July 10, 2006

Monday, July 10, 2006 Before-Reading: What is the IMF? What is its relationship with Argentina? Have a look at the dates, numbers and years in the text: do you have information about what happened then? Read the title and the first sentence of the article. What is the topic of the article? Scan the text for words or phrases related to the topic, highlight them. Highlight transparent words. What will the article be about? _________________________________________________________________________ ‘We’re less dependent now,’ says Kirchner Kirchner presided over a ceremony in Tucumán to celebrate Independence Day. Tucumán is the tiny northwestern province where Argentina’s independence was declared in 1816."Telling the IMF goodbye has made us more independent this year than in past Ninth of July celebrations," said Kirchner in a speech before thousands of people in the provincial capital.Argentina resorted to reserves to cancel its 9.8-billion dollar debt with the multilateral lender, which Kirchner has repeatedly blamed for Argentina’s economic collapse in 2001-2002. The Kirchner government did not break with the IMF but now boasts of not following the lenders’ policy advice. Read the article in detail Complete the chart: DATE EVENT Declaration of Independence July 9 in Argentina 9.8-billion dollar debt was cancelled 2001-2002 Vocabulary: Match the words from the text and the definitions: Break Speak of yourself in superlatives, exaggerating Boast Someone who lends money or gives credit in business matters Advice Set of plans or ideas used to make decisions Lender A proposal for an appropriate course of action Policy Separate, spilt-up After reading: Do you agree with Kirchner’s opinion about the IMF? Do you accept other people’s opinions to administer your economy? Do you usually have money problems? Do you borrow money often? Do you celebrate Independence Day? How? Who with?