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Workers must take lunch breaks (8th June, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A new study shows that too many people are working through their lunch hour. Not taking a proper lunch break is unhealthy. It can make people sick, so then they need time off work. The study is from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) in the U.K. It interviewed over 2,000 people about what they do for lunch at work. Twenty per cent of the workers said they did not take a lunch break. They worked through their lunch hour. Half of the people took a break but ate their lunch at their desk and surfed the Internet, answered e-mails or went on Facebook. One in five people left the workplace for lunch to go shopping or get some air, while three per cent went to the gym.

The CSP told companies they should encourage all staff to take a regular lunch break. It said workers needed to get more exercise at work so they do not get ill. CSP spokeswoman Karen Middleton said: "Full-time workers spend a significant bulk of their week at work or travelling to and from it. Finding ways to build in time to do at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, five times a week, can be a challenge." She warned that when employees get sick because they do not take breaks, companies lose money. She said: "It is in everybody's interests to find ways to tackle the enormous problem of inactivity…and we would encourage people to take responsibility for their own health."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27726859
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/staff-need-breaks-to-stay-healthy-30333728.html
http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/working-late-and-dining-al-desko-pose-health-risk-1-3435282

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. LUNCH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about lunch. 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?

a new study / lunch hour / time off work / desk / answer e-mails / go shopping / encourage / regular / get more exercise / travelling / challenge / lose money / health

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

3. LUNCH BREAK: What's best to do at lunch? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What you should / shouldn't do	Good points	Bad points
Food
Shopping
Sleep
Work
Internet
Exercise

4. BREAK: Students A strongly believe it should be law that workers take a lunch break; Students B strongly believe this is unnecessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. LUNCH HOUR: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to do at lunch at the top at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• eat

• catch up with e-mail

• exercise

• chat to colleagues

• go shopping

• do more work

• take a nap

• go for a walk

6. REGULAR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "regular". 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.	New research says everyone works through their lunch break.	T / F
b.	Interviewers talked to more than 2,000 workers.	T / F
c.	Around 50% of those interviewed said they ate lunch at their desk.	T / F
d.	Just over 5% of workers said they went to the gym at lunchtime.	T / F
e.	An organization said workers needed a regular lunch break.	T / F
f.	A woman said part-time workers spend too long travelling to work.	T / F
g.	Companies lose money because workers do not take lunch breaks.	T / F
h.	The woman said companies should be responsibility for staff health.	T / F

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

1.	shows	a.	20%
2.	sick	b.	reasonable
3.	interviewed	c.	rest
4.	break	d.	questioned
5.	one in five	e.	reveals
6.	encourage	f.	frequent
7.	regular	g.	test
8.	moderate	h.	ill
9.	challenge	i.	huge
10.	enormous	j.	persuade

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

1.	working through	a.	air
2.	taking a proper	b.	at their desk
3.	they need time	c.	interests to find ways
4.	ate their lunch	d.	lunch break
5.	get some	e.	they do not take breaks
6.	moderate intensity	f.	their lunch hour
7.	employees get sick because	g.	for their own health
8.	companies lose	h.	physical activity
9.	It is in everybody's	i.	off work
10.	take responsibility	j.	money

GAP FILL

A new study shows that too many people are working through their lunch hour. Not taking a (1) ____________ lunch break is unhealthy. It can make people sick, so then they need time (2) ____________ work. The study is from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) in the U.K. It (3) ____________ over 2,000 people about what they do for lunch at work. Twenty per cent of the workers said they did not take a lunch break. They worked through their lunch (4) ____________. Half of the people took a break but ate their lunch at their (5) ____________ and (6) ____________ the Internet, answered e-mails or went on Facebook. One in five people left the (7) ____________ for lunch to go shopping or get some (8) ____________, while three per cent went to the gym.

desk
interviewed
air
proper
workplace
hour
off
surfed

The CSP told companies they should (9) ____________ all staff to take a regular lunch break. It said workers needed to get more (10) ____________ at work so they do not get ill. CSP spokeswoman Karen Middleton said: "Full-time workers spend a significant (11) ____________ of their week at work or travelling to and from it. Finding ways to build in time to do at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity (12) ____________ activity, five times a week, can be a (13) ____________." She warned that when employees get sick because they do not take breaks, companies (14) ____________ money. She said: "It is in everybody's interests to find ways to tackle the (15) ____________ problem of inactivity…and we would encourage people to take (16) ____________ for their own health."

enormous
bulk
challenge
encourage
responsibility
physical
exercise
lose

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Not taking a proper lunch ______
	a. break is unhealthily b. break is not healthy c. break is non-healthy d. break is unhealthy
2)	It can make people sick, so then they need ______
	a. time of work b. time off work c. time for work d. time from work
3)	Twenty per cent of the workers said they did not ______
	a. fake a lunch break b. take a lunch break c. make a lunch break d. bake a lunch break
4)	Half of the people took a break but ate their lunch at their desk and ______
	a. surfed the Internet b. surfaced the Internet c. staffed the Internet d. saved the Internet
5)	One in five people left the workplace for lunch to go shopping ______
	a. or get some airs b. or get some hair c. or get some air d. or get some heir
6)	The CSP told companies they should encourage all staff to take a ______
	a. regulars lunch break b. regularly lunch break c. regular lunch break d. regulate lunch break
7)	do at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity ______
	a. physically activity b. physical active c. physically active d. physical activity
8)	She warned that when employees get sick because they do ______
	a. naught take breaks b. not take breaks c. never take breaks d. knot take breaks
9)	It is in everybody's interests to find ways to tackle the enormous ______
	a. problem of in actively b. problem of non-activity c. problem of inactivity d. problem of in active tea
10)	we would encourage people to take responsibility for ______
	a. our own health b. your own health c. her own health d. their own health

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A new study shows that too many people (1) ___________________ their lunch hour. Not taking a proper lunch break is unhealthy. It can make people sick, so then they (2) ___________________. The study is from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) in the U.K. It interviewed over 2,000 people about what they do (3) ___________________. Twenty per cent of the workers said they did not (4) ___________________. They worked through their lunch hour. Half of the people took a break but ate their lunch at (5) ___________________ the Internet, answered e-mails or went on Facebook. One in five people left the workplace for lunch to go shopping (6) ___________________, while three per cent went to the gym.

The CSP told companies (7) ___________________ all staff to take a regular lunch break. It said workers needed to get more exercise at work so they do not get ill. CSP spokeswoman Karen Middleton said: "Full-time workers spend (8) ___________________ their week at work or travelling to and from it. Finding ways to build in (9) ___________________ 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, five times a week, (10) ___________________." She warned that when employees get sick because they do not take breaks, companies lose money. She said: "It is in everybody's interests to (11) ___________________ the enormous problem of inactivity…and we would encourage people (12) ___________________ for their own health."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What did a study say was unhealthy?
2.	What do people need if they get sick?
3.	What percentage of people interviewed did not take a lunch break?
4.	Where did around 50% of people eat their lunch?
5.	Where did 3 per cent of people go at lunch time?
6.	What did the CSP say companies should encourage staff to do?
7.	Why should staff take more exercise?
8.	Who spends a lot of time travelling to and from work?
9.	What do companies lose when workers get sick?
10.	What should people take more responsibility for?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What did a study say was unhealthy?	6.	What did the CSP say companies should encourage staff to do?
	a) not taking a proper lunch break b) work c) long lunch breaks d) being sick		a) travel b) surf the Internet c) eat more d) take a regular lunch break
2.	What do people need if they get sick?	7.	Why should staff take more exercise?
	a) chocolate b) medicine c) time off work d) tender loving care		a) they can work faster b) to build their muscles c) so they are not ill d) to be strong and super-fit
3.	What percentage of people interviewed did not take a lunch break?	8.	Who spends a lot of time travelling to and from work?
	a) 50 b) 40 c) 30 d) 20		a) bosses b) full-time workers c) low-paid workers d) commuters
4.	Where did around 50% of people eat their lunch?	9.	What do companies lose when workers get sick?
	a) McDonald's b) at their desk c) the canteen / cafeteria d) at home		a) orders b) reputation c) money d) work
5.	Where did 3 per cent of people go at lunch time?	10.	What should people take more responsibility for?
	a) the gym b) shopping c) to sleep d) a park		a) their waistline b) their health c) money d) their retirement

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Exercise

You think exercising is the best thing to do in your lunch hour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their activities are not so good to do at lunch time. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): chatting with friends, going shopping or taking a nap.

Role B – Chat with friends

You think chatting with friends is the best thing to do in your lunch hour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their activities are not so good to do at lunch time. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): exercising, going shopping or taking a nap.

Role C – Go shopping

You think going shopping is the best thing to do in your lunch hour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their activities are not so good to do at lunch time. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): chatting with friends, exercising or taking a nap.

Role D – Take a nap

You think taking a nap is the best thing to do in your lunch hour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their activities are not so good to do at lunch time. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): chatting with friends, going shopping or exercising.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

lunch

break

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:

proper
off
2,000
half
answered
3

regular
ill
bulk
challenge
lose
health

LUNCH BREAKS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about lunch breaks 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.

LUNCH BREAKS 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 'lunch break'?
c)	How important is a lunch break?
d)	What do you do during your lunch break?
e)	Should people take lunch breaks at the same time every day?
f)	How unhealthy is it to not take a lunch break?
g)	How bad is it to eat lunch at your desk?
h)	Should companies get people to exercise at lunch?
i)	What's the best thing to do at lunch time?
j)	Should companies turn all computers off at lunch time?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	How can companies encourage workers to take lunch breaks?
c)	What things at work make people ill?
d)	How can people use their time better while they travel to work?
e)	Should companies organize fitness training at lunch?
f)	How do you feel if you miss out on lunch?
g)	How big a problem is inactivity?
h)	What companies do you think are healthy to work for?
i)	What do you do to stay active and healthy?
j)	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)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

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

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A new study shows that too many people are working (1) ____ their lunch hour. Not taking a proper lunch break is unhealthy. It can make people (2) ____, so then they need time (3) ____ work. The study is from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) in the U.K. It interviewed over 2,000 people about what they do for lunch (4) ____ work. Twenty per cent of the workers said they did not take a lunch break. They worked through their lunch hour. Half of the people took a break but ate their lunch at their desk and surfed the Internet, (5) ____ e-mails or went on Facebook. One in five people left the workplace for lunch to go shopping or get some (6) ____, while three per cent went to the gym.

The CSP told companies they should encourage all staff to take a (7) ____ lunch break. It said workers needed to get more exercise at work so they do not (8) ____ ill. CSP spokeswoman Karen Middleton said: "Full-time workers spend a significant bulk of their week at work or travelling to and from (9) ____. Finding ways to build in time to do at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, five times a week, can (10) ____ a challenge." She warned that when employees get sick because they do not take breaks, companies (11) ____ money. She said: "It is in everybody's interests to find ways to tackle the enormous problem of inactivity…and we would encourage people to take responsibility for their (12) ____ health."

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

1.	(a)	though	(b)	through	(c)	thorough	(d)	throughout
2.	(a)	stick	(b)	sick	(c)	slick	(d)	snick
3.	(a)	for	(b)	of	(c)	from	(d)	off
4.	(a)	to	(b)	at	(c)	of	(d)	as
5.	(a)	checks	(b)	writing	(c)	replied	(d)	answered
6.	(a)	wind	(b)	CO2	(c)	air	(d)	breathe
7.	(a)	regular	(b)	steady	(c)	orderly	(d)	ordinary
8.	(a)	be	(b)	come	(c)	get	(d)	have
9.	(a)	working	(b)	place	(c)	them	(d)	it
10.	(a)	be	(b)	like	(c)	looks	(d)	get
11.	(a)	lose	(b)	find	(c)	lack	(d)	eat
12.	(a)	own	(b)	person	(c)	healthy	(d)	one's

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	working thorhug their lunch hour
2.	taking a rpopre lunch break
3.	It erivtwindee over 2,000 people
4.	seurfd the Internet
5.	dewseran e-mails
6.	One in five people left the rpewcaokl
Paragraph 2
7.	aroecngue all staff to take a regular lunch
8.	workers needed to get more cseexeir
9.	a iiiafnntcgs bulk of their week
10.	cylspahi activity
11.	ways to tackle the semonour problem
12.	take rtniysoleisipb for their own health

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	off work. The study is from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) in the U.K. It interviewed over 2,000
( )	times a week, can be a challenge." She warned that when employees get sick because they do not take breaks, companies lose
( )	problem of inactivity…and we would encourage people to take responsibility for their own health."
( )	time workers spend a significant bulk of their week at work or travelling to and from it. Finding
( )	to go shopping or get some air, while three per cent went to the gym.
( )	through their lunch hour. Half of the people took a break but ate their lunch at their desk and surfed
( )	lunch break is unhealthy. It can make people sick, so then they need time
( )	money. She said: "It is in everybody's interests to find ways to tackle the enormous
( )	The CSP told companies they should encourage all staff to take a regular lunch break. It said workers needed to get
( )	more exercise at work so they do not get ill. CSP spokeswoman Karen Middleton said: "Full-
( )	the Internet, answered e-mails or went on Facebook. One in five people left the workplace for lunch
( )	people about what they do for lunch at work. Twenty per cent of the workers said they did not take a lunch break. They worked
( )	ways to build in time to do at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, five
( 1 )	A new study shows that too many people are working through their lunch hour. Not taking a proper

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	people through hour many working lunch Too are their.
2.	break taking is a unhealthy proper lunch Not.
3.	said not lunch Workers did a they take break.
4.	took People desk their at lunch their ate but break a.
5.	people workplace five the lunch in left for One.
6.	staff a break all take lunch Encourage to regular.
7.	more Workers exercise needed at to work get.
8.	because not sick do breaks get they take Employees.
9.	to of tackle inactivity the enormous Ways problem.
10.	to own take health responsibility for People their.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A new study shows that too many people are worked / working through their lunch hour. Not taking a proper / properly lunch break is unhealthy. It can make people sick, so then they need time on / off work. The study is from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) in the U.K. It interviews / interviewed over 2,000 people about / around what they do for lunch at work. Twenty per cent of the workers said they did not take / make a lunch break. They worked through / though their lunch hour. Half of the people took a break but ate their lunch at / in their desk and surfed the Internet, answered e-mails or went on Facebook. One in / out five people left the workplace for lunch to go shopping or get some air, while / whole three per cent went to the gym.

The CSP told companies they should entourage / encourage all staff to take a regular / regularly lunch break. It said workers needed to get more exercise for / at work so they do not get ill / well. CSP spokeswoman Karen Middleton said: "Full-time workers spend a significant bulk / hulk of their week at work or travelling to and from it. Finding ways to build in time to do at least / last 30 minutes of moderate intense / intensity physical activity, five times a week, can be a challenge." She warned that when employees get sick because / as they do not take breaks, companies lose money. She said: "It is in everybody's interesting / interests to find ways to tackle the enormous problem of inactivity…and we would encourage people to take responsibility for their own health / healthy."

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

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

_ n_w st_dy sh_ws th_t t__ m_ny p__pl_ _r_ w_rk_ng thr__gh th__r l_nch h__r. N_t t_k_ng _ pr_p_r l_nch br__k _s _nh__lthy. _t c_n m_k_ p__pl_ s_ck, s_ th_n th_y n__d t_m_ _ff w_rk. Th_ st_dy _s fr_m th_ Ch_rt_r_d S_c__ty _f Phys__th_r_py (CSP) _n th_ _.K. _t _nt_rv__w_d _v_r 2,000 p__pl_ _b__t wh_t th_y d_ f_r l_nch _t w_rk. Tw_nty p_r c_nt _f th_ w_rk_rs s__d th_y d_d n_t t_k_ _ l_nch br__k. Th_y w_rk_d thr__gh th__r l_nch h__r. H_lf _f th_ p__pl_ t__k _ br__k b_t _t_ th__r l_nch _t th__r d_sk _nd s_rf_d th_ _nt_rn_t, _nsw_r_d _-m__ls _r w_nt _n F_c_b__k. _n_ _n f_v_ p__pl_ l_ft th_ w_rkpl_c_ f_r l_nch t_ g_ sh_pp_ng _r g_t s_m_ __r, wh_l_ thr__ p_r c_nt w_nt t_ th_ gym.

Th_ CSP t_ld c_mp_n__s th_y sh__ld _nc__r_g_ _ll st_ff t_ t_k_ _ r_g_l_r l_nch br__k. _t s__d w_rk_rs n__d_d t_ g_t m_r_ _x_rc_s_ _t w_rk s_ th_y d_ n_t g_t _ll. CSP sp_k_sw_m_n K_r_n M_ddl_t_n s__d: "F_ll-t_m_ w_rk_rs sp_nd _ s_gn_f_c_nt b_lk _f th__r w__k _t w_rk _r tr_v_ll_ng t_ _nd fr_m _t. F_nd_ng w_ys t_ b__ld _n t_m_ t_ d_ _t l__st 30 m_n_t_s _f m_d_r_t_ _nt_ns_ty phys_c_l _ct_v_ty, f_v_ t_m_s _ w__k, c_n b_ _ ch_ll_ng_." Sh_ w_rn_d th_t wh_n _mpl_y__s g_t s_ck b_c__s_ th_y d_ n_t t_k_ br__ks, c_mp_n__s l_s_ m_n_y. Sh_ s__d: "_t _s _n _v_ryb_dy's _nt_r_sts t_ f_nd w_ys t_ t_ckl_ th_ _n_rm__s pr_bl_m _f _n_ct_v_ty…_nd w_ w__ld _nc__r_g_ p__pl_ t_ t_k_ r_sp_ns_b_l_ty f_r th__r _wn h__lth."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a new study shows that too many people are working through their lunch hour not taking a proper lunch break is unhealthy it can make people sick so then they need time off work the study is from the chartered society of physiotherapy (csp) in the uk it interviewed over 2000 people about what they do for lunch at work twenty per cent of the workers said they did not take a lunch break they worked through their lunch hour half of the people took a break but ate their lunch at their desk and surfed the internet answered e-mails or went on facebook one in five people left the workplace for lunch to go shopping or get some air while three per cent went to the gym

the csp told companies they should encourage all staff to take a regular lunch break it said workers needed to get more exercise at work so they do not get ill csp spokeswoman karen middleton said "full-time workers spend a significant bulk of their week at work or travelling to and from it finding ways to build in time to do at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity five times a week can be a challenge" she warned that when employees get sick because they do not take breaks companies lose money she said "it is in everybody's interests to find ways to tackle the enormous problem of inactivity…and we would encourage people to take responsibility for their own health"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Anewstudyshowsthattoomanypeopleareworkingthroughtheirlunc
hhour.Nottakingaproperlunchbreakisunhealthy.Itcanmakepeople
sick,sothentheyneedtimeoffwork.ThestudyisfromtheCharteredSo
cietyofPhysiotherapy(CSP)intheU.K.Itinterviewedover2,000peop
leaboutwhattheydoforlunchatwork.Twentypercentoftheworkerss
aidtheydidnottakealunchbreak.Theyworkedthroughtheirlunchho
ur.Halfofthepeopletookabreakbutatetheirlunchattheirdeskandsur
fedtheInternet,answerede-mailsorwentonFacebook.Oneinfive
peoplelefttheworkplaceforlunchtogoshoppingorgetsomeair,while
threepercentwenttothegym.TheCSPtoldcompaniestheyshouldenc
ourageallstafftotakearegularlunchbreak.Itsaidworkersneededtog
etmoreexerciseatworksotheydonotgetill.CSPspokeswomanKaren
Middletonsaid:"Full-timeworkersspendasignificantbulkoftheirw
eekatworkortravellingtoandfromit.Findingwaystobuildintimetodo
atleast30minutesofmoderateintensityphysicalactivity,fivetimesa
week,canbeachallenge."Shewarnedthatwhenemployeesgetsickb
ecausetheydonottakebreaks,companieslosemoney.Shesaid:"Itisi
neverybody'sintereststofindwaystotackletheenormousproblemofi
nactivity…andwewouldencouragepeopletotakeresponsibilityforth
eirownhealth."

FREE WRITING

Write about lunch breaks for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Which is more important, breakfast or lunch? Why do you think so?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 lunch breaks and health. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. HEALTHY AT WORK: Make a poster about how to be healthy at work. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. LUNCH-BREAK EXERCISE: Write a magazine article about lunch-break exercise. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 health in the workplace. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how workers can become healthier in their lunch breaks. 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

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	shows	a.	reveals
2.	sick	b.	ill
3.	interviewed	c.	questioned
4.	break	d.	rest
5.	one in five	e.	20%
6.	encourage	f.	persuade
7.	regular	g.	frequent
8.	moderate	h.	reasonable
9.	challenge	i.	test
10.	enormous	j.	huge

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Not taking a proper lunch break
2.	Time off work
3.	20
4.	At their desk
5.	The gym
6.	Take a regular lunch break
7.	So they don't become ill
8.	Full-time workers
9.	Money
10.	Their own health

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

d

7.

c

8.

b

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

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

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Workers must take lunch breaks (8th June, 2014)

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