Breaking News English Lesson: Latin

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More U.K. schools to teach Latin (2nd August, 2021)

The Reading / Listening - Latin - Level 6

The U.K. education secretary Gavin Williamson has announced a new $5.5 million programme to teach Latin at 40 schools across the country. Mr Williamson said the Latin Excellence Programme aims to "level up" opportunities for students in some government-run schools. Latin is a language that was spoken in the area around Rome over 2,000 years ago. It is taught in 49% of the UK's "elite" private schools but only 2.7% of state schools. Williamson said: "Latin has a reputation as an elitist subject, which is reserved for the privileged few, but the subject can bring so many benefits to young people, so I want to put an end to that divide." He added: "Latin can help pupils with learning modern foreign languages."

The initiative has sparked a heated debate about the benefits of Latin. Many people have ridiculed the programme as being nothing but a "poorly-funded gimmick". Politician Tim Farron wrote: "Latin is elite because only people who are guaranteed successful careers, thanks to family connections, can afford to waste time on a subject whose only practical application is in understanding...the dialogue in [ancient] books." Author Emma Kennedy questioned the use of a "dead" language. She uses Latin to "occasionally translate things on tombs". A teacher said money would be better spent on living languages like Chinese or Arabic that would enable children "to get ahead in and engage with the world," or on computer coding.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Latin - Level 4 or Latin - Level 5

Sources

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-more-students-to-learn-ancient-and-modern-languages
https://www.rt.com/uk/530785-uk-debates-usefulness-latin/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9846015/Latin-taught-state-schools-bid-make-language-elitist.html

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. LATIN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Latin. 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?
education / Latin / programme / opportunities / level up / elite / subject / privileged /
initiative / debate / gimmick / successful / career / waste time / translate / coding
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FOREIGN LANGUGE: Students A strongly believe everyone should learn a foreign language; Students B strongly believe that is unnecessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SCHOOL SUBJECTS: How important are these school subjects? How can they help you in life? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Importance	Usefulness in Life
Latin
Coding
Art
History
Physics
English

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

Coding
Body language
Chinese
Esperanto
English
Arabic
Sign language
Spanish

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	announced	a.	Of, provided by, or concerned with the government of a country.
2.	level up	b.	Having special rights, advantages, or immunities.
3.	elite	c.	Made a public and typically formal declaration about a fact, occurrence, or intention.
4.	state	d.	A group or class of people seen as having the greatest power and influence within a society, especially because of their wealth or privilege.
5.	reputation	e.	Further improve or develop something to a higher stage or step.
6.	reserved	f.	The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something.
7.	privileged	g.	Kept for a particular purpose or person.

Paragraph 2

8.	initiative	h.	Provided the stimulus for a dramatic event or process.
9.	sparked	i.	Inflamed with passion.
10.	heated	j.	Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence.
11.	ridiculed	k.	An act or strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation; a fresh approach to something.
12.	gimmick	l.	A large box, typically an underground one, for burying the dead.
13.	ancient	m.	A trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business.
14.	tomb	n.	Subjected someone or something to disrespectful and dismissive language or behavior.

Before reading / listening

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

The UK's new Latin programme will cost $55 million. T / F
The UK education secretary said students had to level up to learn Latin. T / F
Latin is taught in 2.7% of the UK's elite private schools. T / F
The UK education secretary said Latin is beneficial for young people. T / F
Many people have called the Latin programme a gimmick. T / F
A politician said Latin is only useful for reading ancient books. T / F
A writer said she only uses Latin to translate things in museums. T / F
A teacher said learning coding is preferable to Latin. T / F

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

announced
opportunities
area
elite
benefits
initiative
guaranteed
dialogue
enable
engage

best
conversation
scheme
chances
become involved
notified
assured of
allow
region
advantages

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

The U.K. education
students in some government-
Latin has a reputation as
I want to put an end
help pupils with learning modern
The initiative has sparked
nothing but a poorly-
understanding the dialogue
questioned the use of a
enable children to

an elitist subject
get ahead
foreign languages
funded gimmick
run schools
in ancient books
secretary
"dead" language
to that divide
a heated debate

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

level
elite
privileged
area
reputation
pupils
secretary
divide

The U.K. education (1) _____________________ Gavin Williamson has announced a new $5.5 million programme to teach Latin at 40 schools across the country. Mr Williamson said the Latin Excellence Programme aims to "(2) _____________________ up" opportunities for students in some government-run schools. Latin is a language that was spoken in the (3) _____________________ around Rome over 2,000 years ago. It is taught in 49% of the UK's "(4) _____________________" private schools but only 2.7% of state schools. Williamson said: "Latin has a (5) _____________________ as an elitist subject, which is reserved for the (6) _____________________ few, but the subject can bring so many benefits to young people, so I want to put an end to that (7) _____________________." He added: "Latin can help (8) _____________________ with learning modern foreign languages."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

gimmick
dead
sparked
engage
dialogue
translate
ridiculed
connections

The initiative has (9) _____________________ a heated debate about the benefits of Latin. Many people have (10) _____________________ the programme as being nothing but a "poorly-funded (11) _____________________". Politician Tim Farron wrote: "Latin is elite because only people who are guaranteed successful careers, thanks to family (12) _____________________, can afford to waste time on a subject whose only practical application is in understanding...the (13) _____________________ in [ancient] books." Author Emma Kennedy questioned the use of a "(14) _____________________" language. She uses Latin to "occasionally (15) _____________________ things on tombs". A teacher said money would be better spent on living languages like Chinese or Arabic that would enable children "to get ahead in and (16) _____________________ with the world," or on computer coding.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Mr Williamson said the Latin Excellence Programme aims to ______
     a. "level up" opportunities
     b. "rebel up" opportunities
     c. "revel up" opportunities
     d. "lever up" opportunities
2) It is taught in 49% of the UK's ______
     a. alight private schools
     b. elate private schools
     c. lout private schools
     d. elite private schools
3) subject, which is reserved for ______
     a. the privilege few
     b. the privy alleged few
     c. the privy ledged few
     d. the privileged few
4) the subject can bring so many benefits to young people, so I want to put an end ______
     a. to what divide
     b. to elite divide
     c. to that divide
     d. to hat divide
5) He added: "Latin can help pupils with learning ______."
     a. modern foreign languages
     b. modern foreigner languages
     c. modern forage languages
     d. modern feign languages

6) The initiative has sparked ______
     a. a heat it debate
     b. a heat it debut
     c. a heated debate
     d. a heated debit
7) whose only practical application is in understanding the dialogue ______
     a. as ancient books
     b. an ancient books
     c. on ancient books
     d. in ancient books
8) She uses Latin to "occasionally translate _______".
     a. thing son tombs
     b. thing zone tombs
     c. things in twos
     d. things on tombs
9) A teacher said money would be better spent ______
     a. on living languages
     b. on live in languages
     c. on livid languages
     d. enlivening languages
10) Chinese or Arabic that would enable children to get ahead in and ______ world
     a. engorge with the
     b. engage with the
     c. end gauge with the
     d. enrage with the

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The U.K. education secretary Gavin Williamson has (1) ____________________ $5.5 million programme to teach Latin at 40 schools across the country. Mr Williamson said the Latin Excellence Programme aims (2) ____________________ opportunities for students in some government-run schools. Latin is a language that was spoken in (3) ____________________ Rome over 2,000 years ago. It is taught in 49% of the UK's (4) ____________________ but only 2.7% of state schools. Williamson said: "Latin has a reputation as an elitist subject, which is reserved for (5) ____________________, but the subject can bring so many benefits to young people, so I want to put an end (6) ____________________." He added: "Latin can help pupils with learning modern foreign languages."

The initiative has (7) ____________________ debate about the benefits of Latin. Many people have ridiculed the programme as being nothing but a "(8) ____________________". Politician Tim Farron wrote: "Latin is elite because only people who are guaranteed successful careers, thanks to family connections, can (9) ____________________ time on a subject whose only practical application is in understanding...the (10) ____________________ books." Author Emma Kennedy questioned the use of a "dead" language. She uses Latin to "occasionally (11) ____________________ tombs". A teacher said money would be better spent on living languages like Chinese or Arabic that would enable children "to get ahead (12) ____________________ with the world," or on computer coding.

Comprehension questions

How much will the UK government spend on the Latin programme?
Where does the education secretary hope students will level up?
How many elite UK private schools is Latin taught in?
What did the education secretary say Latin has a reputation for being?
What did the education secretary say Latin could help pupils with?
What kind of debate has the Latin programme started?
What have people ridiculed the programme as being?
What did a politician say can help the elite get a successful career?
What did an author say she used Latin to translate?
What two living languages did a teacher say are more preferable?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How much will the UK government spend on the Latin programme?
a) $55 million
b) $5.5 million
c) $5 million
d) $55.5 million
2) Where does the education secretary hope students will level up?
a) in state-run universities
b) at home
c) in private universities
d) some government-run schools
3) How many elite UK private schools is Latin taught in?
a) 49%
b) 2.7%
c) 27%
d) 4.9%
4) What did the education secretary say Latin has a reputation for being?
a) too full of declensions
b) difficult
c) elitist
d) old
5) What did the education secretary say Latin could help pupils with?
a) learning about the Roman Empire
b) learning modern foreign languages
c) English literature
d) life

6) What kind of debate has the Latin programme started?
a) a heated debate
b) an intellectual debate
c) a gentle debate
d) an online debate
7) What have people ridiculed the programme as being?
a) an anachronism
b) a smokescreen
c) a poorly-funded gimmick
d) a waste of taxpayers' money
8) What did a politician say can help the elite get a successful career?
a) family connections
b) the working class
c) the Queen
d) money
9) What did an author say she used Latin to translate?
a) things on tombs
b) ancient poems
c) medical books
d) books on botany
10) What two living languages did a teacher say are more preferable?
a) Chinese and Spanish
b) French and Spanish
c) German and Esperanto
d) Chinese and Arabic

Role play

Role A – Latin
You think Latin is the best language to learn. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their languages. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): coding, sign language or Chinese.

Role B – Coding
You think coding is the best language to learn. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their languages. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): Latin, sign language or Chinese.

Role C – Sign Language
You think sign language is the best language to learn. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their languages. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): coding, Latin or Chinese.

Role D – Chinese
You think Chinese is the best language to learn. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their languages. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): coding, sign language or Latin.

After reading / listening

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

'teach'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'Latin'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

secretary

level

area

2.7

reputation

help

heated

nothing

thanks

ancient

living

teacher

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 - Latin

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'Latin'?
What do you know about Latin?
Should all schools teach Latin?
What is the use of Latin in today's world?
Is $5.5 million on a nationwide language programme enough?
Why do students in the UK's elite schools learn Latin?
How can learning Latin help students learn foreign languages?
Should the money be spent on helping people to improve their English?
What 'benefits' can Latin bring to young people?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'school'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you think of Latin?
Do you think the Latin programme is a 'poorly-funded gimmick'?
What do you think of getting jobs through family connections?
Why is Latin useful if all texts written in Latin have been translated?
Why learn Latin when you can learn Chinese, Arabic or coding?
Would you like to learn Latin?
What questions would you like to ask the education secretary?

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 U.K. education secretary Gavin Williamson has (1) ____ a new $5.5 million programme to teach Latin at 40 schools across the country. Mr Williamson said the Latin Excellence Programme (2) ____ to "level up" opportunities for students in some government-run schools. Latin is a language that was spoken in the area around Rome over 2,000 years ago. It is taught in 49% of the UK's "(3) ____" private schools but only 2.7% of (4) ____ schools. Williamson said: "Latin has a reputation as an elitist subject, which is (5) ____ for the privileged few, but the subject can bring so many benefits to young people, so I want to put an end to that (6) ____." He added: "Latin can help pupils with learning modern foreign languages."

The initiative has sparked a (7) ____ debate about the benefits of Latin. Many people have ridiculed the programme as being nothing but a "poorly-funded (8) ____". Politician Tim Farron wrote: "Latin is elite because only people who are guaranteed successful careers, thanks to family connections, can (9) ____ to waste time on a subject whose only practical application is in understanding...the dialogue in (10) ____ books." Author Emma Kennedy questioned the use of a "dead" language. She uses Latin to "occasionally translate things on (11) ____ ". A teacher said money would be better spent on living languages like Chinese or Arabic that would enable children "to get ahead in and (12) ____ with the world," or on computer coding.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) announced (b) announce (c) announcing (d) announces
(a) alms (b) arms (c) aims (d) amiss
(a) alight (b) elate (c) elite (d) ELT
(a) express (b) announce (c) declare (d) state
(a) reserved (b) booked (c) commandeered (d) put aside
(a) add (b) divide (c) minus (d) multiply
(a) humid (b) boiled (c) warmed (d) heated
(a) gazump (b) gimmick (c) gulag (d) gofer
(a) affront (b) afflict (c) afford (d) affair
(a) primeval (b) primordial (c) Neolithic (d) ancient
(a) wombs (b) bombs (c) combs (d) tombs
(a) enrage (b) engage (c) gauge (d) gorge

Spelling

Paragraph 1

The U.K. education tcrresaye
nunnaedco a new $5.5 million programme
Latin has a tenatuorpi
an elitist subject, which is edrvsree
for the ldivpgeeir few
Latin can help uplsip

Paragraph 2

The itiaieitnv has sparked a heated debate
people have riliduedc the programme
a poorly-funded gmiickm
understanding the iagodule
tecnian books
oilycasnlcoa translate things

Put the text back together

(...) at 40 schools across the country. Mr Williamson said the Latin Excellence Programme aims
(...) to "level up" opportunities for students in some government-run schools. Latin is a language that was
(...) things on tombs". A teacher said money would be better spent on living languages like Chinese or Arabic
(...) spoken in the area around Rome over 2,000 years ago. It is taught in 49% of the UK's "elite" private schools but
(...) The initiative has sparked a heated debate about the benefits of Latin. Many people have ridiculed the programme as
(...) end to that divide." He added: "Latin can help pupils with learning modern foreign languages."
(...) time on a subject whose only practical application is in understanding...the dialogue in [ancient] books." Author Emma Kennedy
(...) only 2.7% of state schools. Williamson said: "Latin has a reputation as an elitist subject, which is reserved
(...) questioned the use of a "dead" language. She uses Latin to "occasionally translate
(...) only people who are guaranteed successful careers, thanks to family connections, can afford to waste
(...) for the privileged few, but the subject can bring so many benefits to young people, so I want to put an
(...) that would enable children "to get ahead in and engage with the world," or on computer coding.
( 1 ) The U.K. education secretary Gavin Williamson has announced a new $5.5 million programme to teach Latin
(...) being nothing but a "poorly-funded gimmick". Politician Tim Farron wrote: "Latin is elite because

Put the words in the right order

Teach schools Latin 40 at across country . the
students in government-run up schools . for opportunities Level
a reputation elitist Latin has as an subject .
can many benefits . subject The bring so
learning languages . helps foreign pupils with Latin modern
the Sparked Latin . benefits about debate of a
career a to thanks successful family Guaranteed connections .
understanding application only books . The is practical ancient
uses on translate to She Latin tombs . things
on better spent living languages . would be Money

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The U.K. education secretary Gavin Williamson has renounced / announced a new $5.5 million programme to teach Latin at 40 schools across the country. Mr Williamson said the Latin Excellence Programme alms / aims to "level up" opportunities for students in vary / some government-run schools. Latin is a language that was bespoke / spoken in the area around Rome over 2,000 years ago. It is taught in 49% of the UK's "elite" private / privacy schools but only 2.7% of state / stat schools. Williamson said: "Latin has a reputation / revelation as an elitist subject, which is reserved for / at the privileged few, but the subject can bring so many benefits / beneficial to young people, so I want to put the / an end to that divide." He added: "Latin can help pupils with learning modern foreign languages."

The initiative has sparked / sparkled a heated debate about the benefits of Latin. Many people have ridiculed the programme was / as being nothing but a "poorly-funded gazump / gimmick". Politician Tim Farron wrote: "Latin is elite because / however only people who are guaranteed successful careers, thanks to / on family connections, can afford to waste time on a subject whose only practical application is on / in understanding...the dialogue in [ancient] books." Author Emma Kennedy asked / questioned the use of a "dead" language. She uses Latin to "occasionally translate thing / things on tombs". A teacher said money would be better spent on living / livelihood languages like Chinese or Arabic that would enable children "to get ahead in and engage at / with the world," or on computer coding.

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)

Th_ _.K. _d_c_t__n s_cr_t_ry G_v_n W_ll__ms_n h_s _nn__nc_d _ n_w $5.5 m_ll__n pr_gr_mm_ t_ t__ch L_t_n _t 40 sch__ls _cr_ss th_ c__ntry. Mr W_ll__ms_n s__d th_ L_t_n _xc_ll_nc_ Pr_gr_mm_ __ms t_ "l_v_l _p" _pp_rt_n_t__s f_r st_d_nts _n s_m_ g_v_rnm_nt-r_n sch__ls. L_t_n _s _ l_ng__g_ th_t w_s sp_k_n _n th_ _r__ _r__nd R_m_ _v_r 2,000 y__rs _g_. _t _s t__ght _n 49% _f th_ _K's "_l_t_" pr_v_t_ sch__ls b_t _nly 2.7% _f st_t_ sch__ls. W_ll__ms_n s__d: "L_t_n h_s _ r_p_t_t__n _s _n _l_t_st s_bj_ct, wh_ch _s r_s_rv_d f_r th_ pr_v_l_g_d f_w, b_t th_ s_bj_ct c_n br_ng s_ m_ny b_n_f_ts t_ y__ng p__pl_, s_ _ w_nt t_ p_t _n _nd t_ th_t d_v_d_." H_ _dd_d: "L_t_n c_n h_lp p_p_ls w_th l__rn_ng m_d_rn f_r__gn l_ng__g_s."

Th_ _n_t__t_v_ h_s sp_rk_d _ h__t_d d_b_t_ _b__t th_ b_n_f_ts _f L_t_n. M_ny p__pl_ h_v_ r_d_c_l_d th_ pr_gr_mm_ _s b__ng n_th_ng b_t _ "p__rly-f_nd_d g_mm_ck". P_l_t_c__n T_m F_rr_n wr_t_: "L_t_n _s _l_t_ b_c__s_ _nly p__pl_ wh_ _r_ g__r_nt__d s_cc_ssf_l c_r__rs, th_nks t_ f_m_ly c_nn_ct__ns, c_n _ff_rd t_ w_st_ t_m_ _n _ s_bj_ct wh_s_ _nly pr_ct_c_l _ppl_c_t__n _s _n _nd_rst_nd_ng...th_ d__l_g__ _n [_nc__nt] b__ks." __th_r _mm_ K_nn_dy q__st__n_d th_ _s_ _f _ "d__d" l_ng__g_. Sh_ _s_s L_t_n t_ "_cc_s__n_lly tr_nsl_t_ th_ngs _n t_mbs". _ t__ch_r s__d m_n_y w__ld b_ b_tt_r sp_nt _n l_v_ng l_ng__g_s l_k_ Ch_n_s_ _r _r_b_c th_t w__ld _n_bl_ ch_ldr_n "t_ g_t _h__d _n _nd _ng_g_ w_th th_ w_rld," _r _n c_mp_t_r c_d_ng.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the uk education secretary gavin williamson has announced a new 55 million programme to teach latin at 40 schools across the country mr williamson said the latin excellence programme aims to level up opportunities for students in some governmentrun schools latin is a language that was spoken in the area around rome over 2000 years ago it is taught in 49 of the uks elite private schools but only 27 of state schools williamson said latin has a reputation as an elitist subject which is reserved for the privileged few but the subject can bring so many benefits to young people so i want to put an end to that divide he added latin can help pupils with learning modern foreign languages

the initiative has sparked a heated debate about the benefits of latin many people have ridiculed the programme as being nothing but a poorlyfunded gimmick politician tim farron wrote latin is elite because only people who are guaranteed successful careers thanks to family connections can afford to waste time on a subject whose only practical application is in understandingthe dialogue in ancient books author emma kennedy questioned the use of a dead language she uses latin to occasionally translate things on tombs a teacher said money would be better spent on living languages like chinese or arabic that would enable children to get ahead in and engage with the world or on computer coding

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheU.K.educationsecretaryGavinWilliamsonhasannouncedanew$5.
5millionprogrammetoteachLatinat40schoolsacrossthecountry.MrW
illiamsonsaidtheLatinExcellenceProgrammeaimsto"levelup"opportu
nitiesforstudentsinsomegovernment-runschools.Latinisalanguaget
hatwasspokenintheareaaroundRomeover2,000yearsago.Itistaught
in49%oftheUK's"elite"privateschoolsbutonly2.7%ofstateschools.W
illiamsonsaid:"Latinhasareputationasanelitistsubject,whichisreserv
edfortheprivilegedfew,butthesubjectcanbringsomanybenefitstoyou
ngpeople,soIwanttoputanendtothatdivide."Headded:"Latincanhelp
pupilswithlearningmodernforeignlanguages."Theinitiativehasspark
edaheateddebateaboutthebenefitsofLatin.Manypeoplehaveridicule
dtheprogrammeasbeingnothingbuta"poorly-fundedgimmick".Pol
iticianTimFarronwrote:"Latiniselitebecauseonlypeoplewhoareguara
nteedsuccessfulcareers,thankstofamilyconnections,canaffordtowas
tetimeonasubjectwhoseonlypracticalapplicationisinunderstanding..
.thedialoguein[ancient]books."AuthorEmmaKennedyquestionedth
euseofa"dead"language.SheusesLatinto"occasionallytranslatething
sontombs".Ateachersaidmoneywouldbebetterspentonlivinglangua
geslikeChineseorArabicthatwouldenablechildren"togetaheadinande
ngagewiththeworld,"oroncomputercoding.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Latin is a very useful language to learn. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. LATIN: Make a poster about Latin. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. LANGUAGES: Write a magazine article about ensuring all schoolchildren leave school being fluent in a second language. 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 Latin. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on learning 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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Breaking News English Lesson: Latin

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