The Reading / Listening - Education - Level 6

Finland is not satisfied with constantly being top of the world's education leagues. The government is now planning to reform its education system so that young Finns are better prepared for the digital age. A key part of the proposed reforms is to place as much emphasis on digital and workplace skills as on more traditional subjects. An example of this would be to use 3D printers in history classes so students can create models of ancient buildings. The government also wants to promote vocational training and encourage learning in real-life work settings. Students' performance would be evaluated by a teacher as well as by an official from the company helping the student.

One teacher, Kirsti Lonka, explained why a shift in educational methods was necessary. She said: "Traditionally, learning has been defined as a list of subject matters and facts you need to acquire, such as arithmetic and grammar….But when it comes to real life, our brain is not divided into disciplines in that way. We are thinking in a very holistic way, and when you think about the problems in the world - global crises, migration, the economy, the post-truth era - we haven't really given our children the tools to deal with this inter-cultural world." She added: "I think it is a major mistake if we lead children to believe that the world is simple, and that if they learn certain facts, they are ready to go."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Education - Level 4  or  Education - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/14731-finland-s-vocational-education-reform-an-example-to-follow.html
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39889523
  • http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/finn-fun


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. EDUCATION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about education. 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?

       satisfied / education / reform / emphasis / traditional / ancient / real life / vocational /
       shift / necessary / arithmetic / grammar / holistic / migration / economy / mistake

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

3. REFORM: Students A strongly believe reform is needed in education; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. IMPROVEMENTS: What improvements could you make to schools? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Improvements

Why these would be better

Buildings

 

 

Technology

 

 

Teachers

 

 

Subjects

 

 

Homework

 

 

School hours

 

 

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. DIGITAL AGE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the term "digital age". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

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

  • art
  • world problems
  • business skills
  • money matters
  • English
  • maths
  • global warming
  • computer coding

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Finland is very happy being top of the world's education leagues.     T / F
  2. Finland wants to place more emphasis on workplace skills.     T / F
  3. Finland wants every student to make models of ancient buildings.     T / F
  4. Students will be encouraged to learn in simulated work settings.     T / F
  5. A teacher said a shift in educational methods wasn't necessary.     T / F
  6. The teacher said our brain is not split up into disciplines.     T / F
  7. The teacher said students need tools for an inter-cultural world.     T / F
  8. The teacher said kids should not learn that the world is simple.     T / F

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

  1. reform
  2. prepared
  3. key
  4. ancient
  5. evaluated
  6. shift
  7. defined
  8. divided
  9. major
  10. certain
  1. described
  2. very old
  3. significant
  4. improve
  5. change
  6. assessed
  7. specific
  8. important
  9. split
  10. ready

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

  1. constantly being top of the world's
  2. young Finns are better
  3. place as much emphasis
  4. students can create models of ancient
  5. performance would be evaluated
  6. a shift in educational
  7. subject matters and facts you need
  8. thinking in a very
  9. the tools to
  10. if they learn certain
  1. on digital and workplace skills
  2. deal with this
  3. methods was necessary
  4. prepared
  5. holistic way
  6. by a teacher
  7. education leagues
  8. to acquire
  9. facts
  10. buildings

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
reform
ancient
emphasis
settings
satisfied
vocational
key
example

Finland is not (1) ____________ with constantly being top of the world's education leagues. The government is now planning to (2) ____________ its education system so that young Finns are better prepared for the digital age. A (3) ____________ part of the proposed reforms is to place as much (4) ____________ on digital and workplace skills as on more traditional subjects. An (5) ____________ of this would be to use 3D printers in history classes so students can create models of (6) ____________ buildings. The government also wants to promote (7) ____________ training and encourage learning in real-life work (8) ____________. Students' performance would be evaluated by a teacher as well as by an official from the company helping the student.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
acquire
migration
lead
shift
certain
defined
disciplines
tools

One teacher, Kirsti Lonka, explained why a (9) ____________ in educational methods was necessary. She said: "Traditionally, learning has been (10) ____________ as a list of subject matters and facts you need to (11) ____________, such as arithmetic and grammar….But when it comes to real life, our brain is not divided into (12) ____________ in that way. We are thinking in a very holistic way, and when you think about the problems in the world - global crises, (13) ____________, the economy, the post-truth era - we haven't really given our children the (14) ____________ to deal with this inter-cultural world." She added: "I think it is a major mistake if we (15) ____________ children to believe that the world is simple, and that if they learn (16) ____________ facts, they are ready to go."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Finland is not satisfied with constantly being top of the world's ______
     a.  educational leagues
     b.  education league
     c.  educates in leagues
     d.  education leagues

2) planning to reform its education system so that young Finns are ______
     a.  better prepares
     b.  bet a repaired
     c.  better prepared
     d.  better repaired

3)  part of the proposed reforms is to place as much emphasis on digital and ______
     a.  works place skill
     b.  workplace skills
     c.  workplaces skills
     d.  workplace skill

4)  use 3D printers in history classes so students can create models of ______
     a.  any shanty buildings
     b.  ain't shanty buildings
     c.  ancient buildings
     d.  ancients buildings

5)  evaluated by a teacher as well as by an official from the company ______
     a.  helping a student
     b.  helping the students
     c.  helping a students
     d.  helping the student

6)  One teacher, Kirsti Lonka, explained why a shift in educational methods ______
     a.  was necessary
     b.  wasn't necessitated
     c.  was necessarily
     d.  wasn't necessary

7)  learning has been defined as a list of subject matters and facts you ______
     a.  needs to acquire
     b.  needed to acquire
     c.  needing to acquire
     d.  need to acquire

8) problems in the world - global crises, migration, the economy, the ______
     a.  posted-truth era
     b.  post-true era
     c.  post-truth era
     d.  post-truth ear

9)  we haven't really given our children the tools to ______
     a.  deal with this
     b.  deal for this
     c.  deal on this
     d.  deal by this

10) if we lead children to believe that the world is simple, and that if they learn ______
     a.  certainly facts
     b.  certain facts
     c.  certainly fact
     d.  certain fact

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Finland is not satisfied (1) ___________________ top of the world's education leagues. The government is now planning (2) ___________________ education system so that young Finns are better prepared for the digital age. A (3) ___________________ proposed reforms is to place as much emphasis on digital and workplace skills as on more traditional subjects. An example of this (4) ___________________ 3D printers in history classes so students can create models of ancient buildings. The government also (5) ___________________ vocational training and encourage learning in real-life work settings. Students' performance would (6) ___________________ teacher as well as by an official from the company helping the student.

One teacher, Kirsti Lonka, explained (7) ___________________ educational methods was necessary. She said: "Traditionally, learning has been defined (8) ___________________ subject matters and facts you need to acquire, such as arithmetic and grammar….But (9) ___________________ real life, our brain is not divided into disciplines in that way. We are thinking in a very holistic way, and when you think about the problems in the world - global crises, migration, the economy, (10) ___________________ - we haven't really given our children the tools to deal with this inter-cultural world." She added: "I (11) ___________________ mistake if we lead children to believe that the world is simple, and that if they (12) ___________________, they are ready to go."

Comprehension questions

  1. What is Finland not satisfied at being on top of?
  2. What does Finland's government want to prepare young Finns for?
  3. What do teachers use in class to create models?
  4. What does the government want to encourage?
  5. What would be evaluated by a teacher and a company official?
  6. What did a teacher say it was necessary to see a shift in?
  7. What did a teacher say was not divided into disciplines?
  8. What kind of crises did the teacher mention?
  9. What did the teacher say children have not been given?
  10. What kind of world did the say children need to deal with?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What is Finland not satisfied at being on top of?
a) a league
b) education leagues
c) the world
d) education

2) What does Finland's government want to prepare young Finns for?
a) school
b) tests
c) leagues
d) the digital age

3) What do teachers use in class to create models?
a) Lego
b) clay
c) 3D printers
d) paper

4) What does the government want to encourage?
a) learning in real-life work settings
b) performance
c) promotion
d) officials

5) What would be evaluated by a teacher and a company official?
a) work places
b) students' performance
c) schools
d) tests

6) What did a teacher say it was necessary to see a shift in?
a) educational methods
b) reforms
c) students
d) exams

7) What did a teacher say was not divided into disciplines?
a) tests
b) rules
c) our brain
d) curricula

8) What kind of crises did the teacher mention?
a) global crises
b) teacher crises
c) school crises
d) student crises

9) What did the teacher say children have not been given?
a) homework
b) tests
c) books
d) tools

10) What kind of world did the teacher say children need to deal with?
a) a big world
b) a world in trouble
c) an inter-cultural world
d) a growing world

Role play

Role  A – English

You think English is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): computer coding, art or world problems.

Role  B – Computer Coding

You think computer coding is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): English, art or world problems.

Role  C – Art

You think art is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): computer coding, English or world problems.

Role  D – World Problems

You think world problems is the best school subject. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their subjects. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why):  computer coding, art or English.

After reading / listening

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

'digital'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'age'.

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

    • shift
    • list
    • brain
    • problems
    • deal
    • major
    • top
    • better
    • key
    • example
    • promote
    • company

    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 - Finland to reform education for the digital age

    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 'education'?
    3. What is the standard of education in your country like?
    4. How prepared are you for the digital age?
    5. What skills do you need for the digital age?
    6. What educational reforms would you like to see in your country?
    7. How much of a school curriculum should be based on workplace skills?
    8. How important is vocational training at school?
    9. How well did your school prepare you for life?
    10. How difficult is the job of a teacher?

    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 term 'digital age'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What is the best way for children to learn?
    5. Do we need to change from teaching traditional subjects?
    6. Is coding or literature a more important subject?
    7. What is the 'post-truth era'?
    8. What tools do we need in an inter-cultural world?
    9. Should teachers teach children facts or skills?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Finland's education minister?

    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)

    Finland is not (1) ____ with constantly being top of the world's education leagues. The government is now planning to reform its education system so that young Finns are (2) ____ prepared for the digital age. A key part of the proposed reforms is to place as much emphasis (3) ____ digital and workplace skills as on more traditional subjects. An example (4) ____ this would be to use 3D printers in history classes so students can create models of ancient buildings. The government also wants to promote (5) ____ training and encourage learning in real-life work settings. Students' performance would be evaluated (6) ____ a teacher as well as by an official from the company helping the student.

    One teacher, Kirsti Lonka, explained why a shift (7) ____ educational methods was necessary. She said: "Traditionally, learning has been (8) ____ as a list of subject matters and facts you need to acquire, such as arithmetic and grammar….But when it comes to (9) ____ life, our brain is not divided into disciplines in that way. We are thinking in a very (10) ____ way, and when you think about the problems in the world - global crises, migration, the economy, the post-truth era - we haven't really given our children the (11) ____ to deal with this inter-cultural world." She added: "I think it is a major mistake if we lead children to believe that the world is simple, and that if they learn (12) ____ facts, they are ready to go."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     satisfies     (b)     satisfied     (c)     satisfied     (d)     satisfaction    
    2. (a)     bettered     (b)     betters     (c)     bettering     (d)     better    
    3. (a)     of     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    4. (a)     to     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    5. (a)     vocational     (b)     factional     (c)     computational     (d)     fractional    
    6. (a)     by     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     such    
    7. (a)     to     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    8. (a)     defined     (b)     defamed     (c)     deafened     (d)     differed    
    9. (a)     real     (b)     really     (c)     realism     (d)     reality    
    10. (a)     holiday     (b)     holier     (c)     holistic     (d)     holing    
    11. (a)     baggage     (b)     accessories     (c)     equipment     (d)     tools    
    12. (a)     curtail     (b)     certain     (c)     ascertain     (d)     curtain

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Finland is not fdsiiesta
    2. the world's education alsegue
    3. A key part of the odprepos reforms
    4. much maehissp on digital and workplace skills
    5. models of itecann buildings
    6. performance would be laeuvtdae

    Paragraph 2

    1. a shift in educational hdetosm was necessary
    2. ieendfd as a list of subject matters
    3. facts you need to icuraqe
    4. thinking in a very htcsiloi way
    5. problems in the world - global crises, antmoiigr
    6. if they learn tincrae facts

    Put the text back together

    (    )     so students can create models of ancient buildings . The government also wants to

    (    )     planning to reform its education system so that young Finns are better prepared for the digital age . A key

    (    )     need to acquire, such as arithmetic and grammar… .But when it comes to real life, our brain is not divided into

    (    )     One teacher, Kirsti Lonka, explained why a shift in educational methods was

    (    )     skills as on more traditional subjects . An example of this would be to use 3D printers in history classes

    (  1  )     Finland is not satisfied with constantly being top of the world's education leagues . The government is now

    (    )     part of the proposed reforms is to place as much emphasis on digital and workplace

    (    )     promote vocational training and encourage learning in real-life work settings . Students' performance would be

    (    )     children to believe that the world is simple, and that if they learn certain facts, they are ready to go ."

    (    )     necessary . She said: "Traditionally, learning has been defined as a list of subject matters and facts you

    (    )     tools to deal with this inter-cultural world ." She added: "I think it is a major mistake if we lead

    (    )     disciplines in that way . We are thinking in a very holistic way, and when you think about the problems

    (    )     in the world - global crises, migration, the economy, the post-truth era - we haven't really given our children the

    (    )     evaluated by a teacher as well as by an official from the company helping the student .

    Put the words in the right order

    1. of   top   being   Constantly   leagues   education   world's   the   .
    2. system  is  to  education  government  planning  its  The  now  reform  .
    3. to  this  An  in   use  would  example  history  3D  be  of  classes  printers  .
    4. vocational   promote   to   wants   also   government   The   training   .
    5. would   performance   Students'   teacher   a   by   evaluated   be   .
    6. methods   a   was  shift   necessary   in   Explained  educational  why   .
    7. as   of   Learning   defined   list   matters   been   a   subject   has   .
    8. way   holistic   very   a   in   thinking   are   We   .
    9. haven't  We  this  with  deal  to  tools  the  children  our  given  really  .
    10. world   is   simple   If   we   lead   children   to   believe   that   the   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Finland is not satisfied / satisfaction with constantly being top of the world's education leagues. The government is now planning to reform / reformation its education system so / as that young Finns are better prepared for the digital age. A key / keyed part of the proposed reforms is to place as much emphasis / emphatic on digital and workplace skills as on more traditional subjects. An example of this would / will be to use 3D printers in history classes such / so students can create models of ancient buildings. The government addition / also wants to promote vocational training and encourage learning in real-life work sittings / settings. Students' performance would be evaluated by a teacher as well / good as by an official from the company helping the student.

    One teacher, Kirsti Lonka, explained why a shift / shaft in educational methods was necessarily / necessary. She said: "Traditionally, learning has been defined as a list of subject matters and factual / facts you need to acquire, such as arithmetic and grammar….But when it goes / comes to real life, our brain is not divided / dividing into disciplines in that way. We are thinking in a very wholly / holistic way, and when you think about the problems in the world - global crises, migration, the economic / economy, the post-truth era - we haven't really given our children the tools to deal / heal with this inter-cultural world." She added: "I think it is a major / majority mistake if we lead children to believe that the world is simple, and that if they learn certain / certainly facts, they are ready to go."

    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)

    F_nl_nd _s n_t s_t_sf__d w_th c_nst_ntly b__ng t_p _f th_ w_rld's _d_c_t__n l__g__s. Th_ g_v_rnm_nt _s n_w pl_nn_ng t_ r_f_rm _ts _d_c_t__n syst_m s_ th_t y__ng F_nns _r_ b_tt_r pr_p_r_d f_r th_ d_g_t_l _g_. _ k_y p_rt _f th_ pr_p_s_d r_f_rms _s t_ pl_c_ _s m_ch _mph_s_s _n d_g_t_l _nd w_rkpl_c_ sk_lls _s _n m_r_ tr_d_t__n_l s_bj_cts. _n _x_mpl_ _f th_s w__ld b_ t_ _s_ 3D pr_nt_rs _n h_st_ry cl_ss_s s_ st_d_nts c_n cr__t_ m_d_ls _f _nc__nt b__ld_ngs. Th_ g_v_rnm_nt _ls_ w_nts t_ pr_m_t_ v_c_t__n_l tr__n_ng _nd _nc__r_g_ l__rn_ng _n r__l-l_f_ w_rk s_tt_ngs. St_d_nts' p_rf_rm_nc_ w__ld b_ _v_l__t_d by _ t__ch_r _s w_ll _s by _n _ff_c__l fr_m th_ c_mp_ny h_lp_ng th_ st_d_nt.

    _n_ t__ch_r, K_rst_ L_nk_, _xpl__n_d why _ sh_ft _n _d_c_t__n_l m_th_ds w_s n_c_ss_ry. Sh_ s__d: "Tr_d_t__n_lly, l__rn_ng h_s b__n d_f_n_d _s _ l_st _f s_bj_ct m_tt_rs _nd f_cts y__ n__d t_ _cq__r_, s_ch _s _r_thm_t_c _nd gr_mm_r….B_t wh_n _t c_m_s t_ r__l l_f_, __r br__n _s n_t d_v_d_d _nt_ d_sc_pl_n_s _n th_t w_y. W_ _r_ th_nk_ng _n _ v_ry h_l_st_c w_y, _nd wh_n y__ th_nk _b__t th_ pr_bl_ms _n th_ w_rld - gl_b_l cr_s_s, m_gr_t__n, th_ _c_n_my, th_ p_st-tr_th _r_ - w_ h_v_n't r__lly g_v_n __r ch_ldr_n th_ t__ls t_ d__l w_th th_s _nt_r-c_lt_r_l w_rld." Sh_ _dd_d: "_ th_nk _t _s _ m_j_r m_st_k_ _f w_ l__d ch_ldr_n t_ b_l__v_ th_t th_ w_rld _s s_mpl_, _nd th_t _f th_y l__rn c_rt__n f_cts, th_y _r_ r__dy t_ g_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    finland is not satisfied with constantly being top of the world's education leagues the government is now planning to reform its education system so that young finns are better prepared for the digital age a key part of the proposed reforms is to place as much emphasis on digital and workplace skills as on more traditional subjects an example of this would be to use 3d printers in history classes so students can create models of ancient buildings the government also wants to promote vocational training and encourage learning in real-life work settings students' performance would be evaluated by a teacher as well as by an official from the company helping the student

    one teacher kirsti lonka explained why a shift in educational methods was necessary she said "traditionally learning has been defined as a list of subject matters and facts you need to acquire such as arithmetic and grammar…but when it comes to real life our brain is not divided into disciplines in that way we are thinking in a very holistic way and when you think about the problems in the world - global crises migration the economy the post-truth era - we haven't really given our children the tools to deal with this inter-cultural world" she added "i think it is a major mistake if we lead children to believe that the world is simple and that if they learn certain facts they are ready to go"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Finlandisnotsatisfiedwithconstantlybeingtopoftheworld'seducationl
    eagues.Thegovernmentisnowplanningtoreformitseducationsystem
    sothatyoungFinnsarebetterpreparedforthedigitalage.Akeypartofthe
    proposedreformsistoplaceasmuchemphasisondigitalandworkplaces
    killsasonmoretraditionalsubjects.Anexampleofthiswouldbetouse3D
    printersinhistoryclassessostudentscancreatemodelsofancientbuildi
    ngs.Thegovernmentalsowantstopromotevocationaltrainingandenc
    ouragelearninginreal-lifeworksettings.Students'performancewoul
    dbeevaluatedbyateacheraswellasbyanofficialfromthecompanyhelpi
    ngthestudent.Oneteacher,KirstiLonka,explainedwhyashiftineducati
    onalmethodswasnecessary.Shesaid:"Traditionally,learninghasbee
    ndefinedasalistofsubjectmattersandfactsyouneedtoacquire,suchas
    arithmeticandgrammar….Butwhenitcomestoreallife,ourbrainisnotdi
    videdintodisciplinesinthatway.Wearethinkinginaveryholisticway,an
    dwhenyouthinkabouttheproblemsintheworld-globalcrises,migrate
    on,theeconomy,thepost-truthera-wehaven'treallygivenourchildr
    enthetoolstodealwiththisinter-culturalworld."Sheadded:"Ithinkitisa
    majormistakeifweleadchildrentobelievethattheworldissimple,andth
    atiftheylearncertainfacts,theyarereadytogo."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    What three improvements would you make to the education system? Why?

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

    4. EDUCATION REFORM: Write a magazine article about reforming education for the digital age. 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 education reform. Ask him/her three questions about education. Give him/her three of your ideas on reforming education. 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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