The Reading / Listening - North Korea - Level 3

The Vice President of the USA, Mike Pence, said on Monday that US-North Korea relations have changed. Mr Pence said the "era of strategic patience is over". Pence said that the USA has shown great patience with North Korea for many years. It has tried talking to North Korea to get it to end its nuclear weapons testing. However, new U.S. President Donald Trump promised he would not allow North Korea to develop nuclear weapons. Pence said: "Since 1992, the United States and our allies have stood together for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. We hope to achieve this objective through peaceable means. But all options are on the table." One of these options is to attack North Korea's missile bases.

Mr Pence's warning to North Korea to not test the USA came the day after North Korea tested another missile. Pence said North Korea's missile testing is a danger to the USA. He said North Korea would soon have missiles that can reach America. North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC that his country would continue to test missiles. He said: "We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis." He added that an "all-out war" would happen if the US took military action against North Korea. North Korea's ambassador to the UN, Kim In-ryong, said the US was "disturbing global peace and stability". He said the USA was using "gangster-like logic" in its foreign policy.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    North Korea - Level 0,  North Korea - Level 1   or  North Korea - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/04/17/524316419/pence-tells-north-korea-the-era-of-strategic-patience-is-over
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39623882
  • http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2017/04/356_227711.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. NORTH KOREA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about North Korea. 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?

       relations / strategic / patience / nuclear weapons / testing / options / table / missile /
       warning / danger / yearly / military action / ambassador / global peace / gangster

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

3. TALK: Students A strongly believe the USA and North Korea should talk more; Students B strongly believe the time for talking is over.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. OPTIONS: What options are there to reduce tensions between North Korea and the USA? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

Direct talks

 

 

Pressure from China

 

 

Economic penalties

 

 

Pressure from UN

 

 

US aid to North Korea

 

 

Military attack

 

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

6. RELATIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things for good relations between countries at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • intercultural exchanges
  • regular talks
  • regular sports events
  • patience
  • same language
  • same religion
  • lots of trade
  • ambassadors

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The US President said on Monday relations with N. Korea have changed.  T / F
  2. The US Vice President said the US has been patient for many years.     T / F
  3. The US has worked for a denuclearized Korean Peninsular since 1882.     T / F
  4. The US said it has put missiles on a table.     T / F
  5. North Korea tested a missile the day before Mike Pence's warning.     T / F
  6. North Korea has missiles that can reach the USA.     T / F
  7. North Korea said it will be carrying out missile tests every week.     T / F
  8. North Korea compared the USA to a gangster.     T / F

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

  1. era
  2. over
  3. allow
  4. objective
  5. options
  6. warning
  7. reach
  8. conducting
  9. disturbing
  10. logic
  1. caution
  2. aim
  3. upsetting
  4. choices
  5. get to
  6. carrying out
  7. age
  8. finished
  9. reasoning
  10. let

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

  1. US-North Korea
  2. the USA has shown great patience
  3. the United States and our allies have
  4. We hope to achieve this objective through
  5. all options are
  6. the day after North Korea tested
  7. North Korea's missile testing is a
  8. his country would continue
  9. on a weekly, monthly
  10. if the US took military
  1. another missile
  2. and yearly basis
  3. on the table
  4. with North Korea
  5. danger to the USA
  6. stood together
  7. to test missiles
  8. peaceable means
  9. action
  10. relations have changed

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
allow
relations
bases
stood
end
table
patience
achieve

The Vice President of the USA, Mike Pence, said on Monday that US-North Korea (1) ____________ have changed. Mr Pence said the "era of strategic (2) ____________ is over". Pence said that the USA has shown great patience with North Korea for many years. It has tried talking to North Korea to get it to (3) ____________ its nuclear weapons testing. However, new U.S. President Donald Trump promised he would not (4) ____________ North Korea to develop nuclear weapons. Pence said: "Since 1992, the United States and our allies have (5) ____________ together for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. We hope to (6) ____________ this objective through peaceable means. But all options are on the (7) ____________." One of these options is to attack North Korea's missile (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
continue
war
another
gangster
warning
yearly
danger
ambassador

Mr Pence's (9) ____________ to North Korea to not test the USA came the day after North Korea tested (10) ____________ missile. Pence said North Korea's missile testing is a (11) ____________ to the USA. He said North Korea would soon have missiles that can reach America. North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC that his country would (12) ____________ to test missiles. He said: "We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and (13) ____________ basis." He added that an "all-out (14) ____________" would happen if the US took military action against North Korea. North Korea's (15) ____________ to the UN, Kim In-ryong, said the US was "disturbing global peace and stability". He said the USA was using "(16) ____________ -like logic" in its foreign policy.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Mr Pence said the "era of strategic ______"
     a.  patients is over
     b.  patents is over
     c.  patient is over
     d.  patience is over

2)  It has tried talking to North Korea to get it to end its nuclear ______
     a.  weapon testing
     b.  weapons test in
     c.  weapons testing
     d.  weapon test in

3)  our allies have stood together for a denuclearized ______
     a.  Korea Peninsula
     b.  Korean Peninsula
     c.  Koreas Peninsula
     d.  Korea's Peninsula

4)  We hope to achieve this objective ______ means
     a.  though peaceable
     b.  through peaceable
     c.  thorough peaceable
     d.  trough peaceable

5)  One of these options is to attack North Korea's ______
     a.  missile bases
     b.  missile basis
     c.  missile base is
     d.  missile bays is

6)  the day after North Korea tested ______
     a.  the other missile
     b.  another missile
     c.  another missiles
     d.  other missile

7)  He said North Korea would soon have missiles that ______
     a.  can breach America
     b.  can reach America
     c.  can teach America
     d.  can retch America

8)  We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly ______
     a.  on yearly basis
     b.  end yearly basis
     c.  and yearly basis
     d.  the yearly basis

9)  He added that an "all-out war" would happen if the US ______
     a.  mistook military action
     b.  taken military action
     c.  take military action
     d.  took military action

10)  He said the USA was using "gangster-______"
     a.  like logical
     b.  like logic
     c.  liked logic
     d.  likes logics

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Vice President of the USA, Mike Pence, (1) ___________________ that US-North Korea relations have changed. Mr Pence said the "era of strategic (2) ___________________". Pence said that the USA has shown great patience with North Korea (3) ___________________. It has tried talking to North Korea to get it to end its nuclear weapons testing. However, new U.S. President Donald Trump promised he (4) ___________________ North Korea to develop nuclear weapons. Pence said: "Since 1992, the United States and our allies have (5) ___________________ for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. We hope to achieve this objective through peaceable means. But all options are on the table." (6) ___________________ is to attack North Korea's missile bases.

Mr Pence's warning to North Korea (7) ___________________ USA came the day after North Korea tested another missile. Pence said North Korea's missile testing (8) ___________________ the USA. He said North Korea would soon have missiles (9) ___________________ America. North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC that his country would (10) ___________________ missiles. He said: "We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis." He added that an "all-out war" would happen if the US took (11) ___________________ against North Korea. North Korea's ambassador to the UN, Kim In-ryong, said the US was "disturbing global (12) ___________________". He said the USA was using "gangster-like logic" in its foreign policy.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did Mike Pence say has changed between the USA and N. Korea?
  2. What did Mike Pence say the US has shown towards North Korea?
  3. What did Donald Trump promise he would not allow N. Korea to develop?
  4. Since when have the US and its allies worked for a denuclearized Korea?
  5. What did Mike Pence say was on the table?
  6. What did North Korea do the day before Mike Pence's warning?
  7. When will North Korea have missiles that can reach America?
  8. What will North Korea be doing "on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis"?
  9. What would happen if the US took military action against North Korea?
  10. What kind of logic did N. Korea say the US was using in its foreign policy?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did Mike Pence say has changed between the USA and N. Korea?
a) relations
b) borders
c) money
d) secrets

2) What did Mike Pence say the US has shown towards North Korea?
a) information
b) secrets
c) great patience
d) anger

3) What did Donald Trump promise he would not allow N. Korea to develop?
a) patience
b) nuclear weapons
c) relations
d) GM food

4) Since when have the US and its allies worked for a denuclearized Korea?
a) 1983
b) 1982
c) 1993
d) 1992

5) What did Mike Pence say was on the table?
a) all options
b) cards
c) dinner
d) missiles

6) What did North Korea do the day before Mike Pence's warning?
a) attack missile bases
b) achieve an objective
c) reach America
d) test a missile

7) When will North Korea have missiles that can reach America?
a) next week
b) soon
c) within the next year
d) by October 2018

8) What will North Korea be doing "on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis"?
a) taking military action
b) celebrating
c) talking
d) conducting missile tests

9) What would happen if the US took military action against North Korea?
a) talks
b) nothing
c) an all-out war
d) very little

10) What kind of logic did N. Korea say the US was using in its foreign policy?
a) war-like logic
b) gangster-like logic
c) illogical logic
d) interesting logic

Role play

Role  A – Same Language

You think having the same language is best for good relations between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): trade, intercultural exchange or patience.

Role  B – Trade

You think trade is best for good relations between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): the same language, intercultural exchange or patience.

Role  C – Intercultural Exchanges

You think intercultural exchange is best for good relations between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): trade, the same language or patience.

Role  D – Patience

You think patience is best for good relations between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why):  trade, intercultural exchange or the same language.

After reading / listening

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

'nuclear'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'weapon'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • warning
    • reach
    • more
    • action
    • peace
    • gangster
    • relations
    • over
    • tried
    • allow
    • stood
    • table

    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 - USA ends 'patience' with North Korea

    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 'nuclear'?
    3. How worried are you about US-North Korea relations?
    4. What do you know about North Korea?
    5. Why is the USA telling North Korea what to do?
    6. What does "the era of strategic patience" mean?
    7. Why can't North Korea have nuclear weapons if the USA has them?
    8. Why don't all countries stop making nuclear weapons?
    9. What options might be on the table?
    10. What advice do you have for the USA?

    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 'weapon'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about the history of North Korea?
    5. How dangerous to the world would "all-out war" be?
    6. What advice do you have for North Korea?
    7. What would happen if the USA attacked North Korea?
    8. Is the USA disturbing global peace?
    9. What is "gangster-like" foreign policy?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mike Pence?

    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)

    The Vice President of the USA, Mike Pence, said on Monday that US-North Korea (1) ____ have changed. Mr Pence said the "era of strategic (2) ____ is over". Pence said that the USA has shown great patience with North Korea for many years. It has tried talking to North Korea to get it (3) ____ end its nuclear weapons testing. However, new U.S. President Donald Trump (4) ____ he would not allow North Korea to develop nuclear weapons. Pence said: "Since 1992, the United States and our allies have (5) ____ together for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. We hope to achieve this objective through peaceable means. But all options are on the (6) ____." One of these options is to attack North Korea's missile bases.

    Mr Pence's warning to North Korea to (7) ____ test the USA came the day after North Korea tested another missile. Pence said North Korea's missile testing is a danger (8) ____ the USA. He said North Korea would soon have missiles that can (9) ____ America. North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC that his country would continue to test missiles. He said: "We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and (10) ____ basis." He added that an "all-out war" would happen if the US took military action against North Korea. North Korea's ambassador (11) ____ the UN, Kim In-ryong, said the US was "disturbing global peace and stability". He said the USA was using "gangster-like logic" in its foreign (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     relationship     (b)     relatives     (c)     relations     (d)     relation    
    2. (a)     patience     (b)     patiently     (c)     patents     (d)     patients    
    3. (a)     to     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     on    
    4. (a)     promised     (b)     premised     (c)     permission     (d)     proms    
    5. (a)     kneeled     (b)     stood     (c)     jumped     (d)     hopped    
    6. (a)     tabular     (b)     tab     (c)     tablet     (d)     table    
    7. (a)     no     (b)     now     (c)     not     (d)     non    
    8. (a)     on     (b)     as     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    9. (a)     reach     (b)     reached     (c)     reaches     (d)     reaching    
    10. (a)     yearly     (b)     years     (c)     year     (d)     yearn    
    11. (a)     by     (b)     to     (c)     on     (d)     as    
    12. (a)     rates     (b)     plan     (c)     policy     (d)     logical

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. US-North Korea otrenlais have changed
    2. the USA has shown great piatncee with North Korea
    3. end its alucner weapons testing
    4. We hope to evicaeh this objective
    5. all iopntso are on the table
    6. missile aessb

    Paragraph 2

    1. Mr Pence's anngwir to North Korea
    2. a enardg to the USA
    3. on a weekly, monthly and yearly isasb
    4. the US took aymiiltr action against North Korea
    5. disturbing boglla peace
    6. gnofeir policy

    Put the text back together

    (    )     Korean Peninsula. We hope to achieve this objective through peaceable means. But all options are on the

    (    )     missile. Pence said North Korea's missile testing is a danger to the USA. He said North Korea would

    (    )     changed. Mr Pence said the "era of strategic patience is over". Pence said that the USA has shown great patience

    (    )     country would continue to test missiles. He said: "We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly

    (    )     Mr Pence's warning to North Korea to not test the USA came the day after North Korea tested another

    (    )     weapons testing. However, new U.S. President Donald Trump promised he would not allow North Korea to

    (    )     peace and stability". He said the USA was using "gangster-like logic" in its foreign policy.

    (    )     and yearly basis." He added that an "all-out war" would happen if the US took military action

    (    )     with North Korea for many years. It has tried talking to North Korea to get it to end its nuclear

    (    )     soon have missiles that can reach America. North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC that his

    (    )     develop nuclear weapons. Pence said: "Since 1992, the United States and our allies have stood together for a denuclearized

    (    )     table." One of these options is to attack North Korea's missile bases.

    (  1  )     The Vice President of the USA, Mike Pence, said on Monday that US-North Korea relations have

    (    )     against North Korea. North Korea's ambassador to the UN, Kim In-ryong, said the US was "disturbing global

    Put the words in the right order

    1. over"   of   said   strategic   the   patience   is   "era   Pence   .
    2. would  North   develop  He  allow   to  weapons   not   Korea  nuclear   .
    3. Stood   for   denuclearized   Peninsula   together   a   Korean   .
    4. objective   this   Achieve   means   peaceable   through   .
    5. to   attack  North  Korea's   missile  bases  One   of  these  options  is   .
    6. after   day   The   missile   another   tested   Korea   North   .
    7. USA   missile   a   the   Korea's   is   to   North   testing   danger   .
    8. said:   tests"   missile   more   conducting   be   "We'll   He   .
    9. war"   that   added   He   happen   would   out   "all-   an   .
    10. was   USA   The   policy  foreign   its  in   logic  like  gangster-   using   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The Vice President of the USA, Mike Pence, said on Monday that US-North Korea relations have changing / changed. Mr Pence said the "era off / of strategic patience is over". Pence said that the USA has shown / showing great patience with North Korea for much / many years. It has tried talking to North Korea to get it to send / end its nuclear weapons testing. However, new U.S. President Donald Trump promised he would not allow North Korea to develop / developed nuclear weapons. Pence said: "Since 1992, the United States and our / your allies have stood together for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. We hoping / hope to achieve this objective through peaceable / piece means. But all options are on the table." One of these options is to attack North Korea's missile vases / bases.

    Mr Pence's warning to North Korea to not / now test the USA came the day after North Korea tested another / other missile. Pence said North Korea's missile testing is a dangerous / danger to the USA. He said North Korea would soon have missiles that can breach / reach America. North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told / tell the BBC that his country would continue to test missiles. He said: "We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis / bases." He added that an "all-out war" would happen of / if the US took military action against North Korea. North Korea's ambassador to a / the UN, Kim In-ryong, said the US was "disturbing global piece / peace and stability". He said the USA was using "gangster-like logic" in its foreign / foreigner policy.

    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)

    Th_ V_c_ Pr_s_d_nt _f th_ _S_, M_k_ P_nc_, s__d _n M_nd_y th_t _S-N_rth K_r__ r_l_t__ns h_v_ ch_ng_d. Mr P_nc_ s__d th_ "_r_ _f str_t_g_c p_t__nc_ _s _v_r". P_nc_ s__d th_t th_ _S_ h_s sh_wn gr__t p_t__nc_ w_th N_rth K_r__ f_r m_ny y__rs. _t h_s tr__d t_lk_ng t_ N_rth K_r__ t_ g_t _t t_ _nd _ts n_cl__r w__p_ns t_st_ng. H_w_v_r, n_w _.S. Pr_s_d_nt D_n_ld Tr_mp pr_m_s_d h_ w__ld n_t _ll_w N_rth K_r__ t_ d_v_l_p n_cl__r w__p_ns. P_nc_ s__d: "S_nc_ 1992, th_ _n_t_d St_t_s _nd __r _ll__s h_v_ st__d t_g_th_r f_r _ d_n_cl__r_z_d K_r__n P_n_ns_l_. W_ h_p_ t_ _ch__v_ th_s _bj_ct_v_ thr__gh p__c__bl_ m__ns. B_t _ll _pt__ns _r_ _n th_ t_bl_." _n_ _f th_s_ _pt__ns _s t_ _tt_ck N_rth K_r__'s m_ss_l_ b_s_s.

    Mr P_nc_'s w_rn_ng t_ N_rth K_r__ t_ n_t t_st th_ _S_ c_m_ th_ d_y _ft_r N_rth K_r__ t_st_d _n_th_r m_ss_l_. P_nc_ s__d N_rth K_r__'s m_ss_l_ t_st_ng _s _ d_ng_r t_ th_ _S_. H_ s__d N_rth K_r__ w__ld s__n h_v_ m_ss_l_s th_t c_n r__ch _m_r_c_. N_rth K_r__'s V_c_ F_r__gn M_n_st_r H_n S_ng-ry_l t_ld th_ BBC th_t h_s c__ntry w__ld c_nt_n__ t_ t_st m_ss_l_s. H_ s__d: "W_'ll b_ c_nd_ct_ng m_r_ m_ss_l_ t_sts _n _ w__kly, m_nthly _nd y__rly b_s_s." H_ _dd_d th_t _n "_ll-__t w_r" w__ld h_pp_n _f th_ _S t__k m_l_t_ry _ct__n _g__nst N_rth K_r__. N_rth K_r__'s _mb_ss_d_r t_ th_ _N, K_m _n-ry_ng, s__d th_ _S w_s "d_st_rb_ng gl_b_l p__c_ _nd st_b_l_ty". H_ s__d th_ _S_ w_s _s_ng "g_ngst_r-l_k_ l_g_c" _n _ts f_r__gn p_l_cy.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the vice president of the usa mike pence said on monday that us-north korea relations have changed mr pence said the "era of strategic patience is over" pence said that the usa has shown great patience with north korea for many years it has tried talking to north korea to get it to end its nuclear weapons testing however new us president donald trump promised he would not allow north korea to develop nuclear weapons pence said "since 1992 the united states and our allies have stood together for a denuclearized korean peninsula we hope to achieve this objective through peaceable means but all options are on the table" one of these options is to attack north korea's missile bases

    mr pence's warning to north korea to not test the usa came the day after north korea tested another missile pence said north korea's missile testing is a danger to the usa he said north korea would soon have missiles that can reach america north korea's vice foreign minister han song-ryol told the bbc that his country would continue to test missiles he said "we'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly monthly and yearly basis" he added that an "all-out war" would happen if the us took military action against north korea north korea's ambassador to the un kim in-ryong said the us was "disturbing global peace and stability" he said the usa was using "gangster-like logic" in its foreign policy

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheVicePresidentoftheUSA,MikePence,saidonMondaythatUS-Nort
    hKorearelationshavechanged.MrPencesaidthe"eraofstrategicpatien
    ceisover".PencesaidthattheUSAhasshowngreatpatiencewithNorthK
    oreaformanyyears.IthastriedtalkingtoNorthKoreatogetittoenditsnu
    clearweaponstesting.However,newU.S.PresidentDonaldTrumppro
    misedhewouldnotallowNorthKoreatodevelopnuclearweapons.Pence
    said:"Since1992,theUnitedStatesandourallieshavestoodtogetherfo
    radenuclearizedKoreanPeninsula.Wehopetoachievethisobjectivethr
    oughpeaceablemeans.Butalloptionsareonthetable."Oneoftheseopti
    onsistoattackNorthKorea'smissilebases.MrPence'swarningtoNorthK
    oreatonottesttheUSAcamethedayafterNorthKoreatestedanothermi
    ssile.PencesaidNorthKorea'smissiletestingisadangertotheUSA.Hesa
    idNorthKoreawouldsoonhavemissilesthatcanreachAmerica.NorthKo
    rea'sViceForeignMinisterHanSong-ryoltoldtheBBCthathiscountrywo
    uldcontinuetotestmissiles.Hesaid:"We'llbeconductingmoremissilet
    estsonaweekly,monthlyandyearlybasis."Headdedthatan"all-outw
    ar"wouldhappeniftheUStookmilitaryactionagainstNorthKorea.North
    Korea'sambassadortotheUN,KimIn-ryong,saidtheUSwas"disturbin
    gglobalpeaceandstability".HesaidtheUSAwasusing"gangster-likel
    ogic"initsforeignpolicy.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    How dangerous is the situation between the USA and North Korea? How will it end?

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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 news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. NORTH KOREA: Make a poster about North Korea. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. KEEP TALKING: Write a magazine article about why the USA and North Korea should keep talking. 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 North Korea. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how the USA and North Korea can become friends. 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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