The Reading / Listening - Exercise - Level 6

A new study has shown that physical activity and exercise are 'contagious' because of social media. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discovered that people who post details of their exercise patterns and achievements on social media sites motivate and encourage other people to be more active. Researchers tracked the exercise routines of 1.1 million runners over a period of five years. They looked at the geographic location of the runners, their social network use, distance, time, pace and the calories they burned. The researchers concluded that sharing personal exercise data via social media can inspire others to exercise more, exercise harder and do so more competitively.

The journal 'Nature Communications' has published the research. The study includes detailed accounts of how inspiring it can be to read about a friend's physical activity. Researchers said: "On average, an additional kilometre run by friends can inspire someone to run an additional three-tenths of a kilometre, and an additional ten minutes run by friends can inspire someone to run three minutes longer." The study said social media improved the performance of runners who had been a little slower or less in shape, and of those who were showing signs of overtaking a friend's performance. Researcher Sinan Aral said: "In general, if you run more, it is likely that you can cause your friends to run more."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Exercise - Level 4  or  Exercise - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/fitness/news/a28041/is-running-contagious/
  • http://www.health.com/fitness/running-socially-contagious
  • https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/well/move/running-may-be-socially-contagious.html?_r=0


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. RUNNING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about running. 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?

       study / social media / technology / motivate / runners / calories / exercise / data /
       journal / accounts / kilometer / improved / performance / in shape / signs / cause

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. CONTAGIOUS: Students A strongly believe exercise is contagious; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: How can we fit more physical activity into our day? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What we can do more?

Would you do it? Why (not)?

Breakfast

 

 

Shower time

 

 

Going to work / school

 

 

Lunch time

 

 

On the bus / train

 

 

Before bed

 

 
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. SOCIAL MEDIA: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the term "social media". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. EXERCISE: Rank these with your partner. Put the best forms of exercise at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • playing with small kids
  • housework
  • washing the car
  • going shopping
  • hiking
  • gardening
  • dancing
  • sightseeing

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A new study says posting on social media is a good form of exercise.     T / F
  2. The article says people join social networks to be inspired to exercise.     T / F
  3. Researchers looked at the exercise patterns of over a million runners.     T / F
  4. Researchers said posting one's exercise data encourages competition.     T / F
  5. The study is yet to be published in a journal.     T / F
  6. An extra kilometer you run can inspire a friend to run an extra 300m.     T / F
  7. Posts about exercise on social media can help less in shape people.     T / F
  8. The study says if you run more, you will post more on social media.     T / F

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

  1. contagious
  2. discovered
  3. post
  4. pace
  5. inspire
  6. accounts
  7. additional
  8. improved
  9. in shape
  10. in general
  1. put up
  2. usually
  3. encourage
  4. found
  5. extra
  6. bettered
  7. catching
  8. fit
  9. reports
  10. speed

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

  1. physical activity and exercise
  2. people who post details of
  3. motivate and
  4. over a period
  5. social media can inspire
  6. detailed accounts of how
  7. run an additional three-
  8. social media improved the
  9. a little slower or less
  10. those who were showing signs of overtaking
  1. encourage other people
  2. in shape
  3. tenths of a kilometre
  4. their exercise patterns
  5. inspiring it can be
  6. performance of runners
  7. others to exercise more
  8. are 'contagious'
  9. a friend's performance
  10. of five years

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
encourage
calories
discovered
activity
competitively
details
data
period

A new study has shown that physical (1) ____________ and exercise are 'contagious' because of social media. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (2) ____________ that people who post (3) ____________ of their exercise patterns and achievements on social media sites motivate and (4) ____________ other people to be more active. Researchers tracked the exercise routines of 1.1 million runners over a (5) ____________ of five years. They looked at the geographic location of the runners, their social network use, distance, time, pace and the (6) ____________ they burned. The researchers concluded that sharing personal exercise (7) ____________ via social media can inspire others to exercise more, exercise harder and do so more (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
improved
activity
tenths
general
detailed
average
shape
longer

The journal 'Nature Communications' has published the research. The study includes (9) ____________ accounts of how inspiring it can be to read about a friend's physical (10) ____________. Researchers said: "On (11) ____________, an additional kilometre run by friends can inspire someone to run an additional three-(12) ____________ of a kilometre, and an additional ten minutes run by friends can inspire someone to run three minutes (13) ____________." The study said social media (14) ____________ the performance of runners who had been a little slower or less in (15) ____________, and of those who were showing signs of overtaking a friend's performance. Researcher Sinan Aral said: "In (16) ____________, if you run more, it is likely that you can cause your friends to run more."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  social media sites motivate and encourage other people to ______
     a.  be more actively
     b.  be more activate
     c.  be more activity
     d.  be more active

2)  tracked the exercise routines of 1.1 million runners over a ______ years
     a.  periodical of five
     b.  periods of five
     c.  period of five
     d.  periodically of five

3)  their social network use, distance, time, pace and the ______ burned
     a.  calorie they
     b.  calories they
     c.  calorific they
     d.  calorimeters they

4)  The researchers concluded that sharing personal exercise data ______
     a.  via social media
     b.  vie social media
     c.  vim social media
     d.  vid social media

5)  inspire others to exercise more, exercise harder and do so ______
     a.  more competitive
     b.  more compete attentively
     c.  more competitively
     d.  more competition

6)  The study includes detailed accounts of how ______
     a.  inspire in it can be
     b.  inspiring it can been
     c.  inspiring that can be
     d.  inspiring it can be

7)  inspire someone to run an additional three-______ kilometre
     a.  tenths of a
     b.  tents of a
     c.  tenets of a
     d.  tenants of a

8)  the performance of runners who had been a little slower or ______
     a.  less on shape
     b.  less in shape
     c.  less un-shape
     d.  less out shape

9)  and of those who were showing signs of overtaking a ______
     a.  friend's performance
     b.  friends' performance
     c.  friends performance
     d.  friend performance

10)  In general, if you run more, it is likely that you can cause your ______
     a.  friends to run mores
     b.  friends to run moor
     c.  friends to run many
     d.  friends to run more

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new study has shown that physical (1) ___________________ are 'contagious' because of social media. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discovered that (2) ___________________ details of their exercise patterns and achievements on social media sites motivate and encourage other people (3) ___________________ active. Researchers tracked the exercise routines of 1.1 million runners over a (4) ___________________ years. They looked at the geographic location of the runners, their social network use, distance, time, (5) ___________________ calories they burned. The researchers concluded that sharing personal exercise data via social media can inspire others to exercise more, exercise harder (6) ___________________ competitively.

The journal 'Nature Communications' (7) ___________________ research. The study includes detailed accounts of how (8) ___________________ be to read about a friend's physical activity. Researchers said: "On average, an additional kilometre run by (9) ___________________ someone to run an additional (10) ___________________ kilometre, and an additional ten minutes run by friends can inspire someone to run three minutes longer." The study said social media improved the performance of runners who had been a little slower (11) ___________________, and of those who were showing signs of overtaking a friend's performance. Researcher Sinan Aral said: "In general, if you run more, (12) ___________________ you can cause your friends to run more."

Comprehension questions

  1. What else did the study say was contagious besides exercise?
  2. What's the abbreviated name of the institution that conducted the study?
  3. How many runners did the researchers track?
  4. What thing that runners burned did the researchers look at?
  5. What did posts on social media inspire people to do more competitively?
  6. What is the name of the journal that published the research?
  7. What kind of accounts did the study contain about inspiring people?
  8. How much farther did a person run if their friend ran an extra kilometer?
  9. What improved the performance of runners who had been less in shape?
  10. What did a researcher say you would do more if your friend ran more?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What else did the study say was contagious besides exercise?
a) research
b) social media
c) physical activity
d) influenza

2) What's the abbreviated name of the institution that conducted the study?
a) MIT
b) BBC
c) PEW
d) UNESCO

3) How many runners did the researchers track?
a) just fewer than a million
b) 1.1 million
c) 11 million
d) 1,100,001

4) What thing that runners burned did the researchers look at?
a) records
b) their toes
c) rubber
d) calories

5) What did posts on social media inspire people to do more competitively?
a) be social
b) post
c) exercise
d) inspire

6) What is the name of the journal that published the research?
a) Exercise Communications
b) Nature Communications
c) Natural Exercise
d) Physical Exercise

7) What kind of accounts did the study contain about inspiring people?
a) by all accounts
b) profit and loss accounts
c) expense accounts
d) detailed accounts

8) How much farther did a person run if their friend ran an extra kilometre?
a) a tenth of a kilometre
b) 300 metres
c) ten kilometres
d) a kilometre

9) What improved the performance of runners who had been less in shape?
a) times
b) social media
c) energy drinks
d) better shoes

10) What did a researcher say you would do more if your friend ran more?
a) run more
b) post more
c) inspire more
d) make more friends

Role play

Role  A – Hiking

You think hiking is the best form of exercise. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't such good exercise. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): dancing, housework or shopping.

Role  B – Dancing

You think dancing is the best form of exercise. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't such good exercise. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): hiking, housework or shopping.

Role  C – Housework

You think housework is the best form of exercise. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't such good exercise. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): dancing, hiking or shopping.

Role  D – Shopping

You think shopping is the best form of exercise. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't such good exercise. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why):  dancing, housework or hiking.

After reading / listening

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

'social'

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

    • and 'media'.

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

    • • 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:

    • journal
    • read
    • tenths
    • shape
    • signs
    • general
    • shown
    • post
    • 1.1
    • use
    • via
    • so

    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 - Exercise is contagious because of social media

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'social'?
    3. Do you think exercise can be contagious?
    4. What positive effect does social media have on you?
    5. Can running be addictive?
    6. Why do people post details of their exercise online?
    7. How much do you like exercise?
    8. What is your favourite form of exercise?
    9. Who inspires you?
    10. How do you motivate yourself?

    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 'media'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of exercise?
    5. Who is the most inspiring person among your friends?
    6. Does social media have any negative effects on your life?
    7. What kind of shape are you in?
    8. What do you do that might inspire others?
    9. What would motivate you to run more?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    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)

    A new study has (1) ____ that physical activity and exercise are 'contagious' because of social media. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discovered that people who (2) ____ details of their exercise patterns and achievements on social media sites motivate and encourage (3) ____ people to be more active. Researchers (4) ____ the exercise routines of 1.1 million runners over a period of five years. They looked at the geographic location of the runners, their social network (5) ____, distance, time, pace and the calories they burned. The researchers concluded that sharing personal exercise data (6) ____ social media can inspire others to exercise more, exercise harder and do so more competitively.

    The (7) ____ 'Nature Communications' has published the research. The study includes detailed accounts of how inspiring it can be to read about a friend's physical activity. Researchers said: "(8) ____ average, an additional kilometre run by friends can inspire someone to run an additional three-(9) ____ of a kilometre, and an additional ten minutes run by friends can inspire someone to run three minutes longer." The study said social media improved the performance of runners who had been a little slower or (10) ____ in shape, and of those who were showing (11) ____ of overtaking a friend's performance. Researcher Sinan Aral said: "In general, if you run more, it is (12) ____ that you can cause your friends to run more."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     shown     (b)     showing     (c)     show     (d)     showed    
    2. (a)     posit     (b)     postal     (c)     post     (d)     postings    
    3. (a)     others     (b)     another     (c)     other     (d)     the others    
    4. (a)     trekked     (b)     trucked     (c)     tricked     (d)     tracked    
    5. (a)     use     (b)     using     (c)     user     (d)     used    
    6. (a)     vid     (b)     via     (c)     vie     (d)     vim    
    7. (a)     journo     (b)     adjourn     (c)     journey     (d)     journal    
    8. (a)     At     (b)     On     (c)     In     (d)     By    
    9. (a)     tens     (b)     tents     (c)     tenths     (d)     tenets    
    10. (a)     fewer     (b)     fitter     (c)     smaller     (d)     less    
    11. (a)     marks     (b)     posters     (c)     indicates     (d)     signs    
    12. (a)     liked     (b)     likely     (c)     likeable     (d)     liking

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. aclypsih activity
    2. exercise patterns and acsimevhteen
    3. motivate and oecrenaug other people
    4. egrpioahgc location
    5. the srealcio they burned
    6. do so more lvteecyoptiim

    Paragraph 2

    1. detailed tuasccno
    2. how pisninigr it can be
    3. On eraveag
    4. improved the rfparoeencm of runners
    5. grnveaitok a friend's
    6. In anlgere

    Put the text back together

    (    )     active. Researchers tracked the exercise routines of 1.1 million runners over a period of five years. They looked

    (    )     The journal 'Nature Communications' has published the research. The study includes detailed accounts of how

    (    )     others to exercise more, exercise harder and do so more competitively.

    (    )     kilometre run by friends can inspire someone to run an additional three-tenths of a kilometre, and an additional

    (    )     at the geographic location of the runners, their social network use, distance, time, pace and the calories they

    (    )     of their exercise patterns and achievements on social media sites motivate and encourage other people to be more

    (    )     of social media. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discovered that people who post details

    (    )     improved the performance of runners who had been a little slower or less in shape, and of

    (    )     general, if you run more, it is likely that you can cause your friends to run more."

    (  1  )     A new study has shown that physical activity and exercise are 'contagious' because

    (    )     those who were showing signs of overtaking a friend's performance. Researcher Sinan Aral said: "In

    (    )     inspiring it can be to read about a friend's physical activity. Researchers said: "On average, an additional

    (    )     ten minutes run by friends can inspire someone to run three minutes longer." The study said social media

    (    )     burned. The researchers concluded that sharing personal exercise data via social media can inspire

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Physical   'contagious'   are   exercise   and   activity   .
    2. their   of   details   post   who   People   patterns   exercise   .
    3. people   Motivate   to   and   be   encourage   more   other   active   .
    4. 1.1  the  routines  runners  tracked  exercise  million  Researchers  of   .
    5. media  exercise   can   data   inspire   via   Sharing   social   personal   .
    6. can  it  inspiring  How  activity  physical  friend's  a  about  read  to  be .
    7. tenths  -  three  additional  an  run  to  someone  Inspire  kilometer  a  of  .
    8. The   performance   the   improved   media   social   said   study   .
    9. a   performance   signs   overtaking   friend's   Showing   of   .
    10. your   cause   can   you  that   likely   is   It   more   run   to   friends   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A new study has shown that physical activity / active and exercise are 'contagious' because for / of social media. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discovery / discovered that people who post details of their exercise patterns and achievements in / on social media sites motivate and encourage / encouragement other people to be more active. Researchers tracked / tracking the exercise routines of 1.1 million runners over a period of five years. They looked at the geography / geographic location of the runners, their social network use, distant / distance, time, pace and the calories they burned. The researchers concluded that sharing personal exercise data via social media can inspire other / others to exercise more, exercise harder and do so more competition / competitively.

    The journal 'Nature Communications' has published / publication the research. The study includes detailed / details accounts of how inspiring it can be to read about a friend's physical activity. Researchers said: "On / In average, an additional kilometre run by friends can inspire someone to run an addition / additional three-tenths of a kilometre, and an additional ten minutes run by friends can inspire someone to run three minutes lengthen / longer." The study said social media improve / improved the performance of runners who / that had been a little slower or less in / on shape, and of those who were showing signs of / off overtaking a friend's performance. Researcher Sinan Aral said: "In general, if you run more, it is likely / liked that you can cause your friends to run more."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _ n_w st_dy h_s sh_wn th_t phys_c_l _ct_v_ty _nd _x_rc_s_ _r_ 'c_nt_g___s' b_c__s_ _f s_c__l m_d__. R_s__rch_rs _t th_ M_ss_ch_s_tts _nst_t_t_ _f T_chn_l_gy (M_T) d_sc_v_r_d th_t p__pl_ wh_ p_st d_t__ls _f th__r _x_rc_s_ p_tt_rns _nd _ch__v_m_nts _n s_c__l m_d__ s_t_s m_t_v_t_ _nd _nc__r_g_ _th_r p__pl_ t_ b_ m_r_ _ct_v_. R_s__rch_rs tr_ck_d th_ _x_rc_s_ r__t_n_s _f 1.1 m_ll__n r_nn_rs _v_r _ p_r__d _f f_v_ y__rs. Th_y l__k_d _t th_ g__gr_ph_c l_c_t__n _f th_ r_nn_rs, th__r s_c__l n_tw_rk _s_, d_st_nc_, t_m_, p_c_ _nd th_ c_l_r__s th_y b_rn_d. Th_ r_s__rch_rs c_ncl_d_d th_t sh_r_ng p_rs_n_l _x_rc_s_ d_t_ v__ s_c__l m_d__ c_n _nsp_r_ _th_rs t_ _x_rc_s_ m_r_, _x_rc_s_ h_rd_r _nd d_ s_ m_r_ c_mp_t_t_v_ly.

    Th_ j__rn_l 'N_t_r_ C_mm_n_c_t__ns' h_s p_bl_sh_d th_ r_s__rch. Th_ st_dy _ncl_d_s d_t__l_d _cc__nts _f h_w _nsp_r_ng _t c_n b_ t_ r__d _b__t _ fr__nd's phys_c_l _ct_v_ty. R_s__rch_rs s__d: "_n _v_r_g_, _n _dd_t__n_l k_l_m_tr_ r_n by fr__nds c_n _nsp_r_ s_m__n_ t_ r_n _n _dd_t__n_l thr__-t_nths _f _ k_l_m_tr_, _nd _n _dd_t__n_l t_n m_n_t_s r_n by fr__nds c_n _nsp_r_ s_m__n_ t_ r_n thr__ m_n_t_s l_ng_r." Th_ st_dy s__d s_c__l m_d__ _mpr_v_d th_ p_rf_rm_nc_ _f r_nn_rs wh_ h_d b__n _ l_ttl_ sl_w_r _r l_ss _n sh_p_, _nd _f th_s_ wh_ w_r_ sh_w_ng s_gns _f _v_rt_k_ng _ fr__nd's p_rf_rm_nc_. R_s__rch_r S_n_n _r_l s__d: "_n g_n_r_l, _f y__ r_n m_r_, _t _s l_k_ly th_t y__ c_n c__s_ y__r fr__nds t_ r_n m_r_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a new study has shown that physical activity and exercise are 'contagious' because of social media researchers at the massachusetts institute of technology (mit) discovered that people who post details of their exercise patterns and achievements on social media sites motivate and encourage other people to be more active researchers tracked the exercise routines of 11 million runners over a period of five years they looked at the geographic location of the runners their social network use distance time pace and the calories they burned the researchers concluded that sharing personal exercise data via social media can inspire others to exercise more exercise harder and do so more competitively

    the journal 'nature communications' has published the research the study includes detailed accounts of how inspiring it can be to read about a friend's physical activity researchers said "on average an additional kilometre run by friends can inspire someone to run an additional three-tenths of a kilometre and an additional ten minutes run by friends can inspire someone to run three minutes longer" the study said social media improved the performance of runners who had been a little slower or less in shape and of those who were showing signs of overtaking a friend's performance researcher sinan aral said "in general if you run more it is likely that you can cause your friends to run more"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Anewstudyhasshownthatphysicalactivityandexerciseare'contagiou
    s'becauseofsocialmedia.ResearchersattheMassachusettsInstituteof
    Technology(MIT)discoveredthatpeoplewhopostdetailsoftheirexerci
    sepatternsandachievementsonsocialmediasitesmotivateandencour
    ageotherpeopletobemoreactive.Researcherstrackedtheexerciserou
    tinesof1.1millionrunnersoveraperiodoffiveyears.Theylookedattheg
    eographiclocationoftherunners,theirsocialnetworkuse,distance,tim
    e,paceandthecaloriestheyburned.Theresearchersconcludedthatsha
    ringpersonalexercisedataviasocialmediacaninspireotherstoexercise
    more,exerciseharderanddosomorecompetitively.Thejournal'Nature
    Communications'haspublishedtheresearch.Thestudyincludesdetail
    edaccountsofhowinspiringitcanbetoreadaboutafriend'sphysicalactiv
    ity.Researcherssaid:"Onaverage,anadditionalkilometrerunbyfriend
    scaninspiresomeonetorunanadditionalthree-tenthsofakilometre,a
    ndanadditionaltenminutesrunbyfriendscaninspiresomeonetorunthr
    eeminuteslonger."Thestudysaidsocialmediaimprovedtheperforman
    ceofrunnerswhohadbeenalittleslowerorlessinshape,andofthosewho
    wereshowingsignsofovertakingafriend'sperformance.ResearcherSi
    nanAralsaid:"Ingeneral,ifyourunmore,itislikelythatyoucancauseyo
    urfriendstorunmore."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    What are the good and bad things about social media? How does it change our life?

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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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. EXERCISE: Make a poster about how we can exercise more each day. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. TRACKING: Write a magazine article about everyone posting details of their physical activity online every day. 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 exercise. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can exercise more each day. 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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