Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.
dateline: 15 December 2015
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN 🔈
Canada Welcomes Syrian Refugees
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- refugee: a person who fled their home due to war, violence, or natural disaster
- wave: a large amount that comes or occurs in a short period of time
- hashtag: a keyword used in social media; identified with the pound symbol (#)
- sponsor: to help pay for and/or support a person or group
- essential services: basic public needs, such as shelter, heat, water, food, and clothing
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Canada Welcomes Syrian Refugees
Comprehension Questions
- Who arrived in Toronto and Montreal last week?
- Why does the report mention Canada’s new prime minister?
- Who is sponsoring these displaced people?
Discussion Questions: Why do you think Canada’s warm welcome of Syrian refugees made international headlines?
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Canada Welcomes Syrian Refugees
The first two groups in a new wave of Syrian refugees arrived in Canada last week from camps in Jordan and Lebanon. Canada’s new prime minister, Justin Trudeau, was waiting at the Toronto airport to welcome the refugees with warm clothing. Canadians across the country offered heartwarming welcome message on Twitter, using the hashtag #WelcomeToCanada. The Canadian government has offered to provide settlement for 25,000 Syrian refugees by February 2016. The refugees will arrive in Toronto and Montreal and will settle in many different communities around Canada. These displaced Syrians are being sponsored by private citizens, non-profit organizations, churches, and the government. They will have immediate access to essential services as well as long-term support.
- Two groups of Syrian refugees arrived in these Canadian cities last week.
- The report mentions Canada’s new prime minister, because Justin Trudeau was at the airport in Toronto to welcome the first group of this new wave of Syrian refugees.
- The refugees are being sponsored by a variety of private citizens as well as non-profit organizations, and the government.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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