Thai junta orders free World Cup TV for all

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Thailand has had a lot of unrest in the past few years. To reduce this, the ruling military junta asked national broadcasters to make all World Cup games free. Many Thais are under curfew. The junta believes people will be happy if World Cup games are free. Poorer Thais cannot afford the special digital box needed to see the games. All matches will be free on the army-owned stations. A satellite company paid over $20 million for the games.

The junta's leader said the free TV would "return happiness to the Thai people". It wants to win hearts and minds after last month's coup. There have also been free haircuts. Next will be support for farmers, cheaper basic food, and new building projects. Many Thais will have to watch the World Cup at home because of the curfew. Thailand’s football team is 149th in the world. It has never qualified for the World Cup. The tournament will end on July the 13th.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/414872/military-wins-fans-hearts-again.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27790396
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/world-cup-for-free-how-thailand-s-junta-seeks-to-return-happiness-1.1863269#ixzz34P2GUtt9

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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	a lot of unrest in	a.	curfew
2.	national	b.	afford the special digital box
3.	Many Thais are under	c.	the past few years
4.	Poorer Thais cannot	d.	over $20 million
5.	free on the army-	e.	broadcasters
6.	A satellite company paid	f.	owned stations

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	return happiness	a.	qualified for the World Cup
2.	win hearts	b.	coup
3.	last month's	c.	for farmers
4.	Next will be support	d.	to the Thai people
5.	watch the World Cup at home	e.	and minds
6.	It has never	f.	because of the curfew

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Thailand has (1) ___________________ in the past few years. To reduce this, the ruling military junta asked (2) ___________________ to make all World Cup games free. Many Thais (3) ___________________. The junta believes people (4) ___________________ World Cup games are free. Poorer Thais cannot afford the special (5) ___________________ to see the games. All matches will be free on the (6) ___________________. A satellite company paid over $20 million for the games.

The junta's leader said the free TV would "(7) ___________________ the Thai people". It wants to win (8) ___________________ after last month's coup. There have also been free haircuts. Next will be support for farmers, (9) ___________________, and new building projects. Many Thais will have to watch the World Cup at home (10) ___________________. Thailand's football team is 149th in the world. It has (11) ___________________ the World Cup. The (12) ___________________ on July the 13th.

FREE TV SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about free TV 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.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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