Breaking News English Lesson on Astronauts

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Over 18,300 apply for 14 astronaut jobs (22nd February, 2016)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A record number of people have applied to NASA to be part of its astronaut training program. NASA said it received over 18,300 applications for just 14 jobs. This is a record for the administration. Human resources officials at NASA will now spend the next 18 months looking at the applications to select the best ones. It plans to announce the successful applicants in the middle of 2017. Brian Kelly of NASA said it would be a lot of work. He added: "It's heartening to know so many people recognize what a great opportunity this is to be part of NASA's exciting mission. I look forward to meeting the men and women talented enough to rise to the top of what is always a pool of incredible applicants."

It seems there is a great desire to work on America's space program and perhaps go to Mars. NASA's Charlie Bolden said: "It's not at all surprising to me that so many Americans from diverse backgrounds want to personally contribute to blazing the trail on our journey to Mars." The top applicants will have an interview at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The chosen candidates will then get two years of initial training. They will learn skills such as spacewalking, teamwork and operating spacecraft systems, and learn Russian. After that, they could go to the International Space Station or work for companies making spacecraft for tourists, such as Boeing and SpaceX.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

https://thespacereporter.com/2016/02/nasa-receives-record-number-astronaut-applications/
http://www.space.com/31987-nasa-astronaut-applications-smash-record.html
http://www.themonitordaily.com/nasa-astronaut-application-pool-reached-18300-record/210868/

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. ASTRONAUTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about astronauts. 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?

record / astronaut / training / program / applications / opportunity / talented / space / desire / surprising / diverse / backgrounds / candidates / teamwork / spacecraft

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

3. TRAINING: What do you think trainee astronauts have to do? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What they have to do
Food
Exercise
Study
Internet
Health
New skills

4. SPACE PROGRAMS: Students A strongly believe governments should spend more money on space programs; Students B strongly believe they should spend less money. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

5. APPLICANTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things for an astronaut at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• physical fitness

• high intelligence

• good at physics

• leadership qualities

• team player

• good at engineering

• good sense of humor

• aviation background

6. SPACE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "space". 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.	NASA has received its biggest ever number of applicants for jobs.	T / F
b.	It will take NASA 1½ years to choose the best applicants.	T / F
c.	NASA will announce the successful job applicants in 2018.	T / F
d.	Applicants will have to go into a pool and rise up.	T / F
e.	A NASA spokesman was surprised at how diverse the applicants were.	T / F
f.	The top applicants will be interviewed at Cape Canaveral in Florida.	T / F
g.	The applicants will learn spacewalking after two years of training.	T / F
h.	The applicants could join private companies such as Boeing.	T / F

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

1.	program	a.	give
2.	received	b.	chance
3.	next	c.	unbelievable
4.	opportunity	d.	working
5.	incredible	e.	upcoming
6.	desire	f.	varied
7.	diverse	g.	course
8.	contribute	h.	like
9.	such as	i.	wish
10.	operating	j.	got

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

1.	A record number of people	a.	the best ones
2.	select	b.	training
3.	recognize what a great opportunity	c.	to the top
4.	be part of NASA's	d.	desire
5.	rise	e.	our journey to Mars
6.	great	f.	have applied
7.	so many Americans from diverse	g.	this is
8.	blazing the trail on	h.	for tourists
9.	two years of initial	i.	exciting mission
10.	companies making spacecraft	j.	backgrounds

GAP FILL

A (1) ____________ number of people have applied to NASA to be part of its astronaut training (2) ____________. NASA said it received over 18,300 applications for just 14 jobs. This is a record for the administration. Human resources (3) ____________ at NASA will now spend the next 18 months looking at the applications to (4) ____________ the best ones. It plans to announce the successful applicants in the (5) ____________ of 2017. Brian Kelly of NASA said it would be a lot of work. He added: "It's heartening to know so many people recognize what a great (6) ____________ this is to be part of NASA's exciting mission. I look (7) ____________ to meeting the men and women talented enough to rise to the top of what is always a (8) ____________ of incredible applicants."

select
record
middle
forward
officials
pool
program
opportunity

It seems there is a great (9) ____________ to work on America's space program and perhaps go to Mars. NASA's Charlie Bolden said: "It's not at all (10) ____________ to me that so many Americans from (11) ____________ backgrounds want to personally contribute to blazing the trail on our (12) ____________ to Mars." The top applicants will have an (13) ____________ at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The chosen candidates will then get two years of (14) ____________ training. They will learn skills such as spacewalking, teamwork and operating spacecraft (15) ____________, and learn Russian. After that, they could go to the International Space Station or work for companies making spacecraft for (16) ____________, such as Boeing and SpaceX.

journey
initial
surprising
desire
tourists
diverse
systems
interview

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	A record number of people have applied to NASA to be part of its astronaut ______
	a. train in program b. trainee program c. training program d. training programs
2)	NASA will now spend the next 18 months looking at the applications to select ______
	a. the best once b. the best ones c. the best one d. the best wins
3)	It plans to announce the successful applicants in the ______
	a. middle for 2017 b. middle off 2017 c. middle in 2017 d. middle of 2017
4)	so many people recognize what a great opportunity this is to be part of NASA's ____
	a. excite in mission b. exciting mission c. exciting missions d. excited mission
5)	talented enough to rise to the top of what is always a pool ______
	a. of incredible applicant b. of incredibly applicants c. of incredible applicants d. of incredibly applicant
6)	It seems there is a great desire to work on America's space program and ______
	a. perhaps go to Mars b. perhaps gone to Mars c. perhaps went to Mars d. perhaps been to Mars
7)	Americans from diverse backgrounds want to personally contribute to blazing the trail ______
	a. on hour journey b. one hour journey c. on our journey d. one our journey
8)	The chosen candidates will then get two years ______
	a. of initial train in b. of initially training c. of initial training d. of initially train in
9)	They will learn skills such as spacewalking, teamwork and operating ______
	a. spacecraft system b. space crafty systems c. space crafted systems d. spacecraft systems
10)	they could go to the International Space Station or work for companies making ______
	a. spacecraft for tourism b. spacecraft for tourist c. spacecraft four tourists d. spacecraft for tourists

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A record number of people (1) ___________________ NASA to be part of its astronaut training program. NASA said it received over 18,300 applications for just 14 jobs. This (2) ___________________ the administration. Human resources officials at NASA will (3) ___________________ 18 months looking at the applications to select the best ones. It plans to announce the successful applicants (4) ___________________ 2017. Brian Kelly of NASA said it would be a lot of work. He added: "It's heartening to know so many people recognize what a great opportunity (5) ___________________ of NASA's exciting mission. I look forward to meeting the men and women talented enough to rise (6) ___________________ what is always a pool of incredible applicants."

It seems there is a great (7) ___________________ on America's space program and perhaps go to Mars. NASA's Charlie Bolden said: "It's not at all surprising (8) ___________________ many Americans from diverse backgrounds want to personally contribute to blazing (9) ___________________ journey to Mars." The top applicants will have an interview at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The chosen candidates will then get two years (10) ___________________. They will learn skills such as spacewalking, teamwork (11) ___________________ spacecraft systems, and learn Russian. After that, they could go to the International Space Station or work for companies making spacecraft (12) ___________________ Boeing and SpaceX.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What is special about the 18,300 job applications?
2.	How long will NASA spend looking at the applications?
3.	When will NASA announce the successful applicants?
4.	What did Brian Kelly say about looking at all the job applications?
5.	Who does Brian Kelly look forward to meeting?
6.	Which planet might NASA's new astronauts go to?
7.	What kind of backgrounds did Charlie Bolden say applicants were from?
8.	What is the name of the space center where interviews will take place?
9.	What language will the applicants need to learn?
10.	What other spacecraft company was mentioned besides Boeing?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What is special about the 18,300 job applications?	6.	Which planet might NASA's new astronauts go to?
	a) It was a record b) nothing c) It was the same as last year d) NASA's new rocket is called 18300		a) Jupiter b) Mercury c) Venus d) Mars
2.	How long will NASA spend looking at the applications?	7.	What kind of backgrounds did Charlie Bolden say applicants were from?
	a) 20 months b) 2 years c) 1½ years d) 12 months		a) poor backgrounds b) diverse backgrounds c) technical backgrounds d) rich backgrounds
3.	When will NASA announce the successful applicants?	8.	What is the name of the space center where interviews will take place?
	a) not until 2019 b) mid-2017 c) early-2018 d) at the end of this year		a) Columbia b) Cape Canaveral c) Kennedy d) Johnson
4.	What did Brian Kelly say about looking at all the job applications?	9.	What language will the applicants need to learn?
	a) nothing b) he had a headache c) he was happy d) it would be a lot of work		a) English b) Spanish c) Russian d) Chinese
5.	Who does Brian Kelly look forward to meeting?	10.	What other spacecraft company was mentioned besides Boeing?
	a) the men and women b) aliens c) cosmonauts d) human resources officers		a) Virgin b) SpaceX c) Lockheed d) Mir

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Physical fitness

You think physical fitness is most important for an astronaut. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): being a team player, engineering skills or a sense of humor.

Role B – Team player

You think being a team player is most important for an astronaut. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): physical fitness, engineering skills or a sense of humor.

Role C – Engineering skills

You think engineering skills is most important for an astronaut. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): being a team player, physical fitness or a sense of humor.

Role D – Sense of humor

You think a sense of humor is most important for an astronaut. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): being a team player, engineering skills or physical fitness.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

training

program

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:

number
just
months
2017
great
pool

desire
many
journey
two
skills
tourists

ASTRONAUTS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about astronauts 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.

ASTRONAUTS 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 'astronaut'?
3)	What do you know about NASA?
4)	Why do so many people want to be astronauts?
5)	What do you think it would be like to go into space?
6)	What job would you be best at?
7)	How far will humans go in space?
8)	What do astronauts do every day when they are in space?
9)	What do you think of the idea of living in space?
10)	What advice do you have for NASA's job applicants?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What kind of people become astronauts?
13)	Would you be a good astronaut? Why?
14)	What do astronauts do in their training?
15)	How good or bad are you at job interviews?
16)	How important is a nation's space program?
17)	How do people learn to do spacewalks?
18)	What are the bad things about being an astronaut?
19)	If you could choose any job, what would you do?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the boss of NASA?

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 record number of people have (1) ____ to NASA to be part of its astronaut training program. NASA said it received over 18,300 applications for just 14 jobs. This is a record (2) ____ the administration. Human resources officials at NASA will now (3) ____ the next 18 months looking at the applications to select the best ones. It plans to announce the successful applicants in the middle of 2017. Brian Kelly of NASA said it would be a (4) ____ of work. He added: "It's heartening to know so many people recognize what a great opportunity this is to be part of NASA's exciting (5) ____. I look forward to meeting the men and women talented enough to rise to the top of what is always a (6) ____ of incredible applicants."

It seems there is a great desire to work (7) ____ America's space program and perhaps go to Mars. NASA's Charlie Bolden said: "It's not at (8) ____ surprising to me that so many Americans from (9) ____ backgrounds want to personally contribute to blazing the trail on our journey to Mars." The top applicants will have an interview at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The chosen candidates will then get two years of (10) ____ training. They will learn skills such (11) ____ spacewalking, teamwork and operating spacecraft systems, and learn Russian. After that, they could go to the International Space Station or work for companies making spacecraft for tourists, (12) ____ as Boeing and SpaceX.

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

1.	(a)	application	(b)	applies	(c)	applying	(d)	applied
2.	(a)	to	(b)	by	(c)	as	(d)	for
3.	(a)	buy	(b)	spend	(c)	purchase	(d)	budget
4.	(a)	loads	(b)	great	(c)	lot	(d)	many
5.	(a)	mission	(b)	missile	(c)	missive	(d)	missing
6.	(a)	pool	(b)	pond	(c)	puddle	(d)	polar
7.	(a)	as	(b)	of	(c)	to	(d)	on
8.	(a)	all	(b)	every	(c)	whole	(d)	each
9.	(a)	converse	(b)	diverse	(c)	reverse	(d)	observe
10.	(a)	initially	(b)	initialize	(c)	initial	(d)	initials
11.	(a)	was	(b)	has	(c)	as	(d)	is
12.	(a)	much	(b)	such	(c)	thus	(d)	most

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	A record number of people have paeldpi to NASA
2.	Human oeeursrsc officials
3.	csteel the best ones
4.	what a great opuproyttin this is
5.	be part of NASA's exciting ionssmi
6.	a pool of redncliieb applicants
Paragraph 2
7.	a great idrsee
8.	Americans from rivdsee backgrounds
9.	personally nutoecitbr
10.	our neoyrju to Mars
11.	two years of iliinta training
12.	making spacecraft for rttsuosi

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	at NASA will now spend the next 18 months looking at the applications to select the best ones. It plans
( )	spacecraft systems, and learn Russian. After that, they could go to the International Space Station or work
( )	enough to rise to the top of what is always a pool of incredible applicants."
( )	for companies making spacecraft for tourists, such as Boeing and SpaceX.
( )	opportunity this is to be part of NASA's exciting mission. I look forward to meeting the men and women talented
( )	It seems there is a great desire to work on America's space program and perhaps go
( 1 )	A record number of people have applied to NASA to be part of its astronaut training program. NASA said it received
( )	to announce the successful applicants in the middle of 2017. Brian Kelly of NASA said it would
( )	to Mars. NASA's Charlie Bolden said: "It's not at all surprising to me that so many Americans from diverse
( )	over 18,300 applications for just 14 jobs. This is a record for the administration. Human resources officials
( )	be a lot of work. He added: "It's heartening to know so many people recognize what a great
( )	interview at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The chosen candidates will then get two years of initial
( )	backgrounds want to personally contribute to blazing the trail on our journey to Mars." The top applicants will have an
( )	training. They will learn skills such as spacewalking, teamwork and operating

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	have NASA record people to A of applied number .
2.	next looking applications the months the Spend 18 at .
3.	the in of Announce applicants middle successful the 2017 .
4.	to be part of What a great opportunity this is .
5.	to rise Women to talented the enough top .
6.	Americans to from diverse So backgrounds many want .
7.	journey to Mars Contribute to blazing the trail on our .
8.	applicants top The interview an have will .
9.	years training will two initial Candidates get of then .
10.	tourists for spacecraft making companies for Work .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A record number of people have applied / applying to NASA to be part of its astronaut training program. NASA said it received over / more 18,300 applications for just 14 jobs. This is a recorded / record for the administration. Human resources official / officials at NASA will now spend the next 18 months looking at / by the applications to select the best ones. It plans to announce the successful applicants in the middle / center of 2017. Brian Kelly of NASA said it would be a lot / loads of work. He added: "It's heartening to know so many people recognize what a greet / great opportunity this is to be part of NASA's exciting mission. I look forward to meet / meeting the men and women talented enough to rise to the top of what is always a pool / peel of incredible applicants."

It seems there is a great desire to work on America's space / spatial program and perhaps go to Mars. NASA's Charlie Bolden said: "It's not at all surprising / surprised to me that so many / much Americans from diverse backgrounds want to person / personally contribute to blazing the trail on our journey from / to Mars." The top applicants will have an interview at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The choosing / chosen candidates will then get two years of initial / first training. They will learn skills such as / has spacewalking, teamwork and operating spacecraft systems, and learn Russian. After that, they could gone / go to the International Space Station or work for company / companies making spacecraft for tourists, such as Boeing and SpaceX.

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)

_ r_c_rd n_mb_r _f p__pl_ h_v_ _ppl__d t_ N_S_ t_ b_ p_rt _f _ts _str_n__t tr__n_ng pr_gr_m. N_S_ s__d _t r_c__v_d _v_r 18,300 _ppl_c_t__ns f_r j_st 14 j_bs. Th_s _s _ r_c_rd f_r th_ _dm_n_str_t__n. H_m_n r_s__rc_s _ff_c__ls _t N_S_ w_ll n_w sp_nd th_ n_xt 18 m_nths l__k_ng _t th_ _ppl_c_t__ns t_ s_l_ct th_ b_st _n_s. _t pl_ns t_ _nn__nc_ th_ s_cc_ssf_l _ppl_c_nts _n th_ m_ddl_ _f 2017. Br__n K_lly _f N_S_ s__d _t w__ld b_ _ l_t _f w_rk. H_ _dd_d: "_t's h__rt_n_ng t_ kn_w s_ m_ny p__pl_ r_c_gn_z_ wh_t _ gr__t _pp_rt_n_ty th_s _s t_ b_ p_rt _f N_S_'s _xc_t_ng m_ss__n. _ l__k f_rw_rd t_ m__t_ng th_ m_n _nd w_m_n t_l_nt_d _n__gh t_ r_s_ t_ th_ t_p _f wh_t _s _lw_ys _ p__l _f _ncr_d_bl_ _ppl_c_nts."

_t s__ms th_r_ _s _ gr__t d_s_r_ t_ w_rk _n _m_r_c_'s sp_c_ pr_gr_m _nd p_rh_ps g_ t_ M_rs. N_S_'s Ch_rl__ B_ld_n s__d: "_t's n_t _t _ll s_rpr_s_ng t_ m_ th_t s_ m_ny _m_r_c_ns fr_m d_v_rs_ b_ckgr__nds w_nt t_ p_rs_n_lly c_ntr_b_t_ t_ bl_z_ng th_ tr__l _n __r j__rn_y t_ M_rs." Th_ t_p _ppl_c_nts w_ll h_v_ _n _nt_rv__w _t th_ J_hns_n Sp_c_ C_nt_r _n H__st_n, T_x_s. Th_ ch_s_n c_nd_d_t_s w_ll th_n g_t tw_ y__rs _f _n_t__l tr__n_ng. Th_y w_ll l__rn sk_lls s_ch _s sp_c_w_lk_ng, t__mw_rk _nd _p_r_t_ng sp_c_cr_ft syst_ms, _nd l__rn R_ss__n. _ft_r th_t, th_y c__ld g_ t_ th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l Sp_c_ St_t__n _r w_rk f_r c_mp_n__s m_k_ng sp_c_cr_ft f_r t__r_sts, s_ch _s B___ng _nd Sp_c_X.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a record number of people have applied to nasa to be part of its astronaut training program nasa said it received over 18300 applications for just 14 jobs this is a record for the administration human resources officials at nasa will now spend the next 18 months looking at the applications to select the best ones it plans to announce the successful applicants in the middle of 2017 brian kelly of nasa said it would be a lot of work he added "it's heartening to know so many people recognize what a great opportunity this is to be part of nasa's exciting mission i look forward to meeting the men and women talented enough to rise to the top of what is always a pool of incredible applicants"

it seems there is a great desire to work on america's space program and perhaps go to mars nasa's charlie bolden said "it's not at all surprising to me that so many americans from diverse backgrounds want to personally contribute to blazing the trail on our journey to mars" the top applicants will have an interview at the johnson space center in houston texas the chosen candidates will then get two years of initial training they will learn skills such as spacewalking teamwork and operating spacecraft systems and learn russian after that they could go to the international space station or work for companies making spacecraft for tourists such as boeing and spacex

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ArecordnumberofpeoplehaveappliedtoNASAtobepartofitsastronaut
trainingprogram.NASAsaiditreceivedover18,300applicationsforjust
14jobs.Thisisarecordfortheadministration.Humanresourcesofficials
atNASAwillnowspendthenext18monthslookingattheapplicationstos
electthebestones.Itplanstoannouncethesuccessfulapplicantsinthe
middleof2017.BrianKellyofNASAsaiditwouldbealotofwork.Headded:
"It'shearteningtoknowsomanypeoplerecognizewhatagreatopportun
itythisistobepartofNASA'sexcitingmission.Ilookforwardtomeetingth
emenandwomentalentedenoughtorisetothetopofwhatisalwaysapoo
lofincredibleapplicants."ItseemsthereisagreatdesiretoworkonAmeri
ca'sspaceprogramandperhapsgotoMars.NASA'sCharlieBoldensaid:"
It'snotatallsurprisingtomethatsomanyAmericansfromdiversebackg
roundswanttopersonallycontributetoblazingthetrailonourjourneyto
Mars."ThetopapplicantswillhaveaninterviewattheJohnsonSpaceCen
terinHouston,Texas.Thechosencandidateswillthengettwoyearsofini
tialtraining.Theywilllearnskillssuchasspacewalking,teamworkandop
eratingspacecraftsystems,andlearnRussian.Afterthat,theycouldgot
otheInternationalSpaceStationorworkforcompaniesmakingspacecr
aftfortourists,suchasBoeingandSpaceX.

FREE WRITING

Write about astronauts for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

An astronaut has the best job in the world. 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 NASA. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ASTRONAUTS: Make a poster about astronauts and the jobs they do. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. SPACE PROGRAM: Write a magazine article about the importance of space programs. Include imaginary interviews with people who think they are very important and with people who think they are not important.

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 astronauts. Ask him/her three questions about astronauts. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	program	a.	course
2.	received	b.	got
3.	next	c.	upcoming
4.	opportunity	d.	chance
5.	incredible	e.	unbelievable
6.	desire	f.	wish
7.	diverse	g.	varied
8.	contribute	h.	give
9.	such as	i.	like
10.	operating	j.	working

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	It was as a record
2.	18 months
3.	Mid-2017
4.	It would be a lot of work
5.	The men and women
6.	Mars
7.	Diverse backgrounds
8.	Johnson
9.	Russian
10.	SpaceX

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

b

4.

d

5.

a

6.

d

7.

b

8.

d

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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