The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A report from the United Nations (UN) says the world needs another 69 million teachers by the year 2030. The UN agency UNESCO made a promise in 2015 that every child in the world is to receive a primary and secondary education within the next 14 years. The agency says a lot of work needs to be done to find the number of teachers for schools. The biggest numbers of teachers needed are in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. UNESCO says there needs to be a huge effort to get the 69 million teachers. At the moment, UNESCO says there are "massive shortages" of teachers around the world. There are currently 263 million children who do not go to school. Around 25 million of these might never get an education.

The UN report warns that there are shortages of teachers in countries with rising populations. This makes it harder to find enough teachers as there are more and more children being born. The report says: "Without urgent and sustained action, the situation will deteriorate in the face of rising demand for education." UNESCO is also worried about the quality of teachers in some countries. In countries like Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, fewer than 60 per cent of teachers in primary school have been trained. There are also worries about class sizes. The UN says: "In countries like Malawi, it is common to find over 100 children in classes….This has been a persistent problem for many years."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37544983
  • https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/nearly-69-million-teachers-needed-if-global-education-goals-are-be
  • http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/Pages/world-teachers-day-2016-EN.aspx


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. TEACHERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about teachers. 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?

       United Nations / teachers / promise / child / education / schools / shortages / world
       countries / population / urgent / situation / quality / demand / trained / class sizes

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

3. CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY: Students A strongly believe it is a crime against humanity for countries to not educate children; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. SCHOOL: How can schools be better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Teachers
  • Building
  • Lessons
  • Classrooms
  • Technology
  • Exams
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. CHILD: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "child". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. GOOD TEACHER: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that make a good teacher at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • young
  • gives no homework
  • answers questions well
  • likes students
  • funny
  • strict
  • intelligent
  • good-looking

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The world needs 69 million more teachers by the end of the next decade. T / F
  2. In 2015, UNESCO promised all children an education.     T / F
  3. The biggest number of teachers needed is in China.     T / F
  4. There are 263 million children who do not go to school.     T / F
  5. There are no teacher shortages in countries with a growing population.    T / F
  6. UNESCO is not worried about the quality of teachers.     T / F
  7. In Ghana, only 40% of teachers are trained.     T / F
  8. Malawi has class sizes of over 100 children.     T / F

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

  1. needs
  2. promise
  3. within
  4. huge
  5. might
  6. rising
  7. urgent
  8. quality
  9. worries
  10. common
  1. The UN agency UNESCO made
  2. receive a primary and
  3. teachers needed are in sub-
  4. massive shortages"
  5. Around 25 million of these might never
  6. there are more and more
  7. worried about the
  8. teachers in primary school have been
  9. it is common to find over 100 children
  10. This has been a persistent problem

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

  1. The UN agency UNESCO made
  2. receive a primary and
  3. teachers needed are in sub-
  4. massive shortages"
  5. Around 25 million of these might never
  6. there are more and more
  7. worried about the
  8. teachers in primary school have been
  9. it is common to find over 100 children
  10. This has been a persistent problem
  1. Saharan Africa
  2. trained
  3. get an education
  4. in classes
  5. for many years
  6. of teachers
  7. secondary education
  8. quality of teachers
  9. a promise
  10. children being born

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
secondary
huge
currently
promise
never
another
needed
moment

A report from the United Nations (UN) says the world needs (1) ____________ 69 million teachers by the year 2030. The UN agency UNESCO made a (2) ____________ in 2015 that every child in the world is to receive a primary and (3) ____________ education within the next 14 years. The agency says a lot of work needs to be done to find the number of teachers for schools. The biggest numbers of teachers (4) ____________ are in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. UNESCO says there needs to be a (5) ____________ effort to get the 69 million teachers. At the (6) ____________, UNESCO says there are "massive shortages" of teachers around the world. There are (7) ____________ 263 million children who do not go to school. Around 25 million of these might (8) ____________ get an education.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
urgent
fewer
shortages
common
demand
rising
sizes
quality

The UN report warns that there are (9) ____________ of teachers in countries with (10) ____________ populations. This makes it harder to find enough teachers as there are more and more children being born. The report says: "Without (11) ____________ and sustained action, the situation will deteriorate in the face of rising (12) ____________ for education." UNESCO is also worried about the (13) ____________ of teachers in some countries. In countries like Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, (14) ____________ than 60 per cent of teachers in primary school have been trained. There are also worries about class (15) ____________. The UN says: "In countries like Malawi, it is (16) ____________ to find over 100 children in classes….This has been a persistent problem for many years."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  the United Nations (UN) says the world needs another 69 million teachers ______
     a.  at the year 2030
     b.  of the year 2030
     c.  by the year 2030
     d.  on the year 2030

2)  every child in the world is to receive a primary and secondary education _____ 14 years
     a.  without the next
     b.  within the next
     c.  within a next
     d.  without a next

3)  At the moment, UNESCO says there are "massive ______
     a.  shortages" of teachers
     b.  shortage is" of teachers
     c.  short ages" of teachers
     d.  short a gist" of teachers

4)  There are currently 263 million children who do not ______
     a.  going to school
     b.  gone to school
     c.  goes to school
     d.  go to school

5)  Around 25 million of these might never ______
     a.  get in education
     b.  gets the education
     c.  get an education
     d.  gets an education

6)  there are shortages of teachers in countries with ______
     a.  rise in populations
     b.  risen populations
     c.  arising populations
     d.  rising populations

7)  harder to find enough teachers as there are more and more ______
     a.  children been born
     b.  children being born
     c.  children be in born
     d.  children bee in born

8)  the situation will deteriorate in the face of rising demand ______
     a.  of education
     b.  four education
     c.  from education
     d.  for education

9)  fewer than 60 per cent of teachers in primary school have ______
     a.  been trained
     b.  been trade
     c.  been training
     d.  been traded

10)  In countries like Malawi, it is common to find over 100 ______
     a.  children on classes
     b.  children in classes
     c.  children to classes
     d.  children at classes

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A report from the United Nations (UN) says the (1) ___________________ 69 million teachers by the year 2030. The UN agency UNESCO made a promise in 2015 that every child in the world (2) ___________________ a primary and secondary education within the next 14 years. The agency says a lot of work needs to be done to (3) ___________________ of teachers for schools. The biggest numbers of teachers needed are in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. UNESCO says there needs to (4) ___________________ to get the 69 million teachers. At the moment, UNESCO says there are (5) ___________________ of teachers around the world. There are currently 263 million children who do not go to school. Around 25 million of these might (6) ___________________ education.

The UN report warns that there (7) ___________________ teachers in countries with rising populations. This makes it harder to find enough teachers (8) ___________________ more and more children being born. The report says: "Without urgent and sustained action, the situation will deteriorate (9) ___________________ rising demand for education." UNESCO is also worried about (10) ___________________ teachers in some countries. In countries like Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, fewer than 60 per cent of teachers in primary school have been trained. There are also worries (11) ___________________. The UN says: "In countries like Malawi, it is common to find over 100 children in classes….This has been a persistent problem (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. By when does the world need another 69 million teachers?
  2. What did UNESCO make to children in 2015?
  3. Where is the biggest number of teacher needed, besides Asia?
  4. When did UNICEF say there were "massive shortages" of teachers?
  5. How many children around the world might never get an education?
  6. What are there more and more of in countries with rising populations?
  7. What does the report say there is a rising demand for?
  8. What is UNESCO worried about the quality of?
  9. How many of Sierra Leone's primary school teachers been trained?
  10. How many children per class is it common to find in Malawi?

Multiple choice quiz

1) By when does the world need another 69 million teachers?
a) 2025
b) 2030
c) 2020
d) 2035

2) What did UNESCO make to children in 2015?
a) an order
b) a suggestion
c) a joke
d) a promise

3) Where is the biggest number of teacher needed, besides Asia?
a) sub-Saharan Africa
b) southern Africa
c) North Africa
d) all of Africa

4) When did UNICEF say there were "massive shortages" of teachers?
a) in 2015
b) several years ago
c) at the moment
d) in the year 2000

5) How many children around the world might never get an education?
a) just less than 25 million
b) around 25 million
c) exactly 25 million
d) slightly more than 25 million

6) What are there more and more of in countries with rising populations?
a) classes
b) shortages
c) children
d) teachers

7) What does the report say there is a rising demand for?
a) faces
b) reports
c) children
d) education

8) What is UNESCO worried about the quality of?
a) teachers
b) faces
c) children
d) reports

9) How many of Sierra Leone's primary school teachers been trained?
a) fewer than 60 per cent
b) fewer than 16 per cent
c) more than 60 per cent
d) exactly 60 per cent

10) How many children per class is it common to find in Malawi?
a) no more than 60
b) more than 100
c) around 32
d) 8

Role play

Role A —Sense of humour

You think a sense of humour is the most important thing for a teacher. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): intelligence, giving no homework or being strict.

Role B —Intelligence

You think intelligence is the most important thing for a teacher. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a sense of humour, giving no homework or being strict.

Role C —Giving no homework

You think giving no homework is the most important thing for a teacher. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): intelligence, a sense of humour or being strict.

Role D —Being strict

You think being strict is the most important thing for a teacher. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): intelligence, giving no homework or a sense of humour.

After reading / listening

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

'primary'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'secondary'.

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

    • harder
    • urgent
    • face
    • quality
    • 60
    • 100
    • another
    • 2015
    • 14
    • numbers
    • huge
    • 25

    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 - The world needs 69 million more teachers

    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 'teacher'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How important are teachers?
    5. Why don't more people become teachers?
    6. What can UNESCO do to get the teachers it needs?
    7. How would the world be different if everyone had an education?
    8. What did you think of your education?
    9. Why is there a shortage of teachers?
    10. What advice do you have for teachers?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. Should more classes be taught online?
    3. Who was your favourite teacher, and why?
    4. Why do teachers get paid so little?
    5. Would you be a good teacher?
    6. What was the most important thing teachers taught you?
    7. What are the good and bad things about being a teacher?
    8. What is the best present for teachers, and why?
    9. What jobs are more important than the job of a teacher?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a teacher?

    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)

    A report from the United Nations (UN) says the world needs (1) ____ 69 million teachers by the year 2030. The UN agency UNESCO (2) ____ a promise in 2015 that every child in the world is to (3) ____ a primary and secondary education within the next 14 years. The agency says a lot of work needs to be done to find the number of teachers for schools. The biggest (4) ____ of teachers needed are in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. UNESCO says there needs to be a (5) ____ effort to get the 69 million teachers. At the moment, UNESCO says there are "massive shortages" of teachers around the world. There are (6) ____ 263 million children who do not go to school. Around 25 million of these might never get an education.

    The UN report warns that there are shortages of teachers in countries (7) ____ rising populations. This makes it harder to find enough teachers as there are more and (8) ____ children being born. The report says: "Without urgent and sustained action, the situation will deteriorate in the (9) ____ of rising demand for education." UNESCO is also worried about the quality of teachers in some countries. In countries (10) ____ Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, fewer than 60 per cent of teachers in primary school have been (11) ____. There are also worries about class sizes. The UN says: "In countries like Malawi, it is common to (12) ____ over 100 children in classes….This has been a persistent problem for many years."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     the other     (b)     others     (c)     other     (d)     another    
    2. (a)     formed     (b)     took     (c)     did     (d)     made    
    3. (a)     conceive     (b)     receive     (c)     perceive     (d)     sieve    
    4. (a)     number     (b)     numerals     (c)     numbers     (d)     numeral    
    5. (a)     hug     (b)     hugely     (c)     huge     (d)     hugs    
    6. (a)     currently     (b)     currency     (c)     currants     (d)     currents    
    7. (a)     within     (b)     with     (c)     withers     (d)     wither    
    8. (a)     more     (b)     many     (c)     most     (d)     much    
    9. (a)     neck     (b)     face     (c)     brain     (d)     head    
    10. (a)     similar     (b)     love     (c)     like     (d)     prefer    
    11. (a)     bussed     (b)     shipped     (c)     trained     (d)     ferried    
    12. (a)     discovery     (b)     wonder     (c)     search     (d)     find

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. A ptreor from the United Nations
    2. UNESCO made a irmspoe in 2015
    3. eeeicvr a primary and secondary education
    4. sub-Saharan Africa and unroseth Asia
    5. there needs to be a huge otffer
    6. There are eurtncryl 263 million children

    Paragraph 2

    1. there are soaretghs of teachers
    2. rising itulnsoopap
    3. egrnut and sustained action
    4. rising mednad for education
    5. the lqyuiat of teachers
    6. it is oomncm to find over 100 children in classes

    Put the text back together

    (    )     Sierra Leone, fewer than 60 per cent of teachers in primary school have been trained. There are also

    (    )     69 million teachers. At the moment, UNESCO says there are "massive shortages" of teachers around the

    1  )     A report from the United Nations (UN) says the world needs another 69 million teachers by the

    (    )     harder to find enough teachers as there are more and more children being born. The report says: "Without urgent

    (    )     receive a primary and secondary education within the next 14 years. The agency says a lot of

    (    )     in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. UNESCO says there needs to be a huge effort to get the

    (    )     The UN report warns that there are shortages of teachers in countries with rising populations. This makes it

    (    )     and sustained action, the situation will deteriorate in the face of rising demand for education." UNESCO is also

    (    )     year 2030. The UN agency UNESCO made a promise in 2015 that every child in the world is to

    (    )     work needs to be done to find the number of teachers for schools. The biggest numbers of teachers needed are

    (    )     worries about class sizes. The UN says: "In countries like Malawi, it is common to find over

    (    )     world. There are currently 263 million children who do not go to school. Around 25 million of these might never get an education.

    (    )     worried about the quality of teachers in some countries. In countries like Ghana, Liberia and

    (    )     100 children in classes….This has been a persistent problem for many years."

    Put the words in the right order

    1. 2030   year   the   by   teachers   million  69   The another   needs   world   .
    2. a   lot   of   work   needs   to   be   done   The   agency   says   .
    3. effort  be  There  69  to  a  needs  million  get  huge  to  teachers  the  .
    4. There  school  to  go  not  do  who  children  million  263  currently  are  .
    5. these   get   Around   of   never   education   million   might   an   25   .
    6. countries   in   teachers   of   Shortages   populations   rising   with   .
    7. quality   also   of   worried   teachers   about   UNESCO   the   is   .
    8. been   trained   Fewer   than   60%   of   teachers   in   school   have   .
    9. find   children   It   to   100   classes   common   over   in   is   .
    10. been   many   a   years   persistent   This   problem   has   for   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A report from the United Nations (UN) says the world needy / needs another 69 million teachers by the year 2030. The UN agency UNESCO made a promise / promises in 2015 that every child in the world is to receive a primary and secondary education within / with the next 14 years. The agency says a lot of work needs to be doing / done to find the number of teachers for schools. The biggest numbers of teachers needed are / be in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. UNESCO says there / their needs to be a huge / hug effort to get the 69 million teachers. At / In the moment, UNESCO says there are "massive shortages" of teachers around the world. There are current / currently 263 million children who do not go to school. Around 25 million of they / these might never get an education.

    The UN report warns that there are shortages / shortage of teachers in countries with rising / raising populations. This makes it harder to find enough teachers has / as there are more and more children being / been born. The report says: "Without urgently / urgent and sustained action, the situation will deteriorate in the face / head of rising demand from / for education." UNESCO is also worried about the quality of teachers in some / sum countries. In countries like Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, fewer than 60 per cent of teachers in / on primary school have been trained. There are also worries about class sizes. The UN says: "In countries like Malawi, it is common to search / find over 100 children in classes….This has been a persistent problem for many years."

    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)

    _ r_p_rt fr_m th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns (_N) s_ys th_ w_rld n__ds _n_th_r 69 m_ll__n t__ch_rs by th_ y__r 2030. Th_ _N _g_ncy _N_SC_ m_d_ _ pr_m_s_ _n 2015 th_t _v_ry ch_ld _n th_ w_rld _s t_ r_c__v_ _ pr_m_ry _nd s_c_nd_ry _d_c_t__n w_th_n th_ n_xt 14 y__rs. Th_ _g_ncy s_ys _ l_t _f w_rk n__ds t_ b_ d_n_ t_ f_nd th_ n_mb_r _f t__ch_rs f_r sch__ls. Th_ b_gg_st n_mb_rs _f t__ch_rs n__d_d _r_ _n s_b-S_h_r_n _fr_c_ _nd s__th_rn _s__. _N_SC_ s_ys th_r_ n__ds t_ b_ _ h_g_ _ff_rt t_ g_t th_ 69 m_ll__n t__ch_rs. _t th_ m_m_nt, _N_SC_ s_ys th_r_ _r_ "m_ss_v_ sh_rt_g_s" _f t__ch_rs _r__nd th_ w_rld. Th_r_ _r_ c_rr_ntly 263 m_ll__n ch_ldr_n wh_ d_ n_t g_ t_ sch__l. _r__nd 25 m_ll__n _f th_s_ m_ght n_v_r g_t _n _d_c_t__n.

    Th_ _N r_p_rt w_rns th_t th_r_ _r_ sh_rt_g_s _f t__ch_rs _n c__ntr__s w_th r_s_ng p_p_l_t__ns. Th_s m_k_s _t h_rd_r t_ f_nd _n__gh t__ch_rs _s th_r_ _r_ m_r_ _nd m_r_ ch_ldr_n b__ng b_rn. Th_ r_p_rt s_ys: "W_th__t _rg_nt _nd s_st__n_d _ct__n, th_ s_t__t__n w_ll d_t_r__r_t_ _n th_ f_c_ _f r_s_ng d_m_nd f_r _d_c_t__n." _N_SC_ _s _ls_ w_rr__d _b__t th_ q__l_ty _f t__ch_rs _n s_m_ c__ntr__s. _n c__ntr__s l_k_ Gh_n_, L_b_r__ _nd S__rr_ L__n_, f_w_r th_n 60 p_r c_nt _f t__ch_rs _n pr_m_ry sch__l h_v_ b__n tr__n_d. Th_r_ _r_ _ls_ w_rr__s _b__t cl_ss s_z_s. Th_ _N s_ys: "_n c__ntr__s l_k_ M_l_w_, _t _s c_mm_n t_ f_nd _v_r 100 ch_ldr_n _n cl_ss_s….Th_s h_s b__n _ p_rs_st_nt pr_bl_m f_r m_ny y__rs."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a report from the united nations (un) says the world needs another 69 million teachers by the year 2030 the un agency unesco made a promise in 2015 that every child in the world is to receive a primary and secondary education within the next 14 years the agency says a lot of work needs to be done to find the number of teachers for schools the biggest numbers of teachers needed are in sub-saharan africa and southern asia unesco says there needs to be a huge effort to get the 69 million teachers at the moment unesco says there are "massive shortages" of teachers around the world there are currently 263 million children who do not go to school around 25 million of these might never get an education

    the un report warns that there are shortages of teachers in countries with rising populations this makes it harder to find enough teachers as there are more and more children being born the report says "without urgent and sustained action the situation will deteriorate in the face of rising demand for education" unesco is also worried about the quality of teachers in some countries in countries like ghana liberia and sierra leone fewer than 60 per cent of teachers in primary school have been trained there are also worries about class sizes the un says "in countries like malawi it is common to find over 100 children in classes…this has been a persistent problem for many years"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AreportfromtheUnitedNations(UN)saystheworldneedsanother69mil
    lionteachersbytheyear2030.TheUNagencyUNESCOmadeapromisei
    n2015thateverychildintheworldistoreceiveaprimaryandsecondarye
    ducationwithinthenext14years.Theagencysaysalotofworkneedstob
    edonetofindthenumberofteachersforschools.Thebiggestnumbersoft
    eachersneededareinsub-SaharanAfricaandsouthernAsia.UNESCOs
    aysthereneedstobeahugeefforttogetthe69millionteachers.Atthemo
    ment,UNESCOsaysthereare"massiveshortages"ofteachersaroundt
    heworld.Therearecurrently263millionchildrenwhodonotgotoschool.
    Around25millionofthesemightnevergetaneducation.TheUNreportw
    arnsthatthereareshortagesofteachersincountrieswithrisingpopulati
    ons.Thismakesithardertofindenoughteachersastherearemoreandm
    orechildrenbeingborn.Thereportsays:"Withouturgentandsustained
    action,thesituationwilldeteriorateinthefaceofrisingdemandforeduca
    tion."UNESCOisalsoworriedaboutthequalityofteachersinsomecount
    ries.IncountrieslikeGhana,LiberiaandSierraLeone,fewerthan60perc
    entofteachersinprimaryschoolhavebeentrained.Therearealsoworrie
    saboutclasssizes.TheUNsays:"IncountrieslikeMalawi,itiscommontof
    indover100childreninclasses….Thishasbeenapersistentproblemfor
    manyyears."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    The job of a teacher is the most important job in the world. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about UNESCO. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. DIFFICULT / EASY JOB: Write a magazine article about how difficult or easy it is to be a teacher. Include imaginary interviews with people who think it is difficult and with people who think it is easy.

    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 teachers. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how teachers can be better. 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.)

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