August 21st

Ninoy Aquino Day

A national day in the Philippines commemorating the 1983 assassination of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., an event that sparked the non-violent People Power Revolution and the restoration of democracy.

SPEAKING LESSONB1 / B2Discussion · Vocabulary · Activities

01 / LET’S TALK

Speaking Discussion

Why is Ninoy Aquino Jr. remembered as a national hero, and what impact did his death have on the Philippines?
Do you believe that "one person can change a nation," or is progress always the result of a collective movement?
What are the risks and rewards of non-violent resistance compared to more aggressive forms of protest?
In your opinion, what makes a leader truly "great"? Is it their achievements, their sacrifice, or their charisma?
How does a country maintain a healthy democracy decades after a revolution has ended?

02 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Activity 1: The Political Legacy Debate

Motion: "Political change is more effectively achieved through individual martyrdom and peaceful protest than through organised institutional reform."

Split into two teams. Team A argues for the power of symbols and moral courage; Team B argues for the necessity of policy, laws, and slow institutional change.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

"The political leader I admire most in history is..."
"If I were a political leader for one day, my first law would be..."
"I think democracy is fragile/strong because..."

Key Vocabulary

Assassination (Noun) The murder of a prominent person, often for political reasons.
Martyr (Noun) A person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs.
Democracy (Noun) A system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives.
Restoration (Noun) The action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition.
Non-Violent (Adj) Using peaceful means rather than force to bring about political or social change.

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Fluency Catalyst

Idioms of Change: When talking about revolutions, native speakers often say "A turning point" (a time when a decisive change happens) or "To turn the tide" (to reverse the trend of events). Try using these!