Breaking News English Lesson: Spelling Mistakes

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UK opposition party spells 'Britain' incorrectly (9th October 2025)

The Reading / Listening - Spelling Mistakes - Level 3

Everyone makes spelling mistakes, even with "easier" words. Earlier this week, the opposition political party in the UK misspelled a word. The Conservative Party made a mistake with the name of its own country. The error was on the slogan on the wrapper of a chocolate bar. The word "Britain" was spelt "Britian" on the bar. The message was signed by the party's leader. The Conservatives were holding their annual conference. Each person who attended the event received the bar of chocolate. Organisers of the conference blamed the mistake on a "printing error". After they spotted the mistake, they immediately stopped handing out the chocolate.

Many people on social media made fun of the mistake. Journalist Natasha Clarke wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the Conservative Party wants to run Britain, but "can't spell it". A member of the UK's ruling Labour Party also commented on the spelling mistake. She said the Conservatives "can't proofread five words on a bar of chocolate". However, it is not the first time that political parties in the UK have had a spelling mishap. Earlier this year, Scottish Labour misspelt the word "Scottish" on its election leaflets. The handout said "Your Scotish Labour candidate," missing a "t". In 2024, the politician Lee Anderson's surname was incorrectly written as "Andersin" on his election leaflets.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Spelling Mistakes - Level 0, Spelling Mistakes - Level 1 or Spelling Mistakes - Level 2

Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/oct/06/conservative-party-misspell-britain-conference-chocolate-bar
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/embarrassing-chocolate-bar-handed-out-32623227
https://metro.co.uk/2025/10/06/kemi-badenoch-makes-wonky-spelling-error-tory-chocolate-bar-24356118/

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. SPELLING MISTAKES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about spelling mistakes. 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?
spelling mistakes / political party / country / slogan / chocolate bar / conference /
social media / make fun of / journalist / spell / proofread / election / leaflet / surname
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NOT SO IMPORTANT: Students A strongly believe spelling isn't so important; Students B strongly believe it is. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ENGLISH: How important are these things? What's the best way to learn them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How Important	How to Learn
Spelling
Vocabulary
Punctuation
Pronunciation
Slang
Handwriting

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

Spelling
Grammar
Punctuation
Pronunciation
Subject-verb agreement
Plurals
Missing articles
Wrong tense

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	opposition	a.	A group of people with the same ideas about how to run a country.
2.	political party	b.	A short, easy-to-remember phrase used by a group or company.
3.	error	c.	People or groups who do not agree with something or someone.
4.	slogan	d.	Happening every year.
5.	wrapper	e.	Paper or plastic that covers or protects things like food and other goods.
6.	annual	f.	Said that someone was responsible for something bad.
7.	blamed	g.	A mistake.

Paragraph 2

8.	made fun of	h.	A small piece of paper that gives information.
9.	run (verb)	i.	Check writing for mistakes before it is finished.
10.	ruling	j.	A small accident or problem.
11.	proofread	k.	Laughed at someone (to be unkind).
12.	mishap	l.	Be in charge of something or control it.
13.	election	m.	When people vote to choose a new leader or government.
14.	leaflet	n.	Being the person or group that has power.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says everyone makes even easy spelling mistakes. T / F
The Conservative Party made a spelling mistake with its name. T / F
The spelling mistake was on a bar of chocolate. T / F
The conference organisers blamed the party's leader for the mistake. T / F
No one on social media thought the mistake was funny. T / F
The Labour Party said it wanted to proofread the slogan. T / F
Earlier this year, a party made a mistake with the word 'Scotland'. T / F
In 2024, a politician's surname was misspelt. T / F

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

mistakes
wrapper
attended
spotted
handing out
formerly
run
proofread
leaflets
incorrectly

previously
saw
be in charge of
went to
flyers
errors
check
packaging
wrongly
giving out

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

Everyone makes
the slogan on the wrapper
Each person who attended
blamed the mistake
After they spotted
people on social media
the Conservative Party wants
the Conservatives can't proofread
misspelt the word "Scottish" on
Anderson's surname was incorrectly

made fun of the mistake
on a printing error
its election leaflets
five words
the event
to run Britain
spelling mistakes
the mistake
written
of a chocolate bar

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

error
bar
wrapper
even
immediately
misspelled
printing
signed

Everyone makes spelling mistakes, (1) ______________________________________________ with "easier" words. Earlier this week, the opposition political party in the UK (2) ______________________________________________ a word. The Conservative Party made a mistake with the name of its own country. The (3) ______________________________________________ was on the slogan on the (4) ______________________________________________ of a chocolate bar. The word "Britain" was spelt "Britian" on the bar. The message was (5) ______________________________________________ by the party's leader. The Conservatives were holding their annual conference. Each person who attended the event received the (6) ______________________________________________ of chocolate. Organisers of the conference blamed the mistake on a "(7) ______________________________________________ error". After they spotted the mistake, they (8) ______________________________________________ stopped handing out the chocolate.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

formerly
missing
proofread
surname
fun
handout
ruling
first

Many people on social media made (9) ______________________________________________ of the mistake. Journalist Natasha Clarke wrote on X ((10) ______________________________________________ Twitter) that the Conservative Party wants to run Britain, but "can't spell it". A member of the UK's (11) ______________________________________________ Labour Party also commented on the spelling mistake. She said the Conservatives "can't (12) ______________________________________________ five words on a bar of chocolate". However, it is not the (13) ______________________________________________ time that political parties in the UK have had a spelling mishap. Earlier this year, Scottish Labour misspelt the word "Scottish" on its election leaflets. The (14) ______________________________________________ said "Your Scotish Labour candidate," (15) ______________________________________________ a "t". In 2024, the politician Lee Anderson's (16) ______________________________________________ was incorrectly written as "Andersin" on his election leaflets.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Everyone makes spelling mistakes, even ______
     a. with "easier" word
     b. with "easiest" words
     c. with "easier" words
     d. without "easier" words
2) The Conservative Party made a mistake with the name of ______
     a. its own country
     b. its owns country
     c. its owner country
     d. its owned country
3) The Conservatives were holding ______
     a. their annually conference
     b. their annual conference
     c. there annual conference
     d. their annual conferenced
4) Organisers of the conference blamed the mistake on ______
     a. a printing terror
     b. a print tin error
     c. a printing error
     d. a print tin terror
5) After they spotted the mistake, they immediately stopped handing ______
     a. up the chocolate
     b. down the chocolate
     c. in the chocolate
     d. out the chocolate

6) Many people on social media made fun ______
     a. of the mistake
     b. of the mistaken
     c. of the mistook
     d. of the miss take
7) wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the Conservative Party wants ______
     a. to ruin Britain
     b. to run Britain
     c. to rune Britain
     d. to runs Britain
8) She said the Conservatives can't ______
     a. prove read five words
     b. proof freed five words
     c. proof lead five words
     d. proofread five words
9) it is not the first time that political parties in the UK have had ______
     a. a spelling mishap
     b. a spelling misshape
     c. a spelling misshapes
     d. a spelling mishaps
10) The handout said "Your Scotish Labour candidate," ______
     a. miss inner "t"
     b. miss in a "t"
     c. missing a "t"
     d. miss sin a "t"

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Everyone makes spelling mistakes, (1) __________________________________________________ words. Earlier this week, the opposition political party in the UK misspelled a word. The Conservative Party made a mistake with (2) __________________________________________________ its own country. The error was on the slogan on the wrapper of a chocolate bar. The word "Britain" was spelt "Britian" on the bar. The message (3) __________________________________________________ the party's leader. The Conservatives (4) __________________________________________________ annual conference. Each person who attended the event received the bar of chocolate. Organisers of the conference blamed the mistake on (5) __________________________________________________. After they spotted the mistake, they immediately stopped (6) __________________________________________________ chocolate.

Many people on social media (7) __________________________________________________ the mistake. Journalist Natasha Clarke wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the Conservative Party (8) __________________________________________________ Britain, but "can't spell it". A member of the UK's ruling Labour Party also commented on the spelling mistake. She said the Conservatives "can't (9) __________________________________________________ on a bar of chocolate". However, it is not the first time that political parties in the UK have had (10) __________________________________________________. Earlier this year, Scottish Labour misspelt the word "Scottish" on its election leaflets. The handout said "Your Scotish Labour candidate," (11) __________________________________________________. In 2024, the politician Lee Anderson's (12) __________________________________________________ written as "Andersin" on his election leaflets.

Comprehension questions

Who does the article say makes mistakes, even with easy words?
Where was the mistake written?
How was the word "Britain" misspelt?
What kind of event did the mistake take place at?
What did organisers blame the mistake on?
Who is Natasha Clark?
What did Natasha Clark say the Conservatives wanted to run?
What did the Labour Party say the Conservatives could not do?
What letter was missing on a Scottish Labour election leaflet?
What was incorrectly spelt on the election leaflet of a politician?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who does the article say makes mistakes, even with easy words?
a) politicians
b) children
c) students
d) everyone
2) Where was the mistake written?
a) on a poster
b) on a chocolate bar
c) on the Internet
d) on t-shirts
3) How was the word "Britain" misspelt?
a) "Brittan"
b) "Britien"
c) "Britian"
d) "Britten"
4) What kind of event did the mistake take place at?
a) an annual conference
b) a birthday party
c) an election
d) a spelling contest
5) What did organisers blame the mistake on?
a) a computer bug
b) AI
c) a printing error
d) the leader

6) Who is Natasha Clark?
a) a Conservative politician
b) a journalist
c) a spelling expert
d) an English teacher
7) What did Natasha Clark say the Conservatives wanted to run?
a) a new party
b) everything
c) a different government
d) Britain
8) What did the Labour Party say the Conservatives could not do?
a) proofread five words
b) write good slogans
c) lead the country
d) make good chocolate
9) What letter was missing on a Scottish Labour election leaflet?
a) the letter "x"
b) the letter "s"
c) the letter "t"
d) the letter "c"
10) What was incorrectly spelt on the election leaflet of a politician?
a) the party name
b) the politician's surname
c) the politician's given name
d) the name of the politician's city

Role play

Role A – Spelling Mistakes
You think spelling mistakes are worst. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their mistakes aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): punctuation mistakes, grammar mistakes or vocabulary mistakes.

Role B – Punctuation Mistakes
You think punctuation mistakes are worst. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their mistakes aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes or vocabulary mistakes.

Role C – Grammar Mistakes
You think grammar mistakes are worst. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their mistakes aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): punctuation mistakes, spelling mistakes or vocabulary mistakes.

Role D – Vocabulary Mistakes
You think vocabulary mistakes are worst. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their mistakes aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): punctuation mistakes, grammar mistakes or spelling mistakes.

After reading / listening

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

'spelling'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'mistake'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

everyone

own

slogan

annual

blamed

after

fun

run

five

first

handout

surname

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 - Spelling Mistakes

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 'spelling'?
What's your spelling in English like?
Are you good at spelling the words in your own language?
Why is English spelling so difficult?
What English words do you make mistakes with?
Why do you think the word 'Britain' was spelt incorrectly?
What can we do to get better at spelling?
How important is spelling?
Should all words be made easier to spell?

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 'mistake'?
What do you think about what you read?
How good are you at proofreading?
Do you always use a spellchecker when you use a computer?
How is social media changing people's spelling ability?
Is it OK for words to be misspelt if we can understand them?
Which is more important, correct spelling or pronunciation?
How do you feel if people cannot spell your name?
What questions would you like to ask the party leaders?

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)

Everyone (1) ____ spelling mistakes, even with "easier" words. Earlier this week, the opposition (2) ____ party in the UK misspelled a word. The Conservative Party made a mistake with the name of its (3) ____ country. The error was on the slogan on the wrapper of a chocolate bar. The word "Britain" was spelt "Britian" on the bar. The message was (4) ____ by the party's leader. The Conservatives were holding their annual conference. Each person (5) ____ attended the event received the bar of chocolate. Organisers of the conference blamed the mistake on a "printing error". After they spotted the mistake, they immediately stopped handing (6) ____ the chocolate.

Many people on social media made (7) ____ of the mistake. Journalist Natasha Clarke wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the Conservative Party wants to (8) ____ Britain, but "can't spell it". A member of the UK's ruling Labour Party also commented (9) ____ the spelling mistake. She said the Conservatives "can't proofread five words on a bar of chocolate". However, it is not the first time that political parties in the UK have (10) ____ a spelling mishap. Earlier this year, Scottish Labour misspelt the word "Scottish" on its election leaflets. The handout said "Your Scotish Labour candidate," (11) ____ a "t". In 2024, the politician Lee Anderson's surname was incorrectly written (12) ____ "Andersin" on his election leaflets.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) takes (b) makes (c) fakes (d) bakes
(a) politician (b) political (c) politics (d) politically
(a) owns (b) owned (c) owner (d) own
(a) singed (b) signed (c) singled (d) signal
(a) what (b) who (c) whoever (d) whom
(a) up (b) of (c) out (d) at
(a) funny (b) funnier (c) fun (d) funniest
(a) reign (b) ring (c) run (d) ruin
(a) by (b) at (c) in (d) on
(a) have (b) having (c) has (d) had
(a) missing (b) miss (c) missed (d) mrs
(a) was (b) has (c) as (d) ask

Spelling

Paragraph 1

the opposition taliclpoi party
The error was on the oaslng
the rpraepw of a chocolate bar
holding their nluana conference
elmbad the mistake on a "printing error"
they dietamlmiey stopped

Paragraph 2

Clarke wrote on X (lmyorerf Twitter)
the UK's gurnil Labour Party
the Conservatives can't rfapeodor five words
had a spelling mshiap
itepmssl the word "Scottish"
Anderson's eumnras was incorrectly written

Put the text back together

(    )   "Britian" on the bar. The message was signed by the party's leader. The Conservatives were holding their annual
(    )   "t". In 2024, the politician Lee Anderson's surname was incorrectly written as "Andersin" on his election leaflets.
(    )   conference. Each person who attended the event received the bar of chocolate. Organisers
(    )   country. The error was on the slogan on the wrapper of a chocolate bar. The word "Britain" was spelt
(    )   Everyone makes spelling mistakes, even with "easier" words. Earlier this week, the opposition political
(    )   five words on a bar of chocolate". However, it is not the first time that political parties in the UK have
(    )   had a spelling mishap. Earlier this year, Scottish Labour misspelt the word "Scottish" on its election
(    )   leaflets. The handout said "Your Scotish Labour candidate," missing a
(    )   Many people on social media made fun of the mistake. Journalist Natasha Clarke wrote
(    )   of the conference blamed the mistake on a "printing error". After they spotted
(    )   of the UK's ruling Labour Party also commented on the spelling mistake. She said the Conservatives "can't proofread
(    )   on X (formerly Twitter) that the Conservative Party wants to run Britain, but "can't spell it". A member
(    )   party in the UK misspelled a word. The Conservative Party made a mistake with the name of its own
(    )   the mistake, they immediately stopped handing out the chocolate.

Put the words in the right order

makes Everyone mistakes spelling, with even words easier .
The political opposition misspelled party word a .
A with mistake name the its of country .
message The signed was the by leader party's .
They stopped immediately out handing chocolate the bar .
media Social fun made the of mistake spelling .
A of member UK's the Labour ruling Party .
five Proofread on words bar a chocolate of .
Political have parties a had mishap spelling .
It the misspelt "Scottish" word its on leaflets .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Everyone takes / makes spelling mistakes, even with "easier" words. Earlier this week, the opposition politician / political party in the UK misspelled a word. The Conservative Party made a mistake with the name of its down / own country. The error was on the slogan to / on the wrapper of a chocolate bar / ban. The word "Britain" was spelt "Britian" on the bar. The message was singed / signed by the party's leader. The Conservatives were holding their / them annual conference. Each person who attended the event received the bar on / of chocolate. Organisers of the conference blamed the mistake at / on a "printing error". After they spotted the mistake, they immediately stopped handing out / up the chocolate.

Many people on social media made fun / funny of the mistake. Journalist Natasha Clarke wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that / what the Conservative Party wants to walk / run Britain, but "can't spelling / spell it". A member of the UK's ruling Labour Party also commented on / in the spelling mistake. She said the Conservatives "can't proofread five words on a bar of chocolate". However, it is not the firstly / first time that political parties in the UK have had / having a spelling mishap. Earlier this year, Scottish Labour misspelt the word "Scottish" on its elect / election leaflets. The handout said "Your Scotish Labour candidate," missing all / a "t". In 2024, the politician Lee Anderson's surname was incorrectly written to / as "Andersin" on his election leaflets.

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)

_v_ry_n_ m_k_s sp_ll_ng m_st_k_s, _v_n w_th "__s__r" w_rds. __rl__r th_s w__k, th_ _pp_s_t__n p_l_t_c_l p_rty _n th_ _K m_ssp_ll_d _ w_rd. Th_ C_ns_rv_t_v_ P_rty m_d_ _ m_st_k_ w_th th_ n_m_ _f _ts _wn c__ntry. Th_ _rr_r w_s _n th_ sl_g_n _n th_ wr_pp_r _f _ ch_c_l_t_ b_r. Th_ w_rd "Br_t__n" w_s sp_lt "Br_t__n" _n th_ b_r. Th_ m_ss_g_ w_s s_gn_d by th_ p_rty's l__d_r. Th_ C_ns_rv_t_v_s w_r_ h_ld_ng th__r _nn__l c_nf_r_nc_. __ch p_rs_n wh_ _tt_nd_d th_ _v_nt r_c__v_d th_ b_r _f ch_c_l_t_. _rg_n_s_rs _f th_ c_nf_r_nc_ bl_m_d th_ m_st_k_ _n _ "pr_nt_ng _rr_r". _ft_r th_y sp_tt_d th_ m_st_k_, th_y _mm_d__t_ly st_pp_d h_nd_ng __t th_ ch_c_l_t_.

M_ny p__pl_ _n s_c__l m_d__ m_d_ f_n _f th_ m_st_k_. J__rn_l_st N_t_sh_ Cl_rk_ wr_t_ _n X (f_rm_rly Tw_tt_r) th_t th_ C_ns_rv_t_v_ P_rty w_nts t_ r_n Br_t__n, b_t "c_n't sp_ll _t". _ m_mb_r _f th_ _K's r_l_ng L_b__r P_rty _ls_ c_mm_nt_d _n th_ sp_ll_ng m_st_k_. Sh_ s__d th_ C_ns_rv_t_v_s "c_n't pr__fr__d f_v_ w_rds _n _ b_r _f ch_c_l_t_". H_w_v_r, _t _s n_t th_ f_rst t_m_ th_t p_l_t_c_l p_rt__s _n th_ _K h_v_ h_d _ sp_ll_ng m_sh_p. __rl__r th_s y__r, Sc_tt_sh L_b__r m_ssp_lt th_ w_rd "Sc_tt_sh" _n _ts _l_ct__n l__fl_ts. Th_ h_nd__t s__d "Y__r Sc_t_sh L_b__r c_nd_d_t_," m_ss_ng _ "t". _n 2024, th_ p_l_t_c__n L__ _nd_rs_n's s_rn_m_ w_s _nc_rr_ctly wr_tt_n _s "_nd_rs_n" _n h_s _l_ct__n l__fl_ts.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

everyone makes spelling mistakes even with easier words earlier this week the opposition political party in the uk misspelled a word the conservative party made a mistake with the name of its own country the error was on the slogan on the wrapper of a chocolate bar the word britain was spelt britian on the bar the message was signed by the partys leader the conservatives were holding their annual conference each person who attended the event received the bar of chocolate organisers of the conference blamed the mistake on a printing error after they spotted the mistake they immediately stopped handing out the chocolate

many people on social media made fun of the mistake journalist natasha clarke wrote on x formerly twitter that the conservative party wants to run britain but cant spell it a member of the uks ruling labour party also commented on the spelling mistake she said the conservatives cant proofread five words on a bar of chocolate however it is not the first time that political parties in the uk have had a spelling mishap earlier this year scottish labour misspelt the word scottish on its election leaflets the handout said your scotish labour candidate missing a t in 2024 the politician lee andersons surname was incorrectly written as andersin on his election leaflets

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Everyonemakesspellingmistakes,evenwith"easier"words.Earlierthi
sweek,theoppositionpoliticalpartyintheUKmisspelledaword.TheCon
servativePartymadeamistakewiththenameofitsowncountry.Theerro
rwasonthesloganonthewrapperofachocolatebar.Theword"Britain"w
asspelt"Britian"onthebar.Themessagewassignedbytheparty'sleade
r.TheConservativeswereholdingtheirannualconference.Eachperson
whoattendedtheeventreceivedthebarofchocolate.Organisersofthec
onferenceblamedthemistakeona"printingerror".Aftertheyspottedth
emistake,theyimmediatelystoppedhandingoutthechocolate.Manyp
eopleonsocialmediamadefunofthemistake.JournalistNatashaClarke
wroteonX(formerlyTwitter)thattheConservativePartywantstorunBri
tain,but"can'tspellit".AmemberoftheUK'srulingLabourPartyalsocom
mentedonthespellingmistake.ShesaidtheConservatives"can'tproofr
eadfivewordsonabarofchocolate".However,itisnotthefirsttimethatp
oliticalpartiesintheUKhavehadaspellingmishap.Earlierthisyear,Scot
tishLabourmisspelttheword"Scottish"onitselectionleaflets.Thehand
outsaid"YourScotishLabourcandidate,"missinga"t".In2024,thepoliti
cianLeeAnderson'ssurnamewasincorrectlywrittenas"Andersin"onhi
selectionleaflets.

Free writing

Write about spelling mistake for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Spelling mistakes are OK if we can understand the word. 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. SPELLING MISTAKES: Make a poster about spelling mistakes. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. UNDERSTANDABLE: Write a magazine article about allowing spelling mistakes if the word is understandable. 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 spelling mistakes. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how people can improve their spelling. 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: Spelling Mistakes

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