In a subsequent class we listened to Bill Moyers Journal on subject of the Alternative Press. He interviewed the journalists from “Democracy Now” and salon.com.

This was a very challenging listening for the students BUT I played only the first 7 minutes of the interview. Then I allowed them to read the interactive transcript provided by the program. We listened again and discussed the answers to my comprehension questions in groups. 

Here are the exercises I used.

The students really got into the discussion.

One student said he thought journalists were killed in some countries (including his own) because they told lies. Another student asked him why anyone would kill reporters because they told lies. It seemed more likely that they were telling a truth that powerful people didn’t want to hear.

Lots of silence after that exchange.

Some students defended censorship on the internet “because young people can be influenced to do bad things.” The idea of being able to “make up your own mind” and having access to information was discussed –“the right to know.” In a dictatorship, it doesn’t matter whether the average citizen is well-informed. In fact, it’s better for government control if they are not.

These discussions have been great for getting students to really engage with the language and use new words and expressions. What lessons have you created that got students’ interest?