The Reading / Listening - Elections - Level 3

The year 2024 will be the biggest ever year for voting. National elections will take place in around 64 countries, as well as in the European Union. An estimated two billion people – almost half the global population – could vote at some time this year. The results of these polls will bring big changes for the future of many people. Voters in the world's four largest electoral blocs – the EU, India, Indonesia and the USA – will be casting their votes. One of the first contests will be in Taiwan on January the 13th. For much of the year, eyes will be focused on events in the US. In November, there will be a repeat of the 2020 election if Donald Trump runs for President again.

Journalists are worried about how free and fair many elections will be. The website Bloomberg.com has already posed a question that is on the lips of many people. It asked: "Will 2024 be the year fake news destroys democracy?" Bloomberg said bad actors will use artificial intelligence to change the way people vote via phoney news articles. It said there will be "a storm of disinformation and digital manipulation unlike anything the world has ever seen". It added that disinformation has already begun to spread, and that this "gets harder to spot as fake with every passing month". Fact checkers will have to work extra hard to reduce the number of AI-based posts on social media.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Elections - Level 0,  Elections - Level 1   or  Elections - Level 2

Sources
  • https://time.com/6550920/world-elections-2024/
  • https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-12-28/elections-2024-fake-news-could-destroy-democracy
  • http://www.koreaherald.com/global_insite/view.php


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. ELECTIONS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about elections. 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?
       the year 2024 / voting / elections / two billion people / the future / eyes / the USA /
       journalists / question / lips / fake news / democracy / artificial intelligence / facts
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. VOTE: Students A strongly believe it should be against the law not to vote; Students B strongly believe it shouldn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ELECTION ISSUES: What would you do about these election issues? Would your ideas work? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Would Do

How They Would Work

Health

 

 

Jobs

 

 

Policing

 

 

Environment

 

 

Artificial Intelligence

 

 

Education

 

 
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. POPULATION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "population". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. 2024: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that will change for the positive at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Global warming
  • World peace
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Healthcare
  • Migration
  • Global poverty
  • Equality
  • The economy

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. take place a. The process of voting in an election.
      2. estimated b. Stands as a candidate in an election.
      3. population c. Happen.
      4. polls d. All the people who live in a particular place.
      5. bloc e. Of a value or number roughly calculated; about.
      6. casting f. A group of countries or political parties with common interests who have joined together.
      7. runs g. Registering a vote.

    Paragraph 2

      8. journalist h. Raised a question or matter for thinking about.
      9. posed i. Not real or genuine; made to look real.
      10. fake j. The action of controlling or influencing a person or situation, usually for bad reasons.
      11. democracy k. A person who writes for newspapers, magazines, or news websites or prepares news to be broadcast.
      12. storm l. False facts and figures that are used to trick people.
      13. manipulation m. Very strong feelings or actions happening at the same time.
      14. disinformation n. A system of government where the people vote for their leaders.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. About 64 countries will hold national elections in 2024.     T / F
  2. A maximum of one billion people could vote in elections this year.     T / F
  3. Voters in the world's five largest voting blocks will vote.     T / F
  4. The first country that will hold elections in 2024 is Malaysia.     T / F
  5. A website asked a question that is on many people's lips.     T / F
  6. The website said phoney articles will influence the way people vote.     T / F
  7. The website said disinformation is already spreading.     T / F
  8. Fact checkers have gone on strike due to too many fake news stories.    T / F

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

  1. take place
  2. estimated
  3. vote
  4. focused
  5. repeat
  6. worried
  7. posed
  8. phoney
  9. spot
  10. reduce
  1. fixed
  2. put forward
  3. see
  4. go to the polls
  5. fake
  6. rerun
  7. happen
  8. cut
  9. approximate
  10. concerned

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

  1. elections will take
  2. almost half
  3. the world's four largest
  4. eyes will be focused
  5. if Donald Trump runs
  6. a question that is on the
  7. unlike anything the world
  8. disinformation has already
  9. with every passing
  10. Fact checkers will have to work
  1. month
  2. for President
  3. has ever seen
  4. the global population
  5. extra hard
  6. on events in the US
  7. place in around 64 countries
  8. lips of many people
  9. electoral blocs
  10. begun to spread

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
blocs
place
repeat
polls
runs
casting
estimated
eyes

The year 2024 will be the biggest ever year for voting. National elections will take (1) _____________________ in around 64 countries, as well as in the European Union. An (2) _____________________ two billion people - almost half the global population - could vote at some time this year. The results of these (3) _____________________ will bring big changes for the future of many people. Voters in the world's four largest electoral (4) _____________________ - the EU, India, Indonesia and the USA - will be (5) _____________________ their votes. One of the first contests will be in Taiwan on January the 13th. For much of the year, (6) _____________________ will be focused on events in the US. In November, there will be a (7) _____________________ of the 2020 election if Donald Trump (8) _____________________ for President again.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
phoney
posed
number
digital
democracy
extra
free
fake

Journalists are worried about how (9) _____________________ and fair many elections will be. The website Bloomberg.com has already (10) _____________________ a question that is on the lips of many people. It asked: "Will 2024 be the year fake news destroys (11) _____________________?" Bloomberg said bad actors will use artificial intelligence to change the way people vote via (12) _____________________ news articles. It said there will be "a storm of disinformation and (13) _____________________ manipulation unlike anything the world has ever seen". It added that disinformation has already begun to spread, and that this "gets harder to spot as (14) _____________________ with every passing month". Fact checkers will have to work (15) _____________________ hard to reduce the (16) _____________________ of AI-based posts on social media.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The year 2024 will be the biggest ever ______
     a.  years for voting
     b.  year from voting
     c.  year for voting
     d.  year four voting
2)  An estimated two billion people - almost half ______
     a.  the globe all population
     b.  the global population
     c.  the global populations
     d.  the global populated
3)  The results of these polls will bring big changes for the future ______
     a.  off many people
     b.  of many people
     c.  oft many people
     d.  rough many people
4)  the EU, India, Indonesia and the USA - will be ______
     a.  casing their votes
     b.  cast in their votes
     c.  cars sting their votes
     d.  casting their votes
5)  In November, there will be a repeat of the 2020 election if ______
     a.  Donald Trump runs
     b.  Donald Trump runes
     c.  Donald Trump runts
     d.  Donald Trump ruins

6)  The website Bloomberg.com has already ______
     a.  poised a question
     b.  posted a question
     c.  praised a question
     d.  posed a question
7)  It asked: "Will 2024 be the year fake ______?"
     a.  news destroy democracy
     b.  new destroys democracy
     c.  news destroys democracy
     d.  new destroy democracy
8)  use artificial intelligence to change the way people vote via ______
     a.  phone knee news articles
     b.  phoney news articles
     c.  phoney news article
     d.  phoney new articles
9)  It added that disinformation has already ______
     a.  began to spread
     b.  bugging to spread
     c.  begun to spread
     d.  beg gun to spread
10)  Fact checkers will have to work extra hard to ______
     a.  reduce a number
     b.  redact the number
     c.  deduce the number
     d.  reduce the number

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The year 2024 will be the biggest ever (1) ____________________. National elections will take place in around 64 countries, as well as in the European Union. An estimated two billion people - almost (2) ____________________ population - could vote at some time this year. The results of these polls will (3) ____________________ for the future of many people. Voters in the world's four largest electoral blocs - the EU, India, Indonesia and the USA - will be casting their votes. One of the (4) ____________________ be in Taiwan on January the 13th. (5) ____________________ the year, eyes will be focused on events in the US. In November, there will be (6) ____________________ the 2020 election if Donald Trump runs for President again.

Journalists are worried about how (7) ____________________ many elections will be. The website Bloomberg.com has already (8) ____________________ that is on the lips of many people. It asked: "Will 2024 be the year fake news destroys democracy?" Bloomberg said bad actors (9) ____________________ intelligence to change the way people vote via (10) ____________________. It said there will be "a storm of disinformation and digital manipulation unlike anything the world has ever seen". It added that disinformation has already begun to spread, and that this "gets harder to (11) ____________________ with every passing month". Fact checkers will have to work (12) ____________________ reduce the number of AI-based posts on social media.

Comprehension questions

  1. In how many countries will national elections be held in 2024?
  2. What proportion of the world's voters could vote this year?
  3. What electoral bloc will vote besides India, Indonesia and the USA?
  4. When will Taiwan go to the polls?
  5. What could the 2024 presidential election be a repeat of?
  6. Who is worried about elections being fair and free?
  7. What did Bloomberg.com pose that is in the lips of many people?
  8. Who did Bloomberg say would use AI to change how people vote?
  9. What did Bloomberg say had already begun to spread?
  10. Who will have to work extra hard to reduce AI-based posts?

Multiple choice quiz

1) In how many countries will national elections be held in 2024?
a) 63
b) 64
c) 62
d) 65
2) What proportion of the world's voters could vote this year?
a) three-fifth
b) two-thirds
c) three-quarters
d) almost half
3) What electoral bloc will vote besides India, Indonesia and the USA?
a) CIS
b) ASEAN
c) the European Union
d) CONCACAF
4) When will Taiwan go to the polls?
a) January 13
b) January 14
c) January 15
d) January 16
5) What could the 2024 presidential election be a repeat of?
a) a movie about an election
b) the 2020 US election
c) the 2000 US election
d) a by-election

6) Who is worried about elections being fair and free?
a) journalists
b) voters
c) pollsters
d) fact checkers
7) What did Bloomberg.com pose that is in the lips of many people?
a) a problem
b) lipstick
c) a question
d) a threat
8) Who did Bloomberg say would use AI to change how people vote?
a) bad actors
b) poor poets
c) terrible singers
d) phoney artists
9) What did Bloomberg say had already begun to spread?
a) bad news
b) a virus
c) wildfire
d) disinformation
10) Who will have to work extra hard to reduce AI-based posts?
a) web designers
b) pollsters
c) fact checkers
d) Bob

Role play

Role  A – Global Warming
You think global warming is the thing that will improve most in 2024. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't improve. Also, tell the others which is the least likely to change of these (and why): world peace, equality or the economy.

Role  B – World Peace
You think world peace is the thing that will improve most in 2024. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't improve. Also, tell the others which is the least likely to change of these (and why): global warming, equality or the economy.

Role  C – Equality
You think equality is the thing that will improve most in 2024. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't improve. Also, tell the others which is the least likely to change of these (and why): world peace, global warming or the economy.

Role  D – The Economy
You think the economy is the thing that will improve most in 2024. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't improve. Also, tell the others which is the least likely to change of these (and why): world peace, equality or global warming.

After reading / listening

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

'vote'

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

    • and 'election'.

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

    • • 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:

    • place
    • estimated
    • some
    • four
    • contests
    • repeat
    • posed
    • fake
    • artificial
    • storm
    • spot
    • extra

    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 - Elections

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'vote'?
    3. What kind of year will 2024 be for the world?
    4. What do you think of voting in elections?
    5. Why is voting important?
    6. How might the lives of people change because of the elections?
    7. How do you think the U.S. election will go?
    8. What do you think of Donald Trump?
    9. How would the USA change if Trump became president again?
    10. What would you do if you were leader of your country?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'election'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of elections?
    5. Why are free and fair elections important?
    6. What do you think of fake news?
    7. What does fake news do for democracy?
    8. How much do you believe what you read online?
    9. What kind of year will 2024 be for you?
    10. What questions would you like to ask your country'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)

    The year 2024 will be the biggest ever year (1) ____ voting. National elections will take place in around 64 countries, as well as in the European Union. An (2) ____ two billion people - almost (3) ____ the global population - could vote at some time this year. The results of these polls will bring big changes for the future of many people. Voters in the world's four largest electoral (4) ____ - the EU, India, Indonesia and the USA - will be casting their votes. One of the first contests will be in Taiwan on January the 13th. For much of the year, eyes will be focused (5) ____ events in the US. In November, there will be a repeat of the 2020 election if Donald Trump (6) ____ for President again.

    Journalists are worried about how free and (7) ____ many elections will be. The website Bloomberg.com has already (8) ____ a question that is on the lips of many people. It asked: "Will 2024 be the year fake news destroys democracy?" Bloomberg said bad actors will use artificial intelligence to change the way people vote via (9) ____ news articles. It said there will be "a (10) ____ of disinformation and digital manipulation unlike anything the world has ever seen". It added that disinformation has already begun to spread, and that this "gets harder to (11) ____ as fake with every passing month". Fact checkers will have to work extra (12) ____ to reduce the number of AI-based posts on social media.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     as     (b)     by     (c)     from     (d)     for    
    2. (a)     estate     (b)     streamed     (c)     esteemed     (d)     estimated    
    3. (a)     halves     (b)     half     (c)     halved     (d)     halt    
    4. (a)     bricks     (b)     backs     (c)     blocs     (d)     becks    
    5. (a)     in     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     at    
    6. (a)     runs     (b)     walks     (c)     paces     (d)     strolls    
    7. (a)     fare     (b)     fair     (c)     fear     (d)     far    
    8. (a)     posed     (b)     dosed     (c)     nosed     (d)     hosed    
    9. (a)     called     (b)     phoney     (c)     policy     (d)     printed    
    10. (a)     thunder     (b)     lightning     (c)     storm     (d)     gale    
    11. (a)     speck     (b)     blemish     (c)     spot     (d)     stain    
    12. (a)     arduous     (b)     firm     (c)     tough     (d)     hard

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. An eeaitsdtm two billion people
    2. almost half the global uliopoptna
    3. The results of these sollp
    4. the world's four largest electoral lscbo
    5. cansitg their votes
    6. osecfdu on events in the US

    Paragraph 2

    1. pesod a question
    2. fake news destroys ceymrdaco
    3. raicitlfai intelligence
    4. news tsarlcie
    5. digital anpiuiltanmo
    6. eedurc the number of AI-based posts

    Put the text back together

    (  1  )  The year 2024 will be the biggest ever year for voting. National elections will take
    (...)   checkers will have to work extra hard to reduce the number of AI-based posts on social media.
    (...)   on events in the US. In November, there will be a repeat of the 2020 election if Donald Trump runs for President again.
    (...)   polls will bring big changes for the future of many people. Voters in the world's four largest electoral blocs –
    (...)   the EU, India, Indonesia and the USA - will be casting their votes. One of the first contests will
    (...)   vote via phoney news articles. It said there will be "a storm of disinformation and digital manipulation
    (...)   spread, and that this "gets harder to spot as fake with every passing month". Fact
    (...)   be in Taiwan on January the 13th. For much of the year, eyes will be focused
    (...)   unlike anything the world has ever seen". It added that disinformation has already begun to
    (...)   billion people - almost half the global population - could vote at some time this year. The results of these
    (...)   question that is on the lips of many people. It asked: "Will 2024 be the year fake
    (...)   place in around 64 countries, as well as in the European Union. An estimated two
    (...)   Journalists are worried about how free and fair many elections will be. The website Bloomberg.com has already posed a
    (...)   news destroys democracy?" Bloomberg said bad actors will use artificial intelligence to change the way people

    Put the words in the right order

    1. in   64   place   countries   .   take   will   around   Elections
    2. polls   results   of   bring   will   changes   .   these   The
    3. in   largest   Voters   the   electoral   blocs   .   world's   four
    4. Eyes   events   focused   on   be   in   America   .   will
    5. be   of   repeat   2020   the   a   election   .   There'll
    6. many   on   the   lips   people   .   question   of   A
    7. change   AI   Use   vote   .   way   to   people   the
    8. begun   to   spread   .   It   already   has   disinformation   said
    9. will   checkers   hard   .   work   Fact   have   extra   to
    10. websites   .   on   AI-based   number   the   posts   of   Reduce

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The year 2024 will be the biggest ever / even year for voting. National elections will take place in around 64 countries, as well / good as in the European Union. An estimated two billion people - almost halve / half the global population - could vote at some / same time this year. The results of these polls will bring big changes for a / the future of many people. Voters in the world's four largest electoral docs / blocs - the EU, India, Indonesia and the USA - will be casing / casting their votes. One of the first contests will be in Taiwan on January the 13th. For much / many of the year, eyes will be focused in / on events in the US. In November, there will be a repeat of the 2020 election if Donald Trump runs / walks for President again.

    Journalists are worried / cautioned about how free and fair many elections will do / be. The website Bloomberg.com has already posed a question that is on the mouth / lips of many people. It asked: "Will 2024 be the year flake / fake news destroys democracy?" Bloomberg said bad / badly actors will use artificial intelligence to change the way people vote via phone / phoney news articles. It said there will be "a storm / steam of disinformation and digital manipulation unlike / unlikely anything the world has ever seen". It added that disinformation has already begun to spread, and that this "gets harder to spot has / as fake with every passing month". Fact checkers will have to work extra hard to reduce the number of AI-based posts on / at social media.

    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_  y__r  2024  w_ll  b_  th_  b_gg_st  _v_r  y__r  f_r  v_t_ng.  N_t__n_l  _l_ct__ns  w_ll  t_k_  pl_c_  _n  _r__nd  64  c__ntr__s,  _s  w_ll  _s  _n  th_  __r_p__n  _n__n.  _n  _st_m_t_d  tw_  b_ll__n  p__pl_  -  _lm_st  h_lf  th_  gl_b_l  p_p_l_t__n  -  c__ld  v_t_  _t  s_m_  t_m_  th_s  y__r.  Th_  r_s_lts  _f  th_s_  p_lls  w_ll  br_ng  b_g  ch_ng_s  f_r  th_  f_t_r_  _f  m_ny  p__pl_.  V_t_rs  _n  th_  w_rld's  f__r  l_rg_st  _l_ct_r_l  bl_cs  -  th_  __,  _nd__,  _nd_n_s__  _nd  th_  _S_  -  w_ll  b_  c_st_ng  th__r  v_t_s.  _n_  _f  th_  f_rst  c_nt_sts  w_ll  b_  _n  T__w_n  _n  J_n__ry  th_  13th.  F_r  m_ch  _f  th_  y__r,  _y_s  w_ll  b_  f_c_s_d  _n  _v_nts  _n  th_  _S.  _n  N_v_mb_r,  th_r_  w_ll  b_  _  r_p__t  _f  th_  2020  _l_ct__n  _f  D_n_ld  Tr_mp  r_ns  f_r  Pr_s_d_nt  _g__n.

    J__rn_l_sts  _r_  w_rr__d  _b__t  h_w  fr__  _nd  f__r  m_ny  _l_ct__ns  w_ll  b_.  Th_  w_bs_t_  Bl__mb_rg.c_m  h_s  _lr__dy  p_s_d  _  q__st__n  th_t  _s  _n  th_  l_ps  _f  m_ny  p__pl_.  _t  _sk_d:  "W_ll  2024  b_  th_  y__r  f_k_  n_ws  d_str_ys  d_m_cr_cy?"  Bl__mb_rg  s__d  b_d  _ct_rs  w_ll  _s_  _rt_f_c__l  _nt_ll_g_nc_  t_  ch_ng_  th_  w_y  p__pl_  v_t_  v__  ph_n_y  n_ws  _rt_cl_s.  _t  s__d  th_r_  w_ll  b_  "_  st_rm  _f  d_s_nf_rm_t__n  _nd  d_g_t_l  m_n_p_l_t__n  _nl_k_  _nyth_ng  th_  w_rld  h_s  _v_r  s__n".  _t  _dd_d  th_t  d_s_nf_rm_t__n  h_s  _lr__dy  b_g_n  t_  spr__d,  _nd  th_t  th_s  "g_ts  h_rd_r  t_  sp_t  _s  f_k_  w_th  _v_ry  p_ss_ng  m_nth".  F_ct  ch_ck_rs  w_ll  h_v_  t_  w_rk  _xtr_  h_rd  t_  r_d_c_  th_  n_mb_r  _f  __-b_s_d  p_sts  _n  s_c__l  m_d__.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the year 2024 will be the biggest ever year for voting national elections will take place in around 64 countries as well as in the european union an estimated two billion people  almost half the global population  could vote at some time this year the results of these polls will bring big changes for the future of many people voters in the worlds four largest electoral blocs  the eu india indonesia and the usa  will be casting their votes one of the first contests will be in taiwan on january the 13th for much of the year eyes will be focused on events in the us in november there will be a repeat of the 2020 election if donald trump runs for president again

    journalists are worried about how free and fair many elections will be the website bloombergcom has already posed a question that is on the lips of many people it asked will 2024 be the year fake news destroys democracy bloomberg said bad actors will use artificial intelligence to change the way people vote via phoney news articles it said there will be a storm of disinformation and digital manipulation unlike anything the world has ever seen it added that disinformation has already begun to spread and that this gets harder to spot as fake with every passing month fact checkers will have to work extra hard to reduce the number of aibased posts on social media

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Theyear2024willbethebiggesteveryearforvoting.Nationalelectionsw
    illtakeplaceinaround64countries,aswellasintheEuropeanUnion.Ane
    stimatedtwobillionpeople-almosthalftheglobalpopulation-couldvot
    eatsometimethisyear.Theresultsofthesepollswillbringbigchangesfor
    thefutureofmanypeople.Votersintheworld'sfourlargestelectoralbloc
    s-theEU,India,IndonesiaandtheUSA-willbecastingtheirvotes.Oneof
    thefirstcontestswillbeinTaiwanonJanuarythe13th.Formuchoftheyea
    r,eyeswillbefocusedoneventsintheUS.InNovember,therewillbearep
    eatofthe2020electionifDonaldTrumprunsforPresidentagain.Journali
    stsareworriedabouthowfreeandfairmanyelectionswillbe.Thewebsite
    Bloomberg.comhasalreadyposedaquestionthatisonthelipsofmanyp
    eople.Itasked:"Will2024betheyearfakenewsdestroysdemocracy?"B
    loombergsaidbadactorswilluseartificialintelligencetochangetheway
    peoplevoteviaphoneynewsarticles.Itsaidtherewillbe"astormofdisinf
    ormationanddigitalmanipulationunlikeanythingtheworldhaseversee
    n".Itaddedthatdisinformationhasalreadybeguntospread,andthatthi
    s"getshardertospotasfakewitheverypassingmonth".Factcheckerswi
    llhavetoworkextrahardtoreducethenumberofAI-basedpostsonsocial
    media.

    Free writing

    Write about voting in elections for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Everyone should vote in elections. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. ELECTIONS: Make a poster about elections. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. VOTING: Write a magazine article about giving people heavy fines if they do not vote in national elections. 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 elections. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to keep elections free and fair. 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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