The Reading / Listening - Kimchi - Level 3

Scientists have written extensively about the prevalence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment and in our bodies. Microplastics are larger than a micrometre (1 millionth of a metre), while nanoplastics are smaller than a micrometre. A new study has found that bacteria from the fermented Korean dish kimchi can help to expel nanoplastics from the body. Researchers at the World Institute of Kimchi in South Korea have discovered a microbe that can attach itself to nanoplastics in the gut. The foreign body is then safely expelled in our bodily waste. The plastic does not pass through the intestinal lining and accumulate in organs like the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver.

Nanoplastics are of increasing concern to the medical community. There are many unknown side effects of these tiny particles being in our organs. Current estimates suggest people take in up to 120,000 microscopic fragments every year. Newspapers often print stories about our body containing 7 grams of plastic, which is about the mass of a credit card. The Korean scientists believe their research might alleviate the accumulation of plastic in our bodies. Lead researcher Dr Se-hee Lee said: "Microorganisms derived from traditional fermented foods could represent a new biological approach to address this emerging challenge. We will continue to expand the scientific value of kimchi."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Kimchi - Level 0,  Kimchi - Level 1   or  Kimchi - Level 2

Sources
  • https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-say-this-popular-food-could-help-your-body-get-rid-of-microplastics/
  • https://www.earth.com/news/bacteria-found-in-kimchi-helps-remove-nano-micro-plastic-particles-from-the-body/
  • https://phys.org/news/2026-03-kimchi-derived-probiotic-excretion-intestinal.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. NANOPLASTICS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about nanoplastics. 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 / microplastics / the environment / bacteria / fermented / kimchi / the brain
       the medical community / newspapers / credit card / microorganisms / challenge
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NO MORE PLASTIC: Students A strongly believe we should stop using plastic; Students B strongly believe we shouldn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ORGANS: What do these organs do? What can go wrong with them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What They Do

Things That Can Go Wrong

The brain

 

 

The heart

 

 

The skin

 

 

The liver

 

 

The kidneys

 

 

The lungs

 

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

  • Pens
  • Bags
  • Toys
  • Buckets
  • Credit cards
  • Toothbrushes
  • Food containers
  • Packaging materials

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. extensively a. To force something out.
      2. prevalence b. To slowly collect more and more.
      3. fermented c. Done in a very complete and detailed way.
      4. expel d. Changed by bacteria over time.
      5. the gut e. How common something is.
      6. bodily waste f. The inside part of the body where food is digested.
      7. accumulate g. Things that leave the body, such as urine.

    Paragraph 2

      8. side effects h. Other problems that happen because of something.
      9. organs i. How much matter is in something.
      10. mass j. To do something about a problem.
      11. alleviate k. Parts inside the body that do important jobs.
      12. derived l. Beginning to appear or develop.
      13. address m. Made from something else.
      14. emerging n. To make something less bad.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Very little has been written about nanoplastics in the body.     T / F
  2. Nanoplastics are larger than one millionth of a metre.     T / F
  3. The research is from the World Institute of Kimchi.     T / F
  4. Kimchi might mean nanoplastics do not get into our organs.     T / F
  5. There are very few side effects of nanoplastics in our body.     T / F
  6. Newspapers often write about there being a lot of plastic in our body.     T / F
  7. A lot of the plastic is our body is credit-card shaped.     T / F
  8. Scientists will find out more about the scientific value of kimchi.     T / F

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

  1. extensively
  2. prevalence
  3. expel
  4. discovered
  5. accumulate
  6. concern
  7. estimates
  8. alleviate
  9. address
  10. expand
  1. worry
  2. found
  3. grow
  4. gather
  5. widely
  6. reduce
  7. get rid of
  8. tackle
  9. commonness
  10. guesses

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

  1. the prevalence
  2. Microplastics are larger than
  3. bacteria from the fermented
  4. a microbe that can attach
  5. accumulate in organs like the brain, heart,
  6. Nanoplastics are of increasing concern to
  7. people take in up to 120,000 microscopic
  8. about the mass of a
  9. a new biological
  10. address this emerging
  1. the medical community
  2. itself to nanoplastics
  3. approach
  4. Korean dish kimchi
  5. credit card
  6. kidneys, and liver
  7. of microplastics
  8. fragments every year
  9. challenge
  10. a micrometre

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
bacteria
kidneys
extensively
attach
lining
expel
millionth
waste

Scientists have written (1) ______________________________________________ about the prevalence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment and in our bodies. Microplastics are larger than a micrometre (1 (2) ______________________________________________ of a metre), while nanoplastics are smaller than a micrometre. A new study has found that (3) ______________________________________________ from the fermented Korean dish kimchi can help to (4) ______________________________________________ nanoplastics from the body. Researchers at the World Institute of Kimchi in South Korea have discovered a microbe that can (5) ______________________________________________ itself to nanoplastics in the gut. The foreign body is then safely expelled in our bodily (6) ______________________________________________. The plastic does not pass through the intestinal (7) ______________________________________________ and accumulate in organs like the brain, heart, (8) ______________________________________________, and liver.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
mass
particles
value
traditional
containing
emerging
concern
alleviate

Nanoplastics are of increasing (9) ______________________________________________ to the medical community. There are many unknown side effects of these tiny (10) ______________________________________________ being in our organs. Current estimates suggest people take in up to 120,000 microscopic fragments every year. Newspapers often print stories about our body (11) ______________________________________________ 7 grams of plastic, which is about the (12) ______________________________________________ of a credit card. The Korean scientists believe their research might (13) ______________________________________________ the accumulation of plastic in our bodies. Lead researcher Dr Se-hee Lee said: "Microorganisms derived from (14) ______________________________________________ fermented foods could represent a new biological approach to address this (15) ______________________________________________ challenge. We will continue to expand the scientific (16) ______________________________________________ of kimchi."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Scientists have written extensively about the ______
     a.  prevalent of microplastics
     b.  prevalence of microplastics
     c.  prevalence off microplastics
     d.  prevalence of macroplastics
2)  bacteria from the fermented Korean dish kimchi can help ______
     a.  to extol nanoplastics
     b.  to expel nanoplastics
     c.  to spell nanoplastics
     d.  treks spell nanoplastics
3)  discovered a microbe that can attach itself to nanoplastics ______
     a.  in the gut
     b.  in the glut
     c.  in the glute
     d.  in the gutter
4)  The foreign body is then safely expelled in ______
     a.  our bodily ways
     b.  hour bodily waste
     c.  our bodily wasted
     d.  our bodily waste
5)  accumulate in organs like the brain, heart, ______
     a.  kidneys, and lever
     b.  kidneys, and river
     c.  kidneys, and liver
     d.  kidneys, and lifer

6)  Nanoplastics are of increasing concern to ______
     a.  the medicine community
     b.  the medical commune city
     c.  the medical community
     d.  the medically community
7)  There are many unknown side effects of these tiny particles being ______
     a.  in our organs
     b.  inner organs
     c.  in hour organs
     d.  in our organ
8)  current estimates suggest people take in up to ______
     a.  120,000 microscopic fragments
     b.  120,000 microscopic fragment
     c.  120,000 microscope fragments
     d.  120,000 microscopic flag mints
9)  traditional fermented foods could represent a ______
     a.  new biologically approach
     b.  new biological approach
     c.  new biological approached
     d.  new biology approach
10)  address this emerging challenge. We will continue to expand the scientific ______i
     a.  valued of kimchi
     b.  valley of kimchi
     c.  vale you of kimchi
     d.  value of kimchi

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists have written extensively about (1) __________________________________________________ microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment and in our bodies. Microplastics are larger than a micrometre (1 (2) __________________________________________________ metre), while nanoplastics are smaller than a micrometre. A new study has found that bacteria (3) __________________________________________________ Korean dish kimchi can help to expel nanoplastics from the body. Researchers at the World Institute of Kimchi in South Korea (4) __________________________________________________ microbe that can attach itself to nanoplastics in the gut. The foreign body is then safely expelled in (5) __________________________________________________. The plastic does not pass through the intestinal lining and accumulate in organs like the brain, heart, (6) __________________________________________________.

Nanoplastics are of increasing (7) __________________________________________________ medical community. There are many unknown side effects of (8) __________________________________________________ being in our organs. Current estimates suggest people take in up to 120,000 microscopic fragments every year. Newspapers (9) __________________________________________________ about our body containing 7 grams of plastic, which is about the (10) __________________________________________________ credit card. The Korean scientists believe their research might alleviate the accumulation of plastic (11) __________________________________________________. Lead researcher Dr Se-hee Lee said: "Microorganisms derived from traditional fermented foods could represent a new biological approach to address this emerging challenge. We will continue (12) __________________________________________________ scientific value of kimchi."

Comprehension questions

  1. Who has written about extensively about microplastics and nanoplastics?
  2. What size are nanoplastics?
  3. What is the name of the place the researchers are from?
  4. What thing in the gut attaches to nanoplastics?
  5. What organs are mentioned besides the brain and heart?
  6. Who is getting more worried about nanoplastics?
  7. How many side effects are there of nanoplastics in our body?
  8. How much microplastic might there be in our bodies?
  9. What is the mass of plastic in our bodies likened to?
  10. What will researchers continue to research the scientific value of?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who has written about extensively about microplastics and nanoplastics?
a) the CEO of a plastics company
b) a Nobel prize winner
c) scientists
d) a website
2) What size are nanoplastics?
a) smaller than 1 millionth of a metre
b) about 1 millionth of a metre
c) exactly 1 millionth of a metre
d) larger than 1 millionth of a metre
3) What is the name of the place the researchers are from?
a) the International Institute of Kimchi
b) the World Institute of Kimchi
c) the World Institute of Fermentation
d) the World Kimchi University
4) What thing in the gut attaches to nanoplastics?
a) the intestines
b) food
c) acid
d) a microbe
5) What organs are mentioned besides the brain and heart?
a) the pancreas and bladder
b) the skin and lungs
c) the kidneys and liver
d) the intestines and spleen

6) Who is getting more worried about nanoplastics?
a) the CEO of a plastics company
b) the medical community
c) a Nobel prize winner
d) a man named Bob
7) How many side effects are there of nanoplastics in our body?
a) several
b) hundreds
c) dozens
d) an unknown number
8) How much microplastic might there be in our bodies?
a) more than 120,000
b) up to 120,000
c) around 120,000
d) exactly 120,000
9) What is the mass of plastic in our bodies likened to?
a) a water bottle
b) a credit card
c) a shopping bag
d) a bucket
10) What will researchers continue to research the scientific value of?
a) kimchi
b) fermentation processes
c) nanoplastics
d) macroplastics

Role play

Role  A – Pens
You think pens are the most important things made of plastic. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): bags, food containers or packaging materials.

Role  B – Bags
You think bags are the most important things made of plastic. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): pens, food containers or packaging materials.

Role  C – Food Containers
You think food containers are the most important things made of plastic. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): bags, pens or packaging materials.

Role  D – Packaging Materials
You think packaging materials are the most important things made of plastic. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): bags, food containers or pens.

After reading / listening

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

'kimchi'

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

    • and 'plastic'.

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

    • • 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:

    • written
    • larger
    • help
    • itself
    • foreign
    • liver
    • concern
    • side
    • estimates
    • print
    • derived
    • value

    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 - Kimchi

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'plastic'?
    3. What do you know about the Korean food kimchi?
    4. What other fermented food do you know about?
    5. How worried are you about nanoplastics?
    6. How much do we need plastic?
    7. How can we use plastic less?
    8. How do you feel when you see plastic pollution on beaches?
    9. What do you know about Korean food?
    10. How healthy do you think you are?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'nanoplastics'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How do you feel about plastic being in your brain
    5. What side effects might there be of plastic in our body?
    6. What can we do to stop plastic from entering our bodies?
    7. Will you eat kimchi to get rid of nanoplastics?
    8. What do you think of plastic surgery?
    9. What problems will plastic cause in 50 years from now?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    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 have (1) ____ extensively about the prevalence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment and in our (2) ____. Microplastics are larger than a micrometre (1 millionth of a metre), while nanoplastics are smaller than a micrometre. A new study has found that bacteria (3) ____ the fermented Korean dish kimchi can help (4) ____ expel nanoplastics from the body. Researchers at the World Institute of Kimchi in South Korea have discovered a microbe that can attach itself to nanoplastics in the (5) ____. The foreign body is then safely expelled in our bodily waste. The plastic does not pass through the intestinal (6) ____ and accumulate in organs like the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver.

    Nanoplastics are (7) ____ increasing concern to the medical community. There are many unknown side effects of these tiny particles being in our (8) ____. Current estimates suggest people take in up to 120,000 microscopic fragments every year. Newspapers often print stories about our body containing 7 grams of plastic, which is about the (9) ____ of a credit card. The Korean scientists believe their research might alleviate the accumulation of plastic in our bodies. Lead researcher Dr Se-hee Lee said: "Microorganisms derived from (10) ____ fermented foods could represent a new biological approach to (11) ____ this emerging challenge. We will continue to expand the scientific value (12) ____ kimchi."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     write     (b)     wrote     (c)     writes     (d)     written    
    2. (a)     bode     (b)     bodily     (c)     bodied     (d)     bodies    
    3. (a)     at     (b)     from     (c)     to     (d)     as    
    4. (a)     at     (b)     from     (c)     to     (d)     as    
    5. (a)     glut     (b)     glute     (c)     gut     (d)     gutter    
    6. (a)     lining     (b)     drawing     (c)     filling     (d)     ending    
    7. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     if    
    8. (a)     organs     (b)     keyboards     (c)     pianos     (d)     instruments    
    9. (a)     mess     (b)     mass     (c)     mast     (d)     must    
    10. (a)     traditionally     (b)     traditions     (c)     traditional     (d)     tradition    
    11. (a)     title     (b)     stamp     (c)     address     (d)     envelope    
    12. (a)     down     (b)     up     (c)     at     (d)     of

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. scientists have written xltivnyesee
    2. the plernvacee of microplastics
    3. tahcat itself to nanoplastics
    4. safely leeeldxp in our bodily waste
    5. pass through the etnasinlit lining
    6. accumulate in gnrsao like the brain

    Paragraph 2

    1. nanoplastics are of increasing enconrc
    2. There are many unknown side ffetces
    3. 120,000 microscopic eantsgmfr
    4. rnsteeper a new biological approach
    5. esdadsr this emerging challenge
    6. expand the eitinisfcc value of kimchi

    Put the text back together

    (    )   a microbe that can attach itself to nanoplastics in the gut. The foreign body is then safely
    (    )   accumulate in organs like the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver.
    (    )   accumulation of plastic in our bodies. Lead researcher Dr Se-hee Lee said: "Microorganisms derived
    (    )   challenge. We will continue to expand the scientific value of kimchi."
    (    )   dish kimchi can help to expel nanoplastics from the body. Researchers at the World Institute of Kimchi in South Korea have discovered
    (    )   effects of these tiny particles being in our organs. Current estimates suggest people take in up to 120,000 microscopic
    (    )   expelled in our bodily waste. The plastic does not pass through the intestinal lining and
    (    )   fragments every year. Newspapers often print stories about our body containing 7 grams of plastic, which is about the mass
    (    )   from traditional fermented foods could represent a new biological approach to address this emerging
    (    )   in our bodies. Microplastics are larger than a micrometre (1 millionth of a metre), while nanoplastics are smaller than a
    (    )   micrometre. A new study has found that bacteria from the fermented Korean
    (    )   Nanoplastics are of increasing concern to the medical community. There are many unknown side
    (    )   of a credit card. The Korean scientists believe their research might alleviate the
    (  1  )   Scientists have written extensively about the prevalence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment and

    Put the words in the right order

    1. about   extensively   have   prevalence   Scientists   the   written   .
    2. Bacteria   dish   fermented   from   kimchi   Korean   the   .
    3. body   expel   from   helps   It   nanoplastics   the   to   .
    4. A   attach   can   itself   microbe   nanoplastics   that   to   .
    5. does   intestinal   lining   not   pass   Plastic   the   through   .
    6. are   community   concern   medical   Nanoplastics   of   the   to   .
    7. are   effects   many   of   side   these   There   unknown   .
    8. about   body   Newspapers   often   our   print   stories   .
    9. accumulation   alleviate   might   of   plastic   research   the   Their   .
    10. continue   expand   scientific   the   to   value   We   will   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists have written / writing extensively about the prevalence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment and in / at our bodies. Microplastics are larger / that than a micrometre (1 millionth of a metre), while nanoplastics are smaller for / than a micrometre. A new study has found that bacteria from the fermented Korean dish kimchi can helping / help to expel nanoplastics from the / a body. Researchers at the World Institute of Kimchi in South Korea have discovered / discovery a microbe that can attach itself to nanoplastics in the gut / tut. The foreign body is then safely expelled in our bodily waste. The plastic does not passing / pass through the intestinal lining and accumulate in organs like the brain, heart, kidneys, and livery / liver.

    Nanoplastics are of / off increasing concern to the medical community. There are many unknown side / front effects of these tiny particles being in / on our organs. Current estimates suggest people give / take in up to 120,000 microscopic fragments every year. Newspapers often print stories about our body containing / contents 7 grams of plastic, which is about the mass / mess of a credit card. The Korean scientists believe their research might alleviate the accumulate / accumulation of plastic in our bodies. Lead researcher Dr Se-hee Lee said: "Microorganisms derives / derived from traditional fermented foods could / can represent a new biological approach to address this emerging challenge. We will continue to expand the scientific value / valuable of kimchi."

    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  h_v_  wr_tt_n  _xt_ns_v_ly  _b__t  th_  pr_v_l_nc_  _f  m_cr_pl_st_cs  _nd  n_n_pl_st_cs  _n  th_  _nv_r_nm_nt  _nd  _n  __r  b_d__s.  M_cr_pl_st_cs  _r_  l_rg_r  th_n  _  m_cr_m_tr_  (1  m_ll__nth  _f  _  m_tr_),  wh_l_  n_n_pl_st_cs  _r_  sm_ll_r  th_n  _  m_cr_m_tr_.  _  n_w  st_dy  h_s  f__nd  th_t  b_ct_r__  fr_m  th_  f_rm_nt_d  K_r__n  d_sh  k_mch_  c_n  h_lp  t_  _xp_l  n_n_pl_st_cs  fr_m  th_  b_dy.  R_s__rch_rs  _t  th_  W_rld  _nst_t_t_  _f  K_mch_  _n  S__th  K_r__  h_v_  d_sc_v_r_d  _  m_cr_b_  th_t  c_n  _tt_ch  _ts_lf  t_  n_n_pl_st_cs  _n  th_  g_t.  Th_  f_r__gn  b_dy  _s  th_n  s_f_ly  _xp_ll_d  _n  __r  b_d_ly  w_st_.  Th_  pl_st_c  d__s  n_t  p_ss  thr__gh  th_  _nt_st_n_l  l_n_ng  _nd  _cc_m_l_t_  _n  _rg_ns  l_k_  th_  br__n,  h__rt,  k_dn_ys,  _nd  l_v_r.

    N_n_pl_st_cs  _r_  _f  _ncr__s_ng  c_nc_rn  t_  th_  m_d_c_l  c_mm_n_ty.  Th_r_  _r_  m_ny  _nkn_wn  s_d_  _ff_cts  _f  th_s_  t_ny  p_rt_cl_s  b__ng  _n  __r  _rg_ns.  C_rr_nt  _st_m_t_s  s_gg_st  p__pl_  t_k_  _n  _p  t_  120,000  m_cr_sc_p_c  fr_gm_nts  _v_ry  y__r.  N_wsp_p_rs  _ft_n  pr_nt  st_r__s  _b__t  __r  b_dy  c_nt__n_ng  7  gr_ms  _f  pl_st_c,  wh_ch  _s  _b__t  th_  m_ss  _f  _  cr_d_t  c_rd.  Th_  K_r__n  sc__nt_sts  b_l__v_  th__r  r_s__rch  m_ght  _ll_v__t_  th_  _cc_m_l_t__n  _f  pl_st_c  _n  __r  b_d__s.  L__d  r_s__rch_r  Dr  S_-h__  L__  s__d:  "M_cr__rg_n_sms  d_r_v_d  fr_m  tr_d_t__n_l  f_rm_nt_d  f__ds  c__ld  r_pr_s_nt  _  n_w  b__l_g_c_l  _ppr__ch  t_  _ddr_ss  th_s  _m_rg_ng  ch_ll_ng_.  W_  w_ll  c_nt_n__  t_  _xp_nd  th_  sc__nt_f_c  v_l__  _f  k_mch_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists have written extensively about the prevalence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment and in our bodies microplastics are larger than a micrometre 1 millionth of a metre while nanoplastics are smaller than a micrometre a new study has found that bacteria from the fermented korean dish kimchi can help to expel nanoplastics from the body researchers at the world institute of kimchi in south korea have discovered a microbe that can attach itself to nanoplastics in the gut the foreign body is then safely expelled in our bodily waste the plastic does not pass through the intestinal lining and accumulate in organs like the brain heart kidneys and liver

    nanoplastics are of increasing concern to the medical community there are many unknown side effects of these tiny particles being in our organs current estimates suggest people take in up to 120000 microscopic fragments every year newspapers often print stories about our body containing 7 grams of plastic which is about the mass of a credit card the korean scientists believe their research might alleviate the accumulation of plastic in our bodies lead researcher dr sehee lee said microorganisms derived from traditional fermented foods could represent a new biological approach to address this emerging challenge we will continue to expand the scientific value of kimchi

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Scientistshavewrittenextensivelyabouttheprevalenceofmicroplastic
    sandnanoplasticsintheenvironmentandinourbodies.Microplasticsar
    elargerthanamicrometre(1millionthofametre),whilenanoplasticsare
    smallerthanamicrometre.Anewstudyhasfoundthatbacteriafromthef
    ermentedKoreandishkimchicanhelptoexpelnanoplasticsfromthebod
    y.ResearchersattheWorldInstituteofKimchiinSouthKoreahavedisco
    veredamicrobethatcanattachitselftonanoplasticsinthegut.Theforeig
    nbodyisthensafelyexpelledinourbodilywaste.Theplasticdoesnotpass
    throughtheintestinalliningandaccumulateinorganslikethebrain,hear
    t,kidneys,andliver.Nanoplasticsareofincreasingconcerntothemedic
    alcommunity.Therearemanyunknownsideeffectsofthesetinyparticle
    sbeinginourorgans.Currentestimatessuggestpeopletakeinupto120,
    000microscopicfragmentseveryyear.Newspapersoftenprintstoriesa
    boutourbodycontaining7gramsofplastic,whichisaboutthemassofacr
    editcard.TheKoreanscientistsbelievetheirresearchmightalleviatethe
    accumulationofplasticinourbodies.LeadresearcherDrSe-heeLeesaid
    :"Microorganismsderivedfromtraditionalfermentedfoodscouldrepre
    sentanewbiologicalapproachtoaddressthisemergingchallenge.Wewi
    llcontinuetoexpandthescientificvalueofkimchi."

    Free writing

    Write about kimchi and nanoplastics for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We should stop using plastic things. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. NANOPLASTICS: Make a poster about nanoplastics. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. STOP USING PLASTIC: Write a magazine article about all of us no longer using plastic. 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 nanoplastics. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can reduce our reliance on plastic. 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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