The Reading / Listening - Crowdfunding - Level 3

Malaysians have helped their government with its money problems. They gave nearly $2 million to help the country with its national debt. Malaysia has a new party in power for the first time since the nation's independence in 1957. The new government promised to fix the problems left by the previous government. One of these problems was the huge national debt. Malaysia's current leaders say the previous government lost a lot of money. They now want to put that right. The government has used a new way of raising money. They decided to ask for help by using crowdfunding. This means setting up a special page on the Internet to raise cash. People can give money to the page using their credit card.

The amount the government has raised so far is very small compared to its multi-billion-dollar debt. The $2 million is just a drop in the ocean compared to the country's $251 billion debt. This is about 80 per cent of Malaysia's economic output. However, Malaysia's finance minister Lim Guan Eng said it was important to let people try to help the country. He said: "The people voluntarily want to share their earnings with the government to help ease the burden." The idea came from a 27-year-old Malaysian lady who said she was, "very much in love with and proud" of her country. She set up a private fundraising effort that very quickly attracted interest from like-minded people who also wanted to help.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Crowdfunding - Level 0 Crowdfunding - Level 1   or  Crowdfunding - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-44327407
  • https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysians-donate-s235m-in-24-hours-to-hope-fund-set-up-to-help-reduce-national-debt
  • http://www.businessinsider.com/malaysia-started-a-crowdfunding-campaign-to-pay-off-debt-2018-6


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. CROWDFUNDING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about crowdfunding. 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?
       government / problems / debt / independence / huge / leaders / money / credit card /
       very small / drop / ocean / economic / output / finance / in love / proud / interest
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. HELP: Students A strongly believe people should give money to help their government; Students B strongly believe governments should give money to people.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DEBT: What do you think of these kinds of debt? Will they ever be a part of your life? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What do you think?

My life

Housing loan

 

 

Credit cards

 

 

Owed to friends

 

 

Education loan

 

 

Gambling debt

 

 

Car loan

 

 

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. PROBLEM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "problem". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. PROUD: Rank these with your partner. Put the things about your country you are most proud of at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Military
  • Economy
  • Sports teams
  • Peacefulness
  • History
  • People
  • Leaders
  • Culture

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. government a. The money that you must pay back to someone or to a bank, etc.
      2. debt b. Make something better that was or is broken or damaged.
      3. party c. Free from outside control; being a real country without another country's control.
      4. independence d. A group of politicians who all have a similar way of thinking about what is best for the country.
      5. fix e. The group of people who lead and work for a country.
      6. huge f. Belonging to the present time; happening or being used or done now.
      7. current g. Very, very big.

    Paragraph 2

      8. raised h. A big responsibility; lots of pressure to do something.
      9. a drop in the ocean i. Collected money for something.
      10. output j. The money you get from working.
      11. voluntarily k. Having similar likes, dislikes or opinions.
      12. earnings l. Everything produced by something.
      13. burden m. Doing something freely, often for no money.
      14. like-minded n. Something that is too, too, too small to help a big problem.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Malaysians have given $20 million to their country to help its debt.     T / F
  2. Malaysia got its independence in 1957.     T / F
  3. The new government said the old government lost a lot of money.     T / F
  4. The new government used a new way of raising money.     T / F
  5. The government wants to drop the debt in the ocean.     T / F
  6. Malaysia's debt is equal to 80% of its economic output.     T / F
  7. The crowdfunding idea came from Malaysia's leader.     T / F
  8. A 27-year-old woman said she wasn't proud of her country.     T / F

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

  1. helped
  2. problems
  3. promised
  4. huge
  5. raise
  6. so far
  7. about
  8. share
  9. earnings
  10. effort
  1. pledged
  2. until now
  3. get
  4. attempt
  5. enormous
  6. assisted
  7. split
  8. income
  9. difficulties
  10. around

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

  1. Malaysians have helped their government with
  2. the first time since the nation's
  3. The new government promised to
  4. the huge national
  5. They decided to ask for help
  6. just a drop
  7. finance
  8. very much in
  9. She set up a private
  10. like-
  1. fix the problems
  2. love
  3. by using crowdfunding
  4. fundraising effort
  5. minded people
  6. its money problems
  7. debt
  8. minister
  9. independence in 1957
  10. in the ocean

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
party
previous
since
problems
huge
page
fix
raising

Malaysians have helped their government with its money (1) ____________. They gave nearly $2 million to help the country with its national debt. Malaysia has a new (2) ____________ in power for the first time (3) ____________ the nation's independence in 1957. The new government promised to (4) ____________ the problems left by the previous government. One of these problems was the (5) ____________ national debt. Malaysia's current leaders say the (6) ____________ government lost a lot of money. They now want to put that right. The government has used a new way of (7) ____________ money. They decided to ask for help by using crowdfunding. This means setting up a special (8) ____________ on the Internet to raise cash. People can give money to the page using their credit card.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
ocean
voluntarily
proud
far
important
interest
output
burden

The amount the government has raised so (9) ____________ is very small compared to its multi-billion-dollar debt. The $2 million is just a drop in the (10) ____________ compared to the country's $251 billion debt. This is about 80 per cent of Malaysia's economic (11) ____________. However, Malaysia's finance minister Lim Guan Eng said it was (12) ____________ to let people try to help the country. He said: "The people (13) ____________ want to share their earnings with the government to help ease the (14) ____________." The idea came from a 27-year-old Malaysian lady who said she was, "very much in love with and (15) ____________ " of her country. She set up a private fundraising effort that very quickly attracted (16) ____________ from like-minded people who also wanted to help.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Malaysians have helped their government with its ______
     a.  moneyed problems
     b.  monies problems
     c.  money problems
     d.  monarch problems
2)  They gave nearly $2 million to help the country with its ______
     a.  national debt
     b.  nationally debt
     c.  nationals debt
     d.  nationalize debt
3)  The new government promised to fix the problems left by ______ government
     a.  the impervious
     b.  the previously
     c.  the pre vicious
     d.  the previous
4)  the previous government lost a lot of money. They now want to ______
     a.  put that right
     b.  put that light
     c.  put that wrong
     d.  put that left
5)  This means setting up a special page on the Internet ______
     a.  to arise cash
     b.  to erase cash
     c.  to rise cash
     d.  to raise cash

6)  The amount the government has raised ______ small
     a.  that far is very
     b.  such far is very
     c.  so far is very
     d.  so far be very
7)  The $2 million is just a ______ ocean
     a.  drip in the
     b.  drape in the
     c.  drop in the
     d.  dropping in the
8)  This is about 80 per cent of Malaysia's ______
     a.  economics output
     b.  economize output
     c.  economically output
     d.  economic output
9)  share their earnings with the government to ______ burden
     a.  help ease the
     b.  help erase the
     c.  help easy the
     d.  help easily the
10)  effort that very quickly attracted interest from ______ people
     a.  like-faced
     b.  like-headed
     c.  like-minded
     d.  like-brained

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Malaysians have helped their government (1) ___________________ problems. They gave nearly $2 million to help the country (2) ___________________ debt. Malaysia has a new party in power for the first time since the nation's independence in 1957. The new government promised (3) ___________________ problems left by the previous government. One of these problems (4) ___________________ national debt. Malaysia's current leaders say the previous government lost a lot of money. They now want to put that right. The government has used a new way of raising money. They decided (5) ___________________ help by using crowdfunding. This means setting up a special page on the Internet to raise cash. People can give money to the (6) ___________________ credit card.

The amount the government has raised (7) ___________________ very small compared to its multi-billion-dollar debt. The $2 million is just a drop in the ocean (8) ___________________ country's $251 billion debt. This is about 80 per cent of Malaysia's economic output. However, Malaysia's finance minister Lim Guan Eng said it was important (9) ___________________ try to help the country. He said: "The people voluntarily want to share their earnings with the government (10) ___________________ the burden." The idea came from a 27-year-old Malaysian lady who said she was, "very (11) ___________________ with and proud" of her country. She set up a private fundraising (12) ___________________ quickly attracted interest from like-minded people who also wanted to help.

Comprehension questions

  1. How much money have Malaysians given to help with the debt?
  2. When did Malaysia get its independence?
  3. What did the new government promise to fix?
  4. What did the old government lose?
  5. What method is the government using to raise money?
  6. What did the article compare the money raised to?
  7. How much is Malaysia's national debt?
  8. Who is Lim Guan Eng?
  9. How old is the lady who thought of the fundraising idea?
  10. What is the lady in love with?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How much money have Malaysians given to help with the debt?
a) around $2 million
b) over $2 million
c) nearly $2 million
d) exactly $2 million
2) When did Malaysia get its independence?
a) 1957
b) 1958
c) 1959
d) 1964
3) What did the new government promise to fix?
a) parliament
b) roads
c) national pride
d) the old government's problems
4) What did the old government lose?
a) sight of goals
b) a lot of money
c) four elections
d) trust
5) What method is the government using to raise money?
a) sponsorship
b) government bonds
c) crowdfunding
d) street collections

6) What did the article compare the money raised to?
a) gold
b) a drop in the ocean
c) an expensive diamond
d) a CEO's salary
7) How much is Malaysia's national debt?
a) $521 billion
b) $215 billion
c) $152 billion
d) $251 billion
8) Who is Lim Guan Eng?
a)  a crowdfunding CEO
b) Malaysia's finance minister
c) someone who gave $10,000
d) a businessman
9) How old is the lady who thought of the fundraising idea?
a) 27
b) 48
c) 57
d) 72
10) What is the lady in love with?
a) helping people
b) money
c) her husband
d) Malaysia (her country)

Role play

Role  A – History
You think history is the biggest reason to be proud of your country. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst reason of these (and why): culture, military or peacefulness.

Role  B – Culture
You think culture is the biggest reason to be proud of your country. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst reason of these (and why): history, military or peacefulness.

Role  C – Military
You think military is the biggest reason to be proud of your country. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst reason of these (and why): culture, history or peacefulness.

Role  D – Peacefulness
You think peacefulness is the biggest reason to be proud of your country. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst reason of these (and why):  culture, military or history.

After reading / listening

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

'crowd'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'fund'.

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

    • small
    • 80
    • let
    • share
    • much
    • like
    • nearly
    • power
    • fix
    • leaders
    • way
    • page

    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 - Malaysians give cash to help government

    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 'government'?
    3. What do you do to help your government?
    4. Would you give your government money?
    5. What is a national debt?
    6. What do you think of debt?
    7. What problems does your government have?
    8. What money problems do you have?
    9. Have you ever lost money?
    10. What do you think of crowdfunding?

    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 'cash'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about crowdfunding?
    5. Is $2 million "just a drop in the ocean"?
    6. What would you do with $2 million?
    7. How much in love with your country are you?
    8. What makes you proud of your country?
    9. Who would you like to give money to?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Malaysia's government?

    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)

    Malaysians have helped (1) ____ government with its money problems. They gave nearly $2 million to help the country with its (2) ____ debt. Malaysia has a new party in power for the first time since the nation's independence in 1957. The new government promised to (3) ____ the problems left by the previous government. One of these problems was the (4) ____ national debt. Malaysia's current leaders say the previous government lost a lot of money. They now want to put (5) ____ right. The government has used a new way of raising money. They decided to ask for help by using crowdfunding. This means setting up a special page on the Internet to (6) ____ cash. People can give money to the page using their credit card.

    The amount the government has raised (7) ____ far is very small compared to its multi-billion-dollar debt. The $2 million is just a (8) ____ in the ocean compared to the country's $251 billion debt. This is about 80 per cent of Malaysia's economic output. However, Malaysia's finance minister Lim Guan Eng said it was important to (9) ____ people try to help the country. He said: "The people voluntarily want to share their earnings with the government to help (10) ____ the burden." The idea came from a 27-year-old Malaysian lady who said she was, "very (11) ____ in love with and proud" of her country. She set up a private fundraising effort that very quickly attracted interest from like-(12) ____ people who also wanted to help.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     their     (b)     them     (c)     its     (d)     that    
    2. (a)     nationals     (b)     nationality     (c)     national     (d)     nations    
    3. (a)     nix     (b)     mix     (c)     fix     (d)     six    
    4. (a)     hug     (b)     hugely     (c)     huggable     (d)     huge    
    5. (a)     what     (b)     them     (c)     that     (d)     those    
    6. (a)     rise     (b)     raise     (c)     arise     (d)     erase    
    7. (a)     such     (b)     so     (c)     some     (d)     still    
    8. (a)     drip     (b)     drop     (c)     drape     (d)     drab    
    9. (a)     met     (b)     wet     (c)     let     (d)     vet    
    10. (a)     pie     (b)     nice     (c)     simple     (d)     ease    
    11. (a)     many     (b)     most     (c)     more     (d)     much    
    12. (a)     faced     (b)     brained     (c)     headed     (d)     minded

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. national dbte
    2. since the nation's dicenedpnnee
    3. The new ngetrenmvo promised to fix the problems
    4. etcnurr leaders
    5. the eroipvus government
    6. setting up a pecisal page

    Paragraph 2

    1. The muoant the government has raised
    2. just a drop in the ecoan
    3. 80% of Malaysia's noeocimc output
    4. people uvantlrioly want to share
    5. porud of her country
    6. quickly attracted nreteist

    Put the text back together

    (...)  on the Internet to raise cash. People can give money to the page using their credit card.
    (...)  way of raising money. They decided to ask for help by using crowdfunding. This means setting up a special page
    (...)  people try to help the country. He said: "The people voluntarily want to share their earnings with the government to help ease
    (...)  The amount the government has raised so far is very small compared to its multi-billion-dollar
    (...)  in 1957. The new government promised to fix the problems left by the previous government. One of
    (...)  debt. The $2 million is just a drop in the ocean compared to the country's $251 billion debt. This is about 80 per cent
    (...)  lot of money. They now want to put that right. The government has used a new
    (...)  with its national debt. Malaysia has a new party in power for the first time since the nation's independence
    1  ) Malaysians have helped their government with its money problems. They gave nearly $2 million to help the country
    (...)  of Malaysia's economic output. However, Malaysia's finance minister Lim Guan Eng said it was important to let
    (...)  love with and proud" of her country. She set up a private fundraising effort that very
    (...)  the burden." The idea came from a 27-year-old Malaysian lady who said she was, "very much in
    (...)  these problems was the huge national debt. Malaysia's current leaders say the previous government lost a
    (...)  quickly attracted interest from like-minded people who also wanted to help.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. helped   government   problems   .   have   Malaysians   with   its   their
    2. to   nearly   the   help   gave   million   $2   They   country   .
    3. government   The   problems   .   fix   new   to   promised   the
    4. the   of   was   One   debt   .   national   huge   these
    5. the   a   page   Internet   .   Setting   up   special   on
    6. drop   the   is   just   The   ocean   .   in   $2   million   a
    7. 80%   This   of   output   .   is   Malaysia's   economic   about
    8. important   was   help   .   to   people   It   let
    9. share   voluntarily   want   to   People   their   earnings   .
    10. interest   from   Very   like-minded   attracted   quickly   people   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Malaysians have helped their / its government with its money problems. They gave nearly $2 million to help a / the country with its national debt. Malaysia has a new / news party in power for the first time for / since the nation's independence in 1957. The new government promising / promised to fix the problems right / left by the previous government. One of these problems was the huge national debt. Malaysia's currency / current leaders say the previous government lost a / the lot of money. They now want to put that right. The government has used a new way / weigh of raising money. They decided to ask for help by using crowdfunding. This means setting up a special page on the Internet to raise / rise cash. People can give money to the page using their credit card.

    The amount the government has raised so for / far is very small compared to its multi-billion-dollar debt. The $2 million is just a drip / drop in the ocean compared / comparison to the country's $251 billion debt. This is about 80 per cent of Malaysia's economic / economically output. However, Malaysia's finance minister Lim Guan Eng said it was importance / important to let people try to help the country. He said: "The people volunteer / voluntarily want to share their earnings with the government to help ease / easy the burden." The idea came from a 27-year-old Malaysian lady who said she was, "very much / many in love with and proud" of her country. She set up a private fundraising afford / effort that very quickly attracted interest / interesting from like-minded people who also wanted to help.

    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)

    M_l_y s__ n s h_v_ h_l p_d t h__ r g_v_r n m_n t w_t h _t s m_n_y p r_b l_m s . T h_y g_v_ n__ r l y $ 2 m_l l__ n t_ h_l p t h_ c__ n t r y w_t h _t s n_t__ n_l d_b t . M_l_y s__ h_s _ n_w p_r t y _n p_w_r f_r t h_ f_r s t t_m_ s_n c_ t h_ n_t__ n ' s _n d_p_n d_n c_ _n 1 9 5 7 . T h_ n_w g_v_r n m_n t p r_m_s_d t_ f_x t h_ p r_b l_m s l_f t b y t h_ p r_v___s g_v_r n m_n t . O n_ _f t h_s_ p r_b l_m s w_s t h_ h_g_ n_t__ n_l d_b t . M_l_y s__ ' s c_r r_n t l__ d_r s s_y t h_ p r_v___s g_v_r n m_n t l_s t _ l_t _f m_n_y . T h_y n_w w_n t t_ p_t t h_t r_g h t . T h_ g_v_r n m_n t h_s _s_d _ n_w w_y _f r__ s_n g m_n_y . T h_y d_c_d_d t_ _s k f_r h_l p b y _s_n g c r_w d f_n d_n g . T h_s m__ n s s_t t_n g _p _ s p_c__ l p_g_ _n t h_ I n t_r n_t t_ r__ s_ c_s h . P__ p l_ c_n g_v_ m_n_y t_ t h_ p_g_ _s_n g t h__ r c r_d_t c_r d .

    T h_ _m__ n t t h_ g_v_r n m_n t h_s r__ s_d s_ f_r _s v_r y s m_l l c_m p_r_d t_ _t s m_l t_- b_l l__ n - d_l l_r d_b t . T h_ $ 2 m_l l__ n _s j_s t _ d r_p _n t h_ _c__ n c_m p_r_d t_ t h_ c__ n t r y ' s $ 2 5 1 b_l l__ n d_b t . T h_s _s _b__ t 8 0 p_r c_n t _f M_l_y s__ ' s _c_n_m_c __ t p_t . H_w_v_r , M_l_y s__ ' s f_n_n c_ m_n_s t_r L_m G__ n E n g s__ d _t w_s _m p_r t_n t t_ l_t p__ p l_ t r y t_ h_l p t h_ c__ n t r y . H_ s__ d : " T h_ p__ p l_ v_l_n t_r_l y w_n t t_ s h_r_ t h__ r __ r n_n g s w_t h t h_ g_v_r n m_n t t_ h_l p __ s_ t h_ b_r d_n . " T h_ _d__ c_m_ f r_m _ 2 7 - y__ r -_l d M_l_y s__ n l_d y w h_ s__ d s h_ w_s , " v_r y m_c h _n l_v_ w_t h _n d p r__ d " _f h_r c__ n t r y . S h_ s_t _p _ p r_v_t_ f_n d r__ s_n g _f f_r t t h_t v_r y q__ c k l y _t t r_c t_d _n t_r_s t f r_m l_k_- m_n d_d p__ p l_ w h_ _l s_ w_n t_d t_ h_l p .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    malaysians have helped their government with its money problems they gave nearly 2 million to help the country with its national debt malaysia has a new party in power for the first time since the nations independence in 1957 the new government promised to fix the problems left by the previous government one of these problems was the huge national debt malaysias current leaders say the previous government lost a lot of money they now want to put that right the government has used a new way of raising money they decided to ask for help by using crowdfunding this means setting up a special page on the internet to raise cash people can give money to the page using their credit card

    the amount the government has raised so far is very small compared to its multibilliondollar debt the 2 million is just a drop in the ocean compared to the countrys 251 billion debt this is about 80 per cent of malaysias economic output however malaysias finance minister lim guan eng said it was important to let people try to help the country he said the people voluntarily want to share their earnings with the government to help ease the burden the idea came from a 27yearold malaysian lady who said she was very much in love with and proud of her country she set up a private fundraising effort that very quickly attracted interest from likeminded people who also wanted to help

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Malaysianshavehelpedtheirgovernmentwithitsmoneyproblems.The
    ygavenearly$2milliontohelpthecountrywithitsnationaldebt.Malaysi
    ahasanewpartyinpowerforthefirsttimesincethenation'sindependenc
    ein1957.Thenewgovernmentpromisedtofixtheproblemsleftbythepr
    eviousgovernment.Oneoftheseproblemswasthehugenationaldebt.
    Malaysia'scurrentleaderssaythepreviousgovernmentlostalotofmon
    ey.Theynowwanttoputthatright.Thegovernmenthasusedanewwayo
    fraisingmoney.Theydecidedtoaskforhelpbyusingcrowdfunding.This
    meanssettingupaspecialpageontheInternettoraisecash.Peoplecang
    ivemoneytothepageusingtheircreditcard.Theamountthegovernmen
    thasraisedsofarisverysmallcomparedtoitsmulti-billion-dollardebt.T
    he$2millionisjustadropintheoceancomparedtothecountry's$251billi
    ondebt.Thisisabout80percentofMalaysia'seconomicoutput.However
    ,Malaysia'sfinanceministerLimGuanEngsaiditwasimportanttoletpeo
    pletrytohelpthecountry.Hesaid:"Thepeoplevoluntarilywanttosharet
    heirearningswiththegovernmenttohelpeasetheburden."Theideaca
    mefroma27-year-oldMalaysianladywhosaidshewas,"verymuchinlov
    ewithandproud"ofhercountry.Shesetupaprivatefundraisingeffortth
    atveryquicklyattractedinterestfromlike-mindedpeoplewhoals
    owantedtohelp.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    People should always give money to help their government. 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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. CROWDFUNDING: Make a poster about crowdfunding. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. HELPING THE GOVERNMENT: Write a magazine article about people helping their government more. 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 crowdfunding. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on giving money to help your government. 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

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    Answers

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

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