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Did Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Kiss? (4th January, 2011)

There is mass speculation in the world’s media about whether teen heartthrob Justin Bieber and Disney starlet Selena Gomez embraced each other and kissed. A photo posted on a Justin Bieber fan blog shows the teenage couple in an embrace. They were supposedly photographed while on a private yacht off the coast of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. However, a spokesperson for Ms Gomez says the picture is a fake. Gomez, 18, has continually quashed rumours that she’s in a relationship with 16-year-old Bieber. Speculation started a year ago and Gomez was quick to tell the press: “I feel like a big sister now, 'cause I want to protect him." She recently said Justin was simply one of her best friends.

The photo sparked a flurry of activity on the micro-blogging site Twitter. A lot of jealous and angry fans of Mr Bieber posted some nasty and vicious comments. One comment read: “Roses are red, violets are blue, Selena Gomez if you break Justin Bieber’s heart I’m gonna kill you.” Other posts from more possessive Bieber fans were a lot worse. Curiously, there were no posts on Bieber’s Twitter account from irate males protesting over his stealing Ms Gomez from their hearts. Mr Bieber gave the media very little to speculate about on his Twitter profile. He posted: “Chillin and happy. It’s been a fun year with a lot of blessings. Some crazy rumors but so much love and memories.”


WARM-UPS

1. JUSTIN BIEBER AND SELENA GOMEZ: Walk around the class and talk to other students about Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. 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.

 

speculation / heartthrobs / embrace / private yacht / photographs / press / big sister / micro-blogging / jealous / nasty comments / possessive / irate / stealing / blessings

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

3. SPECULATION: Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.

Speculation about…

What is it?

Is there any truth in it?

Your country’s leader

 

 

Sport

 

 

The climate

 

 

The economy

 

 

A rock star / actor

 

 

2011

 

 

4. CELEBRITY: Students A strongly believe celebrities are in the news too much; Students B strongly believe there should be more celebrity news.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

5. NEWS: What story would interest you most? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the most interesting at the top. Change partners and share your rankings again.

  • a teen-celebrity kiss
  • a happy animal story
  • news of economic collapse
  • news of your fave sports team/star
  • local news
  • news about someone you know
  • weird news
  • news about Barak Obama

6. KISS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘kiss’. 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 only newspapers / TV channels reporting this story are American.

T / F

b.

Selena Gomez put a pic of her and Justin Bieber on her blog.

T / F

c.

Selena is two years older than Justin Bieber.

T / F

d.

Selena has protective, big-sisterly feelings towards Justin Bieber.

T / F

e.

Many Justin Bieber fans were angry at his supposed kiss with Selena.

T / F

f.

Many people posted on Twitter and sent Selena red roses.

T / F

g.

A lot of Selena fans posted on Justin Bieber’s Twitter account.

T / F

h.

Justin wrote on Twitter about a crazy year and fun rumours.

T / F

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

1.

speculation

a.

angry

2

embraced

b.

hoax

3.

supposedly

c.

started

4.

fake

d.

terrible

5.

protect

e.

relaxing

6.

sparked

f.

good fortune

7.

nasty

g.

hugged

8.

irate

h.

rumours

9.

chillin’

i.

allegedly

10.

blessings

j.

shield 

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

1.

mass speculation in

a.

to speculate about

2

They were supposedly

b.

a fake

3.

the picture is

c.

and angry fans

4.

she’s in a relationship

d.

of activity

5.

I feel like a big

e.

the world’s media

6.

The photo sparked a flurry

f.

blessings

7.

A lot of jealous

g.

with 16-year-old Bieber

8.

stealing Ms Gomez

h.

sister now

9.

gave the media very little

i.

photographed

10.

a lot of

j.

from their hearts

 


 
 

WHILE READING / LISTENING

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

There is mass speculation in the world’s media about whether teen ____________ Justin Bieber and Disney starlet Selena Gomez embraced each other and kissed. A photo ____________ on a Justin Bieber fan blog shows the teenage couple in an ____________. They were supposedly photographed while on a private yacht off the ____________ of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. However, a spokesperson for Ms Gomez says the picture is a ____________. Gomez, 18, has continually ____________ rumours that she’s in a relationship with 16-year-old Bieber. Speculation started a year ago and Gomez was quick to tell the press: “I feel like a ____________ sister now, 'cause I want to protect him." She recently said Justin was ____________ one of her best friends.

 

 

 

fake
embrace
big
coast
heartthrob
simply
quashed
posted

The photo ____________ a flurry of activity on the micro-blogging site Twitter. A lot of ____________ and angry fans of Mr Bieber posted some nasty and vicious comments. One comment read: “Roses are red, violets are blue, Selena Gomez if you’ll ____________ Justin Bieber’s heart I’m gonna kill you.” Other posts from more ____________ Bieber fans were a lot ____________. Curiously, there were no posts on Bieber’s Twitter account from ____________ males protesting over his stealing Ms Gomez from their hearts. Mr Bieber gave the media very little to ____________ about on his Twitter profile. He posted: “Chillin and happy. It’s been a fun year with a lot of ____________. Some crazy rumors but so much love and memories.”

 

 

speculate
worse
possessive
jealous
blessings
sparked
break
irate

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

There _________________________ the world’s media about whether teen heartthrob Justin Bieber and Disney starlet Selena Gomez embraced each other and kissed. A photo posted on a Justin Bieber fan blog shows the teenage _________________________. They were supposedly photographed _________________________ off the coast of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. However, a spokesperson for Ms Gomez says the picture is a fake. Gomez, 18, has _________________________ that she’s in a relationship with 16-year-old Bieber. Speculation started a year ago and Gomez _________________________: “I feel like a big sister now, 'cause I want to protect him." She recently said Justin _________________________ friends.

The photo _________________________ on the micro-blogging site Twitter. A lot of _________________________ Mr Bieber posted some nasty and vicious comments. One comment read: “Roses are red, violets are blue, Selena Gomez if you break Justin Bieber’s heart I’m gonna kill you.” Other posts _________________________ Bieber fans were a lot worse. Curiously, there were no posts on Bieber’s Twitter account from irate males protesting _________________________ Ms Gomez from their hearts. Mr Bieber gave the media very little to speculate about on his Twitter profile. He posted: “Chillin and happy. It’s been _________________________ of blessings. Some crazy rumors _________________________ memories.”


 
 

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

teenage

couple

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • mass
  • blog
  • coast
  • 16
  • press
  • best
  • activity
  • nasty
  • red
  • fans
  • males
  • crazy

 JUSTIN BIEBER AND SELENA GOMEZ SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez 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.

JUSTIN AND SELENA 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 word ‘kiss’?

c)

What do you think about this story?

d)

Do you think it’s a worthy news story?

e)

What do you know about Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez?

f)

What do you think their parents think about this story?

g)

Do you follow any fan blogs of actors, singers, etc?

h)

Should Justin and Selena sue the owner of the blog if the photo is fake?

i)

Do you think the rumours are true or not?

j)

Why are people so interested in celebrities, however young?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article?

b)

Why do you think fans would be so jealous of someone they don’t know?

c)

Should the people who posted the nasty comments be found and prosecuted?

d)

How would you feel if you read such posts about you?

e)

Why do you think no one posted nasty comments on Justin’s site?

f)

Where do you think the careers of Justin and Selena will go?

g)

Have you ever been possessive over someone or something?

h)

Are Justin and Selena good role models?

i)

What will celebrity culture be like in 20 years from now?

j)

What questions would you like to ask Justin and Selena?

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

There is (1) ____ speculation in the world’s media about whether teen heartthrob Justin Bieber and Disney starlet Selena Gomez embraced (2) ____ other and kissed. A photo posted on a Justin Bieber fan blog shows the teenage couple in an embrace. They were supposedly photographed while on a private yacht (3) ____ the coast of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. However, a spokesperson for Ms Gomez says the picture is a (4) ____. Gomez, 18, has continually quashed rumours that she’s in a relationship with 16-year-old Bieber. Speculation started a year ago and Gomez was quick to tell the (5) ____: “I feel like a big sister now, 'cause I want to protect him." She recently said Justin was (6) ____ one of her best friends.

The photo sparked a flurry (7) ____ activity on the micro-blogging site Twitter. A lot of jealous and angry fans of Mr Bieber (8) ____ some nasty and vicious comments. One comment read: “Roses are red, violets are blue, Selena Gomez if you break Justin Bieber’s heart I’m gonna kill you.” Other posts from more (9) ____ Bieber fans were a lot worse. Curiously, there were no posts on Bieber’s Twitter account from irate males protesting (10) ____ his stealing Ms Gomez from their hearts. Mr Bieber gave the media (11) ____ little to speculate about on his Twitter profile. He posted: “Chillin and happy. It’s been a fun year with a lot of (12) ____. Some crazy rumors but so much love and memories.”

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

1.

(a)

pass

(b)

lass

(c)

bass

(d)

mass

2.

(a)

each

(b)

one

(c)

two

(d)

all

3.

(a)

at

(b)

to

(c)

off

(d)

from

4.

(a)

bake

(b)

fake

(c)

rake

(d)

wake

5.

(a)

push

(b)

press

(c)

pull

(d)

iron

6.

(a)

simple

(b)

simpler

(c)

simply

(d)

simplest

7.

(a)

of

(b)

on

(c)

for

(d)

from

8.

(a)

posting

(b)

posts

(c)

post

(d)

posted

9.

(a)

possess

(b)

possession

(c)

possesses

(d)

possessive

10.

(a)

around

(b)

over

(c)

under

(d)

on

11.

(a)

very

(b)

few

(c)

small

(d)

not

12.

(a)

blessed

(b)

bless

(c)

blessings

(d)

bless you


 
 

WRITING

Write about Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez 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 Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. CELEBRITY CULTURE: Make a poster about celebrity culture. Is it good or bad? Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. JUSTIN AND SELENA: Write a magazine article about Justin and Selena. Include imaginary interviews with them.

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 Justin and Selena. Ask them three questions about their relationship. Give them three pieces of advice for their future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.


 


 
 

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a.

F

b.

F

c.

T

d.

T

e.

F

f.

F

g.

T

h.

F

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.

speculation

a.

rumours

2

embraced

b.

hugged

3.

supposedly

c.

allegedly

4.

fake

d.

hoax 

5.

protect

e.

shield 

6.

sparked

f.

started

7.

nasty

g.

terrible 

8.

irate

h.

angry

9.

chillin’

i.

relaxing

10.

blessings

j.

good fortune

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

mass speculation in

a.

the world’s media

2

They were supposedly

b.

photographed

3.

the picture is

c.

a fake

4.

she’s in a relationship

d.

with 16-year-old Bieber

5.

I feel like a big

e.

sister now

6.

The photo sparked a flurry

f.

of activity

7.

A lot of jealous

g.

and angry fans

8.

stealing Ms Gomez

h.

from their hearts

9.

gave the media very little

i.

to speculate about

10.

a lot of

j.

blessings

GAP FILL:

Did Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez kiss?

There is mass speculation in the world’s media about whether teen heartthrob Justin Bieber and Disney starlet Selena Gomez embraced each other and kissed. A photo posted on a Justin Bieber fan blog shows the teenage couple in an embrace. They were supposedly photographed while on a private yacht off the coast of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. However, a spokesperson for Ms Gomez says the picture is a fake. Gomez, 18, has continually quashed rumours that she’s in a relationship with 16-year-old Bieber. Speculation started a year ago and Gomez was quick to tell the press: “I feel like a big sister now, 'cause I want to protect him." She recently said Justin was simply one of her best friends.

The photo sparked a flurry of activity on the micro-blogging site Twitter. A lot of jealous and angry fans of Mr Bieber posted some nasty and vicious comments. One comment read: “Roses are red, violets are blue, Selena Gomez if you break Justin Bieber’s heart I’m gonna kill you.” Other posts from more possessive Bieber fans were a lot worse. Curiously, there were no posts on Bieber’s Twitter account from irate males protesting over his stealing Ms Gomez from their hearts. Mr Bieber gave the media very little to speculate about on his Twitter profile. He posted: “Chillin and happy. It’s been a fun year with a lot of blessings. Some crazy rumors but so much love and memories.”

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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