The Reading / Listening - 2020 - Level 3

For billions of people around the world, January the 1st, 2020 seemed like a great day. It was the start of a year that sounded like science fiction - 2020. Many people had great hopes for the year ahead. Few knew what a rollercoaster ride 2020 would be and how the world would change. The year has been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has brought hundreds of thousands of deaths, economic chaos, lockdowns and masked populations. Another huge event was the death of George Floyd at the hands of U.S. police in July. This sparked the Black Lives Matter movement and global protests. The year ended with Joe Biden being voted in as the President-elect of the USA.

Different people will have different memories of 2020. Our reporters asked people around the world to tell us what they will remember 2020 for. Ahmed Hussein from Lebanon said he would never forget the massive explosion at a Beirut port in August that killed at least 190 people. He said he thanked God none of his family or friends were hurt, but was sad at the destruction of his city. Lucy Baxter, a nurse in the UK, said her happiest moment came with the news of the vaccines for COVID-19. She said she could see light at the end of a long and dark tunnel. Ayumi Miyamoto of Japan was saddened by the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics but is happy they will go ahead in 2021. She said 2021 would be a good year.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    2020 - Level 0,  2020 - Level 1   or  2020 - Level 2

Sources
    BreakingNewsEnglish.com


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. THE YEAR 2020: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the year 2020. 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?
       billions / science fiction / hopes / rollercoaster / pandemic / population / global /
       memories / remember / explosion / family / friends / destruction / light / tunnel
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. THE WORST: Students A strongly believe 2020 was the worst year ever; Students B strongly believe it wasn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. 2020: How was 2020 for you? What were the highs and lows? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Highs

Lows

English

 

 

Money

 

 

Relationships

 

 

Hobbies

 

 

Work

 

 

Goals

 

 
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. FORGET: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "forget". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. THINGS OF 2020: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things for 2020 at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Smartphone
  • Mask
  • English dictionary
  • Games console
  • Alcohol spray
  • Sun block
  • Thermometer
  • Chocolate

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1. billion a. A statement or action expressing dislike of something.
2. science fiction b. Had a big influence on; exercised control over.
3. dominated c. Total disorder and confusion.
4. pandemic d. A one followed by nine zeroes (1,000,000,000).
5. chaos e. Wearing a covering over the face.
6. masked f. Stories about what we imagine the future to be like, or about space or time travel and life on other planets.
7. protest g. Of a disease that is all over a whole country or the world.

    Paragraph 2

      8. memory h. The action or process of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired.
      9. massive i. Really, really, really big.
      10. explosion j. The action of putting something off until a later date.
      11. destruction k. Something remembered from the past.
      12. port l. A town or city with a harbor where ships load or unload, especially one where customs officers are.
      13. tunnel m. A violent and destructive shattering or blowing apart of something.
      14. postponement n. An underground road or path, especially one built through a hill or under a building, road, or river.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article said millions of people thought 2020 would be a great year.    T / F
  2. The article says there is a science fiction movie about the year 2020.     T / F
  3. The article says 2020 was like a rollercoaster ride.     T / F
  4. The article mentioned economic chaos and lockdowns.     T / F
  5. Reporters asked people in India about their memories of 2020.     T / F
  6. A man was sad about the explosion in Beirut in August.     T / F
  7. A nurse was happy about vaccines being discovered for COVID-19.     T / F
  8. A Japanese woman thinks 2021 will be equally bad.     T / F

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

  1. great
  2. ahead
  3. chaos
  4. huge
  5. protests
  6. memories
  7. explosion
  8. destruction
  9. saddened
  10. go ahead
  1. enormous
  2. disorganization
  3. dispirited
  4. demonstrations
  5. blast
  6. to come
  7. ruination
  8. take place
  9. wonderful
  10. recollections

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

  1. For billions of people
  2. a year that sounded
  3. Many people had great hopes
  4. economic
  5. global
  6. Different people will have
  7. massive
  8. the vaccines
  9. she could see light at the end of a long
  10. happy they will go
  1. explosion
  2. for the year ahead
  3. protests
  4. and dark tunnel
  5. chaos
  6. ahead in 2021
  7. like science fiction
  8. different memories
  9. for COVID-19
  10. around the world

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
hopes
huge
fiction
pandemic
voted
great
chaos
ride

For billions of people around the world, January the 1st, 2020 seemed like a (1) _____________________ day. It was the start of a year that sounded like science (2) _____________________ - 2020. Many people had great (3) _____________________ for the year ahead. Few knew what a rollercoaster (4) _____________________ 2020 would be and how the world would change. The year has been dominated by the COVID-19 (5) _____________________. This has brought hundreds of thousands of deaths, economic (6) _____________________, lockdowns and masked populations. Another (7) _____________________ event was the death of George Floyd at the hands of U.S. police in July. This sparked the Black Lives Matter movement and global protests. The year ended with Joe Biden being (8) _____________________ in as the President-elect of the USA.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
remember
hurt
ahead
massive
vaccines
memories
tunnel
moment

Different people will have different (9) _____________________ of 2020. Our reporters asked people around the world to tell us what they will (10) _____________________ 2020 for. Ahmed Hussein from Lebanon said he would never forget the (11) _____________________ explosion at a Beirut port in August that killed at least 190 people. He said he thanked God none of his family or friends were (12) _____________________, but was sad at the destruction of his city. Lucy Baxter, a nurse in the UK, said her happiest (13) _____________________ came with the news of the (14) _____________________ for COVID-19. She said she could see light at the end of a long and dark (15) _____________________. Ayumi Miyamoto of Japan was saddened by the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics but is happy they will go (16) _____________________ in 2021. She said 2021 would be a good year.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) For billions of people around the world, January the 1st, 2020 ______ great day
     a.  seem like a
     b.  seems like a
     c.  seemed like a
     d.  seeming like a
2)  It was the start of a year that sounded ______
     a.  like scientific friction
     b.  like science faction
     c.  like science fiction
     d.  like scientific fiction
3)  Many people had great hopes for ______
     a.  the year as head
     b.  the year a head
     c.  the year ah head
     d.  the year ahead
4)  hundreds of thousands of deaths, economic chaos, lockdowns ______
     a.  and mask populations
     b.  and masked population
     c.  and masked populations
     d.  and mask population
5)  with Joe Biden being voted in as the President-______ USA
     a.  erect of the
     b.  eject of the
     c.  electric of the
     d.  elect of the

6) asked people around the world to tell us what they will ______
     a.  remember 2020 four
     b.  remember 2020 for
     c.  remember 2020 of
     d.  remember 2020 from
7)  Ahmed Hussein from Lebanon said he would never forget ______
     a.  the massive explosion
     b.  the missive explosion
     c.  the mass sieve explosion
     d.  the mass its explosion
8)  He said he thanked God none of his family or friends were hurt, ______
     a.  but was sadly
     b.  but was sadden
     c.  but was sad
     d.  but was sadness
9)  her happiest moment came with the news ______
     a.  of the vaccines
     b.  off the vaccines
     c.  of them vaccines
     d.  of then vaccines
10)  postponement of the Tokyo Olympics but is happy they ______
     a.  will goes ahead
     b.  will go ahead
     c.  will goer head
     d.  will gone ahead

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

For billions of people around the world, January the 1st, 2020 (1) ____________________ great day. It was the start of a year that sounded like science fiction - 2020. Many people had (2) ____________________ the year ahead. Few knew what a rollercoaster ride 2020 would be and how the world would change. The year has (3) ____________________ the COVID-19 pandemic. This has brought hundreds of thousands of deaths, economic chaos, (4) ____________________ populations. Another huge event was the death of George Floyd at the hands of U.S. police in July. (5) ____________________ Black Lives Matter movement and global protests. The year ended with Joe Biden (6) ____________________ as the President-elect of the USA.

Different people will have (7) ____________________ 2020. Our reporters asked people around the world to tell us what they will remember 2020 for. Ahmed Hussein from Lebanon said he would never (8) ____________________ explosion at a Beirut port in August that killed at least 190 people. He said he thanked God none of his family or friends were hurt, but (9) ____________________ the destruction of his city. Lucy Baxter, a nurse in the UK, said her happiest (10) ____________________ the news of the vaccines for COVID-19. She said she could see light at the end of a long and dark tunnel. Ayumi Miyamoto of Japan (11) ____________________ the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics but is happy they will (12) ____________________ 2021. She said 2021 would be a good year.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say seemed like a great day?
  2. What does the article say 2020 sounded like?
  3. What does the article compare 2020 to?
  4. What kind of chaos does the article mention?
  5. What movement does the article mention?
  6. Where is Ahmed Hussein from?
  7. Who did Ahmed Hussein thank?
  8. What is Lucy Baxter's job?
  9. Where could Lucy Baxter see light?
  10. What did a Japanese woman say 2021 would be like?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say seemed like a great day?
a) June the 8th
b) December the 31st
c) January the 1st
d) November the 5th
2) What does the article say 2020 sounded like?
a) science fiction
b) fun
c) a nightmare
d) a horror story
3) What does the article compare 2020 to?
a) a tunnel
b) 2019
c) the Dark Ages
d) a rollercoaster ride
4) What kind of chaos does the article mention?
a) social chaos
b) economic chaos
c) internal chaos
d) yearly chaos
5) What movement does the article mention?
a) Anti-war Movement
b) MeToo
c) Black Lives Matter
d) Extinction Rebellion

6) Where is Ahmed Hussein from?
a) Damascus, Syria
b) Beirut, Lebanon
c) Abu Dhabi, UAE
d) Rabat, Morocco
7) Who did Ahmed Hussein thank?
a) everyone
b) his mother
c) the President
d) God
8) What is Lucy Baxter's job?
a) soldier
b) nurse
c) teacher
d) scientist
9) Where could Lucy Baxter see light?
a) the end of a tunnel
b) in bed
c) under the door
d) in the sky
10) What did a Japanese woman say 2021 would be like?
a) weird
b) fantastic
c) scary
d) good

Role play

Role  A – Smartphone
You think a smartphone was the most essential item to have in 2020. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least essential of these (and why): a mask, an English dictionary or chocolate.

Role  B – Mask
You think a mask was the most essential item to have in 2020. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least essential of these (and why): smartphone, an English dictionary or chocolate.

Role  C – English Dictionary
You think an English dictionary was the most essential item to have in 2020. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least essential of these (and why): a mask, smartphone or chocolate.

Role  D – Chocolate
You think chocolate was the most essential item to have in 2020. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least essential of these (and why): a mask, an English dictionary or smartphone.

After reading / listening

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

'year'

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

    • and '2020'.

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

    • • 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:

    • billions
    • start
    • ride
    • hundreds
    • hands
    • voted
    • memories
    • forget
    • 190
    • nurse
    • light
    • 2021

    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 - 2020

    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 'year'?
    3. What did you think of 2020?
    4. What did you think 2020 would be like at the start of the year?
    5. What was the best thing about 2020?
    6. What regrets do you have about 2020?
    7. How was your English studying in 2020?
    8. How much did the pandemic affect you?
    9. What do you know about the Black Lives Matter movement?
    10. What do you think of President-elect Joe Biden?

    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 'forget'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Did you have any New Year's resolutions for 2020?
    5. What was the biggest news story of 2020?
    6. Who was the biggest personality of 2020?
    7. What do you think of a vaccine being found?
    8. Has there been a worse year than 2020?
    9. Can you see light at the end of the tunnel?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the reporters?

    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)

    For billions of people (1) ____ the world, January the 1st, 2020 seemed like a great day. It was the start of a year that sounded like (2) ____ fiction - 2020. Many people had great hopes for the year ahead. Few knew what a rollercoaster (3) ____ 2020 would be and how the world would change. The year has been dominated (4) ____ the COVID-19 pandemic. This has brought hundreds of thousands of deaths, economic chaos, lockdowns and masked populations. Another huge event was the death of George Floyd at the (5) ____ of U.S. police in July. This sparked the Black Lives Mater movement and global protests. The year ended with Joe Biden being voted (6) ____ as the President-elect of the USA.

    Different people will have different memories of 2020. Our reporters asked people around the world to tell us what they will remember 2020 (7) ____. Ahmed Hussein from Lebanon said he would never forget the (8) ____ explosion at a Beirut port in August that killed at least 190 people. He said he thanked God none of his family or friends were hurt, but was sad (9) ____ the destruction of his city. Lucy Baxter, a nurse in the UK, said her happiest moment came with the news of the vaccines for COVID-19. She said she could see (10) ____ at the end of a long and dark tunnel. Ayumi Miyamoto of Japan was (11) ____ by the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics but is happy they will (12) ____ ahead in 2021. She said 2021 would be a good year.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     aground     (b)     abound     (c)     around     (d)     astound    
    2. (a)     science     (b)     physics     (c)     chemistry     (d)     biology    
    3. (a)     ride     (b)     drive     (c)     fly     (d)     sail    
    4. (a)     by     (b)     as     (c)     to     (d)     at    
    5. (a)     stomachs     (b)     backs     (c)     heads     (d)     hands    
    6. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     up     (d)     in    
    7. (a)     for     (b)     on     (c)     which     (d)     as    
    8. (a)     big-up     (b)     hugely     (c)     enormity     (d)     massive    
    9. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     to    
    10. (a)     torch     (b)     light     (c)     shine     (d)     ray    
    11. (a)     sadness     (b)     saddened     (c)     sadly     (d)     sadist    
    12. (a)     go     (b)     come     (c)     up     (d)     down

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. iobllsni of people
    2. sounded like encsice fiction
    3. what a ercsleaooltrr ride
    4. economic ohcsa
    5. global sopesttr
    6. the President-etcel of the USA

    Paragraph 2

    1. different moeemsri of 2020
    2. massive piolosnex
    3. the tencsudtiro of his city
    4. news of the ncavice for COVID-19
    5. the end of a long and dark netnlu
    6. the onsetpntopme of the Tokyo Olympics

    Put the text back together

    (...)  forget the massive explosion at a Beirut port in August that killed at least 190 people. He said he thanked
    (...)  Different people will have different memories of 2020. Our reporters asked people around the
    (...)  by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has brought hundreds of thousands of deaths, economic
    (...)  by the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics but is happy they will go ahead in 2021. She said 2021 would be a good year.
    (...)  protests. The year ended with Joe Biden being voted in as the President-elect of the USA.
    (...)  city. Lucy Baxter, a nurse in the UK, said her happiest moment came with the news of the
    (...)  chaos, lockdowns and masked populations. Another huge event was the death
    (...)  vaccines for COVID-19. She said she could see light at the end of a long and dark tunnel. Ayumi Miyamoto of Japan was saddened
    (...)  like science fiction - 2020. Many people had great hopes for the year ahead. Few knew what a rollercoaster
    (...)  of George Floyd at the hands of U.S. police in July. This sparked the Black Lives Matter movement and global
    (...)  ride 2020 would be and how the world would change. The year has been dominated
    (  1  ) For billions of people around the world, January the 1st, 2020 seemed like a great day. It was the start of a year that sounded
    (...)  God none of his family or friends were hurt, but was sad at the destruction of his
    (...)  world to tell us what they will remember 2020 for. Ahmed Hussein from Lebanon said he would never

    Put the words in the right order

    1. billions   the   people   around   For   world   .   of
    2. for   the   year   had   People   ahead   .   hopes   great
    3. deaths   .   thousands   of   brought   of   hundreds   has   This
    4. the   Black   Matter   movement   .   sparked   This   Lives
    5. the   President-elect   Voted   the   of   as   USA   .
    6. people   memories   of   will   Different   have   2020   .   different
    7. reporters   the   people   asked   world   .   around   Our
    8. forget   massive   would   He   the   never   explosion   .
    9. light   a   the   at   See   of   end   tunnel   .
    10. a   year   .   2021   would   be   said   good   She

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    For billions of people around / abound the world, January the 1st, 2020 seemed like a great day. It was the start of a year that sounded like science friction / fiction - 2020. Many people had great hopes for the year behind / ahead. Few knew what a rollercoaster ride 2020 would be and how the world would change / charge. The year has been dominated at / by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has brought hundreds of / for thousands of deaths, economic chaos, lockdowns and asked / masked populations. Another huge event was the death / dead of George Floyd at the hands of U.S. police in July. This sparked the Black Lives Matter movement and global / globally protests. The year ended with Joe Biden being voted at / in as the President-elect of the USA.

    Different people will have different memorise / memories of 2020. Our reporters asked people around the world to tell them / us what they will remember 2020 of / for. Ahmed Hussein from Lebanon said he would never forget / forgetting the massive explosion at a Beirut part / port in August that killed at least 190 people. He said he thanked God none of his family or friends were hurts / hurt, but was sad at the destruction of his city. Lucy Baxter, a nurse in the UK, said her happiest moment / monument came with the news of the vaccines for COVID-19. She said she could see right / light at the end of a long and dark tunnel. Ayumi Miyamoto of Japan was saddened by / of the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics but is happy they will go ahead / head in 2021. She said 2021 would be a good year.

    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)

    F_r  b_ll__ns  _f  p__pl_  _r__nd  th_  w_rld,  J_n__ry  th_  1st,  2020  s__m_d  l_k_  _  gr__t  d_y.  _t  w_s  th_  st_rt  _f  _  y__r  th_t  s__nd_d  l_k_  sc__nc_  f_ct__n  -  2020.  M_ny  p__pl_  h_d  gr__t  h_p_s  f_r  th_  y__r  _h__d.  F_w  kn_w  wh_t  _  r_ll_rc__st_r  r_d_  2020  w__ld  b_  _nd  h_w  th_  w_rld  w__ld  ch_ng_.  Th_  y__r  h_s  b__n  d_m_n_t_d  by  th_  C_V_D-19  p_nd_m_c.  Th_s  h_s  br__ght  h_ndr_ds  _f  th__s_nds  _f  d__ths,  _c_n_m_c  ch__s,  l_ckd_wns  _nd  m_sk_d  p_p_l_t__ns.  _n_th_r  h_g_  _v_nt  w_s  th_  d__th  _f  G__rg_  Fl_yd  _t  th_  h_nds  _f  _.S.  p_l_c_  _n  J_ly.  Th_s  sp_rk_d  th_  Bl_ck  L_v_s  M_tt_r  m_v_m_nt  _nd  gl_b_l  pr_t_sts.  Th_  y__r  _nd_d  w_th  J__  B_d_n  b__ng  v_t_d  _n  _s  th_  Pr_s_d_nt-_l_ct  _f  th_  _S_.

    D_ff_r_nt  p__pl_  w_ll  h_v_  d_ff_r_nt  m_m_r__s  _f  2020.  __r  r_p_rt_rs  _sk_d  p__pl_  _r__nd  th_  w_rld  t_  t_ll  _s  wh_t  th_y  w_ll  r_m_mb_r  2020  f_r.  _hm_d  H_ss__n  fr_m  L_b_n_n  s__d  h_  w__ld  n_v_r  f_rg_t  th_  m_ss_v_  _xpl_s__n  _t  _  B__r_t  p_rt  _n  __g_st  th_t  k_ll_d  _t  l__st  190  p__pl_.  H_  s__d  h_  th_nk_d  G_d  n_n_  _f  h_s  f_m_ly  _r  fr__nds  w_r_  h_rt,  b_t  w_s  s_d  _t  th_  d_str_ct__n  _f  h_s  c_ty.  L_cy  B_xt_r,  _  n_rs_  _n  th_  _K,  s__d  h_r  h_pp__st  m_m_nt  c_m_  w_th  th_  n_ws  _f  th_  v_cc_n_s  f_r  C_V_D-19.  Sh_  s__d  sh_  c__ld  s__  l_ght  _t  th_  _nd  _f  _  l_ng  _nd  d_rk  t_nn_l.  _y_m_  M_y_m_t_  _f  J_p_n  w_s  s_dd_n_d  by  th_  p_stp_n_m_nt  _f  th_  T_ky_  _lymp_cs  b_t  _s  h_ppy  th_y  w_ll  g_  _h__d  _n  2021.  Sh_  s__d  2021  w__ld  b_  _  g__d  y__r.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    for billions of people around the world january the 1st 2020 seemed like a great day it was the start of a year that sounded like science fiction  2020 many people had great hopes for the year ahead few knew what a rollercoaster ride 2020 would be and how the world would change the year has been dominated by the covid19 pandemic this has brought hundreds of thousands of deaths economic chaos lockdowns and masked populations another huge event was the death of george floyd at the hands of us police in july this sparked the black lives Matter movement and global protests the year ended with joe biden being voted in as the presidentelect of the usa

    different people will have different memories of 2020 our reporters asked people around the world to tell us what they will remember 2020 for ahmed hussein from lebanon said he would never forget the massive explosion at a beirut port in august that killed at least 190 people he said he thanked god none of his family or friends were hurt but was sad at the destruction of his city lucy baxter a nurse in the uk said her happiest moment came with the news of the vaccines for covid19 she said she could see light at the end of a long and dark tunnel ayumi miyamoto of japan was saddened by the postponement of the tokyo olympics but is happy they will go ahead in 2021 she said 2021 would be a good year

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Forbillionsofpeoplearoundtheworld,Januarythe1st,2020seemedlike
    agreatday.Itwasthestartofayearthatsoundedlikesciencefiction-20
    20.Manypeoplehadgreathopesfortheyearahead.Fewknewwhataroll
    ercoasterride2020wouldbeandhowtheworldwouldchange.Theyearh
    asbeendominatedbytheCOVID-19pandemic.Thishasbroughthundr
    edsofthousandsofdeaths,economicchaos,lockdownsandmaskedpop
    ulations.AnotherhugeeventwasthedeathofGeorgeFloydatthehands
    ofU.S.policeinJuly.ThissparkedtheBlackLivesMattermovementandg
    lobalprotests.TheyearendedwithJoeBidenbeingvotedinasthePreside
    nt-electoftheUSA.Differentpeoplewillhavedifferentmemoriesof202
    0.Ourreportersaskedpeoplearoundtheworldtotelluswhattheywillre
    member2020for.AhmedHusseinfromLebanonsaidhewouldneverfor
    getthemassiveexplosionataBeirutportinAugustthatkilledatleast190
    people.HesaidhethankedGodnoneofhisfamilyorfriendswerehurt,but
    wassadatthedestructionofhiscity.LucyBaxter,anurseintheUK,saidhe
    rhappiestmomentcamewiththenewsofthevaccinesforCOVID-19.Sh
    esaidshecouldseelightattheendofalonganddarktunnel.AyumiMiyam
    otoofJapanwassaddenedbythepostponementoftheTokyoOlympicsb
    utishappytheywillgoaheadin2021.Shesaid2021wouldbeagoodyear.

    Free writing

    Write about the year 2020 for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    What three things can we learn from 2020 to make the world a better place?

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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. THE YEAR 2020: Make a poster about the year 2020. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. THE WORST: Write a magazine article about the year 2020 being the worst ever. Include imaginary interviews with people who agree and disagree with this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on the year 2020. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. 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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