The Reading / Listening - Bank of England - Level 6

Workers at the United Kingdom's central bank, the Bank of England, have voted to stage a four-day strike in support of a pay claim. It will be the first walkout by staff from the bank in over five decades. Over 95 per cent of bankers who voted opted for strike action over what they deem to be an unacceptable pay rise offer. The Bank offered its workers a collective one per cent pay rise for its staff. The deal means that a third of staff could get no pay increase at all. The union that represents the Bank's workers said: "The result of the Bank's unwillingness to negotiate fair pay will be that the Bank's sites, including the iconic Threadneedle Street [premises] in the City of London, will effectively be inoperable."

The Bank of England was established in 1694. It is the second oldest central bank in operation today. Workers at the bank are suffering along with millions more public sector staff in the UK who have had their annual salary increase capped at one per cent. This is below the level of inflation, which currently stands at 2.9 per cent. A union spokeswoman said workers would be taking action, "because of the bank's total refusal to accept that its workforce is struggling to meet their costs of living". She added: "It is nothing short of shameful that the iconic symbol of financial services in the UK is choosing to ride roughshod over the concerns of its dedicated and hardworking staff and impose this derisory pay deal."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Bank of England - Level 4  or  Bank of England - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40478754
  • https://www.ft.com/content/fbc9639a-6f4c-34e8-9fc6-2c86ae15abd6
  • http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bank-england-staff-set-first-strike-50-years-1628702


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. BANKS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about banks. 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?

       central bank / strike / decades / pay rise / unacceptable / union / iconic / negotiate /
       established / suffering / annual / salary / inflation / costs of living / financial services

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

3. STRIKE: Students A strongly believe strikes should be made illegal; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. BANK WORKERS: What do you think it's like to be a bank worker? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

Pay

 

 

Hours

 

 

Boss(es)

 

 

Stress

 

 

Colleagues

 

 

Customers

 

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

6. WORKER: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • great colleagues
  • long holidays
  • job satisfaction
  • good place of work
  • good pay
  • good boss
  • chances for promotion
  • interesting work

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Bank of England staff will strike for four days.     T / F
  2. It will be the first ever time for Bank of England staff to go on strike.     T / F
  3. The Bank offered its staff a one per cent pay rise.     T / F
  4. The workers' union said the bank will be inoperable during the strike.     T / F
  5. The Bank of England was set up in 1649.     T / F
  6. Millions of UK workers have had their pay rises capped.     T / F
  7. The union said the Bank accepted its workers were struggling financially. T / F
  8. A union spokeswoman called the pay deal deserving.     T / F

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

  1. stage
  2. walkout
  3. collective
  4. negotiate
  5. inoperable
  6. established
  7. capped
  8. workforce
  9. shameful
  10. derisory
  1. unworkable
  2. talk
  3. limited
  4. pitiful
  5. industrial action
  6. staff
  7. join in
  8. disgraceful
  9. set up
  10. combined

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

  1. voted to stage
  2. in support
  3. bankers who voted
  4. a third of staff could get no
  5. the Bank's unwillingness
  6. Workers at the bank are
  7. millions more
  8. its workforce is struggling to meet
  9. the iconic
  10. dedicated and
  1. symbol
  2. opted for strike action
  3. their costs of living
  4. to negotiate fair pay
  5. public sector staff
  6. a four-day strike
  7. pay increase at all
  8. hardworking staff
  9. of a pay claim
  10. suffering

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
walkout
represents
deem
effectively
opted
negotiate
stage
deal

Workers at the United Kingdom's central bank, the Bank of England, have voted to (1) ____________ a four-day strike in support of a pay claim. It will be the first (2) ____________ by staff from the bank in over five decades. Over 95 per cent of bankers who voted (3) ____________ for strike action over what they (4) ____________ to be an unacceptable pay rise offer. The Bank offered its workers a collective one per cent pay rise for its staff. The (5) ____________ means that a third of staff could get no pay increase at all. The union that (6) ____________ the Bank's workers said: "The result of the Bank's unwillingness to (7) ____________ fair pay will be that the Bank's sites, including the iconic Threadneedle Street [premises] in the City of London, will (8) ____________ be inoperable."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
capped
suffering
derisory
struggling
second
concerns
action
iconic

The Bank of England was established in 1694. It is the (9) ____________ oldest central bank in operation today. Workers at the bank are (10) ____________ along with millions more public sector staff in the UK who have had their annual salary increase (11) ____________ at one per cent. This is below the level of inflation, which currently stands at 2.9 per cent. A union spokeswoman said workers would be taking (12) ____________, "because of the bank's total refusal to accept that its workforce is (13) ____________ to meet their costs of living". She added: "It is nothing short of shameful that the (14) ____________ symbol of financial services in the UK is choosing to ride roughshod over the (15) ____________ of its dedicated and hardworking staff and impose this (16) ____________ pay deal."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  It will be the first walkout by staff from the bank in ______
     a.  overly five decades
     b.  over five decades
     c.  over five decade
     d.  over five decadence

2)  The Bank offered its workers a collective one per cent pay ______
     a.  risen for its staff
     b.  arise for its staff
     c.  rise for its staff
     d.  riser for its staff

3)  The deal means that a third of staff could get no pay ______
     a.  increase at all
     b.  increase a tall
     c.  increase at tall
     d.  increase atoll

4)  The result of the Bank's unwillingness to ______
     a.  negotiates flair pay
     b.  negotiate fair pay
     c.  negotiated fair pay
     d.  negotiate flair pay

5)  Threadneedle Street premises in the City of London will effectively ______
     a.  be in operable
     b.  being operable
     c.  been operable
     d.  be inoperable

6)  It is the second oldest central bank ______
     a.  in operation today
     b.  in operating today
     c.  in operations today
     d.  in operational today

7)  millions more public sector staff in the UK who have had their annual ______
     a.  salary ink crease capped
     b.  salary on crease capped
     c.  salary in crease capped
     d.  salary increase capped

8)  A union spokeswoman said workers would ______
     a.  be taking action
     b.  be take in action
     c.  be taking in action
     d.  be take inaction

9)  accept that its workforce is struggling to meet their ______
     a.  costs off living
     b.  cost of living
     c.  costs of living
     d.  cost off living

10)  the concerns of its dedicated and hardworking staff and impose this ______
     a.  desired pay deal
     b.  designed pay deal
     c.  derisory pay deal
     d.  decides pay deal

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Workers at the United Kingdom's central bank, the Bank of England, have (1) ___________________ four-day strike in support of a pay claim. It will be the first walkout by staff from (2) ___________________ five decades. Over 95 per cent of bankers who (3) ___________________ strike action over what they deem to be an unacceptable pay rise offer. The Bank offered its workers a collective one per cent (4) ___________________ staff. The deal means that a third of staff could get no pay increase at all. The union that represents the Bank's workers said: "The result of the Bank's unwillingness (5) ___________________ pay will be that the Bank's sites, including the iconic Threadneedle Street [premises] in the City of London, will effectively (6) ___________________."

The Bank of England was established in 1694. It is the second oldest central (7) ___________________ today. Workers at the bank are suffering along with millions more public sector staff in the UK who have (8) ___________________ salary increase capped at one per cent. This is below the (9) ___________________, which currently stands at 2.9 per cent. A union spokeswoman said workers would be taking action, "because of the bank's total (10) ___________________ that its workforce is struggling to meet their costs of living". She added: "It is nothing short of shameful that the (11) ___________________ financial services in the UK is choosing to ride roughshod over the concerns of its dedicated and hardworking staff and impose this (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. How long do the Bank's workers want to go on strike for?
  2. What percentage of workers who voted chose strike action?
  3. How much of a pay offer did the Bank offer its staff?
  4. Who or what is representing the Bank's workers?
  5. Where is Threadneedle Street?
  6. When was the Bank of England established?
  7. Which other sector of society is suffering?
  8. What did the article say the level of inflation is in the UK?
  9. What are the Bank's workers struggling to meet?
  10. What did a union spokeswoman call the pay deal?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How long do the Bank's workers want to go on strike for?
a) 3 days
b) 4 days
c) 5 days
d) 6 days

2) What percentage of workers who voted chose strike action?
a) exactly 95%
b) under 95%
c) around 95%
d) over 95%

3) How much of a pay offer did the Bank offer its staff?
a) 1%
b) 2%
c) 3%
d) 4%

4) Who or what is representing the Bank's workers?
a) lawyers
b) the government
c) a union
d) an international bank

5) Where is Threadneedle Street?
a) Manchester
b) the City of London
c) Birmingham
d) Oxford

6) When was the Bank of England established?
a) 1469
b) 1649
c) 1694
d) 1496

7) Which other sector of society is suffering?
a) the private sector
b) the insurance sector
c) the services sector
d) the public sector

8) What did the article say the level of inflation is in the UK?
a) 2.9%
b) 2.8%
c) 2.7%
d) 2.6%

9) What are the Bank's workers struggling to meet?
a) costs of living
b) deadlines
c) friends
d) their boss

10) What did a union spokeswoman call the pay deal?
a) sensory
b) derisory
c) advisory
d) hunky-dory

Role play

Role  A – Good Pay

You think good pay is the most important requirement in a job. 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 nice boss, long holidays or job satisfaction.

Role  B – Nice Boss

You think a nice boss is the most important requirement in a job. 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): good pay, long holidays or job satisfaction.

Role  C – Long Holidays

You think long holidays is the most important requirement in a job. 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 nice boss, good pay or job satisfaction.

Role  D – Job Satisfaction

You think job satisfaction is the most important requirement in a job. 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 nice boss, long holidays or good pay.

After reading / listening

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

'central'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'bank'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • 1694
    • along
    • below
    • total
    • ride
    • impose
    • stage
    • five
    • deem
    • third
    • result
    • including

    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 - Bank of England staff to go on strike

    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 'bank'?
    3. What do you know about central banks?
    4. Should workers go on strike for more pay?
    5. What happens to a bank if the workers go on strike?
    6. What do you think of a 1% pay rise?
    7. Do you think a bank can afford more than a 1% pay rise?
    8. How important are banks?
    9. Do you think strikes are effective for workers?
    10. Do workers go on strike in your country?

    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 'pay'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of the Bank of England?
    5. What happens when salary rises are lower than inflation?
    6. Is it shameful that a central bank sticks to a 1% pay rise?
    7. What is the cost of living like in your country?
    8. Do you think the Bank of England's pay offer is shameful?
    9. What advice do you have for the bank's workers?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the head of the Bank of England?

    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)

    Workers at the United Kingdom's (1) ____ bank, the Bank of England, have voted to stage a four-day strike in support of a pay (2) ____. It will be the first walkout by staff from the bank in over five decades. Over 95 per cent of bankers who voted (3) ____ for strike action over what they deem to be an unacceptable pay rise offer. The Bank offered its workers a (4) ____ one per cent pay rise for its staff. The deal means that a third of staff could get no pay increase at (5) ____. The union that represents the Bank's workers said: "The result of the Bank's unwillingness to negotiate fair pay will be that the Bank's sites, including the (6) ____ Threadneedle Street [premises] in the City of London, will effectively be inoperable."

    The Bank of England was established in 1694. It is the second oldest central bank (7) ____ operation today. Workers at the bank are (8) ____ along with millions more public sector staff in the UK who have had their annual salary increase (9) ____ at one per cent. This is below the level of inflation, which currently stands at 2.9 per cent. A union spokeswoman said workers would be taking action, "because of the bank's total (10) ____ to accept that its workforce is struggling to meet their costs of living". She added: "It is nothing (11) ____ of shameful that the iconic symbol of financial services in the UK is choosing to ride roughshod over the concerns of its dedicated and hardworking staff and (12) ____ this derisory pay deal."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     centralize     (b)     centrality     (c)     central     (d)     centrally    
    2. (a)     claim     (b)     clam     (c)     calming     (d)     clamp    
    3. (a)     opted     (b)     option     (c)     opting     (d)     opt-out    
    4. (a)     collective     (b)     collectible     (c)     collection     (d)     collects    
    5. (a)     entire     (b)     all     (c)     whole     (d)     every    
    6. (a)     iconoclast     (b)     ironing     (c)     ironic     (d)     iconic    
    7. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     in     (d)     for    
    8. (a)     suffered     (b)     suffers     (c)     sufferance     (d)     suffering    
    9. (a)     capped     (b)     copped     (c)     cupped     (d)     clapped    
    10. (a)     refuse     (b)     defuse     (c)     infuse     (d)     effuse    
    11. (a)     wide     (b)     short     (c)     depth     (d)     long    
    12. (a)     repose     (b)     compose     (c)     impose     (d)     suppose

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. in over five ddecase
    2. teodp for strike action
    3. a tvcolcilee one per cent
    4. The union that erpsnreets the Bank's workers
    5. gnieotate fair pay
    6. …will viefcfetlye be inoperable

    Paragraph 2

    1. ebslseidtha in 1694
    2. public oesrtc staff
    3. It is nothing short of uelfahms
    4. the occiin symbol
    5. cdetiedad and hardworking staff
    6. impose this soerdriy pay deal

    Put the text back together

    (    )     day strike in support of a pay claim. It will be the first walkout by staff from the bank in over five

    (    )     roughshod over the concerns of its dedicated and hardworking staff and impose this derisory pay deal."

    (    )     workers said: "The result of the Bank's unwillingness to negotiate fair pay will be that the Bank's sites,

    (    )     today. Workers at the bank are suffering along with millions more public sector staff in the UK who have

    (    )     rise offer. The Bank offered its workers a collective one per cent pay rise for its staff. The deal means that a third

    (    )     accept that its workforce is struggling to meet their costs of living". She added: "It is nothing

    (    )     had their annual salary increase capped at one per cent. This is below the level of inflation, which currently stands

    (    )     at 2.9 per cent. A union spokeswoman said workers would be taking action, "because of the bank's total refusal to

    (    )     of staff could get no pay increase at all. The union that represents the Bank's

    (    )     short of shameful that the iconic symbol of financial services in the UK is choosing to ride

    (  1  )     The Bank of England was established in 1694. It is the second oldest central bank in operation

    (    )     decades. Over 95 per cent of bankers who voted opted for strike action over what they deem to be an unacceptable pay

    (    )     Workers at the United Kingdom's central bank, the Bank of England, have voted to stage a four-

    (    )     including the iconic Threadneedle Street [premises] in the City of London, will effectively be inoperable."

    Put the words in the right order

    1. a   to   of   Voted   support   four-   claim   in   a   pay   strike   stage   .
    2. the   first   walkout   by   staff   from   the   bank   It   will   be   .
    3. opted   strike   bankers   Over   voted   of   for   action   who   95%   .
    4. third   could   pay   all   staff   no   at   of   get   increase   A   .
    5. unwillingness   Bank's   the   of   result   The   negotiate   to   .
    6. today   the   central   operation   is   oldest   in   It   second   bank   .
    7. more   millions   with   along   Suffering   staff   sector   public   .
    8. action   workers   A   would  union   be   spokeswoman   taking   said   .
    9. costs   Its   struggling   their   living   is   meet   of   workforce   to   .
    10. The   staff   hardworking   and   dedicated   its   of   concerns   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Workers at the United Kingdom's central / centrally bank, the Bank of England, have voted to stage a four-day strike on / in support of a pay claim. It will be the first walkout at / by staff from the bank in over five decades / decadence. Over 95 per cent of bankers who voted option / opted for strike action over what they deem to been / be an unacceptable pay rise offer. The Bank offered its workers a collective / collection one per cent pay rise for its staff. The deal means that a thirdly / third of staff could get no pay increase at all. The union that represents the Bank's workers said: "The result of the Bank's unwillingness to negotiate fare / fair pay will be that the Bank's sites, including the iconic Threadneedle Street [premises] in the City of London, will effective / effectively be inoperable."

    The Bank of England was establishing / established in 1694. It is the second oldest central bank in / on operation today. Workers at the bank are suffering / suffered along with millions more public sector stuff / staff in the UK who have had their annual salary increase lapped / capped at one per cent. This is below the level of inflation, which currently stands / stood at 2.9 per cent. A union spokeswoman said workers would be taking action, "because of the bank's total refuse / refusal to accept that its workforce is struggling to meet their costs of alive / living". She added: "It is nothing short of shameful that the iconic symbol / symbolic of financial services in the UK is choosing to ride roughshod over the concerns of its dedicated and hardworking staff and impose / compose this derisory pay deal."

    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)

    W_rk_rs _t th_ _n_t_d K_ngd_m's c_ntr_l b_nk, th_ B_nk _f _ngl_nd, h_v_ v_t_d t_ st_g_ _ f__r-d_y str_k_ _n s_pp_rt _f _ p_y cl__m. _t w_ll b_ th_ f_rst w_lk__t by st_ff fr_m th_ b_nk _n _v_r f_v_ d_c_d_s. _v_r 95 p_r c_nt _f b_nk_rs wh_ v_t_d _pt_d f_r str_k_ _ct__n _v_r wh_t th_y d__m t_ b_ _n _n_cc_pt_bl_ p_y r_s_ _ff_r. Th_ B_nk _ff_r_d _ts w_rk_rs _ c_ll_ct_v_ _n_ p_r c_nt p_y r_s_ f_r _ts st_ff. Th_ d__l m__ns th_t _ th_rd _f st_ff c__ld g_t n_ p_y _ncr__s_ _t _ll. Th_ _n__n th_t r_pr_s_nts th_ B_nk's w_rk_rs s__d: "Th_ r_s_lt _f th_ B_nk's _nw_ll_ngn_ss t_ n_g_t__t_ f__r p_y w_ll b_ th_t th_ B_nk's s_t_s, _ncl_d_ng th_ _c_n_c Thr__dn__dl_ Str__t [pr_m_s_s] _n th_ C_ty _f L_nd_n, w_ll _ff_ct_v_ly b_ _n_p_r_bl_."

    Th_ B_nk _f _ngl_nd w_s _st_bl_sh_d _n 1694. _t _s th_ s_c_nd _ld_st c_ntr_l b_nk _n _p_r_t__n t_d_y. W_rk_rs _t th_ b_nk _r_ s_ff_r_ng _l_ng w_th m_ll__ns m_r_ p_bl_c s_ct_r st_ff _n th_ _K wh_ h_v_ h_d th__r _nn__l s_l_ry _ncr__s_ c_pp_d _t _n_ p_r c_nt. Th_s _s b_l_w th_ l_v_l _f _nfl_t__n, wh_ch c_rr_ntly st_nds _t 2.9 p_r c_nt. _ _n__n sp_k_sw_m_n s__d w_rk_rs w__ld b_ t_k_ng _ct__n, "b_c__s_ _f th_ b_nk's t_t_l r_f_s_l t_ _cc_pt th_t _ts w_rkf_rc_ _s str_ggl_ng t_ m__t th__r c_sts _f l_v_ng". Sh_ _dd_d: "_t _s n_th_ng sh_rt _f sh_m_f_l th_t th_ _c_n_c symb_l _f f_n_nc__l s_rv_c_s _n th_ _K _s ch__s_ng t_ r_d_ r__ghsh_d _v_r th_ c_nc_rns _f _ts d_d_c_t_d _nd h_rdw_rk_ng st_ff _nd _mp_s_ th_s d_r_s_ry p_y d__l."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    workers at the united kingdom's central bank the bank of england have voted to stage a four-day strike in support of a pay claim it will be the first walkout by staff from the bank in over five decades over 95 per cent of bankers who voted opted for strike action over what they deem to be an unacceptable pay rise offer the bank offered its workers a collective one per cent pay rise for its staff the deal means that a third of staff could get no pay increase at all the union that represents the bank's workers said "the result of the bank's unwillingness to negotiate fair pay will be that the bank's sites including the iconic threadneedle street [premises] in the city of london will effectively be inoperable"

    the bank of england was established in 1694 it is the second oldest central bank in operation today workers at the bank are suffering along with millions more public sector staff in the uk who have had their annual salary increase capped at one per cent this is below the level of inflation which currently stands at 29 per cent a union spokeswoman said workers would be taking action "because of the bank's total refusal to accept that its workforce is struggling to meet their costs of living" she added "it is nothing short of shameful that the iconic symbol of financial services in the uk is choosing to ride roughshod over the concerns of its dedicated and hardworking staff and impose this derisory pay deal"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    WorkersattheUnitedKingdom'scentralbank,theBankofEngland,have
    votedtostageafour-daystrikeinsupportofapayclaim.Itwillbethefirs
    twalkoutbystafffromthebankinoverfivedecades.Over95percentofba
    nkerswhovotedoptedforstrikeactionoverwhattheydeemtobeanunac
    ceptablepayriseoffer.TheBankoffereditsworkersacollectiveoneperc
    entpayriseforitsstaff.Thedealmeansthatathirdofstaffcouldgetnopayi
    ncreaseatall.TheunionthatrepresentstheBank'sworkerssaid:"There
    sultoftheBank'sunwillingnesstonegotiatefairpaywillbethattheBank's
    sites,includingtheiconicThreadneedleStreet[premises]intheCityofL
    ondon,willeffectivelybeinoperable."TheBankofEnglandwasestablish
    edin1694.Itisthesecondoldestcentralbankinoperationtoday.Worker
    satthebankaresufferingalongwithmillionsmorepublicsectorstaffinth
    eUKwhohavehadtheirannualsalaryincreasecappedatonepercent.Thi
    sisbelowthelevelofinflation,whichcurrentlystandsat2.9percent.Auni
    onspokeswomansaidworkerswouldbetakingaction,"becauseoftheba
    nk'stotalrefusaltoacceptthatitsworkforceisstrugglingtomeettheirco
    stsofliving".Sheadded:"Itisnothingshortofshamefulthattheiconicsy
    mboloffinancialservicesintheUKischoosingtorideroughshodoverthec
    oncernsofitsdedicatedandhardworkingstaffandimposethisderisoryp
    aydeal."

    Free writing

    Write about Bank of England for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Pay rises should always be above the rate of inflation. 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 this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. CENTRAL BANKS: Make a poster about central banks. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. PAY RISES: Write a magazine article about pay rises always being above the rate of inflation. 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 banks. Ask him/her three questions about banks. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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