The Czech Republic to be renamed Czechia

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

The Czech Republic will get a new name so it has an easier time at home and abroad. It wants to be called 'Czechia'. This shorter name will avoid confusion over what to call the country. Czechs are tired of being incorrectly called by names such as Czecho, Czechland, or even the adjective 'Czech'. The government hopes the new name will overcome many problems. The government will ask for a formal change at the United Nations.

The Czech Republic said it is following the example of other countries such as the Commonwealth of Australia and the Republic of France. These are called Australia and France. The three-word 'the Czech Republic,' is already shortened. A beer maker says its product is brewed in 'Czech'. National sports teams just put two words on their shirts - 'Czech Republic'. The Czech foreign minister said the name 'Czechia' is not widely popular.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/15/europe/czech-republic-name-czechia/
http://www.dw.com/en/czech-republic-pushes-czechia-as-snappy-short-name/a-19190714
http://www.praguemonitor.com/2016/04/15/czechia-be-countrys-short-official-name-top-politicians-agree

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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	The Czech Republic will	a.	and abroad
2.	it has an easier	b.	'Czech'
3.	at home	c.	called by names
4.	This shorter name will avoid	d.	many problems
5.	tired of being incorrectly	e.	get a new name
6.	the adjective	f.	change
7.	the new name will overcome	g.	time
8.	The government will ask for a formal	h.	confusion

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	following the example	a.	shortened
2.	the Commonwealth	b.	minister
3.	'the Czech Republic,' is already	c.	teams
4.	A beer	d.	of Australia
5.	its product is brewed	e.	popular
6.	National sports	f.	maker
7.	The Czech foreign	g.	of other countries
8.	not widely	h.	in Czech

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The Czech Republic will (1) ___________________ so it has an easier time at home and abroad. It (2) ___________________ called 'Czechia'. This shorter name will avoid confusion over (3) ___________________ country. Czechs are tired of being (4) ___________________ by names such as Czecho, Czechland, or (5) ___________________ 'Czech'. The government hopes the new name will overcome many problems. The government will ask for a (6) ___________________ the United Nations.

The Czech Republic said (7) ___________________ the example of other countries (8) ___________________ Commonwealth of Australia and the Republic of France. (9) ___________________ Australia and France. The three-word 'the Czech Republic,' is (10) ___________________. A beer maker says its product is brewed in 'Czech'. National sports teams just put two (11) ___________________ shirts - 'Czech Republic'. The Czech foreign minister said the name 'Czechia' is (12) ___________________.

COUNTRY NAMES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about country names 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about country names for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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