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Video games should be in Olympics (27th December, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A top designer for one of the world's most popular computer games has said that video games should be an Olympics sport. Rob Pardo, who was chief creative designer for the World of Warcraft game, told the BBC his game and other video games should be part of the Olympic Games. He said the competition needed to become more modern and up-to-date. He added that millions of people around the world love playing and watching competitive gaming, which is also known as e-sports. Mr Pardo said: "I think the way that you look at e-sports is that it's a very competitive skillset….You look at these professional gamers and the reflexes are lightning quick…. and they're having to make very quick decisions on the fly."

Pardo told the BBC that it would be difficult to get e-sports into the Olympics. He said many people do not even see it as a real sport. He argues it is proper sport because it takes a lot of physical effort and skill and is very exciting to watch. He believes it is a better and more popular sport than many of those already in the Olympics. Pardo said many people did not want gaming to become an Olympic sport because it is based on technology and not athleticism. The PC Magazine website suggests there should be a separate international competition just for e-sports, that could follow a format like the Olympics. This would make gaming the star of the show rather than just another event among many in the Olympics.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30597623
http://www.pcgamer.com/esports-should-be-an-olympic-event-wow-creator/
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2474193,00.asp

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. GAMING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about gaming. 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?

designer / video games / creative / competition / modern / millions / e-sports / quick / difficult / physical effort / skill / technology / format / gaming / the star of the show

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

3. GAMES: What physical and mental skills do these activities need? Should they be in the Olympics? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Physical skills	Mental skills	Olympics sport?	Why?
Gaming
Cards
Formula 1
Cricket
Chess
Sky Diving

4. OLYMPICS: Students A strongly believe gaming should be in the Olympics; Students B strongly believe it shouldn't. 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. SPORT: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• football (soccer)

• ice hockey

• rugby

• basketball

• cricket

• boxing

• Formula 1

• cycling

6. COMPETITION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "competition". 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.	A software company boss said gaming should be in the Olympics.	T / F
b.	A designer said gaming would make the Olympics more modern.	T / F
c.	The designer said that gaming was part of something called i-sport.	T / F
d.	The designer spoke about a gamer who was hit by lightning.	T / F
e.	The designer thinks it would be easy to get gaming into the Olympics.	T / F
f.	Gamers need a lot of physical effort and skill.	T / F
g.	The designer said gaming is better than many Olympic sports.	T / F
h.	A technology magazine suggested a separate gaming Olympics.	T / F

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

1.	top	a.	real
2.	popular	b.	contemporary
3.	modern	c.	different
4.	competition	d.	leading
5.	professional	e.	energy
6.	difficult	f.	salaried
7.	proper	g.	well-liked
8.	effort	h.	style
9.	separate	i.	contest
10.	format	j.	hard

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

1.	the world's most popular	a.	like the Olympics
2.	chief creative	b.	quick
3.	the competition needed to become	c.	designer
4.	up-to-	d.	athleticism
5.	the reflexes are lightning	e.	the show
6.	it takes a lot of physical	f.	computer games
7.	based on technology and not	g.	competition
8.	a separate international	h.	date
9.	follow a format	i.	more modern
10.	the star of	j.	effort

GAP FILL

A (1) ____________ designer for one of the world's most popular computer games has said that video games should be an Olympics sport. Rob Pardo, who was chief (2) ____________ designer for the World of Warcraft game, told the BBC his game and (3) ____________ video games should be (4) ____________ of the Olympic Games. He said the competition needed to become more modern and up-to-(5) ____________. He added that millions of people around the world love playing and watching competitive gaming, which is also (6) ____________ as e-sports. Mr Pardo said: "I think the way that you look at e-sports is that it's a very competitive skillset….You look at these professional (7) ____________ and the reflexes are lightning quick…. and they're having to make very quick (8) ____________ on the fly."

part
creative
known
top
decisions
other
gamers
date

Pardo told the BBC that it would be (9) ____________ to get e-sports into the Olympics. He said many people do not even see it as a real sport. He argues it is (10) ____________ sport because it takes a lot of (11) ____________ effort and skill and is very exciting to watch. He believes it is a better and more popular sport than many of those (12) ____________ in the Olympics. Pardo said many people did not want gaming to become an Olympic sport because it is (13) ____________ on technology and not athleticism. The PC Magazine website suggests there should be a (14) ____________ international competition just for e-sports, that could follow a (15) ____________ like the Olympics. This would make gaming the star of the show rather than just another event (16) ____________ many in the Olympics.

based
proper
format
difficult
already
among
physical
separate

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	A top designer for one of the world's most ______
	a. popularity computer games b. polar computer games c. populate computer games d. popular computer games
2)	He said the competition needed to become more modern ______
	a. and up-too-date b. and up-too-date c. and up-to-date d. and up-thru-date
3)	people around the world love playing and watching ______
	a. competition gaming b. competitively gaming c. competitive gaming d. compete at it gaming
4)	You look at these professional gamers and the reflexes ______
	a. are lightning quick b. are lightening quick c. are light and in quick d. are lighten in quick
5)	and they're having to make very quick ______
	a. decisions on the fry b. decisions on the pry c. decisions on the ply d. decisions on the fly
6)	He said many people do not even see it ______
	a. as a really sport b. as a real sport c. as a realism sport d. as a reality sport
7)	He argues it is proper sport because it takes a lot of physical ______
	a. efforts and skill b. effort and skills c. effort and skill d. efforts and skills
8)	He believes it is a better and more popular sport than many of ______ the Olympics
	a. those already on b. those already in c. those already an d. those already win
9)	there should be a separate international competition ______
	a. justly for e-sports b. adjust for e-sports c. just for e-sports d. justice for e-sports
10)	This would make gaming the star of the show rather than ______
	a. just another event b. just the other event c. just other event d. just the others event

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A (1) ___________________ of the world's most popular computer games has said that video games should be an Olympics sport. Rob Pardo, who was chief (2) ___________________ the World of Warcraft game, told the BBC his game and other video games should be part of the Olympic Games. He said the competition needed to become more modern (3) ___________________. He added that millions of people around the world love playing and watching competitive gaming, (4) ___________________ as e-sports. Mr Pardo said: "I think the way that you look at e-sports is that it's a (5) ___________________ ….You look at these professional gamers and the reflexes are lightning quick…. and they're having to make very quick (6) ___________________."

Pardo told the BBC that it would be difficult to get e-sports into the Olympics. He said many people do not even (7) ___________________ sport. He argues it is proper sport because (8) ___________________ physical effort and skill and is very exciting to watch. He believes it is a better and more popular sport than many (9) ___________________ the Olympics. Pardo said many people did not want gaming to become an Olympic sport because (10) ___________________ technology and not athleticism. The PC Magazine website suggests there should be a separate international competition just for e-sports, that (11) ___________________ like the Olympics. This would make gaming the star of the show rather than just another (12) ___________________ in the Olympics.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What was Rob Pardo's job?
2.	What did Pardo say the Olympic Games needed to be?
3.	What else is competitive gaming known as?
4.	What did Pardo say gamers had that were very quick?
5.	What do gamers have to make very quickly?
6.	Who does not see gaming as a real sport?
7.	What does Pardo think gaming is better than?
8.	What did Pardo say gaming was not based on?
9.	Who said there should be a separate international gaming competition?
10.	What would gaming be the star of in its own competition?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What was Rob Pardo's job?	6.	Who does not see gaming as a real sport?
	a) graphics designer b) software engineer c) chief creative designer d) hardware engineer		a) gamers b) many people c) Rob Pardo d) the Olympics boss
2.	What did Pardo say the Olympic Games needed to be?	7.	What does Pardo think gaming is better than?
	a) more up-to-date b) traditional c) online d) sporty		a) chess b) football c) not gaming d) many Olympic sports
3.	What else is competitive gaming known as?	8.	What did Pardo say gaming was not based on?
	a) finger Olympics b) video marathon c) joysticking d) e-sport		a) old computers b) athleticism c) logic d) the ancient Olympics
4.	What did Pardo say gamers had that were very quick?	9.	Who said there should be a separate international gaming competition?
	a) relaxes b) reflexes c) eyes d) fingers		a) PC Magazine b) the Olympics boss c) athletes d) gamers
5.	What do gamers have to make very quickly?	10.	What would gaming be the star of in its own competition?
	a) money b) kills c) decisions d) coffee		a) gaming b) the class c) the sky d) the show

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Gaming

You think gaming should be the new Olympics sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good for the Olympics. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Formula 1, chess or sky diving.

Role B – Formula 1

You think Formula 1 should be the new Olympics sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good for the Olympics. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): gaming, chess or sky diving.

Role C – Chess

You think chess should be the new Olympics sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good for the Olympics. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Formula 1, gaming or sky diving.

Role D – Sky diving

You think sky diving should be the new Olympics sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good for the Olympics. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Formula 1, chess or gaming.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

computer

game

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:

top
chief
needed
known
quick
fly

real
skill
better
based
format
among

GAMING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about gaming 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.

GAMING DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'gaming'?
3)	What do you think of the Olympic Games?
4)	Should gaming be in the Olympic Games?
5)	Is gaming a sport?
6)	Is gaming more exciting to watch than many Olympic sports?
7)	What's your favourite Olympics sport and why?
8)	Do the Olympic Games need to be more up-to-date?
9)	What do you think of the idea of gaming as an "e-sport"?
10)	How skillful are gamers?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What is stopping gaming from becoming an Olympic sport?
13)	Which is better to watch, gaming or the 10km walk (and why)?
14)	How much physical strength do gamers need?
15)	Would gaming make the Olympics more popular?
16)	Do events in the Olympics need to be about athleticism?
17)	Is an international "gaming Olympics" a good idea?
18)	Who do you admire most, a top runner or a top gamer?
19)	How much technology should be in the Olympics?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Rob Pardo?

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 top designer for one of the world's most (1) ____ computer games has said that video games should be an Olympics sport. Rob Pardo, who was (2) ____ creative designer for the World of Warcraft game, told the BBC his game and other video games should be part (3) ____ the Olympic Games. He said the competition needed to become more modern and (4) ____-to-date. He added that millions of people around the world love playing and watching competitive gaming, which is also (5) ____ as e-sports. Mr Pardo said: "I think the way that you look at e-sports is that it's a very competitive skillset….You look at these professional gamers and the reflexes are (6) ____ quick…. and they're having to make very quick decisions on the fly."

Pardo told the BBC that it would be difficult to get e-sports into the Olympics. He said many people do not even see it as a (7) ____ sport. He argues it is proper sport because it (8) ____ a lot of physical effort and skill and is very exciting to watch. He believes it is a better and more popular sport than many of (9) ____ already in the Olympics. Pardo said many people did not want gaming to become an Olympic sport because it is based (10) ____ technology and not athleticism. The PC Magazine website suggests there should be a separate international competition just for e-sports, that could (11) ____ a format like the Olympics. This would make gaming the star of the show rather than just another event (12) ____ many in the Olympics.

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

1.	(a)	proper	(b)	polar	(c)	populate	(d)	popular
2.	(a)	cleft	(b)	chafe	(c)	chef	(d)	chief
3.	(a)	in	(b)	of	(c)	for	(d)	at
4.	(a)	down	(b)	in	(c)	up	(d)	on
5.	(a)	known	(b)	knowing	(c)	knows	(d)	knowledge
6.	(a)	lightning	(b)	lighting	(c)	lightening	(d)	listening
7.	(a)	realistic	(b)	really	(c)	reality	(d)	real
8.	(a)	takes	(b)	fuels	(c)	games	(d)	is
9.	(a)	them	(b)	those	(c)	they	(d)	that
10.	(a)	to	(b)	of	(c)	on	(d)	for
11.	(a)	line	(b)	chase	(c)	follow	(d)	stalk
12.	(a)	on	(b)	among	(c)	between	(d)	as

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	A top engerisd
2.	more modern and uo-ea-dptt
3.	inslimol of people
4.	it's a very iecvtmitepo skillset
5.	the reflexes are nnitigghl quick
6.	make very quick ssdeiiocn
Paragraph 2
7.	it would be flduciift
8.	it is erropp sport
9.	it takes a lot of lycipsah effort
10.	it is based on tocelhnogy
11.	a rtaeaspe international competition
12.	follow a taomrf like the Olympics

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	be an Olympics sport. Rob Pardo, who was chief creative designer for the World of Warcraft game, told the
( )	playing and watching competitive gaming, which is also known as e-sports. Mr Pardo said: "I think the way that you look
( )	at e-sports is that it's a very competitive skillset….You look at these professional gamers and the reflexes are lightning
( )	already in the Olympics. Pardo said many people did not want gaming to become an Olympic sport because it is
( )	BBC his game and other video games should be part of the Olympic Games. He said the competition needed
( )	quick…. and they're having to make very quick decisions on the fly."
( )	international competition just for e-sports, that could follow a format like the Olympics. This would make
( 1 )	A top designer for one of the world's most popular computer games has said that video games should
( )	even see it as a real sport. He argues it is proper sport because it takes a lot of physical effort and
( )	to become more modern and up-to-date. He added that millions of people around the world love
( )	gaming the star of the show rather than just another event among many in the Olympics.
( )	skill and is very exciting to watch. He believes it is a better and more popular sport than many of those
( )	Pardo told the BBC that it would be difficult to get e-sports into the Olympics. He said many people do not
( )	based on technology and not athleticism. The PC Magazine website suggests there should be a separate

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	world's most One popular of computer the games.
2.	games should be part of the Olympic Games Other video.
3.	the to modern said needed more He competition become.
4.	around the Millions world of love people playing.
5.	decisions quick very make to having They're.
6.	get be into e difficult It the - to would Olympics sports.
7.	a as it see even not do people Many sport real.
8.	believes a more He is and sport it better popular.
9.	e international for sports separate just - A competition.
10.	star show would the the This gaming of make.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A top designer for one of the world's most popularity / popular computer games has said that video games should be / make an Olympics sport. Rob Pardo, who was chief / chef creative designer for the World of Warcraft game, told the BBC his game and another / other video games should be part of / for the Olympic Games. He said the competition needed to become more modern and up-to-date. He added / add that millions of people around the world love playing and watching compete / competitive gaming, which is also known / knowing as e-sports. Mr Pardo said: "I think the way that you look / view at e-sports is that it's a very competitive skillset….You look at these professional gamers and the reflexes are lightning quick…. and they're having to make very quickly / quick decisions on the fly."

Pardo told the BBC that it would have / be difficult to get e-sports into the Olympics. He said many people do not even see it as a really / real sport. He argues it is proper / properly sport because it takes a lot of physical effort and skill / skillful and is very exciting to watch. He believes it is a better and more popular sport than many of them / those already in the Olympics. Pardo said many people did not want gaming / gambling to become an Olympic sport because it is based on technology / technological and not athleticism. The PC Magazine website suggests / suggestions there should be a separate international competition just for e-sports, that could follow a format similar / like the Olympics. This would make gaming the star of the show rather than just another event among / between many in the Olympics.

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)

_ t_p d_s_gn_r f_r _n_ _f th_ w_rld's m_st p_p_l_r c_mp_t_r g_m_s h_s s__d th_t v_d__ g_m_s sh__ld b_ _n _lymp_cs sp_rt. R_b P_rd_, wh_ w_s ch__f cr__t_v_ d_s_gn_r f_r th_ W_rld _f W_rcr_ft g_m_, t_ld th_ BBC h_s g_m_ _nd _th_r v_d__ g_m_s sh__ld b_ p_rt _f th_ _lymp_c G_m_s. H_ s__d th_ c_mp_t_t__n n__d_d t_ b_c_m_ m_r_ m_d_rn _nd _p-t_-d_t_. H_ _dd_d th_t m_ll__ns _f p__pl_ _r__nd th_ w_rld l_v_ pl_y_ng _nd w_tch_ng c_mp_t_t_v_ g_m_ng, wh_ch _s _ls_ kn_wn _s _-sp_rts. Mr P_rd_ s__d: "_ th_nk th_ w_y th_t y__ l__k _t _-sp_rts _s th_t _t's _ v_ry c_mp_t_t_v_ sk_lls_t….Y__ l__k _t th_s_ pr_f_ss__n_l g_m_rs _nd th_ r_fl_x_s _r_ l_ghtn_ng q__ck…. _nd th_y'r_ h_v_ng t_ m_k_ v_ry q__ck d_c_s__ns _n th_ fly."

P_rd_ t_ld th_ BBC th_t _t w__ld b_ d_ff_c_lt t_ g_t _-sp_rts _nt_ th_ _lymp_cs. H_ s__d m_ny p__pl_ d_ n_t _v_n s__ _t _s _ r__l sp_rt. H_ _rg__s _t _s pr_p_r sp_rt b_c__s_ _t t_k_s _ l_t _f phys_c_l _ff_rt _nd sk_ll _nd _s v_ry _xc_t_ng t_ w_tch. H_ b_l__v_s _t _s _ b_tt_r _nd m_r_ p_p_l_r sp_rt th_n m_ny _f th_s_ _lr__dy _n th_ _lymp_cs. P_rd_ s__d m_ny p__pl_ d_d n_t w_nt g_m_ng t_ b_c_m_ _n _lymp_c sp_rt b_c__s_ _t _s b_s_d _n t_chn_l_gy _nd n_t _thl_t_c_sm. Th_ PC M_g_z_n_ w_bs_t_ s_gg_sts th_r_ sh__ld b_ _ s_p_r_t_ _nt_rn_t__n_l c_mp_t_t__n j_st f_r _-sp_rts, th_t c__ld f_ll_w _ f_rm_t l_k_ th_ _lymp_cs. Th_s w__ld m_k_ g_m_ng th_ st_r _f th_ sh_w r_th_r th_n j_st _n_th_r _v_nt _m_ng m_ny _n th_ _lymp_cs.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a top designer for one of the world's most popular computer games has said that video games should be an olympics sport rob pardo who was chief creative designer for the world of warcraft game told the bbc his game and other video games should be part of the olympic games he said the competition needed to become more modern and up-to-date he added that millions of people around the world love playing and watching competitive gaming which is also known as e-sports mr pardo said "i think the way that you look at e-sports is that it's a very competitive skillset…you look at these professional gamers and the reflexes are lightning quick… and they're having to make very quick decisions on the fly"

pardo told the bbc that it would be difficult to get e-sports into the olympics he said many people do not even see it as a real sport he argues it is proper sport because it takes a lot of physical effort and skill and is very exciting to watch he believes it is a better and more popular sport than many of those already in the olympics pardo said many people did not want gaming to become an olympic sport because it is based on technology and not athleticism the pc magazine website suggests there should be a separate international competition just for e-sports that could follow a format like the olympics this would make gaming the star of the show rather than just another event among many in the olympics

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Atopdesignerforoneoftheworld'smostpopularcomputergameshassa
idthatvideogamesshouldbeanOlympicssport.RobPardo,whowaschie
fcreativedesignerfortheWorldofWarcraftgame,toldtheBBChisgamea
ndothervideogamesshouldbepartoftheOlympicGames.Hesaidtheco
mpetitionneededtobecomemoremodernandup-to-date.Headde
dthatmillionsofpeoplearoundtheworldloveplayingandwatchingcomp
etitivegaming,whichisalsoknownase-sports.MrPardosaid:"Ithi
nkthewaythatyoulookate-sportsisthatit'saverycompetitiveskills
et….Youlookattheseprofessionalgamersandthereflexesarelightning
quick….andthey'rehavingtomakeveryquickdecisionsonthefly."Pard
otoldtheBBCthatitwouldbedifficulttogete-sportsintotheOlymp
ics.Hesaidmanypeopledonotevenseeitasarealsport.Hearguesitispro
persportbecauseittakesalotofphysicaleffortandskillandisveryexcitin
gtowatch.Hebelievesitisabetterandmorepopularsportthanmanyofth
osealreadyintheOlympics.Pardosaidmanypeopledidnotwantgaming
tobecomeanOlympicsportbecauseitisbasedontechnologyandnotathl
eticism.ThePCMagazinewebsitesuggeststhereshouldbeaseparateint
ernationalcompetitionjustfore-sports,thatcouldfollowaformatliket
heOlympics.Thiswouldmakegamingthestaroftheshowratherthanjus
tanothereventamongmanyintheOlympics.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Gaming should be an Olympics sports. 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 gaming. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. GAMING OLYMPICS: Write a magazine article about gaming being part of the Olympics. 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 gaming. Ask him/her three questions about gaming. Give him/her three of your ideas about including gaming in the Olympics. 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

F

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	top	a.	leading
2.	popular	b.	well-liked
3.	modern	c.	contemporary
4.	competition	d.	contest
5.	professional	e.	salaried
6.	difficult	f.	hard
7.	proper	g.	real
8.	effort	h.	energy
9.	separate	i.	different
10.	format	j.	style

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Chief Creative Designer
2.	More modern and up-to-date
3.	E-sport
4.	Reflexes
5.	Decisions
6.	Many people
7.	Many Olympic sports
8.	Athleticism
9.	PC Magazine
10.	The show

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

d

4.

b

5.

c

6.

d

7.

b

8.

d

9.

a

10.

d

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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Video games should be in Olympics (27th December, 2014)

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