The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Couples might want to put a little extra effort into their marriage just before March and August every year. Sociologists have identified annual spikes in the number of divorces filed in these two months. Researchers from the University of Washington analysed data for divorces filed in the U.S. state of Washington between 2001 and 2015. There were almost 25,000 divorces filed in the state in 2014 alone. The scientists found that over the 14-year period of the study, divorce rates peaked in August, after the summer holidays, and in March, after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Some researchers said the divorces could be due to financial problems caused by the winter and summer holidays.

Researcher Julie Brines suggested that the anti-climax felt after the build-up to holidays, and the holidays themselves, may leave couples feeling stressed and deflated. She said: "People tend to face the holidays with rising expectations, despite what disappointments they might have had in years past." She added: "[Holidays] represent periods in the year when there's the anticipation or the opportunity for a new beginning, a new start, something different, a transition into a new period of life. It's like an optimism cycle." Couples generally spend more time in closer proximity to each other during holidays, which may actually exacerbate tensions rather than rekindle romance.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.sciencealert.com/researchers-find-there-are-2-months-when-couples-are-most-likely-to-get-divorced
  • http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312444.php
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3752624/Holidays-BAD-marriage-Divorce-rates-spike-summer-winter-breaks.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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. DIVORCE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about divorce. 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?

       couples / effort / marriage / divorce / alone / summer holidays / financial problems /
       anti-climax / stressed / deflated / expectations / disappointments / start / optimism

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

3. MARRIAGE: Students A strongly believe marriage is forever; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. PROBLEMS: What advice would you give to a married couple with the following problems? Discuss this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Money
  • In-laws
  • Different interests
  • Romance gone
  • Housework
  • Boredom
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. EFFORT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "effort". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. STRESSES: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest stresses in a marriage at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • children
  • abuse
  • in-laws
  • different interests
  • money
  • housework
  • cheating
  • marrying too young

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Researchers say divorce season is March and August every year.     T / F
  2. Researchers looked at all the divorces in the USA between 2001 and 2015.     T / F
  3. There were nearly 25,000 divorces in Washington state in 2014.     T / F
  4. Summer holidays could be a reason that many couples get divorced.     T / F
  5. A researcher said holidays can leave couples feeling down.     T / F
  6. The researcher said people have low expectations of holidays.     T / F
  7. The researcher said holidays do not represent anything new.     T / F
  8. The researcher said holidays usually fire up lost romances.     T / F

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

  1. extra
  2. identified
  3. filed
  4. due to
  5. financial
  6. anti-climax
  7. expectations
  8. optimism
  9. proximity
  10. exacerbate
  1. submitted
  2. positiveness
  3. monetary
  4. pinpointed
  5. worsen
  6. additional
  7. nearness
  8. disappointment
  9. hopes
  10. because of

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

  1. Couples might want to put a little extra
  2. Sociologists have identified annual spikes
  3. 25,000 divorces filed in the state in 2014
  4. over the 14-year period
  5. the divorces could be due to
  6. the anti-
  7. leave couples feeling stressed and
  8. spend more time in closer
  9. exacerbate
  10. rekindle
  1. in the number of divorces
  2. of the study
  3. climax felt after the build-up
  4. proximity to each other
  5. effort into their marriage
  6. romance
  7. tensions
  8. alone
  9. deflated
  10. financial problems

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
alone
due
extra
caused
filed
period
identified
data

Couples might want to put a little (1) ____________ effort into their marriage just before March and August every year. Sociologists have (2) ____________ annual spikes in the number of divorces (3) ____________ in these two months. Researchers from the University of Washington analysed (4) ____________ for divorces filed in the U.S. state of Washington between 2001 and 2015. There were almost 25,000 divorces filed in the state in 2014 (5) ____________. The scientists found that over the 14-year (6) ____________ of the study, divorce rates peaked in August, after the summer holidays, and in March, after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Some researchers said the divorces could be (7) ____________ to financial problems (8) ____________ by the winter and summer holidays.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
past
themselves
optimism
anticipation
romance
deflated
anti-climax
transition

Researcher Julie Brines suggested that the (9) ____________ felt after the build-up to holidays, and the holidays (10) ____________, may leave couples feeling stressed and (11) ____________. She said: "People tend to face the holidays with rising expectations, despite what disappointments they might have had in years (12) ____________." She added: "[Holidays] represent periods in the year when there's the (13) ____________ or the opportunity for a new beginning, a new start, something different, a (14) ____________ into a new period of life. It's like an (15) ____________ cycle." Couples generally spend more time in closer proximity to each other during holidays, which may actually exacerbate tensions rather than rekindle (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Couples might want to put a little extra effort ______ marriage
     a.  on to their
     b.  until their
     c.  into their
     d.  unto their

2)  Sociologists have identified annual spikes in the number of ______
     a.  divorce is filed
     b.  divorces fired
     c.  divorces filed
     d.  divorce is fired

3)  analysed data for divorces filed in the U.S. ______
     a.  state off Washington
     b.  state of Washington
     c.  states of Washington
     d.  stated off Washington

4)  There were almost 25,000 divorces filed in the state ______
     a.  in 2014 lonely
     b.  in 2014 a lone
     c.  in 2014 a loner
     d.  in 2014 alone

5)  Some researchers said the divorces could be ______ problems
     a.  dew to financial
     b.  due to financial
     c.  due too financial
     d.  dew two financial

6)  Researcher Julie Brines suggested that the anti-climax felt ______
     a.  after a built-up
     b.  after the build-ups
     c.  after a build-up
     d.  after the build-up

7)  She said: "People tend to face the holidays with ______"
     a.  rising expectations
     b.  rise in expectations
     c.  rising expectation
     d.  raising expectation

8) periods in the year when there's the anticipation or the opportunity for ______
     a.  a new beginning
     b.  a news beginning
     c.  a newly beginning
     d.  a knew beginning

9)  Couples generally spend more time in closer proximity ______
     a.  to each other
     b.  too each other
     c.  to each others
     d.  to each another

10)  … which may actually exacerbate tensions rather than ______
     a.  rekindle romances
     b.  rekindle bromance
     c.  rekindle romantic
     d.  rekindle Rome ants

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Couples might want (1) ___________________ extra effort into their marriage just before March and August every year. Sociologists have identified annual spikes (2) ___________________ divorces filed in these two months. Researchers from the University of Washington analysed (3) ___________________ filed in the U.S. state of Washington between 2001 and 2015. There were almost 25,000 divorces filed in the state in 2014 alone. The scientists found that over the (4) ___________________ of the study, divorce rates peaked in August, after the (5) ___________________, and in March, after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Some researchers said the divorces could be due to financial problems (6) ___________________ winter and summer holidays.

Researcher Julie Brines suggested that (7) ___________________ felt after the build-up to holidays, and the holidays themselves, may leave couples feeling stressed (8) ___________________. She said: "People tend to face the holidays with (9) ___________________, despite what disappointments they might have had in years past." She added: "[Holidays] represent periods in the year when there's the anticipation or (10) ___________________ a new beginning, a new start, something different, a transition into a (11) ___________________. It's like an optimism cycle." Couples generally spend more time in closer proximity to each other during holidays, which may actually (12) ___________________ rather than rekindle romance.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article suggest couples put into their marriage before March?
  2. What did sociologists identify regarding the number of divorces?
  3. How many divorces were filed in Washington state in 2014?
  4. How many years of divorces did the researchers look at?
  5. What kind of problems did researchers say might be the cause for divorces?
  6. How does the anti-climax of holidays leave couples feeling?
  7. What did a researcher say people tended to face holidays with?
  8. What did the researcher say holidays were an opportunity for?
  9. What kind of cycle did the researcher say holidays were part of?
  10. What tends not to get rekindled when tensions are exacerbated?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article suggest couples put into their marriage before March?
a) more conversations
b) spice
c) romance
d) a little extra effort

2) What did sociologists identify regarding the number of divorces?
a) every year
b) annual spikes
c) filings
d) data

3) How many divorces were filed in Washington state in 2014?
a) around 25,000
b) exactly 25,000
c) almost 25,000
d) just over 25,000

4) How many years of divorces did the researchers look at?
a) 14
b) 15
c) 16
d) 17

5) What kind of problems did researchers say might be the cause for divorces?
a) boredom
b) cheating
c) money
d) in-laws

6) How does the anti-climax of holidays leave couples feeling?
a) elated and inflated
b) stressed and deflated
c) poor and broke
d) happy and glad

7) What did a researcher say people tended to face holidays with?
a) a compass
b) disappointments
c) stress
d) rising expectations

8) What did the researcher say holidays were an opportunity for?
a) a new beginning
b) disappointments
c) years past
d) a cycle

9) What kind of cycle did the researcher say holidays were part of?
a) a fun bicycle
b) a racing cycle
c) an optimism cycle
d) a tandem

10) What tends not to get rekindled when tensions are exacerbated?
a) proximity
b) romance
c) barbecues
d) holidays

Role play

Role A — Money

You think money causes the biggest stress in a marriage. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as stressful. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why): housework, in-laws or cheating.

Role B — Housework

You think housework causes the biggest stress in a marriage. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as stressful. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why): money, in-laws or cheating.

Role C — In-laws

You think in-laws cause the biggest stress in a marriage. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as stressful. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why): housework, money or cheating.

Role D — Cheating

You think cheating causes the biggest stress in a marriage. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as stressful. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why):  housework, in-laws or money.

After reading / listening

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

'divorce'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'season'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • anti-
    • build
    • tend
    • start
    • cycle
    • romance
    • extra
    • annual
    • 2001
    • 2014
    • 14
    • due

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Study shows there are two divorce seasons

    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 'divorce'?
    3. Why do so many marriages end in divorce?
    4. What do you think about what you read?
    5. Should couples make an extra effort around divorce season?
    6. Should engaged couples take a test to see if their marriage will last?
    7. Who suffers the most from a divorce?
    8. How can we prevent divorce?
    9. What do you think of making divorce illegal?
    10. What do you think of the idea that marriage is forever?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. Do you always feel an anti-climax after holidays?
    3. What makes couples stressed?
    4. Are family holidays always fun?
    5. What stresses are there associated with holidays?
    6. Why is a holiday "the opportunity for a new beginning"?
    7. What is your advice for a successful marriage?
    8. Why do couples need to spend some time apart?
    9. Would it be better for couples to go on separate holidays?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Couples might want to put a little extra (1) ____ into their marriage just before March and August every year. Sociologists have identified annual (2) ____ in the number of divorces filed in these two months. Researchers from the University of Washington analysed data for divorces filed in the U.S. state (3) ____ Washington between 2001 and 2015. There were almost 25,000 divorces filed in the state in 2014 (4) ____. The scientists found that over the 14-year period of the study, divorce rates (5) ____ in August, after the summer holidays, and in March, after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Some researchers said the divorces could be (6) ____ to financial problems caused by the winter and summer holidays.

    Researcher Julie Brines suggested that the anti-climax felt after the build-up to holidays, and the holidays (7) ____, may leave couples feeling stressed and deflated. She said: "People (8) ____ to face the holidays with rising expectations, despite what disappointments they might have had in years (9) ____." She added: "[Holidays] represent periods in the year when there's the anticipation or the opportunity for a new (10) ____, a new start, something different, a transition into a new period of life. It's like an optimism cycle." Couples (11) ____ spend more time in closer proximity to each other during holidays, which may (12) ____ exacerbate tensions rather than rekindle romance.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     effort     (b)     affront     (c)     offend     (d)     efface    
    2. (a)     spokes     (b)     speaks     (c)     spikes     (d)     specks    
    3. (a)     for     (b)     from     (c)     of     (d)     off    
    4. (a)     a lone     (b)     loner     (c)     lonely     (d)     alone    
    5. (a)     peaked     (b)     poked     (c)     pealed     (d)     pecked    
    6. (a)     around     (b)     due     (c)     as     (d)     for    
    7. (a)     them     (b)     serves     (c)     itself     (d)     themselves    
    8. (a)     trend     (b)     tend     (c)     extend     (d)     attend    
    9. (a)     by     (b)     gone     (c)     past     (d)     ago    
    10. (a)     beginner     (b)     begins     (c)     begin     (d)     beginning    
    11. (a)     genetically     (b)     genuine     (c)     genial     (d)     generally    
    12. (a)     actual     (b)     actually     (c)     actuary     (d)     actuality

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. fenitiddei annual spikes
    2. daynales (UK)  /  ldaanyze (USA) data for divorces
    3. 25,000 divorces ldefi in the state
    4. the 14-year oriped of the study
    5. divorce rates apdeke in August
    6. divorces could be due to lnianiacf problems

    Paragraph 2

    1. the aitn-ilacmx felt after the build-up
    2. feeling stressed and ftededla
    3. It's like an imiompst
    4. in closer yxpoiirmt to each other
    5. rxeaebctae tensions
    6. lirnkdee romance

    Put the text back together

    (    )     year. Sociologists have identified annual spikes in the number of divorces filed in these

    (    )     two months. Researchers from the University of Washington analysed data for divorces filed in the U.S. state

    (    )     other during holidays, which may actually exacerbate tensions rather than rekindle romance.

    (    )     alone. The scientists found that over the 14-year period of the study, divorce rates peaked in August, after the

    (    )     be due to financial problems caused by the winter and summer holidays.

    (    )     summer holidays, and in March, after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Some researchers said the divorces could

    (    )     rising expectations, despite what disappointments they might have had in years past." She added: "[Holidays]

    (    )     optimism cycle." Couples generally spend more time in closer proximity to each

    (    )     start, something different, a transition into a new period of life. It's like an

    (    )     themselves, may leave couples feeling stressed and deflated. She said: "People tend to face the holidays with

    (    )     of Washington between 2001 and 2015. There were almost 25,000 divorces filed in the state in 2014

    1  )     Couples might want to put a little extra effort into their marriage just before March and August every

    (    )     represent periods in the year when there's the anticipation or the opportunity for a new beginning, a new

    (    )     Researcher Julie Brines suggested that the anti-climax felt after the build-up to holidays, and the holidays

    Put the words in the right order

    1. their  into  effort  extra  little   a   put   to  want  might  Couples  marriage.
    2. have  spikes  number  Sociologists  annual  the  divorces  identified  in  of  .
    3. were   almost   25,000   divorces   filed   in   the   state   There.
    4. study   period  14-   peaked   ,   of  Over   divorce   the   year   the  rates  .
    5. could   to   Researchers   divorces  due   problems  the   be  financial  said  .
    6. the   after   felt   climax   anti-   The   holidays   to   up   build-   .
    7. tend   with   to   rising   face   expectations   the   People   holidays.
    8. beginning   opportunity   The   for   anticipation   a   or   new   the.
    9. closer   in   time   more   spend   generally   Couples   proximity.
    10. tensions   Exacerbate   romance   rekindle   than   rather.

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Couples might want to add / put a little extra effort / affront into their marriage just before March and August every year. Sociologists have identity / identified annual spikes / sparks in the number of divorces filed in these two months. Researchers from the University of Washington analysed data for divorces filed in the U.S. state of / as Washington between 2001 and 2015. There were almost 25,000 divorces filed in the state in 2014 alone / lonely. The scientists found that over the 14-year period of the study, divorce rates poked / peaked in August, after the summer holidays, and in March, after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Some researchers said the divorces could be due / dew to financial problems caused / causing by the winter and summer holidays.

    Researcher Julie Brines suggested that the anti-climax felt / touched after the build-up to holidays, and the holidays itself / themselves, may leave couples feeling stressed and inflated / deflated. She said: "People tend / trend to face the holidays with risen / rising expectations, despite what disappointments they might have had in years passed / past." She added: "[Holidays] represent periods in the year when there's the constipation / anticipation or the opportunity for a new beginning, a new start, something different, a contrition / transition into a new period of life. It's like an optimism bike / cycle." Couples generally spend more time in closer proximity to each other during holidays, which may actually exacerbate tensions rather than rewind / rekindle romance.

    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)

    C__pl_s m_ght w_nt t_ p_t _ l_ttl_ _xtr_ _ff_rt _nt_ th__r m_rr__g_ j_st b_f_r_ M_rch _nd __g_st _v_ry y__r. S_c__l_g_sts h_v_ _d_nt_f__d _nn__l sp_k_s _n th_ n_mb_r _f d_v_rc_s f_l_d _n th_s_ tw_ m_nths. R_s__rch_rs fr_m th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f W_sh_ngt_n _n_lys_d d_t_ f_r d_v_rc_s f_l_d _n th_ _.S. st_t_ _f W_sh_ngt_n b_tw__n 2001 _nd 2015. Th_r_ w_r_ _lm_st 25,000 d_v_rc_s f_l_d _n th_ st_t_ _n 2014 _l_n_. Th_ sc__nt_sts f__nd th_t _v_r th_ 14-y__r p_r__d _f th_ st_dy, d_v_rc_ r_t_s p__k_d _n __g_st, _ft_r th_ s_mm_r h_l_d_ys, _nd _n M_rch, _ft_r th_ Chr_stm_s _nd N_w Y__r h_l_d_ys. S_m_ r_s__rch_rs s__d th_ d_v_rc_s c__ld b_ d__ t_ f_n_nc__l pr_bl_ms c__s_d by th_ w_nt_r _nd s_mm_r h_l_d_ys.

    R_s__rch_r J_l__ Br_n_s s_gg_st_d th_t th_ _nt_-cl_m_x f_lt _ft_r th_ b__ld-_p t_ h_l_d_ys, _nd th_ h_l_d_ys th_ms_lv_s, m_y l__v_ c__pl_s f__l_ng str_ss_d _nd d_fl_t_d. Sh_ s__d: "P__pl_ t_nd t_ f_c_ th_ h_l_d_ys w_th r_s_ng _xp_ct_t__ns, d_sp_t_ wh_t d_s_pp__ntm_nts th_y m_ght h_v_ h_d _n y__rs p_st." Sh_ _dd_d: "[H_l_d_ys] r_pr_s_nt p_r__ds _n th_ y__r wh_n th_r_'s th_ _nt_c_p_t__n _r th_ _pp_rt_n_ty f_r _ n_w b_g_nn_ng, _ n_w st_rt, s_m_th_ng d_ff_r_nt, _ tr_ns_t__n _nt_ _ n_w p_r__d _f l_f_. _t's l_k_ _n _pt_m_sm cycl_." C__pl_s g_n_r_lly sp_nd m_r_ t_m_ _n cl_s_r pr_x_m_ty t_ __ch _th_r d_r_ng h_l_d_ys, wh_ch m_y _ct__lly _x_c_rb_t_ t_ns__ns r_th_r th_n r_k_ndl_ r_m_nc_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    couples might want to put a little extra effort into their marriage just before march and august every year sociologists have identified annual spikes in the number of divorces filed in these two months researchers from the university of washington analysed data for divorces filed in the us state of washington between 2001 and 2015 there were almost 25000 divorces filed in the state in 2014 alone the scientists found that over the 14-year period of the study divorce rates peaked in august after the summer holidays and in march after the christmas and new year holidays some researchers said the divorces could be due to financial problems caused by the winter and summer holidays

    researcher julie brines suggested that the anti-climax felt after the build-up to holidays and the holidays themselves may leave couples feeling stressed and deflated she said "people tend to face the holidays with rising expectations despite what disappointments they might have had in years past" she added "[holidays] represent periods in the year when there's the anticipation or the opportunity for a new beginning a new start something different a transition into a new period of life it's like an optimism cycle" couples generally spend more time in closer proximity to each other during holidays which may actually exacerbate tensions rather than rekindle romance

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Couplesmightwanttoputalittleextraeffortintotheirmarriagejustbefor
    eMarchandAugusteveryyear.Sociologistshaveidentifiedannualspike
    sinthenumberofdivorcesfiledinthesetwomonths.Researchersfromth
    eUniversityofWashingtonanalyseddatafordivorcesfiledintheU.S.stat
    eofWashingtonbetween2001and2015.Therewerealmost25,000divo
    rcesfiledinthestatein2014alone.Thescientistsfoundthatoverthe14-
    yearperiodofthestudy,divorceratespeakedinAugust,afterthesumme
    rholidays,andinMarch,aftertheChristmasandNewYearholidays.Som
    eresearcherssaidthedivorcescouldbeduetofinancialproblemscaused
    bythewinterandsummerholidays.ResearcherJulieBrinessuggestedt
    hattheanti-climaxfeltafterthebuild-uptoholidays,andtheholidaysth
    emselves,mayleavecouplesfeelingstressedanddeflated.Shesaid:"P
    eopletendtofacetheholidayswithrisingexpectations,despitewhatdis
    appointmentstheymighthavehadinyearspast."Sheadded:"[Holiday
    s]representperiodsintheyearwhenthere'stheanticipationortheoppor
    tunityforanewbeginning,anewstart,somethingdifferent,atransitioni
    ntoanewperiodoflife.It'slikeanoptimismcycle."Couplesgenerallyspe
    ndmoretimeincloserproximitytoeachotherduringholidays,whichma
    yactuallyexacerbatetensionsratherthanrekindleromance.

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    What are the pros and cons of making divorce illegal? What's your opinion? Why?

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

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

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

    4. MARRIAGE: Write a magazine article about marriage being forever. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    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 divorce. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how couples can stay together. 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

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You