Breaking News English Lesson: Retirement

Home | Help This Site

Greece is the world's best place to retire (4th December 2025)

The Reading / Listening - Retirement - Level 3

More and more people are choosing to spend their retirement overseas. The magazine International Living looked at the countries people most wanted to retire to. The researchers said Greece is the best place for 2026. The magazine has released its Annual Global Retirement Index. This looked at the things that were important for older people who wanted to live in another country in their golden years. These included climate, the cost of living, healthcare, and housing. It is the first time Greece has been the number-one choice for retirees. Spain and Portugal were usually the most popular choices. Panama, Costa Rica, and Thailand were also in the top-ten list for 2026.

Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of International Living, said Greece had what many people were looking for. She said the country was "beautiful, welcoming, and affordable". She added that it offered "a lifestyle that feels rich in every sense". The Greek Reporter website found many expats choose Greece because of its beauty. It reported that retirees can benefit from thousands of kilometres of spectacular coastline, endless sunshine, diverse countryside, picturesque islands, and dramatic mountains. One retiree, Leena Horner, left the USA four years ago to live in Greece. She loves the Greek attitude of taking life slowly and the "daily connection with nature".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Retirement - Level 0, Retirement - Level 1 or Retirement - Level 2

Sources

https://greekreporter.com/2025/12/01/greece-named-world-number-one-retirement-destination/
https://www.newsweek.com/greece-worlds-top-retirement-destination-how-americans-can-move-there-11124134
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/01/travel/worlds-best-retirement-destinations-2026

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. RETIREMENT: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about retirement. 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?
retirement / overseas / magazine / older people / cost of living / healthcare / housing
editor / beautiful / lifestyle / coastline / sunshine / mountains / taking life slowly
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. THE BEST TIME: Students A strongly believe retirement is the best time of anyone's life; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. PLACES TO RETIRE: What are the pros and cons of retiring in the places in the table? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Pros	Cons
The beach
The mountains
A forest
Next to a lake
A countryside village
A capital city

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

Travel
Be with family
Learn a language
Go hiking
Write a book
DIY projects
Voluntary work
Run marathons

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	retirement	a.	In or to another country, far away.
2.	overseas	b.	The later time of our life, usually after stopping work.
3.	magazine	c.	Happening once every year.
4.	annual (adjective)	d.	A book or paper with news, stories, and pictures, usually published every week or month.
5.	golden years	e.	The time in life when an older person retires (stops working forever).
6.	climate	f.	People who have stopped working because of old age.
7.	retirees	g.	The usual weather of a place.

Paragraph 2

8.	editor	h.	The edge of land next to the sea.
9.	affordable	i.	A person who prepares and corrects text for a book, newspaper, or magazine.
10.	in every sense	j.	Very beautiful, impressive, or exciting.
11.	benefit (verb)	k.	The way a person thinks or feels about something.
12.	spectacular	l.	In all ways.
13.	coastline	m.	Get something good from a situation or activity.
14.	attitude	n.	Not too expensive; something you can pay for.

Before reading / listening

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

Fewer and fewer people want to retire in other countries. T / F
The article said Greece is the best place to retire to in 2025. T / F
Greece has been the best country to retire in many times. T / F
Costa Rica is on the top-ten list of popular places to retire. T / F
The International Living magazine said Greece was affordable. T / F
The magazine said only rich people can have a nice lifestyle in Greece. T / F
The article suggests Greece has never-ending sunshine. T / F
An American said there was a fast pace of life in Greece. T / F

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

choosing
released
climate
cost
popular
affordable
expat
picturesque
attitude
connection

link
reasonably priced
well liked
pretty
issued
way of thinking
deciding
migrant
weather patterns
price

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

more people are choosing to spend their
things that were important
in their golden
the first time Greece has been the number-
Costa Rica and Thailand were also in the top-
Greece had what many people were
the country was beautiful, welcoming,
thousands of kilometres of
She loves the Greek attitude of taking
the daily connection

for older people
ten list for 2026
years
with nature
and affordable
retirement overseas
life slowly
looking for
one choice for retirees
spectacular coastline

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

released
number
choosing
golden
list
important
retire
living

More and more people are (1) ______________________________________________ to spend their retirement overseas. The magazine International Living looked at the countries people most wanted to (2) ______________________________________________ to. The researchers said Greece is the best place for 2026. The magazine has (3) ______________________________________________ its Annual Global Retirement Index. This looked at the things that were (4) ______________________________________________ for older people who wanted to live in another country in their (5) ______________________________________________ years. These included climate, the cost of (6) ______________________________________________, healthcare, and housing. It is the first time Greece has been the (7) ______________________________________________ -one choice for retirees. Spain and Portugal were usually the most popular choices. Panama, Costa Rica, and Thailand were also in the top-ten (8) ______________________________________________ for 2026.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

islands
welcoming
expats
connection
editor
attitude
thousands
sense

Jennifer Stevens, executive (9) ______________________________________________ of International Living, said Greece had what many people were looking for. She said the country was "beautiful, (10) ______________________________________________, and affordable". She added that it offered "a lifestyle that feels rich in every (11) ______________________________________________ ". The Greek Reporter website found many (12) ______________________________________________ choose Greece because of its beauty. It reported that retirees can benefit from (13) ______________________________________________ of kilometres of spectacular coastline, endless sunshine, diverse countryside, picturesque (14) ______________________________________________, and dramatic mountains. One retiree, Leena Horner, left the USA four years ago to live in Greece. She loves the Greek (15) ______________________________________________ of taking life slowly and the "daily (16) ______________________________________________ with nature".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) More and more people are choosing to spend ______
     a. their retirement over sea
     b. there retirement overseas
     c. their retirement overseas
     d. their retires meant overseas
2) International Living looked at the countries people most ______
     a. wanted to retire too
     b. wanted to retire at
     c. wanted to retire for
     d. wanted to retire to
3) important for older people who wanted to live in another country in ______
     a. their golden years
     b. their golden year
     c. their golden yearns
     d. their golden yearly
4) the first time Greece has been the number-one ______
     a. chose for retirees
     b. choice for retirees
     c. chosen for retirees
     d. choices for retirees
5) Panama, Costa Rica, and Thailand were also in the top-ten ______
     a. last for 2026
     b. lust for 2026
     c. list for 2026
     d. lost for 2026

6) Greece had what many people ______
     a. were looking four
     b. were looking fore
     c. were looking afore
     d. were looking for
7) She added that it offered a lifestyle that feels rich ______
     a. in every cents
     b. in every tense
     c. in every tents
     d. in every sense
8) It reported that retirees can benefit from thousands of kilometres ______
     a. of spectacular coastline
     b. of spectacularly coastline
     c. off spectacular coastline
     d. of spectacular coast liner
9) endless sunshine, diverse countryside, picturesque islands, ______
     a. and drama tick mountains
     b. and dramatic mountain
     c. end dramatic mountains
     d. and dramatic mountains
10) She loves the Greek attitude of ______
     a. tacking life slowly
     b. taking live slowly
     c. taking life slowly
     d. taken life slowly

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

More and more people are (1) __________________________________________________ their retirement overseas. The magazine International Living looked at the countries people most (2) __________________________________________________ to. The researchers said Greece is the best place for 2026. The magazine (3) __________________________________________________ Annual Global Retirement Index. This looked at the things that were important for older people who wanted to live in another country in (4) __________________________________________________. These included climate, the cost of living, healthcare, and housing. It is the first time Greece has been the (5) __________________________________________________ for retirees. Spain and Portugal were usually the most popular choices. Panama, Costa Rica, and Thailand were also in the (6) __________________________________________________ for 2026.

Jennifer Stevens, (7) __________________________________________________ International Living, said Greece had what many people were looking for. She said the country was "beautiful, (8) __________________________________________________". She added that it offered "a lifestyle that feels rich (9) __________________________________________________". The Greek Reporter website found many expats choose Greece because of its beauty. It reported that retirees can (10) __________________________________________________ of kilometres of spectacular coastline, endless sunshine, diverse countryside, picturesque islands, (11) __________________________________________________. One retiree, Leena Horner, left the USA four years ago to live in Greece. She loves the Greek attitude of taking life slowly and the "(12) __________________________________________________ nature".

Comprehension questions

What is the name of the magazine mentioned in the article?
What phrase did the writer use instead of "old age"?
What was important for older people besides climate and housing?
What two countries were usually on the top-ten list?
What other countries were on the top-ten list besides Thailand?
What is the job of Jennifer Stevens at the magazine?
According to a Greek website, why do many expats choose Greece?
What does the magazine say is picturesque in Greece?
What Greek attitude does an American woman love?
What does the American woman in Greece connect with every day?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the magazine mentioned in the article?
a) Living in Greece
b) International Living
c) International Retirement
d) Overseas Retirement News
2) What phrase did the writer use instead of "old age"?
a) grey years
b) silver years
c) golden years
d) platinum years
3) What was important for older people besides climate and housing?
a) the cost of living and friends
b) healthcare and community
c) friends and community
d) the cost of living and healthcare
4) What two countries were usually on the top-ten list?
a) Spain and Costa Rica
b) Spain and Portugal
c) Costa Rica and Panama
d) Panama and Portugal
5) What other countries were on the top-ten list besides Thailand?
a) Panama and Costa Rica
b) Panama and Portugal
c) Spain and Portugal
d) Spain and Costa Rica

6) What is the job of Jennifer Stevens at the magazine?
a) She's executive editor.
b) She's a pensions adviser
c) She looks after the website.
d) She's a photographer.
7) According to a Greek website, why do many expats choose Greece?
a) for the Mediterranean Sea
b) for the friendly people
c) for its food
d) for its beauty
8) What does the magazine say is picturesque in Greece?
a) houses
b) village squares
c) islands
d) the international airports
9) What Greek attitude does an American woman love?
a) thinking positively
b) attitudes towards old people
c) attitudes towards women
d) taking life slowly
10) What does the American woman in Greece connect with every day?
a) the Internet
b) nature
c) her inner self
d) her bank

Role play

Role A – Go Travelling
You think going travelling is the best retirement activity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their activities. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): writing a book, voluntary work or running marathons.

Role B – Write a Book
You think writing a book is the best retirement activity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their activities. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): going travelling, voluntary work or running marathons.

Role C – Voluntary Work
You think voluntary work is the best retirement activity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their activities. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): writing a book, going travelling or running marathons.

Role D – Run Marathons
You think running marathons is the best retirement activity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their activities. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): writing a book, voluntary work or going travelling.

After reading / listening

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

'Greece'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'retire'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

more

countries

things

golden

first

list

editor

offered

expats

benefit

left

daily

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 - Retirement

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 'Greece'?
What do you think of retirement?
What do you know about Greece?
Where would you like to spend your retirement?
Are you looking forward to retirement?
What do you think is important for older people?
What is more important – the climate of healthcare?
Where is it best to retire - Greece, Costa Rica, or Thailand?
What advice do you have for people who have retired?

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 'retirement'?
What do you think about what you read?
What is the best age to retire?
How welcoming and affordable is your country?
What is good for retirees in your country?
What do you want to do in your retirement?
What do you think of taking life slowly?
How important is a daily connection with nature?
What questions would you like to ask a retired person?

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)

More and more people are (1) ____ to spend their retirement overseas. The magazine International Living looked at the countries people most wanted to (2) ____ to. The researchers said Greece is the best place for 2026. The magazine has released its Annual Global Retirement Index. (3) ____ looked at the things that were important for older people who wanted to live in another country in their golden (4) ____. These included climate, the cost of (5) ____, healthcare, and housing. It is the first time Greece has been the number-one choice for retirees. Spain and Portugal were usually the most (6) ____ choices. Panama, Costa Rica, and Thailand were also in the top-ten list for 2026.

Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of International Living, said Greece (7) ____ what many people were looking for. She said the country was "beautiful, welcoming, and affordable". She added that it offered "a lifestyle that feels rich (8) ____ every sense". The Greek Reporter website found many expats choose Greece because of its beauty. It reported that (9) ____ can benefit from thousands of kilometres of spectacular coastline, (10) ____ sunshine, diverse countryside, picturesque islands, and dramatic mountains. One retiree, Leena Horner, (11) ____ the USA four years ago to live in Greece. She loves the Greek attitude of (12) ____ life slowly and the "daily connection with nature".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a)     choosing     (b)     chooses     (c)     choices     (d)     chose
(a)     retry     (b)     retrial     (c)     retire     (d)     tire
(a)     These     (b)     Them     (c)     This     (d)     We
(a)     yearns     (b)     year     (c)     yearly     (d)     years
(a)     living     (b)     live     (c)     life     (d)     livelihood
(a)     popularity     (b)     popular     (c)     populate     (d)     polar
(a)     haves     (b)     having     (c)     have     (d)     had
(a)     up     (b)     in     (c)     to     (d)     at
(a)     retires     (b)     retries     (c)     retirees     (d)     retire
(a)     ending     (b)     ended     (c)     ends     (d)     endless
(a)     flew     (b)     gone     (c)     disappeared     (d)     left
(a)     taken     (b)     taking     (c)     took     (d)     takes

Spelling

Paragraph 1

spend their retirement soaevesr
The gnaeimza International Living
elasreed its Annual Global Retirement Index
These included tleicam, the cost of living
healthcare, and gniuohs
the most popular cshcieo

Paragraph 2

viecxteue editor of International Living
beautiful, welcoming, and aaleroffdb
it offered a sletilyef that feels rich
eatspx choose Greece because of its beauty
rsviede countryside
the Greek tduatite of taking life slowly

Put the text back together

(    )   affordable". She added that it offered "a lifestyle that feels rich in every sense". The Greek Reporter
(    )   at the countries people most wanted to retire to. The researchers said Greece is the best
(    )   choices. Panama, Costa Rica, and Thailand were also in the top-ten list for 2026.
(    )   important for older people who wanted to live in another country in their golden
(    )   Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of International Living, said Greece had what many
(    )   live in Greece. She loves the Greek attitude of taking life slowly and the "daily connection with nature".
( 1 )   More and more people are choosing to spend their retirement overseas. The magazine International Living looked
(    )   of kilometres of spectacular coastline, endless sunshine, diverse countryside, picturesque islands
(    )   people were looking for. She said the country was "beautiful, welcoming, and
(    )   place for 2026. The magazine has released its Annual Global Retirement Index. This looked at the things that were
(    )   time Greece has been the number-one choice for retirees. Spain and Portugal were usually the most popular
(    )   and dramatic mountains. One retiree, Leena Horner, left the USA four years ago to
(    )   website found many expats choose Greece because of its beauty. It reported that retirees can benefit from thousands
(    )   years. These included climate, the cost of living, healthcare, and housing. It is the first

Put the words in the right order

are People to choosing their spend overseas retirement .
The people countries wanted most retire to to .
things The were that for important people older .
Live another in in country golden their years .
has Greece the been choice number-one retirees for .
Greece what had people many looking were for .
lifestyle A feels that in rich sense every .
Benefit thousands from kilometres of spectacular of coastline .
retiree One the left four USA ago years .
She the loves of attitude life taking slowly .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

More and more people are chosen / choosing to spend their retirement overseas. The magazine International Living looked at the countries people most wanted to / for retire to. The researchers said Greece is the most / best place for 2026. The magazine has released / releasing its Annual Global Retirement Index. This looked to / at the things that were important for older people who wanted to live in another / other country in their golden years / year. These included climate, the cost of living, healthcare, and housing / house. It is the first time Greece has been the number-one choice for retires / retirees. Spain and Portugal were usually the most popular choices / chooses. Panama, Costa Rica, and Thailand were also in the top-ten list for 2026.

Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of International Living, said Greece had what many people were looked / looking for. She said the country was "beautiful / beautifully, welcoming, and affordable / afford". She added that it offered "a lifestyle that feels rich in every cents / sense". The Greek Reporter website found many / much expats choose Greece because of its beauty. It reported that retirees can benefit to / from thousands of kilometres of spectacular coastline, ending / endless sunshine, diverse countryside, picturesque islands, and drama / dramatic mountains. One retiree, Leena Horner, left the USA four years ago to live / life in Greece. She loves the Greek attitude of taking life slowly and the "daily connection with / without nature".

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)

M_r_ _nd m_r_ p__pl_ _r_ ch__s_ng t_ sp_nd th__r r_t_r_m_nt _v_rs__s. Th_ m_g_z_n_ _nt_rn_t__n_l L_v_ng l__k_d _t th_ c__ntr__s p__pl_ m_st w_nt_d t_ r_t_r_ t_. Th_ r_s__rch_rs s__d Gr__c_ _s th_ b_st pl_c_ f_r 2026. Th_ m_g_z_n_ h_s r_l__s_d _ts _nn__l Gl_b_l R_t_r_m_nt _nd_x. Th_s l__k_d _t th_ th_ngs th_t w_r_ _mp_rt_nt f_r _ld_r p__pl_ wh_ w_nt_d t_ l_v_ _n _n_th_r c__ntry _n th__r g_ld_n y__rs. Th_s_ _ncl_d_d cl_m_t_, th_ c_st _f l_v_ng, h__lthc_r_, _nd h__s_ng. _t _s th_ f_rst t_m_ Gr__c_ h_s b__n th_ n_mb_r-_n_ ch__c_ f_r r_t_r__s. Sp__n _nd P_rt_g_l w_r_ _s__lly th_ m_st p_p_l_r ch__c_s. P_n_m_, C_st_ R_c_, _nd Th__l_nd w_r_ _ls_ _n th_ t_p-t_n l_st f_r 2026.

J_nn_f_r St_v_ns, _x_c_t_v_ _d_t_r _f _nt_rn_t__n_l L_v_ng, s__d Gr__c_ h_d wh_t m_ny p__pl_ w_r_ l__k_ng f_r. Sh_ s__d th_ c__ntry w_s "b___t_f_l, w_lc_m_ng, _nd _ff_rd_bl_". Sh_ _dd_d th_t _t _ff_r_d "_ l_f_styl_ th_t f__ls r_ch _n _v_ry s_ns_". Th_ Gr__k R_p_rt_r w_bs_t_ f__nd m_ny _xp_ts ch__s_ Gr__c_ b_c__s_ _f _ts b___ty. _t r_p_rt_d th_t r_t_r__s c_n b_n_f_t fr_m th__s_nds _f k_l_m_tr_s _f sp_ct_c_l_r c__stl_n_, _ndl_ss s_nsh_n_, _nd d_v_rs_ c__ntrys_d_, p_ct_r_sq__ _sl_nds, _nd dr_m_t_c m__nt__ns. _n_ r_t_r__, L__n_ H_rn_r, l_ft th_ _S_ f__r y__rs _g_ t_ l_v_ _n Gr__c_. Sh_ l_v_s th_ Gr__k _tt_t_d_ _f t_k_ng l_f_ sl_wly _nd th_ "d__ly c_nn_ct__n w_th n_t_r_".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

more and more people are choosing to spend their retirement overseas the magazine international living looked at the countries people most wanted to retire to the researchers said greece is the best place for 2026 the magazine has released its annual global retirement index this looked at the things that were important for older people who wanted to live in another country in their golden years these included climate the cost of living healthcare and housing it is the first time greece has been the numberone choice for retirees spain and portugal were usually the most popular choices panama costa rica and thailand were also in the topten list for 2026

jennifer stevens executive editor of international living said greece had what many people were looking for she said the country was beautiful welcoming and affordable she added that it offered a lifestyle that feels rich in every sense the greek reporter website found many expats choose greece because of its beauty it reported that retirees can benefit from thousands of kilometres of spectacular coastline endless sunshine diverse countryside picturesque islands and dramatic mountains one retiree leena horner left the usa four years ago to live in greece she loves the greek attitude of taking life slowly and the daily connection with nature

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Moreandmorepeoplearechoosingtospendtheirretirementoverseas.T
hemagazineInternationalLivinglookedatthecountriespeoplemostwa
ntedtoretireto.TheresearcherssaidGreeceisthebestplacefor2026.Th
emagazinehasreleaseditsAnnualGlobalRetirementIndex.Thislooked
atthethingsthatwereimportantforolderpeoplewhowantedtoliveinan
othercountryintheirgoldenyears.Theseincludedclimate,thecostoflivi
ng,healthcare,andhousing.ItisthefirsttimeGreecehasbeenthenumb
er-onechoiceforretirees.SpainandPortugalwereusuallythemostpop
ularchoices.Panama,CostaRica,andThailandwerealsointhetop-tenl
istfor2026.JenniferStevens,executiveeditorofInternationalLiving,sa
idGreecehadwhatmanypeoplewerelookingfor.Shesaidthecountrywa
s"beautiful,welcoming,andaffordable".Sheaddedthatitoffered"alife
stylethatfeelsrichineverysense".TheGreekReporterwebsitefoundma
nyexpatschooseGreecebecauseofitsbeauty.Itreportedthatretireesc
anbenefitfromthousandsofkilometresofspectacularcoastline,endles
ssunshine,diversecountryside,picturesqueislands,anddramaticmou
ntains.Oneretiree,LeenaHorner,lefttheUSAfouryearsagotoliveinGre
ece.ShelovestheGreekattitudeoftakinglifeslowlyandthe"dailyconne
ctionwithnature".

Free writing

Write about retiring in Greece for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Retirement is the best time of our life. 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. GREECE: Make a poster about Greece. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. RETIREMENT: Write a magazine article about everybody retiring before the age of 50. 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 retirement. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on what you hope to do when you retire. 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: Retirement

Home | Help This Site

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS