The Reading / Listening - Debt - Level 3

Many people around the world have a lot of debt. They owe a lot of money. They are using credit cards more and more. People are taking out loans to help them buy food. More young people are borrowing lots of money and have huge student loans. One country is doing something to help people with debt. South Korea is going to write off the debts of as many as 1.6 million people. The government wants to help people on low incomes who have money problems. It has a scheme called the National Happiness Fund. It wants to help people to make a fresh start in life, without money worries. South Koreans who are struggling to pay back debts of less than $9,000 could get help.

The National Happiness Fund started in 2013 to help the poorest people in Korea with their debts. The scheme was a big promise of a former South Korean president. He wanted to reduce growing inequality in the country. Household debt is a big issue in South Korea. The Happiness Fund will help with this. However, there is still a big problem with middle and higher-income workers. These people have most of the debt in South Korea. The Korea Times newspaper said the government is, "preventing numerous working families from going bankrupt under a mountain of debt". It said the government needed to act soon because there could be a big debt crisis coming.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Debt - Level 0,  Debt - Level 1   or  Debt - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-42177172
  • http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Ec_detail.htm?No=132027&id=Ec
  • http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2017/11/137_239633.html


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. DEBT: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about debt. 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?

       debt / owe money / credit cards / student loans / low incomes / happiness / money /
       poorest people / promise / inequality / income / newspaper / bankrupt / mountain

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

3. NO DEBT: Students A strongly believe people should never get into debt; Students B strongly believe being in debt is OK.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. AVOIDING DEBT: What can we do to avoid debt? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What we can do

How easy this is

Housing

 

 

Transport

 

 

Studying

 

 

Electronics

 

 

Clothes

 

 

Credit cards

 

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

6. BORROWING: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst things to borrow money for at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • a house
  • education
  • starting a business
  • to pay bills
  • a new iPhone
  • a car
  • clothes
  • a holiday

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. debt a. Take and use money (or anything else) from a person or bank and then give it or pay it back later.
      2. owe b. Having difficulty or big problems trying to do something or trying to live.
      3. loans c. The money that people must pay back to another person, a bank or a company.
      4. borrowing d. Money that you got from a bank (or from a friend or other person) that you must give back later.
      5. huge e. In the position that you must pay back some money to someone or to a bank.
      6. income f. Very, very, very big.
      7. struggling g. The money people get every month or year from working or from other things.

    Paragraph 2

      8. scheme h. Been in a job or position before.
      9. former i. Having very big and unfair differences because of money, job opportunities, chances in life, etc.
      10. inequality j. Having no money and not being in a position to pay back money you owe.
      11. issue k. A big plan for reaching a goal or for putting an idea into action.
      12. preventing l. A time of big, big difficulty, trouble, or danger.
      13. bankrupt m. Keeping something or stopping something from happening.
      14. crisis n. An important topic or problem for debate or discussion.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. People are using credit cards a lot more often.     T / F
  2. More young people are borrowing money.     T / F
  3. A happiness fund could help up to 16 million people.     T / F
  4. South Koreans with debts of less than $9,000 could get help.     T / F
  5. The National Happiness Fund began two years ago.     T / F
  6. South Korea's current leader started the National Happiness Fund.     T / F
  7. Lower-income families have the most debt in South Korea.     T / F
  8. A newspaper said there was little chance of a debt crisis coming.     T / F

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

  1. taking out
  2. huge
  3. help
  4. scheme
  5. fresh
  6. former
  7. reduce
  8. income
  9. numerous
  10. act
  1. assist
  2. earnings
  3. project
  4. cut
  5. getting
  6. many
  7. new
  8. very, very big
  9. do something
  10. previous

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

  1. They owe a
  2. South Korea is going to write
  3. More young people are borrowing
  4. help people to make a fresh
  5. Koreans who are struggling to pay
  6. reduce growing
  7. Household debt is a big
  8. middle and higher-
  9. going bankrupt under a mountain
  10. there could be a big debt
  1. lots of money
  2. of debt
  3. back debts
  4. issue in South Korea
  5. off the debts
  6. crisis coming
  7. start in life
  8. inequality in the country
  9. lot of money
  10. income workers

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
borrowing
struggling
lot
scheme
credit
loans
fresh
incomes

Many people around the world have a (1) ____________ of debt. They owe a lot of money. They are using (2) ____________ cards more and more. People are taking out loans to help them buy food. More young people are (3) ____________ lots of money and have huge student (4) ____________. One country is doing something to help people with debt. South Korea is going to write off the debts of as many as 1.6 million people. The government wants to help people on low (5) ____________ who have money problems. It has a (6) ____________ called the National Happiness Fund. It wants to help people to make a (7) ____________ start in life, without money worries. South Koreans who are (8) ____________ to pay back debts of less than $9,000 could get help.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
former
mountain
poorest
most
crisis
still
inequality
numerous

The National Happiness Fund started in 2013 to help the (9) ____________ people in Korea with their debts. The scheme was a big promise of a (10) ____________ South Korean president. He wanted to reduce growing (11) ____________ in the country. Household debt is a big issue in South Korea. The Happiness Fund will help with this. However, there is (12) ____________ a big problem with middle and higher-income workers. These people have (13) ____________ of the debt in South Korea. The Korea Times newspaper said the government is, "preventing (14) ____________ working families from going bankrupt under a (15) ____________ of debt". It said the government needed to act soon because there could be a big debt (16) ____________ coming.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Many people around the world have ______ debt
     a.  allot of
     b.  a lots of
     c.  all lot of
     d.  a lot of

2)  People are taking out loans to help ______
     a.  them by food
     b.  them buy food
     c.  then buy food
     d.  then by food

3)  More young people are borrowing lots of money and ______ loans
     a.  has huge student
     b.  have huge student
     c.  have huge students
     d.  has huge students

4)  South Korea is going to ______ the debts
     a.  wry toff
     b.  write toff
     c.  write tough
     d.  write off

5)  It wants to help people to make a fresh ______
     a.  start in life
     b.  starting life
     c.  starting in life
     d.  star tin life

6)  The scheme was a big promise ______ South Korean president
     a.  of a firmer
     b.  of a former
     c.  of a for mar
     d.  of a fore mar

7)  He wanted to reduce growing ______
     a.  in equality
     b.  inner quality
     c.  inequality
     d.  inner qualify

8)  However, there is still a big problem with middle and ______ workers
     a.  high a income
     b.  higher in come
     c.  higher-income
     d.  high erring come

9)  The Korea Times newspaper said the government is preventing ______ families
     a.  numerals working
     b.  numerous work in
     c.  none are us working
     d.  numerous working

10)  the government needed to act soon because there could be a ______ coming
     a.  big debt cry sis
     b.  big dead crisis
     c.  big dead Christ is
     d.  big debt crisis

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Many people around the world have (1) ___________________ debt. They owe a lot of money. They are using credit cards (2) ___________________. People are taking out loans to help them buy food. More young people are borrowing lots of money (3) ___________________ student loans. One country is doing something to help people with debt. South Korea is going to write off the debts (4) ___________________ as 1.6 million people. The government wants to help people on low incomes who have money problems. It has a scheme called the National Happiness Fund. It wants to help people to make a (5) ___________________ life, without money worries. South Koreans who are struggling to pay back debts (6) ___________________ $9,000 could get help.

The National Happiness Fund started in 2013 to help the poorest people in Korea with their debts. The scheme was a big promise (7) ___________________ South Korean president. He wanted to reduce growing inequality in the country. Household debt is (8) ___________________ in South Korea. The Happiness Fund will help with this. However, there is still a big problem (9) ___________________ higher-income workers. These people (10) ___________________ the debt in South Korea. The Korea Times newspaper said the government is, "preventing numerous working families from going bankrupt (11) ___________________ of debt". It said the government needed to act soon because there could be a (12) ___________________ coming.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say people owe a lot of?
  2. What are people taking out loans to buy?
  3. How many people might South Korea help with debt?
  4. What is the name of the scheme that will help people with debt?
  5. How much debt do people have to be struggling with to get help?
  6. When did the scheme start?
  7. What growing thing does the government want to help reduce?
  8. What does the article say is a big issue in South Korea?
  9. Who has the most debt in South Korea?
  10. What big thing did a newspaper say might be coming?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say people owe a lot of?
a) interest
b) money
c) thanks
d) gratitude

2) What are people taking out loans to buy?
a) smart phones
b) land
c) houses
d) food

3) How many people might South Korea help with debt?
a) 1.6 million
b) 16 million
c) 6 million
d) 16 million

4) What is the name of the scheme that will help people with debt?
a) National Happiness Plan
b) Debt Happiness Fund
c) National Happiness Fund
d) National Debt Plan

5) How much debt do people have to be struggling with to get help?
a) more than $9,000
b) less than $9,000
c) more than $19,000
d) more than $90,000

6) When did the scheme start?
a) 2014
b) 2011
c) 2013
d) 2015

7) What growing thing does the government want to help reduce?
a) the population
b) poverty
c) the government
d) inequality

8) What does the article say is a big issue in South Korea?
a) household debt
b) homelessness
c) poverty
d) smart phone use

9) Who has the most debt in South Korea?
a) middle and higher-income workers
b) the poorest people
c) business managers
d) teachers

10) What big thing did a newspaper say might be coming?
a) war
b) a big debt crisis
c) a new way of borrowing
d) winter

Role play

Role  A – A New iPhone

You think a new iPhone is the worst thing to borrow money for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as bad to get a loan for their things. Also, tell the others which is the best of these to get a loan for (and why): clothes, education or starting a business.

Role  B – Clothes

You think clothes is the worst thing to borrow money for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as bad to get a loan for their things. Also, tell the others which is the best of these to get a loan for (and why): a new iPhone, education or starting a business.

Role  C – Education

You think education is the worst thing to borrow money for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as bad to get a loan for their things. Also, tell the others which is the best of these to get a loan for (and why): clothes, a new iPhone or starting a business.

Role  D – Starting a Business

You think starting a business is the worst thing to borrow money for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why it isn't as bad to get a loan for their things. Also, tell the others which is the best of these to get a loan for (and why):  clothes, education or a new iPhone.

After reading / listening

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

'debit'

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

    • and 'money'.

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

    • • 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:

    • 2013
    • former
    • issue
    • middle
    • going
    • coming
    • owe
    • huge
    • 1.6
    • low
    • worries
    • less

    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 - South Korea government to help people in debt

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'debt'?
    3. What do you think of debt?
    4. How much debt have you been in?
    5. What can we do to stay out of debt?
    6. Why do people get into debt?
    7. What do you think of South Korea for helping people in debt?
    8. What are the bad things about credit cards?
    9. How can countries help poor people?
    10. How would you like to make a fresh start in life?

    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 'money'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How can countries focus more on people's happiness?
    5. How much inequality is there in your country?
    6. What advice do you have for people who are in debt?
    7. Should borrowing money be more difficult?
    8. What does debt do to families?
    9. What would you take a loan out to buy?
    10. What questions would you like to ask someone with a lot of debt?

    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)

    Many people around the world have a (1) ____ of debt. They owe a lot of money. They are using credit cards more and (2) ____. People are taking out loans to help them buy food. More young people are borrowing lots of money and have (3) ____ student loans. One country is doing something to help people with debt. South Korea is going to write (4) ____ the debts of as many as 1.6 million people. The government wants to help people on low incomes who have money problems. It has a scheme (5) ____ the National Happiness Fund. It wants to help people to make a fresh start in life, without money worries. South Koreans who are struggling to pay (6) ____ debts of less than $9,000 could get help.

    The National Happiness Fund started in 2013 to help the poorest people in Korea (7) ____ their debts. The scheme was a big promise of a former South Korean president. He wanted to reduce (8) ____ inequality in the country. Household debt is a big issue in South Korea. The Happiness Fund will help with this. However, there is (9) ____ a big problem with middle and higher-income workers. These people have most of the debt in South Korea. The Korea Times newspaper said the government is, "preventing (10) ____ working families from going bankrupt (11) ____ a mountain of debt". It said the government needed to act soon because there could be a big debt crisis (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     lots and lots     (b)     lots     (c)     loads     (d)     lot    
    2. (a)     much     (b)     many     (c)     most     (d)     more    
    3. (a)     hugely     (b)     huge     (c)     hugs     (d)     hug    
    4. (a)     on     (b)     up     (c)     off     (d)     in    
    5. (a)     called     (b)     calling     (c)     calls     (d)     caller    
    6. (a)     back     (b)     backing     (c)     backed     (d)     backs    
    7. (a)     within     (b)     wither     (c)     without     (d)     with    
    8. (a)     growing     (b)     grows     (c)     grew     (d)     grower    
    9. (a)     yet     (b)     still     (c)     by     (d)     until    
    10. (a)     numbered     (b)     numeral     (c)     numerous     (d)     number    
    11. (a)     of     (b)     to     (c)     under     (d)     over    
    12. (a)     came     (b)     coming     (c)     comes     (d)     come

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. They ewo a lot of money
    2. people are bornowgir lots of money
    3. huge student laons
    4. help people on low ecsmnio
    5. a cmsehe called the National Happiness Fund
    6. money srrwoie

    Paragraph 2

    1. help the peoorts people in Korea
    2. a big ispmroe
    3. crdeue growing inequality
    4. a big ieuss in South Korea
    5. going nktaurpb
    6. a big debt irissc coming

    Put the text back together

    (    )     there is still a big problem with middle and higher-income workers. These people have most of the debt in

    (    )     to write off the debts of as many as 1.6 million people. The government wants to help people on low

    (  1  )     Many people around the world have a lot of debt. They owe a lot of money. They are using credit cards more and

    (    )     struggling to pay back debts of less than $9,000 could get help.

    (    )     inequality in the country. Household debt is a big issue in South Korea. The Happiness Fund will help with this. However,

    (    )     more. People are taking out loans to help them buy food. More young people are borrowing lots of

    (    )     incomes who have money problems. It has a scheme called the National Happiness Fund. It wants to help

    (    )     money and have huge student loans. One country is doing something to help people with debt. South Korea is going

    (    )     The National Happiness Fund started in 2013 to help the poorest people in Korea

    (    )     government needed to act soon because there could be a big debt crisis coming.

    (    )     families from going bankrupt under a mountain of debt". It said the

    (    )     people to make a fresh start in life, without money worries. South Koreans who are

    (    )     with their debts. The scheme was a big promise of a former South Korean president. He wanted to reduce growing

    (    )     South Korea. The Korea Times newspaper said the government is, "preventing numerous working

    Put the words in the right order

    1. around   debt   lot   have   the   People   of   a   world   .
    2. are   They   more   and   more   cards   credit   using   .
    3. them   help   loans   taking   People   to   out   are   .
    4. fresh   people   start   to   in   make   life   a   Help   .
    5. back   pay   to   Struggling   $9,000   than   less   of   debts   .
    6. with   poorest   their   people   debts   in   Help   Korea   the   .
    7. to   He   wanted   growing   inequality   reduce   .
    8. people   the   have   debt   most   These   of   .
    9. under   mountain   debt   bankrupt   a   of   Going   .
    10. be   could   There   coming   crisis   debt   big   a   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Many people around the world have a lot of debit / debt. They owe a lot of money. They are using credit cards / card more and more. People are taking out loans / loan to help them buy food. More young people are borrowed / borrowing lots of money and have huge student loans. One country is doing something / anything to help people with debt. South Korea is going to write off the debts of as much / many as 1.6 million people. The government wants to help people on / by low incomes who have money problems. It has a scheme / scam called the National Happiness Fund. It wants to help people to make a freshly / fresh start in life, without money worries. South Koreans who are struggling to pay back / front debts of less than $9,000 could get help.

    The National Happiness Fund started in / at 2013 to help the poorest people in Korea with their debts. The scheme was a big promise of a farmer / former South Korean president. He wanted to reduce grow / growing inequality in the country. Household debt is a big tissue / issue in South Korea. The Happiness Fund will helpful / help with this. However, there is still a big problem with middle and higher-income workings / workers. These people have most / mist of the debt in South Korea. The Korea Times newspaper said the government is, "preventing numbers / numerous working families from going bankrupt under a mountain / iceberg of debt". It said the government needed to act soon because there could be a big debt crisis coming / come.

    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)

    M_ny p__pl_ _r__nd th_ w_rld h_v_ _ l_t _f d_bt. Th_y _w_ _ l_t _f m_n_y. Th_y _r_ _s_ng cr_d_t c_rds m_r_ _nd m_r_. P__pl_ _r_ t_k_ng __t l__ns t_ h_lp th_m b_y f__d. M_r_ y__ng p__pl_ _r_ b_rr_w_ng l_ts _f m_n_y _nd h_v_ h_g_ st_d_nt l__ns. _n_ c__ntry _s d__ng s_m_th_ng t_ h_lp p__pl_ w_th d_bt. S__th K_r__ _s g__ng t_ wr_t_-_ff th_ d_bts _f _s m_ny _s 1.6 m_ll__n p__pl_. Th_ g_v_rnm_nt w_nts t_ h_lp p__pl_ _n l_w _nc_m_s wh_ h_v_ m_n_y pr_bl_ms. _t h_s _ sch_m_ c_ll_d th_ N_t__n_l H_pp_n_ss F_nd. _t w_nts t_ h_lp p__pl_ t_ m_k_ _ fr_sh st_rt _n l_f_, w_th__t m_n_y w_rr__s. S__th K_r__ns wh_ _r_ str_ggl_ng t_ p_y b_ck d_bts _f l_ss th_n $9,000 c__ld g_t h_lp.

    Th_ N_t__n_l H_pp_n_ss F_nd st_rt_d _n 2013 t_ h_lp th_ p__r_st p__pl_ _n K_r__ w_th th__r d_bts. Th_ sch_m_ w_s _ b_g pr_m_s_ _f _ f_rm_r S__th K_r__n pr_s_d_nt. H_ w_nt_d t_ r_d_c_ gr_w_ng _n_q__l_ty _n th_ c__ntry. H__s_h_ld d_bt _s _ b_g _ss__ _n S__th K_r__. Th_ H_pp_n_ss F_nd w_ll h_lp w_th th_s. H_w_v_r, th_r_ _s st_ll _ b_g pr_bl_m w_th m_ddl_ _nd h_gh_r-_nc_m_ w_rk_rs. Th_s_ p__pl_ h_v_ m_st _f th_ d_bt _n S__th K_r__. Th_ K_r__ T_m_s n_wsp_p_r s__d th_ g_v_rnm_nt _s, "pr_v_nt_ng n_m_r__s w_rk_ng f_m_l__s fr_m g__ng b_nkr_pt _nd_r _ m__nt__n _f d_bt". _t s__d th_ g_v_rnm_nt n__d_d t_ _ct s__n b_c__s_ th_r_ c__ld b_ _ b_g d_bt cr_s_s c_m_ng.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    many people around the world have a lot of debt they owe a lot of money they are using credit cards more and more people are taking out loans to help them buy food more young people are borrowing lots of money and have huge student loans one country is doing something to help people with debt south korea is going to write off the debts of as many as 16 million people the government wants to help people on low incomes who have money problems it has a scheme called the national happiness fund it wants to help people to make a fresh start in life without money worries south koreans who are struggling to pay back debts of less than $9000 could get help

    the national happiness fund started in 2013 to help the poorest people in korea with their debts the scheme was a big promise of a former south korean president he wanted to reduce growing inequality in the country household debt is a big issue in south korea the happiness fund will help with this however there is still a big problem with middle and higher-income workers these people have most of the debt in south korea the korea times newspaper said the government is "preventing numerous working families from going bankrupt under a mountain of debt" it said the government needed to act soon because there could be a big debt crisis coming

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Manypeoplearoundtheworldhavealotofdebt.Theyowealotofmoney.T
    heyareusingcreditcardsmoreandmore.Peoplearetakingoutloanstoh
    elpthembuyfood.Moreyoungpeopleareborrowinglotsofmoneyandha
    vehugestudentloans.Onecountryisdoingsomethingtohelppeoplewit
    hdebt.SouthKoreaisgoingtowrite offthedebtsofasmanyas1.6millio
    npeople.Thegovernmentwantstohelppeopleonlowincomeswhohave
    moneyproblems.IthasaschemecalledtheNationalHappinessFund.It
    wantstohelppeopletomakeafreshstartinlife,withoutmoneyworries.S
    outhKoreanswhoarestrugglingtopaybackdebtsoflessthan$9,000cou
    ldgethelp.TheNationalHappinessFundstartedin2013tohelpthepoore
    stpeopleinKoreawiththeirdebts.Theschemewasabigpromiseofaform
    erSouthKoreanpresident.Hewantedtoreducegrowinginequalityinthe
    country.HouseholddebtisabigissueinSouthKorea.TheHappinessFun
    dwillhelpwiththis.However,thereisstillabigproblemwithmiddleandhi
    gher-incomeworkers.ThesepeoplehavemostofthedebtinSouthKo
    rea.TheKoreaTimesnewspapersaidthegovernmentis,"preventingnu
    merousworkingfamiliesfromgoingbankruptunderamountainofdebt"
    .Itsaidthegovernmentneededtoactsoonbecausetherecouldbeabigde
    btcrisiscoming.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    How big a problem is debt? Discuss three ways to stay away from debt.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. NO DEBT: Write a magazine article about people not being able to borrow money and get into debt. 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 debt. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can avoid getting into debt. 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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