Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Climate Change

Things aren’t going so smoothly at the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen. There is a lot of mistrust between the poorer and rich nations. On Monday, the poor countries walked out of the talks. They were very unhappy with what they saw as a lack of progress. In particular, they said the aid offers from rich countries were not good enough. They also thought there was too much attention on a power struggle between the USA and China. Another huge sticking point was what would happen after the Kyoto Protocol runs out. This treaty does not require emission cuts from the USA or China, which together produce 40 per cent of the world’s pollution. Poorer nations are worried that richer countries want to let the Kyoto Protocol finish and not replace it with anything.

Most of the participants in Copenhagen believe the final treaty will be a weaker version of what is needed. The big questions will probably remain unanswered. The richest countries do not agree on how much they have to cut their emissions and how much they have to pay to help developing countries. Brazil's ambassador for climate change Sergio Serra said: "Maybe the result you get from here is going to be less ambitious than we would like. But it would be better than nothing.” The U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern agreed. He said: “We don't have very much time. The clock is definitely ticking.” An official from Nigeria attacked the European Union for not offering enough financial aid. He called their offer “pathetic” and asked them to be more realistic.

WARM-UPS

1. CLIMATE CHANGE: Walk around the class and talk to other students about climate change. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

things going smoothly / mistrust / progress / power struggle / pollution / rich nations / treaties / big questions / emissions / developing countries / ticking clocks / pathetic

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

3. CLIMATE REPS: What would the representatives of these countries say at Copenhagen? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you heard.

	Our promise	How climate change affects us
USA
Antarctica
Bangladesh
China
Tuvalu
Brazil

4. SUCCESS: Students A strongly believe there will be / was success at Copenhagen; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

5. GLOBAL WARMING: How will it affect the following? Rate them and share your ratings with your partner: 10 = hugely; 1 = not at all. Change partners and share your ratings again.

me
frogs
cockroaches
polar bears

whales
Bangladeshis
Mosquitoes
Saudi Arabians

6. EMISSIONS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘emissions’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	The temperature in Copenhagen was very high and then very low.	T / F
b.	Poorer countries believed most of what rich countries said.	T / F
c.	There was disagreement on what would come after the Kyoto Protocol.	T / F
d.	China and the USA produce half the world’s pollution.	T / F
e.	Most people at the summit believe the treaty won’t be strong enough.	T / F
f.	There is agreement on how much rich nations should pay poor nations.	T / F
g.	An American representative said there was enough time.	T / F
h.	A Nigerian representative was unimpressed with a European offer.	T / F

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

1.	smoothly	a.	massive
2	mistrust	b.	stay
3.	progress	c.	suspicion
4.	huge	d.	sensible
5.	replace	e.	members
6.	participants	f.	well
7.	remain	g.	help
8.	definitely	h.	swap
9.	aid	i.	improvement
10.	realistic	j.	absolutely

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

1.	Things aren’t going	a.	of what is needed
2	There is a lot of mistrust between	b.	USA and China
3.	poor countries walked	c.	realistic
4.	a power struggle between the	d.	the poorer and rich nations
5.	not replace it	e.	than we would like
6.	a weaker version	f.	so smoothly
7.	The big questions will probably	g.	definitely ticking
8.	less ambitious	h.	out of the talks
9.	The clock is	i.	with anything
10.	be more	j.	remain unanswered

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Things aren’t ____________ so smoothly at the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen. There is a lot of mistrust ____________ the poorer and rich nations. On Monday, the poor countries walked out of the ____________. They were very unhappy with what they saw as a lack of progress. In particular, they said the aid ____________ from rich countries were not good enough. They also thought there was too much attention on a ____________ struggle between the USA and China. Another huge sticking point was what would happen after the Kyoto Protocol ____________ out. This treaty does not require emission cuts from the USA or China, which together ____________ 40 per cent of the world’s pollution. Poorer nations are worried that richer countries want to let the Kyoto Protocol finish and not replace it with ____________.

runs
talks
produce
going
power
anything
between
offers

Most of the participants in Copenhagen ____________ the final treaty will be a weaker version of what is needed. The ____________ questions will probably remain unanswered. The richest countries do not agree on how much they have to ____________ their emissions and how much they have to pay to help developing countries. Brazil's ambassador for climate change Sergio Serra said: "Maybe the ____________ you get from here is going to be less ambitious than we would like. But it would be ____________ than nothing.” The U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern agreed. He said: “We don't have very much time. The ____________ is definitely ticking.” An official from Nigeria ____________ the European Union for not offering enough financial aid. He called their offer “pathetic” and asked them to be more ____________.

cut
clock
realistic
big
attacked
believe
result
better

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Things aren’t _____________________ at the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen. There is _____________________ between the poorer and rich nations. On Monday, the poor countries walked out of the talks. They were very unhappy with what they saw _____________________. In particular, they said the aid offers from rich countries were not good enough. They also thought there was too much attention on a power struggle between the USA and China. Another huge sticking _____________________ happen after the Kyoto Protocol runs out. This treaty does not _____________________ from the USA or China, which together produce 40 per cent of the world’s pollution. Poorer nations are worried that richer countries want to let the Kyoto Protocol finish and not _____________________ anything.

Most of the participants in Copenhagen believe the final treaty will be a _____________________ is needed. The big questions will probably remain unanswered. The richest countries _____________________ much they have to cut their emissions and how much they _____________________ help developing countries. Brazil's ambassador for climate change Sergio Serra said: "Maybe the result you get from here is going _____________________ than we would like. But it would be better than nothing.” The U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern agreed. He said: “We don't have very much time. The clock _____________________.” An official from Nigeria attacked the European Union for not offering enough financial aid. He called their offer “pathetic” and asked them _____________________.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

climate

change

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:

smoothly
mistrust
lack
power
cuts
replace

final
remain
help
result
clock
offer

STUDENT CLIMATE CHANGE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about climate change 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

CLIMATE CHANGE DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the term ‘climate change’?
c)	Are you following the news of what’s happening in Copenhagen?
d)	Why do you think things aren’t going so smoothly?
e)	Why are poorer countries unhappy?
f)	What is the power struggle between China and the USA?
g)	What is your country doing to prevent global warming?
h)	Is walking out of the talks the sensible thing to do?
i)	What do you know about the Kyoto Protocol?
j)	What do governments need to agree on in Copenhagen?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)	Did you like reading this article?
b)	How would you explain climate change to a child?
c)	What are the big questions over climate change that need to be answered?
d)	How worried are you about climate change?
e)	Do you think climate change is getting worse?
f)	What do you think governments need to do to fight climate change?
g)	Do you believe climate change is because of human activity?
h)	How much time do we have left?
i)	What will the Earth be like in 100 years from now?
j)	What questions would you like to ask your country’s leader?

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

Things aren’t going (1) ____ smoothly at the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen. There is a lot of mistrust between the poorer and rich nations. On Monday, the poor countries walked (2) ____ of the talks. They were very unhappy with what they saw as a lack of progress. In particular, they said the aid offers from rich countries were not good enough. They also thought there was too much attention (3) ____ a power struggle between the USA and China. Another huge sticking point was what would happen after the Kyoto Protocol (4) ____ out. This treaty does not require emission (5) ____ from the USA or China, which together produce 40 per cent of the world’s pollution. Poorer nations are worried that richer countries want to let the Kyoto Protocol (6) ____ and not replace it with anything.

Most of the participants in Copenhagen (7) ____ the final treaty will be a weaker version of what is needed. The big questions will probably remain unanswered. The richest countries do not agree (8) ____ how much they have to cut their emissions and how much they have to pay to help developing countries. Brazil's ambassador for climate change Sergio Serra said: "Maybe the result you get from here is going to be less (9) ____ than we would like. But it would be better than (10) ____.” The U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern agreed. He said: “We don't have very much time. The clock is definitely (11) ____.” An official from Nigeria attacked the European Union for not offering enough financial aid. He called their offer “pathetic” and asked them to be more (12) ____.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	such	(b)	some	(c)	sew	(d)	so
2.	(a)	out	(b)	in	(c)	up	(d)	to
3.	(a)	in	(b)	at	(c)	on	(d)	of
4.	(a)	walks	(b)	runs	(c)	jogs	(d)	paces
5.	(a)	cut	(b)	cuts	(c)	cutting	(d)	cutter
6.	(a)	finishes	(b)	finished	(c)	finish	(d)	finishing
7.	(a)	believe	(b)	belief	(c)	believes	(d)	beliefs
8.	(a)	in	(b)	at	(c)	of	(d)	on
9.	(a)	ambitions	(b)	ambitiously	(c)	ambition	(d)	ambitious
10.	(a)	something	(b)	nothing	(c)	anything	(d)	thing
11.	(a)	ticking	(b)	ticks	(c)	tock	(d)	tocks
12.	(a)	really	(b)	realism	(c)	realistic	(d)	reality

WRITING

Write about climate change for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 the Copenhagen climate change summit. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. CLIMATE CHANGE: Make a poster about climate change. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. TREATY: Write a magazine article about a possible climate change treaty. Include imaginary interviews with representatives from a rich and poor country.

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. LETTER: Write a letter to the leader of your country. Ask him/her three questions about climate change. Give him/her three suggestions on what he/she should do to stop global warming. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	smoothly	a.	well
2	mistrust	b.	suspicion
3.	progress	c.	improvement
4.	huge	d.	massive
5.	replace	e.	swap
6.	participants	f.	members
7.	remain	g.	stay
8.	definitely	h.	absolutely
9.	aid	i.	help
10.	realistic	j.	sensible

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	Things aren’t going	a.	so smoothly
2	There is a lot of mistrust between	b.	the poorer and rich nations
3.	poor countries walked	c.	out of the talks
4.	a power struggle between the	d.	USA and China
5.	not replace it	e.	with anything
6.	a weaker version	f.	of what is needed
7.	The big questions will probably	g.	remain unanswered
8.	less ambitious	h.	than we would like
9.	The clock is	i.	definitely ticking
10.	be more	j.	realistic

GAP FILL:

Ups and downs at Copenhagen

Things aren’t going so smoothly at the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen. There is a lot of mistrust between the poorer and rich nations. On Monday, the poor countries walked out of the talks. They were very unhappy with what they saw as a lack of progress. In particular, they said the aid offers from rich countries were not good enough. They also thought there was too much attention on a power struggle between the USA and China. Another huge sticking point was what would happen after the Kyoto Protocol runs out. This treaty does not require emission cuts from the USA or China, which together produce 40 per cent of the world’s pollution. Poorer nations are worried that richer countries want to let the Kyoto Protocol finish and not replace it with anything.

Most of the participants in Copenhagen believe the final treaty will be a weaker version of what is needed. The big questions will probably remain unanswered. The richest countries do not agree on how much they have to cut their emissions and how much they have to pay to help developing countries. Brazil's ambassador for climate change Sergio Serra said: "Maybe the result you get from here is going to be less ambitious than we would like. But it would be better than nothing.” The U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern agreed. He said: “We don't have very much time. The clock is definitely ticking.” An official from Nigeria attacked the European Union for not offering enough financial aid. He called their offer “pathetic” and asked them to be more realistic.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - d

2 - a

3 - c

4 - b

5 – b

6 - c

7 - a

8 - d

9 - d

10 - b

11 - a

12 - c

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Breaking News English

December 15, 2009

Ups and Downs in Copenhagen