The Reading / Listening - Child Grooms - Level 3

UNICEF has issued a report on the number of boys who get married around the world. It estimates that 115 million boys and men were married as children. Of these, one in five, or 23 million, were married before the age of 15. The report is UNICEF's first ever in-depth study of child grooms. UNICEF said a lot of news focuses on young girls being forced into marriage as child brides. The new report looks at the same problem of forced marriage but with boys. The UN agency looked at data from 82 countries. It found that child marriage among boys is common in countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and nations in the Pacific. The Central African Republic has the highest rate of child grooms.

UNICEF commented on the damage child marriage does to boys. It said: "Marriage steals childhood. Child grooms are forced to take on adult responsibilities for which they may not be ready. Early marriage brings early fatherhood, and with it added pressure to provide for a family, cutting short education and job opportunities." UNICEF spoke about the harm child marriage does to boys and girls. It said: "When we think about child marriage we often think about girls, and rightly so because girls are most affected, but boys do marry in childhood." It added: "[Child marriage] creates a burden for boys to take on adult responsibilities and roles when they are still children themselves, like providing for a family."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Child Grooms - Level 0,  Child Grooms - Level 1   or  Child Grooms - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/115-million-boys-and-men-around-world-married-children-unicef
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/child-grooms-unicef-boys-men-marriage-children-a8947296.html
  • https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jun/07/its-not-just-girls-one-in-30-young-men-were-married-as-children


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. CHILD GROOMS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about child grooms. 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?
       report / married / estimates / study / child / groom / bride / UNESCO / common /
       childhood / responsibilities / pressure / fatherhood / opportunities / burden / family
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ILLEGAL: Students A strongly believe marriage should be illegal under the age of 20; Students B strongly believe this is too high.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. AGE: From what age should people be allowed to do these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Age

Why?

Get married

 

 

Join the army

 

 

Vote

 

 

Smoke

 

 

Get a credit card

 

 

Be a politician

 

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

  • friends
  • living at home
  • freedom
  • growing up
  • toys
  • candies
  • school
  • no job

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. issued a. Roughly calculates or judges the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.
      2. estimates b. A man on his wedding day or just before and after the event.
      3. in-depth c. Supplied or distributed something; formally send out or make known.
      4. groom d. Made someone do something against their will.
      5. bride e. A woman on her wedding day or just before and after the event.
      6. forced f. Happening, found, or done often.
      7. common g. Completely and fully.

    Paragraph 2

      8. steals h. Supplying enough money to look after people.
      9. responsibilities i. Damage or hurt the health of.
      10. pressure j. Influenced or touched by an external factor.
      11. harm k. Takes another person's property without permission and without planning to give it back.
      12. affected l. The duties we have; the important things in life we have to do.
      13. burden m. The main responsibility for achieving an aim or task.
      14. providing n. The use of power to make someone do something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. UNICEF said 115 million men got married when they were children.     T / F
  2. The UNICEF report is its third in-depth report on child grooms.     T / F
  3. UNICEF looked at data from 82 countries.     T / F
  4. The Central African Republic has the highest rate of child grooms.     T / F
  5. UNICEF said childhood steals marriage.     T / F
  6. UNICEF said many child grooms become fathers too early.     T / F
  7. The UNICEF report didn't mention anything about girls marrying.     T / F
  8. UNICEF said child grooms don't have a burden to provide for a family.     T / F

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

  1. estimates
  2. in-depth
  3. focuses
  4. data
  5. rate
  6. damage
  7. responsibilities
  8. cutting short
  9. affected
  10. providing for
  1. ending
  2. statistics
  3. feeding
  4. detailed
  5. harm
  6. impacted
  7. calculates
  8. duties
  9. concentrates
  10. percentage

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

  1. UNICEF has issued
  2. UNICEF's first ever in-
  3. forced
  4. child marriage among boys is
  5. The Central African Republic has the highest
  6. the damage child marriage
  7. added pressure to provide
  8. cutting short
  9. girls are most
  10. take on adult
  1. education
  2. common
  3. does to boys
  4. a report
  5. affected
  6. depth study
  7. responsibilities
  8. rate of child grooms
  9. for a family
  10. marriage

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
depth
data
report
rate
these
common
estimates
focuses

UNICEF has issued a (1) ____________ on the number of boys who get married around the world. It (2) ____________ that 115 million boys and men were married as children. Of (3) ____________, one in five, or 23 million, were married before the age of 15. The report is UNICEF's first ever in-(4) ____________ study of child grooms. UNICEF said a lot of news (5) ____________ on young girls being forced into marriage as child brides. The new report looks at the same problem of forced marriage but with boys. The UN agency looked at (6) ____________ from 82 countries. It found that child marriage among boys is (7) ____________ in countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and nations in the Pacific. The Central African Republic has the highest (8) ____________ of child grooms.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
adult
short
burden
damage
providing
early
steals
rightly

UNICEF commented on the (9) ____________ child marriage does to boys. It said: "Marriage (10) ____________ childhood. Child grooms are forced to take on (11) ____________ responsibilities for which they may not be ready. Early marriage brings (12) ____________ fatherhood, and with it added pressure to provide for a family, cutting (13) ____________ education and job opportunities." UNICEF spoke about the harm child marriage does to boys and girls. It said: "When we think about child marriage we often think about girls, and (14) ____________ so because girls are most affected, but boys do marry in childhood." It added: "[Child marriage] creates a (15) ____________ for boys to take on adult responsibilities and roles when they are still children themselves, like (16) ____________ for a family."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  UNICEF has issued a report on the number of boys who get married ______
     a.  abound the world
     b.  around a world
     c.  around the world
     d.  abound a world
2)  It estimates that 115 million boys and men were ______
     a.  married has children
     b.  married as children
     c.  married was children
     d.  married 'twas children
3)  The report is UNICEF's first ever in-depth study ______
     a.  of child grooms
     b.  of child groom
     c.  of child gloom
     d.  of child groans
4)  The UN agency looked at ______ 82 countries
     a.  beta from
     b.  day to from
     c.  date a from
     d.  data from
5)  The Central African Republic has the highest rate ______
     a.  off child grooms
     b.  if child grooms
     c.  as child grooms
     d.  of child grooms

6)  UNICEF commented on the damage child marriage ______
     a.  does to buoy
     b.  does to buoys
     c.  does two boys
     d.  does to boys
7) marriage steals childhood. Child grooms are forced to ______ responsibilities
     a.  takes on adult
     b.  take on adults
     c.  takes on adults
     d.  take on adult
8)  Early marriage brings early fatherhood, and with it added pressure to ______ family
     a.  provide from a
     b.  provide for a
     c.  provide flora
     d.  provide fauna
9)  we often think about girls, and rightly so because girls ______
     a.  are most affected
     b.  are most afflicted
     c.  are most affecting
     d.  are most reflected
10)  Child marriage] creates a burden for boys to take on adult responsibilities ______
     a.  end rolls
     b.  and rolls
     c.  end roles
     d.  and roles

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

UNICEF has (1) ___________________ on the number of boys who get married around the world. It estimates that 115 million boys and men were married as children. Of these, (2) ___________________, or 23 million, were married before the age of 15. The report is UNICEF's (3) ___________________ study of child grooms. UNICEF said a lot of news focuses on young girls being forced into marriage as child brides. The new report looks at the same problem (4) ___________________ but with boys. The UN agency looked at data from 82 countries. It found that child marriage among (5) ___________________ in countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and nations in the Pacific. The Central African Republic has the (6) ___________________ child grooms.

UNICEF commented (7) ___________________ child marriage does to boys. It said: "Marriage steals childhood. Child grooms are forced to (8) ___________________ responsibilities for which they may not be ready. Early marriage brings early fatherhood, and with (9) ___________________ to provide for a family, cutting short education and job opportunities." UNICEF spoke (10) ___________________ child marriage does to boys and girls. It said: "When we think about child marriage we often think about girls, and rightly so because girls are most affected, but boys do marry in childhood." It added: "[Child marriage] (11) ___________________ for boys to take on adult responsibilities and roles when they are still children themselves, like (12) ___________________ family."

Comprehension questions

  1. How many boys and men does UNICEF believe were married as children?
  2. What is the ratio of boys who got married before the age of 15?
  3. How many in-depth studies into child grooms had UNICEF done before?
  4. How many countries did UNICEF look at for its report?
  5. Which country has the highest rate of child grooms?
  6. What did UNICEF say child marriage does to childhood?
  7. What kind of responsibilities did UNICEF say child grooms take on?
  8. What did UNICEF say child grooms are under pressure to provide for?
  9. Who did UNICEF say was most affected by child marriages?
  10. What did UNICEF say creates a burden for boys?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many boys and men does UNICEF believe were married as children?
a) 150 million
b) 115 million
c) 23 million
d) 15 million
2) What is the ratio of boys who got married before the age of 15?
a) one in three
b) one in ten
c) one in four
d) one in five
3) How many in-depth studies into child grooms had UNICEF done before?
a) 3
b) 1
c) 0
d) 2
4) How many countries did UNICEF look at for its report?
a) 82
b) 62
c) 102
d) 112
5) Which country has the highest rate of child grooms?
a) Belgium
b) Central African Republic
c) Bolivia
d) Fiji

6) What did UNICEF say child marriage does to childhood?
a) steals it
b) ages it
c) makes it older
d) improves it
7) What kind of responsibilities did UNICEF say child grooms take on?
a) heavy responsibilities
b) unacceptable responsibilities
c) adult responsibilities
d) national responsibilities
8) What did UNICEF say child grooms are under pressure to provide for?
a) a family
b) themselves
c) the community
d) the country
9) Who did UNICEF say was most affected by child marriages?
a) babies
b) teenage boys
c) pre-teen boys
d) girls
10) What did UNICEF say creates a burden for boys?
a) families
b) countries
c) child marriage
d) schoolwork

Role play

Role  A – Toys
You think toys are the best thing about childhood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): school, friends or growing up.

Role  B – School
You think school is the best thing about childhood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): toys, friends or growing up.

Role  C – Friends
You think friends are the best thing about childhood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): school, toys or growing up.

Role  D – Growing Up
You think growing up is the best thing about childhood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): school, friends or toys.

After reading / listening

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

'child'

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

    • and 'groom'.

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

    • • 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:

    • steals
    • ready
    • pressure
    • think
    • burden
    • still
    • issued
    • 23
    • first
    • new
    • 82
    • rate

    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 - 23 million men married before they were 15

    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 'child'?
    3. What do you know about UNICEF?
    4. What do you know about child grooms?
    5. What is the youngest age at which people can get married?
    6. What would it be like to be married as a child?
    7. What should countries do to stop child marriages?
    8. Why are young boys forced into marriage?
    9. Is the legal age to marry in your country OK?
    10. What advice do you have for child grooms?

    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 'groom'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about child brides?
    5. What damage does marrying as a child do to children?
    6. What is a good age for anyone to get married?
    7. Should there be different ages for men and women to marry?
    8. What can UNICEF do to prevent child marriages?
    9. What three adjectives best describe this story?
    10. What questions would you like to ask UNICEF?

    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)

    UNICEF has issued a report (1) ____ the number of boys who get married around the world. It estimates that 115 million boys and men were married (2) ____ children. Of these, one in five, or 23 million, were married before the age (3) ____ 15. The report is UNICEF's first ever in-depth study of child grooms. UNICEF said a lot of news focuses on young girls being forced into marriage as child (4) ____. The new report looks at the same problem of forced marriage but with boys. The UN agency looked at (5) ____ from 82 countries. It found that child marriage among boys is common in countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and nations in the Pacific. The Central African Republic has the highest (6) ____ of child grooms.

    UNICEF commented on the damage child marriage does to boys. It said: "Marriage (7) ____ childhood. Child grooms are forced to take on adult responsibilities for which they may not be ready. Early (8) ____ brings early fatherhood, and with it added pressure to provide for a family, cutting (9) ____ education and job opportunities." UNICEF spoke about the (10) ____ child marriage does to boys and girls. It said: "When we think about child marriage we often think about girls, and rightly (11) ____ because girls are most affected, but boys do marry in childhood." It added: "[Child marriage] creates a (12) ____ for boys to take on adult responsibilities and roles when they are still children themselves, like providing for a family."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     to     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     on    
    2. (a)     has     (b)     'twas     (c)     was     (d)     as    
    3. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     from     (d)     for    
    4. (a)     bides     (b)     bridles     (c)     brides     (d)     bids    
    5. (a)     numerals     (b)     statistic     (c)     data     (d)     figure    
    6. (a)     rate     (b)     rated     (c)     pro rata     (d)     rat    
    7. (a)     thieve     (b)     steals     (c)     pickpocket     (d)     robbing    
    8. (a)     marriage     (b)     marry     (c)     married     (d)     marries    
    9. (a)     long     (b)     short     (c)     high     (d)     low    
    10. (a)     harmful     (b)     harming     (c)     harm     (d)     harmed    
    11. (a)     that     (b)     such     (c)     so     (d)     this    
    12. (a)     season     (b)     importance     (c)     stuff     (d)     burden

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. It teimsstea that 115 million boys...
    2. UNICEF's first ever ni-hpdte study
    3. a lot of news euofscs on young girls
    4. the same problem of rofedc marriage
    5. child marriage among boys is omconm
    6. the ieshhtg rate of child grooms

    Paragraph 2

    1. the agmade child marriage does
    2. added erusspre to
    3. cutting short tounciade
    4. girls are most dfcftaee
    5. child marriage creates a edrnub for boys
    6. pvrnoiigd for a family

    Put the text back together

    (...)  think about girls, and rightly so because girls are most affected, but boys do marry
    (...)  and roles when they are still children themselves, like providing for a family."
    (...)  among boys is common in countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and nations in
    (...)  on young girls being forced into marriage as child brides. The new report looks at the same problem of forced
    (  1  ) UNICEF has issued a report on the number of boys who get married around the world. It estimates that 115 million boys
    (...)  about the harm child marriage does to boys and girls. It said: "When we think about child marriage we often
    (...)  in childhood." It added: "[Child marriage] creates a burden for boys to take on adult responsibilities
    (...)  the Pacific. The Central African Republic has the highest rate of child grooms.
    (...)  fatherhood, and with it added pressure to provide for a family, cutting short education and job opportunities." UNICEF spoke
    (...)  forced to take on adult responsibilities for which they may not be ready. Early marriage brings early
    (...)  marriage but with boys. The UN agency looked at data from 82 countries. It found that child marriage
    (...)  UNICEF commented on the damage child marriage does to boys. It said: "Marriage steals childhood. Child grooms are
    (...)  age of 15. The report is UNICEF's first ever in-depth study of child grooms. UNICEF said a lot of news focuses
    (...)  and men were married as children. Of these, one in five, or 23 million, were married before the

    Put the words in the right order

    1. report   a   on   the   boys   .   Issued   number   of
    2. age   the   before   Millions   of   married   15   .   were
    3. in-depth   study   grooms   .   UNICEF's   child   of   first   ever
    4. news   young   girls   .   A   lot   focuses   of   on
    5. in   countries   .   boys   is   African   among   common   Marriage
    6. responsibilities   .   grooms   to   on   forced   adult   Child   take
    7. a   provide   Added   to   family   .   for   pressure
    8. harm   child   about   marriage   UNICEF   the   spoke   does   .
    9. marry   .   are   most   affected,   boys   Girls   do   but
    10. take   on   for   boys   to   responsibilities   .   burden   A

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    UNICEF has issued / issuing a report on the number of boys who get married around the world. It estimate / estimates that 115 million boys and men were marriage / married as children. Of these / them, one in five, or 23 million, were married before the age of 15. The report is UNICEF's first ever in-depth studious / study of child grooms. UNICEF said a lot of news focuses on young girls being forced onto / into marriage as child brides. The new report looks at the same problematic / problem of forced marriage but with boys. The UN agency looked at data from / for 82 countries. It found that child marriage among boys is common on / in countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and nations in the Pacific. The Central African Republic has the highest rate / rated of child grooms.

    UNICEF commented / commentary on the damage child marriage does to boys. It said: "Marriage steals child / childhood. Child grooms are forced to take on adult responsibilities for what / which they may not be ready. Early marriage brings early fatherhood / father, and with it added pressure to provide for a family, cutting shortening / short education and job opportunities." UNICEF spoke about the harms / harm child marriage does to boys and girls. It said: "When we think about child marriage we often think about girls, and right / rightly so because girls are most affected, but boys do marry in / on childhood." It added: "[Child marriage] creates a burden for boys to take on / off adult responsibilities and roles when they are still children themselves, like provides / providing for a family."

    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)

    U N I C E F h_s _s s__ d _ r_p_r t _n t h_ n_m b_r _f b_y s w h_ g_t m_r r__ d _r__ n d t h_ w_r l d . I t _s t_m_t_s t h_t 1 1 5 m_l l__ n b_y s _n d m_n w_r_ m_r r__ d _s c h_l d r_n . O f t h_s_, _n_ _n f_v_, _r 2 3 m_l l__ n , w_r_ m_r r__ d b_f_r_ t h_ _g_ _f 1 5 . T h_ r_p_r t _s U N I C E F ' s f_r s t _v_r _n - d_p t h s t_d y _f c h_l d g r__ m s . U N I C E F s__ d _ l_t _f n_w s f_c_s_s _n y__ n g g_r l s b__ n g f_r c_d _n t_ m_r r__ g_ _s c h_l d b r_d_s . T h_ n_w r_p_r t l__ k s _t t h_ s_m_ p r_b l_m _f f_r c_d m_r r__ g_ b_t w_t h b_y s . T h_ U N _g_n c y l__ k_d _t d_t_ f r_m 8 2 c__ n t r__ s . I t f__ n d t h_t c h_l d m_r r__ g_ _m_n g b_y s _s c_m m_n _n c__ n t r__ s _n A f r_c_, L_t_n A m_r_c_, A s__ _n d n_t__ n s _n t h_ P_c_f_c . T h_ C_n t r_l A f r_c_n R_p_b l_c h_s t h_ h_g h_s t r_t_ _f c h_l d g r__ m s .

    U N I C E F c_m m_n t_d _n t h_ d_m_g_ c h_l d m_r r__ g_ d__ s t_ b_y s . I t s__ d : " M_r r__ g_ s t__ l s c h_l d h__ d . C h_l d g r__ m s _r_ f_r c_d t_ t_k_ _n _d_l t r_s p_n s_b_l_t__ s f_r w h_c h t h_y m_y n_t b_ r__ d y . E_r l y m_r r__ g_ b r_n g s __ r l y f_t h_r h__ d , _n d w_t h _t _d d_d p r_s s_r_ t_ p r_v_d_ f_r _ f_m_l y , c_t t_n g s h_r t _d_c_t__ n _n d j_b _p p_r t_n_t__ s . " U N I C E F s p_k_ _b__ t t h_ h_r m c h_l d m_r r__ g_ d__ s t_ b_y s _n d g_r l s . I t s__ d : " W h_n w_ t h_n k _b__ t c h_l d m_r r__ g_ w_ _f t_n t h_n k _b__ t g_r l s , _n d r_g h t l y s_ b_c__ s_ g_r l s _r_ m_s t _f f_c t_d , b_t b_y s d_ m_r r y _n c h_l d h__ d . " I t _d d_d : " [ C h_l d m_r r__ g_] c r__ t_s _ b_r d_n f_r b_y s t_ t_k_ _n _d_l t r_s p_n s_b_l_t__ s _n d r_l_s w h_n t h_y _r_ s t_l l c h_l d r_n t h_m s_l v_s , l_k_ p r_v_d_n g f_r _ f_m_l y . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    unicef has issued a report on the number of boys who get married around the world it estimates that 115 million boys and men were married as children of these one in five or 23 million were married before the age of 15 the report is unicefs first ever indepth study of child grooms unicef said a lot of news focuses on young girls being forced into marriage as child brides the new report looks at the same problem of forced marriage but with boys the un agency looked at data from 82 countries it found that child marriage among boys is common in countries in africa latin america asia and nations in the pacific the central african republic has the highest rate of child grooms

    unicef commented on the damage child marriage does to boys it said marriage steals childhood child grooms are forced to take on adult responsibilities for which they may not be ready early marriage brings early fatherhood and with it added pressure to provide for a family cutting short education and job opportunities unicef spoke about the harm child marriage does to boys and girls it said when we think about child marriage we often think about girls and rightly so because girls are most affected but boys do marry in childhood it added child marriage creates a burden for boys to take on adult responsibilities and roles when they are still children themselves like providing for a family"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    UNICEFhasissuedareportonthenumberofboyswhogetmarriedaroun
    dtheworld.Itestimatesthat115millionboysandmenweremarriedasc
    hildren.Ofthese,oneinfive,or23million,weremarriedbeforetheageof
    15.ThereportisUNICEF'sfirsteverin-depthstudyofchildgrooms.UNI
    CEFsaidalotofnewsfocusesonyounggirlsbeingforcedintomarriageas
    childbrides.Thenewreportlooksatthesameproblemofforcedmarriage
    butwithboys.TheUNagencylookedatdatafrom82countries.Itfoundth
    atchildmarriageamongboysiscommonincountriesinAfrica,LatinAme
    rica,AsiaandnationsinthePacific.TheCentralAfricanRepublichasthehi
    ghestrateofchildgrooms.UNICEFcommentedonthedamagechildmar
    riagedoestoboys.Itsaid:"Marriagestealschildhood.Childgroomsaref
    orcedtotakeonadultresponsibilitiesforwhichtheymaynotbeready.Ea
    rlymarriagebringsearlyfatherhood,andwithitaddedpressuretoprovi
    deforafamily,cuttingshorteducationandjobopportunities."UNICEFsp
    okeabouttheharmchildmarriagedoestoboysandgirls.Itsaid:"Whenw
    ethinkaboutchildmarriageweoftenthinkaboutgirls,andrightlysobeca
    usegirlsaremostaffected,butboysdomarryinchildhood."Itadded:"[C
    hildmarriage]createsaburdenforboystotakeonadultresponsibilitiesa
    ndroleswhentheyarestillchildrenthemselves,likeprovidingforafamil
    y."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Countries that allow child marriage should be fined. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. CHILD GROOMS: Make a poster about child grooms. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. UNICEF: Write a magazine article about UNICEF being able to affect governments' laws. 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. CHILD GROOMS: Write a letter to an expert on child grooms. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to reverse this situation. 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

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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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