Breaking News English Lesson: Loud Music

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Bus passengers to be fined for playing loud music (28th September 2026)

The Reading / Listening - Loud Music - Level 6

The loud music from other passengers on public transport has become a peeve for many people who want to travel in quiet. Singapore has introduced new fines of up to S$500 for blaring out music on buses that annoys other passengers. The new penalties will also be applied to other anti-social behaviour, such as putting feet on seats, littering, and eating or drinking on buses. A news release from Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the fines would help create a "safer, more considerate and pleasant public transport environment for all". The LTA added: "Public transport is a shared space, and every commuter has a part to play in ensuring a gracious and pleasant commuting environment."

The fines will not be issued by bus drivers. The LTA has decided that bus drivers should prioritise passenger safety while driving their vehicles. The LTA said drivers needed to focus on "their primary responsibility of operating buses safely". However, drivers will have the power to ask inconsiderate and disruptive passengers to get off the bus. Many commuters welcomed the new fines. A 29-year-old flight attendant who has to travel to work at Singapore's Changi Airport by bus told the Straits Times newspaper: "I saw the new rules and I thought, 'Thank God'." A 56-year-old commuter was happy. She said: "I just want to get to work without having to listen to other people's music."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Loud Music - Level 4 or Loud Music - Level 5

Sources

https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/southeast-asia/singapore-loud-music-fine-bus-headphones-b3054844.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/singapore-bus-passengers-face-fines-133111905.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3kg80ve7x0no

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. LOUD MUSIC: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about loud music. 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?
loud music / public transport / peeve / passengers / anti-social behaviour / commuting
fines / bus drivers / safety / responsibility / inconsiderate / flight attendant / irritating
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. MUSIC BAN: Students A strongly believe passengers should not be allowed to listen to music on their headphones on public transport; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BEHAVIOUR ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT: What should the rules be for behaviour on public transport? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Rules	Why
Listening to music
Public displays of affection
Food and drink
Giving up seats to others
Sitting style
Rubbish

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

Bus
Train
Subway
Taxi
Ferry
Coach
Tram
Cable car

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	peeve	a.	Makes someone feel annoyed.
2.	blaring out	b.	Thinking about other people's feelings and needs.
3.	annoys	c.	A small thing that you find annoying.
4.	applied	d.	Playing a sound very loudly.
5.	littering	e.	Used or put into practice.
6.	considerate	f.	Leaving small pieces of rubbish in public places.
7.	ensuring	g.	Making sure that something happens.

Paragraph 2

8.	prioritise	h.	A person who travels regularly between home and work.
9.	vehicles	i.	To decide what is most important and do it first.
10.	primary	j.	Causing problems or stopping something from working normally.
11.	disruptive	k.	Received in a positive way.
12.	commuter	l.	Cars, buses, and other things used for travelling.
13.	welcomed	m.	Making someone feel annoyed.
14.	irritating	n.	Most important.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says all bus passengers want quiet on their journeys. T / F
The $500 fine is for music that annoys other passengers. T / F
The fine can also be given to people who drop litter on buses. T / F
Singapore's Land Transport Authority said all commuters must help. T / F
Bus drivers will ask offending passengers for the fine. T / F
The Land Transport Authority said bus drivers must prioritise safety. T / F
Bus drivers do not have the power to ask passengers to get off the bus. T / F
A flight attendant thought the fine was ridiculous. T / F

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

peeve
fines
behaviour
considerate
pleasant
safety
primary
disruptive
commuter
irritating

troublemaking
enjoyable
well-being
conduct
penalties
main
passenger
annoyance
annoying
thoughtful

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

a peeve for many people who
new penalties will also be applied to other
putting feet on seats,
every commuter has a part
a gracious and pleasant commuting
The fines will not be issued
bus drivers should prioritise
focus on their primary
Many commuters welcomed
without listening to other people's

anti-social behaviour
responsibility
environment
by bus drivers
irritating music
to play
the new fines
want to travel in quiet
passenger safety
littering, and eating

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

littering
blaring
environment
considerate
part
passengers
applied
shared

The loud music from other (1) _________________________________ on public transport has become a peeve for many people who want to travel in quiet. Singapore has introduced new fines of up to S$500 for (2) _________________________________ out music on buses that annoys other passengers. The new penalties will also be (3) _________________________________ to other anti-social behaviour, such as putting feet on seats, (4) _________________________________, and eating or drinking on buses. A news release from Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the fines would help create a "safer, more (5) _________________________________ and pleasant public transport environment for all". The LTA added: "Public transport is a (6) _________________________________ space, and every commuter has a (7) _________________________________ to play in ensuring a gracious and pleasant commuting (8) _________________________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

safely
commuters
issued
thought
vehicles
irritating
disruptive
travel

The fines will not be (9) _________________________________ by bus drivers. The LTA has decided that bus drivers should prioritise passenger safety while driving their (10) _________________________________. The LTA said drivers needed to focus on "their primary responsibility of operating buses (11) _________________________________". However, drivers will have the power to ask inconsiderate and (12) _________________________________ passengers to get off the bus. Many (13) _________________________________ welcomed the new fines. A 29-year-old flight attendant who has to (14) _________________________________ to work at Singapore's Changi Airport by bus told the Straits Times newspaper: "I saw the new rules and I (15) _________________________________, 'Thank God'." A 56-year-old commuter was happy. She said: "I just want to get to work without listening to other people's (16) _________________________________ music."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The loud music from other passengers on public transport has ______
     a. become a peeve
     b. become a plead
     c. become a peel
     d. become a peer
2) Singapore has introduced new fines of up to S$500 for ______
     a. blaring up music
     b. blaring out music
     c. blaring in music
     d. blaring youth music
3) applied to other anti-social behaviour, such as putting feet on seats, ______
     a. glittering, and eating
     b. littering, and heating
     c. littering, and eating
     d. litter ring, and eating
4) create a safer, more considerate and pleasant public transport ______
     a. environment overall
     b. environment from all
     c. environment for every
     d. environment for all
5) every commuter has a part to play in ensuring a gracious and ______
     a. pleasant commute in environment
     b. pleasant commuting environment
     c. pheasant commuting environment
     d. pleasant commuting environs

6) The fines will not be issued ______
     a. by bus drivers
     b. at bus drivers
     c. for bus drivers
     d. be bus drivers
7) bus drivers should prioritise passenger safety while ______
     a. drive in their vehicles
     b. driven their vehicles
     c. driving their vehicles
     d. driving there vehicles
8) drivers needed to focus on their primary responsibility of ______
     a. operating buses safety
     b. operating buses safely
     c. operating bus is safely
     d. operation buses safely
9) However, drivers will have the power to ask inconsiderate ______
     a. and disrupted passengers
     b. and disruptive passenger
     c. end disruptive passengers
     d. and disruptive passengers
10) I just want to get to work without listening to other ______
     a. people's irritation music
     b. people's irritated music
     c. people's irritating music
     d. people's irritable music

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The loud music from other passengers on public transport has (1) _______________________________________________ for many people who want to travel in quiet. Singapore has introduced new (2) _______________________________________________ to S$500 for blaring out music on buses that annoys other passengers. The new penalties will also (3) _______________________________________________ other anti-social behaviour, such as putting feet on (4) _______________________________________________ eating or drinking on buses. A news release from Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the fines would help create a "safer, more considerate and pleasant public transport environment for all". The LTA added: "Public transport is (5) _______________________________________________, and every commuter has a part to play in ensuring a (6) _______________________________________________ commuting environment."

The fines will not be issued by bus drivers. The LTA has decided that bus drivers should prioritise passenger (7) _______________________________________________ their vehicles. The LTA said drivers needed to focus on "their primary responsibility of (8) _______________________________________________". However, drivers will have the power to ask (9) _______________________________________________ passengers to get off the bus. Many commuters (10) _______________________________________________ fines. A 29-year-old flight attendant who has to travel to work at Singapore's Changi Airport by bus told the Straits Times newspaper: "I saw the new rules and I thought, 'Thank God'." A 56-year-old (11) _______________________________________________. She said: "I just want to get to work without listening to (12) _______________________________________________ music."

Comprehension questions

How do many public transport passengers in Singapore want to travel?
How much could the fine be?
What other things can result in fines besides littering, eating or drinking?
Who will the fines create a safer environment for?
What did Singapore's Land Transport Authority say public transport was?
Who will not be issuing the fines?
What is the main priority of bus drivers in Singapore?
Who can bus drivers ask to leave their bus?
What did a flight attendant think when she heard about the new fine?
How did a 56-year-old commuter feel about the fine?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How do many public transport passengers in Singapore want to travel?
a) in luxury
b) in quiet
c) quickly
d) cheaply
2) How much could the fine be?
a) 500 American dollars
b) 5,000 American dollars
c) 500 American dollars
d) 500 Singapore dollars
3) What other things can result in fines besides littering, eating or drinking?
a) fighting
b) shouting
c) putting feet on seats
d) staring at people
4) Who will the fines create a safer environment for?
a) everyone
b) bus drivers
c) children
d) old people

5) What did Singapore's Land Transport Authority say public transport was?
a) excellent
b) a shared space
c) the best in the world
d) convenient

6) Who will not be issuing the fines?
a) bus drivers
b) the government
c) police officers
d) bus station managers
7) What is the main priority of bus drivers in Singapore?
a) punctuality
b) speed
c) passenger safety
d) promotion
8) Who can bus drivers ask to leave their bus?
a) disruptive passengers
b) ticketless passengers
c) passengers with large luggage
d) other bus drivers
9) What did a flight attendant think when she heard about the new fine?
a) Oh no
b) Wow
c) Yes please
d) Thank God
10) How did a 56-year-old commuter feel about the fine?
a) It was too much.
b) She was angry.
c) She was happy.
d) It was not enough.

Role play

Role A – Buses
You think buses are the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): trains, ferries or trams.

Role B – Trains
You think trains are the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bus, ferries or trams.

Role C – Ferries
You think ferries are the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): trains, bus or trams.

Role D – Trams
You think trams are the best form of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their forms of transport. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): trains, ferries or bus.

After reading / listening

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

'bus'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'passenger'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

peeve

blaring

applied

anti

create

part

issued

prioritise

primary

power

flight

just

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 - Loud Music

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 'bus'?
What do you think of loud music?
What do you think of listening to other people's music in public?
How important is quiet on public transport to you?
What do you think of the fine for annoyingly loud music?
Would you ever tell someone to turn down their music?
What do you think of people who litter and put their feet on seats?
What should the rules be for eating and drinking on public transport?
How pleasant an experience is commuting?

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 'passenger'?
What do you think about what you read?
Have you ever had an unpleasant experience on public transport?
What music do you listen to on buses and trains?
What do you think of disruptive people on public transport?
Is it better to commute to work by public transport or drive?
What irritates you about other people's behaviour?
What is the most irritating music?
What questions would you like to ask a Singapore commuter?

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

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

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

The loud music from (1) ____ passengers on public transport has become a peeve for many people who want to travel (2) ____ quiet. Singapore has introduced new fines of up to S$500 for blaring out music on buses that (3) ____ other passengers. The new penalties will also be applied to other anti-social behaviour, such as putting feet on seats, (4) ____, and eating or drinking on buses. A news release from Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the fines would help create a "safer, more (5) ____ and pleasant public transport environment for all". The LTA added: "Public transport is a shared space, and every commuter has a (6) ____ to play in ensuring a gracious and pleasant commuting environment."

The fines will not be issued by bus drivers. The LTA has decided that bus drivers should (7) ____ passenger safety while driving their vehicles. The LTA said drivers needed to focus on "their primary responsibility of operating buses (8) ____". However, drivers will have the power to ask inconsiderate and disruptive passengers to get off the bus. Many commuters (9) ____ the new fines. A 29-year-old (10) ____ attendant who has to travel to work at Singapore's Changi Airport by bus told the Straits Times newspaper: "I (11) ____ the new rules and I thought, 'Thank God'." A 56-year-old commuter was happy. She said: "I just want to get to work without listening to other people's (12) ____ music."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) othered (b) another (c) others (d) other
(a) on (b) at (c) of (d) in
(a) annoyingly (b) annoys (c) annoying (d) annoyances
(a) lettering (b) latter (c) littering (d) loitered
(a) considerate (b) consideration (c) considerable (d) inconsiderate
(a) part (b) partner (c) party (d) partly
(a) priory (b) priorities (c) priority (d) prioritise
(a) safely (b) safe (c) safety (d) safeness
(a) pleased (b) welcomed (c) agreed (d) warmed
(a) fight (b) freight (c) flight (d) fraught
(a) watched (b) looked (c) saw (d) view
(a) irrigating (b) irritating (c) irrational (d) irregular

Spelling

Paragraph 1

a veeep for many people
glnriba out music on buses
new eelatpsin
neiirtlgt, and eating or drinking
every omecrtum has a part to play
arucsigo and pleasant

Paragraph 2

fines will not be suedis by bus drivers
oirtiisrpe passenger safety
their amyrirp responsibility
pdievstiru passengers
flight nnateadtt
listening to other people's itirirgnta music

Put the text back together

(    )   and pleasant public transport environment for all". The LTA added: "Public transport is a shared
(    )   buses safely". However, drivers will have the power to ask inconsiderate and disruptive passengers to get
(    )   for many people who want to travel in quiet. Singapore has introduced new fines of up to S$500 for blaring
(    )   off the bus. Many commuters welcomed the new fines. A 29-year-old flight attendant who has to travel
(    )   out music on buses that annoys other passengers. The new penalties will also be applied to other anti-
(    )   release from Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the fines would help create a "safer, more considerate
(    )   rules and I thought, 'Thank God'." A 56-year-old commuter was happy. She said: "I just
(    )   safety while driving their vehicles. The LTA said drivers needed to focus on "their primary responsibility of operating
(    )   social behaviour, such as putting feet on seats, littering, and eating or drinking on buses. A news
(    )   space, and every commuter has a part to play in ensuring a gracious and pleasant commuting environment."
(    )   The fines will not be issued by bus drivers. The LTA has decided that bus drivers should prioritise passenger
( 1 )   The loud music from other passengers on public transport has become a peeve
(    )   to work at Singapore's Changi Airport by bus told the Straits Times newspaper: "I saw the new
(    )   want to get to work without listening to other people's irritating music."

Put the words in the right order

from Loud music on other passengers public transport .
anti-social applied behaviour other be Penalties to will .
A all environment for pleasant public transport .
It a is public said shared space transport .
Every a commuter has part play to .
The be by drivers fines issued not will .
Bus driving passenger prioritise safety should while drivers .
Drivers focus needed on primary responsibility to their .
A attendant flight has 29-year-old who to travel .
irritating listening music other people's to Work without .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The loud music from another / other passengers on public transport has become a peeve for many people who want to travel on / in quiet. Singapore has introduced new fines of up to S$500 for boring / blaring out music on buses that annoyances / annoys other passengers. The new penalties will also be applied to other anti-social behaviour, such as putting foot / feet on seats, littering / lettering, and eating or drinking on buses. A news release from Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the fines would help create a "safer, more inconsiderate / considerate and pleasant public transport environment for all". The LTA added: "Public transport is a shared / share space, and every commuter has a part to play on / in ensuring a gracious and pleasant / pleasantry commuting environment."

The fines will not be issued of / by bus drivers. The LTA has decided that bus drivers should prioritise passenger safely / safety while driving their vehicles. The LTA said drivers needed to / for focus on "their primary responsibility of operating buses safely / safety". However, drivers will have the power to task / ask inconsiderate and disruptive passengers to get off the bus. Many commuters welcomed / pleased the new fines. A 29-year-old flight attendant who has to travelator / travel to work at Singapore's Changi Airport by bus told the Straits Times newspaper: "I saw / watched the new rules and I thought, 'Thank God'." A 56-year-old commuter was happy. She said: "I just want to get to work with / without listening to other people's irritation / irritating music."

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)

Th_ l__d m_s_c fr_m _th_r p_ss_ng_rs _n p_bl_c tr_nsp_rt h_s b_c_m_ _ p__v_ f_r m_ny p__pl_ wh_ w_nt t_ tr_v_l _n q___t. S_ng_p_r_ h_s _ntr_d_c_d n_w f_n_s _f _p t_ S$500 f_r bl_r_ng __t m_s_c _n b_s_s th_t _nn_ys _th_r p_ss_ng_rs. Th_ n_w p_n_lt__s w_ll _ls_ b_ _ppl__d t_ _th_r _nt_-s_c__l b_h_v___r, s_ch _s p_tt_ng f__t _n s__ts, l_tt_r_ng, _nd __t_ng _r dr_nk_ng _n b_s_s. _ n_ws r_l__s_ fr_m S_ng_p_r_'s L_nd Tr_nsp_rt __th_r_ty (LT_) s__d th_ f_n_s w__ld h_lp cr__t_ _ "s_f_r, m_r_ c_ns_d_r_t_ _nd pl__s_nt p_bl_c tr_nsp_rt _nv_r_nm_nt f_r _ll". Th_ LT_ _dd_d: "P_bl_c tr_nsp_rt _s _ sh_r_d sp_c_, _nd _v_ry c_mm_t_r h_s _ p_rt t_ pl_y _n _ns_r_ng _ gr_c___s _nd pl__s_nt c_mm_t_ng _nv_r_nm_nt."

Th_ f_n_s w_ll n_t b_ _ss__d by b_s dr_v_rs. Th_ LT_ h_s d_c_d_d th_t b_s dr_v_rs sh__ld pr__r_t_s_ p_ss_ng_r s_f_ty wh_l_ dr_v_ng th__r v_h_cl_s. Th_ LT_ s__d dr_v_rs n__d_d t_ f_c_s _n "th__r pr_m_ry r_sp_ns_b_l_ty _f _p_r_t_ng b_s_s s_f_ly". H_w_v_r, dr_v_rs w_ll h_v_ th_ p_w_r t_ _sk _nc_ns_d_r_t_ _nd d_sr_pt_v_ p_ss_ng_rs t_ g_t _ff th_ b_s. M_ny c_mm_t_rs w_lc_m_d th_ n_w f_n_s. _ 29-y__r-_ld fl_ght _tt_nd_nt wh_ h_s t_ tr_v_l t_ w_rk _t S_ng_p_r_'s Ch_ng_ __rp_rt by b_s t_ld th_ Str__ts T_m_s n_wsp_p_r: "_ s_w th_ n_w r_l_s _nd _ th__ght, 'Th_nk G_d'." _ 56-y__r-_ld c_mm_t_r w_s h_ppy. Sh_ s__d: "_ j_st w_nt t_ g_t t_ w_rk w_th__t l_st_n_ng t_ _th_r p__pl_'s _rr_t_t_ng m_s_c."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the loud music from other passengers on public transport has become a peeve for many people who want to travel in quiet singapore has introduced new fines of up to s500 for blaring out music on buses that annoys other passengers the new penalties will also be applied to other antisocial behaviour such as putting feet on seats littering and eating or drinking on buses a news release from singapores land transport authority lta said the fines would help create a safer more considerate and pleasant public transport environment for all the lta added public transport is a shared space and every commuter has a part to play in ensuring a gracious and pleasant commuting environment

the fines will not be issued by bus drivers the lta has decided that bus drivers should prioritise passenger safety while driving their vehicles the lta said drivers needed to focus on their primary responsibility of operating buses safely however drivers will have the power to ask inconsiderate and disruptive passengers to get off the bus many commuters welcomed the new fines a 29yearold flight attendant who has to travel to work at singapores changi airport by bus told the straits times newspaper i saw the new rules and i thought thank god a 56yearold commuter was happy she said i just want to get to work without listening to other peoples irritating music

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Theloudmusicfromotherpassengersonpublictransporthasbecomeap
eeveformanypeoplewhowanttotravelinquiet.Singaporehasintroduc
ednewfinesofuptoS$500forblaringoutmusiconbusesthatannoysoth
erpassengers.Thenewpenaltieswillalsobeappliedtootheranti-socia
lbehaviour,suchasputtingfeetonseats,littering,andeatingordrinking
onbuses.AnewsreleasefromSingapore'sLandTransportAuthority(LT
A)saidthefineswouldhelpcreatea"safer,moreconsiderateandpleasan
tpublictransportenvironmentforall".TheLTAadded:"Publictransporti
sasharedspace,andeverycommuterhasaparttoplayinensuringagraci
ousandpleasantcommutingenvironment."Thefineswillnotbeissuedb
ybusdrivers.TheLTAhasdecidedthatbusdriversshouldprioritisepasse
ngersafetywhiledrivingtheirvehicles.TheLTAsaiddriversneededtofoc
uson"theirprimaryresponsibilityofoperatingbusessafely".However,
driverswillhavethepowertoaskinconsiderateanddisruptivepassenge
rstogetoffthebus.Manycommuterswelcomedthenewfines.A29-year
-oldflightattendantwhohastotraveltoworkatSingapore'sChangiAirp
ortbybustoldtheStraitsTimesnewspaper:"IsawthenewrulesandItho
ught,'ThankGod'."A56-year-oldcommuterwashappy.Shesaid:"Iju
stwanttogettoworkwithoutlisteningtootherpeople'sirritatingmusic."

Free writing

Write about loud music on public transport for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Listening to music on public transport and while driving should be banned. 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. LOUD MUSIC: Make a poster about loud music. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. MUSIC BAN: Write a magazine article about banning people from listening to music on public transport. 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 loud music. Ask him/her three questions about loud music on public transport. Give him/her three of your opinions on this. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

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

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Breaking News English Lesson: Loud Music

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