Материалы к конкурсу по английскому языку Международный день грамотности

International Literacy Day

Listen to the text twice:

September 8 is a very important day all around the world. It is International Literacy Day and it highlights the importance of reading. It was started in 1965 by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its aim is to focus on how important reading, writing and numeracy are to individuals, as well as to societies and nations. On this day, UNESCO reminds the world of the status of literacy and provides statistics for literacy rates for each country. Literacy is a key sign of how developed a society is. The concept has developed a lot over the past few decades. It now includes the ability to be able to use computers and other kinds of information technology.

Around 780 million adults in the world today lack basic literacy skills. One in five adults is illiterate, and two-thirds of these are women. UNESCO says the highest rates of illiteracy are in south and west Asia, followed by sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab nations. The agency says there is a clear relation between illiteracy and severe poverty. UNESCO also says there is more discrimination against women in countries with low literacy rates. Literacy affects many aspects of a society. In 2007 and 2008, the theme for International Literacy Day was "Literacy and Health". People who are able to read health warnings are less likely to catch killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Reading can save lives.

Answer the questions

1. When is International Literacy Day celebrated?

2. What is the aim of this day?

3. How many illiterate people are there in the world?

4. Where is the highest rate of illiterate people in the world?

5. What positive results of the ability to read are pointed by UNESCO? (write 2 results)

Put the words back into the correct order

1. day all A around very the important world.

2. the of highlights importance reading It.

3. literacy for Statistics country each for rates.

4. lot decades over the Developed past a few.

5. technology information of kinds other and Computers.

6. One five is in adults illiterate.

7. A and clear severe relation poverty between illiteracy.

8. There more against is discrimination women.

9. many affects Literacy society a of aspects.

10. diseases Less to killer likely catch.

Correct the mistakes (10 different grammar and vocabulary mistakes)

September 8 is proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO on November 17, 1965. It was first celebrate in 1966. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, comunities and societys. On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international comunity of the status of literacy and adult learning globally. Celebrations takes place around the world. Some 775 millions adults lack minimum literacy skills; one in five adults are still not literate and two-thirds of them are woman; 60.7 million childs are out-of-school and many more attend iregularly or drop out.

Write about International Literacy Day for 10 minutes.