DISCUSSION CLUB

A WAY OF PRACTISING SPEAKING SKILL

The purpose

Students have the chance to: overcome the barrier of saying a word in other language than their mother tongue. practise not only speaking but also listening and reading skills. discuss controversial topics. express their opinions. exchange ideas solve problems

Threats

offending students (be careful with the choice of the topic) silence during the lesson

Other

number of the participants (groups up to 12 people) age of the participants level B2 and above

TABOOS AND ISSUES

by Richard Mac Andrew and Ron Martinez

Controversial topics

Bribery and corruption Sex for sale Children who kill The death penalty Nobody needs a gun, It should be banned Legalising drugs, etc.

Children who kill

1.

2.

3.

In your country, at what age is someone considered an adult? Until that age, do children who commit crimes get special treatment, or do they get the same penalties adults get? At what age does a child know right from wrong? 5 years old, 10 years old? 15 years old?

Children who kill

Work with a partner. Circle the vocabulary item which does not belong in each group. 1. lawyer, evidence, defendant, judge 2. murder, fine, assault, manslaughter 3. adult, minor, infant, adolescent 4. witness, criminal, suspect, offender 5. parole, release, sentence, pardon

Discuss the following situations in small groups. Decide what should happen to the people in each situation. Should they go to prison an adult prison or a young offenders institution? How long for? Or should something else happen?
1.

Sean, 9, brings a gun to school. He shows it to his friends and says: Nobody messes with me or I use this!

2.

Two teenagers, aged 15 and 16, come to school with two semi-automatic guns and begin shooting people at random. They shoot 5 of their classmates dead and critically wound another 12. The 16-year-old commits a suicide before he is captured, the younger boy is caught and arrested. A 6-year-old boy gets so angry with his younger brother that he sits on him until he stops breathing, shouting I hate you, I hate you. The brother dies. The 6-year-old told his parents that he had had enough of his brother.
A 16-year-old shoots his father dead after the father has a violent confrontation with the boys mother. He got what he deserved says the boy. My mother has put up with enough abuse already

3.

4.

Children who kill

Discuss: 1. If a child kills who do you think is most responsible? The parents? The society? The child? 2. Are there any obvious ways to prevent such horrors? What are they?