In India, many people who work at a big company called Samsung are not working right now. They stopped working because they want their bosses to listen to them. They made a group called a union to ask for more money and better work places. They want to talk to their bosses together to make things better. This has been happening for many days now.

The workers want to be paid more money over the next few years. They also say they have to work in places that are not safe. Samsung says they are following all the rules. The workers have help from another big group that supports them. They want to keep not working until their bosses agree to their requests.

Original news source: Why hundreds of Samsung workers are protesting in India (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Select key words or phrases from the article (e.g., Samsung, union, more money, work places, not safe). Write each word/phrase on a piece of paper and have students take turns picking one and acting it out without speaking while the others guess what it is.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Choose 5-10 key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., union, request, support, rules). Write each word on the board and have students take turns drawing the word while the others guess what it is. Encourage them to use their imagination and creativity.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss whether they think the workers at Samsung are right to stop working to ask for more money and better work places. Have them come up with reasons to support their opinions. Then, conduct a poll to see which side is more popular in the class.

– News Reporter Role-play
Instructions: Divide the class into groups of 3-4 students. Assign each group a role: news anchor, reporter, cameraperson. Have them create a short news report about the situation at Samsung based on the article. Encourage them to include key information and present it in a clear and engaging way.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Choose a discussion question related to the article (e.g., “What do you think is the most important demand the workers at Samsung are making?”). Have students think about the question individually, then pair up with a partner to discuss their thoughts. Finally, open up the discussion to the whole class for students to share their ideas.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the big company where the workers are not working right now?
2. Why did the workers stop working at Samsung?
3. What did the workers make together to ask for more money and better work places?
4. What do the workers want from their bosses over the next few years?
5. Why do the workers say they have to work in places that are not safe?
6. Who is helping the workers in their fight for better conditions at work?
7. How long have the workers been not working until their bosses agree to their requests?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In India, (1)______ people who work at a big company called Samsung are not working right now. They stopped working because they want their bosses to (2)______ to them. They made a group called a union to ask for (3)______ money and better (4)______ places. They want to talk to their bosses together to make things better. This has been happening for many days now.

The workers want to be (5)______ more money over the next few years. They also say they have to work in places that are not (6)______. Samsung says they are following all the rules. The workers have help from another big (7)______ that supports them. They (8)______ to keep not working until their bosses agree to their requests.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a big company called Samsung?
2. How would you feel if you had to work in a place that is not safe?
3. Do you think it’s important to talk to your boss if you have a problem at work? Why?
4. What is a union?
5. Do you like it when people listen to you? Why or why not?
6. How would you feel if you had to stop working to ask for more money?
7. Do you think it’s fair for the workers to ask for more money? Why or why not?
8. What do you think the workers want to happen after they talk to their bosses?
9. How would you feel if you had to work for many days without getting paid?
10. Do you think it’s good to have support from a big group when you have a problem? Why?
11. What would you do if you were not happy with your work conditions?
12. How would you feel if you were one of the workers at Samsung right now?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. company
2. union
3. bosses
4. listen
5. group
6. safe
7. rules
8. support
9. agree
10. requests

Meanings:
(A) A team of people who want the same thing
(B) Things you have to follow
(C) A bunch of people together
(D) Things you ask for
(E) Not dangerous
(F) To hear and pay attention
(G) To say yes to something
(H) People who are in charge at work
(I) To help someone
(J) A place where people work together
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did the workers at Samsung stop working?
(a) They want their bosses to listen to them
(b) They want to go on a vacation
(c) They are tired
(d) They want to watch TV

2. What did the workers create to ask for more money and better work places?
(a) A party
(b) A school
(c) A zoo
(d) A union

3. What company do the workers in India work for?
(a) Apple
(b) Microsoft
(c) Samsung
(d) Google

4. What do the workers want from their bosses?
(a) More vacation days
(b) More toys
(c) More money and better work places
(d) More candy

5. What does Samsung say they are doing?
(a) Following all the rules
(b) Breaking the rules
(c) Ignoring the rules
(d) Making new rules

6. How long have the workers been not working?
(a) Many weeks
(b) Many days
(c) Many months
(d) Many years

7. What do the workers want to keep doing until their bosses agree to their requests?
(a) Sleeping
(b) Playing
(c) Eating
(d) Not working

8. Who is helping the workers in their fight for more money and better work places?
(a) Their pets
(b) Another big group
(c) The trees
(d) The stars

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Samsung says they are not following all the rules.
2. They want to talk to their bosses together to make things better.
3. The workers want to be paid more money in the next few years.
4. In India, some people who work at Samsung are not working because they want their bosses to listen to them.
5. They say they have to work in places that are safe.
6. They will keep not working until their bosses agree to their requests.
7. The workers made a group called a union to ask for less money and worse work places.
8. The workers lack help from another big group that supports them.
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. Why did the people at Samsung stop working?
2. What did the workers make to ask for more money and better work places?
3. What do the workers want from their bosses over the next few years?
4. Who is helping the workers with their requests?
5. What will the workers do until their bosses agree to their requests?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the name of the big company where the workers are not working right now?
Samsung

2. Why did the workers stop working at Samsung?
They want their bosses to listen to them and make things better.

3. What did the workers make together to ask for more money and better work places?
They made a group called a union.

4. What do the workers want from their bosses over the next few years?
They want to be paid more money.

5. Why do the workers say they have to work in places that are not safe?
They feel the places they work in are not safe.

6. Who is helping the workers in their fight for better conditions at work?
Another big group is helping them.

7. How long have the workers been not working until their bosses agree to their requests?
Many days
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) many
(2) listen
(3) more
(4) work
(5) paid
(6) safe
(7) group
(8) want
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. company
Answer: (J) A place where people work together

2. union
Answer: (A) A team of people who want the same thing

3. bosses
Answer: (H) People who are in charge at work

4. listen
Answer: (F) To hear and pay attention

5. group
Answer: (C) A bunch of people together

6. safe
Answer: (E) Not dangerous

7. rules
Answer: (B) Things you have to follow

8. support
Answer: (I) To help someone

9. agree
Answer: (G) To say yes to something

10. requests
Answer: (D) Things you ask for
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did the workers at Samsung stop working?
Answer: (a) They want their bosses to listen to them

2. What did the workers create to ask for more money and better work places?
Answer: (d) A union

3. What company do the workers in India work for?
Answer: (c) Samsung

4. What do the workers want from their bosses?
Answer: (c) More money and better work places

5. What does Samsung say they are doing?
Answer: (a) Following all the rules

6. How long have the workers been not working?
Answer: (b) Many days

7. What do the workers want to keep doing until their bosses agree to their requests?
Answer: (d) Not working

8. Who is helping the workers in their fight for more money and better work places?
Answer: (b) Another big group
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Samsung says they are not following all the rules. (Answer: False)
2. They want to talk to their bosses together to make things better. (Answer: True)
3. The workers want to be paid more money in the next few years. (Answer: True)
4. In India, some people who work at Samsung are not working because they want their bosses to listen to them. (Answer: True)
5. They say they have to work in places that are safe. (Answer: False)
6. They will keep not working until their bosses agree to their requests. (Answer: True)
7. The workers made a group called a union to ask for less money and worse work places. (Answer: False)
8. The workers lack help from another big group that supports them. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧