The Reading / Listening - Level 3

New research shows that people who read a lot live longer. The study was carried out by researchers from Yale University in the USA. The researchers said reading keeps the mind active, helps reduce stress and makes us take better care of our health. The researchers said that books help the brain more than newspapers and magazines, but any kind of reading will help us to live longer. Even reading for half an hour a day could help us to live longer. In the study, researchers looked at the lifestyles of 3,500 men and women over a 12-year period. They looked at their reading habits, health, lifestyle and their education. All of the people were at least 50 years old at the start of the research.

The study is in the journal 'Social Science and Medicine'. It found that people who read for up to 3.5 hours a week were 17 per cent less likely to die during the study’s 12-year research period than those who read no books. Those who read for more than 3.5 hours a week were 23 per cent less likely to die. Researcher Becca Levy said: "Older individuals, regardless of gender, health, wealth or education, showed the survival advantage of reading books." She suggested people swap watching TV for reading to live longer. She said: "Individuals over the age of 65 spend an average of 4.4 hours per day watching television. Efforts to redirect leisure time into reading books could prove to be beneficial."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3726386/Why-reading-help-live-longer-Immersing-good-story-mind-active-ease-stress.html
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/those-who-read-books-live-longer-than-those-who-dont-study-finds_us_57a358c8e4b0104052a17cd2
  • https://www.rawstory.com/2016/08/a-new-study-has-found-that-avid-readers-appear-to-live-a-longer-life/


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. READING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about reading. 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?

       research / university / active / stress / health / magazines / reading / education /
       journal / likely / period / gender / wealth / survival / watching TV / leisure time

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

3. SKILL: Students A strongly believe reading is the most important skill in English; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. GOOD FOR YOU: How are these things good for you? How can we get people to do them more? Talk about this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Reading
  • Meditating
  • Laughing
  • Yoga
  • Hiking
  • Community work
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. BOOK: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "book". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. GENRES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • encyclopaedia
  • non-fiction
  • magazines
  • biographies
  • newspapers
  • novels
  • manga
  • journals

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The research was carried out by Oxford University in the UK.     T / F
  2. Researchers say reading makes us take better care of our health.     T / F
  3. The researchers say reading magazines is better than reading books.     T / F
  4. The researchers looked at 3,500 people aged between 12 and 50.     T / F
  5. People who read have a better chance of living longer.     T / F
  6. A researcher said reading was greatly affected by gender and health.     T / F
  7. The researcher said people should swap watching TV for reading.     T / F
  8. People aged over 65 spend an average of 4.4 hours a day watching TV.   T / F

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

  1. carried out
  2. mind
  3. reduce
  4. period
  5. start
  6. found
  7. likely
  8. suggested
  9. swap
  10. beneficial
  1. lower
  2. probable
  3. time
  4. discovered
  5. recommended
  6. done
  7. exchange
  8. useful
  9. brain
  10. beginning

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

  1. reading keeps the mind
  2. any kind of reading will
  3. over a 12-
  4. reading
  5. at least 50 years old at the
  6. The study is in the journal
  7. 17 per cent less
  8. regardless of gender, health, wealth
  9. Individuals over
  10. spend an average
  1. 'Social Science and Medicine'
  2. the age of 65
  3. habits
  4. of 4.4 hours per day
  5. active
  6. year period
  7. or education
  8. start of the research
  9. likely to die
  10. help us to live longer

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
lifestyles
active
carried
least
magazines
period
care
half

New research shows that people who read a lot live longer. The study was (1) ____________ out by researchers from Yale University in the USA. The researchers said reading keeps the mind (2) ____________, helps reduce stress and makes us take better (3) ____________ of our health. The researchers said that books help the brain more than newspapers and (4) ____________, but any kind of reading will help us to live longer. Even reading for (5) ____________ an hour a day could help us to live longer. In the study, researchers looked at the (6) ____________ of 3,500 men and women over a 12-year (7) ____________. They looked at their reading habits, health, lifestyle and their education. All of the people were at (8) ____________ 50 years old at the start of the research.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
regardless
age
likely
beneficial
journal
leisure
swap
those

The study is in the (9) ____________ 'Social Science and Medicine'. It found that people who read for up to 3.5 hours a week were 17 per cent less (10) ____________ to die during the study’s 12-year research period than (11) ____________ who read no books. Those who read for more than 3.5 hours a week were 23 per cent less likely to die. Researcher Becca Levy said: "Older individuals, (12) ____________ of gender, health, wealth or education, showed the survival advantage of reading books." She suggested people (13) ____________ watching TV for reading to live longer. She said: "Individuals over the (14) ____________ of 65 spend an average of 4.4 hours per day watching television. Efforts to redirect (15) ____________ time into reading books could prove to be (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The study was carried out by researchers from Yale University ______
     a.  on the USA
     b.  to the USA
     c.  at the USA
     d.  in the USA

2)  reading keeps the mind active, helps reduce stress and makes us take better ______
     a.  careful of our health
     b.  careless of our health
     c.  care of our health
     d.  cared of our health

3)  Even reading for half an hour a day could help us ______
     a.  too live longer
     b.  to live longer
     c.  two live longer
     d.  through live longer

4)  researchers looked at the lifestyles of 3,500 men and women ______ period
     a.  ever a 12-year
     b.  every a 12-year
     c.  overt a 12-year
     d.  over a 12-year

5)  All of the people were at least 50 years old at the start ______
     a.  of a research
     b.  of the research
     c.  of to research
     d.  of then research

6)  The study is in the journal 'Social Science ______'
     a.  and Medicine
     b.  and Medicinal
     c.  and Medical
     d.  and Medically

7)  people who read for up to 3.5 hours a week were 17 per cent less ______
     a.  likelihood to die
     b.  liked to die
     c.  liking to die
     d.  likely to die

8)  Older individuals, regardless of gender, health, wealth ______
     a.  or educated
     b.  or education
     c.  or educational
     d.  or educative

9)  Individuals over the age of 65 spend an average of 4.4 hours ______
     a.  for day
     b.  per day
     c.  far day
     d.  par day

10)  Efforts to redirect leisure time into reading books could ______ beneficial
     a.  proof to be
     b.  prove to be
     c.  probe to be
     d.  prude to be

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

New research shows that people (1)___________________ live longer. The study was carried out by researchers from Yale University in the USA. The researchers said reading keeps (2)__________________, helps reduce stress and makes (3)___________________ care of our health. The researchers said that books help the brain more than newspapers and magazines, (4)___________________ reading will help us to live longer. Even reading for half an hour a day could help us to live longer. In the study, researchers looked at the lifestyles of 3,500 men and women over a (5)___________________. They looked at their reading habits, health, lifestyle and their education. All of the people (6)___________________ years old at the start of the research.

The study (7)___________________ 'Social Science and Medicine'. It found that people who read for up to 3.5 hours a week were 17 per cent less likely to (8)___________________ study’s 12-year research period than those who read no books. Those who read for more than 3.5 hours a week were 23 per cent less likely to die. Researcher Becca Levy said: "Older individuals, regardless (9)___________________, wealth or education, showed the (10)___________________ of reading books." She suggested people swap watching TV for reading to live longer. She said: "Individuals over the age of 65 (11)___________________ of 4.4 hours per day watching television. Efforts to redirect leisure time into reading books (12)___________________ beneficial."

Comprehension questions

  1. Which university carried out the research?
  2. What does the research say reading reduces?
  3. What does the article say is better than magazines and newspapers?
  4. How many men and women did researchers look at?
  5. How old were the men and women at the start of the research?
  6. What is 'Social Science and Medicine'?
  7. How long was the research for?
  8. Who is Becca Levy?
  9. On average, how long do over-65-year-olds watch TV for each day?
  10. What would be better redirected into reading books?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Which university carried out the research?
a) Sorbonne
b) Harvard
c) Oxford
d) Yale

2) What does the research say reading reduces?
a) health
b) free time
c) intelligence
d) stress

3) What does the article say is better than magazines and newspapers?
a) books
b) journals
c) manga
d) biographies

4) How many men and women did researchers look at?
a) 35,000
b) 13,500
c) 3,500
d) 350

5) How old were the men and women at the start of the research?
a) 36
b) 50 or older
c) over 65
d) between 12 and 50

6) What is 'Social Science and Medicine'?
a) a journal
b) a website
c) a university department
d) a book

7) How long was the research for?
a) 23 years
b) 17 years
c) 12 years
d) 3.5 years

8) Who is Becca Levy?
a) a researcher
b) a patient
c) a novelist
d) a research participant

9) On average, how long do over-65-year-olds watch TV for each day?
a) 4.4 hours
b) 6.5 hours
c) 5.4 hours
d) 6.4 hours

10) What would be better redirected into reading books?
a) weekends
b) commuting
c) sleeping
d) leisure time

Role play

Role A —Newspapers

You think newspapers are the best things to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): manga, journals or biographies.

Role B —Manga

You think manga is the best thing to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): newspapers, journals or biographies.

Role C —Journals

You think journals are the best things to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): manga, newspapers or biographies.

Role D —Biographies

You think biographies are the best things to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why):  manga, journals or newspapers.

After reading / listening

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

'reading'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'book'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • 17
    • 12
    • 23
    • swap
    • 65
    • 4.4
    • lot
    • mind
    • any
    • half
    • habits
    • start

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - People who read live longer

    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 'reading'?
    3. How much do you like reading?
    4. What is so good about reading?
    5. How would you get someone who hates reading to read books?
    6. What do you think about what you read?
    7. Where is your favourite place to read?
    8. How difficult is it to read English books?
    9. What's the best way to improve your English reading?
    10. What was the last good thing you read?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What is your favourite book, and why?
    3. Is it better to read a real book or read on a tablet?
    4. Will you now read more to live longer?
    5. What does reading do to your brain?
    6. Which is better – the book or the movie of the book?
    7. Are there any bad things about reading?
    8. What could you do less of to read more?
    9. Which is better – reading or watching TV?
    10. 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)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    New research shows that people who read a lot live longer. The study was carried (1) ____ by researchers from Yale University in the USA. The researchers said reading keeps the (2) ____ active, helps reduce stress and makes us (3) ____ better care of our health. The researchers said that books help the brain more than newspapers and magazines, but (4) ____ kind of reading will help us to live longer. Even reading for half an hour a day could help us to live longer. In the study, researchers looked at the lifestyles of 3,500 men and women over a 12-year (5) ____. They looked at their reading habits, health, lifestyle and their education. All of the people were (6) ____ least 50 years old at the start of the research.

    The study is in the journal 'Social Science and Medicine'. It found that people who read for (7) ____ to 3.5 hours a week were 17 per cent less likely to die during the study’s 12-year research period than (8) ____ who read no books. Those who read for more than 3.5 hours a week were 23 per cent less likely to die. Researcher Becca Levy said: "Older individuals, regardless of (9) ____, health, wealth or education, showed the survival advantage (10) ____ reading books." She suggested people swap watching TV for reading to live longer. She said: "Individuals over the (11) ____ of 65 spend an average of 4.4 hours per day watching television. Efforts to redirect leisure time into reading books could (12) ____ to be beneficial."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     up     (b)     out     (c)     in     (d)     to    
    2. (a)     kind     (b)     mind     (c)     rind     (d)     bind    
    3. (a)     be     (b)     have     (c)     do     (d)     take    
    4. (a)     all     (b)     any     (c)     a     (d)     and    
    5. (a)     mark     (b)     comma     (c)     stop     (d)     period    
    6. (a)     on     (b)     to     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    7. (a)     up     (b)     at     (c)     over     (d)     around    
    8. (a)     them     (b)     these     (c)     those     (d)     us    
    9. (a)     banter     (b)     bender     (c)     gander     (d)     gender    
    10. (a)     of     (b)     to     (c)     at     (d)     for    
    11. (a)     age     (b)     year     (c)     old     (d)     time    
    12. (a)     prove     (b)     proof     (c)     proven     (d)     proving

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The study was riedacr out by researchers
    2. helps ecuedr stress
    3. newspapers and imseangaz
    4. the leslyifset of 3,500 men
    5. over a 12-year rpioed
    6. reading thsbia

    Paragraph 2

    1. the nujraol 'Social Science and Medicine'
    2. 23 per cent less lieylk to die
    3. the survival dvgataena
    4. an rvagaee of 4.4 hours per day
    5. vdiliadsinu over the age of 65
    6. reading books could prove to be leicifneab

    Put the text back together

    (    )     likely to die. Researcher Becca Levy said: "Older individuals, regardless of gender, health, wealth

    (    )     Yale University in the USA. The researchers said reading keeps the mind active, helps reduce stress and makes us take

    (    )     period. They looked at their reading habits, health, lifestyle and their education. All

    (    )     magazines, but any kind of reading will help us to live longer. Even reading for half an hour a day could help

    (    )     read no books. Those who read for more than 3.5 hours a week were 23 per cent less

    (    )     of the people were at least 50 years old at the start of the research.

    1  )     New research shows that people who read a lot live longer. The study was carried out by researchers from

    (    )     or education, showed the survival advantage of reading books." She suggested people swap watching TV

    (    )     better care of our health. The researchers said that books help the brain more than newspapers and

    (    )     The study is in the journal 'Social Science and Medicine'. It found that people who read for up to 3.5 hours a

    (    )     for reading to live longer. She said: "Individuals over the age of 65 spend an average of 4.4 hours

    (    )     us to live longer. In the study, researchers looked at the lifestyles of 3,500 men and women over a 12-year

    (    )     week were 17 per cent less likely to die during the study’s 12-year research period than those who

    (    )     per day watching television. Efforts to redirect leisure time into reading books could prove to be beneficial."

    Put the words in the right order

    1. lot  shows   read   a  who   live   longer   that   New   people  research  .
    2. The   active   mind   the   keeps   reading   said   researchers   .
    3. more   newspapers   help   brain   than   Books   the   .
    4. help   could   for   an   half   Even   day   us   a   reading   hour   .
    5. the   start  old   least   people   All   at   50  were   of   the   years   at  .
    6. People  3.5  were  who  17%  read  for  hours  less  up  a  likely  to  week  .
    7. year   12-   study’s  the  during   die   to  likely  Less  period  research  .
    8. 3.5   than   more   for   read   who   Those   week   a   hours   .
    9. She   reading   for   TV   watching   swap   people   suggested   .
    10. redirect   to   Efforts   books   reading   into   time   leisure   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    New research shows that people who read / reading a lot live longer. The study was carried out / up by researchers from Yale University in the USA. The researchers said reading keep / keeps the mind active, helps reduce stress and makes us make / take better care of our health. The researchers said that / what books help the brain more than newspapers and magazines, but any kind of reading will help us to / for live longer. Ever / Even reading for half the / an hour a day could help us to live longer. In the study, researchers looked at the lifestyles of 3,500 men and women under / over a 12-year period. They looked at their reading habits, health, lifestyle and their education / educate. All of the people were at least 50 years old at the start of the research.

    The study is in the journal 'Social Science and Medicine'. It fund / found that people who read for down / up to 3.5 hours a week were 17 per cent few / less likely to die during the study’s 12-year research period than those / them who read no books. Those who read for more than 3.5 hours a week were 23 per cent less likely to die. Researcher Becca Levy said: "Older individuals / individually, regardless of gender / gander, health, wealth or education, showered / showed the survival advantage of reading books." She suggested people swap / swipe watching TV for reading to live longer. She said: "Individuals over the age of 65 spend / spending an average of 4.4 hours per day watching television. Efforts to redirect leisure time into reading books could proof / prove to be beneficial."

    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 r_s__rch sh_ws th_t p__pl_ wh_ r__d _ l_t l_v_ l_ng_r. Th_ st_dy w_s c_rr__d __t by r_s__rch_rs fr_m Y_l_ _n_v_rs_ty _n th_ _S_. Th_ r_s__rch_rs s__d r__d_ng k__ps th_ m_nd _ct_v_, h_lps r_d_c_ str_ss _nd m_k_s _s t_k_ b_tt_r c_r_ _f __r h__lth. Th_ r_s__rch_rs s__d th_t b__ks h_lp th_ br__n m_r_ th_n n_wsp_p_rs _nd m_g_z_n_s, b_t _ny k_nd _f r__d_ng w_ll h_lp _s t_ l_v_ l_ng_r. _v_n r__d_ng f_r h_lf _n h__r _ d_y c__ld h_lp _s t_ l_v_ l_ng_r. _n th_ st_dy, r_s__rch_rs l__k_d _t th_ l_f_styl_s _f 3,500 m_n _nd w_m_n _v_r _ 12-y__r p_r__d. Th_y l__k_d _t th__r r__d_ng h_b_ts, h__lth, l_f_styl_ _nd th__r _d_c_t__n. _ll _f th_ p__pl_ w_r_ _t l__st 50 y__rs _ld _t th_ st_rt _f th_ r_s__rch.

    Th_ st_dy _s _n th_ j__rn_l 'S_c__l Sc__nc_ _nd M_d_c_n_'. _t f__nd th_t p__pl_ wh_ r__d f_r _p t_ 3.5 h__rs _ w__k w_r_ 17 p_r c_nt l_ss l_k_ly t_ d__ d_r_ng th_ st_dy’s 12-y__r r_s__rch p_r__d th_n th_s_ wh_ r__d n_ b__ks. Th_s_ wh_ r__d f_r m_r_ th_n 3.5 h__rs _ w__k w_r_ 23 p_r c_nt l_ss l_k_ly t_ d__. R_s__rch_r B_cc_ L_vy s__d: "_ld_r _nd_v_d__ls, r_g_rdl_ss _f g_nd_r, h__lth, w__lth _r _d_c_t__n, sh_w_d th_ s_rv_v_l _dv_nt_g_ _f r__d_ng b__ks." Sh_ s_gg_st_d p__pl_ sw_p w_tch_ng TV f_r r__d_ng t_ l_v_ l_ng_r. Sh_ s__d: "_nd_v_d__ls _v_r th_ _g_ _f 65 sp_nd _n _v_r_g_ _f 4.4 h__rs p_r d_y w_tch_ng t_l_v_s__n. _ff_rts t_ r_d_r_ct l__s_r_ t_m_ _nt_ r__d_ng b__ks c__ld pr_v_ t_ b_ b_n_f_c__l."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    new research shows that people who read a lot live longer the study was carried out by researchers from yale university in the usa the researchers said reading keeps the mind active helps reduce stress and makes us take better care of our health the researchers said that books help the brain more than newspapers and magazines but any kind of reading will help us to live longer even reading for half an hour a day could help us to live longer in the study researchers looked at the lifestyles of 3500 men and women over a 12-year period they looked at their reading habits health lifestyle and their education all of the people were at least 50 years old at the start of the research

    the study is in the journal 'social science and medicine' it found that people who read for up to 35 hours a week were 17 per cent less likely to die during the study’s 12-year research period than those who read no books those who read for more than 35 hours a week were 23 per cent less likely to die researcher becca levy said "older individuals regardless of gender health wealth or education showed the survival advantage of reading books" she suggested people swap watching tv for reading to live longer she said "individuals over the age of 65 spend an average of 44 hours per day watching television efforts to redirect leisure time into reading books could prove to be beneficial"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Newresearchshowsthatpeoplewhoreadalotlivelonger.Thestudywas
    carriedoutbyresearchersfromYaleUniversityintheUSA.Theresearche
    rssaidreadingkeepsthemindactive,helpsreducestressandmakesust
    akebettercareofourhealth.Theresearcherssaidthatbookshelpthebra
    inmorethannewspapersandmagazines,butanykindofreadingwillhelp
    ustolivelonger.Evenreadingforhalfanhouradaycouldhelpustolivelon
    ger.Inthestudy,researcherslookedatthelifestylesof3,500menandwo
    menovera12-yearperiod.Theylookedattheirreadinghabits,health,lif
    estyleandtheireducation.Allofthepeoplewereatleast50yearsoldatth
    estartoftheresearch.Thestudyisinthejournal'SocialScienceandMedic
    ine'.Itfoundthatpeoplewhoreadforupto3.5hoursaweekwere17perce
    ntlesslikelytodieduringthestudy’s12-yearresearchperiodthanthos
    ewhoreadnobooks.Thosewhoreadformorethan3.5hoursaweekwere
    23percentlesslikelytodie.ResearcherBeccaLevysaid:"Olderindividu
    als,regardlessofgender,health,wealthoreducation,showedthesurviv
    aladvantageofreadingbooks."ShesuggestedpeopleswapwatchingTV
    forreadingtolivelonger.Shesaid:"Individualsovertheageof65spenda
    naverageof4.4hoursperdaywatchingtelevision.Effortstoredirectleis
    uretimeintoreadingbookscouldprovetobebeneficial."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Reading is the most important skill in English. Discuss.

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    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 the benefits of reading. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. READING: Make a poster about how to improve your reading. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. TV BAN: Write a magazine article about banning TV to get people to read more. 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 reading. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how people can be better readers. 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

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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