A journey to safety from Afghanistan to Italy

ESL Lessons: True Stories

A printable worksheet for story-based English conversation classes.

Difficulty: Intermediate B1

PDF: A journey to safety from Afghanistan to Italy

Warm-up

Do you know who Enaiatollah Akbari is? (No, I don't. / Yes, he was a boy who...)

Vocabulary Match

threats -   - dangers
rickety -   - run away
determination -   - unkindness
mistreatment -   - shaky
flee -   - lasted
spanned -   - willpower

True Story

Listen and fill in the blanks with words from above.

Enaiatollah Akbari was a young boy from Afghanistan. Due to ________ from the Taliban, his life was in danger. His mother, worried about his safety, told him to ________.

Starting his journey, Enaiatollah first found his way to Pakistan, where he took up small jobs for money. He then traveled to Iran, where he faced problems like hunger and ________ from people. He continued his journey through Turkey and Greece, often hiding in trucks or using ________ boats.

His journey ________ five years and thousands of miles. Despite the risks and hardships, Enaiatollah showed strength and ________. Ultimately, he reached Italy, where he finally found safety and a chance for a new beginning.

Quiz

  1. Where did Enaiatollah go first after leaving Afghanistan?
  2. What problems did he face in Iran?
  3. How long did his journey last and how many miles did it cover?

True or False

  1. Enaiatollah's mother didn't want him to stay in Afghanistan.   T  |  F
  2. He took up small jobs for money in Iran.   T  |  F
  3. He traveled through Turkey and Greece by bus.  T  |  F

Conversation

Reporter: So Enaiatollah, what was the toughest part of your journey?
Enaiatollah: Riding in a dark truck with 50 other kids was terrifying.
Reporter: That does sound scary. What other dangers did you face?
Enaiatollah: I once crossed the sea in a boat with a hole.
Reporter: Are you serious? Well, I'm just glad you're safe now.
Enaiatollah: Thanks. I think I've had enough adventure for a lifetime!

Key Phrase

  1. I once crossed the sea in a boat with a hole.
  2. I once walked to school in the rain with a broken umbrella.
  3. I once took a bus in Mexico with chickens on board.
  4. I once rode my bike in the city with a flat tire.
  5. I once tried sushi in New York with a Brazilian chef.
  6. I once wore sandals in the snow with thick woolen socks.
  7. I once fixed a hole in my tent with sellotape.

Discussion

  1. Have you ever gone on a long journey?
  2. If you had to flee your country, where would you go and why?
  3. What do you know about Italy?

True Story Answers

Enaiatollah Akbari was a young boy from Afghanistan. Due to threats from the Taliban, his life was in danger. His mother, worried about his safety, told him to flee.

Starting his journey, Enaiatollah first found his way to Pakistan, where he took up small jobs for money. He then traveled to Iran, where he faced problems like hunger and mistreatment from people. He continued his journey through Turkey and Greece, often hiding in trucks or using rickety boats.

His journey spanned five years and thousands of miles. Despite the risks and hardships, Enaiatollah showed strength and determination. Ultimately, he reached Italy, where he finally found safety and a chance for a new beginning.

Vocabulary Answers

threats → dangers
flee → run away
mistreatment → unkindness
rickety → shaky
spanned → lasted
determination → willpower

Quiz Answers

  1. He first found his way to Pakistan.
  2. He faced problems like hunger and mistreatment from people.
  3. It lasted five years and covered thousands of miles.

True or False Answers

  1. True
  2. False
  3. False

Discussion Answers (examples)

  1. Yes, I traveled across Japan on local trains. It took ages!
  2. I'd go to New Zealand. It looks peaceful, and I like sheep.
  3. Italy? They have good pizza, pasta, old buildings... and opera!

Further Reading

https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=17#m347

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ESL Lessons: True Stories