Discussion Starters

Hazing
Hazing is the only way
fraternities can keep out the guys
who arent serious about joining.
Anonymous commenter online

Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions
1. Do you know what hazing means?
2. D
 o schools in your country
have sorority or fraternity clubs?
3. D
 o athletic teams in your country welcome
newcomers in a cruel or unusual way?

B. Vocabulary Preview
Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

exclusive
tolerate
hazing
mild
orientation
fraternity
sorority
assault
humiliation
torture
essential
off-campus

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)

the act of causing (or the feeling of) shame and serious embarrassment
only open to one or a select few
a ritual that involves the abuse and humiliation of new group members
to withstand pain or discomfort
a process of introducing someone to something new
not very serious
an exclusive university group for men (brotherhood)
away from the school grounds
a physical attack
an exclusive university group for women (sisterhood)
necessary
serious abuse that may cause a person to give in to demands

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Hazing

Discussion Starters

Reading

Comprehension

HAZING
What does it take to join the club?

Discuss these questions in

pairs, and write the answers
in your notebook.

1. H
 ave you ever joined an exclusive club or team? Were you welcomed
openly, or did you have to prove yourself? In some clubs and groups,
newcomers are abused rather than welcomed. The abuse can be
physical or mental. To be accepted into the group, an individual must
tolerate the abuse. This is called hazing.
2. M
 ild forms of hazing are a typical part of orientation carried out by
leaders or long-term members. Examples include name-calling and
the assignment of dirty chores. New members might also be assigned
embarrassing names or costumes.
3. V
 iolent forms of hazing are common in fraternities, sororities, and
even some athletic clubs. Hazing may include assault, humiliation, or
torture. The withdrawal of essential needs, such as sleep, is a very
common form of torture in a hazing ritual. Many universities are trying
to prevent hazing practices. This is difficult because the abuse usually
occurs off-campus and club members are sworn to secrecy. What
happens when you quit or get kicked out of an exclusive club like this?
Some ex-members fear for their lives.

1. W
 hat two main types of
abuse are mentioned?
2. What is the purpose of hazing?
3. N
 ame two mild forms of
hazing that are mentioned
in the passage.
4. W
 hy does the reading mention
fraternities and sororities?
5. W
 hat example is given
as a form of torture in
a hazing ritual?
6. H
 ow do some victims of
hazing feel after being kicked
out of an exclusive club?

4. H
 azing is also a common ritual in the military. Is boot camp
a form of hazing, or is it a necessary part of military training?

Discussion Questions
1. Would you join a club that practiced hazing?
2. In your opinion, which is worse: physical abuse or mental abuse?
3. Describe the last group that you joined. How did you feel as a newcomer?
4. What qualities should a leader have?
5. What would you do if you witnessed serious hazing?

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.

Hazing

Discussion Starters

Vocabulary Review
A. Choose the Correct Response
Choose the correct response to each question or statement. This task can
also be done orally with a partner. Read the sentence and choices out loud.
1. W
 here are you going to live
in your first year of university?
a)Orientation is tomorrow.
b)Yes, I joined a sorority.
c)Im renting an apartment off-campus.
2. Are you going to join the sorority you talked about?
a)No, I dont like their hazing rituals.
b)Yes, the fraternity is accepting members.
c)My sister goes to that school.

4. W
 hat did your leader make
you do on the first day?
a)I dont like being the leader.
b)We had to wear humiliating costumes.
c)No. Orientation starts on day two.
5. I heard three team members
got charged with assault.
a)Ill tell you if I hear anything.
b)Yes, there was a hazing incident on the field.
c)I suffered mental abuse.

3. I told you to only bring your essential needs.

a)But I need my makeup!
b)Thats not necessary.
c)I am sworn to secrecy.

B. Odd One Out

Circle the word that does not belong. Write one
more word that does belong in each blank space.
1. abuse/mild/assault/torture/
2. essential/necessary/important/orientation/
3. hazing/violence/humiliation/welcome/
4. essential/sorority/club/fraternity/
5. withstand/humiliate/tolerate/accept/

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.

Hazing

Discussion Starters

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION:

LEVEL: IntermediateAdvanced

In this lesson, students learn about hazing rituals that take place

TIME: 1.52 hours

in secrecy. Students practice new vocabulary and discuss being a

TAGS: discussion, hazing, bullying, clubs, social,

newcomer in a club.

fraternity, sorority, shame, embarrassment

Pre-Reading

Discussion Questions

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS

Individual answers. Can be done individually or in small groups or pairs.

Have students work in small groups or as a class. Discuss the quote.

This comment was written in response to Goat, a book by Brad Land

Vocabulary Review

about the post-traumatic effects of hazing.

A. CHOOSE THE CORRECT RESPONSE
B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW

1. c

1. b

3. c

5. e

7. j

9. a

11. k

2. d

4. f

6. g

8. i

10. l

12. h

Reading (and/or Listening)

Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. You can also play
the listening as your students read along. A gap-fill version of the
reading is available on page 6. Help your students with vocabulary
and expressions that they are unfamiliar with. Discuss the meaning
of the subtitle What does it take to join the club?

Comprehension
1.

The two main types of abuse mentioned

are physical and mental abuse.

2.

2. a

3. a

4. b

5. b

B. ODD ONE OUT

1.

mild

3.

welcome

2.

orientation

4.

essential

5.

humiliate

*See Discussion Starters Teaching Guide (esl-library.com/discussion)

for a variety of ways to use the reading. Audio is available for this
lesson. Students can access the audio via our podcast and iTunes.

SPELLING NOTE:
This lesson shows the American spelling of the word Practiced.
Mostother English-speaking countries spell it this way: Practised.
Make ita challengefor your students to find this word in
thelessonandsee if theyknow the alternatespelling.

The purpose of hazing is to make sure new members

are willing to tolerate abuse in order to get into the club.

3.

Two mild forms of hazing mentioned include name-calling

and being forced to wear embarrassing costumes. Another
form is being asked to do chores.

4.

The reading mentions fraternities and sororities because these

are examples of clubs in which hazing rituals often take place.

5.

The example given is sleep deprivation.

6.

Some victims of hazing are afraid of being

killed after being kicked out of a club.

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.

Hazing

Discussion Starters

Listening Gap Fill

(Audio: http://blog.esllibrary.com/2010/10/06/podcast-hazing/)
Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording.
HAZING
What does it take to join the club?
1. H
 ave you ever joined an exclusive club or team? Were you welcomed
, or did you have to prove yourself? In some clubs
and groups, newcomers are abused rather than welcomed. The abuse
can be physical or . To be accepted into the group,
an individual must tolerate the abuse. This is called hazing.
2. M
 ild forms of hazing are a typical part of orientation
by leaders or long-term members. Examples include name-calling and
the assignment of dirty chores. New members might also be assigned
names or costumes.
3. V
 iolent forms of hazing are common in fraternities, sororities, and
even some athletic clubs. Hazing may include assault, humiliation,
or torture. The withdrawal of essential needs, such as sleep, is a
very common form of torture in a hazing . Many
universities are trying to prevent hazing practices. This is difficult
because the abuse usually occurs off-campus and club members are
. What happens when you quit or get
kicked out of an exclusive club like this? Some ex-members fear for
their lives.
4. H
 azing is also a common ritual in the military. Is
a form of hazing, or is it a necessary part of military training?

4. boot camp
3. ritual, sworn to secrecy
2. carried out ,embarrassing
1. openly, mental
ANSWERS
Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.