The Reading / Listening - National Service - Level 3

The UK leader has a plan to introduce national service for 18-year-olds. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he will introduce compulsory national service if his party wins the UK election on July the 4th. Under his plan, young people will have two choices when they become 18. The first choice is to spend one year in the army, navy or air force. The government thinks about 30,000 people will choose to do this. The second option is to do voluntary work for one weekend a month. This means volunteering to work with Britain's National Health Service, ambulance service, fire service, or in local communities. Mr Sunak said young people will gain valuable skills, and help to "build a stronger national culture".

Rishi Sunak's plan has been attacked by many people. Various experts say it is too expensive, and that the UK does not have enough staff to train 30,000 army volunteers. Many defence experts say the idea is unworkable. Admiral Alan West, a former navy head, said: "I'm delighted if more young people become aware of defence…but this idea is…bonkers." He believes the government needs to spend more money on defence. He says national service will "suck" money out of defence. Many young people disagree with the plan. They believe it takes away their freedom. However, one 17-year-old said it will give many young people a purpose. She said national service works well in dozens of countries.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    National Service - Level 0,  National Service - Level 1   or  National Service - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9xx1w48wjdo
  • https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/26/rishi-sunaks-national-service-pledge-is-bonkers-says-ex-military-chief
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/27/national-service-rishi-sunak-memes-election/


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. NATIONAL SERVICE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about national service. 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?
       leader / national service / election / choice / army / navy / air force / health service /
       experts / volunteers / defence / delighted / government / freedom / purpose / plan
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. VOLUNTARY WORK: Students A strongly believe all people should do voluntary work for one year; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MILITARY CAREER: What do you think of these jobs in the military? What are the good and bad things about them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Think

Good Things

Bad Things

Soldier

 

 

 

Sailor

 

 

 

Helicopter pilot

 

 

 

Jet pilot

 

 

 

Tank driver

 

 

 

Submariner

 

 

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

  • In hospitals
  • In schools
  • With old people
  • Picking up litter
  • Care worker
  • Helping animals
  • Counselling
  • Teaching English

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. introduce a. Something you do because you want to, not because you have to.
      2. national service b. Something you must do because it is a rule or it is the law.
      3. compulsory c. Work for the country (often in the army) that young people have to do.
      4. choice d. Worth a lot of money, or very useful.
      5. voluntary e. Start a new plan, law or action.
      6. local f. The act of picking between two or more things.
      7. valuable g. About the area around you or your house.

    Paragraph 2

      8. various h. People who know a lot about a special subject.
      9. experts i. The part of a country's military that fights at sea.
      10. train j. The reason for doing something.
      11. former k. Teach someone how to do something well.
      12. navy l. Crazy or very silly.
      13. bonkers m. Having had a position, job or role in the past.
      14. purpose n. Different kinds or types of something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The U.K. will introduce national service on the 4th of July.     T / F
  2. Young people can choose one of two options for national service.     T / F
  3. The government thinks 30,000 people will join the air force.     T / F
  4. Rishi Sunak said young people will learn about national cultures.     T / F
  5. Experts say there is a shortage of staff to train 30,000 army volunteers.  T / F
  6. A defence expert suggested the national service plan would not work.     T / F
  7. The expert said the plan would take money away from defence.     T / F
  8. A 17-year-old said national service was a failure in many countries.     T / F

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

  1. introduce
  2. compulsory
  3. choices
  4. gain
  5. valuable
  6. experts
  7. bonkers
  8. freedom
  9. purpose
  10. countries
  1. specialists
  2. get
  3. nations
  4. motivation
  5. required
  6. precious
  7. start
  8. crazy
  9. liberty
  10. options

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

  1. a plan to introduce
  2. if his party wins
  3. The first choice is to spend
  4. The second option is to
  5. young people will gain
  6. Various experts say it is too
  7. the UK does not have enough
  8. defence experts say the idea
  9. it takes
  10. works well in
  1. expensive
  2. do voluntary work
  3. dozens of countries
  4. one year in the army
  5. away their freedom
  6. is unworkable
  7. national service
  8. valuable skills
  9. staff
  10. the UK election

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
choices
local
option
valuable
party
introduce
spend
volunteering

The UK leader has a plan to (1) _____________________ national service for 18-year-olds. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he will introduce compulsory national service if his (2) ____________________ wins the UK election on July the 4th. Under his plan, young people will have two (3) _____________________ when they become 18. The first choice is to (4) _____________________ one year in the army, navy or air force. The government thinks about 30,000 people will choose to do this. The second (5) _____________________ is to do voluntary work for one weekend a month. This means (6) _____________________ to work with Britain's National Health Service, ambulance service, fire service, or in (7) _____________________ communities. Mr Sunak said young people will gain (8) _____________________ skills, and help to "build a stronger national culture".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
idea
train
disagree
experts
suck
dozens
unworkable
freedom

Rishi Sunak's plan has been attacked by many people. Various (9) _____________________ say it is too expensive, and that the UK does not have enough staff to (10) _____________________ 30,000 army volunteers. Many defence experts say the idea is (11) _____________________. Admiral Alan West, a former navy head, said: "I'm delighted if more young people become aware of defence…but this (12) _____________________ is…bonkers." He believes the government needs to spend more money on defence. He says national service will "(13) _____________________" money out of defence. Many young people (14) _____________________ with the plan. They believe it takes away their (15) _____________________. However, one 17-year-old said it will give many young people a purpose. She said national service works well in (16) _____________________ of countries.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) he will introduce compulsory national service if his party wins ______
     a.  the UK ejection
     b.  the UK elation
     c.  the UK election
     d.  the UK relation
2)  The first choice is to spend one year in the army, navy ______
     a.  or hair force
     b.  or ear force
     c.  or air force
     d.  aura force
3)  The second option is to do voluntary work ______
     a.  for once weekend
     b.  for one weekend
     c.  for only weekend
     d.  for won weekend
4)  Britain's National Health Service, ambulance service, fire service, or ______
     a.  in local communities
     b.  in locals communities
     c.  in locally communities
     d.  in locale communities
5)  young people will gain valuable skills, and help to build a ______
     a.  stronger national couture
     b.  stronger national vulture
     c.  stronger national cult your
     d.  stronger national culture

6)  Various experts say it is too expensive, and that the UK does not ______
     a.  have enough stuff
     b.  have enough staff
     c.  have enough stiff
     d.  have enough stove
7)  Many defence experts say the ______
     a.  ideal is unworkable
     b.  idea is unworkable
     c.  ideas is unworkable
     d.  i-deer is unworkable
8)  I'm delighted if more young people become aware of defence…but this ______
     a.  idea is…bonkers
     b.  idea is…conkers
     c.  idea is…stinkers
     d.  idea is…bankers
9)  money on defence. He says national service will ______
     a.  stuck money out
     b.  suck money out
     c.  sack money out
     d.  sick money out
10)  She said national service works well in ______
     a.  dozen of countries
     b.  dozens of countries
     c.  dozens of country
     d.  doze ends of countries

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The UK leader has a (1) ____________________ national service for 18-year-olds. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says (2) ____________________ compulsory national service if his party wins the UK election on July the 4th. Under his plan, young people will have (3) ____________________ they become 18. The first choice is to spend one year in the army, navy or air force. The government thinks about 30,000 people will (4) ____________________ this. The second option is to do voluntary work for one weekend a month. This means (5) ____________________ with Britain's National Health Service, ambulance service, fire service, or in local communities. Mr Sunak said young people will (6) ____________________, and help to "build a stronger national culture".

Rishi Sunak's plan has (7) ____________________ many people. Various experts say it is too expensive, and that the UK does not have enough staff to train 30,000 army volunteers. Many defence experts say the (8) ____________________. Admiral Alan West, a former navy head, said: "I'm delighted if more young people (9) ____________________ defence…but this idea is…bonkers." He believes the government needs to spend more money on defence. He says national service (10) ____________________ out of defence. Many young people disagree with the plan. They believe it takes (11) ____________________. However, one 17-year-old said it will give many young people a purpose. She said national service works (12) ____________________ of countries.

Comprehension questions

  1. What must Rishi Sunak win to start the national service plan?
  2. How many choices will 18-year-olds have?
  3. How many people does the government think will do military service?
  4. What kind of communities can people do voluntary work in?
  5. What did Rishi Sunak say young people can gain?
  6. What does the UK not have enough of?
  7. What job did Admiral Alan West used to do?
  8. What does Alan West say the government needed to spend money on?
  9. What do many people say will be taken away from them?
  10. In how many countries did a 17-year-old say national service worked?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What must Rishi Sunak win to start the national service plan?
a) money
b) the UK election
c) the lottery
d) in love
2)  How many choices will 18-year-olds have?
a) five
b) three
c) two
d) many
3)  How many people does the government think will do military service?
a) 60,000
b) 50,000
c) 40,000
d) 30,000
4)  What kind of communities can people do voluntary work in?
a) big communities
b) local communities
c) friendly communities
d) gated communities
5)  What did Rishi Sunak say young people can gain?
a) valuable skills
b) weight
c) an advantage
d) money

6)  What does the UK not have enough of?
a) staff
b) money
c) people
d) houses
7)  What job did Admiral Alan West used to do?
a) He was a fighter pilot.
b) He was a journalist.
c) Army head
d) Navy head
8)  What does Alan West say the government needed to spend money on?
a) young people
b) roads
c) defence
d) education
9)  What do many people say will be taken away from them?
a) their youth
b) their smartphones
c) their dreams
d) their freedom
10)  In how many countries did a 17-year-old say national service worked?
a) scores
b) dozens
c) 37
d) hundreds

Role play

Role  A – Hospitals
You think hospitals are the best places to do voluntary work. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): schools, care homes or farms.

Role  B – Schools
You think schools are the best places to do voluntary work. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): hospitals, care homes or farms.

Role  C – Care Homes
You think care homes are the best places to do voluntary work. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): schools, hospitals or farms.

Role  D – Farms
You think farms are the best places to do voluntary work. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their places. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): schools, care homes or hospitals.

After reading / listening

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

'national'

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

    • and 'service'.

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

    • • 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:

    • introduce
    • party
    • two
    • second
    • fire
    • gain
    • attacked
    • various
    • former
    • spend
    • believe
    • dozens

    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 - National Service

    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 'national'?
    3. What do you think of national service?
    4. How can 18-year-olds help their country?
    5. Is 18 the best age to be?
    6. Would you choose to join the army, navy or air force?
    7. Would you prefer to do military service or community work?
    8. Is voluntary work for one weekend a month enough?
    9. How can you help your local community?
    10. What can you do to build your country's culture?

    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 'service'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How much should a country spend on its army?
    5. Is it more important to spend money on defence or education?
    6. How would you feel about doing a year in the army?
    7. Do you have enough freedom?
    8. Does national service take away someone's freedom?
    9. Should all young people spend time in the military?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the UK 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 UK leader has a plan (1) ____ introduce national service for 18-year-olds. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he will introduce compulsory national service if his party (2) ____ the UK election on July the 4th. (3) ____ his plan, young people will have two choices when they become 18. The first (4) ____ is to spend one year in the army, navy or air force. The government thinks about 30,000 people will choose to do this. The second option is to (5) ____ voluntary work for one weekend a month. This means volunteering to work with Britain's National Health Service, ambulance service, fire service, or in local communities. Mr Sunak said young people will (6) ____ valuable skills, and help to "build a stronger national culture".

    Rishi Sunak's plan has been attacked (7) ____ many people. Various experts say it is too expensive, and that the UK does not have enough staff to (8) ____ 30,000 army volunteers. Many defence experts say the idea is unworkable. Admiral Alan West, a former navy head, said: "I'm (9) ____ if more young people become aware of defence…but this idea is…bonkers." He believes the government needs to spend more money on defence. He says national service will "(10) ____" money out of defence. Many young people disagree with the plan. They believe it takes (11) ____ their freedom. However, one 17-year-old said it will give many young people a purpose. She said national service works well in (12) ____ of countries.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     as     (b)     for     (c)     to     (d)     at    
    2. (a)     wins     (b)     win     (c)     winning     (d)     winnings    
    3. (a)     Under     (b)     Below     (c)     Beneath     (d)     Less    
    4. (a)     choice     (b)     chose     (c)     chosen     (d)     choosing    
    5. (a)     be     (b)     do     (c)     take     (d)     volunteer    
    6. (a)     be     (b)     seal     (c)     fail     (d)     gain    
    7. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     by     (d)     as    
    8. (a)     rail     (b)     car     (c)     shunt     (d)     train    
    9. (a)     delighted     (b)     delights     (c)     delighting     (d)     delightful    
    10. (a)     suck     (b)     ice     (c)     cover     (d)     row    
    11. (a)     on     (b)     away     (c)     up     (d)     to    
    12. (a)     denizens     (b)     dozen     (c)     dozens     (d)     dozes

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. introduce oupscrylmo national service
    2. young people will have two oeicshc
    3. The second pnioto
    4. in local ietmcnmuios
    5. people will gain auallvbe skills
    6. build a stronger national clruute

    Paragraph 2

    1. aktecatd by many people
    2. it is too xensepiev
    3. 30,000 army euoelsntvr
    4. Many young people earedsgi with the plan
    5. give many young people a suopepr
    6. in sezdon of countries

    Put the text back together

    (...)  people will have two choices when they become 18. The first choice is to spend one year in the army,
    (...)  said young people will gain valuable skills, and help to "build a stronger national culture".
    (...)  year-old said it will give many young people a purpose. She said national service works well in dozens of countries.
    (...)  navy or air force. The government thinks about 30,000 people will choose to do this. The second
    (...)  experts say the idea is unworkable. Admiral Alan West, a former navy head, said: "I'm
    (...)  expensive, and that the UK does not have enough staff to train 30,000 army volunteers. Many defence
    (  1  ) The UK leader has a plan to introduce national service for 18-year-olds. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he will
    (...)  introduce compulsory national service if his party wins the UK election on July the 4th. Under his plan, young
    (...)  disagree with the plan. They believe it takes away their freedom. However, one 17-
    (...)  Rishi Sunak's plan has been attacked by many people. Various experts say it is too
    (...)  National Health Service, ambulance service, fire service, or in local communities. Mr Sunak
    (...)  to spend more money on defence. He says national service will "suck" money out of defence. Many young people
    (...)  delighted if more young people become aware of defence…but this idea is…bonkers." He believes the government needs
    (...)  option is to do voluntary work for one weekend a month. This means volunteering to work with Britain's

    Put the words in the right order

    1. If   the   his   wins   party   UK   election   .
    2. 18   .   will   have   they   People   choices   become   when
    3. do   voluntary   second   to   work   .   The   is   option
    4. skills   .   valuable   people   will   young   Sunak   said   gain
    5. Help   build   stronger   a   national   to   culture   .
    6. is   experts   expensive   .   Various   it   too   say
    7. not   have   enough   The   does   staff   .   UK
    8. The   spend   more   money   .   needs   to   government
    9. young   the   people   disagree   with   plan   .   Many
    10. will   give   purpose   .   It   a   young   many   people

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The UK leader has a plan to introduction / introduce national service for 18-year-olds. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he will introduce compulsory national service if his event / party wins the UK election on July the 4th. Under / Below his plan, young people will have two chooses / choices when they become 18. The first choice is for / to spend one year in the army, navy or air fierce / force. The government thinks about 30,000 people will choose to do this. The second caption / option is to do voluntary work for one weekend a / the month. This means volunteering to work with Britain's National Health Service, ambulance service, fire service, or in local / locally communities. Mr Sunak said young people will gain valuable skills, and help to "build a strengthen / stronger national culture".

    Rishi Sunak's plan has been attacked by / for many people. Various experts say it is too expensive, and that the UK does not have enough stuff / staff to train 30,000 army volunteers. Many defence expats / experts say the idea / ideal is unworkable. Admiral Alan West, a former navy head, said: "I'm delighted if more young people become beware / aware of defence…but this idea is…bonkers." He believes the government needs to spend most / more money on defence. He says national service will "stuck / suck" money out of defence. Many young people disagree with the plan. They belief / believe it takes away their freedom. However, one 17-year-old said it will giving / give many young people a purpose. She said national service works well in dozens / dozen of countries.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_  _K  l__d_r  h_s  _  pl_n  t_  _ntr_d_c_  n_t__n_l  s_rv_c_  f_r  18-y__r-_lds.  Pr_m_  M_n_st_r  R_sh_  S_n_k  s_ys  h_  w_ll  _ntr_d_c_  c_mp_ls_ry  n_t__n_l  s_rv_c_  _f  h_s  p_rty  w_ns  th_  _K  _l_ct__n  _n  J_ly  th_  4th.  _nd_r  h_s  pl_n,  y__ng  p__pl_  w_ll  h_v_  tw_  ch__c_s  wh_n  th_y  b_c_m_  18.  Th_  f_rst  ch__c_  _s  t_  sp_nd  _n_  y__r  _n  th_  _rmy,  n_vy  _r  __r  f_rc_.  Th_  g_v_rnm_nt  th_nks  _b__t  30,000  p__pl_  w_ll  ch__s_  t_  d_  th_s.  Th_  s_c_nd  _pt__n  _s  t_  d_  v_l_nt_ry  w_rk  f_r  _n_  w__k_nd  _  m_nth.  Th_s  m__ns  v_l_nt__r_ng  t_  w_rk  w_th  Br_t__n's  N_t__n_l  H__lth  S_rv_c_,  _mb_l_nc_  s_rv_c_,  f_r_  s_rv_c_,  _r  _n  l_c_l  c_mm_n_t__s.  Mr  S_n_k  s__d  y__ng  p__pl_  w_ll  g__n  v_l__bl_  sk_lls,  _nd  h_lp  t_  "b__ld  _  str_ng_r  n_t__n_l  c_lt_r_".

    R_sh_  S_n_k's  pl_n  h_s  b__n  _tt_ck_d  by  m_ny  p__pl_.  V_r___s  _xp_rts  s_y  _t  _s  t__  _xp_ns_v_,  _nd  th_t  th_  _K  d__s  n_t  h_v_  _n__gh  st_ff  t_  tr__n  30,000  _rmy  v_l_nt__rs.  M_ny  d_f_nc_  _xp_rts  s_y  th_  _d__  _s  _nw_rk_bl_.  _dm_r_l  _l_n  W_st,  _  f_rm_r  n_vy  h__d,  s__d:  "_'m  d_l_ght_d  _f  m_r_  y__ng  p__pl_  b_c_m_  _w_r_  _f  d_f_nc_…b_t  th_s  _d__  _s…b_nk_rs."  H_  b_l__v_s  th_  g_v_rnm_nt  n__ds  t_  sp_nd  m_r_  m_n_y  _n  d_f_nc_.  H_  s_ys  n_t__n_l  s_rv_c_  w_ll  "s_ck"  m_n_y  __t  _f  d_f_nc_.  M_ny  y__ng  p__pl_  d_s_gr__  w_th  th_  pl_n.  Th_y  b_l__v_  _t  t_k_s  _w_y  th__r  fr__d_m.  H_w_v_r,  _n_  17-y__r-_ld  s__d  _t  w_ll  g_v_  m_ny  y__ng  p__pl_  _  p_rp_s_.  Sh_  s__d  n_t__n_l  s_rv_c_  w_rks  w_ll  _n  d_z_ns  _f  c__ntr__s.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the uk leader has a plan to introduce national service for 18yearolds prime minister rishi sunak says he will introduce compulsory national service if his party wins the uk election on july the 4th under his plan young people will have two choices when they become 18 the first choice is to spend one year in the army navy or air force the government thinks about 30000 people will choose to do this the second option is to do voluntary work for one weekend a month this means volunteering to work with britains national health service ambulance service fire service or in local communities mr sunak said young people will gain valuable skills and help to build a stronger national culture

    rishi sunaks plan has been attacked by many people various experts say it is too expensive and that the uk does not have enough staff to train 30000 army volunteers many defence experts say the idea is unworkable admiral alan west a former navy head said im delighted if more young people become aware of defencebut this idea isbonkers he believes the government needs to spend more money on defence he says national service will suck money out of defence many young people disagree with the plan they believe it takes away their freedom however one 17yearold said it will give many young people a purpose she said national service works well in dozens of countries

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheUKleaderhasaplantointroducenationalservicefor18-year-olds.P
    rimeMinisterRishiSunaksayshewillintroducecompulsorynationalser
    viceifhispartywinstheUK'selectiononJulythe4th.Underhisplan,youn
    gpeoplewillhavetwochoiceswhentheybecome18.Thefirstchoiceistos
    pendoneyearinthearmy,navyorairforce.Thegovernmentthinksabou
    t30,000peoplewillchoosetodothis.Thesecondoptionistodovoluntary
    workforoneweekendamonth.ThismeansvolunteeringtoworkwithBrit
    ain'sNationalHealthService,ambulanceservice,fireservice,orinlocalc
    ommunities.MrSunaksaidyoungpeoplewillgainvaluableskills,andhel
    pto"buildastrongernationalculture".RishiSunak'splanhasbeenattack
    edbymanypeople.Variousexpertssayitistooexpensive,andthattheU
    Kdoesnothaveenoughstafftotrain30,000armyvolunteers.Manydefe
    nceexpertssaytheideaisunworkable.AdmiralAlanWest,aformernavy
    head,said:"I'mdelightedifmoreyoungpeoplebecomeawareofdefenc
    e…butthisideais…bonkers."Hebelievesthegovernmentneedstospen
    dmoremoneyondefence.Hesaysnationalservicewill"suck"moneyout
    ofdefence.Manyyoungpeopledisagreewiththeplan.Theybelieveittak
    esawaytheirfreedom.However,one17-year-oldsaiditwillgivemanyy
    oungpeopleapurpose.Shesaidnationalserviceworkswellindozensofc
    ountries.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    All 18-year-olds should do national service for one year. 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. VOLUNTARY WORK: Make a poster about voluntary work. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NATIONAL SERVICE: Write a magazine article about all young people doing national service. 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 national service. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on national service. 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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