The Reading / Listening - Skin-Lightening Cream - Level 6

An association of local governments in the UK, called the LGA, has warned consumers about the use of some skin-lightening creams. The LGA discovered that some of the whitening cosmetics they tested contained banned ingredients and were thus illegal. However, they were available for purchase in UK stores. An LGA spokesperson said these ingredients could pose a serious threat to consumers' health. He said there has been an increase in the number of users experiencing health problems after using the creams. These include seizures, rashes and scarring. The spokesperson said the creams could increase the risk of skin cancer, and liver and kidney damage.

The global skin-lightening industry is booming. In 2017, it was valued at an estimated $4.8 billion and is forecast to nearly double to around $8.9 billion in the next decade. Many people use it to reduce the darkness of the color of their skin. The LGA warned that "rogue retailers" were selling illegal skin-lightening lotions on which the label incorrectly listed the ingredients and omitted the illegal substances. The LGA said some illegal ingredients acted like paint stripper and could burn off the top layer of skin. It said: "Skin creams containing banned ingredients are very dangerous and could seriously damage your health, scar you for life and even kill you, so they should be avoided at all costs."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Skin-Lightening Cream - Level 4  or  Skin-Lightening Cream - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/skin-lightening-creams-dangerous-health-scar-ingredients-illegal-banned-a9124071.html
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/28/illegal-skin-lightening-creams-on-sale-england-wales
  • https://inews.co.uk/news/consumer/public-warned-to-avoid-rogue-skin-lightening-creams-at-all-costs-which-act-like-paint-stripper-638100


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. SKIN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about skin. 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?
       association / local / governments / consumers / cream / ingredients / threat / liver
       industry / booming / decade / skin / illegal / paint stripper / dangerous / scar / cost
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BANNED: Students A strongly believe skin-lightening cream should be banned; Students B strongly believe it shouldn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CREAMS: How effective are these creams? What does the advertising say? Do you believe it?  Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Effectiveness

What The Advertising Says

Do You Believe It?

Skin-lightening

 

 

 

Anti-ageing

 

 

 

Moisturizer

 

 

 

Sun-tan lotion

 

 

 

Anti-acne cream

 

 

 

Cleanser

 

 

 

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. CONSUMER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "consumer". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. TAKE CARE: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things to take care of at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • skin
  • waistline
  • eyes
  • teeth
  • heart
  • brain
  • hair
  • back

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. association a. Officially or legally prohibited.
      2. consumer b. An area of reddening of a person's skin, sometimes with raised spots, appearing especially as a result of allergy or illness.
      3. cosmetics c. A group of people organized for a joint purpose.
      4. banned d. Product applied to the body, especially the face, to improve its appearance.
      5. ingredients e. A person who purchases goods and services for personal use.
      6. pose f. The different parts or elements of something (like food, a recipe, a medicine, etc.).
      7. rash g. Present or constitute a problem, danger, or difficulty.

    Paragraph 2

      8. booming h. Predict or estimate a future event or trend.
      9. forecast i. A period of ten years.
      10. decade j. A mark left on the skin or within body tissue where a wound, burn, or sore has not healed completely.
      11. rogue k. Having a period of great prosperity or rapid economic growth.
      12. omitted l. Kept away from or stop oneself from doing something.
      13. scar m. Left out or excludes someone or something.
      14. avoided n. A very dishonest person.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The UK national government spoke about skin-lightening cream.     T / F
  2. Local UK governments found all skin-lightening creams to be illegal.     T / F
  3. Skin-lightening creams are only available online in the UK.     T / F
  4. A spokesperson said skin-lightening creams could cause liver damage.   T / F
  5. The skin-lightening cream industry is worth $8.9 billion worldwide.     T / F
  6. The article says rogue retailers are selling $8.9 skin-lightening creams.    T / F
  7. Some skin-lightening creams omit ingredients on their labels.     T / F
  8. Local governments say some skin-lightening creams can kill.     T / F

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

  1. association
  2. use
  3. pose
  4. increase
  5. risk
  6. booming
  7. rogue
  8. ingredients
  9. banned
  10. avoided
  1. application
  2. prohibited
  3. rise
  4. good-for-nothing
  5. contents
  6. likelihood
  7. union
  8. steered clear of
  9. constitute
  10. flourishing

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

  1. An association of local
  2. available for purchase
  3. these ingredients could pose
  4. increase the risk
  5. liver and
  6. The global skin-lightening industry
  7. forecast to nearly
  8. the label incorrectly listed
  9. burn off the top layer
  10. they should be avoided at all
  1. a serious threat
  2. the ingredients
  3. kidney damage
  4. costs
  5. is booming
  6. double
  7. governments in the UK
  8. of skin
  9. of skin cancer
  10. in UK stores

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
ingredients
number
local
risk
available
use
rashes
pose

An association of (1) ____________ governments in the UK, called the LGA, has warned consumers about the (2) ____________ of some skin-lightening creams. The LGA discovered that some of the whitening cosmetics they tested contained banned (3) ____________ and were thus illegal. However, they were (4) ____________ for purchase in UK stores. An LGA spokesperson said these ingredients could (5) ____________ a serious threat to consumers' health. He said there has been an increase in the (6) ____________ of users experiencing health problems after using the creams. These include seizures, (7) ____________ and scarring. The spokesperson said the creams could increase the (8) ____________ of skin cancer, and liver and kidney damage.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
decade
stripper
rogue
costs
booming
dangerous
forecast
listed

The global skin-lightening industry is (9) ____________. In 2017, it was valued at an estimated $4.8 billion and is (10) ____________ to nearly double to around $8.9 billion in the next (11) ____________. Many people use it to reduce the darkness of the color of their skin. The LGA warned that "(12) ____________ retailers" were selling illegal skin-lightening lotions on which the label incorrectly (13) ____________ the ingredients and omitted the illegal substances. The LGA said some illegal ingredients acted like paint (14) ____________ and could burn off the top layer of skin. It said: "Skin creams containing banned ingredients are very (15) ____________ and could seriously damage your health, scar you for life and even kill you, so they should be avoided at all (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  An association of local governments in the UK, called the LGA, ______
     a.  has warned consumer
     b.  has warmed consumers
     c.  has waned consumers
     d.  has warned consumers
2)  the whitening cosmetics they tested contained banned ingredients and ______
     a.  were thus illegal
     b.  were this illegally
     c.  were thus illegality
     d.  were this illegal
3)  An LGA spokesperson said these ingredients could pose ______
     a.  a seriously threat
     b.  a serious threat
     c.  a serious threats
     d.  a serious treat
4)  These include seizures, rashes ______
     a.  and scaring
     b.  end scurrying
     c.  and scarring
     d.  end scarring
5)  creams could increase the risk of skin cancer, and liver and ______
     a.  kid knee damage
     b.  kid need damage
     c.  kidney damage
     d.  kid knead damage

6)  The global skin-lightening industry ______
     a.  is boom in
     b.  is boom in
     c.  is booming
     d.  is boom Ming
7)  it was valued at an estimated $4.8 billion and is forecast to ______
     a.  nearly double
     b.  nearly doubles
     c.  nearly doubled
     d.  nearly doublet
8)  the label incorrectly listed the ingredients and omitted the ______
     a.  illegal substance
     b.  illegal substance is
     c.  illegal substances
     d.  illegal sub stances
9)  some illegal ingredients acted like paint stripper and could burn off the top ______
     a.  laver of skin
     b.  layer of skin
     c.  later of skin
     d.  laser of skin
10)  scar you for life and even kill you, so they should be ______ costs
     a.  avoided at all
     b.  avoid did at all
     c.  avoided it all
     d.  avoided at tall

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

An association of local governments in the UK, called the LGA, (1) ___________________ about the use of some skin-lightening creams. The LGA discovered that some of the whitening cosmetics (2) ___________________ banned ingredients and were thus illegal. However, they were available (3) ___________________ UK stores. An LGA spokesperson said these ingredients could (4) ___________________ threat to consumers' health. He said there has been an increase in the number of users experiencing health problems after (5) ___________________. These include seizures, rashes and scarring. The spokesperson said the creams could increase the risk of skin cancer, and (6) ___________________ damage.

The global skin-lightening (7) ___________________. In 2017, it was valued at an estimated $4.8 billion and is (8) ___________________ double to around $8.9 billion in the next decade. Many people use it to reduce the darkness of the color (9) ___________________. The LGA warned that "rogue retailers" were selling illegal skin-lightening lotions on which the label incorrectly listed the ingredients and (10) ___________________ substances. The LGA said some illegal ingredients acted like paint stripper and could burn off the top (11) ___________________. It said: "Skin creams containing banned ingredients are very dangerous and could seriously damage your health, scar you for life and even kill you, so they should (12) ___________________ all costs."

Comprehension questions

  1. What association in the UK warned against skin-lightening creams?
  2. What did the LGA say the skin-lightening creams contained?
  3. To whom did an LGA spokesperson say the creams could pose a threat?
  4. What kind of cancer could the creams cause?
  5. What two organs did a spokesperson say the creams could damage?
  6. How much could the skin-lightening cream industry be worth in 2029?
  7. Who did the LGA warn against?
  8. What did the LGA say some of the creams acted like?
  9. For how long did the LGA ask some creams could scar people?
  10. To what extent did the LGA say the creams should be avoided?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What association in the UK warned against skin-lightening creams?
a) a cosmetics association
b) a local government association
c) a medical association
d) an association of pharmacies
2)  What did the LGA say the skin-lightening creams contained?
a) poisons
b) white paint
c) alcohol
d) banned ingredients
3) To whom did an LGA spokesperson say the creams could pose a threat?
a) consumers
b) doctors
c) shopkeepers
d) rogues
4) What kind of cancer could the creams cause?
a) throat cancer
b) bowel cancer
c) skin cancer
d) lung cancer
5) What two organs did a spokesperson say the creams could damage?
a) skin and eyes
b) liver and kidneys
c) heart and lungs
d) lungs and kidneys

6) How much could the skin-lightening cream industry be worth in 2029?
a) around $8.9 billion
b) around $8.4 billion
c) around $4.8 billion
d) around $9.8 billion
7) Who did the LGA warn against?
a) doctors
b) tanning shop owners
c) rogue retailers
d) pharmacists
8) What did the LGA say some of the creams acted like?
a) paint stripper
b) acid
c) sandpaper
d) bleach
9) For how long did the LGA ask some creams could scar people?
a) for life
b) decades
c) a dozen years
d) a few months
10) To what extent did the LGA say the creams should be avoided?
a) somewhat
b) greatly
c) carefully
d) at all costs

Role play

Role  A – Skin
You think it is most important to look after your skin. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important to look after. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to look after (and why): eyes, back or waistline.

Role  B – Eyes
You think it is most important to look after your eyes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important to look after. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to look after (and why): skin, back or waistline.

Role  C – Back
You think it is most important to look after your back. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important to look after. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to look after (and why): eyes, skin or waistline.

Role  D – Waistline
You think it is most important to look after your waistline. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important to look after. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these to look after (and why): eyes, back or skin.

After reading / listening

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

'skin'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'cream'.

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

    • local
    • discovered
    • purchase
    • pose
    • number
    • liver
    • global
    • double
    • reduce
    • omitted
    • burn
    • costs

    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 - People told to avoid skin-lightening creams

    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 'skin'?
    3. What are the different functions of skin?
    4. What worries do you have about your skin?
    5. What do you do to look after your skin?
    6. What do you think of skin-lightening cream?
    7. How dangerous are cosmetics?
    8. What does 'beauty is only skin deep' mean?
    9. Should shops be fined for selling the skin-lightening creams?
    10. Why do people worry about their skin color?

    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 'cream'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Are cosmetics a waste of time and money?
    5. Do you trust what is written on the label of goods?
    6. What do you think of skin-darkening cream?
    7. How would you feel about being burnt by cosmetics?
    8. Do people look better without cosmetics?
    9. How sensitive is your skin?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the creams' makers?

    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)

    An (1) ____ of local governments in the UK, called the LGA, has warned consumers about the (2) ____ of some skin-lightening creams. The LGA discovered that some of the whitening cosmetics they tested contained banned ingredients and were (3) ____ illegal. However, they were available for purchase in UK stores. An LGA spokesperson said these ingredients could (4) ____ a serious threat to consumers' health. He said there has been an increase in the number of users experiencing health problems after using the creams. These include (5) ____, rashes and scarring. The spokesperson said the creams could increase the risk (6) ____ skin cancer, and liver and kidney damage.

    The global skin-lightening industry is (7) ____. In 2017, it was valued at an estimated $4.8 billion and is forecast to nearly (8) ____ to around $8.9 billion in the next decade. Many people use it to reduce the darkness of the color of their skin. The LGA warned that "(9) ____ retailers" were selling illegal skin-lightening lotions on which the label incorrectly listed the ingredients and omitted the illegal substances. The LGA said some illegal ingredients (10) ____ like paint stripper and could burn off the top (11) ____ of skin. It said: "Skin creams containing banned ingredients are very dangerous and could seriously damage your health, scar you for life and even kill you, so they should be (12) ____ at all costs."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     independence     (b)     association     (c)     abrogation     (d)     societal    
    2. (a)     useful     (b)     use     (c)     used     (d)     user    
    3. (a)     such     (b)     there     (c)     that     (d)     thus    
    4. (a)     suppose     (b)     pose     (c)     posy     (d)     poser    
    5. (a)     holds     (b)     seizures     (c)     catches     (d)     grabs    
    6. (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    7. (a)     ramming     (b)     humming     (c)     booming     (d)     sloping    
    8. (a)     twofold     (b)     doppelganger     (c)     double     (d)     duet    
    9. (a)     segue     (b)     vogue     (c)     vague     (d)     rogue    
    10. (a)     played     (b)     prompted     (c)     displayed     (d)     acted    
    11. (a)     layer     (b)     leaf     (c)     wrinkle     (d)     flake    
    12. (a)     invaded     (b)     escaped     (c)     avoided     (d)     hatched

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. An onaiaitcsso of local governments
    2. warned seorsnmcu
    3. whitening stcoeicsm
    4. contained banned tidrgenenis
    5. These include seizures, rashes and agnirscr
    6. liver and ikdyen damage

    Paragraph 2

    1. The global skin-lightening yrtindsu
    2. atorecfs to nearly double
    3. euorg retailers
    4. illegal bnsassetcu
    5. yruselsio damage your health
    6. they should be idoedva at all costs

    Put the text back together

    (...)  the creams could increase the risk of skin cancer, and liver and kidney damage.
    (...)  color of their skin. The LGA warned that "rogue retailers" were selling illegal skin-lightening lotions
    (...)  health. He said there has been an increase in the number of users experiencing health
    1  ) An association of local governments in the UK, called the LGA, has warned consumers about the use
    (...)  problems after using the creams. These include seizures, rashes and scarring. The spokesperson said
    (...)  The global skin-lightening industry is booming. In 2017, it was valued at an estimated $4.8 billion and is forecast
    (...)  of some skin-lightening creams. The LGA discovered that some of the whitening cosmetics they tested
    (...)  in UK stores. An LGA spokesperson said these ingredients could pose a serious threat to consumers'
    (...)  you for life and even kill you, so they should be avoided at all costs."
    (...)  ingredients acted like paint stripper and could burn off the top layer of skin. It said: "Skin creams
    (...)  to nearly double to around $8.9 billion in the next decade. Many people use it to reduce the darkness of the
    (...)  contained banned ingredients and were thus illegal. However, they were available for purchase
    (...)  containing banned ingredients are very dangerous and could seriously damage your health, scar
    (...)  on which the label incorrectly listed the ingredients and omitted the illegal substances. The LGA said some illegal

    Put the words in the right order

    1. An   the   UK   .   of   association   governments   in   local
    2. whitening  tested  they  cosmetics  The  contained  ingredients  .  banned
    3. were   They   purchase   UK   stores   .   available   for   in
    4. serious   threat   consumers'   a   health   .   Pose   to
    5. skin   increase   the   of   risk   cancer   .   Creams   could
    6. an   .   was   valued   $4.8 billion   It   at   estimated
    7. use   Many   reduce   to   people   darkness   .   the   it
    8. were   illegal   lotions   .   Rogue   skin-lightening   retailers   selling
    9. very   banned  creams  are  dangerous  .  ingredients   Skin   containing
    10. costs   .   be   at   should   avoided   They   all

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    An association / associated of local governments in the UK, called the LGA, has warned consumption / consumers about the use of some skin-lightening creams. The LGA discovered that some / sample of the whitening cosmetics they tested contained banned / binned ingredients and were thus illegal. However, they were available / avails for purchase in UK stores. An LGA spokesperson said these ingredients could phase / pose a serious threat to consumers' health. He said there has been an increase / upper in the number of users experiencing health / healthy problems after using the creams. These include seizures, rashes / trashes and scarring. The spokesperson said the creams could increase the risky / risk of skin cancer, and liver and kidney damage.

    The global skin-lightening industry is dooming / booming. In 2017, it was valued at an estimated $4.8 billion and is cast / forecast to nearly double to around $8.9 billion in the next decadence / decade. Many people use it to reduce the darkness of the color of their skin. The LGA warned that "vogue / rogue retailers" were selling illegal skin-lightening lotions / potions on which the label incorrectly listed the ingredients / gradients and omitted the illegal substances. The LGA said some illegal ingredients acted like paint stripper and could burnt / burn off the top layer of skin. It said: "Skin creams containing banned ingredients are very dangerous and could seriously / serious damage your health, scar / scare you for life and even kill you, so they should be avoided at all costs / accosts."

    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 n _s s_c__ t__ n _f l_c_l g_v_r n m_n t s _n t h_ U K , c_l l_d t h_ L G A , h_s w_r n_d c_n s_m_r s _b__ t t h_ _s_ _f s_m_ s k_n - l_g h t_n_n g c r__ m s . T h_ L G A d_s c_v_r_d t h_t s_m_ _f t h_ w h_t_n_n g c_s m_t_c s t h_y t_s t_d c_n t__ n_d b_n n_d _n g r_d__ n t s _n d w_r_ t h_s _l l_g_l . H_w_v_r , t h_y w_r_ _v__ l_b l_ f_r p_r c h_s_ _n U K s t_r_s . A n L G A s p_k_s p_r s_n s__ d t h_s_ _n g r_d__ n t s c__ l d p_s_ _ s_r___s t h r__ t t_ c_n s_m_r s ' h__ l t h . H_ s__ d t h_r_ h_s b__ n _n _n c r__ s_ _n t h_ n_m b_r _f _s_r s _x p_r__ n c_n g h__ l t h p r_b l_m s _f t_r _s_n g t h_ c r__ m s . T h_s_ _n c l_d_ s__ z_r_s , r_s h_s _n d s c_r r_n g . T h_ s p_k_s p_r s_n s__ d t h_ c r__ m s c__ l d _n c r__ s_ t h_ r_s k _f s k_n c_n c_r , _n d l_v_r _n d k_d n_y d_m_g_.

    T h_ g l_b_l s k_n - l_g h t_n_n g _n d_s t r y _s b__ m_n g . I n 2 0 1 7 , _t w_s v_l__ d _t _n _s t_m_t_d $ 4 . 8 b_l l__ n _n d _s f_r_c_s t t_ n__ r l y d__ b l_ t_ _r__ n d $ 8 . 9 b_l l__ n _n t h_ n_x t d_c_d_. M_n y p__ p l_ _s_ _t t_ r_d_c_ t h_ d_r k n_s s _f t h_ c_l_r _f t h__ r s k_n . T h_ L G A w_r n_d t h_t " r_g__ r_t__ l_r s " w_r_ s_l l_n g _l l_g_l s k_n - l_g h t_n_n g l_t__ n s _n w h_c h t h_ l_b_l _n c_r r_c t l y l_s t_d t h_ _n g r_d__ n t s _n d _m_t t_d t h_ _l l_g_l s_b s t_n c_s . T h_ L G A s__ d s_m_ _l l_g_l _n g r_d__ n t s _c t_d l_k_ p__ n t s t r_p p_r _n d c__ l d b_r n _f f t h_ t_p l_y_r _f s k_n . I t s__ d : " S k_n c r__ m s c_n t__ n_n g b_n n_d _n g r_d__ n t s _r_ v_r y d_n g_r__ s _n d c__ l d s_r___s l y d_m_g_ y__ r h__ l t h , s c_r y__ f_r l_f_ _n d _v_n k_l l y__ , s_ t h_y s h__ l d b_ _v__ d_d _t _l l c_s t s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    an association of local governments in the uk called the lga has warned consumers about the use of some skinlightening creams the lga discovered that some of the whitening cosmetics they tested contained banned ingredients and were thus illegal however they were available for purchase in uk stores an lga spokesperson said these ingredients could pose a serious threat to consumers health he said there has been an increase in the number of users experiencing health problems after using the creams these include seizures rashes and scarring the spokesperson said the creams could increase the risk of skin cancer and liver and kidney damage

    the global skinlightening industry is booming in 2017 it was valued at an estimated 48 billion and is forecast to nearly double to around 89 billion in the next decade many people use it to reduce the darkness of the color of their skin the lga warned that rogue retailers were selling illegal skinlightening lotions on which the label incorrectly listed the ingredients and omitted the illegal substances the lga said some illegal ingredients acted like paint stripper and could burn off the top layer of skin it said skin creams containing banned ingredients are very dangerous and could seriously damage your health scar you for life and even kill you so they should be avoided at all costs"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AnassociationoflocalgovernmentsintheUK,calledtheLGA,haswarned
    consumersabouttheuseofsomeskin-lighteningcreams.TheLGAdisc
    overedthatsomeofthewhiteningcosmeticstheytestedcontainedbann
    edingredientsandwerethusillegal.However,theywereavailableforpu
    rchaseinUKstores.AnLGAspokespersonsaidtheseingredientscouldp
    oseaseriousthreattoconsumers'health.Hesaidtherehasbeenanincre
    aseinthenumberofusersexperiencinghealthproblemsafterusingthec
    reams.Theseincludeseizures,rashesandscarring.Thespokespersons
    aidthecreamscouldincreasetheriskofskincancer,andliverandkidney
    damage.Theglobalskin-lighteningindustryisbooming.In2017,itwa
    svaluedatanestimated$4.8billionandisforecasttonearlydoubletoaro
    und$8.9billioninthenextdecade.Manypeopleuseittoreducethedarkn
    essofthecoloroftheirskin.TheLGAwarnedthat"rogueretailers"werese
    llingillegalskin-lighteninglotionsonwhichthelabelincorrectlylistedth
    eingredientsandomittedtheillegalsubstances.TheLGAsaidsomeilleg
    alingredientsactedlikepaintstripperandcouldburnoffthetoplayerofsk
    in.Itsaid:"Skincreamscontainingbannedingredientsareverydangero
    usandcouldseriouslydamageyourhealth,scaryouforlifeandevenkilly
    ou,sotheyshouldbeavoidedatallcosts."

    Free writing

    Write about skin-lightening cream for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    All skin-lightening products should be banned. Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    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. SKIN: Make a poster about skin. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SKIN-LIGHTENING PRODUCTS: Write a magazine article about banning skin-lightening products. 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 skin. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can take care of our skin. 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.)

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You