Japan recession may hurt global economy

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Japan has gone back into recession. Analysts are thinking this will affect the global economy. Japan's economy unexpectedly shrank for the second quarter in a row, meaning it is in recession. Figures showed that the economy would grow by 2.1% in the last quarter. Instead, gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 1.6%. Economists say the fall is because of an increase in sales tax. Japanese people are cutting back more and are simply not spending.

World leaders are worried Japan's recession could hurt the global economy. British leader David Cameron said there could be a second global economic disaster. He said he saw "red warning lights" because of worldwide "instability and uncertainty". He added: "The Eurozone is teetering on the brink of a possible third recession." He added that emerging markets were slowing down and this was hurting the possibility of growth.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-warns-of-new-global-economic-crisis-9864307.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30077122
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001724963

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	Japan has gone back	a.	shrank
2.	this will affect	b.	product
3.	Japan's economy unexpectedly	c.	would grow
4.	for the second quarter	d.	into recession
5.	Figures showed that the economy	e.	sales tax
6.	gross domestic	f.	the global economy
7.	an increase in	g.	back
8.	people are cutting	h.	in a row

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	world	a.	uncertainty
2.	hurt the global	b.	economy
3.	there could be a second global	c.	the brink
4.	he saw red	d.	of growth
5.	instability and	e.	leaders
6.	teetering on	f.	markets
7.	emerging	g.	economic disaster
8.	hurting the possibility	h.	warning lights

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Japan has (1) ___________________ recession. Analysts are thinking this will affect the global economy. Japan's economy (2) ___________________ for the second (3) ___________________, meaning it is in recession. Figures showed that the economy would grow by 2.1% (4) ___________________. Instead, (5) ___________________ (GDP) fell by 1.6%. Economists say the fall is because of an increase in sales tax. Japanese people are cutting back more and are (6) ___________________.

World leaders are worried Japan's (7) ___________________ the global economy. British leader David Cameron said (8) ___________________ second global (9) ___________________. He said he saw "red warning lights" because of worldwide "(10) ___________________". He added: "The Eurozone is teetering (11) ___________________ possible third recession." He added that emerging markets (12) ___________________ and this was hurting the possibility of growth.

RECESSION SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about recession 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about recession for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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