The Reading / Listening - Happiness - Level 6

The Abu Dhabi government has opened a special cafe for its employees that is dedicated to their happiness. The new 'Happiness Cafe' is located in the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development. Staff are being encouraged to take time out from their busy days to unwind and chill out so they can revitalize and rejuvenate themselves. The cafe is full of plush sofas and couches and has a specially designed decor to provide the perfect ambience for feeling happy and create an atmosphere of positivity. It even has its own garden and fountain to add a touch of nature to the surroundings. One worker enthused about the new cafe, saying it would help her to smile more at work.

The cafe was opened by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development. He hoped it would create a positive environment in the workplace, allow employees to better release their productive energy, and improve the work environment in the ministry. The Happiness Cafe is part of a program initiated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, called the National Program for Happiness and Positivity. He said happiness was, "a renewable and sustainable asset". Sheikh Nahyan said this program intended to establish, "the values of positivity and happiness as a way of life in the UAE". He hoped it would eventually put the UAE in the top five of the world's happiest countries.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Happiness - Level 4  or  Happiness - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.thenational.ae/uae/happiness-cafe-opens-for-government-employees-in-abu-dhabi
  • http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/good-vibes-on-the-menu-at-this-happiness-cafe
  • http://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/sheikh-mohammed-hails-uae-progress-on-happiness-programme


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. HAPPINESS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about happiness. 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?

       government / cafe / employees / happiness / busy / unwind / chill out / nature /
       positive / workplace / environment / renewable / positivity / top five / countries

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

3. PRIORITY: Students A strongly believe people's happiness should be a country's top priority; Students B strongly believe other things are more important. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. HAPPINESS PLACES: How can these places help to make people happier? Would these places initiate your ideas? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Places

Happiness Ideas

Initiate Ideas?

Train station

 

 

Hospital

 

 

School

 

 

Airplane

 

 

Shopping mall

 

 

The Internet

 

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

6. UNWIND: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to do to unwind at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • play games
  • take a bath
  • go for a walk
  • chat with a friend
  • sleep
  • read
  • listen to music
  • exercise

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The Abu Dhabi government opened a happiness cafe for all workers.     T / F
  2. The Abu Dhabi 'Happiness Cafe' can be found in a top shopping mall.     T / F
  3. The cafe has its own garden and fountain.     T / F
  4. A worker said the cafe didn't really make her happier.     T / F
  5. The UAE's President opened the cafe.     T / F
  6. The Ruler of Dubai started a program based on national happiness.     T / F
  7. The Ruler of Dubai said happiness was a renewable asset.     T / F
  8. The UAE is currently outside the world's top five happiest countries.     T / F

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

  1. dedicated
  2. headquarters
  3. chill out
  4. ambience
  5. enthused
  6. create
  7. release
  8. asset
  9. intended
  10. eventually
  1. free
  2. relax
  3. meant
  4. raved
  5. customized
  6. HQ
  7. benefit
  8. generate
  9. in time
  10. atmosphere

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

  1. opened a special cafe
  2. dedicated to
  3. take time out
  4. a specially designed decor to provide
  5. One worker enthused
  6. release their productive
  7. improve the work
  8. happiness was a renewable
  9. the values of positivity and happiness as
  10. in the top five of the
  1. the perfect ambience
  2. about the new cafe
  3. energy
  4. a way of life
  5. their happiness
  6. world's happiest countries
  7. from their busy days
  8. environment
  9. for its employees
  10. and sustainable asset

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
positivity
dedicated
unwind
enthused
located
touch
ambience
plush

The Abu Dhabi government has opened a special cafe for its employees that is (1) ____________ to their happiness. The new 'Happiness Cafe' is (2) ____________ in the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development. Staff are being encouraged to take time out from their busy days to (3) ____________ and chill out so they can revitalize and rejuvenate themselves. The cafe is full of (4) ____________ sofas and couches and has a specially designed decor to provide the perfect (5) ____________ for feeling happy and create an atmosphere of (6) ____________. It even has its own garden and fountain to add a (7) ____________ of nature to the surroundings. One worker (8) ____________ about the new cafe, saying it would help her to smile more at work.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
initiated
values
positive
eventually
part
release
way
asset

The cafe was opened by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development. He hoped it would create a (9) ____________ environment in the workplace, allow employees to better (10) ____________ their productive energy, and improve the work environment in the ministry. The Happiness Cafe is (11) ____________ of a program (12) ____________ by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, called the National Program for Happiness and Positivity. He said happiness was, "a renewable and sustainable (13) ____________ ". Sheikh Nahyan said this program intended to establish, "the (14) ____________ of positivity and happiness as a (15) ____________ of life in the UAE". He hoped it would (16) ____________ put the UAE in the top five of the world's happiest countries.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  opened a special cafe for its employees that is ______ happiness
     a.  dedicated to them
     b.  desiccated to their
     c.  dedicated at their
     d.  desiccated at them

2)  Staff are being encouraged to take time out from their busy days to unwind ______
     a.  and chilly out
     b.  and chili out
     c.  and chiller out
     d.  and chill out

3)  sofas and couches and has a specially designed decor to provide the ______
     a.  perfectly ambience
     b.  perfect ambience
     c.  perfected ambience
     d.  perfection ambience

4)  has its own garden and fountain to add a touch of nature ______
     a.  to the surrounds in
     b.  to the surrounding
     c.  to the surrounded
     d.  to the surroundings

5)  One worker enthused about the new cafe, saying it would ______ more
     a.  helped her to smile
     b.  help her to smile
     c.  helpd her to smile
     d.  helping her to smile

6)  He hoped it would create a positive environment ______
     a.  in the workplace
     b.  in the working place
     c.  in the work in place
     d.  in the place work

7) better release their productive energy, and improve the work environment ______
     a.  in a ministry
     b.  in the ministry
     c.  in that ministry
     d.  in there ministry

8)  He said happiness was a renewable and ______
     a.  sustainable basset
     b.  sustainable assets
     c.  sustainable assert
     d.  sustainable asset

9)  this program intended to establish the values of positivity and happiness ______
     a.  as a weight of life
     b.  as a weight of life
     c.  as a way of life
     d.  as a whey of life

10)  He hoped it would eventually put the UAE ______
     a.  in the topped five
     b.  in the topping five
     c.  in the topper five
     d.  in the top five

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Abu Dhabi government has (1) ___________________ cafe for its employees (2) ___________________ their happiness. The new 'Happiness Cafe' is located in the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development. Staff are being encouraged to (3) ___________________ their busy days to unwind and chill out so they can revitalize and rejuvenate themselves. The cafe (4) ___________________ sofas and couches and has a specially designed decor to provide the perfect ambience for feeling happy and (5) ___________________ of positivity. It even has its own garden and fountain to add a touch of nature to the surroundings. One worker enthused about the new cafe, saying it would help her (6) ___________________ work.

The cafe (7) ___________________ Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development. He (8) ___________________ create a positive environment in the workplace, allow employees to better release their productive energy, (9) ___________________ work environment in the ministry. The Happiness Cafe (10) _________________ program initiated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, called the National Program for Happiness and Positivity. He said happiness (11) ___________________ and sustainable asset". Sheikh Nahyan said this program intended to establish, "the values of positivity and happiness as a way of life in the UAE". He hoped (12) ___________________ put the UAE in the top five of the world's happiest countries.

Comprehension questions

  1. Who can go to the 'Happiness Cafe'?
  2. Where is the cafe located?
  3. What kind of couches is the cafe full of?
  4. Besides a garden, what adds a touch of nature to the cafe?
  5. What did a worker say she could do more of at work?
  6. What did Sheikh Nahyan hope the cafe would create in the workplace?
  7. What did Sheikh Nahyan hope would be released among employees?
  8. Who started the National Program for Happiness and Positivity?
  9. What values did Sheikh Nahyan say were a way of life in the UAE?
  10. Where does the UAE want to be among the world's happiest countries?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who can go to the 'Happiness Cafe'?
a) people from Dubai
b) anyone
c) Abu Dhabi government employees
d) UAE citizens

2) Where is the cafe located?
a) the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development
b) the Ministry of Happiness
c) a premium shopping mall
d) the parliament building

3) What kind of couches is the cafe full of?
a) plush ones
b) blue ones
c) antique ones
d) leather ones

4) Besides a garden, what adds a touch of nature to the cafe?
a) a mountain
b) a fountain
c) birdsong
d) paintings

5) What did a worker say she could do more of at work?
a) meeting deadlines
b) sleep
c) overtime
d) smile

6) What did Sheikh Nahyan hope the cafe would create in the workplace?
a) harmony
b) a positive environment
c) shorter working hours
d) the smell of coffee

7) What did Sheikh Nahyan hope would be released among employees?
a) productive energy
b) doves
c) stress
d) fear

8) Who started the National Program for Happiness and Positivity?
a) the ruler of Abu Dhabi
b) a school child
c) the ruler of Dubai
d) a company CEO

9) What values did Sheikh Nahyan say were a way of life in the UAE?
a) self-expression and self-confidence
b) 100 and 1,000
c) patriotism and identity
d) positivity and happiness

10) Where does the UAE want to be among the world's happiest countries?
a) top 5
b) number one
c) top ten
d) better than now

Role play

Role  A – Sleeping

You think sleeping is the best way to unwind. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ways aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst way of these (and why): exercising, playing games or chatting with friends.

Role  B – Exercising

You think exercising is the best way to unwind. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ways aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst way of these (and why): sleeping, playing games or chatting with friends.

Role  C – Playing Games

You think playing games is the best way to unwind. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ways aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst way of these (and why): exercising, sleeping or chatting with friends.

Role  D – Chatting With Friends

You think chatting with friends is the best way to unwind. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their ways aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst way of these (and why):  exercising, playing games or sleeping.

After reading / listening

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

'happiness'

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

    • and 'cafe'.

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

    • • 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:

    • hoped
    • part
    • ruler
    • asset
    • way
    • five
    • special
    • located
    • busy
    • decor
    • add
    • smile

    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 - Abu Dhabi opens government 'Happiness Cafe'

    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 'happiness'?
    3. What might be in a happiness cafe to make you happy?
    4. Should there be happiness cafes everywhere?
    5. How good are the cafes in your town at making you happy?
    6. What should employers do to make their employees happy?
    7. How might a happier workforce affect a company or organization?
    8. What do you do to unwind or chill out?
    9. What is the perfect ambience for happiness?
    10. What makes you happy?

    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 'cafe'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you do to release your productive energy?
    5. How important is happiness?
    6. Some countries measure happiness. What benefits does this have?
    7. Should our top focus in life be on happiness?
    8. Can money always make you happy?
    9. How happy is your country?
    10. What questions would you like to ask visitors to the cafe?

    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 Abu Dhabi government has opened a (1) ____ cafe for its employees that is dedicated (2) ____ their happiness. The new 'Happiness Cafe' is located in the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development. Staff are being encouraged to take time out from their busy days to (3) ____ and chill out so they can revitalize and rejuvenate themselves. The cafe is full of (4) ____ sofas and couches and has a specially designed decor to provide the perfect (5) ____ for feeling happy and create an atmosphere of positivity. It even has its own garden and fountain to add a (6) ____ of nature to the surroundings. One worker enthused about the new cafe, saying it would help her to smile more at work.

    The cafe was (7) ____ by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development. He hoped it would create a positive environment in the workplace, allow employees to (8) ____ release their productive energy, and improve the work environment in the ministry. The Happiness Cafe is part of a program (9) ____ by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, called the National Program for Happiness and Positivity. He said happiness was, "a renewable and sustainable (10) ____ ". Sheikh Nahyan said this program intended to establish, "the values of positivity and happiness (11) ____ a way of life in the UAE". He hoped it would eventually put the UAE in the (12) ____ five of the world's happiest countries.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     special     (b)     especial     (c)     specially     (d)     especially    
    2. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     on    
    3. (a)     winding     (b)     windy     (c)     rewind     (d)     unwind    
    4. (a)     flush     (b)     plush     (c)     crush     (d)     rushed    
    5. (a)     ambrosia     (b)     ambivalence     (c)     ambulance     (d)     ambience    
    6. (a)     pat     (b)     hold     (c)     touch     (d)     grip    
    7. (a)     opener     (b)     opened     (c)     opening     (d)     open    
    8. (a)     better     (b)     good     (c)     well     (d)     goodly    
    9. (a)     initiated     (b)     instituted     (c)     imbued     (d)     instilled    
    10. (a)     cosset     (b)     assert     (c)     asset     (d)     gusset    
    11. (a)     has     (b)     was     (c)     ease     (d)     as    
    12. (a)     topping     (b)     top     (c)     topped     (d)     tops

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. revitalize and nruvatejee themselves
    2. provide the perfect eiabmecn
    3. create an themopsaer of positivity
    4. It even has its own garden and nutnaofi
    5. add a touch of nature to the rduisusnnorg
    6. One worker neshtude about the new cafe

    Paragraph 2

    1. create a ioievpst environment
    2. release their doruetcipv energy
    3. naeiitidt by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
    4. a renewable and lnussateiab asset
    5. intended to absstlehi the values
    6. utealeynlv put the UAE in the top five

    Put the text back together

    (    )     The cafe was opened by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development. He hoped it would

    (    )     Knowledge Development. Staff are being encouraged to take time out from their busy days to unwind and chill

    (    )     own garden and fountain to add a touch of nature to the surroundings. One worker enthused

    (    )     out so they can revitalize and rejuvenate themselves. The cafe is full of plush sofas and couches and has a specially

    (    )     Happiness and Positivity. He said happiness was, "a renewable and sustainable

    (  1  )    The Abu Dhabi government has opened a special cafe for its employees that is dedicated to their

    (    )     happiness. The new 'Happiness Cafe' is located in the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture and

    (    )     of life in the UAE". He hoped it would eventually put the UAE in the top five of the world's happiest countries.

    (    )     about the new cafe, saying it would help her to smile more at work.

    (    )     designed decor to provide the perfect ambience for feeling happy and create an atmosphere of positivity. It even has its

    (    )     asset". Sheikh Nahyan said this program intended to establish, "the values of positivity and happiness as a way

    (    )     by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, called the National Program for

    (    )     energy, and improve the work environment in the ministry. The Happiness Cafe is part of a program initiated

    (    )     create a positive environment in the workplace, allow employees to better release their productive

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Dhabi   special   government   cafe   has   The   opened   Abu   a   .
    2. are  Staff  days  busy  their  from  out  time  take  to  encouraged  being  .
    3. A   provide   specially  the   designed   perfect   decor   ambience   to   .
    4. To   nature   add   to   a   the   touch   surroundings   of  .
    5. One  help  would  it  saying  , cafe  new  the  about  enthused  worker  .
    6. environment   would   in   create   the   a   workplace   positive   It   .
    7. better   to   employees   Allow   energy   productive   their   release   .
    8. sustainable   was   asset   a   He   renewable   said   and   happiness   .
    9. way   of   life   in   the   UAE   Positivity   and   happiness   as   a   .
    10. world's  the  of  five  top   the   in   UAE  the   Put  countries  happiest  .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The Abu Dhabi government has opened a specially / special cafe for its employees that is dedicated / dedication to their happiness. The new 'Happiness Cafe' is location / located in the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development. Staff are being / been encouraged to take time out from their busy days to unwind / rewind and chill out so they can revitalize and regulate / rejuvenate themselves. The cafe is full of plush sofas and couches and has a specially / especially designed decor to provide the perfect ambulance / ambience for feeling happy and create an atmosphere of positivity / positive. It even has its own garden and fountain to add a touch of nature to the surroundings. One worker enthused about the new cafe, saying it would help her to smile / smiley more at work.

    The cafe was opened / opening by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development. He hoped it would creative / create a positive environment in the workplace, follow / allow employees to better release their productive energy, and improve / improvement the work environment in the ministry / ministers. The Happiness Cafe is part / party of a program initiated by / of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, called the National Program for Happiness and Positivity. He said happiness was, "a knowing / renewable and sustainable asset". Sheikh Nahyan said this program intended to / for establish, "the values of positivity and happiness as a way of life in the UAE". He hoped it would eventually / eventual put the UAE in the top five of the world's happiest countries.

    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_ _b_ Dh_b_ g_v_rnm_nt h_s _p_n_d _ sp_c__l c_f_ f_r _ts _mpl_y__s th_t _s d_d_c_t_d t_ th__r h_pp_n_ss. Th_ n_w 'H_pp_n_ss C_f_' _s l_c_t_d _n th_ h__dq__rt_rs _f th_ M_n_stry _f C_lt_r_ _nd Kn_wl_dg_ D_v_l_pm_nt. St_ff _r_ b__ng _nc__r_g_d t_ t_k_ t_m_ __t fr_m th__r b_sy d_ys t_ _nw_nd _nd ch_ll __t s_ th_y c_n r_v_t_l_z_ _nd r_j_v_n_t_ th_ms_lv_s. Th_ c_f_ _s f_ll _f pl_sh s_f_s _nd c__ch_s _nd h_s _ sp_c__lly d_s_gn_d d_c_r t_ pr_v_d_ th_ p_rf_ct _mb__nc_ f_r f__l_ng h_ppy _nd cr__t_ _n _tm_sph_r_ _f p_s_t_v_ty. _t _v_n h_s _ts _wn g_rd_n _nd f__nt__n t_ _dd _ t__ch _f n_t_r_ t_ th_ s_rr__nd_ngs. _n_ w_rk_r _nth_s_d _b__t th_ n_w c_f_, s_y_ng _t w__ld h_lp h_r t_ sm_l_ m_r_ _t w_rk.

    Th_ c_f_ w_s _p_n_d by Sh__kh N_hy_n b_n M_b_r_k, M_n_st_r _f C_lt_r_ _nd Kn_wl_dg_ D_v_l_pm_nt. H_ h_p_d _t w__ld cr__t_ _ p_s_t_v_ _nv_r_nm_nt _n th_ w_rkpl_c_, _ll_w _mpl_y__s t_ b_tt_r r_l__s_ th__r pr_d_ct_v_ _n_rgy, _nd _mpr_v_ th_ w_rk _nv_r_nm_nt _n th_ m_n_stry. Th_ H_pp_n_ss C_f_ _s p_rt _f _ pr_gr_m _n_t__t_d by Sh__kh M_h_mm_d b_n R_sh_d, V_c_ Pr_s_d_nt _nd R_l_r _f D_b__, c_ll_d th_ N_t__n_l Pr_gr_m f_r H_pp_n_ss _nd P_s_t_v_ty. H_ s__d h_pp_n_ss w_s, "_ r_n_w_bl_ _nd s_st__n_bl_ _ss_t". Sh__kh N_hy_n s__d th_s pr_gr_m _nt_nd_d t_ _st_bl_sh, "th_ v_l__s _f p_s_t_v_ty _nd h_pp_n_ss _s _ w_y _f l_f_ _n th_ ___". H_ h_p_d _t w__ld _v_nt__lly p_t th_ ___ _n th_ t_p f_v_ _f th_ w_rld's h_pp__st c__ntr__s.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the abu dhabi government has opened a special cafe for its employees that is dedicated to their happiness the new 'happiness cafe' is located in the headquarters of the ministry of culture and knowledge development staff are being encouraged to take time out from their busy days to unwind and chill out so they can revitalize and rejuvenate themselves the cafe is full of plush sofas and couches and has a specially designed decor to provide the perfect ambience for feeling happy and create an atmosphere of positivity it even has its own garden and fountain to add a touch of nature to the surroundings one worker enthused about the new cafe saying it would help her to smile more at work

    the cafe was opened by sheikh nahyan bin mubarak minister of culture and knowledge development he hoped it would create a positive environment in the workplace allow employees to better release their productive energy and improve the work environment in the ministry the happiness cafe is part of a program initiated by sheikh mohammed bin rashid vice president and ruler of dubai called the national program for happiness and positivity he said happiness was "a renewable and sustainable asset" sheikh nahyan said this program intended to establish "the values of positivity and happiness as a way of life in the uae" he hoped it would eventually put the uae in the top five of the world's happiest countries

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheAbuDhabigovernmenthasopenedaspecialcafeforitsemployeesth
    atisdedicatedtotheirhappiness.Thenew'HappinessCafe'islocatedint
    heheadquartersoftheMinistryofCultureandKnowledgeDevelopment.
    Staffarebeingencouragedtotaketimeoutfromtheirbusydaystounwin
    dandchilloutsotheycanrevitalizeandrejuvenatethemselves.Thecafei
    sfullofplushsofasandcouchesandhasaspeciallydesigneddecortoprov
    idetheperfectambienceforfeelinghappyandcreateanatmosphereofp
    ositivity.Itevenhasitsowngardenandfountaintoaddatouchofnaturet
    othesurroundings.Oneworkerenthusedaboutthenewcafe,sayingitw
    ouldhelphertosmilemoreatwork.ThecafewasopenedbySheikhNahya
    nbinMubarak,MinisterofCultureandKnowledgeDevelopment.Hehop
    editwouldcreateapositiveenvironmentintheworkplace,allowemploy
    eestobetterreleasetheirproductiveenergy,andimprovetheworkenvir
    onmentintheministry.TheHappinessCafeispartofaprograminitiatedb
    ySheikhMohammedbinRashid,VicePresidentandRulerofDubai,called
    heNationalProgramforHappinessandPositivity.Hesaidhappinesswas
    ,"arenewableandsustainableasset".SheikhNahyansaidthisprogrami
    ntendedtoestablish,"thevaluesofpositivityandhappinessasawayoflif
    eintheUAE".HehopeditwouldeventuallyputtheUAEinthetopfiveofthe
    world'shappiestcountries.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Can governments keep everyone happy? Discuss three ideas to do this.

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

    4. HAPPINESS CAFE: Write a magazine article about opening happiness cafes everywhere. 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 happiness. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how governments can make people happier. 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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