A man named George Weah, who used to be really good at soccer, did something nice after he lost an election to be the leader of his country, Liberia. He called the person who won, Joseph Boakai, to say congratulations. People think this is a big deal because it doesn’t happen a lot in Africa. Everyone, from people in Liberia to people in other countries, thinks George Weah did a good thing for peace.

Liberia, where George Weah lives, has had some very bad fights in the past that hurt a lot of people. George Weah could have been upset about losing, but instead, he thought about what was best for everyone in Liberia. People who care about peace and fair rules for countries are really happy with what he did. They say he is a good example because he cares more about everyone being safe and happy than just winning for himself.

Even though George Weah was not the first to do something like this in Africa, it is still a big deal. A man named Goodluck Jonathan did the same thing when he lost an election in Nigeria in 2015. But what George Weah did is still important because it helps other countries see that following the rules and being peaceful is good. People now see George Weah as a sign of hope for Liberia and the whole continent of Africa.

Original news source: Liberian leader George Weah hailed for his sportsmanship after accepting defeat (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students will work in pairs to summarize the article in their own words, focusing on the key points. They should try to do this in under two minutes. Encourage them to use new vocabulary they’ve learned, and after they finish, they can share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements about the article, such as “It’s important for leaders to show good sportsmanship” or “Peaceful transitions of power are essential for a country’s stability.” Students will walk around the classroom and ask their classmates whether they agree or disagree with each statement, tallying up the responses. Afterwards, discuss the results as a class.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Ask students to write their own newspaper headline for the article. Encourage them to make it catchy and concise, capturing the essence of the story. Share the headlines with the class and discuss which ones are the most effective and why.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students discuss in small groups what they think might happen in Liberia in the future because of George Weah’s action. Encourage them to use future tenses (will, is going to, might) and to think about the potential impact on peace and democracy in Liberia and Africa as a whole. Each group can then share their predictions with the class.

– Pass the Story
Instructions: Start a story based on the article with one sentence, for example, “Once there was a famous soccer player named George Weah who became a symbol of hope in Africa.” Pass the story to a student who adds the next sentence. Continue passing the story around the classroom, with each student adding a sentence. This activity will help students practice their speaking skills and encourage them to use their imagination while reinforcing the content of the article.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What did George Weah do after he lost the election in Liberia?
2. Who won the election that George Weah lost?
3. Why do people think George Weah’s action is a big deal?
4. What has happened in Liberia in the past that made George Weah’s action important?
5. How do people feel about what George Weah did?
6. Was George Weah the first person in Africa to do something like this?
7. What do people now think of George Weah after he congratulated the winner?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A man named George Weah, who used to be really good at soccer, did something nice after he lost an election to be the leader of his country, Liberia. He called the person who won, (1)______ Boakai, to say congratulations. People (2)______ this is a big deal because it doesn’t happen a lot in (3)______. Everyone, from people in Liberia to people in (4)______ countries, thinks (5)______ Weah did a good thing for peace.

Liberia, where George Weah lives, has had some very bad fights in the past that hurt a lot of people. George Weah could have been upset about losing, but instead, he (6)______ about what was best for everyone in Liberia. People who care about (7)______ and fair rules for countries are really happy with what he did. They say he is a good example because he cares (8)______ about everyone being (9)______ and happy than just winning for himself.

Even though George Weah was not the first to do something like this in Africa, it is still a big deal. A man named (10)______ Jonathan did the same thing when he lost an election in Nigeria in 2015. But what George Weah did is still important because it helps other (11)______ see that following the rules and being peaceful is good. People now see George Weah as a sign of hope for Liberia and the (12)______ continent of Africa.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a good sport? Can you be a good sport when you play games?
2. How would you feel if you lost a game or competition?
3. Do you like to say “congratulations” to friends when they win something? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important to be nice to others even when you are sad or disappointed?
5. Have you ever seen someone act really nicely after losing? What did they do?
6. Why do you think people are saying George Weah did a good thing?
7. What is peace? Why is it important?
8. Do you think being peaceful is easy or hard when people are fighting?
9. What does it mean to care about others more than winning?
10. Can you think of a time when you did something good for everyone, not just for yourself?
11. Do you think what George Weah did will help other people be better losers? Why?
12. What is hope? Why do you think George Weah is a sign of hope for his country?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. George Weah
2. soccer
3. election
4. Liberia
5. Africa
6. peace
7. rules
8. hope

Meanings:
(a) When people are not fighting and are happy
(b) When people vote to choose a leader
(c) A big continent where many countries are
(d) A country in Africa where George Weah lives
(e) A game where you kick a ball into a net
(f) A feeling that things will get better in the future
(g) Things that tell you what you can and can’t do
(h) A man who used to be really good at a sport with a ball
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is George Weah?
(a) A former soccer player
(b) The leader of Liberia
(c) The winner of the election in Liberia
(d) A famous singer

2. What did George Weah do after he lost the election?
(a) Got upset and angry
(b) Started a fight with the winner
(c) Called the winner to say congratulations
(d) Left the country

3. Why is it a big deal that George Weah called the winner?
(a) He wanted to show off
(b) He wanted to make the winner feel bad
(c) He didn’t want to be friends with the winner
(d) It doesn’t happen a lot in Africa

4. What do people think about what George Weah did?
(a) It was a bad thing for peace
(b) It didn’t matter
(c) It was a good thing for peace
(d) They don’t know

5. Why is George Weah seen as a good example?
(a) He only cares about winning for himself
(b) He cares about everyone being safe and happy
(c) He doesn’t care about peace
(d) He doesn’t follow the rules

6. Who else did something like what George Weah did in Africa?
(a) Goodluck Jonathan
(b) Joseph Boakai
(c) George Weah’s friend
(d) Nobody

7. Why is what George Weah did important?
(a) It doesn’t matter
(b) It makes people upset
(c) It makes people fight
(d) It helps other countries see that following the rules and being peaceful is good

8. How do people see George Weah now?
(a) As a bad person
(b) As a sign of hope for Liberia and Africa
(c) As a winner
(d) As a famous singer

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. George Weah cares more about everyone being safe and happy than just winning for himself.
2. Another African politician named Goodluck Jonathan did the same thing when he lost an election in Nigeria in 2015.
3. George Weah is seen as a sign of despair for Liberia and the whole continent of Africa.
4. George Weah used to be really mediocre at soccer.
5. Liberia has had peaceful resolutions in the past that helped a lot of people.
6. It is common for politicians in Africa to congratulate their opponents after losing an election.
7. George Weah called the person who won the election to say congratulations.
8. George Weah lost an election to be the leader of Liberia.
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. Who is George Weah and what did he do after he lost an election?
2. Why do people think George Weah’s action is a big deal?
3. What problems has Liberia had in the past?
4. What do people say about George Weah because he congratulated the winner?
5. Has anyone else in Africa done what George Weah did? Who was it and when?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What did George Weah do after he lost the election in Liberia?
George Weah called Joseph Boakai, the person who won the election, to say congratulations.

2. Who won the election that George Weah lost?
Joseph Boakai won the election.

3. Why do people think George Weah’s action is a big deal?
People think it’s a big deal because saying congratulations when you lose doesn’t happen much in Africa, and it’s a nice thing to do.

4. What has happened in Liberia in the past that made George Weah’s action important?
Liberia has had bad fights before that hurt many people, so George Weah being peaceful is important.

5. How do people feel about what George Weah did?
People are happy and think George Weah did a good thing for peace.

6. Was George Weah the first person in Africa to do something like this?
No, he wasn’t the first. Goodluck Jonathan did the same in Nigeria in 2015.

7. What do people now think of George Weah after he congratulated the winner?
People see George Weah as a sign of hope for Liberia and Africa.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Joseph
(2) think
(3) Africa
(4) other
(5) George
(6) thought
(7) peace
(8) more
(9) safe
(10) Goodluck
(11) countries
(12) whole
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. George Weah
Answer: (h) A man who used to be really good at a sport with a ball

2. soccer
Answer: (e) A game where you kick a ball into a net

3. election
Answer: (b) When people vote to choose a leader

4. Liberia
Answer: (d) A country in Africa where George Weah lives

5. Africa
Answer: (c) A big continent where many countries are

6. peace
Answer: (a) When people are not fighting and are happy

7. rules
Answer: (g) Things that tell you what you can and can’t do

8. hope
Answer: (f) A feeling that things will get better in the future
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is George Weah?
Answer: (a) A former soccer player

2. What did George Weah do after he lost the election?
Answer: (c) Called the winner to say congratulations

3. Why is it a big deal that George Weah called the winner?
Answer: (d) It doesn’t happen a lot in Africa

4. What do people think about what George Weah did?
Answer: (c) It was a good thing for peace

5. Why is George Weah seen as a good example?
Answer: (b) He cares about everyone being safe and happy

6. Who else did something like what George Weah did in Africa?
Answer: (a) Goodluck Jonathan

7. Why is what George Weah did important?
Answer: (d) It helps other countries see that following the rules and being peaceful is good

8. How do people see George Weah now?
Answer: (b) As a sign of hope for Liberia and Africa
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. George Weah cares more about everyone being safe and happy than just winning for himself. (Answer: True)
2. Another African politician named Goodluck Jonathan did the same thing when he lost an election in Nigeria in 2015. (Answer: True)
3. George Weah is seen as a sign of despair for Liberia and the whole continent of Africa. (Answer: False)
4. George Weah used to be really mediocre at soccer. (Answer: False)
5. Liberia has had peaceful resolutions in the past that helped a lot of people. (Answer: False)
6. It is common for politicians in Africa to congratulate their opponents after losing an election. (Answer: False)
7. George Weah called the person who won the election to say congratulations. (Answer: True)
8. George Weah lost an election to be the leader of Liberia. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧