Breaking News English Lesson: Air Traffic Controllers

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US wants gamers to become air traffic controllers (13th April 2026)

The Reading / Listening - Air Traffic Controllers - Level 6

The USA's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a recruitment campaign aimed at gamers. The FAA wants them to consider becoming air traffic controllers. There is a shortage of workers in the sector, so the government hopes people skilled at gaming could fill the growing number of vacancies. The US currently needs at least 3,000 controllers. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said: "Our union welcomes innovative approaches to expanding the candidate pool, including outreach to individuals with high-level skills, such as gamers, so long as all pathways maintain the rigorous standards required of this safety-critical profession."

The recruitment drive has a video with an Xbox logo on it. The tag line is explicitly aimed at gamers. It says: "You've been training for this… Become an air traffic controller. It's not a game. It's a career." The promo adds: "You'll keep millions of people safe every year. And make a lot of money." The enticing salary is $155,000 a year. US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the country needs to tempt "a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a successful controller". Some current controllers have said gaming could be a useful skill. They said it had "an influence on their ability to think quickly, stay focused, and manage complexity".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Air Traffic Controllers - Level 4 or Air Traffic Controllers - Level 5

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce84rvx0e6do
https://abcnews.com/US/new-air-traffic-control-hiring-campaign-targets-gamers/story
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/faa-video-gamers-controllers

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. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about air traffic control. 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?
aviation / recruitment / gamers / air traffic controllers / government / profession /
video / Xbox / game / career / money / salary / transportation / ability / complexity
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. GAMING LESSONS: Students A strongly believe gaming should be taught at school; Students B strongly believe it shouldn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. GAMING: How good is gaming at improving these things? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How Good?	Why?
Leadership skills
Thinking quickly
Staying focused
Managing complexity
Multi-tasking
Fitness

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

Grand Theft Auto
Tomodachi Life
Resident Evil
Nioh 3 (Team Ninja)
Pokémon Pokopia
Crimson Desert
Monster Hunter
Halo

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	launched	a.	Very detailed and careful.
2.	recruitment	b.	Introduced a product, campaign, etc. to the public for the first time.
3.	sector	c.	New and creative.
4.	vacancies	d.	The process of finding new workers.
5.	innovative	e.	Jobs that are empty and need people.
6.	pool (noun)	f.	A part of the economy or area of work.
7.	rigorous	g.	A group of people to choose from.

Paragraph 2

8.	drive (noun)	h.	An organised effort to achieve something.
9.	explicitly	i.	The state of being complicated or not simple.
10.	promo	j.	In a very clear and direct way.
11.	enticing	k.	Practical abilities that people learn to do a job.
12.	demographic	l.	An advertisement.
13.	hard skills	m.	Attractive and making people interested.
14.	complexity	n.	A group of people with similar age or characteristics.

Before reading / listening

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

The USA has launched a training programme for gamers. T / F
The USA wants gamers to design air traffic control games. T / F
The USA does not have enough air traffic controllers. T / F
An air traffic controller union is against the recruitment plan. T / F
The government recruitment ad has an Xbox logo on it. T / F
Air traffic controllers can earn over $155,000 a year. T / F
The Transportation Secretary said it is hard for gamers to get skills. T / F
Some air traffic controllers said gaming helped them in their jobs. T / F

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

campaign
shortage
sector
innovative
rigorous
explicitly
enticing
current
influence
complexity

cutting edge
tempting
effect
lack
difficulty
area
clearly
drive
present-day
strict

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

a shortage of workers
fill the growing number
innovative
individuals with high-
standards required of this safety-
a video with
The tag line is explicitly aimed
The enticing
a growing demographic
an influence on their ability

at gamers
of young adults
critical profession
in the sector
salary is $155,000 a year
level skills
to think quickly
of vacancies
an Xbox logo on it
approaches

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

union
campaign
profession
pool
long
vacancies
shortage
individuals

The USA's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a recruitment (1) _________________________________ aimed at gamers. The FAA wants them to consider becoming air traffic controllers. There is a (2) _________________________________ of workers in the sector, so the government hopes people skilled at gaming could fill the growing number of (3) _________________________________. The US currently needs at least 3,000 controllers. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said: "Our (4) _________________________________ welcomes innovative approaches to expanding the candidate (5) _________________________________, including outreach to (6) _________________________________ with high-level skills, such as gamers, so (7) _________________________________ as all pathways maintain the rigorous standards required of this safety-critical (8) _________________________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

explicitly
complexity
promo
tempt
useful
drive
successful
enticing

The recruitment (9) _________________________________ has a video with an Xbox logo on it. The tag line is (10) _________________________________ aimed at gamers. It says: "You've been training for this... Become an air traffic controller. It's not a game. It's a career." The (11) _________________________________ adds: "You'll keep millions of people safe every year. And make a lot of money." The (12) _________________________________ salary is $155,000 a year. US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the country needs to (13) _________________________________ "a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a (14) _________________________________ controller". Some current controllers have said gaming could be a (15) _________________________________ skill. They said it had "an influence on their ability to think quickly, stay focused, and manage (16) _________________________________".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Administration (FAA) has launched a recruitment campaign ______
     a. aimed to gamers
     b. aimed that gamers
     c. aim that gamers
     d. aimed at gamers
2) There is a shortage of workers ______
     a. in the section
     b. in the sector
     c. in the vector
     d. in the nectar
3) so the government hopes people skilled at gaming could fill the growing ______
     a. number off vacancies
     b. number oft vacancies
     c. number of vacancies
     d. numeral of vacancies
4) Our union welcomes innovative approaches to expanding ______
     a. the candidate spool
     b. the candidate pool
     c. the candidate pole
     d. the candidate's pool
5) so long as all pathways maintain the ______
     a. rigorous standards require
     b. rigorous standards required
     c. rigorous standards inquired
     d. rigorous standards enquired

6) Become an air traffic controller. It's not a game. ______.
     a. It's a car rear
     b. It's a carer
     c. It's a careen
     d. It's a career
7) And make a lot of money. The enticing salary is ______
     a. $155,000 a yearly
     b. $155,000 the year
     c. $155,000 a year
     d. $155,000 arrear
8) tempt a growing demographic of young adults who have many of ______
     a. the hard skill
     b. the hard stills
     c. the hard still
     d. the hard skills
9) Some current controllers have said gaming could be ______
     a. a useful skill
     b. a usefully skill
     c. a use full skill
     d. a used full skill
10) it had an influence on their ability to think quickly, stay focused, ______
     a. and management complexity
     b. and manages complexity
     c. and manager complexity
     d. and manage complexity

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The USA's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has (1) _______________________________________________ campaign aimed at gamers. The FAA wants them to consider becoming air traffic controllers. There is (2) _______________________________________________ workers in the sector, so the government hopes people skilled at gaming could fill the growing (3) _______________________________________________. The US currently needs at least 3,000 controllers. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said: "Our union welcomes (4) _______________________________________________ expanding the candidate pool, including outreach to individuals with high-level skills, such as gamers, so long (5) _______________________________________________ maintain the rigorous standards required of this (6) _______________________________________________."

The recruitment drive has a video with an Xbox logo on it. The tag line (7) _______________________________________________ at gamers. It says: "You've been training for this... Become an air traffic controller. It's not a game. It's a career." (8) _______________________________________________: "You'll keep millions of people safe every year. And make a lot of money." The (9) _______________________________________________ $155,000 a year. US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the country (10) _______________________________________________ "a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a successful controller". Some (11) _______________________________________________ said gaming could be a useful skill. They said it had "an influence on their ability to think quickly, stay focused, (12) _______________________________________________".

Comprehension questions

What has the USA's Federal Aviation Administration launched?
What is there a lack of in the aviation industry in the USA?
What does the US government hope gamers could fill?
What position does Nick Daniels hold?
What does Nick Daniels welcome?
What logo does the recruitment video have on it?
How much could air traffic controllers earn?
What cabinet post does Sean P. Duffy in the US?
Who said gaming could be a useful skill?
What did air traffic controllers say gaming helped them to manage?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What has the USA's Federal Aviation Administration launched?
a) a new airplane
b) a recruitment campaign
c) a new job
d) a rocket
2) What is there a lack of in the aviation industry in the USA?
a) drive
b) air traffic control towers
c) workers
d) campaigns
3) What does the US government hope gamers could fill?
a) forms
b) holes
c) a void
d) vacancies
4) What position does Nick Daniels hold?
a) CEO
b) president
c) chief pilot
d) head controller
5) What does Nick Daniels welcome?
a) innovative approaches
b) new recruits
c) VIPs
d) huge challenges

6) What logo does the recruitment video have on it?
a) an Xbox logo
b) the NASA logo
c) the United Airlines logo
d) the White House logo
7) How much could air traffic controllers earn?
a) $140,000 a year
b) $145,000 a year
c) $150,000 a year
d) $155,000 a year
8) What cabinet post does Sean P. Duffy in the US?
a) Energy Secretary
b) Treasury Secretary
c) Transportation Secretary
d) Labor Secretary
9) Who said gaming could be a useful skill?
a) pilots
b) game coders
c) the gaming world champion
d) some current controllers
10) What did air traffic controllers say gaming helped them to manage?
a) difficult people
b) complexity
c) their finances
d) their time

Role play

Role A – Grand Theft Auto
You think Grand Theft Auto is the best game. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): Pokémon, Super Mario or Monster Hunter.

Role B – Pokémon
You think Pokémon is the best game. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario or Monster Hunter.

Role C – Super Mario
You think Super Mario is the best game. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): Pokémon, Grand Theft Auto or Monster Hunter.

Role D – Monster Hunter
You think Monster Hunter is the best game. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): Pokémon, Super Mario or Grand Theft Auto.

After reading / listening

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

'gamer'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'aviation'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

launched

consider

number

least

union

long

drive

game

safe

tempt

some

stay

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 - Air Traffic Controllers

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 'gamer'?
What do you think of gaming?
Who is the best gamer you know?
Do you have a favourite online gamer?
What do you think of the job of an air traffic controller?
How skilled are you at gaming?
What are your favourite games?
Why do you think there are too few air traffic controllers?
How stressful is the job of an air traffic controller?

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 'aviation'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you think of xBox?
What career interests you most?
What hard skills do you have?
How well can you stay focused?
How good are you at managing complexity?
Would you be a good air traffic controller?
What questions would you like to ask an air traffic controller?

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)

The USA's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has (1) ____ a recruitment campaign aimed at gamers. The FAA wants them to consider becoming air traffic controllers. There is a (2) ____ of workers in the sector, so the government hopes people skilled at gaming could (3) ____ the growing number of vacancies. The US currently needs at (4) ____ 3,000 controllers. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said: "Our union welcomes innovative approaches to expanding the candidate (5) ____, including outreach to individuals with high-level skills, such as gamers, so long (6) ____ all pathways maintain the rigorous standards required of this safety-critical profession."

The recruitment drive has a video with an Xbox (7) ____ on it. The tag line is explicitly aimed at gamers. It says: "You've been training for this... Become an air traffic controller. It's not a game. It's a career." The (8) ____ adds: "You'll keep millions of people safe every year. And make a lot of money." The enticing salary is $155,000 a year. US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the country needs to (9) ____ "a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the (10) ____ skills it takes to be a successful controller". Some current controllers have said gaming could be a useful skill. They said it had "an (11) ____ on their ability to think quickly, (12) ____ focused, and manage complexity".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) launch (b) launching (c) launches (d) launched
(a) shots (b) shorted (c) shortening (d) shortage
(a) throng (b) fill (c) pervade (d) perform
(a) lest (b) lust (c) least (d) last
(a) track (b) gym (c) pool (d) pitch
(a) as (b) was (c) has (d) mas
(a) pogo (b) logo (c) no-go (d) to go
(a) promo (b) prom (c) promenade (d) prompts
(a) attempt (b) tempt (c) temp (d) temper
(a) hardly (b) harden (c) hard (d) hardship
(a) confluence (b) affluence (c) influence (d) effluence
(a) over (b) reside (c) lodge (d) stay

Spelling

Paragraph 1

launched a eniutrtrmce campaign
a shortage of workers in the cserto
fill the growing number of vciseaacn
ioinvaevnt approaches
maintain the oriougsr standards
this safety-cciltari profession

Paragraph 2

eltcipxiyl aimed at gamers
The eigcntni salary
tempt a growing gcdhmipraeo
be a uscufselsc controller
an niueefcnl on their ability
stay focused and manage lmipeoyctx

Put the text back together

(    )   adds: "You'll keep millions of people safe every year. And make a lot of money." The enticing
(    )   as gamers, so long as all pathways maintain the rigorous standards required of this safety-critical profession."
(    )   at gamers. The FAA wants them to consider becoming air traffic controllers. There is a shortage
(    )   National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said: "Our union welcomes innovative approaches to expanding
(    )   of workers in the sector, so the government hopes people skilled at gaming could fill the growing number of
(    )   salary is $155,000 a year. US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the country needs
(    )   skill. They said it had "an influence on their ability to think quickly, stay focused, and manage complexity".
(    )   takes to be a successful controller". Some current controllers have said gaming could be a useful
(    )   the candidate pool, including outreach to individuals with high-level skills, such
(    )   The recruitment drive has a video with an Xbox logo on it. The tag line is explicitly aimed at gamers. It says: "You've been
( 1 )   The USA's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a recruitment campaign aimed
(    )   to tempt "a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it
(    )   training for this... Become an air traffic controller. It's not a game. It's a career." The promo
(    )   vacancies. The US currently needs at least 3,000 controllers. Nick Daniels, president of the

Put the words in the right order

a aimed at campaign gamers It launched recruitment .
air become controllers It them to traffic wants .
a in of sector shortage the There's workers .
could fill Gamers growing number of the vacancies .
All maintain pathways required rigorous standards the .
A an it logo on video with Xbox .
aimed at explicitly gamers is line tag The .
every keep millions of people safe year You'll .
be hard it skills successful takes The to .
ability An influence on quickly their think to .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The USA's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a recruitment campaign / campaigner aimed at gamers. The FAA wants them to consider / reconsider becoming air traffic controllers. There is a shortening / shortage of workers in the sector, so the government hopes people skilled to / at gaming could fill the growing number of vacations / vacancies. The US currently needs at least / lest 3,000 controllers. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said: "Our union welcomes innovative approaches / reproaches to expanding the candidate spool / pool, including outreach to individuals with high-level skills, such as gamers, so long as all pathogens / pathways maintain the rigorous standards required of this safety-critical professor / profession."

The recruitment drive / flight has a video with an Xbox logo on it. The tag / tug line is explicitly aimed at gamers. It says: "You've been training for this... Become an air traffic controller. It's not a game. It's a career." The promo / prom adds: "You'll keep millions of people safe every year. And make / take a lot of money." The enticing salary is $155,000 a year. US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the country needs to attempt / tempt "a growing demographic / graphic of young adults who have many of the hardly / hard skills it takes to be a successful controller". Some current / currant controllers have said gaming could be a useful skill. They said it had "an affluence / influence on their ability to think quickly, stay focused, and manage complexity / complex".

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)

Th_ _S_'s F_d_r_l _v__t__n _dm_n_str_t__n (F__) h_s l__nch_d _ r_cr__tm_nt c_mp__gn __m_d _t g_m_rs. Th_ F__ w_nts th_m t_ c_ns_d_r b_c_m_ng __r tr_ff_c c_ntr_ll_rs. Th_r_ _s _ sh_rt_g_ _f w_rk_rs _n th_ s_ct_r, s_ th_ g_v_rnm_nt h_p_s p__pl_ sk_ll_d _t g_m_ng c__ld f_ll th_ gr_w_ng n_mb_r _f v_c_nc__s. Th_ _S c_rr_ntly n__ds _t l__st 3,000 c_ntr_ll_rs. N_ck D_n__ls, pr_s_d_nt _f th_ N_t__n_l __r Tr_ff_c C_ntr_ll_rs _ss_c__t__n, s__d: "__r _n__n w_lc_m_s _nn_v_t_v_ _ppr__ch_s t_ _xp_nd_ng th_ c_nd_d_t_ p__l, _ncl_d_ng __tr__ch t_ _nd_v_d__ls w_th h_gh-l_v_l sk_lls, s_ch _s g_m_rs, s_ l_ng _s _ll p_thw_ys m__nt__n th_ r_g_r__s st_nd_rds r_q__r_d _f th_s s_f_ty-cr_t_c_l pr_f_ss__n."

Th_ r_cr__tm_nt dr_v_ h_s _ v_d__ w_th _n Xb_x l_g_ _n _t. Th_ t_g l_n_ _s _xpl_c_tly __m_d _t g_m_rs. _t s_ys: "Y__'v_ b__n tr__n_ng f_r th_s... B_c_m_ _n __r tr_ff_c c_ntr_ll_r. _t's n_t _ g_m_. _t's _ c_r__r." Th_ pr_m_ _dds: "Y__'ll k__p m_ll__ns _f p__pl_ s_f_ _v_ry y__r. _nd m_k_ _ l_t _f m_n_y." Th_ _nt_c_ng s_l_ry _s $155,000 _ y__r. _S Tr_nsp_rt_t__n S_cr_t_ry S__n P. D_ffy s__d th_ c__ntry n__ds t_ t_mpt "_ gr_w_ng d_m_gr_ph_c _f y__ng _d_lts wh_ h_v_ m_ny _f th_ h_rd sk_lls _t t_k_s t_ b_ _ s_cc_ssf_l c_ntr_ll_r". S_m_ c_rr_nt c_ntr_ll_rs h_v_ s__d g_m_ng c__ld b_ _ _s_f_l sk_ll. Th_y s__d _t h_d "_n _nfl__nc_ _n th__r _b_l_ty t_ th_nk q__ckly, st_y f_c_s_d, _nd m_n_g_ c_mpl_x_ty".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the usas federal aviation administration faa has launched a recruitment campaign aimed at gamers the faa wants them to consider becoming air traffic controllers there is a shortage of workers in the sector so the government hopes people skilled at gaming could fill the growing number of vacancies the us currently needs at least 3000 controllers nick daniels president of the national air traffic controllers association said our union welcomes innovative approaches to expanding the candidate pool including outreach to individuals with highlevel skills such as gamers so long as all pathways maintain the rigorous standards required of this safetycritical profession

the recruitment drive has a video with an xbox logo on it the tag line is explicitly aimed at gamers it says youve been training for this become an air traffic controller its not a game its a career the promo adds youll keep millions of people safe every year and make a lot of money the enticing salary is 155000 a year us transportation secretary sean p duffy said the country needs to tempt a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a successful controller some current controllers have said gaming could be a useful skill they said it had an influence on their ability to think quickly stay focused and manage complexity

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheUSA'sFederalAviationAdministration(FAA)haslaunchedarecruit
mentcampaignaimedatgamers.TheFAAwantsthemtoconsiderbeco
mingairtrafficcontrollers.Thereisashortageofworkersinthesector,so
thegovernmenthopespeopleskilledatgamingcouldfillthegrowingnu
mberofvacancies.TheUScurrentlyneedsatleast3,000controllers.Nic
kDaniels,presidentoftheNationalAirTrafficControllersAssociation,sai
d:"Ourunionwelcomesinnovativeapproachestoexpandingthecandid
atepool,includingoutreachtoindividualswithhigh-levelskills,suchasg
amers,solongasallpathwaysmaintaintherigorousstandardsrequired
ofthissafety-criticalprofession."Therecruitmentdrivehasavideowit
hanXboxlogoonit.Thetaglineisexplicitlyaimedatgamers.Itsays:"You
'vebeentrainingforthis...Becomeanairtrafficcontroller.It'snotagame
.It'sacareer."Thepromoadds:"You'llkeepmillionsofpeoplesafeevery
year.Andmakealotofmoney."Theenticingsalaryis$155,000ayear.US
TransportationSecretarySeanP.Duffysaidthecountryneedstotempt"
agrowingdemographicofyoungadultswhohavemanyofthehardskillsi
ttakestobeasuccessfulcontroller".Somecurrentcontrollershavesaidg
amingcouldbeausefulskill.Theysaidithad"aninfluenceontheirabilityt
othinkquickly,stayfocused,andmanagecomplexity".

Free writing

Write about air traffic controller for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Gaming is a very useful skill. 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. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Make a poster about air traffic control. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. GAMING LESSONS: Write a magazine article about introducing gaming lessons in schools. 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 gaming. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions of gaming. 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

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Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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