photo Tara Benwell 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

Canada Welcomes Syrian Refugees

The first two groups in a new wave of Syrian arrived in Canada last week from camps in and Lebanon. Canada’s new , 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 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 to essential services as well as long-term support.

Comprehension Questions

  1. Who arrived in Toronto and Montreal last week?
  2. Why does the report mention Canada’s new prime minister?
  3. Who is sponsoring these displaced people?

Discussion Questions: Why do you think Canada’s warm welcome of Syrian refugees made international headlines?

show Answers

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.
© EnglishClub.com
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