Breaking News English Lesson on Riyadh

Home | Help This Site

Saudi capital city to get $23 billion makeover (5th April, 2019)

The Reading / Listening - Riyadh - Level 6

Saudi Arabia's government has announced it will invest a whopping $23 billion in a massive makeover for its capital city, Riyadh. The huge investment is part of a project to beautify the city, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, boost leisure and tourism, and transform Riyadh into "one of the world's most livable cities". In addition to the government's cash injection, a further $15 billion in private sector funding will help finance huge investment opportunities for businesses. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will head the committee overseeing the ambitious project. It is part of the Crown Prince's Vision 2030 initiative aimed at diversifying the kingdom's revenue sources and reducing its reliance on oil.

The plan is set to be the envy of other world capitals, which can only dream of being awarded such vast amounts of money. It aims to improve the quality of life for the capital's 5 million residents. A focus on leisure is integral to making people happier. The plan includes the construction of over 130km of cycling track, a park that will be quadruple the size of New York's Central Park, and hundreds of art installations. Riyadh will be a greener city as the amount of green space per person will be increased by 16-fold. This will be achieved by planting 7.5 million trees and creating dozens of community gardens. Work will begin in the second half of the year. It will create 70,000 jobs and take up to a decade to complete.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Riyadh - Level 4 or Riyadh - Level 5

Sources

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/20/saudi-arabia-is-giving-its-capital-a-23-billion-makeover.html
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-19/saudi-king-launches-23-billion-riyadh-beautification-program
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-economy/saudi-arabia-invests-23-billion-to-improve-living-in-riyadh-idUSKCN1R01IT

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. CAPITAL CITIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about capital cities. 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?
government / massive / makeover / investment / project / cash / injection / revenue /
plan / envy / vast / residents / integral / quadruple / art installations / community
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. INVESTMENT: Students A strongly believe its is more important to invest in capital cities; Students B strongly believe it is more important to invest in regional cities. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MAKEOVER: How would you give your city a makeover in these areas? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Makeover	Why
Leisure
Business
Safety
Shopping
Arts
Parks

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. MASSIVE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "massive". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. HAPPY CITY: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that make city people happy most at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

lots of police
malls
clean air
festivals
cheap buses
parks
art galleries
libraries

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	whopping	a.	Money provided, especially by an organization or government, for a particular purpose.
2.	boost	b.	Very, very large.
3.	injection	c.	A sum of money given to a project, plan, campaign, business, etc.
4.	funding	d.	An act or strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation; a fresh approach to something.
5.	overseeing	e.	Dependence on someone or something.
6.	initiative	f.	Help or encourage something to increase or improve.
7.	reliance	g.	Supervising a person, project or work, especially in an official capacity.

Paragraph 2

8.	envy	h.	Necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental.
9.	vast	i.	A period of ten years.
10.	resident	j.	An art exhibit constructed within a gallery.
11.	integral	k.	A person who lives somewhere permanently or on a long-term basis.
12.	quadruple	l.	Four times as much or as many as usual.
13.	installations	m.	A feeling of jealousness because of someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck.
14.	decade	n.	Of very great extent or quantity; immense.

Before reading / listening

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

The Saudi government wants to spend money on beautifying Riyadh. T / F
The Saudi government said Riyadh is the world's most livable city. T / F
Saudi's King will head and oversee the beautification project. T / F
Saudi wants to maintain its reliance on oil. T / F
The article said the project will be the envy of other capital cities. T / F
There will be 1,300km of cycle track in Riyadh. T / F
Part of the project is to plant 7.5 million trees. T / F
The beautification project will take up to 10 years to finish. T / F

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

announced
makeover
beautify
injection
reliance
vast
integral
increased
achieved
complete

enhance
grown
huge
infusion
transformation
attained
declared
finish
fundamental
dependence

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

a massive
boost leisure
In addition to the government's cash
diversifying the kingdom's
reducing its reliance
be the envy of
awarded such vast
integral to
be increased by 16-
in the second

injection
on oil
making people happier
amounts of money
makeover
fold
half of the year
revenue sources
other world capitals
and tourism

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

massive
opportunities
livable
reliance
beautify
overseeing
announced
sector

Saudi Arabia's government has (1) ____________ it will invest a whopping $23 billion in a (2) ____________ makeover for its capital city, Riyadh. The huge investment is part of a project to (3) ____________ the city, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, boost leisure and tourism, and transform Riyadh into "one of the world's most (4) ____________ cities". In addition to the government's cash injection, a further $15 billion in private (5) ____________ funding will help finance huge investment (6) ____________ for businesses. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will head the committee (7) ____________ the ambitious project. It is part of the Crown Prince's Vision 2030 initiative aimed at diversifying the kingdom's revenue sources and reducing its (8) ____________ on oil.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

fold
installations
integral
decade
vast
dozens
space
quadruple

The plan is set to be the envy of other world capitals, which can only dream of being awarded such (9) ____________ amounts of money. It aims to improve the quality of life for the capital's 5 million residents. A focus on leisure is (10) ____________ to making people happier. The plan includes the construction of over 130km of cycling track, a park that will be (11) ____________ the size of New York's Central Park, and hundreds of art (12) ____________. Riyadh will be a greener city as the amount of green (13) ____________ per person will be increased by 16-(14) ____________. This will be achieved by planting 7.5 million trees and creating (15) ____________ of community gardens. Work will begin in the second half of the year. It will create 70,000 jobs and take up to a (16) ____________ to complete.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Saudi Arabia's government has announced it will invest ______ billion
     a. a whipping $23
     b. a whopping $23
     c. a walloping $23
     d. a hopping $23
2) a project to beautify the city, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, ______ and
     a. boast leisure
     b. beast leisure
     c. baste leisure
     d. boost leisure
3) In addition to the government's cash injection, ______ billion
     a. are further $15
     b. a further $15
     c. as further $15
     d. a father $15
4) Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will head the committee overseeing ______
     a. the ambition project
     b. the ambitiously project
     c. the ambitious project
     d. the ambitions project
5) diversifying the kingdom's revenue sources and reducing ______ oil
     a. its reliance on
     b. its reliance in
     c. its reliance at
     d. its reliance of

6) The plan is set to be the envy of ______ capitals
     a. other world
     b. another world
     c. others world
     d. the others world
7) can only dream of being awarded such ______ of money
     a. vastly amounts
     b. paste amounts
     c. baste amounts
     d. vast amounts
8) It aims to improve the quality of life for the capital's ______
     a. 5 million residence
     b. 5 million residences
     c. 5 million residents
     d. 5 million resident
9) the amount of green space per person will be ______ 16-fold
     a. increased buy
     b. increased by
     c. increased bye
    d. increased bay
10) It will create 70,000 jobs and take up to a ______ complete
     a. decade to
     b. decadence to
     c. decant to
     d. decades to

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Saudi Arabia's government has announced it (1) ___________________ whopping $23 billion in a massive makeover for its capital city, Riyadh. The huge investment is part of a (2) ___________________ the city, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, boost leisure and tourism, and transform Riyadh into "one of the world's (3) ___________________". In addition to the government's cash injection, a further $15 billion in private sector funding will help (4) ___________________ opportunities for businesses. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will head the committee overseeing (5) ___________________. It is part of the Crown Prince's Vision 2030 initiative aimed at diversifying the kingdom's revenue sources and reducing (6) ___________________ oil.

The plan is set to be (7) ___________________ other world capitals, which can only dream of being awarded (8) ___________________ of money. It aims to improve the quality of life for the capital's 5 million residents. A focus on leisure (9) ___________________ making people happier. The plan includes the construction of over 130km of cycling track, a park that will be (10) ___________________ of New York's Central Park, and hundreds of art installations. Riyadh will be a greener city as the amount of green space per person will (11) ___________________ 16-fold. This will be achieved by planting 7.5 million trees and creating dozens of community gardens. Work will begin in the second half of the year. It will create 70,000 jobs and take up to (12) ___________________ complete.

Comprehension questions

Who will invest in Riyadh's makeover?
What did the article say the investment would boost?
How much money might the private sector invest in Riyadh?
Who will oversee the project?
What does Saudi Arabia want to reduce its dependence on?
How might other world capitals feel about Riyadh's makeover?
How many people live in Riyadh?
How many new art installations will Riyadh get?
By how many times per capita will Riyadh get greener?
How long will it take to complete this project?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who will invest in Riyadh's makeover?
a) the Saudi royal family
b) the USA
c) the WTO
d) the Saudi government
2) What did the article say the investment would boost?
a) shopping
b) leisure and tourism
c) the digital infrastructure
d) the economy
3) How much money might the private sector invest in Riyadh?
a) $12 billion
b) $13 billion
c) $14 billion
d) $15 billion
4) Who will oversee the project?
a) a Saudi hedge fund
b) investment managers
c) Saudi's Crown Prince
d) Saudi's King
5) What does Saudi Arabia want to reduce its dependence on?
a) foreign workers
b) stocks
c) sand
d) oil

6) How might other world capitals feel about Riyadh's makeover?
a) good
b) hopeful
c) envious
d) happy
7) How many people live in Riyadh?
a) five million
b) seven million
c) six million
d) four million
8) How many new art installations will Riyadh get?
a) 130
b) 70,000
c) hundreds
d) 82
9) By how many times per capita will Riyadh get greener?
a) 10 times
b) 16 times
c) 12 times
d) 14 times
10) How long will it take to complete this project?
a) up to 10 years
b) exactly 10 years
c) just over 10 years
d) around 10 years

Role play

Role A – Cheap Buses
You think cheap buses make city people the happiest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't make people happy. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to make people happy (and why): art galleries, clean air or lots of police.

Role B – Art Galleries
You think art galleries make city people the happiest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't make people happy. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to make people happy (and why): cheap buses, clean air or lots of police.

Role C – Clean Air
You think clean air make city people the happiest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't make people happy. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to make people happy (and why): art galleries, cheap buses or lots of police.

Role D – Lots of Police
You think lots of police make city people the happiest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't make people happy. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to make people happy (and why): art galleries, clean air or cheap buses.

After reading / listening

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

'capital'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'city'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

envy

aims

happier

130

16

decade

announced

part

most

help

hear

reducing

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 - Saudi capital city to get $23 billion makeover

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 'capital city'?
What do you think of your capital city?
How is your capital city different to other cities?
What do you know about Riyadh?
What would you like to know about Riyadh?
How could $23 billion improve your capital city?
How beautiful is your capital city?
How livable is your capital city?
How would you boost leisure in your city?

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 'makeover'?
What do you think about what you read?
What other world cities do you envy?
What is the quality of life like in your city?
How important are city parks?
How important are art installations?
How could you make your city greener?
What three adjectives best describe your city?
What questions would you like to ask a city planner?

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)

Saudi Arabia's government has (1) ____ it will invest a whopping $23 billion in a massive makeover for its capital city, Riyadh. The (2) ____ investment is part of a project to beautify the city, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, (3) ____ leisure and tourism, and transform Riyadh into "one of the world's most livable cities". In addition to the government's cash (4) ____, a further $15 billion in private sector funding will help finance huge investment opportunities for businesses. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will head the committee (5) ____ the ambitious project. It is part of the Crown Prince's Vision 2030 initiative aimed at diversifying the kingdom's revenue sources and reducing its reliance (6) ____ oil.

The plan is set to be the (7) ____ of other world capitals, which can only dream of being awarded such (8) ____ amounts of money. It aims to improve the quality of life for the capital's 5 million residents. A focus on leisure is (9) ____ to making people happier. The plan includes the construction of over 130km of cycling track, a park that will be (10) ____ the size of New York's Central Park, and hundreds of art installations. Riyadh will be a greener city as the amount of green space per person will be increased by 16-(11) ____. This will be achieved by planting 7.5 million trees and creating dozens of community gardens. Work will begin in the second half of the year. It will create 70,000 jobs and take up to a (12) ____ to complete.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) announcement (b) announce (c) announced (d) announces
(a) huge (b) hug (c) luge (d) lug
(a) boost (b) beast (c) baste (d) boast
(a) injection (b) syringe (c) booster (d) shot
(a) oversaw (b) overs (c) oversight (d) overseeing
(a) at (b) of (c) in (d) on
(a) envy (b) every (c) awry (d) envoy
(a) vase (b) vascular (c) vassal (d) vast
(a) integral (b) inaugural (c) auger (d) ogre
(a) quad (b) quadruple (c) quadruplet (d) quadrant
(a) wrap (b) fold (c) flap (d) cease
(a) decade (b) decant (c) decadent (d) decor

Spelling

Paragraph 1

a ivemsas makeover
In addition to the government's cash onitejicn
huge investment rpsnptuotoiei
the committee overseeing the ombtuisia project
the Crown Prince's Vision 2030 iitnaeiivt
reducing its celearni on oil

Paragraph 2

the capital's 5 million stsneerid
A focus on leisure is rengtail
aquplurde the size
hundreds of art stntlsiniaalo
creating dozens of uomiycntm gardens
take up to a aceedd to complete

Put the text back together

(...) cities". In addition to the government's cash injection, a further $15 billion in private sector funding will help finance
(...) on leisure is integral to making people happier. The plan includes the construction of over 130km
(...) huge investment opportunities for businesses. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will head the committee
( 1 ) Saudi Arabia's government has announced it will invest a whopping $23 billion in a massive
(...) overseeing the ambitious project. It is part of the Crown Prince's Vision 2030 initiative aimed
(...) of cycling track, a park that will be quadruple the size of New York's Central Park, and hundreds of art
(...) of thousands of jobs, boost leisure and tourism, and transform Riyadh into "one of the world's most livable
(...) The plan is set to be the envy of other world capitals, which can only dream of being awarded such vast
(...) makeover for its capital city, Riyadh. The huge investment is part of a project to beautify the city, create hundreds
(...) gardens. Work will begin in the second half of the year. It will create 70,000 jobs and take up to a decade to complete.
(...) installations. Riyadh will be a greener city as the amount of green space per person will be
(...) amounts of money. It aims to improve the quality of life for the capital's 5 million residents. A focus
(...) increased by 16-fold. This will be achieved by planting 7.5 million trees and creating dozens of community
(...) at diversifying the kingdom's revenue sources and reducing its reliance on oil.

Put the words in the right order

in a $23bn makeover . a whopping massive Invest
beautify the city . Part to project a of
cities . livable world's most of the One
huge will funding investment . finance sector Private help
at diversifying sources . Initiatives revenue aimed the kingdom's
Be envy world of capitals . the other
improve aims life . to the It of quality
construction of track . cycling 130km over The of
increased . person space amount per of green The
half in second Begin the the year . of

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Saudi Arabia's government has announced / announcing it will invest a whopping $23 billion in a massive / missive makeover for its capital city, Riyadh. The huge investment is part of a project to beautiful / beautify the city, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, boast / boost leisure and tourism, and transform Riyadh into "one of the world's most livable cities". In addition / plus to the government's cash injection / syringe, a further $15 billion in private sector finding / funding will help finance huge investment opportunities for / on businesses. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will head the committee overseeing the ambition / ambitious project. It is part of the Crown Prince's Vision 2030 initiative aimed at diversifying the kingdom's revenue sources and reducing its reliance / relevance on oil.

The plan is set to be the envious / envy of other world capitals, which can only dream of being awarded such waste / vast amounts of money. It aims to improve the quality of life for the capital's 5 million residence / residents. A focus on leisure is integer / integral to making people happier. The plan includes the construction / construct of over 130km of cycling track, a park that will be quadruplet / quadruple the size of New York's Central Park, and hundreds of art installations. Riyadh will be a greener city as the amount of green space per / par person will be increased by 16-fold. This will be attribute / achieved by planting 7.5 million trees and creating dozens of community gardens. Work will begin in the second halve / half of the year. It will create 70,000 jobs and take up to a decade / decadence to complete.

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)

S__ d_ A r_b__ ' s g_v_r n m_n t h_s _n n__ n c_d _t w_l l _n v_s t _ w h_p p_n g $ 2 3 b_l l__ n _n _ m_s s_v_ m_k__ v_r f_r _t s c_p_t_l c_t y , R_y_d h . T h_ h_g_ _n v_s t m_n t _s p_r t _f _ p r_j_c t t_ b___t_f y t h_ c_t y , c r__ t_ h_n d r_d s _f t h__ s_n d s _f j_b s , b__ s t l__ s_r_ _n d t__ r_s m , _n d t r_n s f_r m R_y_d h _n t_ "_n_ _f t h_ w_r l d ' s m_s t l_v_b l_ c_t__ s " . I n _d d_t__ n t_ t h_ g_v_r n m_n t ' s c_s h _n j_c t__ n , _ f_r t h_r $ 1 5 b_l l__ n _n p r_v_t_ s_c t_r f_n d_n g w_l l h_l p f_n_n c_ h_g_ _n v_s t m_n t _p p_r t_n_t__ s f_r b_s_n_s s_s . C r_w n P r_n c_ M_h_m m_d b_n S_l m_n w_l l h__ d t h_ c_m m_t t__ _v_r s___n g t h_ _m b_t___s p r_j_c t . I t _s p_r t _f t h_ C r_w n P r_n c_' s V_s__ n 2 0 3 0 _n_t__ t_v_ __ m_d _t d_v_r s_f y_n g t h_ k_n g d_m ' s r_v_n__ s__ r c_s _n d r_d_c_n g _t s r_l__ n c_ _n __ l .

T h_ p l_n _s s_t t_ b_ t h_ _n v y _f _t h_r w_r l d c_p_t_l s , w h_c h c_n _n l y d r__ m _f b__ n g _w_r d_d s_c h v_s t _m__ n t s _f m_n_y . I t __ m s t_ _m p r_v_ t h_ q__ l_t y _f l_f_ f_r t h_ c_p_t_l ' s 5 m_l l__ n r_s_d_n t s . A f_c_s _n l__ s_r_ _s _n t_g r_l t_ m_k_n g p__ p l_ h_p p__ r . T h_ p l_n _n c l_d_s t h_ c_n s t r_c t__ n _f _v_r 1 3 0 k m _f c y c l_n g t r_c k , _ p_r k t h_t w_l l b_ q__ d r_p l_ t h_ s_z_ _f N_w Y_r k ' s C_n t r_l P_r k , _n d h_n d r_d s _f _r t _n s t_l l_t__ n s . R_y_d h w_l l b__ g r__ n_r c_t y _s t h_ _m__ n t _f g r__ n s p_c_ p_r p_r s_n w_l l b_ _n c r__ s_d b y 1 6 - f_l d . T h_s w_l l b_ _c h__ v_d b y p l_n t_n g 7 . 5 m_l l__ n t r__ s _n d c r__ t_n g d_z_n s _f c_m m_n_t y g_r d_n s . W_r k w_l l b_g_n _n t h_ s_c_n d h_l f _f t h_ y__ r . I t w_l l c r__ t_ 7 0 , 0 0 0 j_b s _n d t_k_ _p t__ d_c_d_ t_ c_m p l_t_.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

saudi arabias government has announced it will invest a whopping 23 billion in a massive makeover for its capital city riyadh the huge investment is part of a project to beautify the city create hundreds of thousands of jobs boost leisure and tourism and transform riyadh into one of the worlds most livable cities in addition to the governments cash injection a further 15 billion in private sector funding will help finance huge investment opportunities for businesses crown prince mohammed bin salman will head the committee overseeing the ambitious project it is part of the crown princes vision 2030 initiative aimed at diversifying the kingdoms revenue sources and reducing its reliance on oil

the plan is set to be the envy of other world capitals which can only dream of being awarded such vast amounts of money it aims to improve the quality of life for the capitals 5 million residents a focus on leisure is integral to making people happier the plan includes the construction of over 130km of cycling track a park that will be quadruple the size of new yorks central park and hundreds of art installations riyadh will be a greener city as the amount of green space per person will be increased by 16fold this will be achieved by planting 75 million trees and creating dozens of community gardens work will begin in the second half of the year it will create 70000 jobs and take up to a decade to complete.

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

SaudiArabia'sgovernmenthasannounceditwillinvestawhopping$23b
illioninamassivemakeoverforitscapitalcity,Riyadh.Thehugeinvestm
entispartofaprojecttobeautifythecity,createhundredsofthousandsof
jobs,boostleisureandtourism,andtransformRiyadhinto"oneofthewor
ld'smostlivablecities".Inadditiontothegovernment'scashinjection,af
urther$15billioninprivatesectorfundingwillhelpfinancehugeinvestm
entopportunitiesforbusinesses.CrownPrinceMohammedbinSalman
willheadthecommitteeoverseeingtheambitiousproject.Itispartofthe
CrownPrince'sVision2030initiativeaimedatdiversifyingthekingdom'
srevenuesourcesandreducingitsrelianceonoil.Theplanissettobethee
nvyofotherworldcapitals,whichcanonlydreamofbeingawardedsuchv
astamountsofmoney.Itaimstoimprovethequalityoflifeforthecapital's
5millionresidents.Afocusonleisureisintegraltomakingpeoplehappier
.Theplanincludestheconstructionofover130kmofcyclingtrack,aparkt
hatwillbequadruplethesizeofNewYork'sCentralPark,andhundredsof
artinstallations.Riyadhwillbeagreenercityastheamountofgreenspac
eperpersonwillbeincreasedby16-fold.Thiswillbeachievedbyplantin
g7.5milliontreesandcreatingdozensofcommunitygardens.Workwillb
egininthesecondhalfoftheyear.Itwillcreate70,000jobsandtakeuptoa
decadetocomplete.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

A capital city is the best city in a country. 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. CAPITAL CITIES: Make a poster about capital cities. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. WORLD CAPITAL: Write a magazine article about creating a capital city of the world. 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 capital cities. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on them. 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.)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English Lesson on Riyadh

Home | Help This Site

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS