Breaking News English Lesson: Army Recruits

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Australia to allow foreign citizens into its army (6th June 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Army Recruits - Level 3

Australia will soon allow non-Australians into its army. People from countries such as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can apply to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problems getting people to sign up for its army. The government hopes that opening the army up to people from other countries will solve its recruitment problem. The ADF currently has a shortage of around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent residents in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will have their chance. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that in the future, people from more countries could join.

Mr Marles said his country was changing its recruitment policy for security reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because it is essential to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and beyond." A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: "We're being bold in order to grow the ADF. Recruiting from a wider pool of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full diversity of Australia, and is able to draw on the talents of [all] of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham disagreed with the policy. He said it showed government failure. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the confidence to sign up."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Army Recruits - Level 0, Army Recruits - Level 1 or Army Recruits - Level 2

Sources

https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-06-04/adf-opens-its-ranks-non-citizens
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv22v0wg8v3o
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-04/foreign-citizen-australian-defence-force-recruitment-opened/103931146

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. JOINING THE ARMY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about joining the army. 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?
Australia / army / problems / recruitment / shortage / workers / chance / in the future
security / challenges / next decade / diversity / talents / society / failure / confidence
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. MULTI-NATIONAL: Students A strongly believe multi-national armies are good; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. NATIONAL SECURITY: How can we deal with these national security issues? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How Big a Problem	How To Deal with It
Dangerous neighbours
Cyber-security
Drugs
Terrorism
Religious tensions
Food security

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. DIVERSITY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "diversity". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the jobs which people from other countries should not do at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Soldier
Nurse
Spy
Judge
Police officer
President
Football player
Immigration officer

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	apply	a.	To ask for something, like a job, by filling out a form.
2.	solve	b.	Lasting or happening for a long time, or forever.
3.	recruitment	c.	To find an answer to a problem.
4.	currently	d.	Not enough of something we need.
5.	shortage	e.	The process of finding new people to join a company or organization.
6.	permanent	f.	Happening right now.
7.	residents	g.	People who live in a building, town or country.

Paragraph 2

8.	policy	h.	Further than something.
9.	security	i.	A period of ten years.
10.	essential	j.	A set of rules or ideas about how to do something.
11.	decade	k.	Having many different kinds of people or things.
12.	beyond	l.	Being safe and protected.
13.	diversity	m.	Not being successful at doing something.
14.	failure	n.	Very important or necessary.

Before reading / listening

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

British people can join Australia's army, but New Zealanders can't. T / F
It's easy for Australia to recruit people into its army. T / F
The Australian Defence Force needs more than 4,500 new workers. T / F
Canadians will be able to join the Australian Defence Force next year. T / F
Australia is allowing non-nationals to join its army for security reasons. T / F
The government is looking more than 10 years ahead. T / F
Australia wants an army that shows the nation's diversity. T / F
The opposition Foreign Minister said Australians didn't need to sign up. T / F

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

allow
such as
solve
residents
chance
chosen
essential
pool
talents
confidence

opportunity
important
citizens
like
skills
supply
opted
let
self-belief
answer

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

Australia will soon allow non-
getting people to sign
solve its recruitment
permanent
in the
changing its recruitment
meet the nation's security
Recruiting from a wider
reflects the full
He said it showed government

pool of people
future
up for its army
policy
diversity of Australia
Australians into its army
failure
residents in Australia
challenges
problem

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

residents
up
such
future
shortage
chance
solve
apply

Australia will soon allow non-Australians into its army. People from countries (1) _____________________ as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can (2) _____________________ to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problems getting people to sign (3) _____________________ for its army. The government hopes that opening the army up to people from other countries will (4) _____________________ its recruitment problem. The ADF currently has a (5) _____________________ of around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent (6) _____________________ in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will have their (7) _____________________. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that in the (8) _____________________, people from more countries could join.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

decade
diversity
essential
disagreed
policy
failure
grow
talents

Mr Marles said his country was changing its recruitment (9) _____________________ for security reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because it is (10) _____________________ to meet the nation's security challenges through the next (11) _____________________ and beyond." A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: "We're being bold in order to (12) _____________________ the ADF. Recruiting from a wider pool of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full (13) _____________________ of Australia, and is able to draw on the (14) _____________________ of [all] of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham (15) _____________________ with the policy. He said it showed government (16) _____________________. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the confidence to sign up."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Australia will soon allow non-Australians ______
     a. into its army
     b. unto its army
     c. onto its army
     d. as to its army
2) opening the army up to people from other countries will ______
     a. shelve its recruitment
     b. stove its recruitment
     c. solve its recruitment
     d. solution its recruitment
3) From July, New Zealanders who are permanent residents in ______
     a. Australia can applied
     b. Australia can appliance
     c. Australia can apply
     d. Australia can applies
4) Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will ______
     a. have their chance
     b. have their chants
     c. have their charts
     d. have their change
5) in the future, people from more ______
     a. countries could adjourn
     b. countries could adjoin
     c. countries could joint
     d. countries could join

6) Marles said his country was changing its recruitment policy ______
     a. for security reason
     b. for security raisons
     c. for security reasons
     d. for security reasoning
7) Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because ______
     a. it is essence
     b. it is essentially
     c. it is essentials
     d. it is essential
8) to meet the nation's security challenges through the next ______
     a. decade and beyond
     b. decade and behind
     c. decade and bound
     d. decade and be yonder
9) help ensure the ADF reflects the full ______
     a. diversify of Australia
     b. diversity of Australia
     c. adversity of Australia
     d. university of Australia
10) We should be seeing more Australians ______
     a. with the confidants
     b. with the confident
     c. with the confidence
     d. with the confidently

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Australia (1) ____________________ non-Australians into its army. People from countries such as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can (2) ____________________ the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problems getting people to (3) ____________________ its army. The government hopes that opening the army up to people from other countries will solve its recruitment problem. The ADF currently has (4) ____________________ around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent residents in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will (5) ____________________. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that in the future, people from more (6) ____________________.

Mr Marles said his country was changing its recruitment (7) ____________________ reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because (8) ____________________ to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and beyond." A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: "We're being (9) ____________________ to grow the ADF. Recruiting from a wider pool of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the (10) ____________________ Australia, and is able to draw on the talents of [all] of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham disagreed (11) ____________________. He said it showed government failure. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians (12) ____________________ to sign up."

Comprehension questions

What is Australia having problems getting people to sign up for?
How many workers does the Australian Defence Force (ADF) need?
Which country's people will be the first to be allowed to join the ADF?
When will Americans be able to join the Australian Defence Force?
When might people from more countries be able to join Australia's army?
What did Australia's Defence Minister say his country is changing?
For how long is it essential for Australia to meet security challenges?
What does Australia want to reflect by recruiting different people?
What is Simon Birmingham's job?
Who did Mr Birmingham say should be joining the army with confidence?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is Australia having problems getting people to sign up for?
a) a newsletter
b) its army
c) a job
d) voluntary work
2) How many workers does the Australian Defence Force (ADF) need?
a) more than 4,400
b) exactly 4,400
c) fewer than 4,400
d) around 4,400
3) Which country's people will be the first to be allowed to join the ADF?
a) New Zealand
b) Canada
c) the USA
d) the UK
4) When will New Zealanders be able to join the Australian Defence Force?
a) from September
b) from August
c) from July
d) from June
5) When might people from more countries be able to join Australia's army?
a) in two years' time
b) in the future
c) next week
d) soon

6) What did Australia's Defence Minister say his country is changing?
a) its tanks
b) its army uniforms
c) its recruitment policy
d) its mind
7) For how long is it essential for Australia to meet security challenges?
a) a century
b) 20 years
c) forever
d) a decade or more
8) What does Australia want to reflect by recruiting different people?
a) the full diversity of Australia
b) mirrors
c) the changing times
d) the sun's rays
9) What is Simon Birmingham's job?
a) opposition Foreign Minister
b) soldier
c) Prime Minister
d) army recruiter
10) Who did Mr Birmingham say should be joining the army with confidence?
a) Canadians
b) Australians
c) Brits
d) Kiwis

Role play

Role A – Soldier
You think a soldier is the job someone from another country should never do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs are OK for non-nationals to do. Also, tell the others which is the best of these for a non-national (and why): spy, judge or immigration officer.

Role B – Spy
You think a spy is the job someone from another country should never do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs are OK for non-nationals to do. Also, tell the others which is the best of these for a non-national (and why): soldier, judge or immigration officer.

Role C – Judge
You think a judge is the job someone from another country should never do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs are OK for non-nationals to do. Also, tell the others which is the best of these for a non-national (and why): spy, soldier or immigration officer.

Role D – Immigration Officer
You think an immigration officer is the job someone from another country should never do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs are OK for non-nationals to do. Also, tell the others which is the best of these for a non-national (and why): spy, judge or soldier.

After reading / listening

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

'army'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'country'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

such

problems

currently

around

chance

future

reasons

grow

beyond

pool

society

seeing

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 - Army Recruits

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 'army'?
What's good about a country's army being multi-national?
Would you think about a career in the army?
Why do you think Australia is having problems recruiting staff?
Does every country in the world need an army?
What would a world be like without armies?
What's the army in your country like?
Why does Australia need an army?
How can Australia recruit more people?

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 'country'?
What do you think about what you read?
What security issues are there in your country?
What do you think of your country's army?
Should armies be as diverse as possible?
What do you think of army uniforms?
How is technology changing the role of armies?
What do you think cyber wars will look like?
What questions would you like to ask Australia's leader?

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

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

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

Australia will soon (1) ____ non-Australians into its army. People from countries such as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can apply (2) ____ join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problems getting people to sign up for its army. The government hopes that opening the army (3) ____ to people from other countries will solve its recruitment problem. The ADF currently has (4) ____ shortage of around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent (5) ____ in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will have their chance. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that (6) ____ the future, people from more countries could join.

Mr Marles said his country was changing its recruitment (7) ____ for security reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has (8) ____ to grow the Australian Defence Force because it is essential to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and (9) ____." A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: "We're being bold in order to grow the ADF. Recruiting from a (10) ____ pool of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full diversity of Australia, and is able to (11) ____ on the talents of [all] of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham disagreed with the policy. He said it showed government failure. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the (12) ____ to sign up."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) bellow (b) wallow (c) allow (d) follow
(a) to (b) for (c) by (d) at
(a) up (b) in (c) of (d) down
(a) a (b) an (c) so (d) the
(a) residence (b) residential (c) resides (d) residents
(a) by (b) of (c) at (d) in
(a) policy (b) politics (c) police (d) polling
(a) chooses (b) chose (c) choose (d) chosen
(a) beyond (b) behind (c) beneath (d) behest
(a) width (b) wider (c) widen (d) widest
(a) paint (b) draw (c) sketch (d) brush
(a) confidence (b) confidants (c) confidential (d) confides

Spelling

Paragraph 1

New Zealand can pplay to join
The mgneeonrvt hopes that
solve its erirunmtcet problem
The ADF currently has a tageosrh
eempantnr residents
Richard Marles said it was sloiesbp

Paragraph 2

yetsciur reasons
because it is tseiaesln
hegsnclela through the next decade
reflects the full irysevidt of Australia
He said it showed government aieflur
with the iefccdonen to sign up

Put the text back together

(...) all of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham disagreed with the policy. He said it showed
(...) their chance. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was
(...) to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and beyond." A Defence Ministry
(...) government failure. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the confidence to sign up."
(...) possible that in the future, people from more countries could join.
(...) people to sign up for its army. The government hopes that opening the army up to people from other countries will solve its
(...) residents in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will have
(...) as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can apply to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problems getting
(...) Mr Marles said his country was changing its recruitment policy for security
( 1 ) Australia will soon allow non-Australians into its army. People from countries such
(...) recruitment problem. The ADF currently has a shortage of around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent
(...) spokesperson said: "We're being bold in order to grow the ADF. Recruiting from a wider pool of
(...) reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because it is essential
(...) people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full diversity of Australia, and is able to draw on the talents of

Put the words in the right order

will Australia allow soon its non-Australians army . into
having sign people getting Australia's problems up . to
from to people other countries . the army Opening
has of 4,400 currently shortage workers . It a
residents apply Australia can in to Permanent join .
its changing reasons . security for policy It's recruitment
security challenges . nation's essential the to It's meet
a wider Recruiting from pool of people .
full ADF diversity Australia . of The reflects the
Australians the to confidence More sign up . with

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Australia will soon allowed / allow non-Australians into its army. People from countries such as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can apply / applied to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problem / problems getting people to sign down / up for its army. The government hopes that opening the army up to people from another / other countries will solve its recruitment problem. The ADF currently has a short / shortage of around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent / permanence residents in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will have them / their chance. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that on / in the future, people from more countries able to / could join.

Mr Marles said his country was changing / chancing its recruitment policy for security reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has chosen to / for grow the Australian Defence Force because it is / be essential to meet the nation's security challenges though / through the next decade and behind / beyond." A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: "We're being bold / bald in order to grow the ADF. Recruiting from a wider pool to / of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full diversity of Australia, and is able to draw on the talons / talents of [all] of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham disagreed with the / a policy. He said it showed government failure. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the confidence / confident to sign up."

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)

__str_l__ w_ll s__n _ll_w n_n-__str_l__ns _nt_ _ts _rmy. P__pl_ fr_m c__ntr__s s_ch _s th_ _K, C_n_d_ _nd N_w Z__l_nd c_n _pply t_ j__n th_ __str_l__n D_f_nc_ F_rc_ (_DF). __str_l__ _s h_v_ng pr_bl_ms g_tt_ng p__pl_ t_ s_gn _p f_r _ts _rmy. Th_ g_v_rnm_nt h_p_s th_t _p_n_ng th_ _rmy _p t_ p__pl_ fr_m _th_r c__ntr__s w_ll s_lv_ _ts r_cr__tm_nt pr_bl_m. Th_ _DF c_rr_ntly h_s _ sh_rt_g_ _f _r__nd 4,400 w_rk_rs. Fr_m J_ly, N_w Z__l_nd_rs wh_ _r_ p_rm_n_nt r_s_d_nts _n __str_l__ c_n _pply t_ j__n. N_xt y__r, th_s_ fr_m th_ _K, _S _nd C_n_d_ w_ll h_v_ th__r ch_nc_. __str_l__'s D_f_nc_ M_n_st_r, R_ch_rd M_rl_s, s__d _t w_s p_ss_bl_ th_t _n th_ f_t_r_, p__pl_ fr_m m_r_ c__ntr__s c__ld j__n.

Mr M_rl_s s__d h_s c__ntry w_s ch_ng_ng _ts r_cr__tm_nt p_l_cy f_r s_c_r_ty r__s_ns. H_ s__d: "Th_ __str_l__n G_v_rnm_nt h_s ch_s_n t_ gr_w th_ __str_l__n D_f_nc_ F_rc_ b_c__s_ _t _s _ss_nt__l t_ m__t th_ n_t__n's s_c_r_ty ch_ll_ng_s thr__gh th_ n_xt d_c_d_ _nd b_y_nd." _ D_f_nc_ M_n_stry sp_k_sp_rs_n s__d: "W_'r_ b__ng b_ld _n _rd_r t_ gr_w th_ _DF. R_cr__t_ng fr_m _ w_d_r p__l _f p__pl_ w_ll h_lp _ns_r_ [th_ _DF] r_fl_cts th_ f_ll d_v_rs_ty _f __str_l__, _nd _s _bl_ t_ dr_w _n th_ t_l_nts _f [_ll] _f __str_l__n s_c__ty." _pp_s_t__n F_r__gn M_n_st_r S_m_n B_rm_ngh_m d_s_gr__d w_th th_ p_l_cy. H_ s__d _t sh_w_d g_v_rnm_nt f__l_r_. H_ s__d: "W_ sh__ld b_ s___ng m_r_ __str_l__ns w_th th_ c_nf_d_nc_ t_ s_gn _p."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

australia will soon allow nonaustralians into its army people from countries such as the uk canada and new zealand can apply to join the australian defence force adf australia is having problems getting people to sign up for its army the government hopes that opening the army up to people from other countries will solve its recruitment problem the adf currently has a shortage of around 4400 workers from july new zealanders who are permanent residents in australia can apply to join next year those from the uk us and canada will have their chance australias defence minister richard marles said it was possible that in the future people from more countries could join

mr marles said his country was changing its recruitment policy for security reasons he said the australian government has chosen to grow the australian defence force because it is essential to meet the nations security challenges through the next decade and beyond a defence ministry spokesperson said were being bold in order to grow the adf recruiting from a wider pool of people will help ensure the adf reflects the full diversity of australia and is able to draw on the talents of all of australian society opposition foreign minister simon birmingham disagreed with the policy he said it showed government failure he said we should be seeing more australians with the confidence to sign up

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Australiawillsoonallownon-Australiansintoitsarmy.Peoplefromcount
riessuchastheUK,CanadaandNewZealandcanapplytojointheAustrali
anDefenceForce(ADF).Australiaishavingproblemsgettingpeopletosi
gnupforitsarmy.Thegovernmenthopesthatopeningthearmyuptopeo
plefromothercountrieswillsolveitsrecruitmentproblem.TheADFcurre
ntlyhasashortageofaround4,400workers.FromJuly,NewZealanders
whoarepermanentresidentsinAustraliacanapplytojoin.Nextyear,tho
sefromtheUK,USandCanadawillhavetheirchance.Australia'sDefence
Minister,RichardMarles,saiditwaspossiblethatinthefuture,peoplefro
mmorecountriescouldjoin.MrMarlessaidhiscountrywaschangingitsr
ecruitmentpolicyforsecurityreasons.Hesaid:"TheAustralianGovern
menthaschosentogrowtheAustralianDefenceForcebecauseitisessen
tialtomeetthenation'ssecuritychallengesthroughthenextdecadeand
beyond."ADefenceMinistryspokespersonsaid:"We'rebeingboldinord
ertogrowtheADF.Recruitingfromawiderpoolofpeoplewillhelpensure[
theADF]reflectsthefulldiversityofAustralia,andisabletodrawonthetal
entsof[all]ofAustraliansociety."OppositionForeignMinisterSimonBir
minghamdisagreedwiththepolicy.Hesaiditshowedgovernmentfailur
e.Hesaid:"WeshouldbeseeingmoreAustralianswiththeconfidencetos
ignup."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

It's OK for non-nationals to join another country's army. 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. JOINING THE ARMY: Make a poster about joining the army. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. THE ARMY : Write a magazine article about everyone having to spend some time in the army. 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 joining the army. Ask him/her three questions about joining it. Give him/her three of your opinions on armies. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

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

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