Breaking News English Lesson: Google Translate

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Google Translate adds 24 new languages (16th May, 2022)

The Reading / Listening - Google Translate - Level 6

Google Translate has added 24 languages to its translation service, bringing the total number to 133. For many of us, Translate is an indispensable tool. It provides a convenient, accurate and quick way of comprehending vocabulary and texts in other languages. The 24 new languages are spoken by more than 300 million people worldwide. Among them are the indigenous Aymara, Guarani and Quechua languages of the Americas. Google rolled out its first translation service in 2006 and has continually added to its repository. Google said it still has a way to go to be more comprehensive. There are around 7,000 languages worldwide that Translate doesn't provide support for.

Translate needs to analyze a large range of linguistic data to be able to support a language. Isaac Caswell, a Google Translate scientist, told journalists about how advances in technology have facilitated adding the new languages. He said: "Up until a couple of years ago, it simply was not technologically possible to add languages like these, which are what we call a low resource – meaning that there are not very many text resources out there for them." He explained that Google aspires to support languages used by large populations. One of these is Lingala, spoken by 45 million people across Central Africa. It also wants to render assistance for indigenous languages that are often overlooked by technology.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Google Translate - Level 4 or Google Translate - Level 5

Sources

https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/11/google-translate-adds-24-new-languages-including-its-first-indigenous-languages-of-the-americas/
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-61416757
https://www.engadget.com/google-translate-24-language-expansion-171810853.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. GOOGLE TRANSLATE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Google Translate. 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?
Google / translate / number / tool / vocabulary / texts / languages / indigenous / first
linguistic / data / scientist / technology / resource / population Central Africa
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ONE LANGUAGE: Students A strongly believe there should be one world language; Students B strongly believe this is a bad idea. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. GOOGLE: What do you think of these services from Google? How could they be improved? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Think	Improvements
Translate
Search
Mail
Play
YouTube
Chat

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. INDIGENOUS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "indigenous". 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 best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

English
Arabic
Cantonese
Swahili
French
Spanish
Portuguese
Hindi

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	indispensable	a.	Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.
2.	convenient	b.	Providing a faithful representation of something.
3.	accurate	c.	Involving little trouble or effort.
4.	comprehending	d.	Started to introduce something new.
5.	indigenous	e.	Absolutely necessary.
6.	repository	f.	Grasping mentally; understanding.
7.	rolled out	g.	A place where or receptacle in which things are or may be stored.

Paragraph 2

8.	range	h.	Made an action or process easy or easier.
9.	linguistic	i.	Failed to notice.
10.	advance	j.	Direct one's hopes or ambitions towards achieving something.
11.	facilitated	k.	Relating to language.
12.	aspire	l.	Provide or give a service, help, etc.
13.	render	m.	The area covered by or included in something.
14.	overlooked	n.	A development or improvement.

Before reading / listening

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

There are now 157 languages on Google Translate. T / F
Fewer than 300 million people speak the new languages. T / F
The article mentions three indigenous languages from the Americas. T / F
There are about 7,000 languages that are not on Translate. T / F
Translate needs a lot of data about language to support a language. T / F
Translate said technology has meant it can translate more languages. T / F
There aren't enough resources out there to support some languages. T / F
Google said it has no plans to support more indigenous languages. T / F

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

indispensable
indigenous
rolled out
comprehensive
support
analyze
facilitated
aspires
render
overlooked

examine
made it possible
assistance
native
missed
launched
give
complete
aims
essential

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

Translate is
a convenient, accurate
Among them
Google rolled out its first
Google said it still has
analyze a large range
advances
Up until
support languages used
languages that are often overlooked

of linguistic data
translation service
by technology
and quick way
a couple of years ago
a way to go
an indispensable tool
by large populations
in technology
are the indigenous Aymara

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

tool
indigenous
provide
service
repository
total
texts
first

Google Translate has added 24 languages to its translation (1) _____________________, bringing the (2) _____________________ number to 133. For many of us, Translate is an indispensable (3) _____________________. It provides a convenient, accurate and quick way of comprehending vocabulary and (4) _____________________ in other languages. The 24 new languages are spoken by more than 300 million people worldwide. Among them are the (5) _____________________ Aymara, Guarani and Quechua languages of the Americas. Google rolled out its (6) _____________________ translation service in 2006 and has continually added to its (7) _____________________. Google said it still has a way to go to be more comprehensive. There are around 7,000 languages worldwide that Translate doesn't (8) _____________________ support for.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

low
advances
across
out
render
range
simply
aspires

Translate needs to analyze a large (9) _____________________ of linguistic data to be able to support a language. Isaac Caswell, a Google Translate scientist, told journalists about how (10) _____________________ in technology have facilitated adding the new languages. He said: "Up until a couple of years ago, it (11) _____________________ was not technologically possible to add languages like these, which are what we call a (12) _____________________ resource - meaning that there are not very many text resources (13) _____________________ there for them." He explained that Google (14) _____________________ to support languages used by large populations. One of these is Lingala, spoken by 45 million people (15) _____________________ Central Africa. It also wants to (16) _____________________ assistance for indigenous languages that are often overlooked by technology.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Google Translate has added 24 languages to ______
     a. its translated service
     b. its translation serviced
     c. its translation service
     d. this translation service
2) For many of us, Translate is ______
     a. an indispensable stool
     b. an indispensable tool
     c. an indispensable tools
    d. an indispensable stools
3) a convenient, accurate and quick way of comprehending ______
     a. vocabularies and text
     b. vocabulary end texts
     c. vocabulary and texts
     d. vocabulary end text
4) 300 million people worldwide. Among them are ______
     a. the androgynous Aymara
     b. the indigo nous Aymara
     c. the ingenious Aymara
     d. the indigenous Aymara
5) Google said it still has a ______
     a. ways to go
     b. way to come
     c. wait too go
     d. way to go

6) analyze a large range of linguistic data to be able to ______
     a. supplant a language
     b. sport a language
     c. suppose a language
     d. support a language
7) possible to add languages like these, which are what we call ______
     a. allow resource
     b. a low resource
     c. a law resource
     d. arrow resource
8) He explained that Google aspires to support languages used ______
     a. by large populations
     b. by large proportions
     c. by large populated
     d. by large population
9) One of these is Lingala, spoken by 45 million people ______
     a. across Centrally Africa
     b. across centre Africa
     c. across Central Africa
     d. across Centrality Africa
10) render assistance for indigenous languages that ______
     a. are often under looked
     b. are often overlooked
     c. are often overbooked
     d. are often overly looked

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Google Translate has added 24 languages (1) ____________________ service, bringing the total number to 133. For many of us, Translate is an indispensable tool. It (2) ____________________, accurate and quick way of comprehending vocabulary and (3) ____________________ languages. The 24 new languages are spoken by more than 300 million people worldwide. Among them are the indigenous Aymara, Guarani and Quechua languages of the Americas. Google (4) ____________________ first translation service in 2006 and has continually added (5) ____________________. Google said it still has a way to go to be more comprehensive. There are around 7,000 languages worldwide that Translate doesn't (6) ____________________.

Translate needs to analyze a large range (7) ____________________ to be able to support a language. Isaac Caswell, a Google Translate scientist, told journalists about (8) ____________________ technology have facilitated adding the new languages. He said: "Up until a couple of years ago, it simply was not technologically (9) ____________________ languages like these, which are what we call a low resource - meaning that there are not very (10) ____________________ out there for them." He explained that Google aspires to support languages used by large populations. One of these is Lingala, spoken by 45 million people across Central Africa. It also wants (11) ____________________ for indigenous languages that are (12) ____________________ technology.

Comprehension questions

How many languages are now on Google Translate?
How many people speak the languages recently added to Translate?
How many indigenous languages of the Americas were mentioned?
When did Google Translate start?
How many languages does Google Translate not translate?
What does Google need to support a language?
What has facilitated the addition of the new languages?
What do "low resource" languages not have many of?
What language is spoken by 45 million people across Central Africa?
What does Google say are often overlooked by technology?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many languages are now on Google Translate?
a) 134
b) 133
c) 132
d) 131
2) How many people speak the languages recently added to Translate?
a) over 380 million
b) over 360 million
c) over 330 million
d) over 300 million
3) How many indigenous languages of the Americas were mentioned?
a) 2
b) 5
c) 3
d) 4
4) When did Google Translate start?
a) 2006
b) 2008
c) 2007
d) 2004

5) How many languages does Google Translate not translate?
a) exactly 7,000
b) around 7,000
c) fewer than 7,000
d) over 7,000

6) What does Google need to support a language?
a) linguistic data
b) permission
c) words
d) extra storage
7) What has facilitated the addition of the new languages?
a) business
b) neurological research
c) advances in technology
d) demand
8) What do "low resource" languages not have many of?
a) text resources
b) audio files
c) words
d) idioms
9) What language is spoken by 45 million people across Central Africa?
a) French
b) English
c) Arabic
d) Lingala
10) What does Google say are often overlooked by technology?
a) native speakers
b) computers
c) indigenous languages
d) extinct languages

Role play

Role A – English
You think English is the best language. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their languages aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Arabic, Cantonese or Hindi.

Role B – Arabic
You think Arabic is the best language. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their languages aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): English, Cantonese or Hindi.

Role C – Cantonese
You think Cantonese is the best language. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their languages aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Arabic, English or Hindi.

Role D – Hindi
You think Hindi is the best language. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their languages aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): Arabic, Cantonese or English.

After reading / listening

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

'Google'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'translate'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

total

quick

300

rolled

2006

7,000

range

advances

couple

aspires

45

overlooked

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 - Google Translate

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 'Google'?
What do you think of Google Translate?
How often do you need to translate things?
Do you ever translate things into English?
How many languages do you know?
How difficult is it to learn a new language?
Are translations of vocabulary always accurate?
What do you think of the idea of having one global language?
How important is your language to you?

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 'translate'?
What do you think about what you read?
How good do you think Google Translate is?
Would you be a good translator?
How important is it to protect indigenous languages?
What new languages would you like to learn?
What would life be like if all language was translated immediately?
What will Google Translate be like in 20 years from now?
What questions would you like to ask Google?

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)

Google Translate has added 24 languages to its translation service, bringing the total number to 133. For many of (1) ____, Translate is an indispensable tool. It provides a convenient, (2) ____ and quick way of comprehending vocabulary and texts in other languages. The 24 new languages are spoken (3) ____ more than 300 million people worldwide. Among them are the (4) ____ Aymara, Guarani and Quechua languages of the Americas. Google rolled out its first translation service in 2006 and has continually added to its (5) ____. Google said it still has a way to go to be more (6) ____. There are around 7,000 languages worldwide that Translate doesn't provide support for.

Translate needs to analyze a large (7) ____ of linguistic data to be able to support a language. Isaac Caswell, a Google Translate scientist, told journalists about how advances (8) ____ technology have facilitated adding the new languages. He said: "Up until a (9) ____ of years ago, it simply was not technologically possible to add languages like these, which are what we call a low resource - meaning that there are not very many text resources out there for them." He explained that Google (10) ____ to support languages used by large populations. One of these is Lingala, spoken (11) ____ 45 million people across Central Africa. It also wants to render assistance for indigenous languages that are often (12) ____ by technology.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) us (b) them (c) they (d) we
(a) calculate (b) captivate (c) accurate (d) acculturate
(a) to (b) between (c) by (d) of
(a) indignant (b) indigestion (c) indigo (d) indigenous
(a) reposition (b) reposting (c) repository (d) repost
(a) reprehensive (b) comprehensive (c) adhesive (d) submissive
(a) grange (b) range (c) arrange (d) derange
(a) to (b) in (c) at (d) on
(a) few (b) numerous (c) couple (d) several
(a) inspires (b) spires (c) perspires (d) aspires
(a) at (b) to (c) of (d) by
(a) overdone (b) overlay (c) overly (d) overlooked

Spelling

Paragraph 1

an nlbpsaieensid tool
acucaret and quick
ehndceonmgirp vocabulary
the ninedogsui Aymara
added to its oyrtpirose
deorvpi support for

Paragraph 2

nltiucsgii data
tfiiclatade adding the new languages
not nltoalegyciclho possible
what we call a low eurceors
Google rpaisse to support languages
to render iscstenasa

Put the text back together

(...) comprehensive. There are around 7,000 languages worldwide that Translate doesn't provide support for.
(...) Translate needs to analyze a large range of linguistic data to be able to support a
(...) resource - meaning that there are not very many text resources out there for them." He explained
( 1 ) Google Translate has added 24 languages to its translation service, bringing the total number to 133. For many of
(...) in 2006 and has continually added to its repository. Google said it still has a way to go to be more
(...) in technology have facilitated adding the new languages. He said: "Up until a couple of years
(...) and Quechua languages of the Americas. Google rolled out its first translation service
(...) Central Africa. It also wants to render assistance for indigenous languages that are often overlooked by technology.
(...) language. Isaac Caswell, a Google Translate scientist, told journalists about how advances
(...) us, Translate is an indispensable tool. It provides a convenient, accurate and quick way
(...) by more than 300 million people worldwide. Among them are the indigenous Aymara, Guarani
(...) that Google aspires to support languages used by large populations. One of these is Lingala, spoken by 45 million people across
(...) of comprehending vocabulary and texts in other languages. The 24 new languages are spoken
(...) ago, it simply was not technologically possible to add languages like these, which are what we call a low

Put the words in the right order

Google us, indispensable . of For Translate is many
of quick accurate and way An comprehending vocabulary .
more Spoken million worldwide . people 300 by than
out rolled Google translation its service . first
It a way has still go . to
linguistic range of analyzes large data . Translate a
in adding facilitated have technology languages . Advances new
add these . like Not technologically possible languages to
populations . Google large used languages supports by
are languages technology . often by that overlooked Indigenous

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Google Translate has added 24 languages to its translation service, brought / bringing the total number to 133. For many of them / us, Translate is an indispensable tool. It provides a convenience / convenient, accurate and quick way of comprehending / comprehend vocabulary and texts in other languages. The 24 new languages are spoken by / to more than 300 million people worldwide. Among them are the indigenous Aymara, Guarani and Quechua languages of the Americas / America. Google rolled up / out its first translation service in 2006 and has continually added to its repository / repose. Google said it still has a way to go / come to be more comprehensive. There are around 7,000 languages worldwide that Translate doesn't provide support from / for.

Translate needs to analyze a large range of / to linguistic data to be able to support a language. Isaac Caswell, a Google Translate scientist, told journalists about how advance / advances in technology have facilitated adding the new languages. He said: "Up until a few / couple of years ago, it simply was not technologically possibility / possible to add languages like these, which are what we call a low / lowly resource - meaning that there are not very many text resources out / up there for them." He explained that Google aspires / inspires to support languages used by large populations / population. One of these is Lingala, spoken by 45 million people across Central Africa. It also wants to tender / render assistance for indigenous languages that are often overlooked on / by technology.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

G__gl_ Tr_nsl_t_ h_s _dd_d 24 l_ng__g_s t_ _ts tr_nsl_t__n s_rv_c_, br_ng_ng th_ t_t_l n_mb_r t_ 133. F_r m_ny _f _s, Tr_nsl_t_ _s _n _nd_sp_ns_bl_ t__l. _t pr_v_d_s _ c_nv_n__nt, _cc_r_t_ _nd q__ck w_y _f c_mpr_h_nd_ng v_c_b_l_ry _nd t_xts _n _th_r l_ng__g_s. Th_ 24 n_w l_ng__g_s _r_ sp_k_n by m_r_ th_n 300 m_ll__n p__pl_ w_rldw_d_. _m_ng th_m _r_ th_ _nd_g_n__s _ym_r_, G__r_n_ _nd Q__ch__ l_ng__g_s _f th_ _m_r_c_s. G__gl_ r_ll_d __t _ts f_rst tr_nsl_t__n s_rv_c_ _n 2006 _nd h_s c_nt_n__lly _dd_d t_ _ts r_p_s_t_ry. G__gl_ s__d _t st_ll h_s _ w_y t_ g_ t_ b_ m_r_ c_mpr_h_ns_v_. Th_r_ _r_ _r__nd 7,000 l_ng__g_s w_rldw_d_ th_t Tr_nsl_t_ d__sn't pr_v_d_ s_pp_rt f_r.

Tr_nsl_t_ n__ds t_ _n_lyz_ _ l_rg_ r_ng_ _f l_ng__st_c d_t_ t_ b_ _bl_ t_ s_pp_rt _ l_ng__g_. _s__c C_sw_ll, _ G__gl_ Tr_nsl_t_ sc__nt_st, t_ld j__rn_l_sts _b__t h_w _dv_nc_s _n t_chn_l_gy h_v_ f_c_l_t_t_d _dd_ng th_ n_w l_ng__g_s. H_ s__d: "_p _nt_l _ c__pl_ _f y__rs _g_, _t s_mply w_s n_t t_chn_l_g_c_lly p_ss_bl_ t_ _dd l_ng__g_s l_k_ th_s_, wh_ch _r_ wh_t w_ c_ll _ l_w r_s__rc_ - m__n_ng th_t th_r_ _r_ n_t v_ry m_ny t_xt r_s__rc_s __t th_r_ f_r th_m." H_ _xpl__n_d th_t G__gl_ _sp_r_s t_ s_pp_rt l_ng__g_s _s_d by l_rg_ p_p_l_t__ns. _n_ _f th_s_ _s L_ng_l_, sp_k_n by 45 m_ll__n p__pl_ _cr_ss C_ntr_l _fr_c_. _t _ls_ w_nts t_ r_nd_r _ss_st_nc_ f_r _nd_g_n__s l_ng__g_s th_t _r_ _ft_n _v_rl__k_d by t_chn_l_gy.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

google translate has added 24 languages to its translation service bringing the total number to 133 for many of us translate is an indispensable tool it provides a convenient accurate and quick way of comprehending vocabulary and texts in other languages the 24 new languages are spoken by more than 300 million people worldwide among them are the indigenous aymara guarani and quechua languages of the americas google rolled out its first translation service in 2006 and has continually added to its repository google said it still has a way to go to be more comprehensive there are around 7000 languages worldwide that translate doesnt provide support for

translate needs to analyze a large range of linguistic data to be able to support a language isaac caswell a google translate scientist told journalists about how advances in technology have facilitated adding the new languages he said up until a couple of years ago it simply was not technologically possible to add languages like these which are what we call a low resource meaning that there are not very many text resources out there for them he explained that google aspires to support languages used by large populations one of these is lingala spoken by 45 million people across central africa it also wants to render assistance for indigenous languages that are often overlooked by technology

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

GoogleTranslatehasadded24languagestoitstranslationservice,bring
ingthetotalnumberto133.Formanyofus,Translateisanindispensablet
ool.Itprovidesaconvenient,accurateandquickwayofcomprehending
vocabularyandtextsinotherlanguages.The24newlanguagesarespok
enbymorethan300millionpeopleworldwide.Amongthemaretheindig
enousAymara,GuaraniandQuechualanguagesoftheAmericas.Googl
erolledoutitsfirsttranslationservicein2006andhascontinuallyaddedt
oitsrepository.Googlesaiditstillhasawaytogotobemorecomprehensi
ve.Therearearound7,000languagesworldwidethatTranslatedoesn't
providesupportfor.Translateneedstoanalyzealargerangeoflinguistic
datatobeabletosupportalanguage.IsaacCaswell,aGoogleTranslates
cientist,toldjournalistsabouthowadvancesintechnologyhavefacilitat
edaddingthenewlanguages.Hesaid:"Upuntilacoupleofyearsago,itsi
mplywasnottechnologicallypossibletoaddlanguageslikethese,which
arewhatwecallalowresource-meaningthattherearenotverymanyte
xtresourcesoutthereforthem."HeexplainedthatGoogleaspirestosup
portlanguagesusedbylargepopulations.OneoftheseisLingala,spoken
by45millionpeopleacrossCentralAfrica.Italsowantstorenderassistan
ceforindigenouslanguagesthatareoftenoverlookedbytechnology.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Everyone should learn at least two other languages. 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. GOOGLE TRANSLATE: Make a poster about Google Translate. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. ONE LANGUAGE: Write a magazine article about there being just one world 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 Google Translate. 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

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Answers

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

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