Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

English Newsroom

Learn English through news articles - complete lesson plans, including articles, listening, classroom activities, quiz questions and more!

Pope Francis Backs Free Coding Education for Children

Try this article at a different level?

In today's world, knowing how to code is really important, especially since jobs in technology are expected to grow quickly. But there aren't enough people with tech skills, which means lots of jobs might go unfilled by 2030. This is a big problem, especially for countries with lots of Catholic people and not a lot of money.

Mironiuk, who is 33 years old and from Poland, wants to help his country's tech industry grow. He also wants to make sure that kids in less wealthy countries have the chance to learn how to code. The "Code with Pope" program will be available in different languages and will reach kids in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

This isn't the first time Pope Francis has shown interest in getting kids into coding. In 2019, he helped write a line of code for a UN project. Mironiuk will meet the Pope at the Vatican and hopes that the Pope's support will get more kids involved in the program. While the Pope might not become a coding expert, he will likely get a certificate for supporting the initiative.

Original news source: Pope Francis encourages more children to code, especially in Catholic countries (BBC)

πŸ“– Vocabulary:

1. project
2. code
3. entrepreneur
4. Python
5. technology
6. industry
7. Vatican
8. certificate

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students will work individually to summarize the article in their own words, focusing on the who, what, where, when, why, and how. They will then share their summaries in small groups, discussing any differences in what they thought was most important.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., coding, technology, initiative, entrepreneur, Python). Divide the class into two teams. Members take turns drawing the words on the board without speaking or writing letters, while their team guesses the word. Set a time limit for each turn to keep the game moving quickly.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a set of statements based on the article, such as "Coding is an essential skill for future jobs" or "Projects like 'Code with Pope' can significantly reduce the global digital divide." Students will walk around the classroom and poll their classmates on whether they agree or disagree with each statement, then discuss the results as a class.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have students work in pairs to discuss and write down predictions about the impact of the "Code with Pope" project on the global tech industry and education. They should consider the long-term effects and how it might influence the job market and tech skills gap. Pairs will then share their predictions with the class.
– Mind Map
Instructions: In small groups, students will create a mind map on a large piece of paper, starting with the "Code with Pope" project at the center. They will branch out to include related ideas, consequences, challenges, and benefits mentioned in the article. After completing the mind maps, each group will present theirs to the class and explain their thought process.

πŸ€” Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the new project that Pope Francis is supporting?

2. Who is leading the "Code with Pope" project and what is his background?

3. What age group is the "Code with Pope" project designed for?

4. What coding language will the kids learn in the "Code with Pope" program?

5. How many hours of coding instruction are provided in the "Code with Pope" course?

6. Why is it important for kids to learn how to code, according to the article?

7. In which regions of the world will the "Code with Pope" program be available?

8. What previous experience does Pope Francis have with supporting coding for kids?

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Pope Francis is backing a new called "Code with Pope," which aims to teach kids aged 11-15 how to code. The project is led by a tech named Mironiuk and offers free online classes in Europe, Africa, and Latin America. The goal is to teach kids the basics of Python, a popular coding language, in 60 hours. In today's , how to code is really important, especially since jobs in technology are expected to grow quickly. But there aren't enough people with tech skills, which lots of jobs might go unfilled by 2030. This is a big problem, especially for countries with lots of people and not a lot of money. Mironiuk, who is 33 years old and from Poland, wants to help his country's tech industry grow. He also wants to make sure that kids in less wealthy countries have the chance to how to code. The "Code with Pope" program will be in different languages and will reach kids in South , , and Southeast Asia. This isn't the first time Pope Francis has shown in kids into coding. In 2019, he helped write a line of code for a UN project. Mironiuk will meet the Pope at the Vatican and hopes that the Pope's will get more kids involved in the program. While the Pope might not become a coding , he will likely get a certificate for supporting the initiative.

πŸ’¬ Discussion Questions:

1. What is coding and why do you think it's important to learn it?
2. How would you feel if you had the opportunity to learn coding for free?
3. Do you like the idea of religious leaders like the Pope getting involved in technology education? Why or why not?
4. Do you think learning to code is as important as learning another language? Why?
5. What are some jobs that you know of which require coding skills?
6. If you had the chance to learn Python, the coding language mentioned in the article, would you take it? Why or why not?
7. How do you think knowing how to code can help people in less wealthy countries?
8. What do you think about kids your age (11-15) learning to code? Is it too young, just right, or too late?
9. Do you think programs like "Code with Pope" can really make a difference in the tech skills gap by 2030? Why?
10. If you were to create an online class, what subject would you want to teach and why?
11. Have you ever tried coding before? If yes, what was your experience like? If no, would you like to try?
12. Why do you think the Pope is interested in supporting a coding program?
13. Can you think of any other ways to encourage kids to learn technical skills?
14. How important do you think it is for educational programs to be available in multiple languages?
15. Do you think it's a good idea for celebrities or well-known figures to endorse educational projects? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

πŸ“–πŸ’­ Vocabulary Meanings:

Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.

Words

1. project
2. code
3. entrepreneur
4. Python
5. technology
6. industry
7. Vatican
8. certificate

Meanings

(A) A document that proves something has been achieved
(B) A type of computer programming language
(C) The use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
(D) A person who starts a business
(E) Instructions for a computer
(F) A plan or scheme
(G) The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church
(H) All the businesses involved in a particular type of product

πŸ”‘ Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is leading the "Code with Pope" project?
(a) Pope Francis
(b) Miron Mironiuk
(c) Bill Gates
(d) Mark Zuckerberg
2. What age group is the "Code with Pope" project aimed at?
(a) 16-20
(b) 6-10
(c) 11-15
(d) 21-25
3. Which coding language is the project aiming to teach kids?
(a) Python
(b) Java
(c) C++
(d) HTML
4. In which regions will the "Code with Pope" project offer free online coding classes?
(a) North America, Asia, and Australia
(b) Europe, Africa, and Latin America
(c) Europe, Asia, and Africa
(d) South America, North America, and Europe
5. Why is knowing how to code important in today's world?
(a) It's a fun hobby
(b) It's not important at all
(c) Jobs in technology are expected to grow quickly
(d) It's only important for rich countries
6. What is Miron Mironiuk's goal for the "Code with Pope" project?
(a) Help his country's tech industry grow
(b) Make a lot of money
(c) Teach kids how to cook
(d) Become famous
7. In which year did Pope Francis help write a line of code for a UN project?
(a) 2018
(b) 2020
(c) 2017
(d) 2019
8. What does Mironiuk hope to achieve by meeting the Pope at the Vatican?
(a) Teach the Pope how to code
(b) Receive an award
(c) None of the above
(d) Get more kids involved in the program

πŸ•΅οΈ True or False Questions:

In 2019, Pope Francis refused to help write a line of code for a UN project.
The goal of the project is to teach kids the basics of Python, a popular coding language, in 60 hours.
Pope Francis is opposing a project called "Code with Pope" to teach kids aged 11-15 how to code.
Miron Mironiuk will meet the Pope at the Vatican and hopes that the Pope's support will get more kids involved in the program.
The project is led by a tech entrepreneur named Miron Mironiuk and offers free online coding classes in Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
Miron Mironiuk, who is 33 years old and from Poland, wants to hinder his country's tech industry growth and ensure kids in less wealthy countries do not have the chance to learn how to code.
Jobs in technology are expected to decline quickly, and there are enough people with tech skills.
The "Code with Pope" program will be available in different languages and will reach kids in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

πŸ“ Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

1. What is the name of the new project that Pope Francis is supporting, and what is its main goal?
2. Who is leading the "Code with Pope" project and what is his nationality?
3. Why is learning to code considered really important in today's job market?
4. How many hours of coding instruction does the project aim to provide to the kids?
5. What action did Pope Francis take in 2019 that shows his interest in coding for kids?

How about these other Level 3 articles?

AI Named Collins Dictionary Word of the Year 2023

Collins Dictionary has named “AI” as the word of the year for 2023, reflecting the widespread conversations and debates surrounding artificial intelligence and its potential impact on society.

Online
Class
Writing
Coach
β˜• 컀피 3μž” &
무료 ν”Όλ“œλ°±! πŸŽ“
β˜• 컀피 3μž” & 무료 ν”Όλ“œλ°±! πŸŽ“

X

[100% 온라인] λž­μ»€μŠ€ν„° λŒ€ν•™κ΅ μ˜μ–΄ 연ꡬ μ°Έμ—¬μž λͺ¨μ§‘
λ³„λ„μ˜ μ°Έκ°€λΉ„ 없이 영ꡭ λŒ€ν•™ 연ꡬ에 도움도 μ£Όμ‹œκ³ , 무료 μ˜μ–΄ μ‹€μ „ μ—°μŠ΅κ³Ό ν”Όλ“œλ°±λ„ λ°›μ•„λ³΄μ„Έμš”!

영ꡭ λž­μ»€μŠ€ν„° λŒ€ν•™κ΅(Lancaster University)μ—μ„œ ν•œκ΅­μΈ μ˜μ–΄ ν•™μŠ΅μžλΆ„λ“€μ„ λŒ€μƒμœΌλ‘œ μƒˆλ‘œμš΄ 연ꡬ ν”„λ‘œμ νŠΈλ₯Ό μ§„ν–‰ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€. μ „ κ³Όμ • 온라인으둜 μ§„ν–‰λ˜μ–΄ μ–΄λ””μ„œλ“  νŽΈν•˜κ²Œ μ°Έμ—¬ν•˜μ‹€ 수 μžˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. μ—¬λŸ¬λΆ„μ˜ μ†Œμ€‘ν•œ μ°Έμ—¬λ‘œ ν•œκ΅­μΈμ˜ μ˜μ–΄ μ‚¬μš© 방식을 μ•Œμ•„λ³΄λŠ” ν₯미둜운 연ꡬ가 μ™„μ„±λ©λ‹ˆλ‹€.

🎁 μ°Έμ—¬ ν˜œνƒ:
– 원어민 μ—°κ΅¬μ›κ³Όμ˜ 1:1 νšŒν™” μ—°μŠ΅
– μ‹€μ „ μ˜μž‘ μ—°μŠ΅ & λ§žμΆ€ν˜• μ˜μ–΄ ν”Όλ“œλ°± 리포트
– 컀피 κΈ°ν”„ν‹°μ½˜ 총 3μž” μ„ λ¬Ό! (첫 μ„Έμ…˜ ν›„ 1μž”, λ§ˆμ§€λ§‰ μ„Έμ…˜ μ™„λ£Œ ν›„ 2μž” 더 λ“œλ €μš”! β˜•β˜•)

πŸ“… μ°Έμ—¬ 방식: 총 2회의 온라인 μ„Έμ…˜ (Zoom 등을 이용, 각 μ„Έμ…˜λ‹Ή μ•½ 60~80λΆ„ μ†Œμš”) λ§ν•˜κΈ°μ™€ μ“°κΈ° ν™œλ™μ΄ μ„žμ—¬ μžˆμ–΄ λΆ€λ‹΄ 없이 즐겁게 μ°Έμ—¬ν•˜μ‹€ 수 μžˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€.

βœ… λŒ€μƒ: μ˜μ–΄ μ‹€λ ₯에 상관없이 μ°Έμ—¬λ₯Ό ν¬λ§ν•˜λŠ” 18μ„Έ 이상 ν•œκ΅­μΈ λˆ„κ΅¬λ‚˜

Feedback