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Castro and Obama in historic handshake (13th April, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

Relations between the USA and Cuba took a step towards becoming more normal on Friday when the leaders of the two countries, Raul Castro and Barack Obama, shook hands. They met briefly at the Summit of the Americas in Panama. This is a meeting for countries in North, Central and South America to discuss a better future for their continents. The historic handshake will help the USA and Cuba end their bitterness towards each other. The two countries have barely spoken for more than 50 years. America banned its citizens from visiting Cuba and banned most Cuban goods from being exported to the USA. Over a decade ago, the USA declared Cuba was a sponsor of international terrorism.

Castro and Obama are expected to have a sit-down meeting. They will discuss how to make sure their countries can have a better future together. The meeting will be the highest-level talks between the USA and Cuba since Richard Nixon and Fidel Castro met in 1959. A US security advisor said: "The reason we're here is that the President strongly believes that an approach that was focused…totally on seeking to cut off the Cuban people from the USA had failed." President Obama said: "I think the Cuban people are extraordinary and have huge potential. And what's encouraging is the overwhelming majority of Cubans are interested in…moving forward." The two countries are only 151 km apart.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/10/politics/obama-raul-castro-panama-cuba/index.html
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article18102170.html

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?

relations / normal / briefly / handshake / bitterness / banned / citizens / terrorism / meeting / highest level / security / advisor / approach / extraordinary / moving forward

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

3. NEIGHBOURS: How should neighbouring countries act towards each other? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Perfect neighbours	Your country's neighbours
Their border
Trade
Sport
Defence
Culture
Tourism

4. RELATIONS: Students A strongly believe relations among all world countries will be good one day; Students B strongly believe the opposite. 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. GOOD RELATIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things for good relations between countries at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• handshakes

• presents

• honesty

• time

• history

• helpfulness

• cooperation

• same language

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 leaders of the USA and Cuba had a sit-down meeting last Friday.	T / F
b.	The two leaders met each other in Panama.	T / F
c.	Countries from North, South and Central America were at the meeting.	T / F
d.	America stopped most Cuban goods from coming in to the country.	T / F
e.	Obama and Castro will talk to repair relations between their nations.	T / F
f.	The last high-level meeting between the two nations was 10 years ago.	T / F
g.	President Obama said the USA's actions towards Cuba had worked.	T / F
h.	Obama said most Cubans were not interested in moving forward.	T / F

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

1.	briefly	a.	came together
2.	discuss	b.	hate
3.	historic	c.	amazing
4.	bitterness	d.	momentarily
5.	declared	e.	supposed
6.	expected	f.	trying
7.	met	g.	said
8.	seeking	h.	talk about
9.	extraordinary	i.	away from each other
10.	apart	j.	important

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

1.	They met	a.	more than 50 years
2.	end their bitterness	b.	talks
3.	barely spoken for	c.	terrorism
4.	Over a decade	d.	apart
5.	a sponsor of international	e.	towards each other
6.	expected to have a sit-	f.	down meeting
7.	have a better	g.	majority of Cubans
8.	highest-level	h.	ago
9.	the overwhelming	i.	future together
10.	The two countries are only 151 km	j.	briefly

GAP FILL

Relations between the USA and Cuba took a (1) ____________ towards becoming more normal on Friday when the (2) ____________ of the two countries, Raul Castro and Barack Obama, shook (3) ____________. They met (4) ____________ at the Summit of the Americas in Panama. This is a meeting for countries in North, Central and South America to discuss a better future for their continents. The (5) ____________ handshake will help the USA and Cuba end their bitterness towards each other. The two countries have (6) ____________ spoken for more than 50 years. America banned its citizens from visiting Cuba and (7) ____________ most Cuban goods from being exported to the USA. Over a (8) ____________ ago, the USA declared Cuba was a sponsor of international terrorism.

barely
hands
historic
step
decade
leaders
banned
briefly

Castro and Obama are (9) ____________ to have a sit-down meeting. They will discuss how to make sure their countries can have a better (10) ____________ together. The meeting will be the highest-level talks between the USA and Cuba since Richard Nixon and Fidel Castro met in 1959. A US (11) ____________ advisor said: "The reason we're here is that the President (12) ____________ believes that an approach that was focused…totally on (13) ____________ to cut off the Cuban people from the USA had failed." President Obama said: "I think the Cuban people are extraordinary and have (14) ____________ potential. And what's encouraging is the overwhelming (15) ____________ of Cubans are interested in…moving forward." The two countries are only 151 km (16) ____________.

strongly
majority
future
seeking
expected
apart
security
huge

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Relations between the USA and Cuba took a step towards becoming ______
	a. more normality on Friday b. more normalise on Friday c. more normal on Friday d. more normally on Friday
2)	the leaders of the two countries, Raul Castro and Barack Obama, ______
	a. shook hands b. shook hand c. shook handy d. shook handed
3)	help the USA and Cuba end their bitterness ______
	a. toward each other b. towards one other c. towards each other d. towards one another
4)	America banned its citizens from visiting Cuba and banned ______
	a. most Cuban good b. most Cuban goodies c. most Cuban goodness d. most Cuban goods
5)	the USA declared Cuba was a sponsor of ______
	a. international terrorist b. international terrorists c. international terrorism d. international terror is am
6)	Castro and Obama are expected to have a ______
	a. slit-down meeting b. spit-down meeting c. sit-down meeting d. skit-down meeting
7)	discuss how to make sure their countries can have a ______
	a. better future together b. better futures together c. better future all together d. better futures all together
8)	I think the Cuban people are extraordinary and ______
	a. have hug potential b. have huge potential c. have hugely potential d. have fugue potential
9)	the overwhelming majority of Cubans are interested ______
	a. in move in forward b. in moving forward c. in moving in forward d. in movie forward
10)	The two countries are only ______
	a. 151 km a part b. 151 km a party c. 151 km apart d. 151 km app art

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Relations between the USA and Cuba (1) ___________________ becoming more normal on Friday when the leaders of the two countries, Raul Castro and Barack Obama, shook hands. They (2) ___________________ the Summit of the Americas in Panama. This is a meeting for countries in North, Central and South America (3) ___________________ future for their continents. The (4) ___________________ will help the USA and Cuba end their bitterness towards each other. The two countries (5) ___________________ for more than 50 years. America banned its citizens from visiting Cuba and banned most Cuban goods from being exported to the USA. (6) ___________________ ago, the USA declared Cuba was a sponsor of international terrorism.

Castro and Obama (7) ___________________ have a sit-down meeting. They will discuss how to make sure their countries can have a better future together. The meeting will be the (8) ___________________ between the USA and Cuba since Richard Nixon and Fidel Castro met in 1959. A US security advisor said: "The reason (9) ___________________ that the President strongly believes that an approach that was focused…totally on (10) ___________________ the Cuban people from the USA had failed." President Obama said: "I think the Cuban people are extraordinary and have (11) ___________________. And what's encouraging is the overwhelming majority of Cubans are interested in…moving forward." The two countries are (12) ___________________.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	For how long did the two leaders meet?
2.	In which country did the meeting take place?
3.	What will the historic handshake help end between Cuba and the USA?
4.	What was banned from being exported to the USA?
5.	When did the USA say Cuba sponsored international terrorism?
6.	What will Obama and Castro talk about next?
7.	When did Richard Nixon and Fidel Castro meet?
8.	What did Obama say about cutting Cubans off from the USA?
9.	What did Obama say most Cubans were interested in?
10.	What is the distance between Cuba and the USA?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	For how long did the two leaders meet?	6.	What will Obama and Castro talk about next?
	a) about an hour b) 22 seconds c) 22 minutes d) briefly		a) nuclear weapons b) trade c) a better future d) the weather
2.	In which country did the meeting take place?	7.	When did Richard Nixon and Fidel Castro meet?
	a) Ecuador b) Panama c) Belize d) Canada		a) 1959 b) 1958 c) 1957 d) 1956
3.	What will the historic handshake help end between Cuba and the USA?	8.	What did Obama say about cutting Cubans off from the USA?
	a) tastelessness b) sweetness c) sourness d) bitterness		a) nothing b) it should continue c) it failed d) it was a great idea
4.	What was banned from being exported to the USA?	9.	What did Obama say most Cubans were interested in?
	a) sunshine b) cigars c) Cuban goods d) cars		a) America b) moving forward c) sunshine d) cars
5.	When did the USA say Cuba sponsored international terrorism?	10.	What is the distance between Cuba and the USA?
	a) three months ago b) 1989 c) 5 years ago d) more than 10 years ago		a) 151 km b) 153 km c) 155 km d) 157 km

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Handshakes

You think handshakes are best for good relations between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): honesty, the same language or cooperation.

Role B – Honesty

You think honesty is best for good relations between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): handshakes, the same language or cooperation.

Role C – Same language

You think the same best for good relations between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why)is 99999: honesty, handshakes or cooperation.

Role D – Cooperation

You think cooperation is best for good relations between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): honesty, the same language or handshakes.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

hand

shake

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:

step
normal
briefly
help
goods
sponsor

discuss
talks
reason
totally
huge
151

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 'handshake'?
3)	What do you know about relations between Cuba and the US?
4)	How historic are the handshakes and meetings?
5)	What will change between the USA and Cuba?
6)	What countries is your country bitter towards (and why)?
7)	What will change if the USA and Cuba have good relations?
8)	Which two world countries really need to have better relations?
9)	How important is shaking hands in your country?
10)	How important is the Summit of the Americas?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What do you think the two leaders will talk about?
13)	Why have there been no high-level meetings between the USA and Cuba in over 50 years?
14)	Why was wrong with the US approach of cutting off Cubans?
15)	What will change in Cuba if better relations come?
16)	Would you like to go to Cuba?
17)	Will American voters like what Obama is doing?
18)	What potential do the people in your country have?
19)	What will USA-Cuba relations be like in a decade from now?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Castro and Obama?

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

Relations between the USA and Cuba took a (1) ____ towards becoming more normal on Friday when the leaders of the two countries, Raul Castro and Barack Obama, (2) ____ hands. They met (3) ____ at the Summit of the Americas in Panama. This is a meeting for countries in North, Central and South America to discuss a better future for their continents. The historic handshake will help the USA and Cuba (4) ____ their bitterness towards each other. The two countries have barely spoken for more than 50 years. America (5) ____ its citizens from visiting Cuba and banned most Cuban goods from being exported to the USA. Over a decade ago, the USA declared Cuba was a sponsor (6) ____ international terrorism.

Castro and Obama are (7) ____ to have a sit-down meeting. They will discuss how to make sure their countries can have a better future together. The meeting will be the highest-(8) ____ talks between the USA and Cuba since Richard Nixon and Fidel Castro met in 1959. A US security advisor said: "The reason we're here is that the President (9) ____ believes that an approach that was focused…totally on (10) ____ to cut off the Cuban people from the USA had failed." President Obama said: "I think the Cuban people are extraordinary and have (11) ____ potential. And what's encouraging is the overwhelming majority of Cubans are interested in…moving forward." The two countries are only 151 km (12) ____.

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

1.	(a)	stair	(b)	ladder	(c)	step	(d)	stone
2.	(a)	shook	(b)	shaken	(c)	shaking	(d)	shakes
3.	(a)	briefly	(b)	beefy	(c)	brevity	(d)	breathy
4.	(a)	end	(b)	ending	(c)	ended	(d)	ends
5.	(a)	bind	(b)	band	(c)	binned	(d)	banned
6.	(a)	at	(b)	as	(c)	by	(d)	of
7.	(a)	expected	(b)	expectation	(c)	expectant	(d)	expects
8.	(a)	libel	(b)	revel	(c)	rebel	(d)	level
9.	(a)	strongly	(b)	slowly	(c)	sprightly	(d)	summarily
10.	(a)	peeking	(b)	seeking	(c)	reeking	(d)	leaking
11.	(a)	fugue	(b)	huge	(c)	hug	(d)	faze
12.	(a)	apart	(b)	parted	(c)	party	(d)	depart

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	They met leyifrb
2.	a better future for their etisnocntn
3.	The two countries have yrlabe spoken
4.	goods from being rpedexto to the USA
5.	Over a ecedda ago
6.	a sponros of international terrorism
Paragraph 2
7.	expetdec to have a sit-down meeting
8.	A US security dovaisr
9.	an haaocrpp that was focused
10.	have huge taoepitln
11.	the overwhelming jamoyitr of Cubans
12.	The two countries are only 151 km aprta

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	and South America to discuss a better future for their continents. The historic
( )	people are extraordinary and have huge potential. And what's encouraging is the overwhelming
( )	level talks between the USA and Cuba since Richard Nixon and Fidel Castro met in 1959. A US security
( )	sure their countries can have a better future together. The meeting will be the highest-
( )	handshake will help the USA and Cuba end their bitterness towards each other. The two countries have barely
( )	spoken for more than 50 years. America banned its citizens from visiting Cuba and banned most Cuban
( )	advisor said: "The reason we're here is that the President strongly believes that an approach that was focused…totally
( )	on seeking to cut off the Cuban people from the USA had failed." President Obama said: "I think the Cuban
( )	Castro and Obama are expected to have a sit-down meeting. They will discuss how to make
( )	majority of Cubans are interested in…moving forward." The two countries are only 151 km apart.
( 1 )	Relations between the USA and Cuba took a step towards becoming more normal on Friday when the leaders
( )	goods from being exported to the USA. Over a decade ago, the USA declared Cuba was a sponsor of international terrorism.
( )	of the two countries, Raul Castro and Barack Obama, shook hands. They met
( )	briefly at the Summit of the Americas in Panama. This is a meeting for countries in North, Central

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	towards more step becoming normal A .
2.	handshake historic The USA the help will .
3.	years 50 than more for spoken Barely .
4.	exported to the USA Banned most Cuban goods from being .
5.	Over a declared a sponsor Cuba the decade was USA ago, .
6.	have future sure can better Make countries a their .
7.	be - will highest talks meeting the level The .
8.	USA Seeking to cut off the Cuban people from the .
9.	overwhelming The interested are Cubans of majority .
10.	151 two km countries apart are only The .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Relations between the USA and Cuba took a stair / step towards becoming more normal / normally on Friday when the leaders of the two countries, Raul Castro and Barack Obama, shook / shaking hands. They met brief / briefly at the Summit of the Americas in Panama. This is a meeting from / for countries in North, Central and South America to discuss a best / better future for their continents. The historic / history handshake will help the USA and Cuba end their bitterly / bitterness towards each other. The two countries have barely spoken for more than 50 years. America banned its citizens from visiting Cuba and binned / banned most Cuban goods from being exported to the USA. Over a decade ago, the USA declared Cuba was a sponsor / sponsorship of international terrorism.

Castro and Obama are expected / expect to have a sit-down meeting. They will discuss how to do / make sure their countries can have a better future together. The meeting will be the highest-level speaks / talks between the USA and Cuba since / then Richard Nixon and Fidel Castro met in 1959. A US security advisor said: "The reason we're here is that the President strong / strongly believes that an approach that was focused…totally in / on seeking to cut off the Cuban people / person from the USA had failed." President Obama said: "I think the Cuban people are extraordinary and have hug / huge potential. And what's encouraging / encourage is the overwhelming majority of Cubans are interested in…moving forward." The two countries are only 151 km apart / part.

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)

R_l_t__ns b_tw__n th_ _S_ _nd C_b_ t__k _ st_p t_w_rds b_c_m_ng m_r_ n_rm_l _n Fr_d_y wh_n th_ l__d_rs _f th_ tw_ c__ntr__s, R__l C_str_ _nd B_r_ck _b_m_, sh__k h_nds. Th_y m_t br__fly _t th_ S_mm_t _f th_ _m_r_c_s _n P_n_m_. Th_s _s _ m__t_ng f_r c__ntr__s _n N_rth, C_ntr_l _nd S__th _m_r_c_ t_ d_sc_ss _ b_tt_r f_t_r_ f_r th__r c_nt_n_nts. Th_ h_st_r_c h_ndsh_k_ w_ll h_lp th_ _S_ _nd C_b_ _nd th__r b_tt_rn_ss t_w_rds __ch _th_r. Th_ tw_ c__ntr__s h_v_ b_r_ly sp_k_n f_r m_r_ th_n 50 y__rs. _m_r_c_ b_nn_d _ts c_t_z_ns fr_m v_s_t_ng C_b_ _nd b_nn_d m_st C_b_n g__ds fr_m b__ng _xp_rt_d t_ th_ _S_. _v_r _ d_c_d_ _g_, th_ _S_ d_cl_r_d C_b_ w_s _ sp_ns_r _f _nt_rn_t__n_l t_rr_r_sm.

C_str_ _nd _b_m_ _r_ _xp_ct_d t_ h_v_ _ s_t-d_wn m__t_ng. Th_y w_ll d_sc_ss h_w t_ m_k_ s_r_ th__r c__ntr__s c_n h_v_ _ b_tt_r f_t_r_ t_g_th_r. Th_ m__t_ng w_ll b_ th_ h_gh_st-l_v_l t_lks b_tw__n th_ _S_ _nd C_b_ s_nc_ R_ch_rd N_x_n _nd F_d_l C_str_ m_t _n 1959. _ _S s_c_r_ty _dv_s_r s__d: "Th_ r__s_n w_'r_ h_r_ _s th_t th_ Pr_s_d_nt str_ngly b_l__v_s th_t _n _ppr__ch th_t w_s f_c_s_d…t_t_lly _n s__k_ng t_ c_t _ff th_ C_b_n p__pl_ fr_m th_ _S_ h_d f__l_d." Pr_s_d_nt _b_m_ s__d: "_ th_nk th_ C_b_n p__pl_ _r_ _xtr__rd_n_ry _nd h_v_ h_g_ p_t_nt__l. _nd wh_t's _nc__r_g_ng _s th_ _v_rwh_lm_ng m_j_r_ty _f C_b_ns _r_ _nt_r_st_d _n…m_v_ng f_rw_rd." Th_ tw_ c__ntr__s _r_ _nly 151 km _p_rt.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

relations between the usa and cuba took a step towards becoming more normal on friday when the leaders of the two countries raul castro and barack obama shook hands they met briefly at the summit of the americas in panama this is a meeting for countries in north central and south america to discuss a better future for their continents the historic handshake will help the usa and cuba end their bitterness towards each other the two countries have barely spoken for more than 50 years america banned its citizens from visiting cuba and banned most cuban goods from being exported to the usa over a decade ago the usa declared cuba was a sponsor of international terrorism

castro and obama are expected to have a sit-down meeting they will discuss how to make sure their countries can have a better future together the meeting will be the highest-level talks between the usa and cuba since richard nixon and fidel castro met in 1959 a us security advisor said "the reason we're here is that the president strongly believes that an approach that was focused…totally on seeking to cut off the cuban people from the usa had failed" president obama said "i think the cuban people are extraordinary and have huge potential and what's encouraging is the overwhelming majority of cubans are interested in…moving forward" the two countries are only 151 km apart

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

RelationsbetweentheUSAandCubatookasteptowardsbecomingmore
normalonFridaywhentheleadersofthetwocountries,RaulCastroandB
arackObama,shookhands.TheymetbrieflyattheSummitoftheAmeric
asinPanama.ThisisameetingforcountriesinNorth,CentralandSouthA
mericatodiscussabetterfuturefortheircontinents.Thehistorichandsh
akewillhelptheUSAandCubaendtheirbitternesstowardseachother.T
hetwocountrieshavebarelyspokenformorethan50years.Americaban
neditscitizensfromvisitingCubaandbannedmostCubangoodsfrombei
ngexportedtotheUSA.Overadecadeago,theUSAdeclaredCubawasas
ponsorofinternationalterrorism.CastroandObamaareexpectedtohav
easit-downmeeting.Theywilldiscusshowtomakesuretheircountrie
scanhaveabetterfuturetogether.Themeetingwillbethehighest-
leveltalksbetweentheUSAandCubasinceRichardNixonandFidelCastr
ometin1959.AUSsecurityadvisorsaid:"Thereasonwe'rehereisthatth
ePresidentstronglybelievesthatanapproachthatwasfocused…totally
onseekingtocutofftheCubanpeoplefromtheUSAhadfailed."President
Obamasaid:"IthinktheCubanpeopleareextraordinaryandhavehugep
otential.Andwhat'sencouragingistheoverwhelmingmajorityofCuban
sareinterestedin…movingforward."Thetwocountriesareonly151kma
part.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

All countries will have good relations in 50 years. 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. RELATIONS: Write a magazine article about your country trying to get good relations with a country it has disagreements with. 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 Cuba. Ask him/her three questions about Cuba. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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

T

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	briefly	a.	momentarily
2	discuss	b.	talk about
3.	historic	c.	important
4.	bitterness	d.	hate
5.	declared	e.	said
6.	expected	f.	supposed
7.	met	g.	came together
8.	seeking	h.	trying
9.	extraordinary	i.	amazing
10.	apart	j.	away from each other

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Briefly
2.	Panama
3.	Bitterness
4.	Cuban goods
5.	A decade ago
6.	A better future
7.	1959
8.	It had failed
9.	Moving forward
10.	151 km

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

d

4.

c

5.

d

6.

c

7.

a

8.

c

9.

b

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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Castro and Obama in historic handshake (13th April, 2015)

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