Japanese government to play matchmaker

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Japan's government is playing Cupid to get more couples to have babies. Japan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. It is trying new ways to get people to have children. One of these is matchmaking. Japan will support local government projects for speed dating, matchmaking and other ways to coax couples to get together. There will be big efforts over the next five years to fix this "critical situation". Japan could face serious social problems.

One reason for Japan's falling birth rate is the cost of having children. The government hopes it can help with this. These include plans for free nurseries, help with fertility treatment, and taking paternity leave to 80% by 2020. There are also plans to help families with three or more children. By 2060, nearly 40% of people in Japan will be over 65. They already make up 25%. The birth rate fell from 4.54 children per mother in 1947 to just 1.42 in 2014.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-31869981
http://time.com/3744317/japan-birth-rate-matchmaking-paternity-leave/
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/13/national/social-issues/government-to-support-matchmaking-mens-child-rearing-to-raise-birth rate/#.VQRJo2ZX-0f

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.	Japan's government is	a.	rates in the world
2.	get more couples to	b.	couples
3.	one of the lowest birth	c.	the next five years
4.	It is trying	d.	playing Cupid
5.	local	e.	situation
6.	other ways to coax	f.	new ways
7.	big efforts over	g.	government
8.	fix this critical	h.	have babies

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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.	One reason for Japan's	a.	leave
2.	the cost of having	b.	help with this
3.	The government hopes it can	c.	fell
4.	These include plans for free	d.	falling birth rate
5.	fertility	e.	or more children
6.	paternity	f.	children
7.	help families with three	g.	treatment
8.	The birth rate	h.	nurseries

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Japan's government is playing Cupid (1) ___________________ to have babies. Japan has (2) ___________________ birth rates in the world. It is trying (3) ___________________ people to have children. One of these is matchmaking. Japan will support (4) ___________________ projects for speed dating, matchmaking and other (5) ___________________ couples to get together. There will be big efforts over the next five years to fix this "critical situation". Japan (6) ___________________ social problems.

One reason for Japan's falling (7) ___________________ cost of having children. The government hopes it (8) ___________________. These include plans for free nurseries, help with (9) ___________________, and taking paternity leave to 80% by 2020. There (10) ___________________ to help families with three or more children. (11) ___________________ of people in Japan will be over 65. They already make up 25%. The birth rate fell from 4.54 children per mother in 1947 (12) ___________________.

MATCHMAKING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about matchmaking 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 matchmaking for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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