Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

Workaholic fathers 'leave orphans' (30th January, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis has issued a stern warning to fathers who work long hours. He criticised workaholic dads for being 'symbolically absent' from their families, and of effectively making their children 'orphans'. The Pope was speaking to a congregation at the Vatican on Wednesday when he made his plea for fathers to spend more time with their children and get more involved in family life. He told worshippers that the absence of fathers in the family is one of the reasons that children experience problems growing up. He said fathers who focused too much on their jobs was one of the causes of "deviances of children and adolescents".

Pope Francis said this problem of fathers being obsessed with their jobs and not spending quality time with their family was particularly prevalent in Europe and North America. He said: "Fathers are so focused on themselves, on their work, and at times their personal fulfillment, that they even forget their families, leaving children and the young to their own devices." He added: "The feeling of orphanhood experienced by many young people is more profound than we might think. They are orphans in their families because their fathers are often absent from the home, but also, and above all, because when they are present, they do not act like fathers." He warned that fatherless families are being accepted as the norm.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pope-criticizes-workaholic-dads-says-theyre-symbolically-absent
http://www.sconews.co.uk/news/43247/pope-warns-absent-working-fathers-leave-orphans/

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. FATHERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about fathers. 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?

head / church / workaholic / orphans / plea / absence / experience / problems / causes / obsessed / prevalent / focused / personal / profound / fathers / accepted / the norm

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

3. FAMILY LIFE: What is the real and ideal role of parents? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Reality	Ideal situation
Breakfast
Internet
Homework
Holidays
Advice
Discipline

4. WORKAHOLIC: Students A strongly believe being a workaholic is bad; Students B strongly believe it's OK. 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. DAD: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important roles of dads at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• money earner

• disciplinarian

• breakfast maker

• bedtime-book reader

• friend

• careers advisor

• playmate

• joke teller

6. ORPHAN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "orphan". 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.	The head of the Christian Church has warned fathers who overwork.	T / F
b.	The Pope was speaking to people on Wednesday at the Vatican.	T / F
c.	The Pope said absentee fathers cause children to have problems.	T / F
d.	The Pope said workaholic fathers means children get into trouble.	T / F
e.	The article said most workaholic fathers are in Japan and China.	T / F
f.	The Pope said children have too many children devices.	T / F
g.	The Pope said children's suffering is worse than we think it is.	T / F
h.	The Pope said workaholic fathers act like fathers at home.	T / F

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

1.	head	a.	preoccupied
2.	stern	b.	reasons
3.	congregation	c.	far-reaching
4.	plea	d.	serious
5.	causes	e.	common
6.	obsessed	f.	gathering
7.	prevalent	g.	average
8.	fulfillment	h.	top
9.	profound	i.	satisfaction
10.	the norm	j.	appeal

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

1.	Francis has issued a stern	a.	the causes
2.	He criticised workaholic dads for being	b.	to their own devices
3.	The Pope was speaking	c.	'symbolically absent'
4.	get more involved	d.	in Europe
5.	one of	e.	in family life
6.	fathers being obsessed	f.	warning to fathers
7.	particularly prevalent	g.	we might think
8.	leaving children and the young	h.	to a congregation
9.	more profound than	i.	accepted as the norm
10.	fatherless families are being	j.	with their jobs

GAP FILL

The head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis has (1) ____________ a stern warning to fathers who work long hours. He criticised (2) ____________ dads for being 'symbolically absent' from their families, and of (3) ____________ making their children 'orphans'. The Pope was speaking to a congregation at the Vatican on Wednesday when he made his (4) ____________ for fathers to spend more time with their children and get more (5) ____________ in family life. He told worshippers that the (6) ____________ of fathers in the family is one of the reasons that children experience problems (7) ____________ up. He said fathers who focused too much on their jobs was one of the (8) ____________ of "deviances of children and adolescents".

effectively
involved
growing
issued
causes
workaholic
absence
plea

Pope Francis said this problem of fathers being (9) ____________ with their jobs and not spending quality time with their family was particularly (10) ____________ in Europe and North America. He said: "Fathers are so (11) ____________ on themselves, on their work, and at times their personal fulfillment, that they even forget their families, leaving children and the young to their own (12) ____________." He added: "The feeling of orphanhood experienced by many young people is more (13) ____________ than we might think. They are orphans in their families because their fathers are often (14) ____________ from the home, but also, and above all, because when they are present, they do not (15) ____________ like fathers." He warned that fatherless families are being accepted as the (16) ____________.

focused
profound
act
prevalent
norm
obsessed
absent
devices

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Pope Francis has issued ______
	a. a stern warning b. as turn warning c. ace turn warning d. a stein warning
2)	He criticised workaholic dads for being 'symbolically ______
	a. absence' from their families b. absentee' from their families c. absences' from their families d. absent' from their families
3)	spend more time with their children and get more ______
	a. involved on family life b. involved an family life c. involved in family life d. involved un-family life
4)	one of the reasons that children experience ______
	a. problems grown up b. problems growing up c. problems glow in up d. problems glowing up
5)	one of the causes of "deviances of children ______
	a. and adolescence b. and adolescents c. and adolescent d. and idol essence
6)	Fathers are so focused ______
	a. in themselves b. on themself c. on themselves d. in themself
7)	leaving children and the young to ______
	a. their own device b. their own devises c. their own device is d. their own devices
8)	The feeling of orphanhood experienced by many young people is ______ we might think
	a. more profound than b. more profundity than c. more preferred than d. more pro-found than
9)	when they are present, they do not ______
	a. acts like fathers b. acted like fathers c. action like fathers d. act like fathers
10)	He warned that fatherless families are being ______
	a. accepted was the norm b. accepted has the norm c. accepted as the norm d. accepted is the norm

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis (1) ___________________ warning to fathers who work long hours. He criticised (2) ___________________ being 'symbolically absent' from their families, and of effectively making their children 'orphans'. The Pope was speaking (3) ___________________ the Vatican on Wednesday when he (4) ___________________ fathers to spend more time with their children and get more (5) ___________________. He told worshippers that the absence of fathers in the family is one of the reasons that children experience problems growing up. He said fathers who focused too much on their jobs was (6) ___________________ of "deviances of children and adolescents".

Pope Francis said this problem of fathers (7) ___________________ their jobs and not (8) ___________________ with their family was particularly prevalent in Europe and North America. He said: "Fathers are so focused on themselves, on their work, (9) ___________________ personal fulfillment, that they even forget their families, leaving children (10) ___________________ their own devices." He added: "The feeling of orphanhood experienced by many young people is more profound than we might think. They are orphans in their families because their fathers are (11) ___________________ home, but also, and above all, because when they are present, they do not act like fathers." He warned that fatherless families are being (12) ___________________.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What is Pope Francis the head of?
2.	Who did Pope Francis criticise?
3.	Where did Pope Francis make a speech?
4.	What did Pope Francis tell fathers to get more involved in?
5.	When do children experience problems?
6.	Where did Pope Francis say the problem was common, besides Europe?
7.	What did Pope Francis say fathers are so focused on?
8.	What did Pope Francis say fathers left children to?
9.	What do workaholic fathers not do when they are at home?
10.	What did Pope Francis warn was becoming the norm?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What is Pope Francis the head of?	6.	Where did Pope Francis say the problem was common, besides Europe?
	a) the Workaholics Anonymous group b) Working Fathers Worldwide c) the Catholic Church d) Christianity		a) Japan b) North America c) Jordan d) Fiji
2.	Who did Pope Francis criticise?	7.	What did Pope Francis say fathers are so focused on?
	a) workaholic fathers b) his congregation c) Vatican workers d) children		a) themselves b) nature c) video games d) family life
3.	Where did Pope Francis make a speech?	8.	What did Pope Francis say fathers left children to?
	a) the Vatican b) London c) Mexico d) Liberia		a) the dishes b) poverty c) their own devices d) fend for themselves
4.	What did Pope Francis tell fathers to get more involved in?	9.	What do workaholic fathers not do when they are at home?
	a) problem solving b) family life c) religion d) work		a) work b) the washing up c) cut the grass d) act like fathers
5.	When do children experience problems?	10.	What did Pope Francis warn was becoming the norm?
	a) when they get older b) mornings c) when doing maths d) when growing up		a) fatherless families b) global warming c) reduced numbers at church d) work

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Money earner

You think the role of money earner is the most important one for a father. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their roles aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): joke teller, bedtime-book reader or disciplinarian.

Role B – Joke teller

You think the role of joke teller is the most important one for a father. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their roles aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): money earner, bedtime-book reader or disciplinarian.

Role C – Bedtime-book reader

You think the role of bedtime-book reader is the most important one for a father. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their roles aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): joke teller, money earner or disciplinarian.

Role D – Disciplinarian

You think the role of disciplinarian is the most important one for a father. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their roles aren't so important. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): joke teller, bedtime-book reader or money earner.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

orphan

children

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:

issued
criticised
effectively
plea
reasons
causes

obsessed
quality
personal
own
above
norm

FATHERS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about fathers 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.

FATHERS 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 'father'?
3)	How difficult is it for fathers to get the work/family balance right?
4)	What do you think about what the Pope said?
5)	What problems are there with being a workaholic?
6)	How much of workaholic are you?
7)	To what degree are we slaves to our jobs?
8)	What is the perfect job for you?
9)	Do you think the kids of workaholic fathers become deviant?
10)	How would a workaholic explain his absences to his/her kids?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What problems arise with fathers being obsessed with their jobs?
13)	Why didn't the Pope talk about workaholic mothers too?
14)	Who has the biggest responsibility as a parent – the father or mother?
15)	Is it wrong for parents to be so focused on themselves?
16)	How true is it that kids of workaholics are like orphans?
17)	Is it bad for a father (or mother) to work so hard?
18)	What does a working father do to be perfect?
19)	What advice do you have for workaholic fathers?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Pope Francis?

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

The (1) ____ of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis has issued a stern warning to fathers who work long hours. He criticised workaholic dads for being 'symbolically absent' from their families, and of (2) ____ making their children 'orphans'. The Pope was speaking to a (3) ____ at the Vatican on Wednesday when he made his (4) ____ for fathers to spend more time with their children and get more involved in family life. He told worshippers that the absence of fathers in the family is one of the reasons (5) ____ children experience problems growing up. He said fathers who focused too much (6) ____ their jobs was one of the causes of "deviances of children and adolescents".

Pope Francis said this problem of fathers being obsessed (7) ____ their jobs and not spending quality time with their family was (8) ____ prevalent in Europe and North America. He said: "Fathers are so focused on themselves, on their work, and at times their personal fulfillment, that they (9) ____ forget their families, leaving children and the young to their own (10) ____." He added: "The feeling of orphanhood experienced by many young people is more profound than we might think. They are orphans in their families because their fathers are often absent from the home, but also, and (11) ____ all, because when they are present, they do not act like fathers." He warned that fatherless families are being accepted (12) ____ the norm.

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

1.	(a)	headed	(b)	heading	(c)	header	(d)	head
2.	(a)	affectively	(b)	affective	(c)	effective	(d)	effectively
3.	(a)	congressional	(b)	congregation	(c)	congregate	(d)	congealment
4.	(a)	plead	(b)	please	(c)	plea	(d)	pleased
5.	(a)	when	(b)	where	(c)	that	(d)	who
6.	(a)	on	(b)	to	(c)	of	(d)	by
7.	(a)	from	(b)	with	(c)	as	(d)	which
8.	(a)	particularly	(b)	particulars	(c)	particles	(d)	peculiar
9.	(a)	ever	(b)	even	(c)	eves	(d)	every
10.	(a)	devises	(b)	devious	(c)	devices	(d)	devils
11.	(a)	over	(b)	up	(c)	above	(d)	top
12.	(a)	is	(b)	was	(c)	has	(d)	as

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	suedsi a stern warning
2.	being msocibylally absent
3.	eivetcefyfl making their children 'orphans'
4.	He told wresispproh
5.	oufdecs too much on their jobs
6.	children and sosednltcea
Paragraph 2
7.	fathers being eeosbdss with their jobs
8.	particularly nrpetlvae in Europe
9.	to their own icedsve
10.	more norfodpu than we might think
11.	fathers are often btsaen
12.	accepted as the rnom

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	effectively making their children 'orphans'. The Pope was speaking to a congregation at the Vatican
( )	on Wednesday when he made his plea for fathers to spend more time with their children and get more
( )	hours. He criticised workaholic dads for being 'symbolically absent' from their families, and of
( )	their families, leaving children and the young to their own devices." He added: "The feeling of orphanhood
( )	Pope Francis said this problem of fathers being obsessed with their jobs and not spending quality
( )	not act like fathers." He warned that fatherless families are being accepted as the norm.
( 1 )	The head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis has issued a stern warning to fathers who work long
( )	involved in family life. He told worshippers that the absence of fathers in the family is one of the
( )	focused on themselves, on their work, and at times their personal fulfillment, that they even forget
( )	experienced by many young people is more profound than we might think. They are orphans in their families
( )	reasons that children experience problems growing up. He said fathers who focused too
( )	time with their family was particularly prevalent in Europe and North America. He said: "Fathers are so
( )	because their fathers are often absent from the home, but also, and above all, because when they are present, they do
( )	much on their jobs was one of the causes of "deviances of children and adolescents".

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	warning a has to stern Pope fathers issued Francis .
2.	'symbolically workaholic absent' dads for He being criticised .
3.	for plea His children their with time more spend to fathers .
4.	of of family fathers The the is in absence reasons one the .
5.	focused jobs too much Fathers on who their .
6.	time quality spending Not family their with .
7.	the their and to devices children young own Leaving .
8.	The many by experienced orphanhood of feeling .
9.	present are they When fathers like act not do they , .
10.	as families the are norm being accepted Fatherless .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The head / header of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis has issuance / issued a stern warning to fathers who work long hours. He criticised workaholic dads for / from being 'symbolically absent' from their families, and of effectively / effective making their children 'orphans'. The Pope was speaking to a congregation at the Vatican on Wednesday when he made / did his plea for fathers to spend more / most time with their children and get more involving / involved in family life. He told worshippers that the absent / absence of fathers in the family is one by / of the reasons that children experience problems growing up. He said fathers who focused very / too much on their jobs was one of the causes of "deviances of children and adolescents".

Pope Francis said this problem of fathers being obsession / obsessed with their jobs and not spending / spends quality time with their family was particularly prevalence / prevalent in Europe and North America. He said: "Fathers are so focused in / on themselves, on their work, and at times their personal fulfillment, that they ever / even forget their families, leaving children and the young to their own device / devices." He added: "The feeling of orphanhood experienced by / so many young people is more profound than we might thought / think. They are orphans in their families because their fathers are often absent from the home, but also, and above all, because when they are presented / present, they do not act like fathers." He warned that fatherless families are being accepted as / has the norm.

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)

Th_ h__d _f th_ R_m_n C_th_l_c Ch_rch P_p_ Fr_nc_s h_s _ss__d _ st_rn w_rn_ng t_ f_th_rs wh_ w_rk l_ng h__rs. H_ cr_t_c_s_d w_rk_h_l_c d_ds f_r b__ng 'symb_l_c_lly _bs_nt' fr_m th__r f_m_l__s, _nd _f _ff_ct_v_ly m_k_ng th__r ch_ldr_n '_rph_ns'. Th_ P_p_ w_s sp__k_ng t_ _ c_ngr_g_t__n _t th_ V_t_c_n _n W_dn_sd_y wh_n h_ m_d_ h_s pl__ f_r f_th_rs t_ sp_nd m_r_ t_m_ w_th th__r ch_ldr_n _nd g_t m_r_ _nv_lv_d _n f_m_ly l_f_. H_ t_ld w_rsh_pp_rs th_t th_ _bs_nc_ _f f_th_rs _n th_ f_m_ly _s _n_ _f th_ r__s_ns th_t ch_ldr_n _xp_r__nc_ pr_bl_ms gr_w_ng _p. H_ s__d f_th_rs wh_ f_c_s_d t__ m_ch _n th__r j_bs w_s _n_ _f th_ c__s_s _f "d_v__nc_s _f ch_ldr_n _nd _d_l_sc_nts".

P_p_ Fr_nc_s s__d th_s pr_bl_m _f f_th_rs b__ng _bs_ss_d w_th th__r j_bs _nd n_t sp_nd_ng q__l_ty t_m_ w_th th__r f_m_ly w_s p_rt_c_l_rly pr_v_l_nt _n __r_p_ _nd N_rth _m_r_c_. H_ s__d: "F_th_rs _r_ s_ f_c_s_d _n th_ms_lv_s, _n th__r w_rk, _nd _t t_m_s th__r p_rs_n_l f_lf_llm_nt, th_t th_y _v_n f_rg_t th__r f_m_l__s, l__v_ng ch_ldr_n _nd th_ y__ng t_ th__r _wn d_v_c_s." H_ _dd_d: "Th_ f__l_ng _f _rph_nh__d _xp_r__nc_d by m_ny y__ng p__pl_ _s m_r_ pr_f__nd th_n w_ m_ght th_nk. Th_y _r_ _rph_ns _n th__r f_m_l__s b_c__s_ th__r f_th_rs _r_ _ft_n _bs_nt fr_m th_ h_m_, b_t _ls_, _nd _b_v_ _ll, b_c__s_ wh_n th_y _r_ pr_s_nt, th_y d_ n_t _ct l_k_ f_th_rs." H_ w_rn_d th_t f_th_rl_ss f_m_l__s _r_ b__ng _cc_pt_d _s th_ n_rm.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the head of the roman catholic church pope francis has issued a stern warning to fathers who work long hours he criticised workaholic dads for being 'symbolically absent' from their families and of effectively making their children 'orphans' the pope was speaking to a congregation at the vatican on wednesday when he made his plea for fathers to spend more time with their children and get more involved in family life he told worshippers that the absence of fathers in the family is one of the reasons that children experience problems growing up he said fathers who focused too much on their jobs was one of the causes of "deviances of children and adolescents"

pope francis said this problem of fathers being obsessed with their jobs and not spending quality time with their family was particularly prevalent in europe and north america he said "fathers are so focused on themselves on their work and at times their personal fulfillment that they even forget their families leaving children and the young to their own devices" he added "the feeling of orphanhood experienced by many young people is more profound than we might think they are orphans in their families because their fathers are often absent from the home but also and above all because when they are present they do not act like fathers" he warned that fatherless families are being accepted as the norm

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheheadoftheRomanCatholicChurchPopeFrancishasissuedasternwa
rningtofatherswhoworklonghours.Hecriticisedworkaholicdadsforbei
ng'symbolicallyabsent'fromtheirfamilies,andofeffectivelymakingth
eirchildren'orphans'.ThePopewasspeakingtoacongregationattheVat
icanonWednesdaywhenhemadehispleaforfatherstospendmoretime
withtheirchildrenandgetmoreinvolvedinfamilylife.Hetoldworshipper
sthattheabsenceoffathersinthefamilyisoneofthereasonsthatchildre
nexperienceproblemsgrowingup.Hesaidfatherswhofocusedtoomuc
hontheirjobswasoneofthecausesof"deviancesofchildrenandadolesc
ents".PopeFrancissaidthisproblemoffathersbeingobsessedwiththeir
jobsandnotspendingqualitytimewiththeirfamilywasparticularlyprev
alentinEuropeandNorthAmerica.Hesaid:"Fathersaresofocusedonth
emselves,ontheirwork,andattimestheirpersonalfulfillment,thatthey
evenforgettheirfamilies,leavingchildrenandtheyoungtotheirowndev
ices."Headded:"Thefeelingoforphanhoodexperiencedbymanyyoung
peopleismoreprofoundthanwemightthink.Theyareorphansintheirfa
miliesbecausetheirfathersareoftenabsentfromthehome,butalso,an
daboveall,becausewhentheyarepresent,theydonotactlikefathers."H
ewarnedthatfatherlessfamiliesarebeingacceptedasthenorm.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

No one should work for more than seven hours a day. 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 fathers. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. FATHERS: Make a poster about fathers. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. WORKAHOLIC: Write a magazine article about people being alcoholics. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against working long hours.

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 Pope. Ask him three questions about fathers. Give him three ideas on how they can get a better work / family balance. 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

T

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	head	a.	top
2	stern	b.	serious
3.	congregation	c.	gathering
4.	plea	d.	appeal
5.	causes	e.	reasons
6.	obsessed	f.	preoccupied
7.	prevalent	g.	common
8.	fulfillment	h.	satisfaction
9.	profound	i.	far-reaching
10.	the norm	j.	average

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The Catholic Church
2.	Workaholic fathers
3.	The Vatican
4.	Family life
5.	When they are growing up
6.	North America
7.	Themselves, their work, their personal fulfilment
8.	Their own devices
9.	Act like fathers
10.	Fatherless families

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

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

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

Workaholic fathers 'leave orphans' (30th January, 2015)

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS