The Reading / Listening - The WHO - Level 3

The World Health Organization (WHO) is warning young people all over the world that they are also at risk from COVID-19. The WHO said young people are not exempt from catching the coronavirus. Many young people mistakenly believe they will not catch the virus because of their age. They think it is a disease that only older people catch. The WHO said the truth is that young people are catching the coronavirus and becoming ill or dying from it. It added that young people are also spreading the disease to their parents, grandparents and other people. The White House also urged young adults to follow advice and to avoid gathering in large groups to help prevent the spread of the virus.

The Director-General of the WHO said: "Today, I have a message for young people: You are not invincible." He added: "This coronavirus could put you in hospital for weeks, or even kill you. Even if you don't get sick, the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone else." The WHO said: "A significant proportion of patients treated in hospital for COVID-19 around the world are aged under 50." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said many young people are not following the state's social-distancing rules. He told young people that: "This is a public health issue and you cannot be endangering other peoples' health."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    The WHO - Level 0,  The WHO - Level 1   or  The WHO - Level 2

Sources
  • https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/488692-who-warns-young-people-they-are-not-invincible
  • https://www.ft.com/content/65f8e41a-6add-11ea-a3c9-1fe6fedcca75
  • https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-young-people-not-invincible-world-health-organisation-tedros-adhanom-ghebreyesus-a9415651.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. THE WHO: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the WHO. 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?
       WHO / young people / at risk / coronavirus / age / truth / disease / White House /
       message / invincible / hospital / sick / proportion / social distancing / rules / health
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FINES: Students A strongly believe people who do not social distance should be fined; Students B strongly believe they shouldn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SELF DISTANCING: What are the best ways to self distance in these places? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Best Ways

Problems

Supermarket

 

 

Train

 

 

School

 

 

The street

 

 

At home

 

 

The office

 

 
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. CORONAVIRUS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "coronavirus". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. YOUNG PEOPLE: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things young people can do at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Stay at home
  • Help strangers
  • Chat to old people
  • Shop for neighbours
  • Work from home
  • Collect money
  • Follow advice
  • Study hard

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. at risk a. Free from having to do something or having something done to you.
      2. exempt b. The things that are true.
      3. catch c. Stop something from happening.
      4. truth d. Get an illness, infection or disease.
      5. urged e. Keep away from or stop oneself from doing something.
      6. avoid f. In danger.
      7. prevent g. Tried hard to get someone to do something.

    Paragraph 2

      8. invincible h. The possibility of selecting between two or more things.
      9. choice i. The state of being alive and living.
      10. life j. An important topic or problem for debate or discussion.
      11. death k. Important.
      12. significant l. The action or fact of dying or being killed.
      13. proportion m. Too strong to be defeated.
      14. issue n. A part, share, or number compared to a whole.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The WHO told young people they are at risk from COVID-19.     T / F
  2. The article says 90% or young people think they cannot catch the virus.  T / F
  3. The WHO said only aged people can catch COVID-19.     T / F
  4. The White House urged people not to gather in large groups.     T / F
  5. The WHO warned young people they are not invincible.     T / F
  6. The WHO said young people must think about where they go.     T / F
  7. Many COVID-19 hospital patients are under 50 years old.     T / F
  8. New York's governor said young people were following rules.     T / F

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

  1. warning
  2. at risk
  3. mistakenly
  4. catch
  5. prevent
  6. invincible
  7. sick
  8. proportion
  9. rules
  10. endangering
  1. wrongly
  2. threatening
  3. stop
  4. part
  5. contract
  6. cautioning
  7. regulations
  8. in danger
  9. ill
  10. indestructible

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

  1. they are also at
  2. mistakenly believe they will not catch
  3. becoming ill
  4. urged young adults
  5. help prevent the spread
  6. You are not
  7. the difference between life
  8. A significant proportion of patients
  9. following the state's social-
  10. This is a public health
  1. the virus
  2. treated in hospital
  3. risk from COVID-19
  4. issue
  5. and death
  6. to follow advice
  7. distancing rules
  8. or dying from it
  9. of the virus
  10. invincible

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
dying
exempt
urged
warning
groups
truth
catch
disease

The World Health Organization (WHO) is (1) ____________ young people all over the world that they are also at risk from COVID-19. The WHO said young people are not (2) ____________ from catching the coronavirus. Many young people mistakenly believe they will not (3) ____________ the virus because of their age. They think it is a disease that only older people catch. The WHO said the (4) ____________ is that young people are catching the coronavirus and becoming ill or (5) ____________ from it. It added that young people are also spreading the (6) ____________ to their parents, grandparents and other people. The White House also (7) ____________ young adults to follow advice and to avoid gathering in large (8) ____________ to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
life
rules
invincible
treated
message
public
sick
aged

The Director-General of the WHO said: "Today, I have a (9) ____________ for young people: You are not (10) ____________." He added: "This coronavirus could put you in hospital for weeks, or even kill you. Even if you don't get (11) ____________, the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between (12) ____________ and death for someone else." The WHO said: "A significant proportion of patients (13) ____________ in hospital for COVID-19 around the world are (14) ____________ under 50." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said many young people are not following the state's social-distancing (15) ____________. He told young people that: "This is a (16) ____________ health issue and you cannot be endangering other peoples' health."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  warning young people all over the world that they are also ______ COVID-19
     a.  at risqué from
     b.  at risked from
     c.  at risks from
     d.  at risk from
2)  young people mistakenly believe they will not catch the virus ______ age
     a.  because off their
     b.  because if their
     c.  because of their
     d.  because over their
3)  young people are catching the coronavirus and becoming ill or ______
     a.  dye in from it
     b.  die in from it
     c.  drying from it
     d.  dying from it
4)  The White House also urged young adults ______
     a.  to follow advice
     b.  to follow advise
     c.  to follow add vice
     d.  to follow and vice
5)  avoid gathering in large groups to help prevent the ______ virus
     a.  spread of the
     b.  spreads of the
     c.  spread off the
     d.  spread oft the

6)  Today, I have a message for young people: You ______
     a.  are not invisible
     b.  are not irreversible
     c.  are not invincible
     d.  are not in risible
7)  This coronavirus could put you in hospital for weeks, or ______
     a.  even kill you
     b.  ever kill you
     c.  event kill you
     d.  every kill you
8)  where you go could be the difference between life and death ______
     a.  for some ones else
     b.  for sum one else
     c.  for someone else
     d.  for some won else
9)  treated in hospital for COVID-19 around the world are ______
     a.  age under 50
     b.  aged under 50
     c.  ages under 50
     d.  raged under 50
10)  He told young people that: "This is a ______."
     a.  public health issue
     b.  publicity health issue
     c.  publicly health issue
     d.  publically health issue

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The World Health Organization (WHO) (1) ___________________ people all over the world that they are also at risk from COVID-19. The WHO said young people (2) ___________________ from catching the coronavirus. Many young people mistakenly believe they will not catch the virus because of their age. They think it is a disease that (3) ___________________ catch. The WHO said the truth is that young people are catching the coronavirus and becoming (4) ___________________ from it. It added that young people are also spreading the disease to their parents, grandparents and other people. The White House (5) ___________________ adults to follow advice and to avoid gathering in large groups to help (6) ___________________ of the virus.

The Director-General of the WHO said: "Today, I (7) ___________________ for young people: You (8) ___________________." He added: "This coronavirus could put you in hospital for weeks, or even kill you. Even if you don't get sick, the (9) ___________________ about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone else." The WHO said: "A significant proportion (10) ___________________ in hospital for COVID-19 around the world are aged under 50." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said many young people (11) ___________________ the state's social-distancing rules. He told young people that: "This is a (12) ___________________ and you cannot be endangering other peoples' health."

Comprehension questions

  1. Where are the young people the WHO is warning?
  2. Who did the WHO say was not exempt from catching the coronavirus?
  3. Who do some young people think mainly catch the disease?
  4. Who did the WHO say young people could give the virus to?
  5. Who urged young adults not to gather in large groups?
  6. What was the message the WHO gave to young people?
  7. For how long did the WHO say young people could stay in hospital?
  8. What did the WHO say young people could make the difference between?
  9. Which U.S. state is Andrew Cuomo the governor of?
  10. What kind of issue did Andrew Cuomo say social distancing was?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where are the young people the WHO is warning?
a) in the USA
b) all over the world
c) in Europe
d) in China
2) Who did the WHO say was not exempt from catching the coronavirus?
a) old people
b) children
c) doctors and nurses
d) young people
3) Who do some young people think mainly catch the disease?
a) older people
b) people over 80
c) middle-aged people
d) children
4) Who did the WHO say young people could give the virus to?
a) each other
b) doctors and nurses
c) parents and grandparents
d) scientists
5) Who urged young adults not to gather in large groups?
a) doctors and nurses
b) the White House
c) the UK Prime Minister
d) children

6) What was the message the WHO gave to young people?
a) they are not invincible
b) take care
c) stay at home
d) don't touch door handles
7) For how long did the WHO say young people could stay in hospital?
a) a day of two
b) months
c) weeks
d) six months
8) What did the WHO say young people could make the difference between?
a) life and death
b) passing and failing
c) being rich and poor
d) getting a job or not
9) Which U.S. state is Andrew Cuomo the governor of?
a) New York
b) Texas
c) California
d) Florida

10) What kind of issue did Andrew Cuomo say social distancing was?
a) a sensitive issue
b) a topical issue
c) a concerning issue
d) a public health issue

Role play

Role  A – Help Strangers
You think helping strangers is the best thing young people can do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): chatting to old people, working from home or shopping for neighbours.

Role  B – Chat to Old People
You think chatting to old people is the best thing young people can do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): helping strangers, working from home or shopping for neighbours.

Role  C – Work from Home
You think working from home is the best thing young people can do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): chatting to old people, helping strangers or shopping for neighbours.

Role  D – Shop for Neighbours
You think shopping for neighbours is the best thing young people can do. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): chatting to old people, working from home or helping strangers.

After reading / listening

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

'young'

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

    • and 'people'.

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

    • • 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:

    • warning
    • mistakenly
    • older
    • dying
    • parents
    • large
    • message
    • sick
    • life
    • treated
    • 50
    • issue

    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 - The WHO

    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 'young'?
    3. What do you know about the WHO?
    4. What are the young people you know doing?
    5. How is social distancing going for you?
    6. Why are so many young people not social distancing?
    7. What should governments do about people who go out?
    8. What would you tell a young person who wasn't following the rules?
    9. What will you say to the young people you know?
    10. What advice do you have for people worried about COVID-19?

    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 'risk'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What more should the WHO be doing?
    5. Why do young people think they re invincible?
    6. Is your country doing enough about COVID-19?
    7. How has COVID-19 changed your life?
    8. How worried are you about catching COVID-19?
    9. What will the world be like in six months from now?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the WHO?

    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)

    The World Health Organization (WHO) is (1) ____ young people all over the world that they are also (2) ____ risk from COVID-19. The WHO said young people are not exempt from catching the coronavirus. Many young people (3) ____ believe they will not catch the virus because of their age. They think it is a disease that only older people catch. The WHO said the (4) ____ is that young people are catching the coronavirus and becoming ill or dying from it. It added that young people are also spreading the disease to their parents, grandparents and (5) ____ people. The White House also urged young adults to follow advice and to (6) ____ gathering in large groups to help prevent the spread of the virus.

    The Director-General of the WHO said: "Today, I have a message (7) ____ young people: You are not invincible." He added: "This coronavirus could put you in hospital for weeks, or (8) ____ kill you. Even if you don't get sick, the choices you make about where you go could be the difference (9) ____ life and death for someone else." The WHO said: "A significant proportion of patients treated in hospital for COVID-19 around the world are (10) ____ under 50." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said many young people are not (11) ____ the state's social-distancing rules. He told young people that: "This is a public health (12) ____ and you cannot be endangering other peoples' health."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     warmed     (b)     warning     (c)     warned     (d)     warns    
    2. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     in     (d)     on    
    3. (a)     mistakenly     (b)     mistook     (c)     mistaken     (d)     mistakes    
    4. (a)     truth     (b)     true     (c)     truly     (d)     truthful     
    5. (a)     another     (b)     other     (c)     others     (d)     otter    
    6. (a)     avoids     (b)     avoiding     (c)     avoidance     (d)     avoid    
    7. (a)     of     (b)     on     (c)     to     (d)     in    
    8. (a)     ever     (b)     event     (c)     every     (d)     even    
    9. (a)     difference     (b)     differential     (c)     different     (d)     differed    
    10. (a)     aged     (b)     ageless     (c)     aging     (d)     ages    
    11. (a)     follower     (b)     following     (c)     follow     (d)     follows    
    12. (a)     tissue     (b)     reissue     (c)     issue     (d)     fissure

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. young people are not emxpet
    2. a daiesse that only older people catch
    3. becoming ill or niygd from it
    4. degur young adults to follow advice
    5. oaivd gathering in large groups
    6. vtrenep the spread of the virus

    Paragraph 2

    1. You are not iivbenlcni
    2. the hocicse you make
    3. the iednreefcf between life and death
    4. A isitngfacin proportion of patients
    5. This is a public health iessu
    6. gednagerinn other peoples' health

    Put the text back together

    (...)  the state's social-distancing rules. He told young people that: "This is a public
    (...)  coronavirus. Many young people mistakenly believe they will not catch the virus because of their
    (...)  invincible." He added: "This coronavirus could put you in hospital for weeks, or even kill you. Even if you don't get
    (...)  age. They think it is a disease that only older people catch. The WHO said the truth is that young people are
    (...)  the disease to their parents, grandparents and other people. The White House also urged young
    (...)  health issue and you cannot be endangering other peoples' health."
    (...)  sick, the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone
    (...)  else." The WHO said: "A significant proportion of patients treated in hospital for COVID-19 around the world are aged
    (...)  adults to follow advice and to avoid gathering in large groups to help prevent the spread of the virus.
    (...)  risk from COVID-19. The WHO said young people are not exempt from catching the
    (...)  catching the coronavirus and becoming ill or dying from it. It added that young people are also spreading
    (...)  under 50." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said many young people are not following
    (  1  ) The World Health Organization (WHO) is warning young people all over the world that they are also at
    (...)  The Director-General of the WHO said: "Today, I have a message for young people: You are not

    Put the words in the right order

    1. all   people   the   over   world   .   young   Warning
    2. not   are   exempt   catching   coronavirus   .   people   from   Young
    3. they   not   believe   catch   Mistakenly   the   virus   .   will
    4. people   are   disease   .   the   Young   spreading   also
    5. of   the   Help   virus   .   the   prevent   spread
    6. I   for   Today,   people   .   have   message   young   a
    7. could   you   hospital   put   Coronavirus   in   weeks   .   for
    8. death   .   between   difference   and   life   the   It's
    9. treated   significant   proportion   patients   in   A   hospital   .   of
    10. peoples'   endangering   other   You   be   health   .   cannot

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The World Health Organization (WHO) is warming / warning young people all over the world that they are also at risky / risk from COVID-19. The WHO said young people are not exempt / exact from catching the coronavirus. Many young people mistaken / mistakenly believe they will not catch the virus because of their age. They think it is a disease that only oldest / older people catch. The WHO said the truth / true is that young people are catching the coronavirus and becoming ill or die / dying from it. It added that young people are also spreading the disease to / for their parents, grandparents and other people. The White House also urged / purged young adults to follow advice and to avoid / evade gathering in large groups to help prevent the spread of the virus.

    The Director-General of the WHO said: "Today, I have a message for young people: You are not invisible / invincible." He added: "This coronavirus could put you in hospital four / for weeks, or even kill them / you. Even if you don't get sick, the chooses / choices you make about where you go could be the different / difference between life and death for someone else." The WHO said: "A significant proportion / preparation of patients treated in hospital for COVID-19 around the world are aged / age under 50." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said many young people are not followed / following the state's social-distancing rules. He told / tell young people that: "This is a public health / healthy issue and you cannot be endangering other peoples' health."

    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)

    T h_ W_r l d H__ l t h O r g_n_z_t__ n ( W H O ) _s w_r n_n g y__ n g p__ p l_ _l l _v_r t h_ w_r l d t h_t t h_y _r_ _l s_ _t r_s k f r_m C O V I D - 1 9 . T h_ W H O s__ d y__ n g p__ p l_ _r_ n_t _x_m p t f r_m c_t c h_n g t h_ c_r_n_v_r_s . M_n y y__ n g p__ p l_ m_s t_k_n l y b_l__ v_ t h_y w_l l n_t c_t c h t h_ v_r_s b_c__ s_ _f t h__ r _g_. T h_y t h_n k _t _s _ d_s__ s_ t h_t _n l y _l d_r p__ p l_ c_t c h . T h_ W H O s__ d t h_ t r_t h _s t h_t y__ n g p__ p l_ _r_ c_t c h_n g t h_ c_r_n_v_r_s _n d b_c_m_n g _l l _r d y_n g f r_m _t . I t _d d_d t h_t y__ n g p__ p l_ _r_ _l s_ s p r__ d_n g t h_ d_s__ s_ t_ t h__ r p_r_n t s , g r_n d p_r_n t s _n d _t h_r p__ p l_. T h_ W h_t_ H__ s_ _l s_ _r g_d y__ n g _d_l t s t_ f_l l_w _d v_c_ _n d t_ _v__ d g_t h_r_n g _n l_r g_ g r__ p s t_ h_l p p r_v_n t t h_ s p r__ d _f t h_ v_r_s .

    T h_ D_r_c t_r - G_n_r_l _f t h_ W H O s__ d : " T_d_y , I h_v_ _ m_s s_g_ f_r y__ n g p__ p l_: Y__ _r_ n_t _n v_n c_b l_. " H_ _d d_d : " T h_s c_r_n_v_r_s c__ l d p_t y__ _n h_s p_t_l f_r w__ k s , _r _v_n k_l l y__ . E v_n _f y__ d_n ' t g_t s_c k , t h_ c h__ c_s y__ m_k_ _b__ t w h_r_ y__ g_ c__ l d b_ t h_ d_f f_r_n c_ b_t w__ n l_f_ _n d d__ t h f_r s_m__ n_ _l s_. " T h_ W H O s__ d : " A s_g n_f_c_n t p r_p_r t__ n _f p_t__ n t s t r__ t_d _n h_s p_t_l f_r C O V I D - 1 9 _r__ n d t h_ w_r l d _r_ _g_d _n d_r 5 0 . " N_w Y_r k G_v_r n_r A n d r_w C__ m_ s__ d m_n y y__ n g p__ p l_ _r_ n_t f_l l_w_n g t h_ s t_t_' s s_c__ l - d_s t_n c_n g r_l_s . H_ t_l d y__ n g p__ p l_ t h_t : " T h_s _s _ p_b l_c h__ l t h _s s__ _n d y__ c_n n_t b_ _n d_n g_r_n g _t h_r p__ p l_s ' h__ l t h . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the world health organization who is warning young people all over the world that they are also at risk from covid19 the who said young people are not exempt from catching the coronavirus many young people mistakenly believe they will not catch the virus because of their age they think it is a disease that only older people catch the who said the truth is that young people are catching the coronavirus and becoming ill or dying from it it added that young people are also spreading the disease to their parents grandparents and other people the white house also urged young adults to follow advice and to avoid gathering in large groups to help prevent the spread of the virus

    the directorgeneral of the who said today i have a message for young people you are not invincible he added this coronavirus could put you in hospital for weeks or even kill you even if you dont get sick the choices you make about where you go could be the difference between life and death for someone else the who said a significant proportion of patients treated in hospital for covid19 around the world are aged under 50 new york governor andrew cuomo said many young people are not following the states socialdistancing rules he told young people that this is a public health issue and you cannot be endangering other peoples health

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)iswarningyoungpeopleallovert
    heworldthattheyarealsoatriskfromCOVID-19.TheWHOsaidyoungp
    eoplearenotexemptfromcatchingthecoronavirus.Manyyoungpeople
    mistakenlybelievetheywillnotcatchthevirusbecauseoftheirage.They
    thinkitisadiseasethatonlyolderpeoplecatch.TheWHOsaidthetruthist
    hatyoungpeoplearecatchingthecoronavirusandbecomingillordyingfr
    omit.Itaddedthatyoungpeoplearealsospreadingthediseasetotheirpa
    rents,grandparentsandotherpeople.TheWhiteHousealsourgedyoun
    gadultstofollowadviceandtoavoidgatheringinlargegroupstohelpprev
    entthespreadofthevirus.TheDirector-GeneraloftheWHOsaid:"Toda
    y,Ihaveamessageforyoungpeople:Youarenotinvincible."Headded:"
    Thiscoronaviruscouldputyouinhospitalforweeks,orevenkillyou.Even
    ifyoudon'tgetsick,thechoicesyoumakeaboutwhereyougocouldbethe
    differencebetweenlifeanddeathforsomeoneelse."TheWHOsaid:"Asi
    gnificantproportionofpatientstreatedinhospitalforCOVID-19aroundt
    heworldareagedunder50."NewYorkGovernorAndrewCuomosaidma
    nyyoungpeoplearenotfollowingthestate'ssocial-distancingrules.H
    etoldyoungpeoplethat:"Thisisapublichealthissueandyoucannotbeen
    dangeringotherpeoples'health."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    People who do not follow social distancing rules should be heavily 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. YOUNG PEOPLE: Make a poster about young people. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FINES: Write a magazine article about fining people who do not follow social distancing rules. 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 social distancing. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make young people understand that social distancing is important. 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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