Learning Objective: This is a reading, conversation and vocabulary class. At the end of the session, the participants are expected to be able to practice using these words in sentences and in conversation.



The Kenyan government announced on Friday that it would temporarily suspend the recruitment of its citizens going to Middle East countries to work as domestic workers. The Foreign Affairs committee stated that increasing numbers of Kenyans, especially maids, are being mistreated. It says many people are promised jobs in Gulf countries that do not exist when they arrive. They are then at the mercy of shady agents who take their passports and place them in jobs with very poor working conditions. Many get no day off and some are never allowed to leave the house in which they work. Many maids report they are slaves and are treated as such by their employers.



The statement from Kenya's government read: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the government has temporarily suspended recruitment and export of domestic workers (housekeepers/maids) to Middle East countries with immediate effect." Kenya's Political and Diplomatic Secretary Patrick Wamoto said: "The government has noted with concern, the increasing number of Kenyan citizens who have sought employment in the Middle East…and ended up in distress." Kenya's Capital FM radio website stated: "Last month…Muslims for Human Rights estimated that there are more than 30,000 Kenyans working as domestic workers in the Middle East but termed it as human trafficking."


Discussion Proper


1. MAIDS:

What are the good things/ bad things about maids?

What about having maids at home?



2. CHAT:
Today's focused words are:

domestic worker

human trafficking

recruitment



3. TRAFFICKING: How do we stop it?

Traffic in… ------What do you know about this? ------How do we help stop it?

workers
drugs
women
ivory
endangered species
arms



4. JOB ABROAD: Where would you like to work?

Saudi Arabia
Mexico
Brazil
Kenya
Papua New Guinea
Japan
China
India


"Online activities, the mp3 and printable handouts are available for this lesson at http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com"