Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on 3-Day Weekend

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* 26-page lesson
(40 exercises)

* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (USA female)

* MP3 (20 questions)

* Dictation -
(10 sentences)

* Speed Reading
(100 - 300 wpm)

* Gap-fill

Gambia introduces 3-day weekend (24th January, 2013)

The president said the new working hours would, "allow Gambians to devote more time to prayers, social activities and agriculture". He said people could, "go back to the land and grow what we eat and eat what we grow for a healthy and wealthy nation". Gambia's 'Freedom Newspaper' criticised the president's idea. It said the three-day weekend, "is going to [have a bad] effect on the economy and the country. Many workers…are worried that the changes are going to create problems for them." The paper added: "Gambia's economy and infrastructure have collapsed thanks to Jammeh's poor leadership." Gambia is the smallest nation on the African continent, with a population of just 1.8 million.

Sources:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/20/us-gambia-work-idUSBRE90J06O20130120
http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/Homepage/tabid/36/mid/367/newsid367/8338/EDITORIAL-TO-HELL-WITH-YAHYA-JAMMEH-AND-HIS-FOUR-DAY-HOURLY-WORK-CHANGES-A-RETARDED-DUMIHARAM-MESSING-UP-/Default.aspx

WARM-UPS

1. WEEKENDS: Walk around the class and talk to other students about Weekends. Change partners often 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.

president / 3-day weekend / regular / farm / government employees / work Saturdays / devote more time / prayers / agriculture / healthy / wealthy / worried / infrastructure

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

3. 3-DAYER: Is a 3-day weekend / 4-day week a good idea? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Reasons why it's a good idea	Reasons why it's a bad idea
For students
For shoppers
For hospitals
For the police
For librarians
For soldiers

4. 3 DAYS OFF: Students A strongly believe 3 days off is a great idea; Students B strongly believe it's a bad idea. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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5. MORE FREE TIME: What would you do? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

sleep
read
exercise
watch movies

go out with friends
study
surf the Internet
go shopping

6. PRAY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'pray'. 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.	Everyone in Gambia will have a 3-day weekend from February.	T / F
b.	The president wants people to pray more and grow things.	T / F
c.	Government workers will have to work 2 hours more on Wednesdays.	T / F
d.	No one will work on Saturdays.	T / F
e.	The president said the 3-day weekend would make Gambia richer.	T / F
f.	The 'Freedom Newspaper' said the 3-day weekend was a great idea.	T / F
g.	The newspaper said the president had done much to help Gambia.	T / F
h.	There are fewer than 2,000,000 in Gambia.	T / F

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

1.	workers	a.	bad
2.	regular	b.	farming
3.	free to	c.	employees
4.	split	d.	make
5.	extra	e.	country
6.	agriculture	f.	divided
7.	wealthy	g.	usual
8.	create	h.	able to
9.	poor	i.	rich
10.	nation	j.	more

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

1.	He wants people to farm, rest	a.	weekends
2.	Schools, banks and all	b.	on the economy
3.	people may have split	c.	on Saturdays too
4.	Working until 6pm means	d.	more and pray
5.	if they have to work	e.	wealthy nation
6.	devote more	f.	other affected places
7.	a healthy and	g.	just 1.8 million
8.	have a bad effect	h.	infrastructure
9.	Gambia's economy and	i.	eight hours extra
10.	a population of	j.	time to prayers

GAP FILL

The president of Gambia has said all (1) ____________ workers will have three-day weekends starting from February 1st. President Yayha Jammeh has added Friday to the (2) ____________ weekend of Saturday and Sunday. He wants people to (3) ____________, rest more and pray. However, he also (4) ____________ that government employees would work from 8am to 6pm Mondays to Thursdays. In addition: "Schools, banks and all other (5) ____________ places are free to work on Saturdays." This means that people may have (6) ____________ weekends, and work an extra 10 hours a week. Government workers (7) ____________ work from 8am to 4pm. Working until 6pm means eight hours (8) ____________, which could become ten if they have to work on Saturdays too.

announced
public
regular
extra
split
farm
currently
affected

The president said the new working hours would, "allow Gambians to (9) ____________ more time to prayers, social activities and agriculture". He said people could, "go back to the land and (10) ____________ what we eat and eat what we grow for a healthy and (11) ____________ nation". Gambia's 'Freedom Newspaper' criticised the president's idea. It said the three-day weekend, "is going to [have a bad] (12) ____________ on the economy and the country. Many workers…are worried that the changes are going to (13) ____________ problems for them." The paper added: "Gambia's economy and infrastructure have (14) ____________ thanks to Jammeh's (15) ____________ leadership." Gambia is the smallest nation on the African (16) ____________, with a population of just 1.8 million.

poor
effect
grow
continent
devote
create
wealthy
collapsed

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The president of Gambia has said all public workers will have ______
	a. three-day weekends b. three-days weekends c. three-day weekend d. three daily weekends
2)	President Yayha Jammeh has added Friday to ______
	a. the regulation weekend b. the regular weekends c. the regularity weekend d. the regular weekend
3)	However, he also announced that government employees ______ 8am to 6pm
	a. would worked from b. would work from c. would work farm d. would work for
4)	This means that people ______ weekends
	a. may have splits b. may have split c. may have splitting d. might have split
5)	Working until 6pm means eight hours extra, ______
	a. which could become seven b. which could become eight c. which could become nine d. which could become ten
6)	the new working hours would, "allow Gambians ______ prayers
	a. to devotee more time to b. to devotees more time to c. to devote more time to d. to devotion more time to
7)	grow what ______ we grow for a healthy and wealthy nation
	a. we eat an eat what b. we eat to eat what c. we eat then eat what d. we eat and eat what
8)	Many workers are worried that the changes are going ______ for them
	a. to create problems b. to create problems c. to create problems d. to create problems
9)	Gambia's economy and ______ have collapsed
	a. in for a structure b. inner structure c. in fast structure d. infrastructure
10)	Gambia is the smallest nation on ______
	a. the Africa continent b. the African continent c. the African continental d. the African incontinent

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The president of Gambia has (1) ___________________ workers will have three-day weekends starting from February 1st. President Yayha Jammeh has added Friday to the (2) ___________________ Saturday and Sunday. He wants people to farm, (3) ___________________. However, he also announced that government employees would work from 8am to 6pm Mondays to Thursdays. In addition: "Schools, banks (4) _________________ places are free to work on Saturdays." This means that people may (5) ___________________, and work an extra 10 hours a week. Government workers currently work from 8am to 4pm. Working until 6pm means eight hours (6) ___________________ become ten if they have to work on Saturdays too.

The president said the new working hours would, "allow Gambians to devote more time to prayers, social (7) ___________________". He said people could, "go back to the land and grow what (8) ___________________ we grow for a healthy (9) ___________________". Gambia's 'Freedom Newspaper' criticised the president's idea. It said the three-day weekend, "is going to [have a bad] effect on the economy and the country. Many workers…are worried that the changes are (10) ___________________ problems for them." The paper added: "Gambia's economy and infrastructure have (11) ___________________ Jammeh's poor leadership." Gambia is the smallest nation on (12) ___________________, with a population of just 1.8 million.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Which workers will have three-day weekends?
2.	When will the 3-day weekends start?
3.	What day has been added to the regular weekend?
4.	How many hours extra will workers have to work on Tuesdays?
5.	At what time do government workers finish work at the moment?
6.	What kind of activities will Gambians have more time to do?
7.	What kind of nation does the president want?
8.	What effect does a newspaper think the longer weekend will have?
9.	What else has collapsed in Gambia, apart from infrastructure?
10.	What's the population of Gambia?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Who will have a 3-day weekend?	6.	Gambians will have more time for prayers, socialising and …
	a) good workers b) private workers c) shop workers d) public workers		a) working b) agriculture c) the beach d) shopping
2.	The president wants people to farm, pray and…	7.	Where can Gambians go back to?
	a) be firm b) rest c) play d) work		a) bed b) work c) restaurants d) the land
3.	When will public workers finish work from Feb 1st?	8.	The president wants a healthy and ______ nation.
	a) 4pm b) 5pm c) 6pm d) 8pm		a) wealthy b) stealthy c) homeless d) heartless
4.	What are schools free to do?	9.	What kind of effect could the weekend have on the economy?
	a) work on Saturdays b) close on Thursdays c) open on Sundays d) start earlier on Wednesdays		a) an unknown b) a delayed c) a bad one d) a positive one
5.	Why might workers have to work 10 extra hours?	10.	What is the population of Gambia?
	a) if they work for the president b) if they take Wednesdays off c) if they work Saturdays d) if they take the 3-day weekend		a) 1.6 million b) 1.8 million c) 8.1 million d) 6.1 million

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Gambia president

You think a three-day weekend is a very, very good idea. Tell the others three reasons why. You think the idea of no weekend or a 5-day weekend is totally crazy. You think there is a big difference between a two-day weekend and a three-day weekend.

Role B – 2-day-weekend supporter

You think a two-day weekend is a very, very good idea. Tell the others three reasons why. You don't think it's good to change the weekend. People are used to a two-day weekend. You are worried the economy will become bad if people work less.

Role C – No-weekend supporter

You think having no weekend is a very, very good idea. Tell the others three reasons why. The world economy is in bad condition. Everyone must work harder to make the country strong. People who want weekends are weak and lazy. No weekends also means higher salaries.

Role D – 5-day-weekend supporter

You think a five-day weekend is a very, very good idea. Tell the others three reasons why. People work too much. They will be refreshed after a 5-day weekend and work hard. Everyone will have more family time and time to exercise and study. The country will be very happy.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

week

end

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:

starting
regular
rest
free
split
extra

social
eat
idea
create
thanks
1.8

WEEKENDS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Weekends 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.

WEEKENDS 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 'weekend'?
c)	How much do you like weekends (and why)?
d)	What do you think of the idea of a three-day weekend?
e)	What would you do with an extra day off?
f)	Do you think Gambians are better with the president's idea?
g)	Which are better – weekends now or weekends as a child?
h)	Why do you think Gambia's president is changing the weekend?
i)	What would life be like without weekends?
j)	What do you think of the idea of a split weekend?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Is it a good idea for people to go back to the land and grow things?
c)	Would your country be healthier and wealthier with a 3-day weekend?
d)	What are the bad things about a 3-day weekend?
e)	How do you feel the evening before the weekend is over?
f)	Why is it "three-day weekend" and not "three-days weekend"?
g)	What would happen to the world if we had a 5-day weekend?
h)	Do you do everything you want to do at the weekends?
i)	Should people have fun in the week instead of waiting for the weekend?
j)	What questions would you like to ask Gambia's president?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

The president of Gambia has said all (1) ____ workers will have three-day weekends starting from February 1st. President Yayha Jammeh has added Friday to the (2) ____ weekend of Saturday and Sunday. He wants people to (3) ____, rest more and pray. However, he also announced that government employees would work from 8am to 6pm Mondays to Thursdays. In (4) ____: "Schools, banks and all other affected places are free to work on Saturdays." This means that people may have (5) ____ weekends, and work an extra 10 hours a week. Government workers currently work from 8am to 4pm. Working until 6pm means eight hours extra, which could (6) ____ ten if they have to work on Saturdays too.

The president said the new working hours would, "allow Gambians to (7) ____ more time to prayers, social activities and agriculture". He said people could, "go back to the (8) ____ and grow what we eat and eat what we grow for a healthy and (9) ____ nation". Gambia's 'Freedom Newspaper' criticised the president's idea. It said the three-day weekend, "is going to [have a bad] (10) ____ on the economy and the country. Many workers…are worried that the changes are going to create problems for them." The paper added: "Gambia's economy and infrastructure have collapsed (11) ____ to Jammeh's poor leadership." Gambia is the smallest nation on the African (12) ____, with a population of just 1.8 million.

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

1.	(a)	publicity	(b)	public	(c)	publican	(d)	published
2.	(a)	unusual	(b)	regular	(c)	double	(d)	Thursday
3.	(a)	frame	(b)	firm	(c)	form	(d)	farm
4.	(a)	subtraction	(b)	addition	(c)	division	(d)	multiplication
5.	(a)	division	(b)	break	(c)	apart	(d)	split
6.	(a)	normal	(b)	addition	(c)	become	(d)	take
7.	(a)	devote	(b)	remote	(c)	demote	(d)	vote
8.	(a)	ocean	(b)	office	(c)	land	(d)	workplace
9.	(a)	welt	(b)	wealthiest	(c)	wealth	(d)	wealthy
10.	(a)	effect	(b)	effective	(c)	effects	(d)	effectively
11.	(a)	thanks	(b)	because	(c)	pleased	(d)	welcome
12.	(a)	continent	(b)	country	(c)	county	(d)	incontinent

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	The rntidspee of Gambia
2.	the larureg weekend
3.	government oyspmelee
4.	In aniotdid
5.	other edfteafc places
6.	nrructyel work from 8am
Paragraph 2
7.	devote more time to rrpaeys
8.	social activities and gculrarieut
9.	etahylw nation
10.	cdiiectsir (UK) / zidicrceit (UK) the idea
11.	Gambia's mnooyec and infrastructure have collapsed
12.	the African nietcnnto

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	activities and agriculture". He said people could, "go back to the land and grow what we eat and
( )	idea. It said the three-day weekend, "is going to [have a bad] effect on the economy and the
( )	extra 10 hours a week. Government workers currently work from 8am to 4pm. Working until 6pm
( )	from February 1st. President Yayha Jammeh has added Friday to the regular weekend of Saturday and Sunday. He wants people
( )	The president of Gambia has said all public workers will have three-day weekends starting
( )	"Gambia's economy and infrastructure have collapsed thanks to Jammeh's poor
( )	work from 8am to 6pm Mondays to Thursdays. In addition: "Schools, banks and all other affected
( 1 )	The president said the new working hours would, "allow Gambians to devote more time to prayers, social
( )	places are free to work on Saturdays." This means that people may have split weekends, and work an
( )	eat what we grow for a healthy and wealthy nation". Gambia's 'Freedom Newspaper' criticised the president's
( )	country. Many workers…are worried that the changes are going to create problems for them." The paper added:
( )	means eight hours extra, which could become ten if they have to work on Saturdays too.
( )	leadership." Gambia is the smallest nation on the African continent, with a population of just 1.8 million.
( )	to farm, rest more and pray. However, he also announced that government employees would

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	workers three weekends public have day All will -.
2.	more and pray He wants people to farm , rest.
3.	people may This have means split that weekends.
4.	eight means 6pm until Working extra hours.
5.	too to work If on they Saturdays have.
6.	devote more Allow time Gambians to to prayers.
7.	land what Go the grow eat to and we back.
8.	bad effect on the economy and the country Have a.
9.	create them changes to for The going problems are.
10.	on continent is nation African Gambia smallest the the.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The president of Gambia has said all public / publicity workers will have three-day weekends starting from February 1st. President Yayha Jammeh has added Friday to the irregular / regular weekend of Saturday and Sunday. He wants people to farm / form, rest more and pray. However, he also announced / announcement that government employees would works / work from 8am to 6pm Mondays to Thursdays. In addition / subtraction: "Schools, banks and all other affected / infected places are free to work on Saturdays." This means that people may have spilt / split weekends, and work an extra 10 hours a week. Government workers currency / currently work from 8am to 4pm. Working until 6pm means / meanings eight hours extra, which could become ten if they have to work on Saturdays too.

The president said the new working hours would, "allow Gambians to devotion / devote more time to prayers, social / socially activities and agriculture". He said people could, "go back to the landing / land and grow what we eat and eat what we grow / growth for a healthy and wealth / wealthy nation". Gambia's 'Freedom Newspaper' criticized / criticism the president's idea. It said the three-day weekend, "is going to [have a bad] effect / affect on the economy and the country. Many workers…are worried that the changes are going to create problems for they / them." The paper added: "Gambia's economy and infrastructure have collapsed / collapses thanks to Jammeh's poor leadership." Gambia is the smallest nation on the African continent / country, with a population of just 1.8 million.

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

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ pr_s_d_nt _f G_mb__ h_s s__d _ll p_bl_c w_rk_rs w_ll h_v_ thr__-d_y w__k_nds st_rt_ng fr_m F_br__ry 1st. Pr_s_d_nt Y_yh_ J_mm_h h_s _dd_d Fr_d_y t_ th_ r_g_l_r w__k_nd _f S_t_rd_y _nd S_nd_y. H_ w_nts p__pl_ t_ f_rm, r_st m_r_ _nd pr_y. H_w_v_r, h_ _ls_ _nn__nc_d th_t g_v_rnm_nt _mpl_y__s w__ld w_rk fr_m 8_m t_ 6pm M_nd_ys t_ Th_rsd_ys. _n _dd_t__n: "Sch__ls, b_nks _nd _ll _th_r _ff_ct_d pl_c_s _r_ fr__ t_ w_rk _n S_t_rd_ys." Th_s m__ns th_t p__pl_ m_y h_v_ spl_t w__k_nds, _nd w_rk _n _xtr_ 10 h__rs _ w__k. G_v_rnm_nt w_rk_rs c_rr_ntly w_rk fr_m 8_m t_ 4pm. W_rk_ng _nt_l 6pm m__ns __ght h__rs _xtr_, wh_ch c__ld b_c_m_ t_n _f th_y h_v_ t_ w_rk _n S_t_rd_ys t__.

Th_ pr_s_d_nt s__d th_ n_w w_rk_ng h__rs w__ld, "_ll_w G_mb__ns t_ d_v_t_ m_r_ t_m_ t_ pr_y_rs, s_c__l _ct_v_t__s _nd _gr_c_lt_r_". H_ s__d p__pl_ c__ld, "g_ b_ck t_ th_ l_nd _nd gr_w wh_t w_ __t _nd __t wh_t w_ gr_w f_r _ h__lthy _nd w__lthy n_t__n". G_mb__'s 'Fr__d_m N_wsp_p_r' cr_t_c_s_d th_ pr_s_d_nt's _d__. _t s__d th_ thr__-d_y w__k_nd, "_s g__ng t_ [h_v_ _ b_d] _ff_ct _n th_ _c_n_my _nd th_ c__ntry. M_ny w_rk_rs…_r_ w_rr__d th_t th_ ch_ng_s _r_ g__ng t_ cr__t_ pr_bl_ms f_r th_m." Th_ p_p_r _dd_d: "G_mb__'s _c_n_my _nd _nfr_str_ct_r_ h_v_ c_ll_ps_d th_nks t_ J_mm_h's p__r l__d_rsh_p." G_mb__ _s th_ sm_ll_st n_t__n _n th_ _fr_c_n c_nt_n_nt, w_th _ p_p_l_t__n _f j_st 1.8 m_ll__n.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the president of gambia has said all public workers will have three-day weekends starting from february 1st president yayha jammeh has added friday to the regular weekend of saturday and sunday he wants people to farm rest more and pray however he also announced that government employees would work from 8am to 6pm mondays to thursdays in addition "schools banks and all other affected places are free to work on saturdays" this means that people may have split weekends and work an extra 10 hours a week government workers currently work from 8am to 4pm working until 6pm means eight hours extra which could become ten if they have to work on saturdays too

the president said the new working hours would "allow gambians to devote more time to prayers social activities and agriculture" he said people could "go back to the land and grow what we eat and eat what we grow for a healthy and wealthy nation" gambia's 'freedom newspaper' criticised the president's idea it said the three-day weekend "is going to [have a bad] effect on the economy and the country many workers…are worried that the changes are going to create problems for them" the paper added "gambia's economy and infrastructure have collapsed thanks to jammeh's poor leadership" gambia is the smallest nation on the african continent with a population of just 18 million

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThepresidentofGambiahassaidallpublicworkerswillhavethree-dayweekends
startingfromFebruary1st.PresidentYayhaJammehhasaddedFridaytotheregular
weekendofSaturdayandSunday.Hewantspeopletofarm,restmoreandpray.However,
healsoannouncedthatgovernmentemployeeswouldworkfrom8amto6pmMondays
toThursdays.Inaddition:"Schools,banksandallotheraffectedplacesarefreetowork
onSaturdays."Thismeansthatpeoplemayhavesplitweekends,andworkanextra10
hoursaweek.Governmentworkerscurrentlyworkfrom8amto4pm.Workinguntil6pm
meanseighthoursextra,whichcouldbecometeniftheyhavetoworkonSaturdaystoo.
Thepresidentsaidthenewworkinghourswould,"allowGambianstodevotemoretime
toprayers,socialactivitiesandagriculture".Hesaidpeoplecould,"gobacktotheland
andgrowwhatweeatandeatwhatwegrowforahealthyandwealthynation".Gambia's
'FreedomNewspaper'criticisedthepresident'sidea.Itsaidthethree-day
weekend,"isgoingto[haveabad]effectontheeconomyandthecountry.Many
workers…areworriedthatthechangesaregoingtocreateproblemsforthem."The
paperadded:"Gambia'seconomyandinfrastructurehavecollapsedthanksto
Jammeh'spoorleadership."GambiaisthesmallestnationontheAfricancontinent,
withapopulationofjust1.8million.

FREE WRITING

Write about weekends for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a three-day weekend?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 Gambia. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. 3-DAYER: Write a magazine article about 3-day weekends. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against 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. 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 the president of Gambia. Ask him three questions about weekends. Give him three of your opinions. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	workers	a.	employees
2.	regular	b.	usual
3.	free to	c.	able to
4.	split	d.	divided
5.	extra	e.	more
6.	agriculture	f.	farming
7.	wealthy	g.	rich
8.	create	h.	make
9.	poor	i.	bad
10.	nation	j.	country

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Public (government) workers
2.	February 1st
3.	Friday
4.	Two
5.	4pm
6.	Social activities (and praying and agricultural activities)
7.	A healthy and wealthy one
8.	A bad effect
9.	The economy
10.	1.8 million

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

10.

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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* 26-page lesson (40 exercises)

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* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (USA female)

* MP3 (20 questions)

* Listen & spell

* Dictation - (10 sentences)

* Speed Reading (100 - 300 wpm)

* Text jumble 15

* Text jumble 24

* No spaces

* Text Jumble

* Grammar gap-fill

* Articles gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Word order

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Missing letters

* Initials only

* No letters

* Word pairs

* Missing words

* Gap-fill

MY e-BOOK

See a sample

* 26-page lesson
(40 exercises)

* 2-page MINI lesson
(PDF)

* Dictation -
(10 sentences)

* Speed Reading
(100 - 300 wpm)