The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Airlines across the world have begun putting in place requirements for two crew members to always be present in the cockpit. The new measures come in the wake of the Germanwings crash in the French Alps on Tuesday in which 150 people died. The swift response from airlines is because of the news that the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight had deliberately crashed the plane. Reports are that he locked the pilot out of the cockpit and set the aircraft on a collision course with a mountain. Britain's Monarch Airlines said having two pilots ever-present in the cockpit would now be mandatory on all its flights. Cabin crew will also regularly enter the flight deck during the flight to check on the pilots.

Airlines are also considering revamping their screening procedures to assess the mental health of pilots. There is speculation in the media that the Germanwings co-pilot was depressed. He had to stop his training seven years ago because he was suffering from depression and 'burnout'. His boss said the co-pilot had taken several months off work and had to retrain to join the company, but insisted he was "100 per cent fit to fly". News is also emerging of the final moments of Flight 9525. The pilot sensed something was wrong after he had gone to the toilet and realised he was locked out of the cockpit. There was "absolute silence" in the cockpit as the co-pilot steered the plane into the mountain.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-32075657
  • http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/airlines-require-crew-members-cockpit-times-29930333
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3013350/Two-crew-members-cockpit-times-EasyJet-airlines-announce-radical-new-changes-wake-Germanwings-tragedy.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. FLYING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about cockpit. 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?

 

airlines / cabin crew / cockpit / response / co-pilot / mandatory / regularly /  procedures / mental health / speculation / depression / burnout / absolute silence

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

3. AIRPLANES: Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

Environment

 

 

Safety

 

 

Comfort

 

 

Convenience

 

 

Ticket cost

 

 

Service

 

 

 

4. SAFEST: Students A strongly believe flying is the safest form of travel; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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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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5. PILOT: Rank these with your partner. Put the best reasons for being a pilot at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • money

  • uniform

  • prestige

  • travel

  • excitement

  • meeting people

  • serving people

  • flying airplanes

6. CABIN CREW: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "cabin crew". 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.

All airlines must have two crew members in the cockpit at all times.

T / F

b.

Airlines have responded slowly to the recent air tragedy.

T / F

c.

A British airline says it will now require 2 crew members in the cockpit.

T / F

d.

Monarch Airlines said the two crew members must both be pilots.

T / F

e.

Airlines will also step up the screening of the mental health of pilots.

T / F

f.

The Germanwings co-pilot had not flown for seven years.

T / F

g.

The co-pilot had previously suffered from burnout.

T / F

h.

There was a lot of noise in the cockpit in the flight's final moments.

T / F

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

1.

across

a.

crash

2.

measures

b.

thinking about

3.

in the wake of

c.

frequently

4.

collision

d.

initiatives

5.

regularly

e.

maintained

6.

considering

f.

following

7.

revamping

g.

felt

8.

insisted

h.

all over

9.

sensed

i.

total

10.

absolute

j.

improving

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

1.

two crew members to always be

a.

course

2.

swift

b.

to fly

3.

collision

c.

deck

4.

cabin

d.

procedures

5.

flight

e.

present in the cockpit

6.

revamping their screening

f.

something was wrong

7.

he was suffering from

g.

silence

8.

100 per cent fit

h.

crew

9.

The pilot sensed

i.

depression and burnout

10.

absolute

j.

response

GAP FILL

Airlines across the world have begun putting in (1) ____________ requirements for two crew members to always be present in the cockpit. The new measures come in the (2) ____________ of the Germanwings crash in the French Alps on Tuesday in which 150 people died. The swift (3) ____________ from airlines is because of the news that the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight had (4) ____________ crashed the plane. Reports are that he locked the pilot out of the cockpit and set the aircraft on a (5) ____________ course with a mountain. Britain's Monarch Airlines said having two pilots ever-present in the cockpit would now be (6) ____________ on all its flights. Cabin (7) ____________ will also regularly enter the flight (8) ____________ during the flight to check on the pilots.

 

 

response
place
collision
crew
deliberately
mandatory
deck
wake

Airlines are also (9) ____________ revamping their screening procedures to assess the mental health of pilots. There is (10) ____________ in the media that the Germanwings co-pilot was depressed. He had to stop his training seven years ago because he was suffering from depression and '(11) ____________ '. His boss said the co-pilot had taken (12) ____________ months off work and had to retrain to join the company, but insisted he was "100 per cent (13) ____________ to fly". News is also (14) ____________ of the final moments of Flight 9525. The pilot (15) ____________ something was wrong after he had gone to the toilet and realised he was locked out of the cockpit. There was "(16) ____________ silence" in the cockpit as the co-pilot steered the plane into the mountain.

 

speculation
emerging
burnout
sensed
considering
several
absolute
fit

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

requirements for two crew members to always be present ______

 

a.  on the cockpit
b.  at the cockpit
c.  by the cockpit
d.  in the cockpit

2)

The new measures come ______ the Germanwings crash

 

a.  in the awake of
b.  in the wait of
c.  in the await of
d.  in the wake of

3)

Reports are that he locked the pilot out of the cockpit and set the aircraft ______

 

a.  on a collision coarse
b.  on a colliding course
c.  on a collision course
d.  on a colliding coarse

4)

Monarch Airlines said having two pilots ever-present in the cockpit ______ mandatory

 

a.  would know be
b.  would now be
c.  will now be
d.  will know be

5)

Cabin crew will also regularly enter the flight deck ______

 

a.  during a flight
b.  during the flight
c.  during this flight
d.  during that flight

6)

revamping their screening procedures to assess the mental ______

 

a.  healthy of pilots
b.  health of pilots
c.  health for pilots
d.  health of pilot

7)

There is speculation in the media that the Germanwings co-pilot ______

 

a.  was depressed
b.  was depression
c.  was depressing
d.  was depress

8)

the co-pilot had taken several months off work and had to retrain ______

 

a.  to join the company
b.  to join a company
c.  to join this company
d.  to join that company

9)

News is also emerging of the final moments ______

 

a.  for Flight 9525
b.  of Flight 9525
c.  from Flight 9525
d.  if Flight 9525

10)

There was "______" in the cockpit

 

a.  absolutely silence
b.  absoluteness silence
c.  absolutes silence
d.  absolute silence

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Airlines across the world have begun (1) ___________________ requirements for two crew members to always be present in the cockpit. The new measures come (2) ___________________ Germanwings crash in the French Alps on Tuesday in which 150 people died. The (3) ___________________ airlines is because of the news that the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight (4) ___________________ crashed the plane. Reports are that he locked the pilot out of the cockpit and set the aircraft on a collision course with a mountain. Britain's Monarch Airlines said having two (5) ___________________ in the cockpit would now be mandatory on all its flights. Cabin crew will also regularly enter the flight (6) ___________________ flight to check on the pilots.

Airlines are also considering revamping their screening (7) ___________________ the mental health of pilots. There is speculation in the media that the Germanwings co-pilot was depressed. He had to stop his training seven years ago because (8) ___________________ from depression and 'burnout'. His boss said the co-pilot had taken several months off work and (9) ___________________ join the company, but insisted he was "100 per cent fit to fly". News (10) ___________________ of the final moments of Flight 9525. The pilot sensed something was wrong after he had gone to the toilet and realised he was (11) ___________________ cockpit. There was "absolute silence" in the cockpit as the co-pilot (12) ___________________ into the mountain.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

Where will many airlines require two crew members to be at all times?

2.

What word was used to describe the speed of the airlines' response?

3.

Who was locked out of the cockpit?

4.

What is the name of the British airline mentioned in the article?

5.

Where will cabin crew go to check on pilots?

6.

What will airlines screen pilots more frequently for?

7.

How long ago did the co-pilot stop his training?

8.

What had the co-pilot suffered from besides depression?

9.

How fit did a boss say the pilot was to fly?

10.

What kind of silence did the article say there was in the cockpit?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

Where will many airlines require two crew members to be at all times?

6.

What will airlines screen pilots more frequently for?

 

a) the aisles
b) the galley
c) the cockpit
d) the hold

 

a) their technical ability
b) mental health
c) their knowledge
d) their disaster preparedness

2.

What word was used to describe the speed of the airlines' response?

7.

How long ago did the co-pilot stop his training?

 

a) swift
b) tardy
c) sluggish
d) sedate

 

a) 4 years
b) 5 years
c) 6 years
d) 7 years

3.

Who was locked out of the cockpit?

8.

What had the co-pilot suffered from besides depression?

 

a) the purser
b) the pilot
c) the co-pilot
d) the engineer

 

a) high blood pressure
b) burnout
c) chest pains
d) migraines

4.

What is the name of the British airline mentioned in the article?

9.

How fit did a boss say the pilot was to fly?

 

a) British Airlines
b) Monarch Airways
c) British Airways
d) Monarch Airlines

 

a) reasonably
b) 100% fit
c) fit enough
d) more than fit

5.

Where will cabin crew go to check on pilots?

10.

What kind of silence did the article say there was in the cockpit?

 

a) the galley
b) a screening clinic
c) the flight deck
d) their home

 

a) absolute
b) relative
c) deafening
d) acceptable

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Money

You think money is the best thing about being a pilot. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): prestige, travel or flying airplanes.

Role  B – Prestige

You think prestige is the best thing about being a pilot. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): money, travel or flying airplanes.

Role  C – Travel

You think travel is the best thing about being a pilot. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): prestige, money or flying airplanes.

Role  D – Flying airplanes

You think flying airplanes is the best thing about being a pilot. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why):  prestige, travel or money.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

flight

 

deck

 

 

  • 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:

  • across
  • new
  • swift
  • course
  • ever
  • check
  • assess
  • media
  • several
  • 100
  • wrong
  • silence

FLYING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about flying 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.

FLYING 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 'cockpit'?

3)

How difficult do you think it is to fly a plane?

4)

Should there always be two crew members in the cockpit?

5)

What would it be like to be a pilot?

6)

How safe do you think air travel is?

7)

What extra safety features should airplanes have?

8)

What are the best and worst things about flying?

9)

What do you think about remote-control, pilotless planes?

10)

What do you worry about when you fly?

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

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

11)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12)

How often should pilots be screened?

13)

Why do you think pilots can experience 'burnout'?

14)

What do you think pilot training is like?

15)

What should bosses do if staff have depression?

16)

How can you help someone overcome a fear of flying?

17)

What's the best airline in the world, and why?

18)

How do you feel when you see news of an air crash?

19)

What will flying be like in fifty years from now?

20)

What questions would you like to ask a pilot?

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

Airlines across the world have begun putting in (1) ____ requirements for two crew members to always be (2) ____ in the cockpit. The new measures come in the wake of the Germanwings crash in the French Alps on Tuesday in which 150 people died. The (3) ____ response from airlines is because of the news that the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight had deliberately crashed the plane. Reports are that he locked the pilot out of the cockpit and (4) ____ the aircraft on a collision course with a mountain. Britain's Monarch Airlines said having two pilots (5) ____-present in the cockpit would now be mandatory on all its flights. Cabin crew will also regularly enter the flight (6) ____ during the flight to check on the pilots.

Airlines are also considering (7) ____ their screening procedures to assess the mental health of pilots. There is speculation in the media that the Germanwings co-pilot was depressed. He had to stop his training seven years ago because he was suffering from depression and '(8) ____'. His boss said the co-pilot had taken      (9) ____ months off work and had to retrain to join the company, but insisted he was "100 per cent fit to fly". News is also (10) ____ of the final moments of Flight 9525. The pilot (11) ____ something was wrong after he had gone to the toilet and realised he was locked out of the cockpit. There was "(12) ____ silence" in the cockpit as the co-pilot steered the plane into the mountain.

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

1.

(a)

there

(b)

rules

(c)

place

(d)

aircraft

2.

(a)

present

(b)

presence

(c)

presented

(d)

presents

3.

(a)

swift

(b)

drift

(c)

adrift

(d)

shift

4.

(a)

set

(b)

let

(c)

get

(d)

met

5.

(a)

never

(b)

ever

(c)

even

(d)

evenly

6.

(a)

desk

(b)

duck

(c)

dock

(d)

deck

7.

(a)

revamp

(b)

revamped

(c)

revamping

(d)

revamps

8.

(a)

burn rate

(b)

burn

(c)

burn up

(d)

burnout

9.

(a)

several

(b)

few

(c)

numeral

(d)

vast

10.

(a)

emergent

(b)

emerging

(c)

emerged

(d)

emerges

11.

(a)

realise

(b)

sensed

(c)

feeling

(d)

awareness

12.

(a)

resolute

(b)

convolute

(c)

absolute

(d)

flute

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

putting in place qrmetirneuse

2.

new saeeursm

3.

The swift reenosps from airlines

4.

erbledyaielt crashed

5.

on a ilsoloinc course

6.

ymarotdna on all its flights

Paragraph 2

7.

revamping their screening deepursorc

8.

cinuseptoal in the media

9.

suffering from sedsipnoer

10.

News is also egrngmei

11.

There was "etsoulba silence"

12.

the co-pilot redtsee the plane

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

that the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight had deliberately crashed the plane. Reports are that he locked the pilot

(    )

regularly enter the flight deck during the flight to check on the pilots.

1  )

Airlines across the world have begun putting in place requirements for two crew members to always be

(    )

training seven years ago because he was suffering from depression and 'burnout'. His boss said the co-pilot had

(    )

out of the cockpit and set the aircraft on a collision course with a mountain. Britain's Monarch Airlines said having

(    )

present in the cockpit. The new measures come in the wake of the Germanwings crash in the French Alps

(    )

silence" in the cockpit as the co-pilot steered the plane into the mountain.

(    )

of pilots. There is speculation in the media that the Germanwings co-pilot was depressed. He had to stop his

(    )

taken several months off work and had to retrain to join the company, but insisted he was "100 per cent fit

(    )

Airlines are also considering revamping their screening procedures to assess the mental health

(    )

on Tuesday in which 150 people died. The swift response from airlines is because of the news

(    )

after he had gone to the toilet and realised he was locked out of the cockpit. There was "absolute

(    )

two pilots ever-present in the cockpit would now be mandatory on all its flights. Cabin crew will also

(    )

to fly". News is also emerging of the final moments of Flight 9525. The pilot sensed something was wrong

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

crew   always   two   to   present   for   members   be   Requirements  .  

2.

because   news   response   is   the   swift   airlines   of   The   from   .  

3.

pilot   the   locked   he   that   are   Reports   cockpit   the   of   out   .  

4.

cockpit present  pilots  mandatory  would  in  ever-  now  the  Two be  .

5.

deck   crew   regularly   flight   Cabin   also   the   will   enter   .  

6.

assess   health   to   mental   pilots   procedures   the   of   Screening  .  

7.

training   ago   had   his   years   He   stop   seven   to   .  

8.

several   months   off   work   The   co   -   pilot   had   taken   .  

9.

of   News   the   is   final   also   moments   emerging   .  

10.

cockpit   the   in   silence'   'absolute   was   There   .  

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Airlines across / crossing the world have begun putting in / on place requirements for two crew members to always be / are present in the cockpit. The new measures come in the awake / wake of the Germanwings crash in the French Alps on Tuesday in which 150 people died. The swift / swiftness response from airlines is because of the news that the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight had deliberate / deliberately crashed the plane. Reports are that he locked the pilot out of the cockpit and set the aircraft on a collision / collide course with a mountain. Britain's Monarch Airlines said having two pilots even- / ever-present in the cockpit would now be mandatory on all its flights. Cabin crew will also regulatory / regularly enter the flight deck during the flight to check on / in the pilots.

Airlines are also considering / considered revamping their screening procedures to assess / access the mental health of pilots. There is speculative / speculation in the media that the Germanwings co-pilot was depressed. He had to stop his training seven years ago / before because he was suffering from depression / depressing and 'burnout'. His boss said the co-pilot had taken / took several months off work and had to retrain to join the company, but insisted / insistence he was "100 per cent fit to fly". News is also emerged / emerging of the final moments of Flight 9525. The pilot sensed something was error / wrong after he had gone to the toilet and realised he was locked out of the cockpit. There was "absolute / absolutely silence" in the cockpit as the co-pilot steered the plane into the mountain.

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)

__rl_n_s _cr_ss th_ w_rld h_v_ b_g_n p_tt_ng _n pl_c_ r_q__r_m_nts f_r tw_ cr_w m_mb_rs t_ _lw_ys b_ pr_s_nt _n th_ c_ckp_t. Th_ n_w m__s_r_s c_m_ _n th_ w_k_ _f th_ G_rm_nw_ngs cr_sh _n th_ Fr_nch _lps _n T__sd_y _n wh_ch 150 p__pl_ d__d. Th_ sw_ft r_sp_ns_ fr_m __rl_n_s _s b_c__s_ _f th_ n_ws th_t th_ c_-p_l_t _f th_ G_rm_nw_ngs fl_ght h_d d_l_b_r_t_ly cr_sh_d th_ pl_n_. R_p_rts _r_ th_t h_ l_ck_d th_ p_l_t __t _f th_ c_ckp_t _nd s_t th_ __rcr_ft _n _ c_ll_s__n c__rs_ w_th _ m__nt__n. Br_t__n's M_n_rch __rl_n_s s__d h_v_ng tw_ p_l_ts _v_r-pr_s_nt _n th_ c_ckp_t w__ld n_w b_ m_nd_t_ry _n _ll _ts fl_ghts. C_b_n cr_w w_ll _ls_ r_g_l_rly _nt_r th_ fl_ght d_ck d_r_ng th_ fl_ght t_ ch_ck _n th_ p_l_ts.

__rl_n_s _r_ _ls_ c_ns_d_r_ng r_v_mp_ng th__r scr__n_ng pr_c_d_r_s t_ _ss_ss th_ m_nt_l h__lth _f p_l_ts. Th_r_ _s sp_c_l_t__n _n th_ m_d__ th_t th_ G_rm_nw_ngs c_-p_l_t w_s d_pr_ss_d. H_ h_d t_ st_p h_s tr__n_ng s_v_n y__rs _g_ b_c__s_ h_ w_s s_ff_r_ng fr_m d_pr_ss__n _nd 'b_rn__t'. H_s b_ss s__d th_ c_-p_l_t h_d t_k_n s_v_r_l m_nths _ff w_rk _nd h_d t_ r_tr__n t_ j__n th_ c_mp_ny, b_t _ns_st_d h_ w_s "100 p_r c_nt f_t t_ fly". N_ws _s _ls_ _m_rg_ng _f th_ f_n_l m_m_nts _f Fl_ght 9525. Th_ p_l_t s_ns_d s_m_th_ng w_s wr_ng _ft_r h_ h_d g_n_ t_ th_ t__l_t _nd r__l_z_d h_ w_s l_ck_d __t _f th_ c_ckp_t. Th_r_ w_s "_bs_l_t_ s_l_nc_" _n th_ c_ckp_t _s th_ c_-p_l_t st__r_d th_ pl_n_ _nt_ th_ m__nt__n.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

airlines across the world have begun putting in place requirements for two crew members to always be present in the cockpit the new measures come in the wake of the germanwings crash in the french alps on tuesday in which 150 people died the swift response from airlines is because of the news that the co-pilot of the germanwings flight had deliberately crashed the plane reports are that he locked the pilot out of the cockpit and set the aircraft on a collision course with a mountain britain's monarch airlines said having two pilots ever-present in the cockpit would now be mandatory on all its flights cabin crew will also regularly enter the flight deck during the flight to check on the pilots

airlines are also considering revamping their screening procedures to assess the mental health of pilots there is speculation in the media that the germanwings co-pilot was depressed he had to stop his training seven years ago because he was suffering from depression and 'burnout' his boss said the co-pilot had taken several months off work and had to retrain to join the company but insisted he was "100 per cent fit to fly" news is also emerging of the final moments of flight 9525 the pilot sensed something was wrong after he had gone to the toilet and realised he was locked out of the cockpit there was "absolute silence" in the cockpit as the co-pilot steered the plane into the mountain

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Airlinesacrosstheworldhavebegunputtinginplacerequirementsfortw
ocrewmemberstoalwaysbepresentinthecockpit.Thenewmeasuresco
meinthewakeoftheGermanwingscrashintheFrenchAlpsonTuesdayin
which150peopledied.Theswiftresponsefromairlinesisbecauseofthen
ewsthattheco-pilotoftheGermanwingsflighthaddeliberatelycrashe
dtheplane.Reportsarethathelockedthepilotoutofthecockpitandsetth
eaircraftonacollisioncoursewithamountain.Britain'sMonarchAirlines
saidhavingtwopilotsever-presentinthecockpitwouldnowbemandat
oryonallitsflights.Cabincrewwillalsoregularlyentertheflightdeckduri
ngtheflighttocheckonthepilots.Airlinesarealsoconsideringrevampin
gtheirscreeningprocedurestoassessthementalhealthofpilots.Therei
sspeculationinthemediathattheGermanwingsco-pilotwasdep
ressed.Hehadtostophistrainingsevenyearsagobecausehewassufferi
ngfromdepressionand'burnout'.Hisbosssaidtheco-pilothadtakens
everalmonthsoffworkandhadtoretraintojointhecompany,butinsiste
dhewas"100percentfittofly".Newsisalsoemergingofthefinalmoment
sofFlight9525.Thepilotsensedsomethingwaswrongafterhehadgonet
othetoiletandrealisedhewaslockedoutofthecockpit.Therewas"absol
utesilence"inthecockpitastheco-pilotsteeredtheplaneintothemou
ntain.

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Flying is the safest form of travel in the world. Discuss.

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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 airplane cockpits. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. COCKPIT: Make a poster about the different areas and controls of a cockpit. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. SAFE: Write a magazine article about airlines being the safest form of travel. Include imaginary interviews with people who believe this and with those who do not.

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 air safety expert. Ask him/her three questions about airplane safety. Give him/her three ideas on how to make flying safer. 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

F

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

across

a.

all over

2

measures

b.

initiatives

3.

in the wake of

c.

following

4.

collision

d.

crash

5.

regularly

e.

frequently

6.

considering

f.

thinking about

7.

revamping

g.

improving

8.

insisted

h.

maintained

9.

sensed

i.

felt

10.

absolute

j.

total

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

The cockpit

2.

Swift

3.

The pilot

4.

Monarch Airlines

5.

The flight deck

6.

Their mental health

7.

Seven years ago

8.

Burnout

9.

100% fit

10.

Absolute silence

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

b

4.

d

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

b

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 ;-)

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