The Reading / Listening - Train Drivers - Level 3

Newspapers in England are reporting that subway train drivers get paid more than pilots, doctors, police officers and nurses. The Sunday Times newspaper reports that the three highest-paid drivers on the London Underground earned $130,000 last year. This included overtime, bonuses and pension payments. It is a 69 per cent rise in pay since 2012. Journalists say the basic salary of a train driver is $70,000 a year. This is double the average wage of a nurse in London and more than what many airline pilots earn. The newspaper reports that police officers in London have a starting salary of $28,000. In addition to their pay, London Underground train drivers get over eight weeks paid holiday a year.

Many people think the high salaries train drivers get are unfair. James Roberts of the Tax-Payers' Alliance said: "These salaries are totally [wrong]....Increasingly, the role of a [subway train] driver is getting easier." He said that many train drivers no longer have to drive the trains because many train lines are fully automated. He said drivers on automated train lines only have to open and close train doors. He was also surprised the drivers were going on strike for more pay. A train drivers' spokesman said their pay was for, "the professionalism, and expertise...of delivering a professional public service for hundreds of thousands of passengers travelling on the Underground...every day."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Train Drivers - Level 0 Train Drivers - Level 1   or  Train Drivers - Level 2

Sources
  • https://metro.co.uk/2018/12/16/tube-drivers-paid-100000-year-8254829/
  • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6500923/Mind-pay-gap-London-Tube-drivers-100-000-year-salaries-pilots.html
  • https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7991973/london-undergound-tube-drivers-paid-100k-jobs-easier/


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. TRAIN DRIVERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about train drivers. 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?
       newspapers / train drivers / police officers / overtime / journalists / average / holiday
       salaries / unfair / automated / train doors / go on strike / professionalism / passenger
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NURSES: Students A strongly believe nurses should get a higher salary than train drivers; Students B strongly believe train drivers should get a higher salary.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SALARIES: What kind of salaries should these people get each year? Why? What is easy and difficult about their job? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Salary

Why

Easy

Difficult

Train driver

 

 

 

 

Police officer

 

 

 

 

Teacher

 

 

 

 

Astronaut

 

 

 

 

Nurse

 

 

 

 

Builder

 

 

 

 

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. PAY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "pay". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. JOBS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Artist
  • Movie reviewer
  • Soccer player
  • Model
  • Train driver
  • President
  • Teacher
  • Doctor

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. reporting a. An extra amount of money given to workers fir doing good work (usually paid once a year).
      2. earned b. The money the government gives you each month after you retire (finish working).
      3. overtime c. Talking or writing about an event or subject in the news (as a journalist).
      4. bonus d. The amount of money a worker gets in his/her job each month or year.
      5. pension e. Receive money for doing a job or for doing work.
      6. double f. Money or payment for time worked over one's regular working hours.
      7. salary g. Twice (two times) the usual amount, size, quantity, or strength.

    Paragraph 2

      8. unfair h. A traveler on a bus, plane, train, or in a taxi, etc. but not the driver, pilot, or crew.
      9. role i. Not being equal for everyone.
      10. fully j. The function or part played by a person or thing in a particular situation.
      11. automated k. A situation when workers stop working to try and get more money or better conditions from their boss(es).
      12. strike l. A process or system that works because of computers and without the help of humans.
      13. expertise m. Completely or entirely; to the furthest extent.
      14. passenger n. Having a lot of skill or knowledge in something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Newspapers say subway train drivers get more pay than pilots and doctors. T / F
  2. The highest-paid subway drivers in London get over $125,000 a year.     T / F
  3. A basic subway train driver's salary is double the average for a nurse.     T / F
  4. London subway train drivers get six weeks vacation a year.     T / F
  5. The job of a subway train driver is becoming more difficult.     T / F
  6. There are still no automated train lines in London.     T / F
  7. London subway train drivers are going on strike for higher pay.     T / F
  8. Over a million passengers use the London Underground every day.     T / F

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

  1. reporting
  2. rise
  3. earn
  4. in addition
  5. holiday
  6. unfair
  7. fully
  8. surprised
  9. expertise
  10. passengers
  1. get
  2. shocked
  3. plus
  4. undeserved
  5. travellers
  6. increase
  7. skill
  8. vacation
  9. writing about
  10. completely

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

  1. train drivers get paid
  2. the three highest-
  3. This is double the average wage
  4. In addition
  5. over eight weeks paid
  6. the role of a subway train driver is
  7. many train lines are fully
  8. the drivers were going on strike
  9. professionalism and
  10. hundreds of thousands
  1. holiday a year
  2. for more pay
  3. expertise
  4. paid drivers
  5. automated
  6. more than pilots
  7. of passengers
  8. to their pay
  9. getting easier
  10. of a nurse

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
double
reports
addition
paid
over
basic
officers
bonuses

Newspapers in England are reporting that subway train drivers get (1) ____________ more than pilots, doctors, police officers and nurses. The Sunday Times newspaper (2) ____________ that the three highest-paid drivers on the London Underground earned $130,000 last year. This included overtime, (3) ____________ and pension payments. It is a 69 per cent rise in pay since 2012. Journalists say the (4) ____________ salary of a train driver is $70,000 a year. This is (5) ____________ the average wage of a nurse in London and more than what many airline pilots earn. The newspaper reports that police (6) ____________ in London have a starting salary of $28,000. In (7) ____________ to their pay, London Underground train drivers get (8) ____________ eight weeks paid holiday a year.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
surprised
unfair
easier
service
totally
expertise
automated
role

Many people think the high salaries train drivers get are (9) ____________. James Roberts of the Tax-Payers' Alliance said: "These salaries are (10) ____________ [wrong]....Increasingly, the (11) ____________ of a [subway train] driver is getting (12) ____________." He said that many train drivers no longer have to drive the trains because many train lines are fully (13) ____________. He said drivers on automated train lines only have to open and close train doors. He was also (14) ____________ the drivers were going on strike for more pay. A train drivers' spokesman said their pay was for, "the professionalism, and (15) ____________...of delivering a professional public (16) ____________ for hundreds of thousands of passengers travelling on the Underground...every day."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Newspapers in England are reporting that subway train drivers ______
     a.  get paid amore
     b.  get pay more
     c.  gets paid more
     d.  get paid more
2)  the three highest-paid drivers on the London Underground earned $130,000 ______
     a.  lasts year
     b.  lasts a year
     c.  last year
     d.  lastly year
3)  This included overtime, bonuses and ______
     a.  pension payments
     b.  pensions payments
     c.  pension payment
     d.  pension pay meant
4)  The newspaper reports that police officers in London ______ salary
     a.  have a start in
     b.  have a starting
     c.  have a star thing
     d.  have the star thing
5)  London Underground train drivers get over eight weeks paid ______
     a.  holy day a year
     b.  holly day a year
     c.  holiday a year
     d.  whole day a year

6)  Many people think the high salaries train drivers ______
     a.  get are run fair
     b.  get are run fare
     c.  get an un far
     d.  get are unfair
7)  Increasingly, the role of a subway train driver ______
     a.  is getting easier
     b.  is get in easier
     c.  is getting easy are
     d.  is gotten easier
8)  no longer have to drive the trains because many train lines are ______
     a.  fully auto mate it
     b.  fully automate it
     c.  fully automated
     d.  fully or tomato it
9)  He was also surprised the drivers were going on ______ pay
     a.  strike for more
     b.  strike four more
     c.  strike far more
     d.  strike form ore
10)  delivering a professional public service for hundreds of thousands ______
     a.  of passenger
     b.  off passengers
     c.  of passengers
     d.  off passenger

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Newspapers in England (1) ___________________ subway train drivers get paid more than pilots, doctors, police officers and nurses. The Sunday Times newspaper reports (2) ___________________ highest-paid drivers on the London Underground earned $130,000 last year. This included overtime, (3) ___________________ payments. It is a 69 per cent rise in pay since 2012. Journalists say the (4) ___________________ a train driver is $70,000 a year. This is double the average wage of a nurse in London and more than what many (5) ___________________. The newspaper reports that police officers in London have a starting salary of $28,000. In addition to their pay, London Underground train drivers get over eight weeks (6) ___________________ year.

Many people think the high salaries train drivers (7) ___________________. James Roberts of the Tax-Payers' Alliance said: "These salaries are totally [wrong]....Increasingly, (8) ___________________ a [subway train] driver is getting easier." He said that many train drivers (9) ___________________ to drive the trains because many train lines are fully automated. He said drivers on automated train lines only have to open and close train doors. He was also surprised the drivers were (10) ___________________ for more pay. A train drivers' spokesman said their (11) ___________________, "the professionalism, and expertise...of delivering a professional public service for (12) ___________________ of passengers travelling on the Underground...every day."

Comprehension questions

  1. Who (or what) is reporting that subway train drivers get a high salary?
  2. How many train drivers earned $130,000 last year?
  3. What did the $130,000 include, besides pension payments and bonuses?
  4. What is the average wage of a nurse in London?
  5. How many weeks holiday do London Underground train drivers get?
  6. What do many people think of the train drivers' salaries?
  7. What did James Roberts say the role of a train driver was becoming?
  8. What is happening to train lines in London?
  9. Why are train drivers going on strike?
  10. How many passengers use the London Underground each day?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who (or what) is reporting that subway train drivers get a high salary?
a) the Internet
b) a train company boss
c) newspapers
d) a passenger
2) How many train drivers earned $130,000 last year?
a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) 6
3) What did the $130,000 include, besides pension payments and bonuses?
a) overtime
b) loans
c) lunch
d) holiday pay
4) What is the average wage of a nurse in London?
a) $70,000
b) $35,000
c) $105,000
d) $140,000
5) How many weeks holiday do London Underground train drivers get?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8

6) What do many people think of the train drivers' salaries?
a) they are OK
b) they are unfair
c) they should be halved
d) they should stay the same
7) What did James Roberts say the role of a train driver was becoming?
a) easier
b) more dangerous
c) like a robot's work
d) faster
8) What is happening to train lines in London?
a) they are breaking
b) they are being replaced
c) they are becoming automated
d) they are expanding
9) Why are train drivers going on strike?
a) for nicer uniforms
b) for longer holidays
c) for faster trains
d) for more pay
10) How many passengers use the London Underground each day?
a) hundreds of thousands
b) hundreds of millions
c) tens of thousands
d) millions and billions

Role play

Role  A – Train Driver
You think a train driver has the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): teacher, artist or model.

Role  B – Teacher
You think a teacher has the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): train driver, artist or model.

Role  C – Artist
You think an artist has the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): teacher, train driver or model.

Role  D – Model
You think a model has the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): teacher, artist or train driver.

After reading / listening

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

'train'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'driver'.

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

    • think
    • totally
    • longer
    • open
    • strike
    • day
    • reporting
    • three
    • 69
    • 70,000
    • starting
    • eight

    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 - Train drivers in UK earn more than pilots

    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 'train'?
    3. What do you think of being a train driver?
    4. What are the dangers of being a train driver?
    5. Would you rather be a train driver or a pilot?
    6. Why should train drivers get a bigger salary than pilots?
    7. What are the bad things about being a train driver?
    8. What do you think of $130,000 for a train driver?
    9. Should a nurse be paid more than train drivers?
    10. What do you think of a job with eight weeks holiday?

    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 'salary'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are the good things about being a train driver?
    5. Is it better to be a subway or over-ground train driver?
    6. Could robots replace train drivers in the future?
    7. What do you think of workers going on strike?
    8. What expertise do train drivers have?
    9. Would you like to be a train driver?
    10. What questions would you like to ask train drivers?

    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)

    Newspapers in England are reporting that subway train drivers get (1) ____ more than pilots, doctors, police officers and nurses. The Sunday Times newspaper reports that the three highest-paid drivers on the London Underground (2) ____ $130,000 last year. This included overtime, (3) ____ and pension payments. It is a 69 per cent rise in pay since 2012. Journalists say the basic salary of a train driver is $70,000 (4) ____ year. This is double the average wage of a nurse in London and more than what many airline pilots earn. The newspaper reports that police officers in London have a (5) ____ salary of $28,000. In addition to their pay, London Underground train drivers get over eight weeks paid holiday a (6) ____.

    Many people think the high salaries train drivers get are (7) ____. James Roberts of the Tax-Payers' Alliance said: "These salaries are totally [wrong]....Increasingly, the role (8) ____ a [subway train] driver is getting easier." He said that many train drivers no longer have to drive the trains because many train (9) ____ are fully automated. He said drivers on automated train lines only have to open and close train doors. He was also surprised the drivers were going (10) ____ strike for more pay. A train drivers' spokesman said their pay was for, "the professionalism, and expertise... (11) ____ delivering a professional public service for hundreds of thousands of passengers travelling on the Underground... (12) ____ day."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     pay     (b)     paid     (c)     paying     (d)     payee    
    2. (a)     earnings     (b)     earner     (c)     earning     (d)     earned    
    3. (a)     bones     (b)     bonuses     (c)     bonnets     (d)     bonito    
    4. (a)     the     (b)     pre     (c)     a     (d)     post    
    5. (a)     starting     (b)     start     (c)     starters     (d)     started    
    6. (a)     year     (b)     annual     (c)     months     (d)     annum    
    7. (a)     fearless     (b)     freer     (c)     unify     (d)     unfair    
    8. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     by    
    9. (a)     squares     (b)     lines     (c)     blocks     (d)     circles    
    10. (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     up    
    11. (a)     by     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     at    
    12. (a)     one     (b)     every     (c)     most     (d)     whole

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. doctors, police ofrisefc and nurses
    2. nraeed $130,000 last year
    3. bonuses and osnnepi payments
    4. the icasb salary of a train driver
    5. double the eveagra wage
    6. In dionidta to their pay

    Paragraph 2

    1. these salaries are ttlolya wrong
    2. on utotaaemd train lines
    3. A train drivers' kspnasemo
    4. the professionalism and resepxtie
    5. a sraeponiofsl public service
    6. thousands of sapneesgrs

    Put the text back together

    (...)  easier." He said that many train drivers no longer have to drive the trains because many train
    (...)  Many people think the high salaries train drivers get are unfair. James Roberts of the Tax-Payers' Alliance said:
    (...)  double the average wage of a nurse in London and more than what many airline pilots earn. The newspaper
    (...)  to their pay, London Underground train drivers get over eight weeks paid holiday a year.
    1  ) Newspapers in England are reporting that subway train drivers get paid more than pilots, doctors, police
    (...)  officers and nurses. The Sunday Times newspaper reports that the three highest-paid drivers on the London Underground
    (...)  doors. He was also surprised the drivers were going on strike for more pay. A train drivers' spokesman said their pay was
    (...)  service for hundreds of thousands of passengers travelling on the Underground...every day."
    (...)  "These salaries are totally [wrong]....Increasingly, the role of a [subway train] driver is getting
    (...)  rise in pay since 2012. Journalists say the basic salary of a train driver is $70,000 a year. This is
    (...)  earned $130,000 last year. This included overtime, bonuses and pension payments. It is a 69 per cent
    (...)  for, "the professionalism, and expertise...of delivering a professional public
    (...)  lines are fully automated. He said drivers on automated train lines only have to open and close train
    (...)  reports that police officers in London have a starting salary of $28,000. In addition

    Put the words in the right order

    1. more   pilots   .   train   get   drivers   than   Subway   paid
    2. pay   69%   rise   in   a   2012   .   It's   since
    3. salary   a   driver   $70,000   .   basic   of   is   The
    4. of   This   average   the   nurses   .   double   is   wage
    5. holiday   get   weeks   a   paid   Drivers   year   .   eight
    6. high   train   are   unfair   .   drivers   get   salaries   The
    7. longer   no   have   trains   .   drivers   to   drive   Train
    8. now   Many   lines   fully   automated   .   train   are
    9. strike   more   on   pay   .   going   were   for   Drivers
    10. for   professional   public   of   hundreds   thousands   .   service   A

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Newspapers in England are reported / reporting that subway train drivers get paid more than pilots, doctors, police officers and nurses. The Sunday Times newspaper reports then / that the three highest-paid drivers on the London Underground earned $130,000 last year. This inclusive / included overtime, bonuses and pension / person payments. It is a 69 per cent rise in pay since 2012. Journalists say the basically / basic salary of a train driver is $70,000 a year. This is double / doubtful the average wage of a nurse in London and more than what much / many airline pilots earn. The newspaper reports that police officers in London have a starting / started salary of $28,000. In addition to their pay, London Underground train drivers get over eight weeks paid / pay holiday a year.

    Many people think the high salaries train drivers get are unfairly / unfair. James Roberts of the Tax-Payers' Alliance said: "These salary / salaries are totally [wrong]....Increasingly, the role / roll of a [subway train] driver is getting easier." He said that many train drivers not / no longer have to drive the trains because many train lines are fully / full automated. He said drivers on automated train lines only / once have to open and close train doors. He was also surprised the drivers were going on / in strike for more pay. A train drivers' spokesman said their pay was / were for, "the professionalism, and expertise...of delivering a professionally / professional public service for hundreds of thousands of passengers travelled / travelling on the Underground...every day."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    N_w s p_p_r s _n E n g l_n d _r_ r_p_r t_n g t h_t s_b w_y t r__ n d r_v_r s g_t p__ d m_r_ t h_n p_l_t s , d_c t_r s , p_l_c_ _f f_c_r s _n d n_r s_s . T h_ S_n d_y T_m_s n_w s p_p_r r_p_r t s t h_t t h_ t h r__ h_g h_s t - p__ d d r_v_r s _n t h_ L_n d_n U n d_r g r__ n d __ r n_d $ 1 3 0 , 0 0 0 l_s t y__ r . T h_s _n c l_d_d _v_r t_m_, b_n_s_s _n d p_n s__ n p_y m_n t s . I t _s _ 6 9 p_r c_n t r_s_ _n p_y s_n c_ 2 0 1 2 . J__ r n_l_s t s s_y t h_ b_s_c s_l_r y _f _ t r__ n d r_v_r _s $ 7 0 , 0 0 0 _ y__ r . T h_s _s d__ b l_ t h_ _v_r_g_ w_g_ _f _ n_r s_ _n L_n d_n _n d m_r_ t h_n w h_t m_n y __ r l_n_ p_l_t s __ r n . T h_ n_w s p_p_r r_p_r t s t h_t p_l_c_ _f f_c_r s _n L_n d_n h_v_ _ s t_r t_n g s_l_r y _f $ 2 8 , 0 0 0 . I n _d d_t__ n t_ t h__ r p_y , L_n d_n U n d_r g r__ n d t r__ n d r_v_r s g_t _v_r __ g h t w__ k s p__ d h_l_d_y _ y__ r .

    M_n y p__ p l_ t h_n k t h_ h_g h s_l_r__ s t r__ n d r_v_r s g_t _r_ _n f__ r . J_m_s R_b_r t s _f t h_ T_x - P_y_r s ' A l l__ n c_ s__ d : " T h_s_ s_l_r__ s _r_ t_t_l l y [ w r_n g ] . . . . I n c r__ s_n g l y , t h_ r_l_ _f _ [ s_b w_y t r__ n ] d r_v_r _s g_t t_n g __ s__ r . " H_ s__ d t h_t m_n y t r__ n d r_v_r s n_ l_n g_r h_v_ t_ d r_v_ t h_ t r__ n s b_c__ s_ m_n y t r__ n l_n_s _r_ f_l l y __ t_m_t_d . H_ s__ d d r_v_r s _n __ t_m_t_d t r__ n l_n_s _n l y h_v_ t_ _p_n _n d c l_s_ t r__ n d__ r s . H_ w_s _l s_ s_r p r_s_d t h_ d r_v_r s w_r_ g__ n g _n s t r_k_ f_r m_r_ p_y . A t r__ n d r_v_r s ' s p_k_s m_n s__ d t h__ r p_y w_s f_r , " t h_ p r_f_s s__ n_l_s m , _n d _x p_r t_s_. . ._f d_l_v_r_n g _ p r_f_s s__ n_l p_b l_c s_r v_c_ f_r h_n d r_d s _f t h__ s_n d s _f p_s s_n g_r s t r_v_l l_n g _n t h_ U n d_r g r__ n d . . ._v_r y d_y . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    newspapers in england are reporting that subway train drivers get paid more than pilots doctors police officers and nurses the sunday times newspaper reports that the three highest paid drivers on the london underground earned 130000 last year this included overtime bonuses and pension payments it is a 69 per cent rise in pay since 2012 journalists say the basic salary of a train driver is 70000 a year this is double the average wage of a nurse in london and more than what many airline pilots earn the newspaper reports that police officers in london have a starting salary of 28000 in addition to their pay london underground train drivers get over eight weeks paid holiday a year

    many people think the high salaries train drivers get are unfair james roberts of the taxpayers alliance said these salaries are totally wrong increasingly the role of a subway train driver is getting easier he said that many train drivers no longer have to drive the trains because many train lines are fully automated he said drivers on automated train lines only have to open and close train doors he was also surprised the drivers were going on strike for more pay a train drivers spokesman said their pay was for the professionalism and expertise of delivering a professional public service for hundreds of thousands of passengers travelling on the underground every day"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    NewspapersinEnglandarereportingthatsubwaytraindriversgetpaid
    morethanpilots,doctors,policeofficersandnurses.TheSundayTimesn
    ewspaperreportsthatthethreehighest-paiddriversontheLondonUn
    dergroundearned$130,000lastyear.Thisincludedovertime,bonuses
    andpensionpayments.Itisa69percentriseinpaysince2012.Journalist
    ssaythebasicsalaryofatraindriveris$70,000ayear.Thisisdoubletheav
    eragewageofanurseinLondonandmorethanwhatmanyairlinepilotsea
    rn.ThenewspaperreportsthatpoliceofficersinLondonhaveastartings
    alaryof$28,000.Inadditiontotheirpay,LondonUndergroundtraindriv
    ersgetovereightweekspaidholidayayear.Manypeoplethinkthehighsa
    lariestraindriversgetareunfair.JamesRobertsoftheTax-Payers'Allia
    ncesaid:"Thesesalariesaretotally[wrong]....Increasingly,theroleofa
    [subwaytrain]driverisgettingeasier."Hesaidthatmanytraindriversno
    longerhavetodrivethetrainsbecausemanytrainlinesarefullyautomat
    ed.Hesaiddriversonautomatedtrainlinesonlyhavetoopenandclosetr
    aindoors.Hewasalsosurprisedthedriversweregoingonstrikeformore
    pay.Atraindrivers'spokesmansaidtheirpaywasfor,"theprofessionalis
    m,andexpertise...ofdeliveringaprofessionalpublicserviceforhundre
    dsofthousandsofpassengerstravellingontheUnderground...everyda
    y."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Nurses should be paid more than train drivers. 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. TRAIN DRIVERS: Make a poster about train drivers. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. PAY: Write a magazine article about everyone in a country getting the same pay. 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 train drivers. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on pay. 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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