The Reading / Listening - Hydration Breaks - Level 6

Football fans worldwide are not happy about the introduction of hydration breaks at the World Cup. Spectators in the stadiums have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the breaks in play by booing and jeering. They are not the only ones to express their consternation. Players and managers are less than happy. French manager Didier Deschamps complained about breaks disrupting the free-flowing nature and momentum of games. He said: "It's almost four quarters, and before we had two halves." Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk said that the stoppages were unnecessary. He lamented the sudden interruptions for ad breaks on TV, saying it was "not really" something he wanted in football.

Football's governing body FIFA introduced the concept of water breaks last December. It said they would be in every game, regardless of temperatures. Some games in the USA have been held under roofs, in climate-controlled conditions. Critics argue that the breaks exist primarily for commercial reasons. The BBC reported that an average 30-second World Cup ad slot on Fox Sports costs up to $750,000 during high-profile matches. Fox came back late from a commercial break during the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa. The BBC added that: "Given the financial benefits… it is highly likely that the breaks will remain a long-term feature."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Hydration Breaks - Level 4  or  Hydration Breaks - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48945011/why-there-drinks-breaks-2026-world-cup-fifa-criticised
  • https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/article/2026-world-cup-unnecessary-hydration-breaks-draw-criticism-from-players-coaches-and-fans-054032743.html
  • https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cp3xqn9zxdgo


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. WORLD CUP: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about World Cup. 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?
       football fans / hydration breaks / stadiums / booing / players / momentum / ads /
       FIFA / temperatures / critics / commercialization / ad slots / tournament / benefits
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FOUR QUARTERS: Students A strongly believe football (soccer) should be a game of four quarters; Students B strongly believe that would be terrible and totally destroy the beautiful game. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. FOOTBALL RULES: What do you know about the football rules in the table? What do you think of them? How could they be changed or improved? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What I Think

Changes

Offside

 

 

 

Throw ins

 

 

 

Goals

 

 

 

Free kicks

 

 

 

Cards

 

 

 

Penalties

 

 

 
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. HYDRATION: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "hydration". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. FOOTBALL GEAR: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things to take/wear to a football match at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Your team's top (jersey)
  • A programme
  • Water
  • A club scarf
  • A smartphone
  • A drum
  • Sandwiches
  • Binoculars

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. spectators a. Said that something was sad or disappointing.
      2. jeering b. Shouting unkind words to show dislike or disapproval.
      3. consternation c. Causing something to stop or not continue normally.
      4. disrupting d. People who watch an event, game, or show.
      5. momentum e. Times when something is stopped for a short time.
      6. lamented f. A feeling of great surprise, worry, or confusion.
      7. interruptions g. The force or energy that helps something keep moving or making progress.

    Paragraph 2

      8. governing body h. Mostly; more than anything else.
      9. regardless i. People who express negative opinions about something.
      10. critics j. A period of time during a TV or radio broadcast when an advertisement is shown.
      11. primarily k. The group that controls and makes rules for an activity or organization.
      12. commercial (adjective) l. Without being affected by something.
      13. ad slot m. An important part or characteristic of something.
      14. feature (noun) n. Related to buying, selling, or making money.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. All football fans at the World Cup booed during hydration breaks.     T / F
  2. The article says many managers are more than happy with the breaks.    T / F
  3. France's coach does not like the breaks stopping the free-flowing games. T / F
  4. A Dutch defender said he didn't want to see such breaks in football.     T / F
  5. FIFA announced the hydration breaks late last year.     T / F
  6. Air-conditioned games played under a roof don't have hydration breaks.  T / F
  7. Critics say the breaks are really to show ads on TV in ad breaks.    T / F
  8. One TV channel was late for a second-half kick-off because of ads.     T / F

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

  1. fans
  2. expressing
  3. jeering
  4. consternation
  5. stoppages
  6. concept
  7. regardless of
  8. primarily
  9. tournament
  10. feature
  1. first and foremost
  2. dismay
  3. point
  4. communicating
  5. setting aside
  6. competition
  7. shouting
  8. halts
  9. idea
  10. supporters

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

  1. football fans
  2. spectators in
  3. booing and
  4. not the only ones to express their
  5. before we had two
  6. FIFA introduced the concept
  7. they would be in every game, regardless
  8. breaks exist primarily for
  9. an average 30-second World Cup ad
  10. the breaks will remain a long-term
  1. the stadiums
  2. slot
  3. halves
  4. of water breaks
  5. jeering
  6. commercial reasons
  7. worldwide are not happy
  8. feature
  9. of temperatures
  10. consternation

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
momentum
jeering
introduction
ad
consternation
stoppages
expressing
halves

Football fans worldwide are not happy about the (1) _________________________________ of hydration breaks at the World Cup. Spectators in the stadiums have been (2) _________________________________ their dissatisfaction with the breaks in play by booing and (3) _________________________________. They are not the only ones to express their (4) _________________________________. Players and managers are less than happy. French manager Didier Deschamps complained about breaks disrupting the free-flowing nature and (5) _________________________________ of games. He said: "It's almost four quarters, and before we had two (6) _________________________________." Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk said that the (7) _________________________________ were unnecessary. He lamented the sudden interruptions for (8) _________________________________ breaks on TV, saying it was "not really" something he wanted in football.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
slot
controlled
primarily
feature
concept
financial
regardless
opener

Football's governing body FIFA introduced the (9) _________________________________ of water breaks last December. It said they would be in every game, (10) _________________________________ of temperatures. Some games in the USA have been held under roofs, in climate-(11) _________________________________ conditions. Critics argue that the breaks exist (12) _________________________________ for commercial reasons. The BBC reported that an average 30-second World Cup ad (13) _________________________________ on Fox Sports costs up to $750,000 during high-profile matches. Fox came back late from a commercial break during the tournament (14) _________________________________ between Mexico and South Africa. The BBC added that: "Given the (15) _________________________________ benefits... it is highly likely that the breaks will remain a long-term (16) _________________________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Football fans worldwide are not happy ______
     a.  about the introducing
     b.  about a introduction
     c.  abut the introduction
     d.  about the introduction
2)  Spectators in the stadiums have been ______
     a.  expressing their this satisfaction
     b.  expressing their dissatisfy faction
     c.  expressing their dissatisfaction
     d.  expressing their dissatisfying
3)  They are not the only ones to ______
     a.  express their construction
     b.  express their concertinaing
     c.  express their constipation
     d.  express their consternation
4)  Deschamps complained about breaks disrupting the ______
     a.  free-flowing nature
     b.  free-flowing mature
     c.  free-flowing natural
     d.  free-flowing nurture
5)  He said: "It's almost four quarters, and before we ______."
     a.  had two haves
     b.  had two halves
     c.  had two calves
     d.  had two huffs

6)  It said they would be in every game, ______
     a.  regard less of temperatures
     b.  regard least of temperatures
     c.  regards less of temperatures
     d.  regardless of temperatures
7)  Some games in the USA have been held under roofs, in ______
     a.  climate-controlled conditionals
     b.  climate-controlled conditioners
     c.  climate-controlled conditions
     d.  climate-controlled conditioned
8)  Critics argue that the breaks exist primarily ______
     a.  for commerce all reasons
     b.  for commercial reasons
     c.  four commercial reasons
     d.  for commercial reason
9)  Fox came back late from a commercial break during ______
     a.  the tournament open are
     b.  the tournament opener
     c.  the tournament openness
     d.  the tournament opening
10)  it is highly likely that the breaks will remain a ______
     a.  long-term future
     b.  long-terms feature
     c.  long-term feature
     d.  longs term feature

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Football (1) _______________________________________________ not happy about the introduction of hydration breaks at the World Cup. (2) _______________________________________________ stadiums have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the breaks in play by booing and jeering. They are not the only ones to express their consternation. Players and managers are (3) _______________________________________________. French manager Didier Deschamps complained about breaks disrupting the (4) _______________________________________________ and momentum of games. He said: "It's (5) _______________________________________________, and before we had two halves." Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk said that the stoppages were unnecessary. He lamented the sudden (6) _______________________________________________ breaks on TV, saying it was "not really" something he wanted in football.

Football's governing body FIFA introduced (7) _______________________________________________ water breaks last December. It said they would be in every game, regardless of temperatures. Some games in the USA have been (8) _______________________________________________, in climate-controlled conditions. Critics argue that the breaks (9) _______________________________________________ commercial reasons. The BBC reported that an average 30-second World Cup ad slot on Fox Sports costs up to $750,000 during (10) _______________________________________________. Fox came back late from a commercial break during (11) _______________________________________________ between Mexico and South Africa. The BBC added that: "Given the financial benefits... it is highly likely that the breaks will remain a (12) _______________________________________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. Where have fans been expressing their dissatisfaction?
  2. What are fans doing besides booing?
  3. How do players and managers feel about the hydration breaks?
  4. What did France's coach say there are nearly four of?
  5. What did a Dutch defender say about the stoppages for water?
  6. When did FIFA first announce the breaks?
  7. What percentage of games are the hydration breaks in?
  8. How much can a 30-second ad cost on Fox Sports?
  9. What did Fox Sports come back late for due to an ad break?
  10. What did the BBC say about the future of hydration breaks?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where have fans been expressing their dissatisfaction?
a) online
b) in the streets
c) in their home nations
d) in stadiums
2) What are fans doing besides booing?
a) throwing water bottles
b) jeering
c) not cheering
d) complaining online
3) How do players and managers feel about the hydration breaks?
a) They are undecided.
b) more than happy
c) less than happy
d) They hate them.
4) What did France's coach say there are nearly four of?
a) quarters
b) defenders
c) hydration stations
d) referees
5) What did a Dutch defender say about the stoppages for water?
a) They waste water.
b) They are welcome.
c) They are unnecessary.
d) There should be juice.

6) When did FIFA first announce the breaks?
a) three weeks ago
b) last December
c) in March
d) the day before the first game
7) What percentage of games are the hydration breaks in?
a) 66%
b) 80%
c) 90%
d) 100%
8) How much can a 30-second ad cost on Fox Sports?
a) up to $750,000
b) up to $500,000
c) up to $250,000
d) up to $100,000
9) What did Fox Sports come back late for due to an ad break?
a) the national anthems
b) a goal replay
c) the Mexico and South Africa game
d) the final whistle
10) What did the BBC say about the future of hydration breaks?
a) Nothing
b) They'll be a long-term feature.
c) They don't have a future.
d) It's undecided.

Role play

Role  A – Your Team's Top (Jersey)
You think your team's top (jersey) is the best thing to take to a football match. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): water, binoculars or a drum.

Role  B – Water
You think water is the best thing to take to a football match. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): your team's top (jersey), binoculars or a drum.

Role  C – Binoculars
You think binoculars are the best thing to take to a football match. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): water, your team's top (jersey) or a drum.

Role  D – A Drum
You think a drum is the best thing to take to a football match. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): water, binoculars or your team's top (jersey).

After reading / listening

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

'hydration'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'boo'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • introduction
    • stadiums
    • express
    • free
    • halves
    • really
    • water
    • roofs
    • exist
    • costs
    • late
    • highly

    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 - Hydration Breaks

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'hydration'?
    3. What do you think of the World Cup?
    4. Should there be hydration breaks in football games?
    5. What do you think of hydration breaks ruining a game's momentum?
    6. Are hydration breaks more for advertisers to make money?
    7. What do you think of sticking with two 45-minute halves?
    8. How do you feel when ads interrupt a live football match?
    9. What are the alternatives to hydration breaks?
    10. What advice do you have for FIFA?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'boo'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of football?
    5. What do you think of spectators booing at hydration breaks?
    6. Is advertising ruining live sports coverage?
    7. Is commercialization ruining or improving sport?
    8. What changes would make football better for spectators?
    9. Who do you want to win the World Cup?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the bosses of world football?

    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)

    Football fans worldwide are not happy about the introduction (1) ____ hydration breaks at the World Cup. Spectators in the stadiums have been (2) ____ their dissatisfaction with the breaks in play by booing and jeering. They are not the only ones to express their consternation. Players and managers are (3) ____ than happy. French manager Didier Deschamps complained about breaks disrupting the free-(4) ____ nature and momentum of games. He said: "It's almost four quarters, and before we had (5) ____ halves." Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk said that the stoppages were unnecessary. He lamented the sudden interruptions (6) ____ ad breaks on TV, saying it was "not really" something he wanted in football.

    Football's governing body FIFA introduced the (7) ____ of water breaks last December. It said they would be in every game, regardless (8) ____ temperatures. Some games in the USA have been held under roofs, in climate-controlled conditions. Critics argue that the breaks exist (9) ____ for commercial reasons. The BBC reported that an average 30-second World Cup ad (10) ____ on Fox Sports costs up to $750,000 during high-profile matches. Fox came back late from a commercial break during the tournament (11) ____ between Mexico and South Africa. The BBC added that: "Given the financial benefits... it is (12) ____ likely that the breaks will remain a long-term feature."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     of     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     in    
    2. (a)     express     (b)     expression     (c)     expressing     (d)     expressed    
    3. (a)     such     (b)     much     (c)     fewer     (d)     less    
    4. (a)     frothing     (b)     flowing     (c)     forming     (d)     flashing    
    5. (a)     five     (b)     four     (c)     three     (d)     two    
    6. (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     for     (d)     up    
    7. (a)     contraption     (b)     concept     (c)     consort     (d)     concert    
    8. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     on    
    9. (a)     primarily     (b)     primed     (c)     primary     (d)     prim    
    10. (a)     slop     (b)     sloth     (c)     slot     (d)     slob    
    11. (a)     openness     (b)     openly     (c)     closure     (d)     opener    
    12. (a)     heighten     (b)     highly     (c)     high     (d)     heights

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. tosspaectr in the stadiums
    2. booing and irgejen
    3. express their rnaiotnnosect
    4. the free-flowing nature and mtnommeu of games
    5. the oepagspst were unnecessary
    6. He lamented the sudden rnutiirensopt

    Paragraph 2

    1. redaegrssl of temperatures
    2. breaks exist primarily for micolearmc reasons
    3. during high-ifoplre matches
    4. during the mureottnan opener
    5. the liaicnafn benefits
    6. remain a long-term rufetae

    Put the text back together

    (    )   and jeering. They are not the only ones to express their consternation. Players and managers are less
    (    )   be in every game, regardless of temperatures. Some games in the USA have been held under roofs, in climate-
    (    )   benefits... it is highly likely that the breaks will remain a long-term feature."
    (    )   controlled conditions. Critics argue that the breaks exist primarily for commercial
    (    )   during high-profile matches. Fox came back late from a commercial break during
    (    )   flowing nature and momentum of games. He said: "It's almost four quarters, and before we had two
    (  1  )   Football fans worldwide are not happy about the introduction of hydration breaks at the World Cup. Spectators
    (    )   Football's governing body FIFA introduced the concept of water breaks last December. It said they would
    (    )   halves." Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk said that the stoppages were unnecessary. He lamented
    (    )   in the stadiums have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the breaks in play by booing
    (    )   reasons. The BBC reported that an average 30-second World Cup ad slot on Fox Sports costs up to $750,000
    (    )   than happy. French manager Didier Deschamps complained about breaks disrupting the free-
    (    )   the sudden interruptions for ad breaks on TV, saying it was "not really" something he wanted in football.
    (    )   the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa. The BBC added that: "Given the financial

    Put the words in the right order

    1. about   are   Fans   happy   introduction   not   the   worldwide   .
    2. been  dissatisfaction  expressing  have   in  Spectators  stadiums  the   .
    3. consternation   express   ones   only   The   their   to   .
    4. ad   breaks   for   He   interruptions   lamented   sudden   the   .
    5. football   he   in   It   really   something   wanted   wasn't   .
    6. concept   FIFA   Football's   governing   introduced   the   body   .
    7. be   every   game   in   of   regardless   temperatures   They'd   .
    8. breaks   commercial   exist   for   primarily   reasons   The   .
    9. a   back   break   came   commercial   Fox   from   late   .
    10. a   breaks   feature   long-term   remain   The   will   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Football fans worldwide are not unhappy / happy about the introduction of hydration breaks at the World Cup. Spectators in the stadiums have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the breaks on / in play by booing and jeering / jousting. They are not the only ones to express their constellation / consternation. Players and managers are less than happy. French manager Didier Deschamps complained about breaks disrupting / disrupted the free-flowing nature and momentum by / of games. He said: "It's almost four quarters, and before we had two / four halves." Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk said that the surcharges / stoppages were unnecessary. He lamented the sudden interruptions at / for ad breaks on TV, saying it was "not really" something he wanted on / in football.

    Football's governing / government body FIFA introduced the concept at / of water breaks last December. It said they would be in every / all game, regardless of temperatures. Some games in the USA have been held over / under roofs, in climate-controlled conditions. Critics argue that the breaks exist primarily / primary for commercial reasons. The BBC reported that an average 30-second World Cup ad slot / slop on Fox Sports costs up to $750,000 during high-profile matches. Fox came back lately / late from a commercial break during the tournament opener / opens between Mexico and South Africa. The BBC added that: "Taken / Given the financial benefits... it is heighten / highly likely that the breaks will remain a long-term feature."

    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)

    F__tb_ll  f_ns  w_rldw_d_  _r_  n_t  h_ppy  _b__t  th_  _ntr_d_ct__n  _f  hydr_t__n  br__ks  _t  th_  W_rld  C_p.  Sp_ct_t_rs  _n  th_  st_d__ms  h_v_  b__n  _xpr_ss_ng  th__r  d_ss_t_sf_ct__n  w_th  th_  br__ks  _n  pl_y  by  b___ng  _nd  j__r_ng.  Th_y  _r_  n_t  th_  _nly  _n_s  t_  _xpr_ss  th__r  c_nst_rn_t__n.  Pl_y_rs  _nd  m_n_g_rs  _r_  l_ss  th_n  h_ppy.  Fr_nch  m_n_g_r  D_d__r  D_sch_mps  c_mpl__n_d  _b__t  br__ks  d_sr_pt_ng  th_  fr__-fl_w_ng  n_t_r_  _nd  m_m_nt_m  _f  g_m_s.  H_  s__d:  "_t's  _lm_st  f__r  q__rt_rs,  _nd  b_f_r_  w_  h_d  tw_  h_lv_s."  N_th_rl_nds  d_f_nd_r  V_rg_l  v_n  D_jk  s__d  th_t  th_  st_pp_g_s  w_r_  _nn_c_ss_ry.  H_  l_m_nt_d  th_  s_dd_n  _nt_rr_pt__ns  f_r  _d  br__ks  _n  TV,  s_y_ng  _t  w_s  "n_t  r__lly"  s_m_th_ng  h_  w_nt_d  _n  f__tb_ll.

    F__tb_ll's  g_v_rn_ng  b_dy  F_F_  _ntr_d_c_d  th_  c_nc_pt  _f  w_t_r  br__ks  l_st  D_c_mb_r.  _t  s__d  th_y  w__ld  b_  _n  _v_ry  g_m_,  r_g_rdl_ss  _f  t_mp_r_t_r_s.  S_m_  g_m_s  _n  th_  _S_  h_v_  b__n  h_ld  _nd_r  r__fs,  _n  cl_m_t_-c_ntr_ll_d  c_nd_t__ns.  Cr_t_cs  _rg__  th_t  th_  br__ks  _x_st  pr_m_r_ly  f_r  c_mm_rc__l  r__s_ns.  Th_  BBC  r_p_rt_d  th_t  _n  _v_r_g_  30-s_c_nd  W_rld  C_p  _d  sl_t  _n  F_x  Sp_rts  c_sts  _p  t_  $750,000  d_r_ng  h_gh-pr_f_l_  m_tch_s.  F_x  c_m_  b_ck  l_t_  fr_m  _  c_mm_rc__l  br__k  d_r_ng  th_  t__rn_m_nt  _p_n_r  b_tw__n  M_x_c_  _nd  S__th  _fr_c_.  Th_  BBC  _dd_d  th_t:  "G_v_n  th_  f_n_nc__l  b_n_f_ts...  _t  _s  h_ghly  l_k_ly  th_t  th_  br__ks  w_ll  r_m__n  _  l_ng-t_rm  f__t_r_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    football fans worldwide are not happy about the introduction of hydration breaks at the world cup spectators in the stadiums have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the breaks in play by booing and jeering they are not the only ones to express their consternation players and managers are less than happy french manager didier deschamps complained about breaks disrupting the freeflowing nature and momentum of games he said its almost four quarters and before we had two halves netherlands defender virgil van dijk said that the stoppages were unnecessary he lamented the sudden interruptions for ad breaks on tv saying it was not really something he wanted in football

    footballs governing body fifa introduced the concept of water breaks last december it said they would be in every game regardless of temperatures some games in the usa have been held under roofs in climatecontrolled conditions critics argue that the breaks exist primarily for commercial reasons the bbc reported that an average 30second world cup ad slot on fox sports costs up to 750000 during highprofile matches fox came back late from a commercial break during the tournament opener between mexico and south africa the bbc added that given the financial benefits it is highly likely that the breaks will remain a longterm feature

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Footballfansworldwidearenothappyabouttheintroductionofhydratio
    nbreaksattheWorldCup.Spectatorsinthestadiumshavebeenexpressi
    ngtheirdissatisfactionwiththebreaksinplaybybooingandjeering.The
    yarenottheonlyonestoexpresstheirconsternation.Playersandmanag
    ersarelessthanhappy.FrenchmanagerDidierDeschampscomplained
    aboutbreaksdisruptingthefree-flowingnatureandmomentumofgam
    es.Hesaid:"It'salmostfourquarters,andbeforewehadtwohalves."Net
    herlandsdefenderVirgilvanDijksaidthatthestoppageswereunnecess
    ary.HelamentedthesuddeninterruptionsforadbreaksonTV,sayingitw
    as"notreally"somethinghewantedinfootball.Football'sgoverningbod
    yFIFAintroducedtheconceptofwaterbreakslastDecember.Itsaidthey
    wouldbeineverygame,regardlessoftemperatures.Somegamesinthe
    USAhavebeenheldunderroofs,inclimate-controlledconditions.Critic
    sarguethatthebreaksexistprimarilyforcommercialreasons.TheBBCr
    eportedthatanaverage30-secondWorldCupadslotonFoxSportscost
    supto$750,000duringhigh-profilematches.Foxcamebacklatefromac
    ommercialbreakduringthetournamentopenerbetweenMexicoandSo
    uthAfrica.TheBBCaddedthat:"Giventhefinancialbenefits...itishighlyl
    ikelythatthebreakswillremainalong-termfeature."

    Free writing

    Write about hydration breaks for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Football (soccer) games should be four quarters, not two halves. Discuss.

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    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. WORLD CUP: Make a poster about the World Cup. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. HYDRATION BREAKS: Write a magazine article about having hydration breaks in all football (soccer) games. 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 the World Cup. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make it more exciting. 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

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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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