The Reading / Listening - Loneliness - Level 3

New research suggests that loneliness and social isolation may increase the risk of dying early by 50 per cent. The research is from Brigham Young University in the USA. Researchers tried to find out how loneliness affected the risk of early death. They said loneliness can occur even if people are surrounded by family and friends. Researchers also looked at the dangers to health of social isolation. This is when people have little or no contact with others. The research showed that the risk of premature death was 50 per cent lower for adults who mixed with friends and family. Researchers found that loneliness, social isolation, and living alone were all associated with an increased risk of early death.

The researchers added that loneliness, social isolation, and living alone could be more dangerous than obesity. Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad said the results of her research are worrying because the population is aging. She said: "Many nations around the world now suggest we are facing a 'loneliness epidemic'. The challenge we face now is what can be done about it." She suggested that one way to help with this problem is to teach social skills to children in schools. She also said doctors should talk more about loneliness to their patients. In addition, she said people should prepare for their old age social life like they take out pensions to prepare for their financial future.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Loneliness - Level 0,  Loneliness - Level 1   or  Loneliness - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318723.php
  • https://psychcentral.com/news/2017/08/06/loneliness-epidemic-growing-into-biggest-threat-to-public-health/124226.html
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/08/06/loneliness-deadlier-obesity-study-suggests/


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. LONELINESS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about loneliness. 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?

       research / isolation / dying / loneliness / surrounded / contact / risk / living alone /
       dangerous / obesity / aging / epidemic / social skills / patients / old age / pension

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

3. SOCIAL SKILLS A strongly believe all children should learn social skills to avoid loneliness later in life; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. ADVICE: What advice would you give these people who are lonely? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Why they might be lonely

Advice

A schoolchild

 

 

A teenager

 

 

A newlywed

 

 

A business person

 

 

A rock star

 

 

An old person

 

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

6. HELP: Rank these with your partner. Put the people who can best help others with loneliness at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • friends
  • co-workers
  • social media
  • yourself
  • family
  • doctors
  • neighbours
  • local community

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Research suggests loneliness raises the risk of an early death by 50%.   T / F
  2. Research says people are not lonely when with family and friends.     T / F
  3. Researchers did not look at the effects of social isolation.     T / F
  4. Researchers said living alone did not lead to loneliness.     T / F
  5. The research said loneliness was more dangerous than obesity.     T / F
  6. Many countries suggested there was a loneliness epidemic.     T / F
  7. A professor said doctors should talk to patients about loneliness.     T / F
  8. The professor said a pension would help with loneliness in our old age.    T / F

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

  1. suggests
  2. risk
  3. occur
  4. premature
  5. associated
  6. dangerous
  7. worrying
  8. challenge
  9. in addition
  10. prepare
  1. hazardous
  2. happen
  3. get ready
  4. related
  5. problem
  6. shows
  7. furthermore
  8. untimely
  9. chance
  10. concerning

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

  1. increase the risk of dying early
  2. surrounded
  3. the dangers to health
  4. the risk of premature
  5. associated with an increased
  6. could be more dangerous
  7. the results of her research
  8. we are facing a
  9. doctors should talk more about loneliness
  10. they take out pensions to prepare
  1. are worrying
  2. death
  3. to their patients
  4. than obesity
  5. of social isolation
  6. by 50 per cent
  7. for their financial future
  8. risk of early death
  9. 'loneliness epidemic'
  10. by family

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
early
lower
found
surrounded
suggests
alone
affected
little

New research (1) ____________ that loneliness and social isolation may increase the risk of dying (2) ____________ by 50 per cent. The research is from Brigham Young University in the USA. Researchers tried to find out how loneliness (3) ____________ the risk of early death. They said loneliness can occur even if people are (4) ____________ by family and friends. Researchers also looked at the dangers to health of social isolation. This is when people have (5) ____________ or no contact with others. The research showed that the risk of premature death was 50 per cent (6) ____________ for adults who mixed with friends and family. Researchers (7) ____________ that loneliness, social isolation, and living (8) ____________ were all associated with an increased risk of early death.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
facing
skills
future
obesity
age
done
patients
results

The researchers added that loneliness, social isolation, and living alone could be more dangerous than (9) ____________. Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad said the (10) ____________ of her research are worrying because the population is aging. She said: "Many nations around the world now suggest we are (11) ____________ a 'loneliness epidemic'. The challenge we face now is what can be (12) ____________ about it." She suggested that one way to help with this problem is to teach social (13) ____________ to children in schools. She also said doctors should talk more about loneliness to their (14) ____________. In addition, she said people should prepare for their old (15) ____________ social life like they take out pensions to prepare for their financial (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) research suggests that loneliness and social isolation may increase the risk ______
     a.  of dye in early
     b.  of die in early
     c.  of dying early
     d.  of drying early

2)  find out how loneliness affected the risk ______
     a.  off early death
     b.  of early death
     c.  from early death
     d.  over early death

3)  They said loneliness can occur even if people are ______ family
     a.  surrounded by
     b.  surrounded buy
     c.  surround it by
     d.  surrounding by

4)  The research showed that the risk of premature death ______
     a.  was 50% low a
     b.  was 50% lowlier
     c.  was 50% allow a
     d.  was 50% lower

5)  loneliness, social isolation, and living alone were all associated ______ risk
     a.  with an un-creased
     b.  with an on creased
     c.  with an in creased
     d.  with an increased

6)  social isolation, and living alone could be more dangerous ______
     a.  that obese city
     b.  than obesity
     c.  them obesity
     d.  than obese city

7)  the results of her research are worrying because the ______
     a.  population is age in
     b.  population is raging
     c.  population is age old
     d.  population is aging

8)  Many nations around the world now suggest we are facing a '______'
     a.  lonely nest epidermis
     b.  loneliest epidemic
     c.  loneliness epidermis
     d.  loneliness epidemic

9)  She also said doctors should talk more about loneliness ______
     a.  too their patients
     b.  to their patient
     c.  to their patients
     d.  to their patience

10)  like they take out pensions to prepare for their ______
     a.  financially future
     b.  financial future
     c.  financials future
     d.  finance all future

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

New research suggests that loneliness (1) ___________________ may increase the (2) ___________________ early by 50 per cent. The research is from Brigham Young University in the USA. Researchers tried to find out how loneliness affected the risk (3) ___________________. They said loneliness can occur even if people are surrounded by family and friends. Researchers also looked at the dangers to health of social isolation. This is when people have (4) ___________________ contact with others. The research showed that the risk of (5) ___________________ was 50 per cent lower for adults who mixed with friends and family. Researchers found that loneliness, social isolation, and living (6) ___________________ associated with an increased risk of early death.

The researchers added that loneliness, social isolation, and living alone could be more dangerous (7) ___________________. Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad said the results of (8) ___________________ worrying because the population is aging. She said: "Many nations around the world now suggest (9) ___________________ 'loneliness epidemic'. The challenge we face now is what can be done about it." She suggested that one way to help with this problem is (10) ___________________ skills to children in schools. She also said doctors should talk more about loneliness to their patients. (11) ___________________, she said people should prepare for their old age social life like they (12) ___________________ to prepare for their financial future.

Comprehension questions

  1. By how much could loneliness and isolation raise the risk of an early death?
  2. What is the name of the university that conducted the research?
  3. Who can lonely people be surrounded by that might surprise people?
  4. What kind of contact do people have if they are in social isolation?
  5. What increased the risk of early death besides loneliness and isolation?
  6. What did a professor say loneliness might be more dangerous than?
  7. What did the professor say was aging?
  8. What kind of epidemic did the professor talk about?
  9. What did the professor say children in schools should be taught?
  10. What did the professor say people should prepare for in their old age?

Multiple choice quiz

1) By how much could loneliness and isolation raise the risk of an early death?
a) 58%
b) 50%
c) 55%
d) 47%

2) What is the name of the university that conducted the research?
a) University of Notre Dame
b) Carnegie Mellon University
c) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
d) Brigham Young University

3) Who can lonely people be surrounded by that might surprise people?
a) family and friends
b) strangers
c) doctors
d) university lecturers

4) What kind of contact do people have if they are in social isolation?
a) eye contact
b) slight contact
c) little or no contact
d) social contact

5) What increased the risk of early death besides loneliness and isolation?
a) salt
b) living alone
c) crime
d) stress

6) What did a professor say loneliness might be more dangerous than?
a) socializing
b) stress
c) obesity
d) contact

7) What did the professor say was aging?
a) dangers
b) social contact
c) risk
d) the population

8) What kind of epidemic did the professor talk about?
a) a loneliness epidemic
b) a viral epidemic
c) a worldwide epidemic
d) a beatable epidemic

9) What did the professor say children in schools should be taught?
a) social skills
b) loneliness studies
c) how to be happy
d) pensions advice

10) What did the professor say people should prepare for in their old age?
a) illness
b) their social life
c) finances
d) fitness

Role play

Role  A – Doctors

You think doctors are the best people to help with loneliness. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of help. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): neighbours, social media or you.

Role  B – Neighbours

You think neighbours are the best people to help with loneliness. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of help. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): doctors, social media or you.

Role  C – Social Media

You think social media is the best way to help with loneliness. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of help. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): neighbours, doctors or you.

Role  D – Yourself

You think you are the best people to help with loneliness. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of help. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):  neighbours, social media or doctors.

After reading / listening

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

'danger'

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

    • and 'health'.

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

    • • 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:

    • could
    • worrying
    • nations
    • face
    • patients
    • age
    • early
    • dying
    • even
    • little
    • mixed
    • contact

    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 - Loneliness is becoming a big danger to health

    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 'lonely'?
    3. What do you think about loneliness?
    4. How lonely do you get?
    5. What does loneliness do to people?
    6. How can we help people who are lonely?
    7. What do you do when you get lonely?
    8. How does the Internet make people lonelier?
    9. Will we become lonelier in the future?
    10. What should governments do to reduce loneliness?

    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 'alone'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How would loneliness affect you?
    5. Why might loneliness be more dangerous than obesity?
    6. What might happen in a 'loneliness epidemic'?
    7. What social skills should children learn about loneliness?
    8. How can doctors help their patients with loneliness?
    9. How could people prepare for their old-age social life?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    New research suggests that loneliness and (1) ____ isolation may increase the risk of dying (2) ____ by 50 per cent. The research is from Brigham Young University in the USA. Researchers tried to find out how loneliness (3) ____ the risk of early death. They said loneliness can occur (4) ____ if people are surrounded by family and friends. Researchers also looked at the dangers to health of social isolation. This is when people have little or no contact with others. The research showed that the risk (5) ____ premature death was 50 per cent lower for adults who mixed with friends and family. Researchers found that loneliness, social isolation, and living alone were all associated (6) ____ an increased risk of early death.

    The researchers added that loneliness, social isolation, and living (7) ____ could be more dangerous than obesity. Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad said the results (8) ____ her research are worrying because the population is aging. She said: "Many nations around the world now suggest we are (9) ____ a 'loneliness epidemic'. The challenge we face now is what can be (10) ____ about it." She suggested that one way to help with this problem is to teach social skills to children in schools. She also said doctors should talk (11) ____ about loneliness to their patients. In addition, she said people should prepare for their old age social life like they take out pensions to prepare (12) ____ their financial future.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     socially     (b)     socialism     (c)     social     (d)     socialist    
    2. (a)     early     (b)     quick     (c)     fast     (d)     before    
    3. (a)     affected     (b)     effected     (c)     infected     (d)     afflicted    
    4. (a)     even     (b)     ever     (c)     eventually     (d)     event    
    5. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     by     (d)     to    
    6. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     by     (d)     with    
    7. (a)     lonely     (b)     loner     (c)     alone     (d)     lonesome    
    8. (a)     by     (b)     at     (c)     for     (d)     of    
    9. (a)     facing     (b)     faces     (c)     face     (d)     faced    
    10. (a)     done     (b)     doing     (c)     does     (d)     do    
    11. (a)     many     (b)     more     (c)     much     (d)     must    
    12. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     for     (d)     from

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. social nlaiootis
    2. cresinae the risk of dying early
    3. roudreusnd by family and friends
    4. little or no ntaocct with others
    5. the risk of umrrpteae death
    6. were all asscedoiat with an…

    Paragraph 2

    1. more dangerous than iyetbso
    2. the ltnaoiupop is aging
    3. we are facing a loneliness cieeimpd
    4. She setdgugse that
    5. they take out niopssne
    6. prepare for their icnalinfa future

    Put the text back together

    (     )   no   contact   with   others   .   The   research   showed   that   that   the   risk   of   premature   death   was   50   per   cent

    (     )   for   their   old   age   social   life   like   they   take   out   pensions   to   prepare   for   their   financial   future   .

    (     )   obesity   .   Professor   Julianne   Holt-Lunstad   said   the   results   of   her   research   are   worrying   because   the   population   is

    (     )   The   researchers   added   that   loneliness,   social   isolation,   and   living   alone   could   be   more   dangerous   than

    (     )   lower   for   adults   who   mixed   with   friends   and   family   .   Researchers   found   that   loneliness,   social

    (     )   isolation,   and   living   alone   were   all   associated   with   an   increased   risk   of   early   death   .

    (     )   aging   .   She   said:   "Many   nations   around   the   world   now   suggest   we   are   facing   a   'loneliness

    (      1      )   New   research   suggests   that   loneliness   and   social   isolation   may   increase   the   risk   of   dying   early

    (     )   talk   more   about   loneliness   to   their   patients   .   In   addition,   she   said   people   should   prepare

    (     )   this   problem   is   to   teach   social   skills   to   children   in   schools   .   She   also   said   doctors   should

    (     )   family   and   friends   .   Researchers   also   looked   at   the   dangers   to   health   of   social   isolation   .   This   is   when   people   have   little   or

    (     )   by   50   per   cent   .   The   research   is   from   Brigham   Young   University   in   the   USA   .   Researchers   tried   to   find

    (     )   out   how   loneliness   affected   the   risk   of   early   death   .   They   said   loneliness   can   occur   even   if   people   are   surrounded   by

    (     )   epidemic'   .   The   challenge   we   face   now   is   what   can   be   done   about   it   ."   She   suggested   that   one   way   to   help   with

    Put the words in the right order

    1. risk  Social   may   the  isolation  increase  50%   by   early  dying   of  .
    2. affected   of   Find   loneliness   risk   death   how   the   early   out   .
    3. people   no   is   contact  have   with   little   others   or   This   when   .
    4. risk   The   was   death   lower   premature   of   50%   adults   for   .
    5. associated   of   with   early   an   death   increased   All   risk   .
    6. more   be   could   alone   Living   obesity   than   dangerous   .
    7. challenge   The   it  about   done   be  can   what   is   now   face   we  .
    8. teach  to   is  problem   this   with   help   to   way   One   skills  social  .
    9. their   more   patients   about   Doctors   loneliness   should   to   talk   .
    10. financial  take   to   their  They  pensions   for   future   out   prepare   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    New research suggests that lonely / loneliness and social isolation may increase the risk of dying / die early by 50 per cent. The research is from Brigham Young University in the USA. Researchers tried to find out how loneliness affected the risky / risk of early death. They said loneliness can occur even if people are surrounded / surrounding by family and friends. Researchers also looked at the dangerous / dangers to health of social isolation. This is when people have small / little or no contact with others. The research showed that the risk of premature / mature death was 50 per cent lower for adults who mixture / mixed with friends and family. Researchers found that loneliness, social / socially isolation, and living alone were all association / associated with an increased risk of early death.

    The researchers added / addition that loneliness, social isolation, and living alone / lone could be more dangerous than obese / obesity. Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad said the results of / off her research are worrying because the population is aging. She said: "Many nations around the world now suggest we are faced / facing a 'loneliness epidemic'. The challenge we face now is what can be doing / done about it." She suggested that one way to help with this problem is to teach / teaching social skills to children in schools. She also said doctors / doctor should talk more about loneliness to their patients. In addition, she said people should preparation / prepare for their old age social life like they take out / in pensions to prepare for their financial future.

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

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

    N_w r_s__rch s_gg_sts th_t l_n_l_n_ss _nd s_c__l _s_l_t__n m_y _ncr__s_ th_ r_sk _f dy_ng __rly by 50 p_r c_nt. Th_ r_s__rch _s fr_m Br_gh_m Y__ng _n_v_rs_ty _n th_ _S_. R_s__rch_rs tr__d t_ f_nd __t h_w l_n_l_n_ss _ff_ct_d th_ r_sk _f __rly d__th. Th_y s__d l_n_l_n_ss c_n _cc_r _v_n _f p__pl_ _r_ s_rr__nd_d by f_m_ly _nd fr__nds. R_s__rch_rs _ls_ l__k_d _t th_ d_ng_rs t_ h__lth _f s_c__l _s_l_t__n. Th_s _s wh_n p__pl_ h_v_ l_ttl_ _r n_ c_nt_ct w_th _th_rs. Th_ r_s__rch sh_w_d th_t th_ r_sk _f pr_m_t_r_ d__th w_s 50 p_r c_nt l_w_r f_r _d_lts wh_ m_x_d w_th fr__nds _nd f_m_ly. R_s__rch_rs f__nd th_t l_n_l_n_ss, s_c__l _s_l_t__n, _nd l_v_ng _l_n_ w_r_ _ll _ss_c__t_d w_th _n _ncr__s_d r_sk _f __rly d__th.

    Th_ r_s__rch_rs _dd_d th_t l_n_l_n_ss, s_c__l _s_l_t__n, _nd l_v_ng _l_n_ c__ld b_ m_r_ d_ng_r__s th_n _b_s_ty. Pr_f_ss_r J_l__nn_ H_lt-L_nst_d s__d th_ r_s_lts _f h_r r_s__rch _r_ w_rry_ng b_c__s_ th_ p_p_l_t__n _s _g_ng. Sh_ s__d: "M_ny n_t__ns _r__nd th_ w_rld n_w s_gg_st w_ _r_ f_c_ng _ 'l_n_l_n_ss _p_d_m_c'. Th_ ch_ll_ng_ w_ f_c_ n_w _s wh_t c_n b_ d_n_ _b__t _t." Sh_ s_gg_st_d th_t _n_ w_y t_ h_lp w_th th_s pr_bl_m _s t_ t__ch s_c__l sk_lls t_ ch_ldr_n _n sch__ls. Sh_ _ls_ s__d d_ct_rs sh__ld t_lk m_r_ _b__t l_n_l_n_ss t_ th__r p_t__nts. _n _dd_t__n, sh_ s__d p__pl_ sh__ld pr_p_r_ f_r th__r _ld _g_ s_c__l l_f_ l_k_ th_y t_k_ __t p_ns__ns t_ pr_p_r_ f_r th__r f_n_nc__l f_t_r_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    new research suggests that loneliness and social isolation may increase the risk of dying early by 50 per cent the research is from brigham young university in the usa researchers tried to find out how loneliness affected the risk of early death they said loneliness can occur even if people are surrounded by family and friends researchers also looked at the dangers to health of social isolation this is when people have little or no contact with others the research showed that the risk of premature death was 50 per cent lower for adults who mixed with friends and family researchers found that loneliness social isolation and living alone were all associated with an increased risk of early death

    the researchers added that loneliness social isolation and living alone could be more dangerous than obesity professor julianne holt-lunstad said the results of her research are worrying because the population is aging she said "many nations around the world now suggest we are facing a 'loneliness epidemic' the challenge we face now is what can be done about it" she suggested that one way to help with this problem is to teach social skills to children in schools she also said doctors should talk more about loneliness to their patients in addition she said people should prepare for their old age social life like they take out pensions to prepare for their financial future

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Newresearchsuggeststhatlonelinessandsocialisolationmayincrease
    theriskofdyingearlyby50percent.TheresearchisfromBrighamYoung
    UniversityintheUSA.Researcherstriedtofindouthowlonelinessaffecte
    dtheriskofearlydeath.Theysaidlonelinesscanoccurevenifpeopleares
    urroundedbyfamilyandfriends.Researchersalsolookedatthedangers
    tohealthofsocialisolation.Thisiswhenpeoplehavelittleornocontactwit
    hothers.Theresearchshowedthattheriskofprematuredeathwas50pe
    rcentlowerforadultswhomixedwithfriendsandfamily.Researchersfou
    ndthatloneliness,socialisolation,andlivingalonewereallassociatedwi
    thanincreasedriskofearlydeath.Theresearchersaddedthatloneliness
    ,socialisolation,andlivingalonecouldbemoredangerousthanobesity.
    ProfessorJulianneHolt-Lunstadsaidtheresultsofherresearcharewor
    ryingbecausethepopulationisaging.Shesaid:"Manynationsaroundth
    eworldnowsuggestwearefacinga'lonelinessepidemic'.Thechallenge
    wefacenowiswhatcanbedoneaboutit."Shesuggestedthatonewaytoh
    elpwiththisproblemistoteachsocialskillstochildreninschools.Shealso
    saiddoctorsshouldtalkmoreaboutlonelinesstotheirpatients.Inadditi
    on,shesaidpeopleshouldpreparefortheiroldagesociallifeliketheytake
    outpensionstopreparefortheirfinancialfuture.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    We all have a duty to make sure others aren't lonely. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. PLANNING FOR OLD AGE: Write a magazine article about loneliness and planning for old age. 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 loneliness. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make people less lonely. 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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