English Lesson on Shirin Ebadi

 Famous People Lessons.com

  PDF | Word | Quiz | Help my site

Follow this site and my other sites on Facebook.

THE LESSON ON SHIRIN EBADI

Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Shirin Ebadi. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:


READ

Shirin Ebadi, born in 1947, is an Iranian lawyer and human rights activist. She is most famous for winning the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize. The panel of judges praised her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women's and children's rights. She is the only Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive the prize.

Ebadi grew up in Teheran and graduated in law in 1965. Four years later, she qualified to become a judge. In 1975, she became the first woman in her country to be in charge of a court. Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the new government decided it was against Islam for women to be judges, so Ebadi was demoted to a secretarial position.

Ebadi was allowed to practice as a lawyer in 1993. She famously defended high-profile cases, especially those who challenged Iran’s leadership. She started campaigning for greater legal protection for women and children, gender equality, and democracy. She drafted a text against the physical abuse of children, which passed into law in 2002. She also founded the Children's Rights Support Association in Iran.

Winning the Nobel Prize propelled Ebadi onto the world stage. The selection committee praised her as a "courageous person" who "has never heeded the threat to her own safety". In 2008 she spoke about the dangers she faces in pursuing human rights: “Threats against my life and security and those of my family, which began some time ago, have intensified," she said.

246 words

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

MY e-BOOK


SEE A SAMPLE


Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.

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.

activist

a.

major

2

significant

b.

downgraded

3.

pioneering

c.

after

4.

be in charge of

d.

original

5.

following

e.

campaigner

6.

demoted

f.

control


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

lawyer

g.

wrote

8.

drafted

h.

brave

9.

abuse

i.

strengthened

10.

propelled

j.

attorney

11

courageous

k

mistreatment

12

intensified

l

launched

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

human rights

a.

for women to be judges

2

judges praised her significant

b.

pursuing human rights

3.

she qualified

c.

and pioneering efforts

4.

it was against Islam

d.

Ebadi onto the world stage

5.

Ebadi was demoted to a

e.

to become a judge

6.

campaigning for greater legal

f.

activist

7.

She drafted a text against the physical

g.

to her own safety

8.

Winning the Nobel Prize propelled

h.

secretarial position

9.

never heeded the threat

i.

protection for women

10.

the dangers she faces in

j.

abuse of children

LISTENING GAP FILL

Shirin Ebadi, born in 1947, is an Iranian lawyer and __________________. She is most famous for winning the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize. The panel of ________________ her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women's and children's rights. ________________ Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive the prize.

Ebadi grew up in Teheran and ________________ in 1965. Four years later, she qualified to become a judge. In 1975, she became the first woman in her country to ________________ court. Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the new government decided it was against Islam for women to be judges, so Ebadi ________________ a secretarial position.

Ebadi was allowed ______________ lawyer in 1993. She famously defended high-profile cases, especially those who challenged Iran’s leadership. She started campaigning _______________ protection for women and children, gender equality, and democracy. She _______________ against the physical abuse of children, which passed into law in 2002. She also founded the Children's Rights Support Association in Iran.

Winning the Nobel Prize propelled Ebadi ________________ stage. The selection committee praised her as a "courageous person" who "has never ________________ to her own safety". In 2008 she spoke about the dangers she faces in pursuing human rights: “Threats against my life and security and those of my family, which began ________________, have intensified," she said.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

Shirin Ebadi, born in 1947, is an Iranian lawyer / law and human rights activist. She is most famous for winning the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize. The panel / pane of judges praised her significant and pioneering effects / efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women's and children's rights. She is the only Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive / received the prize.

Ebadi grew up in Teheran and graduated in law in 1965. Four years later, she qualified / qualification to become a judge. In 1975, she became the first woman in her country to be in change / charge of a court. Following / Followed the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the new government decided it was against Islam for women to be judges, so Ebadi was demoted / promoted to a secretarial position.

Ebadi was / has allowed to practice as a lawyer in 1993. She famously defended high-profile cases, especially them / those who challenged Iran’s leadership. She started campaigning for / with greater legal protection for women and children, gender equality, and democracy. She drafted a text against the physical abuse of children, which past / passed into law in 2002. She also founded the Children's Rights Support Association in Iran.

Winning the Nobel Prize propped / propelled Ebadi onto the world stage. The selection committee praised her was / as a "courageous person" who "has never heeded / headed the threat to her own safety". In 2008 she spoke about the dangers she faces in pursuing human rights: “Threats against my life and security and those of my family, which began / begun some time ago, have intensified," she said.

SPELLING

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

Paragraph 1
 

1.

an Iranian lawyer and human rights tiivtsca

2.

The panel of judges sdireap her

3.

pioneering otfefrs for democracy and human rights

4.

the first Muslim woman to verceie the prize


Paragraph 2
 

5.

aaudertdg in law

6.

she aiufeqldi to become a judge

7.

the new government iddecde it was against Islam

8.

Ebadi was demoted to a secretarial itpnisoo


Paragraph 3
 

9.

Ebadi was loaeldw to practice as a lawyer in 1993

10.

high-pifeorl cases

11.

greater lleag protection for women and children

12.

the physical baues of children


Paragraph 4
 

13.

propelled Ebadi onto the world getsa

14.

the threat to her own etyafs

15.

she spoke about the dangers she cfaes

16.

Threats against my life and tiysucre

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

stage. The selection committee praised her as a "courageous person" who "has never heeded the

(    )

 

Ebadi grew up in Teheran and graduated in law in 1965. Four years later, she qualified

(    )

 

my life and security and those of my family, which began some time ago, have intensified," she said.

(    )

 

to become a judge. In 1975, she became the first woman in her country to be in charge of a

(    )

 

women to be judges, so Ebadi was demoted to a secretarial position.

(    )

 

abuse of children, which passed into law in 2002. She also founded the Children's Rights Support Association in Iran.

(    )

 

Ebadi was allowed to practice as a lawyer in 1993. She famously defended

(    )

 

threat to her own safety". In 2008 she spoke about the dangers she faces in pursuing human rights: “Threats against

1  )

 

Shirin Ebadi, born in 1947, is an Iranian lawyer and human rights activist. She is most famous for

(    )

 

protection for women and children, gender equality, and democracy. She drafted a text against the physical

(    )

 

rights, especially women's and children's rights. She is the only Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive the prize.

(    )

 

court. Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the new government decided it was against Islam for

(    )

 

Winning the Nobel Prize propelled Ebadi onto the world

(    )

 

winning the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize. The panel of judges praised her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human

(    )

 

high-profile cases, especially those who challenged Iran’s leadership. She started campaigning for greater legal

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.

activist   Iranian   and   rights   an   lawyer   human

2.

efforts  of  her  pioneering  panel  praised  and  The  judges  significant

3.

the   receive   to   woman   Muslim   first   the   prize

4.

become   to   qualified   she   judge   a

5.

Ebadi   demoted   a   position   was   to   secretarial

6.

1993   allowed   as   in   was   practice   lawyer   Ebadi   to   a

7.

for  for  women  greater  and  legal  children  protection  campaigning

8.

person   her   The   as   selection   a   committee   courageous   praised

9.

dangers   faces   spoke   the   she   she   about

10.

those  of  my  family  Threats  against  my  life  and  security  and

SHIRIN EBADI DISCUSSION (Write your questions)

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

1.

What do you know about Shirin Ebadi?

2.

Would you like to meet Shirin Ebadi?

3.

What would you like to know about Shirin Ebadi 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 Shirin Ebadi?

2.

What questions would you like to ask Shirin Ebadi?

3.

What would her answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

THE SHIRIN EBADI SURVEY

Write five questions about Shirin Ebadi 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 Shirin Ebadi 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 Shirin Ebadi. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. SHIRIN EBADI POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Shirin Ebadi. 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 Shirin Ebadi. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she does every day and what she 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 Shirin Ebadi. Ask her three questions about her life. Give her three suggestions on what she should do in her future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Shirin Ebadi expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

activist

a.

campaigner

2

significant

b.

major

3.

pioneering

c.

original

4.

be in charge of

d.

control

5.

following

e.

after

6.

demoted

f.

downgraded


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

lawyer

g.

attorney

8.

drafted

h.

wrote

9.

abuse

i.

mistreatment

10.

propelled

j.

launched

11

courageous

k

brave

12

intensified

l

strengthened

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

human rights

a.

activist

2

judges praised her significant

b.

and pioneering efforts

3.

she qualified

c.

to become a judge

4.

it was against Islam

d.

for women to be judges

5.

Ebadi was demoted to a

e.

secretarial position

6.

campaigning for greater legal

f.

protection for women

7.

She drafted a text against the physical

g.

abuse of children

8.

Winning the Nobel Prize propelled

h.

Ebadi onto the world stage

9.

never heeded the threat

i.

to her own safety

10.

the dangers she faces in

j.

pursuing human rights

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.

HELP SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE

SEAN BANVILLE'S OTHER WEBSITES

I also have thousands of other lessons on my other websites.