News-based English language activities from the global newspaper Page 1

July 2010
Level ≥ Advanced
Style ≥ Individual or group activities
Welcome to the Guardian Weekly’s special news-based materials to support learners and teachers of
English. Each month, the Guardian Weekly newspaper selects topical news articles that can be used to
practise English language skills. The materials are graded for two levels: Advanced and Lower Intermediate.
These worksheets can be downloaded free from guardian.co.uk/weekly/. You can also find more advice
for teachers and learners from the Guardian Weekly’s Learning English section on the site.
Materials prepared by Janet Hardy-Gould

Israeli and Palestinian youth to talk peace on reality TV

Conflict ... Israelis call for an end to fighting David Silverman/Getty Images

Before reading a
b
ratings
scenario
e
f
standard TV formula
live broadcast
1 The article is about a reality TV show. Read these c participant g footage
questions and make notes. Then discuss your ideas d trash TV
in small groups.
a What is a reality TV show? Why are these shows 1 poor quality television
sometimes popular? 2 a set of figures that show how many people watched
b Which reality TV shows have attracted a lot of viewers? a TV programme
c Which shows have been worth watching? Why? 3 part of a film showing a particular event
4 a TV programme where viewers watch events at the
2 TV vocabulary from the article. Match these nouns same time that they happen
to the definitions below. 5 a person who takes part in something such as a
≥2
News-based English language activities from the global newspaper
reality TV show
6 a written outline of what happens in a film or TV
programme
7 the format for a typical programme
3 Look at the headline, photo and caption of the
article. Use your own words to complete the
sentences.
a The participants in the new reality TV show will be
young …
b The participants will discuss …
c The photo shows people who want to …
Article
Israeli and Palestinian youth to
talk peace on reality TV
1 Most reality television shows keep their
aspirations modest: good ratings, plenty of
gossip and at least one participant who makes
their way on to the front pages.
2 A French programme debuting this autumn,
however, is aiming rather higher. Its mission – for
12 teenagers who choose to accept it – is nothing
less than a road map to peace in the Middle East.
3 Les Accords de Marseille, which is expected to
be broadcast on the public channel France5 in
September, will bring together a dozen 18-year-
olds – six from Israel, six from the Palestinian
territories – and make them cohabit as they hold
negotiations aimed at establishing a peace deal.
4 While the show’s creators admit such an aim
is more of a symbol than a realistic target, they
Page 2
July 2010
insist the most important part of the programme
will be the process the participants will undergo
in carrying out the talks.
5 French director Mohamed Ulad, who has
co-written the scenario with Franco-Israeli
philosopher Sophie Nordmann, has rejected the
idea that the programme could be provocative.
With the biggest populations of Jews and
Muslims of any western European country,
France often experiences violence related to
developments in the Middle East.
6 “We are not going to make trash TV ... We will
try to take part in discussions between young
people, Israelis and Palestinians, who will be
socialising for the first time,” he said, adding:
“These young people born in the hope of peace
[in 1991, year of the Madrid conference] have
known only conflict.”
7 For the three weeks of filming, the 12 participants
will be living together in a house near Marseille.
In order to distance the programme from the
standard reality TV formula, Ulad has insisted
there be no filming in bedrooms, no live
broadcasts and no 24/7 camera footage.
8 He chose to film the show in France, he said,
because it would provide the young people
with a “relatively isolated and sheltered”
environment in which to discuss controversial
issues. Among topics to be debated are the status
of Jerusalem and the Palestinian right of return.
9 “This kind of project ... would be impossible to
do [in the Middle East], where everyone is stuck
in their own convictions, cliches and milieu,” he
told La Provence newspaper.
Lizzy Davies Paris
Go to page 3 for article glossary
≥3
News-based English language activities from the global newspaper Page 3

July 2010

3 Discussion. Put agree (A) or disagree (D) next to the

sentences below. Discuss your ideas with a partner.
Glossary a The show will be an interesting way of tackling a
difficult long-term problem.
aspiration (noun) a strong desire to have or to do
b It’s wrong to discuss such serious issues in a
something
reality TV format.
undergo (verb) to experience something; especially a
c The creators of the show seem to have sincere
change
and honest intentions.
provocative (adjective) intended to make people argue
d The programme might create more problems
about something or make them upset
than it solves.
cliche (noun) a phrase or idea that has been used
so often that it no longer has much meaning or is
interesting After reading
1 Word building
Use the words in brackets to create new words to
While reading complete this summary. Look back at the text to
check your answers.
1 Read the article and take notes about the new show.
A French TV channel will broadcast a
Use the categories below.
Name of show: (a) (controversy) new
Number/age/ nationality of participants: reality show in September. The
Show’s key activity and main aim: (b) (direct) of the
Date/channel when show to be broadcast: programme, Mohamed Ulad, will bring together young
Names of writers: Palestinians and Israelis to hold peace
Location/length of filming: (c) (negotiate) in a house
Differences between show and usual reality TV: near Marseille.
Ulad wanted to film the show in France because it
Work as a class. Use notes to describe the would give a (d) (relative)
programme in your own words. sheltered environment for the young
2 Read the article again. In which paragraph can you (e) (participate). The topic
find the following information? Write the paragraph is also important in the country because it has the
numbers. largest (f) (populate) of
a The reasons why the show might be provocative Jews and Muslims in Europe and there is sometimes
in France. (g) (violent) after
b The assertion that the show will be a quality
particular (h) (develop) in
programme.
the Middle East.
c The ambitious aim of the new show.
d The reasons why the programme will be made in The two (i) (create) of the
Europe. new show admit that the
e Information about the background and age of the (j) (discuss) between the
participants. two groups will be mostly symbolic but they hope that
f The things that a reality TV show usually hopes the process will prove valuable.
to achieve.
g The explanation why the show won’t be made in
the Middle East.
h The fact that the act of talking will be the most
significant part.
i The reason why the participants will not be
continuously filmed. ≥4
News-based English language activities from the global newspaper Page 4

July 2010

2 What do the following words and phrases from the

article mean? Paragraph numbers are in brackets. Activity – devising a reality
a … at least one participant who makes their way on to TV show
the front pages. (1)
You work for a TV production company and you
have plans for a new reality TV show. Work in small
groups and follow the steps below.
a Decide and make notes about the features of your
b … a French programme debuting this autumn … (2) show:
main theme (e.g. jungle survival)
location
length in days or weeks
number and age of participants
c … and make them co-habit as they hold negotiations tasks and activities to be done by participants
… (3) how the show will begin and end
target audience

b Present your ideas to the class. Allow for a short

question and answer session at the end of your
d … the process the participants will undergo in presentation.
carrying out the talks. (4)
c Decide as a class which idea would make the most
successful show.

e ... In order to distance the programme from the

standard reality TV formula … (7)

Location/length: house near Marseille, three weeks

Answers Differences: no filming in bedrooms, not live, no 24/7 footage
2a5b6c2d8e3f1g9h4i7
Before reading
1 a A reality TV show is a programme that presents real people in a live, though After reading
often deliberately manufactured, situation and monitors their behaviour. 1 a controversial b director c negotiations d relatively e participants f population g
[Students’ own answers.] violence h developments i creators j discussions
2a2b6c5d1e7f4g3 2 a gets onto the newspaper front pages
3 Possible answers: a Israelis and Palestinians. b appear for the first time
b peace in the Middle East. c to live together with another person
c stop the cycle of violence / fighting in the Middle East. d to do and complete a task
e to show that you are not connected with something
While reading
1 Name: Les Accords De Marseille
Number/age/nationality: 12 18-year-old Israelis and Palestinians
Show’s key activity/aim: discussion, to find a road map to peace
Date/channel: September, France5
Names of writers: Mohamed Ulad and Sophie Nordmann