The Reading / Listening - Memory - Level 3

Are you good at remembering things? Can you remember a long list of English vocabulary quickly and easily? If the answer to these two questions is 'no,' help may be at hand. A new study says pretty much anyone can have an upgraded memory if they train their brain. Scientists say that we can train our brain to be a "memory athlete" just like athletes train to be champions. Neuroscientist Martin Dresler wrote in the journal "Neuron" that just six weeks of brain training can turn people with average memories into people with an incredible ability to remember things. Dr Dresler even suggested people could train their brain to enter the World Memory Championships that are held in March every year.

Dr Dresler compared MRI scans of the brains of 23 of the world's top 50 memory champions with the brains of "normal" people. He said: "We were interested in what differentiates memory champions from normal people, like you and me." He was surprised to find no differences. This made him believe we can all become memory athletes with the right training. Dresler found that 40 days of daily 30-minute training sessions using a memory technique called mnemonics more than doubled a person's memory capacity. Mnemonics is an ancient memory device that helps people remember things, especially in list form. Who knows? It could help you with those words for your next vocabulary test.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Memory - Level 0 Memory - Level 1   or  Memory - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/08/518815297/maybe-you-too-could-become-a-super-memorizer
  • https://www.sciencenews.org/article/brain-training-turns-recall-rookies-memory-masters
  • http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/03/09/anyone-can-become-memory-athlete-study


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. MEMORY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about memory. 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?

       remembering / vocabulary / help / answer / athletes / average / incredible / ability /
       MRI scans / champions / normal / differences / memory / technique / doubled / list

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

3. WORD LISTS: Students A strongly believe word lists are the best way to learn vocabulary; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. REMEMBER: What are the good things about remembering these things? What are the difficulties? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Difficulties

Spelling

 

 

Dates in history

 

 

Capital cities

 

 

Song words

 

 

People's names

 

 

Jokes

 

 

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

6. THINGS TO REMEMBER: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things to remember at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • telephone numbers
  • people's names
  • appointments
  • words to songs
  • English vocabulary
  • birthdays
  • e-mail password
  • what shopping to buy

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article asks if you can remember lists of vocabulary easily.     T / F
  2. The article says your hand can help you to remember things.     T / F
  3. A study said we can train ourselves to become memory athletes.     T / F
  4. The annual World Memory Championships are held in March.     T / F
  5. A doctor looked at brain scans of 23 world memory champions.     T / F
  6. The brains of memory champions and normal people were different.     T / F
  7. People did 30 days of 40-minute brain training sessions.     T / F
  8. Mnemonics is a memory technique invented in the year 2000.     T / F

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

  1. at hand
  2. pretty much
  3. just
  4. incredible
  5. enter
  6. top
  7. normal
  8. technique
  9. capacity
  10. especially
  1. leading
  2. only
  3. ability
  4. almost
  5. ordinary
  6. near
  7. particularly
  8. join
  9. method
  10. unbelievable

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

  1. remember a long list
  2. help may be
  3. pretty
  4. people with average
  5. an incredible ability
  6. MRI
  7. what differentiates memory champions
  8. daily 30-minute
  9. more than
  10. Mnemonics is an ancient
  1. from normal people
  2. memories
  3. doubled
  4. scans
  5. much anyone can
  6. training sessions
  7. of English vocabulary
  8. memory device
  9. at hand
  10. to remember things

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
just
list
ability
things
upgraded
held
hand
journal

Are you good at remembering (1) ____________? Can you remember a long (2) ____________ of English vocabulary quickly and easily? If the answer to these two questions is 'no,' help may be at (3) ____________. A new study says pretty much anyone can have an (4) ____________ memory if they train their brain. Scientists say that we can train our brain to be a "memory athlete" (5) ____________ like athletes train to be champions. Neuroscientist Martin Dresler wrote in the (6) ____________ "Neuron" that just six weeks of brain training can turn people with average memories into people with an incredible (7) ____________ to remember things. Dr Dresler even suggested people could train their brain to enter the World Memory Championships that are (8) ____________ in March every year.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
normal
ancient
scans
sessions
next
what
doubled
right

Dr Dresler compared MRI (9) ____________ of the brains of 23 of the world's top 50 memory champions with the brains of "normal" people. He said: "We were interested in (10) ____________ differentiates memory champions from (11) ____________ people, like you and me." He was surprised to find no differences. This made him believe we can all become memory athletes with the (12) ____________ training. Dresler found that 40 days of daily 30-minute training (13) ____________ using a memory technique called mnemonics more than (14) ____________ a person's memory capacity. Mnemonics is an (15) ____________ memory device that helps people remember things, especially in list form. Who knows? It could help you with those words for your (16) ____________ vocabulary test.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Can you remember a long list of English vocabulary quickly ______?
     a.  and easily
     b.  and easy
     c.  and easier
     d.  and easiest

2)  If the answer to these two questions is 'no,' help ______
     a.  may be at wand
     b.  may be at band
     c.  may be at sand
     d.  may be at hand

3)  A new study says pretty much anyone can have an ______
     a.  upgrade it memory
     b.  upgraded memory
     c.  upgrade add memory
     d.  upgrade and memory

4)  train our brain to be a "memory athlete" just like athletes train ______
     a.  to being champions
     b.  too being champions
     c.  to be champions
     d.  2B champions

5)  brain training can turn people with average memories into people with ______
     a.  an incredible capability
     b.  an incredible abilities
     c.  an incredible ball ability
     d.  an incredible ability

6)  the brains of 23 of the world's top 50 memory champions with the brains ______
     a.  of normally people
     b.  of normal people
     c.  off normal people
     d.  of normal peoples

7)  This made him believe we can all become memory athletes with the ______
     a.  right train in
     b.  light training
     c.  right training
     d.  light train in

8) a memory technique called mnemonics more than ______ memory
     a.  doubled a person's
     b.  doubled the person's
     c.  doubled this person's
     d.  doubled that person's

9) an ancient memory device that helps people remember things, especially ______
     a.  on list form
     b.  in list form
     c.  un-list form
     d.  non-list form

10)  It could help you with those words for your ______ test
     a.  nest vocabulary
     b.  last vocabulary
     c.  next vocabulary
     d.  past vocabulary

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Are you good at remembering things? Can you remember (1) ___________________ English vocabulary quickly and easily? If the answer to these two questions is 'no,' help (2) ___________________. A new study says pretty much anyone can have an upgraded memory if they train their brain. Scientists say that we can (3) ___________________ be a "memory athlete" just like athletes train to be champions. Neuroscientist Martin Dresler (4) ___________________ "Neuron" that just six weeks of brain training can turn people (5) ___________________ memories into people with an incredible ability to remember things. Dr Dresler even suggested people could train their (6) ___________________ the World Memory Championships that are held in March every year.

Dr Dresler compared MRI scans of the brains (7) ___________________ world's top 50 memory champions with the brains of "normal" people. He said: "We (8) ___________________ what differentiates memory champions from normal people, like you and me." He was (9) ___________________ differences. This made him believe we can all become memory athletes with the right training. Dresler found that (10) ___________________ daily 30-minute training sessions using a memory technique called mnemonics more than (11) ___________________ memory capacity. Mnemonics is an ancient memory device that helps people remember things, (12) ___________________ form. Who knows? It could help you with those words for your next vocabulary test.

Comprehension questions

  1. What long thing did the article ask if you could remember easily?
  2. Who did the article say could upgrade their brain?
  3. What is "Neuron"?
  4. How many weeks of training would it take to become a memory athlete?
  5. When are the World Memory Championships held?
  6. How many world memory champions did the doctor scan the brains of?
  7. How were the brains of memory champions and normal people different?
  8. How long each day were the memory training sessions?
  9. What happened to a person's memory capacity after using mnemonics?
  10. How old is the memory device mnemonics?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What long thing did the article ask if you could remember easily?
a) to-do list
b) shopping list
c) list of English vocabulary
d) π (pi) to 314 places

2) Who did the article say could upgrade their brain?
a) pretty much anyone
b) people with pretty brains
c) only pretty people
d) the pretty ones

3) What is "Neuron"?
a) the name of an MRI scanner
b) the scientist's pet dog
c) a memory technique
d) a journal

4) How many weeks of training would it take to become a memory athlete?
a) 2
b) 6
c) 12
d) 20

5) When are the World Memory Championships held?
a) they can't remember
b) every 4 years on Feb 1
c) March
d) New Year's Day

6) How many world memory champions did the doctor scan the brains of?
a) 22
b) 23
c) 24
d) 25

7) How were the brains of memory champions and normal people different?
a) the champions' brains were bigger
b) they were amazingly different
c) the champions' brains were heavier
d) they were no different

8) How long each day were the memory training sessions?
a) an hour
b) half an hour
c) three-quarters of an hour
d) 314 minutes

9) What happened to a person's memory capacity after using mnemonics?
a) it more than doubled
b) it shut down
c) nothing
d) it became heavier

10) How old is the memory device mnemonics?
a) 100 years old
b) not so old
c) 23 years old
d) it's ancient

Role play

Role A — English Vocabulary

You think English vocabulary is the most important thing to remember. 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): passwords, words to songs or jokes.

Role B — Passwords

You think passwords are the most important things to remember. 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): English vocabulary, words to songs or jokes.

Role C — Words to Songs

You think words to songs are the most important things to remember. 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): passwords, English vocabulary or jokes.

Role D — Jokes

You think jokes are the most important things to remember. 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): passwords, words to songs or English vocabulary.

After reading / listening

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

'memory'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'remember'.

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

    • 23
    • what
    • believe
    • 40
    • doubled
    • next
    • long
    • hand
    • just
    • wrote
    • ability
    • even

    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 - How to become a memory champion

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'memory'?
    3. What do you do to remember things?
    4. Do you have a good memory?
    5. How many different meanings of the world 'memory' do you know?
    6. Could you be a memory champion?
    7. How do you train your brain?
    8. Why are some people better at remembering things?
    9. How would life be different if you could remember everything?
    10. What happens at the World Memory Championships?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'champion'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why do we forget things?
    5. Would you like to be a memory athlete?
    6. What techniques do you use to remember vocabulary?
    7. Should we have brain training at school?
    8. What could you do if your memory capacity doubled?
    9. What do you know about mnemonics?
    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)

    Are you good at remembering things? Can you remember a long list of English vocabulary quickly and easily? If the answer to these two questions is 'no,' help may be at hand. A new study says pretty much anyone can have an upgraded memory if they train their brain. Scientists say that we can train our brain to be a "memory athlete" just like athletes train to be champions. Neuroscientist Martin Dresler wrote in the journal "Neuron" that just six weeks of brain training can turn people with average memories into people with an incredible ability to remember things. Dr Dresler even suggested people could train their brain to enter the World Memory Championships that are held in March every year.

    Dr Dresler compared MRI scans of the brains of 23 of the world's top 50 memory champions with the brains of "normal" people. He said: "We were interested in what differentiates memory champions from normal people, like you and me." He was surprised to find no differences. This made him believe we can all become memory athletes with the right training. Dresler found that 40 days of daily 30-minute training sessions using a memory technique called mnemonics more than doubled a person's memory capacity. Mnemonics is an ancient memory device that helps people remember things, especially in list form. Who knows? It could help you with those words for your next vocabulary test.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     at     (b)     for     (c)     by     (d)     on    
    2. (a)     easiest     (b)     easy     (c)     easily     (d)     easier    
    3. (a)     head     (b)     foot     (c)     hand     (d)     back    
    4. (a)     as     (b)     fair     (c)     such     (d)     just    
    5. (a)     verge     (b)     overage     (c)     average     (d)     outage    
    6. (a)     hold     (b)     held     (c)     holding     (d)     holds    
    7. (a)     height     (b)     top     (c)     leader     (d)     summit    
    8. (a)     at     (b)     in     (c)     on     (d)     of    
    9. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     to     (d)     by    
    10. (a)     user     (b)     used     (c)     usage     (d)     using    
    11. (a)     doublet     (b)     doubling     (c)     double     (d)     doubled    
    12. (a)     fern     (b)     farm     (c)     firm     (d)     form

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. English ucvblayora
    2. yttepr much anyone can
    3. an rueddagp memory
    4. tleatshe train
    5. people with gaeevra memories
    6. an cbrdnieile ability to remember things

    Paragraph 2

    1. Dr Dresler ecrodmap MRI scans
    2. the world's top 50 memory nmahoipcs
    3. 30-minute training isssseon
    4. a memory ecuqnhtei called mnemonics
    5. an inneatc memory device
    6. eailpylsec in list form

    Put the text back together

    (    )     incredible ability to remember things. Dr Dresler even suggested people could train their brain to

    (    )     and me." He was surprised to find no differences. This made him believe we can all

    (    )     easily? If the answer to these two questions is 'no,' help may be at hand. A new study says pretty

    (    )     be a "memory athlete" just like athletes train to be champions. Neuroscientist Martin Dresler wrote in the

    (    )     enter the World Memory Championships that are held in March every year.

    (    )     people. He said: "We were interested in what differentiates memory champions from normal people, like you

    (    )     form. Who knows? It could help you with those words for your next vocabulary test.

    (    )     Dr Dresler compared MRI scans of the brains of 23 of the world's top 50 memory champions with the brains of "normal"

    1  )     Are you good at remembering things? Can you remember a long list of English vocabulary quickly and

    (    )     much anyone can have an upgraded memory if they train their brain. Scientists say that we can train our brain to

    (    )     sessions using a memory technique called mnemonics more than doubled a person's memory

    (    )     capacity. Mnemonics is an ancient memory device that helps people remember things, especially in list

    (    )     journal "Neuron" that just six weeks of brain training can turn people with average memories into people with an

    (    )     become memory athletes with the right training. Dresler found that 40 days of daily 30-minute training

    Put the words in the right order

    1. English   of   list   long   a   Remember   quickly   vocabulary   .
    2. can   anyone   much   Pretty   memory   upgraded   an   have   .
    3. brain   athlete"   our   train   can   We   "memory   a   be   to   .
    4. remember   to   ability   incredible   an   with   People   things   .
    5. suggested   even   Dresler   brain   their   train   could   people   .
    6. champions   The   brains   of  23   of   the   world's  top   50   memory  .
    7. champions   memory   differentiates   what   in   Interested   .
    8. become  with   training   all   athletes  right  can   memory   the   We   .
    9. person's   a   doubled   than   more   Mnemonics   capacity   memory   .
    10. that   device   memory   ancient   An   remember   people   helps   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Are you good at remembering thing / things? Can you remember a long list of English vocabulary quickly and easy / easily? If the answer to these two questions is 'no,' help may be at hand / head. A new study says pretty / prettily much anyone can have an upgraded memorial / memory if they train their brain. Scientists say that we can train our brain to be a "memory athlete" just liken / like athletes train to be champions. Neuroscientist Martin Dresler wrote in the journal / diary "Neuron" that justly / just six weeks of brain training can turn people with average memories into people with an incredible ability to remember things. Dr Dresler even suggested / suggestion people could train their brain to enter the World Memory Championships that are hold / held in March every year.

    Dr Dresler compared MRI scams / scans of the brains of 23 of the world's top 50 memory championship / champions with the brains of "normal" people. He said: "We were interested on / in what differentiates memory champions from normal / normally people, like you and me." He was surprised to find no / not differences. This made him believe we can all become memory athletes with the write / right training. Dresler found that 40 days of daily 30-minute training sessions usage / using a memory technique called mnemonics more than doubled / double a person's memory capacity. Mnemonics is an / on ancient memory device that helps people remember things, especially in list / lust form. Who knows? It could help you with those words for your next vocabulary test.

    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_ y__ g__d _t r_m_mb_r_ng th_ngs? C_n y__ r_m_mb_r _ l_ng l_st _f _ngl_sh v_c_b_l_ry q__ckly _nd __s_ly? _f th_ _nsw_r t_ th_s_ tw_ q__st__ns _s 'n_,' h_lp m_y b_ _t h_nd. _ n_w st_dy s_ys pr_tty m_ch _ny_n_ c_n h_v_ _n _pgr_d_d m_m_ry _f th_y tr__n th__r br__n. Sc__nt_sts s_y th_t w_ c_n tr__n __r br__n t_ b_ _ "m_m_ry _thl_t_" j_st l_k_ _thl_t_s tr__n t_ b_ ch_mp__ns. N__r_sc__nt_st M_rt_n Dr_sl_r wr_t_ _n th_ j__rn_l "N__r_n" th_t j_st s_x w__ks _f br__n tr__n_ng c_n t_rn p__pl_ w_th _v_r_g_ m_m_r__s _nt_ p__pl_ w_th _n _ncr_d_bl_ _b_l_ty t_ r_m_mb_r th_ngs. Dr Dr_sl_r _v_n s_gg_st_d p__pl_ c__ld tr__n th__r br__n t_ _nt_r th_ W_rld M_m_ry Ch_mp__nsh_ps th_t _r_ h_ld _n M_rch _v_ry y__r.

    Dr Dr_sl_r c_mp_r_d MR_ sc_ns _f th_ br__ns _f 23 _f th_ w_rld's t_p 50 m_m_ry ch_mp__ns w_th th_ br__ns _f "n_rm_l" p__pl_. H_ s__d: "W_ w_r_ _nt_r_st_d _n wh_t d_ff_r_nt__t_s m_m_ry ch_mp__ns fr_m n_rm_l p__pl_, l_k_ y__ _nd m_." H_ w_s s_rpr_s_d t_ f_nd n_ d_ff_r_nc_s. Th_s m_d_ h_m b_l__v_ w_ c_n _ll b_c_m_ m_m_ry _thl_t_s w_th th_ r_ght tr__n_ng. Dr_sl_r f__nd th_t 40 d_ys _f d__ly 30-m_n_t_ tr__n_ng s_ss__ns _s_ng _ m_m_ry t_chn_q__ c_ll_d mn_m_n_cs m_r_ th_n d__bl_d _ p_rs_n's m_m_ry c_p_c_ty. Mn_m_n_cs _s _n _nc__nt m_m_ry d_v_c_ th_t h_lps p__pl_ r_m_mb_r th_ngs, _sp_c__lly _n l_st f_rm. Wh_ kn_ws? _t c__ld h_lp y__ w_th th_s_ w_rds f_r y__r n_xt v_c_b_l_ry t_st.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    are you good at remembering things can you remember a long list of english vocabulary quickly and easily if the answer to these two questions is 'no' help may be at hand a new study says pretty much anyone can have an upgraded memory if they train their brain scientists say that we can train our brain to be a "memory athlete" just like athletes train to be champions neuroscientist martin dresler wrote in the journal "neuron" that just six weeks of brain training can turn people with average memories into people with an incredible ability to remember things dr dresler even suggested people could train their brain to enter the world memory championships that are held in march every year

    dr dresler compared mri scans of the brains of 23 of the world's top 50 memory champions with the brains of "normal" people he said "we were interested in what differentiates memory champions from normal people like you and me" he was surprised to find no differences this made him believe we can all become memory athletes with the right training dresler found that 40 days of daily 30-minute training sessions using a memory technique called mnemonics more than doubled a person's memory capacity mnemonics is an ancient memory device that helps people remember things especially in list form who knows it could help you with those words for your next vocabulary test

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Areyougoodatrememberingthings?CanyourememberalonglistofEng
    lishvocabularyquicklyandeasily?Iftheanswertothesetwoquestionsis'
    no,'helpmaybeathand.Anewstudysaysprettymuchanyonecanhavea
    nupgradedmemoryiftheytraintheirbrain.Scientistssaythatwecantrai
    nourbraintobea"memoryathlete"justlikeathletestraintobechampion
    s.NeuroscientistMartinDreslerwroteinthejournal"Neuron"thatjustsi
    xweeksofbraintrainingcanturnpeoplewithaveragememoriesintopeo
    plewithanincredibleabilitytorememberthings.DrDreslerevensugges
    tedpeoplecouldtraintheirbraintoentertheWorldMemoryChampionsh
    ipsthatareheldinMarcheveryyear.DrDreslercomparedMRIscansofth
    ebrainsof23oftheworld'stop50memorychampionswiththebrainsof"n
    ormal"people.Hesaid:"Wewereinterestedinwhatdifferentiatesmem
    orychampionsfromnormalpeople,likeyouandme."Hewassurprisedto
    findnodifferences.Thismadehimbelievewecanallbecomememoryath
    leteswiththerighttraining.Dreslerfoundthat40daysofdaily30-minut
    etrainingsessionsusingamemorytechniquecalledmnemonicsmoreth
    andoubledaperson'smemorycapacity.Mnemonicsisanancientmemo
    rydevicethathelpspeoplerememberthings,especiallyinlistform.Who
    knows?Itcouldhelpyouwiththosewordsforyournextvocabularytest.

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Academic writing

    Training your brain is the same as training your body. 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 the memory technique mnemonics. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. MEMORY ATHLETE: Write a magazine article about elementary schools training us to be memory athletes. 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 memory. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your tips on how to remember vocabulary. 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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