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More and more 70-year-olds working (10th November, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

People are working to an older age in Britain. The number of 70-74 year-old people who work has doubled in the past decade. Around 10 per cent of British people in their early 70s are now working. It is the highest figure since records began. The British government says just over a quarter of a million 70-74-year-olds currently have jobs. In 2005, there were around 100,000 of them. The government said people are working to an older age and are deciding to retire later. A labour union spokesperson said the reason for people working in their old age is because retirement pensions in Britain are becoming more difficult to live on. Many older people have to work and delay retirement to be able to survive.

Employment spokesman Frances O'Grady said: "The last decade has seen [big] changes in the labour market, with far more people working beyond retirement age. While there are plenty who enjoy remaining in work, many need to earn extra cash because they cannot afford to retire." He added that: "We need decent jobs and pensions for all so that people can make a genuine choice about whether they remain in work." A spokesman for small businesses, John Allan, said more older people were starting their own businesses. He said: "More and more older people are [deciding on] a career change later in life and are starting up their own businesses, pursuing something they may have dreamed of doing for years."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/one-in-10-70-74-year-olds-now-in-work-11364015197541
http://www.itv.com/news/2015-11-07/record-number-of-70-74-year-olds-now-in-work-dwp-figures-show/

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. WORKING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about working. 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?

working / doubled / highest figure / a quarter / retire / pensions / more difficult / decade / labour market / retirement age / pensions / small businesses / career change

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

3. WORKERS: What should people do for jobs at these ages? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Age	What are they good at?	What jobs should they do?
16
21
30
40
55
74

4. OLDER PEOPLE: Students A strongly believe people should retire before they are 70 to let younger people work; Students B strongly believe the opposite. 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. JOBS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best jobs at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• software engineer

• English teacher

• police officer

• taxi driver

• nurse

• sales assistant

• flight attendant

• gardener

6. RETIRE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "retire". 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 number of 70-year-olds working in Britain doubled last year.	T / F
b.	Almost 20% of 70-74-year-olds in Britain have jobs.	T / F
c.	In 2005, there were 100,000 working 70-74-year-olds in Britain.	T / F
d.	People in Britain are retiring later in order to survive.	T / F
e.	Many older people in Britain work because they need extra cash.	T / F
f.	People need good pensions so they can choose whether to work or not.	T / F
g.	Fewer and fewer older people are starting their own businesses.	T / F
h.	Fewer 70-74-year-olds are deciding on a career change.	T / F

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

1.	number	a.	additional
2.	records	b.	presently
3.	currently	c.	put off
4.	deciding	d.	past
5.	delay	e.	total
6.	big	f.	choosing
7.	beyond	g.	huge
8.	extra	h.	beginning
9.	genuine	i.	reports
10.	starting	j.	real

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

1.	People are working to an	a.	spokesman
2.	The number of 70-74 year-old people who	b.	able to survive
3.	in the past	c.	own businesses
4.	retirement	d.	work has doubled
5.	delay retirement to be	e.	age
6.	Employment	f.	decade
7.	working beyond retirement	g.	of doing for years
8.	they cannot afford	h.	older age in Britain
9.	starting their	i.	pensions
10.	something they may have dreamed	j.	to retire

GAP FILL

People are working to an (1) ____________ age in Britain. The number of 70-74 year-old people who work has (2) ____________ in the past decade. Around 10 per cent of British people in their early 70s are now working. It is the highest (3) ____________ since records began. The British government says just over a (4) ____________ of a million 70-74-year-olds (5) ____________ have jobs. In 2005, there were around 100,000 of them. The government said people are working to an older age and are deciding to (6) ____________ later. A labour union spokesperson said the reason for people working in their old age is because retirement (7) ____________ in Britain are becoming more difficult to live on. Many older people have to work and (8) ____________ retirement to be able to survive.

figure
currently
pensions
older
delay
doubled
retire
quarter

Employment spokesman Frances O'Grady said: "The last (9) ____________ has seen [big] changes in the labour market, with far more people working (10) ____________ retirement age. While there are plenty who enjoy remaining in work, many need to earn (11) ____________ cash because they cannot afford to retire." He added that: "We need (12) ____________ jobs and pensions for all so that people can make a (13) ____________ choice about whether they remain in work." A spokesman for small businesses, John Allan, said more older people were starting their (14) ____________ businesses. He said: "More and more older people are [deciding on] a (15) ____________ change later in life and are starting up their own businesses, pursuing something they may have (16) ____________ of doing for years."

extra
decade
genuine
career
beyond
dreamed
decent
own

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The number of 70-74 year-old people who work has doubled in ______
	a. the parsed decade b. the passed decade c. the pasted decade d. the past decade
2)	The British government says just over a quarter of a million 70-74-year-olds ______
	a. currency have jobs b. currently have jobs c. currant tea have jobs d. currencies have jobs
3)	The government said people are working to an older age and are deciding ______
	a. to retire later b. to retired later c. to retires later d. to retirement later
4)	retirement pensions in Britain are becoming more difficult ______
	a. to live in b. to live off c. to live up d. to live on
5)	Many older people have to work and delay retirement to be ______
	a. able too survive b. able to survival c. able to survive d. able to survived
6)	The last decade has seen big changes in the ______
	a. labour markets b. labour market c. labour mark it d. labour marked it
7)	many need to earn extra cash because they cannot ______
	a. effort to retire b. affect to retire c. afford to retire d. offered to retire
8)	people can make a genuine choice about whether they _____
	a. remains in work b. remain on work c. remains on work d. remain in work
9)	deciding on a career change later in life and are starting up ______
	a. their own business is b. they're own businesses c. their own business d. their own businesses
10)	pursuing something they may have dreamed of ______
	a. doing four years b. doing for years c. doing far years d. doing of years

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

People are working (1) ___________________ in Britain. The number of 70-74 year-old people who work has doubled (2) ___________________. Around 10 per cent of British people in their early 70s are now working. It is the highest (3) ___________________ records began. The British government says just (4) ___________________ of a million 70-74-year-olds currently have jobs. In 2005, there were around 100,000 of them. The government said people are working to an older age and are deciding to retire later. A labour union spokesperson said (5) ___________________ people working in their old age is because retirement pensions in Britain are becoming more difficult to live on. Many older people have to work and delay retirement (6) ___________________ survive.

Employment spokesman Frances O'Grady said: "(7) ___________________ has seen [big] changes in the labour market, with far more people working beyond retirement age. (8) ___________________ plenty who enjoy remaining in work, many (9) ___________________ extra cash because they cannot afford to retire." He added that: "We need decent jobs and pensions for all so that people can make (10) ___________________ about whether they remain in work." A spokesman for small businesses, John Allan, said more older people were starting their (11) ___________________. He said: "More and more older people are [deciding on] a career change later in life and are starting up their own businesses, pursuing something they may have dreamed of (12) ___________________."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	By how many times has the number of working 70-74 year-olds risen?
2.	What percentage of 70-74 year-old people are now working in the UK?
3.	How many working 70-74 year-old people were there in 2005?
4.	What is becoming more difficult to live on in Britain?
5.	What are older people having to delay in Britain?
6.	What has the labour market seen in the past decade?
7.	What do many 70-74 year-old people need more of?
8.	What do 70-74 year-old people need to make a genuine choice?
9.	What are many 70-74 year-old people starting?
10.	What have many older people been dreaming of for years?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	By how many times has the number of working 70-74 year-olds risen?	6.	What has the labour market seen in the past decade?
	a) five times b) four times c) three times d) two times		a) shocks b) a fall c) big changes d) growth
2.	What percentage of 70-74 year-old people are now working in the UK?	7.	What do many 70-74 year-old people need more of?
	a) 15% b) 10% c) 20% d) 25%		a) cash b) time c) hours d) food
3.	How many working 70-74 year-old people were there in 2005?	8.	What do 70-74 year-old people need to make a genuine choice?
	a) 130,000 b) 120,000 c) 110,000 d) 100,000		a) Internet bandwidth b) information c) pensions and jobs d) advice
4.	What is becoming more difficult to live on in Britain?	9.	What are many 70-74 year-old people starting?
	a) bonuses b) salaries c) pensions d) savings		a) families b) their own businesses c) self-help groups d) protests
5.	What are older people having to delay in Britain?	10.	What have many older people been dreaming of for years?
	a) home improvements b) working c) having a family d) retirement		a) starting a business b) retirement c) foreign holidays d) working

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Software engineer

You think a software engineer is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these jobs of these (and why): English teacher, a nurse or a gardener.

Role B – English teacher

You think an English teacher is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these jobs of these (and why): software engineer, a nurse or a gardener.

Role C – Nurse

You think a nurse is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these jobs of these (and why): an English teacher, software engineer or a gardener.

Role D – Gardener

You think a gardener is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these jobs of these (and why): an English teacher, a nurse or software engineer.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

labour

market

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:

number
10
since
100,000
reason
delay

market
plenty
extra
choice
change
dreamed

WORKING SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about working 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.

WORKING 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 'working'?
3)	At what age do you want to stop working?
4)	What is the best retirement age?
5)	What are people in their 70s good at?
6)	Is it wrong for people in their 70s to work?
7)	What are the good and bad things about working?
8)	What are the difficulties for people when they retire?
9)	How important is a pension?
10)	What happens if old people do not have a pension?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	How has the jobs market changed in your country?
13)	How bad is it that people cannot afford to retire?
14)	What do you like and dislike about your job?
15)	Would you like to work beyond retirement age?
16)	Why might young people be angry with old people working?
17)	Would you like to start your own business?
18)	How many different careers would you like?
19)	What have you dreamed of doing for years?
20)	What questions would you like to ask a 74-year-old worker?

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 are working to an (1) ____ age in Britain. The number of 70-74 year-old people who work has (2) ____ in the past decade. Around 10 per cent of British people in their early 70s are now working. It is the highest figure (3) ____ records began. The British government says just over a quarter of a million 70-74-year-olds currently have jobs. In 2005, there were around 100,000 of them. The government said people are working to an older age and are (4) ____ to retire later. A labour union spokesperson said the reason for people working (5) ____ their old age is because retirement pensions in Britain are becoming more difficult to live on. Many older people have to work and (6) ____ retirement to be able to survive.

Employment spokesman Frances O'Grady said: "The last decade has seen [big] changes in the labour (7) ____, with far more people working beyond retirement age. While there are plenty who enjoy remaining (8) ____ work, many need to earn extra cash because they cannot afford to retire." He added that: "We need decent jobs and pensions for all so that people can make a (9) ____ choice about whether they remain in work." A spokesman for small businesses, John Allan, said more older people were starting their (10) ____ businesses. He said: "More and more older people are [deciding on] a career change later in life and are starting (11) ____ their own businesses, pursuing something they may have dreamed of (12) ____ for years."

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

1.	(a)	order	(b)	elder	(c)	olden	(d)	older
2.	(a)	doublet	(b)	doubling	(c)	doubles	(d)	doubled
3.	(a)	when	(b)	since	(c)	for	(d)	past
4.	(a)	decides	(b)	decision	(c)	deciding	(d)	decider
5.	(a)	in	(b)	up	(c)	on	(d)	at
6.	(a)	delay	(b)	fuse	(c)	solve	(d)	find
7.	(a)	bazaar	(b)	store	(c)	arena	(d)	market
8.	(a)	in	(b)	of	(c)	up	(d)	as
9.	(a)	genuinely	(b)	genuine	(c)	genius	(d)	genie
10.	(a)	down	(b)	frown	(c)	own	(d)	mown
11.	(a)	down	(b)	in	(c)	up	(d)	out
12.	(a)	done	(b)	doing	(c)	does	(d)	did

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	people who work has duedolb
2.	in the past eeacdd
3.	It is the highest egifru
4.	a eaurrqt of a million
5.	deciding to rieret later
6.	be able to sveruiv
Paragraph 2
7.	working yobnde retirement
8.	plenty who enjoy nreainmig in work
9.	jobs and iesspnno
10.	make a ngeuein choice
11.	a acrree change
12.	starting up their own eisbenusss

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	"We need decent jobs and pensions for all so that people can make a genuine choice about
( )	figure since records began. The British government says just over a quarter of a million 70-74-year-olds currently
( )	people were starting their own businesses. He said: "More and more older people are [deciding on] a career change later
( )	have jobs. In 2005, there were around 100,000 of them. The government said people are
( )	market, with far more people working beyond retirement age. While there are plenty who
( )	enjoy remaining in work, many need to earn extra cash because they cannot afford to retire." He added that:
( )	on. Many older people have to work and delay retirement to be able to survive.
( )	in life and are starting up their own businesses, pursuing something they may have dreamed of doing for years."
( 1 )	People are working to an older age in Britain. The number of 70-74 year-old people who work has
( )	Employment spokesman Frances O'Grady said: "The last decade has seen [big] changes in the labour
( )	in their old age is because retirement pensions in Britain are becoming more difficult to live
( )	doubled in the past decade. Around 10 per cent of British people in their early 70s are now working. It is the highest
( )	working to an older age and are deciding to retire later. A labour union spokesperson said the reason for people working
( )	whether they remain in work." A spokesman for small businesses, John Allan, said more older

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	an in People to age working older Britain are .
2.	began highest figure It since is records the .
3.	working to an older age The government said people are .
4.	becoming more difficult to live on Pensions in Britain are .
5.	have and people work retirement older to delay Many .
6.	the in changes big seen has decade last The market labour .
7.	work genuine whether in A about remain choice they .
8.	businesses were starting More their older own people .
9.	career change Deciding later on in a life .
10.	have doing may of years they dreamed for Something .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

People are working to an older age / old in Britain. The number of 70-74 year-old people who work has doubling / doubled in the past decade. Around 10 per cent of British people in their fast / early 70s are now working. It is the highest figure since / for records began. The British government says just over a quarter of a million 70-74-year-olds currently / current have jobs. In 2005, there were around 100,000 of them / they. The government said people are working to an older age and are decision / deciding to retire later. A labour union spokesperson said the reason for / by people working in their old age is because retirement pensions in Britain are becoming more difficult to live in / on. Many older people have to work and delay retirement to be able to survival / survive.

Employment spokesman Frances O'Grady said: "The last decade has seen [big] changes in the labour marketing / market, with far / for more people working beyond / behind retirement age. While there are plenty who enjoy remain / remaining in work, many need to earn / earnings extra cash because they cannot afford / effort to retire." He added that: "We need decent / recent jobs and pensions for all so that people can make a genuine choose / choice about whether they remain in work." A spokesman for small businesses, John Allan, said more older people were start / starting their own businesses. He said: "More and more older people are [deciding on] a career change later in life and are starting up their own businesses, pursuing something they may have dreamed / dreaming of doing for years."

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_ _r_ w_rk_ng t_ _n _ld_r _g_ _n Br_t__n. Th_ n_mb_r _f 70-74 y__r-_ld p__pl_ wh_ w_rk h_s d__bl_d _n th_ p_st d_c_d_. _r__nd 10 p_r c_nt _f Br_t_sh p__pl_ _n th__r __rly 70s _r_ n_w w_rk_ng. _t _s th_ h_gh_st f_g_r_ s_nc_ r_c_rds b_g_n. Th_ Br_t_sh g_v_rnm_nt s_ys j_st _v_r _ q__rt_r _f _ m_ll__n 70-74-y__r-_lds c_rr_ntly h_v_ j_bs. _n 2005, th_r_ w_r_ _r__nd 100,000 _f th_m. Th_ g_v_rnm_nt s__d p__pl_ _r_ w_rk_ng t_ _n _ld_r _g_ _nd _r_ d_c_d_ng t_ r_t_r_ l_t_r. _ l_b__r _n__n sp_k_sp_rs_n s__d th_ r__s_n f_r p__pl_ w_rk_ng _n th__r _ld _g_ _s b_c__s_ r_t_r_m_nt p_ns__ns _n Br_t__n _r_ b_c_m_ng m_r_ d_ff_c_lt t_ l_v_ _n. M_ny _ld_r p__pl_ h_v_ t_ w_rk _nd d_l_y r_t_r_m_nt t_ b_ _bl_ t_ s_rv_v_.

_mpl_ym_nt sp_k_sm_n Fr_nc_s _'Gr_dy s__d: "Th_ l_st d_c_d_ h_s s__n [b_g] ch_ng_s _n th_ l_b__r m_rk_t, w_th f_r m_r_ p__pl_ w_rk_ng b_y_nd r_t_r_m_nt _g_. Wh_l_ th_r_ _r_ pl_nty wh_ _nj_y r_m__n_ng _n w_rk, m_ny n__d t_ __rn _xtr_ c_sh b_c__s_ th_y c_nn_t _ff_rd t_ r_t_r_." H_ _dd_d th_t: "W_ n__d d_c_nt j_bs _nd p_ns__ns f_r _ll s_ th_t p__pl_ c_n m_k_ _ g_n__n_ ch__c_ _b__t wh_th_r th_y r_m__n _n w_rk." _ sp_k_sm_n f_r sm_ll b_s_n_ss_s, J_hn _ll_n, s__d m_r_ _ld_r p__pl_ w_r_ st_rt_ng th__r _wn b_s_n_ss_s. H_ s__d: "M_r_ _nd m_r_ _ld_r p__pl_ _r_ [d_c_d_ng _n] _ c_r__r ch_ng_ l_t_r _n l_f_ _nd _r_ st_rt_ng _p th__r _wn b_s_n_ss_s, p_rs__ng s_m_th_ng th_y m_y h_v_ dr__m_d _f d__ng f_r y__rs."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

people are working to an older age in britain the number of 70-74 year-old people who work has doubled in the past decade around 10 per cent of british people in their early 70s are now working it is the highest figure since records began the british government says just over a quarter of a million 70-74-year-olds currently have jobs in 2005 there were around 100000 of them the government said people are working to an older age and are deciding to retire later a labour union spokesperson said the reason for people working in their old age is because retirement pensions in britain are becoming more difficult to live on many older people have to work and delay retirement to be able to survive

employment spokesman frances o'grady said "the last decade has seen [big] changes in the labour market with far more people working beyond retirement age while there are plenty who enjoy remaining in work many need to earn extra cash because they cannot afford to retire" he added that "we need decent jobs and pensions for all so that people can make a genuine choice about whether they remain in work" a spokesman for small businesses john allan said more older people were starting their own businesses he said "more and more older people are [deciding on] a career change later in life and are starting up their own businesses pursuing something they may have dreamed of doing for years"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

PeopleareworkingtoanolderageinBritain.Thenumberof70-74year-
oldpeoplewhoworkhasdoubledinthepastdecade.Around10percentof
Britishpeopleintheirearly70sarenowworking.Itisthehighestfiguresin
cerecordsbegan.TheBritishgovernmentsaysjustoveraquarterofamill
ion70-74-year-oldscurrentlyhavejobs.In2005,therewerearound
100,000ofthem.Thegovernmentsaidpeopleareworkingtoanolderag
eandaredecidingtoretirelater.Alabourunionspokespersonsaidtherea
sonforpeopleworkingintheiroldageisbecauseretirementpensionsinB
ritainarebecomingmoredifficulttoliveon.Manyolderpeoplehavetowo
rkanddelayretirementtobeabletosurvive.EmploymentspokesmanFr
ancesO'Gradysaid:"Thelastdecadehasseen[big]changesinthelabour
market,withfarmorepeopleworkingbeyondretirementage.Whilether
eareplentywhoenjoyremaininginwork,manyneedtoearnextracashb
ecausetheycannotaffordtoretire."Headdedthat:"Weneeddecentjobs
andpensionsforallsothatpeoplecanmakeagenuinechoiceaboutwhet
hertheyremaininwork."Aspokesmanforsmallbusinesses,JohnAllan,s
aidmoreolderpeoplewerestartingtheirownbusinesses.Hesaid:"More
andmoreolderpeopleare[decidingon]acareerchangelaterinlifeandar
estartinguptheirownbusinesses,pursuingsomethingtheymayhavedr
eamedofdoingforyears."

FREE WRITING

Write about working for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Everyone should retire in their 60s. 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 working in your 70s and 80s. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. RETIREMENT: Make a poster about retirement and what different people do. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. WORKING: Write a magazine article about working in your 70s. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 working in your 70s. Ask him/her three questions about this. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. 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

T

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	number	a.	total
2	records	b.	reports
3.	currently	c.	presently
4.	deciding	d.	choosing
5.	delay	e.	put off
6.	big	f.	huge
7.	beyond	g.	past
8.	extra	h.	additional
9.	genuine	i.	real
10.	starting	j.	beginning

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Two times (it doubled)
2.	10%
3.	100,000
4.	Pensions
5.	Retirement
6.	Big changes
7.	Cash
8.	Pensions and jobs
9.	Their own businesses
10.	Starting a business

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

d

4.

c

5.

d

6.

c

7.

a

8.

c

9.

b

10.

a

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 and more 70-year-olds working (10th November, 2015)

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