Breaking News English Lesson: Annoying Behaviour

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Coughing and sneezing most annoying behaviour on trains (30th December 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Annoying Behaviour - Level 6

A recent study from the Japan Private Railway Association (JPRA) reveals that coughing and sneezing were the biggest annoyances on trains. A total of 5,314 train passengers responded to a JPRA survey on behaviour and manners on trains and at stations. "Coughing and sneezing without consideration for others" topped the list of passenger gripes. An association spokesperson attributed this to remaining effects of Covid-19. He said: "The coronavirus pandemic may have ingrained the importance of consideration for others as a norm." He added: "More people likely feel greater anxiety than before the pandemic when someone nearby coughs or sneezes without wearing a mask."

The JPRA has been conducting its polls since 1999 to gauge how people feel about their fellow passengers. It hopes to promote better behaviour in the future. It said 50.5 per cent of survey respondents cited coughing and sneezing as their top annoyance. Other sources of irritation on trains included people stretching their legs, people not moving over to make space for others wanting to sit down, and noisy conversations. The JPRA added that "strong scents from perfume or fabric softeners" and "poor manners during boarding and alighting such as blocking doors" were fourth and fifth on the list. The number of riders has increased on Japan's trains due to a rise in tourists visiting Japan.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Annoying Behaviour - Level 4 or Annoying Behaviour - Level 5

Sources

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/coughing-sneezing-chosen-as-most-annoying-behavior-on-trains-for-1st-time-japan-survey/ar-AA1woeTD
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20241223/p2a/00m/0na/018000c
https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/survey-these-are-japans-most-annoying-train-behaviours-011624

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. ANNOYING PEOPLE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about annoying people. 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?
study / railway / coughing / sneezing / behaviour / manners / passenger / masks /
polls / the future / annoyance / space / scents / perfume / list / tourists / Japan
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BEHAVIOUR TRAINING: Students A strongly believe we all need training on how to behave on public transport; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MANNERS: What manners are important in these places? How are your manners in these places? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Manners That Are Important	Your Manners in These Places
Trains
Malls
Libraries
Concerts
Beaches
Driving

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. PASSENGER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "passenger". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ANNOYANCES: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest annoyances on public transport at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Coughing
Loud music
Late trains
Ticket prices
Smells
Luggage
Staring people
Overcrowding

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	reveal	a.	To say that something is because of something else.
2.	responded	b.	Thinking about other people and their feelings.
3.	consideration	c.	To answer or reply to something.
4.	gripes	d.	A usual way of doing things.
5.	attributed	e.	To show something that was hidden or not known before.
6.	ingrained	f.	Complaints or things that people are unhappy about.
7.	norm	g.	Something that has become a strong habit or is very difficult to change.

Paragraph 2

8.	poll	h.	To measure or find out something, like how people feel or think.
9.	gauge	i.	A smell, usually one that is nice.
10.	cited	j.	Getting off a bus, train, plane, or ship.
11.	irritation	k.	To mention or talk about something as an example.
12.	scent	l.	Getting on a bus, train, plane, or ship.
13.	boarding	m.	A feeling of being annoyed or bothered by something.
14.	alighting	n.	A survey or set of questions to find out what people think about something.

Before reading / listening

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

The survey in the article is from a passengers' group. T / F
More than 5,000 participated in a survey on manners on trains. T / F
People on Japan's trains are still concerned about Covid-19. T / F
A rail association said everyone on trains should wear a mask. T / F
Over half of the survey's respondents disliked coughing and sneezing. T / F
Rail passengers were annoyed by people wearing strong perfume. T / F
Rail passengers were happy that people got on and off trains politely. T / F
The article said most bad behaviour on trains was from tourists. T / F

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

annoyances
responded
consideration
ingrained
anxiety
gauge
cited
sources
alighting
rise

assess
care
getting off
worry
replied
mentioned
roots
nuisances
hike
fixed

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

coughing and sneezing were
train passengers responded
topped the list of passenger
ingrained the importance of consideration
feel greater
to gauge
Other sources
strong scents from perfume
fourth and fifth
due to a

on the list
for others as a norm
anxiety
to a JPRA survey
how people feel
of irritation on trains
gripes
rise in tourists
or fabric softeners
the biggest annoyances

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

gripes
norm
recent
nearby
ingrained
consideration
greater
responded

A (1) _________________________________ study from the Japan Private Railway Association (JPRA) reveals that coughing and sneezing were the biggest annoyances on trains. A total of 5,314 train passengers (2) _________________________________ to a JPRA survey on behaviour and manners on trains and at stations. "Coughing and sneezing without (3) _________________________________ for others" topped the list of passenger (4) _________________________________. An association spokesperson attributed this to remaining effects of Covid-19. He said: "The coronavirus pandemic may have (5) _________________________________ the importance of consideration for others as a (6) _________________________________." He added: "More people likely feel (7) _________________________________ anxiety than before the pandemic when someone (8) _________________________________ coughs or sneezes without wearing a mask."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

irritation
polls
rise
alighting
cited
list
scents
fellow

The JPRA has been conducting its (9) _________________________________ since 1999 to gauge how people feel about their (10) _________________________________ passengers. It hopes to promote better behaviour in the future. It said 50.5 per cent of survey respondents (11) _________________________________ coughing and sneezing as their top annoyance. Other sources of (12) _________________________________ on trains included people stretching their legs, people not moving over to make space for others wanting to sit down, and noisy conversations. The JPRA added that "strong (13) _________________________________ from perfume or fabric softeners" and "poor manners during boarding and (14) _________________________________ such as blocking doors" were fourth and fifth on the (15) _________________________________. The number of riders has increased on Japan's trains due to a (16) _________________________________ in tourists visiting Japan.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) coughing and sneezing were the biggest ______
     a. annoyances on train
     b. annoyance on trains
     c. annoyance is on trains
     d. annoyances on trains
2) A total of 5,314 ______
     a. train passenger responded
     b. train passengers responded
     c. trains passengers responded
     d. train passengers responds
3) Coughing and sneezing without consideration for others topped the list ______
     a. of passenger gropes
     b. of passenger grapes
     c. of passenger gripes
     d. of passenger grips
4) ingrained the importance of consideration for others ______
     a. as a norm
     b. as a morn
     c. as a name
     d. as a normal
5) He added: "More people likely feel greater ______."
     a. anxiety that before
     b. anxiety than afore
     c. anxiety than before
     d. anxiety them afore

6) conducting its polls since 1999 to gauge how people feel about ______
     a. their fellows passenger
     b. their fellow passengers
     c. their bellow passengers
     d. their fallow passengers
7) It said 50.5 per cent of survey ______
     a. respondents sighted coughing
     b. respondents sated coughing
     c. respondents sight it coughing
     d. respondents cited coughing
8) people not moving over to make space for others wanting to sit down, ______
     a. and noisy conversations
     b. and noisy conversation
     c. and nosey conversations
     d. and nasal conversations
9) strong scents from perfume or fabric softeners and poor manners during ______
     a. boarding end alighting
     b. boarding and alighting
     c. boarding and a lighting
     d. boarding and a light in
10) The number of riders has increased on Japan's trains due to a ______
     a. rise on tourists
     b. rise in tourist
     c. rise in tourists
     d. raise in tourists

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A recent study from the Japan Private Railway Association (JPRA) (1) _______________________________________________ and sneezing were the biggest annoyances on trains. A total of 5,314 train (2) _______________________________________________ a JPRA survey on behaviour and manners on trains and at stations. "Coughing and sneezing without consideration for (3) _______________________________________________ list of passenger gripes. An association spokesperson (4) _______________________________________________ remaining effects of Covid-19. He said: "The coronavirus pandemic may have (5) _______________________________________________ of consideration for others as a norm." He added: "More people likely (6) _______________________________________________ than before the pandemic when someone nearby coughs or sneezes without wearing a mask."

The JPRA has been (7) ______________________________________________ since 1999 to gauge how people feel about their fellow passengers. It (8) _______________________________________________ better behaviour in the future. It said 50.5 per cent of (9) _______________________________________________ coughing and sneezing as their top annoyance. Other sources of irritation on trains included people stretching their legs, people not moving over to (10) _______________________________________________ others wanting to sit down, and noisy conversations. The JPRA added that "strong scents from perfume or fabric softeners" and "poor manners during (11) _______________________________________________ such as blocking doors" were fourth and fifth on the list. The number of riders has increased on Japan's trains due to a (12) _______________________________________________ visiting Japan.

Comprehension questions

Who conducted the survey on annoying train behaviour?
How many passengers responded to a survey?
Who did survey respondents say passengers did not consider?
What affected people's concerns about coughing and sneezing?
What thing might make people feel less anxious about coughing?
When was the first survey conducted?
How many survey respondents hated people coughing and sneezing?
What did people stretch that caused people to be annoyed?
What was blocked as passengers alighted?
What has there been a rise in?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who conducted the survey on annoying train behaviour?
a) the Japan Public Railway Association
b) the Japan Passenger Railway Association
c) the Japan Private Railway Association
d) the Japan Panoramic Railway Association
2) How many passengers responded to a survey?
a) 5,314
b) 5,134
c) 5,341
d) 5,413
3) Who did survey respondents say passengers did not consider?
a) another
b) others
c) everyone
d) most people
4) What affected people's concerns about coughing and sneezing?
a) a possible new virus
b) germs
c) influenza
d) Covid-19
5) What thing might make people feel less anxious about coughing?
a) vaccines
b) information
c) masks
d) medicine

6) When was the first survey conducted?
a) 2000
b) 1999
c) 1998
d) 1997
7) How many survey respondents hated people coughing and sneezing?
a) 50.05%
b) 51%
c) 50%
d) 50.5%
8) What did people stretch that caused people to be annoyed?
a) their imaginations
b) their legs
c) their budgets
d) their arms
9) What was blocked as passengers alighted?
a) fire exits
b) doors
c) wi-fi
d) noses
10) What has there been a rise in?
a) tourists
b) bad language
c) fare dodgers
d) trains per hour

Role play

Role A – Coughing
You think coughing is the most annoying thing on trains. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): late trains, smells or overcrowding.

Role B – Late Trains
You think late trains is the most annoying things about trains. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): coughing, smells or overcrowding.

Role C – Smells
You think smells are the most annoying things on trains. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): late trains, coughing or overcrowding.

Role D – Overcrowding
You think overcrowding is the most annoying thing on trains. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least annoying of these (and why): late trains, smells or coughing.

After reading / listening

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

'train'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'behaviour'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

recent

responded

topped

attributed

ingrained

mask

gauge

hopes

sources

strong

blocking

riders

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 - Annoying Behaviour

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 'train'?
How do you behave on trains?
What do you think of people's behaviour on trains?
What do you think of people who cough and sneeze on trains?
What are your biggest annoyances on public transport?
How much do you like train travel?
How considerate are you to others?
What makes you feel anxious?
Do you think we should all be still wearing a mask?

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 'behaviour'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about Japan's trains?
Do you ever want to tell people about their bad behaviour?
What do you think of noisy conversations on trains?
What do you think of strong scents from perfume on trains?
What annoys you about people in shopping malls?
Do you think people's behaviour is getting better or worse?
What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

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 recent study from the Japan Private Railway Association (JPRA) (1) ____ that coughing and sneezing were the biggest annoyances on trains. A total of 5,314 train passengers responded (2) ____ a JPRA survey on behaviour and manners on trains and at stations. "Coughing and sneezing without consideration (3) ____ others" topped the list of passenger (4) ____. An association spokesperson attributed this to remaining effects of Covid-19. He said: "The coronavirus pandemic may have (5) ____ the importance of consideration for others as a norm." He added: "More people likely feel greater anxiety than before the pandemic when someone (6) ____ coughs or sneezes without wearing a mask."

The JPRA has been conducting its (7) ____ since 1999 to gauge how people feel about their fellow passengers. It hopes to promote better behaviour in the future. It said 50.5 per cent of survey respondents (8) ____ coughing and sneezing as their top annoyance. Other sources of irritation on trains included people stretching their legs, people not moving over to make space for others (9) ____ to sit down, and noisy conversations. The JPRA added that "strong scents from perfume or fabric softeners" and "(10) ____ manners during boarding and (11) ____ such as blocking doors" were fourth and fifth on the list. The number of riders has increased on Japan's trains due to a (12) ____ in tourists visiting Japan.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a)     reveals     (b)     revels     (c)     reviles     (d)     unravels
(a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     on
(a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     for     (d)     in
(a)     grapes     (b)     gropes     (c)     grips     (d)     gripes
(a)     graduated     (b)     granulated     (c)     ingrained     (d)     migraine
(a)     nearing     (b)     nearby     (c)     near     (d)     nearly
(a)     tolls     (b)     polls     (c)     dolls     (d)     molls
(a)     sighted     (b)     cited     (c)     sated     (d)     salted
(a)     wants     (b)     wanted     (c)     wanting     (d)     want
(a)     pour     (b)     more     (c)     bore     (d)     poor
(a)     entering     (b)     lighting     (c)     offing     (d)     alighting
(a)     risen     (b)     raise     (c)     arise     (d)     rise

Spelling

Paragraph 1

the biggest cynnsenaao on trains
A total of 5,314 train pegnrsessa
sneezing without sniaioecdrotn for others
An aaioscsitno spokesperson
ttrduibeta this to remaining effects
may have eingndria the importance

Paragraph 2

uageg how people feel
50.5 per cent of survey tonnepersds
Other sources of onttrriiai
strong cstesn from perfume
fabric rtesonesf
poor manners during boarding and gangiilth

Put the text back together

(...)   norm." He added: "More people likely feel greater anxiety than before the pandemic
(...)   of Covid-19. He said: "The coronavirus pandemic may have ingrained the importance of consideration for others as a
(...)   softeners" and "poor manners during boarding and alighting such as blocking doors" were fourth and fifth on
(...)   The JPRA has been conducting its polls since 1999 to gauge how people feel about their fellow
(..1..)   A recent study from the Japan Private Railway Association (JPRA) reveals that coughing and sneezing
(...)   of survey respondents cited coughing and sneezing as their top annoyance. Other sources of
(...)   were the biggest annoyances on trains. A total of 5,314 train passengers responded to a JPRA
(...)   survey on behaviour and manners on trains and at stations. "Coughing and sneezing without consideration
(...)   sit down, and noisy conversations. The JPRA added that "strong scents from perfume or fabric
(...)   for others" topped the list of passenger gripes. An association spokesperson attributed this to remaining effects
(...)   passengers. It hopes to promote better behaviour in the future. It said 50.5 per cent
(...)   when someone nearby coughs or sneezes without wearing a mask."
(...)   the list. The number of riders has increased on Japan's trains due to a rise in tourists visiting Japan.
(...)   irritation on trains included people stretching their legs, people not moving over to make space for others wanting to

Put the words in the right order

were on Coughing big and trains . annoyances sneezing
passengers total train 5,314 A of responded .
Sneezing consideration others list . for topped without the
of importance as a consideration norm . for others The
before . greater anxiety feel than More likely people
The 1999 . conducting been has since polls JPRA
their how about Gauge feel people passengers . fellow
in better behaviour hopes promote future . It to
of included trains on irritation stretching . Sources people
increased trains . Japan's The number of on riders

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

A recent study from the Japan Private Railway Association (JPRA) revels / reveals that coughing and sneezing were the biggest annoyances / annoys on trains. A total of 5,314 train passengers responded to a JPRA survey on / in behaviour and manners on trains and at stations. "Coughing and sneezing without consideration / considering for others" topped the list of passenger gropes / gripes. An association spokesperson attributed this of / to remaining effects of Covid-19. He said: "The coronavirus pandemic may have ingrained the importance of consideration for others was / as a norm." He added: "More people likely feel greater anxious / anxiety than before the pandemic when someone nearly / nearby coughs or sneezes without wearing a / the mask."

The JPRA has been conducive / conducting its polls since 1999 to gorge / gauge how people feel about their fellow passengers. It hopes to promote better behaviour in / at the future. It said 50.5 per cent of survey respondents sighted / cited coughing and sneezing as their top annoyance. Other sources / sauces of irritation on trains included people stretching their legs, people not moving over / in to make space for others wanting to sit down, and noisy / nosey conversations. The JPRA added that "strong scents from perfume or fabric softeners" and "poor manners among / during boarding and alighting such as blocking doors" were fourth and fifth on the list. The number of rides / riders has increased on Japan's trains due to a rise / raise in tourists visiting Japan.

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)

_ r_c_nt st_dy fr_m th_ J_p_n Pr_v_t_ R__lw_y _ss_c__t__n (JPR_) r_v__ls th_t c__gh_ng _nd sn__z_ng w_r_ th_ b_gg_st _nn_y_nc_s _n tr__ns. _ t_t_l _f 5,314 tr__n p_ss_ng_rs r_sp_nd_d t_ _ JPR_ s_rv_y _n b_h_v___r _nd m_nn_rs _n tr__ns _nd _t st_t__ns. "C__gh_ng _nd sn__z_ng w_th__t c_ns_d_r_t__n f_r _th_rs" t_pp_d th_ l_st _f p_ss_ng_r gr_p_s. _n _ss_c__t__n sp_k_sp_rs_n _ttr_b_t_d th_s t_ r_m__n_ng _ff_cts _f C_v_d-19. H_ s__d: "Th_ c_r_n_v_r_s p_nd_m_c m_y h_v_ _ngr__n_d th_ _mp_rt_nc_ _f c_ns_d_r_t__n f_r _th_rs _s _ n_rm." H_ _dd_d: "M_r_ p__pl_ l_k_ly f__l gr__t_r _nx__ty th_n b_f_r_ th_ p_nd_m_c wh_n s_m__n_ n__rby c__ghs _r sn__z_s w_th__t w__r_ng _ m_sk."

Th_ JPR_ h_s b__n c_nd_ct_ng _ts p_lls s_nc_ 1999 t_ g__g_ h_w p__pl_ f__l _b__t th__r f_ll_w p_ss_ng_rs. _t h_p_s t_ pr_m_t_ b_tt_r b_h_v___r _n th_ f_t_r_. _t s__d 50.5 p_r c_nt _f s_rv_y r_sp_nd_nts c_t_d c__gh_ng _nd sn__z_ng _s th__r t_p _nn_y_nc_. _th_r s__rc_s _f _rr_t_t__n _n tr__ns _ncl_d_d p__pl_ str_tch_ng th__r l_gs, p__pl_ n_t m_v_ng _v_r t_ m_k_ sp_c_ f_r _th_rs w_nt_ng t_ s_t d_wn, _nd n__sy c_nv_rs_t__ns. Th_ JPR_ _dd_d th_t "str_ng sc_nts fr_m p_rf_m_ _r f_br_c s_ft_n_rs" _nd "p__r m_nn_rs d_r_ng b__rd_ng _nd _l_ght_ng s_ch _s bl_ck_ng d__rs" w_r_ f__rth _nd f_fth _n th_ l_st. Th_ n_mb_r _f r_d_rs h_s _ncr__s_d _n J_p_n's tr__ns d__ t_ _ r_s_ _n t__r_sts v_s_t_ng J_p_n.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

a recent study from the japan private railway association jpra reveals that coughing and sneezing were the biggest annoyances on trains a total of 5314 train passengers responded to a jpra survey on behaviour and manners on trains and at stations coughing and sneezing without consideration for others topped the list of passenger gripes an association spokesperson attributed this to remaining effects of covid19 he said the coronavirus pandemic may have ingrained the importance of consideration for others as a norm he added more people likely feel greater anxiety than before the pandemic when someone nearby coughs or sneezes without wearing a mask

the jpra has been conducting its polls since 1999 to gauge how people feel about their fellow passengers it hopes to promote better behaviour in the future it said 505 per cent of survey respondents cited coughing and sneezing as their top annoyance other sources of irritation on trains included people stretching their legs people not moving over to make space for others wanting to sit down and noisy conversations the jpra added that strong scents from perfume or fabric softeners and poor manners during boarding and alighting such as blocking doors were fourth and fifth on the list the number of riders has increased on japans trains due to a rise in tourists visiting japan

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ArecentstudyfromtheJapanPrivateRailwayAssociation(JPRA)reveal
sthatcoughingandsneezingwerethebiggestannoyancesontrains.Ato
talof5,314trainpassengersrespondedtoaJPRAsurveyonbehaviouran
dmannersontrainsandatstations."Coughingandsneezingwithoutcon
siderationforothers"toppedthelistofpassengergripes.Anassociation
spokespersonattributedthistoremainingeffectsofCovid-19.Hesaid:
"Thecoronaviruspandemicmayhaveingrainedtheimportanceofconsi
derationforothersasanorm."Headded:"Morepeoplelikelyfeelgreater
anxietythanbeforethepandemicwhensomeonenearbycoughsorsnee
zeswithoutwearingamask."TheJPRAhasbeenconductingitspollssinc
e1999togaugehowpeoplefeelabouttheirfellowpassengers.Ithopesto
promotebetterbehaviourinthefuture.Itsaid50.5percentofsurveyres
pondentscitedcoughingandsneezingastheirtopannoyance.Othersou
rcesofirritationontrainsincludedpeoplestretchingtheirlegs,peopleno
tmovingovertomakespaceforotherswantingtositdown,andnoisycon
versations.TheJPRAaddedthat"strongscentsfromperfumeorfabricso
fteners"and"poormannersduringboardingandalightingsuchasblocki
ngdoors"werefourthandfifthonthelist.Thenumberofridershasincreas
edonJapan'strainsduetoariseintouristsvisitingJapan.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

We all need to change our behaviour to be more considerate to others. 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. ANNOYING PEOPLE: Make a poster about annoying people. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. FINES: Write a magazine article about creating a system to fine annoying train passengers. 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 annoying people. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions of annoying people. 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: Annoying Behaviour

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