Breaking News English Lesson: Prisons

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UK prisons facing serious overcrowding crisis (15th July 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Prisons - Level 6

The new government in the UK is having to deal with a serious crisis in its prison system. The new Labour administration made the decision on Friday to release thousands of prisoners before the convicts had finished serving their sentence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attributed the mess in Britain's prisons service to a decade of neglect and underinvestment under the previous Conservative Party, which had been in power for 14 years. The prisoner population is nearly at capacity. Inmates are having to be released early to accommodate newly-sentenced felons. Some will be released having served just 40 per cent of their time. Mr Starmer said the problem was "pretty unforgivable, in my book".

The UK's justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, warned of a "total breakdown in law and order" if prisons reached capacity. Ms Mahmood said: "Prisons are on the point of collapse". If space ran out, there would be nowhere to put those arrested or newly sentenced. The justice system would be overloaded. Mahmood said there would be "looters running amok, smashing windows, robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alight". There are currently only 1,451 places available. She blamed former leader Rishi Sunak and prisons ministers for a "dereliction of duty" and for decimating the system. She called them: "The guilty men who put their political careers ahead of the safety and security of our country."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Prisons - Level 4 or Prisons - Level 5

Sources

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/12/world/europe/uk-prisons-early-release.html
https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/12/thousands-prisoners-released-early-avoid-total-breakdown-law-order
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/uks-new-justice-secretary-set-outline-emergency-measures-111872660

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. PRISONS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about prisons. 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?
government / crisis / prison / prisoners / neglect / underinvestment / power / book /
justice / law and order / looters / running amok / leader / duty / guilty / careers
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. REHABILITATION: Students A strongly believe prison is the best way to rehabilitate prisoners; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CRIMINAL SENTENCES: What do you think of these sentences? What are the pos and cons? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Think	Pros	Cons
Life imprisonment
The death penalty
A fine
Flogging
Community service
Restitution

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

Assault
Bigamy
Shoplifting
Auto theft
Bank fraud
Blackmail
Cybercrime
Copyright infringement

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	deal with	a.	Said that something was caused by someone or something.
2.	administration	b.	A person who has been found guilty of a crime and is in prison.
3.	convict (noun)	c.	The group of people who manage a school, business, or government.
4.	sentence (noun)	d.	To have enough room for people or things to stay or live.
5.	attributed	e.	To do something about a problem or situation.
6.	mess	f.	The punishment given to a person who has been found guilty of a crime.
7.	accommodate	g.	Something that is dirty or not in order.

Paragraph 2

8.	capacity	h.	To behave wildly and out of control.
9.	collapse	i.	Destroying a large part of something.
10.	looters	j.	The state of being abandoned and in poor condition.
11.	run amok	k.	To fall down suddenly.
12.	dereliction	l.	Responsible for doing something bad or illegal.
13.	decimating	m.	The maximum amount that something can hold.
14.	guilty	n.	People who steal things from shops or homes during a disaster.

Before reading / listening

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

The UK government has released over 10,000 prisoners. T / F
The UK's leader accused the previous administration of neglect. T / F
Prisoners are being released to make way for newer convicts. T / F
The UK's leader wrote a book about the prison service crisis. T / F
There could be a total breakdown of law and order in the UK. T / F
The UK's justice secretary said Britain's prison system has collapsed. T / F
There are fewer than 1,500 places available in the UK's prisons. T / F
The UK's justice secretary blamed career politicians for the mess. T / F

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

deal with
release
neglect
nearly
unforgivable
breakdown
overloaded
alight
decimating
guilty

ablaze / on fire
fail to look after
collapse
inexcusable
destroying
set free
culpable
more or less
swamped
manage

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

before the convicts had finished serving
a decade of neglect and
The prisoner population is nearly at
released having served just
Starmer said the problem was pretty
a total breakdown
Prisons are on the point
there would be looters running
a dereliction
political

of collapse
unforgivable
careers
in law and order
underinvestment
amok
40 per cent of their time
of duty
their sentence
capacity

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

convicts
sentenced
mess
served
capacity
book
deal
neglect

The new government in the UK is having to (1) _____________________ with a serious crisis in its prison system. The new Labour administration made the decision on Friday to release thousands of prisoners before the (2) _____________________ had finished serving their sentence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attributed the (3) _____________________ in Britain's prisons service to a decade of (4) _____________________ and underinvestment under the previous Conservative Party, which had been in power for 14 years. The prisoner population is nearly at (5) _____________________. Inmates are having to be released early to accommodate newly- (6) _____________________ felons. Some will be released having (7) _____________________ just 40 per cent of their time. Mr Starmer said the problem was "pretty unforgivable, in my (8) _____________________".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

arrested
setting
order
guilty
amok
dereliction
collapse
blamed

The UK's justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, warned of a "total breakdown in law and (9) _____________________" if prisons reached capacity. Ms Mahmood said: "Prisons are on the point of (10) _____________________". If space ran out, there would be nowhere to put those (11) _____________________ or newly sentenced. The justice system would be overloaded. Mahmood said there would be "looters running (12) _____________________, smashing windows, robbing shops and (13) _____________________ neighbourhoods alight". There are currently only 1,451 places available. She (14) _____________________ former leader Rishi Sunak and prisons ministers for a "(15) _____________________ of duty" and for decimating the system. She called them: "The (16) _____________________ men who put their political careers ahead of the safety and security of our country."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) thousands of prisoners before the convicts had finished ______
     a. surfing their sentence
     b. serving their sentence
     c. swerving their sentence
     d. saving their sentence
2) which had been in power for 14 years. The prisoner population is ______
     a. nearly at capability
     b. nearly at paucity
     c. nearly at cuppa city
     d. nearly at capacity
3) Inmates are having to be released early to accommodate ______
     a. newly-sentenced felons
     b. newly-sentenced fill-ins
     c. newly-sentenced valance
     d. newly-sentenced feelings
4) Some will be released having served just 40 per cent ______
     a. off their time
     b. of their time
     c. oft their time
     d. oaf their time
5) Mr Starmer said the problem was "pretty unforgivable, ______"
     a. in my look
     b. in my book
     c. in my hook
     d. in my nook

6) The UK's justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, warned of a "total breakdown in ______"
     a. law end disorder
     b. law end order
     c. law and order
     d. lawer and order
7) Ms Mahmood said: "Prisons are on the ______"
     a. pint of collapse
     b. point of relapse
     c. print of collapse
     d. point of collapse
8) The justice system would be overloaded. Mahmood said there would be ______
     a. looters running a mock
     b. looters running amok
     c. looters running a frock
     d. looters run in a mock
9) smashing windows, robbing shops and ______
     a. setting neighbourhoods alight
     b. setting neighbourhoods aflight
     c. setting neighbourhoods alright
     d. setting neighbourhoods a lite
10) prisons ministers for a "dereliction of duty" and for ______
     a. desiccating the system
     b. dizzying the system
     c. decimating the system
     d. desecrating the system

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The new government in the UK is (1) ____________________ with a serious crisis in its prison system. The new Labour administration made the decision on Friday to release thousands of prisoners (2) ____________________ had finished serving their sentence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attributed the mess in Britain's prisons service to a (3) ____________________ and underinvestment under the previous Conservative Party, which had been in power for 14 years. The prisoner population is (4) ____________________. Inmates are having to be released early to accommodate newly-sentenced felons. Some will be released (5) ____________________ 40 per cent of their time. Mr Starmer said the problem was "pretty unforgivable, (6) ____________________".

The UK's justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, warned of a "total breakdown in (7) ____________________" if prisons reached capacity. Ms Mahmood said: "Prisons are on the (8) ____________________". If space ran out, there would be nowhere to put those arrested or newly sentenced. The justice system (9) ____________________. Mahmood said there would be "looters running amok, smashing windows, robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alight". There are currently only 1,451 places available. She (10) ____________________ Rishi Sunak and prisons ministers for a "(11) ____________________" and for decimating the system. She called them: "The (12) ____________________ put their political careers ahead of the safety and security of our country."

Comprehension questions

What did the article say there was a serious crisis in?
How many prisoners will be released?
What did Keir Starmer attribute the mess to besides underinvestment?
How much of their sentence have some to-be-released prisoners served?
What did Keir Starmer call the problem?
Who is Shabana Mahmood?
What did Shabana Mahmood say there was a total breakdown in?
How many places are currently available in UK prisons?
What did Ms Mahmood say prisons ministers showed a dereliction of?
What did Ms Mahmood say prisons ministers prioritize over UK security?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say there was a serious crisis in?
a) the UK government
b) the UK police service
c) prison cells
d) the UK prison service
2) How many prisoners will be released?
a) tens of thousands
b) thousands
c) hundreds of thousands
d) thousands and thousands
3) What did Keir Starmer attribute the mess to besides underinvestment?
a) the coronavirus pandemic
b) a breakdown in morals
c) (a decade of) neglect
d) corrupt politicians
4) How much of their sentence have some to-be-released prisoners served?
a) 40%
b) 45%
c) 40%
d) 55%
5) What did Keir Starmer call the problem?
a) totally unacceptable
b) wholly irresponsible
c) pretty unforgiveable
d) largely predictable

6) Who is Shabana Mahmood?
a) the UK's prisons minister
b) the UK's justice secretary
c) the top UK police officer
d) the spokesperson for prisoner rights
7) What did Shabana Mahmood say there was a total breakdown in?
a) processes and procedures
b) planning
c) logical thinking
d) law and order
8) How many places are currently available in UK prisons?
a) 1,451
b) 1,541
c) 1,145
d) 1,415
9) What did Ms Mahmood say prisons ministers showed a dereliction of?
a) confidence
b) responsibility
c) duty
d) trust
10) What did Ms Mahmood say prisons ministers prioritized over UK security?
a) US security
b) their political careers
c) money
d) prisoner rights

Role play

Role A – Bigamy
You think bigamy is the worst crime. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their crimes aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): shoplifting, bank fraud or copyright theft.

Role B – Shoplifting
You think shoplifting is the worst crime. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their crimes aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): bigamy, bank fraud or copyright theft.

Role C – Bank Fraud
You think bank fraud is the worst crime. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their crimes aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): shoplifting, bigamy or copyright theft.

Role D – Copyright Theft
You think copyright theft is the worst crime. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their crimes aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): shoplifting, bank fraud or bigamy.

After reading / listening

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

'prison'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'crisis'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

deal

serving

neglect

nearly

felons

time

law

put

amok

blamed

duty

security

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 - Prisons

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 'prison'?
What do you think of prisons?
How good are prisons at rehabilitating prisoners?
Is prison a good punishment?
How many people should be in a prison cell?
How scary would it be to be in prison?
What are the alternatives to prison?
What happens when there are no more places to put convicts?
What advice do you have for Sir Keir Starmer?

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 'crisis'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about prisons in your country?
How is law and order in your country?
What would you do if there was a breakdown in law and order?
What should happen to looters who run amok?
Are prisons a deterrent to would-be criminals?
How are the politicians in your country?
What questions would you like to ask the prisons minister?

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 new government in the UK is (1) ____ to deal with a serious crisis in its prison system. The new Labour administration made the (2) ____ on Friday to release thousands of prisoners before the convicts had finished serving their sentence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (3) ____ the mess in Britain's prisons service to a decade of neglect and underinvestment (4) ____ the previous Conservative Party, which had been in power for 14 years. The prisoner population is nearly at capacity. Inmates are having to be released early to accommodate newly-sentenced (5) ____. Some will be released having served just 40 per cent of their time. Mr Starmer said the problem was "pretty unforgivable, (6) ____ my book".

The UK's justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, warned of a "total breakdown in (7) ____ and order" if prisons reached capacity. Ms Mahmood said: "Prisons are on the (8) ____ of collapse". If space ran out, there would be nowhere to put those arrested or newly sentenced. The justice system would be overloaded. Mahmood said there would be "looters (9) ____ amok, smashing windows, robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alight". There are currently only 1,451 places available. She blamed (10) ____ leader Rishi Sunak and prisons ministers for a "dereliction of duty" and for (11) ____ the system. She called them: "The guilty men who put their political careers ahead (12) ____ the safety and security of our country."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) having (b) had (c) has (d) have had
(a) decides (b) derision (c) decision (d) deride
(a) contributed (b) distributed (c) attributed (d) unattributed
(a) down (b) beneath (c) below (d) under
(a) felons (b) talons (c) nylons (d) melons
(a) at (b) in (c) read (d) of
(a) laws (b) lawyer (c) in-laws (d) law
(a) sharp (b) point (c) dot (d) period
(a) playing (b) heading (c) running (d) looting
(a) firmer (b) farmer (c) framer (d) former
(a) descaling (b) decimalizing (c) debating (d) decimating
(a) at (b) of (c) to (d) on

Spelling

Paragraph 1

The new Labour riodtaiinmstna
before the ncosvtci had finished
a decade of engetcl
nearly at citcpaay
mdacomtcaoe newly-sentenced felons
pretty fgrnelioubav

Paragraph 2

The UK's ctseuji secretary
on the point of lcsolpea
looters running kmao
setting osighudrhneobo alight
a noiricedlet of duty
andeciimtg the system

Put the text back together

(...)   capacity. Ms Mahmood said: "Prisons are on the point of collapse". If space ran out, there would be
(...)   shops and setting neighbourhoods alight". There are currently only 1,451 places available. She blamed
(...)   serving their sentence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attributed the mess in Britain's prisons service to a decade
(...)   The UK's justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, warned of a "total breakdown in law and order" if prisons reached
(...)   administration made the decision on Friday to release thousands of prisoners before the convicts had finished
(...)   system. She called them: "The guilty men who put their political careers ahead of the safety and security of our country."
(...)   accommodate newly-sentenced felons. Some will be released having served just 40 per cent
(...)   of their time. Mr Starmer said the problem was "pretty unforgivable, in my book".
(...)   nowhere to put those arrested or newly sentenced. The justice system would
( 1 )   The new government in the UK is having to deal with a serious crisis in its prison system. The new Labour
(...)   power for 14 years. The prisoner population is nearly at capacity. Inmates are having to be released early to
(...)   former leader Rishi Sunak and prisons ministers for a "dereliction of duty" and for decimating the
(...)   be overloaded. Mahmood said there would be "looters running amok, smashing windows, robbing
(...)   of neglect and underinvestment under the previous Conservative Party, which had been in

Put the words in the right order

having a It's deal serious to with crisis .
had their finished sentence . the serving Before convicts
is The population nearly prisoner at capacity .
are be released Inmates to having early .
in problem pretty my unforgivable was book . The
A and breakdown law total in order .
newly to put those Nowhere or arrested sentenced .
would there said looters Mahmood amok . running be
currently only prison available . 1,451 There are places
for dereliction of blamed duty . a She ministers

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The new government in the UK is having / had to deal with a serious crisis in its prison system. The new Labour administration made the decision on Friday to release / issue thousands of prisoners before the convicts had finished serving their paragraph / sentence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attributed the mess / messy in Britain's prisons service to a decade of neglect / infection and underinvestment under the previous Conservative Party, which had been in / on power for 14 years. The prisoner population is nearly as / at capacity. Inmates are having to be released early to accommodate newly sentenced talons / felons. Some will be released having served just 40 per cent of their time / hours. Mr Starmer said the problem was "pretty unforgivable, on / in my book".

The UK's justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, warned of a "totally / total breakdown in law and order" if prisons reached capability / capacity. Ms Mahmood said: "Prisons are on the point to / of collapse". If space ran out, there would be nowhere to put those attested / arrested or newly sentenced. The justice system would be overloaded. Mahmood said there would be "looters running agog / amok, smashing windows, robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alright / alight". There are currently only 1,451 places available. She blamed firmer / former leader Rishi Sunak and prisons ministers for a "dereliction / dedication of duty" and for decimating the system. She called them: "The guilty / guilt men who put their political careers ahead at / of the safety and security of our country."

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_ n_w g_v_rnm_nt _n th_ _K _s h_v_ng t_ d__l w_th _ s_r___s cr_s_s _n _ts pr_s_n syst_m. Th_ n_w L_b__r _dm_n_str_t__n m_d_ th_ d_c_s__n _n Fr_d_y t_ r_l__s_ th__s_nds _f pr_s_n_rs b_f_r_ th_ c_nv_cts h_d f_n_sh_d s_rv_ng th__r s_nt_nc_. Pr_m_ M_n_st_r S_r K__r St_rm_r _ttr_b_t_d th_ m_ss _n Br_t__n's pr_s_ns s_rv_c_ t_ _ d_c_d_ _f n_gl_ct _nd _nd_r_nv_stm_nt _nd_r th_ pr_v___s C_ns_rv_t_v_ P_rty, wh_ch h_d b__n _n p_w_r f_r 14 y__rs. Th_ pr_s_n_r p_p_l_t__n _s n__rly _t c_p_c_ty. _nm_t_s _r_ h_v_ng t_ b_ r_l__s_d __rly t_ _cc_mm_d_t_ n_wly s_nt_nc_d f_l_ns. S_m_ w_ll b_ r_l__s_d h_v_ng s_rv_d j_st 40 p_r c_nt _f th__r t_m_. Mr St_rm_r s__d th_ pr_bl_m w_s "pr_tty _nf_rg_v_bl_, _n my b__k".

Th_ _K's j_st_c_ s_cr_t_ry, Sh_b_n_ M_hm__d, w_rn_d _f _ "t_t_l br__kd_wn _n l_w _nd _rd_r" _f pr_s_ns r__ch_d c_p_c_ty. Ms M_hm__d s__d: "Pr_s_ns _r_ _n th_ p__nt _f c_ll_ps_". _f sp_c_ r_n __t, th_r_ w__ld b_ n_wh_r_ t_ p_t th_s_ _rr_st_d _r n_wly s_nt_nc_d. Th_ j_st_c_ syst_m w__ld b_ _v_rl__d_d. M_hm__d s__d th_r_ w__ld b_ "l__t_rs r_nn_ng _m_k, sm_sh_ng w_nd_ws, r_bb_ng sh_ps _nd s_tt_ng n__ghb__rh__ds _l_ght". Th_r_ _r_ c_rr_ntly _nly 1,451 pl_c_s _v__l_bl_. Sh_ bl_m_d f_rm_r l__d_r R_sh_ S_n_k _nd pr_s_ns m_n_st_rs f_r _ "d_r_l_ct__n _f d_ty" _nd f_r d_c_m_t_ng th_ syst_m. Sh_ c_ll_d th_m: "Th_ g__lty m_n wh_ p_t th__r p_l_t_c_l c_r__rs _h__d _f th_ s_f_ty _nd s_c_r_ty _f __r c__ntry."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the new government in the uk is having to deal with a serious crisis in its prison system the new labour administration made the decision on friday to release thousands of prisoners before the convicts had finished serving their sentence prime minister sir keir starmer attributed the mess in britains prisons service to a decade of neglect and underinvestment under the previous conservative party which had been in power for 14 years the prisoner population is nearly at capacity inmates are having to be released early to accommodate newly-sentenced felons some will be released having served just 40 per cent of their time mr starmer said the problem was pretty unforgivable in my book

the uks justice secretary shabana mahmood warned of a total breakdown in law and order if prisons reached capacity ms mahmood said prisons are on the point of collapse if space ran out there would be nowhere to put those arrested or newly sentenced the justice system would be overloaded mahmood said there would be looters running amok smashing windows robbing shops and setting neighbourhoods alight there are currently only 1451 places available she blamed former leader rishi sunak and prisons ministers for a dereliction of duty and for decimating the system she called them the guilty men who put their political careers ahead of the safety and security of our country

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ThenewgovernmentintheUKishavingtodealwithaseriouscrisisinitspri
sonsystem.ThenewLabouradministrationmadethedecisiononFriday
toreleasethousandsofprisonersbeforetheconvictshadfinishedservin
gtheirsentence.PrimeMinisterSirKeirStarmerattributedthemessinBr
itain'sprisonsservicetoadecadeofneglectandunderinvestmentunder
thepreviousConservativeParty,whichhadbeeninpowerfor14years.T
heprisonerpopulationisnearlyatcapacity.Inmatesarehavingtoberele
asedearlytoaccommodatenewly-sentencedfelons.Somewillberelea
sedhavingservedjust40percentoftheirtime.MrStarmersaidtheprobl
emwas"prettyunforgivable,inmybook".TheUK'sjusticesecretary,Sh
abanaMahmood,warnedofa"totalbreakdowninlawandorder"ifprison
sreachedcapacity.MsMahmoodsaid:"Prisonsareonthepointofcollaps
e".Ifspaceranout,therewouldbenowheretoputthosearrestedornewly
sentenced.Thejusticesystemwouldbeoverloaded.Mahmoodsaidther
ewouldbe"lootersrunningamok,smashingwindows,robbingshopsan
dsettingneighbourhoodsalight".Therearecurrentlyonly1,451places
available.SheblamedformerleaderRishiSunakandprisonsministersf
ora"derelictionofduty"andfordecimatingthesystem.Shecalledthem:
"Theguiltymenwhoputtheirpoliticalcareersaheadofthesafetyandsec
urityofourcountry."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Prison is the best way to deal with criminals. 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. PRISONS: Make a poster about prisons. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. COMMUNITY SERVICE: Write a magazine article about replacing prisons with community 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 prisons. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to improve prisons. 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: Prisons

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