Breaking News English Lesson: Millionaires and Tax

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Millionaires' Tax (26th May, 2022)

The Reading / Listening - Millionaires say 'tax us more' - Level 3

Times are hard for many people. Prices are rising around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine War have pushed up food and energy bills. In some countries, the price of energy has tripled. In other countries, food is 20 per cent more expensive than a year ago. A group of wealthy business leaders who own multi-billion-dollar companies has asked their governments to tax them more. The leaders met at a meeting of global leaders in Davos, Switzerland. The group of multi-millionaires and billionaires actually protested in the streets. They called for governments to increase taxes for people like them. They marched in the streets with left-wing activists. The protestors wanted fairer tax systems. The World Economic Forum has been held in Davos, Switzerland since 1971. World leaders meet there once a year to discuss global problems. The group of wealthy business people called themselves the Patriotic Millionaires. A UK millionaire said: "It's outrageous that our political leaders listen to those who have the most but know the least about the economic impact of this cost of living crisis." He said many super-rich people "pay infamously little in taxes". He added: "The only acceptable outcome from this conference is to tax the richest and tax us now." Another millionaire at the protest said: "We have hit the end of the line when another quarter of a billion people will be pushed into extreme poverty this year."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Millionaires say 'tax us more' - Level 0, Millionaires say 'tax us more' - Level 1 or Millionaires say 'tax us more' - Level 2

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61549155
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/22/millionaires-join-davos-protests-demanding-tax-us-now-taxation-wealthy-cost-of-living-crisis
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/05/22/tax-rich-say-millionaire-activists-protesting-davos-amid-record-wealth-inequality

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. TAX: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about tax. 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?
times / prices / the world / pandemic / Ukraine / expensive / millionaire / tax /
leaders / global problems / wealthy / leaders / cost of living / crisis / poverty
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. HIGHER TAXES: Students A strongly believe rich people should pay much higher taxes; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HARD TIMES: Have you experienced these hard times? What can we do to survive them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Your Experience	How to Survive
Money
Stress
No food
No friends
Being cold
Bullying

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. CRISIS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "crisis". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. PRICES: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst things to increase in price at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Bread
Internet
Chocolate
Coffee
Books
Electricity
Water
English lessons

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	hard	a.	Having three times the usual size.
2.	rising	b.	Difficult.
3.	bill	c.	A paper that tells how much you must pay for the gas, electricity, water you used.
4.	tripled	d.	The side of politics that believes in changing society.
5.	wealthy	e.	A person who campaigns to bring political or social change.
6.	left-wing	f.	Going up.
7.	activist	g.	Very, very, very rich.

Paragraph 2

8.	held	h.	The effect of one thing on another thing.
9.	patriotic	i.	A time of intense difficulty or danger.
10.	outrageous	j.	The way a thing turns out; the result of something.
11.	impact	k.	Really, really, really shocking.
12.	crisis	l.	The state of being very, very poor.
13.	outcome	m.	Arrange and take part in an event or party.
14.	poverty	n.	Having a love for one's country.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says many people are hard at times. T / F
Food prices went up by 20% in a year in some countries. T / F
A group of rich people wants governments to tax them more. T / F
Millionaires marched in the streets calling for higher taxes. T / F
World leaders meet at Davos every two years. T / F
A millionaire said the people who have the most know the least. T / F
A millionaire said rich people are famous for paying high taxes. T / F
A millionaire said a quarter of a billion people will experience poverty. T / F

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

hard
pushed up
wealthy
protested
activists
global
outrageous
impact
outcome
extreme

shocking
demonstrated
worldwide
rich
difficult
very great
result
increased
effect
campaigners

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

Times are
the price of energy
A group of wealthy
multi-millionaires and
They marched in the streets
World leaders meet there
the economic impact of this cost
We have hit the end
another quarter of
people will be pushed into extreme

billionaires
of the line
with left-wing activists
of living crisis
business leaders
a billion people
hard for many people
poverty
has tripled
once a year

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

met
hard
activists
protested
fairer
pushed
wealthy
taxes

Times are (1) _____________________ for many people. Prices are rising around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine War have (2) _____________________ up food and energy bills. In some countries, the price of energy has tripled. In other countries, food is 20 per cent more expensive than a year ago. A group of (3) _____________________ business leaders who own multi-billion-dollar companies has asked their governments to tax them more. The leaders (4) _____________________ at a meeting of global leaders in Davos, Switzerland. The group of multi-millionaires and billionaires actually (5) _____________________ in the streets. They called for governments to increase (6) _____________________ for people like them. They marched in the streets with left-wing (7) _____________________. The protestors wanted (8) _____________________ tax systems.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

least
held
end
themselves
once
poverty
richest
outrageous

The World Economic Forum has been (9) _____________________ in Davos, Switzerland since 1971. World leaders meet there (10) _____________________ a year to discuss global problems. The group of wealthy business people called (11) _____________________ the Patriotic Millionaires. A UK millionaire said: "It's (12) _____________________ that our political leaders listen to those who have the most but know the (13) _____________________ about the economic impact of this cost of living crisis." He said many super-rich people "pay infamously little in taxes". He added: "The only acceptable outcome from this conference is to tax the (14) _____________________ and tax us now." Another millionaire at the protest said: "We have hit the (15) _____________________ of the line when another quarter of a billion people will be pushed into extreme (16) _____________________ this year."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Times are hard for many people. Prices are rising ______
     a. around the world
     b. abound the world
     c. round the world
     d. are round the world
2) The COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine War have pushed up food ______
     a. and energy dills
     b. and energy bills
     c. and energy veils
     d. and energy balls
3) multi-billion-dollar companies has asked their governments to ______
     a. tax them ore
     b. tax them moor
     c. tax them more
     d. tax them oar
4) They marched in the streets with ______
     a. left-ring activists
     b. left-win activists
     c. left-wing activists
     d. left-thing activists
5) The protestors wanted ______
     a. fairer tax systems
     b. fairy tax systems
     c. father tax systems
     d. farther tax systems

6) The World Economic Forum has been held in Davos, ______
     a. Switzerland since 1971
     b. Switzerland sins 1971
     c. Switzerland for 1971
     d. Switzerland sinks 1971
7) those who have the most but know the least about ______
     a. the economic compact
     b. the economic imp pact
     c. the economic impact
     d. the economic in pact
8) The only acceptable outcome from this conference is to ______
     a. tax a richest
     b. tax the riches
     c. tax the richest
     d. tax the riches
9) Another millionaire at the protest said: "We have hit the end ______
     a. off the line
     b. on the line
     c. offer line
     d. of the line
10) another quarter of a billion people will be pushed ______
     a. into egg stream poverty
     b. into extreme poverty
     c. into extremity poverty
     d. into extremely poverty

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Times (1) ____________________ many people. Prices are rising around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine War (2) ____________________ food and energy bills. In some countries, the price of energy has tripled. In other countries, food is 20 per cent more expensive (3) ____________________ ago. A group of wealthy business (4) ____________________ multi-billion-dollar companies has asked their governments to tax them more. The leaders met at a meeting (5) ____________________ in Davos, Switzerland. The group of multi-millionaires and billionaires actually protested in the streets. They called for governments to increase taxes for people like them. They marched in the streets with left-wing activists. The protestors (6) ____________________ systems.

The World Economic Forum (7) ____________________ in Davos, Switzerland since 1971. World leaders meet there once a year to discuss global problems. The (8) ____________________ business people called themselves the Patriotic Millionaires. A UK millionaire said: "It's outrageous that our political leaders (9) ____________________ who have the most but know the least about the economic impact of this cost of living crisis." He said many super-rich people "pay infamously (10) ____________________". He added: "The only acceptable outcome from this conference is to tax the richest and tax us now." Another millionaire at the protest said: "We have (11) ____________________ of the line when another quarter of a billion people will be pushed into extreme (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

What does the article say is hard?
What pushed up prices besides COVID-19?
By how much has food risen in some countries in the past year?
Where in Davos did the millionaires protest?
Who did the group of millionaires march with?
When was the first meeting in Davos held?
What name did the millionaire protestors give to themselves?
Who did a millionaire say knew the least?
What did a millionaire protestor say we had hit the end of?
What will a quarter of a billion people be pushed into?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say is hard?
a) food
b) times
c) prices
d) COVID-19
2) What pushed up prices besides COVID-19?
a) gas prices
b) global warming
c) inflation
d) the Ukraine War
3) By how much has food risen in some countries in the past year?
a) a little
b) a lot
c) 20%
d) 12%
4) Where in Davos did the millionaires protest?
a) in the streets
b) in a billionaire's luxury mansion
c) in a conference hall
d) in a shopping mall
5) Who did the group of millionaires march with?
a) billionaires
b) left-wing activists
c) a marching band
d) children

6) When was the first meeting in Davos held?
a) 1971
b) 1972
c) 1973
d) 1974
7) What name did the millionaire protestors give to themselves?
a) the Millionaire Patriots
b) the Millionaire Patrons
c) the Patriotic Millionaires
d) the Patron Millionaires
8) Who did a millionaire say knew the least?
a) those who have the most
b) professors
c) billionaires
d) business leaders
9) What did a millionaire protestor say we had hit the end of?
a) good times
b) the road
c) our patience
d) the line
10) What will a quarter of a billion people be pushed into?
a) poor houses
b) eating less
c) extreme poverty
d) working extra hours

Role play

Role A – Bread
You think bread is the worst thing to increase in price. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't so bad if their things go up in price. Also, tell the others which is the least painful of these (and why): Internet fees, electricity or English lessons.

Role B – Internet
You think Internet fees are the worst things to increase in price. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't so bad if their things go up in price. Also, tell the others which is the least painful of these (and why): bread, electricity or English lessons.

Role C – Electricity
You think electricity is the worst thing to increase in price. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't so bad if their things go up in price. Also, tell the others which is the least painful of these (and why): Internet fees, bread or English lessons.

Role D – English Lessons
You think English lessons are the worst things to increase in price. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't so bad if their things go up in price. Also, tell the others which is the least painful of these (and why): Internet fees, electricity or bread.

After reading / listening

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

'millionaire'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'tax'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

hard

rising

ago

actually

streets

systems

held

once

listen

crisis

now

pushed

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 - Millionaires say 'tax us more'

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 'millionaire'?
How hard is life for you?
Is life getting harder or easier for you?
What are food prices like in your country?
What things do you not buy if you have little money?
Should wealthy people pay more tax?
Why do governments not tax wealthy people more?
What do you think of the millionaires who want to pay more tax?
What would make you march in the streets?

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 'tax'?
What do you think about what you read?
How patriotic are you?
What do world leaders need to discuss?
Do people who have the most know the least about life?
What would make life better for you?
What do you think of tax?
Why do people live in poverty in the 21st century?
What questions would you like to ask the Patriotic Millionaires?

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)

Times are (1) ____ for many people. Prices are (2) ____ around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine War have pushed up food and energy bills. In some countries, the price of energy has (3) ____. In other countries, food is 20 per cent more expensive than a year ago. A group of wealthy business leaders who (4) ____ multi-billion-dollar companies has asked their governments to tax them more. The leaders met at a meeting of global leaders in Davos, Switzerland. The group of multi-millionaires and billionaires actually protested (5) ____ the streets. They called for governments to increase taxes for people like them. They marched in the streets with left-(6) ____ activists. The protestors wanted fairer tax systems.

The World Economic Forum has been (7) ____ in Davos, Switzerland since 1971. World leaders meet there once a year to discuss global problems. The group of wealthy business people called themselves the Patriotic Millionaires. A UK millionaire said: "It's (8) ____ that our political leaders listen to those who have the most but know the least about the economic impact of this cost of (9) ____ crisis." He said many super-rich people "pay (10) ____ little in taxes". He added: "The only acceptable (11) ____ from this conference is to tax the richest and tax us now." Another millionaire at the protest said: "We have hit the end of the (12) ____ when another quarter of a billion people will be pushed into extreme poverty this year."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) hard (b) hardly (c) harden (d) hardens
(a) arising (b) raising (c) rising (d) rise
(a) triplet (b) trio (c) tripled (d) tripped
(a) down (b) disown (c) drown (d) own
(a) at (b) to (c) in (d) of
(a) leg (b) wing (c) arm (d) tentacle
(a) grasped (b) held (c) gripped (d) touched
(a) scourges (b) outrageous (c) ages (d) courageous
(a) enliven (b) lively (c) living (d) livelihood
(a) well known (b) famously (c) unknown (d) infamously
(a) income (b) overcome (c) come (d) outcome
(a) cash (b) century (c) tether (d) line

Spelling

Paragraph 1

The COVID-19 emdcpnia
the price of energy has eitplrd
A group of eahytwl business leaders
millionaires and irolsiialben
rsedttoep in the streets
left-wing itvcasits

Paragraph 2

sudicss global problems
iopialctl leaders
super-rich people pay flsuoayimn little
The only bcpetcaela outcome
another etarruq of a billion people
pushed into emxeret poverty

Put the text back together

(...) billionaires actually protested in the streets. They called for governments to increase taxes for people like them. They marched
(...) and Ukraine War have pushed up food and energy bills. In some countries, the price of energy has
(...) taxes". He added: "The only acceptable outcome from this conference is to tax the richest
( 1 ) Times are hard for many people. Prices are rising around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic
(...) quarter of a billion people will be pushed into extreme poverty this year."
(...) a year to discuss global problems. The group of wealthy business people called themselves the
(...) least about the economic impact of this cost of living crisis." He said many super-rich people "pay infamously little in
(...) of wealthy business leaders who own multi-billion-dollar companies has asked their governments to tax them
(...) and tax us now." Another millionaire at the protest said: "We have hit the end of the line when another
(...) Patriotic Millionaires. A UK millionaire said: "It's outrageous that our political leaders listen to those who have the most but know the
(...) in the streets with left-wing activists. The protestors wanted fairer tax systems.
(...) The World Economic Forum has been held in Davos, Switzerland since 1971. World leaders meet there once
(...) more. The leaders met at a meeting of global leaders in Davos, Switzerland. The group of multi-millionaires and
(...) tripled. In other countries, food is 20 per cent more expensive than a year ago. A group

Put the words in the right order

are Prices world . around the rising all
some In of price tripled . the countries, energy
to more . They tax asked them their governments
increase governments for called to They taxes .
left-wing the They streets with marched in activists .
meet year . once leaders World a there
have but least . most the know the They
conference . acceptable from The only outcome this
end of the the line . hit We have
pushed poverty . into will People be extreme

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Times are hard for many people. Prices are raising / rising around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine War have pushed up / out food and energy bills. In some countries, the price of energy has troubled / tripled. In other countries, food is 20 per cent more expensive for / than a year ago. A group of wealthy business leaders who own / down multi-billion-dollar companies has asked their governments to tax them much / more. The leaders met at a meeting of globe / global leaders in Davos, Switzerland. The group of multi-millionaires and billionaires actually protected / protested in the streets. They called for governments to increase / decrease taxes for people like them. They marched in the streets with left-wing activists. The protestors wanted fairer / fairy tax systems.

The World Economic Forum has been hold / held in Davos, Switzerland since 1971. World leaders meet there once / ones a year to discuss global problems. The group of wealth / wealthy business people called themselves the Patriotic Millionaires. A UK millionaire said: "It's courageous / outrageous that our political leaders listen to / at those who have the most but know the least about the economic impact of this cost of / off living crisis." He said many super-rich people "pay infamously little / small in taxes". He added: "The only acceptable outcome / income from this conference is to tax the richest and tax us know / now." Another millionaire at the protest said: "We have hit the end of the line when another quarter of a billion people will be pushed into extreme / extremely poverty this year."

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

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

T_m_s _r_ h_rd f_r m_ny p__pl_. Pr_c_s _r_ r_s_ng _r__nd th_ w_rld. Th_ C_V_D-19 p_nd_m_c _nd _kr__n_ W_r h_v_ p_sh_d _p f__d _nd _n_rgy b_lls. _n s_m_ c__ntr__s, th_ pr_c_ _f _n_rgy h_s tr_pl_d. _n _th_r c__ntr__s, f__d _s 20 p_r c_nt m_r_ _xp_ns_v_ th_n _ y__r _g_. _ gr__p _f w__lthy b_s_n_ss l__d_rs wh_ _wn m_lt_-b_ll__n-d_ll_r c_mp_n__s h_s _sk_d th__r g_v_rnm_nts t_ t_x th_m m_r_. Th_ l__d_rs m_t _t _ m__t_ng _f gl_b_l l__d_rs _n D_v_s, Sw_tz_rl_nd. Th_ gr__p _f m_lt_-m_ll__n__r_s _nd b_ll__n__r_s _ct__lly pr_t_st_d _n th_ str__ts. Th_y c_ll_d f_r g_v_rnm_nts t_ _ncr__s_ t_x_s f_r p__pl_ l_k_ th_m. Th_y m_rch_d _n th_ str__ts w_th l_ft-w_ng _ct_v_sts. Th_ pr_t_st_rs w_nt_d f__r_r t_x syst_ms.

Th_ W_rld _c_n_m_c F_r_m h_s b__n h_ld _n D_v_s, Sw_tz_rl_nd s_nc_ 1971. W_rld l__d_rs m__t th_r_ _nc_ _ y__r t_ d_sc_ss gl_b_l pr_bl_ms. Th_ gr__p _f w__lthy b_s_n_ss p__pl_ c_ll_d th_ms_lv_s th_ P_tr__t_c M_ll__n__r_s. _ _K m_ll__n__r_ s__d: "_t's __tr_g___s th_t __r p_l_t_c_l l__d_rs l_st_n t_ th_s_ wh_ h_v_ th_ m_st b_t kn_w th_ l__st _b__t th_ _c_n_m_c _mp_ct _f th_s c_st _f l_v_ng cr_s_s." H_ s__d m_ny s_p_r-r_ch p__pl_ "p_y _nf_m__sly l_ttl_ _n t_x_s". H_ _dd_d: "Th_ _nly _cc_pt_bl_ __tc_m_ fr_m th_s c_nf_r_nc_ _s t_ t_x th_ r_ch_st _nd t_x _s n_w." _n_th_r m_ll__n__r_ _t th_ pr_t_st s__d: "W_ h_v_ h_t th_ _nd _f th_ l_n_ wh_n _n_th_r q__rt_r _f _ b_ll__n p__pl_ w_ll b_ p_sh_d _nt_ _xtr_m_ p_v_rty th_s y__r."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

times are hard for many people prices are rising around the world the covid19 pandemic and ukraine war have pushed up food and energy bills in some countries the price of energy has tripled in other countries food is 20 per cent more expensive than a year ago a group of wealthy business leaders who own multibilliondollar companies has asked their governments to tax them more the leaders met at a meeting of global leaders in davos switzerland the group of multimillionaires and billionaires actually protested in the streets they called for governments to increase taxes for people like them they marched in the streets with leftwing activists the protestors wanted fairer tax systems

the world economic forum has been held in davos switzerland since 1971 world leaders meet there once a year to discuss global problems the group of wealthy business people called themselves the patriotic millionaires a uk millionaire said its outrageous that our political leaders listen to those who have the most but know the least about the economic impact of this cost of living crisis he said many superrich people pay infamously little in taxes he added the only acceptable outcome from this conference is to tax the richest and tax us now another millionaire at the protest said we have hit the end of the line when another quarter of a billion people will be pushed into extreme poverty this year

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Timesarehardformanypeople.Pricesarerisingaroundtheworld.TheC
OVID-19pandemicandUkraineWarhavepushedupfoodandenergyb
ills.Insomecountries,thepriceofenergyhastripled.Inothercountries,f
oodis20percentmoreexpensivethanayearago.Agroupofwealthybusi
nessleaderswhoownmulti-billion-dollarcompanieshasaskedtheirgo
vernmentstotaxthemmore.Theleadersmetatameetingofgloballeade
rsinDavos,Switzerland.Thegroupofmulti-millionairesandbillionai
resactuallyprotestedinthestreets.Theycalledforgovernmentstoincre
asetaxesforpeoplelikethem.Theymarchedinthestreetswithleft-win
gactivists.Theprotestorswantedfairertaxsystems.TheWorldEconom
icForumhasbeenheldinDavos,Switzerlandsince1971.Worldleaders
meetthereonceayeartodiscussglobalproblems.Thegroupofwealthyb
usinesspeoplecalledthemselvesthePatrioticMillionaires.AUKmilliona
iresaid:"It'soutrageousthatourpoliticalleaderslistentothosewhohav
ethemostbutknowtheleastabouttheeconomicimpactofthiscostoflivi
ngcrisis."Hesaidmanysuper-richpeople"payinfamouslylittleintaxes
".Headded:"Theonlyacceptableoutcomefromthisconferenceistotaxt
herichestandtaxusnow."Anothermillionaireattheprotestsaid:"Weha
vehittheendofthelinewhenanotherquarterofabillionpeoplewillbepus
hedintoextremepovertythisyear."

Free writing

Write about millionaires' tax for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

The rich, and big companies should pay much more tax immediately. 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. TAX: Make a poster about tax. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. MAXIMUM TAX: Write a magazine article about taxing the wealthy and big companies to the maximum. 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 tax. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on tax. 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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Breaking News English Lesson: Millionaires and Tax

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