Short stories can be a powerful means of getting students to talk about a topic. While reading a story, students may pick up new words to express their feelings about a particular subject. Activities that are tailor-made for a short story are very useful for giving students the opportunity to air their views, boost their confidence, and interact with their classmates.
The short story about refugees below is topical at present and can be used with B2 level students onwards.
THE JOURNEY
LEVEL: B2
AIM: To raise awareness about immigration and refugees using a short story. Students will have the opportunity to discuss issues related to this topic using the vocabulary from the story.
INSTRUCTIONS: Show the following photo of a hummingbird. Ask students if hummingbirds are common where they live and what they know about this bird. Explain that they are going to read a short story entitled “The Journey”, which is about two hummingbirds who have travelled a long way and talk about the scenes of refugees they can see below.
Give a copy of the story entitled “The Journey” to each student. Explain that there are 10 underlined words in bold throughout the story. Ask the students to read the story individually and afterwards, in pairs, find the definitions of the words in bold.
| THE JOURNEY “Phew, we made it Mummy!” “We certainly did, my little one. It was such a long way, wasn’t it? We covered thousands of kilometres.” “Looking down, I saw so much, Mummy. There were huge forests, wide lakes, snow-capped mountains, cattle 1grazing, industries blowing out black smoke and people. So many people walking in a long line, Mummy! Where were all those humans heading?” “Well, my sweetie, we’re living through hard times. Those people we saw are called refugees.” “What does ‘refugees’ mean, Mummy?” “Refugees are people who have to leave their country because of persecution, war or violence. They 2flee from their hometowns and cover long distances often walking across rough terrains. They can barely take any belongings with them as they normally have to leave their homes quickly.” “Why, Mummy?” “Because if they stay in their villages or towns, they may be killed. There are many wars going on where two opposing sides are fighting each other and destroying buildings and homes.” “That’s terrible!” “So, all those refugees you saw are looking for a safer place to build their homes and 3settle down.” “It’s a bit like us trying to find a place to make a nest and sometimes escaping danger.” “Yes, perhaps it is, my sweet one. The world is full of 4perils.” The hummingbirds stayed in silence for a few minutes while each one reflected on their journey and rested their wings as they had flapped them thousands of times to get to where they were. “We really put a lot of effort into getting to this 5safe haven, didn’t we, Mummy?” “We certainly did. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted!” “Imagine those people down below carrying their possessions on their backs. I even saw an old lady being carried on a kind of 6stretcher.” “Yes, little one. It really isn’t easy. Not only do they have to walk a long way, but they also have to fit into an unknown environment, where they need to adapt and survive, often in challenging circumstances. We know this feeling, don’t we?” “Yes, Mummy. We’re always on the move adapting to new climates and food.” “However, those people down there often have to learn a new language and different customs. Their situation as 7newcomers in a foreign land also requires a warm reception from those already living there so that things can work out.” “That’s a lot to 8take in, Mummy! It must be really tough.” “Yes, my sweet one.” The young bird was 9weary from flying, talking, reflecting, thinking…. He soon fell asleep while his Mum went out to find food for them. At least, she didn’t have to carry him or any heavy belongings on her back. She collected some 10twigs and branches to make a more solid nest. While she was flying around, she wondered why she had heard so many different ways of saying her own species – “hummingbird” – on her travels. She had learnt that in English speaking countries, they were called hummingbirds because of the humming sound created by their wings, which flap at high frequencies audible to humans. In Brazil, they were known as “flower kissers” perhaps because they suck nectar out of brightly coloured flowers. The French called them “fly birds” because of their small size and the way they flap their wings like flies. There were so many different names for her species. “Interesting!” she thought to herself. Then she said out loud in the hope that someone might be listening “Isn’t it interesting that people from many different nationalities and races have various concepts of the same thing or word. Isn’t it interesting that we experience the world subjectively? Isn’t it wonderful that diversity provides so many opportunities to learn about the world we live in? What a shame there are so many conflicts and wars.” |
Ask the students to find the definitions of the words below in pairs.
THE JOURNEY – ACTIVITY
a) In pairs, find definitions in the dictionary for the following words, shown in bold in the text
| 1 | grazing |
| 2 | flee |
| 3 | settle down |
| 4 | perils |
| 5 | safe haven |
| 6 | stretcher |
| 7 | newcomers |
| 8 | take in |
| 9 | weary |
| 10 | twigs |
Answers:
| 1 | grazing | to feed on grass, as cattle do |
| 2 | flee | to run away from a place or a situation of danger |
| 3 | settle down | to begin to live a steady life, living in one place |
| 4 | perils | dangers |
| 5 | safe haven | a place where you feel protected |
| 6 | stretcher | a framework of two poles with a piece of canvas used for carrying sick or injured people |
| 7 | newcomers | people who have recently arrived in a place |
| 8 | take in | to absorb information |
| 9 | weary | very tired |
| 10 | twigs | small branches from a tree without leaves |
Finally, ask the students to discuss the following questions.
THE JOURNEY – ACTIVITY
| b) Discuss the following questions in small groups. 1. Try to reconstruct the story in small groups. One person remembers the first part and then the other the next part and so on. 2. Do you know where your grandparents and great grandparents came from? Tell your partner what you know about their lives and any journeys they made. 3. Have you ever been to a foreign country? Tell your partner how you felt being there. 4. How would you feel if a family from another country became your neighbours? 5. What do you think governments can do to help refugees? |
I dedicate this story to all refugees around the world.
