Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Talking Elephant

My 1,000 Ideas e-Book	Breaking News English HOME \| HELP MY SITE \| 000s MORE FREE LESSONS	My 1,000 Ideas e-Book

The elephant that can speak Korean (3rd November, 2012)

PRINT

20 ONLINE QUIZZES & ACTIVITIES

DICTATION

* 26-page lesson
* 2-page MINI lesson

LISTEN

* MP3 (UK - male)

* MP3 (US - male)

* MP3 (20 questions)

READING

The researchers gave a few reasons why they think Koshik can talk. One possibility is that he has a very close relationship with his trainer, Kim Jong-gab. Mr Kim often sleeps near Koshik to keep him company. The trainer talks to him every day, so Koshik copied what he heard. Another is that the elephant is lonely and wants to communicate with people and have friends. The research team said the way Koshik makes sounds is very unusual - he uses his trunk to reproduce human speech. They said he is much better at making vowel sounds than consonant sounds. Trainer Kim Jong-gab said he has one more phrase that he wants to teach Koshik - "Saranghae," or "I love you."

SOURCES:
Associated Press - http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20121102-381020.html
The Korean Herald - http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57543755/elephant-can-speak-korean-out-loud/

WARM-UPS

SHARE THIS LESSON:

E-Mail

RSS

1. TALKING ELEPHANTS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about talking elephants. Change partners often. Share your findings with your first partner.

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

language student / fluent / elephantese / online / author / human speech / recordings / reason / relationship / trainer / lonely / communicate / vowels / consonant / I love you

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

3. ANIMAL TALENTS: Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.

	What can the animal do?	How would they change your life?
Talking elephant
Typing monkey
Shopping dog
Cleaning cat
Dancing fish
Internet hamster

4. FLUENT: Students A strongly believe many animals should be fluent in human speech in the future; Students B strongly believe they shouldn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

5. ANIMAL CHAT: Which animal would you most like to talk to? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings. What would you talk to them about?

lion
elephant
ant
cockroach

dolphin
dog
eagle
snake

6. LANGUAGE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'language'. 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.	An elephant in Korea has become fluent in speaking Hangul.	T / F
b.	The report about the elephant is only in newspapers and magazines.	T / F
c.	The researcher who wrote the report is not Korean.	T / F
d.	Sixteen Korean people listened to nearly 50 recordings of the elephant.	T / F
e.	The elephant gets on very well with his trainer.	T / F
f.	The researchers said the elephant has too many friends to be lonely.	T / F
g.	The elephant can use vowels better than consonants.	T / F
h.	The elephant can say, "I love you" in Korean.	T / F

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

1.	student	a.	writer
2.	fluent	b.	causes
3.	author	c.	follow
4.	copy	d.	communicative
5.	understand	e.	unloved
6.	reasons	f.	expression
7.	communicate	g.	learner
8.	lonely	h.	interact
9.	unusual	i.	imitate
10.	phrase	j.	uncommon

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

1.	become a language	a.	with his trainer
2.	trying to learn the Korean	b.	speech
3.	The author	c.	what he was saying
4.	listening to human	d.	vowel sounds
5.	They could all understand	e.	why
6.	The researchers gave a few reasons	f.	student
7.	he has a very close relationship	g.	of the report
8.	the elephant is lonely and wants	h.	trunk
9.	he uses his	i.	language Hangul
10.	he is much better at making	j.	to communicate

WHILE READING / LISTENING

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

An elephant in Korea has become a (1) ____________ student. Koshik, a 22-year-old male elephant, is already (2) ____________ in speaking "elephantese," but he is now (3) ____________ to learn the Korean language Hangul. A report about Koshik was printed in the online (4) ____________ "Current Biology". The author of the report is Dr Angela Stoeger-Horwath, who works at the University of Vienna in Austria. Researchers said Koshik has been listening to human (5) ____________ for many years and has slowly learned to (6) ____________ it. He can now say the Korean for hello, sit down, no, lie down, good, not (7) ____________, and yes. Dr Stoeger-Horwath asked 16 Koreans to listen to 47 recordings of Koshik. They could (8) ____________ understand what he was saying.

copy
trying
language
speech
all
fluent
yet
journal

The researchers gave a (9) ____________ reasons why they think Koshik can talk. One possibility is that he has a very (10) ____________ relationship with his trainer, Kim Jong-gab. Mr Kim often sleeps near Koshik to keep him (11) ____________. The trainer talks to him every day, so Koshik copied what he heard. Another is that the elephant is lonely and (12) ____________ to communicate with people and have friends. The research team said the way Koshik makes sounds is very (13) ____________ - he uses his (14) ____________ to reproduce human speech. They said he is much (15) ____________ at making vowel sounds than consonant sounds. Trainer Kim Jong-gab said he has one more (16) ____________ that he wants to teach Koshik - "Saranghae," or "I love you."

trunk
company
unusual
few
phrase
close
better
wants

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	An elephant in Korea has become a language
	a. teacher b. student c. trainer d. learner
2)	… printed in the online
	a. magazine b. blog c. journal d. newspaper
3)	The author
	a. of the report b. from the report c. wrote the report d. loves the report
4)	Koshik has been listening to human speech
	a. for a long, long time b. most of his life c. much of the day d. for many years
5)	Dr Stoeger-Horwath asked 16 Koreans to listen to
	a. 14 recordings b. 47 recordings c. 74 recordings d. 70 recordings
6)	… a few reasons why they think Koshik
	a. can't talk b. cannot talk c. could talk d. can talk
7)	he has a very close relationship
	a. with his trainer b. with visitors c. with Hangul d. with the zoo keeper
8)	Mr Kim often sleeps near Koshik to keep him
	a. firm b. business c. company d. corporation
9)	the elephant is lonely and wants to communicate
	a. with others b. with everyone c. with lions and tigers d. with people
10)	Trainer Kim Jong-gab said he has one more
	a. phrase b. expression c. term d. idiom

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

An elephant in Korea (1) ___________________ language student. Koshik, a 22-year-old male elephant, (2) ___________________ speaking "elephantese," but he is now trying to learn the Korean language Hangul. A report about Koshik was printed (3) ___________________ "Current Biology". The (4) ___________________ is Dr Angela Stoeger-Horwath, who works at the University of Vienna in Austria. Researchers said Koshik has been listening to human speech (5) ___________________ has slowly learned to copy it. He can now say the Korean for hello, sit down, no, lie down, good, not yet, and yes. Dr Stoeger-Horwath asked 16 Koreans to listen to 47 recordings of Koshik. They (6) ___________________ what he was saying.

The researchers gave (7) ___________________ they think Koshik can talk. One possibility is that he (8) ___________________ relationship with his trainer, Kim Jong-gab. Mr Kim often sleeps near Koshik (9) ___________________. The trainer talks to him every day, so Koshik copied what he heard. Another is that the elephant is lonely and wants to (10) ___________________ and have friends. The research team said the way Koshik makes sounds is very unusual - (11) ___________________ reproduce human speech. They said he is much better at making vowel sounds than consonant sounds. Trainer Kim Jong-gab said he has one more (12) ___________________ to teach Koshik - "Saranghae," or "I love you."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What has an elephant in Korea become?
2.	How old is the elephant?
3.	What's the name of the online journal?
4.	Where does Dr Angela Stoeger-Horwath work?
5.	How many recordings did the 16 Koreans listen to?
6.	What kind of relationship does the elephant have with his trainer?
7.	Why does the trainer sometimes sleep near the elephant?
8.	How does the elephant communicate?
9.	What sounds can Koshik make better than consonants?
10.	What phrase does the trainer want to teach Koshik?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1. Koshik the elephant is ...		6. How many reasons did researchers give for Koshik's ability?
	a. 20 b. 21 c. 22 d. 23		a. dozens b. a few c. hundreds d. a lot
2. Koshik is fluent in ...		7. Why does Kim sleep near Koshik
	a. "elephantese" b. "elephantian" c. "elephantish" d. "elephantic"		a. To keep him safe b. To keep him happy c. To keep him from waking up d. To keep him company
3. The name of the journal is …		8. What does Koshik use to speak?
	a. "Current Physics" b. "Current Biology" c. "Current Chemistry" d. "Current Zoology"		a. His tongue b. His trunk c. His mouth d. All of the above
4. How long has Koshik been listening to Korean?		9. What is Koshik better at?
	a. several years b. numerous years c. years and years d. many years		a. Making happy sounds b. Making vowel sounds c. Making clicking sounds d. Making consonant sounds
5. How many Koreans listened to the recordings?		10 What does Mr Kim want to teach Koshik?
	a. 616 b. 60 c. 16 d. 66		a. I love you b. Smile please c. My name is Koshik d. Have a nice day

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Koshik the elephant

You love learning Korean. It helps you make friends. Think of three more reasons why Korean is useful for you. You want to learn the language more quickly. You also want to teach other elephants. You hate lions. You like your trainer, but learning Korean is the most important thing in your life.

Role B – Koshik's trainer

You love Koshik. He is your best friend. You don't want him to learn more Korean. If he becomes more famous, you will lose him. You don't like the Korean language teacher. You think you are the best person to teach Koshik. Think of three reasons why for this role play.

Role C – The lion next door

You really want to learn Korean. You want to talk to Koshik and become his friend. You are also very lonely. You also want to teach your lion friends Korean. Think of three reasons why lions would have a better life if they could speak Korean. You want the language teacher to teach you Hangul.

Role D – A Korean language teacher

You think you can make Koshik totally fluent. It you do this, you will become a world-famous Hangul teacher. You will be rich. Tell Koshik you are the best teacher. Think of three reasons why. Make sure you tell Koshik that you can teach him Korean quicker than his trainer can.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

language

student

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:

become
already
online
author
slowly
47

few
close
copied
unusual
making
phrase

TALKING ELEPHANTS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about talking elephants 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.

ELEPHANTS & LANGUAGE 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 'elephant'?
c)	What do you think of the idea of talking animals?
d)	Would you like to be fluent in English? Why?
e)	How difficult is it to learn a language? Why?
f)	What do you think elephants would talk about?
g)	Do you think animals will be able to speak in the future?
h)	Is it right or wrong to teach animals to speak?
i)	Do you think Koshik will have a conversation in Hangul one day?
j)	What is "elephantese"?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Is it possible a close relationship with his trainer helps Koshik learn Hangul?
c)	What advice would you give to Koshik to learn language?
d)	Should the zoo give Koshik some elephant friends?
e)	What do you think elephants would complain about?
f)	What is most difficult about learning English?
g)	What are your strong points in English?
h)	What would you like to teach Koshik?
i)	What questions would you like to ask an elephant?
j)	What do you think the elephant's answers would be?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

An elephant in Korea has (1) ____ a language student. Koshik, a 22-year-old male elephant, is already (2) ____ in speaking "elephantese," but he is now trying to learn the Korean language Hangul. A report about Koshik was printed in the online (3) ____ "Current Biology". The author of the report is Dr Angela Stoeger-Horwath, who works at the University of Vienna in Austria. Researchers said Koshik has been (4) ____ to human speech for many years and has slowly learned to (5) ____ it. He can now say the Korean for hello, sit down, no, lie down, good, not yet, and yes. Dr Stoeger-Horwath asked 16 Koreans to listen to 47 recordings of Koshik. They could all understand (6) ____ he was saying.

The researchers gave a (7) ____ reasons why they think Koshik can talk. One possibility is that he has a very (8) ____ relationship with his trainer, Kim Jong-gab. Mr Kim often sleeps near Koshik to keep him (9) ____. The trainer talks to him every day, so Koshik copied what he heard. Another is that the elephant is lonely and wants to communicate (10) ____ people and have friends. The research team said the way Koshik makes sounds is very unusual - he uses his trunk to reproduce human (11) ____. They said he is much better at making vowel sounds than consonant sounds. Trainer Kim Jong-gab said he has one more (12) ____ that he wants to teach Koshik - "Saranghae," or "I love you."

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

1.	(a)	becoming	(b)	become	(c)	becomes	(d)	became
2.	(a)	fluency	(b)	fluent	(c)	flu	(d)	fluently
3.	(a)	control	(b)	jacket	(c)	upgrade	(d)	journal
4.	(a)	listens	(b)	listening	(c)	listener	(d)	listened
5.	(a)	copying	(b)	copy	(c)	copies	(d)	copied
6.	(a)	which	(b)	that	(c)	what	(d)	when
7.	(a)	number	(b)	several	(c)	few	(d)	many
8.	(a)	closely	(b)	closes	(c)	close	(d)	closing
9.	(a)	corporation	(b)	store	(c)	business	(d)	company
10.	(a)	with	(b)	of	(c)	from	(d)	all
11.	(a)	speech	(b)	talk	(c)	converse	(d)	voice
12.	(a)	phrasal verb	(b)	verb	(c)	phrase	(d)	passage

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	become a ngeualag student
2.	already teufnl in speaking
3.	online najlruo
4.	The truoah of the report
5.	listening to human hepcse
6.	drdsntuaen what he was saying
Paragraph 2
7.	The researchers gave a few soernas why
8.	a very close rostlneiipah
9.	…to keep him oacpynm
10.	…wants to tucnemiocam with people
11.	he way Koshik makes sounds is very sualuun
12.	making lvowe sounds

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	elephant, is already fluent in speaking "elephantese," but he is now trying to learn the Korean language
( )	company. The trainer talks to him every day, so Koshik copied what he heard. Another is that the elephant is
( )	sounds is very unusual - he uses his trunk to reproduce human speech. They said he is much
( )	of Vienna in Austria. Researchers said Koshik has been listening to human speech for many years and has
( )	Biology". The author of the report is Dr Angela Stoeger-Horwath, who works at the University
( )	Hangul. A report about Koshik was printed in the online journal "Current
( )	lonely and wants to communicate with people and have friends. The research team said the way Koshik makes
( )	better at making vowel sounds than consonant sounds. Trainer Kim Jong-gab said he has one more
( 1 )	An elephant in Korea has become a language student. Koshik, a 22-year-old male
( )	phrase that he wants to teach Koshik - "Saranghae," or "I love you."
( )	relationship with his trainer, Kim Jong-gab. Mr Kim often sleeps near Koshik to keep him
( )	yes. Dr Stoeger-Horwath asked 16 Koreans to listen to 47 recordings of Koshik. They could all understand what he was saying.
( )	slowly learned to copy it. He can now say the Korean for hello, sit down, no, lie down, good, not yet, and
( )	The researchers gave a few reasons why they think Koshik can talk. One possibility is that he has a very close

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	Korea a in become student elephant has language An.
2.	language is to Hangul Korean He trying the now learn.
3.	speech human to listening been has Koshik.
4.	now hello say the He Korean can for.
5.	he could was all saying understand what They.
6.	gave researchers The why reasons few a.
7.	He very with a relationship trainer has close his.
8.	every him to talks trainer The day.
9.	communicate lonely and The wants elephant to is.
10.	uses human his speech trunk to He reproduce.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

An elephant in Korea has became / become a language student. Koshik, a 22-year-old male elephant, is already fluent / fluency in speaking "elephantese," but he is now try / trying to learn the Korean language Hangul. A report about Koshik was print / printed in the online journal "Current Biology". The author by / of the report is Dr Angela Stoeger-Horwath, who works at the University of Vienna in Austria. Researchers said Koshik has been listening / listened to human speech for much / many years and has slowly learned to copy them / it. He can now say / talk the Korean for hello, sit down, no, lie down, good, not yet, and yes. Dr Stoeger-Horwath asked 16 Koreans to listen to 47 recordings of Koshik. They could all / everyone understand what he was saying.

The researchers gave / gives a few reasons / reason why they think Koshik can talk. One possibility is that he has a very closely / close relationship with his trainer, Kim Jong-gab. Mr Kim often sleeps near / nearly Koshik to keep him company. The trainer talks to him every day, so Koshik copied what he heard / hear. Another / Others is that the elephant is lonely and wants to communicate at / with people and have friends. The research team said the way / how Koshik makes sounds is very unusual - he uses his trunk to reproduce human speech. They said he is much / many better at making vowel sounds than consonant sounds. Trainer Kim Jong-gab said he has one more phrase / verb that he wants to teach Koshik - "Saranghae," or "I love you."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

_n _l_ph_nt _n K_r__ h_s b_c_m_ _ l_ng__g_ st_d_nt. K_sh_k, _ 22-y__r-_ld m_l_ _l_ph_nt, _s _lr__dy fl__nt _n sp__k_ng "_l_ph_nt_s_," b_t h_ _s n_w try_ng t_ l__rn th_ K_r__n l_ng__g_ H_ng_l. _ r_p_rt _b__t K_sh_k w_s pr_nt_d _n th_ _nl_n_ j__rn_l "C_rr_nt B__l_gy". Th_ __th_r _f th_ r_p_rt _s Dr _ng_l_ St__g_r-H_rw_th, wh_ w_rks _t th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f V__nn_ _n __str__. R_s__rch_rs s__d K_sh_k h_s b__n l_st_n_ng t_ h_m_n sp__ch f_r m_ny y__rs _nd h_s sl_wly l__rn_d t_ c_py _t. H_ c_n n_w s_y th_ K_r__n f_r h_ll_, s_t d_wn, n_, l__ d_wn, g__d, n_t y_t, _nd y_s. Dr St__g_r-H_rw_th _sk_d 16 K_r__ns t_ l_st_n t_ 47 r_c_rd_ngs _f K_sh_k. Th_y c__ld _ll _nd_rst_nd wh_t h_ w_s s_y_ng.

Th_ r_s__rch_rs g_v_ _ f_w r__s_ns why th_y th_nk K_sh_k c_n t_lk. _n_ p_ss_b_l_ty _s th_t h_ h_s _ v_ry cl_s_ r_l_t__nsh_p w_th h_s tr__n_r, K_m J_ng-g_b. Mr K_m _ft_n sl__ps n__r K_sh_k t_ k__p h_m c_mp_ny. Th_ tr__n_r t_lks t_ h_m _v_ry d_y, s_ K_sh_k c_p__d wh_t h_ h__rd. _n_th_r _s th_t th_ _l_ph_nt _s l_n_ly _nd w_nts t_ c_mm_n_c_t_ w_th p__pl_ _nd h_v_ fr__nds. Th_ r_s__rch t__m s__d th_ w_y K_sh_k m_k_s s__nds _s v_ry _n_s__l - h_ _s_s h_s tr_nk t_ r_pr_d_c_ h_m_n sp__ch. Th_y s__d h_ _s m_ch b_tt_r _t m_k_ng v_w_l s__nds th_n c_ns_n_nt s__nds. Tr__n_r K_m J_ng-g_b s__d h_ h_s _n_ m_r_ phr_s_ th_t h_ w_nts t_ t__ch K_sh_k - "S_r_ngh__," _r "_ l_v_ y__."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

an elephant in korea has become a language student koshik a 22-year-old male elephant is already fluent in speaking "elephantese" but he is now trying to learn the korean language hangul a report about koshik was printed in the online journal "current biology" the author of the report is dr angela stoeger-horwath who works at the university of vienna in austria researchers said koshik has been listening to human speech for many years and has slowly learned to copy it he can now say the korean for hello sit down no lie down good not yet and yes dr stoeger-horwath asked 16 koreans to listen to 47 recordings of koshik they could all understand what he was saying

the researchers gave a few reasons why they think koshik can talk one possibility is that he has a very close relationship with his trainer kim jong-gab mr kim often sleeps near koshik to keep him company the trainer talks to him every day so koshik copied what he heard another is that the elephant is lonely and wants to communicate with people and have friends the research team said the way koshik makes sounds is very unusual - he uses his trunk to reproduce human speech they said he is much better at making vowel sounds than consonant sounds trainer kim jong-gab said he has one more phrase that he wants to teach koshik - "saranghae" or "i love you"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AnelephantinKoreahasbecomealanguagestudent.Koshik,a22-year-
oldmaleelephant,isalreadyfluentinspeaking"elephantese,"butheisnowtryingto
learntheKoreanlanguageHangul.AreportaboutKoshikwasprintedintheonline
journal"CurrentBiology".TheauthorofthereportisDrAngelaStoeger-
Horwath,whoworksattheUniversityofViennainAustria.Researchers
saidKoshikhasbeenlisteningtohumanspeechformanyyearsandhasslowly
learnedtocopyit.HecannowsaytheKoreanforhello,sitdown,no,liedown,good,
notyet,andyes.DrStoeger-
Horwathasked16Koreanstolistento47recordingsofKoshik.Theycouldall
understandwhathewassaying.
TheresearchersgaveafewreasonswhytheythinkKoshikcantalk.Onepossibility
isthathehasaverycloserelationshipwithhistrainer,KimJong-
gab.MrKimoftensleepsnearKoshiktokeephimcompany.Thetrainertalksto
himeveryday,soKoshikcopiedwhatheheard.Anotheristhattheelephantislonely
andwantstocommunicatewithpeopleandhavefriends.Theresearchteamsaid
thewayKoshikmakessoundsisveryunusual-
heuseshistrunktoreproducehumanspeech.Theysaid
heismuchbetteratmakingvowelsoundsthanconsonant
sounds.TrainerKimJong-
gabsaidhehasonemorephrasethathewantstoteachKoshik-
"Saranghae,"or"Iloveyou."

FREE WRITING

Write about talking elephants for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

It is wrong to try and teach animals to be like humans or even to have them in the home as pets. 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 talking elephants. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. TALKING ELEPHANTS: Make a poster about talking elephants. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. KOSHIK: Write a magazine article about Koshik's life. Include imaginary interviews with him and his trainer.

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 Koshik. Ask him three questions about speaking Korean. Give him three pieces of advice on how to learn language. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	student	a.	learner
2.	fluent	b.	communicative
3.	author	c.	writer
4.	copy	d.	imitate
5.	understand	e.	follow
6.	reasons	f.	causes
7.	communicate	g.	interact
8.	lonely	h.	unloved
9.	unusual	i.	uncommon
10.	phrase	j.	expression

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	A language student
2.	22
3.	"Current Biology"
4.	At the University of Vienna in Austria
5.	47
6.	A close relationship
7.	To keep him company
8.	He uses his trunk
9.	Vowels
10.	I love you

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

10.

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English

The elephant that can speak Korean (3rd November, 2012)

* 26-page lesson * 2-page MINI lesson

LISTEN

* MP3 (UK - male)

* MP3 (US - male)

* MP3 (20 questions)

* Text Jumble

* Missing words

* No letters

* Grammar gap-fill

* Articles gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Missing letters

* Initials only

* Text jumble 15

* Text jumble 24

* No spaces

* Gap-fill

* 10 sentences

* Spelling