The Reading / Listening - Honey - Level 3

Doctors in the United Kingdom have some new advice for people with coughs. They are advising people not to visit a doctor to get treatment. Instead, people who have a cough should drink or eat honey or get some medicine from a drugstore. The doctors say that in most cases, honey and over-the-counter medicines will work and people do not need antibiotics. The doctors added that most of the time, a cough will improve on its own within two to three weeks even if you take nothing. Many of us visit a doctor at a hospital or clinic if we have a cough. Public health officials in England say this is largely a waste of time. They say antibiotics do little to make a cough go away.

Doctors say we are using antibiotics too much and this can be bad for us. Many viruses and infections are becoming resistant to antibiotics, so medicines are becoming less effective. Doctors say this is leading to the creation of superbugs. These can be very dangerous to our health. The doctors said honey can be very effective in soothing a sore throat and making other symptoms disappear. A hot drink with honey is a traditional and well-known remedy for coughs and sore throats. People also add lemon or ginger to it. Using honey may be better for children with coughs. Many children do not like the taste of medicine but love the taste of honey. Younger children generally do not like visiting a doctor.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Honey - Level 0 Honey - Level 1   or  Honey - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/health-45270134
  • https://www.thisisinsider.com/treat-cough-with-honey-before-antibiotics-new-guidelines-2018-8
  • http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/clinical-specialties/prescribing/gps-should-recommend-honey-and-herbal-medicines-for-coughs-suggests-nice/20037335.article


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. HONEY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about honey. 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?
       advice / doctor / treatment / medicine / drugstore / honey / cough / hospital / waste /
       viruses / infections / effective / superbugs / health / sore throat / lemon / children
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. COUGH MEDICINE: Students A strongly believe cough medicine is totally ineffective; Students B strongly believe it works really well.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. REMEDIES: What are the best remedies for these problems? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Remedies

Why they work

Coughs

 

 

Colds

 

 

Headaches

 

 

Stomachaches

 

 

Toothaches

 

 

Sleeplessness

 

 

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. DOCTOR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "doctor". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. COUGHS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to make a cough go away at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • lemon and ginger
  • herbal medicine
  • yoghurt
  • cough sweets
  • medicine
  • cough syrup
  • honey
  • time

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. advice a. Examples of a particular situation; examples of something happening.
      2. treatment b. A place or hospital department where people go to get medical treatment or advice about their health or about illnesses.
      3. cases c. Ideas or information about the best thing to do.
      4. antibiotics d. Medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury.
      5. improve e. Medicines (such as penicillin) that stop the growth of or destroy bacteria, viruses or microorganisms.
      6. clinic f. Make better.
      7. officials g. People who are in public office or have official duties, especially as a representative of an organization or government department.

    Paragraph 2

      8. viruses h. Reducing pain or discomfort.
      9. infections i. Infections or diseases caused by bacteria or microorganisms.
      10. resistant j. Successful or good in producing a result you want.
      11. effective k. Physical or mental signs of an illness of disease.
      12. soothing l. Diseases or medical complaints.
      13. symptoms m. In most cases; usually.
      14. generally n. Is difficult to get into, break down or attack.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Doctors are advising people to go to a doctor if they have a cough.     T / F
  2. Doctors said people with coughs should not go to the drugstore.     T / F
  3. Doctors said a cough will disappear on its own over time.     T / F
  4. Health officials said it wasn't a waste of time to go to a clinic.     T / F
  5. Too many antibiotics aren't bad for us.     T / F
  6. Weaker antibiotics are creating superbugs.     T / F
  7. Some people make a hot drink with honey and lemon.     T / F
  8. The article said honey may be better for younger children.     T / F

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

  1. advice
  2. treatment
  3. drugstore
  4. improve
  5. go away
  6. bad
  7. effective
  8. remedy
  9. well-known
  10. generally
  1. harmful
  2. get better
  3. famous
  4. medical care
  5. cure
  6. ideas
  7. disappear
  8. normally
  9. pharmacy
  10. helpful

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

  1. some new advice for people
  2. in most
  3. a cough will improve
  4. this is largely a waste
  5. antibiotics do little to make
  6. Doctors say we are using
  7. viruses and
  8. very effective in soothing
  9. a traditional and well-
  10. children do not like the
  1. antibiotics too much
  2. of time
  3. taste of medicine
  4. with coughs
  5. a sore throat
  6. on its own
  7. known remedy
  8. a cough go away
  9. infections
  10. cases

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
drugstore
own
largely
treatment
away
advice
cases
nothing

Doctors in the United Kingdom have some new (1) ____________ for people with coughs. They are advising people not to visit a doctor to get (2) ____________. Instead, people who have a cough should drink or eat honey or get some medicine from a      (3) ____________. The doctors say that in most                          (4) ____________, honey and over-the-counter medicines will work and people do not need antibiotics. The doctors added that most of the time, a cough will improve on its (5) ____________ within two to three weeks even if you take (6) ____________. Many of us visit a doctor at a hospital or clinic if we have a cough. Public health officials in England say this is (7) ____________ a waste of time. They say antibiotics do little to make a cough go    (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
superbugs
traditional
resistant
visiting
antibiotics
sore
effective
better

Doctors say we are using (9) ____________ too much and this can be bad for us. Many viruses and infections are becoming (10) ____________ to antibiotics, so medicines are becoming less (11) ____________. Doctors say this is leading to the creation of (12) ____________. These can be very dangerous to our health. The doctors said honey can be very effective in soothing a (13) ____________ throat and making other symptoms disappear. A hot drink with honey is a (14) ____________ and well-known remedy for coughs and sore throats. People also add lemon or ginger to it. Using honey may be (15) ____________ for children with coughs. Many children do not like the taste of medicine but love the taste of honey. Younger children generally do not like (16) ____________ a doctor.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Doctors in the United Kingdom have some new ______ with coughs
     a.  advice for people
     b.  advise for people
     c.  ad vice for people
     d.  add vise for people
2)  The doctors say that in most cases, honey and over-______ medicines will work
     a.  the-country
     b.  the-counter
     c.  the-count are
     d.  the-count a
3)  The doctors added that most of the time, a cough will improve ______
     a.  on its sown
     b.  on its sewn
     c.  on it sewn
     d.  on its own
4)  Public health officials in England say this is largely a ______
     a.  ways toff time
     b.  weigh scoff time
     c.  weights of time
     d.  waste of time
5)  They say antibiotics do little to make ______ away
     a.  a cough goo
     b.  a cough go
     c.  a cough grow
     d.  a cough glow

6)  Doctors say we are using antibiotics too much and this can be ______
     a.  badly for us
     b.  bad four us
     c.  bad for us
     d.  bead for us
7)  infections are becoming resistant to antibiotics, so medicines are becoming ______
     a.  less effectively
     b.  lesser affective
     c.  less effective
     d.  less affective
8)  effective in soothing a sore throat and making ______ disappear
     a.  another symptoms
     b.  other symptoms
     c.  others symptoms
     d.  udder symptoms
9)  A hot drink with honey is a traditional and well-known ______ coughs
     a.  remedies for
     b.  remedy for
     c.  remedy four
     d.  remedial for
10)  Many children do not like the taste of medicine but love the ______
     a.  taste of honey
     b.  taste off honey
     c.  tastes of honey
     d.  tastes off honey

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Doctors in the United Kingdom (1) ___________________ advice for people with coughs. They are advising people (2) ___________________ a doctor to get treatment. Instead, people who have a cough should drink or eat honey or get some medicine from a drugstore. The doctors say that (3) ___________________, honey and over-the-counter medicines will work and people do not need antibiotics. The doctors added (4) ___________________ the time, a cough will improve on its own within two to three weeks even if you take nothing. Many (5) ___________________ a doctor at a hospital or clinic if we have a cough. Public health officials in England say this is largely a waste of time. They say antibiotics do little to make (6) ___________________ away.

Doctors say we are using antibiotics too much and this can be bad for us. Many (7) ___________________ are becoming resistant to antibiotics, so medicines are becoming less effective. Doctors say (8) ___________________ to the creation of superbugs. These can be very dangerous to our health. The doctors said honey can (9) ___________________ in soothing a sore throat and making other symptoms disappear. A hot drink with honey (10) ___________________ and well-known remedy for coughs and sore throats. People also add lemon or ginger to it. Using honey may (11) ___________________ children with coughs. Many children do not like the taste of medicine but love the taste of honey. Younger children (12) ___________________ like visiting a doctor.

Comprehension questions

  1. Where are doctors advising people with coughs not to visit?
  2. Where did doctors say people could get medicine?
  3. What did doctors say people with coughs did not need?
  4. How long might it take a cough to improve on its own?
  5. What did public health officials call visiting a hospital?
  6. What did doctors say we are using too much of?
  7. What are becoming resistant to antibiotics?
  8. What did doctors say were being created?
  9. What did doctors say honey could soothe?
  10. Who might honey be better for?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where are doctors advising people with coughs not to visit?
a) public places
b) shopping malls
c) museums
d) doctors
2) Where did doctors say people could get medicine?
a) from doctors
b) drugstores
c) hospitals
d) online
3) What did doctors say people with coughs did not need?
a) milk
b) sleep
c) honey
d) antibiotics
4) How long might it take a cough to improve on its own?
a) an hour or two
b) a few days
c) 2-3 weeks
d) a long time
5) What did public health officials call visiting a hospital?
a) interesting
b) great
c) necessary
d) a waste of time

6) What did doctors say we are using too much of?
a) honey
b) hospital time
c) antibiotics
d) lemon
7) What are becoming resistant to antibiotics?
a) viruses
b) coughs
c) honey
d) doctors
8) What did doctors say were being created?
a) honey
b) new medicine
c) superbugs
d) problems
9) What did doctors say honey could soothe?
a) antibiotics
b) sore throats
c) feelings
d) broken hearts
10) Who might honey be better for?
a) children
b) doctors
c) bees
d) old people with no teeth

Role play

Role  A – Honey
You think honey is the best thing for a cough. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): cough syrup, time or medicine.

Role  B – Cough Syrup
You think cough syrup is the best thing for a cough. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): honey, time or medicine.

Role  C – Time
You think time is the best thing for a cough. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): cough syrup, honey or medicine.

Role  D – Medicine
You think medicine is the best thing for a cough. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): cough syrup, time or honey.

After reading / listening

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

'honey'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'cough'.

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

    • bad
    • creation
    • health
    • disappear
    • add
    • generally
    • advice
    • should
    • counter
    • own
    • clinic
    • time

    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 - Honey better for coughs than antibiotics

    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 'cough'?
    3. What do you take for a cough?
    4. Why do we get coughs?
    5. What's the worst cough you've ever had?
    6. What is your advice for someone with a cough?
    7. Do you think medicine is good for a cough?
    8. Is it better to let a cough get better on its own?
    9. What do you know about antibiotics?
    10. Is it best to go to a hospital if you have a cough?

    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 'honey'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why is it bad if we take too many antibiotics?
    5. What do you think of taking honey for a cough?
    6. Why might honey be good for a cough?
    7. What do you know about superbugs?
    8. What remedies do you know of?
    9. What did you think of medicine when you were a child?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the doctors?

    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)

    Doctors in the United Kingdom have some (1) ____ advice for people with coughs. They are advising people not to visit a doctor to get (2) ____. Instead, people who have a cough should drink or eat honey or get some medicine from a drugstore. The doctors say that in most (3) ____, honey and over-the-counter medicines will work and people do not need antibiotics. The doctors added that most of the time, a cough will improve on its (4) ____ within two to three weeks even if you take nothing. Many of us visit a doctor at a hospital or clinic if we have a cough. Public health officials in England say this is (5) ____ a waste of time. They say antibiotics do little to make a cough (6) ____ away.

    Doctors say we are using antibiotics too much and this can be bad for (7) ____. Many viruses and infections are becoming resistant to antibiotics, so medicines are becoming (8) ____ effective. Doctors say this is leading to the creation of superbugs. These can be very dangerous to our health. The doctors said honey can be very effective (9) ____ soothing a sore throat and making other symptoms disappear. A hot drink with honey is a traditional and well-known remedy (10) ____ coughs and sore throats. People also (11) ____ lemon or ginger to it. Using honey may be better for children with coughs. Many children do not like the taste of medicine but love the taste of honey. Younger children (12) ____ do not like visiting a doctor.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     new     (b)     newly     (c)     news     (d)     newt    
    2. (a)     treats     (b)     treat     (c)     treatment     (d)     treaty    
    3. (a)     cased     (b)     casing     (c)     case     (d)     cases    
    4. (a)     owner     (b)     own     (c)     owns     (d)     owned    
    5. (a)     huge     (b)     sizeable     (c)     bigness     (d)     largely    
    6. (a)     come     (b)     drive     (c)     go     (d)     take    
    7. (a)     them     (b)     us     (c)     they     (d)     we    
    8. (a)     less     (b)     loss     (c)     lose     (d)     lesser    
    9. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     as    
    10. (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     for     (d)     on    
    11. (a)     total     (b)     attach     (c)     plus     (d)     add    
    12. (a)     general     (b)     generally     (c)     generality     (d)     generalize

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. ciadve for people with coughs
    2. visit a doctor to get meetrtatn
    3. get some ieecimdn
    4. people do not need btacstiiino
    5. a cough will repiomv on its own
    6. this is largely a wtesa of time

    Paragraph 2

    1. veurssi and infections
    2. becoming resistant to tncboitaiis
    3. becoming less eftfivece
    4. making other ymotsmps disappear
    5. well-known eermyd for coughs
    6. arelygnel do not like visiting a doctor

    Put the text back together

    (...)  eat honey or get some medicine from a drugstore. The doctors say that in most
    (...)  f you take nothing. Many of us visit a doctor at a hospital or clinic if we have a cough. Public health
    (...)  taste of medicine but love the taste of honey. Younger children generally do not like visiting a doctor.
    (...)  that most of the time, a cough will improve on its own within two to three weeks even I
    (...)  or ginger to it. Using honey may be better for children with coughs. Many children do not like the
    (...)  disappear. A hot drink with honey is a traditional and well-known remedy for coughs and sore throats. People also add lemon
    (...)  cases, honey and over-the-counter medicines will work and people do not need antibiotics. The doctors added
    (...)  officials in England say this is largely a waste of time. They say antibiotics do little to make a cough go away.
    (...)  infections are becoming resistant to antibiotics, so medicines are becoming less
    (...)  effective. Doctors say this is leading to the creation of superbugs. These can be very dangerous to our
    (...)  Doctors say we are using antibiotics too much and this can be bad for us. Many viruses and
    (...)  people not to visit a doctor to get treatment. Instead, people who have a cough should drink or
    1  ) Doctors in the United Kingdom have some new advice for people with coughs. They are advising
    (...)  health. The doctors said honey can be very effective in soothing a sore throat and making other symptoms

    Put the words in the right order

    1. advice   coughs   .   new   for   Some   people   with
    2. should   have   honey   .   People   drink   a   who   cough
    3. will   improve   .   time,   cough   the   of   a   Most
    4. waste   time   .   this   is   a   of   Officials   say
    5. a   do   disappear   .   make   to   Antibiotics   cough   little
    6. are   we   using   too   antibiotics   Doctors   say   much   .
    7. resistant   are   becoming   antibiotics   .   Viruses   and   infections   to
    8. dangerous   be   to   our   These   health   .   very   can
    9. the   of   do   medicine   like   taste   Children   not
    10. visiting   generally   not   do   Children   a   doctor   .   like

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Doctors in the United Kingdom have some new advise / advice for people with coughs. They are advising people not to / for visit a doctor to get treatment. Instead, people who have a cough should drink nor / or eat honey or get some medicine from a drugstore. The doctors say that in most / must cases, honey and over-the-counter medicines will work and people do not need / needy antibiotics. The doctors added that must / most of the time, a cough will improve on its own / owner within two to three weeks ever / even if you take nothing. Many of us visit a doctor at a hospital or clinic / clinical if we have a cough. Public health officials in England say this is largely a waste of time. They say antibiotics do little / lot to make a cough go away.

    Doctors say we are using antibiotics too many / much and this can be bad for us. Many viruses and infections / infectious are becoming resistant to antibiotics, so medicines are become / becoming less effective. Doctors say this is leading / lead to the creation of superbugs. These can be very dangerous to our healthy / health. The doctors said honey can be very effective in soothing a sore / thaw throat and making other symptoms disappear. A hot drink with honey is a traditional / traditionally and well-known remedy for coughs and sore throats. People also add / adding lemon or ginger to it. Using honey may be better for / of children with coughs. Many children do not like the taste of medicine but love the taste of honey. Younger children general / generally do not like visiting a doctor.

    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)

    D_c t_r s _n t h_ U n_t_d K_n g d_m h_v_ s_m_ n_w _d v_c_ f_r p__ p l_ w_t h c__ g h s . T h_y _r_ _d v_s_n g p__ p l_ n_t t_ v_s_t _ d_c t_r t_ g_t t r__ t m_n t . I n s t__ d , p__ p l_ w h_ h_v_ _ c__ g h s h__ l d d r_n k _r __ t h_n_y _r g_t s_m_ m_d_c_n_ f r_m _ d r_g s t_r_. T h_ d_c t_r s s_y t h_t _n m_s t c_s_s , h_n_y _n d _v_r - t h_- c__ n t_r m_d_c_n_s w_l l w_r k _n d p__ p l_ d_ n_t n__ d _n t_b__ t_c s . T h_ d_c t_r s _d d_d t h_t m_s t _f t h_ t_m_, _ c__ g h w_l l _m p r_v_ _n _t s _w n w_t h_n t w_ t_ t h r__ w__ k s _v_n _f y__ t_k_ n_t h_n g . M_n y _f _s v_s_t _ d_c t_r _t _ h_s p_t_l _r c l_n_c _f w_ h_v_ _ c__ g h . P_b l_c h__ l t h _f f_c__ l s _n E n g l_n d s_y t h_s _s l_r g_l y _ w_s t_ _f t_m_. T h_y s_y _n t_b__ t_c s d_ l_t t l_ t_ m_k_ _ c__ g h g_ _w_y .

    D_c t_r s s_y w_ _r_ _s_n g _n t_b__ t_c s t__ m_c h _n d t h_s c_n b_ b_d f_r _s . M_n y v_r_s_s _n d _n f_c t__ n s _r_ b_c_m_n g r_s_s t_n t t_ _n t_b__ t_c s , s_ m_d_c_n_s _r_ b_c_m_n g l_s s _f f_c t_v_. D_c t_r s s_y t h_s _s l__ d_n g t_ t h_ c r__ t__ n _f s_p_r b_g s . T h_s_ c_n b_ v_r y d_n g_r__ s t_ __ r h__ l t h . T h_ d_c t_r s s__ d h_n_y c_n b_ v_r y _f f_c t_v_ _n s__ t h_n g _ s_r_ t h r__ t _n d m_k_n g _t h_r s y m p t_m s d_s_p p__ r . A h_t d r_n k w_t h h_n_y _s _ t r_d_t__ n_l _n d w_l l - k n_w n r_m_d y f_r c__ g h s _n d s_r_ t h r__ t s . P__ p l_ _l s_ _d d l_m_n _r g_n g_r t_ _t . U s_n g h_n_y m_y b_ b_t t_r f_r c h_l d r_n w_t h c__ g h s . M_n y c h_l d r_n d_ n_t l_k_ t h_ t_s t_ _f m_d_c_n_ b_t l_v_ t h_ t_s t_ _f h_n_y . Y__ n g_r c h_l d r_n g_n_r_l l y d_ n_t l_k_ v_s_t_n g _ d_c t_r .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    doctors in the united kingdom have some new advice for people with coughs they are advising people not to visit a doctor to get treatment instead people who have a cough should drink or eat honey or get some medicine from a drugstore the doctors say that in most cases honey and overthecounter medicines will work and people do not need antibiotics the doctors added that most of the time a cough will improve on its own within two to three weeks even if you take nothing many of us visit a doctor at a hospital or clinic if we have a cough public health officials in england say this is largely a waste of time they say antibiotics do little to make a cough go away

    doctors say we are using antibiotics too much and this can be bad for us many viruses and infections are becoming resistant to antibiotics so medicines are becoming less effective doctors say this is leading to the creation of superbugs these can be very dangerous to our health the doctors said honey can be very effective in soothing a sore throat and making other symptoms disappear a hot drink with honey is a traditional and wellknown remedy for coughs and sore throats people also add lemon or ginger to it using honey may be better for children with coughs many children do not like the taste of medicine but love the taste of honey younger children generally do not like visiting a doctor

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    DoctorsintheUnitedKingdomhavesomenewadviceforpeoplewithcou
    ghs.Theyareadvisingpeoplenottovisitadoctortogettreatment.Instea
    d,peoplewhohaveacoughshoulddrinkoreathoneyorgetsomemedicin
    efromadrugstore.Thedoctorssaythatinmostcases,honeyandover-th
    e-countermedicineswillworkandpeopledonotneedantibiotics.Thedo
    ctorsaddedthatmostofthetime,acoughwillimproveonitsownwithintw
    otothreeweeksevenifyoutakenothing.Manyofusvisitadoctoratahosp
    italorclinicifwehaveacough.PublichealthofficialsinEnglandsaythisisl
    argelyawasteoftime.Theysayantibioticsdolittletomakeacoughgoaw
    ay.Doctorssayweareusingantibioticstoomuchandthiscanbebadforus
    .Manyvirusesandinfectionsarebecomingresistanttoantibiotics,some
    dicinesarebecominglesseffective.Doctorssaythisisleadingtothecreat
    ionofsuperbugs.Thesecanbeverydangeroustoourhealth.Thedoctors
    saidhoneycanbeveryeffectiveinsoothingasorethroatandmakingothe
    rsymptomsdisappear.Ahotdrinkwithhoneyisatraditionalandwell-kn
    ownremedyforcoughsandsorethroats.Peoplealsoaddlemonorginger
    toit.Usinghoneymaybebetterforchildrenwithcoughs.Manychildrend
    onotlikethetasteofmedicinebutlovethetasteofhoney.Youngerchildre
    ngenerallydonotlikevisitingadoctor.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    People take too much medicine. Natural cures are best. 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. HONEY: Make a poster about honey. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NATURAL MEDICINE: Write a magazine article about natural medicine being better than medicine from doctors. 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 honey. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on honey as a medicine. 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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