Richard MacAndrew, Ron Martinez-Taboos and Issues_ Photocopiable Lessons on Controversial Topics (LTP instant lessons)-Heinle ELT (2001)

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Language Look at the sentence below from the second text: It is now perfectly dcceptdble to swear in extreme ctr cumstances. fn these sentences one of the words in italics is wrong. Cross it out. 1. Swearing in certain situations is completely un a c c e p ta b I e / r u de / inap p r op r i at e. 2.1 foLrnd his language deeply upsetting/ off e n s iu e / o b s cene / s h o c kin g. 3. Using that kind of language is perfectly acceptable/OK/good in some situations. 4. Some words that people use are actually uery funny/rude/terrible. Now make true sentences using some of the expressions from examples 1 - 4. 1. Most people I know find swearing . . . . 2.My mother I father thinks swearing is . . . . 3. There are one or two words which I find . . . . 4. Swearing at someone in a public place is . . . . 5.I think it is . . . . to swear when you are really annoyed about something. 6.If the Prime Minister swore on TV, I would findit.... Work in pairs <strong>and</strong> compare your answers. Discussion Discuss the statements below. Do you agree or not? Why? l. Swearing can lre creafive <strong>and</strong> expressive. 2.lt's r-rseful to be able to swear in English. 3.lt's difficult to know how to use English swear words. 4. You can sound silly if you swear in English. 5. People who swear a lot are just uneducated. 6. Children should be taught that swearing is wrong. 7. You can upset people by saying 'Jesus Christ'. 8. People shouldn't use swear words in the street. "Er . . . mind if we swear?" Language The list below shows that swear words vary in strength. Different people of different ages find some words more offensive than others. Here is a rough guide to some of the most common English swear words <strong>and</strong> expressions: Weaker Damn! Blast! Hell! Bloody hell! It was bloody awful! Crap! It was really crap! Bullshit! He's a real dickhead. Taboo-strength: Fuck off! Stronger He's a real shit. Shit! Piss off! Bastard! Bitch! Bollocks! He's a total wanker! He's a stupid prick. He's an arsehole! Religious swear words can offend much more than words connected with sex, body parts or bodily functions. Using God, Jesus Christ or Christ Almighty will greatly offend some people. <strong>Taboos</strong> <strong>and</strong> /ssues Discussion Which of the words <strong>and</strong> expressions opposite have you used or would you use? Are you offended when people use religious words as swear words? Do you know of anybody who has got into trouble by swearing? Most English swear words are connected with sex or the body. ls this the same in your language? Avoiding swear words Native speakers often avoid swearing by using other similar-sounding words. What do you think the following examples avoid? 1. He told me to F off! 2.It's flipping cold, isn't it? 3. Not bleeding likely! 4. Oh, sugar! 5. P off! 6. He's a real B! Swearing
Torture Discussion Work in pairs. What do you think the answers are to these questions? ln 1996 there were 171 countries in the world: 1.ln how many countries did people in prison or police custody suffer torture or ill-treatment? a.21 b.67 c. 124? 2. In how many countries did people die as a result of torture or inhuman prison conditions? a. 16 b.46 c.82? Find out the answers from your teacher <strong>and</strong> then discuss these questions: 1.Do the figures surprise or shock you or are they what you would expect? 2. Do you think the figures would be better or worse for this year? Or about the same? 3.ln which countries would you expect to find torture happening? 4. Whrrt rrbout your own country? Reading Read the articles through quickly <strong>and</strong> answer the questions below: Which countries are mentioned in connection with torture? Do any of the articles surprise you?'Which? Why? CASSIDY ATTACKS PINOCHET In Chile in 1915, Dr Sheila Cassidy was beaten, stripped <strong>and</strong> given electric shocks all over her body, forcing her to give the name of a priest who had asked her for help. She was later released as a result of protests from Britain. Yesterday she spoke out following the arrest of General Pinochet, the 84-year-old "I ex-dictator of Chile. think imprisonment for the rest of his life would be appropriate. I know he is an old man <strong>and</strong> he is fragile, but so were the pregnant women who were raped <strong>and</strong> tortured," she said. US POLICE UNDER FIRE A recent Human Rights Watch report, examining policing in 14 of America's biggest cities, contains some shocking statistics. Following 11 ,000 civil rights complaints against the police last year, only 29 police officers were punished. Crime in New York has halved since 1993, but complaints about police abuse arc upby 50Vo. In one case, a suspect was choked to death when arrested by a police officer in 1994. The officer was cleared of manslaughter, but the case exposed the police to widespread criticism. FRANCE GUILTY OF TORTURE France became the first European country convicted of torture when the European Court of Human Rights found it guilty of torturing a suspected drug dealer during questioning. The man was beaten in an effort to obtain more information about his suppliers. The court described his treatment at the h<strong>and</strong>s of five police officers as being 'of a particularly cruel <strong>and</strong> serious nature' making it 'torture' under the European Convention on Human Rights. Read the articles again <strong>and</strong> answer these questions: 1. Why was Sheila Cassidy tortured? 2. What was 'shocking' about the Human Rights \Watch report? 3. What information did the French oolice want? Discussion Discuss these questions in small groups: 1. Do you think that the conduct of the US police might sometimes actually be 'torture'? 2. How would you define 'torture'? 3. Do you feel that any of the cases of torture mentioned above might in any way be justified? 4. Do yon think the police in your country torture suspects <strong>and</strong> known criminals? Tofture <strong>Taboos</strong> <strong>and</strong> /ssues
Page 3 and 4: IT E E h ts = - fl = f5 f- - l- l-
Page 5 and 6: Contents 1. Death Talking dhout dea
Page 7 and 8: Introduction Do you find this conve
Page 9 and 10: I I a I Nudity I I I Vocabulary Nud
Page 11 and 12: Reading The authors would like to m
Page 13 and 14: Ir i= Language i- Mark the expressi
Page 15 and 16: Language Use the correct form of th
Page 17 and 18: Sex for sale Discussion 1. Match th
Page 19: Swearing Discussion "When angry, co
Page 23 and 24: Sexual harassment Discussion Discus
Page 25 and 26: L - Bribery and co
Page 27 and 28: Designer babies Discussion lmagine
Page 29 and 30: v- Children who kill Discussion 1.I
Page 31 and 32: Gays and jobs Disc
Page 33 and 34: t h Animal rights F J fr = Discussi
Page 35 and 36: E Discussion Marriage - for better
Page 37 and 38: Nobody needs a gun Discussion In Br
Page 39 and 40: The sale of humanorgans t I { I I D
Page 41 and 42: I I I I Discussion Work in pairs. A
Page 43 and 44: a I Discussion Telling lies Work in
Page 45 and 46: Abortion / Ic I E I Language <stron
Page 47 and 48: - National stereotypes Discussion "
Page 49 and 50: Cheating on your partner Discussion
Page 51 and 52: Are you happy with your body? Discu
Page 53 and 54: lmmigration and ra
Page 55 and 56: Changing sex Language and</
Page 57 and 58: ls this news? i ! I I I Discussion
Page 59 and 60: Discussion Reading The right to die
Page 61 and 62: Old enough to be her grand<
Page 63 and 64: Big Brotherls watching! Discussion
Page 65 and 66: i Discussion Anxiety and</s
Page 67 and 68: I a Gay families Discussion What le
Page 69 and 70: Begging Discussion Do you give mone
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Compensation culture Discussion l '
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Sport and money Di
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- Vanity Discussion In your experie
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Legatising drugs Discussion l. Makc
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Read through the first part of this
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The death penalty Discussion Work i
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Addictions Discussion work in pairs
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F 1 Death Bc aware that a discussio
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lT Discussion It is very diificulr
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Reading (clockw.ise fronr top left,
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F Fof low-up Ask stuclents to write
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f- Irs lr clrtss itncl see whr; wou
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? I Follow-up Stuclents could use a
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Richard MacAndrew, Ron Martinez-Taboos and Issues_ Photocopiable Lessons on Controversial Topics (LTP instant lessons)-Heinle ELT (2001)

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