English Lesson on Noam Chomsky

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THE LESSON ON NAOM CHOMSKY

Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Noam Chomsky. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:


READ

Noam Chomsky is an American author, lecturer, linguist, philosopher, and political commentator. He is a top professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His ideas completely changed teachers’ understanding of how we learn languages. Chomsky is well known for his prolific research and publications. He is cited as a source more often than any other living person.

Chomsky was born in 1928 in Pennsylvania, USA. The young Noam got into writing and politics at a very early age. When he was 10, he wrote an essay on the threat of fascism during the Spanish Civil War. Needless to say, he was a gifted student and he followed current events very closely. He graduated with an MA in philosophy and linguistics.

Chomsky received his Ph.D. in linguistics in 1955. His thesis helped shape today’s understanding of what language is and how we all learn it so naturally. He joined the teaching staff of MIT in 1955 and has remained there to this day. Chomsky has spent decades there researching and writing on language, psychology and politics and has influenced hundreds of researchers and academics.

Chomsky is a fierce critic of US foreign policy and continually questions the misuse of American power. He has strongly opposed all wars from Vietnam to Iraq.  He is largely shunned by the media in the United States for being unpatriotic and has received death threats. However, he is in high demand for his ideas and speeches around the world.

245 words

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.

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SYNONYM MATCH

Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

top

a.

talented

2

well known

b.

danger

3.

cited

c.

master’s degree

4.

threat

d.

famous

5.

gifted

e.

quoted

6.

MA

f.

leading


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

shape

g.

abuse

8.

remained

h.

affected

9.

influenced

i.

avoided

10.

fierce

j.

stayed

11

misuse

k

form

12

shunned

l

strong

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

teachers’ understanding of

a.

of researchers and academics

2

He is cited

b.

he was a gifted student

3.

Noam got into writing and politics

c.

threats

4.

he wrote an essay on

d.

as a source

5.

Needless to say,

e.

at a very early age

6.

shape today’s understanding

f.

US foreign policy

7.

influenced hundreds

g.

the threat of fascism

8.

Chomsky is a fierce critic of

h.

how we learn languages

9.

opposed all wars

i.

of what language is

10.

has received death

j.

from Vietnam to Iraq

LISTENING GAP FILL

Noam Chomsky is an American author, ________________, philosopher, and political commentator. He is a top professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His ________________ changed teachers’ understanding of how we learn languages. Chomsky is well known for his ________________ publications. He ________________ more often than any other living person.

Chomsky was born in 1928 in Pennsylvania, USA. ________________ into writing and politics at a very early age. When he was 10, he wrote an essay on the ________________ during the Spanish Civil War. Needless to say, he was ________________ he followed current events very closely. He graduated ________________ philosophy and linguistics.

Chomsky received his Ph.D. in linguistics in 1955. His thesis ________________  understanding of what language is and how we all learn it so naturally. He joined the teaching ________________ and has ________________ this day. Chomsky has spent decades there researching and writing on language, psychology and politics and has ________________ of researchers and academics.

Chomsky is ________________ US foreign policy and continually questions the misuse of American power. He has ________________ wars from Vietnam to Iraq.  He is ________________ the media in the United States ________________ and has received death threats. However, he is in high demand for his ideas and speeches around the world.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.

Noam Chomsky is an American author, lecturer / lecture, linguist, philosopher, and political commentator. He is a top prof / professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His ideas / idea completely changed teachers’ understanding of how we learn languages. Chomsky is well known for his prolific research and publications. He is cited / sighted as a source more often than any other living person.

Chomsky was born in 1928 in Pennsylvania, USA. The young / youngest Noam got into writing / written and politics at a very early age. When he was 10, he wrote an essay on the threat of fascism during the Spanish Civil War. Needless to said / say, he was a gifted student and he followed current events very closely / closest. He graduated with an MA in philosophy and linguistics.

Chomsky received his Ph.D. in linguistics in 1955. His thesis helped shape / sharp today’s understanding of what language is and how we all learn it so neutrally / naturally. He joined the teaching staff of MIT in 1955 and has remained there to that / this day. Chomsky has spent decades there researching and writing on language, psychology and politics and has influenced hundreds of researchers / research and academics.

Chomsky is a fierce criticism / critic of US foreign policy and continually questions the misuse of American power. He has strongly opposed / opposition all wars from Vietnam to Iraq.  He is largely shunned by / of the media in the United States for being unpatriotic and has received death threats. However, he is in high demand / supply for his ideas and speeches around the world.

SPELLING

The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1
 

1.

Noam Chomsky is an American uraoht

2.

pfrrooess of linguistics

3.

how we learn agneulsag

4.

He is cited as a scerou


Paragraph 2
 

5.

got into riintgw and politics at a very early age

6.

an essay on the hterta of fascism

7.

he was a fetgid student

8.

He uddertaga with an MA


Paragraph 3
 

9.

helped pedhas today’s understanding

10.

He dinoej the teaching staff of MIT

11.

Chomsky has spent decedas there

12.

He has infdenluec hundreds of researchers


Paragraph 4
 

13.

a fierce criict of US foreign policy

14.

He has strongly epodspo all wars

15.

shunned by the madie

16.

he is in high edamdn for his ideas and speeches

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

age. When he was 10, he wrote an essay on the threat of fascism during the Spanish Civil War. Needless to say, he was a

(    )

 

and politics. He has influenced hundreds of researchers and academics.

(    )

 

we learn languages. Chomsky is well known for his prolific research and

(    )

 

gifted student and he followed current events very closely. He graduated with an MA in philosophy and linguistics.

(    )

 

is and how we all learn it so naturally. He joined the teaching staff of MIT in 1955 and has remained there to this

(    )

 

media in the United States for being unpatriotic and has received death

(    )

 

threats. However, he is in high demand for his ideas and speeches around the world.

(    )

 

Chomsky is a fierce critic of US foreign policy and continually questions the misuse of American

( 1 )

 

Noam Chomsky is an American author, lecturer, linguist, philosopher, and political commentator. He is a top professor

(    )

 

of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His ideas completely changed teachers’ understanding of how

(    )

 

power. He has strongly opposed all wars from Vietnam to Iraq.  He is largely shunned by the

(    )

 

publications. He is cited as a source more often than any other living person.

(    )

 

day. Chomsky has spent decades there researching and writing on language, psychology

(    )

 

Chomsky was born in 1928 in Pennsylvania, USA. The young Noam got into writing and politics at a very early

(    )

 

Chomsky received his Ph.D. in linguistics in 1955. His thesis helped shape today’s understanding of what language

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.

understanding    how    learn    teachers’    of    we    languages

2.

living    more    than    other    person    often    any

3.

politics    at    a    very    early    age    Noam    got   into   writing   and

4.

he    the    wrote    threat    an    of    essay    fascism    on

5.

to    a    say    gifted    ,    student    he    Needless    was

6.

researching    there    decades    spent    has    Chomsky

7.

He    researchers    of    hundreds    influenced    has

8.

US    a    foreign    fierce    policy    critic    Chomsky    of    is

9.

He    wars    all    opposed    strongly    has

10.

shunned    the    He    largely    by    media    is

NOAM CHOMSKY DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

What do you know about Noam Chomsky?

2.

Would you like to meet Noam Chomsky?

3.

What would you like to know about Noam Chomsky and why?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

What did you learn from this text about Noam Chomsky?

2.

What questions would you like to ask Noam Chomsky?

3.

What would his answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

NOAM CHOMSKY SURVEY

Write five questions about Noam Chomsky in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.  Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about Noam Chomsky for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Noam Chomsky. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. NOAM CHOMSKY POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Noam Chomsky. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Noam Chomsky. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he does every day and what he thinks about.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to Noam Chomsky. Ask him three questions about his life. Give him three suggestions on what he should do in his future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Noam Chomsky expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

top

a.

leading

2

well known

b.

famous

3.

cited

c.

quoted

4.

threat

d.

danger

5.

gifted

e.

talented

6.

MA

f.

master’s degree


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

shape

g.

form

8.

remained

h.

stayed

9.

influenced

i.

affected

10.

fierce

j.

strong

11

misuse

k

abuse

12

shunned

l

avoided

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

teachers’ understanding of

a.

how we learn languages

2

He is cited

b.

as a source

3.

Noam got into writing and politics

c.

at a very early age

4.

he wrote an essay on

d.

the threat of fascism

5.

Needless to say,

e.

he was a gifted student

6.

shape today’s understanding

f.

of what language is

7.

influenced hundreds

g.

of researchers and academics

8.

Chomsky is a fierce critic of

h.

US foreign policy

9.

opposed all wars

i.

from Vietnam to Iraq

10.

has received death

j.

threats

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.

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