EnglishClub

Pre-listening vocabulary

• activist: a person who stands up for a certain cause
• slavery: a situation where a person owns another person
• network: an organized group or system
• illegal: not allowed by law
• mission: a journey to complete a task
• abolish: to end something

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:20 — 1.2MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Harriet Tubman was an American activist who helped to free hundreds of people from slavery. She was born into slavery herself around 1820, and she in 1849. A network of people called the Underground Railroad helped Tubman make the journey to the North, where slavery was illegal. However, once Tubman gained her , she decided that she wanted to help other people gain theirs. She began to work with the Underground Railroad. Her job was to rescue enslaved people and bring them to the North, where they could freely. She went on many missions over eight years. When the American Civil War began in 1861, Tubman joined the army to work as a . She eventually got to lead a raid in South Carolina that freed hundreds of enslaved people. Even after slavery was abolished in the United States, Tubman continued to fight for the rights of Black Americans and women. She died in 1913, at about 90 years old.

Comprehension questions

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Discussion/essay questions

1. In the United States and Canada, February is Black History Month. Tubman’s story is often taught in schools during this time. Why is it so important to learn stories like hers?
2. Can you think of some other people in history who fought for human rights?

Transcript

Harriet Tubman was an American activist who helped to free hundreds of people from slavery. She was born into slavery herself around 1820, and she escaped in 1849. A network of people called the Underground Railroad helped Tubman make the journey to the North, where slavery was illegal. However, once Tubman gained her freedom, she decided that she wanted to help other people gain theirs. She began to work with the Underground Railroad. Her job was to rescue enslaved people and bring them to the North, where they could live freely. She went on many missions over eight years. When the American Civil War began in 1861, Tubman joined the army to work as a nurse. She eventually got to lead a raid in South Carolina that freed hundreds of enslaved people. Even after slavery was abolished in the United States, Tubman continued to fight for the rights of Black Americans and women. She died in 1913, at about 90 years old.

Pre-listening vocabulary

• publish: to release and sell a book to the public
• volume: a book that is part of a series
• accomplish: to achieve; to complete
• expectations: beliefs about what certain people should and should not do
• oppose: to be against a certain idea
• independent: not controlled or told what to do, free to make one’s own decisions
• adaptation: a film or book that is based on another original work

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:17 — 1.2MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Little Women is a classic by author Louisa May Alcott. It was originally published in two volumes – the first in 1868, and the second in 1869. The story the lives of four sisters growing up in a poor house during the time of the American Civil War. The main is Jo, the second-oldest sister. She wants to become a writer, which is difficult for her to accomplish because of the expectations for women at the time. She spends most of the story opposed to the idea of love, as she wants to be independent and put her own first. The character of Jo is based on Louisa May Alcott herself. This book is still loved by many today, and a recent movie adaptation won several for the script, acting, costumes, and music.

Comprehension questions

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Discussion/essay questions

1. Books like Little Women are considered “classics” because they were published a long time ago, but the themes are still interesting and relevant today. Have you read any books that are considered “classics”? What did you think of them?

Transcript

Little Women is a classic novel by author Louisa May Alcott. It was originally published in two volumes – the first in 1868, and the second in 1869. The story follows the lives of four sisters growing up in a poor house during the time of the American Civil War. The main character is Jo, the second-oldest sister. She wants to become a writer, which is difficult for her to accomplish because of the expectations for women at the time. She spends most of the story opposed to the idea of love, as she wants to be independent and put her own career first. The character of Jo is based on Louisa May Alcott herself. This book is still loved by many today, and a recent movie adaptation won several awards for the script, acting, costumes, and music.