The Reading / Listening - Refugee Response - Level 6

One of Britain's most popular radio hosts has lambasted his government's response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Nick Ferrari of the radio station LBC called the situation "a disgrace". The UK has two visa schemes running to help refugees relocate to the UK. The government said it had received 79,800 visa applications from Ukrainians and had thus far issued 40,900 visas. However, a paltry 12,000 refugees had arrived in Britain. Poland has taken in nearly 3 million refugees and Germany has taken in 300,000. The UK's neighbour Ireland, with a population one-twelfth of that of Britain's, has welcomed over 20,000 refugees. The UK's Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for what she called the "frustrating" situation.

Nick Ferrari did not hold back in his criticism of his government's response. He called on the whole government to be fired. He said: "It's an absolute scandal.…This is beyond comprehension. How can this level of incompetence survive? Sack the whole…lot of them." Mr Ferrari was particularly irked by the visa application process, which includes Ukrainians wanting refuge in the UK having to fill out a 51-page online application form in English. He also castigated the government for its mountain of red tape. Over 200,000 Britons have applied to accept a refugee into their home, but excessive bureaucracy means applications are rejected if a home has a garden pond. Many say the UK's visa schemes are set up to fail.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Refugee Response - Level 4  or  Refugee Response - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/nick-ferrari/passionate-rant-homes-ukraine-scheme/
  • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10701511/DAILY-MAIL-COMMENT-Stop-ticking-boxes-Ukrainian-refugees-sanctuary.html
  • https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/08/ukraine-refugees-uk-12000-arrived-visa-schemes


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. REFUGEES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about refugees. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       radio host / government / response / Ukraine / refugee / disgrace / visa / frustrating /
       criticism / be fired / scandal / comprehension / incompetence / survival / red tape
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NO VISAS: Students A strongly believe refugees should never need visas; Students B strongly believe they should. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HELP: What can these players do to help the Ukrainian refugees? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How They Can Help

Why They Aren't Doing This

The U.N.

 

 

NATO

 

 

China

 

 

The E.U.

 

 

India

 

 

Russia

 

 
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. DISGRACE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "disgrace". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. NEEDS: Rank these with your partner. Put the things refugees need most at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Wi-fi
  • Blankets
  • Clean clothes
  • Information
  • Medicine
  • Visas
  • Weapons
  • 3 meals a day

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. lambasted a. A person or thing regarded as shameful and unacceptable.
      2. response b. Criticize someone or something harshly.
      3. disgrace c. A large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining an object or goal.
      4. scheme d. The action of managing or operating something.
      5. running e. A reaction to something.
      6. paltry f. Cause someone to feel upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something.
      7. frustrating g. (of an amount) very small or meagre.

    Paragraph 2

      8. hold back h. Total.
      9. absolute i. Irritated; annoyed.
      10. incompetence j. Hesitate to act or speak.
      11. sack k. Inability to do something successfully; ineptitude.
      12. irked l. Scolded someone severely.
      13. castigated m. Dismiss from employment; fire.
      14. bureaucracy n. Excessively complicated administrative procedure.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Britain's top radio show host criticized the UK government.     T / F
  2. The U.K has one visa scheme to help Ukrainian refugees.     T / F
  3. The UK has taken in only 12,000 Ukrainian refugees.     T / F
  4. The U.K. Home Secretary has yet to apologize for the refugee crisis.     T / F
  5. A radio host said the whole U.K. government should be fired.     T / F
  6. Ukrainian refugees have to complete a 51-page form to enter the U.K.     T / F
  7. Over 200,000 U.K. people registered to take in a Ukrainian refugee.  T / F
  8. Someone with a garden pond in the U.K. cannot take in a refugee.     T / F

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

  1. popular
  2. lambasted
  3. disgrace
  4. paltry
  5. frustrating
  6. absolute
  7. sack
  8. irked
  9. red tape
  10. set up
  1. angered
  2. annoying
  3. total
  4. bureaucracy
  5. fire
  6. outrage
  7. criticized
  8. established
  9. mere
  10. well liked

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

  1. his government's response to the
  2. help refugees
  3. a paltry
  4. with a population one-
  5. apologised for what she called the
  6. He called on the whole government
  7. this level
  8. application
  9. its mountain of
  10. Many say the UK's visa schemes
  1. 12,000 refugees
  2. "frustrating" situation
  3. red tape
  4. relocate to the UK
  5. of incompetence
  6. Ukrainian refugee crisis
  7. are set up to fail
  8. to be fired
  9. twelfth of that of Britain's
  10. form

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
thus
frustrating
crisis
twelfth
welcomed
popular
nearly
schemes

One of Britain's most (1) _____________________ radio hosts has lambasted his government's response to the Ukrainian refugee (2) _____________________. Nick Ferrari of the radio station LBC called the situation "a disgrace". The UK has two visa (3) _____________________ running to help refugees relocate to the UK. The government said it had received 79,800 visa applications from Ukrainians and had (4) _____________________ far issued 40,900 visas. However, a paltry 12,000 refugees had arrived in Britain. Poland has taken in (5) _____________________ 3 million refugees and Germany has taken in 300,000. The UK's neighbour Ireland, with a population one-(6) _____________________ that of Britain's, has (7) _____________________ over 20,000 refugees. The UK's Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for what she called the "(8) _____________________" situation.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
whole
tape
irked
set
hold
bureaucracy
absolute
refuge

Nick Ferrari did not (9) _____________________ back in his criticism of his government's response. He called on the whole government to be fired. He said: "It's an (10) _____________________ scandal....This is beyond comprehension. How can this level of incompetence survive? Sack the (11) _____________________...lot of them." Mr Ferrari was particularly (12) _____________________ by the visa application process, which includes Ukrainians wanting (13) _____________________ in the UK having to fill out a 51-page online application form in English. He also castigated the government for its mountain of red (14) _____________________. Over 200,000 Britons have applied to accept a refugee into their home, but excessive (15) _____________________ means applications are rejected if a home has a garden pond. Many say the UK's visa schemes are (16) _____________________ up to fail.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  One of Britain's most popular radio hosts has lambasted ______
     a.  his government's responds
     b.  his government's re-sponge
     c.  his government's risk pans
     d.  his government's response
2)  Nick Ferrari of the radio station LBC called the ______
     a.  situation the disgrace
     b.  situation a disgrace
     c.  situation all disgrace
     d.  situation add disgrace
3)  it had received 79,800 visa applications from Ukrainians and had thus ______
     a.  for issued 40,900
     b.  far issued 40,900
     c.  fir issued 40,900
     d.  fare issued 40,900
4)  The UK's neighbour Ireland, with a population ______
     a.  one-twelfth of that
     b.  one-twelve that
     c.  once-twelfth of that
     d.  once-twelve that
5)  Priti Patel has apologised for what she called ______
     a.  the "frustration" situation
     b.  the "frustrating" situations
     c.  the "frustrate thing" situation
     d.  the "frustrating" situation

6)  He called on the whole government ______
     a.  to be fried
     b.  to be flied
     c.  to be fired
     d.  to be filed
7)  This is beyond comprehension. How can this level ______
     a.  of incompetents survive
     b.  of incompetence survival
     c.  of incompetents survival
     d.  of incompetence survive
8)  Sack the whole...lot of them. Mr Ferrari ______
     a.  was particularly irked
     b.  was particular lurked
     c.  was particular re-liked
     d.  was particular axed
9)  He also castigated the government for its mountain ______
     a.  off red tape
     b.  of red tape
     c.  of reed tape
     d.  of lead tape
10)  excessive bureaucracy means applications are rejected if a home has ______
     a.  a gardener pond
     b.  a garden pond
     c.  a guarding pond
     d.  avante garde pond

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

One of Britain's most popular radio (1) ____________________ his government's response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Nick Ferrari of the radio station LBC called the (2) ____________________. The UK has two visa schemes running to help refugees relocate to the UK. The government said it had received 79,800 visa applications from Ukrainians and had thus far issued 40,900 visas. (3) ____________________ 12,000 refugees had arrived in Britain. Poland has (4) ____________________ 3 million refugees and Germany has taken in 300,000. The UK's neighbour Ireland, with a population (5) ____________________ of Britain's, has welcomed over 20,000 refugees. The UK's Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for what she called (6) ____________________.

Nick Ferrari did not hold back in (7) ____________________ his government's response. He called on the whole government to be fired. He said: "It's an absolute scandal....This is beyond comprehension. How can this (8) ____________________ survive? Sack the whole...lot of them." Mr Ferrari was particularly (9) ____________________ visa application process, which includes Ukrainians wanting refuge in the UK having to fill out a 51-page online application form in English. He (10) ____________________ government for its mountain (11) ____________________. Over 200,000 Britons have applied to accept a refugee into their home, but excessive bureaucracy means applications are rejected if a home has a garden pond. Many say the UK's visa schemes are (12) ____________________ fail.

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the radio station the radio host belongs to?
  2. How many visa schemes is the UK running?
  3. How many Ukrainian refugees has the UK taken in?
  4. How many Ukrainian refugees have gone to Ireland?
  5. What did the UK's Home Secretary call the situation?
  6. What does the radio host want to happen to the UK's government?
  7. How long is the application form Ukrainian refugees have to fill out?
  8. What did the radio host say there was a mountain of?
  9. What might invalidate a Briton's request to house a Ukrainian refugee?
  10. What do many people think the UK's visa schemes are set up to do?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the radio station the radio host belongs to?
a) ABC
b) NBC
c) BBC
d) LBC
2) How many visa schemes is the UK running?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
3) How many Ukrainian refugees has the UK taken in?
a) 22,000
b) 20,000
c) 12,000
d) 120,000
4) How many Ukrainian refugees have gone to Ireland?
a) 20,000
b) 300,000
c) 12,000
d) 8,000

5) What did the UK's Home Secretary call the situation?
a) serious
b) promising
c) frustrating
d) temporary

6) What does the radio host want to happen to the UK's government?
a) he wants it to be changed
b) he wants it to be fired
c) he wants it to move faster
d) he wants everyone to get a pay rise
7) How long is the application form Ukrainian refugees have to fill out?
a) 12 pages
b) 20 pages
c) 15 pages
d) 51 pages
8) What did the radio host say there was a mountain of?
a) red tape
b) weapons
c) food
d) processes
9) What might invalidate a Briton's request to house a Ukrainian refugee?
a) no signature
b) no car
c) a garden pond
d) a lack of money

10) What do many people think the UK's visa schemes are set up to do?
a) reject
b) fail
c) help
d) maintain appearances

Role play

Role  A – Wi-fi
You think wi-fi is the thing refugees need most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why refugees don't need their things as much. Also, tell the others which is the least needed of these (and why): clean clothes, weapons or blankets.

Role  B – Clean Clothes
You think clean clothes are the things refugees need most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why refugees don't need their things as much. Also, tell the others which is the least needed of these (and why): wi-fi, weapons or blankets.

Role  C – Weapons
You think weapons are the things refugees need most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why refugees don't need their things as much. Also, tell the others which is the least needed of these (and why): clean clothes, wi-fi or blankets.

Role  D – Blankets
You think blankets are the things refugees need most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why refugees don't need their things as much. Also, tell the others which is the least needed of these (and why): clean clothes, weapons or wi-fi.

After reading / listening

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

'refugee'

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

    • and 'crisis'.

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

    • • 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:

    • host
    • running
    • thus
    • nearly
    • neighbour
    • apologised
    • hold
    • absolute
    • sack
    • fill
    • red
    • fail

    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 - Refugee Response

    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 'refugee'?
    3. Do you have a favourite radio host?
    4. What's your country doing for Ukrainian refugees?
    5. What should the UN be doing for Ukrainian refugees?
    6. What visa requirements should there be for refugees?
    7. Is it a 'disgrace' that the UK has only taken in 12,000 refugees?
    8. Why do you think the UK has accepted so few refugees?
    9. What help do refugees need?
    10. What advice do you have for the UK government?

    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 'crisis'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What criticisms do you have of your government?
    5. Should the UK government be fired?
    6. How unfair is it for refugees to fill out a 51-page application form?
    7. Would you house a Ukrainian refugee?
    8. What can the UK do to reduce its levels of red tape?
    9. Why might  a garden pond be a danger to a refugee fleeing terror?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the UK Home Secretary?

    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)

    One of Britain's most popular radio hosts has (1) ____ his government's response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Nick Ferrari of the radio station LBC called the situation "a disgrace". The UK has two visa schemes (2) ____ to help refugees relocate to the UK. The government said it had received 79,800 visa applications from Ukrainians and had (3) ____ far issued 40,900 visas. However, a (4) ____ 12,000 refugees had arrived in Britain. Poland has taken in nearly 3 million refugees and Germany has taken in 300,000. The UK's neighbour Ireland, with a population one-twelfth (5) ____ of Britain's, has welcomed over 20,000 refugees. The UK's Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for (6) ____ she called the "frustrating" situation.

    Nick Ferrari did not (7) ____ back in his criticism of his government's response. He called on the whole government to be (8) ____. He said: "It's an absolute scandal....This is beyond comprehension. How can this level of incompetence survive? (9) ____ the whole...lot of them." Mr Ferrari was particularly irked by the visa application process, which includes Ukrainians (10) ____ refuge in the UK having to fill out a 51-page online application form in English. He also castigated the government for its mountain of (11) ____ tape. Over 200,000 Britons have applied to accept a refugee into their home, but excessive bureaucracy means applications are rejected if a home has a garden pond. Many say the UK's visa schemes are set (12) ____ to fail.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     rambunctious     (b)     lambasted     (c)     basted     (d)     blasting    
    2. (a)     pacing     (b)     running     (c)     managing     (d)     scheming    
    3. (a)     then     (b)     that     (c)     this     (d)     thus    
    4. (a)     patsy     (b)     paltry     (c)     parity     (d)     party    
    5. (a)     which     (b)     that     (c)     what     (d)     thus    
    6. (a)     which     (b)     that     (c)     what     (d)     thus    
    7. (a)     fold     (b)     bold     (c)     hold     (d)     told    
    8. (a)     fried     (b)     feared     (c)     fired     (d)     fared    
    9. (a)     Rack     (b)     Lack     (c)     Back     (d)     Sack    
    10. (a)     wanting     (b)     wants     (c)     wanted     (d)     want    
    11. (a)     red     (b)     blue     (c)     sticky     (d)     video    
    12. (a)     down     (b)     on     (c)     up     (d)     in

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. amblstaed his government's response
    2. two visa hsmeces
    3. help refugees olrcetae to the UK
    4. it had received 79,800 visa laaictpoipns
    5. a alprty 12,000 refugees
    6. a population one-lewftth that of Britain's

    Paragraph 2

    1. Ferrari did not hold back in his riicictsm
    2. It's an salobute scandal
    3. this level of cimpteneocne
    4. Mr Ferrari was particularly dkrei
    5. He also asicagtted the government
    6. excessive ureburcaacy

    Put the text back together

    (...)  application form in English. He also castigated the government for its mountain of red tape. Over 200,000 Britons have
    (  1  ) One of Britain's most popular radio hosts has lambasted his government's response to the Ukrainian refugee
    (...)  by the visa application process, which includes Ukrainians wanting refuge in the UK having to fill out a 51-page online
    (...)  fired. He said: "It's an absolute scandal....This is beyond comprehension. How can this level of
    (...)  in nearly 3 million refugees and Germany has taken in 300,000. The UK's neighbour Ireland, with a
    (...)  Nick Ferrari did not hold back in his criticism of his government's response. He called on the whole government to be
    (...)  population one-twelfth of that of Britain's, has welcomed over 20,000 refugees. The UK's Home
    (...)  schemes running to help refugees relocate to the UK. The government said it had received 79,800 visa applications from Ukrainians and had thus
    (...)  incompetence survive? Sack the whole...lot of them." Mr Ferrari was particularly irked
    (...)  far issued 40,900 visas. However, a paltry 12,000 refugees had arrived in Britain. Poland has taken
    (...)  crisis. Nick Ferrari of the radio station LBC called the situation "a disgrace". The UK has two visa
    (...)  Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for what she called the "frustrating" situation.
    (...)  applied to accept a refugee into their home, but excessive bureaucracy means applications
    (...)  are rejected if a home has a garden pond. Many say the UK's visa schemes are set up to fail.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. of   Britain's   most   popular   One   radio   hosts   .
    2. visa   to   running   schemes   help   Two   refugees   relocate   .
    3. said   had   It   79,800   received   it   visa   applications   .
    4. population   a   Ireland   one-twelfth   has   of   that   Britain's of   .
    5. what   Apologised   called   she   for   the   frustrating   situation   .
    6. back   in   his   criticism   of   Hold   his   government   .
    7. can   level   this   How   of   incompetence   survive   ?
    8. to   complete   a   51-page   online   Having   application   form   .
    9. 200,000   to   applied   have   accept   Over   a   refugee   .
    10. UK's   are   The   up   set   schemes   to   fail   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    One of Britain's most popular radio heists / hosts has lambasted his government's response / respond to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Nick Ferrari of the radio station LBC called the situation "a disgrace". The UK has two visa schemes pacing / running to help refugees relocate / relocation to the UK. The government said it had received 79,800 visa applicants / applications from Ukrainians and had thus for / far issued 40,900 visas. However, a paltry / parity 12,000 refugees had arrived in Britain. Poland has taken in nearly / near 3 million refugees and Germany has taken in 300,000. The UK's neighbour Ireland, with a population one-twelfth of that of Britain's, has welcomed / welcoming over 20,000 refugees. The UK's Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for that / what she called the "frustrating" situation.

    Nick Ferrari did not hold / fold back in his criticism of his government's response. He called on the whole / wholly government to be freed / fired. He said: "It's an absolute / absolutely scandal....This is behind / beyond comprehension. How can this level of incompetence survive? Sack the whole...lot / loads of them." Mr Ferrari was particularly ire / irked by the visa application process, which includes Ukrainians wanting / want refuge in the UK having to fill out a 51-page online application form in English. He also castigated the government for its mountain of sticky / red tape. Over 200,000 Britons have applied to accept a refugee into their home, but excessive bureaucracy means applications are rejected if a home has a garden pond. Many say the UK's visa schemes are set / get up to fail.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _n_  _f  Br_t__n's  m_st  p_p_l_r  r_d__  h_sts  h_s  l_mb_st_d  h_s  g_v_rnm_nt's  r_sp_ns_  t_  th_  _kr__n__n  r_f_g__  cr_s_s.  N_ck  F_rr_r_  _f  th_  r_d__  st_t__n  LBC  c_ll_d  th_  s_t__t__n  "_  d_sgr_c_".  Th_  _K  h_s  tw_  v_s_  sch_m_s  r_nn_ng  t_  h_lp  r_f_g__s  r_l_c_t_  t_  th_  _K.  Th_  g_v_rnm_nt  s__d  _t  h_d  r_c__v_d  79,800  v_s_  _ppl_c_t__ns  fr_m  _kr__n__ns  _nd  h_d  th_s  f_r  _ss__d  40,900  v_s_s.  H_w_v_r,  _  p_ltry  12,000  r_f_g__s  h_d  _rr_v_d  _n  Br_t__n.  P_l_nd  h_s  t_k_n  _n  n__rly  3  m_ll__n  r_f_g__s  _nd  G_rm_ny  h_s  t_k_n  _n  300,000.  Th_  _K's  n__ghb__r  _r_l_nd,  w_th  _  p_p_l_t__n  _n_-tw_lfth  _f  th_t  _f  Br_t__n's,  h_s  w_lc_m_d  _v_r  20,000  r_f_g__s.  Th_  _K's  H_m_  S_cr_t_ry  Pr_t_  P_t_l  h_s  _p_l_g_s_d  f_r  wh_t  sh_  c_ll_d  th_  "fr_str_t_ng"  s_t__t__n.

    N_ck  F_rr_r_  d_d  n_t  h_ld  b_ck  _n  h_s  cr_t_c_sm  _f  h_s  g_v_rnm_nt's  r_sp_ns_.  H_  c_ll_d  _n  th_  wh_l_  g_v_rnm_nt  t_  b_  f_r_d.  H_  s__d:  "_t's  _n  _bs_l_t_  sc_nd_l....Th_s  _s  b_y_nd  c_mpr_h_ns__n.  H_w  c_n  th_s  l_v_l  _f  _nc_mp_t_nc_  s_rv_v_?  S_ck  th_  wh_l_...l_t  _f  th_m."  Mr  F_rr_r_  w_s  p_rt_c_l_rly  _rk_d  by  th_  v_s_  _ppl_c_t__n  pr_c_ss,  wh_ch  _ncl_d_s  _kr__n__ns  w_nt_ng  r_f_g_  _n  th_  _K  h_v_ng  t_  f_ll  __t  _  51-p_g_  _nl_n_  _ppl_c_t__n  f_rm  _n  _ngl_sh.  H_  _ls_  c_st_g_t_d  th_  g_v_rnm_nt  f_r  _ts  m__nt__n  _f  r_d  t_p_.  _v_r  200,000  Br_t_ns  h_v_  _ppl__d  t_  _cc_pt  _  r_f_g__  _nt_  th__r  h_m_,  b_t  _xc_ss_v_  b_r___cr_cy  m__ns  _ppl_c_t__ns  _r_  r_j_ct_d  _f  _  h_m_  h_s  _  g_rd_n  p_nd.  M_ny  s_y  th_  _K's  v_s_  sch_m_s  _r_  s_t  _p  t_  f__l.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    one of britains most popular radio hosts has lambasted his governments response to the ukrainian refugee crisis nick ferrari of the radio station lbc called the situation a disgrace the uk has two visa schemes running to help refugees relocate to the uk the government said it had received 79800 visa applications from ukrainians and had thus far issued 40900 visas however a paltry 12000 refugees had arrived in britain poland has taken in nearly 3 million refugees and germany has taken in 300000 the uks neighbour ireland with a population onetwelfth of that of britains has welcomed over 20000 refugees the uks home secretary priti patel has apologised for what she called the frustrating situation

    nick ferrari did not hold back in his criticism of his governments response he called on the whole government to be fired he said its an absolute scandal this is beyond comprehension how can this level of incompetence survive sack the whole lot of them mr ferrari was particularly irked by the visa application process which includes ukrainians wanting refuge in the uk having to fill out a 51page online application form in english he also castigated the government for its mountain of red tape over 200000 britons have applied to accept a refugee into their home but excessive bureaucracy means applications are rejected if a home has a garden pond many say the uks visa schemes are set up to fail

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    OneofBritain'smostpopularradiohostshaslambastedhisgovernment'
    sresponsetotheUkrainianrefugeecrisis.NickFerrarioftheradiostation
    LBCcalledthesituation"adisgrace".TheUKhastwovisaschemesrunnin
    gtohelprefugeesrelocatetotheUK.Thegovernmentsaidithadreceived
    79,800visaapplicationsfromUkrainiansandhadthusfarissued40,900
    visas.However,apaltry12,000refugeeshadarrivedinBritain.Polandh
    astakeninnearly3millionrefugeesandGermanyhastakenin300,000.T
    heUK'sneighbourIreland,withapopulationone-twelfthofthatofBritai
    n's,haswelcomedover20,000refugees.TheUK'sHomeSecretaryPritiP
    atelhasapologisedforwhatshecalledthe"frustrating"situation.NickFe
    rrarididnotholdbackinhiscriticismofhisgovernment'sresponse.Hecal
    ledonthewholegovernmenttobefired.Hesaid:"It'sanabsolutescandal
    ....Thisisbeyondcomprehension.Howcanthislevelofincompetencesu
    rvive?Sackthewhole...lotofthem."MrFerrariwasparticularlyirkedbyt
    hevisaapplicationprocess,whichincludesUkrainianswantingrefugein
    theUKhavingtofillouta51-pageonlineapplicationforminEnglish.Heals
    ocastigatedthegovernmentforitsmountainofredtape.Over200,000B
    ritonshaveappliedtoacceptarefugeeintotheirhome,butexcessivebur
    eaucracymeansapplicationsarerejectedifahomehasagardenpond.M
    anysaytheUK'svisaschemesaresetuptofail.

    Free writing

    Write about UK refugee response for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    All visa requirements for refugees should be scrapped. 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. REFUGEES: Make a poster about refugees. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NO VISAS: Write a magazine article about scrapping any kinds of visa requirements for all refugees around the world. 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 refugees. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to help them. 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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