Breaking News English Lesson: Venice

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Venice set to charge tourists to enter the city (24th August, 2021)

The Reading / Listening - Venice - Level 3

Venice, Italy is one of the world's top tourist destinations. Before the coronavirus pandemic, around 20 million visitors a year visited the city. This caused many problems such as pollution from cruise ships and overcrowding. To deal with these problems, city officials are planning to charge tourists to visit the city's historical centre and its beautiful canals. According to Italy's La Stampa newspaper, entry into Venice could cost between three euros ($3.50) and 10 euros. This could start from the summer of 2022. There are also plans to set a limit on the number of visitors who can enter the centre each day. Tourists may need to book their visit to Venice before they go.

Venice officials have talked for many years about the number of visitors flocking to the city. Environmentalists are worried about the damage cruise ships do to marine life in the Venice Lagoon. Heritage lovers want to protect Venice's famous squares and architecture from the millions of tourists. This made Italy's Culture Minister say that there is a "concrete risk" of the United Nations culture agency UNESCO adding Venice to its list of World Heritage in Danger sites. However, a hotel worker said Venice needed cruise ships. He said: "They spend big in a short time, before sailing out." A city official is worried that charging tourists a fee to enter will turn Venice into a "theme park".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Venice - Level 0, Venice - Level 1 or Venice - Level 2

Sources

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-21/venice-to-charge-tourists-for-entry-from-summer-2022-la-stampa
https://www.wsj.com/articles/venice-is-open-for-tourists-but-not-cruise-ships-11629550801
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9916547/Venice-plans-charge-tourists-10-euros-require-book.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. VENICE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Venice. 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?
Venice / Italy / coronavirus / pollution / cruise ships / summer / canals / plans / limit
visitor / the city / environmentalists / marine life / culture / heritage / hotel / tourist
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TOURIST FEE: Students A strongly believe tourists should pay a fee to enter tourist areas; Students B strongly believe this is a terrible idea. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DESTINATIONS: What do you know about these destinations? How much would you like to visit them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	How Much I's Like to Visit
Venice
Bali
Kyoto
New York
Cairo
Kathmandu

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. VISITOR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "visitor". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. PROBLEMS: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest problems caused by tourism at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Overcrowding
Pollution
Litter
Noise
Cultural misunderstandings
Habitat loss
Traffic
Damage to sights

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	top	a.	The place to which someone is going to go or visit.
2.	destination	b.	Things in the air, water, soil, etc. which have harmful or poisonous effects.
3.	pandemics	c.	Reserve (accommodation, a place, a seat in a restaurant etc.); buy (a ticket) in advance.
4.	pollution	d.	Of a disease that is all over a whole country or the world.
5.	charge	e.	A number of something or level beyond which something does not or may not extend or go above.
6.	limit	f.	The highest or most important rank, level, or position.
7.	book	g.	Ask for an amount of money as a price for a service rendered or goods.

Paragraph 2

8.	flocking	h.	About, or found in the sea.
9.	marine	i.	Important things such as historic buildings and cultural traditions that are passed down through generations.
10.	heritage	j.	A payment made for something.
11.	lover	k.	Definite.
12.	concrete	l.	A person who really, really likes or enjoys a thing.
13.	list	m.	Moving or going together in a crowd.
14.	fee	n.	A number of connected items or names written one below the other.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says Venice is the world's top tourist destination. T / F
About 20 million people a year visited Venice before coronavirus. T / F
It could cost as much as 10 euros to visit Venice. T / F
Tourists might have to book to be able to visit Venice. T / F
Italy's Culture Minister said there is too much concrete in Venice. T / F
UNESCO will take Venice off its World Heritage in Danger list. T / F
A hotel worker said cruise ship tourists don't spend a lot of money. T / F
A city official wants Venice to become a theme park. T / F

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

top
caused
deal with
start
book
flocking
marine
concrete
official
worried

representative
manage
reserve
sea
created
definite
concerned
leading
swarming
begin

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

one of the world's top
This caused many problems
charge tourists to visit the city's historical
set a limit on the
Tourists may need to
the number of visitors flocking
the damage cruise ships do to
there is a concrete
they spend big in
turn Venice into a theme

marine life
number of visitors
book their visit to Venice
a short time
centre
park
such as pollution
to the city
risk
tourist destinations

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

entry
deal
destinations
book
visitors
limit
charge
pollution

Venice, Italy is one of the world's top tourist (1) _____________________. Before the coronavirus pandemic, around 20 million (2) _____________________ a year visited the city. This caused many problems such as (3) _____________________ from cruise ships and overcrowding. To (4) _____________________ with these problems, city officials are planning to (5) _____________________ tourists to visit the city's historical centre and its beautiful canals. According to Italy's La Stampa newspaper, (6) _____________________ into Venice could cost between three euros ($3.50) and 10 euros. This could start from the summer of 2022. There are also plans to set a (7) _____________________ to the number of visitors who can enter the centre each day. Tourists may need to (8) _____________________ their visit to Venice before they go.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

risk
marine
spend
list
fee
flocking
sites
architecture

Venice officials have talked for many years about the number of visitors (9) _____________________ to the city. Environmentalists are worried about the damage cruise ships do to (10) _____________________ life in the Venice Lagoon. Heritage lovers want to protect Venice's famous squares and (11) _____________________ from the millions of tourists. This made Italy's Culture Minister say that there is a "concrete (12) _____________________" of the United Nations culture agency UNESCO adding Venice to its (13) _____________________ of World Heritage in Danger (14) _____________________. However, a hotel worker said Venice needed cruise ships. He said: "They (15) _____________________ big in a short time, before sailing out." A city official is worried that charging tourists a (16) _____________________ to enter will turn Venice into a "theme park".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Venice, Italy is one of the world's ______
     a. top tourist destination
     b. top tourist destiny nations
     c. top tourist destined nations
     d. top tourist destinations
2) This caused many problems such as pollution ______
     a. from cruiser ships
     b. from clues ships
     c. from close ships
     d. from cruise ships
3) city officials are planning to charge tourists to visit the ______
     a. city's history centre
     b. city's historical centre
     c. city's historian centre
     d. city's history call centre
4) There are also plans to set a limit on the number of visitors ______
     a. who can enter
     b. who can entry
     c. who can entrance
     d. who can enters
5) the centre each day. Tourists may need to ______
     a. book them visit
     b. book there visit
     c. book they visit
     d. book their visit

6) Venice officials have talked for many years about the number of visitors ______ city
     a. flock kin to the
     b. flock king to the
     c. flocking to the
     d. flock into the
7) Environmentalists are worried about the damage cruise ships do ______
     a. tomb a ream life
     b. tomb airing life
     c. to marine life
     d. to marring life
8) This made Italy's Culture Minister say that there is ______
     a. a con Crete risk
     b. ache on Crete risk
     c. a con crate risk
     d. a concrete risk
9) He said they spend big in a short time ______
     a. before sail in-out
     b. before sailing out
     c. before selling out
     d. before sail line-out
10) worried that charging tourists a fee to enter will turn Venice into ______
     a. atheism park
     b. a themes park
     c. a themed park
     d. a theme park

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Venice, Italy (1) ____________________ the world's top tourist destinations. Before the coronavirus pandemic, around 20 million visitors a year visited the city. This caused many (2) ____________________ pollution from cruise ships and overcrowding. To (3) ____________________ problems, city officials are planning to charge tourists to visit the city's historical centre and its beautiful canals. According to Italy's La Stampa newspaper, entry into Venice (4) ____________________ three euros ($3.50) and 10 euros. This could start from the summer of 2022. There are also plans to (5) ____________________ on the number of visitors who can enter the centre each day. Tourists may need to (6) ____________________ to Venice before they go.

Venice officials have talked for many years (7) ____________________ of visitors flocking to the city. Environmentalists are worried about the damage cruise ships (8) ____________________ life in the Venice Lagoon. Heritage (9) ____________________ protect Venice's famous squares and architecture from the millions of tourists. This made Italy's Culture Minister say that there is a (10) ____________________ the United Nations culture agency UNESCO adding Venice to its list of World Heritage in Danger sites. However, a hotel worker said Venice needed cruise ships. He said: "They spend big in (11) ____________________, before sailing out." A city official is worried that charging tourists a fee to enter will turn Venice into (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

When did 20 million tourists a year visit Venice?
What two problems does the article say tourists caused?
What is the highest amount that tourists to Venice could be charged?
When might Venice start charging tourists to enter the city?
What might tourists need to do before they visit Venice?
For how long have Venice officials been talking?
What kind of life are environmentalists worried about?
What do heritage lovers want to protect besides architecture?
What kind of risk did Italy's Culture Minister talk about?
What is a city official worried about Venice becoming?

Multiple choice quiz

1) When did 20 million tourists a year visit Venice?
a) during the Italia 1990 World Cup
b) before the coronavirus pandemic
c) in June
d) 1999
2) What two problems does the article say tourists caused?
a) pollution and noise
b) litter and noise
c) overcrowding and litter
d) pollution and overcrowding
3) What is the highest amount that tourists to Venice could be charged?
a) 9 euros
b) 12 euros
c) 10 euros
d) 3.5 euros
4) When might Venice start charging tourists to enter the city?
a) the summer of 2022
b) January 2022
c) 2025
d) next month
5) What might tourists need to do before they visit Venice?
a) read
b) book
c) do research
d) get a special visa

6) For how long have Venice officials been talking?
a) many years
b) days
c) weeks
d) months
7) What kind of life are environmentalists worried about?
a) daily life
b) nightlife
c) marine life
d) wildlife
8) What do heritage lovers want to protect besides architecture?
a) Venice's famous squares
b) Venice restaurants
c) churches and cathedrals
d) Venetian culture
9) What kind of risk did Italy's Culture Minister talk about?
a) an elevated risk
b) a considerable risk
c) a grave risk
d) a concrete risk
10) What is a city official worried about Venice becoming?
a) full of international chain restaurants
b) overcrowded
c) a theme park
d) broken

Role play

Role A – Pollution
You think pollution is the biggest problem tourism causes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least problematic of these (and why): damage to sights, overcrowding or cultural misunderstanding.

Role B – Damage to Sights
You think damage to sights is the biggest problem tourism causes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least problematic of these (and why): pollution, overcrowding or cultural misunderstanding.

Role C – Overcrowding
You think overcrowding is the biggest problem tourism causes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least problematic of these (and why): damage to sights, pollution or cultural misunderstanding.

Role D – Cultural Misunderstanding
You think cultural misunderstanding is the biggest problem tourism causes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least problematic of these (and why): damage to sights, overcrowding or pollution.

After reading / listening

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

'tourist'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'city'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

top

such

planning

newspaper

2022

before

talked

life

lovers

risk

hotel

fee

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 - Venice

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'tourist'?
What do you know about Venice?
What is your city like for tourists?
What are your favourite cities?
What can tourists do in your country?
What problems does tourism create?
What do you think of the charge to enter Venice?
Should there be a limit on the number of tourists in a city?
What do you think of cruises?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'Venice'?
What do you think about what you read?
What is the world's best tourist destination?
What damage do cruise ships do?
How important is it to protect architecture?
Are you a good tourist?
What do you think when you see hundreds of tourists?
What three adjectives best describe Venice?
What questions would you like to ask a Venice official?

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)

Venice, Italy is (1) ____ of the world's top tourist destinations. Before the coronavirus pandemic, around 20 million visitors a year visited the city. This (2) ____ many problems such as pollution from cruise ships and overcrowding. To deal with (3) ____ problems, city officials are planning to charge tourists to visit the city's historical centre and its beautiful canals. According (4) ____ Italy's La Stampa newspaper, entry into Venice could cost between three euros ($3.50) and 10 euros. This could start (5) ____ the summer of 2022. There are also plans to set a limit on the number of visitors who can enter the centre each day. Tourists may need to (6) ____ their visit to Venice before they go.

Venice officials have talked for many years about the number of visitors (7) ____ to the city. Environmentalists are worried about the damage cruise ships do to marine (8) ____ in the Venice Lagoon. Heritage lovers want to protect Venice's famous squares and architecture from the millions of tourists. This made Italy's Culture Minister say that there is a "(9) ____ risk" of the United Nations culture agency UNESCO adding Venice to its (10) ____ of World Heritage in Danger sites. However, a hotel worker said Venice needed cruise ships. He said: "They spend (11) ____ in a short time, before sailing out." A city official is worried that charging tourists a fee to enter will (12) ____ Venice into a "theme park".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) once (b) two (c) one (d) only
(a) caused (b) cased (c) because (d) become
(a) these (b) them (c) they (d) that
(a) to (b) of (c) at (d) on
(a) at (b) from (c) to (d) as
(a) site (b) magazine (c) journal (d) book
(a) being (b) giggling (c) flocking (d) frolicking
(a) lively (b) living (c) live (d) life
(a) concrete (b) adobe (c) cement (d) plaster
(a) lest (b) list (c) last (d) wrist
(a) lot (b) big (c) rich (d) buy
(a) twist (b) veer (c) turn (d) exchange

Spelling

Paragraph 1

Italy is one of the world's top tourist stsnioetdian
the coronavirus dacnepim
many problems such as lpoiolnut
city alfiisocf
the city's lrhtoicsai centre
set a iltim

Paragraph 2

visitors lingcofk to the city
gihretea lovers
Venice's famous squares and thaireurctec
there is a cenrcoet risk
eusirc ships
tmehe park

Put the text back together

(...) that charging tourists a fee to enter will turn Venice into a "theme park".
(...) visit the city's historical centre and its beautiful canals. According to Italy's La Stampa newspaper, entry
(...) of World Heritage in Danger sites. However, a hotel worker said Venice needed cruise
(...) is a "concrete risk" of the United Nations culture agency UNESCO adding Venice to its list
(...) the centre each day. Tourists may need to book their visit to Venice before they go.
( 1 ) Venice, Italy is one of the world's top tourist destinations. Before the coronavirus pandemic, around 20 million
(...) into Venice could cost between three euros ($3.50) and 10 euros. This could start from the
(...) worried about the damage cruise ships do to marine life in the Venice Lagoon. Heritage lovers want to protect Venice's
(...) ships. He said: "They spend big in a short time, before sailing out." A city official is worried
(...) summer of 2022. There are also plans to set a limit on the number of visitors who can enter
(...) visitors a year visited the city. This caused many problems such as pollution from cruise ships and
(...) famous squares and architecture from the millions of tourists. This made Italy's Culture Minister say that there
(...) Venice officials have talked for many years about the number of visitors flocking to the city. Environmentalists are
(...) overcrowding. To deal with these problems, city officials are planning to charge tourists to

Put the words in the right order

top is the one of Venice destinations . tourist
the year a 20 million Around visitors visited city .
problems caused as This such many pollution .
of number limit visitors . the Set a on
their need may Tourists book to visit .
to the The number flocking city . visitors of
is concrete risk . Italy a there said
Venice's to Heritage famous protect lovers squares . want
worker A needed cruise Venice said hotel ships .
Venice turn a will theme Fees park . into

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Venice, Italy is one / only of the world's top tourist destinations. Before the coronavirus pandemic, around 20 million visitors the / a year visited the city. This caused many problems such as / was pollution from cruise ships and overcrowding. To dealing / deal with these problems, city officials are planning to charge / change tourists to visit the city's historical centre and its beautiful canals. According to / at Italy's La Stampa newspaper, entry into Venice could price / cost between three euros ($3.50) and 10 euros. This could start from the summer of 2022. There are also plans to let / set a limit on the number of visitors what / who can enter the centre each day. Tourists may need to book their visit to Venice before they come / go.

Venice officials have talked so / for many years about the number of visitors flocking / flicking to the city. Environmentalists are worried about the damage cruise ships do / due to marine life in the Venice Lagoon. Heritage lovers want to protect Venice's famous triangles / squares and architecture from the millions at / of tourists. This made Italy's Culture Minister say that there is a "concrete / cement risk" of the United Nations culture agency UNESCO adding Venice to its list at / of World Heritage in Danger sites. However, a hotel worker said / say Venice needed cruise ships. He said: "They spend big in a short time, before selling / sailing out." A city official is worried that charging tourists a fee to enter will turn Venice onto / into a "theme park".

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)

V_n_c_, _t_ly _s _n_ _f th_ w_rld's t_p t__r_st d_st_n_t__ns. B_f_r_ th_ c_r_n_v_r_s p_nd_m_c, _r__nd 20 m_ll__n v_s_t_rs _ y__r v_s_t_d th_ c_ty. Th_s c__s_d m_ny pr_bl_ms s_ch _s p_ll_t__n fr_m cr__s_ sh_ps _nd _v_rcr_wd_ng. T_ d__l w_th th_s_ pr_bl_ms, c_ty _ff_c__ls _r_ pl_nn_ng t_ ch_rg_ t__r_sts t_ v_s_t th_ c_ty's h_st_r_c_l c_ntr_ _nd _ts b___t_f_l c_n_ls. _cc_rd_ng t_ _t_ly's L_ St_mp_ n_wsp_p_r, _ntry _nt_ V_n_c_ c__ld c_st b_tw__n thr__ __r_s ($3.50) _nd 10 __r_s. Th_s c__ld st_rt fr_m th_ s_mm_r _f 2022. Th_r_ _r_ _ls_ pl_ns t_ s_t _ l_m_t _n th_ n_mb_r _f v_s_t_rs wh_ c_n _nt_r th_ c_ntr_ __ch d_y. T__r_sts m_y n__d t_ b__k th__r v_s_t t_ V_n_c_ b_f_r_ th_y g_.

V_n_c_ _ff_c__ls h_v_ t_lk_d f_r m_ny y__rs _b__t th_ n_mb_r _f v_s_t_rs fl_ck_ng t_ th_ c_ty. _nv_r_nm_nt_l_sts _r_ w_rr__d _b__t th_ d_m_g_ cr__s_ sh_ps d_ t_ m_r_n_ l_f_ _n th_ V_n_c_ L_g__n. H_r_t_g_ l_v_rs w_nt t_ pr_t_ct V_n_c_'s f_m__s sq__r_s _nd _rch_t_ct_r_ fr_m th_ m_ll__ns _f t__r_sts. Th_s m_d_ _t_ly's C_lt_r_ M_n_st_r s_y th_t th_r_ _s _ "c_ncr_t_ r_sk" _f th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns c_lt_r_ _g_ncy _N_SC_ _dd_ng V_n_c_ t_ _ts l_st _f W_rld H_r_t_g_ _n D_ng_r s_t_s. H_w_v_r, _ h_t_l w_rk_r s__d V_n_c_ n__d_d cr__s_ sh_ps. H_ s__d: "Th_y sp_nd b_g _n _ sh_rt t_m_, b_f_r_ s__l_ng __t." _ c_ty _ff_c__l _s w_rr__d th_t ch_rg_ng t__r_sts _ f__ t_ _nt_r w_ll t_rn V_n_c_ _nt_ _ "th_m_ p_rk".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

venice italy is one of the worlds top tourist destinations before the coronavirus pandemic around 20 million visitors a year visited the city this caused many problems such as pollution from cruise ships and overcrowding to deal with these problems city officials are planning to charge tourists to visit the citys historical centre and its beautiful canals according to italys La Stampa newspaper entry into venice could cost between three euros 350 and 10 euros this could start from the summer of 2022 there are also plans to set a limit on the number of visitors who can enter the centre each day tourists may need to book their visit to venice before they go

venice officials have talked for many years about the number of visitors flocking to the city environmentalists are worried about the damage cruise ships do to marine life in the venice lagoon heritage lovers want to protect venices famous squares and architecture from the millions of tourists this made italys culture minister say that there is a concrete risk of the united nations culture agency unesco adding venice to its list of world heritage in danger sites however a hotel worker said venice needed cruise ships he said they spend big in a short time before sailing out a city official is worried that charging tourists a fee to enter will turn venice into a theme park

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Venice,Italyisoneoftheworld'stoptouristdestinations.Beforethecoro
naviruspandemic,around20millionvisitorsayearvisitedthecity.Thisc
ausedmanyproblemssuchaspollutionfromcruiseshipsandovercrowdi
ng.Todealwiththeseproblems,cityofficialsareplanningtochargetouri
ststovisitthecity'shistoricalcentreanditsbeautifulcanals.Accordingto
Italy'sLaStampanewspaper,entryintoVenicecouldcostbetweenthree
euros($3.50)and10euros.Thiscouldstartfromthesummerof2022.Th
erearealsoplanstosetalimitonthenumberofvisitorswhocanenterthec
entreeachday.TouristsmayneedtobooktheirvisittoVenicebeforethey
go.Veniceofficialshavetalkedformanyyearsaboutthenumberofvisito
rsflockingtothecity.Environmentalistsareworriedaboutthedamagecr
uiseshipsdotomarinelifeintheVeniceLagoon.Heritageloverswanttopr
otectVenice'sfamoussquaresandarchitecturefromthemillionsoftouri
sts.ThismadeItaly'sCultureMinistersaythatthereisa"concreterisk"of
theUnitedNationscultureagencyUNESCOaddingVenicetoitslistofWor
ldHeritageinDangersites.However,ahotelworkersaidVeniceneededc
ruiseships.Hesaid:"Theyspendbiginashorttime,beforesailingout."Ac
ityofficialisworriedthatchargingtouristsafeetoenterwillturnVeniceint
oa"themepark".

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

It is a good idea to charge tourists for visiting cities. 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. VENICE: Make a poster about Venice. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. TOURIST FEE: Write a magazine article about all cities charging tourists a fee to enter. 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 Venice. Ask him/her three questions about the city. 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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