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Is Africa a new Chinese Colony?

Ideas and Articles by David Robinson

10^th August 2008

Category: Business / Economics / Africa & China

Level: Upper intermediate / Advanced

This lesson is the copyright of www.newsflashenglish.com

Is Africa a new Chinese colony?

Less than one hundred years ago Africa was still being colonised by the western imperial powers. Large parts had still yet to be discovered. The British Empire was nearing its peak with red covering many countries on the new map of the African continent. France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Belgium all had colonies there. Yet today where are they all? Having kicked out their imperial western masters and gained their independence today's African leaders have turned their backs on the west. Instead they have set their eyes firmly towards the east. One country has emerged as the new dragon above any other. That country is China. Hungry for raw materials, land and energy China has for a number of years now been quietly doing massive amounts of new business all over the African continent. Thousands and thousands of Chinese have been relocated to Africa to organise and deliver many precious raw materials. China desperately needs them due to its own shortage of raw materials. Over the last decade a staggering 750,000 Chinese have resettled in Africa. Many more are coming. Africa is rapidly becoming a new Chinese colony or satellite state.

So why China? The answer is simple - money, which is being used by many African leaders to prop themselves up without fear of retribution from western countries interfering in their business. This buys them arms, which fuel wars which keeps them in power. The Chinese are not actually 'taking over' the countries like the former western imperialists did. Instead they are simply exploiting its mineral wealth in return for cash, giving assistance with new developments like dams. More importantly they are rebuilding the infrastructure. Thousands of miles of new roads and railways are being built. Whilst the colonial powers like Britain built the original network chronic under investment and deterioration over the last 50 years or so has meant new ones were desperately needed in order to carry the tons of illegally logged timber, gold and diamonds to ports.

There are no health and safety rules in Africa. Nor does China care about human rights in Africa. African leaders desperate for money in order to shore up their regimes turn to China. The money is used to buy weapons. According to Human Rights First, a leading human rights advocacy organisation, many types of weapon have ended up in Darfur, Sudan. Recently a container shipment of arms was due to be delivered to the government in Zimbabwe but was returned after an international outcry. In Equatorial Guinea Chinese money is building a new capital, not too mention a few Chinese restaurants. In Angola Chinese firms have won large tenders. Money has been lent to governments in Nigeria and Congo. China meanwhile shrugs off criticism by others saying simply 'business is business'. It doesn't care what the money is used for. As for Africa's impoverished people - little is seen by them of this newly found wealth. The money goes into the back pockets of their leaders. China doesn't ask questions about where the cash goes unlike western loans that need transparency.

China is desperate to sell its cheap shoddy goods and Africa is the perfect place for them. Huge ships deliver containers including toys and clothes into African ports replacing them with much needed African oil and minerals that return to China. Chinese goods today litter African markets - resulting in 200 local textile factories closing in Kenya alone. Beijing has launched its so called 'One China in Africa policy' due to its spiralling population. Housing a fifth of the world's population it needs raw materials to fuel its economic boom. New air routes have been opened between China and Africa to ferry Chinese in. Chinese presence is felt in places like Nigeria in the west, Sudan in the east, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon in the southwest. Also Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia in the south, and Chad, Burundi and Rwanda in the centre. China today has seized a vice like grip on the African continent which Chinese officials know is crucial to the superpowers survival. The Chinese are in Africa for long-term plunder. Much like the colonial powers once were. China will be there to stay until the last drop of oil and minerals have been extracted. Does Africa deserve better?

START

1. AFRICA: What do you know about Africa? What do you know about China in Africa? 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. 10 COUNTRIES IN AFRICA: Think of 10 countries in Africa. What is the biggest country? What is the smallest country? Draw a map of Africa on the board to show your results. How many countries are there in Africa? (See Answers2)

1	6
2	7
3	8
4	9
5	10

The teacher will choose some pairs to discuss their findings in front of the class.

6. QUICK DEBATE: Students A think Africa can develop economically. Explain why. Students B think it will never fully develop. Explain why.

5. RAW MATERIALS: Think of 10 raw materials you can find in Africa. List them below. Decide which is the most valuable. (10 = most valuable and expensive: 1= cheapest) In which country might you find these minerals? (You might like to use the internet for this)

1	6
2	7
3	8
4	9
5	10

The teacher will choose some pairs to discuss their findings in front of the class.

8. 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

Name 4 west African countries.
How have Africa's peoples benefited from the Chinese in Africa?
How long is China in Africa for?
Does Africa deserve better?
Name 4 north African countries.
Why is China so popular a choice for African leaders to do business with?
Name the minerals mentioned in the article.

Student B

Name 4 east African countries.
How many Chinese have resettled in Africa over the last decade?
Who is the new dragon?
What did Human Rights First say?
What was almost delivered to Zimbabwe?
What sort of goods does China deliver to Africa?
Name 4 South African countries.

9. PROS & CONS OF CHINA IN AFRICA: Think of 3 economic advantages and disadvantages of China in Africa. Discuss them with your partner.

Advantages	Disadvantages
1	1
2	2
3	3

10. AFRICA: >With your partner on the board write as many words to do with 'AFRICA' as you can. One-two minutes. Compare with other teams. Using your words compile a short dialogue together.

11. SENTENCES: Choose six/nine of the words from no 10. Write two/three sentences using two/three words in each. Underline your chosen words. The teacher will if necessary correct your work. Students might be asked to read their sentences aloud.

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

Africa ________________________________________________________

China ________________________________________________________

The Chinese ____________________________________________________

African leaders _________________________________________________

Raw materials _________________________________________________

MAP OF AFRICA

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

a.	Africa is a new Chinese colony	T / F
b.	The British Empire was at its peak 100 years ago	T / F
c.	European countries still have colonies in Africa	T / F
d.	China is the new dragon in Africa	T / F
e.	Hundred and hundreds of Chinese have relocated to Africa	T / F
f.	A staggering 850,000 Indians have relocated to Africa	T / F
g.	China is after Africa's raw materials including oil	T / F
h.	Tons of illegally logged timber, silver and diamonds are exported	T / F

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

a.	Instead	Kilograms
b.	Massive	Goods
c.	Shortage	Height
d.	Due	Payback
e.	Peak	Colossal
f.	Material	Beyond
g.	Without	Continuing
h.	Retribution	Lack
i.	Tons	Alternatively
j.	Chronic	Expected

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

a.	...one hundred years ago Africa was still	railways are being built
b.	FThe British Empire	Chinese have resettled in Africa
c.	One country has emerged as	fuel wars which keeps them in power
d.	Thousands and thousands of Chinese	a new Chinese colony
e.	Over the last decade a staggering 750,000	was nearing its peak
f.	Africa is rapidly becoming	have been relocated to Africa
g.	This buys them arms, which	exploiting its mineral wealth
h.	The Chinese are not actually	being colonised...
i.	Instead they are simply	the new dragon above any other
j.	Thousands of miles of new roads and	'taking over' the countries

GAP FILL: READING

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Less than one hundred years ago ______ was still being colonised by the western imperial powers. Large parts had still yet to be discovered. The British Empire was nearing its peak with red covering many countries on the new map of the African continent. France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Belgium all had colonies there. Yet today where are they all? Having kicked out their ________ western masters and gained their independence today's African leaders have turned their backs on the west. Instead they have set their eyes firmly towards the east. One country has emerged as the new ______ above any other. That country is China. Hungry for raw materials, land and energy ______ has for a number of years now been quietly doing massive amounts of new business all over the African _________. Thousands and thousands of Chinese have been relocated to Africa to organise and deliver many ________ raw materials. China desperately needs them due to its own shortage of raw materials. Over the last decade a __________ 750,000 Chinese have resettled in Africa. Many more are coming. Africa is rapidly becoming a new Chinese ______ or satellite state.		dragon imperial continent China colony precious staggering Africa
So why China? The answer is simple - money, which is being used by many African leaders to prop themselves up without fear of ___________ from western countries interfering in their business. This buys them ____, which fuel wars which keeps them in power. The Chinese are not actually 'taking over' the countries like the ______ western imperialists did. Instead they are simply exploiting its mineral wealth in return for cash, giving assistance with new developments like dams. More importantly they are rebuilding the ______________. Thousands of miles of new roads and railways are being built. Whilst the colonial powers like Britain built the original network _______ under investment and _____________ over the last 50 years or so has meant new ones were desperately needed in order to carry the tons of _________ logged timber, gold and ________ to ports.		infrastructure retribution chronic arms deterioration illegally diamonds former

GAP FILL: LISTENING:

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Is Africa a new Chinese colony?
Less than one hundred years ago Africa was still being colonised by the western imperial powers. Large parts ___________________ discovered. The British Empire was nearing its peak with red covering many countries on the new map of the _________________. France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Belgium all had colonies there. Yet today where are they all? Having kicked out their imperial western masters and gained their independence today's ____________________ turned their backs on the west. Instead ___________________ eyes firmly towards the east. One country has emerged as the new dragon above any other. That country is China. Hungry for raw materials, land and energy China has for a number of years now been quietly doing massive amounts of new business all over the African continent. Thousands and thousands of Chinese have been relocated to Africa to organise and deliver many precious raw materials. China desperately needs _______________ own shortage of raw materials. Over the last decade a staggering 750,000 Chinese have resettled in Africa. Many more are coming. Africa is rapidly becoming ____________________ or satellite state.

So why China? The answer is simple - money, ___________________ by many African leaders to prop themselves up without fear of retribution from western countries interfering in their business. ___________________, which fuel wars which keeps them in power. The Chinese are not actually '___________' the countries like the former western imperialists did. Instead they are simply exploiting its mineral wealth in return for cash, giving assistance with new developments like dams. More importantly they are rebuilding the infrastructure. Thousands of miles of new __________________ are being built. Whilst the colonial powers like Britain built the original network chronic under investment and deterioration over the last 50 years ___________________ ones were desperately needed in order to carry the tons of illegally logged timber, _________________ to ports.

DISCUSSION

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

Did the headline make you want to read the article?
Is China the new colonial power in Africa?
Why aren't western countries clamouring to re-establish their presence in Africa?
Shouldn't western countries be really worried about what China is doing in Africa?
If you choose to live in Africa which country would you live in? Why this one?
Is it right the Chinese are taking over Africa?
Would you like to live in China? Why? Why not?
Should illegal logging be stopped?
What can be done to stop illegal logging?
Do you think it right that China simply shrugs its shoulders at the criticism by others of its policy in Africa by simply saying 'business is business'?

---------------------------------------------------------------------

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

What do you think about what you read?
Are Chinese goods shoddy?
Have you ever bought any Chinese goods? What? When? What quality were the goods you bought?
What can the people of Africa do to get their share of this new found wealth their leaders mostly keep for themselves?
Should loans to African countries be transparent or is asking no questions in today's world okay?
Do you think the Chinese will ever be kicked out of Africa like the imperial powers were?
Why are arms so important to some African countries?
Would you work in Africa if your company offered you a position there?
Why have some African countries prospered and many others failed?
Did you like this discussion?

SPEAKING

ROLE PLAY: AFRICA
What do you know about the following countries...?

In pairs or small groups: Together find out what you can about some previous members of the British monarchy i.e. other Kings and Queens. (You may need to use the internet to help you)

	Findings
1) Zimbabwe
2) Angola
3) South Africa
4) Democratic Republic of Congo
5) Nigeria
6) Sudan
7) Kenya

The teacher will choose some pairs to discuss their findings in front of the class.

LANGUAGE:

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

Less (1)__ one hundred years ago Africa was still being colonised by the western imperial powers. Large parts had still (2)__ to be discovered. The British Empire was (3)__ its peak with red covering many countries on the new map of the African continent. France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Belgium all had colonies there. Yet today where are they all? Having kicked out their imperial western masters and gained their independence (4)__ African leaders have turned their (5)__ on the west. Instead they have set their eyes firmly towards the east. One country has emerged as the new dragon above any other. That country is China. Hungry for raw materials, land and energy China has for a number of years now been quietly doing massive amounts of new business all over the African continent. Thousands and thousands of Chinese have been relocated to Africa to organise and deliver many precious raw materials. China desperately needs them due to its own shortage of raw materials. Over the last decade a staggering 750,000 Chinese have resettled in Africa. Many more are coming. Africa is rapidly becoming a new Chinese colony or satellite state. So why China? The answer is simple - money, which is being used by many African leaders to prop themselves up without fear of retribution from western countries interfering in their business. This buys them arms, which fuel wars which keeps them in power. The Chinese are not actually 'taking over' the countries like the former (6)__ imperialists did. Instead they are simply exploiting its mineral wealth in return for cash, giving assistance with (7)__ developments like dams. (8)__ importantly they are rebuilding the infrastructure. Thousands of miles of new roads and railways are being built. (9)__ the colonial powers like Britain built the original network chronic under investment and deterioration over the last 50 years or so has meant new ones were desperately needed in order to carry the tons of (10)__ logged timber, (11)__ and diamonds to (12)__.

1.	(a)	then	(b)	than	(c)	these	(d)	them
2.	(a)	vet	(b)	wet	(c)	yet	(d)	met
3.	(a)	near	(b)	nearing	(c)	nearly	(d)	nears
4.	(a)	today's	(b)	next weeks	(c)	tomorrows	(d)	yesterdays
5.	(a)	heads	(b)	fronts	(c)	tables	(d)	backs
6.	(a)	northern	(b)	eastern	(c)	western	(d)	southern
7.	(a)	imperial	(b)	new	(c)	mini	(d)	old
8.	(a)	most	(b)	many	(c)	less	(d)	more
9.	(a)	whilst	(b)	when	(c)	while	(d)	whose
10.	(a)	illegalise	(b)	illegal's	(c)	illegal	(d)	illegally
11.	(a)	silver	(b)	gold	(c)	bronze	(d)	zinc
12.	(a)	porter	(b)	stations	(c)	ports	(d)	port

GRAMMAR 1: MIDWAY

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Is Africa a new Chinese colony? Less (1)__ one hundred years ago Africa was still being colonised by the western imperial powers. Large parts had (2)__ yet to be discovered. The British Empire was nearing its peak with red covering many countries on the new map of the African continent. France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Belgium all had colonies (3)__. Yet today (4)__ are they all? Having kicked out their imperial western masters and gained (5)__ independence today's African leaders have turned their backs on the west. Instead they have set their eyes firmly towards the east. One country has emerged as the new dragon above any other. That country is China. Hungry for raw materials, land and energy China has for a number of years now been quietly doing massive amounts of new business all over the African continent. Thousands and thousands of Chinese have been relocated to Africa to organise and deliver (6)__ precious raw materials. China desperately needs (7)__ due to its own shortage of raw materials. Over the last decade a staggering 750,000 Chinese have resettled in Africa. Many (8)__ are coming. Africa is rapidly becoming a new Chinese colony or satellite state.		where there many their more them still than
So why China? The answer is simple - money, which is being used by (1)__ African leaders to prop themselves up without fear of retribution (2)__ western countries interfering in (3)__ business. This buys (4)__ arms, which fuel wars (5)__ keeps them in power. The Chinese are not actually 'taking over' the countries like the former western imperialists did. Instead (6)__ are simply exploiting its mineral wealth in return for cash, giving assistance (7)__ new developments like dams. More importantly they are rebuilding the infrastructure. Thousands of miles of new roads and railways are being built. (8)__ the colonial powers like Britain built the original network chronic under investment and deterioration over the last 50 years or so has meant new ones were desperately needed in order to carry the tons of illegally logged timber, gold and diamonds to ports.		they many which from their them whilst with

GRAMMAR 2: EASY

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Is Africa a new Chinese colony? Less than one hundred years ago Africa was still being colonised (7)__ the western imperial powers. Large parts had still yet to be discovered. The British Empire was nearing its peak with red covering many countries on the new map of the African continent. France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Belgium all had colonies there. Yet today where are they all? Having kicked out their imperial western masters and gained their independence today's African leaders have turned their backs (1)__ the west. Instead they have set their eyes firmly towards the east. One country has emerged (8)__ the new dragon above any other. That country is China. Hungry for raw materials, land and energy China has for a number (3)__ years now been quietly doing massive amounts of new business all over (7)__ African continent. Thousands (4)__ thousands of Chinese have been relocated to Africa to organise and deliver many precious raw materials. China desperately needs them due to its own shortage of raw materials. Over the last decade (5)__ staggering 750,000 Chinese have resettled in Africa. Many more are coming. Africa is rapidly becoming a new Chinese colony (2)__ satellite state.		and of or the a as by on
So (1)__ China? The answer is simple - money, which is being used by many African leaders to prop themselves up without fear of retribution from western countries interfering in their business. This buys them arms, which fuel wars which keeps them in power. The Chinese are not actually 'taking over' (2)__ countries like the former western imperialists did. Instead they are simply exploiting (3)__ mineral wealth (4)__ return for cash, giving assistance with new developments like dams. More importantly they are rebuilding (5)__ infrastructure. Thousands of miles of new roads and railways are being built. Whilst the colonial powers like Britain built the original network chronic under investment and deterioration over the last 50 years (6)__ (7)__ so has meant new ones were desperately needed in order to carry the tons of illegally logged timber, gold (8)__ diamonds to ports.		its in and why So the or the

HOMEWORK

1. NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: Write an article on "China as an economic tiger" (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 "China as an economic tiger" (Minimum 200 words) 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."

PUZZLE: There are 17 words & phrases: 8 across, 9 down.

SPELLING TEST

The teacher will ask the class individually to spell the following words that are in the article:

1 independence	11 shoddy
2 investment	12 transparency
3 deterioration	13 criticism
4 illegally	14 advocacy
5 retribution	15 regimes
6 imperialists	16 outcry
7 precious	17 impoverished
8 desperately	18 spiralling
9 meanwhile	19 interfering
10 survival	20 infrastructure

ANSWERS: 1

TRUE / FALSE:

a. F

b. F

c. F

d. T

e. F

f. F

g. T

h. F

SYNONYM MATCH:

a.	Instead	Alternatively
b.	Massive	Colossal
c.	Shortage	Lack
d.	Due	Expected
e.	Peak	Height
f.	Material	Goods
g.	Without	Beyond
h.	Retribution	Payback
i.	Tons	Kilograms
j.	Chronic	Continuing

PHRASE MATCH:

a.	...one hundred years ago Africa was still	being colonised...
b.	FThe British Empire	was nearing its peak
c.	One country has emerged as	the new dragon above any other
d.	Thousands and thousands of Chinese	have been relocated to Africa
e.	Over the last decade a staggering 750,000	Chinese have resettled in Africa
f.	Africa is rapidly becoming	a new Chinese colony
g.	This buys them arms, which	fuel wars which keeps them in power
h.	The Chinese are not actually	'taking over' the countries
i.	Instead they are simply	exploiting its mineral wealth
j.	Thousands of miles of new roads and	railways are being built

ANSWERS: 2 There are 54 countries in Africa.

GAP FILL: Is Africa a new Chinese colony? Less than one hundred years ago Africa was still being colonised by the western imperial powers. Large parts had still yet to be discovered. The British Empire was nearing its peak with red covering many countries on the new map of the African continent. France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Belgium all had colonies there. Yet today where are they all? Having kicked out their imperial western masters and gained their independence today's African leaders have turned their backs on the west. Instead they have set their eyes firmly towards the east. One country has emerged as the new dragon above any other. That country is China. Hungry for raw materials, land and energy China has for a number of years now been quietly doing massive amounts of new business all over the African continent. Thousands and thousands of Chinese have been relocated to Africa to organise and deliver many precious raw materials. China desperately needs them due to its own shortage of raw materials. Over the last decade a staggering 750,000 Chinese have resettled in Africa. Many more are coming. Africa is rapidly becoming a new Chinese colony or satellite state. So why China? The answer is simple - money, which is being used by many African leaders to prop themselves up without fear of retribution from western countries interfering in their business. This buys them arms, which fuel wars which keeps them in power. The Chinese are not actually 'taking over' the countries like the former western imperialists did. Instead they are simply exploiting its mineral wealth in return for cash, giving assistance with new developments like dams. More importantly they are rebuilding the infrastructure. Thousands of miles of new roads and railways are being built. Whilst the colonial powers like Britain built the original network chronic under investment and deterioration over the last 50 years or so has meant new ones were desperately needed in order to carry the tons of illegally logged timber, gold and diamonds to ports.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - b

2 - c

3 - b

4 - a

5 - d

6 - c

7 - b

8 - d

9 - a

10 - d

11 - b

12 - c

PUZZLE: