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Doctors say hospitals should ban perfumes (8th October, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Doctors in Canada have called for a ban on the use of perfumes and aftershaves in hospitals and clinics. They say the chemicals in the scents can trigger asthma and allergies. Research shows that over half of asthma attacks are caused by irritants such as powerful smells. Besides perfumes and aftershaves, these can include cigarette smoke, cleaning fluids and other strong fragrances and odours. Dr Ken Flegel and Dr James Martin of McGill University in Canada wrote about the dangers of smells in hospital in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. They said: "Hospital environments free from artificial scents should become a uniform policy, promoting the safety of patients, staff and visitors alike."

Strong smells affect many of us in one way or another. Around a third of people say they are physically affected by artificial scents worn by others. The doctors noted that this should be a serious concern in all hospitals. They wrote: "While artificial scents are designed to make us more attractive, they may result in unintended harm to those who are vulnerable. There is emerging evidence that asthma, in some cases, is primarily aggravated by artificial scents." They added that: "This is particularly concerning in hospitals, where vulnerable patients with asthma or other upper airway or skin sensitivities are concentrated." They warn that scents in hospitals can make these patients' condition worse.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/11912457/Perfumes-and-aftershaves-should-be-banned-from-hospitals.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3260722/Ban-perfume-aftershave-hospitals-Doctors-complain-artificial-fragrances-triggering-patient-asthma-attacks-allergies.html
http://www.webmd.boots.com/allergies/news/20151005/call-to-ban-scents-in-hospitals

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. PERFUME: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about perfume. 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?

doctors / ban / hospitals / smells / cigarette smoke / dangers / environments / patients / physically / serious / concern / attractive / evidence / vulnerable / sensitivities

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

3. SMELLS: What smells do you like and dislike? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

	Smells you like / dislike	Why?
Perfume
Food
City
Countryside
Home
Shopping

4. BAN: Students A strongly believe hospitals should ban people wearing perfume from entering their buildings; Students B strongly believe otherwise. 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. FRAGRANCES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• fresh coffee

• flowers

• burning wood

• caramel

• freshly baked bread

• freshly ironed shirts

• freshly cut grass

• perfume

6. HOSPITALS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "hospitals". 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.	Doctors want to ban the use of perfumes in clinics.	T / F
b.	A third of asthma attacks are caused by things like strong smells.	T / F
c.	The doctors who came up with the ban are from a Canadian university.	T / F
d.	The doctors said artificial scents are OK in hospitals and clinics.	T / F
e.	Artificial smells affect around a third of us.	T / F
f.	Doctors say artificial smells can harm people who are vulnerable.	T / F
g.	Doctors say artificial scents are no problem for those with sensitive skin.	T / F
h.	Doctors say artificial scents will not worsen a patient's condition.	T / F

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

1.	ban	a.	set off
2.	trigger	b.	touch
3.	odours	c.	without
4.	free from	d.	state
5.	uniform	e.	worry
6.	affect	f.	prohibition
7.	concern	g.	proof
8.	artificial	h.	identical
9.	evidence	i.	smells
10.	condition	j.	synthetic

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

1.	the chemicals in the scents can	a.	many of us
2.	cleaning	b.	policy
3.	the dangers of	c.	concern
4.	become a uniform	d.	patients
5.	promoting the safety	e.	smells in hospitals
6.	Strong smells affect	f.	trigger asthma
7.	in one way	g.	sensitivities
8.	this should be a serious	h.	of patients
9.	vulnerable	i.	fluids
10.	skin	j.	or another

GAP FILL

Doctors in Canada have (1) ____________ for a ban on the use of perfumes and aftershaves in hospitals and (2) ____________. They say the chemicals in the scents can trigger asthma and allergies. Research shows that over (3) ____________ of asthma attacks are caused by irritants such as (4) ____________ smells. Besides perfumes and aftershaves, these can include cigarette smoke, cleaning (5) ____________ and other strong fragrances and odours. Dr Ken Flegel and Dr James Martin of McGill University in Canada wrote about the (6) ____________ of smells in hospitals in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. They said: "Hospital environments (7) ____________ from artificial scents should become a uniform policy, promoting the safety of patients, staff and visitors (8) ____________."

powerful
called
free
fluids
half
alike
clinics
dangers

Strong smells affect many of us in one way or (9) ____________. Around a third of people say they are physically affected by artificial (10) ____________ worn by others. The doctors noted that this should be a serious (11) ____________ in all hospitals. They wrote: "While artificial scents are designed to make us more (12) ____________, they may result in unintended harm to those who are (13) ____________. There is emerging evidence that asthma, in some cases, is primarily aggravated by artificial scents." They added that: "This is (14) ____________ concerning in hospitals, where vulnerable patients with asthma or other upper airway or skin (15) ____________ are concentrated." They warn that scents in hospitals can make these patients' condition (16) ____________.

attractive
scents
sensitivities
another
vulnerable
worse
concern
particularly

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Doctors in Canada have called for a ban on ______ perfumes
	a. the usage of b. the uses of c. the use of d. the used of
2)	They say the chemicals in the scents can trigger ______
	a. asthma and allergy b. asthma and allergies c. asthma and allergens d. asthma and allergic
3)	Research shows that over half of asthma attacks are ______
	a. caused by irrational b. caused by irritants c. caused by irritable d. caused by irritates
4)	these can include cigarette smoke, cleaning fluids and other strong ______
	a. flagrances and odours b. fragrance is and odours c. fragrances and oh dears d. fragrances and odours
5)	a uniform policy, promoting the safety of patients, staff ______
	a. and visitors alike b. and visitors are like c. and visitors are alike d. and visitors like
6)	Strong smells affect many of us in one ______
	a. ways or the other b. ways or another c. wait or another d. way or another
7)	Around a third of people say they are physically affected ______
	a. by artificial sense b. by artificial sends c. by artificial seats d. by artificial scents
8)	While artificial scents are designed to make us more attractive, they may result ______
	a. in an intended harm b. in unintended harm c. in an unintended harm d. in intentionally harm
9)	where vulnerable patients with asthma or other upper airway or skin ______
	a. sensitivity is concentrated b. sensitivities are concentrated c. sense activities are concentrated d. sensory activities are concentrated
10)	They warn that scents in hospitals can make these patients' ______
	a. conditions worse b. condition worsen c. condition worse d. conditioned worse

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Doctors in Canada have called (1) ___________________ use of perfumes and aftershaves in hospitals and clinics. They say the chemicals in the scents can trigger (2) ___________________. Research shows that over half of asthma attacks are caused (3) ___________________ powerful smells. Besides perfumes and aftershaves, these can include cigarette smoke, cleaning (4) ___________________ strong fragrances and odours. Dr Ken Flegel and Dr James Martin of McGill University in Canada wrote about the (5) ___________________ hospitals in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. They said: "Hospital environments free from artificial scents should become a uniform policy, promoting the safety of patients, staff (6) ___________________."

Strong smells affect (7) ___________________ way or another. Around a third of people say they are physically affected by artificial scents worn by others. The doctors noted that this should (8) ___________________ in all hospitals. They wrote: "While artificial scents (9) ___________________ make us more attractive, they may result in unintended harm to those who are vulnerable. There is emerging evidence that asthma, (10) ___________________ primarily aggravated by artificial scents." They added that: "This is particularly concerning in hospitals, where vulnerable patients with asthma or (11) ___________________ or skin sensitivities are concentrated." They (12) ___________________ hospitals can make these patients' condition worse.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What else did doctors call for a ban on besides perfume?
2.	What is it in perfumes that the doctors said could trigger asthma?
3.	What kind of fluids are mentioned as being strong odours?
4.	In which country do the doctors who called for the ban work?
5.	What kind of policy did the doctors say hospitals should have?
6.	What proportion of us are physically affected by artificial scents?
7.	What did the doctors say artificial scents are designed to do?
8.	Who did the doctors say artificial scents could harm?
9.	What kind of sensitivities are mentioned at the end of the article?
10.	What did the doctors say scents could do to a patient's condition?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What else did doctors call for a ban on besides perfume?	6.	What proportion of us are physically affected by artificial scents?
	a) flowers b) garlic c) smoking d) aftershaves		a) about 1/3 b) over half c) three-quarters d) two-fifths
2.	What is it in perfumes that the doctors said could trigger asthma?	7.	What did the doctors say artificial scents are designed to do?
	a) water vapour b) chemicals c) bacteria d) nitrogen		a) make us feel good b) copy natural smells c) hide body odour d) make us more attractive
3.	What kind of fluids are mentioned as being strong odours?	8.	Who did the doctors say artificial scents could harm?
	a) bodily fluids b) lighter fluid c) cleaning fluids d) watery fluids		a) the vulnerable b) nurses c) the aged d) perfume factory workers
4.	In which country do the doctors who called for the ban work?	9.	What kind of sensitivities are mentioned at the end of the article?
	a) Canada b) Japan c) Brazil d) Nigeria		a) emotional sensitivities b) gum sensitivities c) skin sensitivities d) natural sensitivities
5.	What kind of policy did the doctors say hospitals should have?	10.	What did the doctors say scents could do to a patient's condition?
	a) a strict one b) an open-door policy c) a uniform one d) a lax one		a) alleviate it b) worsen it c) improve it d) nothing

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Hospitals

You think hospitals are the one place perfumes should be banned. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why perfume in their place is OK. Also, tell the others which is the most acceptable of these to wear perfume (and why): trains, restaurants or schools.

Role B – Trains

You think trains are the one place perfumes should be banned. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why perfume in their place is OK. Also, tell the others which is the most acceptable of these to wear perfume (and why): hospitals, restaurants or schools.

Role C – Restaurants

You think restaurants are the one place perfumes should be banned. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why perfume in their place is OK. Also, tell the others which is the most acceptable of these to wear perfume (and why): trains, hospitals or schools.

Role D – Schools

You think schools are the one place perfumes should be banned. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why perfume in their place is OK. Also, tell the others which is the most acceptable of these to wear perfume (and why): trains, restaurants or hospitals.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

hospital

clinic

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:

called
trigger
half
cleaning
dangers
alike

way
serious
result
cases
other
worse

PERFUME SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about perfume 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.

PERFUME 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 'hospital'?
3)	What do you think about what you read?
4)	To what extent do you agree with the doctors?
5)	What smells do you dislike, and why?
6)	What do you think of the smell of perfume and aftershave?
7)	Should perfumes and aftershaves be banned in hospitals?
8)	Should a hospital patient be able to sue someone wearing perfume?
9)	In what ways do you think smells can be dangerous?
10)	How should hospitals smell?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What smells affect you?
13)	What smells remind you of your childhood?
14)	What do you think of the idea of artificial smells?
15)	How much do perfumes and aftershaves make us more attractive?
16)	When have you not liked an overpowering fragrance?
17)	Do we need perfumes and aftershaves?
18)	To what extent is the fragrance in soap enough for us?
19)	What should hospitals do from now?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the two 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 in Canada have called for a ban on the (1) ____ of perfumes and aftershaves in hospitals and clinics. They say the chemicals in the scents can (2) ____ asthma and allergies. Research shows that over half of asthma attacks are caused (3) ____ irritants such as powerful smells. Besides perfumes and aftershaves, these can (4) ____ cigarette smoke, cleaning fluids and other strong fragrances and odours. Dr Ken Flegel and Dr James Martin of McGill University in Canada wrote about the dangers of smells in hospitals in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. They said: "Hospital environments (5) ____ from artificial scents should become a (6) ____ policy, promoting the safety of patients, staff and visitors alike."

Strong smells (7) ____ many of us in one way or another. Around a third of people say they are physically affected by artificial scents (8) ____ by others. The doctors noted that this should be a (9) ____ concern in all hospitals. They wrote: "While artificial scents are designed to make us more attractive, they may result (10) ____ unintended harm to those who are vulnerable. There is emerging evidence that asthma, in some cases, is primarily aggravated by (11) ____ scents." They added that: "This is particularly concerning in hospitals, where vulnerable patients with asthma or other upper airway or skin sensitivities are concentrated." They warn that scents in hospitals can (12) ____ these patients' condition worse.

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

1.	(a)	usable	(b)	usage	(c)	use	(d)	used
2.	(a)	trigger	(b)	tangent	(c)	toggle	(d)	tugged
3.	(a)	by	(b)	of	(c)	as	(d)	on
4.	(a)	include	(b)	inclusive	(c)	inclusion	(d)	including
5.	(a)	freeze	(b)	free	(c)	freely	(d)	frees
6.	(a)	overalls	(b)	dress	(c)	suit	(d)	uniform
7.	(a)	infect	(b)	effect	(c)	affect	(d)	reflect
8.	(a)	wear	(b)	wearing	(c)	wears	(d)	worn
9.	(a)	serious	(b)	series	(c)	serial	(d)	service
10.	(a)	by	(b)	in	(c)	of	(d)	at
11.	(a)	faked	(b)	artificial	(c)	counterfeiter	(d)	copies
12.	(a)	do	(b)	have	(c)	make	(d)	give

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	perfumes and ehravsfesat
2.	the shcmeclai in the scents
3.	asthma and ealgleisr
4.	caused by stirtarni
5.	other strong fragrances and sdorou (UK) / sodor (USA)
6.	free from iratiacilf scents
Paragraph 2
7.	they are physically acedefft
8.	this should be a reusosi concern
9.	designed to make us more avatcirtte
10.	harm to those who are benevlrlau
11.	particularly iecngoncrn in hospitals
12.	make these patients' citiondon worse

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	scents should become a uniform policy, promoting the safety of patients, staff and visitors alike."
( )	skin sensitivities are concentrated." They warn that scents in hospitals can make these patients' condition worse.
( )	of asthma attacks are caused by irritants such as powerful smells. Besides perfumes and aftershaves, these can include
( )	cigarette smoke, cleaning fluids and other strong fragrances and odours. Dr Ken Flegel
( )	in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. They said: "Hospital environments free from artificial
( )	attractive, they may result in unintended harm to those who are vulnerable. There is emerging
( 1 )	Doctors in Canada have called for a ban on the use of perfumes and aftershaves in hospitals and
( )	Strong smells affect many of us in one way or another. Around a third of people say they are physically
( )	concern in all hospitals. They wrote: "While artificial scents are designed to make us more
( )	"This is particularly concerning in hospitals, where vulnerable patients with asthma or other upper airway or
( )	evidence that asthma, in some cases, is primarily aggravated by artificial scents." They added that:
( )	clinics. They say the chemicals in the scents can trigger asthma and allergies. Research shows that over half
( )	affected by artificial scents worn by others. The doctors noted that this should be a serious
( )	and Dr James Martin of McGill University in Canada wrote about the dangers of smells in hospitals

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	trigger asthma They say the chemicals in the scents can .
2.	by Over asthma caused of are irritants half attacks .
3.	other , and fragrances smoke fluids strong Cigarette cleaning .
4.	the hospitals dangers of Wrote smells about in .
5.	environments from scents Hospital free artificial .
6.	smells Strong another or way one in us of many affect .
7.	affected Around a third of people say they are physically .
8.	all This a in be concern hospitals should serious .
9.	particularly in is concerning hospitals This .
10.	these make can Hospitals worse condition patients' .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Doctors in Canada have called for a ban / banned on the use of perfumes and aftershaves in hospitals and clinics. They say the chemicals in the sense / scents can trigger asthma and allergies. Research shows that more / over half of asthma attacks are caused by irritable / irritants such as powerful smells. Besides perfumes and aftershaves, these can include / inclusive cigarette smoke, cleaning fluids and other strong fragrant / fragrances and odours. Dr Ken Flegel and Dr James Martin of McGill University in Canada wrote about the dangers of smells / smelling in hospitals in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. They said: "Hospital environments free / freely from artificial scents should become a uniform / uniformity policy, promoting the safety of patients, staff and visitors like / alike."

Strong smells effect / affect many of us in one way or another. Around a third / thirdly of people say they are physically affected as / by artificial scents worn by others. The doctors noting / noted that this should be a serious concern in all / every hospitals. They wrote: "While artificial scents are designed to make us more attractive / attraction, they may result on / in unintended harm to those who are vulnerability / vulnerable. There is emerging evidence that asthma, in some cases, is primarily aggravated by artificial scents." They added that: "This is peculiar / particularly concerning in hospitals, where vulnerable patients with asthma or other upper airway or skin sensitivities are concentrated / concentration." They warn that scents in hospitals can make these patients' condition worse.

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 _n C_n_d_ h_v_ c_ll_d f_r _ b_n _n th_ _s_ _f p_rf_m_s _nd _ft_rsh_v_s _n h_sp_t_ls _nd cl_n_cs. Th_y s_y th_ ch_m_c_ls _n th_ sc_nts c_n tr_gg_r _sthm_ _nd _ll_rg__s. R_s__rch sh_ws th_t _v_r h_lf _f _sthm_ _tt_cks _r_ c__s_d by _rr_t_nts s_ch _s p_w_rf_l sm_lls. B_s_d_s p_rf_m_s _nd _ft_rsh_v_s, th_s_ c_n _ncl_d_ c_g_r_tt_ sm_k_, cl__n_ng fl__ds _nd _th_r str_ng fr_gr_nc_s _nd _d__rs. Dr K_n Fl_g_l _nd Dr J_m_s M_rt_n _f McG_ll _n_v_rs_ty _n C_n_d_ wr_t_ _b__t th_ d_ng_rs _f sm_lls _n h_sp_t_ls _n th_ C_n_d__n M_d_c_l _ss_c__t__n J__rn_l. Th_y s__d: "H_sp_t_l _nv_r_nm_nts fr__ fr_m _rt_f_c__l sc_nts sh__ld b_c_m_ _ _n_f_rm p_l_cy, pr_m_t_ng th_ s_f_ty _f p_t__nts, st_ff _nd v_s_t_rs _l_k_."

Str_ng sm_lls _ff_ct m_ny _f _s _n _n_ w_y _r _n_th_r. _r__nd _ th_rd _f p__pl_ s_y th_y _r_ phys_c_lly _ff_ct_d by _rt_f_c__l sc_nts w_rn by _th_rs. Th_ d_ct_rs n_t_d th_t th_s sh__ld b_ _ s_r___s c_nc_rn _n _ll h_sp_t_ls. Th_y wr_t_: "Wh_l_ _rt_f_c__l sc_nts _r_ d_s_gn_d t_ m_k_ _s m_r_ _ttr_ct_v_, th_y m_y r_s_lt _n _n_nt_nd_d h_rm t_ th_s_ wh_ _r_ v_ln_r_bl_. Th_r_ _s _m_rg_ng _v_d_nc_ th_t _sthm_, _n s_m_ c_s_s, _s pr_m_r_ly _ggr_v_t_d by _rt_f_c__l sc_nts." Th_y _dd_d th_t: "Th_s _s p_rt_c_l_rly c_nc_rn_ng _n h_sp_t_ls, wh_r_ v_ln_r_bl_ p_t__nts w_th _sthm_ _r _th_r _pp_r __rw_y _r sk_n s_ns_t_v_t__s _r_ c_nc_ntr_t_d." Th_y w_rn th_t sc_nts _n h_sp_t_ls c_n m_k_ th_s_ p_t__nts' c_nd_t__n w_rs_.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

doctors in canada have called for a ban on the use of perfumes and aftershaves in hospitals and clinics they say the chemicals in the scents can trigger asthma and allergies research shows that over half of asthma attacks are caused by irritants such as powerful smells besides perfumes and aftershaves these can include cigarette smoke cleaning fluids and other strong fragrances and odours dr ken flegel and dr james martin of mcgill university in canada wrote about the dangers of smells in hospitals in the canadian medical association journal they said "hospital environments free from artificial scents should become a uniform policy promoting the safety of patients staff and visitors alike"

strong smells affect many of us in one way or another around a third of people say they are physically affected by artificial scents worn by others the doctors noted that this should be a serious concern in all hospitals they wrote "while artificial scents are designed to make us more attractive they may result in unintended harm to those who are vulnerable there is emerging evidence that asthma in some cases is primarily aggravated by artificial scents" they added that "this is particularly concerning in hospitals where vulnerable patients with asthma or other upper airway or skin sensitivities are concentrated" they warn that scents in hospitals can make these patients' condition worse

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

DoctorsinCanadahavecalledforabanontheuseofperfumesandaftersh
avesinhospitalsandclinics.Theysaythechemicalsinthescentscantrigg
erasthmaandallergies.Researchshowsthatoverhalfofasthmaattacks
arecausedbyirritantssuchaspowerfulsmells.Besidesperfumesandaft
ershaves,thesecanincludecigarettesmoke,cleaningfluidsandotherst
rongfragrancesandodours.DrKenFlegelandDrJamesMartinofMcGillU
niversityinCanadawroteaboutthedangersofsmellsinhospitalintheCa
nadianMedicalAssociationJournal.Theysaid:"Hospitalenvironmentsf
reefromartificialscentsshouldbecomeauniformpolicy,promotingthes
afetyofpatients,staffandvisitorsalike."Strongsmellsaffectmanyofusi
nonewayoranother.Aroundathirdofpeoplesaytheyarephysicallyaffe
ctedbyartificialscentswornbyothers.Thedoctorsnotedthatthisshould
beaseriousconcerninallhospitals.Theywrote:"Whileartificialscentsar
edesignedtomakeusmoreattractive,theymayresultinunintendedhar
mtothosewhoarevulnerable.Thereisemergingevidencethatasthma,i
nsomecases,isprimarilyaggravatedbyartificialscents."Theyaddedth
at:"Thisisparticularlyconcerninginhospitals,wherevulnerablepatient
swithasthmaorotherupperairwayorskinsensitivitiesareconcentrated
."Theywarnthatscentsinhospitalscanmakethesepatients'conditionw
orse.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Perfumes and aftershaves should be banned in hospitals. 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 this story about perfume. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. PERFUME: Make a poster about perfume. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. PERFUME IN HOSPITALS: Write a magazine article about perfume in hospitals. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 allergies. Ask him/her three questions about perfume and allergies. Give him/her three ways to keep hospitals a safer place for patients. 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

T

b

F

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	ban	a.	prohibition
2	trigger	b.	set off
3.	odours	c.	smells
4.	free from	d.	without
5.	uniform	e.	identical
6.	affect	f.	touch
7.	concern	g.	worry
8.	artificial	h.	synthetic
9.	evidence	i.	proof
10.	condition	j.	state

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Aftershaves
2.	Chemicals
3.	Cleaning fluids
4.	Canada
5.	A uniform one
6.	Around a third
7.	Make us more attractive
8.	Vulnerable people
9.	Skin sensitivities
10.	Worsen it

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

c

4.

a

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

a

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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Doctors say hospitals should ban perfumes (8th October, 2015)

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