The Reading / Listening - Beirut - Level 6

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a summit on Sunday to encourage other world leaders to help Beirut. The virtual conference was held in response to the catastrophic explosion that devastated Lebanon's capital city last week. President Macron said the Lebanese people needed aid immediately and directly. He said: "We must act quickly and efficiently so that this aid goes directly to where it is needed. Lebanon's future is at stake." The conference was co-hosted by the UN and secured pledges of assistance from dozens of countries, including Lebanon's neighbours, countries from Europe and Asia, and the USA. The international donors have so far pledged $300 million to help Beirut.

The European Commission promised over $68 million to help Beirut. An EC spokesperson said: "As needs rise, we are providing humanitarian support to hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable people." The funding will go directly to charities and UN agencies. The Arab state of Qatar pledged the biggest donation from a single country. It is donating $50 million, while Kuwait offered $40 million. There was also spiritual assistance for the people of Lebanon. The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, made a plea saying: "We must all work for the good of this beloved country." He added: "I also renew my appeal for generous help from the international community."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Beirut - Level 4  or  Beirut - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/beirut-live-france-s-emmanuel-macron-urges-fast-direct-aid-for-lebanon-1.1059048
  • https://www.france24.com/en/20200809-macron-hosts-trump-for-un-backed-virtual-donor-conference-on-lebanon
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53710556


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. SUMMITS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about world summits. 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?
       summit / world leaders / conference / catastrophic / explosion / at stake / donors /
       humanitarian / support / vulnerable / spiritual / assistance / beloved / generous
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. AID: Students A strongly believe the world should give billions of dollars in aid to Lebanon; Students B strongly believe it shouldn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WORLD LEADERS: What do you know about these world leaders? What should they do in the future? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What They Should Do

Emmanuel Macron (France)

 

 

Jacinda Adern (New Zealand)

 

 

Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil)

 

 

Xi Jinping (China)

 

 

Angela Merkel (Germany)

 

 

Crown Prince Salman (Saudi Arabia)

 

 
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. CONFERENCE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "conference". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ASSISTANCE: Rank these with your partner. Put the assistance Beirut most needs at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Money
  • Spiritual support
  • Blankets
  • Heavy machinery
  • Engineers
  • Medical supplies
  • Food
  • Electricity

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. summit a. Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.
      2. encourage b. A meeting between heads of government.
      3. catastrophic c. Destroyed or ruined something.
      4. devastated d. In danger or at risk.
      5. at stake e. Give support, confidence, or hope to someone.
      6. pledge f. A person, business, organisation or country who gives something for free (money, time, clothes, food, etc.) something, especially money to a fund or charity.
      7. donor g. A serious promise.

    Paragraph 2

      8. humanitarian h. More likely to be physically or emotionally attacked or harmed.
      9. vulnerable i. The provision of money, resources, or information to help someone.
      10. funding j. Concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare.
      11. spiritual k. Money provided, especially by an organization or government, for a particular purpose.
      12. assistance l. A request made in an urgent and emotional manner.
      13. plea m. Relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.
      14. appeal n. Make a serious or urgent request, typically to the public.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The French President hosted a summit in Paris for world leaders.     T / F
  2. The French President said Beirut needed immediate help.     T / F
  3. The summit was co-hosted by the Arab League.     T / F
  4. The international community has pledged $300 million thus far.     T / F
  5. The European Commission is helping millions of vulnerable people.     T / F
  6. Qatar is the biggest individual donor country.     T / F
  7. The head of the Catholic Church is offering spiritual assistance.     T / F
  8. Pope Francis appealed to the generosity of countries.     T / F

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

  1. hosted
  2. virtual
  3. catastrophic
  4. at stake
  5. pledged
  6. humanitarian
  7. vulnerable
  8. donation
  9. plea
  10. generous
  1. appeal
  2. at risk
  3. promised
  4. online
  5. helpless
  6. calamitous
  7. big-hearted
  8. put on
  9. contribution
  10. compassionate

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

  1. French President Emmanuel Macron hosted
  2. virtual
  3. held in response to the catastrophic
  4. Lebanon's future is at
  5. The conference was co-
  6. providing humanitarian
  7. the most
  8. spiritual assistance
  9. We must all work
  10. help from the international
  1. hosted by the UN
  2. stake
  3. for the people
  4. conference
  5. vulnerable people
  6. for the good
  7. explosion
  8. support
  9. community
  10. a summit

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
capital
dozens
directly
summit
aid
far
response
hosted

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a (1) _____________________ on Sunday to encourage other world leaders to help Beirut. The virtual conference was held in (2) _____________________ to the catastrophic explosion that devastated Lebanon's (3) _____________________ city last week. President Macron said the Lebanese people needed (4) _____________________ immediately and directly. He said: "We must act quickly and efficiently so that this aid goes (5) _____________________ to where it is needed. Lebanon's future is at stake." The conference was co-(6) _____________________ by the UN and secured pledges of assistance from (7) _____________________ of countries, including Lebanon's neighbours, countries from Europe and Asia, and the USA. The international donors have so (8) _____________________ pledged $300 million to help Beirut.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
spiritual
funding
plea
rise
appeal
single
head
state

The European Commission promised over $68 million to help Beirut. An EC spokesperson said: "As needs (9) _____________________, we are providing humanitarian support to hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable people." The (10) _____________________ will go directly to charities and UN agencies. The Arab (11) _____________________ of Qatar pledged the biggest donation from a (12) _____________________ country. It is donating $50 million, while Kuwait offered $40 million. There was also (13) _____________________ assistance for the people of Lebanon. The (14) _____________________ of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, made a (15) _____________________ saying: "We must all work for the good of this beloved country." He added: "I also renew my (16) _____________________ for generous help from the international community."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  French President Emmanuel Macron hosted ______ Sunday
     a.  as summit on
     b.  a sum mite on
     c.  as umm... mitten
     d.  a summit on
2)  The virtual conference was held in response to the ______
     a.  catastrophically explosion
     b.  catastrophe explosion
     c.  catastrophic explosion
     d.  cat apostrophe explosion
3)  President Macron said the Lebanese people needed aid ______
     a.  immediate and directly
     b.  immediately and directly
     c.  immediate and direct
     d.  immediately and direct
4)  The conference was co-hosted by the UN ______
     a.  unsecured pledge is
     b.  and secured pledge
     c.  unsecured pledges
     d.  and secured pledges
5)  The international donors have ______ $300
     a.  sofa pledged
     b.  so for pledged
     c.  suffer pledged
     d.  so far pledged

6) providing humanitarian support to hundreds of thousands of the ______
     a.  must vulnerable people
     b.  mast vulnerable people
     c.  most vulnerable people
     d.  mist vulnerable people
7)  The funding will go directly to charities ______
     a.  and UN agency is
     b.  and UN agencies
     c.  and UN agents see
     d.  and UN urgencies
8)  The Arab state of Qatar pledged the biggest donation from ______
     a.  a single country
     b.  a singular country
     c.  a singled country
     d.  a singles country
9)  The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, ______
     a.  make a pleas
     b.  made a plea
     c.  made a please
     d.  made a pleas
10)  We must all work for the good of ______
     a.  this been loved country
     b.  this bee-loved country
     c.  this beloved country
     d.  this be lover country

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

French President Emmanuel Macron (1) ____________________ on Sunday to encourage other world leaders to help Beirut. The virtual conference was held (2) ____________________ the catastrophic explosion that devastated Lebanon's capital city last week. President Macron said the Lebanese people (3) ____________________ and directly. He said: "We must act quickly and efficiently so that this (4) ____________________ to where it is needed. Lebanon's future is at stake." The conference was co-hosted by the UN and (5) ____________________ assistance from dozens of countries, including Lebanon's neighbours, countries from Europe and Asia, and the USA. The international donors have (6) ____________________ $300 million to help Beirut.

The European Commission promised over $68 million to help Beirut. An EC spokesperson said: "(7) ____________________, we are providing humanitarian support to hundreds of thousands of (8) ____________________ people." The funding will go directly to charities and UN agencies. The Arab state of Qatar (9) ____________________ donation from a single country. It is donating $50 million, while Kuwait offered $40 million. There was (10) ____________________ for the people of Lebanon. The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, made a plea saying: "We must all work for the good of (11) ____________________." He added: "I also renew my (12) ____________________ help from the international community."

Comprehension questions

  1. Who did Emmanuel Macron encourage to donate money?
  2. Where as the conference held?
  3. Where did Emmanuel Macron say the money should go?
  4. What did President Macron say about the future of Lebanon?
  5. How much money has been pledged in total?
  6. Who pledged $68 million?
  7. To whom is the European Commission providing support?
  8. Which country was the biggest individual donor?
  9. How much did Kuwait pledge?
  10. Who did Pope Francis appeal to?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  Who did Emmanuel Macron encourage to donate money?
a) French people
b) world leaders
c) Lebanese people
d) people of the world
2)  Where was the conference held?
a) Marseille
b) New York
c) Beirut
d) online
3) Where did Emmanuel Macron say the money should go?
a) where it is needed
b) to schools
c) on electricity generators
d) to charities
4) What did President Macron say about the future of Lebanon?
a) it is in the balance
b) it is bright
c) it is at stake
d) it needed to be peaceful
5) How much money has been pledged in total?
a) $220 million
b) $300 million
c) $600 million
d) $500 million

6) Who pledged $68 million?
a) the European Commission
b) the European Central Bank
c) the European Union
d) European charities
7) To whom is the European Commission providing support?
a) hospitals
b) schools
c) the most vulnerable people
d) the injured and bereaved
8) Which country was the biggest individual donor?
a) Qatar
b) Kuwait
c) Bahrain
d) UAE
9) How much did Kuwait pledge?
a) $40 million
b) $30 million
c) $60 million
d) $20 million
10) Who did Pope Francis appeal to?
a) the people of Beirut
b) Italians
c) Catholics worldwide
d) the international community

Role play

Role  A – Spiritual Support
You think the people of Beirut need spiritual support most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their support isn't as necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): heavy machinery, food or electricity.

Role  B – Heavy Machinery
You think the people of Beirut need heavy machinery most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their support isn't as necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): spiritual support, food or electricity.

Role  C – Food
You think the people of Beirut need food most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their support isn't as necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): heavy machinery, spiritual support or electricity.

Role  D – Electricity
You think the people of Beirut need electricity most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their support isn't as necessary. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): heavy machinery, food or spiritual support.

After reading / listening

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

'world'

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

    • and 'leader'.

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

    • • 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:

    • encourage
    • capital
    • act
    • stake
    • dozens
    • far
    • rise
    • hundreds
    • agencies
    • offered
    • spiritual
    • appeal

    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 - Beirut

    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 'summit'?
    3. What do you know about world summits?
    4. How much good will this world summit do for Beirut?
    5. What do you know about Beirut?
    6. What do you know about the explosion?
    7. What do you know about Lebanon?
    8. What kind of help does Beirut need?
    9. Is the world doing enough for Beirut?
    10. Where does the aid need to go?

    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 'Beirut'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What kind of humanitarian support does Lebanon need?
    5. What advice do you have for Lebanon's leaders?
    6. What advice do you have for the people of Beirut?
    7. How generous is the international community?
    8. What do you think Beirut will be like in six months?
    9. Would you like to visit Lebanon?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Lebanon's leader?

    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)

    French President Emmanuel Macron (1) ____ a summit on Sunday to encourage other world leaders to help Beirut. The virtual conference was held (2) ____ response to the catastrophic explosion that (3) ____ Lebanon's capital city last week. President Macron said the Lebanese people needed aid immediately and directly. He said: "We must act quickly and efficiently so that this aid goes directly to where it is needed. Lebanon's future is at (4) ____." The conference was co-hosted by the UN and secured pledges (5) ____ assistance from dozens of countries, including Lebanon's neighbours, countries from Europe and Asia, and the USA. The international donors have so (6) ____ pledged $300 million to help Beirut.

    The European Commission promised over $68 million to help Beirut. An EC spokesperson said: "As needs (7) ____, we are providing humanitarian support to hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable people." The funding will go (8) ____ to charities and UN agencies. The Arab state of Qatar pledged the biggest donation from a (9) ____ country. It is donating $50 million, while Kuwait offered $40 million. There was also (10) ____ assistance for the people of Lebanon. The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, made a (11) ____ saying: "We must all work for the good of this beloved country." He added: "I also renew my appeal for (12) ____ help from the international community."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     hoisted     (b)     hastened     (c)     hasted     (d)     hosted    
    2. (a)     by     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    3. (a)     destruction     (b)     devastated     (c)     devolved     (d)     destined    
    4. (a)     streak     (b)     steak     (c)     stake     (d)     stoke    
    5. (a)     on     (b)     to     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    6. (a)     far     (b)     now     (c)     by     (d)     as    
    7. (a)     up     (b)     rise     (c)     above     (d)     elevate    
    8. (a)     directly     (b)     conducting     (c)     relatively     (d)     conformity    
    9. (a)     soul     (b)     single     (c)     solitary     (d)     soluble    
    10. (a)     celestial     (b)     virtual     (c)     spiritual     (d)     eventual    
    11. (a)     please     (b)     pleasure     (c)     plea     (d)     plead    
    12. (a)     prioritise     (b)     ordeal     (c)     missive     (d)     generous

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. ergcaoune other world leaders
    2. The tuavrli conference
    3. to the oaciphrctsat explosion
    4. quickly and efcnfietyil
    5. casinetass from dozens of countries
    6. so far lpgddee $300 million

    Paragraph 2

    1. anamiinhurta support
    2. thousands of the most neavlrlube people
    3. go directly to tacrshiei and UN agencies
    4. It was also utpiasirl
    5. made a epal
    6. my appeal for nuoerges help

    Put the text back together

    (...)  The European Commission promised over $68 million to help Beirut. An EC spokesperson said: "As needs
    (...)  rise, we are providing humanitarian support to hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable
    (...)  "I also renew my appeal for generous help from the international community."
    (...)  Lebanon's capital city last week. President Macron said the Lebanese people needed aid immediately
    (...)  assistance for the people of Lebanon. The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope
    (...)  Francis, made a plea saying: "We must all work for the good of this beloved country." He added:
    (...)  from Europe and Asia, and the USA. The international donors have so far pledged $300 million to help Beirut.
    (  1  ) French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a summit on Sunday to encourage other world
    (...)  leaders to help Beirut. The virtual conference was held in response to the catastrophic explosion that devastated
    (...)  needed. Lebanon's future is at stake." The conference was co-hosted by the UN and secured
    (...)  people." The funding will go directly to charities and UN agencies. The Arab state of Qatar pledged the biggest
    (...)  donation from a single country. It is donating $50 million, while Kuwait offered $40 million. There was also spiritual
    (...)  and directly. He said: "We must act quickly and efficiently so that this aid goes directly to where it is
    (...)  pledges of assistance from dozens of countries, including Lebanon's neighbours, countries

    Put the words in the right order

    1. to   leaders   world   Beirut   .   help   other   Encourage
    2. capital  The  devastated  Lebanon's  explosion  catastrophic  city  .  that
    3. where   needed   .   directly   it's   goes   to   aid   This
    4. assistance   countries   .   Secured   of   from   of   dozens   pledges
    5. far   $300   International   million   .   donors   have   pledged   so
    6. humanitarian   providing   hundreds  to  thousands  .  We're  of  support
    7. directly   go   agencies   .   The   funding   will   UN   to
    8. the   Spiritual   of   for   Lebanon   .   assistance   people
    9. this   country   .   of   beloved   the   Work   for   good
    10. appeal   renew   help   .   my   for   I   also   generous

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    French President Emmanuel Macron hoisted / hosted a summit on Sunday to encouragement / encourage other world leaders to help Beirut. The virtual conference was held on / in response to the catastrophic / catastrophe explosion that devastated / devastation Lebanon's capital city last week. President Macron said the Lebanese people needed aid immediacy / immediately and directly. He said: "We must / need act quickly and efficiently so that this aid goes directly to / for where it is needed. Lebanon's future is at stake." The conference was co-hosted by the UN and served / secured pledges of assistance from dozens of countries, including Lebanon's neighbours, countries from Europe and Asia, and the USA. The international donors have such / so far pledged $300 million to help Beirut.

    The European Commission promised over $68 million to help Beirut. An EC spokesperson said: "As needs rising / rise, we are providing humanitarian support to hundreds of thousand / thousands of the most vulnerable / vulnerability people." The funding / founding will go directly to charities and UN agencies. The Arab state of Qatar pledged the biggest donation from a single / singular country. It is donating $50 million, while Kuwait offered $40 million. There was also spirit / spiritual assistance for the people of Lebanon. The head / boss of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, made a please / plea saying: "We must all work for the good of this beloved / love country." He added: "I also renew my appeal for generous / generosity help from the international community."

    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)

    F r_n c h   P r_s_d_n t   E m m_n__ l   M_c r_n   h_s t_d  _  s_m m_t  _n   S_n d_y   t_ _n c__ r_g_ _t h_r   w_r l d   l__ d_r s   t_  h_l p   B__ r_t .   T h_  v_r t__ l   c_n f_r_n c_  w_s   h_l d  _n   r_s p_n s_  t_  t h_  c_t_s t r_p h_c  _x p l_s__ n   t h_t   d_v_s t_t_d   L_b_n_n ' s   c_p_t_l   c_t y   l_s t   w__ k .   P r_s_d_n t   M_c r_n   s__ d   t h_  L_b_n_s_  p__ p l_  n__ d_d  __ d  _m m_d__ t_l y  _n d   d_r_c t l y .   H_  s__ d :   " W_  m_s t  _c t   q__ c k l y  _n d  _f f_c__ n t l y   s_  t h_t   t h_s  __ d   g__ s   d_r_c t l y   t_  w h_r_ _t  _s   n__ d_d .   L_b_n_n ' s   f_t_r_ _s  _t   s t_k_. "   T h_  c_n f_r_n c_  w_s   c_- h_s t_d   b y   t h_  U N  _n d   s_c_r_d   p l_d g_s  _f  _s s_s t_n c_  f r_m   d_z_n s  _f   c__ n t r__ s ,  _n c l_d_n g   L_b_n_n ' s   n__ g h b__ r s ,   c__ n t r__ s   f r_m   E_r_p_ _n d   A s__ ,  _n d   t h_  U S A .   T h_ _n t_r n_t__ n_l   d_n_r s   h_v_  s_  f_r   p l_d g_d   $ 3 0 0   m_l l__ n   t_  h_l p   B__ r_t .

    T h_ E_r_p__ n C_m m_s s__ n p r_m_s_d _v_r $ 6 8 m_l l__ n t_ h_l p B__ r_t . A n E C s p_k_s p_r s_n s__ d : " A s n__ d s r_s_, w_ _r_ p r_v_d_n g h_m_n_t_r__ n s_p p_r t t_ h_n d r_d s _f t h__ s_n d s _f t h_ m_s t v_l n_r_b l_ p__ p l_. " T h_ f_n d_n g w_l l g_ d_r_c t l y t_ c h_r_t__ s _n d U N _g_n c__ s . T h_ A r_b s t_t_ _f Q_t_r p l_d g_d t h_ b_g g_s t d_n_t__ n f r_m _ s_n g l_ c__ n t r y . I t _s d_n_t_n g $ 5 0 m_l l__ n , w h_l_ K_w__ t _f f_r_d $ 4 0 m_l l__ n . T h_r_ w_s _l s_ s p_r_t__ l _s s_s t_n c_ f_r t h_ p__ p l_ _f L_b_n_n . T h_ h__ d _f t h_ R_m_n C_t h_l_c C h_r c h , P_p_ F r_n c_s , m_d_ _ p l__ s_y_n g : " W_ m_s t _l l w_r k f_r t h_ g__ d _f t h_s b_l_v_d c__ n t r y . " H_ _d d_d : " I _l s_ r_n_w m y _p p__ l f_r g_n_r__ s h_l p f r_m t h_ _n t_r n_t__ n_l c_m m_n_t y . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    french president emmanuel macron hosted a summit on sunday to encourage other world leaders to help beirut the virtual conference was held in response to the catastrophic explosion that devastated lebanons capital city last week president macron said the lebanese people needed aid immediately and directly he said we must act quickly and efficiently so that this aid goes directly to where it is needed lebanons future is at stake the conference was cohosted by the un and secured pledges of assistance from dozens of countries including lebanons neighbours countries from europe and asia and the usa the international donors have so far pledged 300 million to help beirut

    the european commission promised over 68 million to help beirut an ec spokesperson said as needs rise we are providing humanitarian support to hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable people the funding will go directly to charities and un agencies the arab state of qatar pledged the biggest donation from a single country it is donating 50 million while kuwait offered 40 million there was also spiritual assistance for the people of lebanon the head of the roman catholic church pope francis made a plea saying we must all work for the good of this beloved country he added i also renew my appeal for generous help from the international community

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    FrenchPresidentEmmanuelMacronhostedasummitonSundaytoenco
    urageotherworldleaderstohelpBeirut.Thevirtualconferencewasheldi
    nresponsetothecatastrophicexplosionthatdevastatedLebanon'scapi
    talcitylastweek.PresidentMacronsaidtheLebanesepeopleneededaidi
    mmediatelyanddirectly.Hesaid:"Wemustactquicklyandefficientlyso
    thatthisaidgoesdirectlytowhereitisneeded.Lebanon'sfutureisatstak
    e."Theconferencewasco-hostedbytheUNandsecuredpledgesofassis
    tancefromdozensofcountries,includingLebanon'sneighbours,countr
    iesfromEuropeandAsia,andtheUSA.Theinternationaldonorshavesof
    arpledged$300milliontohelpBeirut.TheEuropeanCommissionpromi
    sedover$68milliontohelpBeirut.AnECspokespersonsaid:"Asneedsri
    se,weareprovidinghumanitariansupporttohundredsofthousandsoft
    hemostvulnerablepeople."ThefundingwillgodirectlytocharitiesandU
    Nagencies.TheArabstateofQatarpledgedthebiggestdonationfromasi
    nglecountry.Itisdonating$50million,whileKuwaitoffered$40million.
    TherewasalsospiritualassistanceforthepeopleofLebanon.Theheadof
    theRomanCatholicChurch,PopeFrancis,madeapleasaying:"Wemust
    allworkforthegoodofthisbelovedcountry."Headded:"Ialsorenewmya
    ppealforgeneroushelpfromtheinternationalcommunity."

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    The whole world should give billions of dollars to help Beirut. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. LEBANON: Make a poster about Lebanon. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. AID: Write a magazine article about the world giving billions of dollars in aid to Lebanon. 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 Lebanon. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can help Lebanon. 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

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

    Back to the top

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You