Breaking News English Lesson: Hugging at Airports

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New Zealand airport bans three-minute hugs (24th October 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Hugging at Airports - Level 3

A long goodbye hug at an airport in New Zealand could land you in trouble. The international airport in Dunedin has set a three-minute limit on the time people can spend hugging each other at the drop-off zone. An airport official said the limit is so traffic can keep flowing. He said there has recently been a problem of traffic jams near the departures building. The official said too many people were taking too long in the drop-off zone in front of the building. The airport now has warning signs that say: "Max hug time 3 minutes. For fonder farewells, please use the car park." People who spend longer than three minutes saying their goodbyes could get a penalty. They could get a fine or get their wheels clamped.

The airport's new hugging policy is not popular with everybody. CEO Daniel De Bono told local reporters that he has received many complaints. He said: "We were accused of breaching basic human rights." He added that another person said: "How dare we limit how long someone can have a hug." Someone on the airport's Facebook page called the policy "inhumane". Mr De Bono defended the hug posters. He said: "Three minutes is plenty of time to pull up, say farewell to your loved ones and move on. The time limit is really a nicer way of saying get on with it." He added that airports were "hotbeds of emotion" and that anything longer than a 20-second hug was "really awkward".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Hugging at Airports - Level 0, Hugging at Airports - Level 1 or Hugging at Airports - Level 2

Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/21/new-zealand-dunedin-aiport-hug-sign-cap-3-minute
https://apnews.com/article/new-zealand-airport-goodbye-hugs-time-limit-d6176082ffb6ab66e8d2f05dd590b8aa
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13981771/Sign-New-Zealand-airport-hugging.html

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. HUGGING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about hugging. 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?
goodbyes / hugs / goodbye hugs / being in trouble / traffic / car park / penalty / fine /
popular / reporters / complaints / human rights / inhumane / posters / emotions
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TIME LIMIT: Students A strongly believe there should be a time limit on hugging at airports; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HUMAN RIGHTS: Are the things below human rights? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Human Right?	Why?
Hugging
Having a friend
Studying English
Shopping
Free speech
Having money

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. AIRPORT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "airport". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. NO HUGGING: Rank these with your partner. Put the places at the top where we shouldn't hug. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Airport drop-off zones
Supermarket checkouts
School classrooms
Buses
Swimming pools
Soccer pitches
An art gallery
An expensive restaurant

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	land you in trouble	a.	Decide or fix something (like a time or a rule).
2.	set	b.	A person who has an important job or role, usually in a company or the government.
3.	limit	c.	Money you have to pay because you did something wrong.
4.	official	d.	The maximum or highest amount allowed.
5.	traffic	e.	Moving smoothly and continuously, like water in a river.
6.	flowing	f.	Cause you to have problems or be punished.
7.	fine (noun)	g.	The cars, buses, and other vehicles moving on the road.

Paragraph 2

8.	popular	h.	When someone says they are not happy about something.
9.	complaint	i.	Say that someone did something wrong.
10.	accused	j.	Uncomfortable or not easy to do or talk about.
11.	breaching	k.	Very cruel or not kind.
12.	inhumane	l.	Breaking a rule or law.
13.	farewell	m.	Liked by many people.
14.	awkward	n.	Saying goodbye.

Before reading / listening

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

People can get in trouble for hugging at one airport in New Zealand. T / F
The airport says all hugs must be at least three minutes long. T / F
Overly-long goodbyes have caused traffic jams at the airport. T / F
The airport recommends the car park for longer goodbyes. T / F
The airport's CEO said many people complained about the hugging limit. T / F
Someone said the hugging ban was a breach of human rights. T / F
The airport says the three-minute time limit was not nice. T / F
The airport CEO said emotional people need a hot bed. T / F

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

goodbye
limit
zone
fine
clamped
policy
complaints
accused
inhumane
awkward

objections
area
immobilized
guidelines
farewell
cruel
blamed
cap
tricky
financial penalty

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

A long goodbye hug
An airport official said the limit is
a problem of traffic jams near
too many people
They could get a fine or
The airport's new hugging policy
We were accused of breaching
Someone on the airport's Facebook page
say farewell to your
He added that airports were hotbeds

the departures building
get their wheels clamped
loved ones and move on
is not popular with everybody
called the policy "inhumane"
at an airport in New Zealand
so traffic can keep flowing
of emotion
were taking too long
basic human rights

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

signs
limit
fine
departures
saying
long
official
zone

A (1) ______________________________________________ goodbye hug at an airport in New Zealand could land you in trouble. The international airport in Dunedin has set a three-minute (2) ______________________________________________ on the time people can spend hugging each other at the drop-off zone. An airport (3) ______________________________________________ said the limit is so traffic can keep flowing. He said there has recently been a problem of traffic jams near the (4) ______________________________________________ building. The official said too many people were taking too long in the drop-off (5) ______________________________________________ in front of the building. The airport now has warning (6) ______________________________________________ that say: "Max hug time 3 minutes. For fonder farewells, please use the car park." People who spend longer than three minutes (7) ______________________________________________ their goodbyes could get a penalty. They could get a (8) ______________________________________________ or get their wheels clamped.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

dare
plenty
complaints
hotbeds
awkward
inhumane
policy
way

The airport's new hugging (9) ______________________________________________ is not popular with everybody. CEO Daniel De Bono told local reporters that he has received many (10) ______________________________________________. He said: "We were accused of breaching basic human rights." He added that another person said: "How (11) ______________________________________________ we limit how long someone can have a hug." Someone on the airport's Facebook page called the policy "(12) ______________________________________________". Mr De Bono defended the hug posters. He said: "Three minutes is (13) ______________________________________________ of time to pull up, say farewell to your loved ones and move on. The time limit is really a nicer (14) ______________________________________________ of saying get on with it." He added that airports were "(15) ______________________________________________ of emotion" and that anything longer than a 20-second hug was "really (16) ______________________________________________".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A long goodbye hug at an airport in New Zealand could land ______
     a. you on trouble
     b. you in trouble
     c. you out trouble
     d. you win trouble
2) a three-minute limit on the time people can spend ______
     a. hugging each another
     b. hugging that other
     c. hugging each others
     d. hugging each other
3) An airport official said the limit is so traffic ______
     a. can keep flow in
     b. can keep flown
     c. can keep flowing
     d. can keep flowering
4) The official said too many people were taking too long in the drop-off zone in front ____
     a. of a building
     b. of then building
     c. of the building
     d. off the building
5) People who spend longer than three minutes saying their goodbyes could ______
     a. get a penalty
     b. get a red card
     c. get a yellow card
     d. get a sin bin

6) The airport's new hugging policy is not ______
     a. populate with everybody
     b. poplar with everybody
     c. popularity with everybody
     d. popular with everybody
7) CEO Daniel De Bono told local reporters that he has ______
     a. received many complains
     b. received many complaints
     c. received many compliance
     d. received many compliments
8) Someone on the airport's Facebook page called ______
     a. the policy "inhumane"
     b. the police "inhumane"
     c. the poll icy "inhumane"
     d. the politics "inhumane"
9) plenty of time to pull up, say farewell to your loved ones ______
     a. and move on up
     b. and moved on
     c. and moves on
     d. and move on
10) "hotbeds of emotion" and that anything longer than a 20-second hug ______
     a. was "real awkward"
     b. were "really awkward"
     c. was "really awkward"
     d. wasn't "really awkward"

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A long goodbye hug at an airport in New Zealand could land (1) __________________________________________________. The international airport in Dunedin has set a three-(2) __________________________________________________ the time people can spend hugging each other at the (3) __________________________________________________. An airport official said the limit is so traffic can keep flowing. He said there has recently been a problem (4) __________________________________________________ near the departures building. The official said too many people were taking too long in the drop-off zone in front of the building. The airport now (5) __________________________________________________ that say: "Max hug time 3 minutes. For fonder farewells, please use the car park." People who spend longer than three minutes saying their goodbyes could get a penalty. They could (6) __________________________________________________ or get their wheels clamped.

The airport's new hugging policy is (7) __________________________________________________ everybody. CEO Daniel De Bono told local reporters that he has received many complaints. He said: "We were (8) __________________________________________________ basic human rights." He added that another person said: "How dare we limit how long someone can have a hug." Someone on the airport's Facebook page called (9) __________________________________________________. Mr De Bono defended the hug posters. He said: "Three minutes is (10) __________________________________________________ to pull up, say farewell to your loved ones and move on. The time limit is really a nicer (11) __________________________________________________ get on with it." He added that airports were "hotbeds of emotion" and that anything longer than a 20-second hug (12) __________________________________________________.

Comprehension questions

What kind of airport is the one in the news article?
Where at the airport are people hugging each other?
What has there been a problem of recently?
Where did the airport recommend for longer goodbyes?
What could happen to the wheels of the cars of long huggers?
What has the airport CEO received?
What did someone say the hugging limit was a breach of?
What did a Facebook user call the hugging limit?
What did the CEO say airports were?
What did the CEO say was awkward?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of airport is the one in the news article?
a) a domestic one
b) an international one
c) a new one
d) a mountain-top one
2) Where at the airport are people hugging each other?
a) at check-in
b) in the departures lounge
c) at immigration
d) in the drop-off zone
3) What has there been a problem of recently?
a) traffic jams
b) arguments
c) kissing
d) illegally parked cars
4) Where did the airport recommend for longer goodbyes?
a) a train station
b) a hotel
c) the car park
d) the departures hall
5) What could happen to the wheels of the cars of long huggers?
a) they could get a puncture
b) they could get clamped
c) they could be stolen
d) they could explode

6) What has the airport CEO received?
a) many complaints
b) compliments
c) flowers
d) hugs
7) What did someone say the hugging limit was a breach of?
a) trust
b) terms
c) basic human rights
d) a breach of court
8) What did a Facebook user call the hugging limit?
a) inhumane
b) too short
c) great
d) necessary
9) What did the CEO say airports were?
a) hotbeds of emotions
b) great fun
c) a good place to have a hug
d) environmentally unfriendly
10) What did the CEO say was awkward?
a) introducing the ban
b) hugging in front of people
c) being CEO
d) hugs longer than 20 seconds

Role play

Role A – Airport Drop-off Zones
You think airport drop-off zones are the worst places to hug people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their places are OK. Also, tell the others which of these places are OK to hug in (and why): art galleries, swimming pools or supermarket checkouts.

Role B – Art Galleries
You think art galleries are the worst places to hug people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their places are OK. Also, tell the others which of these places are OK to hug in (and why): airport drop-off zones, swimming pools or supermarket checkouts.

Role C – Swimming Pools
You think swimming pools are the worst places to hug people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their places are OK. Also, tell the others which of these places are OK to hug in (and why): art galleries, airport drop-off zones or supermarket checkouts.

Role D – Supermarket Checkouts
You think supermarket checkouts are the worst places to hug people. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their places are OK. Also, tell the others which of these places are OK to hug in (and why): art galleries, swimming pools or airport drop-off zones.

After reading / listening

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

'hug'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'airport'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

long

spend

problem

front

please

fine

popular

received

dare

page

move

20

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 - Hugging at Airports

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 'hug'?
What do you think of airports?
What do you think of hugging?
Should there be a time limit for hugging at airports?
Should there be a hugging zone at airports and train stations?
What problems does hugging at airports cause?
What do you think of the hugging sign?
How do you say farewell to loved ones?
How much should people be fined for a 4-minute hug?

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 'airport'?
What do you think about what you read?
Would you complain about the hugging sign?
Have you ever complained online about something?
Is hugging a basic human right?
What feelings do you have when you hug someone?
Are there different rules for hugging different people?
Why are airports 'hotbeds of emotion'?
What questions would you like to ask the airport?

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)

A long goodbye hug at an airport in New Zealand could (1) ____ you in trouble. The international airport in Dunedin has set a three-minute (2) ____ on the time people can spend hugging each other at the drop-off zone. An airport official said the limit is so traffic can keep (3) ____. He said there has recently been a problem of traffic (4) ____ near the departures building. The official said too many people were taking too long in the drop-off zone in front of the building. The airport now has (5) ____ signs that say: "Max hug time 3 minutes. For fonder farewells, please use the car park." People who spend longer than three minutes saying their goodbyes could get a penalty. They could get a (6) ____ or get their wheels clamped.

The airport's new hugging policy is not (7) ____ with everybody. CEO Daniel De Bono told local reporters (8) ____ he has received many complaints. He said: "We were accused of breaching basic human rights." He added that another person said: "(9) ____ dare we limit how long someone can have a hug." Someone on the airport's Facebook page called the policy "inhumane". Mr De Bono defended the hug posters. He said: "Three minutes is plenty of time to pull (10) ____, say farewell to your loved ones and move on. The time limit is really a nicer way of saying get (11) ____ with it." He added that airports were "(12) ____ of emotion" and that anything longer than a 20-second hug was "really awkward".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a)     take off     (b)     land     (c)     ground     (d)     cuddle
(a)     height     (b)     limit     (c)     target     (d)     reward
(a)     frowning     (b)     frown     (c)     flown     (d)     flowing
(a)     preserves     (b)     jams     (c)     sticks     (d)     jellies
(a)     wanting     (b)     warming     (c)     waning     (d)     warning
(a)     find     (b)     good     (c)     fine     (d)     embrace
(a)     popular     (b)     polar     (c)     poplar     (d)     populate
(a)     what     (b)     which     (c)     that     (d)     then
(a)     Which     (b)     That     (c)     What     (d)     How
(a)     up     (b)     down     (c)     in     (d)     under
(a)     on     (b)     up     (c)     out     (d)     over
(a)     hotbeds     (b)     flowerbeds     (c)     sickbeds     (d)     waterbeds

Spelling

Paragraph 1

land you in bolutre
An airport oifcifla
the limit is so ctfifar can keep flowing
jams near the ptarseuedr building
get a tanyepl
get their wheels lecapdm

Paragraph 2

The airport's new hugging oclypi
he has received many coltaipsmn
eccdaus of breaching basic human rights
Mr De Bono eddndfee the hug posters
He added that airports were hotbeds of ionetmo
a 20-second hug was really akdawrw

Put the text back together

(...) rights." He added that another person said: "How dare we limit how long someone can have
(...) hug posters. He said: "Three minutes is plenty of time to pull up, say farewell to your loved ones and move
(...) on. The time limit is really a nicer way of saying get on with it." He added that airports were "hotbeds
(...) airport in Dunedin has set a three-minute limit on the time people can spend hugging each other at the drop-
(...) of emotion" and that anything longer than a 20-second hug was "really awkward".
(...) than three minutes saying their goodbyes could get a penalty. They could get a fine or get their wheels clamped.
(...) A long goodbye hug at an airport in New Zealand could land you in trouble. The international
(...) off zone. An airport official said the limit is so traffic can keep flowing. He said there has recently been a problem
(...) The airport's new hugging policy is not popular with everybody. CEO Daniel De Bono told local
(...) a hug." Someone on the airport's Facebook page called the policy "inhumane". Mr De Bono defended the
(...) reporters that he has received many complaints. He said: "We were accused of breaching basic human
(...) of traffic jams near the departures building. The official said too many people were taking too
(...) long in the drop-off zone in front of the building. The airport now has warning
(...) signs that say: "Max hug time 3 minutes. For fonder farewells, please use the car park." People who spend longer

Put the words in the right order

other   .   hugging   spend   each   can   The   time   people
been   problem   of   a   There   jams   .   traffic   has
people   too   many   long   .   were   Too   taking
fonder   the   car   park   .   please   farewells,   For   use
than   longer   their   minutes   three   goodbyes   .   Spend   saying
new   The   not   airport's   policy   is   hugging   popular   .
human   were   accused   breaching   rights   .   basic   of   We
loved   to   Say   on   .   farewell   and   ones   move
of   were   that   emotion   .   airports   hotbeds   added   He
awkward   .   longer   Anything   20-second   was   hug   a   than

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

A long goodbye hug at an airport in New Zealand could land / ground you in trouble. The international airport in Dunedin has let / set a three-minute limit on the time people can spend hugging each another / other at the drop-off zone. An airport official / officially said the limit is so traffic can keep flowing. He said there has recently / recent been a problem of traffic jams near the departures building. The official said too many people were taking / taken too long in the drop-off zone in front of the building. The airport now / that has warning signs that say: "Max hug time 3 minutes. For fonder / founder farewells, please use the car park." People who spend longer than three minutes saying / speaking their goodbyes could get a penalty. They could get a find / fine or get their wheels clamped.

The airport's new hugging police / policy is not popular with everybody. CEO Daniel De Bono told local reporters that he has received / receives many complaints. He said: "We were accusation / accused of breaching basic / basically human rights." He added that another person said: "How dare we limit how long someone can have a hug." Someone / Anybody on the airport's Facebook page called the policy "inhumane". Mr De Bono defended / attacked the hug posters. He said: "Three minutes is enough / plenty of time to pull up, say farewell to your loved ones and move on. The clock / time limit is really a nicer way of saying get in / on with it." He added that airports were "hotbeds of emotional / emotion" and that anything longer than a 20-second hug was "really awkward".

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)

_ l_ng g__dby_ h_g _t _n __rp_rt _n N_w Z__l_nd c__ld l_nd y__ _n tr__bl_. Th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l __rp_rt _n D_n_d_n h_s s_t _ thr__-m_n_t_ l_m_t _n th_ t_m_ p__pl_ c_n sp_nd h_gg_ng __ch _th_r _t th_ dr_p-_ff z_n_. _n __rp_rt _ff_c__l s__d th_ l_m_t _s s_ tr_ff_c c_n k__p fl_w_ng. H_ s__d th_r_ h_s r_c_ntly b__n _ pr_bl_m _f tr_ff_c j_ms n__r th_ d_p_rt_r_s b__ld_ng. Th_ _ff_c__l s__d t__ m_ny p__pl_ w_r_ t_k_ng t__ l_ng _n th_ dr_p-_ff z_n_ _n fr_nt _f th_ b__ld_ng. Th_ __rp_rt n_w h_s w_rn_ng s_gns th_t s_y: "M_x h_g t_m_ 3 m_n_t_s. F_r f_nd_r f_r_w_lls, pl__s_ _s_ th_ c_r p_rk." P__pl_ wh_ sp_nd l_ng_r th_n thr__ m_n_t_s s_y_ng th__r g__dby_s c__ld g_t _ p_n_lty. Th_y c__ld g_t _ f_n_ _r g_t th__r wh__ls cl_mp_d.

Th_ __rp_rt's n_w h_gg_ng p_l_cy _s n_t p_p_l_r w_th _v_ryb_dy. C__ D_n__l D_ B_n_ t_ld l_c_l r_p_rt_rs th_t h_ h_s r_c__v_d m_ny c_mpl__nts. H_ s__d: "W_ w_r_ _cc_s_d _f br__ch_ng b_s_c h_m_n r_ghts." H_ _dd_d th_t _n_th_r p_rs_n s__d: "H_w d_r_ w_ l_m_t h_w l_ng s_m__n_ c_n h_v_ _ h_g." S_m__n_ _n th_ __rp_rt's F_c_b__k p_g_ c_ll_d th_ p_l_cy "_nh_m_n_". Mr D_ B_n_ d_f_nd_d th_ h_g p_st_rs. H_ s__d: "Thr__ m_n_t_s _s pl_nty _f t_m_ t_ p_ll _p, s_y f_r_w_ll t_ y__r l_v_d _n_s _nd m_v_ _n. Th_ t_m_ l_m_t _s r__lly _ n_c_r w_y _f s_y_ng g_t _n w_th _t." H_ _dd_d th_t __rp_rts w_r_ "h_tb_ds _f _m_t__n" _nd th_t _nyth_ng l_ng_r th_n _ 20-s_c_nd h_g w_s "r__lly _wkw_rd".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

a long goodbye hug at an airport in new zealand could land you in trouble the international airport in dunedin has set a threeminute limit on the time people can spend hugging each other at the dropoff zone an airport official said the limit is so traffic can keep flowing he said there has recently been a problem of traffic jams near the departures building the official said too many people were taking too long in the dropoff zone in front of the building the airport now has warning signs that say max hug time 3 minutes for fonder farewells please use the car park people who spend longer than three minutes saying their goodbyes could get a penalty they could get a fine or get their wheels clamped

the airports new hugging policy is not popular with everybody ceo daniel de bono told local reporters that he has received many complaints he said we were accused of breaching basic human rights he added that another person said how dare we limit how long someone can have a hug someone on the airports facebook page called the policy inhumane mr de bono defended the hug posters he said three minutes is plenty of time to pull up say farewell to your loved ones and move on the time limit is really a nicer way of saying get on with it he added that airports were hotbeds of emotion and that anything longer than a 20second hug was really awkward

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

AlonggoodbyehugatanairportinNewZealandcouldlandyouintrouble.
TheinternationalairportinDunedinhassetathree-minutelimitonthet
imepeoplecanspendhuggingeachotheratthedrop-offzone.Anairpor
tofficialsaidthelimitissotrafficcankeepflowing.Hesaidtherehasrecent
lybeenaproblemoftrafficjamsnearthedeparturesbuilding.Theofficial
saidtoomanypeopleweretakingtoolonginthedrop-offzoneinfrontofth
ebuilding.Theairportnowhaswarningsignsthatsay:"Maxhugtime3mi
nutes.Forfonderfarewells,pleaseusethecarpark."Peoplewhospendlo
ngerthanthreeminutessayingtheirgoodbyescouldgetapenalty.They
couldgetafineorgettheirwheelsclamped.Theairport'snewhuggingpol
icyisnotpopularwitheverybody.CEODanielDeBonotoldlocalreporters
thathehasreceivedmanycomplaints.Hesaid:"Wewereaccusedofbrea
chingbasichumanrights."Headdedthatanotherpersonsaid:"Howdar
ewelimithowlongsomeonecanhaveahug."Someoneontheairport'sFa
cebookpagecalledthepolicy"inhumane".MrDeBonodefendedthehug
posters.Hesaid:"Threeminutesisplentyoftimetopullup,sayfarewellto
yourlovedonesandmoveon.Thetimelimitisreallyanicerwayofsayingg
etonwithit."Headdedthatairportswere"hotbedsofemotion"andthata
nythinglongerthana20-secondhugwas"reallyawkward".

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Everybody should hug more often and for longer. 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. HUGGING: Make a poster about hugging. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. AIRPORT FAREWELLS: Write a magazine article about banning the saying of farewells in front of airport buildings. 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 hugging. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas for hugging rules. 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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Breaking News English Lesson: Hugging at Airports

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