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More British people fixing their own teeth (7th April, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

People in Britain can now repair their own teeth. They can buy special dental kits in supermarkets to fix fillings (called cavities in the USA) and repair caps and crowns. The kits can cost as little as $7. Many people are buying these kits because they cannot afford to go to the dentist. The cost of having a tooth filled at a dentist in England can cost up to $70, which is ten times higher than the price of the dental kit. One of the biggest selling products is a kit called DenTek. Britons bought around 250,000 of these last year. Britain's Dental Health Foundation (DHF) said one in five people in the UK would do DIY dentistry on their own teeth or the teeth of family and friends. DIY dentistry includes actually pulling out a tooth.

Britain is famous for the quality of its free health service. However, this service does not include dental work. The fact that DIY dentistry is increasing so quickly in Britain shows that there is a lot of poverty and inequality in the country. The poorest people cannot afford to go to the dentist. A spokeswoman for a local community in Scotland said: "DIY dentistry is fairly common here. They sell a lot of those dental kits – you can buy them in [supermarkets]. And you've got people taking care of their whole family's teeth." The DHF said many people would rather spend their money on a haircut or a night out than on their teeth. She said different people place different importance on visiting the dentist.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/entertainment/05-Apr-2015/diy-fillings-caps-and-crowns-being-sold-by-supermarkets
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/03/rise-of-diy-dentistry-britons-doing-own-fillings-to-avoid-nhs-bill
http://www.inquisitr.com/1982281/do-it-yourself-fillings-increasing-greatly-in-popularity-due-to-savings-on-dentist-bills/

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. TEETH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about teeth. 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?

repair / dental kits / fillings / afford / ten times higher / dentistry / pulling out a tooth / famous / quality / poverty / inequality / local community / haircut / night out / place

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

3. REPAIR: How might we be able to repair these things ourselves in the future? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What we'll be able to fix	How
Teeth
Broken bones
Broken heart
Obesity
Baldness
Poor eyesight

4. DIY DENTISTRY: Students A strongly believe that DIY dentistry is a great idea; Students B strongly believe it isn't. 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. DENTIST: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about the dentist at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• the chair

• fillings

• polishing

• the waiting room

• the sounds

• the smells

• the staff

• the magazine rack

6. FIX: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "fix". 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 article talks about a dentistry kit available in the USA.	T / F
b.	The dentistry kit costs just over $10.	T / F
c.	The article says people who hate the dentist are buying the kits.	T / F
d.	A dental group says 20% of British people would do DIY dentistry.	T / F
e.	Britain's free health service includes free dental treatment.	T / F
f.	The article says the kits show there are many poor people in Britain.	T / F
g.	The article says some people look after their family's teeth.	T / F
h.	Some people prefer spending money on their hair than on their teeth.	T / F

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

1.	repair	a.	purchased
2.	fillings	b.	reasonably
3.	products	c.	extracting
4.	bought	d.	fast
5.	pulling out	e.	looking after
6.	famous	f.	items
7.	quickly	g.	fix
8.	fairly	h.	put
9.	taking care of	i.	cavities
10.	place	j.	well known

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

1.	The kits can cost	a.	selling products
2.	they cannot afford to	b.	community
3.	One of the biggest	c.	out a tooth
4.	one in	d.	free health service
5.	pulling	e.	as little as $7
6.	famous for the quality of its	f.	whole family's teeth
7.	dental	g.	go to the dentist
8.	spokeswoman for a local	h.	out
9.	taking care of their	i.	five people
10.	a night	j.	work

GAP FILL

People in Britain can (1) ____________ repair their own teeth. They can buy special dental kits in supermarkets to (2) ____________ fillings (called cavities in the USA) and repair caps and crowns. The kits can cost as (3) ____________ as $7. Many people are buying these kits because they cannot afford to go to the dentist. The (4) ____________ of having a tooth filled at a dentist in England can cost up to $70, which is ten times higher than the price of the dental kit. One of the biggest (5) ____________ products is a kit called DenTek. Britons bought around 250,000 of these last year. Britain's Dental Health Foundation (DHF) said one in (6) ____________ people in the UK would do DIY dentistry on their (7) ____________ teeth or the teeth of family and friends. DIY dentistry includes actually pulling (8) ____________ a tooth.

cost
fix
five
out
now
little
own
selling

Britain is famous for the (9) ____________ of its free health service. However, this service does not include dental work. The fact that DIY dentistry is increasing so (10) ____________ in Britain shows that there is a lot of poverty and inequality in the country. The poorest people cannot (11) ____________ to go to the dentist. A spokeswoman for a (12) ____________ community in Scotland said: "DIY dentistry is fairly common here. They sell a lot of those dental kits – you can buy them in [supermarkets]. And you've got people taking (13) ____________ of their whole family's teeth." The DHF said many people would (14) ____________ spend their money on a haircut or a (15) ____________ out than on their teeth. She said different people place different (16) ____________ on visiting the dentist.

care
afford
night
quality
importance
quickly
rather
local

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	They can buy special dental kits in supermarkets ______
	a. to fix fillings b. for fix fillings c. though fix fillings d. too fix fillings
2)	Many people are buying these kits because they cannot afford to ______
	a. go to a dentist b. go to this dentist c. go to that dentist d. go to the dentist
3)	The cost of having a tooth filled at a dentist in England can ______
	a. costs up to $70 b. cost up to $70 c. costed up to $70 d. costing up to $70
4)	one in five people in the UK would do DIY dentistry ______
	a. in their own teeth b. own their own teeth c. on their own teeth d. and their own teeth
5)	DIY dentistry includes actually pulling ______
	a. out a tooth b. out the tooth c. outer tooth d. ought a tooth
6)	Britain is famous for the quality of its ______
	a. free health service b. free healthy service c. flea health service d. free health services
7)	there is a lot of poverty and inequality ______
	a. on the country b. to the country c. by the country d. in the country
8)	you've got people taking care of their ______
	a. hole family's teeth b. whole family's teeth c. while family's teeth d. holy family's teeth
9)	many people would rather spend their money on a ______
	a. haircut or a nightly out b. haircut or a night out c. haircut or a knight out d. haircut or a nights out
10)	She said different people place different importance on ______
	a. visits the dentist b. visited the dentist c. visit in the dentist d. visiting the dentist

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

People in Britain (1) ___________________ their own teeth. They can buy special dental kits in supermarkets to fix fillings (called cavities in the USA) and repair caps and crowns. The kits (2) ___________________ as $7. Many people are buying these kits because they (3) ___________________ to the dentist. The cost of having a tooth filled at a dentist in England can cost up to $70, which is ten times higher (4) ___________________ the dental kit. One of the biggest selling products is a kit called DenTek. Britons bought around 250,000 of these last year. Britain's Dental Health Foundation (DHF) (5) ___________________ people in the UK would do DIY dentistry on their own teeth or the teeth of family and friends. DIY dentistry includes actually (6) ___________________.

Britain is famous for (7) ___________________ free health service. However, this service does not include dental work. The fact that DIY dentistry is (8) ___________________ in Britain shows that there is a lot of poverty and inequality in the country. The poorest people cannot afford to go to the dentist. A spokeswoman for (9) ___________________ in Scotland said: "DIY dentistry (10) ___________________ here. They sell a lot of those dental kits – you can buy them in [supermarkets]. And you've got people taking (11) ___________________ family's teeth." The DHF said many people would rather spend their money on a haircut or a night out than on their teeth. She said different people place (12) ___________________ on visiting the dentist.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Where does the article say people can buy the dentistry repair kits?
2.	What is American English for the word "filling"?
3.	How much does the article say a filling can cost in England?
4.	How many DenTek dentistry kits did people in Britain buy last year?
5.	How many people in Britain would do DIY dentistry?
6.	What is not included in Britain's National Health Service?
7.	Where can the poorest people in Britain not afford to go?
8.	What does the article say some people take care of?
9.	What do some people prefer to use their money on instead of dentists?
10.	What do different people place different importance on?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Where does the article say people can buy the dentistry repair kits?	6.	What is not included in Britain's National Health Service?
	a) supermarkets b) dentists c) convenience stores d) DIY stores		a) medicine b) hospital stays c) operations d) dental work
2.	What is American English for the word "filling"?	7.	Where can the poorest people in Britain not afford to go?
	a) lining b) stuffing c) cavity d) inside		a) the doctor b) the dentist c) on vacation d) restaurants
3.	How much does the article say a filling can cost in England?	8.	What does the article say some people take care of?
	a) $75 b) $70 c) $65 d) $80		a) their health b) money c) their toothbrushes d) their family's teeth
4.	How many DenTek dentistry kits did people in Britain buy last year?	9.	What do some people prefer to use their money on instead of dentists?
	a) 220,000 b) 230,000 c) 240,000 d) 250,000		a) doctors b) chocolate c) haircuts d) cigarettes
5.	How many people in Britain would do DIY dentistry?	10.	What do different people place different place on?
	a) one in five b) half c) three out of four d) 10%		a) oral hygiene b) visiting the dentist c) gum disease d) toothpaste

ROLE PLAY

Role A – The dentist's chair

You think the dentist's chair is the best thing about visiting the dentist. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the waiting room, the magazine rack or the staff.

Role B – The waiting room

You think the waiting room is the best thing about visiting the dentist. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the dentist's chair, the magazine rack or the staff.

Role C – The magazine rack

You think the magazine rack is the best thing about visiting the dentist. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the waiting room, the dentist's chair or the staff.

Role D – The staff

You think the staff is the best thing about visiting the dentist. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the waiting room, the magazine rack or the dentist's chair.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

dental

kit

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:

special
7
70
250,000
five
pulling

famous
quickly
poorest
local
fairly
place

TEETH SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about teeth 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.

TEETH 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 'teeth'?
3)	What do you think of DIY dentistry?
4)	How do you feel about going to the dentist?
5)	What are your teeth like?
6)	Do you think the DIY dentistry kits work?
7)	How can poorer people get proper dental care?
8)	How do you look after your teeth?
9)	Would you buy one of the new DIY dental kits?
10)	Why are dentists so expensive?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What do you think of countries that have a free health service?
13)	How much poverty and inequality is there in your country?
14)	What happens to people's teeth if they cannot afford a dentist?
15)	Are you surprised that supermarkets can sell dentistry kits?
16)	How would you feel about treating other people's teeth?
17)	Would you spend money on a night out or a trip to the dentist?
18)	What do you think it's like to be a dentist?
19)	How important are dentists to you?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the boss of the dental kit company?

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

People in Britain can (1) ____ repair their own teeth. They can buy special dental kits in supermarkets to fix fillings (called cavities in the USA) and repair caps and crowns. The kits can cost as (2) ____ as $7. Many people are buying these kits because they cannot (3) ____ to go to the dentist. The cost of having a tooth filled at a dentist in England can cost up to $70, which is ten times (4) ____ than the price of the dental kit. One of the biggest selling (5) ____ is a kit called DenTek. Britons bought around 250,000 of these last year. Britain's Dental Health Foundation (DHF) said one in five people in the UK would do DIY dentistry on their own teeth or the teeth of family and friends. DIY dentistry includes (6) ____ pulling out a tooth.

Britain is famous for the quality (7) ____ its free health service. However, this service does not include dental work. The (8) ____ that DIY dentistry is increasing so quickly in Britain shows that there is a lot of poverty and inequality in the country. The poorest people cannot afford to go to the dentist. A spokeswoman for a (9) ____ community in Scotland said: "DIY dentistry is fairly common here. They sell a lot of those dental kits – you can buy (10) ____ in [supermarkets]. And you've got people taking care of their whole family's teeth." The DHF said many people would (11) ____ spend their money on a haircut or a night out than on their teeth. She said different people place different importance (12) ____ visiting the dentist.

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

1.	(a)	know	(b)	now	(c)	not	(d)	non
2.	(a)	small	(b)	little	(c)	tiny	(d)	down
3.	(a)	after	(b)	affront	(c)	effort	(d)	afford
4.	(a)	highs	(b)	higher	(c)	high	(d)	highest
5.	(a)	product	(b)	products	(c)	produce	(d)	production
6.	(a)	actual	(b)	acting	(c)	actually	(d)	actions
7.	(a)	for	(b)	by	(c)	of	(d)	on
8.	(a)	truth	(b)	true	(c)	fact	(d)	real
9.	(a)	decal	(b)	vocal	(c)	focal	(d)	local
10.	(a)	that	(b)	they	(c)	there	(d)	them
11.	(a)	rather	(b)	prefer	(c)	instead of	(d)	chose
12.	(a)	in	(b)	at	(c)	on	(d)	of

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	fillings (called ecvaitis in the USA)
2.	they cannot afofrd to go to the dentist
3.	ten times ehihgr
4.	the biggest selling tcupsdro
5.	Britain's Dental Health notadFunio
6.	claatylu pulling out a tooth
Paragraph 2
7.	the ialqtyu of its free health service
8.	nnaeicrigs so quickly
9.	a lot of ovperty and inequality
10.	a local ioumtmcyn in Scotland
11.	people would ertarh spend their money
12.	different treoimncpa on visiting the dentist

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	of poverty and inequality in the country. The poorest people cannot afford to go to the
( 1 )	People in Britain can now repair their own teeth. They can buy special dental kits in supermarkets to fix
( )	dentist. A spokeswoman for a local community in Scotland said: "DIY dentistry is fairly
( )	care of their whole family's teeth." The DHF said many people would rather spend their money
( )	fillings (called cavities in the USA) and repair caps and crowns. The kits can cost as little as $7. Many people are
( )	buying these kits because they cannot afford to go to the dentist. The cost of having a tooth filled
( )	selling products is a kit called DenTek. Britons bought around 250,000 of these last
( )	teeth or the teeth of family and friends. DIY dentistry includes actually pulling out a tooth.
( )	at a dentist in England can cost up to $70, which is ten times higher than the price of the dental kit. One of the biggest
( )	on a haircut or a night out than on their teeth. She said different people place different importance on visiting the dentist.
( )	common here. They sell a lot of those dental kits – you can buy them in [supermarkets]. And you've got people taking
( )	Britain is famous for the quality of its free health service. However, this service does not
( )	year. Britain's Dental Health Foundation (DHF) said one in five people in the UK would do DIY dentistry on their own
( )	include dental work. The fact that DIY dentistry is increasing so quickly in Britain shows that there is a lot

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	own People can their Britain repair teeth in now .
2.	$7 kits as The cost as can little .
3.	dentist to go They to cannot the afford .
4.	these last year Britons bought around 250,000 of .
5.	a includes tooth actually pulling DIY out dentistry .
6.	famous is Britain service health free its of quality the for .
7.	local A community spokeswoman in for Scotland a .
8.	People whole taking family's care teeth of their .
9.	money haircut would their a People spend on rather .
10.	on importance different Place dentist the visiting .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

People in Britain can now repair their own / owns teeth. They can buy special dental kits in supermarkets to fix / fixing fillings (called cavities in the USA) and repair caps and crowns. The kits can cost has / as little as $7. Many people are buying these kits because they cannot effort / afford to go to the dentist. The cost of having a tooth filled at a dentist in England can cost up for / to $70, which is ten times higher / heighten than the price of the dental kit. One of the biggest selling product / products is a kit called DenTek. Britons bought around 250,000 of these / them last year. Britain's Dental Health Foundation (DHF) said one in / on five people in the UK would do DIY dentistry on their own teeth or the teeth of family and friends. DIY dentistry includes actually / actual pulling out a tooth.

Britain is famous for the quality / quantity of its free health service. However, this service does not including / include dental work. The fact that DIY dentistry is increasing so / such quickly in Britain shows that there is a lot of poverty / poor and inequality in the country. The poorest people cannot afford to go to the dentist. A spokeswoman for a locally / local community in Scotland said: "DIY dentistry is fairy / fairly common here. They sell a lot of them / those dental kits – you can buy them in [supermarkets]. And you've got people taking / talking care of their whole family's teeth." The DHF said many people would prefer / rather spend their money on a haircut or a night out than on their teeth. She said different people place different importance on / in visiting the dentist.

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)

P__pl_ _n Br_t__n c_n n_w r_p__r th__r _wn t__th. Th_y c_n b_y sp_c__l d_nt_l k_ts _n s_p_rm_rk_ts t_ f_x f_ll_ngs (c_ll_d c_v_t__s _n th_ _S_) _nd r_p__r c_ps _nd cr_wns. Th_ k_ts c_n c_st _s l_ttl_ _s $7. M_ny p__pl_ _r_ b_y_ng th_s_ k_ts b_c__s_ th_y c_nn_t _ff_rd t_ g_ t_ th_ d_nt_st. Th_ c_st _f h_v_ng _ t__th f_ll_d _t _ d_nt_st _n _ngl_nd c_n c_st _p t_ $70, wh_ch _s t_n t_m_s h_gh_r th_n th_ pr_c_ _f th_ d_nt_l k_t. _n_ _f th_ b_gg_st s_ll_ng pr_d_cts _s _ k_t c_ll_d D_nT_k. Br_t_ns b__ght _r__nd 250,000 _f th_s_ l_st y__r. Br_t__n's D_nt_l H__lth F__nd_t__n (DHF) s__d _n_ _n f_v_ p__pl_ _n th_ _K w__ld d_ D_Y d_nt_stry _n th__r _wn t__th _r th_ t__th _f f_m_ly _nd fr__nds. D_Y d_nt_stry _ncl_d_s _ct__lly p_ll_ng __t _ t__th.

Br_t__n _s f_m__s f_r th_ q__l_ty _f _ts fr__ h__lth s_rv_c_. H_w_v_r, th_s s_rv_c_ d__s n_t _ncl_d_ d_nt_l w_rk. Th_ f_ct th_t D_Y d_nt_stry _s _ncr__s_ng s_ q__ckly _n Br_t__n sh_ws th_t th_r_ _s _ l_t _f p_v_rty _nd _n_q__l_ty _n th_ c__ntry. Th_ p__r_st p__pl_ c_nn_t _ff_rd t_ g_ t_ th_ d_nt_st. _ sp_k_sw_m_n f_r _ l_c_l c_mm_n_ty _n Sc_tl_nd s__d: "D_Y d_nt_stry _s f__rly c_mm_n h_r_. Th_y s_ll _ l_t _f th_s_ d_nt_l k_ts – y__ c_n b_y th_m _n [s_p_rm_rk_ts]. _nd y__'v_ g_t p__pl_ t_k_ng c_r_ _f th__r wh_l_ f_m_ly's t__th." Th_ DHF s__d m_ny p__pl_ w__ld r_th_r sp_nd th__r m_n_y _n _ h__rc_t _r _ n_ght __t th_n _n th__r t__th. Sh_ s__d d_ff_r_nt p__pl_ pl_c_ d_ff_r_nt _mp_rt_nc_ _n v_s_t_ng th_ d_nt_st.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

people in britain can now repair their own teeth they can buy special dental kits in supermarkets to fix fillings (called cavities in the usa) and repair caps and crowns the kits can cost as little as $7 many people are buying these kits because they cannot afford to go to the dentist the cost of having a tooth filled at a dentist in england can cost up to $70 which is ten times higher than the price of the dental kit one of the biggest selling products is a kit called dentek britons bought around 250000 of these last year britain's dental health foundation (dhf) said one in five people in the uk would do diy dentistry on their own teeth or the teeth of family and friends diy dentistry includes actually pulling out a tooth

britain is famous for the quality of its free health service however this service does not include dental work the fact that diy dentistry is increasing so quickly in britain shows that there is a lot of poverty and inequality in the country the poorest people cannot afford to go to the dentist a spokeswoman for a local community in scotland said "diy dentistry is fairly common here they sell a lot of those dental kits – you can buy them in [supermarkets] and you've got people taking care of their whole family's teeth" the dhf said many people would rather spend their money on a haircut or a night out than on their teeth she said different people place different importance on visiting the dentist

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

PeopleinBritaincannowrepairtheirownteeth.Theycanbuyspecialdent
alkitsinsupermarketstofixfillings(calledcavitiesintheUSA)andrepair
capsandcrowns.Thekitscancostaslittleas$7.Manypeoplearebuyingt
hesekitsbecausetheycannotaffordtogotothedentist.Thecostofhavin
gatoothfilledatadentistinEnglandcancostupto$70,whichistentimesh
igherthanthepriceofthedentalkit.Oneofthebiggestsellingproductsisa
kitcalledDenTek.Britonsboughtaround250,000oftheselastyear.Brit
ain'sDentalHealthFoundation(DHF)saidoneinfivepeopleintheUKwou
lddoDIYdentistryontheirownteethortheteethoffamilyandfriends.DIY
dentistryincludesactuallypullingoutatooth.Britainisfamousforthequ
alityofitsfreehealthservice.However,thisservicedoesnotincludedent
alwork.ThefactthatDIYdentistryisincreasingsoquicklyinBritainshow
sthatthereisalotofpovertyandinequalityinthecountry.Thepoorestpe
oplecannotaffordtogotothedentist.Aspokeswomanforalocalcommu
nityinScotlandsaid:"DIYdentistryisfairlycommonhere.Theysellaloto
fthosedentalkits–youcanbuythemin[supermarkets].Andyou'vego
tpeopletakingcareoftheirwholefamily'steeth."TheDHFsaidmanypeo
plewouldratherspendtheirmoneyonahaircutoranightoutthanontheir
teeth.Shesaiddifferentpeopleplacedifferentimportanceonvisitingthe
dentist.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

DIY dentistry kits are a great idea. 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 dentists. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. DENTISTRY KITS: Write a magazine article about dentistry kits. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.

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 teeth. Ask him/her three questions about teeth. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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

F

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	repair	a.	fix
2	fillings	b.	cavities
3.	products	c.	items
4.	bought	d.	purchased
5.	pulling out	e.	extracting
6.	famous	f.	well known
7.	quickly	g.	fast
8.	fairly	h.	reasonably
9.	taking care of	i.	looking after
10.	place	j.	put

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Supermarkets
2.	Cavity
3.	$70
4.	250,000
5.	One in Five
6.	Dental work
7.	The dentist
8.	Their family and friends' teeth
9.	Haircuts and nights out
10.	Visiting the dentist

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

b

4.

d

5.

a

6.

d

7.

b

8.

d

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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More British people fixing their own teeth (7th April, 2015)

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