The Reading / Listening - Level 2

French radio stations are angry about a possible new government rule. DJs are already unhappy because they have to make sure that 40 per cent of the songs they play are in French. Now the government wants them to make sure the French songs are not the same popular hits or get a fine. Radio bosses say the new rule will make French people switch to music streaming services instead of listening to the radio to listen to American or British songs. Many French artists, such as Daft Punk and Phoenix, already sing in English so they can be popular around the world.

France says the new law is to protect its culture from American and British influences. It wants to stop the English language from getting deeper into French culture. The French music industry said the new law is necessary for the French language and French music. He said both "would lose out" if radio stations were, "allowed to do what they want when it comes to language". French musicians say the law is important to protect French musicians. One musician said: "It remains fundamental for French artists to have the chance of making a career out of music."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34422307
  • http://www.thelocal.fr/20150930/french-music-quotas-a-necessary-evil-that-must-stay
  • http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2015/sep/30/french-radio-song-quotas-dj-boycott-playlists


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.

angry about a possible new

a.

English

2.

they have to

b.

hits

3.

40 per cent of the songs they play

c.

services

4.

popular

d.

around the world

5.

music streaming

e.

to the radio

6.

listening

f.

government rule

7.

sing in

g.

make sure

8.

be popular

h.

are in French



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

protect

a.

protect French musicians

2.

British

b.

out

3.

getting deeper

c.

do what they want

4.

the new law

d.

out of music

5.

both would lose

e.

influences

6.

allowed to

f.

its culture

7.

the law is important to

g.

is necessary

8.

making a career

h.

into French culture

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

French radio stations (1) ___________________ a possible new government rule. DJs are already unhappy because they have to  (2) ___________________ 40 per cent of the songs they play are in French. Now the government wants them (3) ________________ French songs are not the same popular (4) ___________________. Radio bosses say the new rule will make French people switch to music streaming services (5) ___________________ to the radio to listen to American or British songs. Many French artists, such as Daft Punk and Phoenix, (6) ___________________ English so they can be popular around the world.

France says the new law is (7) ___________________ culture from American and British influences. It wants to stop the English language from (8) ___________________ French culture. The French music industry said the new law (9) ___________________ the French language and French music. He said both "would lose out" if radio stations were, "(10) ___________________ what they want when it comes to language". French musicians say the law is (11) ___________________ French musicians. One musician said: "It remains fundamental for French artists to have the chance of making (12) ___________________ music."

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Frenchradiostationsareangryaboutapossiblenewgovernmentrule.D
Jsarealreadyunhappybecausetheyhavetomakesurethat40percentof
thesongstheyplayareinFrench.Nowthegovernmentwantsthemtoma
kesuretheFrenchsongsarenotthesamepopularhitsorgetafine.Radiob
ossessaythenewrulewillmakeFrenchpeopleswitchtomusicstreaming
servicesinsteadoflisteningtotheradiotolistentoAmericanorBritishso
ngs.ManyFrenchartists,suchasDaftPunkandPhoenix,alreadysinginE
nglishsotheycanbepopulararoundtheworld.Francesaysthenewlawis
toprotectitsculturefromAmericanandBritishinfluences.Itwantstosto
ptheEnglishlanguagefromgettingdeeperintoFrenchculture.TheFren
chmusicindustrysaidthenewlawisnecessaryfortheFrenchlanguagea
ndFrenchmusic.Hesaidboth"wouldloseout"ifradiostationswere,"allo
wedtodowhattheywantwhenitcomestolanguage".Frenchmusicianss
aythelawisimportanttoprotectFrenchmusicians.Onemusiciansaid:"I
tremainsfundamentalforFrenchartiststohavethechanceofmakingac
areeroutofmusic."

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)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about English songs for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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