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Hip-hop can help mental illness (13th November, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

Doctors at Britain's world famous Cambridge University believe that hip-hop music can help people who are depressed or mentally ill. They call it 'hip-hop therapy'. The doctors said that many of the lyrics (the words to the songs) in hip-hop music can reach out to people with emotional problems. A team of doctors wrote a report about this. The report is in a special medical magazine called 'The Lancet Psychiatry'. The doctors said a lot of hip-hop music speaks of overcoming hardships and big difficulties in life. In particular, hip-hop has lyrics about being poor, being unpopular, and about crime and drugs. These are all problems that can lead to depression and mental illnesses.

The report on hip-hop and mental health says: "Hip-hop artists use their skills and talents not only to describe the world they see, but also as a means of breaking free. There's often a message of hope in amongst the lyrics, describing the place where they want to be - the cars they want to own, the models they want to date." The doctors chose five hip-hop songs as part of the therapy. One of them is the classic 1982 tune 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. Another is a track called 'Juicy' by The Notorious BIG. This has lyrics that tell people they can be successful even if others say they cannot be. BIG explains how teachers told him he would "amount to nothing" but then became a superstar.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/11221425/Hip-hop-could-help-with-depression-and-mental-illness-says-Cambridge-University.html
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-11-hip-psych-aims-tackle-mental.html

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. HIP-HOP: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about hip-hop. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

world famous / depressed / mental health / emotional problems / medical / lyrics /
hip-hop artists / skills / talents / hope / therapy / successful / nothing / superstar

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

3. THERAPY: How can these things help people who are depressed? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Helpful things	Not so helpful
Hip-hop
Rivers
Food
English
Gaming
Community work

4. SUPERSTAR: Students A strongly believe everyone has the ability to be a superstar; Students B strongly believe the opposite. 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. MUSIC: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• hip-hop

• classical

• folk

• jazz

• rock

• electronic

• punk

• country

6. LYRICS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "lyrics". 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 report about hip-hop and therapy is from Oxford University.	T / F
b.	Doctors say hip-hop can help people with emotional problems.	T / F
c.	Doctors say people should write hip-hop lyrics to overcome hardships.	T / F
d.	Hip-hop only has lyrics about sad things.	T / F
e.	The report says artists use hip-hop as a way to be free.	T / F
f.	Doctors said there's always a message of hope in hip-hop lyrics.	T / F
g.	A hip-hop track from 1982 is part of the 'hip-hop therapy'.	T / F
h.	A hip-hop superstar said his teachers told him he would never succeed.	T / F

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

1.	help	a.	put into words
2.	depressed	b.	defeating
3.	lyrics	c.	way
4.	overcoming	d.	sad
5.	lead to	e.	selected
6.	describe	f.	result in
7.	means	g.	aid
8.	chose	h.	become
9.	track	i.	words
10.	amount to	j.	song

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

1.	Doctors at Britain's world	a.	skills and talents
2.	help people who	b.	as part of the therapy
3.	reach	c.	lead to depression
4.	overcoming	d.	free
5.	These are all problems that can	e.	are depressed
6.	Hip-hop artists use their	f.	hardships
7.	as a means of breaking	g.	be successful
8.	The doctors chose five hip-hop songs	h.	famous Cambridge University
9.	lyrics that tell people they can	i.	to nothing
10.	teachers told him he would amount	j.	out to people

GAP FILL

Doctors at Britain's world (1) ____________ Cambridge University believe that hip-hop music can help people who are (2) ____________ or mentally ill. They call it 'hip-hop therapy'. The doctors said that many of the (3) ____________ (the words to the songs) in hip-hop music can reach out to people with (4) ____________ problems. A team of doctors wrote a report about this. The report is in a special medical (5) ____________ called 'The Lancet Psychiatry'. The doctors said a lot of hip-hop music speaks of overcoming hardships and big (6) ____________ in life. In particular, hip-hop has lyrics about being poor, being (7) ____________, and about crime and drugs. These are all problems that can lead to depression and mental (8) ____________.

difficulties
lyrics
illnesses
emotional
famous
unpopular
depressed
magazine

The report on hip-hop and mental health says: "Hip-hop artists use their skills and talents not only to (9) ____________ the world they see, but also as a means of breaking (10) ____________. There's often a message of hope in (11) ____________ the lyrics, describing the place where they want to be - the cars they want to (12) ____________, the models they want to date." The doctors chose five hip-hop songs as part of the (13) ____________. One of them is the classic 1982 tune 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. Another is a (14) ____________ called 'Juicy' by The Notorious BIG. This has lyrics that tell people they can be (15) ____________ even if others say they cannot be. BIG explains how teachers told him he would "(16) ____________ to nothing" but then became a superstar.

own
track
free
amount
amongst
therapy
successful
describe

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	hip-hop music can help people who are depressed ______
	a. or mentally ills b. or mental ill c. or mentally ill d. or mental ills
2)	hip-hop music can reach out to people with ______
	a. emotional problems b. emotion all problems c. emotional problem d. emotion all problems
3)	hip-hop music speaks of overcoming hardships and big ______
	a. difficulties in live b. difficulty in life c. difficulties in lifes d. difficulties in life
4)	lyrics about being poor, being unpopular, and about ______
	a. crime and drugs b. crime on drug c. crime end drugs d. crime and drug
5)	These are all problems that can ______
	a. lead two depression b. lead too depression c. lead through depression d. lead to depression
6)	The report on hip-hop and mental health says hip-hop artists use ______
	a. their skills and talent b. their skills and talents c. their skill and talents d. their skill and talent
7)	There's often a message of hope in ______
	a. amongst the lyric b. amongst the lyricists c. amongst the lyrical d. amongst the lyrics
8)	The doctors chose five hip-hop songs as part ______
	a. of the therapist b. of the therapies c. of the therapy d. of the therapeutic
9)	This has lyrics that tell people they can be successful even if others ______
	a. say they cannot been b. say they cannot believe c. say they cannot be d. say they cannot bee
10)	teachers told him he would ______
	a. amounts to nothing b. amount to nothing c. amounted to nothing d. a mount to nothing

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Doctors at Britain's world famous Cambridge University believe that hip-hop music can help people (1) ___________________ or mentally ill. They call it 'hip-hop therapy'. The doctors said that (2) ___________________ (the words to the songs) in hip-hop music can reach out to people with emotional problems. A team of doctors (3) ___________________ this. The report is in a special medical magazine called 'The Lancet Psychiatry'. The doctors said a lot of hip-hop music (4) ___________________ hardships and big difficulties in life. In particular, hip-hop (5) ___________________ poor, being unpopular, and about crime and drugs. These are all problems that can lead to depression (6) ___________________.

The (7) ___________________ mental health says: "Hip-hop artists use their skills and talents not only to describe the world they see, but also as a (8) ___________________. There's often a message of hope in amongst the lyrics, (9) ___________________ where they want to be - the cars they want to own, the models they want to date." The doctors chose five hip-hop songs as (10) ___________________. One of them is the classic 1982 tune 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. Another is a track called 'Juicy' by The Notorious BIG. This (11) ___________________ people they can be successful even if others say they cannot be. BIG explains how teachers told him he (12) ___________________ but then became a superstar.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Where do the doctors who wrote the report work?
2.	Who did the doctors say 'hip-hop therapy' can reach out to?
3.	What is 'The Lancet Psychiatry'?
4.	What does a lot of hip-hop music speak of overcoming?
5.	What can problems lead to apart from mental illnesses?
6.	What do hip-hop artists use to describe the world?
7.	What message is often in the lyrics of hip-hop?
8.	How many songs did the doctors choose for the 'hip-hop therapy'?
9.	What is the name of the track by The Notorious BIG?
10.	Who told The Notorious BIG he would amount to nothing?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Where do the doctors who wrote the report work?	6.	What do hip-hop artists use to describe the world?
	a) Cambridge University b) MIT c) Tokyo University d) The Hip-Hop University		a) fashion b) brushes c) record players d) their skills and talents
2.	Who did the doctors say 'hip-hop therapy' can reach out to?	7.	What message is often in the lyrics of hip-hop?
	a) doctors b) opera lovers c) those with emotional problems d) rappers		a) an old one b) an e-mail c) a message of hope d) a message for the world
3.	What is 'The Lancet Psychiatry'?	8.	How many songs did the doctors choose for the 'hip-hop therapy'?
	a) the name of a hip-hop artist b) a type of therapy c) a hip-hop tune d) a magazine		a) 4 b) 5 c) 6 d) 7
4.	What does a lot of hip-hop music speak of overcoming?	9.	What is the name of the track by The Notorious BIG?
	a) hurdles b) hardships c) parties d) sound		a) OMG b) Wow and Wow c) Juicy d) Yum Yum
5.	What did the article say can problems lead to apart from mental illnesses?	10.	Who told The Notorious BIG he would amount to nothing?
	a) depression b) money worries c) health issues d) arguments		a) a record producer b) his teachers c) Lady Gaga d) The Notorious SMALL

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Hip-hop

You think hip-hop is the best music to help with emotional problems. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their music is no good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): opera, jazz or punk rock.

Role B – Opera

You think opera is the best music to help with emotional problems. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their music is no good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): hip-hop, jazz or punk rock.

Role C – Jazz

You think jazz is the best music to help with emotional problems. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their music is no good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): opera, hip-hop or punk rock.

Role D – Punk rock

You think punk rock is the best music to help with emotional problems. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their music is no good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): opera, jazz or hip-hop.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

mental

illness

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:

world
ill
reach
problems
speaks
lead

skills
means
hope
five
track
amount

HIP-HOP SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Hip-hop 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.

HIP-HOP DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'hip-hop'?
3)	How does hip-hop make you feel?
4)	What different kinds of hip-hop are there?
5)	Do you understand why some people don't like hip-hop?
6)	Is hip-hop modern-day poetry?
7)	What do you know about how hip-hop first started?
8)	Is American hip-hop better than hip-hop from other countries?
9)	Do you think 'hip-hop therapy' is a good idea?
10)	How can hip-hop help people with mental illnesses?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Is hip-hop music, or is it a different kind of art?
13)	How has hip-hop changed culture?
14)	What are the good and bad things about hip-hop?
15)	What do you think of the names of hip-hop artists?
16)	What music do you think would be the best therapy?
17)	What songs would you use as therapy?
18)	What do you think you will amount to in life?
19)	Should all hip-hop give a message of hope?
20)	What questions would you like to ask one of the doctors?

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

Doctors at Britain's (1) ____ famous Cambridge University believe that hip-hop music can help people who are (2) ____ or mentally ill. They call it 'hip-hop therapy'. The doctors said that many of the lyrics (the words (3) ____ the songs) in hip-hop music can reach out to people with emotional problems. A team of doctors wrote a report about (4) ____. The report is in a special medical magazine called 'The Lancet Psychiatry'. The doctors said a lot of hip-hop music speaks of overcoming hardships and big difficulties in life. In (5) ____, hip-hop has lyrics about being poor, being unpopular, and about crime and drugs. These are all problems that can lead (6) ____ depression and mental illnesses.

The report on hip-hop and mental health says: "Hip-hop artists (7) ____ their skills and talents not only to describe the world they see, but also as a means of breaking free. There's often a (8) ____ of hope in amongst the lyrics, describing the place where they want to be - the cars they want to (9) ____, the models they want to date." The doctors chose five hip-hop songs (10) ____ part of the therapy. One of them is the classic 1982 tune 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. Another is a track called 'Juicy' by The Notorious BIG. This has lyrics (11) ____ tell people they can be successful even if others say they cannot be. BIG explains how teachers told him he would "(12) ____ to nothing" but then became a superstar.

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

1.	(a)	Earth	(b)	world	(c)	globe	(d)	planet
2.	(a)	depress	(b)	depresses	(c)	depressing	(d)	depressed
3.	(a)	at	(b)	to	(c)	by	(d)	as
4.	(a)	all	(b)	whole	(c)	this	(d)	every
5.	(a)	particular	(b)	peculiar	(c)	practical	(d)	particles
6.	(a)	to	(b)	on	(c)	in	(d)	of
7.	(a)	useful	(b)	using	(c)	usage	(d)	use
8.	(a)	message	(b)	messages	(c)	messaged	(d)	messaging
9.	(a)	down	(b)	own	(c)	crown	(d)	frown
10.	(a)	to	(b)	be	(c)	as	(d)	on
11.	(a)	who	(b)	when	(c)	that	(d)	this
12.	(a)	sum	(b)	amount	(c)	totally	(d)	whole

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	Britain's world osfamu Cambridge University
2.	people who are pdereesds or mentally ill
3.	many of the lcsryi in hip-hop music
4.	a special medical zmeainga
5.	overcoming diahsprsh
6.	In iaupltcrar, hip-hop has lyrics about…
Paragraph 2
7.	bcdseire the world they see
8.	a egasesm of hope
9.	part of the ryepath
10.	One of them is the ialsscc 1982 tune
11.	they can be lucfseuscs
12.	told him he would oautmn to nothing

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	of the lyrics (the words to the songs) in hip-hop music can reach out to people with emotional
( )	magazine called 'The Lancet Psychiatry'. The doctors said a lot of hip-hop music speaks of overcoming
( )	problems. A team of doctors wrote a report about this. The report is in a special medical
( )	therapy. One of them is the classic 1982 tune 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. Another
( 1 )	Doctors at Britain's world famous Cambridge University believe that hip-hop music can help people who
( )	own, the models they want to date." The doctors chose five hip-hop songs as part of the
( )	The report on hip-hop and mental health says: "Hip-hop artists use their skills and talents not
( )	is a track called 'Juicy' by The Notorious BIG. This has lyrics that tell people they can be successful even if others
( )	say they cannot be. BIG explains how teachers told him he would "amount to nothing" but then became a superstar.
( )	only to describe the world they see, but also as a means of breaking free. There's often a message of
( )	unpopular, and about crime and drugs. These are all problems that can lead to depression and mental illnesses.
( )	hardships and big difficulties in life. In particular, hip-hop has lyrics about being poor, being
( )	hope in amongst the lyrics, describing the place where they want to be - the cars they want to
( )	are depressed or mentally ill. They call it 'hip-hop therapy'. The doctors said that many

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	people who are depressed Hip-hop music can help.
2.	reach can Hip-hop problems emotional with people to out .
3.	a this team wrote about A doctors report of.
4.	music speaks Hip of - overcoming hop hardships.
5.	depression are that to These problems lead all can.
6.	and Hip artists skills hop their talents - use.
7.	a hope the often of amongst There's message in lyrics.
8.	as chose therapy part five of songs hip-hop Doctors the .
9.	they can be successful This has lyrics that tell people.
10.	him nothing he would Teachers amount told to.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Doctors at Britain's world / worldly famous Cambridge University believe that hip-hop music can help people who / those are depressed or mentally ill. They call it 'hip-hop therapy'. The doctors said that many / much of the lyrics (the words to the songs) in hip-hop music can teach / reach out to people with emotional problematic / problems. A team of doctors wrote a report about this / them. The report is in a special medical magazine called 'The Lancet Psychiatry'. The doctors said a lot of hip-hop music speaks / speaking of overcoming hardships and big / biggish difficulties in life. In particular, hip-hop has lyrics about being poor / poorly, being unpopular, and about crime and drugs. These are all problems that can lead for / to depression and mental illnesses.

The report on / in hip-hop and mental health says: "Hip-hop artists use their skills and talents not / nor only to describe the world they see, but also as a means of breaking freely / free. There's often a message of hope in amongst the lyrics, describing the place where they want to been / be - the cars they want to own, the models they want to date / dating." The doctors chose five hip-hop songs as part of / for the therapy. One of them is the classic 1982 tune / tuned 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. Another is a track / tractor called 'Juicy' by The Notorious BIG. This has lyrics that tell people they can be success / successful even if others say they cannot be. BIG explains how teachers told him he will / would "amount to nothing" but then became a superstar.

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)

D_ct_rs _t Br_t__n's w_rld f_m__s C_mbr_dg_ _n_v_rs_ty b_l__v_ th_t h_p-h_p m_s_c c_n h_lp p__pl_ wh_ _r_ d_pr_ss_d _r m_nt_lly _ll. Th_y c_ll _t 'h_p-h_p th_r_py'. Th_ d_ct_rs s__d th_t m_ny _f th_ lyr_cs (th_ w_rds t_ th_ s_ngs) _n h_p-h_p m_s_c c_n r__ch __t t_ p__pl_ w_th _m_t__n_l pr_bl_ms. _ t__m _f d_ct_rs wr_t_ _ r_p_rt _b__t th_s. Th_ r_p_rt _s _n _ sp_c__l m_d_c_l m_g_z_n_ c_ll_d 'Th_ L_nc_t Psych__try'. Th_ d_ct_rs s__d _ l_t _f h_p-h_p m_s_c sp__ks _f _v_rc_m_ng h_rdsh_ps _nd b_g d_ff_c_lt__s _n l_f_. _n p_rt_c_l_r, h_p-h_p h_s lyr_cs _b__t b__ng p__r, b__ng _np_p_l_r, _nd _b__t cr_m_ _nd dr_gs. Th_s_ _r_ _ll pr_bl_ms th_t c_n l__d t_ d_pr_ss__n _nd m_nt_l _lln_ss_s.

Th_ r_p_rt _n h_p-h_p _nd m_nt_l h__lth s_ys: "H_p-h_p _rt_sts _s_ th__r sk_lls _nd t_l_nts n_t _nly t_ d_scr_b_ th_ w_rld th_y s__, b_t _ls_ _s _ m__ns _f br__k_ng fr__. Th_r_'s _ft_n _ m_ss_g_ _f h_p_ _n _m_ngst th_ lyr_cs, d_scr_b_ng th_ pl_c_ wh_r_ th_y w_nt t_ b_ - th_ c_rs th_y w_nt t_ _wn, th_ m_d_ls th_y w_nt t_ d_t_." Th_ d_ct_rs ch_s_ f_v_ h_p-h_p s_ngs _s p_rt _f th_ th_r_py. _n_ _f th_m _s th_ cl_ss_c 1982 t_n_ 'Th_ M_ss_g_' by Gr_ndm_st_r Fl_sh & Th_ F_r___s F_v_. _n_th_r _s _ tr_ck c_ll_d 'J__cy' by Th_ N_t_r___s B_G. Th_s h_s lyr_cs th_t t_ll p__pl_ th_y c_n b_ s_cc_ssf_l _v_n _f _th_rs s_y th_y c_nn_t b_. B_G _xpl__ns h_w t__ch_rs t_ld h_m h_ w__ld "_m__nt t_ n_th_ng" b_t th_n b_c_m_ _ s_p_rst_r.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

doctors at britain's world famous cambridge university believe that hip-hop music can help people who are depressed or mentally ill they call it 'hip-hop therapy' the doctors said that many of the lyrics (the words to the songs) in hip-hop music can reach out to people with emotional problems a team of doctors wrote a report about this the report is in a special medical magazine called 'the lancet psychiatry' the doctors said a lot of hip-hop music speaks of overcoming hardships and big difficulties in life in particular hip-hop has lyrics about being poor being unpopular and about crime and drugs these are all problems that can lead to depression and mental illnesses

the report on hip-hop and mental health says "hip-hop artists use their skills and talents not only to describe the world they see but also as a means of breaking free there's often a message of hope in amongst the lyrics describing the place where they want to be - the cars they want to own the models they want to date" the doctors chose five hip-hop songs as part of the therapy one of them is the classic 1982 tune 'the message' by grandmaster flash & the furious five another is a track called 'juicy' by the notorious big this has lyrics that tell people they can be successful even if others say they cannot be big explains how teachers told him he would "amount to nothing" but then became a superstar

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

DoctorsatBritain'sworldfamousCambridgeUniversitybelievethathip-
hopmusiccanhelppeoplewhoaredepressedormentallyill.Theycallit'hi
p-hoptherapy'.Thedoctorssaidthatmanyofthelyrics(thewordstothe
songs)inhip-hopmusiccanreachouttopeoplewithemotionalproble
ms.Ateamofdoctorswroteareportaboutthis.Thereportisinaspecialm
edicalmagazinecalled'TheLancetPsychiatry'.Thedoctorssaidalotofhi
p-hopmusicspeaksofovercominghardshipsandbigdifficultiesinlif
e.Inparticular,hip-hophaslyricsaboutbeingpoor,beingunpopular,an
daboutcrimeanddrugs.Theseareallproblemsthatcanleadtodepressio
nandmentalillnesses.Thereportonhip-hopandmentalhealthsay
s:"Hip-hopartistsusetheirskillsandtalentsnotonlytodescribethewo
rldtheysee,butalsoasameansofbreakingfree.There'softenamessage
ofhopeinamongstthelyrics,describingtheplacewheretheywanttobe-
thecarstheywanttoown,themodelstheywanttodate."Thedoctorscho
sefivehip-hopsongsaspartofthetherapy.Oneofthemistheclas
sic1982tune'TheMessage'byGrandmasterFlash&TheFuriousFive.An
otherisatrackcalled'Juicy'byTheNotoriousBIG.Thishaslyricsthattellp
eopletheycanbesuccessfulevenifotherssaytheycannotbe.BIGexplai
nshowteacherstoldhimhewould"amounttonothing"butthenbecame
asuperstar.

FREE WRITING

Write about hip-hop for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

What are the differences between hip-hop and classical music? Which is best?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 hip-hop. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. HIP-HOP: Make a poster about hip-hop. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. THERAPY: Write a magazine article about hip-hop therapy. Include imaginary interviews with people who think it's a good idea and with people who don't think it's a good idea.

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 hip-hop. Ask him/her three questions about hip-hop. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

F

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	help	a.	aid
2.	depressed	b.	sad
3.	lyrics	c.	words
4.	overcoming	d.	defeating
5.	lead to	e.	result in
6.	describe	f.	put into words
7.	means	g.	way
8.	chose	h.	selected
9.	track	i.	song
10.	amount to	j.	become

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Cambridge University
2.	Those with emotional problems
3.	A medical magazine
4.	Hardships
5.	Depression
6.	Their skills and talents
7.	A message of hope
8.	Five
9.	Juicy
10.	His teachers

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

d

7.

c

8.

b

9.

c

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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Hip-hop can help mental illness (13th November, 2014)

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