Breaking News English Lesson on Cold Cure

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Scientists close to cure for the common cold (18th May, 2018)

The Reading / Listening - Cold Cure - Level 3

British researchers say they are close to finding a cure for the common cold. Scientists have worked for decades on a medicine that would help to end colds. The biggest problem for researchers was finding a drug that could fight the hundreds of types of viruses that can cause a cold. The viruses are difficult to find and they change very quickly so they can fight against new drugs. Until now, there has been no way to treat cold viruses, so we all have to suffer every winter. However, scientists have developed a special molecule that could make colds a thing of the past. They tested the molecule and found that it blocked the viruses that cause colds. The molecule stopped the viruses from working in the body.

The usual treatment for a common cold is to take medicines or remedies for the different symptoms. We might take one thing for a sore throat and another thing for a runny nose or a fever. Different viruses can cause different symptoms. The researchers believe the new molecule could stop all symptoms from developing. Lead researcher Ed Tate, from London's Imperial College, said it could help millions of people end their suffering. Most of us catch a cold several times a year. Dr Tate said it could also help people with more serious problems, saying: "The common cold is an inconvenience for most of us, but it can cause serious complications in people with conditions like asthma."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Cold Cure - Level 0, Cold Cure - Level 1 or Cold Cure - Level 2

Sources

https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20180515/scientists-are-targeting-the-common-cold
https://www.medicaldaily.com/new-cure-common-cold-targets-human-protein-instead-virus-424150
https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/38879/20180515/common-cold-cure-new-molecule-that-doesnt-even-attack-the-virus-could-hold-the-key.htm

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. COLDS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about colds. 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?
researchers / cure / cold / problem / change / virus / suffer / winter / molecule / body
treatment / symptoms / sore throat / millions / several / inconvenience / asthma
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. A THING OF THE PAST: Students A strongly believe all disease will one day be a thing of the past; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. REMEDIES: What are your remedies for these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Remedy	How well it works	Why?
Cold
Tiredness
Headache
Stomach ache
Broken heart
Stress

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. COMMON: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "common". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SYMPTOMS: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst symptoms of a cold at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

the chills
no energy
cough
joint pain
runny nose
fever
headache
sore throat

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	cure	a.	A period (length of time) of ten years.
2.	decades	b.	A group of atoms joined together.
3.	types	c.	Experience something bad or unpleasant.
4.	viruses	d.	Do something or give medical care to make an illness, disease or injury better.
5.	treat	e.	Very, very, very small things that go into our body and make us ill (or kill us).
6.	suffer	f.	Something that will make a disease, illness or problem go away.
7.	molecule	g.	Kinds of things; sorts of things.

Paragraph 2

8.	treatment	h.	A small number that is bigger than two.
9.	remedies	i.	Starting and growing bigger.
10.	symptoms	j.	When your body is too, too hot.
11.	fever	k.	The medical care you receive from doctors, nurses, etc.
12.	developing	l.	Things that make trouble or difficulty in your life.
13.	several	m.	Medicines and drugs to make your body or mind better.
14.	inconvenience	n.	The signs of an illness or disease.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

Scientists have tried to find a cure for the cold for 20 or more years. T / F
There are over a hundred viruses that can cause a common cold. T / F
Cold viruses change quickly so it's difficult for drugs to fight them. T / F
A molecule was unable to stop cold viruses from working in the body. T / F
People usually take one medicine for all the different cold symptoms. T / F
Researchers say we take the same medicine for a fever and runny nose. T / F
A doctor said the new molecule would help billions of people. T / F
The doctor said the common cold was a convenience for many of us. T / F

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

close
medicine
types
suffer
a thing of the past
usual
symptoms
several
inconvenience
conditions

illnesses
history
hurt
problem
drug
a number of
normal
near
signs
kinds

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

Scientists have worked for
there has been no way to treat
make colds a thing of
it blocked the viruses that
The molecule stopped the viruses from
The usual treatment
We might take one thing
a runny
it could help millions of people
it can cause serious

for a sore throat
working in the body
end their suffering
cold viruses
for a common cold
the past
nose
cause colds
complications
decades

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

hundreds
way
body
decades
viruses
cure
quickly
special

British researchers say they are close to finding a (1) ____________ for the common cold. Scientists have worked for (2) ____________ on a medicine that would help to end colds. The biggest problem for researchers was finding a drug that could fight the (3) ____________ of types of viruses that can cause a cold. The viruses are difficult to find and they change very (4) ____________ so they can fight against new drugs. Until now, there has been no (5) ____________ to treat cold viruses, so we all have to suffer every winter. However, scientists have developed a (6) ____________ molecule that could make colds a thing of the past. They tested the molecule and found that it blocked the (7) ____________ that cause colds. The molecule stopped the viruses from working in the (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

symptoms
sore
inconvenience
millions
treatment
conditions
runny
several

The usual (9) ____________ for a common cold is to take medicines or remedies for the different symptoms. We might take one thing for a (10) ____________ throat and another thing for a (11) ____________ nose or a fever. Different viruses can cause different symptoms. The researchers believe the new molecule could stop all (12) ____________ from developing. Lead researcher Ed Tate, from London's Imperial College, said it could help (13) ____________ of people end their suffering. Most of us catch a cold (14) ____________ times a year. Dr Tate said it could also help people with more serious problems, saying: "The common cold is an (15) ____________ for most of us, but it can cause serious complications in people with (16) ____________ like asthma."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) a drug that could fight the hundreds of ______
     a. types of virus is
     b. type of viruses
     c. types of viruses
     d. types off viruses
2) viruses are difficult to find and they change very quickly so they can fight ______
     a. against new drug
     b. a gains new drugs
     c. against knew drugs
     d. against new drugs
3) scientists have developed a special molecule that could make colds ______ past
     a. a thing of the
     b. a thing of a
     c. a thing offer
     d. a thing off the
4) They tested the molecule and found that it ______
     a. blacked the viruses
     b. blocked the viruses
     c. bloc the viruses
     d. block the viruses
5) The molecule stopped the viruses from working ______
     a. in the body
     b. in the bodily
     c. in the bodice
     d. in the bodies

6) The usual treatment for a common cold is to take medicines ______
     a. or remedy is
     b. or remediates
     c. or remediate
     d. or remedies
7) We might take one thing for a sore throat and another thing for a runny ______ fever
     a. nose or a
     b. ear or a
     c. eye or a
     d. head or a
8) it could help millions of people ______
     a. end there suffering
     b. end they're suffering
     c. end them suffering
     d. end their suffering
9) The common cold is an inconvenience for ______
     a. most of us
     b. much of they
     c. must of us
     d. most of them
10) it can cause serious complications in people with conditions ______
     a. likes asthma
     b. like asthma
     c. liked asthma
     d. liken asthma

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

British researchers say they are (1) ___________________ a cure for the common cold. Scientists have (2) ___________________ on a medicine that would help to end colds. The biggest problem for researchers was finding a drug that could fight the hundreds of (3) ___________________ that can cause a cold. The viruses are difficult to find and they change very quickly so they can fight against new drugs. Until now, there has been no (4) ___________________ cold viruses, so we all have to suffer every winter. However, scientists have developed a special molecule that could make colds a thing (5) ___________________. They tested the molecule and found that it blocked the viruses that cause colds. The molecule stopped the viruses from (6) ___________________ body.

The usual treatment for a common cold (7) ___________________ medicines or remedies for the different symptoms. We might take one thing for a sore throat and another thing (8) ___________________ nose or a fever. Different viruses can cause different symptoms. The researchers believe the new molecule (9) ___________________ symptoms from developing. Lead researcher Ed Tate, from London's Imperial College, said it could help (10) ___________________ end their suffering. Most of us catch a cold several times a year. Dr Tate said it could also help people (11) ___________________ problems, saying: "The common cold is an inconvenience for most of us, but (12) ___________________ serious complications in people with conditions like asthma."

Comprehension questions

Where are the researchers from?
How long have scientists been trying to find a cold medicine?
When did the article say we suffer?
What might a special molecule make colds?
What did the molecule do to cold viruses?
What kind of nose was mentioned in the article?
What can cause different symptoms?
How many people did a researcher say the new molecule could help?
How often do most of us catch a cold?
What did a researcher say a cold was for most of us?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where are the researchers from?
a) the UN
b) the UK
c) the USA
d) the UAE
2) How long have scientists been trying to find a cold medicine?
a) since the beginning of time
b) since the 16th century
c) 8 years
d) for decades
3) When did the article say we suffer?
a) every winter
b) in the mornings
c) in bed
d) after a heavy meal
4) What might a special molecule make colds?
a) more varied
b) dangerous
c) a thing of the past
d) stronger
5) What did the molecule do to cold viruses?
a) put them to sleep
b) stopped then from working
c) killed them
d) gave them a cold

6) What kind of nose was mentioned in the article?
a) a runny nose
b) a big nose
c) an itchy nose
d) a red nose
7) What can cause different symptoms?
a) doctors
b) medicine
c) different viruses
d) fevers
8) How many people did a researcher say the new molecule could help?
a) millions
b) 38
c) quite a few
d) billions
9) How often do most of us catch a cold?
a) a few times a year
b) once in a lifetime
c) every other month
d) all the time
10) What did a researcher say a cold was for most of us?
a) a dangerous disease
b) a convenience
c) life and death
d) an inconvenience

Role play

Role A – Runny Nose
You think a runny nose is the worst thing about having a cold. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad and how they can cure them. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): a sore throat, a fever or a headache.

Role B – Sore Throat
You think a sore throat is the worst thing about having a cold. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad and how they can cure them. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): a runny nose, a fever or a headache.

Role C – Fever
You think a fever is the worst thing about having a cold. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad and how they can cure them. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): a sore throat, a runny nose or a headache.

Role D – Headache
You think a headache is the worst thing about having a cold. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad and how they can cure them. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): a sore throat, a fever or a runny nose.

After reading / listening

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

'common'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'cold'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

usual

sore

all

lead

several

most

close

end

quickly

way

special

body

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 - Scientists close to cure for the common cold

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'common'?
What do you know about colds?
How do you feel when you catch a cold?
How would the world change without the common cold?
Why do we get more colds in colder weather?
What is the best way to treat a cold?
How often do you get a cold?
How often do you take medicine?
How healthy are you?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'cold'?
What do you think about what you read?
What's the difference between a cold and influenza?
What do you do for a sore throat?
What do you do when you have a fever?
What's the best thing for a runny nose?
How inconvenient is a cold?
What companies would change if a cold cure was found?
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)

British researchers say they are close to finding a cure for the common cold. Scientists have worked for (1) ____ on a medicine that would help to end colds. The biggest problem for researchers was (2) ____ a drug that could fight the hundreds of (3) ____ of viruses that can cause a cold. The viruses are difficult to find and they change very quickly so they can fight (4) ____ new drugs. Until now, there has been no way to treat cold viruses, so we all have to suffer every winter. However, scientists have developed a (5) ____ molecule that could make colds a thing of the past. They tested the molecule and found that it (6) ____ the viruses that cause colds. The molecule stopped the viruses from working in the body.

The usual treatment for a common cold is to take medicines or remedies for the different symptoms. We might take one thing (7) ____ a sore throat and another thing for a (8) ____ nose or a fever. Different viruses can cause different symptoms. The researchers believe the new molecule could stop all symptoms (9) ____ developing. Lead researcher Ed Tate, from London's Imperial College, said it could help millions of people (10) ____ their suffering. Most of us catch a cold several times a year. Dr Tate said it could also help people with more (11) ____ problems, saying: "The common cold is an inconvenience for most of us, but it can cause serious complications in people with conditions (12) ____ asthma."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) decades (b) decade (c) decayed (d) decays
(a) found (b) find (c) finding (d) finds
(a) taps (b) tapes (c) tips (d) types
(a) again (b) against (c) for (d) with
(a) specialize (b) species (c) specialism (d) special
(a) blacked (b) plucked (c) blocked (d) picked
(a) with (b) for (c) to (d) of
(a) runny (b) sprinting (c) jogging (d) walking
(a) from (b) of (c) at (d) with
(a) ended (b) ending (c) end (d) ends
(a) serials (b) seriously (c) series (d) serious
(a) such (b) like (c) type (d) example

Spelling

Paragraph 1

Scientists have worked for edcaeds
The biggest problem for easehrcserr
a nicmdeei that would help
hundreds of pyste of viruses
we all have to sufefr every winter
saecu colds

Paragraph 2

The usual attrtmeen for a common cold
for the different tossmypm
it could help lloiinms of people
people with more ossurie problems
The common cold is an iencneoeivcnn
in people with nnotsciodi like asthma

Put the text back together

(...) decades on a medicine that would help to end colds. The biggest problem for researchers was finding a
(...) the viruses that cause colds. The molecule stopped the viruses from working in the body.
(...) drug that could fight the hundreds of types of viruses that can cause a cold. The viruses are difficult to find and they
(...) cold viruses, so we all have to suffer every winter. However, scientists have developed
(...) change very quickly so they can fight against new drugs. Until now, there has been no way to treat
(...) a special molecule that could make colds a thing of the past. They tested the molecule and found that it blocked
(...) different symptoms. The researchers believe the new molecule could stop all symptoms
(...) The usual treatment for a common cold is to take medicines or remedies for the different
(...) from developing. Lead researcher Ed Tate, from London's Imperial College, said it could help millions
( 1 ) British researchers say they are close to finding a cure for the common cold. Scientists have worked for
(...) symptoms. We might take one thing for a sore throat and another thing for a runny nose or a fever. Different viruses can cause
(...) people with more serious problems, saying: "The common cold is an inconvenience
(...) of people end their suffering. Most of us catch a cold several times a year. Dr Tate said it could also help
(...) for most of us, but it can cause serious complications in people with conditions like asthma."

Put the words in the right order

a say Researchers are they to finding close cure .
medicine . have decades a Scientists on for worked
of viruses . Fight types of hundreds the
have We winter . suffer to every all
the viruses from molecule The working . stopped
for usual is The cold treatment medicine . a
throat . something might for a We take sore
new stop symptoms . The molecule all could
help people It problems . serious with more could
can cause It in serious complications people .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

British researchers say they are closed / close to finding a cure for the common cold. Scientists have worked from / for decades on a medicine that would help to send / end colds. The biggest problem for researchers was finding a drug that could flight / fight the hundreds of types of viruses that can cause / course a cold. The viruses are difficult to find and they change very quickly so they can fight against / again new drugs. Until now, there has been no way to threat / treat cold viruses, so we all have to suffer every winter. However, scientists have developed a special / specially molecule that could make colds a thing of the past / passed. They tested the molecule and found that it blocked / blocking the viruses that cause colds. The molecule stopped the viruses from working in the body.

The usual / usually treatment for a common cold is for / to take medicines or remedies for the different symptoms. We might take once / one thing for a sore / soar throat and another thing for a runny / run nose or a fever. Different viruses can cause different / difference symptoms. The researchers believe the new molecule could stop all symptoms from developing. Lead researcher Ed Tate, from London's Imperial College, said it could help millions of people end their / them suffering. Most of us catch a cold several times / time a year. Dr Tate said it could also help people with more serious problems, saying: "The common cold is an inconvenience for much / most of us, but it can cause serious complications in people with conditions liking / like asthma."

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)

B r_t_s h r_s__ r c h_r s s_y t h_y _r_ c l_s_ t_ f_n d_n g _ c_r_ f_r t h_ c_m m_n c_l d . S c__ n t_s t s h_v_ w_r k_d f_r d_c_d_s _n _ m_d_c_n_ t h_t w__ l d h_l p t_ _n d c_l d s . T h_ b_g g_s t p r_b l_m f_r r_s__ r c h_r s w_s f_n d_n g _ d r_g t h_t c__ l d f_g h t t h_ h_n d r_d s _f t y p_s _f v_r_s_s t h_t c_n c__ s_ _ c_l d . T h_ v_r_s_s _r_ d_f f_c_l t t_ f_n d _n d t h_y c h_n g_ v_r y q__ c k l y s_ t h_y c_n f_g h t _g__ n s t n_w d r_g s . U n t_l n_w , t h_r_ h_s b__ n n_ w_y t_ t r__ t c_l d v_r_s_s , s_ w_ _l l h_v_ t_ s_f f_r _v_r y w_n t_r . H_w_v_r , s c__ n t_s t s h_v_ d_v_l_p_d _ s p_c__ l m_l_c_l_ t h_t c__ l d m_k_ c_l d s _ t h_n g _f t h_ p_s t . T h_y t_s t_d t h_ m_l_c_l_ _n d f__ n d t h_t _t b l_c k_d t h_ v_r_s_s t h_t c__ s_ c_l d s . T h_ m_l_c_l_ s t_p p_d t h_ v_r_s_s f r_m w_r k_n g _n t h_ b_d y .

T h_ _s__ l t r__ t m_n t f_r _ c_m m_n c_l d _s t_ t_k_ m_d_c_n_s _r r_m_d__ s f_r t h_ d_f f_r_n t s y m p t_m s . W_ m_g h t t_k_ _n_ t h_n g f_r _ s_r_ t h r__ t _n d _n_t h_r t h_n g f_r _ r_n n y n_s_ _r _ f_v_r . D_f f_r_n t v_r_s_s c_n c__ s_ d_f f_r_n t s y m p t_m s . T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s b_l__ v_ t h_ n_w m_l_c_l_ c__ l d s t_p _l l s y m p t_m s f r_m d_v_l_p_n g . L__ d r_s__ r c h_r E d T_t_, f r_m L_n d_n ' s I m p_r__ l C_l l_g_, s__ d _t c__ l d h_l p m_l l__ n s _f p__ p l_ _n d t h__ r s_f f_r_n g . M_s t _f _s c_t c h _ c_l d s_v_r_l t_m_s _ y__ r . D r T_t_ s__ d _t c__ l d _l s_ h_l p p__ p l_ w_t h m_r_ s_r___s p r_b l_m s , s_y_n g : " T h_ c_m m_n c_l d _s _n _n c_n v_n__ n c_ f_r m_s t _f _s , b_t _t c_n c__ s_ s_r___s c_m p l_c_t__ n s _n p__ p l_ w_t h c_n d_t__ n s l_k_ _s t h m_. "

Punctuate the text and add capitals

british researchers say they are close to finding a cure for the common cold scientists have worked for decades on a medicine that would help to end colds the biggest problem for researchers was finding a drug that could fight the hundreds of types of viruses that can cause a cold the viruses are difficult to find and they change very quickly so they can fight against new drugs until now there has been no way to treat cold viruses so we all have to suffer every winter however scientists have developed a special molecule that could make colds a thing of the past they tested the molecule and found that it blocked the viruses that cause colds the molecule stopped the viruses from working in the body

the usual treatment for a common cold is to take medicines or remedies for the different symptoms we might take one thing for a sore throat and another thing for a runny nose or a fever different viruses can cause different symptoms the researchers believe the new molecule could stop all symptoms from developing lead researcher ed tate from londons imperial college said it could help millions of people end their suffering most of us catch a cold several times a year dr tate said it could also help people with more serious problems saying the common cold is an inconvenience for most of us but it can cause serious complications in people with conditions like asthma"

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Britishresearcherssaytheyareclosetofindingacureforthecommoncol
d.Scientistshaveworkedfordecadesonamedicinethatwouldhelptoen
dcolds.Thebiggestproblemforresearcherswasfindingadrugthatcould
fightthehundredsoftypesofvirusesthatcancauseacold.Thevirusesar
edifficulttofindandtheychangeveryquicklysotheycanfightagainstne
wdrugs.Untilnow,therehasbeennowaytotreatcoldviruses,soweallha
vetosuffereverywinter.However,scientistshavedevelopedaspecialm
oleculethatcouldmakecoldsathingofthepast.Theytestedthemolecule
andfoundthatitblockedthevirusesthatcausecolds.Themoleculestopp
edthevirusesfromworkinginthebody.Theusualtreatmentforacommo
ncoldistotakemedicinesorremediesforthedifferentsymptoms.Wemi
ghttakeonethingforasorethroatandanotherthingforarunnynoseoraf
ever.Differentvirusescancausedifferentsymptoms.Theresearchersb
elievethenewmoleculecouldstopallsymptomsfromdeveloping.Leadr
esearcherEdTate,fromLondon'sImperialCollege,saiditcouldhelpmilli
onsofpeopleendtheirsuffering.Mostofuscatchacoldseveraltimesaye
ar.DrTatesaiditcouldalsohelppeoplewithmoreseriousproblems,sayi
ng:"Thecommoncoldisaninconvenienceformostofus,butitcancauses
eriouscomplicationsinpeoplewithconditionslikeasthma."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

What are the best things to do for a cold? What things do you dislike about colds?

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. COLDS: Make a poster about colds. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. SLEEP: Write a magazine article about sleep being the best thing for colds. Include imaginary interviews with people who agree and with people who disagree with 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 colds. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas to fight a cold. 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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Breaking News English Lesson on Cold Cure

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