The Reading / Listening - Baby Talk - Level 3

A new study has found that mothers all over the world speak to their babies in the same way. The research is from the Baby Lab at Princeton University in the USA. The researchers who did the study said "motherese" is a universal language. They said baby talk is not just lots of cute noises and coochy-coos. The words and sounds that mothers say to their babies are quite complex. They form a special form of communication that mothers use in the same way across the world. These sounds are very important in helping the language development in infants. Dr Elise Piazza, co-author of the research, said baby talk is a lot more important than we thought. She said: "It is not something to be embarrassed about at all."

The researchers recorded 24 different mothers talking to their babies. The babies were aged between seven months and one year. The mothers spoke to their children in 10 different native languages, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian and Hebrew. Dr Piazza said: "We basically brought mothers into the lab and had them play with and read to their own babies, just like they would at home." She added: "We found that mothers [change the] basic quality of their voices when speaking to infants, and they do so in a [very similar] way across many diverse languages." The study didn't look at fathers' talk, but Piazza said that it is likely fathers would also speak in a similar way across the world.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Baby Talk - Level 0 Baby Talk - Level 1   or  Baby Talk - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/12/coochy-coo-why-baby-talk-is-more-sophisticated-than-you-might-think
  • https://www.news-medical.net/news/20171013/Timbre-shifting-is-a-new-attribute-of-e2809cbaby-talke2809d-found-in-all-languages-study-reveals.aspx
  • http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/the-science-of-baby-talk-motherese-is-a-universal-language-study-confirms-1.3631028


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. BABY TALK: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about baby talk. 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?

       study / mothers / baby / language / coochy-coo / communication / embarrassed /
       researchers / native languages / lab / home / quality / diverse languages / similar

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

3. ONE LANGUAGE: Students A strongly believe the world should only have one language; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. LANGUAGE: How do we speak to these different people? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How?

Why?

Babies

 

 

Parents

 

 

Police officers

 

 

Strangers

 

 

Kings

 

 

English teachers

 

 

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

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

  • first words
  • when they cry
  • play time
  • food time
  • their laugh
  • their smile
  • sleeping
  • first steps

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Princeton University has a Baby Lab.     T / F
  2. Researchers said there is a universal language called "motherese".     T / F
  3. Researchers said the term "coochy coo" is not part of baby talk.     T / F
  4. A researcher said baby talk is embarrassing.     T / F
  5. Researchers recorded 240 different mothers.     T / F
  6. The researchers observed mothers and their babies in their homes.     T / F
  7. Mothers change the quality of their voices when talking to babies.     T / F
  8. The researchers didn't look at how fathers talked to their babies.     T / F

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

  1. found
  2. way
  3. universal
  4. complex
  5. embarrassed
  6. different
  7. basically
  8. quality
  9. diverse
  10. similar
  1. separate
  2. difficult
  3. various
  4. manner
  5. comparable
  6. discovered
  7. standard
  8. ashamed
  9. fundamentally
  10. global

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

  1. in the same
  2. words and
  3. language
  4. a lot more important
  5. It is not something to be embarrassed
  6. The researchers recorded
  7. We basically brought mothers
  8. just like they
  9. many diverse
  10. fathers would also speak in
  1. sounds
  2. than we thought
  3. into the lab
  4. languages
  5. development
  6. a similar way
  7. would at home
  8. way
  9. 24 different mothers
  10. about at all

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
universal
sounds
form
embarrassed
way
infants
cute
complex

A new study has found that mothers all over the world speak to their babies in the same (1) ____________. The research is from the Baby Lab at Princeton University in the USA. The researchers who did the study said "motherese" is a (2) ____________ language. They said baby talk is not just lots of (3) ____________ noises and coochy-coos. The words and sounds that mothers say to their babies are quite (4) ____________. They form a special (5) ____________ of communication that mothers use in the same way across the world. These (6) ____________ are very important in helping the language development in (7) ____________. Dr Elise Piazza, co-author of the research, said baby talk is a lot more important than we thought. She said: "It is not something to be (8) ____________ about at all."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
diverse
aged
basically
similar
recorded
basic
native
own

The researchers (9) ____________ 24 different mothers talking to their babies. The babies were (10) ____________ between seven months and one year. The mothers spoke to their children in 10 different (11) ____________ languages, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian and Hebrew. Dr Piazza said: "We (12) ____________ brought mothers into the lab and had them play with and read to their (13) ____________ babies, just like they would at home." She added: "We found that mothers [change the] (14) ____________ quality of their voices when speaking to infants, and they do so in a [very similar] way across many (15) ____________ languages." The study didn’t look at fathers' talk, but Piazza said that it is likely fathers would also speak in a (16) ____________ way across the world.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A new study has found that mothers all over the world speak to their babies in ______
     a.  the sane way
     b.  the same way
     c.  the same ways
     d.  the sane ways

2)  The researchers who did the study said "motherese" is a ______
     a.  universally language
     b.  uni verse all language
     c.  you knee verse all language
     d.  universal language

3)  The words and sounds that mothers say to their babies are ______
     a.  quite complex
     b.  quiet complex
     c.  quit complex
     d.  quieten complex

4)  These sounds are very important in helping the language development ______
     a.  infants
     b.  in fence
     c.  in fancy
     d.  in infants

5)  It is not something to be embarrassed ______
     a.  about at tall
     b.  about at all
     c.  about a all
     d.  about at a tall

6)  The researchers recorded 24 different mothers talking ______
     a.  too their babies
     b.  to there babies
     c.  to their babies
     d.  two their babies

7)  The mothers spoke to their children in 10 different ______
     a.  natives language
     b.  native languages
     c.  natives languages
     d.  native language

8)  Dr Piazza said: "We basically brought mothers ______"
     a.  into the lab
     b.  into a lab
     c.  into then lab
     d.  into thee lab

9)  We found that mothers change the basic quality ______
     a.  off their voices
     b.  from their voices
     c.  if their voices
     d.  of their voices

10)  speaking to infants, and they do so in a very similar way across many ______
     a.  diversity languages
     b.  dive ears languages
     c.  di verse languages
     d.  diverse languages

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new study (1) ___________________ mothers all over the world speak to their babies in the same way. The research is from the Baby Lab at Princeton University in the USA. The researchers who did the study said "motherese" (2) ___________________ language. They said baby talk is not just lots of cute noises and coochy-coos. The (3) ___________________ that mothers say to their babies are quite complex. They form (4) ___________________ of communication that mothers use in the same way across the world. These sounds are very (5) ___________________ the language development in infants. Dr Elise Piazza, co-author of the research, said baby talk is a lot more important (6) ___________________. She said: "It is not something to be embarrassed about at all."

The researchers (7) ___________________ mothers talking to their babies. The babies were aged between seven months and one year. The mothers spoke to their children in 10 different (8) ___________________, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian and Hebrew. Dr Piazza said: "(9) ___________________ mothers into the lab and had them play with and read to their own babies, just like they would at home." She added: "We found that mothers [change the] (10) ___________________ their voices when speaking to infants, and they do so in a [very similar] way across many (11) ___________________." The study didn’t look at fathers' talk, but Piazza said that it is likely fathers would also speak (12) ___________________ across the world.

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the department at Princeton University?
  2. What did researchers call the baby talk language?
  3. What word that mothers use to their baby was in the article?
  4. What do the sounds mothers make help develop in babies?
  5. What did a doctor say we should not be when using baby talk?
  6. How many mothers did the researchers record?
  7. How old were the babies?
  8. How many different languages did the women speak?
  9. What do mothers change when they speak to their babies?
  10. What did the researchers not look at?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the department at Princeton University?
a) the Baby Talker
b) the Baby Lab
c) the Baby Rub
d) the Lab Baby

2) What did researchers call the baby talk language?
a) Motheric
b) Motherish
c) Motherian
d) Motherese

3) What word that mothers use to their baby was in the article?
a) coochy-coo
b) gaga
c)  goo-goo
d) ma-ma-ma-ma

4) What do the sounds mothers make help develop in babies?
a) height
b) intelligence
c) language
d) vocabulary

5) What did a doctor say we should not be when using baby talk?
a) confused
b) embarrassed
c) angry
d) loud

6) How many mothers did the researchers record?
a) 22
b) 23
c) 24
d) 21

7) How old were the babies?
a) 12-18 months
b) 2-7 months
c) 3-6 months
d) 7-12 months

8) How many different languages did the women speak?
a) 10
b) 8
c) 6
d) 4

9) What do mothers change when they speak to their babies?
a) their voice quality
b) their diapers
c) their bibs
d) their attitude

10) What did the researchers not look at?
a) reading
b) fathers' talk
c) writing
d) baby mistakes

Role play

Role  A – Laughter

You think laughter is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): sleeping, first words or play time.

Role  B – Sleeping

You think sleeping is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): laughter, first words or play time.

Role  C – First Words

You think first words is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why): sleeping, laughter or play time.

Role  D – Play Time

You think play time is the best thing about babies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least fun of these (and why):  sleeping, first words or laughter.

After reading / listening

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

'baby'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'talk'.

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

    • 24
    • 7
    • 10
    • read
    • basic
    • fathers
    • over
    • universal
    • cute
    • special
    • helping
    • something

    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 - Baby talk is a world language

    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 'baby'?
    3. What do you think of babies?
    4. How do mothers talk to their babies?
    5. What does 'motherese' sound like in your language?
    6. Do you think all babies understand the same language?
    7. Should there be only one language in the world?
    8. How do babies learn languages?
    9. If babies could talk, what would they say?
    10. Is talking to babies embarrassing?

    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 'talk'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What's the best thing to talk to babies about?
    5. Do you like talking to babies?
    6. What do you think babies talk to each other about?
    7. Should parents teach babies two or more languages?
    8. What would it be like if we could understand baby language?
    9. How do mothers and fathers talk differently to babies?
    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)

    A new study has (1) ____ that mothers all over the world speak to their babies in the same (2) ____. The research is from the Baby Lab at Princeton University in the USA. The researchers who did the study said "motherese" is a (3) ____ language. They said baby talk is not just lots of cute noises and coochy-coos. The words and sounds that mothers say to their babies are (4) ____ complex. They form a special form of communication that mothers use in the same way across the world. These sounds are very important (5) ____ helping the language development in infants. Dr Elise Piazza, co-author of the research, said baby talk is a lot more (6) ____ than we thought. She said: "It is not something to be embarrassed about at all."

    The researchers (7) ____ 24 different mothers talking to their babies. The babies were aged between seven months and one year. The mothers spoke to their children (8) ____ 10 different native languages, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian and Hebrew. Dr Piazza said: "We (9) ____ brought mothers into the lab and had them play (10) ____ and read to their own babies, just like they would at home." She added: "We found that mothers [change the] basic quality of their voices (11) ____ speaking to infants, and they do so in a [very similar] way across many diverse languages." The study didn’t look at fathers' talk, but Piazza said that it is (12) ____ fathers would also speak in a similar way across the world.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     find     (b)     found     (c)     finds     (d)     finding    
    2. (a)     why     (b)     way     (c)     whey     (d)     weight    
    3. (a)     universe     (b)     universality     (c)     universal     (d)     universally    
    4. (a)     quilt     (b)     quite     (c)     quit     (d)     quiet    
    5. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    6. (a)     importance     (b)     importantly     (c)     important     (d)     import    
    7. (a)     recorded     (b)     recording     (c)     recorder     (d)     records    
    8. (a)     on     (b)     of     (c)     in     (d)     at    
    9. (a)     basicity     (b)     basics     (c)     basic     (d)     basically    
    10. (a)     with     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     of    
    11. (a)     when     (b)     why     (c)     what     (d)     where    
    12. (a)     likely     (b)     liken     (c)     likelihood     (d)     likeable

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a narluvsie language
    2. babies are quite lxemcop
    3. a psaelci form of communication
    4. helping the language development in nniftas
    5. co-author of the racerehs
    6. not something to be rbaseramsde about

    Paragraph 2

    1. The researchers ddoercer 24 different mothers
    2. 10 different tnevai languages
    3. We byallasic brought mothers into the lab
    4. the basic ltaqyui of their voices
    5. across many eridesv languages
    6. speak in a lmsiari way

    Put the text back together

    (    )     use in the same way across the world. These sounds are very important in helping the language

    1  )     A new study has found that mothers all over the world speak to their babies in the same

    (    )     development in infants. Dr Elise Piazza, co-author of the research, said baby talk is a lot more important than we

    (    )     way. The research is from the Baby Lab at Princeton University in the USA. The researchers who did the study said "motherese"

    (    )     is a universal language. They said baby talk is not just lots of cute noises and coochy-coos. The words and

    (    )     thought. She said: "It is not something to be embarrassed about at all."

    (    )     sounds that mothers say to their babies are quite complex. They form a special form of communication that mothers

    (    )     months and one year. The mothers spoke to their children in 10 different native languages, including English, Spanish,

    (    )     The researchers recorded 24 different mothers talking to their babies. The babies were aged between seven

    (    )     basic quality of their voices when speaking to infants, and they do so in a [very similar]

    (    )     likely fathers would also speak in a similar way across the world.

    (    )     way across many diverse languages." The study didn’t look at fathers' talk, but Piazza said that it is

    (    )     Mandarin, Russian and Hebrew. Dr Piazza said: "We basically brought mothers into the lab and had them play

    (    )     with and read to their own babies, just like they would at home." She added: "We found that mothers [change the]

    Put the words in the right order

    1. lots   is   cute   and   of   not   Baby  coochy-coos   just   talk   noises   .
    2. to   are   Sounds  say   babies   complex  mothers   their  quite   that   .
    3. language   the   helping   in   Important   infants   in   development   .
    4. we   talk   lot   than   Baby   a   important   thought   is   more   .
    5. about   It   something   embarrassed   all   not   be   at   is   to   .
    6. mothers   The   recorded   different   talking   researchers   24   .
    7. they   like  just  ,   babies   own   their   to   Read   home   at   would   .
    8. quality   basic   the   change   Mothers   voices   their   of   .
    9. diverse   similar   languages   way   In   across   a   many   very   .
    10. in   a   similar   way   It   is   likely   fathers   would   also   speak   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A new study has found that mothers all over / under the world speak to their babies in the same weigh / way. The research is from the Baby Lab to / at Princeton University in the USA. The researchers who did the study said "motherese" is a universal / universally language. They said baby talk is not just lots of cuteness / cute noises and coochy-coos. The words and sounds that mothers say to their babies are quite / quiet complex. They form a special form of communication that mothers use on / in the same way across the world. These sounds are very importance / important in helping the language development in infants. Dr Elise Piazza, co-author of the research, said baby talk is a lot more / most important than we thought. She said: "It is not something to be embarrassed about at every / all."

    The researchers recorded / recording 24 different mothers talking to their babies. The babies were aging / aged between seven months and one year. The mothers spoken / spoke to their children in 10 different naive / native languages, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian and Hebrew. Dr Piazza said: "We basically / basic brought mothers into the lob / lab and had them play with and read to their owner / own babies, just like they would at home." She added: "We found that mothers [change the] basic qualify / quality of their voices when speaking to infants, and they do so in a [very similar] way across many diverse / diversity languages." The study didn’t look at fathers' talk, but Piazza said that it is likely fathers would also speak in a similarity / similar way across the world.

    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)

    _ n_w st_dy h_s f__nd th_t m_th_rs _ll _v_r th_ w_rld sp__k t_ th__r b_b__s _n th_ s_m_ w_y. Th_ r_s__rch _s fr_m th_ B_by L_b _t Pr_nc_t_n _n_v_rs_ty _n th_ _S_. Th_ r_s__rch_rs wh_ d_d th_ st_dy s__d "m_th_r_s_" _s _ _n_v_rs_l l_ng__g_. Th_y s__d b_by t_lk _s n_t j_st l_ts _f c_t_ n__s_s _nd c__chy-c__s. Th_ w_rds _nd s__nds th_t m_th_rs s_y t_ th__r b_b__s _r_ q__t_ c_mpl_x. Th_y f_rm _ sp_c__l f_rm _f c_mm_n_c_t__n th_t m_th_rs _s_ _n th_ s_m_ w_y _cr_ss th_ w_rld. Th_s_ s__nds _r_ v_ry _mp_rt_nt _n h_lp_ng th_ l_ng__g_ d_v_l_pm_nt _n _nf_nts. Dr _l_s_ P__zz_, c_-__th_r _f th_ r_s__rch, s__d b_by t_lk _s _ l_t m_r_ _mp_rt_nt th_n w_ th__ght. Sh_ s__d: "_t _s n_t s_m_th_ng t_ b_ _mb_rr_ss_d _b__t _t _ll."

    Th_ r_s__rch_rs r_c_rd_d 24 d_ff_r_nt m_th_rs t_lk_ng t_ th__r b_b__s. Th_ b_b__s w_r_ _g_d b_tw__n s_v_n m_nths _nd _n_ y__r. Th_ m_th_rs sp_k_ t_ th__r ch_ldr_n _n 10 d_ff_r_nt n_t_v_ l_ng__g_s, _ncl_d_ng _ngl_sh, Sp_n_sh, M_nd_r_n, R_ss__n _nd H_br_w. Dr P__zz_ s__d: "W_ b_s_c_lly br__ght m_th_rs _nt_ th_ l_b _nd h_d th_m pl_y w_th _nd r__d t_ th__r _wn b_b__s, j_st l_k_ th_y w__ld _t h_m_." Sh_ _dd_d: "W_ f__nd th_t m_th_rs [ch_ng_ th_] b_s_c q__l_ty _f th__r v__c_s wh_n sp__k_ng t_ _nf_nts, _nd th_y d_ s_ _n _ [v_ry s_m_l_r] w_y _cr_ss m_ny d_v_rs_ l_ng__g_s." Th_ st_dy d_dn’t l__k _t f_th_rs' t_lk, b_t P__zz_ s__d th_t _t _s l_k_ly f_th_rs w__ld _ls_ sp__k _n _ s_m_l_r w_y _cr_ss th_ w_rld.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a new study has found that mothers all over the world speak to their babies in the same way the research is from the baby lab at princeton university in the usa the researchers who did the study said "motherese" is a universal language they said baby talk is not just lots of cute noises and coochy-coos the words and sounds that mothers say to their babies are quite complex they form a special form of communication that mothers use in the same way across the world these sounds are very important in helping the language development in infants dr elise piazza co-author of the research said baby talk is a lot more important than we thought she said "it is not something to be embarrassed about at all"

    the researchers recorded 24 different mothers talking to their babies the babies were aged between seven months and one year the mothers spoke to their children in 10 different native languages including english spanish mandarin russian and hebrew dr piazza said "we basically brought mothers into the lab and had them play with and read to their own babies just like they would at home" she added "we found that mothers [change the] basic quality of their voices when speaking to infants and they do so in a [very similar] way across many diverse languages" the study didn’t look at fathers' talk but piazza said that it is likely fathers would also speak in a similar way across the world

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Anewstudyhasfoundthatmothersallovertheworldspeaktotheirbabie
    sinthesameway.TheresearchisfromtheBabyLabatPrincetonUniversi
    tyintheUSA.Theresearcherswhodidthestudysaid"motherese"isauni
    versallanguage.Theysaidbabytalkisnotjustlotsofcutenoisesandcooc
    hy-coos.Thewordsandsoundsthatmotherssaytotheirbabiesarequit
    ecomplex.Theyformaspecialformofcommunicationthatmothersusei
    nthesamewayacrosstheworld.Thesesoundsareveryimportantinhelp
    ingthelanguagedevelopmentininfants.DrElisePiazza,co-authoroft
    heresearch,saidbabytalkisalotmoreimportantthanwethought.Shesa
    id:"Itisnotsomethingtobeembarrassedaboutatall."Theresearchersr
    ecorded24differentmotherstalkingtotheirbabies.Thebabieswereage
    dbetweensevenmonthsandoneyear.Themothersspoketotheirchildr
    enin10differentnativelanguages,includingEnglish,Spanish,Mandari
    n,RussianandHebrew.DrPiazzasaid:"Webasicallybroughtmothersint
    othelabandhadthemplaywithandreadtotheirownbabies,justlikethey
    wouldathome."Sheadded:"Wefoundthatmothers[changethe]basicq
    ualityoftheirvoiceswhenspeakingtoinfants,andtheydosoina[verysi
    milar]wayacrossmanydiverselanguages."Thestudydidn'tlookatfath
    ers'talk,butPiazzasaidthatitislikelyfatherswouldalsospeakinasimilar
    wayacrosstheworld.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    There should be only one world language. 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. BABY TALK: Make a poster about baby talk. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. COOCHY COO: Write a magazine article about starting lessons in baby talk so adults can speak to babies better. 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 baby talk. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. 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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