The Reading / Listening - Rising Sun Flag - Level 6

Amid escalating tensions between South Korea and Japan, the South Korean government has called on Japan to ban any displaying of the Rising Sun flag at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This follows a statement by Japan's Olympics organising committee that it sees no problem with the flag. The committee said: "The Rising Sun flag is widely used in Japan and it is not considered to be a political statement, so it is not viewed as a prohibited item." A South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "The Japanese know full well that their neighbours regard the Rising Sun flag as a symbol of Japan's militaristic and imperial past. Japan needs to be more humble about owning up to its historical legacy."

Relations between the two east-Asian nations have taken a downturn in the past few months. They are currently embroiled in a bitter trade war that has seen people in Korea burning Japanese products. Many South Koreans are shunning Japan as a tourist destination, leading to Japanese carriers slashing the number of flights to South Korea. Last month, Japan removed South Korea from its "white list" of trusted trade partners. This led to delays in the exports of items like car parts and household electronics to South Korea. In retaliation, Koreans have been boycotting Japanese beer, clothing brands and other products. The spat poses a threat to the global supply chain of semi-conductors.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Rising Sun Flag - Level 4  or  Rising Sun Flag - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1084335/japan-korea-rising-sun-tokyo-2020
  • http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/908430.html
  • https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/09/120_275149.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. FLAGS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about flags. 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?
       tensions / ban / statement / committee / political / prohibited / imperial / legacy /
       relations / downturn / trade war / tourist / destination / trade / electronics / spat
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NATIONAL FLAGS: Students A strongly believe only national flags should be allowed at sporting events; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA: What do you know about Japan and South Korea? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Japan

South Korea

Food

 

 

Music

 

 

Sites

 

 

History

 

 

Industry

 

 

Sports

 

 

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. SUN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "sun". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. TENSIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that can cause most tensions between countries at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • language
  • water rights
  • fishing rights
  • drugs
  • trade
  • religion
  • disputed borders
  • previous wars

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. amid a. A thing handed down by people who came before in history.
      2. escalating b. Putting something in a place where it can be easily seen.
      3. displaying c. That has been forbidden; banned.
      4. committee d. Surrounded by; in the middle of.
      5. prohibited e. Relating to an empire.
      6. imperial f. Becoming or causing to become more intense or serious.
      7. legacy g. A group of people appointed for a specific function.

    Paragraph 2

      8. downturn h. Constantly avoiding, ignoring, or rejecting someone or something.
      9. embroiled i. Reducing something greatly.
      10. bitter j. Refusing to buy or handle goods as a protest.
      11. shunning k. Involves deeply in an argument, conflict, or difficult situation.
      12. slashing l. The action of harming or hitting back at someone because they have harmed you.
      13. retaliation m. Of a conflict, argument, or opponent that is full of anger.
      14. boycotting n. A decline in economic, business, or other activity.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article said tensions between Japan and South Korea are escalating.  T / F
  2. Japan's Olympic committee said there is no problem with the flag.     T / F
  3. Japan's Olympic committee said the flag is rarely used in Japan.     T / F
  4. South Korea said Japan should show more humility regarding its past.     T / F
  5. There is little danger of a trade war between the two nations.    T / F
  6. Japanese people are burning South Korean products.     T / F
  7. South Korea is no longer a trusted trade partner of Japan.     T / F
  8. The trade dispute has not affected the semi-conductor trade.     T / F

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

  1. escalating
  2. ban
  3. considered
  4. symbol
  5. legacy
  6. embroiled
  7. shunning
  8. slashing
  9. delays
  10. poses
  1. entangled
  2. heritage
  3. representation
  4. hold ups
  5. prohibit
  6. cutting
  7. presents
  8. increasing
  9. avoiding
  10. thought

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

  1. Amid escalating
  2. it is not considered to be a
  3. The Japanese know full
  4. a symbol of Japan's militaristic and
  5. be more
  6. Japan as a tourist
  7. trusted trade
  8. This led to
  9. In
  10. the global supply
  1. partners
  2. well
  3. humble
  4. delays in the exports
  5. political statement
  6. chain of semi-conductors
  7. tensions
  8. retaliation
  9. destination
  10. imperial past

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
displaying
viewed
tensions
legacy
widely
imperial
statement
full

Amid escalating (1) ____________ between South Korea and Japan, the South Korean government has called on Japan to ban any (2) ____________ of the Rising Sun flag at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This follows a (3) ____________ by Japan's Olympics organising committee that it sees no problem with the flag. The committee said: "The Rising Sun flag is (4) ____________ used in Japan and it is not considered to be a political statement, so it is not (5) ____________ as a prohibited item." A South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "The Japanese know                  (6) ____________ well that their neighbours regard the Rising Sun flag as a symbol of Japan's militaristic and (7) ____________ past. Japan needs to be more humble about owning up to its historical (8) ____________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
bitter
chain
delays
carriers
retaliation
downturn
shunning
flights

Relations between the two east-Asian nations have taken a (9) ____________ in the past few months. They are currently embroiled in a (10) ____________ trade war that has seen people in Korea burning Japanese products. Many South Koreans are (11) ____________ Japan as a tourist destination, leading to Japanese (12) ____________ slashing the number of (13) ____________ to South Korea. Last month, Japan removed South Korea from its "white list" of trusted trade partners. This led to (14) ____________ in the exports of items like car parts and household electronics to South Korea. In (15) ____________, Koreans have been boycotting Japanese beer, clothing brands and other products. The spat poses a threat to the global supply (16) ____________ of semi-conductors.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  the South Korean government has called on Japan to ban any ______ Rising Sun
     a.  display in of the
     b.  displaying in the
     c.  displaying oft the
     d.  displaying of the
2)  The Rising Sun flag is widely used in Japan and it is not considered to be ______
     a.  a politics statement
     b.  a political statement
     c.  a politic all statement
     d.  a politically statement
3)  A South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said the Japanese ______
     a.  know full well
     b.  knows fall well
     c.  know fall well
     d.  known full well
4)  the Rising Sun flag as a symbol of Japan's militaristic ______
     a.  and imp aerial past
     b.  and imp airy all past
     c.  and in pure real past
     d.  and imperial past
5)  Japan needs to be more humble about owning up to its ______
     a.  historical legacy
     b.  historical leg I see
     c.  historical logistics
     d.  historical leg gassy

6)  Relations between the two east-Asian nations have taken a ______ the past
     a.  downturn in
     b.  downturn on
     c.  down tern in
     d.  down turning
7)  They are currently embroiled in a ______ war
     a.  bitter tirade
     b.  bit tar tirade
     c.  bitter trade
     d.  bit her trade
8)  leading to Japanese carriers slashing the ______
     a.  number of fights
     b.  number of frights
     c.  number of freights
     d.  number of flights
9)  In retaliation, Koreans have been boycotting Japanese beer, clothing ______ products
     a.  bland and other
     b.  brands and other
     c.  brandies and other
     d.  braids and other
10)  The spat poses a threat to the global supply chain of ______
     a.  demi-conductors
     b.  semi-conductors
     c.  hemi-conductors
     d.  them-conductors

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Amid (1) ___________________ South Korea and Japan, the South Korean government has called on Japan to (2) ___________________ of the Rising Sun flag at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This follows a statement by Japan's Olympics organising (3) ___________________ sees no problem with the flag. The committee said: "The Rising Sun flag is widely used in Japan and it is not considered to be a political statement, so it (4) ___________________ as a prohibited item." A South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "The Japanese know (5) ___________________ their neighbours regard the Rising Sun flag as a symbol of Japan's militaristic and imperial past. Japan needs to be more humble about (6) ___________________ its historical legacy."

Relations between the two east-Asian nations have (7) ___________________ in the past few months. They are currently embroiled in a (8) ___________________ that has seen people in Korea burning Japanese products. Many South Koreans are shunning Japan as a tourist destination, leading to Japanese (9) ___________________ number of flights to South Korea. Last month, Japan removed South Korea from its "white list" of trusted trade partners. This (10) ___________________ in the exports of items like car parts and household electronics to South Korea. In retaliation, Koreans (11) ___________________ Japanese beer, clothing brands and other products. The spat poses a threat to the (12) ___________________ of semi-conductors.

Comprehension questions

  1. What adjective did the article use to describe the tensions?
  2. Who said there was no problem with the Rising Sun flag?
  3. What did a committee say the flag is not considered to be?
  4. Who said the flag was a symbol of Japan's imperial past?
  5. What did a spokesman say Japan should own up to?
  6. What has happened to Japan-South Korea relations in the past months?
  7. What is Japan and South Korea currently embroiled in?
  8. What are South Korean tourists shunning?
  9. What did Japan remove South Korea from?
  10. What is there a threat to the global supply chain of?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What adjective did the article use to describe the tensions?
a) festering
b) escalating
c) dangerous
d) volatile
2) Who said there was no problem with the Rising Sun flag?
a) South Korean athletes
b) Japan's flag committee
c) Japanese athletes
d) Japan's Olympics organising committee
3) What did a committee say the flag is not considered to be?
a) a national emblem
b) a source of friction
c) a political statement
d) modern
4) Who said the flag was a symbol of Japan's imperial past?
a) a South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman
b) South Korea's President
c) South Korean generals
d) Japan's Prime Minister
5) What did a spokesman say Japan should own up to?
a) the past
b) its historical legacy
c) who designed the flag
d) an Olympics logo

6) What has happened to Japan-South Korea relations in the past months?
a) a downturn
b) a swerve
c) a broadside
d) a wobble
7) What is Japan and South Korea currently embroiled in?
a) an embargo
b) negotiations
c) a bitter trade dispute
d) a naval dispute
8) What are South Korean tourists shunning?
a) Japan as a tourist destination
b) Japanese manga
c) Japanese anime
d) the Olympics
9) What did Japan remove South Korea from?
a) the Olympics opening ceremony
b) a map
c) a military practice schedule
d) its white list of trusted trade partners
10) What is there a threat to the global supply chain of?
a) smartphones
b) seaweed
c) semi-conductors
d) padlocks

Role play

Role  A – Trade
You think trade causes most tensions between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't raise as many tensions. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to increase tensions (and why): religion, water rights or disputed borders.

Role  B – Religion
You think religion causes most tensions between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't raise as many tensions. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to increase tensions (and why): trade, water rights or disputed borders.

Role  C – Water Rights
You think water rights causes most tensions between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't raise as many tensions. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to increase tensions (and why): religion, trade or disputed borders.

Role  D – Disputed Borders
You think disputed borders causes most tensions between countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't raise as many tensions. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to increase tensions (and why): religion, water rights or trade.

After reading / listening

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

'sun'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'flag'.

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

    • two
    • bitter
    • tourist
    • number
    • white
    • chain
    • amid
    • follows
    • problem
    • item
    • full
    • up

    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 - South Korea wants 2020 Olympics Rising Sun flag ban

    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 'flag'?
    3. What do you think of Japan's Rising Sun flag?
    4. What do you know about relations between Japan and South Korea?
    5. What do you know about relations between Japan and North Korea?
    6. What flags should be displayed at the Olympics?
    7. Should Japan listen to South Korea?
    8. Should only national flags be allowed at the Olympics?
    9. What do you know about Japan's 'militaristic and imperial past'?
    10. How successful do you think the 2020 Olympics will be?

    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 'sun'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are your country's relations with its neighbours like?
    5. Why do countries get involved in trade wars?
    6. Who wins trade wars?
    7. What do you think of Japan as a tourist destination?
    8. How do you think this story will end?
    9. How important are semi-conductors to the world?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Tokyo Olympics boss?

    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)

    (1) ____ escalating tensions between South Korea and Japan, the South Korean government has called (2) ____ Japan to ban any displaying of the Rising Sun flag at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This follows a statement by Japan's Olympics organising committee that it (3) ____ no problem with the flag. The committee said: "The Rising Sun flag is (4) ____ used in Japan and it is not considered to be a political statement, so it is not viewed as a prohibited item." A South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "The Japanese know (5) ____ well that their neighbours regard the Rising Sun flag as a symbol of Japan's militaristic and imperial past. Japan needs to be more humble about owning (6) ____ to its historical legacy."

    Relations between the two east-Asian nations have taken a (7) ____ in the past few months. They are currently (8) ____ in a bitter trade war that has seen people in Korea burning Japanese products. Many South Koreans are shunning Japan as a tourist destination, leading to Japanese (9) ____ slashing the number of flights to South Korea. Last month, Japan removed South Korea from its "white list" of trusted trade partners. This led to delays (10) ____ the exports of items like car parts and household electronics to South Korea. In (11) ____, Koreans have been boycotting Japanese beer, clothing brands and other products. The spat poses a threat to the global supply chain of (12) ____ -conductors.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     Aimed     (b)     Armed     (c)     Amid     (d)     And    
    2. (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    3. (a)     sees     (b)     looks     (c)     watches     (d)     views    
    4. (a)     widely     (b)     widen     (c)     width     (d)     widening    
    5. (a)     fuel     (b)     full     (c)     feel     (d)     fall    
    6. (a)     out     (b)     in     (c)     down     (d)     up    
    7. (a)     broadside     (b)     turning     (c)     downturn     (d)     left field    
    8. (a)     imbibed     (b)     boiled     (c)     imbroglio     (d)     embroiled    
    9. (a)     carriers     (b)     careers     (c)     carries     (d)     caries    
    10. (a)     in     (b)     by     (c)     as     (d)     via    
    11. (a)     resultant     (b)     retaliation     (c)     rational     (d)     realtor    
    12. (a)     hemi     (b)     demi     (c)     semi     (d)     emir

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Amid gnitesclaa tensions
    2. This follows a tnaemstet
    3. Japan's Olympics organising immteecto
    4. it is not viewed as a diohtrepib item
    5. Japan's militaristic and eipmlari past
    6. owning up to its historical lageyc

    Paragraph 2

    1. currently eedlbirmo in a bitter trade war
    2. Japan as a tourist dnsoaeniitt
    3. This led to dalyes in the exports
    4. In inaoitaltre
    5. noctybtgoi Japanese beer
    6. the global supply chain of semi-dscunocort

    Put the text back together

    (...)  to South Korea. In retaliation, Koreans have been boycotting Japanese beer, clothing brands
    (...)  know full well that their neighbours regard the Rising Sun flag as a symbol of Japan's militaristic and
    (...)  ban any displaying of the Rising Sun flag at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This follows a
    (...)  statement by Japan's Olympics organising committee that it sees no problem with the flag. The committee
    (...)  partners. This led to delays in the exports of items like car parts and household electronics
    (...)  and other products. The spat poses a threat to the global supply chain of semi-conductors.
    (...)  embroiled in a bitter trade war that has seen people in Korea burning Japanese products. Many South Koreans are
    1  ) Amid escalating tensions between South Korea and Japan, the South Korean government has called on Japan to
    (...)  flights to South Korea. Last month, Japan removed South Korea from its "white list" of trusted trade
    (...)  imperial past. Japan needs to be more humble about owning up to its historical legacy."
    (...)  shunning Japan as a tourist destination, leading to Japanese carriers slashing the number of
    (...)  said: "The Rising Sun flag is widely used in Japan and it is not considered to be a political statement, so it is not
    (...)  Relations between the two east-Asian nations have taken a downturn in the past few months. They are currently
    (...)  viewed as a prohibited item." A South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "The Japanese

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Sun   Ban   displaying   flag   .   of   any   the   Rising
    2. statement   .   isn't   be   considered   It   a   political   to
    3. a   not   prohibited   is   item   .   It   as   viewed
    4. and   symbol   of   imperial   A   militaristic   Japan's   past   .
    5. about   its   Humble   owning   historical   up   legacy   .   to
    6. embroiled   war   .   are   trade   currently   They   in   a
    7. shunning   tourist   destination   .   are   Koreans   a   as   Japan
    8. number   Korea   .   to   flights   slashing   the   South   Carriers   of
    9. of   Its   trusted   partners   .   trade   white   list
    10. supply   The   semi-conductors   .   chain   of   global

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Amid / Armed escalating tensions between South Korea and Japan, the South Korean government has called in / on Japan to ban any displaying of the Rising Sun flag at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This follows a stated / statement by Japan's Olympics organising committee that it sees not / no problem wither / with the flag. The committee said: "The Rising Sun flag is widen / widely used in Japan and it is not considerable / considered to be a political statement, so it is not viewed as a prohibited item / totem." A South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "The Japanese know full well that their neighbours disregard / regard the Rising Sun flag as a symbol of Japan's militaristic and imperial past. Japan needs to be more / less humble about owning up to its historical legacy."

    Relations between the two east-Asian nations have taken / given a downturn in the past few months. They are currently / currency embroiled in a bitter trade war that has seen people in Korea burring / burning Japanese products. Many South Koreans are shunning / stunning Japan as a tourist destination, leading to Japanese carries / carriers slashing the number of flights to South Korea. Last month, Japan removal / removed South Korea from its "white list" of trusted / tryst trade partners. This led to relays / delays in the exports of items like car parts and household electronics to South Korea. In / On retaliation, Koreans have been boycotting Japanese beer, clothing brands and other products. The spat poses a threat to the global supply rope / chain of semi-conductors.

    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)

    A m_d  _s c_l_t_n g   t_n s__ n s   b_t w__ n   S__ t h   K_r__  _n d   J_p_n ,   t h_  S__ t h   K_r__ n   g_v_r n m_n t   h_s   c_l l_d  _n   J_p_n   t_  b_n  _n y   d_s p l_y_n g  _f   t h_  R_s_n g   S_n   f l_g  _t   t h_  T_k y_  2 0 2 0   O l y m p_c s .   T h_s   f_l l_w s  _  s t_t_m_n t   b y   J_p_n ' s   O l y m p_c s  _r g_n_s_n g   c_m m_t t__   t h_t  _t   s__ s   n_  p r_b l_m   w_t h   t h_  f l_g .   T h_  c_m m_t t__   s__ d :   " T h_  R_s_n g   S_n   f l_g  _s   w_d_l y  _s_d  _n   J_p_n  _n d  _t  _s   n_t   c_n s_d_r_d   t_  b_ _  p_l_t_c_l   s t_t_m_n t ,   s_ _t  _s   n_t   v__ w_d  _s  _  p r_h_b_t_d  _t_m . "   A   S__ t h   K_r__ n   F_r__ g n   M_n_s t r y   s p_k_s m_n   s__ d :   " T h_  J_p_n_s_  k n_w   f_l l   w_l l   t h_t   t h__ r   n__ g h b__ r s   r_g_r d   t h_  R_s_n g   S_n   f l_g  _s  _  s y m b_l  _f   J_p_n ' s   m_l_t_r_s t_c  _n d  _m p_r__ l   p_s t .   J_p_n   n__ d s   t_  b_  m_r_  h_m b l_ _b__ t  _w n_n g  _p   t_ _t s   h_s t_r_c_l   l_g_c y . "

    R_l_t__ n s b_t w__ n t h_ t w_ __ s t - A s__ n n_t__ n s h_v_ t_k_n _ d_w n t_r n _n t h_ p_s t f_w m_n t h s . T h_y _r_ c_r r_n t l y _m b r__ l_d _n _ b_t t_r t r_d_ w_r t h_t h_s s__ n p__ p l_ _n K_r__ b_r n_n g J_p_n_s_ p r_d_c t s . M_n y S__ t h K_r__ n s _r_ s h_n n_n g J_p_n _s _ t__ r_s t d_s t_n_t__ n , l__ d_n g t_ J_p_n_s_ c_r r__ r s s l_s h_n g t h_ n_m b_r _f f l_g h t s t_ S__ t h K_r__ . L_s t m_n t h , J_p_n r_m_v_d S__ t h K_r__ f r_m _t s " w h_t_ l_s t " _f t r_s t_d t r_d_ p_r t n_r s . T h_s l_d t_ d_l_y s _n t h_ _x p_r t s _f _t_m s l_k_ c_r p_r t s _n d h__ s_h_l d _l_c t r_n_c s t_ S__ t h K_r__ . I n r_t_l__ t__ n , K_r__ n s h_v_ b__ n b_y c_t t_n g J_p_n_s_ b__ r , c l_t h_n g b r_n d s _n d _t h_r p r_d_c t s . T h_ s p_t p_s_s _ t h r__ t t_ t h_ g l_b_l s_p p l y c h__ n _f s_m_- c_n d_c t_r s .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    amid escalating tensions between south korea and japan the south korean government has called on japan to ban any displaying of the Rising Sun flag at the tokyo 2020 olympics this follows a statement by japans olympics organising committee that it sees no problem with the flag the committee said the rising sun flag is widely used in japan and it is not considered to be a political statement so it is not viewed as a prohibited item a south korean foreign ministry spokesman said the japanese know full well that their neighbours regard the rising sun flag as a symbol of japans militaristic and imperial past japan needs to be more humble about owning up to its historical legacy

    relations between the two eastasian nations have taken a downturn in the past few months they are currently embroiled in a bitter trade war that has seen people in korea burning japanese products many south koreans are shunning japan as a tourist destination leading to japanese carriers slashing the number of flights to south korea last month japan removed south korea from its white list of trusted trade partners this led to delays in the exports of items like car parts and household electronics to south korea in retaliation koreans have been boycotting japanese beer clothing brands and other products the spat poses a threat to the global supply chain of semiconductors.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AmidescalatingtensionsbetweenSouthKoreaandJapan,theSouthKor
    eangovernmenthascalledonJapantobananydisplayingoftheRisingSu
    nflagattheTokyo2020Olympics.ThisfollowsastatementbyJapan'sOly
    mpicsorganisingcommitteethatitseesnoproblemwiththeflag.Theco
    mmitteesaid:"TheRisingSunflagiswidelyusedinJapananditisnotcons
    ideredtobeapoliticalstatement,soitisnotviewedasaprohibiteditem."
    ASouthKoreanForeignMinistryspokesmansaid:"TheJapaneseknowf
    ullwellthattheirneighboursregardtheRisingSunflagasasymbolofJapa
    n'smilitaristicandimperialpast.Japanneedstobemorehumbleabouto
    wninguptoitshistoricallegacy."Relationsbetweenthetwoeast-Asia
    nnationshavetakenadownturninthepastfewmonths.Theyarecurrentl
    yembroiledinabittertradewarthathasseenpeopleinKoreaburningJap
    aneseproducts.ManySouthKoreansareshunningJapanasatouristdes
    tination,leadingtoJapanesecarriersslashingthenumberofflightstoSo
    uthKorea.Lastmonth,JapanremovedSouthKoreafromits"whitelist"of
    trustedtradepartners.Thisledtodelaysintheexportsofitemslikecarpa
    rtsandhouseholdelectronicstoSouthKorea.Inretaliation,Koreanshav
    ebeenboycottingJapanesebeer,clothingbrandsandotherproducts.Th
    espatposesathreattotheglobalsupplychainofsemi-conductors.

    Free writing

    Write about Rising Sun flag for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Only national flags should be displayed at the Olympics. 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. FLAGS: Make a poster about flags. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NATIONAL FLAGS: Write a magazine article about only national flags being allowed at the Olympics. 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 flags. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on flags at the Olympics. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

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

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