The Reading / Listening - Birth Control - Level 6

Tanzania's President John Magufuli has advised women in his country to stop taking birth control pills. He said the reason was because Tanzania needed more people and the country was now wealthy enough to feed and educate many children. President Magufuli said: "Women can now give up contraceptive methods." He supported his argument by citing the example of European countries that he says are struggling to find enough workers because people use different methods of birth control. He told reporters: "I have traveled to Europe and I have seen the effects of birth control. In some countries they are now struggling with a declining population. They have no labor force."

President Magufuli accused those of using birth control of laziness. He said: "Those going for family planning are lazy. They are afraid they will not be able to feed their children. They do not want to work hard to feed a large family and that is why they opt for birth control and end up with one or two children only." He added: "You have cattle. You are big farmers. You can feed your children. Why then resort to birth control? I see no reason to control births in Tanzania". One politician pointed out the fact that Tanzania does not help large families. He said: "Our health insurance schemes can only accommodate a maximum of four children from one family."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Birth Control - Level 4  or  Birth Control - Level 5

Sources
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/11/africa/tanzania-birth-control-magufuli-intl/index.html
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/tanzania-john-magufuli-advises-birth-control-180910193120646.html
  • https://allafrica.com/stories/201809110040.html


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. BIRTH CONTROL: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about birth control. 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?
       birth control / reason / feed / educate / contraceptive / example / Europe / effects /
       control / laziness / work hard / family / children / farmers / cattle / politician / health
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FAMILY: Students A strongly believe large families are better; Students B strongly believe small families are better.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CHILDREN: What are the good and bad things about having the number of children below? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good Things

Bad Things

0

 

 

1

 

 

2

 

 

3

 

 

4

 

 

8

 

 
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. PILL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "pill". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. RAISING CHILDREN: Rank these with your partner. Put the hardest things about raising at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • less space
  • weddings
  • teenage years
  • worry
  • cost
  • noise
  • messy rooms
  • loud music

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. advised a. Mentioning something as an example.
      2. pills b. Having a great deal of money, resources, or assets; rich.
      3. wealthy c. A small round mass of solid medicine to be swallowed whole.
      4. contraceptive d. Becoming smaller, fewer, or less; decreasing.
      5. citing e. Offered suggestions about the best course of action for someone to take.
      6. struggling f. A method, pill or device to stop a woman becoming pregnant.
      7. declining g. Having difficulty in achieving or attaining something in the face of difficulty or resistance.

    Paragraph 2

      8. accused h. Cows.
      9. feed i. A large-scale plan or arrangement for reaching some particular object or putting a particular idea into effect.
      10. opt j. Turn to and use a strategy or course of action, especially a difficult one, to make a difficult situation go away.
      11. cattle k. Give food to a baby, family, pet, animal, fish, etc.
      12. resort to l. Fit in with the wishes or needs of someone.
      13. schemes m. Claimed that someone has done something wrong.
      14. accommodate n. Make a choice from a range of possibilities.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Tanzania's president wants women to avoid birth control pills.     T / F
  2. Tanzania's president said his country needed more people.     T / F
  3. Tanzania's president said Europe is suffering because of birth control.     T / F
  4. Tanzania's president has never been to Europe.     T / F
  5. Tanzania's president said people were lazy if they used birth control.     T / F
  6. Tanzania's president said people no longer had cattle.     T / F
  7. Tanzania's president said he could see a few reasons for birth control.     T / F
  8. A politician said Tanzania had health insurance for families of all sizes.     T / F

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

  1. advised
  2. wealthy
  3. struggling
  4. effects
  5. declining
  6. accused
  7. opt
  8. resort
  9. pointed out
  10. accommodate
  1. turn
  2. consequences
  3. rich
  4. charged
  5. help
  6. choose
  7. recommended
  8. highlighted
  9. battling
  10. falling

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

  1. stop taking birth control
  2. He supported his argument by citing
  3. I have seen the effects
  4. they are now struggling with a
  5. They have no labor
  6. family
  7. they will not be able to feed
  8. that is why they opt
  9. One politician pointed
  10. accommodate a maximum
  1. of birth control
  2. for birth control
  3. force
  4. their children
  5. out the fact
  6. pills
  7. of four children
  8. declining population
  9. planning
  10. the example

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
feed
force
citing
struggling
advised
pills
effects
methods

Tanzania's President John Magufuli has (1) ____________ women in his country to stop taking birth control (2) ____________. He said the reason was because Tanzania needed more people and the country was now wealthy enough to (3) ____________ and educate many children. President Magufuli said: "Women can now give up contraceptive methods." He supported his argument by (4) ____________ the example of European countries that he says are struggling to find enough workers because people use different (5) ____________ of birth control. He told reporters: "I have traveled to Europe and I have seen the (6) ____________ of birth control. In some countries they are now (7) ____________ with a declining population. They have no labor (8) ____________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
end
lazy
cattle
pointed
opt
maximum
accused
resort

President Magufuli (9) ____________ those of using birth control of laziness. He said: "Those going for family planning are (10) ____________. They are afraid they will not be able to feed their children. They do not want to work hard to feed a large family and that is why they (11) ____________ for birth control and (12) ____________ up with one or two children only." He added: "You have (13) ____________. You are big farmers. You can feed your children. Why then (14) ____________ to birth control? I see no reason to control births in Tanzania". One politician (15) ____________ out the fact that Tanzania does not help large families. He said: "Our health insurance schemes can only accommodate a (16) ____________ of four children from one family."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Magufuli has advised women in his country to stop taking ______
     a.  birth control pill
     b.  birth control spills
     c.  birth control piles
     d.  birth control pills
2)  the country was now wealthy enough to feed and ______
     a.  educates many children
     b.  educate many children
     c.  educated many children
     d.  educating many children
3)  He supported his argument by ______ of European countries
     a.  citing the example
     b.  sighting the example
     c.  sighing the example
     d.  sitting the example
4)  struggling to find enough workers because people use different methods ______
     a.  of birth controls
     b.  of birth controller
     c.  of birth control
     d.  of birth controlled
5)  In some countries they are now struggling with a ______
     a.  decline in population
     b.  decline population
     c.  declining population
     d.  declining in population

6)  They are afraid they will not be able to ______
     a.  fed their children
     b.  freed their children
     c.  feud their children
     d.  feed their children
7)  work hard to feed a large family and that is why they ______ control
     a.  opt for birth
     b.  adopt for birth
     c.  popped for birth
     d.  hopped for birth
8)  You are big farmers. You can feed your children. Why then ______ control?
     a.  retort to birth
     b.  report to birth
     c.  revert to birth
     d.  resort to birth
9)  One politician pointed out the fact that Tanzania does ______ families
     a.  not help largely
     b.  not help large
     c.  not help largesse
     d.  not help enlarge
10)  Our health insurance schemes can only accommodate a maximum ______
     a.  of for children
     b.  of four children
     c.  of foul children
     d.  of fowl children

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Tanzania's President John Magufuli has (1) ___________________ his country to stop taking birth control pills. He said the reason was because Tanzania needed more people and the country was (2) ___________________ to feed and educate many children. President Magufuli said: "Women can now give up contraceptive methods." He supported his (3) ___________________ the example of European countries that he says (4) ___________________ find enough workers because people use different methods of birth control. He told reporters: "I have traveled to Europe and I have (5) ___________________ of birth control. In some countries they are now struggling with a declining population. They have (6) ___________________."

President Magufuli (7) ___________________ using birth control of laziness. He said: "Those going for family planning are lazy. They are afraid they will not be (8) ___________________ their children. They do not want to work hard to feed a large family and that is why they (9) ___________________ control and end up with one or two children only." He added: "You have cattle. You are big farmers. You can feed your children. Why (10) ___________________ birth control? I see no reason to control births in Tanzania". One politician pointed (11) ___________________ that Tanzania does not help large families. He said: "Our health insurance schemes can only accommodate (12) ___________________ four children from one family."

Comprehension questions

  1. What method of birth control did the president want women to stop?
  2. What did the president say Tanzania needed more of?
  3. Where did the president say was struggling to find workers?
  4. What did the president say he'd seen the effects of in Europe?
  5. What did the president say was declining in Europe?
  6. What did the president accuse people who used birth control of?
  7. What did the president say people were afraid of not being able to do?
  8. What did the president say Tanzanian people had?
  9. Who said Tanzania does not help large families?
  10. How many children per family does Tanzania's health insurance help?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What method of birth control did the president want women to stop?
a) any method
b) the rhythm method
c) the pill
d) abstinence
2) What did the president say Tanzania needed more of?
a) workers
b) fields
c) cattle
d) women
3) Where did the president say was struggling to find workers?
a) the USA
b) Europe
c) Africa
d) Asia
4) What did the president say he'd seen the effects of in Europe?
a) immigration
b) global warming
c) pollution
d) birth control
5) What did the president say was declining in Europe?
a) morals
b) wealth
c) the population
d) crime

6) What did the president accuse people who used birth control of?
a) stupidity
b) laziness
c) irresponsibility
d) ignorance
7) What did the president say people were afraid of not being able to do?
a) send children to university
b) buy children presents
c) have children
d) feed their children
8) What did the president say Tanzanian people had?
a) problems
b) cattle
c) gold
d) pills
9) Who said Tanzania does not help large families?
a) women
b) a politician
c) the president
d) children
10) How many children per family does Tanzania's health insurance help?
a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) 7

Role play

Role  A – Cost
You think cost is the hardest thing about raising children. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least hard of these (and why): mess, noise or worry.

Role  B – Mess
You think mess is the hardest thing about raising children. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least hard of these (and why): cost, noise or worry.

Role  C – Noise
You think noise is the hardest thing about raising children. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least hard of these (and why): mess, cost or worry.

Role  D – Worry
You think worry is the hardest thing about raising children. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least hard of these (and why): mess, noise or cost.

After reading / listening

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

'birth'

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

    • and 'control'.

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

    • • 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:

    • lazy
    • work
    • big
    • reason
    • fact
    • four
    • advised
    • reason
    • give
    • example
    • traveled
    • some

    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 - Tanzania's president advises against birth control

    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 'birth'?
    3. What do you think of birth control?
    4. What's the best number of children to have?
    5. Is it becoming more difficult to bring up children?
    6. Are there enough people in your country?
    7. What problems are caused by declining populations?
    8. Is it better to have a large or small family?
    9. How can European countries get more workers?
    10. How can governments encourage people to have more children?

    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 'control'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Is birth control lazy?
    5. How sad is it that people worry about feeding their family?
    6. Should we grow food ourselves to feed our family?
    7. Should governments help any size of family?
    8. How many children would you like?
    9. Is it better to come from a small or large family?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the president?

    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)

    Tanzania's President John Magufuli has (1) ____ women in his country to stop taking birth control pills. He said the (2) ____ was because Tanzania needed more people and the country was now wealthy (3) ____ to feed and educate many children. President Magufuli said: "Women can now give up contraceptive methods." He supported his argument by (4) ____ the example of European countries that he says are struggling to find enough workers because people use different methods of birth control. He told reporters: "I have traveled to Europe and I have seen the (5) ____ of birth control. In some countries they are now struggling with a declining population. They have no labor (6) ____."

    President Magufuli (7) ____ those of using birth control of laziness. He said: "Those going for family planning are lazy. They are afraid they will not be able to feed their children. They do not want to work hard to feed a large family and that is why they (8) ____ for birth control and (9) ____ up with one or two children only." He added: "You have cattle. You are big farmers. You can feed your children. Why then resort (10) ____ birth control? I see no reason to control births in Tanzania". One politician pointed (11) ____ the fact that Tanzania does not help large families. He said: "Our health insurance schemes can only accommodate a maximum (12) ____ four children from one family."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     advising     (b)     advisory     (c)     advises     (d)     advised    
    2. (a)     reasoned     (b)     reasonable     (c)     reasons     (d)     reason    
    3. (a)     plenty     (b)     enough     (c)     all     (d)     sufficient    
    4. (a)     sighting     (b)     slighting     (c)     citing     (d)     sating    
    5. (a)     inflects     (b)     affects     (c)     effects     (d)     reflects    
    6. (a)     force     (b)     fierce     (c)     farce     (d)     forks    
    7. (a)     recluse     (b)     accused     (c)     fused     (d)     accosted    
    8. (a)     opt     (b)     apt     (c)     upped     (d)     aped    
    9. (a)     result     (b)     end     (c)     conclude     (d)     terminate    
    10. (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     to     (d)     of    
    11. (a)     in     (b)     up     (c)     out     (d)     at    
    12. (a)     as     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     of

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the country was now whlayet enough
    2. give up ivetatoenccpr methods
    3. gtcnii the example
    4. emtdhos of birth control
    5. they are now ltuggingsr
    6. a dgnncilie population

    Paragraph 2

    1. President Magufuli dcsacue those
    2. You have ltetac
    3. teosrr to birth control
    4. One tnlipcoiai
    5. health insurance mhcssee
    6. a ammxium of four children

    Put the text back together

    (...)  only." He added: "You have cattle. You are big farmers. You can feed your children. Why then resort to birth
    (...)  schemes can only accommodate a maximum of four children from one family."
    (  1  )  Tanzania's President John Magufuli has advised women in his country to stop taking birth control
    (...)  enough to feed and educate many children. President Magufuli said: "Women can now give up contraceptive
    (...)  now struggling with a declining population. They have no labor force."
    (...)  to Europe and I have seen the effects of birth control. In some countries they are
    (...)  out the fact that Tanzania does not help large families. He said: "Our health insurance
    (...)  President Magufuli accused those of using birth control of laziness. He said: "Those going for family
    (...)  planning are lazy. They are afraid they will not be able to feed their children. They do not want to work
    (...)  find enough workers because people use different methods of birth control. He told reporters: "I have traveled
    (...)  hard to feed a large family and that is why they opt for birth control and end up with one or two children
    (...)  methods." He supported his argument by citing the example of European countries that he says are struggling to
    (...)  pills. He said the reason was because Tanzania needed more people and the country was now wealthy
    (...)  control? I see no reason to control births in Tanzania". One politician pointed

    Put the words in the right order

    1. women   taking   to   pills   .   Advised   control   stop   birth
    2. enough   educate   to   many   Wealthy   feed   and   children   .
    3. can   contraceptive   Women   up   give   methods   .   now
    4. that   are   European   he   says   countries   struggling   .
    5. struggling   population   .   declining   with   They   a   now   are
    6. lazy   .   going   are   family   for   planning   Those
    7. to   children   .   won't   They   feed   be   able   their
    8. no   to   I   control   births   .   see   reason
    9. not   that   The   does   Tanzania   help   .   fact
    10. one   maximum   of   A   four   family   .   from   children

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Tanzania's President John Magufuli has advised / advice women in his country to stop taking birth control pills. He said the reasons / reason was because Tanzania needed more people and the country was now wealth / wealthy enough to feed and educate many children. President Magufuli said: "Women can now give / take up contraceptive methods." He supported his argument by citing / sighting the example of European countries that he says are struggling at / to find enough workers because people use different / difference methods of birth control. He told reporters: "I have traveled to Europe and I have seen the affects / effects of birth control. In some countries they are now struggling at / with a declining population. They have no labor force / farce."

    President Magufuli accused them / those of using birth control of laziness. He said: "Those going / gone for family planning are lazy. They are feared / afraid they will not be able to feed / fed their children. They do not want to work hard to feed a large family and that is why they apt / opt for birth control and end up with one or two children just / only." He added: "You have cattle / kettle. You are big farmers. You can feed your children. Why then retort / resort to birth control? I see no reason to control births in Tanzania". One politician pointed out the fact / factual that Tanzania does not help large families. He said: "Our health insurance schemes / screens can only accommodate a maximum of four children from one family."

    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)

    T_n z_n__ ' s P r_s_d_n t J_h n M_g_f_l_ h_s _d v_s_d w_m_n _n h_s c__ n t r y t_ s t_p t_k_n g b_r t h c_n t r_l p_l l s . H_ s__ d t h_ r__ s_n w_s b_c__ s_ T_n z_n__ n__ d_d m_r_ p__ p l_ _n d t h_ c__ n t r y w_s n_w w__ l t h y _n__ g h t_ f__ d _n d _d_c_t_ m_n y c h_l d r_n . P r_s_d_n t M_g_f_l_ s__ d : " W_m_n c_n n_w g_v_ _p c_n t r_c_p t_v_ m_t h_d s . " H_ s_p p_r t_d h_s _r g_m_n t b y c_t_n g t h_ _x_m p l_ _f E_r_p__ n c__ n t r__ s t h_t h_ s_y s _r_ s t r_g g l_n g t_ f_n d _n__ g h w_r k_r s b_c__ s_ p__ p l_ _s_ d_f f_r_n t m_t h_d s _f b_r t h c_n t r_l . H_ t_l d r_p_r t_r s : " I h_v_ t r_v_l_d t_ E_r_p_ _n d I h_v_ s__ n t h_ _f f_c t s _f b_r t h c_n t r_l . I n s_m_ c__ n t r__ s t h_y _r_ n_w s t r_g g l_n g w_t h _ d_c l_n_n g p_p_l_t__ n . T h_y h_v_ n_ l_b_r f_r c_. "

    P r_s_d_n t M_g_f_l_ _c c_s_d t h_s_ _f _s_n g b_r t h c_n t r_l _f l_z_n_s s . H_ s__ d : " T h_s_ g__ n g f_r f_m_l y p l_n n_n g _r_ l_z y . T h_y _r_ _f r__ d t h_y w_l l n_t b_ _b l_ t_ f__ d t h__ r c h_l d r_n . T h_y d_ n_t w_n t t_ w_r k h_r d t_ f__ d _ l_r g_ f_m_l y _n d t h_t _s w h y t h_y _p t f_r b_r t h c_n t r_l _n d _n d _p w_t h _n_ _r t w_ c h_l d r_n _n l y . " H_ _d d_d : " Y__ h_v_ c_t t l_. Y__ _r_ b_g f_r m_r s . Y__ c_n f__ d y__ r c h_l d r_n . W h y t h_n r_s_r t t_ b_r t h c_n t r_l ? I s__ n_ r__ s_n t_ c_n t r_l b_r t h s _n T_n z_n__ " . O n_ p_l_t_c__ n p__ n t_d __ t t h_ f_c t t h_t T_n z_n__ d__ s n_t h_l p l_r g_ f_m_l__ s . H_ s__ d : " O_r h__ l t h _n s_r_n c_ s c h_m_s c_n _n l y _c c_m m_d_t_ _ m_x_m_m _f f__ r c h_l d r_n f r_m _n_ f_m_l y . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    tanzanias president john magufuli has advised women in his country to stop taking birth control pills he said the reason was because tanzania needed more people and the country was now wealthy enough to feed and educate many children president magufuli said women can now give up contraceptive methods he supported his argument by citing the example of european countries that he says are struggling to find enough workers because people use different methods of birth control he told reporters i have traveled to europe and i have seen the effects of birth control in some countries they are now struggling with a declining population they have no labor force

    president magufuli accused those of using birth control of laziness he said those going for family planning are lazy they are afraid they will not be able to feed their children they do not want to work hard to feed a large family and that is why they opt for birth control and end up with one or two children only he added you have cattle you are big farmers you can feed your children why then resort to birth control i see no reason to control births in tanzania one politician pointed out the fact that tanzania does not help large families he said our health insurance schemes can only accommodate a maximum of four children from one family

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Tanzania'sPresidentJohnMagufulihasadvisedwomeninhiscountrytos
    toptakingbirthcontrolpills.HesaidthereasonwasbecauseTanzaniane
    ededmorepeopleandthecountrywasnowwealthyenoughtofeedande
    ducatemanychildren.PresidentMagufulisaid:"Womencannowgiveup
    contraceptivemethods."Hesupportedhisargumentbycitingtheexam
    pleofEuropeancountriesthathesaysarestrugglingtofindenoughwork
    ersbecausepeopleusedifferentmethodsofbirthcontrol.Hetoldreporte
    rs:"IhavetraveledtoEuropeandIhaveseentheeffectsofbirthcontrol.I
    nsomecountriestheyarenowstrugglingwithadecliningpopulation.Th
    eyhavenolaborforce."PresidentMagufuliaccusedthoseofusingbirthc
    ontroloflaziness.Hesaid:"Thosegoingforfamilyplanningarelazy.They
    areafraidtheywillnotbeabletofeedtheirchildren.Theydonotwanttowo
    rkhardtofeedalargefamilyandthatiswhytheyoptforbirthcontrolande
    ndupwithoneortwochildrenonly."Headded:"Youhavecattle.Youarebi
    gfarmers.Youcanfeedyourchildren.Whythenresorttobirthcontrol?Is
    eenoreasontocontrolbirthsinTanzania".Onepoliticianpointedoutthef
    actthatTanzaniadoesnothelplargefamilies.Hesaid:"Ourhealthinsura
    nceschemescanonlyaccommodateamaximumoffourchildrenfromon
    efamily."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Birth control is essential in all countries. 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. BIRTH CONTROL: Make a poster about birth control. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BIG FAMILIES: Write a magazine article about the need for having big families. 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 birth control. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on birth control. 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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