A group of hikers in Germany was reported to the police by someone who thought they might be illegal migrants trying to cross the border from Czechia. Most of the hikers were Syrians living in Germany and were part of a registered German hiking club, so they were in the country legally. The police checked their documents and confirmed that they were not migrants and were in Germany legally.

The incident has caused a strong reaction on social media, with many people showing support for the hikers and criticizing the racist comments that have come up. It shows the growing worries in Germany about how minorities are treated, especially in places where far-right political parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD) are getting more popular.

Saxon Switzerland, where this happened, is known for its beautiful nature and is a popular place for tourists. But it’s also a region where far-right political parties have done well in elections. As Germany gets ready for upcoming regional elections, the topic of migration and the rise of far-right ideas is becoming more and more controversial.

The current political situation in Germany has led to changes in how people talk about and deal with migration, and the government is feeling pressure to tighten border controls. This has raised worries about the impact on international tourism and the country’s economy, especially in places where far-right ideas are strong. The incident with the hikers is a reminder of the complicated and divisive issues around migration and the rise of far-right ideas in Germany, as the country deals with what it means for its society, economy, and politics.

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 Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Assign each group a paragraph from the article and ask them to prepare a brief summary of their assigned section. After 10 minutes, each group will present their summary to the class. Encourage the use of new vocabulary and clear, concise language.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements about the themes in the article, such as “Hiking is a universal activity that should be open to all, regardless of nationality.” Have students move to different areas of the room based on whether they strongly agree, agree, are neutral, disagree, or strongly disagree with each statement. Facilitate a discussion on why they chose their positions and relate it back to the article.

– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Write down keywords from the article on individual slips of paper (e.g., “hikers,” “migration,” “police,” “Syrians,” “Germany,” etc.). Have students play in pairs or small groups. One student must describe the word to their group without using the word itself or any other words listed on the slip. The others guess the keyword. This activity helps students practice circumlocution and expands their vocabulary.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask students to write down their predictions about the future of migration and political trends in Germany based on the article. They can discuss how they think the situation will develop in the next few years and the potential impact on society. After writing, students can share their predictions with a partner or the class, and discuss the likelihood and implications of these predictions.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Select challenging words from the article (e.g., “controversial,” “registered,” “tighten,” “pressure,” “divisive”). Write them on the board. Students work in pairs to come up with as many synonyms as they can for each word within a set time limit. Afterward, discuss the nuances of the synonyms and how they might change the meaning of the sentence if used in place of the original word.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the reason behind the police being called on the group of hikers in Germany?
2. Where were most of the hikers originally from, and what club were they a part of?
3. After checking, what did the police conclude about the hikers’ status in Germany?
4. What kind of response did the incident trigger on social media?
5. What does the incident reveal about the current concerns in Germany?
6. In which region of Germany did the incident take place and what is it known for?
7. How is the political climate in Germany affecting discussions about migration?
8. What are some potential consequences of the government’s response to the rise of far-right ideas for the country’s tourism and economy?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A group of hikers in (1)______ was reported to the police by someone who thought they might be illegal migrants (2)______ to cross the border from Czechia. Most of the hikers were Syrians living in Germany and were part of a registered German (3)______ club, so they were in the (4)______ legally. The police checked their documents and confirmed that they were not migrants and were in Germany legally.

The incident has caused a (5)______ reaction on social media, with many (6)______ showing support for the hikers and criticizing the racist comments that have come up. It shows the growing worries in Germany about how minorities are treated, especially in places where far-right (7)______ parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD) are getting more popular.

Saxon Switzerland, where this happened, is (8)______ for its beautiful nature and is a popular place for tourists. But it’s also a region where far-right political parties have done well in (9)______. As Germany gets (10)______ for (11)______ regional elections, the topic of (12)______ and the rise of far-right ideas is becoming more and more controversial.

The current political situation in Germany has led to changes in how people talk about and deal with migration, and the government is feeling pressure to tighten border controls. This has raised worries about the impact on international tourism and the country’s economy, especially in places where far-right (13)______ are strong. The incident with the (14)______ is a reminder of the (15)______ and divisive issues around migration and the rise of far-right ideas in Germany, as the country deals with what it (16)______ for its society, economy, and politics.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do you think hiking is and have you ever gone hiking before?
2. How would you feel if someone called the police on you because of a misunderstanding?
3. Do you like to be a part of clubs or groups, like a hiking club? Why or why not?
4. Have you or someone you know ever been judged by their appearance? How did that make you feel?
5. Why do you think people support the hikers on social media?
6. What do you think about making comments about someone’s race or country?
7. Have you noticed any changes in how people talk about foreigners in your country?
8. Do you think it’s important for countries to control their borders? Why or why not?
9. How do you think tourism can affect a country’s economy?
10. Can you tell me what the term “far-right political parties” means to you?
11. Why do you think some political parties become popular in certain areas but not in others?
12. How do you think the government should handle issues about migration?
13. What impact do you think political parties have on how we treat people from other countries?
14. Do you believe that hiking and other outdoor activities can help bring people from different backgrounds together? Why or why not?
15. What does it mean for a society to be divided on issues like migration, and have you seen examples of this where you live?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. hikers
2. migrants
3. Germany
4. minorities
5. far-right
6. elections
7. migration
8. government

Meanings:
(a) Events where people vote for their leaders
(b) Political groups with extreme conservative views
(c) A country in Europe
(d) People who go for long walks in nature
(e) People who move from one country to another
(f) Groups of people who are different from the main population
(g) The people who make decisions for a country
(h) The movement of people from one place to another
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the reason the hikers in Germany were reported to the police?
(a) They were making too much noise
(b) Someone thought they might be illegal migrants
(c) They were hiking in a restricted area
(d) They were causing damage to the environment

2. What is the nationality of most of the hikers who were reported to the police?
(a) German
(b) Czech
(c) Syrian
(d) Russian

3. What kind of club were the hikers part of?
(a) Swimming
(b) Chess
(c) Cooking
(d) Hiking

4. What has been the reaction on social media to the incident with the hikers?
(a) Many people criticized the hikers
(b) Many people supported the person who reported the hikers
(c) Many people didn’t care about the incident
(d) Many people showed support for the hikers

5. What is Saxon Switzerland known for?
(a) Historical landmarks
(b) Urban nightlife
(c) Beautiful nature
(d) Industrial factories

6. What is becoming more controversial in Germany as regional elections approach?
(a) Environmental policies
(b) Migration and the rise of far-right ideas
(c) Education reform
(d) Healthcare funding

7. What is the government feeling pressure to do in response to the current political situation?
(a) Tighten border controls
(b) Open the borders completely
(c) Increase funding for tourism
(d) Lower taxes for businesses

8. What is the incident with the hikers a reminder of?
(a) The complicated and divisive issues around migration and the rise of far-right ideas
(b) The need for more hiking clubs in Germany
(c) The importance of social media in reporting incidents
(d) The beauty of Saxon Switzerland

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Far-right political parties have done well in elections in the region, and the upcoming regional elections in Germany are bringing up controversial topics like migration and the rise of far-right ideas.
2. Many people on social media showed support for the hikers and criticized the racist comments that came up because of the incident.
3. The incident with the hikers has not sparked discussions about migration and the rise of far-right ideas in Germany, and the government does not feel pressure to tighten border controls, which could impact international tourism and the country’s economy.
4. Saxon Switzerland, where the incident occurred, is not known for its beautiful nature and is not a popular tourist destination.
5. The incident highlights growing concerns in Germany about how minorities are treated, especially in areas where far-right political parties are gaining popularity.
6. A group of hikers in Germany, most of whom were Syrian, were mistaken for illegal migrants trying to cross the border from Czechia.
7. The hikers were not part of a registered German hiking club and were not in Germany legally.
8. The police did not check the hikers’ documents and did not confirm they were not migrants and were in Germany legally.
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. What misunderstanding led to the police being called on the group of hikers in Germany?
2. How did the police resolve the situation with the hikers who were thought to be illegal migrants?
3. What has been the public’s reaction on social media to the incident involving the hikers?
4. Why is the region of Saxon Switzerland significant in the context of this story?
5. What concerns are being raised in Germany due to the current political situation and its approach to migration?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was the reason behind the police being called on the group of hikers in Germany?
The police were called because someone thought the hikers might be illegal migrants trying to cross the border from Czechia.

2. Where were most of the hikers originally from, and what club were they a part of?
Most of the hikers were originally from Syria and were part of a registered German hiking club.

3. After checking, what did the police conclude about the hikers’ status in Germany?
The police confirmed that the hikers were not migrants and were in Germany legally.

4. What kind of response did the incident trigger on social media?
The incident led to a lot of people on social media supporting the hikers and criticizing the racist comments that appeared.

5. What does the incident reveal about the current concerns in Germany?
The incident reveals growing worries about the treatment of minorities in Germany, especially with the rise of far-right political parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

6. In which region of Germany did the incident take place and what is it known for?
The incident took place in Saxon Switzerland, which is known for its beautiful natural landscapes and is a popular tourist destination.

7. How is the political climate in Germany affecting discussions about migration?
The political climate, with the rise of far-right ideas, is leading to more controversial discussions about migration and is putting pressure on the government to tighten border controls.

8. What are some potential consequences of the government’s response to the rise of far-right ideas for the country’s tourism and economy?
The government’s response to the rise of far-right ideas could impact international tourism and the economy negatively, especially in areas where far-right ideologies are prevalent.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Germany
(2) trying
(3) hiking
(4) country
(5) strong
(6) people
(7) political
(8) known
(9) elections
(10) ready
(11) upcoming
(12) migration
(13) ideas
(14) hikers
(15) complicated
(16) means
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. hikers
Answer: (d) People who go for long walks in nature

2. migrants
Answer: (e) People who move from one country to another

3. Germany
Answer: (c) A country in Europe

4. minorities
Answer: (f) Groups of people who are different from the main population

5. far-right
Answer: (b) Political groups with extreme conservative views

6. elections
Answer: (a) Events where people vote for their leaders

7. migration
Answer: (h) The movement of people from one place to another

8. government
Answer: (g) The people who make decisions for a country
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the reason the hikers in Germany were reported to the police?
Answer: (b) Someone thought they might be illegal migrants

2. What is the nationality of most of the hikers who were reported to the police?
Answer: (c) Syrian

3. What kind of club were the hikers part of?
Answer: (d) Hiking

4. What has been the reaction on social media to the incident with the hikers?
Answer: (d) Many people showed support for the hikers

5. What is Saxon Switzerland known for?
Answer: (c) Beautiful nature

6. What is becoming more controversial in Germany as regional elections approach?
Answer: (b) Migration and the rise of far-right ideas

7. What is the government feeling pressure to do in response to the current political situation?
Answer: (a) Tighten border controls

8. What is the incident with the hikers a reminder of?
Answer: (a) The complicated and divisive issues around migration and the rise of far-right ideas
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Far-right political parties have done well in elections in the region, and the upcoming regional elections in Germany are bringing up controversial topics like migration and the rise of far-right ideas. (Answer: True)
2. Many people on social media showed support for the hikers and criticized the racist comments that came up because of the incident. (Answer: True)
3. The incident with the hikers has not sparked discussions about migration and the rise of far-right ideas in Germany, and the government does not feel pressure to tighten border controls, which could impact international tourism and the country’s economy. (Answer: False)
4. Saxon Switzerland, where the incident occurred, is not known for its beautiful nature and is not a popular tourist destination. (Answer: False)
5. The incident highlights growing concerns in Germany about how minorities are treated, especially in areas where far-right political parties are gaining popularity. (Answer: True)
6. A group of hikers in Germany, most of whom were Syrian, were mistaken for illegal migrants trying to cross the border from Czechia. (Answer: True)
7. The hikers were not part of a registered German hiking club and were not in Germany legally. (Answer: False)
8. The police did not check the hikers’ documents and did not confirm they were not migrants and were in Germany legally. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧