Breaking News English Lesson: Whales and Aliens

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Scientists 'talk' with a whale for 20 minutes (28th December 2023)

The Reading / Listening - Whales and Aliens - Level 3

Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with a whale. They also say the chat could help them to one day talk to aliens. The scientists are from the University of California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations teamed up and spoke to a humpback whale named Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation took place after the scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean off the coast of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to the research boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever communication between humans and humpback whales.

The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a deep one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a series of greetings. Whales use contact calls to let other whales know where they are. The scientists made the same call 36 times over a 20-minute period. Each time, Twain responded by calling back. She even matched the intervals between each call the researchers made. Professor McCowan told the Business Insider website that her research could make it easier to talk to aliens. She said: "There are diverse intelligences on this planet. By studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might be like because they are not going to be exactly like ours."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Whales and Aliens - Level 0, Whales and Aliens - Level 1 or Whales and Aliens - Level 2

Sources

https://www.boredpanda.com/scientist-claim-having-20-minute-conversation-whale/
https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-20-minute-conversation-with-a-humpback-whale-named-twain/
https://www.unilad.com/film-and-tv/news/freeview-best-takeaway-for-watching-tv-556889-20231218

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. WHALES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about whales. 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?
scientists / conversation / aliens / intelligence / whale / language / ocean / research /
greetings / contact / 20 minutes / intervals / diverse / planet / understand / exactly
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TALK TO THE ANIMALS: Students A strongly believe it is important we learn how to talk to animals; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ANIMAL LEARNING: What could we learn from these creatures if we could communicate with them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What We Could Learn	Usefulness
Whales
Bats
Foxes
Bees
Butterflies
Crabs

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

Whales
Snakes
Eagles
Ants
Cockroaches
Jellyfish
Lions
Koalas

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	conversation	a.	An organization like a charity that helps people or carries out research.
2.	extra-terrestrial	b.	The part of the land next to or near the sea.
3.	foundation	c.	A talk between two or more people, in which news and ideas are exchanged.
4.	organization	d.	Of or from outside the earth.
5.	took place	e.	A group of people with a particular purpose, such as a business or government department.
6.	coast	f.	Happened.
7.	responded	g.	Say something in reply.

Paragraph 2

8.	deep	h.	A space between two things.
9.	series	i.	Of an emotion or feeling intensely felt.
10.	greetings	j.	Made or was harmonious.
11.	matched	k.	Very different.
12.	interval	l.	A number of events, objects, or people of a similar or related kind coming one after another.
13.	diverse	m.	Used to say how accurate something is.
14.	exactly	n.	Polite words or signs of welcome.

Before reading / listening

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

The scientists in the article hope to chat to aliens one day. T / F
The scientists spoke to a blue whale. T / F
The scientists and the whale communicated in a giant pool. T / F
This is the second time scientists have chatted to a humpback whale. T / F
The conversation with the whale was in deep water. T / F
The whale responded to 36 calls the scientists made in the water. T / F
The whale matched the intervals of the scientists' calls. T / F
A scientist said our intelligence is the same as alien intelligence. T / F

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

conversation
teamed up
named
took place
responded
series
intervals
diverse
alien
exactly

sequence
happened
extra-terrestrial
replied
collaborated
precisely
called
gaps
varied
chat

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

the chat could help them to one
The three organizations
Their conversation took
off the coast
it was the first
their conversation with Twain was not a
36 times over
Twain responded
There are diverse intelligences
they are not going to be exactly

teamed up
deep one
of Alaska
by calling back
like ours
day talk to aliens
on this planet
ever
a 20-minute period
place

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

named
chat
swam
place
humans
aliens
teamed
coast

Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with a whale. They also say the (1) _____________________ could help them to one day talk to (2) _____________________. The scientists are from the University of California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations (3) _____________________ up and spoke to a humpback whale (4) _____________________ Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation took (5) _____________________ after the scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean off the (6) _____________________ of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She (7) _____________________ to the research boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever communication between (8) _____________________ and humpback whales.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

period
research
greetings
exactly
planet
intervals
deep
intelligence

The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a (9) _____________________ one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a series of (10) _____________________. Whales use contact calls to let other whales know where they are. The scientists made the same call 36 times over a 20-minute (11) _____________________. Each time, Twain responded by calling back. She even matched the (12) _____________________ between each call the researchers made. Professor McCowan told the Business Insider website that her (13) _____________________ could make it easier to talk to aliens. She said: "There are diverse intelligences on this (14) _____________________. By studying them, we can better understand what an alien (15) _____________________ might be like because they are not going to be (16) _____________________ like ours."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) They also say the chat could help them to one day ______
     a. talk two aliens
     b. talks to aliens
     c. talk to aliens
     d. take to aliens
2) the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for ______)
     a. Extra-terrestrial Intelligence
     b. Extra-terror stool Intelligence
     c. Extra-tries trial Intelligence
     d. Extra-terrors-trial Intelligence
3) The three organizations teamed up and spoke to a humpback ______
     a. whale maimed Twain
     b. whale named Twain
     c. whale meme Twain
     d. whale name Twain
4) scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean off the ______
     a. cost of Alaska
     b. crest of Alaska
     c. caste of Alaska
     d. coast of Alaska
5) Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to the research ______
     a. boat and chat it
     b. boat and charted
     c. boat and chatted
     d. boat and chattel

6) The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not ______
     a. a depth one
     b. a deeps one
     c. a deep once
     d. a deep one
7) Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a ______
     a. series of greetings
     b. series of greet tins
     c. series of greet things
     d. series of glee tins
8) The scientists made the same call 36 times over a ______
     a. 20-minutes period
     b. 20-minutely period
     c. 20-minute period
     d. 20-minutia period
9) There are diverse intelligences ______
     a. on this plan net
     b. on this plan it
     c. on his planet
     d. on this planet
10) an alien intelligence might be like because they are not going to be ______
     a. exact like ours
     b. exact real like ours
   c. exactly likes ours
     d. exactly like ours

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists say they have (1) ____________________ with a whale. They also say the chat could help them to one day (2) ____________________. The scientists are from the University of California, the (3) ____________________, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations (4) ____________________ spoke to a humpback whale named Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation took place after the scientists sent (5) ____________________ into the ocean off the coast of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to the research boat and chatted. SETI said it was (6) ____________________ communication between humans and humpback whales.

The scientists say their conversation with Twain was (7) ____________________ one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a series of greetings. Whales (8) ____________________ to let other whales know where they are. The scientists made the same call 36 times over a 20-minute period. Each time, Twain (9) ____________________ back. She even (10) ____________________ between each call the researchers made. Professor McCowan told the Business Insider website that her research could make it easier to talk to aliens. She said: "(11) ____________________ intelligences on this planet. By studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might be like because they are not going to be (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

What do scientists hope to chat to one day?
What does the organization SETI look for?
What's the name of the whale in the article?
Where did the scientists talk to the whale?
How many times have scientists now spoken to a humpback whale?
How did the scientists describe their conversation with the whale?
How many contact calls did the whale make to the whale?
What did the whale match?
With what website did a professor talk about the whale?
What did a professor say was diverse on our planet?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What do scientists hope to chat to one day?
a) plankton
b) dolphins
c) clown fish
d) aliens
2) What does the organization SETI look for?
a) whales
b) extra-terrestrial (alien) life
c) intelligent sea life
d) boats
3) What's the name of the whale in the article?
a) Humpy
b) Bob
c) Train
d) Twain
4) Where did the scientists talk to the whale?
a) Wales
b) in a giant tank
c) near Alaska
d) in an aquarium
5) How many times have scientists now spoken to a humpback whale?
a) five
b) three
c) two
d) one

6) How did the scientists describe their conversation with the whale?
a) It was shallow.
b) It was intelligent.
c) It wasn't deep.
d) It was interesting
7) How many contact calls did the whale make to the whale?
a) 36
b) 35
c) 34
d) 33
8) What did the whale match?
a) a world record
b) the colour of the research boat
c) the intervals of contact calls
d) a perfect partner
9) With what website did a professor talk about the whale?
a) Inside Business
b) Business Insider
c) Insider Business
d) Business Inside
10) What did a professor say was diverse on our planet?
a) intelligences
b) marine life
c) whale species
d) aliens

Role play

Role A – Whales
You think whales would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to talk to (and why): eagles, ants or snakes.

Role B – Eagles
You think eagles would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to talk to (and why): whales, ants or snakes.

Role C – Ants
You think ants would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to talk to (and why): eagles, whales or snakes.

Role D – Snakes
You think snakes would be the best creatures to talk to. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their creatures. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these to talk to (and why): eagles, ants or whales.

After reading / listening

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

'scientist'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'whale'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

day

search

teamed

language

coast

ever

deep

greetings

36

easier

planet

exactly

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 - Whales and Aliens

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 'scientist'?
What do you know about whales?
What would you like to talk to a whale about?
What do whales talk to each other about?
How useful is this research?
How might this research help us talk to aliens?
What questions would you like to ask an alien?
What is your favourite species of whale?
What would life be like if we could talk to animals?

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 'whale'?
What do you think about what you read?
When was the last time you had a deep conversation?
What are your favourite forms of greetings?
What questions would aliens ask humans?
What kinds of animals would you like to talk to?
How can we increase our intelligence?
Who is the most intelligent person you know?
What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

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)

Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with a whale. They also say the chat could help them to (1) ____ day talk to aliens. The scientists are from the University of California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations teamed (2) ____ and spoke to a humpback whale (3) ____ Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation took (4) ____ after the scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean off the (5) ____ of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to the research boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever communication (6) ____ humans and humpback whales.

The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a (7) ____ one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a (8) ____ of greetings. Whales use contact calls to let other whales know where they are. The scientists made the same call 36 times over a 20-minute period. Each time, Twain responded (9) ____ calling back. She even matched the intervals between each call the researchers (10) ____. Professor McCowan told the Business Insider website that her research could make it easier to talk to aliens. She said: "There are (11) ____ intelligences on this planet. By studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might be like because they are not going to be exactly (12) ____ ours."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) one (b) once (c) this (d) a
(a) down (b) in (c) up (d) on
(a) title (b) calling (c) named (d) surname
(a) venue (b) situation (c) location (d) place
(a) caste (b) cost (c) coast (d) crest
(a) middle (b) between (c) either (d) among
(a) depth (b) deep (c) deeps (d) deepen
(a) services (b) series (c) serious (d) serves
(a) of (b) at (c) by (d) on
(a) logged (b) phoned (c) called (d) made
(a) drivers (b) diverts (c) divots (d) diverse
(a) way (b) similar (c) same (d) like

Spelling

Paragraph 1

a rnvcotasieon with a whale
talk to leians
sent a contact call into the ceoan
off the oacst of Alaska
Twain heard the call and osprndeed
the first ever muocniacitmon

Paragraph 2

opsefsror Brenda McCowan
like a erseis of greetings
cesitnsits made the same call 36 times
the tivreanls between each call
There are ivedsre intelligences on this planet
be xcaetly like ours

Put the text back together

(...)   be like because they are not going to be exactly like ours."
(...)   took place after the scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean off the coast
(...)   this planet. By studying them, we can better understand what an alien intelligence might
(...)   of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She swam to the research
(...)   The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a deep one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it
(...)   was more like a series of greetings. Whales use contact calls to let other whales know where they
(...)   the Business Insider website that her research could make it easier to talk to aliens. She said: "There are diverse intelligences on
( 1 ) Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with a whale. They also say the chat could help them to one
(...)   boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever communication between humans and humpback whales.
(...)   SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations teamed up and spoke
(...)   are. The scientists made the same call 36 times over a 20-minute period. Each time, Twain responded
(...)   day talk to aliens. The scientists are from the University of California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and
(...)   to a humpback whale named Twain. They spoke to her in "humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation
(...)   by calling back. She even matched the intervals between each call the researchers made. Professor McCowan told

Put the words in the right order

They with a have conversation had a whale .
up Organizations spoke and teamed to a humpback .
spoke to her They humpback in language .
sent The call a scientists into the ocean .
said the was it first SETI ever communication .
conversation with Twain wasn't a Their deep one .
scientists the The call same made 36 times .
easier it Research to makes to talk aliens .
what an alien intelligence might Understand be like .
going They're be to not exactly like ours .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Scientists say they have had a "conversation" with / wither a whale. They also say the chat could help them to one / once day talk to aliens. The scientists are / be from the University of California, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence). The three organizations teamed down / up and spoke to a humpback whale name / named Twain. They spoke to her at / in "humpback language" for 20 minutes. Their conversation took / gave place after the scientists sent a "contact call" into the ocean off the coast / cost of Alaska. Twain heard the call and responded. She swam at / to the research boat and chatted. SETI said it was the first ever / every communication between humans and humpback whales.

The scientists say their conversation with Twain was not a depth / deep one. Professor Brenda McCowan said it was more like a services / series of greetings. Whales use contact calls to bet / let other whales know where they are. The scientists made the same call 36 times over / under a 20-minute period. Each time, Twain responded by calling back. She even matched the intervals among / between each call the researchers made. Professor McCowan told / said the Business Insider website that her research could make it / them easier to talk to aliens. She said: "There are diverse / drivers intelligences on this planet. By studying them, we can better understand / understanding what an alien intelligence might be like because they are not going to be exact / exactly like ours."

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)

Sc__nt_sts s_y th_y h_v_ h_d _ "c_nv_rs_t__n" w_th _ wh_l_. Th_y _ls_ s_y th_ ch_t c__ld h_lp th_m t_ _n_ d_y t_lk t_ _l__ns. Th_ sc__nt_sts _r_ fr_m th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f C_l_f_rn__, th_ _l_sk_ Wh_l_ F__nd_t__n, _nd S_T_ (S__rch f_r _xtr_-t_rr_str__l _nt_ll_g_nc_). Th_ thr__ _rg_n_z_t__ns t__m_d _p _nd sp_k_ t_ _ h_mpb_ck wh_l_ n_m_d Tw__n. Th_y sp_k_ t_ h_r _n "h_mpb_ck l_ng__g_" f_r 20 m_n_t_s. Th__r c_nv_rs_t__n t__k pl_c_ _ft_r th_ sc__nt_sts s_nt _ "c_nt_ct c_ll" _nt_ th_ _c__n _ff th_ c__st _f _l_sk_. Tw__n h__rd th_ c_ll _nd r_sp_nd_d. Sh_ sw_m t_ th_ r_s__rch b__t _nd ch_tt_d. S_T_ s__d _t w_s th_ f_rst _v_r c_mm_n_c_t__n b_tw__n h_m_ns _nd h_mpb_ck wh_l_s.

Th_ sc__nt_sts s_y th__r c_nv_rs_t__n w_th Tw__n w_s n_t _ d__p _n_. Pr_f_ss_r Br_nd_ McC_w_n s__d _t w_s m_r_ l_k_ _ s_r__s _f gr__t_ngs. Wh_l_s _s_ c_nt_ct c_lls t_ l_t _th_r wh_l_s kn_w wh_r_ th_y _r_. Th_ sc__nt_sts m_d_ th_ s_m_ c_ll 36 t_m_s _v_r _ 20-m_n_t_ p_r__d. __ch t_m_, Tw__n r_sp_nd_d by c_ll_ng b_ck. Sh_ _v_n m_tch_d th_ _nt_rv_ls b_tw__n __ch c_ll th_ r_s__rch_rs m_d_. Pr_f_ss_r McC_w_n t_ld th_ B_s_n_ss _ns_d_r w_bs_t_ th_t h_r r_s__rch c__ld m_k_ _t __s__r t_ t_lk t_ _l__ns. Sh_ s__d: "Th_r_ _r_ d_v_rs_ _nt_ll_g_nc_s _n th_s pl_n_t. By st_dy_ng th_m, w_ c_n b_tt_r _nd_rst_nd wh_t _n _l__n _nt_ll_g_nc_ m_ght b_ l_k_ b_c__s_ th_y _r_ n_t g__ng t_ b_ _x_ctly l_k_ __rs."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

scientists say they have had a conversation with a whale they also say the chat could help them to one day talk to aliens the scientists are from the university of california the alaska whale foundation and seti search for extraterrestrial intelligence the three organizations teamed up and spoke to a humpback whale named twain they spoke to her in humpback language for 20 minutes their conversation took place after the scientists sent a contact call into the ocean off the coast of alaska twain heard the call and responded she swam to the research boat and chatted seti said it was the first ever communication between humans and humpback whales

the scientists say their conversation with twain was not a deep one professor brenda mccowan said it was more like a series of greetings whales use contact calls to let other whales know where they are the scientists made the same call 36 times over a 20minute period each time twain responded by calling back she even matched the intervals between each call the researchers made professor mccowan told the business insider website that her research could make it easier to talk to aliens she said there are diverse intelligences on this planet by studying them we can better understand what an alien intelligence might be like because they are not going to be exactly like ours

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Scientistssaytheyhavehada"conversation"withawhale.Theyalsosay
thechatcouldhelpthemtoonedaytalktoaliens.Thescientistsarefromt
heUniversityofCalifornia,theAlaskaWhaleFoundation,andSETI(Sear
chforExtra-terrestrialIntelligence).Thethreeorganizationsteamedu
pandspoketoahumpbackwhalenamedTwain.Theyspoketoherin"hu
mpbacklanguage"for20minutes.Theirconversationtookplaceafterth
escientistssenta"contactcall"intotheoceanoffthecoastofAlaska.Twai
nheardthecallandresponded.Sheswamtotheresearchboatandchatte
d.SETIsaiditwasthefirstevercommunicationbetweenhumansandhu
mpbackwhales.ThescientistssaytheirconversationwithTwainwasnot
adeepone.ProfessorBrendaMcCowansaiditwasmorelikeaseriesofgre
etings.Whalesusecontactcallstoletotherwhalesknowwheretheyare.
Thescientistsmadethesamecall36timesovera20-minuteperiod.Ea
chtime,Twainrespondedbycallingback.Sheevenmatchedtheinterval
sbetweeneachcalltheresearchersmade.ProfessorMcCowantoldtheB
usinessInsiderwebsitethatherresearchcouldmakeiteasiertotalktoali
ens.Shesaid:"Therearediverseintelligencesonthisplanet.Bystudying
them,wecanbetterunderstandwhatanalienintelligencemightbelikeb
ecausetheyarenotgoingtobeexactlylikeours."

Free writing

Write about chat with whale for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

We must communicate with aliens in the future. 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. WHALES: Make a poster about whales. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. ALIEN CHAT: Write a magazine article about chatting with aliens. 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 whales. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on what we could talk to them about. 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

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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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