The Reading / Listening - Teeth Whitening - Level 6

Everyone these days seems to want a gleaming set of pearly white teeth. Having the perfect Hollywood smile has created the multi-billion-dollar global teeth-whitening industry. However, not all is shiny and bright behind this business. A new report from the BBC states that illegal teeth-whitening beauticians are putting their customers at risk of serious health problems. These include burnt gums and lips, blisters and lost teeth. The BBC reports that the General Dental Council in the UK reported a 26 per cent increase in complaints last year from people who had suffered problems after teeth-whitening procedures. In many cases, the people performing the teeth whitening were untrained and unqualified.

The teeth-whitening industry in the UK is regulated and the practice can only be performed by professionals who have registered with the General Dental Council. The BBC carried out an undercover investigation, which unearthed "thousands" of ill-qualified teeth-whitening practitioners. Two BBC researchers went undercover and paid nearly $400 each to attend a teeth-whitening course at a London beauty college. The course lasted just five hours. The researchers received a certificate of attendance and were told they could earn $100 an hour to treat customers. Anyone attending these courses and setting up their own businesses would be doing so illegally and they could end up with a criminal record.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Teeth Whitening - Level 4  or  Teeth Whitening - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-51388639
  • https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/10932978/illegal-teeth-whitening-people-burns-missing-teeth/
  • https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/scandal-of-courses-in-teethwhitening-patients-at-risk-a4357981.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. TEETH WHITENING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about teeth whitening. 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?
       white teeth / multi-billion dollar / global industry / gums / lips / blisters / complaints /
       teeth whitening / professionals / undercover / beauty / health / customers / criminal
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. WHITE: Students A strongly believe it is very important to have beautiful white teeth; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DENTAL PROBLEMS: What do you know about these dental problems? What can we do for them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What We Can Do

Tooth decay

 

 

Discoloured teeth

 

 

Crooked teeth

 

 

Gum disease

 

 

Sensitive teeth

 

 

Bad Breath

 

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

  • Toothpaste
  • Carrots
  • Water
  • Milk
  • Floss
  • Dentist visits
  • Mouth guard
  • Gum

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. gleaming a. A small bubble on the skin filled with liquid and caused by friction, burning, or other damage.
      2. industry b. A statement that a situation is unsatisfactory or unacceptable.
      3. gum c. Very shiny.
      4. blister d. Control a business activity by means of rules.
      5. complaint e. Economic activity based around a type of business.
      6. procedure f. The hard area of flesh around the roots of the teeth in the upper or lower jaw.
      7. regulated g. A surgical operation.

    Paragraph 2

      8. undercover h. The total of the past achievements or actions of a person or organization.
      9. unearthed i. A person involved in or involving secret work within a community or organization, especially for the purposes of a police investigation or spying.
      10. certificate j. Discovered something hidden, lost, or kept secret.
      11. attendance k. Get money in return for working or providing services.
      12. earn l. The action or state of going regularly to or being present at a place or event.
      13. criminal m. A document proving a level of achievement in a course of study or training.
      14. record n. A person who has committed a crime.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article said everyone used to want pearly white teeth.     T / F
  2. Having a Hollywood smile can cost a billion dollars.     T / F
  3. Beauticians are causing burnt gums and lips in some people.     T / F
  4. Some people performing teeth whitening are unqualified and untrained.   T / F
  5. The teeth-whitening industry in the UK is unregulated.     T / F
  6. The BBC found dozens of ill-qualified teeth whiteners.     T / F
  7. A teeth-whitening course lasts just five hours.     T / F
  8. Setting up a teeth-whitening business can result in a criminal record.     T / F

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

  1. gleaming
  2. perfect
  3. at risk
  4. complaints
  5. cases
  6. regulated
  7. carried out
  8. undercover
  9. earn
  10. attending
  1. conducted
  2. protests
  3. taking part in
  4. instances
  5. shining
  6. incognito
  7. take home
  8. ideal
  9. monitored
  10. in danger

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

  1. a gleaming set of
  2. the multi-billion-dollar global
  3. teeth-whitening
  4. burnt gums
  5. untrained and
  6. The teeth-whitening industry in the UK
  7. the practice can only be performed by
  8. Two BBC researchers went
  9. received a certificate
  10. setting up their own
  1. professionals
  2. and lips
  3. pearly white teeth
  4. businesses
  5. is regulated
  6. beauticians
  7. of attendance
  8. unqualified
  9. teeth-whitening industry
  10. undercover

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
risk
complaints
industry
performing
gleaming
procedures
behind
blisters

Everyone these days seems to want a (1) ____________ set of pearly white teeth. Having the perfect Hollywood smile has created the multi-billion-dollar global teeth-whitening (2) ____________. However, not all is shiny and bright (3) ____________ this business. A new report from the BBC states that illegal teeth-whitening beauticians are putting their customers at (4) ____________ of serious health problems. These include burnt gums and lips, (5) ____________ and lost teeth. The BBC reports that the General Dental Council in the UK reported a 26 per cent increase in (6) ____________ last year from people who had suffered problems after teeth-whitening (7) ____________. In many cases, the people (8) ____________ the teeth whitening were untrained and unqualified.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
undercover
carried
treat
course
regulated
record
unearthed
certificate

The teeth-whitening industry in the UK is (7) ____________ and the practice can only be performed by professionals who have registered with the General Dental Council. The BBC (8) ____________ out an undercover investigation, which (9) ____________ "thousands" of ill-qualified teeth-whitening practitioners. Two BBC researchers went (10) ____________ and paid nearly $400 each to attend a teeth-whitening course at a London beauty college. The (11) ____________ lasted just five hours. The researchers received a (12) ____________ of attendance and were told they could earn $100 an hour to (13) ____________ customers. Anyone attending these courses and setting up their own businesses would be doing so illegally and they could end up with a criminal (14) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Everyone these days seems to want a gleaming set of ______
     a.  pear white teeth
     b.  pearl white teeth
     c.  pearl white tooth
     d.  early white tooth
2)  the BBC states that illegal teeth-whitening beauticians are putting their ______
     a.  customers at risk
     b.  customers to risk
     c.  customers on risk
     d.  customers are risk
3)  These include burnt gums and lips, blisters ______
     a.  end lost teeth
     b.  and lost tooth
     c.  end lost tooth
     d.  and lost teeth
4)  from people who had suffered problems after teeth-______
     a.  whiten in procedures
     b.  whitening procedure
     c.  whitening procedures
     d.  whiten in procedure
5)  the people performing the teeth whitening were untrained ______
     a.  and in qualified
     b.  and non-qualified
     c.  and unqualify
     d.  and unqualified

6)  the practice can only be performed by professionals ______
     a.  who have register
     b.  who are registered
     c.  whom have register
     d.  who have registered
7)  which unearthed "thousands" of ill-qualified teeth-______
     a.  white ending practitioners
     b.  whiten in practitioners
     c.  whiter ending practitioner
     d.  whitening practitioners
8)  went undercover and paid nearly $400 each to attend a teeth-______
     a.  whitening coarse
     b.  whitening cause
     c.  whitening course
     d.  whitening calls
9)  received a certificate of attendance and were told they could earn ______
     a.  $100 an hourly
     b.  $100 an hour
     c.  $100 an hours
     d.  $100 an our
10) own businesses would be doing so illegally and they could end up with ______
     a.  a criminal wrecker
     b.  a criminal wreck cord
     c.  a criminal record
     d.  a criminal wreck chord

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Everyone these days seems to want (1) ___________________ of pearly white teeth. Having the perfect Hollywood (2) ___________________ the multi-billion-dollar global teeth-whitening industry. However, not all is shiny and bright behind this business. A new report from the BBC states that illegal teeth-whitening beauticians are (3) ___________________ at risk of serious health problems. These (4) ___________________ and lips, blisters and lost teeth. The BBC reports that the General Dental Council in the UK reported a 26 per cent (5) ___________________ last year from people who had suffered problems after teeth-whitening procedures. In many cases, the people performing the teeth whitening were (6) ___________________.

The teeth-whitening industry in the UK is regulated and the practice can only be performed by professionals who (7) ___________________ the General Dental Council. The BBC carried out (8) ___________________, which unearthed "thousands" of ill-qualified teeth-whitening practitioners. Two BBC researchers went undercover (9) ___________________ $400 each to attend a teeth-whitening course at a London beauty college. The course lasted just five hours. The researchers (10) ___________________ of attendance and were told they could earn $100 an hour (11) ___________________. Anyone attending these courses and setting up their own businesses would be doing so illegally and they could end up with (12) ___________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say everyone seems to want these days?
  2. Where is everything not all shiny and bright?
  3. What gets burnt in some teeth-whitening procedures?
  4. By how much did complaints rise last year?
  5. What was wrong with the people doing teeth whitening in many cases?
  6. Who are the only people that can do teeth whitening in the UK?
  7. What kind of investigation did the BBC carry out?
  8. How much did it cost for one researcher to do the teeth-whitening course?
  9. How long was the teeth-whitening course mentioned in the article?
  10. What could someone get for illegally doing teeth whitening?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What did the article say everyone seems to want these days?
a) pearly white teeth
b) straight teeth
c) strawberry toothpaste
d) a nice smile
2)  Where is everything not all shiny and bright?
a) in people's mouths
b) in dental clinics
c) the teeth-whitening industry
d) inside teeth
3)  What gets burnt in some teeth-whitening procedures?
a) the dentist's fingers
b) chins and cheeks
c) the face
d) gums and lips
4)  By how much did complaints rise last year?
a) 25%
b) 26%
c) 24%
d) 28%
5)  What was wrong with the people doing teeth whitening in many cases?
a) they were untrained and unqualified
b) they were too young
c) they were too old
d) they failed the exams

6)  Who are the only people that can do teeth whitening in the UK?
a) doctors
b) dentists
c) artists
d) professionals
7)  What kind of investigation did the BBC carry out?
a) a thorough investigation
b) an impromptu investigation
c) an undercover investigation
d) an expensive investigation
8)  How much did it cost for one researcher to do the teeth-whitening course?
a) $40
b) $400
c) $4,000
d) $40,000
9)  How long was the teeth-whitening course mentioned in the article?
a) five weeks
b) five days
c) five hours
d) five months

10)  What could someone get for illegally doing teeth whitening?
a) a prison sentence
b) a criminal record
c) burnt
d) a bad reputation

Role play

Role  A – Carrots
You think carrots are the best thing for your teeth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): milk, mouth guard or flossing.

Role  B – Milk
You think milk is the best thing for your teeth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): carrots, mouth guard or flossing.

Role  C – Mouth Guard
You think a mouth guard is the best thing for your teeth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): milk, carrots or flossing.

Role  D – Flossing
You think flossing is the best thing for your teeth. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): milk, mouth guard or carrots.

After reading / listening

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

'teeth'

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

    • and 'white'.

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

    • • 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:

    • everyone
    • smile
    • global
    • risk
    • last
    • many
    • regulated
    • carried
    • thousands
    • each
    • earn
    • 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 - Teeth Whitening

    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 'teeth'?
    3. How happy are you with your teeth?
    4. How important are white teeth to you?
    5. What problems have you had with your teeth?
    6. How much money would you spend to improve your teeth?
    7. What should happen to the illegal teeth whiteners?
    8. What serious health problems can bad teeth give you?
    9. What impression does a white smile give?
    10. Why do people go to unqualified teeth whiteners?

    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 'white'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Should teeth whitening only be done by dentists?
    5. Would you like to be a dentist?
    6. What do you do to look after your teeth?
    7. What changes would you like to make to your teeth?
    8. In what jobs is it important to have a nice white smile?
    9. What would different coloured teeth be like?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a teeth whitener?

    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)

    Everyone these days seems to want a gleaming (1) ____ of pearly white teeth. Having the perfect Hollywood smile has created the multi-billion-dollar global teeth-whitening (2) ____. However, not all is shiny and bright behind this business. A new report from the BBC states that illegal teeth-whitening beauticians are putting their customers at risk of serious health problems. These include burnt (3) ____ and lips, blisters and lost teeth. The BBC reports that the General Dental Council in the UK reported a 26 per cent increase in (4) ____ last year from people who had suffered problems after teeth-whitening (5) ____. In many (6) ____, the people performing the teeth whitening were untrained and unqualified.

    The teeth-whitening industry in the UK is (7) ____ and the practice can only be performed by professionals who have registered with the General Dental Council. The BBC carried (8) ____ an undercover investigation, which (9) ____ "thousands" of ill-qualified teeth-whitening practitioners. Two BBC researchers went undercover and paid nearly $400 each to (10) ____ a teeth-whitening course at a London beauty college. The course lasted just five hours. The researchers received a certificate of attendance and were told they could (11) ____ $100 an hour to treat customers. Anyone attending these courses and setting up their own businesses would be doing (12) ____ illegally and they could end up with a criminal record.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     grouping     (b)     array     (c)     collection     (d)     set    
    2. (a)     exoneration     (b)     amalgamation     (c)     conglomerate     (d)     industry    
    3. (a)     gems     (b)     gums     (c)     germs     (d)     gins    
    4. (a)     compliant     (b)     complainants     (c)     complaints     (d)     complies    
    5. (a)     enraptures     (b)     unravels     (c)     procedures     (d)     elasticity    
    6. (a)     cases     (b)     causes     (c)     carcasses     (d)     caucuses    
    7. (a)     regulation     (b)     regulated     (c)     regulate     (d)     regulates    
    8. (a)     out     (b)     up     (c)     in     (d)     over    
    9. (a)     planted     (b)     unearthed     (c)     soiled     (d)     digging    
    10. (a)     amend     (b)     addend     (c)     attend     (d)     upend    
    11. (a)     yearn     (b)     learn     (c)     earn     (d)     tern    
    12. (a)     which     (b)     thus     (c)     whatsoever     (d)     so

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a amilgegn set of pearly white teeth
    2. teeth-whitening asitbieuanc
    3. burnt gums and lips, sreitbls and lost teeth
    4. a 26 per cent increase in namplotics
    5. teeth-whitening deroeruscp
    6. untrained and iefquluaind

    Paragraph 2

    1. the UK is teeldrgau
    2. carried out an undercover tegaiotsvnnii
    3. which ahenteurd "thousands"
    4. teeth-whitening pernisocttria
    5. received a acrietitfce of attendance
    6. end up with a malniirc record

    Put the text back together

    (...)  college. The course lasted just five hours. The researchers received a certificate of attendance and were told they could
    (  1  ) Everyone these days seems to want a gleaming set of pearly white teeth. Having the perfect Hollywood
    (...)  bright behind this business. A new report from the BBC states that illegal teeth-whitening
    (...)  by professionals who have registered with the General Dental Council. The BBC carried out an undercover
    (...)  The teeth-whitening industry in the UK is regulated and the practice can only be performed
    (...)  teeth. The BBC reports that the General Dental Council in the UK reported a 26 per cent increase
    (...)  procedures. In many cases, the people performing the teeth whitening were untrained and unqualified.
    (...)  investigation, which unearthed "thousands" of ill-qualified teeth-whitening practitioners. Two BBC researchers went
    (...)  smile has created the multi-billion-dollar global teeth-whitening industry. However, not all is shiny and
    (...)  businesses would be doing so illegally and they could end up with a criminal record.
    (...)  in complaints last year from people who had suffered problems after teeth-whitening
    (...)  earn $100 an hour to treat customers. Anyone attending these courses and setting up their own
    (...)  beauticians are putting their customers at risk of serious health problems. These include burnt gums and lips, blisters and lost
    (...)  undercover and paid nearly $400 each to attend a teeth-whitening course at a London beauty

    Put the words in the right order

    1. set   pearly   A   teeth   .   gleaming   white   of
    2. and   bright   behind   is   All   shiny   business   .   this
    3. at   are   customers   their   Beauticians   putting   risk   .
    4. had  teeth-whitening  after  who  procedures  .  People  suffered  problems
    5. performing   people   whitening   untrained   .   the   teeth   The   were
    6. performed   practice   professionals   .   be   only   The   can   by
    7. an   undercover   carried   The   BBC   out   investigation   .
    8. a   beauty   teeth-whitening   London   course   at   A   college   .
    9. of   a   attendance   .   received   The   researchers   certificate
    10. record   .   criminal   could   a   They   with   end   up

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Everyone these days seems to want a gleaming / gloomy set of pearly white teeth. Having the perfect Hollywood smiley / smile has created the multi-billion-dollar global teeth-whitening industry. However, not all / every is shiny and bright behind / beyond this business. A new report from the BBC states that illegal teeth-whitening beauticians are putting their customers at riskiness / risk of serious health problems. These include burnt gems / gums and lips, blisters / blister and lost teeth. The BBC reports that the General Dental Council in the UK reported a 26 per cent increase in compliance / complaints last year from people who had suffered problems after teeth-whitening proceeds / procedures. In many cases, the people performing the teeth whitening were untrained and unqualified / qualification.

    The teeth-whitening industry in the UK is regulated and the practical / practice can only be performed / preformats by professionals who have registered with the General Dental Council. The BBC carried in / out an undercover investigation, which earthed / unearthed "thousands" of ill-qualified teeth-whitening practitioners. Two BBC researchers opened / went undercover and paid nearly $400 each to attend / tend a teeth-whitening course at a London beauty college. The course lasted just five hours. The researchers received a qualify / certificate of attendance and were told they could earn $100 an hour to threat / treat customers. Anyone attending these courses and setting / settling up their own businesses would be doing so illegally and they could end up with a criminal CD / record.

    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)

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    T h_ t__ t h - w h_t_n_n g _n d_s t r y _n t h_ U K _s r_g_l_t_d _n d t h_ p r_c t_c_ c_n _n l y b_ p_r f_r m_d b y p r_f_s s__ n_l s w h_ h_v_ r_g_s t_r_d w_t h t h_ G_n_r_l D_n t_l C__ n c_l . T h_ B B C c_r r__ d __ t _n _n d_r c_v_r _n v_s t_g_t__ n , w h_c h _n__ r t h_d " t h__ s_n d s " _f _l l - q__ l_f__ d t__ t h - w h_t_n_n g p r_c t_t__ n_r s . T w_ B B C r_s__ r c h_r s w_n t _n d_r c_v_r _n d p__ d n__ r l y $ 4 0 0 __ c h t_ _t t_n d _ t__ t h - w h_t_n_n g c__ r s_ _t _ L_n d_n b___t y c_l l_g_. T h_ c__ r s_ l_s t_d j_s t f_v_ h__ r s . T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s r_c__ v_d _ c_r t_f_c_t_ _f _t t_n d_n c_ _n d w_r_ t_l d t h_y c__ l d __ r n $ 1 0 0 _n h__ r t_ t r__ t c_s t_m_r s . A n y_n_ _t t_n d_n g t h_s_ c__ r s_s _n d s_t t_n g _p t h__ r _w n b_s_n_s s_s w__ l d b_ d__ n g s_ _l l_g_l l y _n d t h_y c__ l d _n d _p w_t h _ c r_m_n_l r_c_r d .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    everyone these days seems to want a gleaming set of pearly white teeth having the perfect hollywood smile has created the multibilliondollar global teethwhitening industry however not all is shiny and bright behind this business a new report from the bbc states that illegal teethwhitening beauticians are putting their customers at risk of serious health problems these include burnt gums and lips blisters and lost teeth the bbc reports that the general dental council in the uk reported a 26 per cent increase in complaints last year from people who had suffered problems after teethwhitening procedures in many cases the people performing the teeth whitening were untrained and unqualified

    the teethwhitening industry in the uk is regulated and the practice can only be performed by professionals who have registered with the general dental council the bbc carried out an undercover investigation which unearthed thousands of illqualified teethwhitening practitioners two bbc researchers went undercover and paid nearly 400 each to attend a teethwhitening course at a london beauty college the course lasted just five hours the researchers received a certificate of attendance and were told they could earn 100 an hour to treat customers anyone attending these courses and setting up their own businesses would be doing so illegally and they could end up with a criminal record

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Everyonethesedaysseemstowantagleamingsetofpearlywhiteteeth.
    HavingtheperfectHollywoodsmilehascreatedthemulti-billion-dollarg
    lobalteeth-whiteningindustry.However,notallisshinyandbrightbehi
    ndthisbusiness.AnewreportfromtheBBCstatesthatillegalteeth-whit
    eningbeauticiansareputtingtheircustomersatriskofserioushealthpro
    blems.Theseincludeburntgumsandlips,blistersandlostteeth.TheBBC
    reportsthattheGeneralDentalCouncilintheUKreporteda26percentinc
    reaseincomplaintslastyearfrompeoplewhohadsufferedproblemsafte
    rteeth-whiteningprocedures.Inmanycases,thepeopleperformingth
    eteethwhiteningwereuntrainedandunqualified.Theteeth-whitenin
    gindustryintheUKisregulatedandthepracticecanonlybeperformedby
    professionalswhohaveregisteredwiththeGeneralDentalCouncil.The
    BBCcarriedoutanundercoverinvestigation,whichunearthed"thousan
    ds"ofill-qualifiedteeth-whiteningpractitioners.TwoBBCresearchers
    wentundercoverandpaidnearly$400eachtoattendateeth-whiteni
    ngcourseataLondonbeautycollege.Thecourselastedjustfivehours.Th
    eresearchersreceivedacertificateofattendanceandweretoldtheycoul
    dearn$100anhourtotreatcustomers.Anyoneattendingthesecourses
    andsettinguptheirownbusinesseswouldbedoingsoillegallyandtheyco
    uldendupwithacriminalrecord.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Having beautiful, straight white teeth helps us to be successful in life. 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. TEETH WHITENING: Make a poster about teeth whitening. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. TOOTH DIVERSITY: Write a magazine article about starting a campaign to celebrate all kinds of teeth and smiles. 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 teeth whitening. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on white teeth. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

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