START

1. SLOVAKIA 15^th ANNIVERSARY: What do you think of Slovakia celebrating its 15^th anniversary? Was it right to split with the Czech Republic in 1993? Did it do the right thing? Why? What problems have there been? Go round the room swapping stories. Change partners often.

2. DICTATION: The teacher will read some of the article slowly and clearly. Students will write down what they hear. The teacher will repeat the passage slowly again. Self correct your work from page 2 - filling in spaces and correcting mistakes. Be honest with yourself on the number of errors. Advise the teacher of your total number of errors. Less than 5 is very good. 10 are acceptable. Any more is room for improvement! More than 20 - we need to do some work!

3. READING: Get students to read the passage aloud. Swap readers every paragraph.

4. VOCABULARY: Students look through the article. Underline/highlight any vocabulary you do not know. Look in dictionaries. Discuss and help each other out. The teacher will go through & explain any words or phrases you do not understand.

5. SPLITTING CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Think of 5 advantages and 5 disadvantages of splitting Czechoslovakia. List them below. Compare and discuss your findings with your partner. The teacher will select some pairs to discuss in front of the class.                                                                        

6. DEBATE: In pairs or in small groups discuss the following: Consider which is the best option and for who? Why?                                    

• To have kept Czechoslovakia    v    Splitting Czechoslovakia                      
• Splitting Czechoslovakia into 2 countries: Czech Republic(includingMoravia)/Slovakia        
• Splitting Czechoslovakia into 3 countries: Czech Republic/Moravia/Slovakia                Splitting Czechoslovakia into 4 countries:  Czech Republic/Moravia/Slovakia/Rusyn Splitting Czechoslovakia into 6+ countries: CzechRepublic/Moravia/Slovakia/Rusyn/Gipsyland/Hungarian/Germany                     
• Moravia joining Slovakia v Moravia in 1993 joining The Czech Republic              
• A separate independent Rusyn country created based on pre 1919  maps – located in what is now east Slovakia, southeast Poland and western Ukraine - i.e. Rusyns traditional homeland.                                                                 

7. INDEPENDENCE: With your partner on the board write as many words to do with the ‘independence’ as you can. One-two minutes. Compare with other teams. Discuss together – linking your words.

8. PRESS CONFERENCE: In pairs: You are at a press conference held by the Slovak President and Slovak Prime Minister to celebrate Slovak independence. One of you is either the President or Prime Minister. The other is a journalist from a local TV station. The journalist has to ask 3 questions. The President / Prime Minister have to say a few words at the beginning before taking some questions. Role play: 5 minutes.

9. SLOVAKIA ANNIVERSERY ARTICLE QUIZ: With your partner or in small groups: (1 point for each correct answer. Lose ½ point if you look at the article for help!)                                                                                           

Student A                                                                                    

1)         Which anniversary is Slovakia celebrating?                                             

2)         What did Slovakia do at the end of 2007?                                             

3)         Name the boom town                                                                 

4)         What did the sociological surveys of 1992 and 1993 say?                              

5)         What still resonates?                                                                          

6)         What did the peaceful split of the country do?                                     

7)         Who started to change their minds?                                                    

8)         Who is an economic tiger?                                                               

9)         What is being anticipated?                                                               

10)       Between 2003 and 2007 what changed?                                                          

Student B                                                                          

1)         Name the nationalities in the article                                                      

2)         What used to go to Prague?                                                                 

3)         What happened in 2004?                                                               

4)         Name the two leaders who initiated the split                                      

5)         What was calm and peaceful?                                                          

6)         What did Moravia do?                                                                  

7)         Who were afraid?                                                                        

8)         What was Slovakia’s previous name before 1993?                                    

9)         How many years did Czechoslovakia exist?                                                 

10)       What has grown by two thirds?                            

10. SENTENCE STARTERS: With your partner(s), finish these sentence starters. Change partner(s) and talk about the sentences you made.

a)   Slovakia _______________________________________________________

b)   The split _______________________________________________________

c)    Independence __________________________________________________

d)   The people _____________________________________________________

e)   Opinions ______________________________________________________

f)     Surveys _______________________________________________________

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: After reading the article guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article:

GAP FILL: READING

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

GAP FILL: LISTENING:

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Slovakia celebrates its 15^th anniversary

On 1^st January 2008 Slovakia commemorated the fifteenth anniversary of its independence The Slovak Spectator and SITA recently reported. In 1993 Czechoslovakia _________________ being a common state of majority Czechs, Moravians and Slovaks ceased to exist. The countries represented by Václav Klaus _________________ and Vladimír Mečiar on the Slovak side decided that the Czech-Slovak Federal Republic __________________ countries be split. Moravia decided to remain ______________ Czech Republic. The process was calm and peaceful. Czech political analyst Ladislav Caban told the SITA newswire, “The peaceful split of the country has contributed to better relations between Czechs and Slovaks.” The split and its causes still resonate amongst __________________ to this day. Caban, as well as Czech political analyst Jirˇí Pehe see the need for Slovak political emancipation __________________ for it.

Slovak sociologist Zora Bátorová commented on how ________________ the split for SITA. “Sociological surveys from _____________ indicated that people did not want the countries to split, even though they had different opinions on how the country should be run. In Slovakia, people were afraid of the economic as well as ______________________.” She added, “Even those opposed to the split have started to change their mind.” While in 2003 less than half of Slovakia expressed pride in what Slovakia had achieved since independence that number had grown to two thirds by the end of 2007.  Slovakia today is the economic tiger of the region attracting new international business. Its capital is ‘__________’ with new investment pouring in thanks to its attractive taxes. The money that used to go from Slovakia to Prague is now channelled into the Slovak Republic including its capital Bratislava. Since joining the EU in 2004 Slovakia _________________, joining Schengen at the end of 2007. The anticipated move ___________________ 2009 points Slovakia towards a successful future.

DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)   Did the headline make you want to read the article?

b)   Do you think Mečiar and Klaus were right to split Czechoslovakia into two?

c)    What do you think the Moravians thought about it in 1993?

d)   Do you think Moravia might become independent?

e)   If it did what would be its capital?

f)     Was the split in 1993 political rather than economic or both?

g)   Were people right to be worried about the split back in 1993?

h)   What would you have done if you had been in charge of the country back in 1993?

i)     What lays ahead for Slovakia in the future?

j)     Is the future rosy for Slovakia and the Czech Republic?

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STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)   What do you think of an independent Slovakia?

b)   What did you think pre the split in 1993?

c)    Has the split benefited the Slovak Republic or not?                   

d)   Has the split benefited The Czech Republic or not?

e)   Has the split benefited Moravia or not?

f)     Has Bratislava benefited since the split?

g)   Do you think the Slovak capital would have developed like it has if Czechoslovakia had remained one country?

h)   Would you have benefited or not?

i)     Would you be where you are now had the split not taken place?

j)     Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

a.   What was the most interesting thing you heard?

b.   Was there a question you did not like?

c.    Was there something you totally disagreed with?

d.   What did you like talking about?

e.   Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

ROLE PLAY: SPEAKING:

With your partner or in groups of three/four:

You are at a gathering of Slovaks in Bratislava castle who are discussing Slovakia since independence. Go round the room finding out more…

Discuss the following topics… Better or worse…Why?

The teacher will select some groups to present their debate / findings to the rest of the class.

LANGUAGE: CORRECT WORD: Choose the correct words from a–d below and write them in the article.

On 1^st January 2008 Slovakia commemorated the fifteenth anniversary of its independence The Slovak Spectator and SITA recently reported. In 1993 Czechoslovakia after 75 years of being a common state of majority Czechs, Moravians and Slovaks ceased to exist. The (1)__ represented by Václav Klaus on the Czech side and Vladimír Mečiar on the Slovak side (2)__ that the Czech-Slovak Federal Republic should end and the countries be split. Moravia decided to remain within the new Czech Republic. The process was calm and peaceful. Czech political analyst Ladislav Caban told the SITA newswire, “The peaceful split of the country has contributed to better relations between Czechs and Slovaks.” The split and its (3)__ still resonate amongst Slovaks and Czechs to (4)__ day. Caban, as well as Czech political analyst Jirˇí Pehe see the need for Slovak political emancipation as the main reason for it.

Slovak sociologist Zora Bátorová commented on how people perceived the (5)__ for SITA. “Sociological surveys from 1992 and 1993 indicated that people did not want the countries to split, even though they had different opinions on how the country should be run. In Slovakia, people were afraid of the economic as well as political consequences.” She added, “Even those (6)__ to the split have started to change their mind.” While in 2003 less than half of Slovakia expressed pride in what Slovakia had achieved since independence that number had grown to two thirds by the end of 2007.  Slovakia today is the economic (7)__ of the region attracting new international business. Its capital is ‘a boom (8)__’ with new investment (9)__ in thanks to its attractive taxes. The money that used to go from Slovakia to Prague is now channelled into the Slovak Republic including (10)__ capital Bratislava. Since joining the EU in 2004 Slovakia has moved forward, (11)__ Schengen at the end of 2007. The anticipated move to join the euro in 2009 (12)__ Slovakia towards a successful future.

GRAMMAR 1: MIDWAY

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

GRAMMAR 2: EASY

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: Write a newspaper article about Slovak independence. (Minimum 200 words)

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?

WRITING: IN CLASS:

1. FIVE MINUTE ARTICLE: Write an article on ‘Slovak independence.’ You have five minutes. Afterwards swap articles with your partner. Read through their article and correct any mistakes. The teacher will select some students to read out their work.

Countdown: Every minute the teacher may say, “You have xx minutes.”

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

SYNONYM MATCH:

PHRASE MATCH:

GAP FILL: Slovakia celebrates its 15^th anniversary: On 1^st January 2008 Slovakia commemorated the fifteenth anniversary of its independence The Slovak Spectator and SITA recently reported. In 1993 Czechoslovakia after 75 years of being a common state of majority Czechs, Moravians and Slovaks ceased to exist. The countries represented by Václav Klaus on the Czech side and Vladimír Mečiar on the Slovak side decided that the Czech-Slovak Federal Republic should end and the countries be split. Moravia decided to remain within the new Czech Republic. The process was calm and peaceful. Czech political analyst Ladislav Caban told the SITA newswire, “The peaceful split of the country has contributed to better relations between Czechs and Slovaks.” The split and its causes still resonate amongst Slovaks and Czechs to this day. Caban, as well as Czech political analyst Jiří Pehe see the need for Slovak political emancipation as the main reason for it. Slovak sociologist Zora Bátorová commented on how people perceived the split for SITA. “Sociological surveys from 1992 and 1993 indicated that people did not want the countries to split, even though they had different opinions on how the country should be run. In Slovakia, people were afraid of the economic as well as political consequences.” She added, “Even those opposed to the split have started to change their mind.” While in 2003 less than half of Slovakia expressed pride in what Slovakia had achieved since independence that number had grown to two thirds by the end of 2007.  Slovakia today is the economic tiger of the region attracting new international business. Its capital is ‘a boom town’ with new investment pouring in thanks to its attractive taxes. The money that used to go from Slovakia to Prague is now channelled into the Slovak Republic including its capital Bratislava. Since joining the EU in 2004 Slovakia has moved forward, joining Schengen at the end of 2007. The anticipated move to join the euro in 2009 points Slovakia towards a successful future.

LANGUAGE WORK