לומדים אנגלית / קוראים ספרי ילדים

Today we will discuss Oral Activities leading to Reading and Writing.

We will try to combine Oral Activities, Reading and Writing.

We will start with Oral Activities.

Look at the following cartoon.

(Click on soldier 1)

soldier 1

• Describe the scene and the idea behind it. Do you approve?
• Is the cartoon realistic, authentic, exaggerated or absurd?

The following words may help you:

arrogant – יהיר

(in) equality – אי) שוויון)

male jobs – עבודות גבריות

female jobs – עבודות נשיות

deny opportunities – לשלול הזדמנויות

higher rank – דרגה גבוהה יותר

Now let's look at the second cartoon.

soldier 2

This cartoon also deals with girls in the army.

• Describe the scene.

Is the message behind the cartoon different? In what way?

• Compare the cartoons. Explain the differences.

Try to identify with one of the girls. Explain her feelings.

The following words may help you:

instructor – מדריך – מדריכה

combat unit – יחידה קרבית

satisfaction – שביעות רצון

contribution – תרומה

Developing Oral Activities

1. Act out a dialogue between two girl soldiers. One serves as an office worker and the other – as a flight controller.

Helpful Vocabulary

feminine – נשי

masculine – גברי

maturity – בגרות

satisfaction – סיפוק

conservative approach – גישה שמרנית

make use of one's talents – לנצל כשרונות

2. Miriam would like to join a combat unit. The officer interviewing her explains why this might not be suitable. Act out the argument (dialogue) between them or choose one of the roles: Miriam or the officer and make a speech (monologue) explaining your position.

Helpful Vocabulary

policy – מדיניות

limitations – מגבלות

alternative – ברירה – אפשרות אחרת

social norms – נורמות חברתיות

Reading Comprehension Text

Israel is the only western country with compulsory military service for women. The main reason is Israel's need to make full use of all its available woman and manpower, since the population of Israel is quite small compared to the Arab population surrounding it. The ideology behind women's military service also stems from the wish to establish an egalitarian society.

Women have served in the Israeli army ever since its establishment in 1948. At first, they served mainly in administrative jobs or as instructors in a variety of fields, but they gradually moved into operational positions due to both a shortage in combat soldiers and demands of Israeli feminist groups. The first step was moving from administrative positions to combat support. In 1995, the High Court of Justice ruled that women were entitled to both formal and substantive equality in their military service, thus opening up combat positions to women, first to serve as pilots and then as combat soldiers in various prestigious units such as infantry, artillery guns service, fighter pilots, etc. The possibility of expanding the integration of women into additional combat roles is currently being examined. The number of female combatants has more than doubled from 2012 to 2016. In 2012, 3 percent of women in the IDF served in combat positions. Four years later, in 2016, the percentage rose to 7 percent. The number of women joining combat units is constantly rising and is lately reaching an unprecedented record.

Women's participation in active combat is still a controversial issue, but the image of a female soldier doing simple office work and serving coffee to an officer is exaggerated and quite misleading. The army makes every possible effort to use women's potential properly and assign them to positions best suited to their skills. Based on the major change in women's position in the IDF, it seems that for some of them,  the sky is the limit.

General Instructions

• Read the  text.
• Sum up each paragraph.
• Give a title to each paragraph.

Suggestions for Writing Activities

1. Your sister started her service in the army two weeks ago. Write her an encouraging letter. 

You may begin as follows:  

February 28, 2019

Dear Orna,

I am so proud of you. You have been in the army for two weeks and you haven't complained even once. I actually envy you.

I wish …………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………….

Love

Yael

P.S. Mother has been baking frantically day and night to send you food packets. Enjoy them, but don't put on too much weight.

2. You would like to defer your service until after you graduate from the university, but you are not sure it's the right decision. What might the advantages and disadvantages be? 

And that's all for today. More texts and suggestions in my next post.