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U.N. calls for help for Yarmouk (10th April, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The United Nations has made a plea for humanitarian access to the besieged Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in the suburbs of Damascus. The UN is concerned about the plight of around 18,000 Palestinian refugees holed up in the camp. Many of Yarmouk's residents fled after the group ISIS invaded last Wednesday and overran the camp. Jordan’s Ambassador to the UN Dina Kawar called "for the protection of civilians in the camp" and for "humanitarian access to the area including…life-saving assistance". Another UN spokesperson Pierre Krahenbuhl described the situation as "more desperate than ever". He said: "What civilians in Yarmouk are most concerned about right now is bare survival".

Yarmouk was established in 1957 to accommodate the huge influx of Palestinian refugees from Israel. It became home to the largest Palestinian refugee community in Syria. Before the recent ISIS incursion, around 160,000 people lived there. Life in the camp had already become intolerable for most residents following 18 months of bombing and a siege because of Syria's civil war. Many parts of the camp now resemble a ghost town, with shells of bomb-blasted buildings and a civilian population that has fled. News agencies report that ISIS now controls about 90 per cent of the camp. Syrian authorities are worried ISIS could use it as a springboard to launch attacks on the capital Damascus.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.arabnews.com/middle-east/news/729421
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarmouk_Camp
http://www.dw.de/syria-offers-military-help-to-palestinians-in-yarmouk-camp/a-18366294

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. REFUGEES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about refugees. 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?

humanitarian / besieged / refugee / ambassador / civilians / assistance / survival / established / community / intolerable / siege / residents / ghost town / authorities

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

3. YARMOUK: How can these people / groups help? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Help	Effectiveness
Syrian government
United Nations
Barack Obama
Arab League
Palestinian Authority
Iraqi government

4. SYRIA: Students A strongly believe peace and security will come to Syria in the next five years; Students B strongly believe otherwise. 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. ASSISTANCE: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important aid items at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• water

• tents

• blankets

• food

• torches

• medicine

• clothes

• Internet

6. CIVILIANS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "civilians". 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 UN is worried about 180,000 residents of Yarmouk.	T / F
b.	ISIS invaded the camp last Saturday.	T / F
c.	The article quotes Jordan's Ambassador to Syria.	T / F
d.	A UN spokesperson said civilians are most worried about survival.	T / F
e.	Yarmouk was set up in 1957.	T / F
f.	Yarmouk was the largest Palestinian refugee community in Syria.	T / F
g.	The article says there are many ghosts in the town.	T / F
h.	Syria is worried ISIS might attack Damascus from Yarmouk.	T / F

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

1.	plea	a.	population
2.	suburbs	b.	worried
3.	fled	c.	outskirts
4.	assistance	d.	set up
5.	concerned	e.	appeal
6.	established	f.	look like
7.	community	g.	attack
8.	incursion	h.	ran away
9.	resemble	i.	start
10.	launch	j.	aid

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

1.	in the suburbs	a.	incursion
2.	Many of Yarmouk's residents	b.	than ever
3.	life-saving	c.	town
4.	more desperate	d.	of Damascus
5.	bare	e.	become intolerable
6.	Before the recent ISIS	f.	assistance
7.	Life in the camp had already	g.	capital Damascus
8.	18 months of bombing	h.	survival
9.	resemble a ghost	i.	and a siege
10.	launch attacks on the	j.	fled

GAP FILL

The United Nations has made a (1) ____________ for humanitarian access to the besieged Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in the (2) ____________ of Damascus. The UN is concerned about the (3) ____________ of around 18,000 Palestinian refugees holed up in the camp. Many of Yarmouk's residents fled after the group ISIS invaded last Wednesday and (4) ____________ the camp. Jordan's Ambassador to the UN Dina Kawar called "for the protection of (5) ____________ in the camp" and for "humanitarian (6) ____________ to the area including…life-saving assistance". Another UN spokesperson Pierre Krahenbuhl described the situation as "more (7) ____________ than ever". He said: "What civilians in Yarmouk are most concerned about right now is bare (8) ____________ ".

plight
civilians
plea
survival
suburbs
desperate
access
overran

Yarmouk was established in 1957 to accommodate the huge (9) ____________ of Palestinian refugees from Israel. It became home to the largest Palestinian refugee (10) ____________ in Syria. Before the recent ISIS (11) ____________, around 160,000 people lived there. Life in the camp had already become (12) ____________ for most residents following 18 months of bombing and a (13) ____________ because of Syria's civil war. Many parts of the camp now (14) ____________ a ghost town, with shells of bomb-blasted buildings and a civilian population that has (15) ____________. News agencies report that ISIS now controls about 90 per cent of the camp. Syrian authorities are worried ISIS could use it as a springboard to launch attacks on the (16) ____________ Damascus.

incursion
resemble
influx
capital
siege
community
fled
intolerable

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The U.N. wants humanitarian access to the besieged Yarmouk refugee ______
	a. camps in Damascus b. clamp in Damascus c. clamps in Damascus d. camp in Damascus
2)	It is worried about the 18,000 Palestinian refugees ______
	a. in a camp b. in the camp c. in this camp d. in that camp
3)	Jordan's Ambassador to the UN called "for the protection of civilians" and for "______"
	a. life-saver assistance b. life-save in assistance c. life-serving assistance d. life-saving assistance
4)	Another UN spokesperson said the situation ______
	a. was "desperate" b. was "disparate" c. was "desk rate" d. was "test rate"
5)	He said people were most concerned ______
	a. about "bear survival" b. about "bare survival" c. about "bar survival" d. about "pear survival"
6)	It became the largest Palestinian refugee community in Syria. About 160,000 ______
	a. people lived here b. people lived they're c. people lived there d. people lived their
7)	bombing and a siege during Syria's civil war already made ______
	a. life there impossible b. live there impossible c. lives there impossible d. lift there impossible
8)	It now looks like a ghost town, with bombed-______
	a. out buildings everywhere b. out building everywhere c. out build in everywhere d. out buildings in everywhere
9)	ISIS now controls about 90 per cent ______
	a. of a camp b. of that camp c. of this camp d. of the camp
10)	Syria is worried ISIS will use Yarmouk as a base ______
	a. to attacks Damascus b. to attacked Damascus c. to attacking Damascus d. to attack Damascus

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Nations has (1) ___________________ humanitarian access to the besieged Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp (2) ___________________ Damascus. The UN is concerned about the plight of around 18,000 Palestinian refugees (3) ___________________ camp. Many of Yarmouk's residents fled after the group ISIS invaded last Wednesday and overran the camp. Jordan's Ambassador to the UN Dina Kawar called "for the protection of civilians in the camp" and for "humanitarian (4) ___________________ including…life-saving assistance". Another UN spokesperson Pierre Krahenbuhl described the situation as "more (5) ___________________". He said: "What civilians in Yarmouk are most concerned about right now (6) ___________________ ".

Yarmouk was established in 1957 to accommodate (7) ___________________ Palestinian refugees from Israel. It became home to the largest Palestinian (8) ___________________ in Syria. Before the recent ISIS incursion, around 160,000 people lived there. Life in the camp had already become (9) ___________________ most residents following 18 months of bombing (10) ___________________ because of Syria's civil war. Many parts of the camp now resemble a ghost town, with shells of bomb-blasted buildings and a civilian population that has fled. News agencies report that ISIS (11) ___________________ 90 per cent of the camp. Syrian authorities are worried ISIS (12) ___________________ springboard to launch attacks on the capital Damascus.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Where in Damascus is Yarmouk?
2.	How many Palestinians are in the camp?
3.	Which country's ambassador called for the protection of civilians?
4.	Who is Pierre Krahenbuhl?
5.	What did Pierre Krahenbuhl say civilians are most concerned about?
6.	When was Yarmouk first set up?
7.	How many people use to live in Yarmouk?
8.	For how long have the people of Yarmouk endured bombing?
9.	How much of Yarmouk does ISIS control?
10.	What is Syria worried about ISIS attacking?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Where in Damascus is Yarmouk?	6.	When was Yarmouk first set up?
	a) the centre b) the suburbs c) the north d) the southeast		a) 1957 b) 1956 c) 1955 d) 1954
2.	How many Palestinians are in the camp?	7.	How many people use to live in Yarmouk?
	a) 15,000 b) 16,000 c) 17,000 d) 18,000		a) 140,000 b) 150,000 c) 160,000 d) 170,000
3.	Which country's ambassador called for the protection of civilians?	8.	For how long have the people of Yarmouk endured bombing?
	a) Qatar b) Lebanon c) Jordan d) Egypt		a) 18 months b) 2 years c) 2 ½ years d) 3 years
4.	Who is Pierre Krahenbuhl?	9.	How much of Yarmouk does ISIS control?
	a) a U.N. spokesperson b) a soldier c) an ambassador d) a refugee		a) 60% b) 70% c) 80% d) 90%
5.	What did Pierre Krahenbuhl say civilians are most concerned about?	10.	What is Syria worried about ISIS attacking?
	a) their homes b) survival c) money d) winning		a) the mountains b) Iraq c) Damascus d) Jordan

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Tents

You think refugees need tents most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least needed of these (and why): Internet, medicine or clothes.

Role B – Internet

You think refugees need the Internet most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least needed of these (and why): tents, medicine or clothes.

Role C – Medicine

You think refugees need medicine most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least needed of these (and why): Internet, tents or clothes.

Role D – Clothes

You think refugees need clothes most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least needed of these (and why): Internet, medicine or tents.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

refugee

camp

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:

plea
around
holed
called
saving
bare

1957
largest
recent
bomb
90
launch

REFUGEES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about refugees 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.

REFUGEES 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 'refugee'?
3)	What do you know about Yarmouk?
4)	What good do you think the U.N. plea will do?
5)	How could ISIS get to control a Damascus suburb?
6)	How can the world help the refugees in Yarmouk?
7)	Why are there so many refugees in the world?
8)	To what extent has the world forgotten about what's happening in Syria?
9)	What kind of humanitarian assistance is needed?
10)	What do you imagine the situation in Yarmouk to be like?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What will it take for there to be no more refugees in the world?
13)	Should richer countries accept more refugees?
14)	In what ways do you think life in the camp is intolerable?
15)	Should the USA and other countries go into Syria?
16)	What should other Arab countries be doing to help Syrians?
17)	Will ISIS win?
18)	What do you think the situation will be like this time next year?
19)	What would happen if ISIS attacked and overran Damascus?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the UN spokesperson?

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

The United Nations has made a (1) ____ for humanitarian access to the besieged Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in the suburbs of Damascus. The UN is concerned about the (2) ____ of around 18,000 Palestinian refugees holed up in the camp. Many of Yarmouk's residents (3) ____ after the group ISIS invaded last Wednesday and overran the camp. Jordan's Ambassador (4) ____ the UN Dina Kawar called "for the protection of civilians in the camp" and for "humanitarian access to the area (5) ____ …life-saving assistance". Another UN spokesperson Pierre Krahenbuhl described the situation as "more desperate than ever". He said: "What civilians in Yarmouk are most concerned about right now is (6) ____ survival".

Yarmouk was established in 1957 to accommodate the huge (7) ____ of Palestinian refugees from Israel. It became (8) ____ to the largest Palestinian refugee community in Syria. Before the recent ISIS incursion, around 160,000 people lived there. Life in the camp had already become intolerable (9) ____ most residents following 18 months of bombing and a (10) ____ because of Syria's civil war. Many parts of the camp now (11) ____ a ghost town, with shells of bomb-blasted buildings and a civilian population that has fled. News agencies report that ISIS now controls about 90 per cent of the camp. Syrian authorities are worried ISIS could use it (12) ____ a springboard to launch attacks on the capital Damascus.

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

1.	(a)	prey	(b)	please	(c)	play	(d)	plea
2.	(a)	prayed	(b)	plate	(c)	played	(d)	plight
3.	(a)	raised	(b)	fled	(c)	jaunted	(d)	laid
4.	(a)	by	(b)	on	(c)	to	(d)	as
5.	(a)	inclusion	(b)	inclusive	(c)	including	(d)	includes
6.	(a)	bare	(b)	base	(c)	bane	(d)	bale
7.	(a)	detox	(b)	influx	(c)	reflux	(d)	reflex
8.	(a)	home	(b)	house	(c)	residence	(d)	manor
9.	(a)	of	(b)	for	(c)	to	(d)	as
10.	(a)	size	(b)	sage	(c)	siege	(d)	stage
11.	(a)	similar	(b)	moderate	(c)	resemble	(d)	attach
12.	(a)	is	(b)	was	(c)	has	(d)	as

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	The United Nations has made a pale
2.	in the ssrubub of Damascus
3.	the ghlpit of around 18,000 Palestinian refugees
4.	the protection of lnivacsii
5.	life-saving tsasicsena
6.	more staeperde than ever
Paragraph 2
7.	mdoaccotame the huge influx
8.	the recent ISIS ncinorusi
9.	eoenblrilta for most residents
10.	18 months of bombing and a egeis
11.	srlbeeem a ghost town
12.	Syrian irauthstoie

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	resemble a ghost town, with shells of bomb-blasted buildings and a civilian
( )	the camp. Jordan's Ambassador to the UN Dina Kawar called "for the protection of
( )	160,000 people lived there. Life in the camp had already become intolerable for most residents
( )	population that has fled. News agencies report that ISIS now controls about 90 per cent of the camp. Syrian
( )	following 18 months of bombing and a siege because of Syria's civil war. Many parts of the camp now
( 1 )	The United Nations has made a plea for humanitarian access to the besieged Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in the
( )	up in the camp. Many of Yarmouk's residents fled after the group ISIS invaded last Wednesday and overran
( )	spokesperson Pierre Krahenbuhl described the situation as "more desperate than ever". He said:
( )	civilians in the camp" and for "humanitarian access to the area including…life-saving assistance". Another UN
( )	Yarmouk was established in 1957 to accommodate the huge influx of Palestinian refugees from Israel. It became
( )	home to the largest Palestinian refugee community in Syria. Before the recent ISIS incursion, around
( )	suburbs of Damascus. The UN is concerned about the plight of around 18,000 Palestinian refugees holed
( )	"What civilians in Yarmouk are most concerned about right now is bare survival".
( )	authorities are worried ISIS could use it as a springboard to launch attacks on the capital Damascus.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	refugees plight 18,000 Palestinian The around of .
2.	the invaded after ISIS Wednesday fled group last Residents .
3.	the camp Kawar called for the protection of civilians in .
4.	more Described desperate the than situation ever as .
5.	Yarmouk are What most civilians concerned in about .
6.	influx huge the Accommodate refugees Palestinian of .
7.	already Life had camp intolerable the become in .
8.	the camp now resemble a ghost town Many parts of .
9.	that controls per report now 90 Agencies ISIS about cent .
10.	as a springboard to launch attacks ISIS could use it .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The United Nations has made a plea / please for humanitarian access to the besieged Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in the suburban / suburbs of Damascus. The UN is concerned about the flight / plight of around 18,000 Palestinian refugees holed down / up in the camp. Many of Yarmouk's residents fled after the group ISIS invaded last Wednesday and overrun / overran the camp. Jordan's Ambassador to the UN Dina Kawar called "for the protection by / of civilians in the camp" and for "humanitarian access to the area including / inclusive …life-saving assistance". Another / Other UN spokesperson Pierre Krahenbuhl described the / a situation as "more desperate than ever". He said: "What civilians in Yarmouk are most concerned about right now is bare / bear survival".

Yarmouk was established in 1957 to home / accommodate the huge influx of Palestinian refugees from Israel. It became home / house to the largest Palestinian refugee community in Syria. Before the recently / recent ISIS incursion, around / round 160,000 people lived there. Life in the camp had already become intolerable for most residents followed / following 18 months of bombing and a siege / sage because of Syria's civil war. Many parts of the camp now resemble / semblance a ghost town, with shells of bomb-blasted buildings and a civilian / civil population that has fled. News agencies report that ISIS now controls about 90 per cent for / of the camp. Syrian authorities are worried ISIS could use it as a springboard to launch attacks on the / a capital Damascus.

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)

Th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns h_s m_d_ _ pl__ f_r h_m_n_t_r__n _cc_ss t_ th_ b_s__g_d Y_rm__k P_l_st_n__n r_f_g__ c_mp _n th_ s_b_rbs _f D_m_sc_s. Th_ _N _s c_nc_rn_d _b__t th_ pl_ght _f _r__nd 18,000 P_l_st_n__n r_f_g__s h_l_d _p _n th_ c_mp. M_ny _f Y_rm__k's r_s_d_nts fl_d _ft_r th_ gr__p _S_S _nv_d_d l_st W_dn_sd_y _nd _v_rr_n th_ c_mp. J_rd_n's _mb_ss_d_r t_ th_ _N D_n_ K_w_r c_ll_d "f_r th_ pr_t_ct__n _f c_v_l__ns _n th_ c_mp" _nd f_r "h_m_n_t_r__n _cc_ss t_ th_ _r__ _ncl_d_ng…l_f_-s_v_ng _ss_st_nc_". _n_th_r _N sp_k_sp_rs_n P__rr_ Kr_h_nb_hl d_scr_b_d th_ s_t__t__n _s "m_r_ d_sp_r_t_ th_n _v_r". H_ s__d: "Wh_t c_v_l__ns _n Y_rm__k _r_ m_st c_nc_rn_d _b__t r_ght n_w _s b_r_ s_rv_v_l".

Y_rm__k w_s _st_bl_sh_d _n 1957 t_ _cc_mm_d_t_ th_ h_g_ _nfl_x _f P_l_st_n__n r_f_g__s fr_m _sr__l. _t b_c_m_ h_m_ t_ th_ l_rg_st P_l_st_n__n r_f_g__ c_mm_n_ty _n Syr__. B_f_r_ th_ r_c_nt _S_S _nc_rs__n, _r__nd 160,000 p__pl_ l_v_d th_r_. L_f_ _n th_ c_mp h_d _lr__dy b_c_m_ _nt_l_r_bl_ f_r m_st r_s_d_nts f_ll_w_ng 18 m_nths _f b_mb_ng _nd _ s__g_ b_c__s_ _f Syr__'s c_v_l w_r. M_ny p_rts _f th_ c_mp n_w r_s_mbl_ _ gh_st t_wn, w_th sh_lls _f b_mb-bl_st_d b__ld_ngs _nd _ c_v_l__n p_p_l_t__n th_t h_s fl_d. N_ws _g_nc__s r_p_rt th_t _S_S n_w c_ntr_ls _b__t 90 p_r c_nt _f th_ c_mp. Syr__n __th_r_t__s _r_ w_rr__d _S_S c__ld _s_ _t _s _ spr_ngb__rd t_ l__nch _tt_cks _n th_ c_p_t_l D_m_sc_s.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the united nations has made a plea for humanitarian access to the besieged yarmouk palestinian refugee camp in the suburbs of damascus the un is concerned about the plight of around 18000 palestinian refugees holed up in the camp many of yarmouk's residents fled after the group isis invaded last wednesday and overran the camp jordan's ambassador to the un dina kawar called "for the protection of civilians in the camp" and for "humanitarian access to the area including…life-saving assistance" another un spokesperson pierre krahenbuhl described the situation as "more desperate than ever" he said "what civilians in yarmouk are most concerned about right now is bare survival"

yarmouk was established in 1957 to accommodate the huge influx of palestinian refugees from israel it became home to the largest palestinian refugee community in syria before the recent isis incursion around 160000 people lived there life in the camp had already become intolerable for most residents following 18 months of bombing and a siege because of syria's civil war many parts of the camp now resemble a ghost town with shells of bomb-blasted buildings and a civilian population that has fled news agencies report that isis now controls about 90 per cent of the camp syrian authorities are worried isis could use it as a springboard to launch attacks on the capital damascus

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheUnitedNationshasmadeapleaforhumanitarianaccesstothebesieg
edYarmoukPalestinianrefugeecampinthesuburbsofDamascus.TheU
Nisconcernedabouttheplightofaround18,000Palestinianrefugeeshol
edupinthecamp.ManyofYarmouk'sresidentsfledafterthegroupISISin
vadedlastWednesdayandoverranthecamp.Jordan'sAmbassadortoth
eUNDinaKawarcalled"fortheprotectionofciviliansinthecamp"andfor"
humanitarianaccesstotheareaincluding…life-savingassistanc
e".AnotherUNspokespersonPierreKrahenbuhldescribedthesituation
as"moredesperatethanever".Hesaid:"WhatciviliansinYarmoukarem
ostconcernedaboutrightnowisbaresurvival".Yarmoukwasestablishe
din1957toaccommodatethehugeinfluxofPalestinianrefugeesfromIsr
ael.ItbecamehometothelargestPalestinianrefugeecommunityinSyri
a.BeforetherecentISISincursion,around160,000peoplelivedthere.Li
feinthecamphadalreadybecomeintolerableformostresidentsfollowin
g18monthsofbombingandasiegebecauseofSyria'scivilwar.Manypart
softhecampnowresembleaghosttown,withshellsofbomb-blaste
dbuildingsandacivilianpopulationthathasfled.Newsagenciesreportth
atISISnowcontrolsabout90percentofthecamp.Syrianauthoritiesare
worriedISIScoulduseitasaspringboardtolaunchattacksonthecapital
Damascus.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

All rich countries should accept all refugees. 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 refugees. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. YARMOUK: Write a magazine article about Yarmouk. Should the USA send troops in? 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 Syria. Ask him/her three questions about the refugees. Give him/her three ideas on how to resolve this problem. 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	plea	a.	appeal
2	suburbs	b.	outskirts
3.	fled	c.	ran away
4.	assistance	d.	aid
5.	concerned	e.	worried
6.	established	f.	set up
7.	community	g.	population
8.	incursion	h.	attack
9.	resemble	i.	look like
10.	launch	j.	start

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The suburbs
2.	18,000
3.	Jordan
4.	A U.N. ambassador
5.	Survival
6.	1957
7.	160,000
8.	18 months
9.	90%
10.	Damascus

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

c

4.

a

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

d

10.

c

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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U.N. calls for help for Yarmouk (10th April, 2015)

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