The Classroom Where Fake News Fails

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Transcript

Audio Time: 3 min 51 sec

Level: Upper Intermediate and up

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Pizzagate: The suffix “gate” means a political scandal. It derives from the Watergate scandal of the United States in the early 1970s, which resulted in the resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon.

To air: to broadcast something on radio or television.

Bottom line: the most important part of something : the most important thing to consider; the result or outcome. 

Conspiracy: a secret plan made by two or more people to do something that is harmful or illegal.

Pizzeria: restaurant where mainly pizza is served.

Intel (intelligence): information of political or military value.

Annotation: a note added to a text, book, drawing, etc., as a comment or explanation.

Rumor: information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true.

To sort fact from fiction: To separate what is true from what is false.

To kick off: to start.

To pilot: done as a test to see if a larger program, study, etc., should be done.

Vignette: a short written description.

Meme: an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from one person to another in a culture.

To catch on: to become popular.

To figure out: to understand or find (something, such as a reason or a solution) by thinking.

Credible: able to be believed : reasonable to trust or believe.

To label: to put a word or name on something to describe or identify it : to attach a label to (something).

Red flag: a warning sign: a sign that there is a problem that should be noticed or dealt with.

Byline: a line at the beginning of a newspaper or magazine article that gives the writer's name.

Damn: informal + impolite: used to show that you are angry, annoyed, surprised, etc.

Literacy: the ability to read or write; knowledge that relates to a specified subject.

To unveil: to show or reveal (something) to others for the first time; to remove a cover so that people can see it.

To endorse: to publicly or officially say that you support or approve of (someone or something).

To ignore: to do nothing about or in response to (something or someone).

To run through: to read, repeat, or practice (something) quickly.

Bias: a tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others that usually results in an unfair influence on something.

Face value: Something that is taken/accepted at face value is regarded as true or genuine without being questioned or doubted.

To admit: to say usually in an unwilling way that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something).

Discussion questions:

1. What do you think about the project to help students improve their news literacy?

2. What are some of the ways to tell fact from fiction in the news?

3. How can we reduce fake news?

4. How can we help students to be better critical thinkers?

5. Have you ever been fooled by fake news?

How to Discuss Politics Politely

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Transcript

Audio Time: 2 min 59 sec

Level: Intermediate and up

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including  Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

To arouse: to cause (an emotional or mental state).

Intensity: the quality or state of being intense: extreme strength or force.

Civility: polite, reasonable, and respectful behavior.

Rude: not polite and respectful.

Thanksgiving: Celebrated in autumn in the U.S. and Canada, a holiday for people to be thankful for what they have. People traditionally eat a large meal with family and friends.

Reunion: an act of getting people together again after they have been apart.

Sibling: a brother or sister.

To regress: to return to an earlier and usually worse or less developed condition or state.

To forge: to form or create (something, such as an agreement or relationship) through great effort.

To vie: to compete with others in an attempt to get or win something.

Show off: a person who tries to impress other people with his or her abilities or possessions.

To accuse: to blame (someone) for something wrong or illegal : to say that someone is guilty of a fault or crime.

To play favorites: to treat some individuals better or to prefer them, as when a teacher gives more attention to certain students or gives them better grades/marks than other students who have done the same quality work.

To carve: to cut (cooked meat) into pieces or slices.

To blame: to say or think that a person or thing is responsible for something bad that has happened.

To gloat: to show in an improper or selfish way that you are happy with your own success or another person's failure.

Endearing: to cause (someone) to be loved or admired by (someone or something).

To disprove: to show that (something) is false or wrong.

To bring up: to mention (something) when talking: to start to talk about (something).

Discussion questions:

1. What advice does this article give to discuss politics more civilly?

2. Do you have any other advice to add that the article doesn’t mention?

3. What are the customs for discussing politics in your culture?

4. Is it important to discuss politics? Why?

5. Do you like to discuss politics? Why?

6. If most people don’t talk about politics, what might happen to society?

7. What are some other topics that can be difficult to discuss with others?

8. Why are these topics difficult to discuss?

9.  What are some strategies to discuss these other topics in a healthy way?

The Declaration Of Independence, 240 Years Later

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Transcript

Audio Time: 8: 56

Level: Intermediate and up

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including  Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Note: Vocabulary for only the first, and most famous, part of the text is listed here. Since the language of text is 240 years old, it can make the text more difficult to understand. For this reason, the original text and a simple English version has been provide below.

Text

Starting text

The first part of the text says that a declaration of independence must be well-reasoned:

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Simple English translation:

Sometimes in history, one country has to stop being connected to another country. It has to become separate and equal. This is a right that Nature and God give to every person. However, when this happens, the country should explain its reasons for separating from the other country.

The Preamble

The preamble of the declaration is the best-known part.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Simple English translation:

We think these truths are clear:

That all men are created equal.

That their Creator gives them rights that cannot be taken away.

That these rights include the rights to life, liberty (freedom), and trying to be happy.

That governments are created to protect these rights.

That governments have power only if the people they are governing agree that they do.

That whenever a government no longer protects these rights, the people it governs have a right to change or get rid of that government. They also have a right to create a new government that is more likely to protect their safety and happiness.

That governments which have existed for a long time should not be changed for small reasons. However, if a government abuses its people over and over again, the people have the right to get rid of that government.

--From the Entry on the Declaration of Independence at Simple English Wikipedia

To dissolve: (formal)  to officially end (something, such as a marriage, organization, or agreement).

To assume: to begin (a role, duty, etc.) as a job or responsibility.

Declare: to say or state (something) in an official or public way.

Impel: to cause (someone) to feel a strong need or desire to do something.

Self-evident: (formal) clearly true and requiring no proof or explanation.

To endow: to freely or naturally provide (someone or something) with something — usually used as (be) endowed.

Pursuit: an attempt to find, achieve, or get something — + of.

To secure: protected from danger or harm.

To institute: to begin or create (something, such as a new law, rule, or system).

To derive: to have something as a source : to come from something.

Just: Fair: agreeing with what is considered morally right or good.

Discussion questions:

1. How did the statements in the Declaration effect the “course of human events (history)”?

2. Do you think these rights are still important and necessary today?

3. Are there any rights that should be added or removed?

4. Do you agree that the People have the right to change or stop a government that does not protect these rights?

5. How should the People change or get rid of governments that refuse to protect the rights and happiness of the People?