The Reading / Listening - Taekwondo - Level 6

The World Taekwondo Federation has changed its name to simply World Taekwondo. The rebranding is to avoid confusion over its acronym 'WTF'. This acronym is widely used as a slang term on social media, but it has a very different and very rude meaning when it is used on Facebook, or Twitter. The abbreviation 'WTF' is a slang term that is often used to indicate disdainful disbelief. The World Taekwondo president said: "In the digital age, the acronym of our federation has developed negative connotations unrelated to our organization, and so it was important that we rebrand to better engage with our fans...stay relevant and appeal to young and modern audiences."

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, characterized by its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques. The Taekwondo Federation president said: "Since 1973, we have been known as the World Taekwondo Federation. Over the following 44 years, we have grown taekwondo into the global sport it is today with 208 member national federations worldwide; we have led taekwondo to the Olympic Games, and in 2020, we will have the honour of seeing taekwondo at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games; and we have reinforced our federation’s position as a global leader in taking taekwondo beyond sport and into the field of humanitarianism."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Taekwondo - Level 4  or  Taekwondo - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.rt.com/sport/393856-world-taekwondo-federation-wtf/
  • http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1051887/wtf-announces-rebrand-to-world-taekwondo
  • http://www.worldtaekwondo.org/wtf-rebrands-to-world-taekwondo/


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. TAEKWONDO: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about taekwondo. 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?

       taekwondo / rebranding / confusion / slang / different / disbelief / digital age / fans /
       martial art / jumping / kicks / techniques / global sport / Olympics / humanitarianism

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

3. MARTIAL ART: Students A strongly believe taekwondo is the best martial art in the world; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. REBRANDING: Imagine you can rebrand these companies / organizations. What would you do? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

New image

Why?

United Nations

 

 

Apple

 

 

Ferrari

 

 

FIFA

 

 

BBC

 

 

McDonalds

 

 
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. ACRONYM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "acronym". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. COMBAT SPORTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best sports at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • boxing
  • fencing
  • sumo
  • mixed martial arts
  • taekwondo
  • karate
  • judo
  • wrestling

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The World Taekwondo Federation is now called World Taekwondo.     T / F
  2. The name changed because of confusion over the acronym 'WTF'.     T / F
  3. The World Taekwondo president said 'WTF' gave a negative image.     T / F
  4. The name change was not to appeal to younger fans.     T / F
  5. The name World Taekwondo Federation started in 1937.     T / F
  6. There are 208 national taekwondo federations worldwide.     T / F
  7. Taekwondo will not be at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.     T / F
  8. Taekwondo has not entered the field of humanitarianism.     T / F

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

  1. changed
  2. evade
  3. indicate
  4. connotations
  5. engage
  6. emphasis
  7. worldwide
  8. honour
  9. reinforced
  10. field
  1. strengthened
  2. associations
  3. globally
  4. stay away from
  5. attention
  6. amended
  7. privilege
  8. capture
  9. area
  10. signal

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

  1. The rebranding is to avoid confusion
  2. widely used as a slang
  3. developed negative
  4. stay
  5. appeal to young and
  6. characterized by its emphasis
  7. Over the following
  8. 208 member national federations
  9. reinforced our federation’s position
  10. into the field of
  1. term
  2. as a global leader
  3. relevant
  4. on head-height kicks
  5. over its acronym 'WTF'
  6. connotations
  7. humanitarianism
  8. 44 years
  9. modern audiences
  10. worldwide

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
age
simply
disbelief
audiences
term
engage
avoid
rude

The World Taekwondo Federation has changed its name to (1) ____________ World Taekwondo. The rebranding is to (2) ____________ confusion over its acronym 'WTF'. This acronym is widely used as a slang (3) ____________ on social media, but it has a very different and very (4) ____________ meaning when it is used on Facebook, or Twitter. The abbreviation 'WTF' is a slang term that is often used to indicate disdainful (5) ____________. The World Taekwondo president said: "In the digital (6) ____________, the acronym of our federation has developed negative connotations unrelated to our organization, and so it was important that we rebrand to better (7) ____________ with our fans...stay relevant and appeal to young and modern (8) ____________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
following
field
characterized
worldwide
spinning
reinforced
member
honour

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, (9) ____________ by its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and (10) ____________ kicks, and fast kicking techniques. The Taekwondo Federation president said: "Since 1973, we have been known as the World Taekwondo Federation. Over the (11) ____________ 44 years, we have grown taekwondo into the global sport it is today with 208 (12) ____________ national federations (13) ____________; we have led taekwondo to the Olympic Games, and in 2020, we will have the (14) ____________ of seeing taekwondo at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games; and we have (15) ____________ our federation’s position as a global leader in taking taekwondo beyond sport and into the (16) ____________ of humanitarianism."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The World Taekwondo Federation has changed its ______ World Taekwondo
     a.  name to simple
     b.  name too simply
     c.  name to simply
     d.  named to simply

2)  The rebranding is to avoid confusion over ______
     a.  it's acronym 'WTF'
     b.  its' acronym 'WTF'
     c.  its an acronym 'WTF'
     d.  its acronym 'WTF'

3)  The abbreviation 'WTF' is a slang term that is often used to indicate ______
     a.  this painful disbelief
     b.  disdainful disbelief
     c.  disdainful this belief
     d.  this painful this belief

4)  In the digital age, the acronym of our federation has developed ______
     a.  negatively connotations
     b.  negative connotations
     c.  negativity connotations
     d.  negatively connotation

5)  better engage with our fans stay relevant and appeal to young and ______
     a.  modern audiences
     b.  modern audience is
     c.  modern audience
     d.  modern audiences are

6)  Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, characterized by its emphasis on ______
     a.  head-height kicks
     b.  head-height kick
     c.  head-heighten kicks
     d.  heading-height kicks

7)  Over the following 44 years, we have grown taekwondo into the global sport ______
     a.  it was today
     b.  it is today
     c.  it's today
     d.  it is today's

8)  … and in 2020, we will have the honour of ______
     a.  see in taekwondo
     b.  seeing in taekwondo
     c.  seeing taekwondo
     d.  seen taekwondo

9)  at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games; and we have reinforced our ______
     a.  federation’s positions
     b.  federation’s position
     c.  federation’s positioned
     d.  federation’s positional

10)  a global leader in taking taekwondo beyond sport and into the ______
     a.  field off humanitarianism
     b.  fielding of humanitarianism
     c.  fielder of humanitarianism
     d.  field of humanitarianism

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The World Taekwondo Federation has (1) ___________________ to simply World Taekwondo. The rebranding is (2) ___________________ over its acronym 'WTF'. This acronym is widely used as a slang term on social media, but it has a very different (3) ___________________ meaning when it is used on Facebook, or Twitter. The abbreviation 'WTF' is a slang term that is often used to indicate disdainful disbelief. The World Taekwondo president said: "In (4) ___________________, the acronym of our federation has developed negative connotations unrelated to our organization, and so it was important that we rebrand (5) ___________________ with our fans...stay relevant (6) ___________________ young and modern audiences."

Taekwondo is a Korean (7) ___________________, characterized by its emphasis (8) ___________________ kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques. The Taekwondo Federation president said: "Since 1973, we have (9) ___________________ the World Taekwondo Federation. Over the following 44 years, we have grown taekwondo into the global sport it is today (10) ___________________ national federations worldwide; we have led taekwondo to the Olympic Games, and in 2020, we will have the honour of seeing taekwondo (11) ___________________ Olympic and Paralympic Games; and we have reinforced our federation’s position as a global leader in taking taekwondo beyond sport and (12) ___________________ humanitarianism."

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the new name of the World Taekwondo Federation?
  2. Where is the slang term 'WTF' widely used?
  3. What kind of disbelief did the article say 'WTF' indicated?
  4. In what age did the president say the acronym could be negative?
  5. What kind of audiences does the president want to appeal to?
  6. Where is taekwondo from?
  7. When did the name World Taekwondo Federation start being used?
  8. How many national taekwondo federations are there in the world?
  9. When will taekwondo be in the Paralympic Games?
  10. Into what area has taekwondo gone beyond that of sport?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the new name of the World Taekwondo Federation?
a) World Taekwondo
b) Taekwondo World
c) Taekwondo International
d) Taekwondo Federation

2) Where is the slang term 'WTF' widely used?
a) on paper
b) online
c) at taekwondo competitions
d) at taekwondo gyms

3) What kind of disbelief did the article say 'WTF' indicated?
a) sudden
b) gentle
c) shocked
d) disdainful

4) In what age did the president say the acronym could be negative?
a) the dark age
b) the middle age
c) the digital age
d) the taekwondo age

5) What kind of audiences does the president want to appeal to?
a) young and hungry
b) eager and modern
c) hungry and eager
d) young and modern

6) Where is taekwondo from?
a) Japan
b) China
c) Korea
d) Thailand

7) When did the name World Taekwondo Federation start being used?
a) 1973
b) 1944
c) 2008
d) 1960

8) How many national taekwondo federations are there in the world?
a) 100
b) 44
c) 208
d) 202

9) When will taekwondo be in the Paralympic Games?
a) 2028
b) 2020
c) 2024
d) 2032

10) Into what area has taekwondo gone beyond that of sport?
a) humanitarianism
b) vegetarianism
c) egalitarianism
d) conservatism

Role play

Role  A – Taekwondo

You think taekwondo is the most exciting combat sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sports. Also, tell the others which is the least exciting of these (and why): wrestling, boxing or fencing.

Role  B – Wrestling

You think wrestling is the most exciting combat sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sports. Also, tell the others which is the least exciting of these (and why): taekwondo, boxing or fencing.

Role  C – Boxing

You think boxing is the most exciting combat sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sports. Also, tell the others which is the least exciting of these (and why): wrestling, taekwondo or fencing.

Role  D – Fencing

You think fencing is the most exciting combat sport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sports. Also, tell the others which is the least exciting of these (and why):  wrestling, boxing or taekwondo.

After reading / listening

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

'slang'

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

    • and 'term'.

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

    • • 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:

    • emphasis
    • fast
    • 1973
    • 208
    • 2020
    • field
    • simply
    • over
    • rude
    • age
    • important
    • modern

    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 - World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) changes name

    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 'taekwondo'?
    3. What do you know about taekwondo?
    4. What do you think about the name change?
    5. What do you think of the acronym?
    6. What do you think of slang?
    7. What English slang do you know?
    8. Do you think the rebranding will help taekwondo?
    9. How can taekwondo become more popular?
    10. Would you like to try taekwondo?

    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 'slang'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What is your favourite martial art?
    5. How does taekwondo compare to judo and karate?
    6. Do you think you would be good at taekwondo?
    7. Should taekwondo be in the Olympics?
    8. How would being good at taekwondo change your life?
    9. How do you think taekwondo affects humanitarianism?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the taekwondo boss?

    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 World Taekwondo Federation has (1) ____ its name to simply World Taekwondo. The rebranding is to (2) ____ confusion over its acronym 'WTF'. This acronym is widely used as a slang term (3) ____ social media, but it has a very different and very rude meaning when it is used on Facebook, or Twitter. The abbreviation 'WTF' is a slang term that is often used to (4) ____ disdainful disbelief. The World Taekwondo president said: "In the digital (5) ____, the acronym of our federation has developed negative connotations unrelated to our organization, and so it was important that we rebrand to better engage with our fans...stay relevant and appeal (6) ____ young and modern audiences."

    Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, characterized (7) ____ its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques. The Taekwondo Federation president said: "Since 1973, we have been (8) ____ as the World Taekwondo Federation. Over the following 44 years, we have grown taekwondo (9) ____ the global sport it is today with 208 member national federations worldwide; we have led taekwondo to the Olympic Games, and in 2020, we will have the honour of (10) ____ taekwondo at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games; and we have reinforced our federation’s position (11) ____ a global leader in taking taekwondo (12) ____ sport and into the field of humanitarianism."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     changed     (b)     charged     (c)     chastened     (d)     chained    
    2. (a)     evade     (b)     avid     (c)     avoid     (d)     aphid    
    3. (a)     as     (b)     by     (c)     on     (d)     to    
    4. (a)     complicate     (b)     replicate     (c)     vindicate     (d)     indicate    
    5. (a)     old     (b)     day     (c)     age     (d)     months    
    6. (a)     of     (b)     to     (c)     by     (d)     at    
    7. (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     on     (d)     as    
    8. (a)     knew     (b)     known     (c)     knowing     (d)     knows    
    9. (a)     up     (b)     of     (c)     into     (d)     by    
    10. (a)     scene     (b)     seen     (c)     seer     (d)     seeing    
    11. (a)     that's     (b)     has     (c)     was     (d)     as    
    12. (a)     because     (b)     behoove     (c)     beneath     (d)     beyond

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The rebranding is to avoid ooninufcs
    2. This crnoyam is widely used
    3. often used to tenidaic disdainful disbelief
    4. rebrand to better geenag with our fans
    5. stay lvtrneea
    6. young and modern eecdsuina

    Paragraph 2

    1. Taekwondo is a Korean mritala art
    2. fast kicking eithcusenq
    3. national tdfrsoaeeni
    4. have the orohnu
    5. we have coednrrief
    6. the field of uthamaarmsnniii

    Put the text back together

    (    )     age, the acronym of our federation has developed negative connotations unrelated

    (    )     known as the World Taekwondo Federation. Over the following 44 years, we have

    (    )     of seeing taekwondo at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games; and we have reinforced our federation’s

    (  1  )     The World Taekwondo Federation has changed its name to simply World Taekwondo. The rebranding is to avoid

    (    )     to our organization, and so it was important that we rebrand to better engage with our

    (    )     position as a global leader in taking taekwondo beyond sport and into the field of humanitarianism."

    (    )     confusion over its acronym 'WTF'. This acronym is widely used as a slang term on social media, but it has a very different

    (    )     and very rude meaning when it is used on Facebook, or Twitter. The abbreviation 'WTF' is a slang

    (    )     grown taekwondo into the global sport it is today with 208 member national federations

    (    )     worldwide; we have led taekwondo to the Olympic Games, and in 2020, we will have the honour

    (    )     kicks, and fast kicking techniques. The Taekwondo Federation president said: "Since 1973, we have been

    (    )     term that is often used to indicate disdainful disbelief. The World Taekwondo president said: "In the digital

    (    )     Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, characterized by its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning

    (    )     fans...stay relevant and appeal to young and modern audiences."

    Put the words in the right order

    1. The   its   confusion   to   rebranding   acronym   over   avoid   is   .
    2. used   This   as   acronym   a   is   slang   widely   term   .
    3. to  indicate  disdainful  disbelief  A  slang   term  that   is  often   used  .
    4. our   Developed  connotations  to   organization  negative   unrelated   .
    5. to   and   Stay   modern   young   appeal   relevant   audiences   and   .
    6. height   emphasis   kicks   on   Characterized   head   by   -   its   .
    7. the   global   sport  it   is   today   We  have   grown   taekwondo  into  .
    8. Olympic   the   to   taekwondo   led   have   We   Games   .
    9. Reinforced   leader   global   a   as   position   federation’s   our   .
    10. field   of   humanitarianism   Beyond   sport   and   into   the   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The World Taekwondo Federation has changed its name to / for simply World Taekwondo. The rebranding is to avoid / evade confusion over its acronym 'WTF'. This acronym is widely / wide used as a slang term on social media, but it has a very different / difference and very rude meaning when it is used on Facebook, or Twitter. The abbreviation 'WTF' is a slang term that is often used to indication / indicate disdainful disbelief. The World Taekwondo president said: "In the digital age / old, the acronym of our federation has developed negatively / negative connotations unrelated to our organization, and so it was important that / what we rebrand to better engage of / with our fans...stay relevant and appeal to young and modern audiences / audience."

    Taekwondo is a Korean martial artist / art, characterized by its emphasis / emphasize on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking / kicked techniques. The Taekwondo Federation president said: "Since 1973, we have been knowing / known as the World Taekwondo Federation. Over the following 44 years, we have growing / grown taekwondo into the global sport it is daily / today with 208 member national federations worldwide; we have led / fed taekwondo to the Olympic Games, and in 2020, we will have the honour of seeing taekwondo of / at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games; and we have reinforced our federation’s position as / has a global leader in taking taekwondo beyond sport and into the field of / off humanitarianism."

    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)

    Th_ W_rld T__kw_nd_ F_d_r_t__n h_s ch_ng_d _ts n_m_ t_ s_mply W_rld T__kw_nd_. Th_ r_br_nd_ng _s t_ _v__d c_nf_s__n _v_r _ts _cr_nym 'WTF'. Th_s _cr_nym _s w_d_ly _s_d _s _ sl_ng t_rm _n s_c__l m_d__, b_t _t h_s _ v_ry d_ff_r_nt _nd v_ry r_d_ m__n_ng wh_n _t _s _s_d _n F_c_b__k, _r Tw_tt_r. Th_ _bbr_v__t__n 'WTF' _s _ sl_ng t_rm th_t _s _ft_n _s_d t_ _nd_c_t_ d_sd__nf_l d_sb_l__f. Th_ W_rld T__kw_nd_ pr_s_d_nt s__d: "_n th_ d_g_t_l _g_, th_ _cr_nym _f __r f_d_r_t__n h_s d_v_l_p_d n_g_t_v_ c_nn_t_t__ns _nr_l_t_d t_ __r _rg_n_z_t__n, _nd s_ _t w_s _mp_rt_nt th_t w_ r_br_nd t_ b_tt_r _ng_g_ w_th __r f_ns...st_y r_l_v_nt _nd _pp__l t_ y__ng _nd m_d_rn __d__nc_s."

    T__kw_nd_ _s _ K_r__n m_rt__l _rt, ch_r_ct_r_z_d by _ts _mph_s_s _n h__d-h__ght k_cks, j_mp_ng _nd sp_nn_ng k_cks, _nd f_st k_ck_ng t_chn_q__s. Th_ T__kw_nd_ F_d_r_t__n pr_s_d_nt s__d: "S_nc_ 1973, w_ h_v_ b__n kn_wn _s th_ W_rld T__kw_nd_ F_d_r_t__n. _v_r th_ f_ll_w_ng 44 y__rs, w_ h_v_ gr_wn t__kw_nd_ _nt_ th_ gl_b_l sp_rt _t _s t_d_y w_th 208 m_mb_r n_t__n_l f_d_r_t__ns w_rldw_d_; w_ h_v_ l_d t__kw_nd_ t_ th_ _lymp_c G_m_s, _nd _n 2020 w_ll h_v_ th_ h_n__r _f s___ng t__kw_nd_ _t b_th th_ _lymp_c _nd P_r_lymp_c G_m_s; _nd w_ h_v_ r__nf_rc_d __r f_d_r_t__n’s p_s_t__n _s _ gl_b_l l__d_r _n t_k_ng t__kw_nd_ b_y_nd sp_rt _nd _nt_ th_ f__ld _f h_m_n_t_r__n_sm."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the world taekwondo federation has changed its name to simply world taekwondo the rebranding is to avoid confusion over its acronym 'wtf' this acronym is widely used as a slang term on social media but it has a very different and very rude meaning when it is used on facebook or twitter the abbreviation 'wtf' is a slang term that is often used to indicate disdainful disbelief the world taekwondo president said "in the digital age the acronym of our federation has developed negative connotations unrelated to our organization and so it was important that we rebrand to better engage with our fansstay relevant and appeal to young and modern audiences"

    taekwondo is a korean martial art characterized by its emphasis on head-height kicks jumping and spinning kicks and fast kicking techniques the taekwondo federation president said "since 1973 we have been known as the world taekwondo federation over the following 44 years we have grown taekwondo into the global sport it is today with 208 member national federations worldwide we have led taekwondo to the olympic games and in 2020, we will have the honour of seeing taekwondo at both the olympic and paralympic games and we have reinforced our federation’s position as a global leader in taking taekwondo beyond sport and into the field of humanitarianism"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheWorldTaekwondoFederationhaschangeditsnametosimplyWorld
    Taekwondo.Therebrandingistoavoidconfusionoveritsacronym'WTF'
    .Thisacronymiswidelyusedasaslangtermonsocialmedia,butithasave
    rydifferentandveryrudemeaningwhenitisusedonFacebook,orTwitter
    .Theabbreviation'WTF'isaslangtermthatisoftenusedtoindicatedisdai
    nfuldisbelief.TheWorldTaekwondopresidentsaid:"Inthedigitalage,th
    eacronymofourfederationhasdevelopednegativeconnotationsunrel
    atedtoourorganization,andsoitwasimportantthatwerebrandtobetter
    engagewithourfans...stayrelevantandappealtoyoungandmodernau
    diences."TaekwondoisaKoreanmartialart,characterizedbyitsempha
    sisonhead-heightkicks,jumpingandspinningkicks,andfastkickingte
    chniques.TheTaekwondoFederationpresidentsaid:"Since1973,weh
    avebeenknownastheWorldTaekwondoFederation.Overthefollowing
    44years,wehavegrowntaekwondointotheglobalsportitistodaywith2
    08membernationalfederationsworldwide;wehaveledtaekwondotot
    heOlympicGames,andin2020willhavethehonourofseeingtaekwondo
    atboththeOlympicandParalympicGames;andwehavereinforcedourf
    ederation’spositionasagloballeaderintakingtaekwondobeyondsport
    andintothefieldofhumanitarianism."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Taekwondo is the most exciting martial art. 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 taekwondo. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. TAEKWONDO: Make a poster about taekwondo. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. NAME CHANGE: Write a magazine article about World Taekwondo changing its name. 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 taekwondo. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on the martial art. 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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