Speaking and listening – Pre-intermediate to Upper-intermediate
Let’s talk about CRIME
Have you ever been the victim of
a crime?
Talk about it.
What crimes have you heard
about in the news recently?
Summarize the stories.
How should people be punished
for breaking the law?
Who decides?
Is there a problem with
organized crime or gangs where
you live? Explain.
What is capital punishment?
Does it exist where you live? Are
you in favour or against it?
What is identity theft?
Do you know any other modern or
cyber-crimes?
Stolen! Match crime and explanation 
1 burglary (a burglar)
2 embezzlement (an embezzler)
3 fraud (a fraud or fraudster)
4 kidnapping (a kidnapper)
5 robbery (a robber)
6 scam (a scammer)
7 shoplifting (a shoplifter)
8 theft (a thief)
He who does not prevent a crime when he can, encourages it.
Behind every great fortune there is a crime.
Conversation cards
Is crime a serious problem Have you ever witnessed a
where you live? What are the crime?
most common crimes? Tell the class what happened.
Make a list of crimes you know.
What kinds of crime can be What is white-collar crime?
prevented? How? How can white-collar criminals
What’s your opinion of the be brought to justice?
police? How should they be punished?
Do you think they do a good job?
Fine, prison time or community Have you ever done anything
service. Which crimes could get illegal? Did you get caught?
you these punishments? Talk about it if you want to.
Should a poor, hungry man be Do you think prison can
punished for stealing food from rehabilitate criminals? Are there
a supermarket? Explain. alternatives to jail time?
Why do people become What’s a serial killer? How do
criminals? (e.g. lack of education) serial killers kill their victims?
Give your opinion. Do you think the death penalty is
an adequate deterrent?
What do you think is a proper Should adultery be a crime?
punishment for murder? (= cheating on your husband or wife)
What about serial murder? What about abortion? Explain.
(= terminating an unborn foetus)
a steal Poverty
b steal a person is the
mother
c steal items from a shop
of
d steal from a house or office crime.
e steal with violence
f steal money you manage
g steal by deceiving (often important amounts)
h steal by tricking someone
All crime is a kind of
disease and should be
Do you agree?
treated as such.
Discuss.