A man who spent 27 years in prison — and then chose peace, not revenge.
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These are the new words for Nelson Mandela. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.
1 = B (unfair) · 2 = E (a law) · 3 = C (to vote) · 4 = G (prison)
5 = A (a cell) · 6 = H (free) · 7 = D (to forgive) · 8 = F (peace)
Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.
Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 in South Africa. He was clever, and he studied to become a lawyer. But his country had a big problem. Black people and white people did not have the same rights. This system was called apartheid.
Under apartheid, the laws were very unfair. White people had power and money. Black people could not vote. The law said where Black people could live and work. Mandela thought this was wrong. He joined a group that wanted to change the country and give the same rights to everyone.
For many years, Mandela and his friends protested in a peaceful way. But the government did not listen. It used the police against them. So Mandela decided to fight the system in a stronger way. He worked in secret to stop apartheid. In the end, the police caught him.
1. What was apartheid? Why was it unfair?
2. What did Mandela want to change in his country?
1. Apartheid was a system in South Africa. Black people and white people did not have the same rights. Black people could not vote, and the law said where they could live and work.
2. He wanted the same rights for everyone — for Black people and white people to be equal.
In 1964, a court sent Mandela to prison for the rest of his life. He was taken to a small island called Robben Island. His cell was very small. He had to do hard work under the hot sun, breaking rocks. He could see his family only for a few minutes, and only two times a year.
The years were very hard. His mother died. His son died. But the prison did not let him go to say goodbye. Still, Mandela did not give up. He kept his hope. He talked with the other prisoners, and they learned from each other. He stayed strong.
Outside the prison, people did not forget him. His picture was not allowed in the newspapers, but all over the world people said the same thing: "Free Nelson Mandela!" Many countries would not buy things from South Africa. This put pressure on the government, year after year.
1. Where was Mandela sent, and what was life there like?
2. How did people around the world help Mandela?
1. He was sent to prison on Robben Island. His cell was small, he did hard work breaking rocks, and he could see his family only two times a year.
2. People all over the world said "Free Nelson Mandela!" Many countries would not buy things from South Africa, and this put pressure on the government.
After many years, the government of South Africa began to change. On 11 February 1990, Mandela walked out of prison — a free man at last, after 27 years. A huge crowd cheered. Millions of people watched on television.
Now Mandela made a surprising choice. He did not want revenge. He was not angry with the white people who had put him in prison. Instead, he said: we must live together in peace. He worked with the country's leaders to end apartheid.
In 1994, South Africa had a special day. For the first time, all people — Black and white — could vote. People waited in very long lines for hours. Mandela won, and he became the first Black president of South Africa. He asked everyone to forgive the past and build one country together. When he died in 2013, at 95 years old, the whole world remembered him as a man of peace.
1. What did Mandela choose to do after he left prison?
2. Why was the 1994 election special?
1. He did not want revenge. He chose peace and forgiveness, and he worked to end apartheid and bring people together.
2. For the first time, all people — Black and white — could vote. Mandela won and became the first Black president of South Africa.
Mandela was very determined. He said, in effect: "I will not give up. I won't stop." English uses will and won't to talk about the future — and to show a strong decision.
Read the meaning in brackets and complete the sentence.
1. Mandela said, "I give up. I will keep fighting." (a strong refusal — NOT do it)
2. "One day," he said, "our country be free." (a hope for the future — yes)
3. "They stop us," said the people. "Nothing can stop us now." (a refusal — NOT happen)
4. "Next year, everyone vote," he promised. (a promise for the future — yes)
1. won't (a strong "no" — will not give up)
2. will (a hope / promise about the future)
3. won't (will not stop us)
4. will (a promise for the future)
Put the verb in the correct form after will or won't. Then read it out loud.
1. Mandela said, "I will (fight) for freedom."
2. "We won't (forget) him," said the people.
3. "One day, all people will (be) equal."
1. fight (will + base verb)
2. forget (won't + base verb)
3. be (will + base verb)
Fill each gap with will or won't. Read it aloud when you finish.
In prison, Mandela made a promise to himself: "I give up, no matter how long it takes." He believed that one day his country be free. And he said, "When that day comes, we fight each other — we will live in peace together."
won't (a strong refusal) · will (a hope for the future) · won't (will not fight — a refusal)
Use will for the future and for a promise, and won't to say something will NOT happen.
There is a real podcast about Nelson Mandela. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.
From the Noiser podcast network. About 50 minutes. It plays on the Noiser site, or search "Short History Of Nelson Mandela" on Spotify.
Play on Noiser →Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story of Nelson Mandela in your own words. Use these steps to help you: a young lawyer in an unfair country → apartheid and no vote for Black people → 27 years in prison on Robben Island → free in 1990 → he chooses peace, not revenge → the first Black president in 1994.
Try to use will and won't at the strong moments ("I won't give up", "we will be free"), and some of the key words (unfair, law, vote, prison, cell, free, forgive, peace).
Mandela spent 27 years in prison, but then he chose to forgive. Do you think this was the right thing to do? Is it good to forgive people who hurt you, or should they be punished? Why?
Tell me about a person you admire — someone who is strong, or fair, or who helps other people. Use will and won't to say what they do and don't do.
Not sure who to talk about? Choose one: