Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Wyclef Jean

Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean has officially registered to run for president of Haiti. He made his decision the day after the devastating earthquake which killed 250,000 Haitians in January. The presidential election will take place on the 28th of November. Jean announced his bid to a lively crowd of supporters in Port-au-Prince. His speech included bodysurfing across the outstretched arms of his fans before stepping back onto the podium. He told World News America's Sharon Carpenter his popularity as a singer would help his campaign: “As a politician, when I jump up on stage, I’m loved by millions of people,” he said. He told another news agency, The Associated Press, that: "It's a moment in time and in history. It's very emotional."

Jean has big plans to turn around the fortunes of his native country – one of the poorest in the world. He believes it is the will of Haitians: “I’m being drafted by the Haitians on the ground, by the population, to do this job…It’s a service I have to do for my country,” he said. Jean wants to improve education and increase literacy rates, saying: “When a population can’t read and write, it’s called modern-day slavery.” He also plans to build Haiti’s export industries to create a stronger, more independent economy. He said the fact that he has spent most of his life in the USA puts him in a “unique position” as he has very few links with corrupt politicians. He also aims to reduce the political instability that has dogged Haiti for generations.

WARM-UPS

1. PRESIDENTS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about presidents. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

hip-hop / Haiti / decisions / presidential elections / supporters / popularity / emotional / big plans / the poorest / population / literacy rates / modern-day slavery / unique

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

3. PRESIDENT: How would these people do? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again. Vote as a group / class on who would be the best president.

	Why they would be qualified
Hip-hop singer
Soldier
Doctor
Business person
Marathon runner
Actor

4. RAPPER: Students A strongly believe a rapper could be a great president; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

5. FOR, AT, TO…: Explain these headlines with your partner(s). What are the stories? Change partners and share your stories. Change and share again.

Rapper to run for Haiti President (1)
Rapper to run at Haiti President
Rapper to run by Haiti President
Rapper to run from Haiti President
Rapper to run up Haiti President

Rapper to run for Haiti President (2)
Rapper to run in Haiti President
Rapper to run on Haiti President
Rapper to run to Haiti President
Rapper to run via Haiti President

6. HIP-HOP: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘hip-hop’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	A famous hip-hop star will run a marathon sponsored by Haiti’s leader.	T / F
b.	The rapper surfed off the Port-au-Prince coast with his supporters.	T / F
c.	The star believes being a popular singer helps in a presidential race.	T / F
d.	The rapper believes he is extremely popular in front of a crowd.	T / F
e.	Wyclef Jean thinks he can bring Haiti out of poverty.	T / F
f.	Jean said he is running for president because Haitians want him to.	T / F
g.	Jean said there were many slaves in Haiti who couldn’t read or write.	T / F
h.	He thinks being away from Haiti for so many years is a disadvantage.	T / F

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

1.	registered	a.	levels
2	devastating	b.	moving
3.	bid	c.	troubled
4.	fans	d.	attempt
5.	emotional	e.	signed up
6.	fortunes	f.	desire
7.	will	g.	one-of-a-kind
8.	rates	h.	catastrophic
9.	unique	i.	followers
10.	dogged	j.	luck

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

1.	officially registered to	a.	dogged Haiti
2	the day after the devastating	b.	of supporters
3.	a lively crowd	c.	in time
4.	stepping back	d.	of his native country
5.	It's a moment	e.	run for president
6.	turn around the fortunes	f.	position
7.	it is the will of	g.	literacy rates
8.	improve education and increase	h.	earthquake
9.	puts him in a unique	i.	onto the podium
10.	the political instability that has	j.	Haitians

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean has officially ____________ to run for president of Haiti. He made his ____________ the day after the devastating earthquake which killed 250,000 Haitians in January. The presidential election will ____________ place on the 28th of November. Jean announced his bid to a ____________ crowd of supporters in Port-au-Prince. His speech included bodysurfing across the outstretched arms of his fans before stepping back onto the ____________. He told World News America's Sharon Carpenter his popularity as a singer would help his campaign: “As a politician, when I ____________ up on stage, I’m loved by millions of people,” he said. He told another news agency, The Associated Press, that: "It's a ____________ in time and in history. It's very ____________."

lively
moment
emotional
decision
podium
registered
jump
take

Jean has big plans to ____________ around the fortunes of his native country – one of the ____________ in the world. He believes it is the will of Haitians: “I’m being drafted by the Haitians on the ground, by the population, to do this job…It’s a ____________ I have to do for my country,” he said. Jean wants to improve education and increase literacy ____________, saying: “When a population can’t read and write, it’s called modern-day ____________.” He also plans to build Haiti’s export industries to ____________ a stronger, more independent economy. He said the fact that he has spent most of his life in the USA puts him in a “____________ position” as he has very few links with corrupt politicians. He also aims to reduce the political instability that has ____________ Haiti for generations.

service
create
turn
unique
slavery
poorest
dogged
rates

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean ________________________ run for president of Haiti. He ________________________ the devastating earthquake which killed 250,000 Haitians in January. The presidential election will take place on the 28th of November. Jean announced ________________________ of supporters in Port-au-Prince. His speech included bodysurfing across the outstretched arms of his fans ________________________ the podium. He told World News America's Sharon Carpenter his popularity as a singer would help his campaign: “As a politician, ________________________, I’m loved by millions of people,” he said. He told another news agency, The Associated Press, that: "It's a ________________________ history. It's very emotional."

Jean has ________________________ fortunes of his native country – one of the poorest in the world. He ________________________ Haitians: “I’m being drafted by the Haitians on the ground, by the population, to do this job…It’s ________________________ for my country,” he said. Jean wants to improve education and increase literacy rates, saying: “When a population can’t read and write, it’s ________________________.” He also plans to build Haiti’s export industries to create a stronger, more independent economy. He said the fact that he ________________________ in the USA puts him in a “unique position” as he has very few links with corrupt politicians. He ________________________ political instability that has dogged Haiti for generations.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

hip

hop

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:

decision
place
bid
popularity
stage
history

native
will
rates
build
unique
dogged

STUDENT PRESIDENTS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about presidents 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

PRESIDENTS DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘president’?
c)	What do you think of Wyclef Jean’s bid for president?
d)	Do you think a rapper can be a good president?
e)	Would you vote for Wyclef if you were Haitian?
f)	How would Wyclef be a different leader to traditional politicians?
g)	Do you think a singer could ever be leader of your country?
h)	Do you think Wyclef will become president?
i)	Would you be a good president?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)	Did you like reading this article?
b)	Do you think Wyclef could turn around Haiti’s fortunes?
c)	How could you change your country if you were president?
d)	Do you need political experience to be president?
e)	What is the service you have to do for your country?
f)	Who would you like to be your country’s leader and why?
g)	Do you think Wyclef would become corrupt if he is elected?
h)	What’s the best way to stop corruption among politicians?
i)	What questions would you like to ask Wyclef Jean?

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean has (1) ____ registered to run for president of Haiti. He made his decision the day after the devastating earthquake which killed 250,000 Haitians in January. The presidential election will (2) ____ place on the 28th of November. Jean announced his (3) ____ to a lively crowd of supporters in Port-au-Prince. His speech included bodysurfing across the outstretched (4) ____ of his fans before stepping back onto the podium. He told World News America's Sharon Carpenter his popularity (5) ____ a singer would help his campaign: “As a politician, when I jump up on stage, I’m loved by millions of people,” he said. He told another news agency, The Associated Press, that: "It's a moment (6) ____ time and in history. It's very emotional."

Jean has big plans to turn (7) ____ the fortunes of his native country – one of the poorest in the world. He believes it is the will of Haitians: “I’m being drafted (8) ____ the Haitians on the ground, by the population, to do this job…It’s a service I have to do for my country,” he said. Jean wants to improve education and increase (9) ____ rates, saying: “When a population can’t read and write, it’s called modern-day (10) ____.” He also plans to build Haiti’s export industries to create a stronger, more independent economy. He said the fact that he has spent most of his life in the USA puts him (11) ____ a “unique position” as he has very few links with corrupt politicians. He also aims to reduce the political instability that has (12) ____ Haiti for generations.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	officially	(b)	officialdom	(c)	officious	(d)	officers
2.	(a)	make	(b)	fake	(c)	take	(d)	lake
3.	(a)	bad	(b)	bid	(c)	bed	(d)	bud
4.	(a)	smiles	(b)	hair	(c)	backs	(d)	arms
5.	(a)	has	(b)	ease	(c)	as	(d)	was
6.	(a)	in	(b)	at	(c)	to	(d)	by
7.	(a)	up	(b)	on	(c)	over	(d)	around
8.	(a)	at	(b)	by	(c)	to	(d)	of
9.	(a)	literate	(b)	literally	(c)	literacy	(d)	literature
10.	(a)	slavery	(b)	slave	(c)	slaves	(d)	slavish
11.	(a)	on	(b)	in	(c)	up	(d)	down
12.	(a)	pigged	(b)	monkeyed	(c)	fished	(d)	dogged

WRITING

Write about presidents for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 Wyclef Jean’s bid to be Haitian president. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. HAITI: Write a magazine article about Haiti. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against Jean becoming president.

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. LETTER: Write a letter to Wyclef Jean. Ask him three questions about his bid to be president. Give him three ideas how he could win votes. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	registered	a.	signed up
2	devastating	b.	catastrophic
3.	bid	c.	attempt
4.	fans	d.	followers
5.	emotional	e.	moving
6.	fortunes	f.	luck
7.	will	g.	desire
8.	rates	h.	levels
9.	unique	i.	one-of-a-kind
10.	dogged	j.	troubled

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	officially registered to	a.	run for president
2	the day after the devastating	b.	earthquake
3.	a lively crowd	c.	of supporters
4.	stepping back	d.	onto the podium
5.	It's a moment	e.	in time
6.	turn around the fortunes	f.	of his native country
7.	it is the will of	g.	Haitians
8.	improve education and increase	h.	literacy rates
9.	puts him in a unique	i.	position
10.	the political instability that has	j.	dogged Haiti

GAP FILL:

Rapper to run for Haiti President

Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean has officially registered to run for president of Haiti. He made his decision the day after the devastating earthquake which killed 250,000 Haitians in January. The presidential election will take place on the 28th of November. Jean announced his bid to a lively crowd of supporters in Port-au-Prince. His speech included bodysurfing across the outstretched arms of his fans before stepping back onto the podium. He told World News America's Sharon Carpenter his popularity as a singer would help his campaign: “As a politician, when I jump up on stage, I’m loved by millions of people,” he said. He told another news agency, The Associated Press, that: "It's a moment in time and in history. It's very emotional."

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - a

2 - c

3 - b

4 - d

5 - c

6 - a

7 - d

8 - b

9 - c

10 - a

11 - b

12 - d

Breaking News English

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13-Page PDF
Handout - with
all-skills activities

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MP3 (2:03 - 987KB)

Rapper to Run for Haiti President (6th August, 2010)

WARM-UPS

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

WHILE READING / LISTENING

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

AFTER READING / LISTENING

STUDENT PRESIDENTS SURVEY

PRESIDENTS DISCUSSION

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

WRITING

HOMEWORK

ANSWERS

Rapper to run for Haiti President

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Sean Banville's Book

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My 1,000 Ideas e-Book	Breaking News English HOME \| HELP MY SITE \| 000s MORE FREE LESSONS	My 1,000 Ideas e-Book

Breaking News English

PRINT

13-Page PDF Handout - with all-skills activities

LISTEN

MP3 (2:03 - 987KB)

Rapper to Run for Haiti President (6th August, 2010)

WARM-UPS

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

WHILE READING / LISTENING

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

AFTER READING / LISTENING

STUDENT PRESIDENTS SURVEY

PRESIDENTS DISCUSSION

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

WRITING

HOMEWORK

ANSWERS

Rapper to run for Haiti President

Help Support This Web Site

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You

13-Page PDF
Handout - with
all-skills activities