. Blinking - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Blinking - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Blinking - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson

Breaking News English Lesson: Blinking

Blinking is something we do automatically, without thinking. We blink 15–20 times a minute. There are several reasons why we blink. One is to stop our eyes from becoming dry. This helps our vision. Another reason is to protect our eyes from dust or sudden insect attacks. Scientists in Canada think they have found another function of blinking. The researchers are from Concordia University in Montreal. They found that we blink less when we are listening to someone speak. This happens more when there is background noise. Lead researcher Penelope Coupal said blinking less means our brain has a little more energy. This allows us to focus on what another person is saying.

The research team conducted two experiments on 49 participants. All of the test participants listened to sentences being read aloud. In one experiment, there was no background noise. In the other test, there was background noise, which made it harder for the people to hear the sentences. The scientists said that people in the test with background noise blinked a lot less. When the background noise increased, blink rates dropped even further. Study co-author Dr Mickael Deroche said we automatically blink less "when important information is coming". Ms Coupal agreed. She said: "We don't just blink randomly. In fact, we blink systematically less when important information is presented."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

  • https://www.sciencealert.com/want-to-know-if-somebody-is-truly-listening-count-their-blinks
  • https://www.earth.com/news/people-automatically-blink-less-while-listening-carefully/
  • https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1109190

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities, and more.

$US 9.99

News

"Much has been said and written on the utility of newspapers; but one principal advantage which might be derived from these publications has been neglected; we mean that of reading them in schools."

The Portland Eastern Herald (June 8, 1795)

"News is history in its first and best form, its vivid and fascinating form, and. history is the pale and tranquil reflection of it."

Mark Twain, in his autobiography (1906)

"Current events provide authentic learning experiences for students at all grade levels. In studying current events, students are required to use a range of cognitive, affective, critical thinking and research skills."

Haas, M. and Laughlin, M. (2000) Teaching Current Events: It's Status in Social Studies Today.

Warm-ups

1. BLINKING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about blinking. Change partners often and share your findings. 2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life? blinking / eyes / vision / dust / insect attacks / scientist / listening / background noise experiments / sentences / reading aloud / hearing / important information / author Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently. 3. LISTEN: Students A strongly believe we all need to learn to listen more; Students B strongly believe we don't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations. 4. LISTENING: How can listening improve these things? What examples of these do you have in your life Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Improvements

My Experiences

Building trust

Arguments

Learning

Teamwork

Leadership

Friendships

MY e-BOOK See a sample
  • Parents
  • Teachers
  • Religious leaders
  • Police officers
  • Elders
  • Friends
  • Doctors
  • Yourself
Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1. automatically a. What something does or is used for. 2. several b. Give your attention to doing one thing. 3. vision c. Done without a person thinking about it. 4. dust d. More than two, but not many. 5. function e. Very small, dry pieces of dirt. 6. background noise f. Sounds you hear that are not important or not the main sound. 7. focus g. The ability to see.

Paragraph 2

8. conducted h. Without a plan or order. 9. participants i. More; or to a greater level. 10. aloud j. Numbers that show how often or how much something happens. 11. rates k. Done or carried out. 12. further l. In a careful and planned way, step by step. 13. randomly m. People who take part in or join something. 14. systematically n. Spoken so that other people can hear. Before reading / listening 1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
  1. Scientists say we think about blinking before we blink. T / F
  2. The article says blinking can protect us against insect attacks. T / F
  3. We blink less often when we are trying to listen to someone. T / F
  4. Blinking less means our brain has a little more energy to use. T / F
  5. Researchers conducted tests on nearly 500 people. T / F
  6. When there is background noise, we blink more. T / F
  7. We blink more when we want to understand important information. T / F
  8. Another doctor said people do not simply blink randomly. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
  1. purpose
  2. valuable
  3. a number of
  4. did
  5. went up
  6. without thinking
  7. concentrate
  8. more
  9. eyesight
  10. test
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
  1. Blinking is something we do automatically,
  2. There are several reasons
  3. This helps our
  4. we blink less when we are listening
  5. focus on what another
  6. The research team conducted two
  7. harder for the people to
  8. people in the test with background noise
  9. We don’t just blink
  10. when important information is
  1. blinked a lot less
  2. to someone speak
  3. why we blink
  4. experiments
  5. randomly
  6. person is saying
  7. without thinking
  8. presented
  9. hear the sentences
  10. vision
Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below. dry less focus thinking brain dust several noise

Blinking is something we do automatically, without (1) ______________________________________________. We blink 15–20 times a minute. There are (2) ______________________________________________ reasons why we blink. One is to stop our eyes from becoming (3) ______________________________________________. This helps our vision. Another reason is to protect our eyes from (4) ______________________________________________ or sudden insect attacks. Scientists in Canada think they have found another function of blinking. The researchers are from Concordia University in Montreal. They found that we blink (5) ______________________________________________ when we are listening to someone speak. This happens more when there is background (6) ______________________________________________. Lead researcher Penelope Coupal said blinking less means our (7) ______________________________________________ has a little more energy. This allows us to (8) ______________________________________________ on what another person is saying.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

harder when dropped conducted agreed aloud test automatically

The research team (9) ______________________________________________ two experiments on 49 participants. All of the test participants listened to sentences being read (10) ______________________________________________. In one experiment, there was no background noise. In the other test, there was background noise, which made it (11) ______________________________________________ for the people to hear the sentences. The scientists said that people in the (12) ______________________________________________ with background noise blinked a lot less. When the background noise increased, blink rates (13) ______________________________________________ even further. Study co-author Dr Mickael Deroche said we (14) ______________________________________________ blink less "when important information is coming". Ms Coupal (15) ______________________________________________. She said: "We don't just blink randomly. In fact, we blink systematically less (16) ______________________________________________ important information is presented."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Blinking is something we do ______ a. automatically, without think in b. automatically, with doubt thinking c. automatically, within thinking d. automatically, without thinking 2) We blink 15–20 times a minute. There are several reasons ______ a. why we blink b. why they blink c. why us blink d. why we've blink 3) Another reason is to protect our eyes from dust or ______ a. sudden insect attacks b. suddenly insect attacks c. sudden insects attacks d. sudden insecticide 4) They found that we blink less when we are listening ______ a. to someone speaks b. to someone speech c. to someone speak d. to someone spoke 5) This allows us to focus on what another ______ a. person is said b. people is saying c. person is saying d. person is say in

6) All of the test participants listened to sentences ______ a. being read allowed b. being read aloud c. being read a loud d. being read all loud 7) In the other test, there ______ a. was background noisy b. was background nosey c. was background noise d. was background nice 8) The scientists said that people in the test with background noise blinked ______ a. a lots less b. a lot less c. a loads less d. allot less 9) When the background noise increased, blink rates ______ a. dropped even farther b. dropped even further c. dropped evens further d. dripped even further 10) In fact, we blink systematically less when important ______ a. information is present it b. information is presentation c. information is presents d. information is presented

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Blinking is something (1) __________________________________________________, without thinking. We blink 15–20 times a minute. There are (2) __________________________________________________ we blink. One is to stop our eyes from becoming dry. This helps our vision. Another reason is (3) __________________________________________________ eyes from dust or sudden insect attacks. Scientists in Canada think they have found (4) __________________________________________________ blinking. The researchers are from Concordia University in Montreal. They found that we blink less when we are listening to someone speak. This (5) __________________________________________________ there is background noise. Lead researcher Penelope Coupal said blinking less means our brain has a little more energy. This allows us (6) __________________________________________________ what another person is saying.

The research team conducted (7) __________________________________________________ 49 participants. All of the test participants listened (8) __________________________________________________ read aloud. In one experiment, there was no background noise. In the other test, there was background noise, which (9) __________________________________________________ for the people to hear the sentences. The scientists said that people in the test with background noise (10) __________________________________________________ less. When the background noise increased, blink rates (11) __________________________________________________. Study co-author Dr Mickael Deroche said we automatically blink less "when important information is coming". Ms Coupal agreed. She said: "We don't just blink randomly. (12) __________________________________________________ blink systematically less when important information is presented."

Comprehension questions
  1. How many times a minute do people blink?
  2. What does blinking prevent happening to our eyes?
  3. What might suddenly attack out eyes?
  4. When do we blink less?
  5. What does our brain have more of when we blink less?
  6. How many people took part in the blinking experiments?
  7. What did the test participants listen to being read aloud?
  8. What increased that made people blink even less?
  9. Who is Mickael Deroche?
  10. What kind of information makes us blink less?
Multiple choice quiz

1) How many times a minute do people blink? a) 10-15 times b) 15–20 times c) 20-25 times d) 30–40 times 2) What does blinking prevent happening to our eyes? a) crying b) blurred vision c) drying out d) blindness 3) What might suddenly attack out eyes? a) viruses b) infrared light c) UV light d) insects 4) When do we blink less? a) When we speak. b) When we listen to someone speak. c) When we study. d) When we are stressed. 5) What does our brain have more of when we blink less? a) energy b) cells c) electricity d) thoughts

6) How many people took part in the blinking experiments? a) 49 b) 59 c) 69 d) 79 7) What did the test participants listen to being read aloud? a) names b) letters of the alphabet c) short stories d) sentences 8) What increased that made people blink even less? a) wind speeds b) the temperature c) background noise d) the number of participants 9) Who is Mickael Deroche? a) a communications expert b) an optician c) an expert on blinking d) the study's co-author 10) What kind of information makes us blink less? a) unnecessary information b) important information c) tourist information d) basic information

Role play

Role A – Parents You think parents are the most important people to listen to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): teachers, friends or yourself.

Role B – Teachers You think teachers are the most important people to listen to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): parents, friends or yourself.

Role C – Friends You think friends are the most important people to listen to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): teachers, parents or yourself.

Role D – Yourself You think it's most important to listen to yourself. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): teachers, friends or parents.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words.

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

•Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Blinking

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

  1. What did you think when you read the headline?
  2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'blink'?
  3. What do you think of blinking?
  4. Why do we blink?
  5. What do you do if your eyes are dry?
  6. For how long can you not blink?
  7. Do you think you blink less when you listen to people?
  8. What can we do to listen more actively?
  9. What can we do to give our brain more energy?
  10. What does the phrase "Blink and you'll miss it" mean?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

  1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
  2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'listen'?
  3. What do you think about what you read?
  4. Do you ever think about blinking?
  5. What kinds of background noises do you think are annoying?
  6. What things make it hard to listen to people?
  7. Are there any people you don't want to listen to?
  8. What was the last piece of important information you heard?
  9. What does the phrase "in the blink of an eye" mean?
  10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?
Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

Blinking is something we (1) ____ automatically, without thinking. We blink 15–20 times a minute. There are several reasons (2) ____ we blink. One is to stop our eyes from becoming dry. This helps our vision. Another reason is (3) ____ protect our eyes from dust or sudden insect attacks. Scientists in Canada think they have found another function (4) ____ blinking. The researchers are from Concordia University in Montreal. They found that we blink less (5) ____ we are listening to someone speak. This happens more when there is background noise. Lead researcher Penelope Coupal said blinking less means our brain has a little more energy. This allows us to focus (6) ____ what another person is saying.

The research team conducted two experiments (7) ____ 49 participants. All of the test participants listened to sentences being read aloud. In one experiment, there was (8) ____ background noise. In the other test, there was background noise, which made it (9) ____ for the people to hear the sentences. The scientists said that people in the test with background noise blinked a lot less. When the background noise increased, blink rates dropped even (10) ____. Study co-author Dr Mickael Deroche said we automatically blink less "when important information is coming". Ms Coupal (11) ____. She said: "We don't just blink randomly. (12) ____ fact, we blink systematically less when important information is presented."

Which of these words go in the above text?

  1. (a) done (b) do (c) doing (d) does
  2. (a) what (b) how (c) why (d) which
  3. (a) for (b) at (c) to (d) of
  4. (a) to (b) by (c) as (d) of
  5. (a) when (b) what (c) which (d) that
  6. (a) at (b) on (c) of (d) by
  7. (a) by (b) at (c) in (d) on
  8. (a) not (b) no (c) non (d) none
  9. (a) hardly (b) harden (c) harder (d) heard
  10. (a) furrier (b) further (c) future (d) farther
  11. (a) agreeing (b) agreement (c) agree (d) agreed
  12. (a) On (b) In (c) To (d) Of
Spelling Paragraph 1
  1. something we do aaolmcyttailu
  2. There are varslee reasons why we blink
  3. This helps our ivosin
  4. otcrtep our eyes from dust
  5. another niocftnu of blinking
  6. kbangrudoc noise
Paragraph 2
  1. The research team cdduotcne two experiments
  2. test stptraiicapn
  3. eenetcssn being read aloud
  4. blink rates dropped even hurterf
  5. Study co-tahrou Dr Mickael Deroche
  6. We don’t just blink donmalyr
Put the text back together

( ) agreed. She said: "We don't just blink randomly. In fact, we blink systematically less when important information is presented." ( 1 ) Blinking is something we do automatically, without thinking. We blink 15–20 times a minute. There are several ( ) Dr Mickael Deroche said we automatically blink less "when important information is coming". Ms Coupal ( ) energy. This allows us to focus on what another person is saying. ( ) function of blinking. The researchers are from Concordia University in Montreal. They found that we blink ( ) less when we are listening to someone speak. This happens more when there is background ( ) less. When the background noise increased, blink rates dropped even further. Study co-author ( ) noise. Lead researcher Penelope Coupal said blinking less means our brain has a little more ( ) participants listened to sentences being read aloud. In one experiment, there was no background noise. In the other ( ) protect our eyes from dust or sudden insect attacks. Scientists in Canada think they have found another ( ) reasons why we blink. One is to stop our eyes from becoming dry. This helps our vision. Another reason is to ( ) sentences. The scientists said that people in the test with background noise blinked a lot ( ) test, there was background noise, which made it harder for the people to hear the ( ) The research team conducted two experiments on 49 participants. All of the test

Put the words in the right order
  1. is Blinking we something automatically do, thinking without .
  2. There several are why reasons blink we .
  3. Another is reason protect to from eyes dust .
  4. blink We when less are we listening .
  5. focus To what on person another saying is .
  6. All the of participants test to listened sentences .
  7. one In there, experiment no was noise background .
  8. This it made for harder to people hear .
  9. people The the in with test noise background .
  10. We less blink important when is information coming .
Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Blinking is something we do automatic / automatically, without thinking. We blink 15–20 times a minute. There are several reason / reasons why we blink. One / Once is to stop our eyes from becoming / become dry. This helps our vision. Another / Other reason is to protect our eyes from dust or sudden insect attacks. Scientists in Canada think they have found another function of / to blinking. The researchers are from Concordia University in Montreal. They found that we blink few / less when we are listening to / for someone speak. This happens more when there is background noisy / noise. Lead researcher Penelope Coupal said blinking less means our brain has a little more energy. This allows us to focus in / on what another person is saying.

The research team conducted two experiments on / in 49 participants. All of the test participants listened to sentences being read loud / aloud. In one experiment, there was no background noise. In the another / other test, there was background noise, which made / make it harder for the people to hear the sentences. The scientists said that people in the / a test with background noise blinked a lot / loads less. When the background noise increased, blink rates / rate dropped even further. Study co-author Dr Mickael Deroche said we automatically blink less "when important information are / is coming". Ms Coupal agreed. She said: "We don't just blink random / randomly. In fact, we blink systematically less when important information is presented / presentation."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

Bl_nk_ng _s s_m_th_ng w_ d_ __t_m_t_c_lly, w_th__t th_nk_ng. W_ bl_nk 15–20 t_m_s _ m_n_t_. Th_r_ _r_ s_v_r_l r__s_ns why w_ bl_nk. _n_ _s t_ st_p __r _y_s fr_m b_c_m_ng dry. Th_s h_lps __r v_s__n. _n_th_r r__s_n _s t_ pr_t_ct __r _y_s fr_m d_st _r s_dd_n _ns_ct _tt_cks. Sc__nt_sts _n C_n_d_ th_nk th_y h_v_ f__nd _n_th_r f_nct__n _f bl_nk_ng. Th_ r_s__rch_rs _r_ fr_m C_nc_rd__ _n_v_rs_ty _n M_ntr__l. Th_y f__nd th_t w_ bl_nk l_ss wh_n w_ _r_ l_st_n_ng t_ s_m__n_ sp__k. Th_s h_pp_ns m_r_ wh_n th_r_ _s b_ckgr__nd n__s_. L__d r_s__rch_r P_n_l_p_ C__p_l s__d bl_nk_ng l_ss m__ns __r br__n h_s _ l_ttl_ m_r_ _n_rgy. Th_s _ll_ws _s t_ f_c_s _n wh_t _n_th_r p_rs_n _s s_y_ng.

Th_ r_s__rch t__m c_nd_ct_d tw_ _xp_r_m_nts _n 49 p_rt_c_p_nts. _ll _f th_ t_st p_rt_c_p_nts l_st_n_d t_ s_nt_nc_s b__ng r__d _l__d. _n _n_ _xp_r_m_nt, th_r_ w_s n_ b_ckgr__nd n__s_. _n th_ _th_r t_st, th_r_ w_s b_ckgr__nd n__s_, wh_ch m_d_ _t h_rd_r f_r th_ p__pl_ t_ h__r th_ s_nt_nc_s. Th_ sc__nt_sts s__d th_t p__pl_ _n th_ t_st w_th b_ckgr__nd n__s_ bl_nk_d _ l_t l_ss. Wh_n th_ b_ckgr__nd n__s_ _ncr__s_d, bl_nk r_t_s dr_pp_d _v_n f_rth_r. St_dy c_-__th_r Dr M_ck__l D_r_ch_ s__d w_ __t_m_t_c_lly bl_nk l_ss "wh_n _mp_rt_nt _nf_rm_t__n _s c_m_ng". Ms C__p_l _gr__d. Sh_ s__d: "W_ d_n't j_st bl_nk r_nd_mly. _n f_ct, w_ bl_nk syst_m_t_c_lly l_ss wh_n _mp_rt_nt _nf_rm_t__n _s pr_s_nt_d."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

blinking is something we do automatically without thinking we blink 1520 times a minute there are several reasons why we blink one is to stop our eyes from becoming dry this helps our vision another reason is to protect our eyes from dust or sudden insect attacks scientists in canada think they have found another function of blinking the researchers are from concordia university in montreal they found that we blink less when we are listening to someone speak this happens more when there is background noise lead researcher penelope coupal said blinking less means our brain has a little more energy this allows us to focus on what another person is saying

the research team conducted two experiments on 49 participants all of the test participants listened to sentences being read aloud in one experiment there was no background noise in the other test there was background noise which made it harder for the people to hear the sentences the scientists said that people in the test with background noise blinked a lot less when the background noise increased blink rates dropped even further study coauthor dr mickael deroche said we automatically blink less when important information is coming ms coupal agreed she said we dont just blink randomly in fact we blink systematically less when important information is presented

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Blinkingissomethingwedoautomatically,withoutthinking.Weblink15 –20timesaminute.Thereareseveralreasonswhyweblink.Oneistostop oureyesfrombecomingdry.Thishelpsourvision.Anotherreasonistopr otectoureyesfromdustorsuddeninsectattacks.ScientistsinCanadathi nktheyhavefoundanotherfunctionofblinking.Theresearchersarefro mConcordiaUniversityinMontreal.Theyfoundthatweblinklesswhenw earelisteningtosomeonespeak.Thishappensmorewhenthereisbackg roundnoise.LeadresearcherPenelopeCoupalsaidblinkinglessmeanso urbrainhasalittlemoreenergy.Thisallowsustofocusonwhatanotherpe rsonissaying.Theresearchteamconductedtwoexperimentson49parti cipants.Allofthetestparticipantslistenedtosentencesbeingreadaloud .Inoneexperiment,therewasnobackgroundnoise.Intheothertest,the rewasbackgroundnoise,whichmadeitharderforthepeopletohearthes entences.Thescientistssaidthatpeopleinthetestwithbackgroundnois eblinkedalotless.Whenthebackgroundnoiseincreased,blinkratesdro ppedevenfurther.Studyco-authorDrMickaelDerochesaidweautoma ticallyblinkless"whenimportantinformationiscoming".MsCoupalagre ed.Shesaid:"Wedon'tjustblinkrandomly.Infact,weblinksystematical lylesswhenimportantinformationispresented."

Free writing

Write about blinking and listening for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

Academic writing

We all need to listen more to everyone we talk to. Discuss.

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word. 2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson. 3. BLINKING: Make a poster about blinking. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things? 4. LISTENING PRACTICE: Write a magazine article about all of us having how-to-really-listen-to-people lessons. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s). 5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles. 6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on blinking. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on blinking. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also.

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

  • News
  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
  • Using headlines
  • Working with words
  • While-reading / While-listening
  • Moving from text to speech
  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

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Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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