The Reading / Listening - Equal Pay Day - Level 6

Women in Germany will be able to enjoy cheaper rail travel on Monday. They will be given a 21 per cent reduction in fares as part of Germany's Equal Pay Day events. Equal Pay Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the gender pay gap. It symbolizes the number of additional days a woman must work in a year to earn what men earn. The exact day differs in each country, depending on pay disparity. It is enthusiastically celebrated in Germany, where women are paid 21 per cent less compared to men in terms of average gross hourly earnings. Berlin's public transport company is reducing the cost of its day travel ticket by 21 per cent, charging €5.50 instead of the usual €7.00.

Berlin's metro system was wholeheartedly backing its Equal Pay Day initiative. It is advertising it with an online ad that vows to actually close the gender pay gap. It says: "Gender-specific wage gap. Sounds stupid. Is stupid. We'll close it." Critics of the cheaper day pass say it won't necessarily help women as most workers in the city buy monthly travel passes. The day passes are largely purchased by tourists. Men could find themselves in trouble if they try to buy the cheaper day pass. The Metro said men found using the discounted tickets would be treated like regular fare evaders. Any man caught with the day pass will be deemed a fare dodger and receive a €60 fine.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Equal Pay Day - Level 4  or  Equal Pay Day - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-family-minister-urges-gender-pay-gap-closure/a-47966578
  • https://www.thelocal.de/20190318/berlin-offers-discounted-transport-tickets-to-women
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/world/europe/germany-pay-gap-berlin-transit.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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. EQUAL PAY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about equal pay. 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?
       women / Germany / rail travel / awareness / disparity / celebrated / cost / ticket /
       metro / initiative / advertising / vows / tourists / be in trouble /  pass / fare dodger
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SAME PAY: Students A strongly believe men and women should receive identical pay for the same jobs; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. EQUALITY: What is equality like for these people in your country? How can we achieve greater equality? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Your Country

Greater Equality

Gender Pay

 

 

Management positions

 

 

Racial equality

 

 

Income equality

 

 

Age equality

 

 

Sexual orientation

 

 
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. RAIL TRAVEL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the words "rail travel". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. EQUALITY: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things for gender equality at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • corporate management
  • political leadership
  • armed forces
  • sporting idols
  • pay
  • housework
  • property rights
  • childcare

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. reduction a. Knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.
      2. event b. Either of the two sexes (male and female).
      3. dedicated c. The action or fact of making a specified thing smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
      4. awareness d. Money obtained in return for labor or services.
      5. gender e. A planned public or social occasion.
      6. disparity f. Wholly for a particular service or purpose.
      7. earnings g. A big difference.

    Paragraph 2

      8. wholeheartedly h. Regarded or considered in a specified way.
      9. initiative i. With complete sincerity and commitment.
      10. vows j. An act or strategy to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation.
      11. stupid k. Lowered in price.
      12. discounted l. Having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense.
      13. evaders m. Promises to do something.
      14. deemed n. Someone who avoids paying the full price, tax, or doing a duty.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Women in Germany will get cheaper rail travel for a week.     T / F
  2. Men in Germany earn an average of 21% more than women.     T / F
  3. Equal Pay Day isn't so popular in Germany.     T / F
  4. Berlin's subway system has reduced a rail pass by €5.50.     T / F
  5. Berlin's Metro said the gender pay gap was stupid.     T / F
  6. Most workers buy a monthly travel pass.     T / F
  7. Men are also eligible to buy the cheaper travel pass.     T / F
  8. Men could get a €60 fine for buying the discounted travel pass.     T / F

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

  1. reduction
  2. dedicated
  3. additional
  4. exact
  5. gross
  6. backing
  7. initiative
  8. largely
  9. trouble
  10. deemed
  1. bother
  2. precise
  3. total
  4. scheme
  5. devoted
  6. mainly
  7. considered
  8. cut
  9. supporting
  10. extra

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

  1. Women in Germany will be able
  2. dedicated to raising
  3. to earn what
  4. pay
  5. average gross hourly
  6. wholeheartedly backing its
  7. it won't necessarily
  8. The day passes are largely
  9. regular fare
  10. Any man caught with the day pass will
  1. men earn
  2. Equal Pay Day initiative
  3. purchased by tourists
  4. be deemed a fare dodger
  5. awareness
  6. to enjoy cheaper rail travel
  7. evaders
  8. disparity
  9. help women
  10. earnings

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
gender
reducing
earn
reduction
compared
usual
able
disparity

Women in Germany will be (1) ____________ to enjoy cheaper rail travel on Monday. They will be given a 21 per cent (2) ____________ in fares as part of Germany's Equal Pay Day events. Equal Pay Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the (3) ____________ pay gap. It symbolizes the number of additional days a woman must work in a year to earn what men (4) ____________. The exact day differs in each country, depending on pay (5) ____________. It is enthusiastically celebrated in Germany, where women are paid 21 per cent less (6) ____________ to men in terms of average gross hourly earnings. Berlin's public transport company is (7) ____________ the cost of its day travel ticket by 21 per cent, charging €5.50 instead of the (8) ____________ €7.00.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
trouble
backing
deemed
gender
tickets
monthly
online
pass

Berlin's metro system was wholeheartedly (9) ____________ its Equal Pay Day initiative. It is advertising it with an (10) ____________ ad that vows to actually close the (11) ____________ pay gap. It says: "Gender-specific wage gap. Sounds stupid. Is stupid. We'll close it." Critics of the cheaper day (12) ____________ say it won't necessarily help women as most workers in the city buy (13) ____________ travel passes. The day passes are largely purchased by tourists. Men could find themselves in (14) ____________ if they try to buy the cheaper day pass. The Metro said men found using the discounted (15) ____________ would be treated like regular fare evaders. Any man caught with the day pass will be (16) ____________ a fare dodger and receive a €60 fine.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Women in Germany will be able to ______ rail travel
     a.  enjoyable cheaper
     b.  enjoys cheaper
     c.  enjoyed cheaper
     d.  enjoy cheaper
2)  a 21 per cent reduction in fares as part of Germany's Equal Pay ______
     a.  Day events
     b.  Day commemorative
     c.  Day commemorate shun
     d.  Day commemorate ton
3)  the number of additional days a woman must work in a ______...
     a.  year to earning
     b.  year to earn
     c.  year to earnings
     d.  year to earns
4)  The exact day differs in each country, depending ______
     a.  on pay this parity
     b.  on pay this disparity
     c.  on pay this party
     d.  on pay disparity
5) the cost of its day travel ticket by 21 per cent, charging €5.50 instead ______ €7.00
     a.  of the usual
     b.  of the usually
     c.  of the unusual
     d.  of the use you all

6)  Berlin's metro system was wholeheartedly backing its Equal Pay ______
     a.  Day initiation
     b.  Day initial tick
     c.  Day initiative
     d.  Day inflation
7)  It says: "Gender-specific wage gap. ______"
     a.  Sounds stupidly
     b.  Sounds stupidity
     c.  Sounds stupid
     d.  Sounds stewed pig
8)  Men could find themselves in trouble if they try to buy the cheaper ______
     a.  daily pass
     b.  date pass
     c.  days pass
     d.  day pass
9) men found using the discounted tickets would be treated like regular ______
     a.  fare invaders
     b.  fare evaders
     c.  fair evaders
     d.  fair invaders
10)  Any man caught with the day pass will be ______ dodger
     a.  beamed a fare
     b.  steamed a fare
     c.  deemed a fare
     d.  teamed a fare

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Women in Germany will be (1) ___________________ cheaper rail travel on Monday. They will be given a 21 per cent (2) ___________________ as part of Germany's Equal Pay Day events. Equal Pay Day is dedicated to raising (3) ___________________ gender pay gap. It symbolizes the number of additional days a woman must work in a year to earn what men earn. The exact day (4) ___________________ country, depending on pay disparity. It is enthusiastically celebrated in Germany, where women are paid 21 per cent less compared to men (5) ___________________ average gross hourly earnings. Berlin's public transport company is reducing the cost of its day travel ticket by 21 per cent, charging €5.50 (6) ___________________ usual €7.00.

Berlin's metro system (7) ___________________ its Equal Pay Day initiative. It is advertising it with an online ad that vows to actually close the gender pay gap. It says: "Gender-(8) ___________________. Sounds stupid. Is stupid. We'll close it." Critics of the cheaper day pass say it won't necessarily help women as most workers in the (9) ___________________ travel passes. The day passes are largely purchased by tourists. Men could find themselves (10) ___________________ they try to buy the cheaper day pass. The Metro said men found using (11) ___________________ would be treated like regular fare evaders. Any man caught with the day pass will (12) ___________________ fare dodger and receive a €60 fine.

Comprehension questions

  1. When will women in Germany be able to get cheaper rail travel?
  2. What special day is the cheaper rail fare a part of?
  3. How is the day received and celebrated in Germany?
  4. How much less do women get paid than men?
  5. How much is the usual price for a day travel ticket on the Berlin Metro?
  6. What does the Berlin metro system want to close?
  7. What did the Berlin metro call the gender pay gap?
  8. Who usually buys day passes for the metro?
  9. Who could be in trouble for buying a day pass?
  10. How much could someone be fined for buying a day pass?

Multiple choice quiz

1) When will women in Germany be able to get cheaper rail travel?
a) all of next month
b) weekends
c) from 2020
d) on Monday
2) What special day is the cheaper rail fare a part of?
a) Christmas Day
b) Equal Pay Day
c) their birthday
d) the 100th centenary of German Rail
3) How is the day received and celebrated in Germany?
a) well
b) with Beethoven's 9th symphony
c) with great fanfare
d) enthusiastically
4) How much less do women get paid than men?
a) 9%
b) 20%
c) 21%
d) 15%
5) How much is the usual price for a day travel ticket on the Berlin Metro?
a) €5.50
b) €12.00
c) €17.00
d) €7.00

6) What does the Berlin metro system want to close?
a) a non-profitable line
b) stations
c) the gender pay gap
d) kiosks
7) What did the Berlin metro call the gender pay gap?
a) stupid
b) ridiculous
c) unbelievable
d) outdated
8) Who usually buys day passes for the metro?
a) children
b) workers
c) tourists
d) politicians
9) Who could be in trouble for buying a day pass?
a) female workers
b) men
c) tourists
d) metro workers
10) How much could someone be fined for buying a day pass?
a) €60
b) €100
c) €600
d) €160

Role play

Role  A – Pay
You think pay is the area in greatest need of gender equality. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their areas aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): housework, political leadership or corporate management.

Role  B – Housework
You think housework is the area in greatest need of gender equality. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their areas aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): pay, political leadership or corporate management.

Role  C – Political Leadership
You think political leadership is the area in greatest need of gender equality. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their areas aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): housework, pay or corporate management.

Role  D – Corporate Management
You think corporate management is the area in greatest need of gender equality. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their areas aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): housework, political leadership or pay.

After reading / listening

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

'equal'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'pay'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • backing
    • vows
    • stupid
    • largely
    • cheaper
    • deemed
    • able
    • reduction
    • additional
    • differs
    • compared
    • instead

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Cheaper rail tickets for Germany's women

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'equal'?
    3. Should the women get cheaper rail tickets?
    4. Why do men get paid more?
    5. How difficult is it to achieve equal pay?
    6. How happy would you be with cheaper rail fares?
    7. What should we do on Equal Pay Day?
    8. Should male workers insist on equal pay for female colleagues?
    9. Are men or women better workers?
    10. How do you think men feel about the pay disparity?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'pay'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of men earning more than women?
    5. Should other companies offer discounts to women?
    6. What do you think of the online ad?
    7. How much will the discounted travel pass help women?
    8. What do you think of men getting fined for buying the travel pass?
    9. Should Equal Pay Day be every day?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the leaders of Equal Pay Day?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Women in Germany will be (1) ____ to enjoy cheaper rail travel on Monday. They will be given a 21 per cent reduction (2) ____ fares as part of Germany's Equal Pay Day events. Equal Pay Day is dedicated (3) ____ raising awareness of the gender pay gap. It symbolizes the number of (4) ____ days a woman must work in a year to earn what men earn. The exact day differs in each country, depending on pay disparity. It is enthusiastically celebrated in Germany, where women are paid 21 per cent less compared to men in (5) ____ of average gross hourly earnings. Berlin's public transport company is reducing the cost of its day travel ticket by 21 per cent, charging €5.50 (6) ____ of the usual €7.00.

    Berlin's metro system was wholeheartedly backing its Equal Pay Day (7) ____. It is advertising it with an online ad that (8) ____ to actually close the gender pay gap. It says: "Gender-specific wage gap. Sounds stupid. Is stupid. We'll close it." Critics of the cheaper day pass say it won't (9) ____ help women as most workers in the city buy monthly travel passes. The day passes are largely purchased by tourists. Men could find themselves (10) ____ trouble if they try to buy the cheaper day pass. The Metro said men found using the discounted tickets would be (11) ____ like regular fare evaders. Any man caught with the day pass will be deemed a fare (12) ____ and receive a €60 fine.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     ability     (b)     abled     (c)     able     (d)     capable    
    2. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    3. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     if    
    4. (a)     additional     (b)     additionally     (c)     addition     (d)     additions    
    5. (a)     trams     (b)     terms     (c)     tames     (d)     teams    
    6. (a)     besides     (b)     rather     (c)     prefer     (d)     instead    
    7. (a)     invective     (b)     connective     (c)     initiative     (d)     elective    
    8. (a)     lows     (b)     bows     (c)     wows     (d)     vows    
    9. (a)     necessarily     (b)     necessitate     (c)     necessary     (d)     incessant    
    10. (a)     of     (b)     in     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    11. (a)     treatise     (b)     treated     (c)     threatened     (d)     treats    
    12. (a)     codger     (b)     bodger     (c)     dodger     (d)     fudger

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a 21 per cent decnutrio
    2. Equal Pay Day esetnv
    3. dedicated to raising sreneasaw
    4. The eatxc day differs
    5. depending on pay tasiyipdr
    6. average gross hourly earnings

    Paragraph 2

    1. hheteweoldylar backing its Equal Pay Day
    2. Gender-iefsicpc wage gap
    3. it won't caseinylser help women
    4. largely psduhrcae by tourists
    5. treated like regular fare vdsreea
    6. deemed a fare rogedd

    Put the text back together

    (...)  awareness of the gender pay gap. It symbolizes the number of additional days a woman must work in a
    (...)  year to earn what men earn. The exact day differs in each country, depending on pay
    (...)  Berlin's metro system was wholeheartedly backing its Equal Pay Day initiative. It is advertising it with an
    (...)  in fares as part of Germany's Equal Pay Day events. Equal Pay Day is dedicated to raising
    (...)  the cost of its day travel ticket by 21 per cent, charging €5.50 instead of the usual €7.00.
    (...)  pass. The Metro said men found using the discounted tickets would be treated like regular fare
    (...)  disparity. It is enthusiastically celebrated in Germany, where women are paid 21 per cent less
    (  1  ) Women in Germany will be able to enjoy cheaper rail travel on Monday. They will be given a 21 per cent reduction
    (...)  by tourists. Men could find themselves in trouble if they try to buy the cheaper day
    (...)  stupid. Is stupid. We'll close it." Critics of the cheaper day pass say it won't necessarily help
    (...)  compared to men in terms of average gross hourly earnings. Berlin's public transport company is reducing
    (...)  evaders. Any man caught with the day pass will be deemed a fare dodger and receive a €60 fine.
    (...)  online ad that vows to actually close the gender pay gap. It says: "Gender-specific wage gap. Sounds
    (...)  women as most workers in the city buy monthly travel passes. The day passes are largely purchased

    Put the words in the right order

    1. cheaper   Germany   will   Women   rail   enjoy   in   travel   .
    2. of   gap   .   Dedicated   awareness   pay   the   raising   to
    3. women   number   of   days   must   The   work   .   additional
    4. each   differs   in   The   day   country   .   exact
    5. ticket   .   the   day   of   its   Reducing   travel   cost
    6. advertising   is   ad   .   it   with   It   online   an
    7. pass   say   the   it   .   cheaper   of   day   Critics
    8. Most   in   city   workers   buy   monthly   passes   .   the
    9. day   passes   are   largely   The   purchased   by   tourists   .
    10. evaders   .   regular   treated   be   like   Men   fare   would

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Women in Germany will be able / ability to enjoy cheaper rail travel on Monday. They will be given the / a 21 per cent reduction in fares as party / part of Germany's Equal Pay Day events. Equal Pay Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the gander / gender pay gap. It symbolizes the number of addition / additional days a woman must work in a year to earn what men earn / earnings. The exact day differs in each country, depending on pay disparity / disparaging. It is enthusiastically celebrated in Germany, where women are paid 21 per cent fewer / less compared to men in terms of average gross / gloss hourly earnings. Berlin's public transport company is reducing the cost of its day travel ticket by 21 per cent, charging €5.50 instead off / of the usual €7.00.

    Berlin's metro system was halfheartedly / wholeheartedly backing its Equal Pay Day initiative. It is advertising it with an online ad that wows / vows to actually close / closet the gender pay gap. It says: "Gender-specific wage gap. Sounds stupid. Is stupid. We'll close it." Critics / Criticism of the cheaper day pass say it won't necessary / necessarily help women as most workers in the city buy monthly / month travel passes. The day passes are largesse / largely purchased by tourists. Men could find themselves in / on trouble if they try to buy the cheaper day pass. The Metro said men found using the discounted tickets would be treated like regular fare invaders / evaders. Any man caught with the day pass will be deemed a fare dodgy / dodger and receive a €60 fine.

    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)

    W_m_n _n G_r m_n y w_l l b_ _b l_ t_ _n j_y c h__ p_r r__ l t r_v_l _n M_n d_y . T h_y w_l l b_ g_v_n _ 2 1 p_r c_n t r_d_c t__ n _n f_r_s _s p_r t _f G_r m_n y ' s E q__ l P_y D_y c_m m_m_r_t__ n . E q__ l P_y D_y _s d_d_c_t_d t_ r__ s_n g _w_r_n_s s _f t h_ g_n d_r p_y g_p . I t s y m b_l_z_s t h_ n_m b_r _f _d d_t__ n_l d_y s _ w_m_n m_s t w_r k _n _ y__ r t_ __ r n w h_t m_n __ r n . T h_ _x_c t d_y d_f f_r s _n __ c h c__ n t r y , d_p_n d_n g _n p_y d_s p_r_t y . I t _s _n t h_s__ s t_c_l l y c_l_b r_t_d _n G_r m_n y , w h_r_ w_m_n _r_ p__ d 2 1 p_r c_n t l_s s c_m p_r_d t_ m_n _n t_r m s _f _v_r_g_ g r_s s h__ r l y __ r n_n g s . B_r l_n ' s p_b l_c t r_n s p_r t c_m p_n y _s r_d_c_n g t h_ c_s t _f _t s d_y t r_v_l t_c k_t b y 2 1 p_r c_n t , c h_r g_n g € 5 . 5 0 _n s t__ d _f t h_ _s__ l € 7 . 0 0 .

    B_r l_n ' s m_t r_ s y s t_m w_s w h_l_h__ r t_d l y b_c k_n g _t s E q__ l P_y D_y _n_t__ t_v_. I t _s _d v_r t_s_n g _t w_t h _n _n l_n_ _d t h_t v_w s t_ _c t__ l l y c l_s_ t h - g_n d_r p_y g_p . I t s_y s : " G_n d_r - s p_c_f_c w_g_ g_p . S__ n d s s t_p_d . I s s t_p_d . W_' l l c l_s_ _t . " C r_t_c s _f t h_ c h__ p_r d_y p_s s s_y _t w_n ' t n_c_s s_r_l y h_l p w_m_n _s m_s t w_r k_r s _n t h_ c_t y b_y m_n t h l y t r_v_l p_s s_s . T h_ d_y p_s s_s _r_ l_r g_l y p_r c h_s_d b y t__ r_s t s . M_n c__ l d f_n d t h_m s_l v_s _n t r__ b l_ _f t h_y t r y t_ b_y t h_ c h__ p_r d_y p_s s . T h_ M_t r_ s__ d m_n f__ n d _s_n g t h_ d_s c__ n t_d t_c k_t s w__ l d b_ t r__ t_d l_k_ r_g_l_r f_r_ _v_d_r s . A n y m_n c__ g h t w_t h t h_ d_y p_s s w_l l b_ d__ m_d f_r_ d_d g_r _n d r_c__ v_ _ € 6 0 f_n_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    women in germany will be able to enjoy cheaper rail travel on monday they will be given a 21 per cent reduction in fares as part of germanys equal pay day events equal pay day is dedicated to raising awareness of the gender pay gap it symbolizes the number of additional days a woman must work in a year to earn what men earn the exact day differs in each country depending on pay disparity it is enthusiastically celebrated in germany where women are paid 21 per cent less compared to men in terms of average gross hourly earnings berlins public transport company is reducing the cost of its day travel ticket by 21 per cent charging 550 instead of the usual 700

    berlins metro system was wholeheartedly backing its equal pay day initiative it is advertising it with an online ad that vows to actually close the gender pay gap it says genderspecific wage gap sounds stupid is stupid well close it critics of the cheaper day pass say it wont necessarily help women as most workers in the city buy monthly travel passes the day passes are largely purchased by tourists men could find themselves in trouble if they try to buy the cheaper day pass the metro said men found using the discounted tickets would be treated like regular fare evaders any man caught with the day pass will be deemed a fare dodger and receive a 60 fine.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    WomeninGermanywillbeabletoenjoycheaperrailtravelonMonday.Th
    eywillbegivena21percentreductioninfaresaspartofGermany'sEqualP
    ayDayevents.EqualPayDayisdedicatedtoraisingawarenessofthegen
    derpaygap.Itsymbolizesthenumberofadditionaldaysawomanmustw
    orkinayeartoearnwhatmenearn.Theexactdaydiffersineachcountry,
    dependingonpaydisparity.ItisenthusiasticallycelebratedinGermany
    ,wherewomenarepaid21percentlesscomparedtomenintermsofaver
    agegrosshourlyearnings.Berlin'spublictransportcompanyisreducing
    thecostofitsdaytravelticketby21percent,charging€5.50insteadofthe
    usual€7.00.Berlin'smetrosystemwaswholeheartedlybackingitsEqua
    lPayDayinitiative.Itisadvertisingitwithanonlineadthatvowstoactuall
    yclosethegenderpaygap.Itsays:"Gender-specificwagegap.Sounds
    stupid.Isstupid.We'llcloseit."Criticsofthecheaperdaypasssayitwon't
    necessarilyhelpwomenasmostworkersinthecitybuymonthlytravelpa
    sses.Thedaypassesarelargelypurchasedbytourists.Mencouldfindthe
    mselvesintroubleiftheytrytobuythecheaperdaypass.TheMetrosaidm
    enfoundusingthediscountedticketswouldbetreatedlikeregularfareev
    aders.Anymancaughtwiththedaypasswillbedeemedafaredodgerand
    receivea€60fine.

    Free writing

    Write about Equal Pay Day for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Everyone should get the same pay, whatever job they do. Discuss.

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    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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. EQUAL PAY: Make a poster about equal pay. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SAME PAY: Write a magazine article about everyone getting the same pay whatever job they do. 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 equal pay. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on equal pay. 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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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