06/11/2015 The Emotional Robot 1 of 13
(c) Jaime Selwood ENW Episode 219 TECHNOLOGY
ENW 324 Introduction
This week’s English News Weekly podcast reports on a
momentous decision by the former Soviet republic of
Kazakhstan. The Central Asian nation has announced that it will
ditch the Cyrillic alphabet writing system, used in the country
for more than 100 years, in favour of the Latin alphabet. Why
has Kazakhstan made this decision? What is the hoped for
impact of this huge change?
English News Weekly will try to explain all…
Alphabet Soup in Qazaqstan
http://pod.flare.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/cms/enw.php
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THE ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY PODCAST |JAIME SELWOOD
FLASHBACK – ENW 298: SCHOOLBOYS WEARING SKIRTS..?
Contents Pages
Part 1 | Warm Ups
Odd-One-Out Page 1
Brainstorm Page 1
Cyrillic Countries Page 1 / 2
Quiz | This Week Page 2
Part 2 | Before Listening / Reading
Jumbled Words Page 3
True or False Page 3
Vocabulary |Antonyms Page 3
Part 3 | Listening / Reading
The News Story |362 Words Page 4
What Do You Think..? Page 4
Part 4 | After Listening / Reading
Q & A Page 5
A & Q Page 5
Part 5 | Extra Stuff
Extra English I Page 6
7 to Chinwag Page 6
Writing Activity Page 7
And Finally….
Did You Know? Page 7
TV Links Page 8
The Answers Pages 8-10
| A1 This symbol = Listening activity in the podcast.
| A1 ポッドキャストに含まれているリスニング演習。
1 | The English News Weekly Podcast | © Jaime Selwood 2017
©2011 - 2018 | Ep. 324 | Alphabet Soup in Qazakstan EDUCATION
[201802-01] | Alphabet Soup in Qazaqstan | February 2nd
2018
| PART 1 | Warm Ups |
Warm Up | 1 Odd 1 Out
Look at the four words below, which word is different from the other three?
Write your reason in the box underneath. Check your answer later.
a) Russia b) Hungary c) Ukraine d) Serbia
My Reason… _____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Warm Up | 2 Brainstorm
How many different words can you connect to the word(s) in the box? Can you think of at least 10 words? Why do you think this?
| Footwear |
Warm Up | 3 Cyrillic Alphabet Countries
Look the flags of countries that still use the Cyrillic alphabet.
Can you match the flag with the country from page 2?
1: 2: Kazakhstan 3: 4: 5:
6: 7: 8: 9: 10:
2 | The English News Weekly Podcast | © Jaime Selwood 2017
©2011 - 2018 | Ep. 324 | Alphabet Soup in Qazakstan EDUCATION
Cyrillic Alphabet | Which Countries Use it..?
Read the list of iconic trainers (and years) below and match them with the
correct trainer / sneaker photo from page 1.
A BELARUS F MONGOLIA
B BOSNIA G MONTENEGRO
C BULGARIA H RUSSIA
D KAZAKHSTAN I SERBIA
E MACEDONIA J UKRAINE
Warm Up | 4 | A1 Quiz
Read the questions about this week’s news story.
Remember if you don’t know – use the Internet to help or GUESS!
1: What language does the word ‘stan’ in Kazakhstan originally come from?
a: Russian b: Arabic c: Persian
2: Kazakhstan is one of the largest countries in the world, what number is it?
a: 7th b: 9th c: 11th
3: What is considered to be bad luck to perform indoors in Kazakhstan?
a: Dancing b: Singing c: Whistling
4: When Kazakhstan was under Soviet control what was based there?
a: Nuclear Weapons b: Space Launch Site c: Navy
5: The Kazakh game of ‘kokpar’ translates as grabbing a __________ in English?
a: Dead Goat b: Dead Dog c: Dead Snake
6: As of 2018, how many presidents has Kazakhstan had since independence?
a: One b: Two c: Three
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
E1: What fruit is considered to have started growing in Central Asia?
a: Orange b: Peach c: Apple
E2: What is the national animal of Kazakhstan?
a: Snow Tiger b: Snow Leopards c: Snow Penguins
E3: What is the logo for the Berlin Metro System?
a: b: c:
END OF PART 1
3 | The English News Weekly Podcast | © Jaime Selwood 2017
©2011 - 2018 | Ep. 324 | Alphabet Soup in Qazakstan EDUCATION
| PART 2 | Before Listening |
Pre-Listening / Reading | 1 Jumbled Sentences
The sentence below is from a paragraph in the news story.
Un-jumble the words and put them into the correct order.
is Russian Asian on
country’s spelt alphabet English
spelling the is The
in Central Cyrillic current
how the name using based
2 Is it a K or a Q?
The current spelling _________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Pre-Listening / Reading | 2 | A2 True or False
Read the headline of News Story ~ Is it a K or a Q?
Look at the 5 statements. Guess if you think 1 – 5 are True or False!
1 Kazakhstan will change its alphabet at the end of 2018. [T] [F]
2 The USSR broke up in 1991. [T] [F]
3 The Russian Cyrillic alphabet has 42 letters. [T] [F]
4 In the Kazakh language carrot is translated as cebaz. [T] [F]
5 The Latin alphabet ends with the letter Z. [T] [F]
Pre-Listening / Reading | 3 Antonyms
An antonym is a word with a similar meaning.
Match the 10 words on the left with their antonyms on the right.
All the antonyms in black are from the News Stories.
1 Outsiders 6 Lengthy A Perfect F Preserve
2 Current 7 Straightforward B Ignore G Insiders
3 Switch 8 Ill-fitting C Backwards H Abbreviated
4 Merits 9 Include D Previous I Refusal
5 Educate 10 Compromise E Exclude J Disadvantages
END OF PART 2
4 | The English News Weekly Podcast | © Jaime Selwood 2017
©2011 - 2018 | Ep. 324 | Alphabet Soup in Qazakstan EDUCATION
| PART 3 | Listening |
Listening / Reading | | Listening Is it a K or a Q?
Which Word? | Help
Listen / Read the news story below and choose the correct word from the box.
Look at words near the missing space to help with your understanding!
A: outsiders C: Latin E: suggestion G: influence I: Russian
B: version D: educate F: lengthy H: compromises J: dumping
324 Is it a K or a Q?
1
How do you spell Kazakhstan? The current spelling in English is based on how
the Central Asian country’s name is spelt using the 1: ______ Cyrillic alphabet.
But an announcement from the Kazakh Government this week has confirmed
reports first published last October, that from 2025 the country’s language will
change to the 2: ______ based alphabet.
2
Why has Kazakhstan decided to switch alphabets? The country’s long-term
president, Nursultan Nazarbayev gave a 3: _______ explanation as to the merits
of switching to Latin letters. His main argument was that this would help
modernise the country as more world languages use Latin letters than Cyrillic
and so it would make it easier for 4: _______ to communicate in Kazakhstan.
3
Another reason could be the desire of President Nazarbayev to move away from
Russian 5: _______ in Kazakhstan as the country used to be part of the Soviet
Union up until its collapse in 1991. So by 6: _______ a script used in Russia
Kazakhstan would be showing its desire to be more open to other countries in
Europe, North America, and Asia.
4 The changeover will not be straightforward, and that is why the transition date is
still seven years away. The biggest problem is that the Kazakh 7: _______ of the
Cyrillic alphabet has 42 letters, whilst the Latin script has 26. This clearly means
that some 8: _______ will have to be made with both spelling and pronunciation.
For example the word for carrot in Kazakh is pronounced ‘sabeez’(сәбіз) but that
is ill-fitting in the Latin alphabet. In the new script the proposal is to spell it
‘sa’biz’ with an apostrophe in the middle.
5 The first stage of the changeover will be at the end of 2018 when a finalised official
Latin script is revealed. Next will be teacher training in 2019 and new textbooks in
2020 to 9: _______ Kazakhs with the new script. However, given that Kazakhstan’s
second language is still Russian, almost all Kazakh signage will still have to include
Cyrillic words.
6 Oh and how will the country’s name be spelt in the new Latin script? The current
10: _______ is that it will be spelt Q A Z A Q S T A N. So now you know!
[362 Words]
END OF PART 3
5 | The English News Weekly Podcast | © Jaime Selwood 2017
©2011 - 2018 | Ep. 324 | Alphabet Soup in Qazakstan EDUCATION
| PART 4 | After Listening |
Post-Listening / Reading | 1 | A3 Q & A
How much can you remember from News Story?
Read / Listen to the questions below and choose the correct answer.
If you can’t remember any answers, guess!
Q1 How will Kazakhstan be spelt in the new Latin based alphabet?
Q2 What year will Kazakhstan change to the Latin alphabet?
Q3 Who is the president of Kazakhstan?
Q4 What will begin in 2020 in Kazakhstan?
Q5 What does the Kazakh word ‘sabeez’(сәбіз) mean in English?
Q6 When will teacher training begin for the new alphabet?
E1 What alphabet is used in Russia in the 21st Century?
E2 How many letters will be in the new spelling of Kazakhstan?
Post-Reading | 2 A & Q
How much can you remember from the news story?
Read the answers below and write the correct question.
There is more than one possible correct question for each one!
A1 1991. ______________________________________________?
A2 42. ______________________________________________?
A3 26. ______________________________________________?
A4 2018. ______________________________________________?
A5 2025. ______________________________________________?
END OF PART 4
6 | The English News Weekly Podcast | © Jaime Selwood 2017
©2011 - 2018 | Ep. 324 | Alphabet Soup in Qazakstan EDUCATION
| PART 5 | Extra Stuff |
English Extra I English Idioms and Phrases that Use ‘Write’
‘The English language has some interesting words and phrases that use
‘write’ to explain a situation.
Examples:
Write down as = To list someone’s name
Remember to write = Don’t stay out of contact on a trip!
Can you match the ‘phrase’’ with the correct meaning?
‘Write’ Phrases Meanings & Examples 1 Nothing to write about A To include a statement/provision in a document
2 Write down as B A criticism of something you disagree with.
3 Write into C To be the expert on a specialised topic.
4 To write off D To put your thoughts into the written form.
5 Write on water E To not have enough money to pay for something.
6 To write up F Don’t stay out of contact on a trip!
7 Write against G To write an article for a magazine or journal.
8 Write own ticket H To forget something that is a bad experience.
9 Who writes this stuff!? I To set rules or terms for one’s own needs.
10 Write the book on J A person who writes a lot!
11 Remember to write! K A dull, mediocre or uninteresting situation.
12 Write a bum check L To list someone’s name.
13 Write away M To write something in opposition to something.
14 Write something out N To have a fleeting impact, not a lasting legacy.
7 to Chinwag This Week’s ENW Podcast
ENW Podcast Topic | Is it a ‘K’ or a ‘Q’?
Ask / Answer the questions below on this week’s ENW Podcast Topic!
1 What did you think when you read this week’s ENW topic box?
2 Do you think it is a sensible idea for Kazakhstan to change its alphabet? Why?
3 What seemingly simple English words do you usually misspell? Why?
4 What type of words in English is difficult for you to pronounce? Why?
5 What is your favourite sounding word in English? Why?
6 Which English adjective do you think you use the most? Why?
EX FREE QUESTION!
7 | The English News Weekly Podcast | © Jaime Selwood 2017
©2011 - 2018 | Ep. 324 | Alphabet Soup in Qazakstan EDUCATION
Writing This Week
Write one word for each letter of the English alphabet (A to Z)
Why did you choose these words?
Write a brief explanation for each word!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
END OF PART 5
And Finally | V/W/X/Y/Z | A4 Did You Know…?
The End
8 | The English News Weekly Podcast | © Jaime Selwood 2017
©2011 - 2018 | Ep. 324 | Alphabet Soup in Qazakstan EDUCATION
Visual | TV Links
Radio Free Europe | (Europe) 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTlST6V-Bhw [02:05]
Kazakhstan to change alpabet
Kazakh TV | (Kazakhstan ) 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLpYgDi2lgY [01:36] App Changes Digital Advert
Kazakh TV | (Kazakhstan)
3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIVX4bk6rXk [01:12]
How Latin script will modernize Kazakhstan
Podcast | Key
| A1 These activities are audio and can be listened to on the podcast.
Answers | Part 1 Warm Up 1-4
Warm Up 1 | Odd-1-Out
B – Hungary A / C / D – are all countries that still use the Cyrillic alphabet.
Warm Up 3 | Cyrillic Countries
1 – H 2 – D 3 – J 4 – A 5 – I
6 – C 7 – E 8 – G 9 – F 10 – B
A1 Warm Up 4 | Quiz
1 – C 2 – B 3 – C 4 – B 5 – A 6 – A
E1 – C E2 – B E3 – C
Answers | Part 1 Warm Up 1-4
Jumbled Sentences
The current spelling in English is based on how the Central Asian country’s name is spelt
using the Russian Cyrillic alphabet
A2 True or False
1 – F 2 – T 3 – F 4 – F 5 – T
Antonyms
1 – G 2 – D 3 – F 4 – J 5 – B
6 – H 7 – A 8 – A 9 – E 10 – I
9 | The English News Weekly Podcast | © Jaime Selwood 2017
©2011 - 2018 | Ep. 324 | Alphabet Soup in Qazakstan EDUCATION
Answers | Part 3 Listening
324 Is it a K or a Q?
1
How do you spell Kazakhstan? The current spelling in English is based on how the Central
Asian country’s name is spelt using the Russian Cyrillic alphabet. But an announcement
from the Kazakh Government this week has confirmed reports first published last October,
that from 2025 the country’s language will change to the Latin based alphabet.
2
Why has Kazakhstan decided to switch alphabets? The country’s long-term president,
Nursultan Nazarbayev gave a lengthy explanation as to the merits of switching to Latin
letters. His main argument was that this would help modernise the country as more world
languages use Latin letters than Cyrillic and so it would make it easier for outsiders to
communicate in Kazakhstan.
3
Another reason could be the desire of President Nazarbayev to move away from Russian
influence in Kazakhstan as the country used to be part of the Soviet Union up until its
collapse in 1991. So by dumping a script used in Russia Kazakhstan would be showing its
desire to be more open to other countries in Europe, North America, and Asia.
4 The changeover will not be straightforward, and that is why the transition date is still seven
years away. The biggest problem is that the Kazakh version of the Cyrillic alphabet has 42
letters, whilst the Latin script has 26. This clearly means that some compromises will have
to be made with both spelling and pronunciation. For example the word for carrot in
Kazakh is pronounced ‘sabeez’(сәбіз) but that is ill-fitting in the Latin alphabet. In the new
script the proposal is to spell it ‘sa’biz’ with an apostrophe in the middle.
5 The first stage of the changeover will be at the end of 2018 when a finalised official Latin
script is revealed. Next will be teacher training in 2019 and new textbooks in 2020 to educate
Kazakhs with the new script. However, given that Kazakhstan’s second language is still
Russian, almost all Kazakh signage will still have to include Cyrillic words.
6 Oh and how will the country’s name be spelt in the new Latin script? The current
suggestion is that it will be spelt Q A Z A Q S T A N. So now you know!
[362 Words]
Answers | Part 4 Post-Listening / Reading
A3 Q & A
1 – Qazaqstan 5 – Carrot
2 – 2025 6 – 2019
3 – Nazarbayev E1 – Cyrillic
4 – New Textbooks E2 – Nine letters
A & Q | Example Questions
A1 – What year did the Soviet Union break up?
A2 – How many letters in the Kazakh Cyrillic alphabet?
A3 – How many letters in the Latin alphabet?
A4 – What year will the new Kazakh Latin alphabet script be?
A5 – When will Kazakhstan become Qazaqstan?
10 | The English News Weekly Podcast | © Jaime Selwood 2017
©2011 - 2018 | Ep. 324 | Alphabet Soup in Qazakstan EDUCATION
English Extra
1 – K 4 – H 7 – M 10 – C 13 – J
2 – L 5 – N 8 – I 11 – F 14 – D
3 – A 6 – G 9 – B 12 – E
And Finally X & Z
A4 – Y / Z / V / W / X
Extra Bit
This Week’s ENW Images
11 | The English News Weekly Podcast | © Jaime Selwood 2017
©2011 - 2018 | Ep. 324 | Alphabet Soup in Qazakstan EDUCATION
Episode 324
MAIN PHOTO Still:
https://astanatimes.com/2017/08/kazakh-alphabet-in-latin-script-to-be-developed-by-
end-of-2017/
LINKS:
https://www.factretriever.com/kazakhstan-facts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41800186
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/kazakhstan-switch-cyrillic-latin-alphabet-
171028013156380.html
https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-11-09/kazakhstans-switch-cyrillic-latin-about-more-just-
alphabets
https://astanatimes.com/2017/10/kazakhstan-to-switch-to-latin-alphabet-by-2025/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language
http://lingualinx.com/blog/fun-facts-about-the-russian-alphabet/
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