Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on People's Names

A website in Britain has just released a study into the strange names some people have. TheBabyWebsite.com created a list called ‘The Most Unfortunate Names in Britain’. Some of the names have been with people from birth; others got the names after they married. The bizarre, unlucky names include Barb Dwyer, Hazel Nutt, Jo King, Justin Case, Barry Cade and Mary Christmas. A spokesperson for the website gave one reason for why people have these names, saying: “When the parents of some of those people named their children, many probably didn't even realise the implications at the time.” He added: "Parents really do need to think carefully though when choosing names for their children.”

The list is a wake-up call for today’s parents to think more carefully about the names they give to their children. It is very common to name babies after pop stars and actors. Popular names for children today include Miley, Britney and Brad. TheBabyWebsite explained how difficult life must be with a strange name: “There must be tremendous embarrassment every time they have to introduce themselves to anyone, especially to a crowd. Even their teachers must have had to hold back their smiles sometimes.” Americans also have some curious names, such as Carrie Oakey and Bill Board. We found the best married-couple names on the BBC’s website; Mr and Mrs Mee – Rob’s a banker and Sue’s a lawyer.

WARM-UPS

1. NAMES: Walk around the class and talk to other students about names. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

strange names / lists / bizarre / unlucky / children / implications / choosing names / wake-up calls / pop stars / difficult life / smiles / curious / married names

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. NAMES: What are the best names in the world? Complete this table. Talk about what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you heard.

Best name for…	Name	Why
an actor
a singer
a world leader
a sports star
a writer
a celebrity

4. NAMES FOR LIFE: Students A strongly believe parents should give children names that will help them in life; Students B strongly believe parents should give creative names to their children. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

5. GOOD NAMES: What are good names for these people? You can choose names from your own language (but talk about them in English). Tell your partner(s).Change partners and share what you heard.

a world leader
a teen pop star
a boxer
a dentist

a clown
a soldier
a ballerina
an English teacher

6. NAME: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘name’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	People in Britain have the strangest names in the world.	T / F
b.	People were either born with strange names or married into them.	T / F
c.	One woman in a report was named Barbed Wire.	T / F
d.	The report says parents need to think more carefully about names.	T / F
e.	The article says parents who wake up early choose better names.	T / F
f.	Lots of people name their children after movie stars and singers.	T / F
g.	The report suggested teachers have to try not to smile at some names.	T / F
h.	The banker Rob Mee and the lawyer Sue Mee are married.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	released	a.	strange
2	unfortunate	b.	warning
3.	bizarre	c.	well-liked
4.	realized	d.	consequences
5.	implications	e.	made public
6.	wake-up call	f.	fantastic
7.	popular	g.	peculiar
8.	tremendous	h.	unlucky
9.	hold back	i.	understood
10.	curious	j.	contain

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	the strange names	a.	implications
2	the names have been with	b.	couple names
3.	one reason for	c.	people from birth
4.	realise the	d.	call for today’s parents
5.	Parents really do need	e.	embarrassment
6.	a wake-up	f.	why people have these names
7.	name babies	g.	some people have
8.	tremendous	h.	their smiles
9.	hold back	i.	after pop stars
10.	the best married-	j.	to think carefully

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

A website in Britain has just ____________ a study into the strange names some people ____________. TheBabyWebsite.com created a list called ‘The Most Unfortunate Names in Britain’. Some of the names have been with people ____________ birth; others got the names after they ____________. The bizarre, unlucky names include Barb Dwyer, Hazel Nutt, Jo King, Justin Case, Barry Cade and Mary Christmas. A spokesperson for the website gave one ____________ for why people have these names, saying: “When the parents of some of those people ____________ their children, many probably didn't even realise the implications at the ____________.” He added: "Parents really do need to think carefully ____________ when choosing names for their children.”

reason
from
though
married
released
time
have
named

The list is a wake-up ____________ for today’s parents to think more ____________ about the names they give to their children. It is very ____________ to name babies after pop stars and actors. Popular names for children today include Miley, Britney and Brad. TheBabyWebsite explained how difficult life ____________ be with a strange name: “There must be tremendous embarrassment every time they have to ____________ themselves to anyone, especially to a crowd. Even their teachers must have had to hold back their ____________ sometimes.” Americans also have some curious names, such as Carrie Oakey and Bill Board. We ____________ the best married-couple names on the BBC’s website; Mr and Mrs Mee – Rob’s a banker and Sue’s a ____________.

introduce
common
lawyer
call
smiles
carefully
found
must

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A website in Britain has just released a ____________________ names some people have. TheBabyWebsite.com created a list called ‘The Most Unfortunate Names in Britain’. Some ____________________ been with people from birth; others got the names after they married. The ____________________ include Barb Dwyer, Hazel Nutt, Jo King, Justin Case, Barry Cade and Mary Christmas. A spokesperson for the website gave one ____________________ have these names, saying: “When the parents of some of those people named their children, many probably ____________________ the implications at the time.” He added: "Parents really do need to think ____________________ choosing names for their children.”

The list is ____________________ today’s parents to think more carefully about the names they give to their children. It is very ____________________ babies after pop stars and actors. Popular names for children today include Miley, Britney and Brad. TheBabyWebsite explained ____________________ must be with a strange name: “There must be tremendous embarrassment every time they have to introduce themselves to anyone, ____________________. Even their teachers must have ____________________ their smiles sometimes.” Americans also have some curious names, such as Carrie Oakey and Bill Board. We ____________________-couple names on the BBC’s website; Mr and Mrs Mee – Rob’s a banker and Sue’s a lawyer.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

baby

name

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:

released
birth
include
reason
realise
think

call
common
popular
crowd
smiles
lawyer

STUDENT NAMES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about names 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

NAMES DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘name’?
c)	What do you think of your name?
d)	If you changed your name, what would you change it to?
e)	Do you know anyone with a strange name?
f)	What names do you really dislike (and why)?
g)	What do you think of the names on the list in the article?
h)	Why do you think parents give children these bizarre names?
i)	What problems do you think people have in life with a bizarre name?
j)	Why did your parents choose the name they gave you?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)	Did you like reading this article?
b)	What would you name your son or daughter?
c)	Do you think children’s names are becoming more unusual?
d)	What do you think of double-barreled names?
e)	Would you name your child after your favourite movie / sports / pop star?
f)	Do you fit the personality associated with your name?
g)	What’s the coolest name in the world?
h)	Which countries have the best sounding names?
i)	What’s unusual about the married couple at the end of the article?
j)	What questions would you like to ask an expert on names?

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

A website in Britain has just released a study (1) ____ the strange names some people have. TheBabyWebsite.com created a list called ‘The Most Unfortunate Names in Britain’. Some of the names have been with people from (2) ____; others got the names after they married. The bizarre, unlucky names (3) ____ Barb Dwyer, Hazel Nutt, Jo King, Justin Case, Barry Cade and Mary Christmas. A spokesperson (4) ____ the website gave one reason for why people have these names, saying: “When the parents of some of those people (5) ____ their children, many probably didn't even realise the implications at the time.” He added: "Parents really do need to think carefully (6) ____ when choosing names for their children.”

The list is a (7) ____ -up call for today’s parents to think more carefully about the names they give to their children. It is very common to name babies (8) ____ pop stars and actors. Popular names for children today include Miley, Britney and Brad. TheBabyWebsite explained how difficult life (9) ____ be with a strange name: “There must be tremendous embarrassment every time they have to introduce themselves to anyone, especially to a (10) ____. Even their teachers must have had to hold (11) ____ their smiles sometimes.” Americans also have some curious names, such as Carrie Oakey and Bill Board. We found the best married-couple names on the BBC’s website; Mr and Mrs Mee – Rob’s a (12) ____ and Sue’s a lawyer.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	at	(b)	to	(c)	into	(d)	in
2.	(a)	birthday	(b)	birth	(c)	born	(d)	births
3.	(a)	include	(b)	inclusive	(c)	including	(d)	includes
4.	(a)	in	(b)	to	(c)	by	(d)	for
5.	(a)	names	(b)	naming	(c)	named	(d)	namely
6.	(a)	through	(b)	thought	(c)	though	(d)	trough
7.	(a)	shake	(b)	wake	(c)	fake	(d)	take
8.	(a)	after	(b)	before	(c)	during	(d)	while
9.	(a)	should	(b)	must	(c)	needs to	(d)	shall
10.	(a)	crowd	(b)	population	(c)	gather	(d)	people
11.	(a)	past	(b)	behind	(c)	ago	(d)	back
12.	(a)	banked	(b)	banks	(c)	banking	(d)	banker

WRITING

Write about names for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 your name. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. NAMES: Make a poster about names. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. BIZARRE NAME: Write a magazine article about someone with a bizarre name. Include imaginary interviews with that person and the parent who named him/her.

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. LETTER: Write a letter to someone who has the same name as you. Ask him/her three questions about your name. Tell him/her a funny story about your name. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	released	a.	made public
2	unfortunate	b.	unlucky
3.	bizarre	c.	strange
4.	realized	d.	understood
5.	implications	e.	consequences
6.	wake-up call	f.	warning
7.	popular	g.	well-liked
8.	tremendous	h.	fantastic
9.	hold back	i.	contain
10.	curious	j.	peculiar

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	the strange names	a.	some people have
2	the names have been with	b.	people from birth
3.	one reason for	c.	why people have these name
4.	realise the	d.	implications
5.	Parents really do need	e.	to think carefully
6.	a wake-up	f.	call for today’s parents
7.	name babies	g.	after pop stars
8.	tremendous	h.	embarrassment
9.	hold back	i.	their smiles
10.	the best married-	j.	couple names

GAP FILL:

The most unfortunate names in Britain

A website in Britain has just released a study into the strange names some people have. TheBabyWebsite.com created a list called ‘The Most Unfortunate Names in Britain’. Some of the names have been with people from birth; others got the names after they married. The bizarre, unlucky names include Barb Dwyer, Hazel Nutt, Jo King, Justin Case, Barry Cade and Mary Christmas. A spokesperson for the website gave one reason for why people have these names, saying: “When the parents of some of those people named their children, many probably didn't even realise the implications at the time.” He added: "Parents really do need to think carefully though when choosing names for their children.”

The list is a wake-up call for today’s parents to think more carefully about the names they give to their children. It is very common to name babies after pop stars and actors. Popular names for children today include Miley, Britney and Brad. TheBabyWebsite explained how difficult life must be with a strange name: “There must be tremendous embarrassment every time they have to introduce themselves to anyone, especially to a crowd. Even their teachers must have had to hold back their smiles sometimes.” Americans also have some curious names, such as Carrie Oakey and Bill Board. We found the best married-couple names on the BBC’s website; Mr and Mrs Mee – Rob’s a banker and Sue’s a lawyer.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - c

2 - b

3 - a

4 - d

5 - c

6 - c

7 - b

8 - a

9 - b

10 - a

11 - d

12 - d

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Breaking News English

February 28, 2010

The Most Unfortunate Names in Britain