Breaking News English Lesson: Technical Education

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UK leader says hard hats as important as graduation caps (3rd August 2026)

The Reading / Listening - Technical Education - Level 6

The United Kingdom has a new prime minister, and he is determined to overhaul Britain's education system. Andy Burnham, 56, came to power on July the 16th. One of his key priorities is to increase access to technical training for youngsters. He wants schoolchildren as young as 14 to start acquiring the skills they need for the workplace. This is to address the problem of unemployed youth. Britain has more than one million young people not in education, employment or training. They have been dubbed "the lost generation". Mr Burnham said: "Fixing the youth unemployment crisis in Britain will require a major shake-up in how we do things, and that's what this government will do."

Prime Minister Burnham's aim is to reset traditional views on white- and blue-collar work. He wants young people to believe that a career as a plumber, carpenter, or bricklayer is just as valuable as working as a lawyer or doctor. He said: "I want an education system based on parity between academic and technical, which gives all young people a clear path in life. From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap." He added: "For too long in this country, students have been told that they must take the academic path to do well and to be respected. The whole school system has been built around it, and that has let down young people seeking technical qualifications."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Technical Education - Level 4 or Technical Education - Level 5

Sources

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-from-today-britain-will-value-the-hard-hat-as-much-as-the-graduation-cap
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/andy-burnham-vows-value-hard-34361883
https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/andy-burnham-technical-educations-youth-unemployment-schools-5HjdfDg_2/

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. TECHNICAL EDUCATION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about technical education. 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?
United Kingdom / education system / power / technical training / unemployed / youth
traditional view / blue-collar worker / plumber / path in life / hard hat / graduation cap
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BLUE COLLAR: Students A strongly believe blue-collar workers are more important than shite-collar workers; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WHITE OR BLUE?: What are the good and bad things about blue- and white-collar work? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Blue-collar Work	White-collar Work
Salary
Job satisfaction
Status
Physical health
Mental health
Usefulness

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

Plumber
Lawyer
Carpenter
Doctor
Bricklayer
Accountant
Gardener
Teacher

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	determined	a.	A complete repair or big improvement.
2.	overhaul	b.	Given a nickname or description.
3.	priorities	c.	To deal with or try to solve something.
4.	address	d.	The things that are most important.
5.	dubbed	e.	Wanting very much to do something and not stopping or giving up.
6.	generation	f.	A big change in the way something is organized or managed.
7.	shake-up (noun)	g.	All the people born around the same time (thought of as one group in society).

Paragraph 2

8.	blue-collar	h.	To disappoint someone.
9.	plumber	i.	Doing work that usually needs physical skill or manual labour.
10.	parity	j.	The direction your education or career takes.
11.	hard hat	k.	The skills, experience, or certificates needed for a job or course.
12.	path	l.	The state of being equal.
13.	let down	m.	A strong safety helmet worn at work.
14.	qualifications	n.	A person whose job is fixing and putting in water pipes, toilets, and sinks.

Before reading / listening

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

The UK's prime minister wants to change the UK's education system. T / F
The prime minister wants all schoolchildren to learn workplace skills. T / F
A million young people in the UK are part of a "lost generation". T / F
The prime minster said schoolchildren need a major shake-up. T / F
Andy Burnham wants there to be more blue- than white-collar workers. T / F
Burnham believes plumbers are as valuable as lawyers. T / F
Burnham believes hard hats and graduation caps have the same value. T / F
Burnham believes the UK school system has let some children down. T / F

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

determined
overhaul
priorities
dubbed
major
traditional
career
parity
path
seeking

called
equality
significant
profession
intent on
searching for
main concerns
route
modernize
conventional

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

he is determined to overhaul Britain's
One of his key
start acquiring the skills they need
address the problem of
They have been dubbed
reset traditional views on white- and blue-
just as valuable
to do well and to
The whole school system has been
let down young people seeking

for the workplace
built around it
unemployed youth
collar work
technical qualifications
education system
be respected
the lost generation
priorities
as working as a lawyer

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

unemployed
key
major
workplace
crisis
overhaul
youngsters
dubbed

The United Kingdom has a new prime minister, and he is determined to (1) _________________________________ Britain's education system. Andy Burnham, 56, came to power on July the 16th. One of his (2) _________________________________ priorities is to increase access to technical training for (3) _________________________________. He wants schoolchildren as young as 14 to start acquiring the skills they need for the (4) _________________________________. This is to address the problem of (5) _________________________________ youth. Britain has more than one million young people not in education, employment or training. They have been (6) _________________________________ "the lost generation". Mr Burnham said: "Fixing the youth unemployment (7) _________________________________ in Britain will require a (8) _________________________________ shake-up in how we do things, and that's what this government will do."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

path
down
views
valuable
graduation
parity
plumber
respected

Prime Minister Burnham's aim is to reset traditional (9) _________________________________ on white- and blue-collar work. He wants young people to believe that a career as a (10) _________________________________, carpenter, or bricklayer is just as (11) _________________________________ as working as a lawyer or doctor. He said: "I want an education system based on (12) _________________________________ between academic and technical, which gives all young people a clear (13) _________________________________ in life. From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the (14) _________________________________ cap." He added: "For too long in this country, students have been told that they must take the academic path to do well and to be (15) _________________________________. The whole school system has been built around it, and that has let (16) _________________________________ young people seeking technical qualifications."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) One of his key priorities is to increase access to technical ______
     a. training four youngers
     b. training for youngsters
     c. training for young stars
     d. training four youngsters
2) He wants schoolchildren as young as 14 to start ______
     a. inquiring them skills
     b. acquire in the skills
     c. acquiring the skills
     d. requiring the skills
3) This is to address the problem ______
     a. off unemployed youth
     b. of unemployed youthful
     c. of unemployed dearth
     d. of unemployed youth
4) They have been dubbed ______
     a. the lost generation
     b. the last generation
     c. the lest generation
     d. the list generation
5) Fixing the youth unemployment crisis in Britain will require a ______
     a. major shook-up
     b. major shake-up
     c. major shark-up
     d. major shack-up

6) Burnham's aim is to reset traditional views on white- and ______
     a. blue-collar work
     b. blue-lapel work
     c. blue-cuff work
     d. blue-hem work
7) believe that a career as a plumber, carpenter, or bricklayer is ______
     a. just has valuable
     b. just was valuable
     c. just as value able
     d. just as valuable
8) From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as ______
     a. the graduation cap
     b. the gradation cap
     c. the graduate shun cap
     d. the graduation cup
9) For too long in this country, students have been told that they must take ______
     a. the academic pass
     b. the academic pith
     c. the academic path
     d. the academic part
10) built around it, and that has let down young people ______
     a. seeking technical qualification
     b. seeking technical qualifications
     c. seeking technically qualifications
     d. seek in technical qualifications

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Kingdom has a new prime minister, and he (1) _______________________________________________ overhaul Britain's education system. Andy Burnham, 56, came to power on July the 16th. One of (2) _______________________________________________ is to increase access to technical training for youngsters. He wants schoolchildren as young as 14 (3) _______________________________________________ the skills they need for the workplace. This is (4) _______________________________________________ problem of unemployed youth. Britain has more than one million young people not in education, employment or training. They have been (5) _______________________________________________ generation". Mr Burnham said: "Fixing the (6) _______________________________________________ in Britain will require a major shake-up in how we do things, and that's what this government will do."

Prime Minister Burnham's aim is to (7) _______________________________________________ on white- and blue-collar work. He wants young people to believe that a career as a plumber, carpenter, or bricklayer is (8) _______________________________________________ as working as a lawyer or doctor. He said: "I want an education system (9) _______________________________________________ between academic and technical, which gives all young people a clear (10) _______________________________________________. From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap." He added: "For too long in this country, students have been told that they must take the (11) _______________________________________________ do well and to be respected. The whole school system has been built around it, and that has (12) _______________________________________________ people seeking technical qualifications."

Comprehension questions

What does the UK's new leader want to do to the education system?
What does the UK prime minister want schoolchildren to have access to?
What skills does the prime minister want 14-year-olds to start acquiring?
How many young people in Britain are not in school, jobs or training?
What did Mr Burnham say would fix the youth unemployment crisis?
What traditional views does Andy Burnham want to reset?
What does Mr Burnham want parity between in the education system?
What does Burnham believe people should value as much as a hard hat?
What have students been told to take to do well and be respected?
Who did Mr Burnham say had been let down by the school system?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the UK's new leader want to do to the education system?
a) give it five stars
b) dismantle it
c) overhaul it
d) privatise it
2) What does the UK prime minister want schoolchildren to have access to?
a) technical training
b) free school lunches
c) internships
d) gyms
3) What skills does the prime minister want 14-year-olds to start acquiring?
a) job interviews
b) workplace skills
c) coding skills
d) information about pensions
4) How many young people in Britain are not in school, jobs or training?
a) around a million
b) just fewer than a million
c) exactly one million
d) more than one million
5) What did Mr Burnham say would fix the youth unemployment crisis?
a) expertise
b) money
c) a major shake-up
d) lower taxes

6) What traditional views does Andy Burnham want to reset?
a) those in public and private schools
b) those on white- and blue-collar work
c) those on homeschooling
d) those on examination scores
7) What does Mr Burnham want parity between in the education system?
a) the sexes
b) exam scores
c) public and private schools
d) academic and technical
8) What does Burnham believe people should value as much as a hard hat?
a) a soft hat
b) a graduation cap
c) a woolly hat
d) a police or army helmet
9) What have students been told to take to do well and be respected?
a) science exams
b) the academic path
c) courses in coding
d) financial advice
10) Who did Mr Burnham say had been let down by the school system?
a) young people (seeking technical qualifications)
b) teachers
c) the British public
d) the UK government

Role play

Role A – Plumber
You think being a plumber is the best career. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their careers. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): lawyer, gardener or teacher.

Role B – Lawyer
You think being a lawyer is the best career. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their careers. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): plumber, gardener or teacher.

Role C – Gardener
You think being a gardener is the best career. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their careers. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): lawyer, plumber or teacher.

Role D – Teacher
You think being a teacher is the best career. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their careers. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): lawyer, gardener or plumber.

After reading / listening

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

''

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and ''.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

new

power

young

address

dubbed

require

reset

just

based

path

value

whole

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 - Technical Education

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 'hard hat'?
What do you think of your country's leader?
What do you think of your country's education system?
What subjects need to be taught at school?
How does school prepare children for the workplace?
How bad is unemployment in your country?
What would you do to shake up your country's education system?
Is life for young people easier or harder than it was in the past?
How will AI affect education and jobs?

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 'graduation cap'?
What do you think about what you read?
How good or bad was your education?
Are white- or blue-collar jobs best?
Would you rather be a carpenter or a lawyer?
How important is technical education?
What kind of career path would you like?
Is the hard hat as valuable as the graduation cap?
What questions would you like to ask the UK's prime minister?

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 United Kingdom has a new prime minister, and he is determined to (1) ____ Britain's education system. Andy Burnham, 56, came (2) ____ power on July the 16th. One of his key priorities is to increase (3) ____ to technical training for youngsters. He wants schoolchildren as young as 14 to start acquiring the skills they need for the workplace. This is to (4) ____ the problem of unemployed youth. Britain has more than one million young people not in education, employment or training. They have been (5) ____ "the lost generation". Mr Burnham said: "Fixing the youth unemployment crisis in Britain will require a major (6) ____-up in how we do things, and that's what this government will do."

Prime Minister Burnham's aim is to (7) ____ traditional views on white- and blue-collar work. He wants young people to believe that a career as a plumber, carpenter, or bricklayer is just as (8) ____ as working as a lawyer or doctor. He said: "I want an education system based on (9) ____ between academic and technical, which gives all young people a clear path in life. From today, Britain will value the hard hat every (10) ____ as much as the graduation cap." He added: "For too long in this country, students have been told that they must take the academic (11) ____ to do well and to be respected. The whole school system has been built around it, and that has let (12) ____ young people seeking technical qualifications."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) haulage (b) haul (c) overhaul (d) halt
(a) to (b) of (c) at (d) on
(a) access (b) excess (c) assess (d) recess
(a) address (b) locale (c) location (d) place
(a) dobbed (b) dibbed (c) dabbed (d) dubbed
(a) get (b) mess (c) power (d) shake
(a) reset (b) resent (c) asset (d) recent
(a) values (b) valuation (c) value (d) valuable
(a) parity (b) same (c) equal (d) even
(a) byte (b) bit (c) bite (d) bitten
(a) trail (b) path (c) alley (d) walk
(a) down (b) up (c) in (d) out

Spelling

Paragraph 1

ealvourh Britain's education system
One of his key siirieptro
start ciaqiurgn the skills they need
They have been ubdedb the lost generation
the youth otepenmnlyum crisis
require a major esaupkh-

Paragraph 2

Burnham's aim is to reset iornttldaia views
a career as a reulmpb
as vabelalu as working as a lawyer
medccaia and technical
to do well and to be deeetrcsp
technical acuifqitanlosi

Put the text back together

(    )   "the lost generation". Mr Burnham said: "Fixing the youth unemployment
(    )   and technical, which gives all young people a clear path in life. From today, Britain will value the hard
(    )   around it, and that has let down young people seeking technical qualifications."
(    )   crisis in Britain will require a major shake-up in how we do things, and that's what this government will do."
(    )   hat every bit as much as the graduation cap." He added: "For too long in this country, students have been
(    )   need for the workplace. This is to address the problem of unemployed youth. Britain has more than
(    )   one million young people not in education, employment or training. They have been dubbed
(    )   Prime Minister Burnham's aim is to reset traditional views on white- and blue-collar
(    )   system. Andy Burnham, 56, came to power on July the 16th. One of his key priorities is to increase access
( 1 )   The United Kingdom has a new prime minister, and he is determined to overhaul Britain's education
(    )   to technical training for youngsters. He wants schoolchildren as young as 14 to start acquiring the skills they
(    )   told that they must take the academic path to do well and to be respected. The whole school system has been built
(    )   valuable as working as a lawyer or doctor. He said: "I want an education system based on parity between academic
(    )   work. He wants young people to believe that a career as a plumber, carpenter, or bricklayer is just as

Put the words in the right order

Britain's determined education He is overhaul system to .
access his increase is of One priorities to .
acquiring for need skills Start the they workplace .
address of problem the This unemployed will youth .
been dubbed generation have lost the They .
and blue-collar Reset traditional views white- work on .
based education I on parity system want an .
academic do path take The they to well .
around been built has it school system The .
down Let people qualifications seeking technical young .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The United Kingdom has a new prime minister, and he is detrimental / determined to overhaul Britain's education system. Andy Burnham, 56, came at / to power on July the 16th. One of his key priorities / priority is to increase access to technical training for youngsters. He wants schoolchildren as youth / young as 14 to start acquiring the skills they need for / to the workplace. This is to address / location the problem of unemployed youth. Britain has more than one million young people not on / in education, employment or training. They have been dabbed / dubbed "the lost generation". Mr Burnham said: "Fixing the youth unemployment critics / crisis in Britain will require a major shake-up in how we do things, and that's what this government will shake / do."

Prime Minister Burnham's aim is to reset custom / traditional views on white- and blue-collar work. He wants young people to believe that a work / career as a plumber, carpenter, or bricklayer is just as valuable as working as / is a lawyer or doctor. He said: "I want an education system basted / based on parity between academic and technical, which gives every / all young people a clear path / trail in life. From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit / thing as much as the graduation cap." He added: "For too long / lengthen in this country, students have been told that they must take the academic path to do well and to be respect / respected. The whole school system has been built around it, and that has let up / down young people seeking technical qualifications."

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_ _n_t_d K_ngd_m h_s _ n_w pr_m_ m_n_st_r, _nd h_ _s d_t_rm_n_d t_ _v_rh__l Br_t__n's _d_c_t__n syst_m. _ndy B_rnh_m, 56, c_m_ t_ p_w_r _n J_ly th_ 16th. _n_ _f h_s k_y pr__r_t__s _s t_ _ncr__s_ _cc_ss t_ t_chn_c_l tr__n_ng f_r y__ngst_rs. H_ w_nts sch__lch_ldr_n _s y__ng _s 14 t_ st_rt _cq__r_ng th_ sk_lls th_y n__d f_r th_ w_rkpl_c_. Th_s _s t_ _ddr_ss th_ pr_bl_m _f _n_mpl_y_d y__th. Br_t__n h_s m_r_ th_n _n_ m_ll__n y__ng p__pl_ n_t _n _d_c_t__n, _mpl_ym_nt _r tr__n_ng. Th_y h_v_ b__n d_bb_d "th_ l_st g_n_r_t__n". Mr B_rnh_m s__d: "F_x_ng th_ y__th _n_mpl_ym_nt cr_s_s _n Br_t__n w_ll r_q__r_ _ m_j_r sh_k_-_p _n h_w w_ d_ th_ngs, _nd th_t's wh_t th_s g_v_rnm_nt w_ll d_."

Pr_m_ M_n_st_r B_rnh_m's __m _s t_ r_s_t tr_d_t__n_l v__ws _n wh_t_- _nd bl__-c_ll_r w_rk. H_ w_nts y__ng p__pl_ t_ b_l__v_ th_t _ c_r__r _s _ pl_mb_r, c_rp_nt_r, _r br_ckl_y_r _s j_st _s v_l__bl_ _s w_rk_ng _s _ l_wy_r _r d_ct_r. H_ s__d: "_ w_nt _n _d_c_t__n syst_m b_s_d _n p_r_ty b_tw__n _c_d_m_c _nd t_chn_c_l, wh_ch g_v_s _ll y__ng p__pl_ _ cl__r p_th _n l_f_. Fr_m t_d_y, Br_t__n w_ll v_l__ th_ h_rd h_t _v_ry b_t _s m_ch _s th_ gr_d__t__n c_p." H_ _dd_d: "F_r t__ l_ng _n th_s c__ntry, st_d_nts h_v_ b__n t_ld th_t th_y m_st t_k_ th_ _c_d_m_c p_th t_ d_ w_ll _nd t_ b_ r_sp_ct_d. Th_ wh_l_ sch__l syst_m h_s b__n b__lt _r__nd _t, _nd th_t h_s l_t d_wn y__ng p__pl_ s__k_ng t_chn_c_l q__l_f_c_t__ns."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the united kingdom has a new prime minister and he is determined to overhaul britains education system andy burnham 56 came to power on july the 16th one of his key priorities is to increase access to technical training for youngsters he wants schoolchildren as young as 14 to start acquiring the skills they need for the workplace this is to address the problem of unemployed youth britain has more than one million young people not in education employment or training they have been dubbed the lost generation mr burnham said fixing the youth unemployment crisis in britain will require a major shakeup in how we do things and thats what this government will do

prime minister burnhams aim is to reset traditional views on white and bluecollar work he wants young people to believe that a career as a plumber carpenter or bricklayer is just as valuable as working as a lawyer or doctor he said i want an education system based on parity between academic and technical which gives all young people a clear path in life from today britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap he added for too long in this country students have been told that they must take the academic path to do well and to be respected the whole school system has been built around it and that has let down young people seeking technical qualifications

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheUnitedKingdomhasanewprimeminister,andheisdeterminedtoov
erhaulBritain'seducationsystem.AndyBurnham,56,cametopoweron
Julythe16th.Oneofhiskeyprioritiesistoincreaseaccesstotechnicaltrai
ningforyoungsters.Hewantsschoolchildrenasyoungas14tostartacqu
iringtheskillstheyneedfortheworkplace.Thisistoaddresstheproblem
ofunemployedyouth.Britainhasmorethanonemillionyoungpeoplenot
ineducation,employmentortraining.Theyhavebeendubbed"thelostg
eneration".MrBurnhamsaid:"Fixingtheyouthunemploymentcrisisin
Britainwillrequireamajorshake-upinhowwedothings,andthat'swha
tthisgovernmentwilldo."PrimeMinisterBurnham'saimistoresettraditi
onalviewsonwhite-andblue-collarwork.Hewantsyoungpeopletobe
lievethatacareerasaplumber,carpenter,orbricklayerisjustasvaluabl
easworkingasalawyerordoctor.Hesaid:"Iwantaneducationsystemba
sedonparitybetweenacademicandtechnical,whichgivesallyoungpeo
pleaclearpathinlife.Fromtoday,Britainwillvaluethehardhateverybita
smuchasthegraduationcap."Headded:"Fortoolonginthiscountry,stu
dentshavebeentoldthattheymusttaketheacademicpathtodowelland
toberespected.Thewholeschoolsystemhasbeenbuiltaroundit,andth
athasletdownyoungpeopleseekingtechnicalqualifications."

Free writing

Write about technical education for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Blue-collar work should be valued as highly as white-collar work. 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. TECHNICAL EDUCATION: Make a poster about technical education. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. PARITY: Write a magazine article about making the salaries of lawyers and doctors the same as plumbers and carpenters. 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 technical education. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

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

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Breaking News English Lesson: Technical Education

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