2. Reading and doing exercises

Read the passage again and do the exercise on Page 38.

3. Task (a text dialogue)

Now we have finished the story about Elias. Next we are going to do a group activity. We will do it in groups of four. Suppose one of you is Elias and works as a tour guide on Robben Island. The other three of you are tourists who are very interested in the island and Mandela's life and asking the tour guide the following questions. Elias must answer them.

Tourist: How did you get to know Nelson Mandela?

Elias: It was in 1950. I was working as a miner in Johannesburg but I hadn't a passbook to live there. So I went to Mandela's law firm to ask for advice.

Tourist: Can you explain to me some of Nelson Mandela's political ideas or beliefs?

Elias: Yes. He found that we black people were not treated as equally as the white people and he would fight for our rights. However, he said that we should fight in a peaceful way. Only when this was not allowed did we decide to answer violence with violence.

Tourist: How did he help you through your life?

Elias: First, he helped me to get the correct papers to stay in Johannesburg and keep my job as I mentioned above. Then he taught me to read and write when I was in prison. This is very important to me because it enables me to get more job opportunities. Later he gave me my present job.

Tourist: What was life like on Robben Island?

Elias: Miserable and cruel. The guards and soldiers treated us badly, beat us violently for no reasons and insulted us in different ways.

Tourist: How did you manage to study on Robben Island?

Elias: We studied during the lunch breaks and the evenings when we should have asleep. We read books under our blankets and used anything we could find to make candles to see the words.

Tourist: What kinds of job have you ever done?

Elias: A miner, an office worker and now a tour guide.

Tourist: What do you think of your present job?

Elias: I like it very much. And I am proud to show visitors over the prison, for I helped to make our people free in our own land.