INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY (Sept. 8th)

Senegalese Women Rewrite Their Future Video

The Sowame village of about 500 inhabitants is one of the first villages in Senegal to benefit from a new literacy project launched by UNESCO and the multinational firm Procter & Gamble. Under the slogan "Rewrite the future", the two year projet aims to educate about 10,000 girls and women aged between 15 to 55 in seven different regions of Senegal.

THE READING

September 8 is a very important day all around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it highlights the importance of reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its aim is to focus on how important reading, writing and numeracy are to individuals, as well as to societies and nations. On this day, UNESCO reminds the world of the status of literacy and provides statistics for literacy rates for each country. Literacy is a key sign of how developed a society is. The concept has developed a lot over the past few decades. It now includes the ability to be able to use computers and other kinds of information technology.

Around 780 million adults in the world today lack basic literacy skills. One in five adults is illiterate, and two-thirds of these are women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west Asia, followed by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there is a clear relation between illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination against women in countries with low literacy rates. Literacy affects many aspects of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People who are able to read health warnings are less likely to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Reading can save lives.

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.	a very important day all	a.	rates
2	it highlights the importance	b.	use computers
3.	statistics for literacy	c.	around the world
4.	a key sign of how developed	d.	information technology
5.	the ability to be able to	e.	of reading
6.	other kinds of	f.	a society is

Paragraph 2

1.	lack basic	a.	are women
2	two-thirds of these	b.	and severe poverty
3.	the highest rates	c.	literacy skills
4.	a clear relation between illiteracy	d.	killer diseases
5.	more discrimination	e.	of illiteracy
6.	less likely to catch	f.	against women

GAP FILL

September 8 is a very important day all around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it _____________________ of reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its _____________________ how important reading, writing _____________________  individuals, as well as to societies and nations. On this day, UNESCO _____________________ the status of literacy and provides statistics for literacy rates for each country. Literacy _____________________ developed a society is. The concept has developed a lot over the past few decades. It now includes _____________________ to use computers and other kinds of information technology.

Around 780 million adults in the world _____________________ skills. One in five adults is illiterate, and _____________________ women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west Asia, followed by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there _____________________ between illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination against women in countries _____________________. Literacy affects many aspects of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People _____________________ health warnings are less likely to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. _____________________.

GAP FILL

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

September 8 is a very important day ___________ around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it ___________ the importance of reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its ___________ is to focus on how important reading, writing and ___________ are to individuals, as well as to societies and nations. On this day, UNESCO reminds the world of the ___________ of literacy and provides statistics for literacy ___________ for each country. Literacy is a key sign of how developed a society is. The concept has developed a lot over the ___________ few decades. It now includes the ability to be able to use computers and other ___________ of information technology.		rates numeracy past highlights all kinds aim status
Around 780 million adults in the world today ___________ basic literacy skills. One in five adults is illiterate, and two-___________ of these are women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west Asia, ___________ by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there is a clear ___________ between illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination against women in countries with ___________ literacy rates. Literacy affects many ___________ of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People who are able to read health warnings are ___________ likely to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Reading can ___________ lives.		low  followed less lack save thirds aspects relation

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.

September 8 is a very important day all / every around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it highlights the importance of / by reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its aim / aiming is to focus on how important reading, writing and numeracy are to individuals, as good / well as to societies and nations. On this day, UNESCO reminds the world of the status / statues of literacy and provides statistics for literacy rates for each country. Literacy is a key sign / signs of how developed a society is. The concept has developed a lot under / over the past few decades. It now includes the ability to be able to use computers and other kind / kinds of information technology.

Around 780 million adults in the world today lack / less basic literacy skills. One in / on five adults is illiterate, and two-thirds of these are women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west Asia, followed / following by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there is a clear / clearly relation between illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination for / against women in countries with low literacy rates. Literacy effects / affects many aspects of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People who are able to read healthy / health warnings are less likely to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Reading can save / saving lives.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

September 8 is a very important day (1) ____ around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it highlights the importance (2) ____ reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its aim is to focus (3) ____ how important reading, writing and numeracy are to individuals, as well as to societies and (4) ____. On this day, UNESCO reminds the world of the status of literacy and provides statistics for literacy rates for (5) ____ country. Literacy is a key sign of how developed a society is. The concept has developed a lot over the (6) ____ few decades. It now includes the ability to be able to use computers and other kinds of information technology.

Around 780 million adults in the world today (7) ____ basic literacy skills. One in five adults is illiterate, and two-thirds of (8) ____ are women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west Asia, followed by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there is a (9) ____ relation between illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination against women in countries with low literacy rates. Literacy (10) ____ many aspects of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People who are able to read health warnings are less (11) ____ to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Reading can    (12) ____ lives.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.	(a)	every	(b)	each	(c)	all	(d)	whole
2.	(a)	of	(b)	by	(c)	at	(d)	to
3.	(a)	on	(b)	in	(c)	by	(d)	with
4.	(a)	nationality	(b)	national	(c)	nationalize	(d)	nations
5.	(a)	per	(b)	among	(c)	each	(d)	all
6.	(a)	past	(b)	parsed	(c)	passed	(d)	psst
7.	(a)	lacking	(b)	lack	(c)	lack of	(d)	lacks
8.	(a)	them	(b)	they	(c)	these	(d)	us
9.	(a)	clearly	(b)	cleared	(c)	clears	(d)	clear
10.	(a)	effects	(b)	affords	(c)	affronts	(d)	affects
11.	(a)	liked	(b)	likely	(c)	likes	(d)	likelihood
12.	(a)	saving	(b)	save	(c)	savings	(d)	savior

SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	all uadrno the world.
2.	writing and ncuryaem
3.	the ttssau of literacy
4.	literacy rsaet
5.	the past few ecasedd
6.	information nhgeooctly
Paragraph 2
7.	lack caisb literacy skills
8.	two-dtsrih of these are women
9.	ewfldloo by sub-Saharan Africa
10.	discrimination siaagnt women
11.	Literacy affects many astpcse of a society
12.	less likely to catch rlklei diseases

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )	use computers and other kinds of information technology.
(    )	likely to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Reading can save lives.
(    )	rates for each country. Literacy is a key sign of how developed a society is. The concept has
(    )	rates. Literacy affects many aspects of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for
(    )	is to focus on how important reading, writing and numeracy are to individuals, as well
(    )	as to societies and nations. On this day, UNESCO reminds the world of the status of literacy and provides statistics for literacy
(    )	illiterate, and two-thirds of these are women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west
(    )	importance of reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its aim
(    )	Asia, followed by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there is a clear relation between
(    )	illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination against women in countries with low literacy
(    )	developed a lot over the past few decades. It now includes the ability to be able to
(    )	International Literacy Day was “Literacy and Health”. People who are able to read health warnings are less
(  1  )	September 8 is a very important day all around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it highlights the
(    )	Around 780 million adults in the world today lack basic literacy skills. One in five adults is

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.	day     all     A     around     very     the     important     world.
2.	the     of     highlights     importance     reading     It.
3.	literacy     for     Statistics     country     each     for     rates.
4.	lot     decades     over     the     Developed     past     a     few.
5.	technology     information     of     kinds     other     and     Computers.
6.	One     five     is     in     adults     illiterate.
7.	A    and    clear    severe    relation    poverty    between    illiteracy.
8.	There     more     against     is     discrimination     women.
9.	many     affects     Literacy     society     a     of     aspects.
10.	diseases     Less     to     killer     likely     catch.

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

THE INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY SURVEY

Write five questions about International Literacy Day in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.  Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about International Literacy Day for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about International Literacy Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about International Literacy Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. POSTER: Make your own poster about International Literacy Day. Write about will happen on this day around the world.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.