Breaking News English Lesson: Smoking Bans

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New Zealand U-turns on planned smoking ban (4th December 2023)

The Reading / Listening - Smoking Bans - Level 6

New Zealand's new conservative government has abandoned a groundbreaking plan to ban smoking in the country. Last year, New Zealand became the first country in the world to introduce legislation to phase out the sale of cigarettes. Then leader Jacinda Ardern introduced measures to phase out smoking by preventing new generations of young adults from purchasing cigarettes. The policy was hailed around the world as a bold move to improve the health of the nation. However, the new Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has controversially done a U-turn and junked Ms Ardern's plans. He said the ban was unaffordable and that the country needed the tax revenues from tobacco sales.

The radical smoking ban was a landmark decision that prompted other countries to reconsider their public health policies. The British government followed suit by announcing laws that will make it illegal for youngsters to buy cigarettes over the coming years. A spokesperson said the UK wants "to deliver smoke-free generations". Canada has recently become the first country to require health warnings be put on individual cigarettes. Anti-tobacco groups are up in arms over Mr Luxon's about-turn. One group said: "Turning the tide on harmful products that are entrenched in society cannot be done by individuals or even communities. It takes good and brave population-level policies."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Smoking Bans - Level 4 or Smoking Bans - Level 5

Sources

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/28/asia/new-zealand-smoking-ban-reversal-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.ft.com/content/cfe3b3f9-d227-4c5f-ac84-fde1b042abee
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/shock-reversal-nationals-smokefree-law-repeal-makes-headlines-all-over-the-world/7X7INQ7ANNCXPBLYOFAB7UTURQ/

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. SMOKING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about smoking. 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?
New Zealand / conservative / groundbreaking / smoking / ban / cigarettes / U-turns /
decision / public health / laws / health warnings / being up in arms / population
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CIGARETTES: Students A strongly believe cigarettes and vapes should be banned worldwide; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BANS: What do you think about banning these things? How would a ban change the world? Complete this table with your partner(s) and share what you wrote. Change partners often.

	What I Think	Changes in the World
Smoking
Plastic bags
Guns
Meat
Animal fur
Hunting

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. TOBACCO: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "tobacco". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. BAD HABITS: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst habits at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Smoking
Being late
Biting your nails
Oversleeping
Procrastinating
Slouching
Overspending
Being glued to screens

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	abandoned	a.	Innovative; pioneering.
2.	groundbreaking	b.	Praised someone or something enthusiastically.
3.	legislation	c.	Withdraw something from use in gradual stages.
4.	phase out	d.	Laws, considered collectively.
5.	hailed	e.	Gave up completely a practice or a course of action.
6.	controversially	f.	Discarded or thrown out suddenly.
7.	junked	g.	In a way that gives rise to prolonged public disagreement or heated discussion.

Paragraph 2

8.	radical	h.	Reversing the general course of events.
9.	landmark	i.	Relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.
10.	prompted	j.	Very angry.
11.	followed suit	k.	Of an attitude, habit, or belief that is firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change.
12.	up in arms	l.	Caused or brought about an action or feeling.
13.	turning the tide	m.	Did the same thing as someone else who had done it earlier.
14.	entrenched	n.	An event or discovery marking an important stage or turning point in something.

Before reading / listening

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

New Zealand's leader has a groundbreaking plan. T / F
There are two countries that have smoking bans. T / F
Phasing out smoking was seen worldwide as being a bold move. T / F
The smoking ban U-turn was because the government needs taxes. T / F
The U.K. decided to follow the previous New Zealand's leaders lead. T / F
The article says Canada will also ban individuals from smoking. T / F
The anti-smoking lobby is up in arms about the smoking ban U-turn. T / F
An anti-smoking group suggested the government needed to be brave. T / F

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

abandoned
legislation
measures
hailed
revenues
landmark
illegal
require
entrenched
brave

historic
need
praised
dropped
courageous
against the law
actions
established
laws
receipts

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

abandoned a groundbreaking
the first country in the world to
The policy was hailed around the
He said the ban was
the country needed the tax revenues
The radical smoking ban was
The British government followed suit
make it illegal for youngsters
require health warnings be put
Turning the tide

world as a bold move
to buy cigarettes
from tobacco sales
by announcing laws
plan to ban smoking
on individual cigarettes
on harmful products
unaffordable
a landmark decision
introduce legislation

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

bold
controversially
abandoned
revenues
purchasing
unaffordable
legislation
health

New Zealand's new conservative government has (1) _____________________ a groundbreaking plan to ban smoking in the country. Last year, New Zealand became the first country in the world to introduce (2) _____________________ to phase out the sale of cigarettes. Then leader Jacinda Ardern introduced measures to phase out smoking by preventing new generations of young adults from (3) _____________________ cigarettes. The policy was hailed around the world as a (4) _____________________ move to improve the (5) _____________________ of the nation. However, the new Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has (6) _____________________ done a U-turn and junked Ms Ardern's plans. He said the ban was (7) _____________________ and that the country needed the tax (8) _____________________ from tobacco sales.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

deliver
policies
landmark
arms
suit
individuals
individual
tide

The radical smoking ban was a (9) _____________________ decision that prompted other countries to reconsider their public health policies. The British government followed (10) _____________________ by announcing laws that will make it illegal for youngsters to buy cigarettes over the coming years. A spokesperson said the UK wants "to (11) _____________________ smoke-free generations". Canada has recently become the first country to require health warnings be put on (12) _____________________ cigarettes. Anti-tobacco groups are up in (13) _____________________ over Mr Luxon's about-turn. One group said: "Turning the (14) _____________________ on harmful products that are entrenched in society cannot be done by (15) _____________________ or even communities. It takes good and brave population-level (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Last year, New Zealand became the first country in the world ______
     a. to introduce legislating
     b. to introduce legislators
     c. to introduce reticulation
     d. to introduce legislation
2) Then leader Jacinda Ardern introduced measures to ______
     a. phrase out smoking
     b. phase out smoking
     c. pass out smoking
     d. faze out smoking
3) The policy was hailed around the world as ______
     a. a bald mauve
     b. a bold mauve
     c. a bold move
     d. a bald move
4) Christopher Luxon, has controversially done a U-turn and ______
     a. junked Ms Ardern's plans
     b. dunked Ms Ardern's plans
     c. bunked Ms Ardern's plans
   d. funked Ms Ardern's plans
5) He said the ban was unaffordable and that the country needed ______
     a. the tax retinues
     b. the tax revues
     c. the tax reviews
     d. the tax revenues

6) The radical smoking ban was a landmark decision that ______
     a. promoted other countries
     b. prospered other countries
     c. pampered other countries
     d. prompted other countries
7) laws that will make it illegal for youngsters to buy cigarettes over ______
     a. the coming years
     b. the cramming years
     c. the coming years
     d. the coning years
8) the first country to require health warnings be put ______
     a. on individuals cigarettes
     b. on individually cigarettes
     c. on individualistic cigarettes
     d. on individual cigarettes
9) Anti-tobacco groups are up in arms over Mr ______
     a. Luxon's abut-turn
     b. Luxon's about-turn
     c. Luxon's abet-turn
     d. Luxon's around-turn
10) done by individuals or even communities. It takes good and brave ______
     a. population-level palaces
     b. population-level polices
     c. population-level Polly sees
     d. population-level policies

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

New Zealand's new conservative government (1) ____________________ groundbreaking plan to (2) ____________________ the country. Last year, New Zealand became the first country in the world to introduce legislation to (3) ____________________ sale of cigarettes. Then leader Jacinda Ardern introduced measures to phase out smoking by preventing new generations of young adults from purchasing cigarettes. The (4) ____________________ around the world as a bold move to improve the health of the nation. However, the new Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has controversially done a (5) ____________________ Ms Ardern's plans. He said the ban was unaffordable and that the country needed the (6) ____________________ tobacco sales.

The radical smoking ban was (7) ____________________ that prompted other countries to reconsider their public health policies. The British government (8) ____________________ announcing laws that will make it illegal for youngsters to buy cigarettes over the coming years. A spokesperson said the UK wants "(9) ____________________ generations". Canada has recently become the first country to require health warnings be (10) ____________________ cigarettes. Anti-tobacco groups are up in arms over Mr Luxon's about-turn. One group said: "(11) ____________________ on harmful products that are entrenched in society cannot be done by individuals or even communities. It takes (12) ____________________ population-level policies."

Comprehension questions

When did New Zealand first introduce the smoking ban?
Who did NZ's previous leader want to stop buying cigarettes?
What was the smoking ban hailed as?
What does the article say Christopher Luxon junked?
What did Christopher Luxon say his country needed?
What kind of decision does the article call the initial smoking ban?
Who followed suit and passed anti-smoking laws?
Where is Canada requiring health warnings?
Who is up in arms over the smoking ban U-turn?
What did a group say the tide should be turned against?

Multiple choice quiz

1) When did New Zealand first introduce the smoking ban?
a) five years ago
b) three years ago
c) two years ago
d) last year
2) Who did NZ's previous leader want to stop buying cigarettes?
a) old people
b) new generations of young adults
c) people with respiratory problems
d) everyone
3) What was the smoking ban hailed as?
a) an important law
b) a historic decision
c) a brave move
d) a wonderful idea
4) What does the article say Christopher Luxon junked?
a) Jacinda Ardern's plans
b) tons of cigarettes
c) tax revenues
d) lighters and matches
5) What did Christopher Luxon say his country needed?
a) time
b) more vape flavours
c) tax revenues from tobacco sales
d) education

6) What kind of decision does the article call the initial smoking ban?
a) a misunderstood decision
b) a landmark decision
c) a troubling decision
d) a confused decision
7) Who followed suit and passed anti-smoking laws?
a) the conservative party
b) Australia
c) Canada
d) the British government
8) Where is Canada requiring health warnings?
a) on individual cigarettes
b) on cigarette packets
c) in schools
d) on bus stops
9) Who is up in arms over the smoking ban U-turn?
a) teenagers
b) younger generations
c) anti-smoking groups
d) the government
10) What did a group say the tide should be turned against?
a) the ocean
b) harmful products
c) vape machines
d) bans

Role play

Role A – Smoking
You think smoking is the worst bad habit. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their bad habits aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why): being late, procrastinating or being glued to screens.

Role B – Being Late
You think being late is the worst bad habit. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their bad habits aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why): smoking, procrastinating or being glued to screens.

Role C – Procrastinating
You think procrastinating is the worst bad habit. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their bad habits aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why): being late, smoking or being glued to screens.

Role D – Being Glued to Screens
You think being glued to screens is the worst bad habit. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their bad habits aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why): being late, procrastinating or smoking.

After reading / listening

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

'smoking'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'ban'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

groundbreaking

first

measures

hailed

however

tax

radical

suit

deliver

arms

tide

brave

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 - Smoking Bans

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 'smoking'?
What do you think of smoking?
What do you think of the smell of cigarette smoke?
Should New Zealand have kept the ban in place?
Why do people smoke?
Where should smoking be banned?
Will smoking be a thing in 50 years from now?
What smoking laws are in place in your country?
Do countries need tax revenues from tobacco sales?

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 'ban'?
What do you think about what you read?
What damage does smoking do to people's health?
What should the legal age to smoke be?
Should health warnings be put on every cigarette sold?
When was the last time you were up in arms over something?
How can we stop young people from taking up smoking?
What advice do you have for a smoker who wants to quit?
What questions would you like to ask New Zealand's leader?

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)

New Zealand's new conservative government has abandoned a (1) ____ plan to ban smoking in the country. Last year, New Zealand became the first country in the world to introduce legislation to (2) ____ out the sale of cigarettes. Then leader Jacinda Ardern introduced measures to phase out smoking (3) ____ preventing new generations of young adults from purchasing cigarettes. The policy was (4) ____ around the world as a bold move to improve the health of the nation. However, the new Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has controversially done a U-turn and (5) ____ Ms Ardern's plans. He said the ban was unaffordable and that the country needed the tax revenues (6) ____ tobacco sales.

The radical smoking ban was a (7) ____ decision that prompted other countries to reconsider their public health policies. The British government followed (8) ____ by announcing laws that will make it illegal for youngsters to buy cigarettes over the (9) ____ years. A spokesperson said the UK wants "to deliver smoke-free generations". Canada has recently become the first country to (10) ____ health warnings be put on individual cigarettes. Anti-tobacco groups are (11) ____ in arms over Mr Luxon's about-turn. One group said: "Turning the tide on harmful products that are entrenched in society cannot be done by individuals or (12) ____ communities. It takes good and brave population-level policies."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a)     heartbreaking     (b)     backbreaking     (c)     groundbreaking     (d)     lawbreaking
(a)     phase     (b)     stage     (c)     signal     (d)     pass
(a)     by     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     on
(a)     hailed     (b)     foiled     (c)     bailed     (d)     boiled
(a)     jinxed     (b)     junked     (c)     dinked     (d)     dunked
(a)     by     (b)     to     (c)     for     (d)     from
(a)     birthmark     (b)     watermark     (c)     landmark     (d)     trademark
(a)     trumps     (b)     outfit     (c)     jacket     (d)     suit
(a)     coming     (b)     keeping     (c)     giving     (d)     going
(a)     necessary     (b)     require     (c)     needy     (d)     expect
(a)     down     (b)     up     (c)     over     (d)     under
(a)     ever     (b)     so     (c)     even     (d)     such

Spelling

Paragraph 1

introduce gnalsioelti to phase out the sale
new otinenegsar of young adults
The policy was elihda around the world
Luxon has ovlnolsitrcaery done a U-turn
He said the ban was bffdaeronlua
the country needed the tax eeusrvne

Paragraph 2

The aacrlid smoking ban
a landmark decision that tmdppore other countries
ninuagocnn laws that will make it illegal
require health warnings be put on iuadniildv cigarettes
harmful products that are ecnhetrend in society
done by individuals or even nimteiumsoc

Put the text back together

(...)   out the sale of cigarettes. Then leader Jacinda Ardern introduced measures to phase out smoking by
(...)   preventing new generations of young adults from purchasing cigarettes. The policy was hailed around the world
(...)   deliver smoke-free generations". Canada has recently become the first country to require health warnings be
(...)   health policies. The British government followed suit by announcing laws that will make it illegal
(...)   turn. One group said: "Turning the tide on harmful products that are entrenched in society cannot be done
(...)   was unaffordable and that the country needed the tax revenues from tobacco sales.
(...)   put on individual cigarettes. Anti-tobacco groups are up in arms over Mr Luxon's about-
(...)   The radical smoking ban was a landmark decision that prompted other countries to reconsider their public
(...)   the country. Last year, New Zealand became the first country in the world to introduce legislation to phase
(...)   by individuals or even communities. It takes good and brave population-level policies."
(...)   controversially done a U-turn and junked Ms Ardern's plans. He said the ban
( 1 ) New Zealand's new conservative government has abandoned a groundbreaking plan to ban smoking in
(...)   for youngsters to buy cigarettes over the coming years. A spokesperson said the UK wants "to
(...)   as a bold move to improve the health of the nation. However, the new Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has

Put the words in the right order

smoking ban A to groundbreaking plan there .
phase to legislation out cigarette sales . Introduce
purchasing new cigarettes . Preventing adults of from generations
A to bold people's move improve health .
tobacco . country The from needed tax the revenues
decision . radical smoking a The ban landmark was
to prompted reconsider other That countries their policies .
by announcing British suit laws . The followed government
Require health on put be cigarettes . individual warnings
are in Anti-tobacco arms groups up this . over

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

New Zealand's new / newly conservative government has abandoned / absconded a groundbreaking plan to ban smoking in the country. Last year, New Zealand became the first country in the world to introduce legislation to pass / phase out the sale of cigarettes. Then leader Jacinda Ardern introduced measures to phase out smoking by preventing / prevention new generations of young adults from purchased / purchasing cigarettes. The policy was hailed / foiled around the world as a bold / bald move to improve the health of the nation. However, the new Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has controversially done a U-turn and junking / junked Ms Ardern's plans. He said the ban was affordable / unaffordable and that the country needed the tax revenues from / for tobacco sales.

The radical / radial smoking ban was a landmark decision that prompting / prompted other countries to reconsider their public health / healthy policies. The British government followed suit by announcing laws that will make it illegal for young’uns / youngsters to buy cigarettes over the coming / going years. A spokesperson said the UK wants "to deliver smoke-free generations". Canada has recent / recently become the first country to require health warnings be put on individual / individually cigarettes. Anti-tobacco groups are up in arms / legs over Mr Luxon's about-turn. One group said: "Turning the wave / tide on harmful products that are entrenched in society cannot be done by individualistic / individuals or even communities. It takes good and brave population-level policies."

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)

N_w Z__l_nd's n_w c_ns_rv_t_v_ g_v_rnm_nt h_s _b_nd_n_d _ gr__ndbr__k_ng pl_n t_ b_n sm_k_ng _n th_ c__ntry. L_st y__r, N_w Z__l_nd b_c_m_ th_ f_rst c__ntry _n th_ w_rld t_ _ntr_d_c_ l_g_sl_t__n t_ ph_s_ __t th_ s_l_ _f c_g_r_tt_s. Th_n l__d_r J_c_nd_ _rd_rn _ntr_d_c_d m__s_r_s t_ ph_s_ __t sm_k_ng by pr_v_nt_ng n_w g_n_r_t__ns _f y__ng _d_lts fr_m p_rch_s_ng c_g_r_tt_s. Th_ p_l_cy w_s h__l_d _r__nd th_ w_rld _s _ b_ld m_v_ t_ _mpr_v_ th_ h__lth _f th_ n_t__n. H_w_v_r, th_ n_w Pr_m_ M_n_st_r, Chr_st_ph_r L_x_n, h_s c_ntr_v_rs__lly d_n_ _ _-t_rn _nd j_nk_d Ms _rd_rn's pl_ns. H_ s__d th_ b_n w_s _n_ff_rd_bl_ _nd th_t th_ c__ntry n__d_d th_ t_x r_v_n__s fr_m t_b_cc_ s_l_s.

Th_ r_d_c_l sm_k_ng b_n w_s _ l_ndm_rk d_c_s__n th_t pr_mpt_d _th_r c__ntr__s t_ r_c_ns_d_r th__r p_bl_c h__lth p_l_c__s. Th_ Br_t_sh g_v_rnm_nt f_ll_w_d s__t by _nn__nc_ng l_ws th_t w_ll m_k_ _t _ll_g_l f_r y__ngst_rs t_ b_y c_g_r_tt_s _v_r th_ c_m_ng y__rs. _ sp_k_sp_rs_n s__d th_ _K w_nts "t_ d_l_v_r sm_k_-fr__ g_n_r_t__ns". C_n_d_ h_s r_c_ntly b_c_m_ th_ f_rst c__ntry t_ r_q__r_ h__lth w_rn_ngs b_ p_t _n _nd_v_d__l c_g_r_tt_s. _nt_-t_b_cc_ gr__ps _r_ _p _n _rms _v_r Mr L_x_n's _b__t-t_rn. _n_ gr__p s__d: "T_rn_ng th_ t_d_ _n h_rmf_l pr_d_cts th_t _r_ _ntr_nch_d _n s_c__ty c_nn_t b_ d_n_ by _nd_v_d__ls _r _v_n c_mm_n_t__s. _t t_k_s g__d _nd br_v_ p_p_l_t__n-l_v_l p_l_c__s."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

new zealands new conservative government has abandoned a groundbreaking plan to ban smoking in the country last year new zealand became the first country in the world to introduce legislation to phase out the sale of cigarettes then leader jacinda ardern introduced measures to phase out smoking by preventing new generations of young adults from purchasing cigarettes the policy was hailed around the world as a bold move to improve the health of the nation however the new prime minister christopher luxon has controversially done a uturn and junked ms arderns plans he said the ban was unaffordable and that the country needed the tax revenues from tobacco sales

the radical smoking ban was a landmark decision that prompted other countries to reconsider their public health policies the british government followed suit by announcing laws that will make it illegal for youngsters to buy cigarettes over the coming years a spokesperson said the uk wants to deliver smokefree generations canada has recently become the first country to require health warnings be put on individual cigarettes antitobacco groups are up in arms over mr luxons aboutturn one group said turning the tide on harmful products that are entrenched in society cannot be done by individuals or even communities it takes good and brave populationlevel policies

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

NewZealand'snewconservativegovernmenthasabandonedaground
breakingplantobansmokinginthecountry.Lastyear,NewZealandbec
amethefirstcountryintheworldtointroducelegislationtophaseoutthes
aleofcigarettes.ThenleaderJacindaArdernintroducedmeasurestoph
aseoutsmokingbypreventingnewgenerationsofyoungadultsfrompur
chasingcigarettes.Thepolicywashailedaroundtheworldasaboldmove
toimprovethehealthofthenation.However,thenewPrimeMinister,Chr
istopherLuxon,hascontroversiallydoneaU-turnandjunkedMsArder
n'splans.Hesaidthebanwasunaffordableandthatthecountryneededt
hetaxrevenuesfromtobaccosales.Theradicalsmokingbanwasalandm
arkdecisionthatpromptedothercountriestoreconsidertheirpublicheal
thpolicies.TheBritishgovernmentfollowedsuitbyannouncinglawsthat
willmakeitillegalforyoungsterstobuycigarettesoverthecomingyears.
AspokespersonsaidtheUKwants"todeliversmoke-freegenerations".
Canadahasrecentlybecomethefirstcountrytorequirehealthwarnings
beputonindividualcigarettes.Anti-tobaccogroupsareupinarmsover
MrLuxon'sabout-turn.Onegroupsaid:"Turningthetideonharmfulpro
ductsthatareentrenchedinsocietycannotbedonebyindividualsoreve
ncommunities.Ittakesgoodandbravepopulation-levelpolicies."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

There should be fines for people who smoke. 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. CIGARETTES: Make a poster about cigarettes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. BAN: Write a magazine article about banning cigarettes worldwide. 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 cigarettes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on smoking. 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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