Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Airline Passengers

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Airline to charge passengers by weight (4th April, 2013)

Reaction to the new pricing scheme has been mixed. A spokeswoman from the New Zealand-based campaign group Fight the Obesity Epidemic vehemently opposed the new fares. She said: "I think that's absolutely appalling. It's a stigmatisation of people, and really, just powerfully discriminating." A Samoan community leader said he appreciated that weight was key for airlines. He told the New Zealand Herald: "I weigh 200kg. I would be okay to pay the fare, provided it's reasonable, but I don't think it's a good excuse saying that they're trying to promote healthy living - that's a lame reason." Many industry analysts believe other airlines will follow suit in charging overweight passengers extra.

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-22001256
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10875041

WARM-UPS

1. WEIGHT: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about weight. 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.

airline / passenger / weight / carrier / domestically / flights / initiative / flights / reaction / campaign / appalling / stigmatisation / discriminating / a good excuse

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

3. FLYING: What do you think of these ideas for air fares? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good points	Bad points
Weight based
Standing (no seat)
Bring your own food
Full price for babies
Smoking charge
Bad passenger fines

4. WEIGHT-BASED: Students A strongly believe airline passengers should pay fares based on their weight; Students B strongly believe that's ridiculous. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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See a sample

5. AIRPLANES: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

food
seats
drinks service
in-flight entertainment

flight magazines
other passengers
landing
flight attendants

6. AIR FARE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'air fare'. 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.	Air Samoa is the second airline to base air fares on people's weight.	T / F
b.	The airline has recently started flying international routes.	T / F
c.	The charge per kilogram is higher on short-haul flights.	T / F
d.	Air Samoa said it hoped people would think more about their health.	T / F
e.	Everyone said the new system of fares was not good.	T / F
f.	An overweight man understood the new system and would pay more.	T / F
g.	The man said health promotion was a poor excuse for raining fares.	T / F
h.	Travel experts doubted other airlines would start weight-based fares.	T / F

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

1.	carrier	a.	fiercely
2.	model	b.	got rid of
3.	discarded	c.	response
4.	initiative	d.	fair
5.	rates	e.	plan
6.	reaction	f.	airline
7.	vehemently	g.	shocking
8.	appalling	h.	framework
9.	reasonable	i.	poor
10.	lame	j.	levels

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

1.	base	a.	opposed the new fares
2.	the traditional pricing	b.	rates of obesity
3.	flies	c.	reason
4.	help promote	d.	scheme has been mixed
5.	one of the world's highest	e.	model
6.	reaction to the new pricing	f.	domestically
7.	vehemently	g.	health awareness
8.	a stigmatisation	h.	suit
9.	that's a lame	i.	fares on a passenger's weight
10.	other airlines will follow	j.	of people

GAP FILL

Samoa Air has become the first airline in the world to (1) ____________ fares on a passenger's weight. The national (2) ____________ of the South Pacific island nation has discarded the traditional (3) ____________ model of asking fliers to pay for a seat and instead has moved to a price-per-kilogram structure. The airline (4) ____________ domestically between the country's two (5) ____________ islands and has started international flights to American Samoa and Tonga. Travellers pay a price of around US$1 per kilogram on shorter (6) ____________, and over US$4 on longer flights. Samoa Air CEO Chris Langton said the new (7) ____________ would help (8) ____________ health awareness in Samoa, which has one of the world's highest rates of obesity.

routes
pricing
main
carrier
initiative
base
promote
flies

Reaction to the new pricing scheme has been (9) ____________. A spokeswoman from the New Zealand-based campaign group Fight the Obesity Epidemic vehemently (10) ____________ the new fares. She said: "I think that's (11) ____________ appalling. It's a stigmatisation of people, and really, just powerfully (12) ____________." A Samoan community leader said he appreciated that weight was (13) ____________ for airlines. He told the New Zealand Herald: "I weigh 200kg. I would be okay to pay the fare, (14) ____________ it's reasonable, but I don't think it's a good excuse saying that they're trying to promote healthy living - that's a (15) ____________ reason." Many industry analysts believe other airlines will follow (16) ____________ in charging overweight passengers extra.

key
suit
opposed
discriminating
lame
mixed
provided
absolutely

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	the first airline in the world to ______ passenger's weight
	a. based fares on a b. bias fares on a c. basing fares on a d. base fares on a
2)	The national carrier of the South Pacific island nation has ______ pricing model
	a. discarded the traditionalist b. discarded the traditional c. discarded the traditions d. discarded the tradition
3)	asking fliers to pay for a seat and instead has moved to a price-______
	a. per-kilogram structure b. for-kilogram structure c. each-kilogram structure d. pro-kilogram structure
4)	around US$1 per kilogram on shorter routes, and over US$4 ______
	a. on longer flights b. on longest flights c. on longish flights d. on longing flights
5)	CEO Chris Langton said the ______ help promote health awareness
	a. newish initiative would b. newer initiative would c. newest initiative would d. new initiative would
6)	Reaction to the new pricing scheme ______
	a. has been mixed up b. has been mixed in c. has been mixed d. has been mixture
7)	It's a stigmatisation of people, and really, just ______
	a. powerfully discrimination b. powerfully discriminatory c. powerfully discriminates d. powerfully discriminating
8)	I weigh 200kg. I would be okay to pay the fare, ______
	a. provided it's reasonable b. providing it's reasonable c. provider it's reasonable d. provision it's reasonable
9)	I don't think it's a good excuse saying that they're trying to ______
	a. promotion healthy living b. promoter healthy living c. promote healthy living d. prompt healthy living
10)	industry analysts believe other airlines ______
	a. will follow suite b. will follow suit c. will follow suits d. will follow suites

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Samoa Air has become the first airline in the (1) ______________________ a passenger's weight. The national carrier of the South Pacific island nation has (2) _______________________ pricing model of asking fliers to pay for a seat and (3) _______________________ price-per-kilogram structure. The airline (4) _______________________ the country's two main islands and has started international flights to American Samoa and Tonga. Travellers pay a price of around US$1 per kilogram on shorter routes, and over US$4 on longer flights. Samoa Air CEO Chris Langton said the new initiative would help (5) _______________________ in Samoa, which has one of the world's (6) _______________________.

Reaction to the new pricing (7) _______________________. A spokeswoman from the New Zealand-based campaign group Fight the Obesity Epidemic (8) _______________________ new fares. She said: "I think that's absolutely appalling. It's a stigmatisation of people, and really, (9) _______________________." A Samoan community leader said he appreciated (10) _______________________ airlines. He told the New Zealand Herald: "I weigh 200kg. I would be okay to pay the fare, provided it's reasonable, but I don't think it's a good excuse saying that they're trying to promote healthy living - (11) _______________________." Many industry analysts believe other airlines will (12) _______________________ overweight passengers extra.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How many airlines introduced weight-based fares before Samoa Air?
2.	What has Samoa Air got rid of?
3.	What is the new pricing structure Samoa Air has moved to?
4.	On which flights are passengers charged US$1 a kilo?
5.	What benefits did the airline chief say the new pricing would have?
6.	What has been mixed?
7.	Why didn't a campaigner like the new pricing system?
8.	What did a community leader say he understood?
9.	What did the leader say about the reason given for the pricing?
10.	What do travel experts believe other airlines will do?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How many airlines introduced weight-based fares before Samoa Air?	6.	What has been mixed?
	a) three b) two c) one d) none		a) the airline's message b) baggage c) people's responses to the new system d) reviews of Samoa Air
2.	What has Samoa Air got rid of?	7.	Why didn't a campaigner like the new pricing system?
	a) weighing scales b) the traditional pricing model c) small seats d) baggage allowances		a) it's stigmatizing and discriminatory b) it's too expensive c) it doesn't promote looking after your health d) it's very unclear
3.	What is the new pricing structure Samoa Air has moved to?	8.	What did a community leader say he understood?
	a) discounts for thinner fliers b) rewards for weight loss c) obese passengers to buy two seats d) a price-per-kilogram system		a) that the new fares were reasonable b) why airlines should promote better health c) that weight was key for airlines d) that more people should diet
4.	On which flights are passengers charged US$1 a kilo?	9.	What did the leader say about the reason given for the pricing?
	a) all domestic routes b) business class c) shorter flights d) long-haul flights		a) it's a shame b) it's lame c) it's a game d) it's tame
5.	What benefits did the airline chief say the new pricing would have?	10.	What do travel experts believe other airlines will do?
	a) shorter flying times b) reduce greenhouse gas emissions c) increased profits d) health promotion benefits		a) copy Samoa Air b) start better health campaigns c) charge people with suits d) nothing

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Airline boss

You believe it is time for airline passengers to start paying more to fly if they are overweight. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the overweight flier people are getting bigger so they have to pay more. Tell him/her he/she should lose weight and save money on air fares.

Role B – Overweight flier

An airline will charge you more to fly because of your weight. You have never been so shocked in your life – Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the boss it is discrimination. No airline has done this in 100 years of aviation!!! Tell the boss the airline will lose customers.

Role C – Thin flier

You think it is about time airlines charged heavier people more. Tell the others three reasons why. You have to be careful with the weight for your baggage allowance, so people must also be careful with your weight. Tell the overweight person it's a good time to start a diet.

Role D – Obesity help group worker

You have never been so shocked in your life that an airline will start making heavier passengers pay higher fares. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell the airline boss it's pure discrimination. Tell the boss (s)he has little understanding of how much pain and shame this could bring people.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

air

fare

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:

base
model
flies
around
help
rates

mixed
group
really
key
reasonable
suit

WEIGHT SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about weight 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.

WEIGHT 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 'air fare'?
c)	Do you think flying is good value for money?
d)	What do you think of Samoa Air's new pricing policy?
e)	What do you think those who are not overweight think?
f)	What do you think those who are overweight think?
g)	Why has it taken 100 years of aviation before an airline started weight-based fares?
h)	Is the present system of paying for a seat the best?
i)	Will the new air fares encourage people to lose weight?
j)	Is it an airline's responsibility to encourage weight loss?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Do you agree with the campaigner who said the fares will stigmatise heavier people?
c)	Is it discriminatory?
d)	Should the airline learn more about obesity before charging more?
e)	Are you surprised an overweight Samoan was prepared to pay more?
f)	Is the airline wrong to pretend the new fares are all about health?
g)	How could airlines change fares in better ways?
h)	Should fliers under 50kg get a discount?
i)	How would air travel change if all airlines charged based on weight?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the airline CEO?

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

Samoa Air has become the first airline in the world to (1) ____ fares on a passenger's weight. The national (2) ____ of the South Pacific island nation has discarded the traditional pricing model of asking fliers to pay for a seat and (3) ____ has moved to a price-per-kilogram structure. The airline flies (4) ____ between the country's two main islands and has started international flights to American Samoa and Tonga. Travellers pay a price of around US$1 per kilogram on shorter (5) ____, and over US$4 on longer flights. Samoa Air CEO Chris Langton said the new (6) ____ would help promote health awareness in Samoa, which has one of the world's highest rates of obesity.

Reaction to the new pricing scheme has been (7) ____. A spokeswoman from the New Zealand-based campaign group Fight the Obesity Epidemic vehemently opposed the new fares. She said: "I think that's (8) ____ appalling. It's a stigmatisation of people, and really, just powerfully (9) ____." A Samoan community leader said he appreciated that weight was (10) ____ for airlines. He told the New Zealand Herald: "I weigh 200kg. I would be okay to pay the fare, provided it's reasonable, but I don't think it's a good excuse saying that they're trying to promote healthy living - that's a (11) ____ reason." Many industry analysts believe other airlines will follow (12) ____ in charging overweight passengers extra.

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

1.	(a)	case	(b)	lace	(c)	base	(d)	pace
2.	(a)	carrier	(b)	courier	(c)	delivery	(d)	transport
3.	(a)	instead	(b)	prefer	(c)	rather than	(d)	alternative
4.	(a)	domestically	(b)	domesticated	(c)	domestic	(d)	domicile
5.	(a)	areas	(b)	routes	(c)	versions	(d)	packages
6.	(a)	constrictive	(b)	positive	(c)	cognitive	(d)	initiative
7.	(a)	mixture	(b)	mixes	(c)	mixed	(d)	mixing
8.	(a)	daunting	(b)	haunting	(c)	appealing	(d)	appalling
9.	(a)	discriminating	(b)	discriminates	(c)	discriminated	(d)	discriminate
10.	(a)	ruler	(b)	key	(c)	character	(d)	contact
11.	(a)	lime	(b)	lame	(c)	link	(d)	line
12.	(a)	pants	(b)	dress	(c)	suit	(d)	shirt

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	The national irerrca
2.	caiderdds the traditional pricing model
3.	The airline flies calieysdomlt
4.	promote health ewnessara
5.	the new iaentiiitv
6.	the world's highest rates of isoyetb
Paragraph 2
7.	ioaecrtn to the new pricing scheme
8.	ytnevmehle opposed
9.	absolutely naalgppil
10.	he deprctepaia that weight was key
11.	industry nsstalya
12.	charging overweight epsessgnar extra

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	of around US$1 per kilogram on shorter routes, and over US$4 on longer flights. Samoa Air CEO Chris Langton said the new
( )	opposed the new fares. She said: "I think that's absolutely appalling. It's a stigmatisation of people, and
( )	promote healthy living - that's a lame reason." Many industry analysts
( )	key for airlines. He told the New Zealand Herald: "I weigh 200kg. I would be okay to pay the fare, provided it's
( )	Reaction to the new pricing scheme has been mixed. A spokeswoman from the New Zealand-
( )	carrier of the South Pacific island nation has discarded the traditional pricing model of asking fliers to pay for a
( )	seat and instead has moved to a price-per-kilogram structure. The airline flies domestically between the country's two
( )	main islands and has started international flights to American Samoa and Tonga. Travellers pay a price
( )	initiative would help promote health awareness in Samoa, which has one of the world's highest rates of obesity.
( )	really, just powerfully discriminating." A Samoan community leader said he appreciated that weight was
( )	based campaign group Fight the Obesity Epidemic vehemently
( 1 )	Samoa Air has become the first airline in the world to base fares on a passenger's weight. The national
( )	believe other airlines will follow suit in charging overweight passengers extra.
( )	reasonable, but I don't think it's a good excuse saying that they're trying to

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	fares a weight Base on passenger's.
2.	nation national the island The of Pacific carrier South.
3.	fliers pricing asking pay traditional of to The model.
4.	price a pay Travellers kilogram per $1 US around of.
5.	help The promote new health initiative awareness would.
6.	mixed to pricing been Reaction new has the scheme.
7.	He key appreciated for that airlines weight was.
8.	would the be fare okay to I pay.
9.	healthy they're living trying to Saying promote that.
10.	airlines Industry will analysts follow believe suit other.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Samoa Air has become the first airline in the world to basic / base fares on a passenger's weight / weigh. The national carrier / carriage of the South Pacific island nation has discarded the traditional pricing model of asking fliers to pay for a seat and instead / prefer has moved to a price-per-kilogram structure. The airline flies domesticated/ domestically between the country's two mainly / main islands and has started international flights to American Samoa and Tonga. Travellers pay a cost / price of around US$1 per kilogram on shorter routes / roots, and over US$4 on longer flights. Samoa Air CEO Chris Langton said the new initiative / invitation would help promote health awareness in Samoa, which has one of the world's highest rates / rate of obesity.

Reaction to the new pricing scheme has been mixture / mixed. A spokeswoman from the New Zealand-based campaign group Fight the Obesity / Obese Epidemic vehemently opposed / opposing the new fares. She said: "I think that's absolutely appalled / appalling. It's a stigmatisation of people, and reality / really, just powerfully discriminating." A Samoan community leader said he appreciated / depreciated that weight was key for airlines. He told the New Zealand Herald: "I weigh 200kg. I would be okay to pay the fare, provided / provision it's reasonable, but I don't think it's a good excuse saying that they're trying to promote health / healthy living - that's a lame / blame reason." Many industry analysts believe other airlines will follow suite / suit in charging overweight passengers extra.

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)

S_m__ __r h_s b_c_m_ th_ f_rst __rl_n_ _n th_ w_rld t_ b_s_ f_r_s _n _ p_ss_ng_r's w__ght. Th_ n_t__n_l c_rr__r _f th_ S__th P_c_f_c _sl_nd n_t__n h_s d_sc_rd_d th_ tr_d_t__n_l pr_c_ng m_d_l _f _sk_ng fl__rs t_ p_y f_r _ s__t _nd _nst__d h_s m_v_d t_ _ pr_c_-p_r-k_l_gr_m str_ct_r_. Th_ __rl_n_ fl__s d_m_st_c_lly b_tw__n th_ c__ntry's tw_ m__n _sl_nds _nd h_s st_rt_d _nt_rn_t__n_l fl_ghts t_ _m_r_c_n S_m__ _nd T_ng_. Tr_v_ll_rs p_y _ pr_c_ _f _r__nd _S$1 p_r k_l_gr_m _n sh_rt_r r__t_s, _nd _v_r _S$4 _n l_ng_r fl_ghts. S_m__ __r C__ Chr_s L_ngt_n s__d th_ n_w _n_t__t_v_ w__ld h_lp pr_m_t_ h__lth _w_r_n_ss _n S_m__, wh_ch h_s _n_ _f th_ w_rld's h_gh_st r_t_s _f _b_s_ty.

R__ct__n t_ th_ n_w pr_c_ng sch_m_ h_s b__n m_x_d. _ sp_k_sw_m_n fr_m th_ N_w Z__l_nd-b_s_d c_mp__gn gr__p F_ght th_ _b_s_ty _p_d_m_c v_h_m_ntly _pp_s_d th_ n_w f_r_s. Sh_ s__d: "_ th_nk th_t's _bs_l_t_ly _pp_ll_ng. _t's _ st_gm_t_s_t__n _f p__pl_, _nd r__lly, j_st p_w_rf_lly d_scr_m_n_t_ng." _ S_m__n c_mm_n_ty l__d_r s__d h_ _ppr_c__t_d th_t w__ght w_s k_y f_r __rl_n_s. H_ t_ld th_ N_w Z__l_nd H_r_ld: "_ w__gh 200kg. _ w__ld b_ _k_y t_ p_y th_ f_r_, pr_v_d_d _t's r__s_n_bl_, b_t _ d_n't th_nk _t's _ g__d _xc_s_ s_y_ng th_t th_y'r_ try_ng t_ pr_m_t_ h__lthy l_v_ng - th_t's _ l_m_ r__s_n." M_ny _nd_stry _n_lysts b_l__v_ _th_r __rl_n_s w_ll f_ll_w s__t _n ch_rg_ng _v_rw__ght p_ss_ng_rs _xtr_.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

samoa air has become the first airline in the world to base fares on a passenger's weight the national carrier of the south pacific island nation has discarded the traditional pricing model of asking fliers to pay for a seat and instead has moved to a price-per-kilogram structure the airline flies domestically between the country's two main islands and has started international flights to american samoa and tonga travellers pay a price of around us$1 per kilogram on shorter routes and over us$4 on longer flights samoa air ceo chris langton said the new initiative would help promote health awareness in samoa which has one of the world's highest rates of obesity

reaction to the new pricing scheme has been mixed a spokeswoman from the new zealand-based campaign group fight the obesity epidemic vehemently opposed the new fares she said "i think that's absolutely appalling it's a stigmatisation of people and really just powerfully discriminating" a samoan community leader said he appreciated that weight was key for airlines he told the new zealand herald "i weigh 200kg i would be okay to pay the fare provided it's reasonable but i don't think it's a good excuse saying that they're trying to promote healthy living - that's a lame reason" many industry analysts believe other airlines will follow suit in charging overweight passengers extra

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

SamoaAirhasbecomethefirstairlineintheworldtobasefaresonapassenger's
weight.ThenationalcarrieroftheSouthPacificislandnationhasdiscardedthe
traditionalpricingmodelofaskingflierstopayforaseatandinsteadhasmovedtoa
price-per-kilogramstructure.Theairlinefliesdomesticallybetweenthecountry's
twomainislandsandhasstartedinternationalflightstoAmericanSamoaand
Tonga.TravellerspayapriceofaroundUS$1perkilogramonshorterroutes,and
overUS$4onlongerflights.SamoaAirCEOChrisLangtonsaidthenewinitiative
wouldhelppromotehealthawarenessinSamoa,whichhasoneoftheworld's
highestratesofobesity.Reactiontothenewpricingschemehasbeenmixed.A
spokeswomanfromtheNewZealandbasedcampaigngroupFighttheObesity
Epidemicvehementlyopposedthenewfares.Shesaid:"Ithinkthat'sabsolutely
appalling.It'sastigmatisationofpeople,andreally,justpowerfully
discriminating."ASamoancommunityleadersaidheappreciatedthatweight
waskeyforairlines.HetoldtheNewZealandHerald:"Iweigh200kg.Iwouldbe
okaytopaythefare,providedit'sreasonable,butIdon'tthinkit'sagoodexcuse
sayingthatthey'retryingtopromotehealthyliving-that'salamereason."Many
industryanalystsbelieveotherairlineswillfollowsuitinchargingoverweight
passengersextra.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Charging airline customers based on their weight is very unfair. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 fares on airlines. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. PAY-PER-WEIGHT: Write a magazine article about paying for flights based on your weight. 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 the boss of Samoa Air. Ask him/her three questions about the new fares. Give him/her three of your opinions on the new system. 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.	carrier	a.	airline
2.	model	b.	framework
3.	discarded	c.	got rid of
4.	initiative	d.	plan
5.	rates	e.	levels
6.	reaction	f.	response
7.	vehemently	g.	fiercely
8.	appalling	h.	shocking
9.	reasonable	i.	fair
10.	lame	j.	poor

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	None
2.	The traditional pricing model
3.	A price-per-kilogram structure
4.	On shorter routes
5.	It would help promote health awareness
6.	Reaction to the new pricing scheme
7.	It's stigmatizing and discriminatory
8.	That weight was key for airlines
9.	He said it was a lame excuse
10.	Copy Samoa Air

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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