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The Force Awakens breaks ticket records (23rd October, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

The new Star Wars movie will not open in cinemas until December, but it is already attracting huge interest online. Pre-sales tickets for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' went on sale yesterday and broke all ticket records. In the USA, the nation's largest online ticket seller, Fandango, said it had so many visitors that its site crashed. It had to apologise to people who could not visit the site. A Fandango spokesperson said: "For Star Wars, we have already sold eight times as many tickets as we did on the first day of sales for the previous record holder." He added: "The enthusiasm for this year's most anticipated movie is out of this world and we expect it to continue all the way to its debut on December 18."

'The Force Awakens' is the seventh movie to be released in the Star Wars franchise. Disney released the film's latest trailer on Monday night and it soon went viral worldwide. Many top international news stations covered the story in their prime time news bulletins. The trailer currently has 13 million views on YouTube and this number is likely to get a lot bigger. Box office analyst Phil Contrino said the movie could also break box office records when it opens. It is possible it will be the highest earning movie ever made. Mr Contrino said: "The Force Awakens will hit $1 billion without blinking. If it's really good, it could cross $2 billion." Star Wars fans will be happy to know that plans are already in place for Star Wars VIII and IX.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/10/20/star-wars-ticket-sales
http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/20/media/star-wars-force-awakens-trailer-views/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Force_Awakens

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. STAR WARS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Star Wars. 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?

Star Wars / cinemas / online / tickets / visitors / crashed / apologise / record / debut / franchise / Disney / viral / worldwide / prime time news / box office / blinking

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

3. MOVIE THEATRES: How can they be better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How can this be better?	What's it like at your local cinema?
Tickets
Location
Screen
Refreshments
Seats
Movies

4. AT HOME: Students A strongly believe watching movies at home is better than watching movies in a cinema; Students B strongly believe the opposite. 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 and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

thrillers
science fiction
animation
romance

horror
action
fantasy
war

6. TICKETS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "tickets". 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 new Star Wars movie opens in cinemas early next year.	T / F
b.	Pre-sales tickets for the movie broke all records.	T / F
c.	The website of an online ticket seller crashed because of the demand.	T / F
d.	A ticket seller sold eight times more tickets than the previous record.	T / F
e.	"The Force Awakens" is the eighth Star Wars movie.	T / F
f.	The movie's trailer has had 30 million views on YouTube.	T / F
g.	The article said the movie has made a lot of people blink.	T / F
h.	There are already plans to make the next two Star Wars movies.	T / F

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

1.	cinemas	a.	think
2.	huge	b.	earlier
3.	largest	c.	presently
4.	previous	d.	launched
5.	expect	e.	very big
6.	released	f.	there
7.	worldwide	g.	movie theatres
8.	currently	h.	followers
9.	fans	i.	globally
10.	in place	j.	biggest

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

1.	attracting huge	a.	times as many
2.	we have already sold eight	b.	box office records
3.	the previous	c.	on December 18
4.	out of	d.	worldwide
5.	its debut	e.	franchise
6.	the Star Wars	f.	interest online
7.	it soon went viral	g.	in place
8.	prime time	h.	this world
9.	the movie could also break	i.	news
10.	plans are already	j.	record holder

GAP FILL

The new Star Wars movie will not (1) ____________ in cinemas until December, but it is already (2) ____________ huge interest online. Pre-sales tickets for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' went on sale yesterday and (3) ____________ all ticket records. In the USA, the nation's largest online ticket seller, Fandango, said it had so many visitors that its site (4) ____________. It had to apologise to people who could not visit the site. A Fandango spokesperson said: "For Star Wars, we have already sold eight (5) ____________ as many tickets as we did on the first day of sales for the (6) ____________ record holder." He added: "The enthusiasm for this year's most anticipated movie is out of this (7) ____________ and we expect it to continue all the way to its (8) ____________ on December 18."

attracting
crashed
times
world
open
debut
broke
previous

'The Force Awakens' is the seventh movie to be (9) ____________ in the Star Wars franchise. Disney released the film's latest (10) ____________ on Monday night and it soon went (11) ____________ worldwide. Many top international news stations covered the story in their prime time news bulletins. The trailer (12) ____________ has 13 million views on YouTube and this number is (13) ____________ to get a lot bigger. Box office analyst Phil Contrino said the movie could also break box office records when it opens. It is possible it will be the highest (14) ____________ movie ever made. Mr Contrino said: "The Force Awakens will hit $1 billion without (15) ____________. If it's really good, it could cross $2 billion." Star Wars fans will be happy to know that plans are already in (16) ____________ for Star Wars VIII and IX.

viral
released
likely
earning
trailer
place
currently
blinking

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The new Star Wars movie will not open in cinemas ______
	a. until December b. in till December c. and tell December d. ant ill December
2)	'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' went on sale yesterday and broke ______
	a. all ticket recordings b. all ticket recorders c. all ticket re-records d. all ticket records
3)	Fandango said it had so many visitors that ______
	a. its site crushed b. its site crashed c. its site crest d. its site clashed
4)	we have already sold eight times as many tickets as we did on the ______
	a. first day for sales b. first day of sales c. first day off sales d. first day if sales
5)	The enthusiasm for this year's most anticipated movie is ______
	a. out of that world b. out of these world c. out of this world d. out of these worlds
6)	'The Force Awakens' is the seventh movie to be released in the ______
	a. Star Wars French fries b. Star Wars franchise c. Star Wars French rise d. Star Wars French chairs
7)	Disney released the film's latest trailer on Monday night and it soon ______
	a. gone viral worldwide b. went virus worldwide c. went viral worldwide d. gone virus worldwide
8)	Many top international news stations covered the story in their prime ______
	a. time news bullet tins b. timed news bulletins c. timed news bullet tins d. time news bulletins
9)	the movie could also break box office records ______
	a. when it opens b. when it openings c. when it openers d. when it opines
10)	Star Wars fans will be happy to know that plans are already in place ______ and IX
	a. from Star Wars VII b. for Star Wars VII c. from Star Wars VIII d. for Star Wars VIII

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The new Star Wars movie will (1) ___________________ cinemas until December, but it is already attracting huge interest online. Pre-sales tickets for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' (2) ___________________ yesterday and broke all ticket records. In the USA, the nation's largest online ticket seller, Fandango, (3) ___________________ many visitors that its site crashed. It had to apologise (4) ___________________ could not visit the site. A Fandango spokesperson said: "For Star Wars, we have already sold eight times as many tickets as we did on the first day (5) ___________________ previous record holder." He added: "The enthusiasm for this year's most anticipated movie is out of this world and we expect it to continue all the (6) ___________________ on December 18."

'The Force Awakens' is the seventh movie to (7) ___________________ the Star Wars franchise. Disney released the film's latest trailer on Monday night (8) ___________________ viral worldwide. Many top international news stations covered the story (9) ___________________ time news bulletins. The trailer currently has 13 million views on YouTube and this number is (10) ___________________ bigger. Box office analyst Phil Contrino said the movie could also break box office records when it opens. It is possible it will be the highest earning (11) ___________________. Mr Contrino said: "The Force Awakens will hit $1 billion without blinking. If it's really good, it could cross $2 billion." Star Wars fans will (12) ___________________ that plans are already in place for Star Wars VIII and IX.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	When does the new Star Wars movie open in cinemas?
2.	What happened to the Fandango website?
3.	What did Fandango do to people?
4.	How many more tickets did Fandango sell than for the previous record?
5.	What did Fandango say enthusiasm for the movie was out of?
6.	Which company released the movie?
7.	Where did the movie go viral?
8.	How many YouTube views did it get?
9.	How much money did Phil Contrino say the movie could make?
10.	What are plans in place for?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	When does the new Star Wars movie open in cinemas?	6.	Which company released the movie?
	a) February b) December c) January d) March		a) Disney b) Chewbacca Productions c) Paramount Pictures d) The Empire
2.	What happened to the Fandango website?	7.	Where did the movie go viral?
	a) Stormtroopers stole it b) it got hacked c) it disappeared d) it crashed		a) on a Star Destroyer b) a cinema in Ohio, USA c) worldwide d) in the Galactic Empire
3.	What did Fandango do to people?	8.	How many YouTube views did it get?
	a) gave them free tickets b) sent them to a galaxy far, far away c) apologised to them d) gave them Jedi Knight models		a) 13 million b) 13 billion c) 30 million d) 30 billion
4.	How many more tickets did Fandango sell than for the previous record?	9.	How much money did Phil Contrino say the movie could make?
	a) 8 times more b) 7 times more c) 6 times more d) 5 times more		a) $5 billion b) $4 billion c) $3 billion d) $2 billion
5.	What did Fandango say enthusiasm for the movie was out of?	10.	What are plans in place for?
	a) order b) this world c) ten d) jealousy		a) to make a real Jedi laser sword b) a Star Wars amusement park c) Star Wars VIII and IX d) a real star wars

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Science Fiction

You think science fiction is the best movie genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): romance, action or comedy.

Role B – Romance

You think romance is the best movie genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): science fiction, action or comedy.

Role C – Action

You think action is the best movie genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): romance, science fiction or comedy.

Role D – Comedy

You think comedy is the best movie genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): romance, action or science fiction.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

movie

theatre

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:

open
sale
crashed
eight
world
18

seventh
night
prime
13
ever
place

STAR WARS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Star Wars 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.

STAR WARS 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 do you think about the Star Wars movies?
4)	What is your favourite movie?
5)	What do you think of science fiction movies?
6)	What do you like about movie theatres?
7)	Is it better to watch a movie at home or at a cinema?
8)	Would you like to watch the new Star Wars movie?
9)	Why do people like movies?
10)	What are the bad things about movies?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Could there be a real star wars one day?
13)	What do you think of movie trailers?
14)	What do you think of Disney?
15)	Which Star Wars character would you like to be?
16)	What do you think of all the merchandising that comes with a movie?
17)	What do you think of movie prequels and sequels?
18)	What does the term 'without blinking' in the article mean?
19)	What will movies be like in the future?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the movie's producer?

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

The new Star Wars movie will not open in cinemas (1) ____ December, but it is already attracting (2) ____ interest online. Pre-sales tickets for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' went on sale yesterday and (3) ____ all ticket records. In the USA, the nation's largest online ticket seller, Fandango, said it had so many visitors that its site (4) ____. It had to apologise to people who could not visit the site. A Fandango spokesperson said: "For Star Wars, we have already sold eight times as many tickets as we did on the first day of sales for the previous record (5) ____." He added: "The enthusiasm for this year's most anticipated movie is out of this world and we expect it to continue all the way to its (6) ____ on December 18."

'The Force Awakens' is the seventh movie to (7) ____ released in the Star Wars franchise. Disney released the film's latest trailer on Monday night and it soon went (8) ____ worldwide. Many top international news stations covered the story in their (9) ____ time news bulletins. The trailer currently has 13 million views on YouTube and this number is likely to get a lot bigger. Box office analyst Phil Contrino said the movie could also break (10) ____ office records when it opens. It is possible it will be the highest earning movie (11) ____ made. Mr Contrino said: "The Force Awakens will hit $1 billion without blinking. If it's really good, it could cross $2 billion." Star Wars fans will be happy to know that plans are already in (12) ____ for Star Wars VIII and IX.

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

1.	(a)	then	(b)	still	(c)	soon	(d)	until
2.	(a)	hugged	(b)	hugs	(c)	hug	(d)	huge
3.	(a)	snapped	(b)	broke	(c)	ripped	(d)	tore
4.	(a)	crushed	(b)	clashed	(c)	crashed	(d)	squashed
5.	(a)	gripper	(b)	handler	(c)	holder	(d)	shaker
6.	(a)	debut	(b)	stand	(c)	plug	(d)	outlet
7.	(a)	been	(b)	be	(c)	being	(d)	bring
8.	(a)	viral	(b)	varied	(c)	virulent	(d)	virus
9.	(a)	average	(b)	prime	(c)	excel	(d)	median
10.	(a)	case	(b)	room	(c)	box	(d)	bag
11.	(a)	never	(b)	every	(c)	ever	(d)	even
12.	(a)	movie	(b)	can	(c)	format	(d)	place

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	it is already tratigctan huge interest online
2.	It had to oisapeglo (UK) / zoogpiale (USA) to people
3.	the oviuesrp record holder
4.	this year's most titpiaaecnd movie
5.	we ectpxe it to continue
6.	its betdu on December 18
Paragraph 2
7.	the Star Wars nirachsfe
8.	the film's latest tiarerl
9.	it soon went viral rdwweiodl
10.	The trailer nrctyluer has 13 million views
11.	the highest eigrnan movie ever
12.	without nkignbli

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	'The Force Awakens' is the seventh movie to be released in the Star Wars franchise. Disney released the film's latest
( )	is likely to get a lot bigger. Box office analyst Phil Contrino said the movie could also break box
( )	records. In the USA, the nation's largest online ticket seller, Fandango, said it had so
( )	trailer on Monday night and it soon went viral worldwide. Many top international news stations covered the
( )	the site. A Fandango spokesperson said: "For Star Wars, we have already sold eight times as
( 1 )	The new Star Wars movie will not open in cinemas until December, but it is already attracting huge
( )	"The Force Awakens will hit $1 billion without blinking. If it's really good, it could cross $2 billion." Star Wars
( )	office records when it opens. It is possible it will be the highest earning movie ever made. Mr Contrino said:
( )	most anticipated movie is out of this world and we expect it to continue all the way to its debut on December 18."
( )	story in their prime time news bulletins. The trailer currently has 13 million views on YouTube and this number
( )	fans will be happy to know that plans are already in place for Star Wars VIII and IX.
( )	interest online. Pre-sales tickets for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' went on sale yesterday and broke all ticket
( )	many visitors that its site crashed. It had to apologise to people who could not visit
( )	many tickets as we did on the first day of sales for the previous record holder." He added: "The enthusiasm for this year's

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	attracting already is It online interest huge .
2.	its so that crashed had visitors site It many .
3.	have eight many We sold as already times tickets .
4.	movie is out of this world This year's most anticipated .
5.	all continue to it expect We debut its to way the .
6.	movie seventh The franchise Wars Star the in release be to .
7.	the story in their prime time news News stations covered .
8.	movie office could records also break The box .
9.	earning made will highest ever It the movie be .
10.	that happy Fans in plans to will place are know be already .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The new Star Wars movie will not open / opening in cinemas until December, but it is already attraction / attracting huge interest online. Pre-sales tickets for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' went / go on sale yesterday and broke all ticket records. In the USA, the nation's largest online ticket seller / sales, Fandango, said it had so many visitors that its site crushed / crashed. It had to apologise to people who could not visit the site. A Fandango spokesperson said: "For Star Wars, we have about / already sold eight times more / as many tickets as we did on the first day of sales for the previous recording / record holder." He added: "The enthusiasm for this year's most / must anticipated movie is out of this world and we expect it to continue all the home / way to its debut on December 18."

'The Force Awakens' is the seventh movie to been / be released in the Star Wars franchise / sanctions. Disney released the film's latest trailer / trail on Monday night and it soon went virus / viral worldwide. Many top international news stations covered the story in their prime / crime time news bulletins. The trailer currently has 13 million viewed / views on YouTube and this number is likely to get a lot bigger. Box office analyst Phil Contrino said the movie could also break / broken box office records when it opens. It is possible it will be the highest earns / earning movie ever made. Mr Contrino said: "The Force Awakens will hit $1 billion without blinking / blinked. If it's really good, it could cross $2 billion." Star Wars fans will be happy to know that plans are already in / on place for Star Wars VIII and IX.

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)

Th_ n_w St_r W_rs m_v__ w_ll n_t _p_n _n c_n_m_s _nt_l D_c_mb_r, b_t _t _s _lr__dy _ttr_ct_ng h_g_ _nt_r_st _nl_n_. Pr_-s_l_s t_ck_ts f_r 'St_r W_rs: Th_ F_rc_ _w_k_ns' w_nt _n s_l_ y_st_rd_y _nd br_k_ _ll t_ck_t r_c_rds. _n th_ _S_, th_ n_t__n's l_rg_st _nl_n_ t_ck_t s_ll_r, F_nd_ng_, s__d _t h_d s_ m_ny v_s_t_rs th_t _ts s_t_ cr_sh_d. _t h_d t_ _p_l_g_s_ t_ p__pl_ wh_ c__ld n_t v_s_t th_ s_t_. _ F_nd_ng_ sp_k_sp_rs_n s__d: "F_r St_r W_rs, w_ h_v_ _lr__dy s_ld __ght t_m_s _s m_ny t_ck_ts _s w_ d_d _n th_ f_rst d_y _f s_l_s f_r th_ pr_v___s r_c_rd h_ld_r." H_ _dd_d: "Th_ _nth_s__sm f_r th_s y__r's m_st _nt_c_p_t_d m_v__ _s __t _f th_s w_rld _nd w_ _xp_ct _t t_ c_nt_n__ _ll th_ w_y t_ _ts d_b_t _n D_c_mb_r 18."

'Th_ F_rc_ _w_k_ns' _s th_ s_v_nth m_v__ t_ b_ r_l__s_d _n th_ St_r W_rs fr_nch_s_. D_sn_y r_l__s_d th_ f_lm's l_t_st tr__l_r _n M_nd_y n_ght _nd _t s__n w_nt v_r_l w_rldw_d_. M_ny t_p _nt_rn_t__n_l n_ws st_t__ns c_v_r_d th_ st_ry _n th__r pr_m_ t_m_ n_ws b_ll_t_ns. Th_ tr__l_r c_rr_ntly h_s 13 m_ll__n v__ws _n Y__T_b_ _nd th_s n_mb_r _s l_k_ly t_ g_t _ l_t b_gg_r. B_x _ff_c_ _n_lyst Ph_l C_ntr_n_ s__d th_ m_v__ c__ld _ls_ br__k b_x _ff_c_ r_c_rds wh_n _t _p_ns. _t _s p_ss_bl_ _t w_ll b_ th_ h_gh_st __rn_ng m_v__ _v_r m_d_. Mr C_ntr_n_ s__d: "Th_ F_rc_ _w_k_ns w_ll h_t $1 b_ll__n w_th__t bl_nk_ng. _f _t's r__lly g__d, _t c__ld cr_ss $2 b_ll__n." St_r W_rs f_ns w_ll b_ h_ppy t_ kn_w th_t pl_ns _r_ _lr__dy _n pl_c_ f_r St_r W_rs V___ _nd _X.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the new star wars movie will not open in cinemas until december but it is already attracting huge interest online pre-sales tickets for 'star wars the force awakens' went on sale yesterday and broke all ticket records in the usa the nation's largest online ticket seller fandango said it had so many visitors that its site crashed it had to apologise to people who could not visit the site a fandango spokesperson said "for star wars we have already sold eight times as many tickets as we did on the first day of sales for the previous record holder" he added "the enthusiasm for this year's most anticipated movie is out of this world and we expect it to continue all the way to its debut on december 18"

'the force awakens' is the seventh movie to be released in the star wars franchise disney released the film's latest trailer on monday night and it soon went viral worldwide many top international news stations covered the story in their prime time news bulletins the trailer currently has 13 million views on youtube and this number is likely to get a lot bigger box office analyst phil contrino said the movie could also break box office records when it opens it is possible it will be the highest earning movie ever made mr contrino said "the force awakens will hit $1 billion without blinking if it's really good it could cross $2 billion" star wars fans will be happy to know that plans are already in place for star wars viii and ix

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThenewStarWarsmoviewillnotopenincinemasuntilDecember,butitis
alreadyattractinghugeinterestonline.Pre-salesticketsfor'StarW
ars:TheForceAwakens'wentonsaleyesterdayandbrokeallticketrecor
ds.IntheUSA,thenation'slargestonlineticketseller,Fandango,saidith
adsomanyvisitorsthatitssitecrashed.Ithadtoapologisetopeoplewhoc
ouldnotvisitthesite.AFandangospokespersonsaid:"ForStarWars,we
havealreadysoldeighttimesasmanyticketsaswedidonthefirstdayofs
alesforthepreviousrecordholder."Headded:"Theenthusiasmforthisy
ear'smostanticipatedmovieisoutofthisworldandweexpectittocontinu
eallthewaytoitsdebutonDecember18."'TheForceAwakens'istheseve
nthmovietobereleasedintheStarWarsfranchise.Disneyreleasedthefil
m'slatesttraileronMondaynightanditsoonwentviralworldwide.Manyt
opinternationalnewsstationscoveredthestoryintheirprimetimenews
bulletins.Thetrailercurrentlyhas13millionviewsonYouTubeandthisn
umberislikelytogetalotbigger.BoxofficeanalystPhilContrinosaidthe
moviecouldalsobreakboxofficerecordswhenitopens.Itispossibleitwil
lbethehighestearningmovieevermade.MrContrinosaid:"TheForceA
wakenswillhit$1billionwithoutblinking.Ifit'sreallygood,itcouldcross$
2billion."StarWarsfanswillbehappytoknowthatplansarealreadyinplace
forStarWarsVIIIandIX.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Science fiction movies like Star Wars are not good for us. 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 Star Wars. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS: Make a poster about the new movie 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. STAR WARS: Write a magazine article about Star Wars. Include imaginary interviews with people who love for and hate 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 Star Wars. Ask him/her three questions about Star Wars. Give him/her three of your ideas for the next movie. 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

T

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	cinemas	a.	movie theatres
2	huge	b.	very big
3.	largest	c.	biggest
4.	previous	d.	earlier
5.	expect	e.	think
6.	released	f.	launched
7.	worldwide	g.	globally
8.	currently	h.	presently
9.	fans	i.	followers
10.	in place	j.	there

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	December
2.	It crashed
3.	Apologise
4.	Eight times more
5.	This world
6.	Disney
7.	Worldwide
8.	13 million
9.	$2 billion
10.	Star Wars VIII and IX

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

c

4.

a

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

d

10.

c

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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The Force Awakens breaks ticket records (23rd October, 2015)

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