START

1. THE EURO: What do you know about the euro? Are you for or against it? Would you like your country to join the euro? (Assuming your country doesn’t already have it) Why? 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. EURO: Think of 3 general advantages and 3 disadvantages of adopting the euro. List them below. With your partner discuss your findings. The teacher will select some pairs to discuss in front of the class.                                                                        

6. DEBATE: In pairs/threes/fours: You are from Montenegro / Luxembourg / Malta / Slovenia / Your country (if EU eurozone). Discuss how the euro changed your life when it was introduced. (Imagine!) Five minutes.

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

8. ECONOMY: Think of 3 business reasons why Slovakia should introduce the euro. Compare with your partner and discuss. The teacher will pick some students to compare findings.                                                                                      

9. PREPARATIONS: What preparations is your company doing (if in Slovakia) for the adoption of the euro? Is your company geared up for it?

10. PRESS CONFERENCE: In pairs: You are at the press conference at ‘adopting the euro’ held by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.  One of you is the Slovak Prime Minister. The other is a journalist from a local TV station. The journalist has to ask 3 questions. The Prime Minister has to say a few words at the beginning before taking some questions. Role play: 5 minutes.

11. QUICK DISCUSSION: Student(s) A thinks Slovakia should adopt the euro. Student(s) B thinks Slovakia shouldn’t adopt the euro.

12. EURO 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)         What did Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico say on Thursday?                     

2)         What was the average inflation rate in Slovakia in 2007?                                

3)         What was last week’s conference about?                                                     

4)         What rankled Fico?                                                                         

5)         How many countries are currently in the eurozone?                              

6)         Who struck a discordant note?                                                      

7)         Who said, “This is not the time to discuss ‘Yes’ or ‘No’?”                           

8)         What is also fracturing?                                                                           

Student B                                                                           

1)         Who is head of the Slovak central bank?                                             

2)         What happened in 2004 and 2005?                                                      

3)         What is the euro good for?                                                          

4)         What did the Christian Democrats warn of?                                          

5)         How many percent of Slovaks are now against the euro?                               

6)         What was the previous percentage of Slovaks in favour of the euro?         

7)         Why did Slovak Prime Minister lash out and at who?                            

8)         According to Miroslav Plojhar what are Slovakia’s chances of joining the euro?                         

13. DEBATE: In pairs/threes/fours: You are: A farmer from east Slovakia / A banker from Bratislava / A government minister / A ski hotel owner in the Tatras / A tyre importer in Slovakia. Debate the euro and its implications on you. Five minutes.

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

a)   The euro ______________________________________________________

b)   Fears of _______________________________________________________

c)    Fico said,  _____________________________________________________

d)   Business leaders ________________________________________________

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.

Slovak PM quells anti-euro campaign

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Thursday ________________ would meet the criteria for adopting the euro in early 2009. He lashed out at those against euro adoption _________________ spreading fears of soaring prices and worse living conditions in the euro’s wake. “If we have to be afraid of something, it is the atmosphere ____________________ about the euro in Slovakia.” Clearly rankled Fico accused the media and “internal politics” for a campaign that has soured Slovaks against the euro. He added, “The campaign _____________ indirect attack on the government now that membership of the 15-strong eurozone looks a near certainty. Previous cross-party political backing for early euro adoption is also fracturing. Whilst most parties praised _____________ conference this week on adopting the euro the opposition Christian Democrats struck a discordant note, warning __________________ “maybe damaging for the economy and most citizens.”

Head of the Slovak central bank Ivan Sramkp responded Friday insisting the time for debating _________________ euro had passed, as authorities stepped up a campaign to calm mounting public fears over switching to the single currency. “This is not the time to discuss ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. We had that debate in 2004 and 2005. There is strong consensus that the euro is good for business and the economy. Slovakia’s chances of joining __________________ year are “Very good,” with inflation, the main qualification concern, looking to average 1.9% last year and to continue ________________ 2008.” Domestic fears have soared. 52% of Slovaks now oppose euro adoption. Head of the governments euro information campaign Igor Barat: “_________________ time Slovaks have had a negative perception of the euro. Previous figures showed 55-57% in favour. Our most important message is to dampen unfounded fears of rising prices.” Analysts remain __________________. Miroslav Plojhar an economist at JP Morgan: “_______________ chances of euro adoption around 80%.” EU leaders will issue their verdict on Slovakia’s euro bid in June.

DISCUSSION

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

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

b)   Are you in favour of the euro?

c)    Have you ever had to change currencies?

d)   Has your country ever changed its own currency?

e)   If yes, when?

f)     Is the EU too strict on new countries joining the euro?

g)   Do you debate the euro with your friends?

h)   Do you think prices will rise a lot in Slovakia if the euro is adopted?

i)     What does the euro do to your pocket?

j)     Will you need a new purse/wallet in Slovakia if the euro is adopted?

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

a)   Will inflation rise a lot in Slovakia if the euro is adopted?

b)   Is Slovakia doing the right thing by adopting the Euro?

c)    Why do you think the UK doesn’t join the euro?

d)   How do you think people in euro land see the euro today?

e)   Are people outside the eurozone scared of the euro?

f)     Have people in the east and centre of Slovakia the most to worry about more so than their Bratislava counterparts?

g)   Do you want the euro?

h)   Will the introduction of the euro make it easier for you when going on holiday?

i)     If Montenegro can adopt the euro surely Slovakia can and without great price rises?

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: (10-15 minutes)

With your partner or in groups of three/four:

You are at the conference of adopting the euro. You are part taking part in a debate…  

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.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on (1)___ that his country would meet the criteria for (2)___ the euro in early 2009. He lashed out at those against euro adoption who he blames for spreading fears of soaring prices and worse living conditions in the euro’s wake. “If we have to be afraid of something, it is the atmosphere that is being spread about the euro in Slovakia.” (3)___ rankled Fico accused the media and “internal politics” for a campaign that has soured Slovaks against the euro. He added, “The campaign (4)___ to an indirect attack on the government now that membership of the 15-strong eurozone looks a (5)___ certainty. Previous cross-party political backing for early euro adoption is also fracturing. Whilst most (6)___ praised the euro at a conference this week on adopting the euro the opposition Christian Democrats struck a discordant note, warning that fast adoption “maybe damaging for the economy and most citizens.”

Head of the Slovak central bank Ivan Sramkp responded Friday insisting the time for debating the merits of the euro had passed, as authorities (7)___up a campaign to calm mounting public fears over switching to the single currency. “This is not the time to discuss ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. We had that debate in 2004 and 2005. There is strong consensus that the euro is good for business and the economy. Slovakia’s chances of (8)___ the eurozone next year are “Very good,” with inflation, the main qualification concern, looking to average 1.9% last year and to continue at that level in 2008.” Domestic (9)___ have soared. 52% of Slovaks now oppose euro adoption. Head of the governments euro information campaign Igor Barat: “This is the first time Slovaks have had a negative perception of the euro. Previous (10)___ showed 55-57% in favour. Our most important message is to (11)___ unfounded fears of rising prices.” Analysts remain steadfastly upbeat. Miroslav Plojhar an economist at JP Morgan: “I would put the chances of euro adoption around 80%.” EU leaders will issue (12)___ verdict on Slovakia’s euro bid in June.

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 The Euro. (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 ‘The Euro.’ 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: Slovak PM quells anti-euro campaign: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Thursday that his country would meet the criteria for adopting the euro in early 2009. He lashed out at those against euro adoption who he blames for spreading fears of soaring prices and worse living conditions in the euro’s wake. “If we have to be afraid of something, it is the atmosphere that is being spread about the euro in Slovakia.” Clearly rankled Fico accused the media and “internal politics” for a campaign that has soured Slovaks against the euro. He added, “The campaign mounted to an indirect attack on the government now that membership of the 15-strong eurozone looks a near certainty. Previous cross-party political backing for early euro adoption is also fracturing. Whilst most parties praised the euro at a conference this week on adopting the euro the opposition Christian Democrats struck a discordant note, warning that fast adoption “maybe damaging for the economy and most citizens.” Head of the Slovak central bank Ivan Sramkp responded Friday insisting the time for debating the merits of the euro had passed, as authorities stepped up a campaign to calm mounting public fears over switching to the single currency. “This is not the time to discuss ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. We had that debate in 2004 and 2005. There is strong consensus that the euro is good for business and the economy. Slovakia’s chances of joining the eurozone next year are “Very good,” with inflation, the main qualification concern, looking to average 1.9% last year and to continue at that level in 2008.” Domestic fears have soared. 52% of Slovaks now oppose euro adoption. Head of the governments euro information campaign Igor Barat: “This is the first time Slovaks have had a negative perception of the euro. Previous figures showed 55-57% in favour. Our most important message is to dampen unfounded fears of rising prices.” Analysts remain steadfastly upbeat. Miroslav Plojhar an economist at JP Morgan: “I would put the chances of euro adoption around 80%.” EU leaders will issue their verdict on Slovakia’s euro bid in June.

LANGUAGE WORK