Breaking News English Lesson: Worldwide Internet

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Satellites launched to provide worldwide Internet (4th March, 2019)

The Reading / Listening - Worldwide Internet - Level 6

A satellite start-up company has successfully launched its first satellites in a project aimed at delivering "affordable" Internet access to every corner of the globe. The London-based company is called OneWeb. Its first six satellites were put into orbit on Wednesday in a launch from French Guiana. A Russian Soyuz rocket transported the pioneering spacecraft. OneWeb said it eventually wants to have around 900 spacecraft in an extensive network in space. Only 648 satellites are needed to provide global Internet coverage. OneWeb will start sending more Internet satellites into space towards the end of this year. The company intends to launch several rockets every month, each carrying 39 satellites.

OneWeb CEO Adrian Steckel was ecstatic about the launch of the multi-billion-dollar project. He said it would greatly transform the lives of millions of people. He told reporters: "We're going to connect lots of people who are not currently connected. We're going to start by focusing on connecting schools, connecting boats, connecting planes, and connecting huge swathes of the planet." Not everyone is happy at the prospect of a global Internet network. Reports are that China is testing jammers to block the network. North Korea might also fear the network could damage its national security. Russia has voiced concerns that OneWeb's network could be used to gather intelligence.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Worldwide Internet - Level 4 or Worldwide Internet - Level 5

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-47374246
https://www.dw.com/en/oneweb-of-900-Internet-satellites-in-space/a-47690785
https://onewebsatellites.com/

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. THE INTERNET: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Internet. 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?
satellite / start-up / Internet access / orbit / network / space / spacecraft / rockets
project / millions / connected / planes / testing / jammers / security / intelligence
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BEING CONNECTED: Students A strongly believe it is essential in life to be connected to the Internet; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BEING ONLINE: What are the good and bad things about being online? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good Things	Bad Things
Time spent online
Social media
News
Shopping
Studying
Privacy

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

news
hobbies
shopping
banking
studying English
online business
weather forecasts
social media

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	start-up	a.	Sent a missile, satellite, or spacecraft on its course into space.
2.	launched	b.	Involving new ideas or methods.
3.	affordable	c.	The curved path of an object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon.
4.	orbit	d.	Inexpensive; reasonably priced.
5.	pioneering	e.	A newly established business.
6.	extensive	f.	Has a course of action as one's purpose or objective; plans.
7.	intends	g.	Large in amount or scale.

Paragraph 2

8.	ecstatic	h.	Gave an opinion.
9.	transform	i.	Feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement.
10.	swathes	j.	A transmitter or device used for blocking signals.
11.	prospect	k.	Bring together and take in from different places or sources.
12.	jammers	l.	Very, very large areas or strips of land.
13.	voiced	m.	The possibility or likelihood of some future event happening.
14.	gather	n.	Make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of something or someone.

Before reading / listening

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

The Internet service the satellites will provide will be expensive. T / F
The company launching the satellites is based in Florida, USA. T / F
Around 900 satellites are required to provide global Internet coverage. T / F
The company will launch several satellites a month later this year. T / F
The CEO said the satellites would transform the lives of billions. T / F
The company will start by focusing on connecting governments. T / F
Not all countries are happy about this new satellite network. T / F
Russia is worried the network could be used to gather intelligence. T / F

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

launched
delivering
pioneering
extensive
several
ecstatic
transform
currently
prospect
voiced

large-scale
groundbreaking
expressed
change
presently
sent into orbit
likelihood
a number of
providing
overjoyed

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

successfully launched
aimed at delivering "affordable"
its first six satellites were put
provide global Internet
launch several
start by focusing
connecting huge swathes
testing jammers to
Russia has voiced
used to gather

coverage
block the network
rockets every month
concerns
into orbit
intelligence
on connecting schools
its first satellites
of the planet
Internet access

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

eventually
orbit
delivering
several
start-up
coverage
pioneering
corner

A satellite (1) ____________ company has successfully launched its first satellites in a project aimed at (2) ____________ "affordable" Internet access to every (3) ____________ of the globe. The London-based company is called OneWeb. Its first six satellites were put into (4) ____________ on Wednesday in a launch from French Guiana. A Russian Soyuz rocket transported the (5) ____________ spacecraft. OneWeb said it (6) ____________ wants to have around 900 spacecraft in an extensive network in space. Only 648 satellites are needed to provide global Internet (7) ____________. OneWeb will start sending more Internet satellites into space towards the end of this year. The company intends to launch (8) ____________ rockets every month, each carrying 39 satellites.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

prospect
connected
gather
ecstatic
jammers
swathes
greatly
voiced

OneWeb CEO Adrian Steckel was (9) ____________ about the launch of the multi-billion-dollar project. He said it would (10) ____________ transform the lives of millions of people. He told reporters: "We're going to connect lots of people who are not currently (11) ____________. We're going to start by focusing on connecting schools, connecting boats, connecting planes, and connecting huge (12) ____________ of the planet." Not everyone is happy at the (13) ____________ of a global Internet network. Reports are that China is testing (14) ____________ to block the network. North Korea might also fear the network could damage its national security. Russia has (15) ____________ concerns that OneWeb's network could be used to (16) ____________ intelligence.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A satellite start-up company has successfully ______ satellites
     a. launched its first
     b. launched that's firstly
     c. launch its first
     d. launch its firstly
2) a project aimed at delivering ______ access
     a. "affordable" Internet
     b. "afforded" Internet
     c. "afford" able Internet
     d. "unaffordable" Internet
3) Its first six satellites were put into ______ Wednesday
     a. orbit on
     b. orbit ton
     c. or bit on
     d. or bitten
4) A Russian Soyuz rocket transported the ______
     a. pie an earring spacecraft
     b. pi on erring in spacecraft
     c. pine near ring spacecraft
     d. pioneering spacecraft
5) it eventually wants to have around 900 spacecraft in ______ network
     a. an extra pensive
     b. an extensively
     c. an eggs tent sieve
     d. an extensive

6) OneWeb CEO Adrian Steckel was ______ the launch
     a. fantastic about
     b. elastic about
     c. ecstatic about
     d. egg static about
7) We're going to connect lots of people who are not ______
     a. currently connect it
     b. currently connected
     c. currently connecting
     d. currently connection
8) connecting boats, connecting planes, and connecting huge ______ planet
     a. swathes of a
     b. swathes off the
     c. swathes of the
     d. swathes of their
9) Reports are that China is ______
     a. testing jam mass
     b. testing jam Mars
     c. testing pajamas
     d. testing jammers
10) voiced concerns that OneWeb's network could be ______ intelligence
     a. used to garter
     b. used to gaffer
     c. used to gazer
     d. used to gather

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A satellite start-up company has successfully (1) ___________________ satellites in a project aimed at delivering "affordable" Internet access to (2) ___________________ the globe. The London-based company is called OneWeb. Its first six satellites were (3) ___________________ on Wednesday in a launch from French Guiana. A Russian Soyuz rocket transported the pioneering spacecraft. OneWeb (4) ___________________ wants to have around 900 spacecraft in an extensive network in space. Only 648 satellites are needed to provide (5) ___________________. OneWeb will start sending more Internet satellites into space towards the end of this year. The company intends to launch (6) ___________________ month, each carrying 39 satellites.

OneWeb CEO Adrian Steckel (7) ___________________ the launch of the multi-billion-dollar project. He said it would greatly transform the lives of millions of people. He told reporters: "We're going (8) ___________________ of people who are not currently connected. We're going to start by focusing on connecting schools, connecting boats, connecting planes, and connecting (9) ___________________ the planet." Not everyone is happy at the prospect of a global Internet network. Reports are that China (10) ___________________ to block the network. North Korea might also fear the network could (11) ___________________ security. Russia has voiced concerns that OneWeb's network could be (12) ___________________ intelligence.

Comprehension questions

What parts of Earth will the company deliver Internet access?
Where is the company based?
From which country did the rocket take off?
How many spacecraft are needed to provide global Internet coverage?
How many satellites will each rocket take into orbit later this year?
How did the company CEO feel about the project?
How many people's lives will be changed by this project?
What will the company connect besides boats and planes?
What is China currently testing?
What is Russia worried the network might be used for?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What parts of Earth will the company deliver Internet access?
a) the poles
b) three continents
c) mountains
d) every corner
2) Where is the company based?
a) Florida
b) London
c) Dubai
d) Australia
3) From which country did the rocket take off?
a) Grenada
b) Guyana
c) French Guinea
d) Guinea
4) How many spacecraft are needed to provide global Internet coverage?
a) 648
b) 900
c) 468
d) 906
5) How many satellites will each rocket take into orbit later this year?
a) 38
b) 36
c) 39
d) 37

6) How did the company CEO feel about the project?
a) satisfied
b) ecstatic
c) excited
d) good
7) How many people's lives will be changed by this project?
a) billions
b) hundreds of millions
c) tens of millions
d) millions
8) What will the company connect besides boats and planes?
a) schools
b) governments
c) mountains
d) children
9) What is China currently testing?
a) AI software
b) satellites
c) jammers
d) rockets
10) What is Russia worried the network might be used for?
a) to spread English
b) to gather intelligence
c) to block missiles
d) to block Internet access

Role play

Role A – Studying English
You think the best use of the Internet is for studying English. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): social media, getting news or shopping.

Role B – Social Media
You think the best use of the Internet is for social media. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): studying English, getting news or shopping.

Role C – News
You think the best use of the Internet is for getting news. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): social media, studying English or shopping.

Role D – Shopping
You think the best use of the Internet is for shopping. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): social media, getting news or studying English.

After reading / listening

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

'worldwide'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'Internet'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

multi

lives

start

prospect

block

voiced

first

corner

orbit

900

provide

end

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 - Satellites launched to provide worldwide Internet

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'satellite'?
What do you think of the cost of the Internet?
How would the world change if the Internet was everywhere?
How important is the Internet?
How does the Internet help you?
Should there be so many satellites in space?
How can we make the Internet better?
What would life be like without the Internet?
In what ways is the Internet dangerous?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word ''?
What do you think about what you read?
When was the last time you were ecstatic?
How might the OneWeb network transform lives?
Are you happy with your Internet coverage?
Why might China not like the OneWeb network?
How might worldwide Internet change North Korea?
What will the Internet be like in 50 years?
What questions would you like to ask the boss of OneWeb?

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 satellite start-up company has successfully launched its first satellites (1) ____ a project aimed at delivering "affordable" Internet access to every (2) ____ of the globe. The London-based company is called OneWeb. Its first six satellites were (3) ____ into orbit on Wednesday in a launch from French Guiana. A Russian Soyuz rocket transported the pioneering spacecraft. OneWeb said it (4) ____ wants to have around 900 spacecraft in an extensive network in space. Only 648 satellites are needed to provide global Internet (5) ____. OneWeb will start sending more Internet satellites into space towards the end of this year. The company (6) ____ to launch several rockets every month, each carrying 39 satellites.

OneWeb CEO Adrian Steckel was (7) ____ about the launch of the multi-billion-dollar project. He said it would (8) ____ transform the lives of millions of people. He told reporters: "We're going to connect lots of people who are not currently connected. We're going to start (9) ____ focusing on connecting schools, connecting boats, connecting planes, and connecting huge (10) ____ of the planet." Not everyone is happy at the prospect of a global Internet network. Reports are that China is testing jammers to block the network. North Korea might also (11) ____ the network could damage its national security. Russia has (12) ____ concerns that OneWeb's network could be used to gather intelligence.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) an (b) on (c) in (d) at
(a) corner (b) edge (c) middle (d) sphere
(a) put (b) took (c) given (d) heightened
(a) eventually (b) eventual (c) evenly (d) event
(a) leverage (b) coverage (c) overage (d) average
(a) tends (b) contends (c) portends (d) intends
(a) ecstasy (b) elastic (c) ecstatic (d) plastic
(a) grated (b) gratitude (c) ingratiate (d) greatly
(a) by (b) of (c) at (d) to
(a) swabs (b) swathes (c) swarms (d) suave
(a) frighten (b) fear (c) afraid (d) horrified
(a) whispered (b) shouted (c) voiced (d) spoke

Spelling

Paragraph 1

delivering dablffaore Internet access
put into boitr on Wednesday
the pgronniiee spacecraft
in an netixvsee network
provide global Internet gevcareo
launch leesrva rockets

Paragraph 2

tccetais about the launch
not relunrtcy connected
huge hteawss of the planet
the rpoctesp of a global Internet network
damage its national rtsceuyi
Russia has vedoic concerns

Put the text back together

(...) the end of this year. The company intends to launch several rockets every month, each carrying 39 satellites.
(...) from French Guiana. A Russian Soyuz rocket transported the pioneering spacecraft. OneWeb said it eventually
(...) based company is called OneWeb. Its first six satellites were put into orbit on Wednesday in a launch
(...) to provide global Internet coverage. OneWeb will start sending more Internet satellites into space towards
(...) wants to have around 900 spacecraft in an extensive network in space. Only 648 satellites are needed
( ) A satellite start-up company has successfully launched its first satellites in a project aimed
(...) OneWeb CEO Adrian Steckel was ecstatic about the launch of the multi-billion-dollar
(...) lots of people who are not currently connected. We're going to start by focusing on connecting
(...) happy at the prospect of a global Internet network. Reports are that China is testing
(...) at delivering "affordable" Internet access to every corner of the globe. The London-
(...) project. He said it would greatly transform the lives of millions of people. He told reporters: "We're going to connect
(...) jammers to block the network. North Korea might also fear the network could damage its national
(...) schools, connecting boats, connecting planes, and connecting huge swathes of the planet." Not everyone is
(...) security. Russia has voiced concerns that OneWeb's network could be used to gather intelligence.

Put the words in the right order

project affordable at aimed delivering A Internet access .
put into six Its orbit . first were satellites
spacecraft . around wants eventually to 900 have It
are needed Satellites global to Internet coverage . provide
several intends to OneWeb launch rockets month . every
currently Connect people of aren't lots who connected .
everyone Not happy is prospect . at the
is testing network . jammers block the China to
damage its national the Afraid network security . could
intelligence . be could OneWeb's used network gather to

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

A satellite start-up company has successfully launching / launched its first satellites in a project aimed at / on delivering "affordable" Internet access to every corner / cornered of the globe. The London-based company is called OneWeb. Its first six satellites were put / got into orbit on Wednesday in a launch from French Guiana. A Russian Soyuz rocket transporting / transported the pioneering spacecraft. OneWeb said it eventual / eventually wants to have around 900 spacecraft in an extensive / extensively network in space. Only 648 satellites are needed to provide global Internet coverage / leverage. OneWeb will start sending more Internet satellites into space towards the end of this year. The company contends / intends to launch several rockets every month, each / both carrying 39 satellites.

OneWeb CEO Adrian Steckel was ecstatic / ecstasy about the launch of the multi-billion-dollar project. He said it would necessary / greatly transform the lives of millions of people. He told reporters: "We're going to contract / connect lots of people who are not currently / currency connected. We're going to start by focus / focusing on connecting schools, connecting boats, connecting planes, and connecting huge swathes / swats of the planet." Not everyone is happy at the prospect / project of a global Internet network. Reports are that China is testing jam / jammers to block the network. North Korea might also fear / afraid the network could damage its national security. Russia has voiced concerns that OneWeb's network could be used to gather / garter intelligence.

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)

A s_t_l l_t_ s t_r t -_p c_m p_n y h_s s_c c_s s f_l l y l__ n c h_d _t s f_r s t s_t_l l_t_s _n _ p r_j_c t __ m_d _t d_l_v_r_n g "_f f_r d_b l_" I n t_r n_t _c c_s s t_ _v_r y c_r n_r _f t h_ g l_b_. T h_ L_n d_n - b_s_d c_m p_n y _s c_l l_d O n_W_b . I t s f_r s t s_x s_t_l l_t_s w_r_ p_t _n t_ _r b_t _n W_d n_s d_y _n _ l__ n c h f r_m F r_n c h G___n_. A R_s s__ n S_y_z r_c k_t t r_n s p_r t_d t h_ p__ n__ r_n g s p_c_c r_f t . O n_W_b s__ d _t _v_n t__ l l y w_n t s t_ h_v_ _r__ n d 9 0 0 s p_c_c r_f t _n _n _x t_n s_v_ n_t w_r k _n s p_c_. O n l y 6 4 8 s_t_l l_t_s _r_ n__ d_d t_ p r_v_d_ g l_b_l I n t_r n_t c_v_r_g_. O n_W_b w_l l s t_r t s_n d_n g m_r_ I n t_r n_t s_t_l l_t_s _n t_ s p_c_ t_w_r d s t h_ _n d _f t h_s y__ r . T h_ c_m p_n y _n t_n d s t_ l__ n c h s_v_r_l r_c k_t s _v_r y m_n t h , __ c h c_r r y_n g 3 9 s_t_l l_t_s .

O n_W_b C E O A d r__ n S t_c k_l w_s _c s t_t_c _b__ t t h_ l__ n c h _f t h_ m_l t_- b_l l__ n - d_l l_r p r_j_c t . H_ s__ d _t w__ l d g r__ t l y t r_n s f_r m t h_ l_v_s _f m_l l__ n s _f p__ p l_. H_ t_l d r_p_r t_r s : " W_' r_ g__ n g t_ c_n n_c t l_t s _f p__ p l_ w h_ _r_ n_t c_r r_n t l y c_n n_c t_d . W_' r_ g__ n g t_ s t_r t b y f_c_s_n g _n c_n n_c t_n g s c h__ l s , c_n n_c t_n g b__ t s , c_n n_c t_n g p l_n_s , _n d c_n n_c t_n g h_g_ s w_t h_s _f t h_ p l_n_t . " N_t _v_r y_n_ _s h_p p y _t t h_ p r_s p_c t _f _ g l_b_l I n t_r n_t n_t w_r k . R_p_r t s _r_ t h_t C h_n_ _s t_s t_n g j_m m_r s t_ b l_c k t h_ n_t w_r k . N_r t h K_r__ m_g h t _l s_ f__ r t h_ n_t w_r k c__ l d d_m_g_ _t s n_t__ n_l s_c_r_t y . R_s s__ h_s v__ c_d c_n c_r n s t h_t O n_W_b ' s n_t w_r k c__ l d b_ _s_d t_ g_t h_r _n t_l l_g_n c_.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

a satellite startup company has successfully launched its first satellites in a project aimed at delivering affordable internet access to every corner of the globe the londonbased company is called oneweb its first six satellites were put into orbit on wednesday in a launch from french guiana a russian soyuz rocket transported the pioneering spacecraft oneweb said it eventually wants to have around 900 spacecraft in an extensive network in space only 648 satellites are needed to provide global internet coverage oneweb will start sending more internet satellites into space towards the end of this year the company intends to launch several rockets every month each carrying 39 satellites

oneweb ceo adrian steckel was ecstatic about the launch of the multibilliondollar project he said it would greatly transform the lives of millions of people he told reporters were going to connect lots of people who are not currently connected were going to start by focusing on connecting schools connecting boats connecting planes and connecting huge swathes of the planet not everyone is happy at the prospect of a global internet network reports are that china is testing jammers to block the network north korea might also fear the network could damage its national security russia has voiced concerns that onewebs network could be used to gather intelligence

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Asatellitestart-upcompanyhassuccessfullylauncheditsfirstsatellite
sinaprojectaimedatdelivering"affordable"Internetaccesstoeverycor
neroftheglobe.TheLondon-basedcompanyiscalledOneWeb.Itsfirstsi
xsatelliteswereputintoorbitonWednesdayinalaunchfromFrenchGuia
na.ARussianSoyuzrockettransportedthepioneeringspacecraft.One
Websaiditeventuallywantstohavearound900spacecraftinanextensiv
enetworkinspace.Only648satellitesareneededtoprovideglobalInter
netcoverage.OneWebwillstartsendingmoreInternetsatellitesintosp
acetowardstheendofthisyear.Thecompanyintendstolaunchseveralr
ocketseverymonth,eachcarrying39satellites.OneWebCEOAdrianSte
ckelwasecstaticaboutthelaunchofthemulti-billion-dollarproject.Hes
aiditwouldgreatlytransformthelivesofmillionsofpeople.Hetoldreport
ers:"We'regoingtoconnectlotsofpeoplewhoarenotcurrentlyconnecte
d.We'regoingtostartbyfocusingonconnectingschools,connectingboa
ts,connectingplanes,andconnectinghugeswathesoftheplanet."Note
veryoneishappyattheprospectofaglobalInternetnetwork.Reportsare
thatChinaistestingjammerstoblockthenetwork.NorthKoreamightals
ofearthenetworkcoulddamageitsnationalsecurity.Russiahasvoicedc
oncernsthatOneWeb'snetworkcouldbeusedtogatherintelligence.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

No country should be able to block Internet access. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. THE INTERNET: Make a poster about the Internet. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. REGULATED: Write a magazine article about the Internet being regulated and censored. 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 the Internet. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to improve the Internet. 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

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Answers

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

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