Famous People Lessons: English Lesson on Hu Jintao

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THE READING / TAPESCRIPT

Hu Jintao is the leader of China. His official title is Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. Hu is a lifetime communist and one of China’s youngest leaders. He has continued to transform China’s economy and bring wealth to the people. While he has been in office, China has become a stronger world power, both economically and politically.

Hu was born in 1942. His mother died when he was seven and he was raised by an aunt. He was a very bright student at school and excelled in most of his subjects. He graduated in 1965 with a degree in hydraulic engineering. After graduating, Hu began working as an engineer at a power station and became manager of his local Communist party.

Hu built up a good reputation as a leader and in 1982 the government invited him to train for higher things. He moved to Beijing and slowly worked his way up through the ranks. In 1992, Hu was recommended as a future leader of China. Six years later, he was Vice-President of China and took an active role in foreign affairs.

Hu became President of China in 2003 after a short-lived power struggle with a political rival. He immediately launched his "Eight Honours and Eight Disgraces" campaign to improve morality and community spirit in China. Hu has introduced reforms to reduce the gap between the rich and poor. Internationally, he has opened China up more and improved China’s ties with Japan and Taiwan.

246 words

Flesch Kinkaid 9.0

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.

SYNONYM MATCH

Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?

Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.	official	a.	change
2	transform	b.	brought up
3.	wealth	c.	intelligent
4.	raised	d.	shone
5.	bright	e.	proper
6.	excelled	f.	riches
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.	reputation	g.	relations
8.	moved	h.	opponent
9.	role	i.	name
10.	rival	j.	difference
11	gap	k	part
12	ties	l	relocated

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.	He has continued to transform	a.	role in foreign affairs
2	China had become a	b.	Communist party
3.	He was a very bright	c.	between the rich and poor
4.	a degree	d.	China’s economy
5.	became manager of his local	e.	student at school
6.	slowly worked his way	f.	with Japan and Taiwan
7.	took an active	g.	in hydraulic engineering
8.	improve morality and community	h.	up through the ranks
9.	reduce the gap	i.	stronger world power
10.	improved China’s ties	j.	spirit in China

LISTENING GAP FILL

Hu Jintao is the leader of China. His _________________ Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. _________________ communist and one of China’s youngest leaders. He has continued to transform China’s economy and _________________ the people. While he has been in office, China has become a stronger _________________ economically and politically.

Hu was born in 1942. His mother died when he was seven and he _________________ aunt. He was a very bright student at school and _________________ of his subjects. He graduated in _________________ in hydraulic engineering. After graduating, Hu began working as an engineer at a power station and became _________________ Communist party.

Hu _________________ reputation as a leader and in 1982 the government invited him to train _________________. He moved to Beijing and slowly worked his way __________________. In 1992, Hu was recommended as a future leader of China. Six years later, he was Vice-President of China and __________________ in foreign affairs.

Hu became President of China in 2003 after _________________ struggle with _________________. He immediately launched his "Eight Honours and Eight Disgraces" campaign to improve morality and _________________ in China. Hu has introduced reforms to reduce the gap between the rich and poor. Internationally, he has opened China up more and improved _________________ Japan and Taiwan.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.

Hu Jintao is the leader of China. His official / officially title is Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. Hu is a life cycle / lifetime communist and one of China’s youngest leaders. He has continued to transform China’s economy and bring wealth / wealthy to the people. While he has been in office / official, China has become a stronger world power, both economically and politically.

Hu was born in 1942. His mother died when he was seven and he was risen / raised by an aunt. He was a very brightness / bright student at school and excelled / excel in most of his subjects. He graduated in 1965 with a degree in hydraulic engineering. After graduating, Hu began working as / was an engineer at a power station and became manager of his local Communist party.

Hu built up a good reputation was / as a leader and in 1982 the government invited him to train for / by higher things. He moved to Beijing and slowly worked his way up through the tanks / ranks. In 1992, Hu was recommended as a future leader of China. Six years later, he was Vice-President of China and took an activity / active role in foreign affairs.

Hu became President of China in 2003 after a short-lived fight / power struggle with a political rival / rivalry. He immediately launched his "Eight Honours and Eight Disgraces" campaign to improve morality and community spiritual / spirit in China. Hu has introduced reforms to reduce the gap / gaping between the rich and poor. Internationally, he has opened China up more and improved China’s ties with Japan and Taiwan.

SPELLING

The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	His oiffiacl title is Paramount Leader
2.	He has continued to oatfrnsmr China’s economy
3.	While he has been in efoifc
4.	economically and iatipylllco
Paragraph 2
5.	he was sriead by an aunt
6.	He was a very ghtrib student
7.	He ugdadaret in 1965
8.	Hu began working as an ngneiere
Paragraph 3
9.	Hu tulbi up a good reputation
10.	worked his way up through the rsank
11.	a rufute leader of China
12.	took an active role in foreign sarfifa
Paragraph 4
13.	political valir
14.	community ispitr
15.	cderue the gap between the rich and poor
16.	mirvepdo China’s ties with Japan and Taiwan

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	communist and one of China’s youngest leaders. He has continued to transform China’s economy and bring wealth to
( )	Hu built up a good reputation as a leader and in 1982 the government invited him to train for higher
( )	more and improved China’s ties with Japan and Taiwan.
( )	a future leader of China. Six years later, he was Vice-President of China and took an active role in foreign affairs.
( )	Hu was born in 1942. His mother died when he was seven and he was raised by an
( )	struggle with a political rival. He immediately launched his "Eight Honours and Eight Disgraces" campaign
( )	the people. While he has been in office, China has become a stronger world power, both economically and politically.
( )	gap between the rich and poor. Internationally, he has opened China up
( )	to improve morality and community spirit in China. Hu has introduced reforms to reduce the
( )	at a power station and became manager of his local Communist party.
( )	in hydraulic engineering. After graduating, Hu began working as an engineer
( )	things. He moved to Beijing and slowly worked his way up through the ranks. In 1992, Hu was recommended as
( 1 )	Hu Jintao is the leader of China. His official title is Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. Hu is a lifetime
( )	aunt. He was a very bright student at school and excelled in most of his subjects. He graduated in 1965 with a degree
( )	Hu became President of China in 2003 after a short-lived power

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.	has to China’s He continued transform economy
2.	world China become stronger power had a
3.	seven mother when was His died he
4.	very a was He school at student bright
5.	an a Hu as at station working engineer power began
6.	a leader good Hu reputation built as up a
7.	the through up way his worked slowly ranks
8.	morality community in improve and spirit China
9.	reduce poor and rich the between gap the
10.	Taiwan China’s with and improved ties Japan

HU JINTAO DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	What do you know about Hu Jintao?
2.	Would you like to meet Hu Jintao?
3.	What would you like to know about Hu Jintao and why?
4.	___________________________________________________
5.	___________________________________________________
6.	___________________________________________________
7.	___________________________________________________
8.	___________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	What did you learn from this text about Hu Jintao?
2.	What questions would you like to ask Hu Jintao?
3.	What would his answers be to those questions?
4.	___________________________________________________
5.	___________________________________________________
6.	___________________________________________________
7.	___________________________________________________
8.	___________________________________________________

HU JINTAO SURVEY

Write five questions about Hu Jintao in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out. Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about Hu Jintao for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

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. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Hu Jintao. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. HU JINTAO POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Hu Jintao. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Hu Jintao. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he does every day and what he thinks about.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to Hu Jintao. Ask him three questions about his life. Give him three suggestions on what he should do in his future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Hu Jintao expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.	official	a.	proper
2	transform	b.	change
3.	wealth	c.	riches
4.	raised	d.	brought up
5.	bright	e.	intelligent
6.	excelled	f.	shone
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.	reputation	g.	name
8.	moved	h.	relocated
9.	role	i.	part
10.	rival	j.	opponent
11	gap	k	difference
12	ties	l	relations

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	He has continued to transform	a.	China’s economy
2	China had become a	b.	stronger world power
3.	He was a very bright	c.	student at school
4.	a degree	d.	in hydraulic engineering
5.	became manager of his local	e.	Communist party
6.	slowly worked his way	f.	up through the ranks
7.	took an active	g.	role in foreign affairs
8.	improve morality and community	h.	spirit in China
9.	reduce the gap	i.	between the rich and poor
10.	improved China’s ties	j.	with Japan and Taiwan

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.

Famous People Lessons.com English Lesson Plan on Hu Jintao