Academic English

Content Warning: This conversation deals with war, trauma, and political conflict.

In small groups, try to predict the following ideas about the news report before you listen:

1. the setting, or where the action is taking place (e.g., in the countryside, along a beach, in the city, at sea, in the jungle, in the mountains, etc.);
2. how long has the war being going on;
3. problems that have resulted from the war (e.g., hunger, loss of life, orphaned children, blackouts, sniper attacks, starvation, disease, malnutrition, looting, landmines, etc.)

1. War is sometimes necessary to protect a country.
2. Peace talks are more powerful than weapons.
3. Soldiers should always be respected, no matter the war.
4. War rarely solves the real problem.
5. Countries should never get involved in wars that don’t affect them directly.
6. Peacekeeping missions can help stop future wars.
7. People should refuse to fight if they believe the war is wrong.
8. The media influences how we feel about war and peace.
9. A peaceful protest can be more effective than violence.
10. Education is the best long-term solution to war.

Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

1. Pretend that it is one week after the original story was broadcasted, and you have been asked to report on the recent events of the conflict. First, write your story in about 50 words and then read your story. Share your production with your group or the class.
2. Use a search engine to find an article(s) that discusses one or more problems associated with war. Write a short essay on the information you found. Give a short presentation to the class or in a small group.
3. Discuss the following ideas with another student:
   • the greatest areas of conflict in the world and how they affect you directly or indirectly
   • the main causes of these conflicts
   • the keys to resolving these problems