Breaking News English Lesson: UK Sewage Crisis

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Raw sewage keeps swimmers away from UK beaches (10th August 2023)

The Reading / Listening - UK Sewage Crisis - Level 3

The UK is experiencing "poonami" – a sewage crisis. The environmental group Greenpeace said water companies poured toilet waste into rivers and seas for more than 300,000 hours in 2022. Many people have complained about becoming sick after swimming in the sea. Others expressed concerns about the terrible smell on beaches, or the horrible brown colour of the water. The research company Savanta conducted a poll about people's opinions on the poor quality of water. Almost a quarter of swimmers said they might not swim in the sea this year because of the risk. Last week, at least 57 people got diarrhoea after competing in sea swimming events at a World Triathlon Championship.

England and Wales are the only countries in the world to have privatized their water and sewage services. The UK government sold its water to private companies in 1987. The companies promised to spend billions of pounds on making services better. However, many Britons have complained that things have become much worse. The privatized companies have not invested enough money in stopping leaks or in modernizing systems. Since 1991, they have paid over £2 billion a year to their shareholders. Water campaigner and ex-rock star Feargal Sharkey is angry with the water companies. He said they have failed to create a quality system. He also blamed the UK government for not acting.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

UK Sewage Crisis - Level 0, UK Sewage Crisis - Level 1 or UK Sewage Crisis - Level 2

Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/31/swimmers-avoiding-the-water-over-fears-of-raw-sewage-on-uk-beaches
https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2023/07/31/sewage-uk-water-pollution/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sewage-alerts-mapped-swimming-storm-b2388447.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. SEWAGE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about sewage. 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?
poonami / sewage / toilet waste / sick / swimming in the sea / smell / water / risk /
privatized / government / billions / invest / leaks / money / shareholders / angry
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. GOVERNMENT OWNED: Students A strongly believe water services should be government owned; Students B strongly believe qqqqqqq. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PUBLIC SERVICES: How good are these public services in your country? How could they be better Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Quality of Public Services	How They Could Be Better
Water
Electricity
Internet
Education
Health
Policing

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. WATER USES: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst uses of water at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Hose pipes
Swimming pools
Car washes
Water parks
Golf courses
Bottled water
Water pistols
Fountains

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	crisis	a.	Caused a liquid to flow from one place to another.
2.	poured	b.	Said or communicated what one thinks or means.
3.	waste	c.	A time of great difficulty or danger.
4.	expressed	d.	Very unpleasant.
5.	concern	e.	Anxiety; worry.
6.	horrible	f.	A stomach problem when poo leaves the body frequently and in a liquid form.
7.	diarrhoea	g.	The things our body no longer needs that goes down the toilet.

Paragraph 2

8.	privatized	h.	Said someone was responsible for a fault or a bad thing.
9.	complained	i.	Something accidentally losing water, liquid or gas, through a hole or crack.
10.	invested	j.	An owner of shares in a company.
11.	leak	k.	Transferred a business, industry, or service from public to private ownership and control.
12.	shareholder	l.	Told someone you are unhappy about something.
13.	campaigner	m.	A person who works in an organized and active way towards a goal or to bring change.
14.	blamed	n.	Put money into money-making schemes, shares, property, etc. with the hope of making a profit or making something better.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says a "poonami" is a sewage crisis. T / F
Water companies poured waste in the seas for 300,000 hours this year. T / F
The water in seas around England has turned yellow. T / F
More than 57 people got diarrhoea swimming in the sea at a triathlon. T / F
England and Wales are the only countries not to own their water. T / F
People in the UK say water services are worse now than in 1987. T / F
Water companies have stopped all the leaks in the UK's water pipes. T / F
An ex-rock star blames the UK government for poor water services. T / F

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

crisis
complained
sick
opinions
risk
companies
promised
invested
paid
acting

pledged
beliefs
handed over
corporations
protested
doing something
danger
disaster
put money into
ill

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

water companies poured
the horrible brown colour
conducted a poll
Almost a quarter
at least 57 people got
privatized
companies promised to spend
complained that things have
they have paid over £2 billion a year
He also blamed the UK government

of swimmers
become much worse
billions of pounds
toilet waste into rivers
to their shareholders
of the water
diarrhoea
for not acting
about people's opinions
their water

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

sick
horrible
risk
concerns
competing
poured
group
opinions

The UK is experiencing "poonami" - a sewage crisis. The environmental (1) _____________________ Greenpeace said water companies (2) _____________________ toilet waste into rivers and seas for more than 300,000 hours in 2022. Many people have complained about becoming (3) _____________________ after swimming in the sea. Others expressed (4) _____________________ about the terrible smell on beaches, or the (5) _____________________ brown colour of the water. The research company Savanta conducted a poll about people's (6) _____________________ on the poor quality of water. Almost a quarter of swimmers said they might not swim in the sea this year because of the (7) _____________________. Last week, at least 57 people got diarrhoea after (8) _____________________ in sea swimming events at a World Triathlon Championship.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

worse
angry
countries
billions
blamed
shareholders
private
leaks

England and Wales are the only (9) _____________________ in the world to have privatized their water and sewage services. The UK government sold its water to (10) _____________________ companies in 1987. The companies promised to spend (11) _____________________ of pounds on making services better. However, many Britons have complained that things have become much (12) _____________________. The privatized companies have not invested enough money in stopping (13) _____________________ or in modernizing systems. Since 1991, they have paid over £2 billion a year to their (14) _____________________. Water campaigner and ex-rock star Feargal Sharkey is (15) _____________________ with the water companies. He said they have failed to create a quality system. He also (16) _____________________ the UK government for not acting.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The UK is experiencing "poonami" - ______
     a. a sewage cries is
     b. a sewage cry sis
     c. a sewage crisis
     d. a sewage crises
2) Others expressed concerns about the terrible ______
     a. smelly on beaches
     b. smell on beeches
     c. smelt on beaches
     d. smell on beaches
3) The research company Savanta ______
     a. conducted a poll
     b. conducted a doll
     c. conducted a toll
     d. conducted a moll
4) a quarter of swimmers said they might not swim in the sea this year because ______
     a. off the risk
     b. of the risk
     c. oft the risk
     d. over the risk
5) at least 57 people got diarrhoea after competing in ______
     a. see swimming events
     b. sea swimming events
     c. sea swim in events
     d. sea swim inner vents

6) England and Wales are the only countries in the world to have ______
     a. privet tides their water
     b. private tides their water
     c. privatize their water
     d. privatized their water
7) However, many Britons have complained that things have ______
     a. become much wars
     b. become much wurst
     c. become much worst
     d. become much worse
8) The privatized companies have not invested enough money ______
     a. in stopping leaks
     b. in stopping leeks
     c. in stopping licks
     d. in stopping likes
9) Water campaigner and ex-rock star Feargal ______
     a. Sharkey is angrily
     b. Sharkey is hungry
     c. Sharkey is angry
     d. Sharkey is hangry
10) He also blamed the UK government ______
     a. for not aching
     b. for not acting
   c. for not act in
     d. for not action

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The UK is experiencing "poonami" - (1) ____________________. The environmental group Greenpeace said water companies (2) ____________________ into rivers and seas for more than 300,000 hours in 2022. Many people have complained about (3) ____________________ swimming in the sea. Others expressed concerns about the terrible smell on beaches, or (4) ____________________ colour of the water. The research company Savanta conducted a poll about people's opinions on the poor quality of water. Almost (5) ____________________ swimmers said they might not swim in the sea this year because (6) ____________________. Last week, at least 57 people got diarrhoea after competing in sea swimming events at a World Triathlon Championship.

England and Wales are the only countries in the world (7) ____________________ their water and sewage services. The UK government sold its water to private companies in 1987. The companies promised (8) ____________________ of pounds on making services better. However, many Britons have complained that things have become much worse. The privatized companies have (9) ____________________ money in stopping leaks or in modernizing systems. Since 1991, they have paid over £2 billion a year (10) ____________________. Water campaigner and ex-rock star Feargal Sharkey is angry with the water companies. He said they have failed to (11) ____________________ system. He also blamed the UK government (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

What does the article call the sewage crisis?
For how many hours did companies pour sewage into UK seas in 2022?
What colour is the water on some beaches in the UK?
How many swimmers might not swim in the sea in the UK this year?
What illness did at least 57 people get in the sea at a triathlon event?
How many countries around the world have privatized water services?
When did the UK government sell its water?
How much have water companies paid their shareholders?
Who does ex-rock star Feargal Sharkey blame for the poor water?
Who does ex-rock star Feargal Sharkey blame for not doing anything?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article call the sewage crisis?
a) wee wave
b) weenami
c) poonami
d) poo wave
2) For how many hours did companies pour sewage into UK seas in 2022?
a) 300,000
b) 200,000
c) 400,000
d) 500,000
3) What colour is the water on some beaches in the UK?
a) mushroom
b) brown
c) yellow
d) mustard
4) How many swimmers might not swim in the sea in the UK this year?
a) two-thirds
b) a fifth
c) a third
d) a quarter
5) What illness did at least 57 people get in the sea at a triathlon event?
a) gallstones
b) flatulence
c) diarrhoea
d) vomiting

6) How many countries around the world have privatized water services?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
7) When did the UK government sell its water?
a) 1989
b) 1988
c) 1986
d) 1987
8) How much have water companies paid their shareholders?
a) more than £3 billion a year
b) more than £2 billion a year
c) more than £5 billion a year
d) more than £4 billion a year
9) Who does ex-rock star Feargal Sharkey blame for the poor water?
a) other rock stars
b) water companies
c) people who live near the sea
d) swimmers
10) Who does ex-rock star Feargal Sharkey blame for not doing anything?
a) the UK government
b) swimmers
c) the UK people
d) people who live near the sea

Role play

Role A – Hose Pipes
You think hose pipes are the biggest waste of water. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least wasteful of these (and why): swimming pools, golf courses or bottled water.

Role B – Swimming Pools
You think swimming pools are the biggest waste of water. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least wasteful of these (and why): hose pipes, golf courses or bottled water.

Role C – Golf Courses
You think golf courses are the biggest waste of water. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least wasteful of these (and why): swimming pools, hose pipes or bottled water.

Role D – Bottled Water
You think bottled water is the biggest waste of water. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least wasteful of these (and why): swimming pools, golf courses or hose pipes.

After reading / listening

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

'sewage'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'beach'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

crisis

2022

terrible

horrible

almost

57

only

1987

worse

enough

1991

star

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 - UK Sewage Crisis

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 'sewage'?
What do you know about Greenpeace?
What do you think of pouring human sewage into the sea?
What's the best way to deal with sewage?
Should the UK government give people money who got sick?
What would you do if beaches smelled really bad?
What do you think of swimming in the sea?
What are rivers and beaches like in your country?
What do you think of the word 'poonami'?

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 'beach'?
What do you think about what you read?
Should water and sewage be run by private companies?
Why did the UK government sell its water?
How safe is the water in your country?
Why do companies care more about profit than people?
Should the UK take back its water and sewage services?
Would you go swimming in England?
What questions would you like to ask the private water companies?

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)

The UK is experiencing "poonami" - a sewage crisis. The environmental (1) ____ Greenpeace said water companies poured toilet (2) ____ into rivers and seas for more than 300,000 hours in 2022. Many people have complained about becoming sick after swimming in the sea. Others (3) ____ concerns about the terrible smell on beaches, or the horrible brown colour of the water. The research company Savanta conducted a (4) ____ about people's opinions on the poor quality of water. Almost a (5) ____ of swimmers said they might not swim in the sea this year because of the risk. Last week, at least 57 people got diarrhoea after competing (6) ____ sea swimming events at a World Triathlon Championship.

England and Wales are the only countries in the world to have (7) ____ their water and sewage services. The UK government sold its water to private companies in 1987. The companies promised to (8) ____ billions of pounds on making services better. However, many Britons have complained that things have become much (9) ____. The privatized companies have not invested enough money in stopping (10) ____ or in modernizing systems. Since 1991, they have paid over £2 billion a year to their (11) ____. Water campaigner and ex-rock star Feargal Sharkey is angry with the water companies. He said they have (12) ____ to create a quality system. He also blamed the UK government for not acting.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) groupie (b) group (c) grouped (d) groups
(a) taste (b) waste (c) baste (d) paste
(a) impressed (b) depressed (c) pressed (d) expressed
(a) doll (b) poll (c) moll (d) toll
(a) quart (b) quarter (c) quartile (d) quarterly
(a) on (b) of (c) in (d) by
(a) privacy (b) publicized (c) privatized (d) personalized
(a) buy (b) discount (c) spend (d) purchase
(a) verse (b) wurst (c) worst (d) worse
(a) licks (b) leeks (c) reeks (d) leaks
(a) shareholders (b) placeholders (c) cup holders (d) shoulders
(a) failure (b) fail (c) failed (d) failing

Spelling

Paragraph 1

a sewage riciss
The tioenvneanlmr group Greenpeace
people have mnioadclep about becoming sick
Others edrxsseep concerns
the lobhierr brown colour of the water
Almost a tarqure of swimmers

Paragraph 2

companies promised to spend bsiilonl of pounds
companies have not eesitvdn enough money
stopping keasl
Water grepnmaaic and ex-rock
failed to create a quality tseyms
He also lmaebd the UK government

Put the text back together

(...)   Greenpeace said water companies poured toilet waste into rivers and seas for more than 300,000
(...)   of the water. The research company Savanta conducted a poll about people's opinions on the poor
(...)   services. The UK government sold its water to private companies in 1987. The companies promised to spend
(...)   concerns about the terrible smell on beaches, or the horrible brown colour
(...)   worse. The privatized companies have not invested enough money in stopping
(...)   hours in 2022. Many people have complained about becoming sick after swimming in the sea. Others expressed
(...)   billions of pounds on making services better. However, many Britons have complained that things have become much
(...)   leaks or in modernizing systems. Since 1991, they have paid over £2 billion a year to their
(...)   shareholders. Water campaigner and ex-rock star Feargal Sharkey is angry with the water companies. He said they have
(...)   risk. Last week, at least 57 people got diarrhoea after competing in sea swimming events at a World Triathlon Championship.
( 1 ) The UK is experiencing "poonami" - a sewage crisis. The environmental group
(...)   failed to create a quality system. He also blamed the UK government for not acting.
(...)   England and Wales are the only countries in the world to have privatized their water and sewage
(...)   quality of water. Almost a quarter of swimmers said they might not swim in the sea this year because of the

Put the words in the right order

toilet rivers . waste poured Water into companies
people Many have becoming complained about sick .
the about smell Others complained beaches . on terrible
might they of A said swimmers quarter not .
people least after At got diarrhoea competing . 57
to government private its The water sold companies .
of billions making pounds on Spend better . services
invested The have money . not privatized enough companies
system . have to quality They failed a create
for also He not blamed government the acting .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The UK is experiencing "poonami" - a sewage crises / crisis. The environmental group Greenpeace said water companies poured toilet paste / waste into rivers and seas for more than 300,000 hours in 2022. Many people have complained about becoming sickness / sick after swimming in the sea. Others expressed corners / concerns about the terrible smell on beaches, or the horrible brown colour of / as the water. The research company Savanta conducted a pill / poll about people's opinions on the poor qualify / quality of water. Almost a quarter of / to swimmers said they might not swim in the sea this year because of / on the risk. Last week, at least 57 people got diarrhoea after competing in / on sea swimming events at a World Triathlon Championship.

England and Wales are the only countries on / in the world to have privatized their / them water and sewage services. The UK government sold its water on / to private companies in 1987. The companies promised for / to spend billions of pounds on making services better. However, many Britons have complained what / that things have become much worse. The privatized companies have not invested enough money in / by stopping leaks or in modernizing systems. Since 1991, they have bought / paid over £2 billion a year to their shareholders. Water campaigner and ex-rock star Feargal Sharkey is angrily / angry with the water companies. He said they have failure / failed to create a quality system. He also blamed the UK government for not acting / action.

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)

Th_ _K _s _xp_r__nc_ng "p__n_m_" - _ s_w_g_ cr_s_s. Th_ _nv_r_nm_nt_l gr__p Gr__np__c_ s__d w_t_r c_mp_n__s p__r_d t__l_t w_st_ _nt_ r_v_rs _nd s__s f_r m_r_ th_n 300,000 h__rs _n 2022. M_ny p__pl_ h_v_ c_mpl__n_d _b__t b_c_m_ng s_ck _ft_r sw_mm_ng _n th_ s__. _th_rs _xpr_ss_d c_nc_rns _b__t th_ t_rr_bl_ sm_ll _n b__ch_s, _r th_ h_rr_bl_ br_wn c_l__r _f th_ w_t_r. Th_ r_s__rch c_mp_ny S_v_nt_ c_nd_ct_d _ p_ll _b__t p__pl_'s _p_n__ns _n th_ p__r q__l_ty _f w_t_r. _lm_st _ q__rt_r _f sw_mm_rs s__d th_y m_ght n_t sw_m _n th_ s__ th_s y__r b_c__s_ _f th_ r_sk. L_st w__k, _t l__st 57 p__pl_ g_t d__rrh___ _ft_r c_mp_t_ng _n s__ sw_mm_ng _v_nts _t _ W_rld Tr__thl_n Ch_mp__nsh_p.

_ngl_nd _nd W_l_s _r_ th_ _nly c__ntr__s _n th_ w_rld t_ h_v_ pr_v_t_z_d th__r w_t_r _nd s_w_g_ s_rv_c_s. Th_ _K g_v_rnm_nt s_ld _ts w_t_r t_ pr_v_t_ c_mp_n__s _n 1987. Th_ c_mp_n__s pr_m_s_d t_ sp_nd b_ll__ns _f p__nds _n m_k_ng s_rv_c_s b_tt_r. H_w_v_r, m_ny Br_t_ns h_v_ c_mpl__n_d th_t th_ngs h_v_ b_c_m_ m_ch w_rs_. Th_ pr_v_t_z_d c_mp_n__s h_v_ n_t _nv_st_d _n__gh m_n_y _n st_pp_ng l__ks _r _n m_d_rn_z_ng syst_ms. S_nc_ 1991, th_y h_v_ p__d _v_r £2 b_ll__n _ y__r t_ th__r sh_r_h_ld_rs. W_t_r c_mp__gn_r _nd _x-r_ck st_r F__rg_l Sh_rk_y _s _ngry w_th th_ w_t_r c_mp_n__s. H_ s__d th_y h_v_ f__l_d t_ cr__t_ _ q__l_ty syst_m. H_ _ls_ bl_m_d th_ _K g_v_rnm_nt f_r n_t _ct_ng.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the uk is experiencing poonami a sewage crisis the environmental group greenpeace said water companies poured toilet waste into rivers and seas for more than 300000 hours in 2022 many people have complained about becoming sick after swimming in the sea others expressed concerns about the terrible smell on beaches or the horrible brown colour of the water the research company savanta conducted a poll about peoples opinions on the poor quality of water almost a quarter of swimmers said they might not swim in the sea this year because of the risk last week at least 57 people got diarrhoea after competing in sea swimming events at a world triathlon championship event

england and wales are the only countries in the world to have privatized their water and sewage services the uk government sold its water to private companies in 1987 the companies promised to spend billions of pounds on making services better however many britons have complained that things have become much worse the privatized companies have not invested enough money in stopping leaks or in modernizing systems since 1991 they have paid over 2 billion a year to their shareholders water campaigner and exrock star feargal sharkey is angry with the water companies he said they have failed to create a quality system he also blamed the uk government for not acting

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheUKisexperiencing"poonami"asewagecrisis.Theenvironmentalgr
oupGreenpeacesaidwatercompaniespouredtoiletwasteintoriversan
dseasformorethan300,000hoursin2022.Manypeoplehavecomplain
edaboutbecomingsickafterswimminginthesea.Othersexpressedcon
cernsabouttheterriblesmellonbeaches,orthehorriblebrowncolouroft
hewater.TheresearchcompanySavantaconductedapollaboutpeople'
sopinionsonthepoorqualityofwater.Almostaquarterofswimmerssaid
theymightnotswimintheseathisyearbecauseoftherisk.Lastweek,atle
ast57peoplegotdiarrhoeaaftercompetinginseaswimmingeventsata
WorldTriathlonChampionship.EnglandandWalesaretheonlycountrie
sintheworldtohaveprivatizedtheirwaterandsewageservices.TheUKg
overnmentsolditswatertoprivatecompaniesin1987.Thecompaniespr
omisedtospendbillionsofpoundsonmakingservicesbetter.However,
manyBritonshavecomplainedthatthingshavebecomemuchworse.Th
eprivatizedcompanieshavenotinvestedenoughmoneyinstoppinglea
ksorinmodernizingsystems.Since1991,theyhavepaidover£2billiona
yeartotheirshareholders.Watercampaignerandex-rockstarFearga
lSharkeyisangrywiththewatercompanies.Hesaidtheyhavefailedtocr
eateaqualitysystem.HealsoblamedtheUKgovernmentfornotacting.

Free writing

Write about UK raw sewage crisis for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Water, electricity, gas and the Internet should be government-owned. 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. SEWAGE: Make a poster about sewage. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. THE SEA: Write a magazine article about the sea. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against making countries pay huge fines for polluting the sea.
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 seas and oceans. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to keep them clean. 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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