Japan girl group AKB48 attacked with saw

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Two members of Japanese pop group AKB48 were injured on Sunday. A fan attacked them with a saw. The two singers were signing autographs for fans. They had waited for hours to see AKB48. A man suddenly rushed forward and cut them with a saw. They were lucky not to have serious injuries – just cuts on their hands and head. The attacker got past poor security. He wanted to kill anyone. He did not target members of AKB48.

AKB48 are amazingly popular in Japan and Asia. They are everywhere - on TV, radio and in advertisements. They hold the Guinness record for being the world's largest pop group. The group started in 2005 in Tokyo's Akihabara district with 48 members. There are now 140 girls. There are yearly competitions to replace older members with younger ones. There are also very strict rules. No one can date. Their contract says "love is forbidden".

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27572723
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/05/26/national/crime-legal/akb48-singers-targeted-slasher/#.U4WX1i8uKHA

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	Two members of	a.	have serious injuries
2.	The two singers were signing	b.	of AKB48
3.	A man suddenly	c.	autographs for fans
4.	lucky not to	d.	Japanese pop group AKB48
5.	The attacker got	e.	rushed forward
6.	He did not target members	f.	past poor security

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	AKB48 are amazingly	a.	with younger ones
2.	the Guinness record for being the	b.	"love is forbidden"
3.	There are yearly	c.	rules
4.	replace older members	d.	world's largest pop group
5.	strict	e.	popular in Japan
6.	Their contract says	f.	competitions

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Two (1) ___________________ pop group AKB48 were injured on Sunday. A fan (2) ___________________ saw. The two singers were signing autographs for fans. They (3) ___________________ hours to see AKB48. A man suddenly rushed forward (4) ___________________ a saw. They were lucky not to (5) ___________________ – just cuts on their hands and head. The attacker got past poor security. (6) ___________________ anyone. He did not target members of AKB48.

AKB48 (7) ___________________ in Japan and Asia. They are everywhere - on TV, radio (8) ___________________. They hold the Guinness record for being the world's (9) ___________________. The group started in 2005 in Tokyo's Akihabara (10) ___________________ members. There are now 140 girls. There are yearly competitions to (11) ___________________ with younger ones. There are also very strict rules. No one can date. Their contract says "(12) ___________________".

POP GROUPS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about pop groups 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about pop groups for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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