Breaking News English Lesson: Cashless Society

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India to be a cashless society, says Prime Minister (29th November, 2016)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined his controversial plan to make India a cashless society. Indians are already up in arms following his recent and sudden decision to ban the old 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes. They ceased to be legal tender in India from the 9th of November, although the old 500-rupee note was replaced by an updated version. The government claimed the move was an effort to stop the banknotes being used to fund terrorism, as well as being a crackdown on counterfeit money in India. The ban means 80 per cent of the country's currency has been withdrawn from circulation and business has been brought to a virtual standstill. It is very unpopular among most Indians.

Mr Modi went a step further on Sunday when he called for a cashless society. He said in a televised speech: "I want to tell my small merchant brothers and sisters, this is the chance for you to enter the digital world." He added: "Learn the different ways you can use your bank accounts and Internet banking. Learn how to effectively use the apps of various banks on your phones. Learn how to run your business without cash. Learn about card payments and other electronic modes of payment….A cashless economy is secure. It is clean." He addressed India's more tech-savvy people by declaring that: "All the youth of India can do it very quickly, and within a month, the world can see a modern India."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://gizmodo.com /indias-prime-minister-plans-for-cashless-society-1789403344 http://www..independent.co.uk /news/world/asia/india-cashless-society-banknotes-narendra-modi-ban-currency-a7442316.html
http://indianexpress.com /article/india/india-news-india/mann-ki-baat-live-updates-narendra-modi-demonetisation-4397510/

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. A CASHLESS SOCIETY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about a cashless society. 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?

controversial / cashless / society / banknote / legal / terrorism / counterfeit / currency
speech / merchant / the digital world / bank accounts / electronic / payment / youth

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

3. DIGITAL: Students A strongly believe digital money is better than cash; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. DIGITAL WORLD: What are the pros and cons of these? Are they better than the physical things? Talk about this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Digital money
MP3 music
Digital photos
Social media friends
Internet birthday card
e-Books

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. CURRENCY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "currency". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. BANKS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about banks at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Bill payment

Cheque book

Loans

Internet banking

ATMs

Saving accounts

Credit cards

Financial advice

Before reading / listening

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

India has already abandoned all forms of cash. T / F
There are now no 500 rupee notes in circulation in India. T / F
India's government said ending banknotes was an anti-terrorism measure. T / F
The withdrawn banknotes represents 80% of India's currency. T / F
Mr Modi said he wanted all small merchants to enter the digital world. T / F
Mr Modi advised his brothers and sisters to stop using bank accounts. T / F
Mr Modi said a cashless economy was clean and secure. T / F
Mr Modi called on all the older people to make India modern. T / F

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

outlined
controversial
up in arms
version
standstill
merchant
effectively
modes
secure
savvy

safe
form
trader
halt
sketched out
ways
problematic
clever
successfully
angry

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

outlined his controversial
Indians are already up
a crackdown on counterfeit
currency has been withdrawn from
business has been brought to a virtual
He said in a televised
effectively use the
run your
other electronic modes
He addressed India's more tech-

of payment
standstill
business without cash
speech
plan
savvy people
circulation
in arms
apps of various banks
money

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

fund
legal
circulation
outlined
version
standstill
recent
crackdown

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has (1) ____________ his controversial plan to make India a cashless society. Indians are already up in arms following his (2) ____________ and sudden decision to ban the old 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes. They ceased to be (3) ____________ tender in India from the 9th of November, although the old 500-rupee note was replaced by an updated (4) ____________. The government claimed the move was an effort to stop the banknotes being used to (5) ____________ terrorism, as well as being a (6) ____________ on counterfeit money in India. The ban means 80 per cent of the country's currency has been withdrawn from (7) ____________ and business has been brought to a virtual (8) ____________. It is very unpopular among most Indians.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

speech
effectively
further
within
enter
savvy
merchant
payments

Mr Modi went a step (9) ____________ on Sunday when he called for a cashless society. He said in a televised (10) ____________: "I want to tell my small (11) ____________ brothers and sisters, this is the chance for you to (12) ___________ the digital world." He added: "Learn the different ways you can use your bank accounts and Internet banking. Learn how to (13) ____________ use the apps of various banks on your phones. Learn how to run your business without cash. Learn about card (14) ____________ and other electronic modes of payment….A cashless economy is secure. It is clean." He addressed India's more tech-(15) ____________ people by declaring that: "All the youth of India can do it very quickly, and (16) ____________ a month, the world can see a modern India."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined his ______
     a. controversially plan
     b. controversy plan
     c. controversies plan
     d. controversial plan

2) Indians are already ______
     a. up in ears
     b. up in arms
     c. up in eyes
     d. up in organs

3) although the old 500-rupee note was replaced by ______
     a. an update it version
     b. an updated vision
     c. an updated version
     d. an update it vision

4) The ban means 80 per cent of the country's currency ______
     a. has been withdrawing
     b. has been withdrawn
     c. has been without drawn
     d. has been within drawn

5) withdrawn from circulation and business has been brought to ______
     a. a virtual standstill
     b. a virtually stands still
     c. a virtual stood still
     d. a virtually standstill

6) Mr Modi went a step further on Sunday when he ______ cashless society
     a. called for a
     b. cold for a
     c. cooled for a
     d. scald for a

7) brothers and sisters, this is the chance for you to enter ______
     a. the digitalise world
     b. the digitalis world
     c. the digitals world
     d. the digital world

8) Learn how to effectively use the apps of various banks ______
     a. in your phones
     b. at your phones
     c. to your phones
     d. on your phones

9) He addressed India's more tech-______
     a. saviour people
     b. saving people
     c. saved people
     d. savvy people

10) All the youth of India can do it very quickly, and ______
     a. with in a month
     b. within a month
     c. without a month
     d. with out a month

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (1) ___________________ controversial plan to make India a cashless society. Indians are already up in arms following (2) ___________________ sudden decision to ban the old 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes. They ceased to (3) ___________________ in India from the 9th of November, although the old 500-rupee note was replaced by (4) ___________________. The government claimed the move was an effort to stop the banknotes being used to fund terrorism, as well as (5) ___________________ on counterfeit money in India. The ban means 80 per cent of the country's currency has been withdrawn from circulation and business has been brought to a (6) ___________________. It is very unpopular among most Indians.

Mr Modi went (7) ___________________ on Sunday when he called for a cashless society. He said in a televised speech: "I want to tell my small merchant brothers and sisters, this is the chance (8) __________________ the digital world." He added: "Learn the different ways you can use your bank accounts and Internet banking. Learn (9) ___________________ use the apps of various banks on your phones. Learn how to run your business without cash. Learn about card payments (10) ___________________ modes of payment….A cashless economy is secure. It is clean." He addressed India's (11) ___________________ people by declaring that: "All the youth of India can do it very quickly, and (12) ___________________, the world can see a modern India."

Comprehension questions

What kind of plan did the article say Narendra Modi outlined?
What phrase did the article use to say Indians are angry?
What Indian banknote was replaced with a newer version?
What is Mr Modi's plan designed to crack down on?
What percentage of India's currency was withdrawn from circulation?
Where did Mr Modi make a speech about the cashless society?
What did Mr Modi tell small merchants they could enter?
What did Mr Modi encourage people not to use in their businesses?
What did Mr Modi say a cashless economy was besides being secure?
Who did Mr Modi say could make India modern within a month?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of plan did the article say Narendra Modi outlined?
a) a good one
b) a short one
c) a controversial one
d) a very popular one

2) What phrase did the article use to say Indians are angry?
a) up in arms
b) an arm and a leg
c) arm in arm
d) take up arms

3) What Indian banknote was replaced with a newer version?
a) the 1,000-rupee banknote
b) the 500-rupee banknote
c) the 50-rupee banknote
d) the 100-rupee banknote

4) What is Mr Modi's plan designed to crack down on?
a) arms
b) digital money
c) banks
d) counterfeit money

5) What percentage of India's currency was withdrawn from circulation?
a) 20%
b) 45%
c) 80%
d) 60%

6) Where did Mr Modi make a speech about the cashless society?
a) at a bank in Switzerland
b) on TV
c) at the IMF
d) in Brazil

7) What did Mr Modi tell small merchants they could enter?
a) the world of finance
b) any bank
c) the unknown
d) the digital world

8) What did Mr Modi encourage people not to use in their businesses?
a) arms
b) cash
c) ATMs
d) payments

9) What did Mr Modi say a cashless economy was besides being secure?
a) empty
b) clean
c) rich
d) expensive

10) Who did Mr Modi say could make India modern within a month?
a) the youth
b) his party
c) the wealthy
d) bankers

Role play

Role A — ATMs

You think ATMs are the best thing about banks. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): savings accounts, loans or Internet banking.

Role B — Savings Accounts

You think savings accounts are the best thing about banks. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): ATMs, loans or Internet banking.

Role C — Loans

You think loans are the best thing about banks. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): savings accounts, ATMs or Internet banking.

Role D — Internet Banking

You think Internet banking are the best thing about banks. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): savings accounts, loans or ATMs.

After reading / listening

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

'digital'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'world'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

step

chance

apps

run

clean

modern

plan

recent

9

stop

80

most

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 - India to be a cashless society, says Prime Minister

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What springs to mind when you hear the word 'cash'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you think about a cashless society?
What are the pros and cons of cash?
What do you know about the history of cash?
When was the last time you were up in arms over money?
What is your favourite banknote and why?
How would a cashless society deter funding of terrorism?
What do you think of your country' banknotes?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
Do you think merchants would prefer a cashless society?
Which is better, cash or credit card?
What are the pros and cons of having only digital money?
What do you think of the digital world?
How could you use banking services more effectively?
How tech-savvy are you?
Why is a cashless economy secure?
How would a cashless society make India more modern?
What questions would you like to ask Narendra Modi?

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)

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined his controversial plan to make India a cashless society. Indians are (1) ____ up in (2) ____ following his recent and sudden decision to ban the old 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes. They (3) ____ to be legal tender in India from the 9th of November, although the old 500-rupee note was replaced (4) ____ an updated version. The government claimed the move was an effort to stop the banknotes being used to fund terrorism, as well as being a crackdown (5) ____ counterfeit money in India. The ban means 80 per cent of the country's currency has been withdrawn from circulation and business has been brought to a (6) ____ standstill. It is very unpopular among most Indians.

Mr Modi went a (7) ____ further on Sunday when he called for a cashless society. He said in a televised speech: "I want to tell my small merchant brothers and sisters, this is the chance (8) ____ you to enter the digital world." He added: "Learn the different ways you can use your bank accounts and Internet banking. Learn how to effectively use the apps of (9) ____ banks on your phones. Learn how to (10) ____ your business without cash. Learn about card payments and other electronic modes of payment….A cashless economy is secure. It is clean." He addressed India's more tech-(11) ____ people by declaring that: "All the youth of India can do it very quickly, and within a month, the world can see a (12) ____ India."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) readily (b) ready (c) already (d) reading
(a) arms (b) legs (c) heads (d) hands
(a) ceased (b) ceasing (c) ceases (d) ceasing
(a) by (b) of (c) as (d) at
(a) in (b) on (c) to (d) as
(a) virtue (b) virile (c) viral (d) virtual
(a) skip (b) hop (c) step (d) jump
(a) of (b) on (c) by (d) for
(a) various (b) varies (c) variety (d) vicarious
(a) run (b) walk (c) jog (d) sprint
(a) saved (b) savvy (c) saviour (d) saves
(a) modernises (b) modernity (c) modern (d) modernize

Spelling

Paragraph 1

outlined his toecsrovniral plan
They acdsee to be legal tender
replaced by an updated eosinvr
a crackdown on terutofneci money
currency has been withdrawn from olrtnuaciic
brought to a iurltav standstill

Paragraph 2

in a eeltievds speech
my small tcahnmre brothers and sisters
how to feceiftlvye use the apps
uisoarv banks
other ecctleionr modes of payment
more tech-avsyv people

Put the text back together

( ) to stop the banknotes being used to fund terrorism, as well as being a crackdown on counterfeit

( ) Mr Modi went a step further on Sunday when he called for a cashless society. He said in a televised

( ) world." He added: "Learn the different ways you can use your bank accounts and Internet banking. Learn

( ) without cash. Learn about card payments and other electronic modes of

( ) a cashless society. Indians are already up in arms following his recent and sudden decision to ban the old

( ) declaring that: "All the youth of India can do it very quickly, and within a month, the world can see a modern India."

( ) speech: "I want to tell my small merchant brothers and sisters, this is the chance for you to enter the digital

( ) how to effectively use the apps of various banks on your phones. Learn how to run your business

( ) money in India. The ban means 80 per cent of the country's currency has been withdrawn from

( ) payment….A cashless economy is secure. It is clean." He addressed India's more tech-savvy people by

( 1 ) India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined his controversial plan to make India

( ) although the old 500-rupee note was replaced by an updated version. The government claimed the move was an effort

( ) circulation and business has been brought to a virtual standstill. It is very unpopular among most Indians.

( ) 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes. They ceased to be legal tender in India from the 9th of November,

Put the words in the right order

plan cashless to society make His India controversial a .
up already are Indians arms in .
effort to stop the banknotes being used to fund terrorism An .
currency country's The circulation from withdrawn been has .
brought been has Business standstill virtual a to .
for you to enter the digital world This is the chance .
your ways bank you accounts can The use different .
your run to how Learn cash without business .
tech more India's addressed He people savvy - .
a month , the world can see a modern India Within .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined / lined his controversial plan to make India a cashless society. Indians are already up in legs / arms following his recent and sudden / suddenly decision to ban the old 500 and 1,000 rupee banknotes. They ceased / seized to be legal tinder / tender in India from the 9th of November, although the old 500-rupee note was replaced by an updated / updating version. The government claimed the move was an effort to stop the banknotes being used to fund / frond terrorism, as well as being a meltdown / crackdown on counterfeit money in India. The ban means 80 per cent of the country's currency has been withdrawn from circulation / circular and business has been brought to a virtual / virtually standstill. It is very unpopular among most Indians.

Mr Modi went a stair / step further on Sunday when he called for a cashless society. He said in a televised speech: "I want to tell my small machine / merchant brothers and sisters, this is the chance for you to entry / enter the digital world." He added: "Learn the different / difference ways you can use your bank accounts and Internet banking. Learn how to effectively / effective use the apps of various banks on your phones. Learn how to ruin / run your business without cash. Learn about card payments and other electronic nodes / modes of payment….A cashless economy is secure / securely. It is clean." He addressed India's more tech-savvy people by declaring what / that: "All the youth of India can do it very quickly, and without / within a month, the world can see a modern India."

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)

_nd__'s Pr_m_ M_n_st_r N_r_ndr_ M_d_ h_s __tl_n_d h_s c_ntr_v_rs__l pl_n t_ m_k_ _nd__ _ c_shl_ss s_c__ty. _nd__ns _r_ _lr__dy _p _n _rms f_ll_w_ng h_s r_c_nt _nd s_dd_n d_c_s__n t_ b_n th_ _ld 500 _nd 1,000 r_p__ b_nkn_t_s. Th_y c__s_d t_ b_ l_g_l t_nd_r _n _nd__ fr_m th_ 9th _f N_v_mb_r, _lth__gh th_ _ld 500-r_p__ n_t_ w_s r_pl_c_d by _n _pd_t_d v_rs__n. Th_ g_v_rnm_nt cl__m_d th_ m_v_ w_s _n _ff_rt t_ st_p th_ b_nkn_t_s b__ng _s_d t_ f_nd t_rr_r_sm, _s w_ll _s b__ng _ cr_ckd_wn _n c__nt_rf__t m_n_y _n _nd__. Th_ b_n m__ns 80 p_r c_nt _f th_ c__ntry's c_rr_ncy h_s b__n w_thdr_wn fr_m c_rc_l_t__n _nd b_s_n_ss h_s b__n br__ght t_ _ v_rt__l st_ndst_ll. _t _s v_ry _np_p_l_r _m_ng m_st _nd__ns.

Mr M_d_ w_nt _ st_p f_rth_r _n S_nd_y wh_n h_ c_ll_d f_r _ c_shl_ss s_c__ty. H_ s__d _n _ t_l_v_s_d sp__ch: "_ w_nt t_ t_ll my sm_ll m_rch_nt br_th_rs _nd s_st_rs, th_s _s th_ ch_nc_ f_r y__ t_ _nt_r th_ d_g_t_l w_rld." H_ _dd_d: "L__rn th_ d_ff_r_nt w_ys y__ c_n _s_ y__r b_nk _cc__nts _nd _nt_rn_t b_nk_ng. L__rn h_w t_ _ff_ct_v_ly _s_ th_ _pps _f v_r___s b_nks _n y__r ph_n_s. L__rn h_w t_ r_n y__r b_s_n_ss w_th__t c_sh. L__rn _b__t c_rd p_ym_nts _nd _th_r _l_ctr_n_c m_d_s _f p_ym_nt…._ c_shl_ss _c_n_my _s s_c_r_. _t _s cl__n." H_ _ddr_ss_d _nd__'s m_r_ t_ch-s_vvy p__pl_ by d_cl_r_ng th_t: "_ll th_ y__th _f _nd__ c_n d_ _t v_ry q__ckly _nd w_th_n _ m_nth. Th_ w_rld c_n s__ _ m_d_rn _nd__."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

india's prime minister narendra modi has outlined his controversial plan to make india a cashless society indians are already up in arms following his recent and sudden decision to ban the old 500 and 1000 rupee banknotes they ceased to be legal tender in india from the 9th of november although the old 500-rupee note was replaced by an updated version the government claimed the move was an effort to stop the banknotes being used to fund terrorism as well as being a crackdown on counterfeit money in india the ban means 80 per cent of the country's currency has been withdrawn from circulation and business has been brought to a virtual standstill it is very unpopular among most indians

mr modi went a step further on sunday when he called for a cashless society he said in a televised speech "i want to tell my small merchant brothers and sisters this is the chance for you to enter the digital world" he added "learn the different ways you can use your bank accounts and internet banking learn how to effectively use the apps of various banks on your phones learn how to run your business without cash learn about card payments and other electronic modes of payment…a cashless economy is secure it is clean" he addressed india's more tech-savvy people by declaring that "all the youth of india can do it very quickly and within a month the world can see a modern india"

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

India'sPrimeMinisterNarendraModihasoutlinedhiscontroversialplant
omakeIndiaacashlesssociety.Indiansarealreadyupinarmsfollowingh
isrecentandsuddendecisiontobantheold500and1,000rupeebanknot
es.TheyceasedtobelegaltenderinIndiafromthe9thofNovember,altho
ughtheold500-rupeenotewasreplacedbyanupdatedversion.Thegov
ernmentclaimedthemovewasanefforttostopthebanknotesbeinguse
dtofundterrorism,aswellasbeingacrackdownoncounterfeitmoneyinI
ndia.Thebanmeans80percentofthecountry'scurrencyhasbeenwithd
rawnfromcirculationandbusinesshasbeenbroughttoavirtualstandstil
l.ItisveryunpopularamongmostIndians.MrModiwentastepfurtheron
Sundaywhenhecalledforacashlesssociety.Hesaidinatelevisedspeec
h:"Iwanttotellmysmallmerchantbrothersandsisters,thisisthechance
foryoutoenterthedigitalworld."Headded:"Learnthedifferentwaysyo
ucanuseyourbankaccountsandInternetbanking.Learnhowtoeffectiv
elyusetheappsofvariousbanksonyourphones.Learnhowtorunyourbu
sinesswithoutcash.Learnaboutcardpaymentsandotherelectronicmo
desofpayment….Acashlesseconomyissecure.Itisclean."Headdresse
dIndia'smoretech-savvypeoplebydeclaringthat:"AlltheyouthofIndi
acandoitveryquickly,andwithinamonth,theworldcanseeamodernInd
ia."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

What are the pros and cons of a cashless society? Would you prefer one? 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. A CASHLESS SOCIETY: Write a magazine article about a cashless society. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on a cashless society. Ask him/her three questions about this. Give him/her three of your ideas on whether a cash-based or cashless society is best. 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

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Answers

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

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