Breaking News English Lesson: Population

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Japan's population falls three million in five years (1st June 2026)

The Reading / Listening - Population - Level 6

The population of Japan has fallen by over three million in the past five years. This is the largest drop since records began in 1920. Japan's internal affairs ministry has released preliminary figures for its 2025 census. This demographic survey is conducted every five years. The latest one reveals that the number of residents in October 2025 was 123,049,524. This was a drop of 3,096,575 from the 2020 survey — a fall of 2.5 per cent. The census is the third in a row to show a decrease. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary said: "It was confirmed again that the population decline is advancing even further." He vowed to promote "comprehensive measures" to address the downturn.

The government attributed the decline to various factors. These included historically low birth rates. In 2025, there were around 706,000 births in Japan. This compared to around 2.5 million annual births during the postwar baby boom. Successive governments have introduced many measures to encourage couples to have babies. They have expanded child allowances, increased parental leave, and subsidized early years education. However, these have had little success. Japan is one of the world's oldest societies. The increasingly greying population is putting considerable strain on healthcare systems, pensions, and the labour force.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Population - Level 4 or Population - Level 5

Sources

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260529_08/
https://japantoday.com/category/national/update1-japan's-population-marks-sharpest-drop-to-123-mil.-in-2025-census
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20260529-329935/

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. POPULATION DECREASE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about population decrease. 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?
population / five years / records / demographic / survey / residents / census / decline
government / birth rates / baby boom / couples / parental leave / subsidies / pension
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. DEPOPULATION: Students A strongly believe depopulation is a good thing; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BIRTH RATE: What do you think of these ideas for increasing the birth rate? Would they make you act? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Think	Me
Free childcare
Lower taxes for parents
More playgrounds
More public housing
More support for fathers
Family-friendly companies

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. JAPAN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "Japan". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. A SHRINKING POPULATION: Rank these with your partner. Put the most worrying things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Fewer babies
Emptying villages
Bus services stopping
Shop closures
People living alone
High taxes
No pension money
Nurse shortages

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	ministry	a.	Related to a group of people and their characteristics.
2.	preliminary	b.	Including many parts and dealing with everything important.
3.	census	c.	A government department that is responsible for a particular area of public affairs.
4.	demographic	d.	An official count of the people living in a country or area.
5.	in a row	e.	Not final or complete yet.
6.	vowed	f.	One after another with no break.
7.	comprehensive	g.	Promised to do something.

Paragraph 2

8.	attributed	h.	Things that help cause a result or situation.
9.	factors	i.	A time of fast growth and success.
10.	boom	j.	Paid part of the cost to make something cheaper.
11.	successive	k.	Said that something was caused by a particular person or thing.
12.	measures	l.	Pressure caused by too much demand or difficulty.
13.	subsidized	m.	Actions taken to achieve a goal or solve a problem.
14.	strain	n.	Following one after another.

Before reading / listening

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

The drop in Japan's population is the biggest since records began. T / F
Japan conducts a demographic survey once a decade. T / F
The decline in population was over three per cent. T / F
It is the fourth consecutive census that has shown a fall in population. T / F
Japan is experiencing a fall in its birth rate it has not seen before. T / F
During the postwar baby boom, 2.5 million babies were born every year. T / F
Japan has taken many successful measures to increase its population. T / F
Japan's ageing population has negative effects on the pension system. T / F

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

preliminary
conducted
in a row
vowed
address
attributed
measures
allowances
strain
labour force

pressure
steps
deal with
consecutive
handouts
initial
workers
promised
carried out
accredited

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

released preliminary
demographic
the third in a
population decline is advancing
comprehensive measures to
attributed the decline
historically low birth
during the postwar baby
putting considerable strain
the labour

row
on healthcare systems
address the downturn
force
boom
even further
figures
rates
survey
to various factors

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

confirmed
drop
address
census
further
residents
fallen
row

The population of Japan has (1) _________________________________ by over three million in the past five years. This is the largest (2) _________________________________ since records began in 1920. Japan's internal affairs ministry has released preliminary figures for its 2025 (3) _________________________________. This demographic survey is conducted every five years. The latest one reveals that the number of (4) _________________________________ in October 2025 was 123,049,524. This was a drop of 3,096,575 from the 2020 survey — a fall of 2.5 per cent. The census is the third in a (5) _________________________________ to show a decrease. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary said: "It was (6) _________________________________ again that the population decline is advancing even (7) _________________________________." He vowed to promote "comprehensive measures" to (8) _________________________________ the downturn.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

boom
years
force
various
success
couples
births
greying

The government attributed the decline to (9) _________________________________ factors. These included historically low birth rates. In 2025, there were around 706,000 (10) _________________________________ in Japan. This compared to around 2.5 million annual births during the postwar baby (11) _________________________________. Successive governments have introduced many measures to encourage (12) _________________________________ to have babies. They have expanded child allowances, increased parental leave, and subsidized early (13) _________________________________ education. However, these have had little (14) _________________________________. Japan is one of the world's oldest societies. The increasingly (15) _________________________________ population is putting considerable strain on healthcare systems, pensions, and the labour (16) _________________________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Japan's internal affairs ministry has ______
     a. released preliminary figurines
     b. release preliminary figures
     c. released pre-luminary figures
     d. released preliminary figures
2) This was a drop of 3,096,575 from ______
     a. the 2020 scurvy
     b. the 2020 survey
     c. the 2020 surveille
     d. the 2020 surf way
3) The census is the third ______
     a. inner row
     b. in a row
     c. in arrow
     d. in the row
4) It was confirmed again that the population decline is ______
     a. advancing even future
     b. advancing even furrier
     c. advancing even farther
     d. advancing even further
5) He vowed to promote "comprehensive measures" to ______
     a. address the U-turn
     b. address the intern
     c. address the downturn
     d. address the upturn

6) The government attributed the decline ______
     a. to various factors
     b. to various factories
     c. to various vectors
     d. to various fractals
7) This compared to around 2.5 million annual births during the ______
     a. postwar baby boom
     b. postwar baby boon
     c. postwar baby beam
     d. postwar baby bone
8) expanded child allowances, increased parental leave, and subsidized ______
     a. early year education
     b. early ears education
     c. early years education
     d. earlyish years education
9) However, these have ______
     a. had little success
     b. had little succeed
     c. had little excess
     d. had little successive
10) putting considerable strain on healthcare systems, pensions, and ______
     a. the labour fierce
     b. the labour farce
     c. the labour force
     d. the labour fours

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The population of Japan (1) _______________________________________________ over three million in the past five years. This is the largest drop since records began in 1920. Japan's internal affairs ministry (2) _______________________________________________ figures for its 2025 census. This demographic survey is conducted every five years. The latest one reveals that the (3) _______________________________________________ in October 2025 was 123,049,524. This was a drop of 3,096,575 from the 2020 survey — a fall of 2.5 per cent. The census is the third (4) _______________________________________________ to show a decrease. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary said: "It was confirmed again that the population decline (5) _______________________________________________ further." He vowed to promote "comprehensive measures" (6) _______________________________________________ downturn.

The government attributed (7) _______________________________________________ various factors. These included historically low birth rates. In 2025, there were around 706,000 births in Japan. This (8) _______________________________________________ 2.5 million annual births during the postwar baby boom. Successive governments have introduced (9) _______________________________________________ encourage couples to have babies. They have expanded child allowances, increased parental leave, and subsidized (10) _______________________________________________. However, these have had little success. Japan is one of the (11) _______________________________________________. The increasingly greying population is putting considerable strain on healthcare systems, pensions, and (12) _______________________________________________.

Comprehension questions

When did Japan first start to keep population records?
How often does Japan conduct a population census?
What was the fall in population as a percentage?
How many censuses in a row now show a population fall?
What did the government promise to promote?
What did the government attribute the drop to?
How many babies were born in Japan in 2025?
What happened in the postwar years?
What has the government subsidized?
What is the ageing population straining besides pensions and healthcare?

Multiple choice quiz

1) When did Japan first start to keep population records?
a) 1209
b) 1902
c) 1290
d) 1920

2) How often does Japan conduct a population census?
a) every three
b) every five years
c) every 10 years
d) every 20 years

3) What was the fall in population as a percentage?
a) 1.5
b) 2.0
c) 2.5
d) 3.0

4) How many censuses in a row now show a population fall?
a) three
b) four
c) five
d) six

5) What did the government promise to promote?
a) managers
b) parents
c) comprehensive measures
d) kindergarten teachers

6) What did the government attribute the drop to?
a) climate change
b) various factors
c) a weak yen
d) immigration

7) How many babies were born in Japan in 2025?
a) 702,000
b) 704,000
c) 705,000
d) 706,000

8) What happened in the postwar years?
a) There was a baby boom.
b) Maternity clinics were built.
c) There was free school milk.
d) Marriage hit an all-time high.

9) What has the government subsidized?
a) contraception
b) maternity care
c) early years education
d) IVF treatments

10) What is the ageing population straining besides pensions and healthcare?
a) community relations
b) the labour force
c) prices
d) education

Role play

Role A – Fewer Babies
You think fewer babies is the biggest worry with depopulation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as worrying. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): higher taxes, emptying villages or fewer workers.

Role B – Higher Taxes
You think higher taxes is the biggest worry with depopulation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as worrying. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): fewer babies, emptying villages or fewer workers.

Role C – Emptying Villages
You think emptying villages is the biggest worry with depopulation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as worrying. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): higher taxes, fewer babies or fewer workers.

Role D – Fewer Workers
You think fewer workers is the biggest worry with depopulation. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as worrying. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): higher taxes, emptying villages or fewer babies.

After reading / listening

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

'population'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'birth rates'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

past

figures

conducted

reveals

row

address

various

historically

compared

child

success

strain

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 - Population

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 'Japan'?
Are there too many or too few people in your country?
What do you think of the size of the global population?
What problems come with overpopulation?
Why has the world's population increased so much?
What problems come with shrinking populations?
Are shrinking populations good for the environment?
What measures can countries take to address shrinking populations?
What will the world's population be like a century from now?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'population'?
What do you think about what you read?
Why are birth rates so low in many countries?
What can governments do to encourage couples to have children?
What do you think about maternal and paternal leave?
What are the problems of ageing societies?
What are your concerns about your old age?
Should retirement ages increase to 80?
What questions would you like to ask Japan's government?

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 population of Japan has (1) ____ by over three million in the past five years. This is the largest drop since records began in 1920. Japan's internal affairs ministry has released (2) ____ figures for its 2025 census. This demographic survey is conducted every five years. The latest one reveals that the number of (3) ____ in October 2025 was 123,049,524. This was a drop (4) ____ 3,096,575 from the 2020 survey — a fall of 2.5 per cent. The census is the third in a (5) ____ to show a decrease. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary said: "It was confirmed again that the population decline is advancing even further." He (6) ____ to promote "comprehensive measures" to address the downturn.

The government (7) ____ the decline to various factors. These included historically low birth rates. In 2025, there were around 706,000 births in Japan. This compared (8) ____ around 2.5 million annual births during the postwar baby boom. Successive governments have introduced many measures to encourage (9) ____ to have babies. They have expanded child allowances, increased parental leave, and subsidized early years education. However, these have had (10) ____ success. Japan is one of the world's oldest societies. The increasingly (11) ____ population is putting considerable strain (12) ____ healthcare systems, pensions, and the labour force.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) felled (b) fallen (c) falls (d) falling
(a) qualifying (b) preliminary (c) prelude (d) pulmonary
(a) resides (b) residents (c) presidents (d) residents
(a) at (b) of (c) in (d) at
(a) low (b) row (c) mow (d) pow
(a) wowed (b) sowed (c) vowed (d) towed
(a) set (b) held (c) attributed (d) stuck
(a) of (b) at (c) to (d) by
(a) twos (b) duos (c) pairs (d) couples
(a) little (b) small (c) few (d) dearth
(a) greying (b) grain (c) groin (d) granule
(a) by (b) at (c) on (d) of

Spelling

Paragraph 1

Japan's internal affairs ytiimnsr
ipmrareinly figures
crdmhgiopea survey
the number of esnresidt
the suecsn is the third in a row
pmoehsrvecnei measures

Paragraph 2

udteitatrb the decline to various factors
csciuvsees governments
They have expanded child casloenlwa
isbiusezdd early years education
nrecedsboila strain on healthcare systems
iespsonn and the labour force

Put the text back together

(    )   census. This demographic survey is conducted every five years. The latest one reveals that the number
(    )   couples to have babies. They have expanded child allowances, increased parental
(    )   further." He vowed to promote "comprehensive measures" to address the downturn.
(    )   leave, and subsidized early years education. However, these have had little
(    )   of 2.5 per cent. The census is the third in a row to show a decrease. Japan's Chief Cabinet
(    )   of residents in October 2025 was 123,049,524. This was a drop of 3,096,575 from the 2020 survey — a fall
(    )   rates. In 2025, there were around 706,000 births in Japan. This compared to around 2.5 million annual births during
( 1 )   records began in 1920. Japan's internal affairs ministry has released preliminary figures for its 2025
(    )   Secretary said: "It was confirmed again that the population decline is advancing even
(    )   strain on healthcare systems, pensions, and the labour force.
(    )   success. Japan is one of the world's oldest societies. The increasingly greying population is putting considerable
(    )   The government attributed the decline to various factors. These included historically low birth
(    )   The population of Japan has fallen by over three million in the past five years. This is the largest drop since
(    )   the postwar baby boom. Successive governments have introduced many measures to encourage

Put the words in the right order

by fallen has Japan's million over population three .
began drop is largest records since the This .
affairs figures has internal Japan's ministry preliminary released .
advancing decline even further is population The .
address comprehensive downturn measures Promote the to .
attributed decline factors government The the to various .
Annual baby births boom during postwar the .
babies couples encourage have Many measures to to .
is Japan of oldest one societies the world's .
considerable healthcare is on putting strain systems This .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The population of Japan has fallen / felled by over three million in the past five years. This is the largest drop / dropping since records began in 1920. Japan's internal affairs ministry has released preliminary figurines / figures for its 2025 census. This demographic scurvy / survey is conducted every five years. The latest one reveals that the number of residents / residence in October 2025 was 123,049,524. This was a drop at / of 3,096,575 from the 2020 survey — a fall of 2.5 per cent. The census is the third on / in a row to show a / the decrease. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary said: "It was confirmed / conformed again that the population decline is advancing even further." He vowed to promote "comprehensive measures" to address the downturn / upturn.

The government contributed / attributed the decline to various factors. These included historically low born / birth rates. In 2025, there were around 706,000 births in Japan. This comparison / compared to around 2.5 million annual births while / during the postwar baby boom / boomers. Successive governments have introduced many measures / measurements to encourage couples / couple to have babies. They have expanded child allowances, increased parental leave, and subsidized early years education. However, these have had few / little success. Japan is one of the world's oldest societies. The increasingly greying population is putting considerable / considerate strain on healthcare systems, pensions, and the labour farce / force.

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_ p_p_l_t__n _f J_p_n h_s f_ll_n by _v_r thr__ m_ll__n _n th_ p_st f_v_ y__rs. Th_s _s th_ l_rg_st dr_p s_nc_ r_c_rds b_g_n _n 1920. J_p_n's _nt_rn_l _ff__rs m_n_stry h_s r_l__s_d pr_l_m_n_ry f_g_r_s f_r _ts 2025 c_ns_s. Th_s d_m_gr_ph_c s_rv_y _s c_nd_ct_d _v_ry f_v_ y__rs. Th_ l_t_st _n_ r_v__ls th_t th_ n_mb_r _f r_s_d_nts _n _ct_b_r 2025 w_s 123,049,524. Th_s w_s _ dr_p _f 3,096,575 fr_m th_ 2020 s_rv_y — _ f_ll _f 2.5 p_r c_nt. Th_ c_ns_s _s th_ th_rd _n _ r_w t_ sh_w _ d_cr__s_. J_p_n's Ch__f C_b_n_t S_cr_t_ry s__d: "_t w_s c_nf_rm_d _g__n th_t th_ p_p_l_t__n d_cl_n_ _s _dv_nc_ng _v_n f_rth_r." H_ v_w_d t_ pr_m_t_ "c_mpr_h_ns_v_ m__s_r_s" t_ _ddr_ss th_ d_wnt_rn.

Th_ g_v_rnm_nt _ttr_b_t_d th_ d_cl_n_ t_ v_r___s f_ct_rs. Th_s_ _ncl_d_d h_st_r_c_lly l_w b_rth r_t_s. _n 2025, th_r_ w_r_ _r__nd 706,000 b_rths _n J_p_n. Th_s c_mp_r_d t_ _r__nd 2.5 m_ll__n _nn__l b_rths d_r_ng th_ p_stw_r b_by b__m. S_cc_ss_v_ g_v_rnm_nts h_v_ _ntr_d_c_d m_ny m__s_r_s t_ _nc__r_g_ c__pl_s t_ h_v_ b_b__s. Th_y h_v_ _xp_nd_d ch_ld _ll_w_nc_s, _ncr__s_d p_r_nt_l l__v_, _nd s_bs_d_z_d __rly y__rs _d_c_t__n. H_w_v_r, th_s_ h_v_ h_d l_ttl_ s_cc_ss. J_p_n _s _n_ _f th_ w_rld's _ld_st s_c__t__s. Th_ _ncr__s_ngly gr_y_ng p_p_l_t__n _s p_tt_ng c_ns_d_r_bl_ str__n _n h__lthc_r_ syst_ms, p_ns__ns, _nd th_ l_b__r f_rc_.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the population of japan has fallen by over three million in the past five years this is the largest drop since records began in 1920 japans internal affairs ministry has released preliminary figures for its 2025 census this demographic survey is conducted every five years the latest one reveals that the number of residents in october 2025 was 123049524 this was a drop of 3096575 from the 2020 survey a fall of 25 per cent the census is the third in a row to show a decrease japans chief cabinet secretary said it was confirmed again that the population decline is advancing even further he vowed to promote comprehensive measures to address the downturn

the government attributed the decline to various factors these included historically low birth rates in 2025 there were around 706000 births in japan this compared to around 25 million annual births during the postwar baby boom successive governments have introduced many measures to encourage couples to have babies they have expanded child allowances increased parental leave and subsidized early years education however these have had little success japan is one of the worlds oldest societies the increasingly greying population is putting considerable strain on healthcare systems pensions and the labour force

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ThepopulationofJapanhasfallenbyoverthreemillioninthepastfiveyea
rs.Thisisthelargestdropsincerecordsbeganin1920.Japan'sinternalaf
fairsministryhasreleasedpreliminaryfiguresforits2025census.Thisd
emographicsurveyisconductedeveryfiveyears.Thelatestonerevealst
hatthenumberofresidentsinOctober2025was123,049,524.Thiswasa
dropof3,096,575fromthe2020survey—afallof2.5percent.Thecensu
sisthethirdinarowtoshowadecrease.Japan'sChiefCabinetSecretarys
aid:"Itwasconfirmedagainthatthepopulationdeclineisadvancingeve
nfurther."Hevowedtopromote"comprehensivemeasures"toaddresst
hedownturn.Thegovernmentattributedthedeclinetovariousfactors.
Theseincludedhistoricallylowbirthrates.In2025,therewerearound70
6,000birthsinJapan.Thiscomparedtoaround2.5millionannualbirthsd
uringthepostwarbabyboom.Successivegovernmentshaveintroduce
dmanymeasurestoencouragecouplestohavebabies.Theyhaveexpan
dedchildallowances,increasedparentalleave,andsubsidizedearlyyea
rseducation.However,thesehavehadlittlesuccess.Japanisoneofthew
orld'soldestsocieties.Theincreasinglygreyingpopulationisputtingcon
siderablestrainonhealthcaresystems,pensions,andthelabourforce.

Free writing

Write about Japan's shrinking population for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Shrinking populations are good for the world. 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. POPULATION DECREASE: Make a poster about population decrease. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. SHRINKING POPULATIONS: Write a magazine article about encouraging decreases in population. 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 population decrease. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas about this. 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...

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Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
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Post-reading / Post-listening
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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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