The Reading / Listening - Doctors - Level 3

A new study from Harvard University shows that female doctors are slightly better than their male colleagues, but get paid less. Researchers looked at more than three million medical records. Around half of these (1.5 million) were hospitalizations, and the other half were for readmissions (people who had to stay in hospital a second time). The percentage of hospital patients who had to return to hospital, or who died, was lower if the doctor was female. Mortality rates (the number of people who died) were 15.02 per cent and readmission rates were 11.07 per cent for female doctors, compared with 15.57 per cent mortality and 11.49 per cent readmission rates for patients of male doctors.

The researchers did not give a reason why women provided better care to patients than men. However, researcher Dr. Ashish Jha did give a figure for the number of lives that could be saved in the USA if male doctors performed as well as female doctors. Dr Jha said: "We estimate that approximately 32,000 fewer patients would die if male physicians could achieve the same [results] as female physicians every year." He also said that it was wrong that men got paid more than women, especially because women were better at their jobs. Dr Jha added: "We need to understand why these differences exist…and figure out how to translate it to the [wider] population of physicians."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Doctors - Level 0 Doctors - Level 1   or  Doctors - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/female-doctors-outperform-male-counterparts_us_58596b31e4b0b3ddfd8ef29e
  • https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/female-doctors-may-be-better-for-older-patients-health/
  • http://www.livescience.com/57262-hospital-patients-with-female-doctors-have-lower-death-risk.html


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. DOCTORS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about doctors. 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?

       study / slightly / paid / million / medical / records / mortality / female / patients /
       researchers / reason / care / figure / estimate / approximately / wrong / population

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

3. FEMALE DOCTORS: Students A strongly believe female doctors provide better medical care than male doctors; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. HOW?: How would a man and a woman be best at doing these jobs? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Man

Woman

Doctor

 

 

Soldier

 

 

Sales assistant

 

 

Software developer

 

 

Lawyer

 

 

Gardener

 

 

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. PAY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "pay". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. WOMAN IS BETTER: Rank these with your partner. Put the jobs in which a woman is better than a man at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • comedian
  • police officer
  • teacher
  • hair stylist
  • country's president
  • chef
  • software developer
  • judge

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A new study says women are much better doctors than men.     T / F
  2. Researchers looked at over 3,000,000 medical records.     T / F
  3. Mortality rates were higher for the patients of female doctors.     T / F
  4. Readmission rates were lowest for patients of male doctors.     T / F
  5. Researchers explained why women were better doctors.     T / F
  6. If men worked as well as female doctors, 32,000 fewer people would die.    T / F
  7. A researcher said it was not OK for male doctors to get paid more.     T / F
  8. The researcher said we needed to understand why there were differences.  T / F

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

  1. study
  2. slightly
  3. return
  4. died
  5. mortality
  6. reason
  7. provided
  8. performed
  9. especially
  10. figure out
  1. passed away
  2. did
  3. death
  4. cause
  5. a little
  6. particularly
  7. report
  8. understand
  9. gave
  10. go back

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

  1. female doctors are slightly
  2. their male
  3. people who had to stay in hospital
  4. lower if the doctor
  5. readmission rates for patients
  6. The researchers did not give a
  7. women provided better
  8. the number of lives that could
  9. it was wrong that men
  10. understand why these differences
  1. was female
  2. of male doctors
  3. got paid more
  4. colleagues
  5. care to patients
  6. a second time
  7. exist
  8. better
  9. be saved
  10. reason why

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
second
compared
paid
patients
slightly
lower
records
rates

A new study from Harvard University shows that female doctors are (1) ____________ better than their male colleagues, but get (2) ____________ less. Researchers looked at more than three million medical (3) ____________. Around half of these (1.5 million) were hospitalizations, and the other half were for readmissions (people who had to stay in hospital a (4) ____________ time). The percentage of hospital patients who had to return to hospital, or who died, was (5) ____________ if the doctor was female. Mortality (6) ____________ (the number of people who died) were 15.02 per cent and readmissions rates were 11.07 per cent for female doctors, (7) ____________ with 15.57 per cent mortality and 11.49 per cent readmission rates for (8) ____________ of male doctors.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
performed
especially
reason
population
figure
achieve
differences
care

The researchers did not give a (9) ____________ why women provided better (10) ____________ to patients than men. However, researcher Dr. Ashish Jha did give a (11) ____________ for the number of lives that could be saved in the USA if male doctors (12) ____________ as well as female doctors. Dr Jha said: "We estimate that approximately 32,000 fewer patients would die if male physicians could (13) ____________ the same [results] as female physicians every year." He also said that it was wrong that men got paid more than women, (14) ____________ because women were better at their jobs. Dr Jha added: "We need to understand why these (15) ____________ exist…and figure out how to translate it to the [wider] (16) ____________ of physicians."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  female doctors are slightly better than their ______
     a.  male colleagues
     b.  male colleges
     c.  male collages
     d.  male call leagues

2)  Researchers looked at more than three million ______
     a.  medical recordings
     b.  medical recorders
     c.  medical records
     d.  medical real chords

3)  the other half were for readmissions (people who had to stay in hospital ______ )
     a.  a seconds timed
     b.  a second times
     c.  a second time
     d.  a seconded time

4)  The percentage of hospital patients who had to ______
     a.  returning to hospital
     b.  returned to hospital
     c.  returns to hospital
     d.  return to hospital

5)  compared with 15.57 per cent mortality and 11.49 per cent readmission ______
     a.  rates for patience
     b.  rates for patients
     c.  rates for patently
     d.  rates for patents

6)  The researchers did not give a reason why women ______ care
     a.  provided butter
     b.  provides better
     c.  provided better
     d.  provide it butter

7)  Dr. Ashish Jha did give a figure for the number of lives that ______
     a.  could be saves
     b.  could be shaved
     c.  could be sieved
     d.  could be saved

8) 32,000 fewer patients would die if male physicians could achieve ______
     a.  the same results
     b.  the same result
     c.  the same resultant
     d.  the same insults

9) wrong that men got paid more than women, especially because women were ______
     a.  better at them jobs
     b.  better at their jobs
     c.  better at they jobs
     d.  better at there jobs

10)  Dr Jha added: "We need to understand why these ______."
     a.  differences existing
     b.  differences existed
     c.  differences exists
     d.  differences exist

Here

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new study from Harvard University shows that female                             (1) ___________________ better than their male colleagues, but get paid less. Researchers looked at more than three million (2) ________________. Around half of these (1.5 million) were hospitalizations,                                  (3) ___________________ were for readmissions (people who had to stay in hospital a second time). (4) ___________________ hospital patients who had to return to hospital, or who died, was lower if the doctor was female. (5) ___________________ (the number of people who died) were 15.02 per cent and readmissions rates were 11.07 per cent for female doctors, compared with 15.57 per cent mortality and 11.49 per cent readmission rates (6) ___________________ male doctors.

The researchers did not (7) ___________________ why women provided better care to patients than men. However, researcher Dr. Ashish Jha did   (8) ___________________ the number of lives that could be saved in the USA if male doctors (9) ___________________ well as female doctors. Dr Jha said: "We estimate that approximately 32,000 fewer patients would die if male physicians (10) ___________________ the same [results] as female physicians every year." He also said that it was wrong that men got paid more than women, (11) ___________________ women were better at their jobs. Dr Jha added: "We need to understand why these differences exist…and figure out how to translate (12) ___________________ population of physicians."

Comprehension questions

  1. Which university conducted the study?
  2. How many medical records did the university look at?
  3. What percentage of the medical records were for readmissions?
  4. What was the mortality rate for patients of female doctors?
  5. What was the readmission rate for patients of male doctors?
  6. What reason did researchers give for female doctors being better?
  7. How many lives could be saved each year in the USA?
  8. What did Dr Jha say was wrong?
  9. What did Dr Jha say women were better at?
  10. What did Dr Jha say we needed to find out?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Which university conducted the study?
a) Yale
b) Harvard
c) Stanford
d) Princeton

2) How many medical records did the university look at?
a) 30,000,000
b) 300,000
c) just under 3 million
d) over 3 million

3) What percentage of the medical records were for readmissions?
a) 50%
b) 75%
c) 33%
d) 25%

4) What was the mortality rate for patients of female doctors?
a) 11.49
b) 15.57
c) 15.02
d) 11.07

5) What was the readmission rate for patients of male doctors?
a) 15.57
b) 11.49
c) 15.02
d) 11.07

6) What reason did researchers give for female doctors being better?
a) they tried harder
b) they work longer hours
c) no reason
d) they are more intelligent

7) How many lives could be saved each year in the USA?
a) 100,000
b) 17,000
c) 23,000
d) 32,000

8) What did Dr Jha say was wrong?
a) male doctors getting paid more
b) the number of working hours
c) statistics
d) hospital managers

9) What did Dr Jha say women were better at?
a) their jobs
b) surgery
c) exams
d) staying awake

10) What did Dr Jha say we needed to find out?
a) about heart attacks
b) why differences exist
c) more research
d) how much top doctors earn

Role play

Role A — AAAAA

You think a woman would be best at the job of a country's president. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why they wouldn't be good at their jobs. Also, tell the others which of these jobs a woman would be worst at (and why): a chef, a teacher or a doctor.

Role B — BBBBB

You think a woman would be best at the job of a chef. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why they wouldn't be good at their jobs. Also, tell the others which of these jobs a woman would be worst at (and why): a country's president, a teacher or a doctor.

Role C — CCCCC

You think a woman would be best at the job of a teacher. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why they wouldn't be good at their jobs. Also, tell the others which of these jobs a woman would be worst at (and why): a chef, a country's president or a doctor.

Role D — DDDDD

You think a woman would be best at the job of a doctor. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why they wouldn't be good at their jobs. Also, tell the others which of these jobs a woman would be worst at (and why):  a chef, a teacher or a country's president.

After reading / listening

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

'female'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'doctor'.

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

    • reason
    • lives
    • well
    • 32,000
    • wrong
    • translate
    • new
    • slightly
    • half
    • second
    • lower
    • 11.49

    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 - Women are better doctors but get paid less

    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 'doctor'?
    3. What do you think of doctors?
    4. Do you prefer male or female doctors? Why?
    5. What do you think about what you read?
    6. Why might female doctors be better than male doctors?
    7. What might male doctors think about this research?
    8. Will you ask for a female doctor next time you go to hospital?
    9. Do you have a good or bad experience with doctors?
    10. What kind of life does a doctor have?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. How important are doctors?
    3. Are men or women better doctors?
    4. Why do male doctors get paid more?
    5. Are women better than men at all jobs?
    6. Why do people become doctors?
    7. How do you think female doctors feel about this research?
    8. Should doctors get paid on their results?
    9. What advice do you have for female doctors?
    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)

    A new study from Harvard University shows that female doctors are (1) ____ better than their male (2) ____, but get paid less. Researchers looked at more than three million medical records. Around half of these (1.5 million) were hospitalizations, and the (3) ____ half were for readmissions (people who had to stay in hospital a second time). The percentage of hospital patients who (4) ____ to return to hospital, or who died, was lower if the doctor was female. Mortality rates (the number of people who (5) ____) were 15.02 per cent and readmissions rates were 11.07 per cent for female doctors, compared with 15.57 per cent mortality and 11.49 per cent readmission rates (6) ____ patients of male doctors.

    The researchers did not give a reason (7) ____ women provided better care to patients than men. However, researcher Dr. Ashish Jha did give a figure for the number of (8) ____ that could be saved in the USA if male doctors performed as well (9) ____ female doctors. Dr Jha said: "We estimate that approximately 32,000 fewer patients would die if male physicians could achieve the same [results] as female physicians every year." He also said that it was (10) ____ that men got paid more than women, especially because women were better (11) ____ their jobs. Dr Jha added: "We need to understand why these differences exist…and figure (12) ____ how to translate it to the [wider] population of physicians."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     slightly     (b)     slight     (c)     slate     (d)     slated    
    2. (a)     collages     (b)     colleges     (c)     colleagues     (d)     collegiate    
    3. (a)     others     (b)     another     (c)     other     (d)     over    
    4. (a)     hate     (b)     having     (c)     has     (d)     had    
    5. (a)     dead     (b)     death     (c)     died     (d)     dying    
    6. (a)     per     (b)     for     (c)     four     (d)     par    
    7. (a)     for     (b)     why     (c)     what     (d)     which    
    8. (a)     life     (b)     lives     (c)     living     (d)     lifers    
    9. (a)     for     (b)     by     (c)     as     (d)     of    
    10. (a)     wrongs     (b)     wrongly     (c)     wronged     (d)     wrong    
    11. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     at    
    12. (a)     down     (b)     up     (c)     in     (d)     out

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. better than their male ulgsoecael
    2. three million mealidc records
    3. The enptegrcae of hospital…
    4. if the doctor was efmela
    5. merpadoc with 15.57 per cent mortality
    6. tisptena of male doctors

    Paragraph 2

    1. researchers did not give a nsoera why
    2. women dirvepod better care
    3. give a greufi for the number
    4. We eimatets that approximately 32,000 fewer…
    5. yelpelisca because women were better
    6. understand why these differences etxsi

    Put the text back together

    (    )     approximately 32,000 fewer patients would die if male physicians could achieve the same [results]

    (    )     The researchers did not give a reason why women provided better care to patients than

    (    )     died, was lower if the doctor was female. Mortality rates (the number of people who died) were 15.02 per cent

    (    )     men. However, researcher Dr. Ashish Jha did give a figure for the number of lives that could be

    (    )     saved in the USA if male doctors performed as well as female doctors. Dr Jha said: "We estimate that

    (    )     colleagues, but get paid less. Researchers looked at more than three million medical records. Around half

    (    )     and readmission rates were 11.07 per cent for female doctors, compared with 15.57 per cent

    (    )     as female physicians every year." He also said that it was wrong that men got

    1  )     A new study from Harvard University shows that female doctors are slightly better than their male

    (    )     in hospital a second time). The percentage of hospital patients who had to return to hospital, or who

    (    )     paid more than women, especially because women were better at their jobs. Dr Jha added: "We need to understand

    (    )     of these (1.5 million) were hospitalizations, and the other half were for readmissions (people who had to stay

    (    )     mortality and 11.49 per cent readmission rates for patients of male doctors.

    (    )     why these differences exist…and figure out how to translate it to the [wider] population of physicians."

    Put the words in the right order

    1. colleagues   better  Female   than  doctors   their   are   male   slightly  .
    2. more  records   than  Researchers   three  looked  million  at   medical  .
    3. stay   a   People   to   hospital   time   had   in   second   who   .
    4. had   of   to   hospital   return   patients   The   who   percentage  to .
    5. were  (the  15.02%  number   of    who   Mortality  died)  rates  people  .
    6. care   why   to   women   patients   provided   A   better   reason   .
    7. that   could   be   saved   A   figure   for   the   number   of   lives   .
    8. 32,000  patients  die  estimate  fewer  would  We  that  approximately  .
    9. because   Especially   jobs   their   at   better   were   women  .
    10. exist   differences   these   why   understand   to   need   We   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A new study from Harvard University shows that female doctors are slight / slightly better than their male colleagues, but get paid / pay less. Researchers looked at more than three million medical / medically records. Around half of these (1.5 million) were hospitalizations, and the other half were for / four readmissions (people who had to stay on / in hospital a second time). The percentage of hospital patients who had / did to return to hospital, or who died, was lower if the doctor were / was female. Mortality rates (the number of people who died / dead) were 15.02 per cent and readmissions rates / ratio were 11.07 per cent for female doctors, compared with 15.57 per cent mortality and 11.49 per cent readmission rates for patience / patients of male doctors.

    The researchers did not give a reasoning / reason why women provided better care to patients after / than men. However, researcher Dr. Ashish Jha did give a figure / figurine for the number of lives that could be save / saved in the USA if male doctors performed as well / good as female doctors. Dr Jha said: "We estimate that approximately 32,000 fewer patients would death / die if male physicians could achieve the same results has / as female physicians every year." He also said that it was wrong / wrongly that men got paid more than women, especially because women were better that / at their jobs. Dr Jha added: "We need to understand why these differences exist…and figure out how to translate / translation it to the wider population of physicians."

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

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _ n_w st_dy fr_m H_rv_rd _n_v_rs_ty sh_ws th_t f_m_l_ d_ct_rs _r_ sl_ghtly b_tt_r th_n th__r m_l_ c_ll__g__s, b_t g_t p__d l_ss. R_s__rch_rs l__k_d _t m_r_ th_n thr__ m_ll__n m_d_c_l r_c_rds. _r__nd h_lf _f th_s_ (1.5 m_ll__n) w_r_ h_sp_t_l_z_t__ns, _nd th_ _th_r h_lf w_r_ f_r r__dm_ss__ns (p__pl_ wh_ h_d t_ st_y _n h_sp_t_l _ s_c_nd t_m_). Th_ p_rc_nt_g_ _f h_sp_t_l p_t__nts wh_ h_d t_ r_t_rn t_ h_sp_t_l, _r wh_ d__d, w_s l_w_r _f th_ d_ct_r w_s f_m_l_. M_rt_l_ty r_t_s (th_ n_mb_r _f p__pl_ wh_ d__d) w_r_ 15.02 p_r c_nt _nd r__dm_ss__ns r_t_s w_r_ 11.07 p_r c_nt f_r f_m_l_ d_ct_rs, c_mp_r_d w_th 15.57 p_r c_nt m_rt_l_ty _nd 11.49 p_r c_nt r__dm_ss__n r_t_s f_r p_t__nts _f m_l_ d_ct_rs.

    Th_ r_s__rch_rs d_d n_t g_v_ _ r__s_n why w_m_n pr_v_d_d b_tt_r c_r_ t_ p_t__nts th_n m_n. H_w_v_r, r_s__rch_r Dr. _sh_sh Jh_ d_d g_v_ _ f_g_r_ f_r th_ n_mb_r _f l_v_s th_t c__ld b_ s_v_d _n th_ _S_ _f m_l_ d_ct_rs p_rf_rm_d _s w_ll _s f_m_l_ d_ct_rs. Dr Jh_ s__d: "W_ _st_m_t_ th_t _ppr_x_m_t_ly 32,000 f_w_r p_t__nts w__ld d__ _f m_l_ phys_c__ns c__ld _ch__v_ th_ s_m_ [r_s_lts] _s f_m_l_ phys_c__ns _v_ry y__r." H_ _ls_ s__d th_t _t w_s wr_ng th_t m_n g_t p__d m_r_ th_n w_m_n, _sp_c__lly b_c__s_ w_m_n w_r_ b_tt_r _t th__r j_bs. Dr Jh_ _dd_d: "W_ n__d t_ _nd_rst_nd why th_s_ d_ff_r_nc_s _x_st…_nd f_g_r_ __t h_w t_ tr_nsl_t_ _t t_ th_ [w_d_r] p_p_l_t__n _f phys_c__ns."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a new study from harvard university shows that female doctors are slightly better than their male colleagues but get paid less researchers looked at more than three million medical records around half of these (15 million) were hospitalizations and the other half were for readmissions (people who had to stay in hospital a second time) the percentage of hospital patients who had to return to hospital or who died was lower if the doctor was female mortality rates (the number of people who died) were 1502 per cent and readmissions rates were 1107 per cent for female doctors compared with 1557 per cent mortality and 1149 per cent readmission rates for patients of male doctors

    the researchers did not give a reason why women provided better care to patients than men however researcher dr ashish jha did give a figure for the number of lives that could be saved in the usa if male doctors performed as well as female doctors dr jha said "we estimate that approximately 32000 fewer patients would die if male physicians could achieve the same [results] as female physicians every year" he also said that it was wrong that men got paid more than women especially because women were better at their jobs dr jha added "we need to understand why these differences exist…and figure out how to translate it to the [wider] population of physicians"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AnewstudyfromHarvardUniversityshowsthatfemaledoctorsaresligh
    tlybetterthantheirmalecolleagues,butgetpaidless.Researcherslooke
    datmorethanthreemillionmedicalrecords.Aroundhalfofthese(1.5mil
    lion)werehospitalizations,andtheotherhalfwereforreadmissions(pe
    oplewhohadtostayinhospitalasecondtime).Thepercentageofhospita
    lpatientswhohadtoreturntohospital,orwhodied,waslowerifthedoctor
    wasfemale.Mortalityrates(thenumberofpeoplewhodied)were15.02
    percentandreadmissionrateswere11.07percentforfemaledoctors,co
    mparedwith15.57percentmortalityand11.49percentreadmissionrat
    esforpatientsofmaledoctors.Theresearchersdidnotgiveareasonwhy
    womenprovidedbettercaretopatientsthanmen.However,researcher
    Dr.AshishJhadidgiveafigureforthenumberoflivesthatcouldbesavedi
    ntheUSAifmaledoctorsperformedaswellasfemaledoctors.DrJhasaid:
    "Weestimatethatapproximately32,000fewerpatientswoulddieifmal
    ephysicianscouldachievethesame[results]asfemalephysiciansevery
    year."Healsosaidthatitwaswrongthatmengotpaidmorethanwomen,
    especiallybecausewomenwerebetterattheirjobs.DrJhaadded:"Wen
    eedtounderstandwhythesedifferencesexist…andfigureouthowtotra
    nslateittothe[wider]populationofphysicians."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Women are better at doing their jobs than men are. 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 this story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. WOMEN: Write a magazine article about women doing better at their jobs than men. Include imaginary interviews with people who agree and disagree with 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 equal pay. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on why this does not happen and the damage it does. 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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