Racing to English True Stories

Mahatma Gandhi

TEACHERS NOTES

Language learning objectives:
Language function	Narrating
Sentence structure	He persuaded people not to
Key vocabulary	persuaded surprised ruled taught	independence non-violent protest foreign especially	salt tax prison

SUGGESTED LESSON OUTLINE

Talk about the key vocabulary (see `Language learning objectives' above) to ensure that learners understand the words. Ask learners to read the passage silently. Ask learners to work in pairs or small groups to retell the anecdote (without looking at the passage) either in English or their first language. Groups then reread the passage together. Pairs or threes ask each other the suggested questions. Written work.

BLANKS The passage with the blanks in it could be used at any stage - with advanced learners it could be used at the beginning of the lesson - with others it could be used in the middle of the lesson or at the end.

Racing to English True Stories

Mahatma Gandhi

In the 1980s there was a teacher called Baikunth. He never wore a tie. The other teachers were surprised that he never wore a tie. One day he told them why. When he was a boy he lived in India; that was in the 1940s. At that time India was ruled by Britain. Many Indians wanted independence from Britain. Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most important people trying to get independence. Many people wanted to fight the British, but Gandhi taught another way. He taught `non-violent protest'. For example, he persuaded people not to buy foreign things. He persuaded them only to buy things made in India. He especially persuaded them not to buy British things.		Ghandi 1869 - 1948
Everyone had to pay tax when they bought salt. In 1930, Gandhi persuaded people to make their own salt from the sea so they didn't have to pay the tax. Gandhi walked 250 miles to the sea to make some of the salt.
Statue of Mahatma Gandhi in New York	Another thing he did was to persuade men not to wear ties. The British expected men who worked for them to wear ties. Not wearing a tie was a small, peaceful thing but it showed the British that Indians wanted independence. When Baikunth's father heard about this, he decided to stop wearing a tie. He called all the family into the garden. He built a fire and he burnt all his ties. Baikunth and his brothers burnt their ties too and Baikunth never wore a tie again. Gandhi was sent to prison many times, but in 1947 India became independent.

Ask your friend:

• Have you ever persuaded someone to do something? What was it?

• Has someone ever persuaded you to do something? What was it?

Gandhi persuaded people to do many things. Look in the story and write five things that he persuaded people to do.

Now write the answers to the questions above.

Racing to English True Stories

Mahatma Gandhi

Talk about this passage with a friend. Decide which phrase fits in each space:

In the 1980s there was a teacher called Baikunth. When he was a boy he lived in India; that was in the 1940s. At that time India was __________ 1 __________ . Many Indians wanted __________ 2 __________ Britain. Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most important people trying to get independence. Many people wanted to fight the British, but Gandhi taught another way. He taught __________ 3 __________.

For example, he __________ 4 __________ not to buy foreign things. He
__________ 5 __________ only to buy things made in India. He especially persuaded them not to buy British things. Everyone had to __________ 6 __________ when they bought salt. In 1930, Gandhi persuaded people to make their own salt
__________ 7 __________ so they didn't have to pay the tax. Gandhi walked 250 miles __________ 8 __________ to make some of the salt.

Another thing he did was to persuade men not to wear ties. The British expected men who worked for them to wear ties too. Not wearing a tie was a small, peaceful thing but it showed the British that Indians __________ 9 __________.

When Baikunth's father heard about this, he __________ 10 __________ stop wearing a tie. He called all the family into the garden. He __________ 11 __________ and he burnt all his ties. Baikunth and his brothers burnt their ties and Baikunth never wore a tie again.

Gandhi was sent to prison many times, but in 1947 India __________ 12 __________.

became independent

built a fire

decided to

from the sea

independence from

non-violent protest

pay tax

persuaded people

persuaded them

ruled by Britain

to the sea

wanted independence

© Gordon Ward 2010. Photocopiable only for use in the purchasing institution. Step 23: True Stories - Mahatma Gandhi

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