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GENERAL ENGLISH · BREAKING NEWS · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

DJOKOVIC
FACES
DEPORTATION
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1 Warm up
Discuss the questions in pairs or small groups.

1. Have you ever had problems when going through customs? How did you react?
2. Do you think the immigration laws are too strict in your country, or not strict enough?
3. In general, have people been following the Covid restrictions in your country?
4. Do you think that rules and regulations should apply to everyone, regardless of status?
5. Have you ever lost respect for a celebrity or public figure you previously liked, based on their
actions?

2 Vocabulary
Part A: Match words with the correct definitions.

1. intent a. the state of being kept in a place and prevented from leaving by
authorities
2. detention b. an official decision made by a judge

3. ruling c. what somebody means to do

4. reception d. to pause or end a formal meeting

5. overturn e. to say officially that an agreement, permission or law is no longer in effect

6. revoke f. to officially decide that a legal decision is not correct, and make it no
longer legally recognised
7. exemption g. special permission not to do or pay something

8. adjourn h. the way in which people react to someone or something

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Part B: Complete the sentences with the missing words from Part A. You may need to change the
form of the word.

1. He has been kept in for the last 48 hours because his travel documents contained
errors.

2. We had to the meeting early as the fire alarm went off.

3. I’m sure it wasn’t his to be rude. He just doesn’t think before opening his mouth
sometimes.

4. The athletes received a warm when they returned home after the Olympics.

5. The new means that we have to wear masks when out in public now.

6. I’m hoping my son will receive an from the exam, as he has an appointment to be
vaccinated that day.

7. The protestors are arguing that the new powers given to the police should be .

8. The high court the decision to make it illegal to enter restaurants without a vaccine
certificate.

3 Listening for specific information

Listen to the report. Match the items mentioned with the things they relate to.

1. 10th of January a. Where fans welcomed the news of Djokovic’s release

2. Australia and Serbia b. When Djokovic tested Covid positive, according to court
documents
3. Anthony Kelly c. When Djokovic may have attended an event in Belgrade

4. Alex Hawke d. The judge who found the Australian federal government’s
original decision "unreasonable"
5. 16th of December e. When Djokovic was released from detention

6. 17th of December f. Australia’s Immigration Minister

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4 Listening comprehension

Listen to the report again. Answer the questions true, false or not given.

1. Djokovic is continuing his preparations for the Australian Open.

2. Djokovic was released because he wasn’t given enough time to communicate with tournament
organisers and lawyers after being told his visa would be cancelled.

3. Djokovic’s brother doesn’t think that the court process was very detailed or thorough.

4. People living in Melbourne were furious with the decision.

5. The first resident thinks that people coming into Australia from other countries should be vaccinated.

6. The second resident thinks that Djokovic has been treated at least a little bit unfairly.

7. If Djokovic’s visa is revoked, he will be banned from re-entering the country for 3 years.

8. Novak Djokovic’s brother ended the press conference because he was feeling uncomfortable
about the questioning.

5 Reading: general vocabulary

Part 1: Match the words and phrases in bold with the correct definitions.

Group 1

1. We chose to move to the countryside because we have a vulnerable child with severe asthma.

2. Frankly, I think that the protestors are being badly treated by the media.

3. In order to move to a larger house, we’ve had to make many sacrifices.

4. In some countries, offering your left hand for a handshake is seen as an insult.

5. They made him into a scapegoat when the company started losing money; he was forced to leave
his job.

6. She grew up in a harsh environment but went to university and found a fantastic job in the end.

a. used when giving an honest and direct opinion that may upset someone

b. describing something unpleasant, severe or difficult to deal with

c. a person that is blamed for something someone else has done

d. the act of giving something up in order to help others or yourself

e. an offensive remark or action

f. weak and easily hurt

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Group 2

1. Some football clubs have complained that there are too many fixtures over the winter months.

2. The king was infamous for his terrible temper. He had several of his servants killed.

3. The best type of working contract is an indefinite one, which offers more security than a temporary
contract.

4. One of the most prominent artists in the city has been hired to create a special sculpture.

5. He was forced to step down from his role as minister of education after allegations of criminal
activity.

6. Climate change is drawing attention to the disparity between the West and the developing world.

a. very well-known and important

b. a statement made without proof that someone has done something wrong or illegal

c. a lack of equality or similarity, especially in an unfair way

d. without clear limits, potentially endless

e. well-known for something bad

f. an agreed day and time for a sports event

Part 2: Complete the short text with the correct words from Part A. You may need to change the form
of the words.

1
I joined my football club as an academy player at the age of 14. I’d had a upbringing,
and at that time, I was staying with a relative, as my parents no longer wanted to look after me. At
school, I started to get into trouble and began hanging out with the wrong people. One time, my
group of friends decided to steal a school computer. I didn’t want to get involved, but when we got
2
caught, they said it was my idea and made me into a . Fortunately, despite their
3 4
, the school therapist had already made the teachers aware that I was a child
without a proper support network. I was given a warning and told that if it happened again, I would be
5
suspended from school for an period. Around that time, I started playing football for
6
the school team. The regular helped to give me some structure, and one week I was
7
told that a coach from a local women’s football club was coming to watch me. Two
months later, I joined them, and, in many ways, I feel like my life began at that point. I had to make
8
some . I spent six days a week training, but overall, it was worth it. Of course, it
9
wasn’t always easy. Because of my background, I received my share of from the other
10
players at first. I really noticed the between the kids from poorer families and those
whose parents would drop them off at training in expensive cars. On the pitch, though, my team loved
11
me. I was a defender, and I became for the way I dealt with opponents. Visiting
12
teams feared us because of me. , looking back now, I think that I needed to take my
anger out in games, even though a few girls left with bruises after the game!

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Discuss these questions in pairs.

1. Can you think of any well-known scapegoats who have experienced harsh treatment in the media?
2. Do you think that sporting fixtures, such as football matches, should be cancelled during the
pandemic?
3. Can you think of a historical figure that you would describe as infamous?
4. Is there a large disparity between the rich and the poor in your country? What can be done about
it?
5. Has your government done enough to protect vulnerable people during the pandemic?

6 Reading for general understanding

You are going to read a text (page 7) about the recent visa scandal involving Novak Djokovic. Scan
the text quickly and match the items mentioned with the correct speaker. Some of the items can be
matched to more than one speaker. One item cannot be matched to any of the three speakers in the
text and should be marked ’Not given’.

1. Their profession has been affected by the pandemic

2. Being separated from a family member

3. Somebody being placed into quarantine

4. Football players breaking lockdown rules

5. Covid tests

7 Reading comprehension and post-reading task

Part A: Read the article (page 7) again. Match the attitudes and opinions with the correct speakers.
Some attitudes can be matched to more than one speaker.

1. They think that the attention given to the Djokovic case could potentially help less fortunate
people

2. They think that Djokovic has been treated somewhat unfairly

3. They think that the case highlights the way in which rules are applied differently to rich and poor
people

4. They feel anger towards Djokovic

5. They draw comparisons between Djokovic’s case and the case of another individual

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Part B: For each question, choose the answer you believe best suits the speaker.

1. How does Fiona feel about Novak Djokovic?

a. She thinks that he should be placed in a detention centre.

b. She thinks that he should follow the same rules as everyone else.

c. She feels that he is a victim of the Australian government.

2. What effects does Colin think the pandemic may have had on athletes?

a. He thinks that it has been potentially damaging to their physical and mental health.

b. He thinks they may have lost money due to cancelled fixtures.

c. He feels that they have been represented in a negative way by the media and politicians.

3. How does Rachel seem to view Djokovic’s time in detention?

a. She believes that he suffered a terrible ordeal.

b. She thinks he has been lucky compared to other victims of the Australian immigration system.

c. She thinks that he should have been detained for a longer period of time.

8 Talking point
In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. Do you think that Djokovic should have been denied entry to Australia? Could this have prevented
the scandal from taking place?
2. Were the Australian government right to change their mind once Djokovic had been allowed to
enter the country?
3. Do you agree with the decision to release Djokovic from detention?
4. Do you think that Djokovic’s case will help to bring attention to asylum seekers who have been
caught up in Australia’s immigration system?
5. Should Australia release Said Imasi? Should he be offered the legal right to stay in Australia?
6. Can you think of any solutions that could help stateless people like Imasi?

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Djokovic visa scandal

Members of the public share their opinions

A. Fiona, Restaurant Owner: The pandemic has been difficult for everyone in the service industry. We have burnt
through most of our savings. Various lockdowns took their toll on our business, and we were forced to let most
of our staff go. We’ve since been able to rehire many of them, but we don’t know if the restaurant will still be
open this time next year. Nonetheless, my husband and I have followed the Covid regulations strictly. Both of
us have vulnerable family members, and as such we have been extra careful. I’ve only seen my mother twice in
the last 2 years, and my husband, whose family live abroad, hasn’t been able to see his father and sisters for the
whole of the pandemic. We both know people who have lost somebody to this awful disease. Meanwhile, we
have to watch the wealthy, the famous and the powerful acting as if they are exempt from the rules and laws that
we have been dutifully following. Djokovic is the latest prominent example, but there have been other politicians
and even prime ministers. Frankly, it makes me sick to my stomach. So many of us have made so many sacrifices.
People have lost their businesses, even their homes, not to mention family members and friends. I firmly believe
that people like Djokovic should be subject to the same regulations as the rest of us. I hope that the Australian
government change their minds, as allowing a man who refuses to get vaccinated to remain in the country, despite
breaking the rules, is an insult to the rest of us.

B. Colin, Tennis Player: As a fellow professional tennis player, I feel some sympathy towards Novak. It’s obviously a
complicated and emotive situation, and I can understand some of the anger and frustration directed at him, but I
think that he’s been made into a scapegoat. The real issue here, as I see it, is that his visa application was initially
approved and then denied once he arrived in Australia. It seems as though the Australian government decided
to use his case in a political way. I don’t think they were really concerned with safety to the public or enforcing
rules. It’s worth noting that, during the pandemic, athletes have had to deal with some fairly harsh conditions.
Football players, for example, have had to play far more matches than usual as a result of cancelled fixtures. In
many countries they are required to be tested weekly or even more frequently. This doesn’t always work, as many
athletes have caught the virus anyway. The reality of the situation is that we’re putting ourselves at risk in order
to entertain the public. I would imagine that many young sportspeople are struggling mentally with the whole
thing, and I think that cases like Novak’s don’t really help. I’m sure that there was a better way to deal with the
situation.

C. Rachel, Journalist: The eyes of the world are on the Djokovic case, which is both a good and a bad thing. On the
one hand, the story has drawn attention to the Australian immigration system. Although many countries have
been drifting towards harsher immigration laws, Australia has become infamous over the years, in particular for
its treatment of asylum seekers. Although indefinite detention is against international law, it was made legal in
Australia in March 2021. One of the more prominent victims of the system is Said Imasi, who has been detained
for over a decade. Imasi is amongst those referred to as "stateless"; he doesn’t know where he was born, or
when, and very little documentation exists about his early life. He arrived in Australia in 2010, initially planning on
passing through, but was held, without allegation, charge or trial. In 2021, somewhat inevitably, there was a Covid
outbreak at Imasi’s detention centre, and he was quarantined in a windowless room. For people like Imasi there
appears to be no salvation, no media circus or hasty release. Unlike Novak Djokovic, whose supporters around the
world (including anti-vaccination protestors) mobilised in order to end his five-day ordeal, asylum seekers caught
up in the Australian immigration system have no champions, and have received very little media attention. There
are hopes that Djokovic’s case will finally cast light on this shadowy section of legislation, and that indefinite
detention will finally be brought to an end. However, for many, the case merely highlights the disparity between
the haves and have-nots. - Sources: BBC, The Guardian, Reuters, The Independent

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9 Extended activity: post-reading

Match the words and expressions in bold with the correct definitions.

1. After winning the lottery, it’s a bad idea to make hasty decisions. Give yourself time to think first.

2. During the first lockdown, we burnt through our food supplies within the first few days and had
to buy more.

3. My government has been enforcing the rules strictly during the pandemic.

4. There were hopes that the vaccination programme would bring the pandemic to an end.

5. The eyes of the world are on the NASA mission to destroy the asteroid.

6. The pandemic has taken its toll on the service industry.

7. The school decided not to put on a play about divorce, as it was an emotive issue.

8. Many believe that rich business owners should be subject to the same laws as everyone else.

a. to stop, finish or complete something

b. to use all of something quickly

c. a situation or topic that is likely to make people feel strong emotions

d. to have a bad effect on something, especially over time

e. an item of news or current event that is of international significance

f. said, made or done very quickly

g. to be affected by something or held to account by something/someone

h. to make sure that laws or regulations are being followed

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Transcripts

3. Listening for specific information

Newsreader: From one court to another, Novak Djokovic is back in training. The men’s
world tennis number one was released from Australian immigration detention on
Monday (January 10) after winning a legal challenge to remain in the country and
defend his Australian Open title.

Newsreader: Fans in Australia and back home in Serbia welcomed the news that Judge Anthony
Kelly had found the Australian federal government’s decision to cancel Djokovic’s
visa to be ’unreasonable’, because the player wasn’t given enough time to speak to
tennis organizers and lawyers to respond fully after he was notified of the intent
to cancel his visa.

Newsreader: The tennis star’s family, including brother Djordje, were delighted with the ruling.

Djordje Djokovic: I’ve got to say how much I admire Judge Kelly and the way he led with the whole
court process because I think it was detailed, it was very thorough and it was very
neutral and I want to thank him in front of the family for leading the process in
such way and for showing the world the world the whole truth and nothing but
the truth.

Newsreader: But it received a much more mixed reception from some Melbourne residents.

Resident: I think the decision that has been overturned is a little bit unfair because, you
know obviously if you’re coming from an international place, then you do have to
be vaccinated.

Resident 2: There’s just both sides to it. There’s the side where he’s... you know he was led
in and then now he’s come all the way here and they’re saying he can’t play. But
then on the other hand, there’s all the players in the Oz (Australian) Open who
have done the right thing, have gotten vaccinated and they’re playing because
they’re allowed to be here.

Newsreader: A spokesman for Australia’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said he was
considering using his personal power to again revoke Djokovic’s visa - which
could include a 3-year ban on re-entering. According to court documents
Djokovic tested positive for COVID-19 on December 16th, allowing him a medical
exemption to come to Australia.

Newsreader: But questions have been raised about whether he attended an event on December
17th - something that was put to the Djokovic family during a press conference.

Reporter: Was he out and about on the 17th of December, in Belgrade?

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Djordje Djokovic: Okay, so this press conference is adjourned at the moment. Thank you for your
attention.

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Key

1. Warm up

5 mins.
Tell the students they will be reading an article about members of the public’s opinions on the recent scandal
involving Novak Djokovic, and listening to a report about the overturning of the decision to cancel his visa. The
discussion activity is suitable for pairs or groups.

2. Vocabulary

10 mins.
Ask students to match the words with the correct definitions. For the second part, students should fill in the gaps
in the sentences in pairs or individually.
Part A

1. → c. 2. → a. 3. → b. 4. → h. 5. → f. 6. → e. 7. → g. 8. → d.
Part B

1. detention 2. adjourn 3. intent 4. reception

5. ruling 6. exemption 7. revoked 8. overturned

3. Listening for specific information

5 mins.
Individually or in pairs, ask students to listen to the report and match the items they hear mentioned with the
correct answer. Note: ‘Led in; in this context means ‘invited’ (refer to the transcript if necessary).

1. → e. 2. → a. 3. → d. 4. → f. 5. → b. 6. → c.

4. Listening comprehension

5 mins.
Students should answer the questions true, false or not given.

1. True. He is back in training and will defend his Australian Open title.
2. True. Judge Anthony Kelly had found the Australian federal government’s decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa
to be ’unreasonable’, because the player was not given enough time to speak to tennis organizers and lawyers to
respond fully after he was notified of the intent to cancel his visa.
3. False. He says (of the court process) "it was detailed, it was very thorough."
4. False. The decision received a mixed reception from Melbourne residents.
5. True. "If you’re coming from an international place, then you do have to be vaccinated.
6. True. He says (of Djokovic) "he was led in and then now he’s come all the way here and they’re saying he can’t
play."
7. False. This is a possibility, but not certain.
8. Not given. That’s the implication, but we cannot know for sure.

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5. Reading: general vocabulary

10 mins.
Students should match the words in bold with the correct definitions. Ensure students know how to pronounce
target vocabulary. For part B, students should read through the short text and choose the most suitable word for
each space. Students may need to change the form of the word.
Group 1

1. → f. 2. → a. 3. → d. 4. → e. 5. → c. 6. → b.
Group 2

1. → f. 2. → e. 3. → d. 4. → a. 5. → b. 6. → c.
Part 2

1. harsh 2. scapegoat 3. allegations 4. vulnerable

5. indefinite 6. fixtures 7. prominent 8. sacrifices
9. insults 10. disparity 11. infamous 12. Frankly

6. Reading for general understanding

5 mins.
Ask students to skim through the text quickly to match the items mentioned to the correct speakers. You may
want to do this as a strictly-timed exercise.

1. Fiona and Colin 2. Fiona 3. Rachel 4. Not given 5. Colin

7. Reading comprehension and post-reading task

10 mins.
Students should complete the task individually or in pairs. For part A, encourage students to think about the
attitude of each speaker in the text. For part B, ask students to choose the answer that most accurately reflects
the question.
Part A

1. Rachel 2. Colin 3. Fiona and Rachel 4. Fiona 5. Rachel

Part B

1. b. 2. a. 3. b.

8. Talking point

10 mins.
Ask students to discuss the questions in pairs or small groups.

9. Extended activity: post-reading

10 mins.
Students should match the words and expressions to the most accurate meaning. Students should refer to the
text above for this exercise.

1. → f. 2. → b. 3. → h. 4. → a. 5. → e. 6. → d. 7. → c. 8. → g.

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