The Reading / Listening - Level 3

There is a new craze in South Korea that is very popular. It is watching other people eat online. The Reuters news agency reports there are over 3,500 people who eat live in front of their webcam. Thousands of people watch the shows. One of the most famous online diners is 34-year-old Park Seo-yeon. She is known as The Diva and has thousands of followers who watch her eat every day. She broadcasts her meals in real time for about three hours a day. She said she first tried it as a hobby, but then she started to get a lot of money. People click a link on her website to say they like her. She gets about nine U.S. cents per click. She now makes over $9,000 a month from her show and has quit her regular job.

Many people in Korea watch the online dining webcasts because they are lonely. More and more Koreans are living alone in big cities and have no one to eat with. Reuters said: "One-person households are set to increase from 25.3 per cent of the total population in 2012 to 32.7 per cent in 2030." This is the fastest rate of any rich country in the world. Ms Park says she feels like she is providing a benefit to society. She told Reuters: "It is comforting for people who eat alone. It feels great when people said, 'Thank you for a fun and delicious time'". She also said people write to thank her for helping them with their eating problems. She enjoys being part of a big online community and talking about food.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.reuters.com/video/2014/01/26/watch-me-eat-an-online-craze-in-south-ko?videoId=276590552&videoChannel=4


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. EATING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about eating. 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.

 

craze / popular / news agency / webcam / followers / meals / hobby / click / link / lonely / big cities / population / benefit / society / comforting / delicious / community

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

3. ONLINE WATCHING: How useful or interesting might it be to watch people do these things live online? 10 = very useful; 1 = a total waste of time. Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Watch people…

Useful 1 - 10

Why?

Interesting 1-10

Why?

eat

 

 

 

 

exercise

 

 

 

 

play a computer game

 

 

 

 

do the gardening

 

 

 

 

talk on the phone

 

 

 

 

put on make-up

 

 

 

 

4. ONLINE DINING: Students A strongly believe watching other people eat online is very interesting; Students B strongly believe it's a total waste of time.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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

  • how to use technology

  • someone eating

  • speeches

  • pronunciation practice

  • religious services

  • the weather in a city

  • of a panda in a zoo

  • a wedding

6. FOLLOWER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "follower". 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 latest craze in S. Korea is eating at online restaurants.

T / F

b.

Over 3,500 people in S. Korea broadcast themselves eating.

T / F

c.

Thousands of people watch one woman eat three meals a day.

T / F

d.

The woman said she will quit her job next year.

T / F

e.

People watch webcasts of others eating because they are lonely.

T / F

f.

Around a third of South Koreans will live alone in 2030.

T / F

g.

The woman doesn't think what she is doing is so useful.

T / F

h.

The woman has never received any messages from her followers.

T / F

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

1.

craze

a.

alone

2.

followers

b.

pace

3.

in real time

c.

everyday

4.

makes

d.

circle

5.

regular

e.

earns

6.

lonely

f.

fad

7.

increase

g.

good

8.

rate

h.

fans

9.

benefit

i.

rise

10.

community

j.

live

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

1.

people who eat live

a.

who eat alone

2.

thousands of

b.

real time

3.

She broadcasts her meals in

c.

regular job

4.

She now makes over

d.

her for helping them

5.

quit her

e.

are set to increase

6.

have no one

f.

in front of their webcam

7.

One-person households

g.

a big online community

8.

It is comforting for people

h.

$9,000 a month

9.

people write to thank

i.

to eat with

10.

She enjoys being part of

j.

followers

GAP FILL

There is a new craze in South Korea that is very                        (1) ____________ . It is watching other people eat online. The Reuters news agency reports there are over 3,500 people who eat (2) ____________ in front of their webcam. Thousands of people watch the shows. One of the most famous online                        (3) ____________ is 34-year-old Park Seo-yeon. She is known as The Diva and has thousands of (4) ____________ who watch her eat every day. She broadcasts her (5) ____________ in real time for about three hours a day. She said she first tried it as a          (6) ____________, but then she started to get a lot of money. People click a link on her website to say they like her. She gets about nine U.S. cents per (7) ____________. She now makes over $9,000 a month from her show and has (8) ____________ her regular job.

 

 

followers
hobby
diners
quit
popular
click
live
meals

Many people in Korea watch the online dining (9) ____________ because they are lonely. More and more Koreans are living alone in big cities and have no one to (10) ____________ with. Reuters said: "One-person households are set to (11) ____________ from 25.3 per cent of the total population in 2012 to 32.7 per cent in 2030." This is the fastest (12) ____________ of any rich country in the world. Ms Park says she feels like she is providing a        (13) ____________ to society. She told Reuters: "It is comforting for people who eat alone. It feels great when people said, 'Thank you for a fun and (14) ____________ time'". She also said people write to thank her for helping them with their eating                  (15) ____________. She enjoys being part of a big online         (16) ____________ and talking about food.

 

delicious
increase
community
rate
webcasts
eat
problems
benefit

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

There is a new craze in South Korea that ______

 

a.  is very popularly
b.  is very poplar
c.  is very popularity
d.  is very popular

2)

there are over 3,500 people who eat live in front ______

 

a.  of their web camera
b.  of their webcam
c.  of their webcams
d.  of their webs cam

3)

She ______ in real time for about three hours a day

 

a.  broadcast her meals
b.  board casts her meals
c.  broad cast her meals
d.  broadcasts her meals

4)

she first tried it as a hobby, but then she started to get ______

 

a.  a lot for money
b.  a lot of money
c.  a lot from money
d.  a lot if money

5)

She now makes over $9,000 a month from her show and has quit ______

 

a.  her regularly job
b.  her regulars job
c.  her regular job
d.  her regulation job

6)

Many people in Korea watch the online dining webcasts because ______

 

a.  they are lovely
b.  they are loosely
c.  they are loony
d.  they are lonely

7)

Reuters said: "One-person households are ______

 

a.  get to increase
b.  let to increase
c.  set to increase
d.  bet to increase

8)

Ms Park says she feels like she is providing a ______

 

a.  benefit to society
b.  benefit too society
c.  benefit two society
d.  benefit at society

9)

people write to thank her for helping them with ______

 

a.  their eating problems
b.  their eating problems
c.  their eating problematic
d.  their eating problem is

10)

She enjoys being part of a big ______

 

a.  online community
b.  online communities
c.  online commune city
d.  online come mutiny

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

There (1) ___________________ South Korea that is very popular. It is watching other people eat online. The Reuters news agency reports there are over 3,500 people who eat (2) ___________________ their webcam. Thousands of people watch the shows. One of the most famous online diners is 34-year-old Park Seo-yeon. (3) ___________________ The Diva and has thousands of followers who watch her eat every day. She broadcasts her (4) ___________________ about three hours a day. She said she first tried it as a hobby, but then she started to get a lot of money. (5) ___________________ her website to say they like her. She gets about nine U.S. cents per click. She now makes over $9,000 a month from her show and has (6) ___________________ job.

Many people in Korea watch the online dining webcasts because they are lonely. More and more Koreans (7) ___________________ big cities and have no one to eat with. Reuters said: "One-person households are set to increase from 25.3 per cent (8) ___________________ in 2012 to 32.7 per cent in 2030." This is (9) ___________________ of any rich country in the world. Ms Park says she feels like she is providing a benefit to society. She told Reuters: "It is (10) ___________________ who eat alone. It feels great when people said, 'Thank you for (11) ___________________ time'". She also said people write to thank her for helping them with their eating problems. She enjoys being (12) ___________________ community and talking about food.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

What is now very popular in South Korea?

2.

How many people eat live online in South Korea?

3.

How old is The Diva?

4.

For how long each day does Park Seo-yeon broadcast?

5.

How much does Park Seo-yeon get per click?

6.

Why do South Koreans watch online dining webcasts?

7.

How many one-person households will there be in S. Korea in 2030?

8.

What does Ms Park believe she is giving to society?

9.

What do people think Ms Park helps them with?

10.

What does Ms Park enjoy being part of?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

What is now very popular in South Korea?

6.

Why do South Koreans watch online dining webcasts?

 

a) eating on Skype
b) watching people eat online
c) new crazes
d) learning how to cook different food

 

a) because they are lonely
b) because they want to learn good
    eating manners
c) because they love food
d) because TV is boring

2.

How many people eat live online in South Korea?

7.

How many one-person households will there be in S. Korea in 2030?

 

a) around 3,500
b) just under 3,500
c) more than 3,500
d) exactly 3,500

 

a) 32% of young people
b) 327,000
c) 3.27 million
d) 32.7% of the population

3.

How old is The Diva?

8.

What does Ms Park believe she is giving to society?

 

a) 24
b) 14
c) 44
d) 34

 

a) an eating superstar
b) fun
c) a benefit
d) dinner

4.

For how long each day does Park Seo-yeon broadcast?

9.

What do people think Ms Park helps them with?

 

a) 1 hour
b) 3 hours
c) 7 hours
d) 11 hours

 

a) food problems
b) Internet problems
c) problems about what to have for   
    dinner
d) eating problems

5.

How much does Park Seo-yeon get per click?

10.

What does Ms Park enjoy being part of?

 

a) nine U.S. cents
b) $9,000
c) $1.19
d) 9 to 90 cents

 

a) the problem
b) an online community
c) feeling great
d) the food chain

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – How to use technology

You think how-to-use-technology webcasts are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their webcasts. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): pronunciation-practice webcasts, panda webcasts or webcasts that show religious services.

Role  B – Pronunciation practice

You think pronunciation-practice webcasts are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their webcasts. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): how-to-use-technology webcasts, panda webcasts or webcasts that show religious services.

Role  C – Pandas

You think panda webcasts are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their webcasts. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): pronunciation-practice webcasts, how-to-use-technology webcasts or webcasts that show religious services.

Role  D – Religious services

You think webcasts that show religious services are best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their webcasts. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): pronunciation-practice webcasts, panda webcasts or how-to-use-technology webcasts.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

online

dining

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • 3,500
  • thousands
  • 34
  • 3
  • 9
  • 9,000
  • big
  • total
  • rate
  • feels
  • great
  • part

EATING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about eating 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.

EATING 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 'dining'?

c)

What do you think of the online dining craze?

d)

Would you like to watch people eating online?

e)

Why do you think people like watching others eat online?

f)

What would you like to watch people doing online?

g)

Why do people want others to watch them eating online?

h)

Would you let people watch you eat if you got money for it?

i)

What do you think of someone getting $9,000 a month for eating?

j)

What would you really like to watch someone eat?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Should eating be a private thing?

c)

What should people do when they eat if they are lonely?

d)

Is there a problem when there are so many one-person households?

e)

What do you do when you are lonely?

f)

Is it better to eat alone or with someone else?

g)

What benefits is Ms Park providing to society?

h)

Does online dining show society is becoming less friendly?

i)

Would you like to be part of an online dining community?

j)

What questions would you like to ask Ms Park?

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.

________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

There is a new craze in South Korea that is very (1) ____. It is watching other people eat online. The Reuters news agency reports there are over 3,500 people who eat (2) ____ in front of their webcam. Thousands of people watch the shows. One of the most famous online (3) ____ is 34-year-old Park Seo-yeon. She is known as The Diva and has thousands of followers who watch her eat every day. She broadcasts her meals (4) ____ real time for about three hours a day. She said she first tried it as a hobby, but then she started to get a lot of money. People (5) ____ a link on her website to say they like her. She gets about nine U.S. cents per click. She now makes over $9,000 a month from her show and has (6) ____ her regular job.

Many people in Korea watch the online dining webcasts because they are (7) ____. More and more Koreans are living alone in big cities and have no one to eat with. Reuters said: "One-person households are (8) ____ to increase from 25.3 per cent of the total population in 2012 to 32.7 per cent in 2030." This is the fastest (9) ____ of any rich country in the world. Ms Park says she feels like she is providing a benefit to society. She told Reuters: "It is (10) ____ for people who eat alone. It feels great when people said, 'Thank you for a fun and delicious time'". She also said people write to thank her for (11) ____ them with their eating problems. She enjoys being part of a big online (12) ____ and talking about food.

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

1.

(a)

polar

(b)

popular

(c)

populated

(d)

popularity

2.

(a)

living

(b)

live

(c)

lively

(d)

livelihood

3.

(a)

dins

(b)

dines

(c)

dinners

(d)

diners

4.

(a)

of

(b)

in

(c)

at

(d)

on

5.

(a)

clack

(b)

clock

(c)

cluck

(d)

click

6.

(a)

end

(b)

finish

(c)

quit

(d)

stop

7.

(a)

lonely

(b)

loosely

(c)

lovely

(d)

luckily

8.

(a)

bet

(b)

get

(c)

set

(d)

let

9.

(a)

limit

(b)

time

(c)

interest

(d)

rate

10.

(a)

comforting

(b)

comforts

(c)

comfortable

(d)

comforter

11.

(a)

helping

(b)

helped

(c)

helper

(d)

helps

12.

(a)

community

(b)

conference

(c)

constellation

(d)

configuration

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

very aprpluo

2.

news ncyega

3.

She is known as The Diva and has sdnaousht

4.

ellsofrwo who watch her eat every day

5.

She catsboasdr her meals in real time

6.

quit her auegrrl job

Paragraph 2

7.

because they are eylonl

8.

25.3 per cent of the total tiaoponulp

9.

she is providing a benefit to yceosti

10.

It is omgrifcnto for people who eat alone

11.

Thank you for a fun and iulecdsio time

12.

part of a big online ucnitmoym

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

over $9,000 a month from her show and has quit her regular job.

(    )

a link on her website to say they like her. She gets about nine U.S. cents per click. She now makes

(    )

alone in big cities and have no one to eat with. Reuters said: "One-person households are set to increase

(    )

from 25.3 per cent of the total population in 2012 to 32.7 per cent in 2030." This is the fastest

(    )

to society. She told Reuters: "It is comforting for people who eat alone. It feels

(    )

as The Diva and has thousands of followers who watch her eat every day. She broadcasts her meals in real time for about three hours

(    )

them with their eating problems. She enjoys being part of a big online community and talking about food.

(    )

people watch the shows. One of the most famous online diners is 34-year-old Park Seo-yeon. She is known

1  )

There is a new craze in South Korea that is very popular. It is watching other people eat online. The Reuters news

(    )

rate of any rich country in the world. Ms Park says she feels like she is providing a benefit

(    )

Many people in Korea watch the online dining webcasts because they are lonely. More and more Koreans are living

(    )

a day. She said she first tried it as a hobby, but then she started to get a lot of money. People click

(    )

great when people said, 'Thank you for a fun and delicious time'". She also said people write to thank her for helping

(    )

agency reports there are over 3,500 people who eat live in front of their webcam. Thousands of

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

in   a   is   South   new   There   very  Korea    craze   is   popular  that.    

2.

her     day     of     watch    every    Thousands    who    eat    followers.    

3.

tried     a     She     first     as     she     it     hobby     said.    

4.

like    to   on   click   her   say   her   a    they    website   link    People.    

5.

her   ,   now   from   She   month    a    over    show   $9,000    makes.    

6.

and     more    Koreans    are    living    alone    in    big    cities    More.    

7.

feels     like     she     is     providing    a    benefit    to    society    She.    

8.

people     It     who     is     eat     comforting     alone     for.    

9.

for     write     helping     to     them     thank     her     People.    

10.

being     a     community     enjoys     of     online     She     part     big.    

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

There is a new craze in South Korea that is very popularity / popular. It is watching other people eat / eating online. The Reuters news agency reports there are more / over 3,500 people who eat lively / live in front of their webcam. Thousands of people watch the shows. One of the best / most famous online dinners / diners is 34-year-old Park Seo-yeon. She is known as The Diva and has thousands / thousand of followers who watch her eat every day. She broadcasts her meals in really / real time for about three hours a day. She said she first tried it as a hobby, but then she started to get a lot of money. People click a link on her website to say they like her. She gets about nine U.S. cents par / per click. She now makes over $9,000 a month from her show and has quit her regular / regularly job.

Many people in Korea watch the online dining webcasts because they are lonely / lovely. More and more Koreans are living alone in big cities and have no one to eat for / with. Reuters said: "One-person households are get / set to increase from 25.3 per cent of the totally / total population in 2012 to 32.7 per cent in 2030." This is the fastest late / rate of any rich country in the world. Ms Park says she feels like she is proving / providing a benefit to society. She told Reuters: "It is comforting / comfortable for people who eat alone. It feeling / feels great when people said, 'Thank you for a fun and delicious time'". She also said people write to thank her for helping her / them with their eating problems. She enjoys being part of a big online community / communities and talking about food.

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_r_ _s _ n_w cr_z_ _n S__th K_r__ th_t _s v_ry p_p_l_r. _t _s w_tch_ng _th_r p__pl_ __t _nl_n_. Th_ R__t_rs n_ws _g_ncy r_p_rts th_r_ _r_ _v_r 3,500 p__pl_ wh_ __t l_v_ _n fr_nt _f th__r w_bc_m. Th__s_nds _f p__pl_ w_tch th_ sh_ws. _n_ _f th_ m_st f_m__s _nl_n_ d_n_rs _s 34-y__r-_ld P_rk S__-y__n. Sh_ _s kn_wn _s Th_ D_v_ _nd h_s th__s_nds _f f_ll_w_rs wh_ w_tch h_r __t _v_ry d_y. Sh_ br__dc_sts h_r m__ls _n r__l t_m_ f_r _b__t thr__ h__rs _ d_y. Sh_ s__d sh_ f_rst tr__d _t _s _ h_bby, b_t th_n sh_ st_rt_d t_ g_t _ l_t _f m_n_y. P__pl_ cl_ck _ l_nk _n h_r w_bs_t_ t_ s_y th_y l_k_ h_r. Sh_ g_ts _b__t n_n_ _.S. c_nts p_r cl_ck. Sh_ n_w m_k_s _v_r $9,000 _ m_nth fr_m h_r sh_w _nd h_s q__t h_r r_g_l_r j_b.

M_ny p__pl_ _n K_r__ w_tch th_ _nl_n_ d_n_ng w_bc_sts b_c__s_ th_y _r_ l_n_ly. M_r_ _nd m_r_ K_r__ns _r_ l_v_ng _l_n_ _n b_g c_t__s _nd h_v_ n_ _n_ t_ __t w_th. R__t_rs s__d: "_n_-p_rs_n h__s_h_lds _r_ s_t t_ _ncr__s_ fr_m 25.3 p_r c_nt _f th_ t_t_l p_p_l_t__n _n 2012 t_ 32.7 p_r c_nt _n 2030." Th_s _s th_ f_st_st r_t_ _f _ny r_ch c__ntry _n th_ w_rld. Ms P_rk s_ys sh_ f__ls l_k_ sh_ _s pr_v_d_ng _ b_n_f_t t_ s_c__ty. Sh_ t_ld R__t_rs: "_t _s c_mf_rt_ng f_r p__pl_ wh_ __t _l_n_. _t f__ls gr__t wh_n p__pl_ s__d, 'Th_nk y__ f_r _ f_n _nd d_l_c___s t_m_'". Sh_ _ls_ s__d p__pl_ wr_t_ t_ th_nk h_r f_r h_lp_ng th_m w_th th__r __t_ng pr_bl_ms. Sh_ _nj_ys b__ng p_rt _f _ b_g _nl_n_ c_mm_n_ty _nd t_lk_ng _b__t f__d.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

there is a new craze in south korea that is very popular it is watching other people eat online the reuters news agency reports there are over 3500 people who eat live in front of their webcam thousands of people watch the shows one of the most famous online diners is 34-year-old park seo-yeon she is known as the diva and has thousands of followers who watch her eat every day she broadcasts her meals in real time for about three hours a day she said she first tried it as a hobby but then she started to get a lot of money people click a link on her website to say they like her she gets about nine us cents per click she now makes over $9000 a month from her show and has quit her regular job

many people in korea watch the online dining webcasts because they are lonely more and more koreans are living alone in big cities and have no one to eat with reuters said "one-person households are set to increase from 253 per cent of the total population in 2012 to 327 per cent in 2030" this is the fastest rate of any rich country in the world ms park says she feels like she is providing a benefit to society she told reuters "it is comforting for people who eat alone it feels great when people said 'thank you for a fun and delicious time'" she also said people write to thank her for helping them with their eating problems she enjoys being part of a big online community and talking about food

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThereisanewcrazeinSouthKoreathatisverypopular.Itiswatchingo
therpeopleeatonline.TheReutersnewsagencyreportsthereareove
r3,500peoplewhoeatliveinfrontoftheirwebcam.Thousandsofpeo
plewatchtheshows.Oneofthemostfamousonlinedinersis34-year-
oldParkSeo-yeon.SheisknownasTheDivaandhasthousandsof
followerswhowatchhereateveryday.Shebroadcastshermealsinre
altimeforaboutthreehoursaday.Shesaidshefirsttrieditasahobby,
butthenshestartedtogetalotofmoney.Peopleclickalinkonherwebs
itetosaytheylikeher.ShegetsaboutnineU.S.centsperclick.Sheno
wmakesover$9,000amonthfromhershowandhasquitherregularj
ob.ManypeopleinKoreawatchtheonlinediningwebcastsbecauseth
eyarelonely.MoreandmoreKoreansarelivingaloneinbigcitiesandh
avenoonetoeatwith.Reuterssaid:"One-personhousehold
saresettoincreasefrom25.3percentofthetotalpopulationin2012to
32.7percentin2030."Thisisthefastestrateofanyrichcountryinthe
world.MsParksaysshefeelslikesheisprovidingabenefittosociety.S
hetoldReuters:"Itiscomfortingforpeoplewhoeatalone.Itfeelsgrea
twhenpeoplesaid,'Thankyouforafunanddelicioustime'".Shealsos
aidpeoplewritetothankherforhelpingthemwiththeireatingproble
ms.Sheenjoysbeingpartofabigonlinecommunityandtalkingabout
food.

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Watching other people eat online is good for lonely people. Discuss.

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HOMEWORK

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

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

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

4. ONLINE DINING: Write a magazine article about watching other people eat on the Internet. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on human relations. Ask him/her three questions about lonely people watching other people eat online. Give him/her three of your opinions on this. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

  • News
  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
  • Using headlines
  • Working with words
  • While-reading / While-listening
  • Moving from text to speech
  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

Buy my book

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

craze

a.

fad

2.

followers

b.

fans

3.

in real time

c.

live

4.

makes

d.

earns

5.

regular

e.

everyday

6.

lonely

f.

alone

7.

increase

g.

rise

8.

rate

h.

pace

9.

benefit

i.

good

10.

community

j.

circle

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

An online dining craze

2.

Over 3,500

3.

34

4.

3 hours

5.

9 U.S. cents

6.

Because they are lonely

7.

32.7% of the population

8.

A benefit

9.

Eating problems

10.

An online community

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

a

7.

d

8.

c

9.

d

10.

b

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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