Breaking News English Lesson: Overtourism

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Town to erect fence to stop Mount Fuji selfies (29th April 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Overtourism - Level 6

Overtourism is causing headaches for authorities and consternation for local residents worldwide. Japan is one country that is battling surging numbers of international tourists. The weaker yen has meant people are flocking to see Japan's numerous World Heritage sites and sample its world-famous cuisine. A town near Mount Fuji has devised a drastic measure to combat the problem of overtourism. Fujikawaguchiko, which is at the foot of Fuji, has become inundated with sightseers who want selfies of themselves in front of a brightly coloured convenience store, with Fuji-san as the backdrop. Local authorities have decided to erect a giant mesh fence to obscure the view of Japan's iconic mountain.

A local official told journalists that the increasing number of tourists was creating problems for residents. These include trash being left in the streets, traffic being blocked, and security guards being employed to marshal selfie takers. The official said of the fence: "It is regrettable that we had to take such measures." She added that it was because of "some tourists who cannot respect rules". The fence will be 20 metres long and 2.5 metres high. Other places in Japan are also battling large numbers of overseas visitors. Locals in the ancient city of Kyoto cannot board increasingly overcrowded buses. Areas of Kyoto have been closed to tourists to prevent people harassing geisha, in a problem dubbed as "geisha paparazzi".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Overtourism - Level 4 or Overtourism - Level 5

Sources

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/26/japan/society/town-sets-up-screen-to-hide-mount-fuji/
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/japan-mount-fuji-view-barrier-tourists-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/26/fujikawaguchiko-town-japan-block-mount-fuji-view-overcrowding

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. OVERTOURISM: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about overtourism. 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?
overtourism / headaches / tourists / World Heritage / cuisine / Mount Fuji / sightseers
journalists / trash / security guards / traffic / fence / rules / overseas / buses / geisha
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. CAP ON TOURISTS: Students A strongly believe every country should limit numbers of tourists to combat overtourism; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TOURISM: What are the good and bad things about tourism? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good	Bad
Cross-cultural understanding
Jobs
Conservation
Economic growth
Education
Personal experience

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

Overcrowded buses
Damage to sites
Trash
Rising prices for locals
Water scarcity
Culture clashes
Traffic jams
Selfie takers

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	consternation	a.	When something or someone is overwhelmed or flooded with too much of something.
2.	surging	b.	Gathering together in a large group.
3.	flocking	c.	Moving forward quickly and with great force.
4.	cuisine	d.	Keep from being seen; hide.
5.	inundated	e.	Feeling very surprised and confused, often because of something unexpected or frightening.
6.	drastic	f.	The style of cooking and the food that is typical of a certain region or culture.
7.	obscure (verb)	g.	Very extreme and sudden.

Paragraph 2

8.	resident	h.	To organize or gather together people or things.
9.	marshal (verb)	i.	Very old, from a long time ago.
10.	regrettable	j.	When something or someone is given a name.
11.	measure (noun)	k.	Something that makes you feel sad or sorry, often because it was a mistake or caused harm.
12.	ancient	l.	When someone bothers or annoys another person repeatedly, like teasing or bullying someone.
13.	harassing	m.	A plan or course of action taken to achieve a particular purpose.
14.	dubbed	n.	Someone who lives or stays in a particular place, like a person who lives in a city or a building.

Before reading / listening

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

Headaches are the biggest cause of tourism for locals in tourist areas. T / F
Many people are going to Japan because of favourable exchange rates. T / F
The town in the article is at the head of Mount Fuji. T / F
Local authorities will make a steel fence to block the view of Mount Fuji. T / F
The town employs security guards to control selfie takers. T / F
A town official said she regrets the town is having to erect a fence. T / F
The fence will be 20 metres high. T / F
Areas of Kyoto have closed to protect geisha. T / F

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

consternation
surging
flocking
inundated
erect
marshal
measures
ancient
harassing
dubbed

guide
flooded
labelled
escalating
actions
dismay
pestering
build
crowding
very, very old

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

headaches for authorities and consternation
The weaker
Fuji has become inundated
a giant mesh fence
Japan's iconic
security guards being employed to
It is regrettable that we had
board increasingly
prevent people harassing
a problem dubbed

to obscure the view
geisha
mountain
to take such measures
for local residents
as "geisha paparazzi"
overcrowded buses
yen
marshal selfie takers
with sightseers

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

foot
surging
numerous
backdrop
mesh
measure
consternation
selfies

Overtourism is causing headaches for authorities and (1) _____________________ for local residents worldwide. Japan is one country that is battling (2) _____________________ numbers of international tourists. The weaker yen has meant people are flocking to see Japan's (3) _____________________ World Heritage sites and sample its world-famous cuisine. A town near Mount Fuji has devised a drastic (4) _____________________ to combat the problem of overtourism. Fujikawaguchiko, which is at the (5) _____________________ of Fuji, has become inundated with sightseers who want (6) _____________________ of themselves in front of a brightly coloured convenience store, with Fuji-san as the (7) _____________________. Local authorities have decided to erect a giant (8) _____________________ fence to obscure the view of Japan's iconic mountain.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

marshal
rules
official
harassing
regrettable
residents
dubbed
ancient

A local (9) _____________________ told journalists that the increasing number of tourists was creating problems for (10) _____________________. These include trash being left in the streets, traffic being blocked, and security guards being employed to (11) _____________________ selfie takers. The official said of the fence: "It is (12) _____________________ that we had to take such measures." She added that it was because of "some tourists who cannot respect (13) _____________________". The fence will be 20 metres long and 2.5 metres high. Other places in Japan are also battling large numbers of overseas visitors. Locals in the (14) _____________________ city of Kyoto cannot board increasingly overcrowded buses. Areas of Kyoto have been closed to tourists to prevent people (15) _____________________ geisha, in a problem (16) _____________________ as "geisha paparazzi".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Overtourism is causing headaches for ______
     a. authorizes and concentration
     b. author rights and consternation
     c. authorities and concentration
     d. authorities and consternation
2) Japan is one country that is ______
     a. belting surging numbers
     b. belittling surging numbers
     c. battling surging numbers
     d. bartering surging numbers
3) see Japan's numerous World Heritage sites and sample its ______
     a. world-famous quizzing
     b. world-famous queues in
     c. world-famous cuisine
     d. world-famous cleansing
4) Fujikawaguchiko, which is at the foot of Fuji, has become ______
     a. in updated with sightseers
     b. and updated with sightseers
     c. in underrated with sightseers
     d. inundated with sightseers
5) decided to erect a giant mesh fence to obscure the view of ______
     a. Japan's iconic mountain
     b. Japan's conical mountain
     c. Japan's icon nick mountain
     d. Japan's hike conic mountain

6) A local official told journalists that the increasing ______
     a. number of tourism
     b. number of tourists
     c. number of tour wrists
     d. number of tour writs
7) traffic being blocked, and security guards being employed to ______
     a. marshal selfie makers
     b. marshal selfie takers
     c. marshal selfie fakers
     d. marshal selfie bakers
8) She added that it was because of "some tourists who ______"
     a. cannot inspect rules
     b. cannot re-specked rules
     c. cannot whisp pecked rules
     d. cannot respect rules
9) Locals in the ancient city of Kyoto cannot board ______
     a. increasing lover crowded buses
     b. increasingly over-clouded buses
     c. increase in the overcrowded buses
     d. increasingly overcrowded buses
10) closed to tourists to prevent people harassing geisha, in a problem dubbed ______
     a. as "geisha paparazzi"
     b. was "geisha paparazzi"
     c. has "geisha paparazzi"
     d. ask "geisha paparazzi"

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Overtourism (1) ____________________ for authorities and consternation for local residents worldwide. Japan is one country that (2) ____________________ numbers of international tourists. The weaker yen has meant people (3) ____________________ see Japan's numerous World Heritage sites and sample its world-famous cuisine. A town near Mount Fuji has devised a drastic measure to combat the problem of overtourism. Fujikawaguchiko, which is (4) ____________________ of Fuji, has become inundated with sightseers who (5) ____________________ themselves in front of a brightly coloured convenience store, with Fuji-san as the backdrop. Local authorities have decided to erect a giant mesh fence to (6) ____________________ of Japan's iconic mountain.

(7) ____________________ told journalists that the increasing number of tourists was creating problems for residents. These include trash being left in the streets, (8) ____________________, and security guards being (9) ____________________ selfie takers. The official said of the fence: "It is regrettable that we had to (10) ____________________." She added that it was because of "some tourists who cannot respect rules". The fence will be 20 metres long and 2.5 metres high. Other places in Japan are also battling large numbers (11) ____________________. Locals in the ancient city of Kyoto cannot board increasingly overcrowded buses. Areas of Kyoto have been closed to tourists to prevent people harassing geisha, in a (12) ____________________ "geisha paparazzi".

Comprehension questions

Who is overtourism causing consternation for?
What thing has become weaker that is making people go to Japan?
Where in Japan is the town of Fujikawaguchiko?
What is the backdrop for many people who are taking selfies?
What is the fence going to be made of?
What are security guards in the town doing?
What did a local official say about having to erect the fence?
How high will the fence be?
What in Kyoto is becoming increasingly overcrowded?
Who is being harassed in the streets of Kyoto?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who is overtourism causing consternation for?
a) selfie takers
b) smartphone makers
c) local residents
d) convenience store owners
2) What thing has become weaker that is making people go to Japan?
a) the yen
b) sake
c) people
d) wind strength
3) Where in Japan is the town of Fujikawaguchiko?
a) at the foot of Mount Fuji
b) to the west of Mt Fuji
c) the north
d) halfway up Mount Fuji
4) What is the backdrop for many people who are taking selfies?
a) Japan
b) Mount Fuji
c) a lake
d) a mascot
5) What is the fence going to be made of?
a) concrete
b) wood
c) steel
d) mesh

6) What are security guards in the town doing?
a) taking selfies
b) marshalling selfie takers
c) confiscating people's smartphones
d) standing in the way of photos
7) What did a local official say about having to erect the fence?
a) It's regrettable.
b) It's necessary.
c) It's beautiful.
d) It's short term.
8) How high will the fence be?
a) 12 meters
b) 20 meters
c) 2.5 metres
d) 200 meters
9) What in Kyoto is becoming increasingly overcrowded?
a) kabuki theatres
b) hotels
c) restaurants
d) buses
10) Who is being harassed in the streets of Kyoto?
a) geisha
b) bus drivers
c) selfie takers
d) tourists

Role play

Role A – Overcrowded Buses
You think overcrowded buses are the biggest problem caused by overtourism. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least problematic of these (and why): damage to sites, trash and littering or selfie takers.

Role B – Damage to Sites
You think damage to sites is the biggest problem caused by overtourism. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least problematic of these (and why): overcrowded buses, trash and littering or selfie takers.

Role C – Trash and Littering
You think trash and littering is the biggest problem caused by overtourism. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least problematic of these (and why): damage to sites, overcrowded buses or selfie takers.

Role D – Selfie Takers
You think selfie takers is the biggest problem caused by overtourism. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their problems aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least problematic of these (and why): damage to sites, trash and littering or overcrowded buses.

After reading / listening

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

'overtourism'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'selfie'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

headaches

battling

weaker

measure

backdrop

giant

journalists

trash

measures

rules

ancient

closed

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 - Overtourism

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 'overtourism'?
What do you think of overtourism?
What is there to do for tourists in your town?
Why might local residents feel consternation over tourists?
How important is tourism?
What is great about your country's cuisine?
What would you really like to take photos of?
What do you think of selfies?
What do you think of the fence being put up to hide Mount Fuji?

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 'selfie'?
What do you think about what you read?
How should tourists behave in other countries?
How has social media changed the behaviour of tourists?
What kind of tourist are you?
What can authorities do about overcrowded buses?
How would you feel if tourists made life in your town difficult?
What do you think of "paparazzi" tourists?
What questions would you like to ask the local officials?

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)

Overtourism is causing headaches for authorities and (1) ____ for local residents worldwide. Japan is one country that is battling surging numbers of international tourists. The weaker yen has meant people are (2) ____ to see Japan's numerous World Heritage sites and sample (3) ____ world-famous cuisine. A town near Mount Fuji has devised a drastic measure to combat the problem of overtourism. Fujikawaguchiko, which is at the (4) ____ of Fuji, has become inundated with sightseers who want selfies of themselves in front of a brightly coloured convenience store, with Fuji-san as the (5) ____. Local authorities have decided to erect a giant mesh fence to (6) ____ the view of Japan's iconic mountain.

A local official told journalists that the (7) ____ number of tourists was creating problems for residents. These include trash being left in the streets, traffic being blocked, and security guards being employed to (8) ____ selfie takers. The official said of the fence: "It is regrettable that we had to take such (9) ____." She added that it was because of "some tourists who cannot respect rules". The fence will be 20 metres long and 2.5 metres high. Other places in Japan are also (10) ____ large numbers of overseas visitors. Locals in the ancient city of Kyoto cannot (11) ____ increasingly overcrowded buses. Areas of Kyoto have been closed to tourists to prevent people harassing geisha, in a problem (12) ____ as "geisha paparazzi".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a)     concentration     (b)     coronation     (c)     consternation     (d)     constellation
(a)     flocking     (b)     flicking     (c)     blocking     (d)     blacking
(a)     that's     (b)     its     (c)     food     (d)     sushi
(a)     back     (b)     head     (c)     shoulder     (d)     foot
(a)     drop     (b)     dewdrop     (c)     backdrop     (d)     eavesdrop
(a)     obscene     (b)     obscure     (c)     observe     (d)     obsolete
(a)     increasingly     (b)     increases     (c)     increase     (d)     increasing
(a)     martial     (b)     sheriff     (c)     marshal     (d)     deputy
(a)     calculates     (b)     dimensions     (c)     tapes     (d)     measures
(a)     belittling     (b)     baffling     (c)     bluffing     (d)     battling
(a)     plank     (b)     board     (c)     slab     (d)     beam
(a)     daubed     (b)     dibbed     (c)     dabbed     (d)     drab

Spelling

Paragraph 1

scntirtanoone for local residents
battling rggunsi numbers
unremuso World Heritage sites
world-famous nsuciie
become undainted with sightseers
rscoebu the view

Paragraph 2

employed to rmsaahl selfie takers
It is gelrbrteate that we had to
bgattinl large numbers
the enitacn city of Kyoto
prevent people hrnsasiag geisha
dubbed as geisha paazazirp

Put the text back together

(...)   for residents. These include trash being left in the streets, traffic being blocked, and security
(...)   residents worldwide. Japan is one country that is battling surging numbers of international tourists. The weaker
(...)   of overtourism. Fujikawaguchiko, which is at the foot of Fuji, has become inundated with
(...)   in the ancient city of Kyoto cannot board increasingly overcrowded buses. Areas of Kyoto have been closed to tourists
(...)   cuisine. A town near Mount Fuji has devised a drastic measure to combat the problem
(...)   sightseers who want selfies of themselves in front of a brightly coloured convenience store, with Fuji-san as the
(...)   guards being employed to marshal selfie takers. The official said of the fence: "It is regrettable that we had to take such
( 1 ) Overtourism is causing headaches for authorities and consternation for local
(...)   measures." She added that it was because of "some tourists who cannot respect rules". The fence will
(...)   to prevent people harassing geisha, in a problem dubbed as "geisha paparazzi".
(...)   yen has meant people are flocking to see Japan's numerous World Heritage sites and sample its world-famous
(...)   be 20 metres long and 2.5 metres high. Other places in Japan are also battling large numbers of overseas visitors. Locals
(...)   backdrop. Local authorities have decided to erect a giant mesh fence to obscure the view of Japan's iconic mountain.
(...)   A local official told journalists that the increasing number of tourists was creating problems

Put the words in the right order

surging One numbers . battling that is country
combat to measure A drastic problems of overtourism .
want who with sightseers of Inundated selfies themselves .
of a brightly convenience coloured store . In front
obscure to giant the view . mesh A fence
of increasing problems . The tourists was number creating
being left trash the include in streets . These
to take Regrettable had we measures . such that
in are Japan large also battling Places numbers .
Areas to been have tourists . Kyoto of closed

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Overtourism is causing headaches for authorities and consternation for locally / local residents worldwide. Japan is one country that is bottling / battling surging numbers of international tourists. The weaker / weaken yen has meant people are flocking / flicking to see Japan's numerous World Heritage sites and sample its world-famous cosine / cuisine. A town near Mount Fuji has devised a drastic measure for / to combat the problem of overtourism. Fujikawaguchiko, which is at the toe / foot of Fuji, has become inundated with sightseers / soothsayers who want selfies of themselves in front of a brightly coloured convenience store, with Fuji-san has / as the backdrop. Local authorities have decided to erect a giant mesh fence to obscure the view of / on Japan's iconic mountain.

A local official told journalists that the increasing / increases number of tourists was creating problems for residence / residents. These include trash being left in the streets, traffic being blocked, and security guards being employed to marshal / martial selfie takers. The official said of the fence: "It is regrettable that we had to take such / so measures." She added that it was because of "some tourists who / whom cannot respect rules". The fence will be 20 metres long and 2.5 metres high. Other places in Japan are also battling whole / large numbers of overseas visitors. Locals in an / the ancient city of Kyoto cannot board / bard increasingly overcrowded buses. Areas of Kyoto have been closeted / closed to tourists to prevent people harassing geisha, in a problem dubbed / daubed as "geisha paparazzi".

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)

_v_rt__r_sm _s c__s_ng h__d_ch_s f_r __th_r_t__s _nd c_nst_rn_t__n f_r l_c_l r_s_d_nts w_rldw_d_. J_p_n _s _n_ c__ntry th_t _s b_ttl_ng s_rg_ng n_mb_rs _f _nt_rn_t__n_l t__r_sts. Th_ w__k_r y_n h_s m__nt p__pl_ _r_ fl_ck_ng t_ s__ J_p_n's n_m_r__s W_rld H_r_t_g_ s_t_s _nd s_mpl_ _ts w_rld-f_m__s c__s_n_. _ t_wn n__r M__nt F_j_ h_s d_v_s_d _ dr_st_c m__s_r_ t_ c_mb_t th_ pr_bl_m _f _v_rt__r_sm. F_j_k_w_g_ch_k_, wh_ch _s _t th_ f__t _f F_j_, h_s b_c_m_ _n_nd_t_d w_th s_ghts__rs wh_ w_nt s_lf__s _f th_ms_lv_s _n fr_nt _f _ br_ghtly c_l__r_d c_nv_n__nc_ st_r_, w_th F_j_-s_n _s th_ b_ckdr_p. L_c_l __th_r_t__s h_v_ d_c_d_d t_ _r_ct _ g__nt m_sh f_nc_ t_ _bsc_r_ th_ v__w _f J_p_n's _c_n_c m__nt__n.

_ l_c_l _ff_c__l t_ld j__rn_l_sts th_t th_ _ncr__s_ng n_mb_r _f t__r_sts w_s cr__t_ng pr_bl_ms f_r r_s_d_nts. Th_s_ _ncl_d_ tr_sh b__ng l_ft _n th_ str__ts, tr_ff_c b__ng bl_ck_d, _nd s_c_r_ty g__rds b__ng _mpl_y_d t_ m_rsh_l s_lf__ t_k_rs. Th_ _ff_c__l s__d _f th_ f_nc_: "_t _s r_gr_tt_bl_ th_t w_ h_d t_ t_k_ s_ch m__s_r_s." Sh_ _dd_d th_t _t w_s b_c__s_ _f "s_m_ t__r_sts wh_ c_nn_t r_sp_ct r_l_s". Th_ f_nc_ w_ll b_ 20 m_tr_s l_ng _nd 2.5 m_tr_s h_gh. _th_r pl_c_s _n J_p_n _r_ _ls_ b_ttl_ng l_rg_ n_mb_rs _f _v_rs__s v_s_t_rs. L_c_ls _n th_ _nc__nt c_ty _f Ky_t_ c_nn_t b__rd _ncr__s_ngly _v_rcr_wd_d b_s_s. _r__s _f Ky_t_ h_v_ b__n cl_s_d t_ t__r_sts t_ pr_v_nt p__pl_ h_r_ss_ng g__sh_, _n _ pr_bl_m d_bb_d _s "g__sh_ p_p_r_zz_".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

overtourism is causing headaches for authorities and consternation for local residents worldwide japan is one country that is battling surging numbers of international tourists the weaker yen has meant people are flocking to see japans numerous world heritage sites and sample its worldfamous cuisine a town near mount fuji has devised a drastic measure to combat the problem of overtourism fujikawaguchiko which is at the foot of fuji has become inundated with sightseers who want selfies of themselves in front of a brightly coloured convenience store with fujisan as the backdrop local authorities have decided to erect a giant mesh fence to obscure the view of japans iconic mountain

a local official told journalists that the increasing number of tourists was creating problems for residents these include trash being left in the streets traffic being blocked and security guards being employed to marshal selfie takers the official said of the fence it is regrettable that we had to take such measures she added that it was because of some tourists who cannot respect rules the fence will be 20 metres long and 2.5 metres high other places in japan are also battling large numbers of overseas visitors locals in the ancient city of kyoto cannot board increasingly overcrowded buses areas of kyoto have been closed to tourists to prevent people harassing geisha in a problem dubbed as geisha paparazzi

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Overtourismiscausingheadachesforauthoritiesandconsternationforl
ocalresidentsworldwide.Japanisonecountrythatisbattlingsurgingnu
mbersofinternationaltourists.Theweakeryenhasmeantpeopleareflo
ckingtoseeJapan'snumerousWorldHeritagesitesandsampleitsworld-
famouscuisine.AtownnearMountFujihasdevisedadrasticmeasuretoc
ombattheproblemofovertourism.Fujikawaguchiko,whichisatthefoot
ofFuji,hasbecomeinundatedwithsightseerswhowantselfiesofthemse
lvesinfrontofabrightlycolouredconveniencestore,withFuji-sanasth
ebackdrop.Localauthoritieshavedecidedtoerectagiantmeshfenceto
obscuretheviewofJapan'siconicmountain.Alocalofficialtoldjournalist
sthattheincreasingnumberoftouristswascreatingproblemsforreside
nts.Theseincludetrashbeingleftinthestreets,trafficbeingblocked,an
dsecurityguardsbeingemployedtomarshalselfietakers.Theofficialsai
dofthefence:"Itisregrettablethatwehadtotakesuchmeasures."Shea
ddedthatitwasbecauseof"sometouristswhocannotrespectrules".The
fencewillbe20metreslongand2.5metreshigh.OtherplacesinJapanare
alsobattlinglargenumbersofoverseasvisitors.Localsintheancientcity
ofKyotocannotboardincreasinglyovercrowdedbuses.AreasofKyotoh
avebeenclosedtotouriststopreventpeopleharassinggeisha,inaprobl
emdubbedas"geishapaparazzi".

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Countries should limit the number of tourists visiting them. 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. OVERTOURISM: Make a poster about overtourism. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. CAP ON TOURISTS: Write a magazine article about r=each country should have a cap on tourists to prevent overtourism. 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 overtourism. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to deal with overtourism. 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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Breaking News English Lesson: Overtourism

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