Bond (007)?
    5. Should there be a warning on books with offensive language?
    6. What words have changed to have an offensive meaning?
    7. How have attitudes changed in the past 60 years?
    8. Does banning words mean books will be less powerful?
    9. Is it wrong to describe someone as 'fat'?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the sensitivity readers?

    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)

    An increasing number of (1) ____ books are being edited. Book publishers are worried about sexist and racist words in books. They are (2) ____ that language in older books might upset people today, especially children. Two authors that have had their work (3) ____ this week are Roald Dahl and Ian Fleming. Dahl is famous for books like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Fleming wrote the James Bond books. Publishers are employing "sensitivity readers" (4) ____ check books. A sensitivity reader looks for language that describes minorities (5) ____ an "insensitive or offensive" way. A lot of the language they check belongs to another time. It was written 50 or more years ago. Back then, the language was (6) ____ to be okay.

    The recent edits of the James Bond books are because (7) ____ insensitive language about black characters and women. The sensitivity readers decided that the language used by James Bond, also (8) ____ as 007, was racist and sexist. The 007 books will now be published with a warning. This (9) ____ that the books were written in the 1950s and 60s, so they contained "terms and attitudes" that might upset readers today. Many people in the UK are angry (10) ____ Roald Dahl's books were censored. The UK's prime minister, the future UK queen and the author Salman Rushdie (11) ____ said the edits were wrong. An example edit is the word "fat" being replaced by "enormous". The word "fat" is now a negative (12) ____ for a person's body shape.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     fame     (b)     famous     (c)     infamous     (d)     famously    
    2. (a)     worry     (b)     worried     (c)     worries     (d)     worryingly    
    3. (a)     edition     (b)     edits     (c)     editor     (d)     edited    
    4. (a)     for     (b)     to     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    5. (a)     and     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    6. (a)     thoughts     (b)     thoughtful     (c)     thought     (d)     thinks    
    7. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     on    
    8. (a)     knows     (b)     knowing     (c)     known     (d)     knowledge    
    9. (a)     explanation     (b)     explain     (c)     explained     (d)     explains    
    10. (a)     that     (b)     what     (c)     so     (d)     thus    
    11. (a)     all     (b)     every     (c)     everyone     (d)     they    
    12. (a)     term     (b)     turn     (c)     tern     (d)     tame

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. An increasing number of saumfo books
    2. Book selrpsbiuh are worried
    3. sxeits and racist words in books
    4. upset people today, lcyilseepa children
    5. describes nimrsieoti in an insensitive or offensive
    6. the egguanal was thought to be okay

    Paragraph 2

    1. The cetner edits of the James Bond books
    2. ttastdeui that might upset readers
    3. Roald Dahl's books were esodcren
    4. the oarhut Salman Rushdie
    5. the word "fat" being replaced by "muooensr"
    6. a igvnetae term

    Put the text back together

    (...)  the James Bond books. Publishers are employing "sensitivity readers" to check books. A sensitivity reader looks
    (...)  for language that describes minorities in an "insensitive or offensive" way. A lot of the language they check
    (...)  are Roald Dahl and Ian Fleming. Dahl is famous for books like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Fleming wrote
    (...)  characters and women. The sensitivity readers decided that the language used by James Bond, also known
    (...)  future UK queen and the author Salman Rushdie all said the edits were wrong. An example edit is the word "fat" being
    (...)  The recent edits of the James Bond books are because of insensitive language about black
    (  1  ) An increasing number of famous books are being edited. Book publishers are worried about sexist and
    (...)  racist words in books. They are worried that language in older books might upset people
    (...)  belongs to another time. It was written 50 or more years ago. Back then, the language was thought to be okay.
    (...)  replaced by "enormous". The word "fat" is now a negative term for a person's body shape.
    (...)  were written in the 1950s and 60s, so they contained "terms and attitudes" that might upset
    (...)  as 007, was racist and sexist. The 007 books will now be published with a warning. This explains that the books
    (...)  today, especially children. Two authors that have had their work edited this week
    (...)  readers today. Many people in the UK are angry that Roald Dahl's books were censored. The UK's prime minister, the

    Put the words in the right order

    1. increasing   being   An   books   are   edited   .   of   number
    2. are   publishers   words   .   Book   about   racist   worried
    3. Language   upset   today   .   older   books   in   might   people
    4. an   offensive   describes   that   in   way   .   Language   minorities
    5. be   the   Then,   to   language   was   okay   .   thought
    6. a   The   published   books   will   with   be   warning   .
    7. and   readers   today   .   upset   that   Terms   attitudes   might
    8. books   Dahl's   People   that   angry   are   censored   .   were
    9. word   fat   is   replaced   enormous   .   by   being   The
    10. word   fat   a   now   negative   is   term   .   The

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    An increasing number of famous books are being editing / edited. Book publishers are worried about sexist and racist words on / in books. They are worried that language in older / olden books might upset people today, especially children. Two authors that have had their working / work edited this week are Roald Dahl and Ian Fleming. Dahl is famously / famous for books like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Fleming wrote / writing the James Bond books. Publishers are employing "sensitivity readers" to check / checked books. A sensitivity reader looks for language that describes minorities on / in an "insensitive or offensive" way. A lot of the language they check belongs to another time / times. It was written 50 or more years ago. Back then, the language was thought to be okayed / okay.

    The recent / recently edits of the James Bond books are because of insensitive language / languages about black characters and women. The sensitivity readers decided that the language abuses / used by James Bond, also known as 007, was racist and sexist. The 007 books will now be published with a warn / warning. This explains that / what the books were written in the 1950s and 60s, so they contented / contained "terms and attitudes" that might upset readers today / yesterday. Many people in the UK are angry that Roald Dahl's books were censored. The UK's prime minister, the future / futuristic UK queen and the author Salman Rushdie all said the edits were wrong. An example edit is the word "fat" being replaced at / by "enormous". The word "fat" is now a negative term for / from a person's body shape.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _n  _ncr__s_ng  n_mb_r  _f  f_m__s  b__ks  _r_  b__ng  _d_t_d.  B__k  p_bl_sh_rs  _r_  w_rr__d  _b__t  s_x_st  _nd  r_c_st  w_rds  _n  b__ks.  Th_y  _r_  w_rr__d  th_t  l_ng__g_  _n  _ld_r  b__ks  m_ght  _ps_t  p__pl_  t_d_y,  _sp_c__lly  ch_ldr_n.  Tw_  __th_rs  th_t  h_v_  h_d  th__r  w_rk  _d_t_d  th_s  w__k  _r_  R__ld  D_hl  _nd  __n  Fl_m_ng.  D_hl  _s  f_m__s  f_r  b__ks  l_k_  "Ch_rl__  _nd  th_  Ch_c_l_t_  F_ct_ry".  Fl_m_ng  wr_t_  th_  J_m_s  B_nd  b__ks.  P_bl_sh_rs  _r_  _mpl_y_ng  "s_ns_t_v_ty  r__d_rs"  t_  ch_ck  b__ks.  _  s_ns_t_v_ty  r__d_r  l__ks  f_r  l_ng__g_  th_t  d_scr_b_s  m_n_r_t__s  _n  _n  "_ns_ns_t_v_  _r  _ff_ns_v_"  w_y.  _  l_t  _f  th_  l_ng__g_  th_y  ch_ck  b_l_ngs  t_  _n_th_r  t_m_.  _t  w_s  wr_tt_n  50  _r  m_r_  y__rs  _g_.  B_ck  th_n,  th_  l_ng__g_  w_s  th__ght  t_  b_  _k_y.

    Th_  r_c_nt  _d_ts  _f  th_  J_m_s  B_nd  b__ks  _r_  b_c__s_  _f  _ns_ns_t_v_  l_ng__g_  _b__t  bl_ck  ch_r_ct_rs  _nd  w_m_n.  Th_  s_ns_t_v_ty  r__d_rs  d_c_d_d  th_t  th_  l_ng__g_  _s_d  by  J_m_s  B_nd,  _ls_  kn_wn  _s  007,  w_s  r_c_st  _nd  s_x_st.  Th_  007  b__ks  w_ll  n_w  b_  p_bl_sh_d  w_th  _  w_rn_ng.  Th_s  _xpl__ns  th_t  th_  b__ks  w_r_  wr_tt_n  _n  th_  1950s  _nd  60s,  s_  th_y  c_nt__n_d  "t_rms  _nd  _tt_t_d_s"  th_t  m_ght  _ps_t  r__d_rs  t_d_y.  M_ny  p__pl_  _n  th_  _K  _r_  _ngry  th_t  R__ld  D_hl's  b__ks  w_r_  c_ns_r_d.  Th_  _K's  pr_m_  m_n_st_r,  th_  f_t_r_  _K  q___n  _nd  th_  __th_r  S_lm_n  R_shd__  _ll  s__d  th_  _d_ts  w_r_  wr_ng.  _n  _x_mpl_  _d_t  _s  th_  w_rd  "f_t"  b__ng  r_pl_c_d  by  "_n_rm__s".  Th_  w_rd  "f_t"  _s  n_w  _  n_g_t_v_  t_rm  f_r  _  p_rs_n's  b_dy  sh_p_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    an increasing number of famous books are being edited book publishers are worried about sexist and racist words in books they are worried that language in older books might upset people today especially children two authors that have had their work edited this week are roald dahl and ian fleming dahl is famous for books like charlie and the chocolate factory fleming wrote the james bond books publishers are employing sensitivity readers to check books a sensitivity reader looks for language that describes minorities in an insensitive or offensive way a lot of the language they check belongs to another time it was written 50 or more years ago back then the language was thought to be okay

    the recent edits of the james bond books are because of insensitive language about black characters and women the sensitivity readers decided that the language used by james bond also known as 007 was racist and sexist the 007 books will now be published with a warning this explains that the books were written in the 1950s and 60s so they contained terms and attitudes that might upset readers today many people in the uk are angry that roald dahls books were censored the uks prime minister the future uk queen and the author salman rushdie all said the edits were wrong an example edit is the word fat being replaced by enormous the word fat is now a negative term for a persons body shape

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Anincreasingnumberoffamousbooksarebeingedited.Bookpublishers
    areworriedaboutsexistandracistwordsinbooks.Theyareworriedthatl
    anguageinolderbooksmightupsetpeopletoday,especiallychildren.T
    woauthorsthathavehadtheirworkeditedthisweekareRoaldDahlandIa
    nFleming.Dahlisfamousforbookslike"CharlieandtheChocolateFactor
    y".FlemingwrotetheJamesBondbooks.Publishersareemploying"sen
    sitivityreaders"tocheckbooks.Asensitivityreaderlooksforlanguageth
    atdescribesminoritiesinan"insensitiveoroffensive"way.Alotofthelan
    guagetheycheckbelongstoanothertime.Itwaswritten50ormoreyear
    sago.Backthen,thelanguagewasthoughttobeokay.Therecenteditsof
    theJamesBondbooksarebecauseofinsensitivelanguageaboutblackc
    haractersandwomen.Thesensitivityreadersdecidedthatthelanguage
    usedbyJamesBond,alsoknownas007,wasracistandsexist.The007bo
    okswillnowbepublishedwithawarning.Thisexplainsthatthebookswer
    ewritteninthe1950sand60s,sotheycontained"termsandattitudes"th
    atmightupsetreaderstoday.ManypeopleintheUKareangrythatRoald
    Dahl'sbookswerecensored.TheUK'sprimeminister,thefutureUKquee
    nandtheauthorSalmanRushdieallsaidtheeditswerewrong.Anexampl
    eeditistheword"fat"beingreplacedby"enormous".Theword"fat"isno
    wanegativetermforaperson'sbodyshape.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Editing books is disrespecting the art of the writer. 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. JAMES BOND: Make a poster about James Bond. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. CENSORING BOOKS: Write a magazine article about never censoring books. 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 James Bond. Ask him/her three questions about the character. Give him/her three of your opinions on James Bond. 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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