Breaking News English Lesson: Cheese & Nightmares

Home | Help This Site

Scientists say cheese could give us nightmares (7th July 2025)

The Reading / Listening - Cheese & Nightmares - Level 6

New research suggests that dairy products, cheese in particular, could give people nightmares. Research published in the journal "Frontiers in Psychology" found that people with a severe lactose intolerance were more prone to bad dreams and insomnia. Professor Marie-Pierre St-Onge, director of the Dream and Nightmare Lab in Montreal, Canada, analyzed the diet, health and sleep patterns of more than 1,000 people. She wanted to investigate the degree to which food affected dreams. She based her research on a 2015 study that looked into "food-dependent dreaming". Participants in the 2015 study blamed cheese and other dairy products for disturbing their sleep.

Dr St-Onge discovered that people with gastrointestinal problems and lactose intolerance had scarier and more frequent nightmares. She said: "If you have gastrointestinal issues, that could account for a lot of what's happening in terms of sleep disturbances that could be associated with different dreams." Her colleague, Dr Tore Nielsen, said: "Sleep disturbances affect a huge proportion of the general population. One large survey found that 30-40 per cent of individuals will have a clinically significant sleep disorder in their lifetime." Previous research suggests that about 85 per cent of adults have a nightmare at least once a year, with about 5 per cent of people experiencing them frequently.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Cheese & Nightmares - Level 4 or Cheese & Nightmares - Level 5

Sources

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/can-cheese-turn-dreams-nightmares-rcna215580
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cheese-may-actually-give-you-nightmares-here-is-why#How-to-get-better-sleep-7-dietitian-tips-for-people-with-food-intolerances
https://www.msn.com/en-in/lifestyle/smart-living/does-cheese-before-bed-really-give-you-nightmares-a-study-finally-settles-the-debate/ar-AA1HxreX

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. DREAMS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about dreams. 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?
research / dairy products / cheese / frontiers / intolerance / nightmares / sleep / food
sleep disturbances / dreams / colleague / population / disorder / lifetime / adults
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. DREAM RECORDERS: Students A strongly believe we need software that can record and play back our dreams; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. FOOD DREAMS: What kinds of dreams might these foods give us, and why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What Kind of Dreams?	Why?
Cheese
Chocolate
Garlic
Chilli
Rice
Spinach

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. SLEEP: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "sleep". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. DAIRY PRODUCTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best dairy products at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Cheese
Milk
Yoghurt
Cream
Butter
Ice cream
Milk shakes
Whey

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	dairy	a.	Something that makes you feel worried or upset.
2.	frontiers	b.	Very bad or strong.
3.	severe	c.	Likely to do something or often having something happen.
4.	lactose	d.	Food made from milk, like cheese, butter, and yogurt.
5.	prone	e.	A problem where a person cannot sleep.
6.	insomnia	f.	The extreme limit of understanding or achievement in a particular area.
7.	disturbing	g.	A sugar found in milk.

Paragraph 2

8.	gastrointestinal	h.	A person you work with.
9.	intolerance	i.	Part of a whole or a percentage of something.
10.	account for	j.	A problem with the way the body or mind works.
11.	colleague	k.	When your body cannot accept something, like a type of food.
12.	proportion	l.	In a way that is related to doctors or medical tests.
13.	clinically	m.	Make up a specified amount or proportion of something.
14.	disorder	n.	About the stomach and the intestines (the part of the body that digests food).

Before reading / listening

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

New research says all dairy products give people nightmares. T / F
The article says people with glucose intolerance should not eat cheese. T / F
A researcher from a nightmare lab conducted the research in this article. T / F
The researcher investigated the dreams that depended in different food. T / F
People intolerant to lactose are more likely to have stomach problems. T / F
The researcher said gastrointestinal problems can affect dreams. T / F
A study said up to 40% of us could have a sleep disorder. T / F
Around 5% of people have frequent nightmares. T / F

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

in particular
severe
investigate
blamed
disturbing
gastrointestinal
issues
colleague
proportion
disorder

section
disrupting
problems
acute
illness
look into
attributed
especially
co-worker
stomach

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

people with a severe lactose
more prone
food-
cheese and other
disturbing their
people with gastrointestinal
scarier and more
that could account for a lot of what's
in terms
have a clinically significant

dependent dreaming
sleep
sleep disorder
frequent nightmares
intolerance
happening
to bad dreams
of sleep
dairy products
problems

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

director
degree
journal
blamed
dairy
prone
looked
patterns

New research suggests that (1) _________________________________ products, cheese in particular, could give people nightmares. Research published in the (2) _________________________________ "Frontiers in Psychology" found that people with a severe lactose intolerance were more (3) _________________________________ to bad dreams and insomnia. Professor Marie-Pierre St-Onge, (4) _________________________________ of the Dream and Nightmare Lab in Montreal, Canada, analyzed the diet, health and sleep (5) _________________________________ of more than 1,000 people. She wanted to investigate the (6) _________________________________ to which food affected dreams. She based her research on a 2015 study that (7) _________________________________ into "food-dependent dreaming". Participants in the 2015 study (8) _________________________________ cheese and other dairy products for disturbing their sleep.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

terms
scarier
frequently
proportion
least
account
associated
individuals

Dr St-Onge discovered that people with gastrointestinal problems and lactose intolerance had (9) _________________________________ and more frequent nightmares. She said: "If you have gastrointestinal issues, that could (10) _________________________________ for a lot of what's happening in (11) _________________________________ of sleep disturbances that could be (12) _________________________________ with different dreams." Her colleague, Dr Tore Nielsen, said: "Sleep disturbances affect a huge (13) _________________________________ of the general population. One large survey found that 30-40 per cent of (14) _________________________________ will have a clinically significant sleep disorder in their lifetime." Previous research suggests that about 85 per cent of adults have a nightmare at (15) _________________________________ once a year, with about 5 per cent of people experiencing them (16) _________________________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) people with a severe lactose intolerance ______
     a. were more prone
     b. were more drone
     c. were more crone
     d. were more prong
2) director of the Dream and Nightmare Lab in Montreal, Canada ______
     a. analyzed the date
     b. analyzed the diet
     c. analyzed the duty
     d. analyzed the ditty
3) She wanted to investigate the degree to which ______
     a. food afflicted dreams
     b. food affection dreams
     c. food affect it dreams
     d. food affected dreams
4) She based her research on a 2015 study that looked into ______
     a. food-dependent dream in
     b. food-independent dreaming
     c. food-dependent dreaming
     d. foodie-dependent dreaming
5) the 2015 study blamed cheese and other dairy products for ______
     a. disturbing their sleep
     b. disturbance their sleep
     c. disturb bin their sleep
     d. disturb in their sleep

6) people with gastrointestinal problems and lactose intolerance had scarier and ______
     a. more frequency nightmares
     b. more frequently nightmares
     c. more frequent nightmares
     d. more free quantum nightmares
7) that could account for a lot of what's happening in ______
     a. teams of sleep
     b. teams of slept
     c. terms off sleep
     d. terms of sleep
8) Sleep disturbances affect a huge proportion of ______
     a. the general population
     b. the colonel population
     c. the sergeant population
     d. the lieutenant population
9) 30-40 per cent of individuals will have a clinically ______
     a. significance sleep disorder
     b. significant sleep disorder
     c. significantly sleep disorder
     d. signify can't sleep disorder
10) with about 5 per cent of people ______
     a. experience in them frequently
     b. experiencing then frequently
     c. experiencing them frequency
     d. experiencing them frequently

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

New research suggests that dairy products, (1) _______________________________________________, could give people nightmares. Research published in the journal "Frontiers in Psychology" found that people (2) _______________________________________________ lactose intolerance were more (3) _______________________________________________ dreams and insomnia. Professor Marie-Pierre St-Onge, director of the Dream and Nightmare Lab in Montreal, Canada, (4) _______________________________________________, health and sleep patterns of more than 1,000 people. She wanted to (5) _______________________________________________ to which food affected dreams. She based her research on a 2015 study that looked into "food-dependent dreaming". Participants in the 2015 study blamed cheese and other dairy (6) _______________________________________________ their sleep.

Dr St-Onge discovered that people with gastrointestinal problems and lactose intolerance had scarier (7) _______________________________________________ nightmares. She said: "If you have gastrointestinal issues, that (8) _______________________________________________ a lot of what's happening in terms of sleep disturbances that could (9) _______________________________________________ different dreams." Her colleague, Dr Tore Nielsen, said: "Sleep disturbances affect (10) _______________________________________________ of the general population. One large survey found that 30-40 per cent of individuals will have (11) _______________________________________________ sleep disorder in their lifetime." Previous research suggests that about 85 per cent of adults have a (12) _______________________________________________ once a year, with about 5 per cent of people experiencing them frequently.

Comprehension questions

What is the name of the journal mentioned in the first paragraph?
What are lactose intolerant people prone to besides bad dreams?
How many people's sleep patterns did a professor look at?
What did a 2015 study look into?
What did people in the 2015 study blame cheese for?
What else might cause nightmares besides lactose intolerance?
How is Dr Tore Nielsen related to Marie-Pierre St-Onge?
How many people did Marie-Pierre St-Onge had sleep disturbances?
How many people will have a serious clinical sleep disorder?
What do five per cent of people experience frequently?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the journal mentioned in the first paragraph?
a) Cheese and Nightmares
b) Frontiers in Psychology
c) Dairy Products and Sleep
d) Issues with Lactose, Glucose and Fructose
2) What are lactose intolerant people prone to besides bad dreams?
a) headaches
b) daydreaming
c) light patches on their skin
d) insomnia
3) How many people's sleep patterns did a professor look at?
a) fewer than 1,000
b) exactly 1,000
c) more than 1,000
d) about 1,000
4) What did a 2015 study look into?
a) food-dependent dreaming
b) the problems of milk
c) Why people dream about food.
d) food-dependent cheese
5) What did people in the 2015 study blame cheese for?
a) the problems of the world
b) disturbing their sleep
c) bad skin
d) forgetfulness

6) What else might cause nightmares besides lactose intolerance?
a) gastrointestinal problems
b) gum disease
c) high blood pressure
d) a sweet tooth
7) How is Dr Tore Nielsen related to Marie-Pierre St-Onge?
a) She is a patient.
b) They are friends.
c) She is a colleague.
d) They are married.
8) How many people did Marie-Pierre St-Onge had sleep disturbances?
a) a huge proportion of the general population
b) a small percentage of the population.
c) almost nobody
d) about half of us
9) How many people will have a serious clinical sleep disorder?
a) about 60-70% of people
b) about 50-60% of people
c) about 40-50% of people
d) about 30-40% of people

10) What do five per cent of people experience frequently?
a) toothache
b) insomnia
c) nightmares
d) indigestion due to cheese

Role play

Role A – Cheese
You think cheese is the best dairy product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dairy products. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): milk, yoghurt or butter.

Role B – Milk
You think milk is the best dairy product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dairy products. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): cheese, yoghurt or butter.

Role C – Yoghurt
You think yoghurt is the best dairy product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dairy products. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): milk, cheese or butter.

Role D – Butter
You think butter is the best dairy product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dairy products. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): milk, yoghurt or cheese.

After reading / listening

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

'dream'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'nightmare'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

particular

journal

prone

diet

degree

looked

scarier

issues

terms

huge

clinically

year

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 - Cheese & Nightmares

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 'dream'?
What do you think of dreams?
What do you think of cheese and dairy products?
Why do people have nightmares?
What kinds of dreams do you have?
Would you like to remember all your dreams?
Do dreams have any meaning?
What can people do if they have insomnia?
What food would give us different kinds of dreams?

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 'nightmare'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you think of nightmares?
What would it be like to be lactose intolerant?
How often is your sleep disturbed?
What do you do when you can't sleep?
What can we do to stop having bad dreams and nightmares?
Why is it bad to eat before sleeping?
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)

New research suggests that dairy (1) ____, cheese in particular, could (2) ____ people nightmares. Research published in the journal "Frontiers in Psychology" found that people with a (3) ____ lactose intolerance were more prone to bad dreams and insomnia. Professor Marie-Pierre St-Onge, director of the Dream and Nightmare Lab in Montreal, Canada, analyzed the (4) ____, health and sleep patterns of more than 1,000 people. She wanted to investigate the degree to which food affected dreams. She (5) ____ her research on a 2015 study that looked into "food-dependent dreaming". Participants in the 2015 study blamed cheese and other dairy products (6) ____ disturbing their sleep.

Dr St-Onge discovered that people with gastrointestinal problems and lactose intolerance had (7) ____ and more frequent nightmares. She said: "If you have gastrointestinal issues, that could account (8) ____ a lot of what's happening in terms of sleep disturbances that could be associated with different dreams." Her colleague, Dr Tore Nielsen, said: "Sleep disturbances (9) ____ a huge proportion of the general population. One large survey found that 30-40 per cent of individuals will have a (10) ____ significant sleep disorder in their lifetime." (11) ____ research suggests that about 85 per cent of adults (12) ____ a nightmare at least once a year, with about 5 per cent of people experiencing them frequently.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) production (b) product (c) products (d) produces
(a) give (b) side (c) dream (d) watch
(a) severe (b) sever (c) several (d) severed
(a) diet (b) dietician (c) dietary (d) dieted
(a) biased (b) debased (c) basted (d) based
(a) on (b) at (c) of (d) for
(a) scarier (b) scares (c) scarred (d) scare
(a) in (b) by (c) of (d) for
(a) affect (b) infect (c) effect (d) deflect
(a) clinician (b) clinically (c) clinic (d) clinics
(a) impervious (b) previous (c) perilous (d) improved
(a) have (b) see (c) watch (d) scare

Spelling

Paragraph 1

yadri products
nirrsetfo in psychology
a severe lactose nolctenarei
prone to bad dreams and iianmson
She wanted to asttvnigiee
food-ntpddneee dreaming

Paragraph 2

people with enoaltingsaristt problems
sleep tdusbesnirca
oaesitscda with different dreams
Her egellacuo Dr Tore Nielsen
affect a huge piorortpon
a lacicnlily significant sleep disorder

Put the text back together

(    )    2015 study blamed cheese and other dairy products for disturbing their sleep.
(    )    account for a lot of what's happening in terms of sleep disturbances that could be associated
(    )    and more frequent nightmares. She said: "If you have gastrointestinal issues, that could
(    )    and Nightmare Lab in Montreal, Canada, analyzed the diet, health and sleep patterns
(    )    Dr St-Onge discovered that people with gastrointestinal problems and lactose intolerance had scarier
(    )    her research on a 2015 study that looked into "food-dependent dreaming". Participants in the
(    )    in the journal "Frontiers in Psychology" found that people with a severe lactose intolerance were more
( 1 )   New research suggests that dairy products, cheese in particular, could give people nightmares. Research published
(    )    nightmare at least once a year, with about 5 per cent of people experiencing them frequently.
(    )    of more than 1,000 people. She wanted to investigate the degree to which food affected dreams. She based
(    )    prone to bad dreams and insomnia. Professor Marie-Pierre St-Onge, director of the Dream
(    )    proportion of the general population. One large survey found that 30-40 per cent of individuals will have a clinically
(    )    significant sleep disorder in their lifetime." Previous research suggests that about 85 per cent of adults have a
(    )    with different dreams." Her colleague, Dr Tore Nielsen, said: "Sleep disturbances affect a huge

Put the words in the right order

Cheese particular, nightmares in give people could .
People prone were with intolerance lactose severe more .
Investigate food to dreams affected the which of degree the .
A 2015 food-dependent looked that dreaming into study .
Participants other cheese dairy and blamed products .
People intolerance gastrointestinal with problems and lactose .
What’s in disturbances sleep happening terms of .
Affect huge general of the population proportion a .
Individuals disorder have a sleep significant clinically will .
Have least at once nightmare a a year .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

New research suggests that dairy products, cheese in peculiar / particular, could give people nightmares. Research published in the journal "Frontiers in Psychology" found what / that people with a severe lactose intolerance were more prone / prove to bad dreams and insomnia / insomniac. Professor Marie-Pierre St-Onge, director of the Dream and Nightmare Lab in Montreal, Canada, analyzed a / the diet, health and sleep patterns of more than 1,000 people. She wanted to investigate the degree to what / that food affected dreams. She based her research on / in a 2015 study that looked onto / into "food-dependent dreaming". Participants / Participates in the 2015 study blamed cheese and other dairy products for disturbance / disturbing their sleep.

Dr St-Onge discovered / discovery that people with gastrointestinal problems and lactose intolerance had scarred / scarier and more frequent / frequently nightmares. She said: "If you have gastrointestinal issues, that could account to / for a lot of what's happening in teams / terms of sleep disturbances that could be associated with / of different dreams." Her colleague, Dr Tore Nielsen, said: "Sleep disturbances affect a huge proportion at / of the general population. One large survey found that 30-40 per cent of individuals will have a clinically / clinic significant sleep disorder in their lifetime." Previous research suggests that about 85 per cent of adults have a nightmare at / for least once a year, with about 5 per cent of people experiencing / experiential them frequently.

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)

N_w r_s__rch s_gg_sts th_t d__ry pr_d_cts, ch__s_ _n p_rt_c_l_r, c__ld g_v_ p__pl_ n_ghtm_r_s. R_s__rch p_bl_sh_d _n th_ j__rn_l "Fr_nt__rs _n Psych_l_gy" f__nd th_t p__pl_ w_th _ s_v_r_ l_ct_s_ _nt_l_r_nc_ w_r_ m_r_ pr_n_ t_ b_d dr__ms _nd _ns_mn__. Pr_f_ss_r M_r__-P__rr_ St-_ng_, d_r_ct_r _f th_ Dr__m _nd N_ghtm_r_ L_b _n M_ntr__l, C_n_d_, _n_lyz_d th_ d__t, h__lth _nd sl__p p_tt_rns _f m_r_ th_n 1,000 p__pl_. Sh_ w_nt_d t_ _nv_st_g_t_ th_ d_gr__ t_ wh_ch f__d _ff_ct_d dr__ms. Sh_ b_s_d h_r r_s__rch _n _ 2015 st_dy th_t l__k_d _nt_ "f__d-d_p_nd_nt dr__m_ng". P_rt_c_p_nts _n th_ 2015 st_dy bl_m_d ch__s_ _nd _th_r d__ry pr_d_cts f_r d_st_rb_ng th__r sl__p.

Dr St-_ng_ d_sc_v_r_d th_t p__pl_ w_th g_str__nt_st_n_l pr_bl_ms _nd l_ct_s_ _nt_l_r_nc_ h_d sc_r__r _nd m_r_ fr_q__nt n_ghtm_r_s. Sh_ s__d: "_f y__ h_v_ g_str__nt_st_n_l _ss__s, th_t c__ld _cc__nt f_r _ l_t _f wh_t's h_pp_n_ng _n t_rms _f sl__p d_st_rb_nc_s th_t c__ld b_ _ss_c__t_d w_th d_ff_r_nt dr__ms." H_r c_ll__g__, Dr T_r_ N__ls_n, s__d: "Sl__p d_st_rb_nc_s _ff_ct _ h_g_ pr_p_rt__n _f th_ g_n_r_l p_p_l_t__n. _n_ l_rg_ s_rv_y f__nd th_t 30-40 p_r c_nt _f _nd_v_d__ls w_ll h_v_ _ cl_n_c_lly s_gn_f_c_nt sl__p d_s_rd_r _n th__r l_f_t_m_." Pr_v___s r_s__rch s_gg_sts th_t _b__t 85 p_r c_nt _f _d_lts h_v_ _ n_ghtm_r_ _t l__st _nc_ _ y__r, w_th _b__t 5 p_r c_nt _f p__pl_ _xp_r__nc_ng th_m fr_q__ntly.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

new research suggests that dairy products cheese in particular could give people nightmares research published in the journal frontiers in psychology found that people with a severe lactose intolerance were more prone to bad dreams and insomnia professor mariepierre stonge director of the dream and nightmare lab in montreal canada analyzed the diet health and sleep patterns of more than 1000 people she wanted to investigate the degree to which food affected dreams she based her research on a 2015 study that looked into fooddependent dreaming participants in the 2015 study blamed cheese and other dairy products for disturbing their sleep

dr stonge discovered that people with gastrointestinal problems and lactose intolerance had scarier and more frequent nightmares she said if you have gastrointestinal issues that could account for a lot of whats happening in terms of sleep disturbances that could be associated with different dreams her colleague dr tore nielsen said sleep disturbances affect a huge proportion of the general population one large survey found that 3040 per cent of individuals will have a clinically significant sleep disorder in their lifetime previous research suggests that about 85 per cent of adults have a nightmare at least once a year with about 5 per cent of people experiencing them frequently

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Newresearchsuggeststhatdairyproducts,cheeseinparticular,couldgi
vepeoplenightmares.Researchpublishedinthejournal"FrontiersinPs
ychology"foundthatpeoplewithaseverelactoseintoleranceweremore
pronetobaddreamsandinsomnia.ProfessorMarie-PierreSt-Onge,dir
ectoroftheDreamandNightmareLabinMontreal,Canada,analyzedthe
diet,healthandsleeppatternsofmorethan1,000people.Shewantedtoi
nvestigatethedegreetowhichfoodaffecteddreams.Shebasedherrese
archona2015studythatlookedinto"food-dependentdreaming".Part
icipantsinthe2015studyblamedcheeseandotherdairyproductsfordist
urbingtheirsleep.DrSt-Ongediscoveredthatpeoplewithgastrointesti
nalproblemsandlactoseintolerancehadscarierandmorefrequentnigh
tmares.Shesaid:"Ifyouhavegastrointestinalissues,thatcouldaccoun
tforalotofwhat'shappeningintermsofsleepdisturbancesthatcouldbea
ssociatedwithdifferentdreams."Hercolleague,DrToreNielsen,said:"
Sleepdisturbancesaffectahugeproportionofthegeneralpopulation.O
nelargesurveyfoundthat30-40percentofindividualswillhaveaclinical
lysignificantsleepdisorderintheirlifetime."Previousresearchsuggest
sthatabout85percentofadultshaveanightmareatleastonceayear,wit
habout5percentofpeopleexperiencingthemfrequently.

Free writing

Write about cheese nightmares for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

We should never eat before bed. 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. DREAMS: Make a poster about dreams. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. RECORDING DREAMS: Write a magazine article about inventing software that can record dreams for us to watch. 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 dreams. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions of dreams. 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.)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English Lesson: Cheese & Nightmares

Home | Help This Site

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS