The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Japan's government is playing Cupid to try and encourage more couples to have babies. Japan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world and politicians are trying novel methods to get people to have children. One of these methods is matchmaking efforts by local authorities. Japan's government will support local government projects for speed dating, matchmaking and other ways to coax couples to get together. The recommendations call for intensive efforts over the next five years. Japan faces a "critical situation" in which an ageing society could cause serious social problems.

One reason for Japan's falling birth rate is the high cost of raising children. The government hopes a variety of measures will help this. These include plans for free nursery care, help with fertility treatment, and an increase in the number of fathers taking paternity leave to 80% by the year 2020. There are also plans to give more support to families with three or more children. By 2060, nearly 40% of Japan’s population will be aged over 65. They already make up 25% of the population. The birth rate has fallen from 4.54 children per mother in 1947 to just 1.42 in 2014.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-31869981
  • http://time.com/3744317/japan-birth-rate-matchmaking-paternity-leave/
  • http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/13/national/social-issues/government-to-support-matchmaking-mens-child-rearing-to-raise-birth rate/#.VQRJo2ZX-0f


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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

Japan's government is playing

a.

novel methods

2.

encourage more couples

b.

situation

3.

Japan has one of the lowest birth

c.

efforts

4.

politicians are trying

d.

social problems

5.

matchmaking

e.

couples to get together

6.

ways to coax

f.

Cupid

7.

Japan faces a critical

g.

to have babies

8.

an ageing society could cause serious

h.

rates in the world



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

the high cost of

a.

care

2.

a variety

b.

leave

3.

free nursery

c.

raising children

4.

fertility

d.

has fallen

5.

fathers taking paternity

e.

to families

6.

give more support

f.

of measures

7.

They already make up

g.

treatment

8.

The birth rate

h.

25% of the population

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Japan's government is playing Cupid (1) ___________________ more couples to have babies. Japan has (2) ___________________ birth rates in the world and politicians are trying novel (3) ___________________ people to have children. One (4) ___________________ is matchmaking efforts by local authorities. Japan's government will support local government projects for speed dating, matchmaking and (5) ___________________ couples to get together. The recommendations call for intensive                                (6) ___________________ five years. Japan faces a "critical situation" in which an ageing society could cause serious social problems.

One reason for Japan's falling birth rate (7) ___________________ raising children. The government hopes (8) ___________________ measures will help this. These include (9) ___________________ nursery care, help with fertility treatment, and (10) ___________________ the number of fathers taking paternity leave to 80% by the year 2020. There are also plans to give more support to families with three or more children. By 2060, nearly 40% of Japan's population will (11) ___________________. They already make up 25% of the population. The birth rate (12) ___________________ 4.54 children per mother in 1947 to just 1.42 in 2014.

MATCHMAKING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about matchmaking 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.

 

 

 

 


WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

 

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________


FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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