Terrorist Leader Osama Bin Laden Dead (Intermediate News Lesson)

1)    How would you define terrorism?

2)    What were you doing when the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened?

U.S. President Barack Obama's announcement on Sunday, May 1^st, that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has been killed triggered celebrations across America. For the U.S. army and its supporters, this was the day they were fighting for.

Bin Laden was found and killed in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. U.S. intelligence found the compound by tracking one of his personal couriers. The name of the courier was received years earlier through “questionable” methods used on terrorist suspects in CIA prisons.

After a short fight, U.S. military forces captured bin Laden's body. The US media reports that the body was later buried at sea to according to Islamic practice of a burial within 24 hours and to prevent a burial site from becoming a shrine.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton commented that the recent protests in the Arab world against authoritarian governments are another sign of the defeat of al-Qaeda and its ideology. US allies are calling the news an achievement. Other leaders, such as Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Gaza, have called bin Laden a “Muslim and Arabic warrior” who fought two superpowers in the name of jihad.

US embassies are on now on the lookout for counterattacks attacks by al-Qaeda.

Bin Laden claimed responsibility for the 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. He was at large for nearly 10 years, despite a 25 million dollar reward for information leading to his capture. [240 words]

1)    True or False: Several protests have occurred across America.

2)    How was bin Laden's location found?

3)    What did the author mean by writing that the methods of questioning suspects by the CIA were “questionable”?

4)    Where is bin Laden's body presently? Why is it there?

5)    According to Hillary Clinton, what is another sign of the end of Al Qaeda?

6)    True of False: There have already been counterattacks made by Al Qaeda.

Match the words with their meaning as used in the news lesson.

trigger (verb)	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend
compound	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend
intelligence	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend
courier	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend
prevent	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend
shrine	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend
authoritarian	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend
ally	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend
jihad	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend
on the lookout	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend
counterattack	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend
at large	free, not capturedmessengerstopwatchful, attentivean area surrounded by a wallsecret informationstrict and unfair governmentretaliation, revengeholy place of worshipstart, set off, lead toMuslim holy warsupporter, friend

Answers

• trigger - start, set off, lead to
• compound - an area surrounded by walls
• intelligence - secret information
• courier - messenger
• prevent - stop
• shrine - holy place of worship
• authoritarian - strict and unfair government
• ally - supporter, friend
• jihad - Muslim holy war
• on the lookout - watchful, attentive
• counterattack - retaliation, revenge
• at large - free, not captured

Terrorism ESL News Lesson Plan : Connect the below idea(s) to make a sentence.

Possible answers

• The announcement of the new law triggered protests across the country.
• U.S. intelligence about bin Laden's courier helped the U.S. find bin Laden himself.
• Firefighters visit schools to teach kids how to prevent fires.
• There are many shrines to Buddha in Japan.
• People gathered on the streets to protest against their authoritarian government.
• Britain is an ally of the U.S.
• Osama bin Laden fought in the name of jihad.
• The U.S. government fears counterattacks by Al Qaeda and its supporters.
• The criminal, who had escaped from jail last week, is still at large.

Student A: You don't believe that bin Laden was killed. Why as the body buried at sea? Where is the evidence? Suggest to your partner that the story is just a lie. (extra: many people believe the 9/11 terrorist attacks were done by the U.S. government, and not Al Qaeda. Bring this into the conversation if you want.)

Student B:  You are happy that bin Laden has been killed. You are hopeful that the war against terrorism will end soon. Tell your partner that you are glad the world will soon be peaceful.

Terrorism ESL News Lesson Plan: Debate 2

Student A: Even though bin Laden has been killed, you don't support the use of torture methods on prisoners. You believe these methods were used in prisons such as Guatanamo Bay. Tell your partner the U.S. government needs to respect basic human rights, even when dealing with terrorist suspects.

Student B: You support the use of torture, even horrible torture, to get information from terrorist suspects. Think of reasons to support your argument. Your partner will begin the conversation.

Terrorism ESL News Lesson Plan: Discussion Questions

(Write your answers in the Comments section below if you wish).

1. Can you imagine celebrating the death of someone?
2. Do you think there is terrorist activity happening in your area?
3. How do you think the discovery of the compound will affect US-Pakistan relations?
4. Would you go to war to fight terrorism?
5. Who are the most wanted criminals in your country?
6. Was the US-lead invasion of Iraq in 2003 an act of terrorism?
7. A month after 9/11, the Bush government signed a law named the US Patriot Act. This law allowed the government to closely monitor telephone calls, emails, and other personal data. Would you support such a law in an emergency?

News lesson plan copyright Matthew Barton of Englishcurrent.com