The Reading / Listening - K-pop - Level 3

Pop music from South Korea (K-pop) has become very popular around the world. In 2012, the South Korean artist Psy received the most views ever on YouTube with his song Gangnam Style. In the past few years, the Korean boy band BTS has had considerable success in America and Europe. They became the first K-pop band to have a number one on the US music charts. The popularity of K-pop has caused major record labels to put more money into Korean acts. The world's biggest music label, Universal Music Group, has said it will join a live-streaming platform set up by Korea's major record labels. Universal will invest in the platform launched last year by Big Hit Entertainment, the company BTS belongs to.

Another Korean pop group, the girl band BLACKPINK, is also set to become popular worldwide. Universal has teamed up with their label, YG Entertainment. The chairman of YG said: "We will work closely with the biggest music company, Universal Music Group, globally for the successful global debut and promotion of BLACKPINK. In addition, we will do our best to help other YG artists to break through into the North American and European markets." YG added: "Music and real talent rise above culture and language and have no boundaries. Through this partnership we feel we can truly showcase our artists' potential on a bigger scale. We look forward to what's to come in the future."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    K-pop - Level 0,  K-pop - Level 1   or  K-pop - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55993098
  • https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/universal-signs-k-pop-girl-band-to-interscope-can-they-repeat-bts-success/
  • https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/universal-music-group-joins-forces-with-k-pop-labels-for-livestreaming-platform-40073719.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. POP MUSIC: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about pop music. 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?
       pop music / worldwide / success / number one / song / record / music / company /
       label / girl band / debut / promotion / talent / culture / language / partnership
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. THE BEST: Students A strongly believe pop music is the best form of music; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ARTISTS: Who are your favourite artists? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Who?

Why?
Band    
Male singer    
Female singer    
Musician    
Dancer    
Rapper    
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. POPULAR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "popular". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MUSIC GENRES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Pop
  • Opera
  • Country
  • Hip-hop
  • Electro
  • Jazz
  • Rock
  • Soul

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. popular a. Put money into shares, property, etc. in the hope of getting more money back.
      2. artist b. Liked by many people.
      3. views c. Getting done or completing an aim or goal.
      4. considerable d. A person who does any of the creative arts, such as a singer, sculptor, film-maker, actor, or dancer.
      5. success e. Very large in size or amount.
      6. platform f. Numbers of times people looked at a website page.
      7. invest g. The hardware of a computer system or a kind of social media site or other site to do things.

    Paragraph 2

      8. set h. About to.
      9. debut i. Having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future.
      10. promotion j. A person's first appearance or performance in a movie, concert or role.
      11. talent k. The limits of or to something.
      12. rise l. Activity that supports or encourages a cause, business, or aim.
      13. boundaries m. Natural skill.
      14. potential n. Move from a lower to a higher position.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Music from South and North Korea has become popular.     T / F
  2. In 2016, a South Korean artist got the most YouTube views ever.     T / F
  3. BTS are the first Korean band to be number one in the USA.     T / F
  4. The world's biggest music company is called Universal.     T / F
  5. BLACKPINK is the world's most successful girl band.     T / F
  6. A Korean music company wants to move to the USA.     T / F
  7. A Korean music company said culture rises above music.     T / F
  8. A Korean music company is looking forward to the future.     T / F

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

  1. popular
  2. received
  3. considerable
  4. set up
  5. invest
  6. worldwide
  7. debut
  8. talent
  9. boundaries
  10. potential
  1. great
  2. skill
  3. put money into
  4. got
  5. premiere
  6. limits
  7. well-liked
  8. possibilities
  9. started
  10. globally

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

  1. K-pop has become very popular
  2. received the most views
  3. BTS has had considerable
  4. have a number one on the US music
  5. Universal will invest in
  6. set to become
  7. Universal has teamed
  8. we will do our
  9. showcase our artists'
  10. We look forward to what's to
  1. popular worldwide
  2. charts
  3. best to help
  4. ever on YouTube
  5. come in the future
  6. up with their label
  7. around the world
  8. the platform
  9. success
  10. potential

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
charts
acts
popular
views
invest
major
platform
success

Pop music from South Korea (K-pop) has become very (1) _____________________ around the world. In 2012, the South Korean artist Psy received the most (2) _____________________ ever on YouTube with his song Gangnam Style. In the past few years, the Korean boy band BTS has had considerable (3) _____________________ in America and Europe. They became the first K-pop band to have a number one on the US music (4) _____________________. The popularity of K-pop has caused (5) _____________________ record labels to put more money into Korean (6) _____________________. The world's biggest music label, Universal Music Group, has said it will join a live-streaming (7) _____________________ set up by Korea's major record labels. Universal will (8) _____________________ in the platform launched last year by Big Hit Entertainment, the company BTS belongs to.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
break
debut
popular
truly
closely
talent
scale
addition

Another Korean pop group, the girl band BLACKPINK, is also set to become (9) _____________________ worldwide. Universal has teamed up with their label, YG Entertainment. The chairman of YG said: "We will work (10) _____________________ with the biggest music company, Universal Music Group, globally for the successful global (11) _____________________ and promotion of BLACKPINK. In (12) _____________________, we will do our best to help other YG artists to (13) _____________________ through into the North American and European markets." YG added: "Music and real (14) _____________________ rise above culture and language and have no boundaries. Through this partnership we feel we can (15) _____________________ showcase our artists' potential on a bigger (16) _____________________. We look forward to what's to come in the future.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Pop music from South Korea (K-pop) has ______
     a.  became very popular
     b.  becoming very popular
     c.  become very popular
     d.  becomes very popular
2)  the South Korean artist Psy received the most views ______
     a.  never on YouTube
     b.  even on YouTube
     c.  every on YouTube
     d.  ever on YouTube
3)  In the past few years, the Korean boy band BTS has ______
     a.  had considerable success
     b.  had considerably success
     c.  had consider a ball success
     d.  had consider able success
4)  K-pop has caused major record labels to put more money ______
     a.  into Korean pacts
     b.  into Korean facts
     c.  into Korean acts
     d.  into Korean tacks
5)  launched last year by Big Hit Entertainment, the company ______
     a.  BTS belongs too
     b.  BTS belongs to
     c.  BTS belongs two
     d.  BTS belongs ton

6)  Universal has teamed up with their ______
     a.  revel, YG Entertainment
     b.  rebel, YG Entertainment
     c.  ladel, YG Entertainment
     d.  label, YG Entertainment
7)  globally for the successful global ______
     a.  day view and promotion
     b.  day boo and promotion
     c.  debutant and promotion
     d.  debut and promotion
8)  Music and real talent rise above culture and language and ______
     a.  have not boundaries
     b.  have no boundaries
     c.  have non boundaries
     d.  have know boundaries
9)  Through this partnership we feel we can truly showcase ______
     a.  hour artists' potential
     b.  awe artists' potential
     c.  our artists' potential
     d.  all artists' potential
10)  We look forward to what's to come ______
     a.  in a future
     b.  in them future
     c.  in the future
     d.  in that future

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Pop music from South Korea (K-pop) has become (1) ____________________ the world. In 2012, the South Korean artist Psy received the (2) ____________________ on YouTube with his song Gangnam Style. In the past few years, the Korean boy band BTS (3) ____________________ success in America and Europe. They became the first K-pop band to have a (4) ____________________ the US music charts. The popularity of K-pop has caused major record labels to put more money into Korean acts. The world's biggest music label, Universal Music Group, has said it will join a live-streaming platform (5) ____________________ Korea's major record labels. Universal (6) ____________________ the platform launched last year by Big Hit Entertainment, the company BTS belongs to.

Another Korean pop group, the girl band BLACKPINK, is (7) ____________________ become popular worldwide. Universal has teamed up with their label, YG Entertainment. The chairman of YG said: "We will work closely with the biggest music company, Universal Music Group, globally for the successful (8) ____________________ promotion of BLACKPINK. In addition, we will do our best to help other YG (9) ____________________ through into the North American and European markets." YG added: "Music and (10) ____________________ above culture and language and have no boundaries. Through this partnership we feel we (11) ____________________ our artists' potential on a bigger scale. We (12) ____________________ what's to come in the future."

Comprehension questions

  1. When did the artist Psy have a big YouTube hit?
  2. Where does the article say BTS has had considerable success?
  3. How many K-pop bands had a U.S. number one before BTS?
  4. What are major record labels putting into Korean acts?
  5. What is the name of the label BTS belongs to?
  6. What is the name of the label BLACKPINK belongs to?
  7. Who said he would work closely with Universal?
  8. Who does a chairman want to help break through into the U.S. market?
  9. What did a record label say rises above culture and language?
  10. What does the label feel the partnership can do to its artists?

Multiple choice quiz

1) When did the artist Psy have a big YouTube hit?
a) 2014
b) 2012
c) 2013
d) 2015
2) Where does the article say BTS has had considerable success?
a) South America
b) Japan and China
c) Thailand and India
d) the USA and Europe
3) How many K-pop bands had a U.S. number one before BTS?
a) none
b) one
c) two
d) three
4) What are major record labels putting into Korean acts?
a) effort
b) instruments
c) money
d) lyrics
5) What is the name of the label BTS belongs to?
a) Hit Big Entertainment
b) Big Hit Entertainment
c) Big Entertainment Hit
d) Big Big Entertainment

6) What is the name of the label BLACKPINK belongs to?
a) YG Entertainment
b) XK Entertainment
c) QK Entertainment
d) RY Entertainment
7) Who said he would work closely with Universal?
a) a musician
b) the BTS lead singer
c) the chairman of a label
d) a journalist
8) Who does a chairman want to help break through into the U.S. market?
a) other artists
b) his daughter
c) BTS
d) Korean boy bands
9) What did a record label say rises above culture and language?
a) music and real talent
b) lyrics and songs
c) musicianship and dancing
d) boy bands and girl bands
10) What does the label feel the partnership can do to its artists?
a) make them famous
b) make them rich
c) give them big houses in the US
d) showcase their potential

Role play

Role  A – Pop
You think pop is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the least listenable of these (and why): opera, jazz or rock.
Role  B – Opera
You think opera is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the least listenable of these (and why): pop, jazz or rock.
Role  C – Jazz
You think jazz is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the least listenable of these (and why): opera, pop or rock.
Role  D – Rock
You think rock is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the least listenable of these (and why): opera, jazz or pop.

After reading / listening

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

'pop'

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

    • and 'music'.

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

    • • 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:

    • become
    • views
    • success
    • major
    • join
    • belongs
    • girl
    • teamed
    • debut
    • break
    • feel
    • future

    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 - K-pop

    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 'pop music'?
    3. What do you know about K-pop?
    4. What do you think of the pop music from your country?
    5. Why do you think K-pop is becoming more popular?
    6. What do you think of boy bands?
    7. What is your favourite kind of music?
    8. Who are your favourite artists?
    9. How important is it for songs to be in English?
    10. Do you prefer artists from your country or from America?

    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 'music'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about BTS and BLACKPINK?
    5. Would you like to be a pop star?
    6. Would you prefer to be a singer or musician?
    7. How important is music to you?
    8. How important is it that singers can dance?
    9. Why are bands from the US and UK so popular?
    10. What questions would you like to ask BTS?

    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)

    Pop music from South Korea (K-pop) has become very (1) ____ around the world. In 2012, the South Korean artist Psy received the most (2) ____ ever on YouTube with his song Gangnam Style. In the past few years, the Korean boy band BTS has had (3) ____ success in America and Europe. They became the first K-pop band to have a number one on the US music charts. The popularity (4) ____ K-pop has caused major record labels to put more money into Korean acts. The world's biggest music label, Universal Music Group, has said it will (5) ____ a live-streaming platform set up by Korea's major record labels. Universal will invest in the platform launched last year by Big Hit Entertainment, the company BTS belongs (6) ____.

    Another Korean pop group, the girl band BLACKPINK, is also (7) ____ to become popular worldwide. Universal has teamed (8) ____ with their label, YG Entertainment. The chairman of YG said: "We will work (9) ____ with the biggest music company, Universal Music Group, globally for the successful global debut and promotion of BLACKPINK. In addition, we will do our best to help (10) ____ YG artists to break through into the North American and European markets." YG added: "Music and real talent (11) ____ above culture and language and have no boundaries. Through this partnership we feel we can (12) ____ showcase our artists' potential on a bigger scale. We look forward to what's to come in the future."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     poplar     (b)     popularity     (c)     pop     (d)     popular    
    2. (a)     looking     (b)     watched     (c)     sees     (d)     views    
    3. (a)     considerate     (b)     considerable     (c)     consider     (d)     considers    
    4. (a)     to     (b)     on     (c)     of     (d)     at     
    5. (a)     join     (b)     joint     (c)     joining     (d)     joiner    
    6. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     as    
    7. (a)     vet     (b)     met     (c)     let     (d)     set    
    8. (a)     up     (b)     down     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    9. (a)     closed     (b)     closely     (c)     close     (d)     closes    
    10. (a)     another     (b)     others     (c)     other     (d)     otter    
    11. (a)     rising     (b)     arisen     (c)     rise     (d)     riser    
    12. (a)     truth     (b)     truly     (c)     true     (d)     truths

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. very porlpau around the world
    2. considerable scusecs
    3. The rptpoaluyi of K-pop
    4. Korea's aromj record labels
    5. a live-irsaemngt platform
    6. the platform lhucnade last year

    Paragraph 2

    1. the successful global eubdt
    2. onomprito of BLACKPINK
    3. other YG satrsti to break through
    4. Music and real atltne rise above culture
    5. have no uinodrasbe
    6. showcase our artists' peanttloi

    Put the text back together

    (...)  to put more money into Korean acts. The world's biggest music label, Universal Music Group,
    (...)  years, the Korean boy band BTS has had considerable success in America and Europe. They became the first
    (...)  K-pop band to have a number one on the US music charts. The popularity of K-pop has caused major record labels
    (...)  for the successful global debut and promotion of BLACKPINK. In addition, we will do our
    (...)  labels. Universal will invest in the platform launched last year by Big Hit Entertainment, the company BTS belongs to.
    (...)  best to help other YG artists to break through into the North American and European markets." YG added:
    (...) Pop music from South Korea (K-pop) has become very popular around the world. In 2012, the South Korean
    (...)  worldwide. Universal has teamed up with their label, YG Entertainment. The chairman
    (...)  of YG said: "We will work closely with the biggest music company, Universal Music Group, globally
    (...)  Another Korean pop group, the girl band BLACKPINK, is also set to become popular
    (...)  "Music and real talent rise above culture and language and have no boundaries. Through this partnership we
    (...)  has said it will join a live-streaming platform set up by Korea's major record
    (...)  feel we can truly showcase our artists' potential on a bigger scale. We look forward to what's to come in the future."
    (...)  artist Psy received the most views ever on YouTube with his song Gangnam Style. In the past few

    Put the words in the right order

    1. become   very   popular   .   Pop   has   Korea   from   music
    2. views   .   most   received   artist   Korean   the   Psy   The
    3. had   has   America   .   success   BTS   in   considerable
    4. band   to   one   .   The   number   first   have   a
    5. platform   the   launched   last   year   .   Invest   in
    6. set   also   It   worldwide   .   is   become   to   popular
    7. biggest   work   We'll   music   the   company   .   closely   with
    8. will   to   do   help   best   others   .   our   We
    9. above   culture   .   rise   talent   real   and   Music
    10. forward   look   come   .   what's   We   to   to

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Pop music from South Korea (K-pop) has became / become very popular around the world. In 2012, the South Korean artist Psy received the most views / view ever on YouTube with his song Gangnam Style. In the passed / past few years, the Korean boy band BTS has had considerable successful / success in America and Europe. They became the first K-pop band to have a number one on / at the US music charts. The popularity of / at K-pop has caused major record labels to put many / more money into Korean acts. The world's biggest music label, Universal Music Group, has said it will join / joint a live-streaming platform set up / down by Korea's major record labels. Universal will invest in the platform launching / launched last year by Big Hit Entertainment, the company BTS belongs to.

    Another Korean pop group, the girl band BLACKPINK, is also let / set to become popular worldwide. Universal has steamed / teamed up with their label, YG Entertainment. The chairman of YG said: "We will work closely / close with the biggest music company, Universal Music Group, globe / globally for the successful global debut and promotion to / of BLACKPINK. In addition, we will do our best to help other / another YG artists to break through into the North American and European markets / malls." YG added: "Music and real talent up / rise above culture and language and have no boundaries. Through this partnership we feel we can true / truly showcase our artists' potential on a bigger scale. We look forward to what's to come in / on the future."

    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)

    P_p  m_s_c  fr_m  S__th  K_r__  (K-p_p)  h_s  b_c_m_  v_ry  p_p_l_r  _r__nd  th_  w_rld.  _n  2012,  th_  S__th  K_r__n  _rt_st  Psy  r_c__v_d  th_  m_st  v__ws  _v_r  _n  Y__T_b_  w_th  h_s  s_ng  G_ngn_m  Styl_.  _n  th_  p_st  f_w  y__rs,  th_  K_r__n  b_y  b_nd  BTS  h_s  h_d  c_ns_d_r_bl_  s_cc_ss  _n  _m_r_c_  _nd  __r_p_.  Th_y  b_c_m_  th_  f_rst  K-p_p  b_nd  t_  h_v_  _  n_mb_r  _n_  _n  th_  _S  m_s_c  ch_rts.  Th_  p_p_l_r_ty  _f  K-p_p  h_s  c__s_d  m_j_r  r_c_rd  l_b_ls  t_  p_t  m_r_  m_n_y  _nt_  K_r__n  _cts.  Th_  w_rld's  b_gg_st  m_s_c  l_b_l,  _n_v_rs_l  M_s_c  Gr__p,  h_s  s__d  _t  w_ll  j__n  _  l_v_-str__m_ng  pl_tf_rm  s_t  _p  by  K_r__'s  m_j_r  r_c_rd  l_b_ls.  _n_v_rs_l  w_ll  _nv_st  _n  th_  pl_tf_rm  l__nch_d  l_st  y__r  by  B_g  H_t  _nt_rt__nm_nt,  th_  c_mp_ny  BTS  b_l_ngs  t_.

    _n_th_r  K_r__n  p_p  gr__p,  th_  g_rl  b_nd  BL_CKP_NK,  _s  _ls_  s_t  t_  b_c_m_  p_p_l_r  w_rldw_d_.  _n_v_rs_l  h_s  t__m_d  _p  w_th  th__r  l_b_l,  YG  _nt_rt__nm_nt.  Th_  ch__rm_n  _f  YG  s__d:  "W_  w_ll  w_rk  cl_s_ly  w_th  th_  b_gg_st  m_s_c  c_mp_ny,  _n_v_rs_l  M_s_c  Gr__p,  gl_b_lly  f_r  th_  s_cc_ssf_l  gl_b_l  d_b_t  _nd  pr_m_t__n  _f  BL_CKP_NK.  _n  _dd_t__n,  w_  w_ll  d_  __r  b_st  t_  h_lp  _th_r  YG  _rt_sts  t_  br__k  thr__gh  _nt_  th_  N_rth  _m_r_c_n  _nd  __r_p__n  m_rk_ts."  YG  _dd_d:  "M_s_c  _nd  r__l  t_l_nt  r_s_  _b_v_  c_lt_r_  _nd  l_ng__g_  _nd  h_v_  n_  b__nd_r__s.  Thr__gh  th_s  p_rtn_rsh_p  w_  f__l  w_  c_n  tr_ly  sh_wc_s_  __r  _rt_sts'  p_t_nt__l  _n  _  b_gg_r  sc_l_.  W_  l__k  f_rw_rd  t_  wh_t's  t_  c_m_  _n  th_  f_t_r_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    pop music from south korea kpop has become very popular around the world in 2012 the south korean artist psy received the most views ever on youtube with his song gangnam style in the past few years the korean boy band bts has had considerable success in america and europe they became the first kpop band to have a number one on the us music charts the popularity of kpop has caused major record labels to put more money into korean acts the worlds biggest music label universal music group has said it will join a livestreaming platform set up by koreas major record labels universal will invest in the platform launched last year by big hit entertainment the company bts belongs to

    another korean pop group the girl band blackpink is also set to become popular worldwide universal has teamed up with their label yg entertainment the chairman of yg said we will work closely with the biggest music company universal music group globally for the successful global debut and promotion of blackpink in addition we will do our best to help other yg artists to break through into the north american and european markets yg added music and real talent rise above culture and language and have no boundaries through this partnership we feel we can truly showcase our artists potential on a bigger scale we look forward to whats to come in the future

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    PopmusicfromSouthKorea(K-pop)hasbecomeverypopulararoundt
    heworld.In2012,theSouthKoreanartistPsyreceivedthemostviewsev
    eronYouTubewithhissongGangnamStyle.Inthepastfewyears,theKor
    eanboybandBTShashadconsiderablesuccessinAmericaandEurope.T
    heybecamethefirstK-popbandtohaveanumberoneontheUSmusicc
    harts.ThepopularityofK-pophascausedmajorrecordlabelstoputmor
    emoneyintoKoreanacts.Theworld'sbiggestmusiclabel,UniversalMus
    icGroup,hassaiditwilljoinalive-streamingplatformsetupbyKorea's
    majorrecordlabels.Universalwillinvestintheplatformlaunchedlastye
    arbyBigHitEntertainment,thecompanyBTSbelongsto.AnotherKorea
    npopgroup,thegirlbandBLACKPINK,isalsosettobecomepopularworld
    wide.Universalhasteamedupwiththeirlabel,YGEntertainment.Thech
    airmanofYGsaid:"Wewillworkcloselywiththebiggestmusiccompany,
    UniversalMusicGroup,globallyforthesuccessfulglobaldebutandprom
    otionofBLACKPINK.Inaddition,wewilldoourbesttohelpotherYGartist
    stobreakthroughintotheNorthAmericanandEuropeanmarkets."YGa
    dded:"Musicandrealtalentriseabovecultureandlanguageandhaveno
    boundaries.Throughthispartnershipwefeelwecantrulyshowcaseour
    artists'potentialonabiggerscale.Welookforwardtowhat'stocomeinth
    efuture."

    Free writing

    Write about pop music for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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    Academic writing

    Pop music is the best kind of music. 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. POP MUSIC: Make a poster about pop music. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SINGING: Write a magazine article about al schools teaching children to sing well. 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 pop music. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. 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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