The Reading / Listening - Being Sick - Level 6

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to crack down on what he has labelled Britain's "sick note culture". The leader believes there are too many people in the UK claiming welfare benefits because of mental health issues. He said welfare payments were a drain on the economy, and the number of people not working was creating labour shortages. The number of sick notes issued by doctors has risen sharply since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The most common diagnoses being given by doctors are related to mental health and behavioural disorders. Sunak said: "We need to change the sick note culture, so the default becomes what work you can do not what you can't."

Mr Sunak has emphasised the need to get people back into employment. He said: "We need to be more ambitious about helping people back to work, and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life." He added: "Half of people becoming inactive over the last year cited depression and anxiety." Opponents of Sunak's plans say his government caused the current crisis. The mental health charity Mind said: "The truth is that…services are at breaking point following years of underinvestment." The opposition Labour party called Sunak's plans, "another front for their culture wars". It said the government was "tone deaf, shameless and irresponsible".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Being Sick - Level 4  or  Being Sick - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.ft.com/content/c2ce5fc7-81d7-4f07-b339-c868bcd6df26
  • https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/19/sunak-accused-of-making-mental-illness-another-front-in-the-culture-wars
  • https://time.com/6969002/rishi-sunak-welfare-reform-sick-note-culture-uk/


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. BEING SICK: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about being sick. 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?
       plans / crack down / sick note / culture / drain / coronavirus / pandemic / disorders /
       employment / ambitious / honest / challenges / anxiety / breaking point / culture wars
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EXERCISE: Students A strongly believe all companies should have exercise classes to keep staff healthier; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BEING OFF WORK: Is it OK to be off work for the things in the table? Why (not)? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

OK

Why (Not)?

Mental health

 

 

Overworking

 

 

Contagious illness

 

 

Plumbing emergency

 

 

Child's graduation

 

 

No train

 

 
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. EMPLOYMENT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "employment". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ABSENCE FROM WORK: Rank these with your partner. Put the best reasons to take a day off work at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Too stressed
  • Contagious illness
  • Back injury
  • Hospital appointment
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • No sleep

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. crack down on a. A medical condition that affects the normal functioning of the body or mind.
      2. labelled b. Gave something or someone a name or put them into a category.
      3. welfare c. A thing that uses up a particular resource.
      4. drain d. To take strong action against something or someone that is not following the rules or behaving properly.
      5. diagnoses e. The standard or usual option when nothing else is chosen or specified.
      6. disorder f. The support and assistance provided to people in need, especially by the government.
      7. default g. The identification of diseases or problems, especially by a doctor or expert.

    Paragraph 2

      8. ambitious h. The moment when someone or something can no longer endure pressure or stress.
      9. cited i. A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
      10. anxiety j. An appearance or form of behaviour a person uses to hide their genuine feelings.
      11. breaking point k. Having a strong desire to achieve something or to succeed, often by working hard.
      12. opposition l. When something is mentioned or referred to as evidence or support for an argument or claim.
      13. front (noun) m. Being insensitive to the feelings or opinions of others.
      14. tone deaf n. People or groups who disagree with or resist something; the main political party not in power.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The UK leader said welfare payments were a boost to the economy.     T / F
  2. The number of sick notes issued in the UK rose after coronavirus.     T / F
  3. Rishi Sunak said sick notes needed a change of format.     T / F
  4. The default in the UK will be based on what people cannot do.     T / F
  5. Rishi Sunak said people needed to be more ambitious.     T / F
  6. Rishi Sunak said people were "over-medicalising" everyday worries.     T / F
  7. Opponents of Sunak's plans blame his government for the crisis.     T / F
  8. A charity said Sunak's plans were part of his culture wars.     T / F

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

  1. crack down on
  2. drain
  3. diagnoses
  4. disorders
  5. default
  6. emphasised
  7. ambitious
  8. anxiety
  9. front
  10. irresponsible
  1. conditions
  2. opinions
  3. reckless
  4. standard
  5. aspiring
  6. put an end to
  7. worry
  8. battlefield
  9. burden
  10. highlighted

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

  1. people in the UK claiming
  2. welfare payments were a drain
  3. The most common diagnoses
  4. related to mental health and
  5. the default becomes what
  6. emphasised the need to get people
  7. depression and
  8. services are at
  9. another front for their culture
  10. It said the government was tone
  1. wars
  2. breaking point
  3. work you can do
  4. back into employment
  5. welfare benefits
  6. being given by doctors
  7. deaf
  8. behavioural disorders
  9. anxiety
  10. on the economy

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
labelled
drain
default
diagnoses
related
welfare
crack
sharply

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to (1) _____________________ down on what he has (2) ___________________ Britain's "sick note culture". The leader believes there are too many people in the UK claiming (3) _____________________ benefits because of mental health issues. He said welfare payments were a (4) _____________________ on the economy, and the number of people not working was creating labour shortages. The number of sick notes issued by doctors has risen (5) _____________________ since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The most common (6) _____________________ being given by doctors are (7) _____________________ to mental health and behavioural disorders. Sunak said: "We need to change the sick note culture, so the (8) _____________________ becomes what work you can do not what you can't."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
cited
tone
employment
crisis
challenges
front
ambitious
breaking

Mr Sunak has emphasised the need to get people back into (9) _____________________. He said: "We need to be more (10) _____________________ about helping people back to work, and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday (11) _____________________ and worries of life." He added: "Half of people becoming inactive over the last year (12) ___________________ depression and anxiety." Opponents of Sunak's plans say his government caused the current (13) _____________________. The mental health charity Mind said: "The truth is that…services are at (14) _____________________ point following years of underinvestment." The opposition Labour party called Sunak's plans, "another (15) _____________________ for their culture wars". It said the government was "(16) _____________________ deaf, shameless and irresponsible".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans ______
     a.  to crack on
     b.  to crack up
     c.  to crack down
     d.  to crack over
2)  The leader believes there are too many people in the UK ______
     a.  claiming welfare benefit
     b.  claiming welfare beneficial
     c.  claiming welfare benefits
     d.  claiming welfare beneficiary
3)  He said welfare payments ______
     a.  were a drain
     b.  were a grain
     c.  were a brain
     d.  were refrain
4)  The number of sick notes issued by doctors ______
     a.  has arisen sharply
     b.  has risen sharply
     c.  has rising sharply
     d.  has riven sharply
5)  diagnoses being given by doctors are related to mental health ______
     a.  and behavioural disorder
     b.  and behavioural misorders
     c.  and behavioural this orders
     d.  and behavioural disorders

6)  honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges ______
     a.  and worries off life
     b.  and worries oft life
     c.  and worries of life
     d.  and worries if life
7)  Half of people becoming inactive over the last year cited ______
     a.  depression and anxious
     b.  depression and anxiety
     c.  depression end anxiety
     d.  depressive and anxiety
8)  The mental health charity Mind said the truth is that services are ______
     a.  at break-in point
     b.  at broken point
     c.  at breaking point
     d.  at braying point
9)  The opposition Labour party called Sunak's plans another front for ______
     a.  their cultured wars
     b.  their cultures wars
     c.  their acculture wars
     d.  their culture wars
10)  It said the government was tone deaf, ______
     a.  shameless and irresponsibility
     b.  shamed less and irresponsible
     c.  blamed less and irresponsible
     d.  shameless and irresponsible

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced (1) ___________________ down on what (2) ____________________ Britain's "sick note culture". The leader believes there are too many people in the UK claiming (3) ____________________ of mental health issues. He said welfare payments were a drain on the economy, and the number of people not working was creating labour shortages. The (4) ____________________ notes issued by doctors has risen sharply since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The most common diagnoses being given by doctors (5) ____________________ mental health and behavioural disorders. Sunak said: "We need to change the sick note culture, so the default becomes (6) ____________________ can do not what you can't."

Mr Sunak has emphasised the need to get people (7) ____________________. He said: "We need to be more ambitious about helping people back to work, and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday (8) ____________________ of life." He added: "Half of people becoming (9) ____________________ last year cited depression and anxiety." Opponents of Sunak's plans say his government (10) ____________________ crisis. The mental health charity Mind said: "The truth is that…services are at (11) ____________________ years of underinvestment." The opposition Labour party called Sunak's plans, "another front for their culture wars". It said the government (12) ____________________, shameless and irresponsible".

Comprehension questions

  1. What did Rushi Sunak say people were claiming welfare benefits for?
  2. What did Rishi Sunak say was a drain on the economy?
  3. What does people not working create?
  4. What caused a sharp rise in the issuance of sick notes in the UK?
  5. What are the most common diagnoses on doctors' sick notes?
  6. What does Mr Sunak want people to get back into?
  7. What did Mr Sunak say people are over-medicalising?
  8. Who did the government's opponents blame for the current crisis?
  9. What did a charity say about services?
  10. Who said the UK government was tone deaf?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did Rushi Sunak say people were claiming welfare benefits for?
a) food and heating
b) to support families
c) mental health issues
d) they are very poor
2) What did Rishi Sunak say was a drain on the economy?
a) welfare payments
b) very heavy rain
c) Brexit
d) the opposition
3) What does people not working create?
a) higher taxes
b) inflation
c) a lack of skills
d) labour shortages
4) What caused a sharp rise in the issuance of sick notes in the UK?
a) the cold winter weather
b) the coronavirus pandemic
c) a computer glitch
d) a politician's words
5) What are the most common diagnoses on doctors' sick notes?
a) bad backs
b) sore throats
c) mental health and behavioural disorders
d) headaches

6) What does Mr Sunak want people to get back into?
a) a routine
b) employment
c) looking after their health
d) their office
7) What did Mr Sunak say people are over-medicalising?
a) looking at illness symptoms online
b) their thoughts
c) their body
d) the everyday challenges and worries of life
8) Who did the government's opponents blame for the current crisis?
a) the unemployed
b) the government
c) charities
d) themselves
9) What did a charity say about services?
a) They are at breaking point.
b) They are in a state of collapse.
c) More were needed.
d) It said they were superlative.
10) Who said the UK government was tone deaf?
a) a charity
b) musicians
c) a mental health worker
d) the opposition

Role play

Role  A – Stress
You think stress is the best reason to take a day off work. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their reasons aren't good enough for a day off. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these reasons (and why): contagious illness, back injury or no sleep.

Role  B – Contagious Illness
You think a contagious illness is the best reason to take a day off work. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their reasons aren't good enough for a day off. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these reasons (and why): stress, back injury or no sleep.

Role  C – Back Injury
You think a back injury is the best reason to take a day off work. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their reasons aren't good enough for a day off. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these reasons (and why): contagious illness, stress or no sleep.

Role  D – No Sleep
You think no sleep is the best reason to take a day off work. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their reasons aren't good enough for a day off. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these reasons (and why): contagious illness, back injury or stress.

After reading / listening

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

'sick'

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

    • and 'culture'.

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

    • • 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:

    • crack
    • claiming
    • drain
    • sharply
    • common
    • default
    • emphasized
    • honest
    • half
    • current
    • point
    • deaf

    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 - Being Sick

    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 'sick note'?
    3. How much of a 'sick note culture' is there in your country?
    4. What do you think of claiming welfare benefits?
    5. How supportive is your government of mental health?
    6. How should governments help people with mental health issues?
    7. How often are you sick?
    8. Would you always try to go to work even if you were sick?
    9. How did coronavirus affect you?
    10. What advice do you have for people with mental health issues?

    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 'culture'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about Rishi Sunak?
    5. How can governments get people back to work?
    6. What challenges do you have in your life?
    7. Have you ever been at breaking point?
    8. What happens during culture wars?
    9. How shameless do you think the UK government is?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Rishi Sunak?

    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)

    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to (1) ____ down on what he has labelled Britain's "sick note culture". The leader believes there are too many people in the UK (2) ____ welfare benefits because of mental health issues. He said welfare payments were a (3) ____ on the economy, and the number of people not working was creating labour shortages. The number of sick notes issued by doctors has risen (4) ____ since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The most common diagnoses being given by doctors are related (5) ____ mental health and behavioural disorders. Sunak said: "We need to change the sick note culture, so the (6) ____ becomes what work you can do not what you can't."

    Mr Sunak has emphasised the (7) ____ to get people back into employment. He said: "We need to be more ambitious about helping people back to work, and more (8) ____ about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life." He added: "Half of people becoming inactive over the last year (9) ____ depression and anxiety." Opponents of Sunak's plans say his government caused the current crisis. The mental health charity Mind said: "The truth is that…services are at breaking (10) ____ following years of underinvestment." The opposition Labour party called Sunak's plans, "another (11) ____ for their culture wars". It said the government was "(12) ____ deaf, shameless and irresponsible".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     crack     (b)     slack     (c)     track     (d)     flack    
    2. (a)     claimant     (b)     claims     (c)     claiming     (d)     claimed    
    3. (a)     sewer     (b)     plug     (c)     sink     (d)     drain    
    4. (a)     shapely     (b)     sharply     (c)     shaven     (d)     bluntly    
    5. (a)     on     (b)     up     (c)     of     (d)     to    
    6. (a)     faulty     (b)     vault     (c)     default     (d)     vaunted    
    7. (a)     nerd     (b)     need     (c)     heed     (d)     necessary    
    8. (a)     honest     (b)     honesty     (c)     honestly     (d)     dishonest    
    9. (a)     cited     (b)     sighted     (c)     incited     (d)     sated    
    10. (a)     tip     (b)     dot     (c)     point     (d)     place    
    11. (a)     back     (b)     side     (c)     bottom     (d)     front    
    12. (a)     atone     (b)     tone     (c)     tune     (d)     attune

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. what he has lbeealld
    2. erfaelw benefits
    3. labour erosghtsa
    4. The most common oesidsgna
    5. lvairebohau disorders
    6. the edflaut becomes what work you can do

    Paragraph 2

    1. imhassedep the need to get people back
    2. We need to be more asuiboitm
    3. depression and nxyaeit
    4. following years of msunnirtetndvee
    5. The ippsoiootn Labour party
    6. tone deaf, shamlsese and irresponsible

    Put the text back together

    (...)  on the economy, and the number of people not working was creating labour shortages. The number
    (...)  Britain's "sick note culture". The leader believes there are too many people in the UK claiming welfare
    (...)  Mr Sunak has emphasised the need to get people back into employment. He said: "We need to be more
    (...)  caused the current crisis. The mental health charity Mind said: "The truth is that…services are at breaking
    (...)  of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life." He added: "Half of people becoming
    (...)  diagnoses being given by doctors are related to mental health and behavioural disorders. Sunak said: "We need to
    (...)  inactive over the last year cited depression and anxiety." Opponents of Sunak's plans say his government
    (...)  ambitious about helping people back to work, and more honest about the risk
    (...)  of sick notes issued by doctors has risen sharply since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The most common
    (...)  benefits because of mental health issues. He said welfare payments were a drain
    (...)  culture wars". It said the government was "tone deaf, shameless and irresponsible".
    (  1  ) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to crack down on what he has labelled
    (...)  point following years of underinvestment." The opposition Labour party called Sunak's plans, "another front for their
    (...)  change the sick note culture, so the default becomes what work you can do not what you can't."

    Put the words in the right order

    1. crack   down   sick   culture   .   on   Plans   to   note
    2. too   believes   people   .   there   The   many   leader   are
    3. welfare   mental   benefits   because   Claiming   issues   .   of   health
    4. Welfare   drain   a   economy   .   were   payments   the   on
    5. you   default   can   what   The   becomes   work   do   .
    6. need   back   to   people   into   The   get   employment   .
    7. about   ambitious   More   to   helping   people   back   work   .
    8. life   .  everyday   the   worries   challenges   and   of  Over-medicalising
    9. the   of   people   over   year   .   becoming   inactive   Half
    10. wars   .   another   their   culture   front   for   It's

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to track / crack down on what he has libelled/ labelled Britain's "sick note culture". The leader believes / beliefs there are too many people in the UK claimant / claiming welfare benefits because of mental health issues. He said welfare payments were a drain on / in the economy, and the number of people not working was creating labour shortages / shortage. The number of sick notes issued by doctors has risen / arisen sharply since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The most commonly / common diagnoses being given by doctors are related of / to mental health and behavioural disorders. Sunak said: "We need to change the sick note culture, so the vault / default becomes what work you can do not what you can't."

    Mr Sunak has emphasised the need to get people back as to / into employment. He said: "We need to be more ambitious / ambitions about helping people back to work, and more honest / honestly about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worried / worries of life." He added: "Half of people becoming inactive over the last year sighted / cited depression and anxiety." Opponents of Sunak's plans say his government caused the current critics / crisis. The mental health charity Mind said: "The truth / true is that…services are at breaking dot / point following years of underinvestment." The opposition / opposite Labour party called Sunak's plans, "another front for their culture wars". It said the government was "tune / tone deaf, shameless and irresponsible".

    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)

    Br_t_sh  Pr_m_  M_n_st_r  R_sh_  S_n_k  h_s  _nn__nc_d  pl_ns  t_  cr_ck  d_wn  _n  wh_t  h_  h_s  l_b_ll_d  Br_t__n's  "s_ck  n_t_  c_lt_r_".  Th_  l__d_r  b_l__v_s  th_r_  _r_  t__  m_ny  p__pl_  _n  th_  _K  cl__m_ng  w_lf_r_  b_n_f_ts  b_c__s_  _f  m_nt_l  h__lth  _ss__s.  H_  s__d  w_lf_r_  p_ym_nts  w_r_  _  dr__n  _n  th_  _c_n_my,  _nd  th_  n_mb_r  _f  p__pl_  n_t  w_rk_ng  w_s  cr__t_ng  l_b__r  sh_rt_g_s.  Th_  n_mb_r  _f  s_ck  n_t_s  _ss__d  by  d_ct_rs  h_s  r_s_n  sh_rply  s_nc_  th_  c_r_n_v_r_s  p_nd_m_c  _n  2020.  Th_  m_st  c_mm_n  d__gn_s_s  b__ng  g_v_n  by  d_ct_rs  _r_  r_l_t_d  t_  m_nt_l  h__lth  _nd  b_h_v___r_l  d_s_rd_rs.  S_n_k  s__d:  "W_  n__d  t_  ch_ng_  th_  s_ck  n_t_  c_lt_r_,  s_  th_  d_f__lt  b_c_m_s  wh_t  w_rk  y__  c_n  d_  n_t  wh_t  y__  c_n't."

    Mr  S_n_k  h_s  _mph_s_s_d  th_  n__d  t_  g_t  p__pl_  b_ck  _nt_  _mpl_ym_nt.  H_  s__d:  "W_  n__d  t_  b_  m_r_  _mb_t___s  _b__t  h_lp_ng  p__pl_  b_ck  t_  w_rk,  _nd  m_r_  h_n_st  _b__t  th_  r_sk  _f  _v_r-m_d_c_l_s_ng  th_  _v_ryd_y  ch_ll_ng_s  _nd  w_rr__s  _f  l_f_."  H_  _dd_d:  "H_lf  _f  p__pl_  b_c_m_ng  _n_ct_v_  _v_r  th_  l_st  y__r  c_t_d  d_pr_ss__n  _nd  _nx__ty."  _pp_n_nts  _f  S_n_k's  pl_ns  s_y  h_s  g_v_rnm_nt  c__s_d  th_  c_rr_nt  cr_s_s.  Th_  m_nt_l  h__lth  ch_r_ty  M_nd  s__d:  "Th_  tr_th  _s  th_t…s_rv_c_s  _r_  _t  br__k_ng  p__nt  f_ll_w_ng  y__rs  _f  _nd_r_nv_stm_nt."  Th_  _pp_s_t__n  L_b__r  p_rty  c_ll_d  S_n_k's  pl_ns,  "_n_th_r  fr_nt  f_r  th__r  c_lt_r_  w_rs".  _t  s__d  th_  g_v_rnm_nt  w_s  "t_n_  d__f,  sh_m_l_ss  _nd  _rr_sp_ns_bl_".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    british prime minister rishi sunak has announced plans to crack down on what he has labelled britains sick note culture the leader believes there are too many people in the uk claiming welfare benefits because of mental health issues he said welfare payments were a drain on the economy and the number of people not working was creating labour shortages the number of sick notes issued by doctors has risen sharply since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 the most common diagnoses being given by doctors are related to mental health and behavioural disorders sunak said we need to change the sick note culture so the default becomes what work you can do not what you cant

    mr sunak has emphasised the need to get people back into employment he said we need to be more ambitious about helping people back to work and more honest about the risk of overmedicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life he added half of people becoming inactive over the last year cited depression and anxiety opponents of sunaks plans say his government caused the current crisis the mental health charity mind said the truth is thatservices are at breaking point following years of underinvestment the opposition labour party called sunaks plans another front for their culture wars it said the government was tone deaf shameless and irresponsible

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    BritishPrimeMinisterRishiSunakhasannouncedplanstocrackdownon
    whathehaslabelledBritain's"sicknoteculture".Theleaderbelievesther
    earetoomanypeopleintheUKclaimingwelfarebenefitsbecauseofment
    alhealthissues.Hesaidwelfarepaymentswereadrainontheeconomy,a
    ndthenumberofpeoplenotworkingwascreatinglabourshortages.The
    numberofsicknotesissuedbydoctorshasrisensharplysincethecorona
    viruspandemicin2020.Themostcommondiagnosesbeinggivenbydoc
    torsarerelatedtomentalhealthandbehaviouraldisorders.Sunaksaid:
    "Weneedtochangethesicknoteculture,sothedefaultbecomeswhatwo
    rkyoucandonotwhatyoucan't."MrSunakhasemphasisedtheneedtoge
    tpeoplebackintoemployment.Hesaid:"Weneedtobemoreambitiousa
    bouthelpingpeoplebacktowork,andmorehonestabouttheriskofover-
    medicalisingtheeverydaychallengesandworriesoflife."Headded:"Ha
    lfofpeoplebecominginactiveoverthelastyearciteddepressionandanxi
    ety."OpponentsofSunak'splanssayhisgovernmentcausedthecurrent
    crisis.ThementalhealthcharityMindsaid:"Thetruthisthat…servicesar
    eatbreakingpointfollowingyearsofunderinvestment."Theopposition
    LabourpartycalledSunak'splans,"anotherfrontfortheirculturewars".
    Itsaidthegovernmentwas"tonedeaf,shamelessandirresponsible".

    Free writing

    Write about sick note culture for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Governments need to spend much more money on mental health. 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. BEING SICK: Make a poster about being sick. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. DOCTORS AT WORK: Write a magazine article about all companies having an on-site doctor. 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 being sick. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to stay healthy. 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

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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