Assignment C, Part 2.1 - Authentic text
Select an authentic text* for this class:
A mixed nationality general English class of 15 Advanced C1-C2 adults (9 women, 6 men, ages 20-40 years) living
/studying in an English speaking country.
4 have university places for the next academic year and want to improve their fluency in preparation. 2 are
married to people from the host country – one is at home with a young child and the other works in a restaurant. 4
are work colleagues who have been sent by their company to work in this country for a year. The other 5 have
come on short term visits specifically to improve their English.
*An authentic text is one which was originally aimed at native or proficient English speakers, and was not designed
as a piece of language teaching material.
Do not use material found on educational websites. You must demonstrate your own ability to find and exploit
authentic materials.
The text should be 500 - 700 words long. (4-5 minutes for listening texts).
In this document provide a copy of the reading text or a transcript of the listening text you have chosen. Ensure
the text is referenced, and if you have selected a listening text or video, provide a link.
If you choose a reading text, you can shorten and/or adapt it slightly. Please supply a copy of the original and your
adapted version. In section b) of the essay briefly explain the decisions you've made about changing the text.
Highlight 12 vocabulary items (words or phrases) which it would be useful to pre-teach.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Humanity needs leadership and solidarity to defeat the coronavirus
The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and
the greatest challenge we have faced since World War Two. Since its emergence in
Asia late last year, the virus has spread to every continent except Antarctica.
We have now reached the tragic milestone of one million deaths, and the human family
is suffering under an almost intolerable burden of loss.
“The climbing death toll is staggering, and we must work together to slow the spread of
this virus.” - UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.
But the pandemic is much more than a health crisis, it's also an unprecedent socio-
economic crisis. Stressing every one of the countries it touches, it has the potential to
create devastating social, economic and political effects that will leave deep and
longstanding scars.
Every day, people are losing jobs and income, with no way of knowing when normality
will return. Small island nations, heavily dependent on tourism, have empty hotels and
deserted beaches. The International Labour Organization estimates that 400 million
jobs could be lost.
The World Bank projects a US$110 billion decline in remittances this year, which could
mean 800 million people will not be able to meet their basic needs.
Select an authentic text* for this class:
A mixed nationality general English class of 15 Advanced C1-C2 adults (9 women, 6 men, ages 20-40 years) living
/studying in an English speaking country.
4 have university places for the next academic year and want to improve their fluency in preparation. 2 are
married to people from the host country – one is at home with a young child and the other works in a restaurant. 4
are work colleagues who have been sent by their company to work in this country for a year. The other 5 have
come on short term visits specifically to improve their English.
*An authentic text is one which was originally aimed at native or proficient English speakers, and was not designed
as a piece of language teaching material.
Do not use material found on educational websites. You must demonstrate your own ability to find and exploit
authentic materials.
The text should be 500 - 700 words long. (4-5 minutes for listening texts).
In this document provide a copy of the reading text or a transcript of the listening text you have chosen. Ensure
the text is referenced, and if you have selected a listening text or video, provide a link.
If you choose a reading text, you can shorten and/or adapt it slightly. Please supply a copy of the original and your
adapted version. In section b) of the essay briefly explain the decisions you've made about changing the text.
Highlight 12 vocabulary items (words or phrases) which it would be useful to pre-teach.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Humanity needs leadership and solidarity to defeat the coronavirus
The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and
the greatest challenge we have faced since World War Two. Since its emergence in
Asia late last year, the virus has spread to every continent except Antarctica.
We have now reached the tragic milestone of one million deaths, and the human family
is suffering under an almost intolerable burden of loss.
“The climbing death toll is staggering, and we must work together to slow the spread of
this virus.” - UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.
But the pandemic is much more than a health crisis, it's also an unprecedent socio-
economic crisis. Stressing every one of the countries it touches, it has the potential to
create devastating social, economic and political effects that will leave deep and
longstanding scars.
Every day, people are losing jobs and income, with no way of knowing when normality
will return. Small island nations, heavily dependent on tourism, have empty hotels and
deserted beaches. The International Labour Organization estimates that 400 million
jobs could be lost.
The World Bank projects a US$110 billion decline in remittances this year, which could
mean 800 million people will not be able to meet their basic needs.
