The Reading / Listening - Level 5

British university students are having a hard time making ends meet. They are turning to desperate measures, including gambling, taking out high-interest loans and selling their body to cover their living costs. The website Save the Student (StS) questioned 1,900 students about their finances. It found that the average student got $750 a month in the form of a student loan. However, average living expenses were $1,170 a month. This leaves a monthly shortfall of $420. Students make up the difference in a variety of ways, some of which would cause parents a lot of concern.

The StS poll found that 71 per cent of students got extra money from parents, while 65 per cent worked part-time. Around 46 per cent had a bank overdraft. Seven per cent of the students said that they had "sold their body" to earn additional cash. Others took part in medical trials. Twelve per cent of students said they had gambled to supplement their income. Three per cent took out loans with extortionate interest rates. One student said: "It's frustrating when you're already paying off multiple credit cards at 19." StS said the government was "out of touch with…student needs".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/students-sell-body-and-gamble-make-ends-meet
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/30/students-gambling-selling-bodies-meet-university-costs_n_7694292.html
  • http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/personal-finance/skint-students-forced-use-rip-off-5976499


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

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

having a hard

a.

costs

2.

making ends

b.

lot of concern

3.

turning to desperate

c.

student

4.

taking out high-

d.

time

5.

cover their living

e.

measures

6.

the average

f.

shortfall of $420

7.

This leaves a monthly

g.

meet

8.

cause parents a

h.

interest loans



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

1.

65 per cent worked

a.

their income

2.

bank

b.

part-time

3.

earn additional

c.

credit cards

4.

Others took part

d.

overdraft

5.

supplement

e.

with student needs

6.

extortionate

f.

in medical trials

7.

paying off multiple

g.

interest rates

8.

out of touch

h.

cash

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

British university students are (1) ___________________ making ends meet. They are turning to (2) ___________________, including gambling, taking out high-interest loans and selling their (3) ___________________ their living costs. The website Save the Student (StS) questioned 1,900 students about their finances. It found that (4) ___________________ got $750 a month in the form of a student loan. However, average living expenses were $1,170 a month. This leaves (5) ___________________ of $420. Students make up the difference in a (6) ___________________, some of which would cause parents a lot of concern.

The StS poll found that 71 per cent of students (7) ___________________ from parents, while 65 per cent worked part-time. Around 46 per cent had a (8) ___________________. Seven per cent of the students said that they had "sold their body" to (9) ___________________. Others took part in medical trials. Twelve per cent of students said they had gambled to (10) ___________________. Three per cent took out loans with extortionate interest rates. One student said: "It's frustrating when you're already paying off (11) ___________________ at 19." StS said the government was "out of (12) ___________________ needs".

STUDENTS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about students 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.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

 

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

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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