English Lesson on Atatürk

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THE LESSON ON MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK

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


READ

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is the founder of the Republic of Turkey. His surname, Ataturk, means "Father of the Turks". He was born in 1881 in Salonika, then part of the Ottoman Empire. He had a long and active military career before entering politics. He was a visionary and revolutionary leader who swiftly modernized Turkey after becoming its first president. His legacy is seen throughout Turkish life today.

When Atatürk was 12, he joined a military school. He later graduated from a military academy in Istanbul in 1905. He quickly established his military reputation by fighting against the Italians in Libya in 1911, and in the Balkan Wars between 1912-1913. He became a hero by defending the Dardanelles against the Allies in 1915. Atatürk was promoted to general at the age of 35 because of his military skills.

Atatürk played a key role in the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922). He started a nationalist revolution and successfully fought off European armies that had carved up and occupied Turkey after WWI. In 1921, he established a temporary government in Ankara. Two years later, in 1923, Turkey became a secular republic with Atatürk as its president. He remained in office until 1938.

As president, Mustafa Kemal's reforms secularized schools and encouraged education for girls. He also asked women to work to build Turkey's economy. He replaced Islamic courts with secular civil law and replaced Arabic script with a Latin-based Turkish alphabet. He also promoted a more western style of dressing. Atatürk died on November 10, 1938, aged 57 years old. He remains a revered figure in Turkey.

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

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SYNONYM MATCH

Paragraphs 1 and 2

 

 

1.

founder

a.

pioneering

2

revolutionary

b.

elevated

3.

throughout

c.

protecting

4.

reputation

d.

creator

5.

defending

e.

name

6.

promoted

f.

everywhere in

Paragraphs 3 and 4

 

 

7.

key

g.

stayed

8.

carved

h.

nonreligious

9.

remained

i.

sliced

10.

reforms

j.

crucial

11

secular

k

encouraged

12

promoted

l

improvements

PHRASE MATCH

1.

Atatürk is the founder of the

a.

Turkish life today

2

He was a visionary

b.

up and occupied Turkey

3.

His legacy is seen throughout

c.

his military reputation

4.

He quickly established

d.

revolution

5.

Atatürk was promoted to

e.

Republic of Turkey

6.

He started a nationalist

f.

general at the age of 35

7.

European armies that had carved

g.

figure in Turkey

8.

He replaced Islamic courts

h.

and revolutionary leader

9.

He also promoted a more

i.

with secular civil law

10.

He remains a revered

j.

western style of dressing

LISTENING GAP FILL

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1) ________________ the Republic of Turkey. His surname, Ataturk, means "Father of the Turks". He was born in 1881 in Salonika, then part of the Ottoman Empire. He had a long and active military career before entering politics. (2) ________________ and revolutionary leader who swiftly modernized Turkey after becoming its first president. (3) ________________ throughout Turkish life today.

When Atatürk was 12, he joined a military school. He later graduated from (4) ________________ Istanbul in 1905. He quickly established his military (5) ________________ against the Italians in Libya in 1911, and in the Balkan Wars between 1912-1913. He became a hero by defending the Dardanelles against the Allies in 1915. Atatürk was  (6) ________________ at the age of 35 because of his military skills.

Atatürk played a key role in the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922). He started (7) __________________ and successfully fought off European armies that (8) ________________ occupied Turkey after WWI. In 1921, he established a temporary government in Ankara. Two years later, in 1923, Turkey (9) ____________________ with Atatürk as its president. He remained in office until 1938.

As president, Mustafa Kemal's reforms (10) ________________ and encouraged education for girls. He also asked women to work to build Turkey's economy. He replaced Islamic courts with secular civil law and replaced Arabic script (11) ________________ Turkish alphabet. He also promoted a more western style of dressing. Atatürk died on November 10, 1938, aged 57 years old. He (12) ________________ figure in Turkey.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is the finder / founder of the Republic of Turkey. His surname, Ataturk, means "Father of the Turks". He was born in 1881 in Salonika, then part / partner of the Ottoman Empire. He had a long and active military career before entered / entering politics. He was a visionary and revolutionary leader who swiftly modernized / modernization Turkey after becoming its first president. His legacy is seen throughout Turkish life today.

When Atatürk was 12, he joined a military school. He after / later graduated from a military academy in Istanbul in 1905. He quickly established his military reputable / reputation by fighting against the Italians in Libya in 1911, and in the Balkan Wars between 1912-1913. He became a hero by / as defending the Dardanelles against the Allies in 1915. Atatürk was promoted / promotion to general at the age of 35 because of his military skills.

Atatürk played a key / lock role in the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922). He started a nationalist revolution and successfully fought on / off European armies that had carved up and occupation / occupied Turkey after WWI. In 1921, he established a temporary government in Ankara. Two years later, in 1923, Turkey became a secular republic with Atatürk as its president. He remained at / in office until 1938.

As / Was president, Mustafa Kemal's reforms secularized schools and encouraged education for girls. He also asked women to toil / work to build Turkey's economy. He replaced Islamic courts with secular civil law and replaced Arabic script / words with a Latin-based Turkish alphabet. He also promoted a more western style of dressing. Atatürk died on November 10, 1938, aged 57 years old. He remains a reveres / revered figure in Turkey.

SPELLING

These jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1

1.

the neorudf of the Republic of Turkey

2.

He had a long and active military aeecrr

3.

He was a nvryiosia and revolutionary leader

4.

His alyceg is seen throughout Turkish life today

Paragraph 2

5.

He later teaadrdug from a military academy

6.

He quickly established his military iuertoatnp

7.

He became a hero by dngefeind the Dardanelles against the Allies

8.

Atatürk was mpootder to general at the age of 35

Paragraph 3

9.

European armies that had vdaecr up and occupied Turkey

10.

he established a epyaromrt government in Ankara

11.

Turkey became a culsera republic

12.

He rnemedai in office until 1938

Paragraph 4

13.

dcueeaongr education for girls

14.

He alperdec Islamic courts

15.

He also moptredo a more western style of dressing

16.

He remains a rreeevd figure in Turkey

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

and active military career before entering politics. He was a visionary and revolutionary

(    )

years later, in 1923, Turkey became a secular republic with Atatürk as its president. He remained in office until 1938.

(    )

between 1912-1913. He became a hero by defending the Dardanelles against the Allies in 1915. Atatürk

(    )

Atatürk played a key role in the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1922). He started a nationalist

(    )

education for girls. He also asked women to work to build Turkey's economy. He replaced Islamic courts with secular

(    )

As president, Mustafa Kemal's reforms secularized schools and encouraged

(    )

was promoted to general at the age of 35 because of his military skills.

(    )

civil law and replaced Arabic script with a Latin-based Turkish alphabet. He also promoted a more

(    )

western style of dressing. Atatürk died on November 10, 1938, aged 57 years old. He remains a revered figure in Turkey.

(    )

up and occupied Turkey after WWI. In 1921, he established a temporary government in Ankara. Two

1  )

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is the founder of the Republic of Turkey. His surname, Ataturk,

(    )

revolution and successfully fought off European armies that had carved

(    )

leader who swiftly modernized Turkey after becoming its first president. His legacy is seen throughout Turkish life today.

(    )

When Atatürk was 12, he joined a military school. He later graduated from a military academy in Istanbul in 1905. He quickly

(    )

means "Father of the Turks". He was born in 1881 in Salonika, then part of the Ottoman Empire. He had a long

(    )

established his military reputation by fighting against the Italians in Libya in 1911, and in the Balkan Wars

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.

a     had     He     career     military     active     and     long

2.

and     visionary     a     was     He     leader     revolutionary.    

3.

legacy     life     is     today     seen     throughout     His     Turkish.    

4.

He     established     military     quickly     his     reputation.    

5.

to     general     at    the     age     of    35    Atatürk    was    promoted.    

6.

up     Armies     and     that     occupied     had     Turkey     carved.    

7.

established     He     Ankara     in     government     temporary     a.    

8.

civil     Islamic     law     courts     with     He     secular     replaced.    

9.

dressing    also    more     of     He     a     style    promoted     western.

10.

Turkey     in     figure     revered     a     remains     He.    

DISCUSSION (Write your questions)

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

1.

What do you know about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk?

2.

What three adjectives best Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (and why)?

3.

What would you like to know about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk 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 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk?

2.

What questions would you like to have asked Mustafa Kemal Atatürk?

3.

What would his answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

THE MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK SURVEY

Write five questions about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk 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 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk 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 other search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

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

3. MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages in the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Include an imaginary interview with an expert on him.

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

5. LETTER: Write a letter to a Mustafa Kemal Atatürk expert. Ask him/her three questions about Atatürk's life. Give him/her three of your opinions on Atatürk. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your "Mustafa Kemal Atatürk expert" partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2

 

 

1.

founder

a.

creator

2

revolutionary

b.

pioneering

3.

throughout

c.

everywhere in

4.

reputation

d.

name

5.

defending

e.

protecting

6.

promoted

f.

elevated

Paragraphs 3 and 4

 

 

7.

key

g.

crucial

8.

carved

h.

sliced

9.

remained

i.

stayed

10.

reforms

j.

improvements

11

secular

k

nonreligious

12

promoted

l

encouraged

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

Atatürk is the founder of the

a.

Republic of Turkey

2

He was a visionary

b.

and revolutionary leader

3.

His legacy is seen throughout

c.

Turkish life today

4.

He quickly established

d.

his military reputation

5.

Atatürk was promoted to

e.

general at the age of 35

6.

He started a nationalist

f.

revolution

7.

European armies that had carved

g.

up and occupied Turkey

8.

He replaced Islamic courts

h.

with secular civil law

9.

He also promoted a more

i.

western style of dressing

10.

He remains a revered

j.

figure in Turkey

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

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

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