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Major breakthrough in US-Cuba relations (19th December, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A new chapter is starting with relations between the USA and Cuba. The two countries have had very little contact with each other for over fifty years. That changed on Wednesday when US President Barack Obama announced he wanted to get the relationship between the USA and Cuba back to normal. One of the first things President Obama wants to do is to restore diplomatic and economic ties. He told reporters that: "Today, America chooses to cut loose the shackles of the past." Cuban President Raul Castro said: "We have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations." The two sides have been in secret talks for more than a year. Some negotiations were at the Vatican and included help from Pope Francis.

The White House announced a series of actions to reset relations between the two nations. The USA will no longer state that Cuba sponsors terrorism. It will be easier for US citizens to travel to and do business in Cuba. There will also be better telephone and Internet access for people to communicate with each other. A major change is the lifting of the 54-year-old trade embargo that stops US goods going to Cuba and all Cuban goods going to the USA. Mr Castro said he has worked hard for the normalisation of ties with the USA. He said he hoped the two countries could now share a brighter future together. He told reporters: "We must learn the art of coexisting with our differences in a civilised manner."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30516740
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=107963
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/opinion/a-new-beginning-with-cuba.html?_r=0

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

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. CUBA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Cuba. 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?

chapter / relations / contact / normal / cut loose / the past / diplomatic / negotiations / reset / terrorism / do business / Internet access / trade embargo / brighter future

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

3. TIES: How can Cuba and the USA make ties between them better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What they could do	How this would help
Trade
Sports
Education
Culture
Visas
Embassies

4. FRIENDS: Students A strongly believe all countries will be good friends with each other one day; Students B strongly believe that will never happen. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. RELATIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to help relations between countries at the top at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• same language

• trade

• sporting rivalry

• same politics

• art

• common enemy

• ethnicity

• religion

6. NORMAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "normal". 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.	The article says a new paragraph is starting between the US and Cuba.	T / F
b.	The US and Cuba have not had much contact for more than 50 years.	T / F
c.	President Obama said he wanted to break free from the past.	T / F
d.	Pope Francis helped in negotiations between the US and Cuba.	T / F
e.	It will still be difficult for US citizens to visit Cuba.	T / F
f.	The trade embargo between the two countries will stay in place.	T / F
g.	Cuba's president said this breakthrough didn't take much work.	T / F
h.	Cuba's president said the US and Cuba had to learn to live together.	T / F

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

1.	chapter	a.	great
2.	announced	b.	period
3.	normal	c.	countries
4.	secret	d.	talks
5.	negotiations	e.	supports
6.	nations	f.	links
7.	sponsors	g.	declared
8.	major	h.	way
9.	ties	i.	usual
10.	manner	j.	confidential

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

1.	The two countries have had very little	a.	do business in Cuba
2.	restore diplomatic and	b.	of the past
3.	cut loose the shackles	c.	were at the Vatican
4.	The two sides have been in secret talks	d.	to reset relations
5.	Some negotiations	e.	economic ties
6.	a series of actions	f.	future together
7.	travel to and	g.	for more than a year
8.	the lifting of the 54-year-old	h.	manner
9.	share a brighter	i.	contact with each other
10.	in a civilised.	j.	trade embargo

GAP FILL

A new (1) ____________ is starting with relations between the USA and Cuba. The two countries have had very little (2) ____________ with each other for over fifty years. That changed on Wednesday when US President Barack Obama (3) ____________ he wanted to get the relationship between the USA and Cuba back to (4) ____________. One of the first things President Obama wants to do is to restore diplomatic and economic (5) ____________. He told reporters that: "Today, America chooses to cut loose the shackles of the (6) ____________." Cuban President Raul Castro said: "We have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations." The two sides have been in (7) ____________ talks for more than a year. Some negotiations were at the Vatican and included (8) ____________ from Pope Francis.

announced
chapter
secret
ties
contact
help
normal
past

The White House announced a (9) ____________ of actions to reset relations between the two nations. The USA will no longer (10) ____________ that Cuba sponsors terrorism. It will be easier for US citizens to travel to and do business in Cuba. There will also be better telephone and Internet (11) ____________ for people to communicate with each other. A major change is the (12) ____________ of the 54-year-old trade embargo that stops US (13) ____________ going to Cuba and all Cuban goods going to the USA. Mr Castro said he has worked hard for the normalisation of ties with the USA. He said he (14) ____________ the two countries could now share a (15) ____________ future together. He told reporters: "We must learn the (16) ____________ of coexisting with our differences in a civilised manner."

lifting
series
access
hoped
state
art
goods
brighter

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	A new chapter is starting with relations ______ and Cuba
	a. between the USA b. in between the USA c. among the USA d. amongst the USA
2)	The two countries have had very little contact ______
	a. without each other b. within each other c. wither each other d. with each other
3)	get the relationship between the USA and Cuba ______
	a. backs to normal b. backed to normal c. back to normal d. backing to normal
4)	Today, America chooses to cut loose the shackles ______
	a. of the passed b. of the past c. of the parsed d. of the parts
5)	Some negotiations were at the Vatican and included ______ Francis
	a. yelp from Pope b. kelp from Pope c. help from Pope d. whelp from Pope
6)	The White House announced a series of actions ______
	a. to request relations b. to reassert relations c. to resend relations d. to reset relations
7)	It will be easier for US citizens to travel to and ______ Cuba
	a. does business in b. do business in c. doing business in d. doer business in
8)	the lifting of the 54-year-old trade embargo that stops US ______ Cuba
	a. goods going to b. good going to c. goodies going to d. goodness going to
9)	Mr Castro said he has worked hard for the normalisation ______ USA
	a. of Thais with the b. of tiles with the c. of types with the d. of ties with the
10)	We must learn the art of coexisting with our differences ______ manner
	a. in a civilised b. on a civilised c. inner civilised d. in the civilised

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A new (1) ___________________ with relations between the USA and Cuba. The two countries have had (2) ___________________ with each other for over fifty years. That changed on Wednesday when US President Barack Obama announced he (3) ___________________ the relationship between the USA and Cuba back to normal. One of the first things President Obama wants (4) ___________________ restore diplomatic and economic ties. He told reporters that: "Today, America chooses to cut loose the shackles of the past." Cuban President Raul Castro said: "(5) ___________________ to re-establish diplomatic relations." The two sides have been in secret talks for more than a year. (6) ___________________ were at the Vatican and included help from Pope Francis.

The White House announced (7) ___________________ to reset relations between the two nations. The USA will no longer state that Cuba sponsors terrorism. It (8) ___________________ US citizens to travel to and do business in Cuba. There will also be better telephone and Internet access for people to communicate (9) ___________________. A major change is the lifting of the 54-year-old trade embargo that (10) ___________________ to Cuba and all Cuban goods going to the USA. Mr Castro said he has worked hard for the normalisation (11) ___________________ USA. He said he hoped the two countries could now share a brighter future together. He told reporters: "We must (12) ___________________ coexisting with our differences in a civilised manner."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How long has it been that Cuba and the US have had so little contact?
2.	On what day did President Obama make his announcement?
3.	What is one of the first things President Obama wants to restore?
4.	What does Mr Obama want to do to the "shackles of the past"?
5.	Where were some of the secret negotiations held?
6.	What will the series of actions announced by the White House do?
7.	Who will have an easier time doing business in Cuba?
8.	For how many years has the trade embargo been in place?
9.	Who said he worked hard for the normalization of ties?
10.	What kind of future did Raul Castro hope the two countries could share?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How long has it been that Cuba and the US have had so little contact?	6.	What will the series of actions announced by the White House do?
	a) almost five decades b) five decades c) more than 50 years d) 50 years		a) invite Mr Castro to the White House b) reset relations c) very little d) restart flights
2.	On what day did President Obama make his announcement?	7.	Who will have an easier time doing business in Cuba?
	a) Wednesday b) American Independence Day c) Cuban Independence Day d) Black Friday		a) US citizens b) investment banks c) Cuban CEOs d) tourists
3.	What is one of the first things President Obama wants to restore?	8.	For how many years has the trade embargo been in place?
	a) diplomatic and economic ties b) ferry services c) Havana's museums d) an old car		a) 52 b) 53 c) 54 d) 55
4.	What does Mr Obama want to do to the "shackles of the past"?	9.	Who said he worked hard for the normalisation of ties?
	a) put them in a museum b) cut them loose c) sell them d) burn them		a) Pope Francis b) Angel Rodriguez c) Cuba's top diplomat d) Raul Castro
5.	Where were some of the secret negotiations held?	10.	What kind of future did Raul Castro hope the two countries could share?
	a) Nicaragua b) Geneva c) Madrid d) the Vatican		a) a brighter one b) a long one c) a rosy one d) an uncertain one

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Same language

You think having the same language is best thing for relations between two countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): same enemies, same religion or same currency.

Role B – Same enemies

You think having the same enemies is best thing for relations between two countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): same language, same religion or same currency.

Role C – Same religion

You think having the same religion is best thing for relations between two countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): same enemies, same language or same currency.

Role D – Same currency

You think having the same currency is best thing for relations between two countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): same enemies, same religion or same language.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

break

through

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:

chapter
fifty
get
cut
sides
help

series
state
access
goods
hoped
manner

CUBA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Cuba 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.

CUBA DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'relations'?
3)	What do you know about relations between Cuba and the US?
4)	How will better relations change things for people in Cuba?
5)	How will this news change the world?
6)	How important is it to get US-Cuban relations back to normal?
7)	Who does your country need to restore relations with?
8)	How can the USA restore relations with other countries?
9)	How important is this news in terms of world history?
10)	Why and how do you think Pope Francis helped?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Why did the USA decide Cuba sponsored terrorism?
13)	How will more Americans going to Cuba change Cuba?
14)	How will better relations help Americans?
15)	How will the future between the two countries be brighter?
16)	What difficulties might there be from now?
17)	What three adjectives best describe this story (and why)?
18)	Which other two nations really need to restore relations?
19)	How difficult is it for countries to coexist?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Raul Castro?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A new chapter is (1) ____ with relations between the USA and Cuba. The two countries have had very (2) ____ contact with each other for over fifty years. That changed on Wednesday when US President Barack Obama announced he wanted to get the relationship between the USA and Cuba (3) ____ to normal. One of the first things President Obama wants to do is to restore diplomatic and economic (4) ____. He told reporters that: "Today, America chooses to cut loose the shackles of the (5) ____." Cuban President Raul Castro said: "We have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations." The two sides have been (6) ____ secret talks for more than a year. Some negotiations were at the Vatican and included help from Pope Francis.

The White House announced a (7) ____ of actions to reset relations between the two nations. The USA will no longer state that Cuba sponsors terrorism. It will be easier for US citizens to travel to and (8) ____ business in Cuba. There will also be better telephone and Internet access for people to communicate with each other. A major change is the (9) ____ of the 54-year-old trade embargo that stops US goods going to Cuba and all Cuban (10) ____ going to the USA. Mr Castro said he has worked hard for the normalisation of ties with the USA. He said he hoped the two countries could now share a (11) ____ future together. He told reporters: "We must learn the art of coexisting with our differences in a civilised (12) ____."

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

1.	(a)	stirring	(b)	starring	(c)	staring	(d)	starting
2.	(a)	few	(b)	tiny	(c)	small	(d)	little
3.	(a)	front	(b)	back	(c)	up	(d)	down
4.	(a)	ropes	(b)	strings	(c)	ties	(d)	bands
5.	(a)	past	(b)	passed	(c)	parsed	(d)	paste
6.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	to	(d)	at
7.	(a)	various	(b)	varies	(c)	serious	(d)	series
8.	(a)	do	(b)	be	(c)	take	(d)	try
9.	(a)	elevating	(b)	lifting	(c)	upping	(d)	increasing
10.	(a)	bads	(b)	evils	(c)	goods	(d)	wells
11.	(a)	brighten	(b)	brightness	(c)	brighter	(d)	brightly
12.	(a)	banner	(b)	manner	(c)	tanner	(d)	fanner

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	A new phctrae is starting
2.	The two countries have had very little ctntoac
3.	ooeiccmn ties
4.	agreed to re-establish ilcmpoaidt relations
5.	been in tscree talks for more than a year
6.	eiucnldd help from Pope Francis
Paragraph 2
7.	US nicszeit
8.	Internet esaccs
9.	eumcoimatcn with each other
10.	the 54-year-old trade oraegbm
11.	share a hebrgirt future together
12.	in a eivldciis (UK) / lizicdvie (USA) manner

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	to and do business in Cuba. There will also be better telephone and Internet access for people to communicate
( )	announced he wanted to get the relationship between the USA and Cuba back to normal. One of the first
( )	goods going to Cuba and all Cuban goods going to the USA. Mr Castro said he has worked hard for the normalisation
( )	to re-establish diplomatic relations." The two sides have been in secret talks for
( )	of ties with the USA. He said he hoped the two countries could now share a brighter future
( )	more than a year. Some negotiations were at the Vatican and included help from Pope Francis.
( )	"Today, America chooses to cut loose the shackles of the past." Cuban President Raul Castro said: "We have agreed
( )	together. He told reporters: "We must learn the art of coexisting with our differences in a civilised manner."
( )	The White House announced a series of actions to reset relations between the two
( )	contact with each other for over fifty years. That changed on Wednesday when US President Barack Obama
( 1 )	A new chapter is starting with relations between the USA and Cuba. The two countries have had very little
( )	things President Obama wants to do is to restore diplomatic and economic ties. He told reporters that:
( )	with each other. A major change is the lifting of the 54-year-old trade embargo that stops US
( )	nations. The USA will no longer state that Cuba sponsors terrorism. It will be easier for US citizens to travel

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	contact have had The very two little countries.
2.	relationship USA back the the Cuba Get between and.
3.	to cut loose the shackles of the past America chooses.
4.	establish agreed - relations have re diplomatic We to.
5.	been The in two secret sides talks have.
6.	to two reset nations relations between Actions the.
7.	business to citizens Easier in and to for Cuba do travel US.
8.	54 the of lifting The embargo trade old - year -.
9.	share future Two now brighter could a together countries.
10.	art the learn must We coexisting of.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A new chapter / charter is starting with relations between the USA and Cuba. The two countries have had very little contract / contact with each other for over / under fifty years. That changed on Wednesday when US President Barack Obama announced / announcement he wanted to get the relationship between the USA and Cuba back on / to normal. One of the first things President Obama wants to do is to restore / store diplomatic and economic ties. He told reporters that: "Today, America chooses to cut lose / loose the shackles of the past." Cuban President Raul Castro said: "We have agreed / agreeing to re-establish diplomatic relations." The two sides have been in / on secret talks for more than a year. Some negotiations were at the Vatican and included help for / from Pope Francis.

The White House announced a serious / series of actions to reset relations between the two nations. The USA will no larger / longer state that Cuba sponsors terrorism. It will be easier for US citizens to travel to and do business in / to Cuba. There will also be / have better telephone and Internet access / excess for people to communicate with each other. A major change is the lifting / lifts of the 54-year-old trade embargo that stops US goods going to Cuba and all Cuban goods gone / going to the USA. Mr Castro said he has worked hard for / from the normalisation of ties with the USA. He said he hoped the two countries could now share a brightness / brighter future together. He told reporters: "We must learn the art of coexisting with our differences in a civilised manner / manners."

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)

_ n_w ch_pt_r _s st_rt_ng w_th r_l_t__ns b_tw__n th_ _S_ _nd C_b_. Th_ tw_ c__ntr__s h_v_ h_d v_ry l_ttl_ c_nt_ct w_th __ch _th_r f_r _v_r f_fty y__rs. Th_t ch_ng_d _n W_dn_sd_y wh_n _S Pr_s_d_nt B_r_ck _b_m_ _nn__nc_d h_ w_nt_d t_ g_t th_ r_l_t__nsh_p b_tw__n th_ _S_ _nd C_b_ b_ck t_ n_rm_l. _n_ _f th_ f_rst th_ngs Pr_s_d_nt _b_m_ w_nts t_ d_ _s t_ r_st_r_ d_pl_m_t_c _nd _c_n_m_c t__s. H_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs th_t: "T_d_y, _m_r_c_ ch__s_s t_ c_t l__s_ th_ sh_ckl_s _f th_ p_st." C_b_n Pr_s_d_nt R__l C_str_ s__d: "W_ h_v_ _gr__d t_ r_-_st_bl_sh d_pl_m_t_c r_l_t__ns." Th_ tw_ s_d_s h_v_ b__n _n s_cr_t t_lks f_r m_r_ th_n _ y__r. S_m_ n_g_t__t__ns w_r_ _t th_ V_t_c_n _nd _ncl_d_d h_lp fr_m P_p_ Fr_nc_s.

Th_ Wh_t_ H__s_ _nn__nc_d _ s_r__s _f _ct__ns t_ r_s_t r_l_t__ns b_tw__n th_ tw_ n_t__ns. Th_ _S_ w_ll n_ l_ng_r st_t_ th_t C_b_ sp_ns_rs t_rr_r_sm. _t w_ll b_ __s__r f_r _S c_t_z_ns t_ tr_v_l t_ _nd d_ b_s_n_ss _n C_b_. Th_r_ w_ll _ls_ b_ b_tt_r t_l_ph_n_ _nd _nt_rn_t _cc_ss f_r p__pl_ t_ c_mm_n_c_t_ w_th __ch _th_r. _ m_j_r ch_ng_ _s th_ l_ft_ng _f th_ 54-y__r-_ld tr_d_ _mb_rg_ th_t st_ps _S g__ds g__ng t_ C_b_ _nd _ll C_b_n g__ds g__ng t_ th_ _S_. Mr C_str_ s__d h_ h_s w_rk_d h_rd f_r th_ n_rm_l_s_t__n _f t__s w_th th_ _S_. H_ s__d h_ h_p_d th_ tw_ c__ntr__s c__ld n_w sh_r_ _ br_ght_r f_t_r_ t_g_th_r. H_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "W_ m_st l__rn th_ _rt _f c__x_st_ng w_th __r d_ff_r_nc_s _n _ c_v_l_s_d m_nn_r."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a new chapter is starting with relations between the usa and cuba the two countries have had very little contact with each other for over fifty years that changed on wednesday when us president barack obama announced he wanted to get the relationship between the usa and cuba back to normal one of the first things president obama wants to do is to restore diplomatic and economic ties he told reporters that "today america chooses to cut loose the shackles of the past" cuban president raul castro said "we have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations" the two sides have been in secret talks for more than a year some negotiations were at the vatican and included help from pope francis

the white house announced a series of actions to reset relations between the two nations the usa will no longer state that cuba sponsors terrorism it will be easier for us citizens to travel to and do business in cuba there will also be better telephone and internet access for people to communicate with each other a major change is the lifting of the 54-year-old trade embargo that stops us goods going to cuba and all cuban goods going to the usa mr castro said he has worked hard for the normalisation of ties with the usa he said he hoped the two countries could now share a brighter future together he told reporters "we must learn the art of coexisting with our differences in a civilised manner"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AnewchapterisstartingwithrelationsbetweentheUSAandCuba.Thet
wocountrieshavehadverylittlecontactwitheachotherforoverfiftyyear
s.ThatchangedonWednesdaywhenUSPresidentBarackObamaannou
ncedhewantedtogettherelationshipbetweentheUSAandCubabackto
normal.OneofthefirstthingsPresidentObamawantstodoistorestoredi
plomaticandeconomicties.Hetoldreportersthat:"Today,Americacho
osestocutloosetheshacklesofthepast."CubanPresidentRaulCastrosa
id:"Wehaveagreedtore-establishdiplomaticrelations."Thetwoside
shavebeeninsecrettalksformorethanayear.Somenegotiationswerea
ttheVaticanandincludedhelpfromPopeFrancis.TheWhiteHouseanno
uncedaseriesofactionstoresetrelationsbetweenthetwonations.TheU
SAwillnolongerstatethatCubasponsorsterrorism.ItwillbeeasierforU
ScitizenstotraveltoanddobusinessinCuba.Therewillalsobebettertele
phoneandInternetaccessforpeopletocommunicatewitheachother.A
majorchangeistheliftingofthe54-year-oldtradeembargothatstopsU
SgoodsgoingtoCubaandallCubangoodsgoingtotheUSA.MrCastrosai
dhehasworkedhardforthenormalisationoftieswiththeUSA.Hesaidhe
hopedthetwocountriescouldnowshareabrighterfuturetogether.Heto
ldreporters:"Wemustlearntheartofcoexistingwithourdifferencesinac
ivilisedmanner."

FREE WRITING

Write about Cuba for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

The future of the world is bright. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about Cuba. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Write a magazine article about international relations. Include imaginary interviews with people who think they will get better and with people who think they will get worse.

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 Cuba. Ask him/her three questions about the country. Give him/her three of your ideas on what Cuba will be like in ten years from now. 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

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	chapter	a.	period
2.	announced	b.	declared
3.	normal	c.	usual
4.	secret	d.	confidential
5.	negotiations	e.	talks
6.	nations	f.	countries
7.	sponsors	g.	supports
8.	major	h.	great
9.	ties	i.	links
10.	manner	j.	way

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Over 50 years
2.	Wednesday
3.	Diplomatic and economic ties
4.	Cut them loose
5.	The Vatican
6.	Reset relations
7.	US citizens
8.	54 years
9.	Raul Castro (Cuba's President)
10.	A brighter one

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Major breakthrough in US-Cuba relations (19th December, 2014)

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