The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Two members of one of Japan's most popular pop groups AKB48 were injured on Sunday. A fan attacked them with a saw while they were at a promotional event signing autographs. The two singers, Rina Kawaei, 19, and Anna Iriyama, 18, were mingling with fans who had queued for hours to see them, when a man suddenly lunged forward and slashed them with a saw. The pair were fortunate not to have sustained serious injuries and were released from hospital a day after the attack. They both had cuts on their hands and head. A concert in Tokyo that had been scheduled for Monday night was cancelled. The assailant got past lax security and said he wanted to kill anyone. He had not targeted the women.

The band AKB48 have become a pop culture phenomenon in Japan and are hugely popular around Asia. They are ubiquitous in their home country, appearing daily on TV and radio, with their images being plastered on advertisements throughout Japan. They hold the Guinness record for being the world's largest pop group. The group was formed in 2005 in Tokyo's Akihabara district with 48 members. They have since expanded to 140 members. Annual competitions are held to replenish their number when older members retire. Members have to follow strict rules if they join the group, including a total ban on dating. A clause in their contract states that any band member falling in love is "forbidden".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27572723
  • http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/05/26/national/crime-legal/akb48-singers-targeted-slasher/#.U4WX1i8uKHA


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. POP GROUPS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about pop groups. 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.

 

pop groups / injured / promotional event / autographs / fortunate / attack / security / pop culture / phenomenon / ubiquitous / advertisements / world record / retire / love

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

3. FAMOUS: What are the pros and cons of these people being famous? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Pros

Cons

Pop star

 

 

U.S. President

 

 

Writer

 

 

Sports star

 

 

UN General-Secretary

 

 

Business leader

 

 

4. FAME: Students A strongly believe fame is great ; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. CELEBRITY: Rank these with your partner. Put the one you most want to be famous for at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • pop star

  • soccer star

  • business leader

  • U.N. General-Secretary

  • writer

  • philanthropist

  • actor

  • leader of your country

6. POP CULTURE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the term "pop culture". 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.

A fan attacked three members of a Japanese girl band.

T / F

b.

The girls were singing live on stage when the event happened.

T / F

c.

The girls suffered minor cuts to the hands and head.

T / F

d.

The attacker had not targeted any members of the pop group.

T / F

e.

AKB48 are ubiquitous in Japan.

T / F

f.

AKB48 are the second largest pop group in the world.

T / F

g.

The pop group currently has around 48 members.

T / F

h.

Members of the band are not allowed to date anyone.

T / F

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

1.

popular

a.

mixing

2.

event

b.

top up

3.

mingling

c.

careless

4.

sustained

d.

function

5.

lax

e.

occurrence

6.

phenomenon

f.

ever-present

7.

ubiquitous

g.

well-liked

8.

expanded

h.

prohibited

9.

replenish

i.

experienced

10.

forbidden

j.

increased in size

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

1.

signing

a.

phenomenon

2.

fans who had queued

b.

number

3.

The pair were fortunate not to have

c.

the women

4.

lax

d.

on advertisements

5.

He had not targeted

e.

sustained serious injuries

6.

a pop culture

f.

autographs

7.

They are ubiquitous in

g.

security

8.

plastered

h.

their contract

9.

replenish their

i.

for hours

10.

A clause in

j.

their home country

GAP FILL

Two members of one of Japan's most (1) ___________ pop groups AKB48 were injured on Sunday. A fan attacked them with a saw while they were at a (2) ___________ event signing (3) ___________. The two singers, Rina Kawaei, 19, and Anna Iriyama, 18, were (4) ___________ with fans who had queued for hours to see them, when a man suddenly lunged forward and (5) ___________ them with a saw. The pair were fortunate not to have (6) ___________ serious injuries and were released from hospital a day after the attack. They both had cuts on their hands and head. A concert in Tokyo that had been (7) ___________ for Monday night was cancelled. The assailant got past (8) ___________ security and said he wanted to kill anyone. He had not targeted the women.

 

 

lax
mingling
promotional
sustained
popular
slashed
autographs
scheduled

The band AKB48 have become a pop (9) ___________ phenomenon in Japan and are hugely popular around Asia. They are (10) ___________ in their home country, appearing (11) ___________ on TV and radio, with their images being plastered on advertisements throughout Japan. They hold the Guinness record for being the world's largest pop group. The group was formed in 2005 in Tokyo's Akihabara (12) ___________ with 48 members. They have since expanded to 140 members. Annual competitions are held to (13) ___________ their number when older members retire. Members have to follow (14) ___________ rules if they join the group, including a total (15) ___________ on dating. A clause in their contract states that any band member falling in love is "(16) ___________".

 

forbidden
daily
replenish
culture
strict
ubiquitous
ban
district

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

Two members of one of Japan's most popular pop groups AKB48 ______

 

a.  were injures
b.  were injure
c.  were injured
d.  were injury

2)

they were at a promotional event ______

 

a.  signing autographs
b.  singing autograph
c.  signing autograph
d.  singing autographs

3)

Rina Kawaei, 19, and Anna Iriyama, 18, were ______

 

a.  mangling with fans
b.  mingling with fans
c.  niggling with fans
d.  niggle in with fans

4)

The pair were fortunate not to have sustained ______

 

a.  seriously injuries
b.  series of injuries
c.  serious injury
d.  serious injuries

5)

The assailant got ______

 

a.  past lax security
b.  passed lax security
c.  pass tax security
d.  past lax securities

6)

The band AKB48 have become a pop ______

 

a.  cultural phenomenon
b.  culture phenomenon
c.  culture phenomena
d.  cultural phenomena

7)

appearing daily on TV and radio, with their images being plastered ______

 

a.  on advertisements
b.  in advertisements
c.  an advertisements
d.  from advertisements

8)

Annual competitions are held to replenish ______

 

a.  their numbers
b.  their numbered
c.  their number
d.  their numeral

9)

Members have to follow strict rules if they join the group, including a ______

 

a.  total bans on dating
b.  totally ban on dating
c.  total ban on date in
d.  total ban on dating

10)

A clause in their contract states that any band member falling in ______

 

a.  love is "forbidden"
b.  love is "forgiven"
c.  love is "foreboding"
d.  love is "for bidding"

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Two members of one of Japan's (1) ___________________ AKB48 were injured on Sunday. A fan attacked them with a saw while they were at a promotional (2) ___________________. The two singers, Rina Kawaei, 19, and Anna Iriyama, 18, were mingling with fans (3) ___________________ hours to see them, when a man suddenly lunged forward and slashed them with a saw. The pair were (4) ___________________ have sustained serious injuries and were released from hospital a day after the attack. They both (5) ___________________ and head. A concert in Tokyo that had been scheduled for Monday night was cancelled. The assailant got past lax security and said he wanted to kill anyone. He (6) ___________________ women.

The band AKB48 have become a pop (7) ___________________ in Japan and are hugely popular around Asia. They are (8) ___________________ home country, appearing daily on TV and radio, with their images being plastered on advertisements (9) ___________________. They hold the Guinness record for being the world's largest pop group. The group was formed in 2005 in Tokyo's Akihabara district with 48 members. They have since expanded to 140 members. Annual competitions (10) ___________________ their number when older members retire. Members have (11) ___________________ if they join the group, including a total ban on dating. A clause in their (12) ___________________ band member falling in love is "forbidden".

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

How many members of the group were injured?

2.

What were the women signing before the attack?

3.

How long had fans waited to see the band members?

4.

How long did the women stay in hospital?

5.

Who had the attacker targeted?

6.

Where are AKB48 hugely popular besides Japan?

7.

What Guinness world record does the group AKB48 hold?

8.

When were the band formed?

9.

How many members are currently in the band?

10.

What is forbidden for members of AKB48?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

How many members of the group were injured?

6.

Where are AKB48 hugely popular besides Japan?

 

a) five
b) four
c) three
d) two

 

a) Australia
b) Africa
c) Asia
d) Central America

2.

What were the women signing before the attack?

7.

What Guinness world record does the group AKB48 hold?

 

a) dancing
b) signing autographs
c) playing a game
d) singing

 

a) the world's largest pop group
b) the longest number one record
c) the youngest singer
d) the most number one singles

3.

How long had fans waited to see the band members?

8.

When were the band formed?

 

a) three days
b) a week
c) 48 minutes
d) hours

 

a) 2003
b) 2004
c) 2005
d) 2006

4.

How long did the women stay in hospital?

9.

How many members are currently in the band?

 

a) 48 hours
b) 48 minutes
c) one night
d) a few hours

 

a) 130
b) 140
c) 150
d) 160

5.

Who had the attacker targeted?

10.

What is forbidden for members of AKB48?

 

a) the whole group
b) the group's manager
c) the lead singer
d) anyone

 

a) falling in love
b) solo careers
c) travelling overseas alone
d) chocolate

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Pop star

You think being a pop star would be the best way of being famous. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that wouldn't be so good about their roles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): a business leader, U.N. General-Secretary or a philanthropist.

Role  B – Business leader

You think being a business leader would be the best way of being famous. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that wouldn't be so good about their roles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): a pop star, U.N. General-Secretary or a philanthropist.

Role  C – U.N. General-Secretary

You think being the U.N. General-Secretary would be the best way of being famous. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that wouldn't be so good about their roles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): a business leader, a pop star or a philanthropist.

Role  D – Philanthropist

You think being a philanthropist would be the best way of being famous. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that wouldn't be so good about their roles. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why):  a business leader, U.N. General-Secretary or a pop star.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

pop

 

group

 

 

  • 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:

  • fan
  • two
  • hours
  • pair
  • head
  • targeted
  • culture
  • home
  • hold
  • 2005
  • 140
  • love

POP GROUPS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about pop groups 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.

POP GROUPS 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 'pop group'?

c)

What do you think about what you read?

d)

Is it too dangerous for pop stars to get close to fans?

e)

Which pop star would you really like to meet (and why)?

f)

Whose autograph would you most like to have (and why)?

g)

Should the band's security have been tighter?

h)

Who or what would you queue for hours to see?

i)

Why do you think random attacks on people are increasing?

j)

What should happen to the assailant?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

What do you think of pop culture?

c)

What is the pop culture in your country?

d)

What do you think of a pop band with 48 members in it?

e)

Would you like to be a pop star (why)?

f)

What do you think of boy bands and girl bands?

g)

Should members of a pop group have to follow strict rules?

h)

What do you think of the "love is forbidden" clause in the group's contract that means no dating?

i)

Why do you think the no dating clause exists?

j)

What questions would you like to ask members of AKB48?

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

Two members of one of Japan's most popular pop groups AKB48 were (1) ____ on Sunday. A fan attacked them with a saw while they were at a (2) ____ event signing (3) ____. The two singers, Rina Kawaei, 19, and Anna Iriyama, 18, were mingling with fans who had (4) ____ for hours to see them, when a man suddenly lunged forward and slashed them with a saw. The pair were fortunate not to have (5) ____ serious injuries and were released from hospital a day after the attack. They both had cuts on their hands and head. A concert in Tokyo that had been scheduled for Monday night was cancelled. The assailant got past (6) ____ security and said he wanted to kill anyone. He had not targeted the women.

The band AKB48 have become a pop culture phenomenon in Japan and are (7) ____ popular around Asia. They are (8) ____ in their home country, appearing daily on TV and radio, with their images being plastered on advertisements throughout Japan. They (9) ____ the Guinness record for being the world's largest pop group. The group was formed in 2005 in Tokyo's Akihabara district with 48 members. They have (10) ____ expanded to 140 members. Annual competitions are held to (11) ____ their number when older members retire. Members have to follow strict rules if they join the group, including a total ban on dating. A (12) ____ in their contract states that any band member falling in love is "forbidden".

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

1.

(a)

injured

(b)

injurious

(c)

injuries

(d)

injuring

2.

(a)

promoted

(b)

promotion

(c)

promotional

(d)

promoting

3.

(a)

biographies

(b)

autobiographies

(c)

autographs

(d)

graphs

4.

(a)

clued

(b)

skewed

(c)

cued

(d)

queued

5.

(a)

sustained

(b)

maintained

(c)

pertained

(d)

obtained

6.

(a)

lad

(b)

lax

(c)

lab

(d)

lap

7.

(a)

gigantic

(b)

largely

(c)

enormous

(d)

hugely

8.

(a)

prevalent

(b)

ubiquitous

(c)

alternated

(d)

combustion

9.

(a)

grasp

(b)

clutch

(c)

hold

(d)

grip

10.

(a)

forever

(b)

utmost

(c)

then

(d)

since

11.

(a)

refurnish

(b)

relinquish

(c)

radish

(d)

replenish

12.

(a)

case

(b)

clause

(c)

cause

(d)

class

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

a aolptinrmoo event

2.

signing thoaaupgsr

3.

a man suddenly uledgn forward

4.

tsdsaueni serious injuries

5.

cuhelsded for Monday

6.

The ansaatils got past lax security

Paragraph 2

7.

a pop culture ennenmopoh

8.

They are ibuqutoisu in their home country

9.

rpsedatle on advertisements

10.

erilenpsh their number

11.

A aclsue in their contract

12.

falling in love is "reofibdnd"

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

cancelled. The assailant got past lax security and said he wanted to kill anyone. He had not targeted the women.

(    )

not to have sustained serious injuries and were released from hospital a day after the attack. They both had

(    )

with 48 members. They have since expanded to 140 members. Annual competitions are held to replenish their

(    )

cuts on their hands and head. A concert in Tokyo that had been scheduled for Monday night was

(    )

ubiquitous in their home country, appearing daily on TV and radio, with their images being plastered

(    )

them with a saw while they were at a promotional event signing autographs. The two

(    )

ban on dating. A clause in their contract states that any band member falling in love is "forbidden".

(    )

singers, Rina Kawaei, 19, and Anna Iriyama, 18, were mingling with fans who had queued

(    )

The band AKB48 have become a pop culture phenomenon in Japan and are hugely popular around Asia. They are

(    )

number when older members retire. Members have to follow strict rules if they join the group, including a total

(    )

being the world's largest pop group. The group was formed in 2005 in Tokyo's Akihabara district

(    )

for hours to see them, when a man suddenly lunged forward and slashed them with a saw. The pair were fortunate

(    )

on advertisements throughout Japan. They hold the Guinness record for

1  )

Two members of one of Japan's most popular pop groups AKB48 were injured on Sunday. A fan attacked

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

groups    Two    members   of   one   of   Japan's   most   popular   pop.   

2.

autographs    a    promotional    They    event    were    signing    at.   

3.

had    who    .    to    them    see    queued    hours    for    Fans

4.

injuries    serious    sustained    have    to    not    Fortunate.   

5.

got    lax    assailant    past    security    The.   

6.

pop    in    AKB48    a    phenomenon   become   culture   Japan   have.   

7.

country    home    their    in    ubiquitous    are    They.   

8.

retire    members    older    when    number    their    Replenish.   

9.

the    join   they   if   rules   strict   follow   to   have   Members   group.   

10.

"forbidden"    band    in    Any    falling    is    .    member    love

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Two members of one of Japan's most popularity / popular pop groups AKB48 were injured on Sunday. A fan attacked them with a saw while they were at a promotional / promotion event signing / singing autographs. The two singers, Rina Kawaei, 19, and Anna Iriyama, 18, were mangling / mingling with fans who had queued from / for hours to see them, when a man suddenly lunged / purged forward and slashed them with a saw. The pair were fortunate not / no to have sustained serious injuries and were released from hospital a day after the attacked / attack. They both had cuts on their hands and head. A concert in Tokyo that had been schedule / scheduled for Monday night was cancelled. The assailant got past lax / fax security and said he wanted to kill anyone. He had not targeted the women.

The band AKB48 have become a pop cultural / culture phenomenon in Japan and are hugely / huge popular around Asia. They are ubiquitous in their home country, appearing / appears daily on TV and radio, with their images being plastered / cemented on advertisements throughout Japan. They hold the Guinness record for been / being the world's largest pop group. The group was formed in 2005 in Tokyo's Akihabara district within / with 48 members. They have since expanded for / to 140 members. Annual competitions are held to relinquish / replenish their number when older members retire. Members have to follow strict / strictly rules if they join the group, including a total ban on dating. A clause in their contract states that any band member falling in love is "forbidden" / "forbidding".

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)

Tw_ m_mb_rs _f _n_ _f J_p_n's m_st p_p_l_r p_p gr__ps _KB48 w_r_ _nj_r_d _n S_nd_y. _ f_n _tt_ck_d th_m w_th _ s_w wh_l_ th_y w_r_ _t _ pr_m_t__n_l _v_nt s_gn_ng __t_gr_phs. Th_ tw_ s_ng_rs, R_n_ K_w___, 19, _nd _nn_ _r_y_m_, 18, w_r_ m_ngl_ng w_th f_ns wh_ h_d q____d f_r h__rs t_ s__ th_m, wh_n _ m_n s_dd_nly l_ng_d f_rw_rd _nd sl_sh_d th_m w_th _ s_w. Th_ p__r w_r_ f_rt_n_t_ n_t t_ h_v_ s_st__n_d s_r___s _nj_r__s _nd w_r_ r_l__s_d fr_m h_sp_t_l _ d_y _ft_r th_ _tt_ck. Th_y b_th h_d c_ts _n th__r h_nds _nd h__d. _ c_nc_rt _n T_ky_ th_t h_d b__n sch_d_l_d f_r M_nd_y n_ght w_s c_nc_ll_d. Th_ _ss__l_nt g_t p_st l_x s_c_r_ty _nd s__d h_ w_nt_d t_ k_ll _ny_n_. H_ h_d n_t t_rg_t_d th_ w_m_n.

Th_ b_nd _KB48 h_v_ b_c_m_ _ p_p c_lt_r_ ph_n_m_n_n _n J_p_n _nd _r_ h_g_ly p_p_l_r _r__nd _s__. Th_y _r_ _b_q__t__s _n th__r h_m_ c__ntry, _pp__r_ng d__ly _n TV _nd r_d__, w_th th__r _m_g_s b__ng pl_st_r_d _n _dv_rt_s_m_nts thr__gh__t J_p_n. Th_y h_ld th_ G__nn_ss r_c_rd f_r b__ng th_ w_rld's l_rg_st p_p gr__p. Th_ gr__p w_s f_rm_d _n 2005 _n T_ky_'s _k_h_b_r_ d_str_ct w_th 48 m_mb_rs. Th_y h_v_ s_nc_ _xp_nd_d t_ 140 m_mb_rs. _nn__l c_mp_t_t__ns _r_ h_ld t_ r_pl_n_sh th__r n_mb_r wh_n _ld_r m_mb_rs r_t_r_. M_mb_rs h_v_ t_ f_ll_w str_ct r_l_s _f th_y j__n th_ gr__p, _ncl_d_ng _ t_t_l b_n _n d_t_ng. _ cl__s_ _n th__r c_ntr_ct st_t_s th_t _ny b_nd m_mb_r f_ll_ng _n l_v_ _s "f_rb_dd_n".

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

two members of one of japan's most popular pop groups akb48 were injured on sunday a fan attacked them with a saw while they were at a promotional event signing autographs the two singers rina kawaei 19 and anna iriyama 18 were mingling with fans who had queued for hours to see them when a man suddenly lunged forward and slashed them with a saw the pair were fortunate not to have sustained serious injuries and were released from hospital a day after the attack they both had cuts on their hands and head a concert in tokyo that had been scheduled for monday night was cancelled the assailant got past lax security and said he wanted to kill anyone he had not targeted the women

the band akb48 have become a pop culture phenomenon in japan and are hugely popular around asia they are ubiquitous in their home country appearing daily on tv and radio with their images being plastered on advertisements throughout japan they hold the guinness record for being the world's largest pop group the group was formed in 2005 in tokyo's akihabara district with 48 members they have since expanded to 140 members annual competitions are held to replenish their number when older members retire members have to follow strict rules if they join the group including a total ban on dating a clause in their contract states that any band member falling in love is "forbidden"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TwomembersofoneofJapan'smostpopularpopgroupsAKB48wereinj
uredonSunday.Afanattackedthemwithasawwhiletheywereatapro
motionaleventsigningautographs.Thetwosingers,RinaKawaei,19,a
ndAnnaIriyama,18,wereminglingwithfanswhohadqueuedforhourst
oseethem,whenamansuddenlylungedforwardandslashedthemwith
asaw.Thepairwerefortunatenottohavesustainedseriousinjuriesand
werereleasedfromhospitaladayaftertheattack.Theybothhadcutson
theirhandsandhead.AconcertinTokyothathadbeenscheduledforMo
ndaynightwascancelled.Theassailantgotpastlaxsecurityandsaidhe
wantedtokillanyone.Hehadnottargetedthewomen.ThebandAKB48
havebecomeapopculturephenomenoninJapanandarehugelypopula
raroundAsia.Theyareubiquitousintheirhomecountry,appearingdail
yonTVandradio,withtheirimagesbeingplasteredonadvertisementst
hroughoutJapan.TheyholdtheGuinnessrecordforbeingtheworld'sla
rgestpopgroup.Thegroupwasformedin2005inTokyo'sAkihabaradis
trictwith48members.Theyhavesinceexpandedto140members.Ann
ualcompetitionsareheldtoreplenishtheirnumberwhenoldermember
sretire.Membershavetofollowstrictrulesiftheyjointhegroup,include
ngatotalbanondating.Aclauseintheircontractstatesthatanybandme
mberfallinginloveis"forbidden".

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Being rich and not famous is better than being rich and famous. 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 pop groups. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. POP GROUPS: Make a poster about pop groups. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. DANGER: Write a magazine article about the dangers of being a star in public. Include imaginary interviews with a famous person and his/her bodyguard.

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 a famous person. Ask him/her three questions about being famous. Give him/her three ideas on how to go out in public and stay safe. 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

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

popular

a.

well-liked

2.

event

b.

function

3.

mingling

c.

mixing

4.

sustained

d.

experienced

5.

lax

e.

careless

6.

phenomenon

f.

occurrence

7.

ubiquitous

g.

ever-present

8.

expanded

h.

increased in size

9.

replenish

i.

top up

10.

forbidden

j.

prohibited

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Two

2.

Signing autographs

3.

Hours

4.

One night

5.

Anyone

6.

Asia

7.

The world's largest pop group

8.

2005

9.

140

10.

Falling in love

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

d

4.

c

5.

d

6.

c

7.

a

8.

c

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

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

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You