People in a big city in India are not happy because they want signs to be in their language, Kannada. Some people took down signs that were in English. They say that signs should have more Kannada words because that’s the language they speak there. Some people who help make rules agree with them. But this is not just happening in this city; it happens in other places in India too because many different languages are spoken there.

The people who want more Kannada signs say that their language is very important. They are worried because many people from other places are coming to their city. They think that soon there will be more people who speak other languages than people who speak Kannada. But a group of people who work with businesses say that changing the signs to Kannada won’t change how good the city is at work. They want businesses to use more Kannada on their signs and say they should do it soon.

Original news source: Bengaluru: Why English is dividing people in India’s Silicon Valley (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a set of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. signs, language, Kannada, English, city). One person from each team will act out a word without speaking, while their team tries to guess what word they are acting out. The team that guesses correctly earns a point. Repeat with different players and words.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and a pen. Choose a vocabulary word from the article and write it on the board. Students must draw a picture of the word without writing any letters or numbers. The rest of the class must guess what word they are drawing. The student who guesses correctly earns a point. Repeat with different words and students.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a copy of the article. One person in each pair will have 30 seconds to summarize the article to their partner, using their own words. After 30 seconds, the roles switch and the other person summarizes. Encourage students to use the vocabulary words from the article. After both students have had a turn, ask them to share what they remember from their partner’s summary.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the class to think about their opinion on the issue discussed in the article: whether signs in the city should be in Kannada or English. Give them a few minutes to think. Then, ask them to pair up with a partner and share their opinions. After they have had a chance to discuss, invite a few pairs to share their opinions with the whole class. Encourage students to use the vocabulary words from the article in their discussions.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Have each student write down two true statements and one false statement related to the article. For example, “Kannada is the only language spoken in the city,” “People are happy with the current signs,” “Businesses should use more Kannada on their signs.” In pairs or small groups, students take turns reading their statements and the others have to guess which one is the lie. This activity encourages students to use the vocabulary words from the article while practicing speaking and listening skills.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why are some people in the big city in India not happy?
2. What language do the people in the city want the signs to be in?
3. Why did some people take down signs that were in English?
4. Why do the people want more Kannada signs?
5. Why are the people worried about people from other places coming to their city?
6. What do the people who work with businesses say about changing the signs to Kannada?
7. What do the businesses need to do with their signs, according to the group of people who work with businesses?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

People in a big city in India are not happy because they want signs to be in their language, (1)______. Some people took down signs that were in (2)______. They say that signs should have more Kannada words because that’s the language they speak there. Some people who help (3)______ rules agree with them. But this is not just happening in this city; it happens in other (4)______ in India too because many different languages are spoken there.

The people who want more Kannada signs say that their language is very (5)______. They are worried because many people from other places are (6)______ to their city. They think that soon there will be more people who speak other languages than people who speak Kannada. But a group of people who work with businesses say that changing the signs to Kannada won’t change how (7)______ the city is at work. They (8)______ businesses to use more Kannada on their signs and say they should do it soon.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a language?
2. How would you feel if signs in your city were in a language you didn’t understand?
3. Do you like it when signs have words in your language? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about people taking down signs in English?
5. Do you think signs should have more words in Kannada? Why or why not?
6. How do you think the people who want more Kannada signs feel?
7. Why do you think some people are worried about more people speaking other languages in their city?
8. What do you think about businesses using more Kannada on their signs?
9. How do you think the city will be different if signs are changed to Kannada?
10. What would you do if you wanted more signs in your language in your city?
11. Do you think it’s important to have signs in different languages? Why or why not?
12. How do you think the people who speak Kannada feel when they see signs in their language?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. difficult
2. language
3. signs
4. businesses
5. rules
6. important
7. worried
8. changing
9. agree
10. soon

Meanings:
(A) When people think the same thing is a good idea
(B) Feeling scared or nervous about something that might happen
(C) Hard to do or understand
(D) Making something different than it was before
(E) Something that really matters a lot
(F) Places where people work to make or sell things
(G) Not a long time from now
(H) The words we use to talk or write
(I) Instructions that tell you what you can or can’t do
(J) Pictures or words that tell you something, like a stop sign
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are some people in the big city in India unhappy?
(a) They want signs in English.
(b) They want signs in German.
(c) They want signs in their language.
(d) They want signs in Spanish.

2. Which language do the people in the city want to see more of on signs?
(a) Kannada
(b) English
(c) French
(d) Mandarin

3. Why are some people worried about the number of people who speak Kannada?
(a) They think there will be more people who speak other languages.
(b) They think there will be more people who speak English.
(c) They think there will be more people who speak French.
(d) They think there will be more people who speak Spanish.

4. What do the people who work with businesses want?
(a) More English on signs.
(b) More Kannada on signs.
(c) More German on signs.
(d) More Spanish on signs.

5. What do the people who want more Kannada signs say about their language?
(a) It is not important.
(b) It is not spoken in the city.
(c) It is spoken by everyone in the city.
(d) It is very important.

6. Why do some people think changing the signs to Kannada won’t affect the city’s work?
(a) They think the city is bad at work.
(b) They think the city is already good at work.
(c) They think the city doesn’t have any work.
(d) They think the city only has work in English.

7. Where else in India does this language issue happen?
(a) Only in this city.
(b) In big cities.
(c) In small towns.
(d) In other places.

8. What do some people do to signs that are in English?
(a) Leave them alone.
(b) Paint them a different color.
(c) Take them down.
(d) Put up more signs in English.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. They took down signs that were in English because they want more Kannada words.
2. Some people who make rules agree with them.
3. They think there will soon be more people who speak other languages than people who speak Kannada.
4. The people who want more Kannada signs think their language is very important.
5. People in a big city in India do not want signs to be in their language, Kannada.
6. This is not happening in other places in India too because only one language is spoken there.
7. They are relieved because many people from other places are coming to their city.
8. Some people who work with businesses do not want signs to use more Kannada and say they should not do it soon.
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 are some people in a big city in India not happy?
2. What language do the people in the city want the signs to be in?
3. Why do some people think signs should have more Kannada words?
4. Why are the people worried about many people from other places coming to their city?
5. What do some people who work with businesses want the businesses to do with their signs?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why are some people in the big city in India not happy?
Some people in the big city in India are not happy because they want signs to be in their language, Kannada.

2. What language do the people in the city want the signs to be in?
The people in the city want the signs to be in Kannada.

3. Why did some people take down signs that were in English?
Some people took down signs that were in English because they believe signs should have more Kannada words.

4. Why do the people want more Kannada signs?
The people want more Kannada signs because Kannada is the language they speak in their city.

5. Why are the people worried about people from other places coming to their city?
The people are worried because they think there will be more people who speak other languages than people who speak Kannada.

6. What do the people who work with businesses say about changing the signs to Kannada?
The people who work with businesses say that changing the signs to Kannada won’t change how good the city is at work.

7. What do the businesses need to do with their signs, according to the group of people who work with businesses?
According to the group of people who work with businesses, the businesses need to use more Kannada on their signs and they should do it soon.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Kannada
(2) English
(3) make
(4) places
(5) important
(6) coming
(7) good
(8) want
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. difficult
Answer: (C) Hard to do or understand

2. language
Answer: (H) The words we use to talk or write

3. signs
Answer: (J) Pictures or words that tell you something, like a stop sign

4. businesses
Answer: (F) Places where people work to make or sell things

5. rules
Answer: (I) Instructions that tell you what you can or can’t do

6. important
Answer: (E) Something that really matters a lot

7. worried
Answer: (B) Feeling scared or nervous about something that might happen

8. changing
Answer: (D) Making something different than it was before

9. agree
Answer: (A) When people think the same thing is a good idea

10. soon
Answer: (G) Not a long time from now
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are some people in the big city in India unhappy?
Answer: (c) They want signs in their language.

2. Which language do the people in the city want to see more of on signs?
Answer: (a) Kannada

3. Why are some people worried about the number of people who speak Kannada?
Answer: (a) They think there will be more people who speak other languages.

4. What do the people who work with businesses want?
Answer: (b) More Kannada on signs.

5. What do the people who want more Kannada signs say about their language?
Answer: (d) It is very important.

6. Why do some people think changing the signs to Kannada won’t affect the city’s work?
Answer: (b) They think the city is already good at work.

7. Where else in India does this language issue happen?
Answer: (d) In other places.

8. What do some people do to signs that are in English?
Answer: (c) Take them down.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. They took down signs that were in English because they want more Kannada words. (Answer: True)
2. Some people who make rules agree with them. (Answer: True)
3. They think there will soon be more people who speak other languages than people who speak Kannada. (Answer: True)
4. The people who want more Kannada signs think their language is very important. (Answer: True)
5. People in a big city in India do not want signs to be in their language, Kannada. (Answer: False)
6. This is not happening in other places in India too because only one language is spoken there. (Answer: False)
7. They are relieved because many people from other places are coming to their city. (Answer: False)
8. Some people who work with businesses do not want signs to use more Kannada and say they should not do it soon. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧