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Academy Awards are 'for white men' (20th January, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

Many people in the movie world are angry that Hollywood and the movie industry are run by "old white men". People complained after the Oscar nominations came out last Thursday because all 20 of the actors in with a chance of winning an Oscar are white. In addition, there are no women in the directing or writing categories. The Los Angeles Times newspaper carried out a survey in 2012 on who the members of the Academy are. The members are the people who choose the men and women who are nominated for an Oscar. The LA Times survey found that the members of the academy were 94 per cent white, largely male, with an average age of 62. Critics say this means there is too little diversity in the Oscars.

Civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton was one of the biggest critics of the Academy. He complained that: "The movie industry is like the Rocky Mountains - the higher you get, the whiter it gets." He added that: "The lack of diversity in [the] Oscar nominations is [terrible]." He said it was strange that one of the movies nominated for this year's 'Best Picture' award, 'Selma,' was about racism, but none of the actors in Selma nor any non-white actors in other movies were up for an award. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy, said the members do their best to nominate the best people, regardless of their colour or gender. However, she did say that she hoped Hollywood would become more diverse.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30862139
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/academy-president-speaks-oscars-firestorm-article-1.2082198
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/15/us-awards-oscars-diversity-idUSKBN0KO2L920150115

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. MOVIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about movies. 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?

angry / movie industry / complained / nominations / winning / writing / diversity / civil rights / critics / terrible / racism / president / regardless / gender / colour

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

3. MOVIE INDUSTRY: How can these things / people be better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How are they now?	How could they be better?
Actors
Movie theaters
DVDs
Stories
Special effects
Sound

4. WHITE: Students A strongly believe the movie industry is too white; 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. GENRES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• sci-fi

• horror

• animation

• romance

• action

• fantasy

• spy thriller

• biography

6. AWARD: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "award". 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 article said many white men are angry with the movie industry.	T / F
b.	Only one of 20 actors nominated for an award is non-white.	T / F
c.	There are no women up for an Oscar of any kind.	T / F
d.	The average age of a member of the Oscars Academy is 62.	T / F
e.	Al Sharpton talked about a new movie called 'Rocky Mountains'.	T / F
f.	Al Sharpton was unhappy with the lack of diversity in the Oscars.	T / F
g.	No actor in the movie 'Selma' has been nominated for an award.	T / F
h.	The Academy president is a woman.	T / F

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

1.	angry	a.	variety
2.	complained	b.	study
3.	chance	c.	important
4.	survey	d.	moaned
5.	diversity	e.	propose
6.	big	f.	annoyed
7.	lack	g.	awful
8.	terrible	h.	sex
9.	nominate	i.	possibility
10.	gender	j.	shortage

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

1.	Many people in the movie	a.	who choose
2.	the Oscar nominations came	b.	a chance of winning
3.	all 20 of the actors in with	c.	of their colour
4.	The members are the people	d.	diversity in the Oscars
5.	there is too little	e.	become more diverse
6.	one of the biggest critics	f.	world are angry
7.	the higher you get,	g.	for an award
8.	up	h.	the whiter it gets
9.	regardless	i.	out last Thursday
10.	she hoped Hollywood would	j.	of the Academy

GAP FILL

Many people in the movie world are (1) ____________ that Hollywood and the movie (2) ____________ are run by "old white men". People complained after the Oscar nominations came out last Thursday because all 20 of the actors in with a (3) ____________ of winning an Oscar are white. In addition, there are no women in the (4) ____________ or writing categories. The Los Angeles Times newspaper carried out a survey in 2012 on who the (5) ____________ of the Academy are. The members are the people who choose the men and women who are nominated for an Oscar. The LA Times (6) ____________ found that the members of the academy were 94 per cent white, (7) ____________ male, with an average age of 62. Critics say this means there is too little (8) ____________ in the Oscars.

members
survey
chance
diversity
angry
largely
industry
directing

Civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton was one of the biggest (9) ____________ of the Academy. He complained that: "The movie industry is like the Rocky Mountains - the higher you get, the (10) ____________ it gets." He added that: "The (11) ____________ of diversity in [the] Oscar nominations is [terrible]." He said it was (12) ____________ that one of the movies nominated for this year's 'Best Picture' award, 'Selma,' was about (13) ____________, but none of the actors in Selma nor any non-white actors in other movies were up for an (14) ____________. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy, said the members do their best to nominate the best (15) ____________, regardless of their colour or gender. However, she did say that she hoped Hollywood would become more (16) ____________.

award
diverse
whiter
strange
critics
people
lack
racism

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Many people in the movie ______
	a. world are angrily b. world are hungry c. world are angers d. world are angry
2)	People complained after the Oscar nominations ______ Thursday
	a. came out last b. come out last c. came out lastly d. came about last
3)	all 20 of the actors in with a chance of winning ______
	a. an Oscar be white b. an Oscar is white c. an Oscar am white d. an Oscar are white
4)	In addition, there are no women in the directing ______
	a. or write in categories b. or writing in categories c. or writing categories d. or right wing categories
5)	the members of the academy were 94 per cent white ______
	a. largely males b. legally male c. largely male d. regularly male
6)	Civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton was one of the biggest ______
	a. critics for the Academy b. critics of the Academy c. critiques of the Academy d. criticise of the Academy
7)	like the Rocky Mountains - the higher you get, the ______
	a. whither it gets b. whiter it gets c. white are it gets d. why tar it gets
8)	He added that: "The lack of diversity in [the] Oscar nominations ______
	a. is terrific b. is terrible c. is horrible d. is horrific
9)	none of the actors in Selma nor any non-white actors in other movies were ______
	a. up four an award b. up for Anna Ward c. up for and award d. up for an award
10)	she did say that she hoped Hollywood ______ diverse
	a. would became more b. would bee come more c. would become more d. would becomes more

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Many people in the movie world (1) ___________________ Hollywood and the movie (2) ___________________ "old white men". People complained after the Oscar nominations came out last Thursday because all 20 of the actors (3) ___________________ winning an Oscar are white. In addition, there are no women in the directing or writing categories. The Los Angeles Times newspaper (4) ___________________ in 2012 on who the members of the Academy are. The members are the people who choose the men and women (5) ___________________ for an Oscar. The LA Times survey found that the members of the academy were 94 per cent white, largely male, with an average age of 62. Critics say this means there (6) ___________________ in the Oscars.

Civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton was (7) ___________________ critics of the Academy. He complained that: "The movie industry is like the Rocky Mountains - (8) ___________________, the whiter it gets." He added that: "The lack of diversity in [the] Oscar nominations is [terrible]." He said it was (9) ___________________ the movies nominated for this year's 'Best Picture' award, 'Selma,' was about racism, (10) ___________________ actors in Selma nor any non-white actors in other movies were up for an award. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy, (11) ___________________ their best to nominate the best people, regardless of their colour or gender. However, (12) ___________________ she hoped Hollywood would become more diverse.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How do many people in the movie world feel about their industry?
2.	How many actors have a chance of winning an Oscar?
3.	When did the LA Times carry out a survey?
4.	What percentage of the Academy is white?
5.	What do critics say there is too little of in the Oscars?
6.	Who is Al Sharpton?
7.	What mountain range did Al Sharpton compare the Academy to?
8.	What movie in the article could win the 'Best Picture' award?
9.	Who is Cheryl Boone Isaacs?
10.	What did Cheryl Boone Isaacs hope would become more diverse?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How do many people in the movie world feel about their industry?	6.	Who is Al Sharpton?
	a) angry b) sad c) strange d) excited		a) president of the Academy b) an actor c) an L.A. Times reporter d) a civil rights campaigner
2.	How many actors have a chance of winning an Oscar?	7.	What mountain range did Al Sharpton compare the Academy to?
	a) 21 b) 22 c) 20 d) 23		a) Alps b) Hajar Mountains c) Rocky Mountains d) Himalayas
3.	When did the LA Times carry out a survey?	8.	What movie in the article could win the 'Best Picture' award?
	a) 2009 b) 2010 c) 2011 d) 2012		a) Thrill Ma b) Selma c) Thelma d) Sell Ma
4.	What percentage of the Academy is white?	9.	Who is Cheryl Boone Isaacs?
	a) 92 b) 94 c) 96 d) 90		a) a director b) an actress c) president of the Academy d) a reporter
5.	What do critics say there is too little of in the Oscars?	10.	What did Cheryl Boone Isaacs hope would become more diverse?
	a) diversity b) humour c) musicals d) popcorn		a) diversity b) Hollywood c) movies d) opinions

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Science fiction

You think science fiction is the best movie genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their genres aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): horror, romance or biography.

Role B – Horror

You think horror is the best movie genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their genres aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): science fiction, romance or biography.

Role C – Romance

You think romance is the best movie genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their genres aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): horror, science fiction or biography.

Role D – Biography

You think biography is the best movie genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their genres aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): horror, romance or science fiction.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

old

white

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:

angry
20
women
2012
94
62

like
higher
lack
strange
best
colour

MOVIES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about movies 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.

MOVIES 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 'movie'?
3)	What's your favourite movie?
4)	What do you think of the Academy Awards (Oscars)?
5)	Who do you think will win this year?
6)	What do you think about what you read?
7)	Why are most industries run by "old white men"?
8)	What complaints do you have about movies?
9)	Why are there so few women nominated this year?
10)	How important is diversity?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What would it be like to have a job as a movie critic?
13)	What does Al Sharpton's comment about the Rocky Mountains mean?
14)	What should the movie industry do from now?
15)	What did you think of the last movie you saw?
16)	Are men or women better actors?
17)	What do you think of Hollywood?
18)	What would it be like to be a Hollywood actor?
19)	Does Hollywood make the best films in the world?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Al Sharpton?

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

Many people in the movie world are (1) ____ that Hollywood and the movie industry are (2) ____ by "old white men". People complained after the Oscar nominations came out last Thursday because all 20 of the actors (3) ____ with a chance of winning an Oscar are white. In addition, there are no women in the directing or writing categories. The Los Angeles Times newspaper (4) ____ out a survey in 2012 on who the members of the Academy (5) ____. The members are the people who choose the men and women who are nominated for an Oscar. The LA Times survey found that the members of the academy were 94 per cent white, largely male, with an average age of 62. Critics say this means there is too (6) ____ diversity in the Oscars.

Civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton was one of the biggest (7) ____ of the Academy. He complained that: "The movie industry is like the Rocky Mountains - the higher you get, the whiter it (8) ____." He added that: "The lack of diversity in [the] Oscar nominations is [terrible]." He said it was strange that one of the movies nominated (9) ____ this year's 'Best Picture' award, 'Selma,' was about racism, but none of the actors in Selma (10) ____ any non-white actors in other movies were up for an award. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy, said the members do their (11) ____ to nominate the best people, regardless of their colour or gender. However, she did say that she (12) ____ Hollywood would become more diverse.

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

1.	(a)	angrily	(b)	angered	(c)	angry	(d)	angers
2.	(a)	run	(b)	running	(c)	rune	(d)	ruin
3.	(a)	in	(b)	out	(c)	up	(d)	down
4.	(a)	carried	(b)	stretchered	(c)	delivered	(d)	held
5.	(a)	be	(b)	are	(c)	is	(d)	been
6.	(a)	soon	(b)	small	(c)	few	(d)	little
7.	(a)	creatures	(b)	craters	(c)	critics	(d)	citric
8.	(a)	get	(b)	got	(c)	getting	(d)	gets
9.	(a)	for	(b)	by	(c)	at	(d)	on
10.	(a)	nor	(b)	not	(c)	no	(d)	none
11.	(a)	good	(b)	best	(c)	well	(d)	nice
12.	(a)	hopped	(b)	hoping	(c)	hoped	(d)	hope

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	the movie tusndyir
2.	People paeoildcmn
3.	the directing or writing rcisgeotae
4.	carried out a vsyrue
5.	an eaevgra age of 62
6.	there is too little iydsirevt in the Oscars
Paragraph 2
7.	one of the biggest csiitrc
8.	one of the movies ontedanim
9.	'Selma,' was about srcmia
10.	up for an rdaaw
11.	etiesrnpd of the Academy
12.	regardless of their colour or gernde

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	is like the Rocky Mountains - the higher you get, the whiter it gets." He added that: "The lack
( )	choose the men and women who are nominated for an Oscar. The LA Times survey found that the members of the
( )	of diversity in [the] Oscar nominations is [terrible]." He said it was strange that one of the movies nominated
( )	academy were 94 per cent white, largely male, with an average age of 62. Critics say this means there is too little diversity in the Oscars.
( )	white actors in other movies were up for an award. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president
( )	for this year's 'Best Picture' award, 'Selma,' was about racism, but none of the actors in Selma nor any non-
( )	out a survey in 2012 on who the members of the Academy are. The members are the people who
( )	no women in the directing or writing categories. The Los Angeles Times newspaper carried
( )	gender. However, she did say that she hoped Hollywood would become more diverse.
( )	of the Academy, said the members do their best to nominate the best people, regardless of their colour or
( 1 )	Many people in the movie world are angry that Hollywood and the movie industry are run
( )	out last Thursday because all 20 of the actors in with a chance of winning an Oscar are white. In addition, there are
( )	Civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton was one of the biggest critics of the Academy. He complained that: "The movie industry
( )	by "old white men". People complained after the Oscar nominations came

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	in angry the movie Many world people are .
2.	came After out the last Oscar Thursday nominations .
3.	chance a with in actors the of 20 All winning of .
4.	categories There are no women in the directing or writing .
5.	the too Oscars little diversity There in is .
6.	of of the the Academy biggest critics One .
7.	Mountains is like The the movie Rocky industry .
8.	year's Movies 'Best nominated Picture' for award this .
9.	the their nominate people do to best Members best .
10.	Hollywood hoped She diverse more become would .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Many people in the movie world are angrily / angry that Hollywood and the movie industry are run by "old white men". People complaining / complained after the Oscar nominations came out / in last Thursday because all 20 of the actors in with a chance for / of winning an Oscar are white. In addition, there are no women in / on the directing or writing categories. The Los Angeles Times newspaper carried out a survey / surveyed in 2012 on who the members of the Academy are / been. The members are the people who choose the men and women who are nomination / nominated for an Oscar. The LA Times survey found that the members of / by the academy were 94 per cent white, largely male, with an averaged / average age of 62. Critics say this means there is too little diversity in the Oscars.

Civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton was one of the biggest creatures / critics of the Academy. He complained that: "The movie industry is like a / the Rocky Mountains - the higher you get, the whiter it get / gets." He added that: "The lack of / for diversity in [the] Oscar nominations is [terrible]." He said it was strange / strangely that one of the movies nominated for this year's 'Best Picture' award, 'Selma,' was about racism / racist, but none of the actors in Selma nor any non-white actors in other / another movies were up for an award. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy, said the members do / doing their best to nominate the best people, regardless / regarding of their colour or gender. However, she did say that she hoped Hollywood would become more diverse / diversion.

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)

M_ny p__pl_ _n th_ m_v__ w_rld _r_ _ngry th_t H_llyw__d _nd th_ m_v__ _nd_stry _r_ r_n by "_ld wh_t_ m_n". P__pl_ c_mpl__n_d _ft_r th_ _sc_r n_m_n_t__ns c_m_ __t l_st Th_rsd_y b_c__s_ _ll 20 _f th_ _ct_rs _n w_th _ ch_nc_ _f w_nn_ng _n _sc_r _r_ wh_t_. _n _dd_t__n, th_r_ _r_ n_ w_m_n _n th_ d_r_ct_ng _r wr_t_ng c_t_g_r__s. Th_ L_s _ng_l_s T_m_s n_wsp_p_r c_rr__d __t _ s_rv_y _n 2012 _n wh_ th_ m_mb_rs _f th_ _c_d_my _r_. Th_ m_mb_rs _r_ th_ p__pl_ wh_ ch__s_ th_ m_n _nd w_m_n wh_ _r_ n_m_n_t_d f_r _n _sc_r. Th_ L_ T_m_s s_rv_y f__nd th_t th_ m_mb_rs _f th_ _c_d_my w_r_ 94 p_r c_nt wh_t_, l_rg_ly m_l_, w_th _n _v_r_g_ _g_ _f 62. Cr_t_cs s_y th_s m__ns th_r_ _s t__ l_ttl_ d_v_rs_ty _n th_ _sc_rs.

C_v_l r_ghts c_mp__gn_r _l Sh_rpt_n w_s _n_ _f th_ b_gg_st cr_t_cs _f th_ _c_d_my. H_ c_mpl__n_d th_t: "Th_ m_v__ _nd_stry _s l_k_ th_ R_cky M__nt__ns - th_ h_gh_r y__ g_t, th_ wh_t_r _t g_ts." H_ _dd_d th_t: "Th_ l_ck _f d_v_rs_ty _n [th_] _sc_r n_m_n_t__ns _s [t_rr_bl_]." H_ s__d _t w_s str_ng_ th_t _n_ _f th_ m_v__s n_m_n_t_d f_r th_s y__r's 'B_st P_ct_r_' _w_rd, 'S_lm_,' w_s _b__t r_c_sm, b_t n_n_ _f th_ _ct_rs _n S_lm_ n_r _ny n_n-wh_t_ _ct_rs _n _th_r m_v__s w_r_ _p f_r _n _w_rd. Ch_ryl B__n_ _s__cs, pr_s_d_nt _f th_ _c_d_my, s__d th_ m_mb_rs d_ th__r b_st t_ n_m_n_t_ th_ b_st p__pl_, r_g_rdl_ss _f th__r c_l__r _r g_nd_r. H_w_v_r, sh_ d_d s_y th_t sh_ h_p_d H_llyw__d w__ld b_c_m_ m_r_ d_v_rs_.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

many people in the movie world are angry that hollywood and the movie industry are run by "old white men" people complained after the oscar nominations came out last thursday because all 20 of the actors in with a chance of winning an oscar are white in addition there are no women in the directing or writing categories the los angeles times newspaper carried out a survey in 2012 on who the members of the academy are the members are the people who choose the men and women who are nominated for an oscar the la times survey found that the members of the academy were 94 per cent white largely male with an average age of 62 critics say this means there is too little diversity in the oscars

civil rights campaigner al sharpton was one of the biggest critics of the academy he complained that "the movie industry is like the rocky mountains - the higher you get the whiter it gets" he added that "the lack of diversity in [the] oscar nominations is [terrible]" he said it was strange that one of the movies nominated for this year's 'best picture' award 'selma' was about racism but none of the actors in selma nor any non-white actors in other movies were up for an award cheryl boone isaacs president of the academy said the members do their best to nominate the best people regardless of their colour or gender however she did say that she hoped hollywood would become more diverse

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ManypeopleinthemovieworldareangrythatHollywoodandthemoviein
dustryarerunby"oldwhitemen".PeoplecomplainedaftertheOscarno
minationscameoutlastThursdaybecauseall20oftheactorsinwithacha
nceofwinninganOscararewhite.Inaddition,therearenowomeninthedi
rectingorwritingcategories.TheLosAngelesTimesnewspapercarriedo
utasurveyin2012onwhothemembersoftheAcademyare.Themember
sarethepeoplewhochoosethemenandwomenwhoarenominatedfora
nOscar.TheLATimessurveyfoundthatthemembersoftheacademywer
e94percentwhite,largelymale,withanaverageageof62.Criticssaythis
meansthereistoolittlediversityintheOscars.CivilrightscampaignerAl
SharptonwasoneofthebiggestcriticsoftheAcademy.Hecomplainedth
at:"ThemovieindustryisliketheRockyMountainsthehigheryouget,th
ewhiteritgets."Headdedthat:"Thelackofdiversityin[the]Oscarnomin
ationsis[terrible]."Hesaiditwasstrangethatoneofthemoviesnominat
edforthisyear's'BestPicture'award,'Selma,'wasaboutracism,butnon
eoftheactorsinSelmanoranynon-whiteactorsinothermovieswereu
pforanaward.CherylBooneIsaacs,presidentoftheAcademy,saidthem
embersdotheirbesttonominatethebestpeople,regardlessoftheircolo
urorgender.However,shedidsaythatshehopedHollywoodwouldbeco
memorediverse.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Male actors are better than female actors. 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 the Oscars. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MOVIES: Make a poster about movies around the world. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. ACADEMY AWARDS: Write a magazine article about the Academy Awards. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.

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 movies. Ask him/her three questions about movies. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make them better. 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

F

c

F

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	angry	a.	annoyed
2	complained	b.	moaned
3.	chance	c.	possibility
4.	survey	d.	study
5.	diversity	e.	variety
6.	big	f.	important
7.	lack	g.	shortage
8.	terrible	h.	awful
9.	nominate	i.	propose
10.	gender	j.	sex

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Angry
2.	20
3.	2012
4.	94
5.	Diversity
6.	A civil rights campaigner
7.	The Rocky Mountains
8.	Selma
9.	President of the Academy
10.	Hollywood

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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Academy Awards are 'for white men' (20th January, 2015)

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