This isn’t Calais where tensions with migrants are well-established. Ouistreham is a sleepy fishing port four hours to the west, but it has three ferries a day to England and that's why these young men are here. This isn't a one-off, it’s happening every day, and every night, on every truck that passes through. They’re mostly from Sudan and almost all look like teenagers. On the edge of town, they sleep in the ditches the police remove any tents they try to pitch. Every morning they wait for the trucks to arrive. We follow one Bulgarian lorry the first group manages to open the door but none of them climb on. A little further on the driver stops he's clearly aware of what's just happened.So, you can see he is just closing the door there but some of the guys that were trying to get on the truck are making their way up here. And seconds later, even before we were back in the car, they were past us and onto the truck.The route down to the port here is not like larger ports Calais or Dunkirk where motorways lead straight to the dockside. Here the trucks must snake through the town it makes them much more vulnerable to this. The police do what they can with the resources they have. Around our car, the young men don't like being filmed. So even right in front of the police there they're trying to get on. In all we counted 18 young men get on most got off again, but four maybe five it was hard to see made it to the port entrance. There, where every truck is checked four were discovered we can't be sure but it's possible one remained inside.
A little later a few of them agreed to talk to us. How are you? I’m 16. And you? 17 years old. And you? 16. 14.And you're all from Sudan? Why England? England is good. How do you know England? My brother is in England. Your brother is in England, yeah? And how did he get to England? on the trucks? Yeah, he was here. And he told you to come here? Yeah.We watch another truck’s dash to the port and then an exchange with some locals in a moment which demonstrates a divided over migration that stretches across this continent. (French Locals arguing in French with subtitles)
“they're in a miserable dangerous limbo”
So, as they keep talking it's quite clear that this is causing real, real tensions within this community and you can see the migrants are continuing to gather as they do every day and every night all across this village. They're not being helped by anyone but volunteers nor are they being sent home, they're in a miserable dangerous limbo and driven by that basic human instinct that there must be something better over the horizon.Mark Stone, Sky News in northern France.
Questions:
Part 1: Comprehension
Watch and summarize the video thinking of who, what, when, where & why.
Part 2: True or False Questions
a) True or false – Ouistreham is a busy city with lots of parks and shops. T/F
b) True or False – Residents of Ouistreham are happy that the migrants are in their town. T/F
c) True or False – One of the potential migrants' mother lives in England. T/F
d) True or False – The police do not have enough resources to control the situation. T/F
Part 3: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary
a) "Sleepy" (0:06 min)
b) "Edge of town"(0:32 min)
c) "Snake through" (1:23 min)
d) "Limbo" (3:46 min)
Part 4: Dictation
a) Fill in the blanks (0:15 - 0:25 minutes) This isn't ______________________________________________________ through.
b) Fill in the blanks (1:42- 1:45 minutes) So even _________________________________________________________ get on.
c) Fill in the blanks (3:31 - 3:41 minutes) So, as they keep talking ________________________________________ all across this village.
Part 5: Talking Points
Part 6: Role play Scenarios
Scenario 1: Immigration Activist and Concerned Citizen.
You are an immigration activist who has been working to support and advocate for immigrants in your community. Your friend is a concerned citizen who is worried about the impact of immigration on their community.
Scenario 2: Volunteer and Immigrant.
You are a volunteer who has been working to support and assist immigrants in your community. Your roleplay partner is an immigrant who has recently arrived and is in need of assistance.
Scenario 3: Local Politician and Constituent.
You are a local politician who is responsible for making decisions on immigration policy in your community. Your roleplay partner is a constituent who has concerns about the impact of immigration on their community.
Part 7: Writing Activity
Describe your hometown (where you grew up) in as much detail as you can.
Part 8: Critical Thinking - Dream country
Objective: To decide on a country you would like to migrate to.
In groups or pairs, do some research and pick a country anywhere in the world and present reasons as to why you would like to migrate to there.
Think about: education, works, travel, cost of living, health care and social life.
Then as a class reach a consensus on the best country.
Answers:
Part 1: Comprehension
This is a report from the British news company Sky News. Their Europe correspondent Mark Stone visits the French town of Ouistreham, now a growing focus for young African men and boys trying to reach the UK. The reporter first gives an introduction to the migration problem that the UK and France are facing. He then describes and shows the great lengths that young men are going to, to get to the UK. He states that most of the migrants are from Sudan and other African countries. He discusses how the police have limited resources in this area and can do little to stop them. The reporter interviews some of the migrants and they give various reasons why they want to go to the UK; one reason is that other family members are there. Lastly, he talks with locals who have different opinions on this difficult social problem that the 2 countries face.
Part 2: True or False
A: False B: False C: False D: True
Part 3: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary or phrases
a) "Sleepy" Answer: I think this means quiet or a place without much activity because in the video the reporter describes Ouistreham as not being like Calais which is a big city. Additionally, the reporter describes how it’s a fishing town so we can guess that sleepy means quiet and not much happening.
b) "Edge of town" Answer: I think this means the outskirts of the town as the video talks about how the migrants are sleeping in ditches there but then rush to get on the trucks. They try to get into the trucks before it goes through the town and reaches the port.
c) "Snake through" Answer: This means to move through something in a snake-like manner because in the video the reporter describes how the trucks have to get through the narrow and winding roads of the town.
d) "Limbo" Answer: I think limbo means an uncertain period or time of awaiting a decision because in the video the reporter describes how the migrants have been left with nothing and don’t have any clear decision on their future from either government.
Part 4: Dictation
a) Fill in the blanks (0:15 - 0:25 minutes) This isn't a one-off, it’s happening every day, and every night, on every truck that passes through.
b) Fill in the blanks (1:42- 1:45 minutes) So even right in front of the police there they're trying to get on.
c) Fill in the blanks (3:31 - 3:41 minutes) So, as they keep talking it's quite clear that this is causing real, real tensions within this community and you can see the migrants are continuing to gather as they do every day and every night all across this village.
Part 7: Writing (example)
I grew up in Mokpo, a small city in South Korea near the sea. Mokpo is known for its beautiful nature, especially the ocean and Yudal Mountain. People in Mokpo love the sea and eat a lot of seafood, which you can buy fresh from the markets. The city has a mix of old Korean houses and new buildings. There are also many festivals, like the Mokpo Maritime Festival, where people celebrate with music and food. Mokpo has a long history, and you can see monuments that tell stories about the past. Living in Mokpo was nice because it was peaceful, and the people were friendly. It was a great place to grow up with the sea and mountains close by.
