The Reading / Listening - Radio - Level 3

Radio listeners in Bulgaria can now start listening to modern music again. For the past two months, they could only listen to music that was over 70 years old. A dispute over copyright meant the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) could not play any pop music. Listeners could only listen to classical music or folk songs that were recorded before World War II. In the European Union, copyright disappears 70 years after an artist's death. BNR has now signed a deal with the copyright organization. In the deal, BNR will pay more royalty fees. A part of these fees goes to the singer, band, composer or songwriter of a song or a piece of music. Every time the radio plays a song, it must pay royalties to the artist.

Something surprising happened during the two-month dispute over copyright and royalties. The number of listeners to BNR's shows increased by 20 per cent. After the radio station started playing only Bulgarian folk tunes, classical music and pre-war jazz, more people started listening to the radio. It seems many listeners are more interested in listening to older music than Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. BNR is now thinking about changing its music programming. BNR boss Aleksandar Velev said there could even be new radio stations. Mr Velev told reporters: "We will not change the profiles of the current radio shows. Instead, we will launch new radio stations with more types of music."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Radio - Level 0 Radio - Level 1   or  Radio - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.novinite.com/articles/179044/Bulgaria's+Public+Radio+Brings+Contemporary+Music+Back+on+Air
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-39104260
  • http://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/bulgarian-radio-station-sees-boost-in-listeners-after-pop-music-ban-1.3301694


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. RADIO: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about radio. 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?

       radio / listeners / modern / pop music / classical / copyright / royalties / fees / artist /
       something / surprising / radio station / folk tunes / older music / profiles / reporters

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

3. OLD MUSIC: Students A strongly believe old music is better than new music; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. LISTENING: What are the good and bad things about listening to music via these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

Radio

 

 

Vinyl record

 

 

iPod

 

 

Stereo system

 

 

Live

 

 

YouTube

 

 

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

TYPES OF MUSIC: Rank these with your partner. Put the best types of music the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • hip-hop / rap
  • electro
  • country
  • heavy rock
  • classical
  • pop
  • folk
  • jazz

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Radio listeners in Bulgaria could not listen to pop music for two years.     T / F
  2. The reason the radio could not play pop music was a copyright dispute.   T / F
  3. Radio listeners could only listen to pre-World War II music.     T / F
  4. The radio station has agreed to pay artists more in royalties.     T / F
  5. The radio station got 20% more listeners by playing the older music.     T / F
  6. The article said people in Bulgaria prefer Justin Bieber to old music.     T / F
  7. The radio station boss said he would not change the programming.     T / F
  8. The boss said there would not be any new radio stations.     T / F

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

  1. start
  2. dispute
  3. disappears
  4. deal
  5. fees
  6. surprising
  7. seems
  8. thinking about
  9. change
  10. types
  1. payments
  2. considering
  3. agreement
  4. argument
  5. unexpected
  6. kinds
  7. begin
  8. alter
  9. appears
  10. comes to an end

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

  1. music that was
  2. A dispute over
  3. copyright disappears 70 years
  4. BNR has now signed
  5. it must pay royalties
  6. during the
  7. pre-
  8. BNR is now thinking about changing its music
  9. the profiles of the current radio
  10. radio stations with more types
  1. after an artist's death
  2. two-month dispute
  3. a deal
  4. programming
  5. copyright
  6. shows
  7. of music
  8. war jazz
  9. over 70 years old
  10. to the artist

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
deal
dispute
artist
classical
past
piece
fees
recorded

Radio listeners in Bulgaria can now start listening to modern music again. For the (1) ____________ two months, they could only listen to music that was over 70 years old. A (2) ____________ over copyright meant the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) could not play any pop music. Listeners could only listen to (3) ____________ music or folk songs that were (4) ____________ before World War II. In the European Union, copyright disappears 70 years after an artist's death. BNR has now signed a (5) ____________ with the copyright organization. In the deal, BNR will pay more royalty (6) ____________. A part of these fees goes to the singer, band, composer or songwriter of a song or a (7) ____________ of music. Every time the radio plays a song, it must pay royalties to the (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
seems
programming
number
types
surprising
current
interested
tunes

Something (9) ____________ happened during the two-month dispute over copyright and royalties. The (10) ____________ of listeners to BNR's shows increased by 20 per cent. After the radio station started playing only Bulgarian folk (11) ____________, classical music and pre-war jazz, more people started listening to the radio. It (12) ____________ many listeners are more (13) ____________ in listening to older music than Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. BNR is now thinking about changing its music (14) ____________. BNR boss Aleksandar Velev said there could even be new radio stations. Mr Velev told reporters: "We will not change the profiles of the (15) ____________ radio shows. Instead, we will launch new radio stations with more (16) ____________ of music."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Radio listeners in Bulgaria can now start listening to modern ______
     a.  music against
     b.  music a gain
     c.  music again
     d.  music to gain

2)  copyright disappears 70 years after ______
     a.  an artist's death
     b.  an artist's dead
     c.  an artist's dearth
     d.  an artist's dealt

3)  BNR has now signed a deal with the ______
     a.  copyright organizations
     b.  copyright organization
     c.  copyright organizational
     d.  copyright organize station

4)  A part of these fees goes to the singer, band, composer or songwriter of a song or a _____
     a.  piece of music
     b.  peace of music
     c.  peaceful music
     d.  piece off music

5)  Every time the radio plays a song, it must ______
     a.  pay royals tea
     b.  pay royal teas
     c.  pay royalties
     d.  pay royals teas

6)  The number of listeners to BNR's shows increased ______
     a.  up 20 per cent
     b.  by 20 per cent
     c.  buy 20 per cent
     d.  to 20 per cent

7)  After the radio station started playing only Bulgarian ______
     a.  fork tunes
     b.  folk tunes
     c.  fake tunes
     d.  freak tunes

8)  BNR is now thinking about changing its ______
     a.  music program in
     b.  music program sing
     c.  music programming
     d.  music programed

9)  BNR boss Aleksandar Velev said there could even be ______
     a.  new radio station
     b.  new radios stations
     c.  news radio stations
     d.  new radio stations

10)  Instead, we will launch new radio stations with more ______
     a.  tapes of music
     b.  types of music
     c.  tips of music
     d.  times of music

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Radio listeners in Bulgaria can now start listening to modern music again. (1) ___________________ two months, they could only listen to music that was over 70 years old. A (2) ___________________ copyright meant the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) could not play any pop music. Listeners (3) ___________________ to classical music or folk songs that were recorded before World War II. In the European Union, copyright disappears 70 years (4) ___________________ death. BNR has now signed a deal with the copyright organization. In the deal, BNR will pay more (5) ___________________. A part of these fees goes to the singer, band, composer or songwriter of a song (6) ___________________ music. Every time the radio plays a song, it must pay royalties to the artist.

Something surprising happened (7) ___________________-month dispute over copyright and royalties. (8) ___________________ listeners to BNR's shows increased by 20 per cent. After the radio station started playing only Bulgarian folk tunes, classical music and pre-war jazz, more people started listening to the radio. It seems many listeners (9) ___________________ in listening to older music than Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. BNR is now thinking about (10) ___________________ music programming. BNR boss Aleksandar Velev said there (11) ___________________ new radio stations. Mr Velev told reporters: "We will not change the profiles of the current radio shows. Instead, we will launch new radio stations with more (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. For how long was there no modern music on Bulgarian radio?
  2. How old was the music the radio station could play?
  3. What world event was the music recorded before?
  4. What did BNR sign?
  5. What must BNR pay to musical artists?
  6. What increased by 20%?
  7. What kind of jazz did the radio station play?
  8. What did the article suggest was more popular than Justin Bieber?
  9. What is the BNR boss thinking about changing?
  10. What will the BNR now launch?

Multiple choice quiz

1) For how long was there no modern music on Bulgarian radio?
a) 12 years
b) 2 years
c) 2 months
d) 6 weeks

2) How old was the music the radio station could play?
a) 70 years old
b) 100 years old
c) 12 years old
d) 40 years old

3) What world event was the music recorded before?
a) Egypt became independent
b) World War II
c) the fall of the Berlin Wall
d) the Cuban Missile Crisis

4) What did BNR sign?
a) a T-shirt
b) a wall
c) autographs
d) a deal

5) What must BNR pay to musical artists?
a) respect
b) tax
c) royalties
d) gold

6) What increased by 20%?
a) tax
b) the number of radio listeners
c) royalties
d) the number of records

7) What kind of jazz did the radio station play?
a) acid jazz
b) trad jazz
c) New Orleans jazz
d) pre-war jazz

8) What did the article suggest was more popular than Justin Bieber?
a) rap music
b) older music
c) Bulgarian soul
d) heavy metal

9) What is the BNR boss thinking about changing?
a) royalties
b) its programming
c) jobs
d) music

10) What will the BNR now launch?
a) new radio stations
b) boats
c) cosmetics
d) a new pop boy band

Role play

Role A — Classical

You think classical is the best kind of music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): pop, rap or folk.

Role B — Pop

You think pop is the best kind of music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): classical, rap or folk.

Role C — Rap

You think rap is the best kind of music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): pop, classical or folk.

Role D — Folk

You think folk is the best kind of music. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their kinds. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): pop, rap or classical.

After reading / listening

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

'radio'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'station'.

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

    • during
    • 20
    • more
    • seems
    • thinking
    • instead
    • start
    • meant
    • any
    • recorded
    • signed
    • must

    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 - Bulgarian radio can play modern music again

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'radio'?
    3. What do you think of radio?
    4. What do you know about copyright?
    5. Should singers get paid every time a radio station plays their music?
    6. Why is respecting copyright important?
    7. What are the good things about older music?
    8. What damage does illegal downloading do to singers and artists?
    9. What are royalties and why are they called royalties?
    10. How important are radio stations to you?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'music'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What radio shows do you like, and why?
    5. Why do people say today's new music isn't very good?
    6. Is Justin Bieber's music better than music from the 1960s?
    7. Would you like to be a radio show host?
    8. Will the Internet end radio stations?
    9. What are the good things about new music?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the boss of the radio station?

    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)

    Radio listeners in Bulgaria can now start listening to modern music (1) ____. For the (2) ____ two months, they could only listen to music that was over 70 years old. A dispute (3) ____ copyright meant the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) could not play any pop music. Listeners could only listen to classical music or folk songs that were recorded before World War II. In the European Union, copyright disappears 70 years after an artist's (4) ____. BNR has now signed a deal with the copyright organization. In the deal, BNR will pay more (5) ____ fees. A part of these fees goes to the singer, band, composer or songwriter of a song or a piece of music. Every time the radio plays a song, it must (6) ____ royalties to the artist.

    Something surprising happened (7) ____ the two-month dispute over copyright and royalties. The number of listeners to BNR's shows increased (8) ____ 20 per cent. After the radio station started playing only Bulgarian folk tunes, classical music and pre-war jazz, more people started (9) ____ to the radio. It seems many listeners are more interested in listening to older music than Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. BNR is now thinking (10) ____ changing its music programming. BNR boss Aleksandar Velev said there could even (11) ____ new radio stations. Mr Velev told reporters: "We will not change the profiles of the current radio shows. (12) ____, we will launch new radio stations with more types of music."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     moreover     (b)     again     (c)     extra     (d)     over    
    2. (a)     parsed     (b)     past     (c)     pasted     (d)     passed    
    3. (a)     high     (b)     top     (c)     above     (d)     over    
    4. (a)     dead     (b)     death     (c)     died     (d)     dies    
    5. (a)     royally     (b)     royal     (c)     royals     (d)     royalty    
    6. (a)     prize     (b)     cost     (c)     pay     (d)     fee    
    7. (a)     during     (b)     while     (c)     under     (d)     against    
    8. (a)     as     (b)     up     (c)     by     (d)     on    
    9. (a)     listener     (b)     listened     (c)     listens     (d)     listening    
    10. (a)     about     (b)     over     (c)     on     (d)     as    
    11. (a)     be     (b)     have     (c)     listen     (d)     do    
    12. (a)     Instead     (b)     Prefer     (c)     Alternative     (d)     Than

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Radio itsersenl in Bulgaria
    2. A dispute over potirghcy
    3. listen to slciaaslc music
    4. cdrodeer before World War II
    5. earsdasppi 70 years after
    6. pay seyaoirlt to the artist

    Paragraph 2

    1. Something rspngsruii happened
    2. deescniar by 20 per cent
    3. more renetisetd
    4. the nurrcet radio shows
    5. we will anchul new radio stations
    6. more etysp of music

    Put the text back together

    (    )     are more interested in listening to older music than Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. BNR is now thinking

    (    )     Something surprising happened during the two-month dispute over copyright and royalties. The number

    (    )     death. BNR has now signed a deal with the copyright organization. In the deal, BNR will pay more

    (    )     about changing its music programming. BNR boss Aleksandar Velev said there could even be new radio

    (    )     listen to music that was over 70 years old. A dispute over copyright meant the Bulgarian National Radio

    (    )     stations. Mr Velev told reporters: "We will not change the profiles of the current

    (    )     tunes, classical music and pre-war jazz, more people started listening to the radio. It seems many listeners

    (    )     of listeners to BNR's shows increased by 20 per cent. After the radio station started playing only Bulgarian folk

    1  )     Radio listeners in Bulgaria can now start listening to modern music again. For the past two months, they could only

    (    )     radio shows. Instead, we will launch new radio stations with more types of music."

    (    )     (BNR) could not play any pop music. Listeners could only listen to classical music or folk songs that were recorded

    (    )     before World War II. In the European Union, copyright disappears 70 years after an artist's

    (    )     of music. Every time the radio plays a song, it must pay royalties to the artist.

    (    )     royalty fees. A part of these fees goes to the singer, band, composer or songwriter of a song or a piece

    Put the words in the right order

    1. in   now   to   Listeners   can  listening  music  Bulgaria  start  modern  .
    2. listen   only  could  They   old  years   70  over   was   that  music   to  .
    3. songs   before   II   folk  recorded   War  or   that  World   Music  were  .
    4. after   years   70   disappears   Copyright   death   artist's   an   .
    5. ,   song   a  plays   radio   the   time  Every   royalties  pay   must   it   .
    6. the  Something  two  surprising   -  happened  month  during  dispute  .
    7. BNR's   to   listeners   of   number   The   increased   shows   .
    8. in   Listeners   listening   are   to   more   older   interested   music   .
    9. programming  about   BNR  changing   is   its   now   music   thinking   .
    10. will  launch  new  radio  stations   with   more  types   of   music   We   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Radio listeners in Bulgaria can know / now start listening to modern music again. For the past two months, they could only listen to music that was / were over 70 years old. A dispute over copyright mean / meant the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) could not play / playing any pop music. Listeners could only listen to classical / classically music or folk songs that were record / recorded before World War II. In the European Union, copyright disappears / disappearance 70 years after an artist's death. BNR has now signed / singed a deal with the copyright organization. In the deal, BNR will pay more royalty fees. A part of these fees goes to the singer, band, composer or songwriter of a song or a peace / piece of music. Every time the radio plays a song, it must pay royalties / royals to the artist.

    Something surprising / surprised happened during  / while the two-month dispute over copyright and royalties. The number of listeners to BNR's shows increased at / by 20 per cent. After the radio station started playing / played only Bulgarian folk tunes, classical music and pre-war jazz, more people started listening / listened to the radio. It seems many listeners are more interested on / in listening to older music that / than Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. BNR is now thinking about changing his / its music programming. BNR boss Aleksandar Velev said there could even / ever be new radio stations. Mr Velev told reporters: "We will not change the profiles of the current radio shows. Instead, we will lunch / launch new radio stations with more types of music."

    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_d__ l_st_n_rs _n B_lg_r__ c_n n_w st_rt l_st_n_ng t_ m_d_rn m_s_c _g__n. F_r th_ p_st tw_ m_nths, th_y c__ld _nly l_st_n t_ m_s_c th_t w_s _v_r 70 y__rs _ld. _ d_sp_t_ _v_r c_pyr_ght m__nt th_ B_lg_r__n N_t__n_l R_d__ (BNR) c__ld n_t pl_y _ny p_p m_s_c. L_st_n_rs c__ld _nly l_st_n t_ cl_ss_c_l m_s_c _r f_lk s_ngs th_t w_r_ r_c_rd_d b_f_r_ W_rld W_r __. _n th_ __r_p__n _n__n, c_pyr_ght d_s_pp__rs 70 y__rs _ft_r _n _rt_st's d__th. BNR h_s n_w s_gn_d _ d__l w_th th_ c_pyr_ght _rg_n_z_t__n. _n th_ d__l, BNR w_ll p_y m_r_ r_y_lty f__s. _ p_rt _f th_s_ f__s g_ t_ th_ s_ng_r, b_nd, c_mp_s_r _r s_ngwr_t_r _f _ s_ng _r _ p__c_ _f m_s_c. _v_ry t_m_ th_ r_d__ pl_ys _ s_ng, _t m_st p_y r_y_lt__s t_ th_ _rt_st.

    S_m_th_ng s_rpr_s_ng h_pp_n_d d_r_ng th_ tw_-m_nth d_sp_t_ _v_r c_pyr_ght _nd r_y_lt__s. Th_ n_mb_r _f l_st_n_rs t_ BNR's sh_ws _ncr__s_d by 20 p_r c_nt. _ft_r th_ r_d__ st_t__n st_rt_d pl_y_ng _nly B_lg_r__n f_lk t_n_s, cl_ss_c_l m_s_c _nd pr_-w_r j_zz, m_r_ p__pl_ st_rt_d l_st_n_ng t_ th_ r_d__. _t s__ms m_ny l_st_n_rs _r_ m_r_ _nt_r_st_d _n l_st_n_ng t_ _ld_r m_s_c th_n J_st_n B__b_r _nd T_yl_r Sw_ft. BNR _s n_w th_nk_ng _b__t ch_ng_ng _ts m_s_c pr_gr_mm_ng. BNR b_ss _l_ks_nd_r V_l_v s__d th_r_ c__ld _v_n b_ n_w r_d__ st_t__ns. Mr V_l_v t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "W_ w_ll n_t ch_ng_ th_ pr_f_l_s _f th_ c_rr_nt r_d__ sh_ws. _nst__d, w_ w_ll l__nch n_w r_d__ st_t__ns w_th m_r_ typ_s _f m_s_c."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    radio listeners in bulgaria can now start listening to modern music again for the past two months they could only listen to music that was over 70 years old a dispute over copyright meant the bulgarian national radio (bnr) could not play any pop music listeners could only listen to classical music or folk songs that were recorded before world war ii in the european union copyright disappears 70 years after an artist's death bnr has now signed a deal with the copyright organization in the deal bnr will pay more royalty fees a part of these fees goes to the singer band composer or songwriter of a song or a piece of music every time the radio plays a song it must pay royalties to the artist

    something surprising happened during the two-month dispute over copyright and royalties the number of listeners to bnr's shows increased by 20 per cent after the radio station started playing only bulgarian folk tunes classical music and pre-war jazz more people started listening to the radio it seems many listeners are more interested in listening to older music than justin bieber and taylor swift bnr is now thinking about changing its music programming bnr boss aleksandar velev said there could even be new radio stations mr velev told reporters "we will not change the profiles of the current radio shows instead we will launch new radio stations with more types of music"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    RadiolistenersinBulgariacannowstartlisteningtomodernmusicagain.
    Forthepasttwomonths,theycouldonlylistentomusicthatwasover70y
    earsold.AdisputeovercopyrightmeanttheBulgarianNationalRadio(B
    NR)couldnotplayanypopmusic.Listenerscouldonlylistentoclassicalm
    usicorfolksongsthatwererecordedbeforeWorldWarII.IntheEuropean
    Union,copyrightdisappears70yearsafteranartist'sdeath.BNRhasno
    wsignedadealwiththecopyrightorganization.Inthedeal,BNRwillpay
    moreroyaltyfees.Apartofthesefeesgoestothesinger,band,composeror
    songwriterofasongorapieceofmusic.Everytimetheradioplaysasong,i
    tmustpayroyaltiestotheartist.Somethingsurprisinghappenedduring
    thetwo-monthdisputeovercopyrightandroyalties.Thenumberofliste
    nerstoBNR'sshowsincreasedby20percent.Aftertheradiostationstart
    edplayingonlyBulgarianfolktunes,classicalmusicandpre-warjazz,m
    orepeoplestartedlisteningtotheradio.Itseemsmanylistenersaremor
    einterestedinlisteningtooldermusicthanJustinBieberandTaylorSwift
    .BNRisnowthinkingaboutchangingitsmusicprogramming.BNRbossAl
    eksandarVelevsaidtherecouldevenbenewradiostations.MrVelevtold
    reporters:"Wewillnotchangetheprofilesofthecurrentradioshows.Ins
    tead,wewilllaunchnewradiostationswithmoretypesofmusic."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Old music is better than new music. 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 radio. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. OLD MUSIC: Write a magazine article about old music and how it is much better than new music. Say why you think radio shows should play more old music than new music. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on radio. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make radio shows better. 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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