1 Warmer: what we know

Work in groups and fill in the chart to the best of your knowledge.
... in our group?

... in our class?

... in our school?

How many languages are

spoken ...
What languages are they
spoken ...

Level 3 Advanced

One school, 71 languages

What subjects are taught in

English ...

2 What does it mean?

Skim-read the article to find the words that fit in the gaps. The paragraph numbers are given to
help you.
1. In the UK, a __________________ is a secondary school that the local people can use for classes in the evening.
At Southfields, kids can also attend school full-time. (para 3)
2. When you are __________________, you are unable to understand something or think clearly about it. (para 4)
3. to not give priority to one aspect; to keep everything equal __________________ (para 4)
4. to make something better __________________ (para 5)
5. a place in which people live and work, including all the physical conditions that affect them __________________
(para 5)
6. When you __________________ someone in something, they spend most of their time doing it or thinking
about it. (para 5)
7. a division in a school day when a particular subject is taught __________________ (para 5)
8. When you __________________, you become comfortable and relaxed in a particular place. (para 6)
9. an activity or type of club in which people discuss a subject often formally before making a decision
__________________ (para 6)
10. a permanent mark on your skin where you have been injured __________________ (para 7)
11. When you feel __________________, you feel happy about your achievements, your possessions or people who
you are connected with. (para 8)

SPOT ON NEWS LESSON / One school, 71 languages / Advanced

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2009

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12. a word similar in meaning to well-educated and intelligent __________________ (para 8)

ONE SCHOOL, 71 LANGUAGES

by Toby Skingsley

st teens
Anita Sollis, a teacher at Southfields. Mo
and
have some basic English when they arrive,
astic
fant
Its
s.
clas
we immerse them in English in
ded
oun
how quickly they learn from being surr
all,
by the language. If kids speak no English at
for one
Southfields takes these pupils out of class
period a day to give them English lessons.
6
h
Ifra
nt.
orta
imp
also
are
s
vitie
acti
Sports and
Arabic.
Omar, 15, from Somalia, speaks Somali and
e
She said after-school clubs helped her to mak
here,
got
I
en
Wh
ain.
Brit
south London come from
friends and settle down in
1 The kids in a school in
to
how
w
kno
t
71
I met friends playing sport. I didn
60 countries. At home they speak a total of
I didnt
lish.
Eng
in
all
are
ons
play the games, I couldnt speak English and
languages at school their less
still
I
know anyone but the others helped me.
ol exams in English,
scho
r
you
lot of
all
ng
taki
gine
Ima
2
e these friends today. Southfields offers a
hav
to
talk
to
had
you
if
at
Wh
ory!
chess
even in maths and hist
after-school sports and activities including
lots
way
t
grea
a
are
rts
your teachers in English every day? In London
and debating. Clubs and spo
r first
of teens do this although English isnt thei from for people to mix, said Anita Sollis. Its interesting
ain
t other
language. Their families have moved to Brit
for the British pupils too because they mee
ol.
scho
s
mis
t
can
kids
e
thes
but
s,
other countrie
teens from all over the world.
7
,
orth
dsw
Wan
in
,
ege
on
Community Coll
cati
lds
edu
thfie
that
Sou
w
At
kno
lds
thfie
Sou
at
kids
of
lot
3
A
all over
ivated
south London, the 1,300 pupils come from
is very important. Some are extremely mot
er.
geth
alto
s
ntrie
cou
60
nd
arou
ing to
from
the world
after bad experiences they had before mov
and
eria
Nig
na,
Gha
n,
ista
Pak
told the
I have friends from
Britain. Fadumo Yusuf, 15, from Somalia,
bia,
Zam
from
14,
,
nga
Mto
i
kids
Britain, Tifunseyan
British newspaper The Guardian that she saw
ak 71
to
had
n
eve
She
.
says. Between them, Southfields pupils spe
ntry
in Britain! shot dead in her home cou so she wouldnt get
ol
scho
r
othe
any
at
than
e
mor

es
uag
lang
hide under her desk at school
still has a
ol
scho
e
mak
es
uag
lang
rent
killed. Once, she was shot in the hand and
all those diffe
4 Dont
n,
know any English,
very chaotic? Shahid Syed, 16, from Pakista tries scar. When I came here, I didnt
Es.
he
said Fadumo. Now Im preparing for my GCS
speaks Urdu, Punjabi and a little Pashto. But
8
lish
Its
ms.
exa
than
e
to make things easy at school. We speak Eng
mor
h
muc
rs
offe
lds
thfie
But Sou
d,
tina
in the classroom so people dont get confuse h as
a chance to learn about other cultures. Kris
muc
as
u
Urd
ak
spe
I
e
hom
at
just
t
for
Shahid says. Bu
Dimova, 13, from Bulgaria, has been there
Like

ure.
cult
our
p
kee
to
try
ut
possible because we
months. But shes already learned a lot abo
few
a
nce
bala
to
tries
hid
Sha
zil, so
many Southfields pupils,
other cultures. My friends come from Bra
ure.
cult
own
e. I
his
uag
with
lang
life
ol
and
scho
Im learning about their country
s.
ition
trad
n
also teach my friends about Bulgaria
London has many multicultural schools, but
nd
5
arou
trip
6 it was
Walking around the playground is like a
Southfields can be especially proud. In 200
Iraq
a, ,
in the
the world. Kids from Italy, South Africa, Indi y
one of the top 100 most improved schools
man
pupils
China, Somalia, Thailand, Bangladesh and
country. This is great because many of the
a lot
ws
kno
hid
lish
Sha
Eng
.
no
other countries play together
who made this possible spoke little or
other
of
dge
wle
way
t
kno
of the kids and hes proud of his
when they first arrived. We believe the bes
to
ual
llect
and
inte
ning
cultures. He said, It makes you feel
for pupils to improve their English is by liste
s.
und
t, said
know people from so many different backgro
speaking in class in a real-life environmen

Level 3 Advanced

One school, 71 languages

poton.de

SPOT ON NEWS LESSON / One school, 71 languages / Advanced

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2009

CA HO
N T
O
FR BE C
O DO O
M W P
W N IA
EB LO B
SI A L
TE DE E
D

Spot on, October 2009, www.s

3 Find the information

Write full answers to these questions about the article.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

How many languages are mentioned by name in the article? What are they?
How many countries are mentioned? Which ones?
What after-school activities are mentioned?
All about Harry
How do after-school activities help the kids?
Which part of London is the school in?
What happens if the kids cannot speak English when they arrive at the school?
Why is it important for the kids to speak their mother tongue at home?
What does Kristina like about the school?

Level
Level1 3Elementary
Advanced

One school, 71 languages

4 Webquest: find out more

Fadumo says she is preparing for her GCSEs. These are British school examinations.
What does GCSE stand for?
How old are most pupils when they take these exams?
What other exams can British pupils take at school and/or college?
How do these exams compare to exams in your country?

5 Writing: a poster
Ifrah goes to after-school clubs.
Make a poster for an after-school club. The poster should tell other pupils:

what they can do at the club;

where and when the club takes place;

why they should attend;

how the club will help them in and outside school.

6 Speaking: explaining and demonstrating

Kristina says that walking around the playground is like a trip around the world.

SPOT ON NEWS LESSON / One school, 71 languages / Advanced

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2009

CA HO
N T
O
FR BE C
O DO O
M W P
W N IA
EB LO B
SI A L
TE DE E
D

Think of a typical playground game that kids play in your country. How would you explain this to
people from another country? Make notes about the game and then demonstrate and explain how
to play it in English, of course!

Key
2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

community college
confused
balance
improve
environment
immerse
period
settle down
debating
scar
proud
intellectual

Level 3 Advanced

One school, 71 languages

SPOT ON NEWS LESSON / One school, 71 languages / Advanced

Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2009

CA HO
N T
O
FR BE C
O DO O
M W P
W N IA
EB LO B
SI A L
TE DE E
D

1. 6: English, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Somali, Arabic

2. 15: Britain, Pakistan, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia,
Somalia, Bulgaria, Brazil, Italy, South Africa, India,
Iraq, China, Thailand, Bangladesh
3. Sports, chess, debating
4. They meet and make friends from all over the world.
5. Wandsworth in south London
6. They get taken out of lessons for one period (lesson)
a day to give them English lessons.
7. It helps them keep their culture.
8. She has a chance to learn about other cultures and
to get to know people from different backgrounds
and to learn about other countries and languages.