Listen&Learn: Nelson Mandela
Posted by: Jaksyn PeacockPre-listening vocabulary
- activist: someone who works toward political or social change
- apartheid: the South African system of racial segregation
- liberate: to free someone
- oppression: cruel and unfair acts of people in power
- pardon: to end a criminal punishment
- negotiate: to discuss and compromise about a goal
- suffrage: the right to vote in elections
Listening activity
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Gapfill exercise
Comprehension questions
See answers below
- Mandela’s birth name means
a. leader
b. creator
c. troublemaker - In university, Mandela studied
a. law
b. political science
c. history - In 1990,
a. Mandela was arrested for his activism
b. Mandela was pardoned and released from prison
c. Mandela was elected South Africa’s first Black president
Discussion/essay questions
- Nelson Mandela is often remembered as a non-violent activist. However, he also took part in some armed resistance against the government. What do you think about violence and non-violence? Is force ever necessary to resist injustice? Why or why not?
Transcript
Nelson Mandela was a South African activist, lawyer, and politician. He was born in the Mvezo village in 1918. His original name was Rolihlahla, which means “troublemaker” in Xhosa. Mandela studied law in university, and later joined the African National Congress, a political group that aimed to end apartheid and liberate Black Africans from oppression. In 1962, Mandela was arrested for his acts of resistance against the South African government. He received a life sentence in 1964 and spent 27 years in prison. After being pardoned in 1990, Mandela began to meet with members of the government to negotiate suffrage for Black South Africans. Four years later, he became the country’s first Black president. He died in 2013, at age 95.
Answers to comprehension questions
1c 2a 3b
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11 comments
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ELADIO ANTONIO CAPELLAN says:
Excellent article about Nelson Mandela a man who fought for freedom and left a great legacy for the humanity. Nelson Mandela never gave up and continued running toward his dream and finally he made it.
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No soy feli says:
Mandela goat
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Liliana Coronado says:
I think, its interesting topic,Mr Nelson Mandela was a very important person in the history of humanity.
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Parmentier says:
Throughout time and place, the struggles are relatively the same: the authorities want to retain power, influence and oppression through violence and corruption, manipulations, lies.
If you want to fight against that, you have some options: get public opinion, stop the finances of the rulers, challenge the reputation of the authorities, carry out targeted attacks, apply pressure, have your own communications organisation.
What counts is the multitude of attacks and their spontaneity. Everyone can attack, defend, communicate, not apply, create a diversion, etc., at their own level. We all have different levels of courage, and that’s a great opportunity.
In France during the Second World War, it was this kind of operation that succeeded.Thank you for your lessons, I listen to them every morning.
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Eihab says:
Hard
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Amani says:
It’s so useful
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English Club Indonesia says:
Sometimes, peace and silence won’t budge the stubborn system. When this happens, a shock attack is sometimes needed to give a clearer message of what is trying to be achieved.
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duc says:
so good
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OSCAR says:
I will always be with those who suffer the most.Thank you Mandela. You were an example of commitment to humanity.
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manuela says:
It was an easy and interesting topic but I had a little trouble because long time I don’t practice, thanks for sharing
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RIVALDO FERNANDES PEREIRA says:
Excelente