A group of people from Syria went for a walk in the woods in Germany. Someone thought they were in Germany without permission and called the police. The leader of the group is a famous reporter, and they all had the right to be in Germany. Now, people are talking about how some people treat others who come from different places.

The person who called the police was worried the group was in Germany the wrong way. This shows that some people in Germany are not sure about people who look or sound different. In the place where this happened, more people are liking a group that does not want people from other countries. This story makes people argue about how Germany should act with new people coming to live there.

This story is important because Germany is trying to figure out how to welcome people who need a safe place to live. It also shows that some people in Germany do not like people who are not from there. This can make it hard for Germany to make friends with other countries and do well in business. People are talking about this because they want to make sure everyone is treated fairly.

Original news source: Germany hiking group reported to police as illegal migrants (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One student plays the role of a reporter, while the other is a witness who saw the group in the woods. The reporter must ask questions to gather information about what happened and why the police were called. Afterward, they should discuss how the situation could have been handled differently. Switch roles after 10 minutes.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write statements on the board related to the article such as “It’s important to welcome people from other countries” or “People should be more suspicious of strangers”. Students move to different areas of the room to show if they agree, disagree, or are undecided. Facilitate a discussion on their opinions, encouraging them to use new vocabulary from the article.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary from the article on slips of paper (e.g., reporter, permission, treat, argue, welcome). Students take turns drawing the words on the board without speaking, while the rest of the class guesses the word. This will reinforce their understanding of the vocabulary in a fun way.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Provide students with a list of key words from the article (e.g., famous, right, treat, argue, important). In pairs or small groups, students come up with synonyms for these words. Then, ask them to use the synonyms in a sentence related to the article’s context to ensure comprehension.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students write a short paragraph predicting what might happen next in the story. They can discuss whether they believe Germany will become more welcoming or if the tensions will increase. Encourage them to use expressions of probability (might, could, probably) and to share their predictions with the class, sparking a conversation about the different possible outcomes.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Where were the people from Syria going for a walk?
2. What did someone think about the group from Syria and what did they do?
3. Who was the leader of the group and did they have permission to be in Germany?
4. What are people discussing after this incident?
5. Why does the story show that some people in Germany might be unsure about others who are different?
6. What is Germany trying to do for people who need a safe place to live?
7. Why is it important for people in Germany to treat everyone fairly?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A group of people from Syria went for a walk in the woods in Germany. Someone thought they were in Germany without permission and called the police. The (1)______ of the group is a (2)______ reporter, and they all had the right to be in Germany. Now, people are (3)______ about how some people treat others who come from different (4)______.

The person who called the police was (5)______ the (6)______ was in Germany the wrong way. This shows that some people in Germany are not sure about people who look or sound different. In the place where this happened, more people are liking a group that does not (7)______ people from other countries. This story (8)______ people argue about how Germany should act with new people coming to live there.

This story is important because Germany is trying to (9)______ out how to welcome people who need a safe place to live. It also shows that some people in (10)______ do not like people who are not from there. This can make it hard for Germany to make friends with other countries and do well in (11)______. People are talking about this because they want to make (12)______ everyone is treated fairly.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a reporter?
2. How would you feel if someone called the police because you were walking in the woods?
3. Do you like going for walks in the woods? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to welcome people from other countries? Why?
5. What does it mean to treat someone fairly?
6. Have you ever met someone from a different country? What was it like?
7. Why do you think some people might not like others who are from different places?
8. How would you make a new friend who comes from another country?
9. Do you think it’s good to have people from many places living in one country? Why or why not?
10. What can we do to help people feel safe when they go to a new place?
11. Do you think it’s okay to call the police if you’re just worried about someone? Why or why not?
12. How do you think a country can do well in business with other countries?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Germany
2. woods
3. permission
4. leader
5. reporter
6. police
7. people
8. countries

Meanings:
(a) The person in charge of a group
(b) The person who makes sure everyone follows the rules
(c) A place with lots of trees and plants
(d) Nations with their own governments
(e) A group of citizens in a nation
(f) A group of trees and plants
(g) A person who tells news stories
(h) The right to do something
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who called the police on the group from Syria?
(a) Someone who thought they were in Germany without permission
(b) The leader of the group
(c) A famous reporter
(d) A member of the group

2. Why did the person call the police?
(a) They wanted to make friends with the group
(b) They were lost in the woods
(c) They wanted to join the group for a walk
(d) They thought the group was in Germany the wrong way

3. What does the story show about some people in Germany?
(a) They are not sure about people who look or sound different
(b) They welcome everyone from other countries
(c) They don’t like anyone from other countries
(d) They don’t care about people from other countries

4. Why is this story important for Germany?
(a) It shows that everyone in Germany is treated fairly
(b) It shows how to welcome people who need a safe place to live
(c) It shows that Germany doesn’t want anyone from other countries
(d) It shows that Germany doesn’t want to make friends with other countries

5. What does the story make people argue about?
(a) What the group from Syria did in the woods
(b) Whether the police should have been called
(c) How Germany should act with new people coming to live there
(d) Whether the group had the right to be in Germany

6. What does the story suggest about Germany and other countries?
(a) Germany doesn’t want to make friends with other countries
(b) It can make it hard for Germany to make friends with other countries
(c) Other countries don’t want to make friends with Germany
(d) Germany is good at making friends with other countries

7. What is the main issue in the story?
(a) How to report news from the woods
(b) How to lead a group in the woods
(c) How to call the police in an emergency
(d) How to treat people who come from different places

8. Why are people talking about this story?
(a) They want to make sure no one from Syria comes to Germany
(b) They want to make friends with the group from Syria
(c) They want to make sure everyone is treated fairly
(d) They want to know what happened in the woods

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The group had no right to be in Germany.
2. Some people in Germany are sure about people who look or sound different.
3. The leader of the group is a famous reporter.
4. A group of people from Syria went for a walk in the woods in Germany.
5. In the place where this happened, fewer people are liking a group that does not want people from other countries.
6. Someone called the police because they thought the group was in Germany without permission.
7. People are talking about this because they want to make sure everyone is treated fairly.
8. This story is unimportant because Germany is not trying to figure out how to welcome people who need a safe place to live.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Where did the group of people from Syria go for a walk?
2. Why did someone call the police on the group?
3. Who was the leader of the group from Syria?
4. What are people in Germany arguing about?
5. Why is this story important for Germany?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Where were the people from Syria going for a walk?
The people from Syria were going for a walk in the woods in Germany.

2. What did someone think about the group from Syria and what did they do?
Someone thought the group was in Germany without permission, so they called the police.

3. Who was the leader of the group and did they have permission to be in Germany?
The leader of the group was a famous reporter, and they all had permission to be in Germany.

4. What are people discussing after this incident?
People are talking about how some people treat others who come from different places.

5. Why does the story show that some people in Germany might be unsure about others who are different?
The story shows that because someone called the police on the group, it means some people might not be sure about people who look or sound different.

6. What is Germany trying to do for people who need a safe place to live?
Germany is trying to figure out how to welcome people who need a safe place to live.

7. Why is it important for people in Germany to treat everyone fairly?
It is important because treating everyone fairly can help Germany make friends with other countries and do well in business. It also makes sure everyone feels safe and respected.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) leader
(2) famous
(3) talking
(4) places
(5) worried
(6) group
(7) want
(8) makes
(9) figure
(10) Germany
(11) business
(12) sure
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Germany
Answer: (c) A place with lots of trees and plants

2. woods
Answer: (a) The person in charge of a group

3. permission
Answer: (h) The right to do something

4. leader
Answer: (g) A person who tells news stories

5. reporter
Answer: (e) A group of citizens in a nation

6. police
Answer: (f) A group of trees and plants

7. people
Answer: (b) The person who makes sure everyone follows the rules

8. countries
Answer: (d) Nations with their own governments
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who called the police on the group from Syria?
Answer: (a) Someone who thought they were in Germany without permission

2. Why did the person call the police?
Answer: (d) They thought the group was in Germany the wrong way

3. What does the story show about some people in Germany?
Answer: (a) They are not sure about people who look or sound different

4. Why is this story important for Germany?
Answer: (b) It shows how to welcome people who need a safe place to live

5. What does the story make people argue about?
Answer: (c) How Germany should act with new people coming to live there

6. What does the story suggest about Germany and other countries?
Answer: (b) It can make it hard for Germany to make friends with other countries

7. What is the main issue in the story?
Answer: (d) How to treat people who come from different places

8. Why are people talking about this story?
Answer: (c) They want to make sure everyone is treated fairly
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The group had no right to be in Germany. (Answer: False)
2. Some people in Germany are sure about people who look or sound different. (Answer: False)
3. The leader of the group is a famous reporter. (Answer: True)
4. A group of people from Syria went for a walk in the woods in Germany. (Answer: True)
5. In the place where this happened, fewer people are liking a group that does not want people from other countries. (Answer: False)
6. Someone called the police because they thought the group was in Germany without permission. (Answer: True)
7. People are talking about this because they want to make sure everyone is treated fairly. (Answer: True)
8. This story is unimportant because Germany is not trying to figure out how to welcome people who need a safe place to live. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧