Breaking News English Lesson: Bluesky

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Social media platform Bluesky growing fast (18th November 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Bluesky - Level 3

A new social media platform is growing very quickly. The social network Bluesky is getting over one million new users every day. The site opened to the public in February. However, it started gaining in popularity after the U.S. Presidential Election on November the 5th. Many people are signing up for Bluesky because they want an alternative to X, Facebook and Threads. Bluesky is currently the most downloaded free app in Apple's and Google's app stores. Digital media journalist Ben Collins said: "Bluesky works and looks and feels just like Twitter." He said Bluesky has a fresher feel than other platforms and gives users more control.

Bluesky began in 2019 as a research project at Twitter. It was led by the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey. It launched as an invitation-only version in February 2023. The platform is very similar to Twitter. Even the logos are similar. Twitter had a blue bird logo; Bluesky has a blue butterfly. Mr Dorsey said the name Bluesky is from a Twitter idea that a bird could fly freely in an open blue sky. This open blue sky is a symbol of free speech. Bluesky allows users to control their feed and focus on posts they are interested in. It said if you "want only posts that have cat photos, or only posts related to sports, you can simply pick your feed of choice from an open marketplace".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Bluesky - Level 0, Bluesky - Level 1 or Bluesky - Level 2

Sources

https://www.cnet.com/tech/bluesky-explained-why-this-social-media-network-is-now-growing-by-1-million-users-daily/
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/17/bluesky-musk-trump-x-twitter-authoritarian-world
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluesky

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. SOCIAL MEDIA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about social media. 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?
social media / users / the public / popularity / alternative / download / app / Twitter /
research project / CEO / invitation / logo / blue bird / butterfly / symbol / cat photos
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FREE SPEECH: Students A strongly believe we should be able to say anything on social media; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. CONTENT: What do you think of different kinds of social media content in the table below? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good Things	Bad Things
News
Cat photos
Ads
Weather
Sports
Friends' posts

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

Bluesky
TikTok
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
Threads

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	platform	a.	Something different you can choose instead of something else.
2.	the public	b.	The way something seems or gives you an emotion.
3.	gaining	c.	A place, like a website or app, where people can share ideas or talk to each other.
4.	popularity	d.	All the people in a country, not just a small group.
5.	alternative	e.	When many people like something.
6.	currently	f.	Happening now or at this time.
7.	feel (noun)	g.	Getting more or growing bigger.

Paragraph 2

8.	co-founder	h.	The right to say what you think.
9.	former	i.	A small picture or symbol that shows a company or brand.
10.	launched	j.	When someone asks you to join or go to something.
11.	invitation	k.	A person who helps start a company with someone else.
12.	logo	l.	Connected to something.
13.	free speech	m.	Someone or something from before; not now.
14.	related	n.	Started something new, like a business or a product.

Before reading / listening

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

The Bluesky social media platform gets 10 million new users every day. T / F
Bluesky became available to the public last month. T / F
Many people joined Bluesky after the U.S. Presidential Election. T / F
A journalist said Bluesky feels totally different from Twitter. T / F
Bluesky was a project of a co-founder of Twitter. T / F
The Twitter co-founder said blue sky represents free speech. T / F
Bluesky users have little control over their feed. T / F
Bluesky users can choose to look at only photos of cats. T / F

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

gaining
alternative
currently
journalist
feel
led
logo
similar
focus
related

atmosphere
alike
reporter
symbol
increasing
concentrate
managed
substitute
connected
presently

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

A new social media platform is
Bluesky is getting over one million
they want an alternative
Bluesky is currently the most
Bluesky works and looks and feels
Bluesky began in 2019 as a research
It launched as an invitation-
a bird could fly
focus on posts they are
only posts related

project at Twitter
to X, Facebook and Threads
interested in
freely in an open blue sky
downloaded free app
to sports
just like Twitter
growing very quickly
only version in February
new users every day

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

signing
just
public
currently
growing
control
popularity
journalist

A new social media platform is (1) ______________________________________________ very quickly. The social network Bluesky is getting over one million new users every day. The site opened to the (2) ______________________________________________ in February. However, it started gaining in (3) ______________________________________________ after the U.S. Presidential Election on November the 5th. Many people are (4) ______________________________________________ up for Bluesky because they want an alternative to X, Facebook and Threads. Bluesky is (5) ______________________________________________ the most downloaded free app in Apple's and Google's app stores. Digital media (6) ______________________________________________ Ben Collins said: "Bluesky works and looks and feels (7) ______________________________________________ like Twitter." He said Bluesky has a fresher feel than other platforms and gives users more (8) ______________________________________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

feed
launched
butterfly
open
led
photos
freely
similar

Bluesky began in 2019 as a research project at Twitter. It was (9) ______________________________________________ by the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey. It (10) ______________________________________________ as an invitation-only version in February 2023. The platform is very (11) ______________________________________________ to Twitter. Even the logos are similar. Twitter had a blue bird logo; Bluesky has a blue (12) ______________________________________________. Mr Dorsey said the name Bluesky is from a Twitter idea that a bird could fly (13) ____________________________________________ in an open blue sky. This open blue sky is a symbol of free speech. Bluesky allows users to control their (14) ______________________________________________ and focus on posts they are interested in. It said if you "want only posts that have cat (15) ______________________________________________, or only posts related to sports, you can simply pick your feed of choice from an (16) ______________________________________________ marketplace".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A new social media platform is ______
     a. grown very quickly
     b. grow in very quickly
     c. growing very quickly
     d. grow wing very quickly
2) Many people are signing up for Bluesky because they want an ______
     a. alternative too X
     b. alternative two X
     c. alternative treks
     d. alternative to X
3) Bluesky is currently the most downloaded free app in Apple's and ______
     a. Google's sap stores
     b. Google sap stores
     c. Google's apps stores
     d. Google's app stores
4) Ben Collins said Bluesky works and looks and feels ______
     a. just like Twitter
     b. just likes Twitter
     c. just liked Twitter
     d. just alike Twitter
5) Bluesky has a fresher feel than other platforms and gives ______
     a. user more control
     b. uses more control
     c. users amore control
     d. users more control

6) It was led by the co-founder and former ______
     a. COE of Twitter
     b. OCE of Twitter
     c. EOC of Twitter
     d. CEO of Twitter
7) Mr Dorsey said the name Bluesky is from a Twitter idea that a bird ______
     a. could flier freely
     b. could flight freely
     c. could fly freely
     d. could fry freely
8) Bluesky allows users to control their feed and focus on posts they ______
     a. are interested on
     b. are interested in
     c. are interested din
     d. are interest in
9) It said if you want only posts that have cat photos, or only posts ______
     a. relate it to sports
     b. relay it to sports
     c. really to sports
     d. related to sports
10) you can simply pick your feed of choice from ______
     a. an opens marketplace
     b. anon pen marketplace
     c. an opine marketplace
     d. an open marketplace

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new (1) __________________________________________________ is growing very quickly. The social network Bluesky is (2) __________________________________________________ million new users every day. The site opened to the public in February. However, it started (3) __________________________________________________ after the U.S. Presidential Election on November the 5th. Many people are signing up for Bluesky because they (4) __________________________________________________ to X, Facebook and Threads. Bluesky is currently the most downloaded free app in Apple's and Google's app stores. (5) __________________________________________________ Ben Collins said: "Bluesky works and looks and feels just like Twitter." He said Bluesky has a fresher feel than other platforms and gives (6) __________________________________________________.

Bluesky began in 2019 as (7) __________________________________________________ Twitter. It was led by the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey. It launched as an (8) __________________________________________________ in February 2023. The platform is very similar to Twitter. Even the logos are similar. Twitter had a blue bird logo; Bluesky has (9) __________________________________________________. Mr Dorsey said the name Bluesky is from a Twitter idea that a bird could fly freely in an open blue sky. This open blue sky is a symbol (10) __________________________________________________. Bluesky allows users to control their (11) __________________________________________________ on posts they are interested in. It said if you "want only posts that have cat photos, or only posts related to sports, (12) __________________________________________________ pick your feed of choice from an open marketplace".

Comprehension questions

How many new users is Bluesky getting every day?
What happened to Bluesky after the U.S. Presidential Election?
What do many people want an alternative to?
From where is Bluesky being downloaded a lot?
What did a journalist say Bluesky had a fresher feel than?
Where was Bluesky created?
What does the article say Bluesky is similar to?
What does the article say open blue sky is a symbol of?
What kinds of posts can Bluesky users focus on?
From where can users choose the feeds they want?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many new users is Bluesky getting every day?
a) just fewer than a million
b) exactly one million
c) over one million
d) around one million
2) What happened to Bluesky after the U.S. Presidential Election?
a) It became more popular.
b) It was launched.
c) It's popularity went down.
d) nothing
3) What do many people want an alternative to?
a) social media
b) X, Facebook and Threads
c) websites
d) newspapers and magazines
4) From where is Bluesky being downloaded a lot?
a) education websites
b) Amazon
c) YouTube
d) Apple's and Google's app stores
5) What did a journalist say Bluesky had a fresher feel than?
a) the Internet
b) the usual websites
c) other platforms
d) grey sky

6) Where was Bluesky created?
a) New York
b) Twitter
c) in a garage
d) online
7) What does the article say Bluesky is similar to?
a) YouTube
b) Facebook
c) TikTok
d) Twitter
8) What does the article say open blue sky is a symbol of?
a) messages
b) free speech
c) conversation
d) love
9) What kinds of posts can Bluesky users focus on?
a) New posts
b) Ones they are interested in.
c) Posts from friends
d) News posts
10) From where can users choose the feeds they want?
a) an open marketplace
b) the Internet
c) Twitter
d) a special website

Role play

Role A – TikTok
You think TikTok is the best social media platform. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their platforms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Role B – Facebook
You think Facebook is the best social media platform. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their platforms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): TikTok, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Role C – Twitter
You think Twitter is the best social media platform. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their platforms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Facebook, TikTok or LinkedIn.

Role D – LinkedIn
You think LinkedIn is the best social media platform. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their platforms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Facebook, Twitter or TikTok.

After reading / listening

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

'social media'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'network'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

quickly

opened

signing

alternative

stores

control

led

only

butterfly

symbol

focus

pick

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 - Bluesky

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 'social media'?
What do you know about the social media platform Bluesky?
What do you think of social media?
Does the world need another social media platform?
How long do you spend on social media?
Why is social media useful?
How often do you check likes for your posts?
How addicted are you to social media?
Are you happy with all the posts you see on your feeds?

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 'blue sky'?
What do you think about what you read?
What are your favourite social media platforms?
How important is social media?
What are the dangers of social media?
What do you think of the Twitter and Bluesky logos?
How important is free speech?
What do you think of online photos of cats?
What questions would you like to ask Bluesky?

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)

A new social media platform is (1) ____ very quickly. The social network Bluesky is getting over one million new users every day. The site opened (2) ____ the public in February. However, it started gaining in popularity after the U.S. Presidential Election on November the 5th. Many people are signing (3) ____ for Bluesky because they want an alternative to X, Facebook and Threads. Bluesky is (4) ____ the most downloaded free app in Apple's and Google's app stores. Digital media journalist Ben Collins said: "Bluesky (5) ____ and looks and feels just like Twitter." He said Bluesky has a fresher feel than other platforms and gives (6) ____ more control.

Bluesky (7) ____ in 2019 as a research project at Twitter. It was led by the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey. It launched as an invitation-only (8) ____ in February 2023. The platform is very similar to Twitter. Even the logos are similar. Twitter had a blue bird logo; Bluesky has a blue butterfly. Mr Dorsey said the name Bluesky is from a Twitter idea that a bird could fly (9) ____ in an open blue sky. This open blue sky is a symbol of free speech. Bluesky allows users to control their feed and focus on (10) ____ they are interested in. It said if you "want only posts that have cat photos, or (11) ____ posts related to sports, you can simply pick your feed of (12) ____ from an open marketplace".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) growing (b) grows (c) growth (d) grower
(a) up (b) by (c) to (d) at
(a) down (b) at (c) up (d) as
(a) currant (b) curriculum (c) currency (d) currently
(a) works (b) worker (c) workings (d) work
(a) uses (b) users (c) usages (d) abuses
(a) beginnings (b) begin (c) begun (d) began
(a) vision (b) version (c) visor (d) aversion
(a) frees (b) freedom (c) freely (d) freed
(a) pasts (b) paste (c) pests (d) posts
(a) once (b) ones (c) lonely (d) only
(a) chosen (b) choice (c) choose (d) chose

Spelling

Paragraph 1

A new social media aolmtrpf
over one imlinol new users
The site opened to the ibpluc
it started gaining in plpiorauyt
they want an eitlvnaarte to X
digital media nostjrluia

Paragraph 2

It launched as an invtoaiitn-only version
The platform is very alsimir to Twitter
a yslomb of free speech
focus on posts they are sedniretet in
only posts trdleea to sports
an open rakamtlecpe

Put the text back together

(...) fly freely in an open blue sky. This open blue sky is a symbol of free speech. Bluesky allows users to control
(...) their feed and focus on posts they are interested in. It said if you "want only posts that have cat
(...) Bluesky began in 2019 as a research project at Twitter. It was led by the co-founder and
(...) similar to Twitter. Even the logos are similar. Twitter had a blue bird logo; Bluesky has a blue
(...) feel than other platforms and gives users more control.
( 1 ) A new social media platform is growing very quickly. The social network Bluesky is getting
(...) former CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey. It launched as an invitation-only version in February 2023. The platform is very
(...) up for Bluesky because they want an alternative to X, Facebook and Threads. Bluesky is currently the most
(...) butterfly. Mr Dorsey said the name Bluesky is from a Twitter idea that a bird could
(...) Ben Collins said: "Bluesky works and looks and feels just like Twitter." He said Bluesky has a fresher
(...) gaining in popularity after the U.S. Presidential Election on November the 5th. Many people are signing
(...) downloaded free app in Apple's and Google's app stores. Digital media journalist
(...) photos, or only posts related to sports, you can simply pick your feed of choice from an open marketplace".
(...) over one million new users every day. The site opened to the public in February. However, it started

Put the words in the right order

is very A social platform growing media quickly .
million getting one day . over It's every users
after gaining started the It popularity election . in
store . most downloaded app Apple's The app in
just like Bluesky looks He Twitter . said
similar platform very is Twitter . The to
fly sky . Birds could a in freely blue
sky speech . a of symbol is Blue free
control their feed . allows users to Bluesky
from of your choice feed a Pick marketplace .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

A new social media platform is growing / grown very quickly. The social network Bluesky is getting over one million new uses / users every day. The site opened to the public on / in February. However, it started gaining in popularity / popular after the U.S. Presidential Election on November the 5th. Many people are signing down / up for Bluesky because they want an alternative to / at X, Facebook and Threads. Bluesky is currently a / the most downloaded free app in Apple's and Google's app stores. Digital media journalist / journalism Ben Collins said: "Bluesky works and looks and feels just like Twitter." He said Bluesky has a fresher felt / feel than other platforms and gives users many / more control.

Bluesky begun / began in 2019 as a research project at Twitter. It was led by / to the co-founder and former / firmer CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey. It launched as an invitation-only vision / version in February 2023. The platform is very similarity / similar to Twitter. Even the logos are similar. Twitter had a blue bird logo; Bluesky has a blue butterfly. Mr Dorsey said the name Bluesky is form / from a Twitter idea that / what a bird could fly freely in an open blue sky. This open blue sky is a symbol at / of free speech. Bluesky allows users to control their feed and focus on posts they are interested in. It said if you "want only posts that have cat photos, or only posts related / relation to sports, you can simply pick your feed of choose / choice from an open marketplace".

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)

_ n_w s_c__l m_d__ pl_tf_rm _s gr_w_ng v_ry q__ckly. Th_ s_c__l n_tw_rk Bl__sky _s g_tt_ng _v_r _n_ m_ll__n n_w _s_rs _v_ry d_y. Th_ s_t_ _p_n_d t_ th_ p_bl_c _n F_br__ry. H_w_v_r, _t st_rt_d g__n_ng _n p_p_l_r_ty _ft_r th_ _.S. Pr_s_d_nt__l _l_ct__n _n N_v_mb_r th_ 5th. M_ny p__pl_ _r_ s_gn_ng _p f_r Bl__sky b_c__s_ th_y w_nt _n _lt_rn_t_v_ t_ X, F_c_b__k _nd Thr__ds. Bl__sky _s c_rr_ntly th_ m_st d_wnl__d_d fr__ _pp _n _ppl_'s _nd G__gl_'s _pp st_r_s. D_g_t_l m_d__ j__rn_l_st B_n C_ll_ns s__d: "Bl__sky w_rks _nd l__ks _nd f__ls j_st l_k_ Tw_tt_r." H_ s__d Bl__sky h_s _ fr_sh_r f__l th_n _th_r pl_tf_rms _nd g_v_s _s_rs m_r_ c_ntr_l.

Bl__sky b_g_n _n 2019 _s _ r_s__rch pr_j_ct _t Tw_tt_r. _t w_s l_d by th_ c_-f__nd_r _nd f_rm_r C__ _f Tw_tt_r J_ck D_rs_y. _t l__nch_d _s _n _nv_t_t__n-_nly v_rs__n _n F_br__ry 2023. Th_ pl_tf_rm _s v_ry s_m_l_r t_ Tw_tt_r. _v_n th_ l_g_s _r_ s_m_l_r. Tw_tt_r h_d _ bl__ b_rd l_g_; Bl__sky h_s _ bl__ b_tt_rfly. Mr D_rs_y s__d th_ n_m_ Bl__sky _s fr_m _ Tw_tt_r _d__ th_t _ b_rd c__ld fly fr__ly _n _n _p_n bl__ sky. Th_s _p_n bl__ sky _s _ symb_l _f fr__ sp__ch. Bl__sky _ll_ws _s_rs t_ c_ntr_l th__r f__d _nd f_c_s _n p_sts th_y _r_ _nt_r_st_d _n. _t s__d _f y__ "w_nt _nly p_sts th_t h_v_ c_t ph_t_s, _r _nly p_sts r_l_t_d t_ sp_rts, y__ c_n s_mply p_ck y__r f__d _f ch__c_ fr_m _n _p_n m_rk_tpl_c_".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

a new social media platform is growing very quickly the social network bluesky is getting over one million new users every day the site opened to the public in february however it started gaining in popularity after the us presidential election on november the 5th many people are signing up for bluesky because they want an alternative to x facebook and threads bluesky is currently the most downloaded free app in apples and googles app stores digital media journalist ben collins said bluesky works and looks and feels just like twitter he said bluesky has a fresher feel than other platforms and gives users more control

bluesky began in 2019 as a research project at twitter it was led by the cofounder and former ceo of twitter jack dorsey it launched as an invitationonly version in february 2023 the platform is very similar to twitter even the logos are similar twitter had a blue bird logo bluesky has a blue butterfly mr dorsey said the name bluesky is from a twitter idea that a bird could fly freely in an open blue sky this open blue sky is a symbol of free speech bluesky allows users to control their feed and focus on posts they are interested in it said if you want only posts that have cat photos or only posts related to sports you can simply pick your feed of choice from an open marketplace

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Anewsocialmediaplatformisgrowingveryquickly.ThesocialnetworkBl
ueskyisgettingoveronemillionnewuserseveryday.Thesiteopenedtot
hepublicinFebruary.However,itstartedgaininginpopularityaftertheU
.S.PresidentialElectiononNovemberthe5th.Manypeoplearesigningu
pforBlueskybecausetheywantanalternativetoX,FacebookandThread
s.BlueskyiscurrentlythemostdownloadedfreeappinApple'sandGoogl
e'sappstores.DigitalmediajournalistBenCollinssaid:"Blueskyworksa
ndlooksandfeelsjustlikeTwitter."HesaidBlueskyhasafresherfeelthan
otherplatformsandgivesusersmorecontrol.Blueskybeganin2019asa
researchprojectatTwitter.Itwasledbytheco-founderandformerCEOo
fTwitterJackDorsey.Itlaunchedasaninvitation-onlyversioninFebrua
ry2023.TheplatformisverysimilartoTwitter.Eventhelogosaresimilar.
Twitterhadabluebirdlogo;Blueskyhasabluebutterfly.MrDorseysaidt
henameBlueskyisfromaTwitterideathatabirdcouldflyfreelyinanopen
bluesky.Thisopenblueskyisasymboloffreespeech.Blueskyallowsuse
rstocontroltheirfeedandfocusonpoststheyareinterestedin.Itsaidifyo
u"wantonlypoststhathavecatphotos,oronlypostsrelatedtosports,yo
ucansimplypickyourfeedofchoicefromanopenmarketplace".

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Social media sites are very important in our lives. 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. SOCIAL MEDIA: Make a poster about social media. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. FREE SPEECH: Write a magazine article about being able to say or write anything on social media. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on social media. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas about what is wrong with social media. 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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