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The Interview (21st December, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Tensions between the USA and North Korea are rising following the cyber-attack on the film company Sony Pictures, and the subsequent decision by Sony to cancel all screenings of its movie 'The Interview'. The cancelled film is a political action comedy about two US journalists who arrange an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with the intention of assassinating him. A group calling itself The Guardians of Peace has claimed responsibility for the attack. It warned that it would attack 9/11 style any cinema that showed the movie. It also threatened Sony that it would put online more confidential data that could damage the company if it did not pull the movie.

Sony canceled the release of its movie "in the interests of public safety" after several US cinema chains refused to screen it. This has caused a storm of protest in America. President Obama said: "We cannot have a society in which some dictators some place can start imposing censorship here." He added: "Imagine what they start doing once they see a documentary that they don't like or news reports that they don't like." Senator John McCain called the cyber-attack "an act of war" and "the greatest blow to free speech" he had seen in his lifetime. Another politician said: "America has lost its first cyber-war." Actor Rob Lowe tweeted: "Everyone caved [in]. The hackers won. An utter and complete victory for them."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/19/politics/fbi-north-korea-responsible-sony/
http://news.sky.com/story/1393913/actors-slam-hollywood-for-caving-in-to-threats
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30530361

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 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. WORLD TENSIONS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about world tensions. 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?

tensions / film company / decisions / comedy / interview / responsibility / confidential / public safety / cinema / protest / censorship / documentary / free speech / hackers

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. TENSIONS: How can the world diffuse tensions over these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How big a problem?	How to resolve it?
Hacking
Hostages
Embargoes
Nuclear testing
Human rights
No democracy

4. THE INTERVIEW: Students A strongly believe Sony should screen the movie 'The Interview'; Students B strongly believe Sony should never screen it. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. MOVIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• comedies

• sci-fi

• mysteries

• horror

• action

• animation

• animal stories

• romance

6. CENSORSHIP: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "censorship". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	Tensions are rising between the USA and Sony Pictures.	T / F
b.	The movie 'The Interview' is a documentary.	T / F
c.	A group called The Guardians of Peace said it hacked Sony.	T / F
d.	The group said it would not upload any more data about Sony.	T / F
e.	Sony said it cancelled screenings because of fears about public safety.	T / F
f.	President Obama said dictators could not censor things in the USA.	T / F
g.	A senator said the canceling of the screenings greatly hurt free speech.	T / F
h.	An actor said Sony was the victor against the hackers.	T / F

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

1.	tensions	a.	objection
2.	subsequent	b.	total
3.	intention	c.	top secret
4.	threatened	d.	collapsed
5.	confidential	e.	following
6.	protest	f.	disaster
7.	dictators	g.	warned
8.	blow	h.	strained relations
9.	caved in	i.	autocrats
10.	utter	j.	aim

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

1.	the subsequent	a.	responsibility
2.	a political action	b.	to free speech
3.	The Guardians of Peace has claimed	c.	data
4.	It also threatened	d.	of public safety
5.	confidential	e.	of protest
6.	in the interests	f.	Sony
7.	This has caused a storm	g.	victory for them
8.	an act	h.	decision by Sony
9.	the greatest blow	i.	of war
10.	An utter and complete	j.	comedy

GAP FILL

Tensions between the USA and North Korea are rising (1) ___________ the cyber-attack on the film company Sony Pictures, and the (2) ___________ decision by Sony to cancel all screenings of its movie 'The Interview'. The cancelled film is a (3) ___________ action comedy about two US journalists who (4) ___________ an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with the intention of assassinating him. A group calling (5) ___________ The Guardians of Peace has claimed responsibility for the attack. It warned that it would (6) ___________ 9/11 style any cinema that showed the movie. It also threatened Sony that it would put (7) ___________ more confidential data that could damage the company if it did not (8) ___________ the movie.

arrange
pull
subsequent
attack
following
online
political
itself

Sony canceled the (9) ___________ of its movie "in the interests of public safety" after several US cinema chains (10) ___________ to screen it. This has caused a storm of protest in America. President Obama said: "We cannot have a society in which some (11) ___________ some place can start imposing censorship here." He added: "Imagine what they start doing once they see a (12) ___________ that they don't like or news reports that they don't like." Senator John McCain called the cyber-attack "an act of (13) ___________ " and "the greatest (14) ___________ to free speech" he had seen in his lifetime. Another politician said: "America has lost its first cyber-war." Actor Rob Lowe tweeted: "Everyone (15) ___________ [in]. The hackers won. An utter and complete (16) ___________ for them."

blow
caved
refused
war
documentary
release
victory
dictators

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Tensions between the USA and North Korea ______
	a. are rising b. are arisen c. are risen d. are raising
2)	the subsequent decision by Sony to cancel all ______ movie
	a. screening of its b. screen ins of its c. screenings of its d. screen sings of its
3)	The cancelled film is a political ______
	a. action comedic b. action comedies c. action comedian d. action comedy
4)	It warned that it would attack 9/11 style any cinema that ______
	a. show the movie b. showing the movie c. showed the movie d. should the movie
5)	put online more confidential data that could damage the company ______ the movie
	a. if it did not push b. if it did not pull c. if it did not tug d. if it did not pool
6)	Sony canceled the release of its movie "in the interests ______"
	a. of publicity safety b. of publics safety c. of publically safety d. of public safety
7)	This has caused a storm of ______
	a. protested in America b. protest in America c. protestors in America d. protestation in America
8)	Imagine what they start doing once they see a _______ they don't like
	a. document tree that b. dock you meant tree that c. documented tree that d. documentary that
9)	John McCain called the cyber-attack "an act of war" and "the greatest ______ speech"
	a. blow to free b. bloat to free c. brow to free d. balloon to free
10)	Everyone caved [in]. The hackers won. An utter and complete ______
	a. victorious for them b. victories for them c. victory for them d. victor tree for them

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Tensions between the USA and North Korea (1) ___________________ the cyber-attack on the film company Sony Pictures, and the subsequent decision by Sony to (2) ___________________ of its movie 'The Interview'. The cancelled film is a (3) ___________________ about two US journalists who (4) ___________________ with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with the intention of assassinating him. A group calling itself The Guardians of Peace has (5) ___________________ for the attack. It warned that it would attack 9/11 style any cinema that showed the movie. It also threatened Sony that it would put online more (6) ___________________ could damage the company if it did not pull the movie.

Sony canceled (7) ___________________ movie "in the interests of public safety" after several US cinema chains (8) ___________________. This has caused a storm of protest in America. President Obama said: "We cannot have (9) ___________________ some dictators some place can start imposing censorship here." He added: "Imagine what they start doing once they see (10) ___________________ they don't like or news reports that they don't like." Senator John McCain called the cyber-attack "an act of war" and "the greatest (11) ___________________" he had seen in his lifetime. Another politician said: "America has lost its first cyber-war." Actor Rob Lowe tweeted: "Everyone caved [in]. The hackers won. An utter and (12) ___________________."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What is rising between North Korea and the USA?
2.	What did Sony cancel?
3.	How many journalists is the movie about?
4.	What is the name of the group claiming the attack?
5.	What did the group tell Sony it would put online?
6.	In whose interests did Sony cancel the release of the movie?
7.	What did Barack Obama say dictators could not start doing in the USA?
8.	What kind of blow did John McCain talk about?
9.	What did another politician say America had lost?
10.	Who did an actor say had caved in?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What is rising between North Korea and the USA?	6.	In whose interests did Sony cancel the release of the movie?
	a) propaganda b) competition c) oil prices d) tensions		a) those of Sony bosses b) the public's c) the FBI's d) the world's
2.	What did Sony cancel?	7.	What did Barack Obama say dictators could not start doing in the USA?
	a) film production b) screenings of its movie c) actors' contracts d) a press conference		a) making movies b) opening cinemas c) starting political parties d) imposing censorship
3.	How many journalists is the movie about?	8.	What kind of blow did John McCain talk about?
	a) 4 b) 3 c) 2 d) 1		a) a blow to free speech b) a burst car tyre c) a bomb d) a blow to the head
4.	What is the name of the group claiming the attack?	9.	What did another politician say America had lost?
	a) Guardians Of Peace b) Piece of Guardians c) Gardens of Peace d) The Peace Gardens		a) face b) its way c) its first cyber-war d) documents
5.	What did the group tell Sony it would put online?	10.	Who did an actor say had caved in?
	a) its own movie b) movie scripts c) confidential data d) videos		a) Sony executives b) everyone c) actors d) the North Koreans

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Comedies

You think comedies are the best kind of movies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their movies aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): science fiction, romantic dramas or action.

Role B – Science fiction

You think science fiction is the best kind of movies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their movies aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): comedies, romantic dramas or action.

Role C – Romantic dramas

You think romantic dramas are the best kind of movies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their movies aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): science fiction, comedies or action.

Role D – Action

You think action is the best kind of movies. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their movies aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): science fiction, romantic dramas or comedies.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

cyber

attack

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:

rising
decision
action
arrange
style
pull

several
storm
start
reports
blow
complete

WORLD TENSIONS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about world tensions 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.

WORLD TENSIONS DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'tensions'?
3)	What do you know about the movie 'The Interview'?
4)	How serious is this incident between the US and N. Korea?
5)	Was Sony right to cancel screenings of the movie?
6)	Is it OK to make movies about killing world leaders?
7)	Would you go to see this movie in the USA?
8)	How serious a threat is hacking to world security?
9)	How much power do hackers have over countries?
10)	What implications does this story have for the movie industry?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	How much danger would cinema-goers have been in?
13)	Do you understand the "storm of protest" in the USA?
14)	What do you think about President Obama's thoughts on dictators?
15)	What do you think of censorship?
16)	How might the attack on Sony be an "act of war"?
17)	Does free speech mean you can make movies about killing someone?
18)	Has America lost its first cyber-war?
19)	How has this cyber-attack changed the world?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the head of Sony?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Tensions between the USA and North Korea are (1) ____ following the cyber-attack on the film company Sony Pictures, and the subsequent (2) ____ by Sony to cancel all screenings of its movie 'The Interview'. The cancelled film is a political action comedy about two US journalists who (3) ____ an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with the intention of assassinating him. A group calling itself The Guardians of Peace has (4) ____ responsibility for the attack. It warned that it would attack 9/11 (5) ____ any cinema that showed the movie. It also threatened Sony that it would put online more confidential data that could damage the company if it did not (6) ____ the movie.

Sony canceled the release of its movie "in the (7) ____ of public safety" after several US cinema chains refused to screen it. This has caused a (8) ____ of protest in America. President Obama said: "We cannot have a society in which some dictators some place can start (9) ____ censorship here." He added: "Imagine what they start doing once they see a documentary that they don't like or news reports that they don't like." Senator John McCain called the cyber-attack "an act of war" and "the greatest (10) ____ to free speech" he had seen in his lifetime. Another politician said: "America has (11) ____ its first cyber-war." Actor Rob Lowe tweeted: "Everyone caved [in]. The hackers won. An (12) ____ and complete victory for them."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	raised	(b)	rises	(c)	risen	(d)	rising
2.	(a)	deriding	(b)	derision	(c)	decider	(d)	decision
3.	(a)	harangue	(b)	arrange	(c)	derange	(d)	courage
4.	(a)	calmed	(b)	clammed	(c)	claimed	(d)	climbed
5.	(a)	mode	(b)	type	(c)	style	(d)	kind
6.	(a)	pull	(b)	tug	(c)	grasp	(d)	grip
7.	(a)	interest	(b)	interests	(c)	interesting	(d)	interested
8.	(a)	storm	(b)	downpour	(c)	shower	(d)	drenching
9.	(a)	imposes	(b)	imposing	(c)	imposed	(d)	imposition
10.	(a)	pant	(b)	puff	(c)	blow	(d)	gust
11.	(a)	vectored	(b)	vanquished	(c)	lost	(d)	drawn
12.	(a)	utterance	(b)	uttered	(c)	utterly	(d)	utter

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	itnosesn between the USA and North Korea
2.	the eeunqusbst decision by Sony
3.	cancel all rceisnnsge of its movie
4.	two US asjsoritnul
5.	with the intention of sniastsasigan him
6.	lctiifeodann data
Paragraph 2
7.	in the rtsitesne of public safety
8.	a storm of sottrpe
9.	start imposing hpoicrnsse
10.	they see a uecoyntmard
11.	rSnoeta John McCain
12.	Another tpoincalii said…

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	chains refused to screen it. This has caused a storm of protest in America. President Obama said: "We cannot have
( )	on the film company Sony Pictures, and the subsequent decision by Sony to cancel all screenings of
( )	its movie 'The Interview'. The cancelled film is a political action comedy about two US journalists who arrange an
( )	what they start doing once they see a documentary that they don't like or news reports that they don't
( 1 )	Tensions between the USA and North Korea are rising following the cyber-attack
( )	interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with the intention of assassinating him. A group
( )	Sony canceled the release of its movie "in the interests of public safety" after several US cinema
( )	speech" he had seen in his lifetime. Another politician said: "America has lost its first cyber-war." Actor Rob Lowe
( )	calling itself The Guardians of Peace has claimed responsibility for the attack. It warned that it would
( )	a society in which some dictators some place can start imposing censorship here." He added: "Imagine
( )	tweeted: "Everyone caved [in]. The hackers won. An utter and complete victory for them."
( )	online more confidential data that could damage the company if it did not pull the movie.
( )	attack 9/11 style any cinema that showed the movie. It also threatened Sony that it would put
( )	like." Senator John McCain called the cyber-attack "an act of war" and "the greatest blow to free

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	decision to screenings subsequent Sony all The by cancel.
2.	political cancelled action film comedy is a The.
3.	Guardians The responsibility claimed has Peace of.
4.	confidential more online put would It data.
5.	movie Damage the company if it did not pull the.
6.	US screen cinema it chains refused Several to.
7.	caused of America has storm in This a protest.
8.	a they see that like they documentary don't Once.
9.	of act An speech free to blow greatest the and war.
10.	victory complete and utter An them for.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Tensions / Tension between the USA and North Korea are rising / raising following the cyber-attack on / in the film company Sony Pictures, and the subsequent decision by Sony to cancel all screens / screenings of its movie 'The Interview'. The cancelled film is a political / politically action comedy about two US journalists who arrange an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with the intention / intentional of assassinating him. A group calling itself The Guardians of Peace has claimed / claimant responsibility for the attack. It warned that it would attack 9/11 style any / all cinema that showed the movie. It also threatened Sony that it would get / put online more confidential data that could damage the company if it did not pull / tug the movie.

Sony canceled the release of its movie "on / in the interests of public safety" after several US cinema chains reused / refused to screen it. This has caused a storm / typhoon of protest in America. President Obama said: "We cannot have a society in where / which some dictators some place can start imposing censorship here." He added: "Imagine what they start doing once / twice they see a documentary that they don't like or news report / reports that they don't like." Senator John McCain called the cyber-attack "an active / act of war" and "the greatest blow / suck to free speech" he had seen in his lifetime. Another politician said: "America has lost / losing its first cyber-war." Actor Rob Lowe tweeted: "Everyone caved [in]. The hackers won. An utter and complete victory / win for them."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

T_ns__ns b_tw__n th_ _S_ _nd N_rth K_r__ _r_ r_s_ng f_ll_w_ng th_ cyb_r-_tt_ck _n th_ f_lm c_mp_ny S_ny P_ct_r_s, _nd th_ s_bs_q__nt d_c_s__n by S_ny t_ c_nc_l _ll scr__n_ngs _f _ts m_v__ 'Th_ _nt_rv__w'. Th_ c_nc_ll_d f_lm _s _ p_l_t_c_l _ct__n c_m_dy _b__t tw_ _S j__rn_l_sts wh_ _rr_ng_ _n _nt_rv__w w_th N_rth K_r__n l__d_r K_m J_ng-_n w_th th_ _nt_nt__n _f _ss_ss_n_t_ng h_m. _ gr__p c_ll_ng _ts_lf Th_ G__rd__ns _f P__c_ h_s cl__m_d r_sp_ns_b_l_ty f_r th_ _tt_ck. _t w_rn_d th_t _t w__ld _tt_ck 9/11 styl_ _ny c_n_m_ th_t sh_w_d th_ m_v__. _t _ls_ thr__t_n_d S_ny th_t _t w__ld p_t _nl_n_ m_r_ c_nf_d_nt__l d_t_ th_t c__ld d_m_g_ th_ c_mp_ny _f _t d_d n_t p_ll th_ m_v__.

S_ny c_nc_l_d th_ r_l__s_ _f _ts m_v__ "_n th_ _nt_r_sts _f p_bl_c s_f_ty" _ft_r s_v_r_l _S c_n_m_ ch__ns r_f_s_d t_ scr__n _t. Th_s h_s c__s_d _ st_rm _f pr_t_st _n _m_r_c_. Pr_s_d_nt _b_m_ s__d: "W_ c_nn_t h_v_ _ s_c__ty _n wh_ch s_m_ d_ct_t_rs s_m_ pl_c_ c_n st_rt _mp_s_ng c_ns_rsh_p h_r_." H_ _dd_d: "_m_g_n_ wh_t th_y st_rt d__ng _nc_ th_y s__ _ d_c_m_nt_ry th_t th_y d_n't l_k_ _r n_ws r_p_rts th_t th_y d_n't l_k_." S_n_t_r J_hn McC__n c_ll_d th_ cyb_r-_tt_ck "_n _ct _f w_r" _nd "th_ gr__t_st bl_w t_ fr__ sp__ch" h_ h_d s__n _n h_s l_f_t_m_. _n_th_r p_l_t_c__n s__d: "_m_r_c_ h_s l_st _ts f_rst cyb_r-w_r." _ct_r R_b L_w_ tw__t_d: "_v_ry_n_ c_v_d [_n]. Th_ h_ck_rs w_n. _n _tt_r _nd c_mpl_t_ v_ct_ry f_r th_m."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

tensions between the usa and north korea are rising following the cyber-attack on the film company sony pictures and the subsequent decision by sony to cancel all screenings of its movie 'the interview' the cancelled film is a political action comedy about two us journalists who arrange an interview with north korean leader kim jong-un with the intention of assassinating him a group calling itself the guardians of peace has claimed responsibility for the attack it warned that it would attack 9/11 style any cinema that showed the movie it also threatened sony that it would put online more confidential data that could damage the company if it did not pull the movie

sony canceled the release of its movie "in the interests of public safety" after several us cinema chains refused to screen it this has caused a storm of protest in america president obama said "we cannot have a society in which some dictators some place can start imposing censorship here" he added "imagine what they start doing once they see a documentary that they don't like or news reports that they don't like" senator john mccain called the cyber-attack "an act of war" and "the greatest blow to free speech" he had seen in his lifetime another politician said "america has lost its first cyber-war" actor rob lowe tweeted "everyone caved [in] the hackers won an utter and complete victory for them"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TensionsbetweentheUSAandNorthKoreaarerisingfollowingthecyber
-attackonthefilmcompanySonyPictures,andthesubsequentdecisio
nbySonytocancelallscreeningsofitsmovie'TheInterview'.Thecancell
edfilmisapoliticalactioncomedyabouttwoUSjournalistswhoarrangea
ninterviewwithNorthKoreanleaderKimJong-unwiththeintentionofa
ssassinatinghim.AgroupcallingitselfTheGuardiansofPeacehasclaime
dresponsibilityfortheattack.Itwarnedthatitwouldattack9/11stylean
ycinemathatshowedthemovie.ItalsothreatenedSonythatitwouldput
onlinemoreconfidentialdatathatcoulddamagethecompanyifitdidnot
pullthemovie.Sonycanceledthereleaseofitsmovie"intheinterestsofp
ublicsafety"afterseveralUScinemachainsrefusedtoscreenit.Thishasc
ausedastormofprotestinAmerica.PresidentObamasaid:"Wecannoth
aveasocietyinwhichsomedictatorssomeplacecanstartimposingcens
orshiphere."Headded:"Imaginewhattheystartdoingoncetheyseead
ocumentarythattheydon'tlikeornewsreportsthattheydon'tlike."Sen
atorJohnMcCaincalledthecyber-attack"anactofwar"and"thegreates
tblowtofreespeech"hehadseeninhislifetime.Anotherpoliticiansaid:"
Americahaslostitsfirstcyber-war."ActorRobLowetweeted:"Everyon
ecaved[in].Thehackerswon.Anutterandcompletevictoryforthem."

FREE WRITING

Write about world tensions for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

The movie 'The Interview' should never be screened. 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. THE INTERVIEW: Search the Internet and find out more about the movie 'The Interview'. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. TENSIONS: Make a poster about the tensions between the USA and North Korea. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. THE MOVIE: Write a magazine article about the movie 'The Interview'. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it being screened.

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 the boss of Sony Pictures. Ask him/her three questions about this incident. Give him/her three of your opinions on how to move forward. 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

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	tensions	a.	strained relations
2.	subsequent	b.	following
3.	intention	c.	aim
4.	threatened	d.	warned
5.	confidential	e.	top secret
6.	protest	f.	objection
7.	dictators	g.	autocrats
8.	blow	h.	disaster
9.	caved in	i.	collapsed
10.	utter	j.	total

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Tensions
2.	Screenings (the release) of its movie
3.	Two
4.	Guardians of Peace
5.	Confidential data
6.	The public's
7.	Imposing censorship
8.	A blow to free speech
9.	Its first cyber-war
10.	Everyone

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

c

4.

a

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

a

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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The Interview (21st December, 2014)

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