Saudi women campaign for the right to

drive
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2
013/09/130920_witn_saudi_women_story.shtml (Friday ,20 September 2013)

WARM UP ACTIVITIES

This lesson plan can be used either with the text given below or with the listening file found in
the link above. In the first version use the lesson plan as given. In the second use the text with
gaps and then proceed with the activities or just play the audio file for your students and then
proceed with the exercises.

1) Rank the following human rights beginning from the most vital for you. Discuss your answers
with the class.

Being allowed to drive

Education

Free healthcare

Own property

To vote

Free speech

2) Are all human rights respected worldwide?

3) How would you feel if your rights were not respected? How would you react?
4) How can the world make sure human rights are protected?

TRANSCRIPT
In a sign of how pervasive online social networks have become in Saudi Arabia, the new campaign
has been started on Twitter. It's the idea of the activist, Eman al Nafjan, who's set things in motion
with a simple message saying that Saudi women will express their feelings about driving on October
the 26th.
She's told the BBC the hope is that women will come out en masse to drive on that day. She says
the campaign's meant to be a grassroots movement open to all Saudis - men as well as women - to
show their support. Hundreds of messages backing the campaign have already been posted. Well-
known Saudis are due to give their public backing, while videos of women driving will be posted
when they emerge.
Women activists say the issue of being allowed to drive is key to their gaining other rights, such as
freedom from what many see as oppressive male guardianship. They argue that there's an irony in
the ban on driving as it means that women must rely on male drivers, thereby spending large
amounts of time with a man outside their family. In other circumstances, this would be condemned
as a serious transgression of the country's deeply conservative interpretation of Islam.
Those who oppose women driving do so on the grounds that it would violate that deeply traditional
code. In public, there've been some signs that Saudi officials may be softening their line on women
driving. That's a change from several years ago when women were arrested or lost their jobs for
taking to the wheel as part of similar campaigns. But Eman al Nafjan says persistent rumours that
the ban might be lifted soon are so far nothing more than that.

Exercise 1

Read the text and decide whether the following statements are True or FALSE

1. Social networks have not yet become widespread in Saudi Arabia.

2. Women activists have used Twitter to inform people about their campaign.

3. Many people have sent messages to express their disapproval at this campaign.

4. Famous Saudis will join women in their campaign.

5. Fighting for their right to drive its just a stepping stone to gain more rights.

6. Women in Saudi Arabia are under male control.

7. Eman believes that women will not get the right to drive back soon.

Exercise 2

Circle the correct answer.

1. In a sign of how pervasive online social networks have become in Saudi Arabia..

a) expensive b) widespread c) prohibited

2. It's the idea of the activist Eman ..

a) leader b) person who takes part in activities to achieve political or social change c) terrorist

3. She's told the BBC the hope is that women will come out en masse to drive on that day.

a) in anger b) with their husbands c) all together

4. ..such as freedom from what many see as oppressive male guardianship.

a) cruel b) impressive c) fair

 5. ..this would be condemned as a serious transgression of the country's deeply conservative
interpretation of Islam.

a) acceptance b) breaking of rules c) replacement

6. Those who oppose women driving do so on the grounds that it would violate that deeply
traditional code

a) break a law b) abide by a law c) improve

Exercise 3

Turn the sentences into Active or Passive voice

ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE

The new campaign has been started on Twitter.
Videos of women driving will be posted soon.
Those who oppose women driving do so on the
grounds that it would violate that deeply
traditional code

Eman believes that women in Saudi Arabia live

under male guardianship

This would be condemned as a serious

transgression of the country's deeply
conservative interpretation of Islam.

Women were arrested or lost their jobs for

taking to the wheel as part of similar campaigns.

But Eman al Nafjan says persistent rumours that

the ban might be lifted soon are so far nothing
more than that.

Post reading activities

Imagine you are a reporter for the local TV station. Interview one of these women activists about
their campaign, dreams and fears.
TEACHERS NOTES AND KEY
Exercise 1
1 F, 2 T, 3 F, 4 T, 5 T , 6 T, 7 T
Exercise 2
1b, 2b,3c), 4)a, 5b) , 6)a
Exercise 3
ACTIVE VOICE
They have started a new campaign on Twitter
Those who oppose women driving do so on the
grounds that it would violate that deeply
traditional code
Eman believes that women in Saudi Arabia live
under male guardianship
They would condemn this as a serious
transgression of the country's deeply
conservative interpretation of Islam.
They arrested women for taking to the wheel as
part of similar campaigns
But Eman al Nafjan says persistent rumours that
they might lift the ban are so far nothing more
than that.
Created by Eleni Tsagari
Resources
www.clkr.com
PASSIVE VOICE
The new campaign has been started on Twitter.
Videos of women driving will be posted soon.
Those who oppose women driving do so on the
grounds that the traditional code would be
violated
It is believed that women in Saudi Arabia live
under male guardianship/Women in Saudi Arabia
are believed to live under male guardianship
This would be condemned as a serious
transgression of the country's deeply
conservative interpretation of Islam.
Women were arrested or lost their jobs for
taking to the wheel as part of similar campaigns
But Eman al Nafjan says persistent rumours that
the ban might be lifted soon are so far nothing
more than that.