Breaking News English

Home | Help This Site

Ed Sheeran takes a year's break from social media (16th December, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has announced he is "taking a break" from social media because he is fed up with spending so much time looking at his mobile phone or iPad. The international superstar has 16 million followers on Twitter and another 5.5 million on Instagram. He has been active in keeping his fans up to date on his personal life but now wants to have a rest. He wrote on his Instagram account: "Hello all. I'm taking a break from my phone, e-mails and all social media for a while." He went on to explain: "I've had such an amazing [time] over the last five years but I find myself seeing the world through a screen and not my eyes."

Sheeran has been touring the world since August 2014 giving dozens of sellout concerts. He apologised to his friends and family for his upcoming online absence. He said he wanted to see the world instead of continually working and touring. He wrote: "I'm taking this opportunity of me not having to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world and see everything I missed." The singer will also use his time off to get surgery for a burst eardrum he got while doing a concert. He also had good news for his millions of fans. He announced that his third album is on its way and that it is the best thing he has produced so far. He thanked his fans and said he would be back next autumn.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35086793
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/6806070/ed-sheeran-social-media-break-instagram-twitter
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity/ed-sheeran-to-take-a-year-off-social-media-stop-seeing-life-through-a-screen-20151213-glmnfc.html

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. SINGERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about singers. 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?

singer / songwriter / social media / superstar / personal life / account / screen / amazing / concerts / opportunity / surgery / millions / album / thanked / fans / autumn

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

3. SOCIAL MEDIA: How good or bad is it? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good	Bad
News
Friends
Family
Your brain
Hobbies
Killing time

4. BREAK: Students A strongly believe we all need to take regular, long breaks from social media; Students B strongly believe that is unnecessary. 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. WEBSITES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• Twitter

• Instagram

• Facebook

• Google

• Apple

• Snapchat

• Yahoo!

• eBay

6. TWITTER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "Twitter". 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.	Ed Sheeran said he is fed up with using social media too often.	T / F
b.	Sheeran has 16 million Instagram and 5.5 million Twitter followers.	T / F
c.	Sheeran told his followers he would still use e-mail.	T / F
d.	Sheeran said he's had an amazing time over the past 10 years.	T / F
e.	The singer has been touring the world for over a year.	T / F
f.	Sheeran needs an operation on his ear.	T / F
g.	Sheeran said he will soon release his fourth album.	T / F
h.	Sheeran told fans he would be back in the spring.	T / F

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

1.	announced	a.	awesome
2.	fed up	b.	constantly
3.	active	c.	tired
4.	while	d.	made
5.	amazing	e.	fall
6.	touring	f.	made known
7.	continually	g.	an operation
8.	surgery	h.	traveling around
9.	produced	i.	busy
10.	autumn	j.	time

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

1.	he is fed	a.	since August 2014
2.	16 million	b.	life
3.	personal	c.	up
4.	for a	d.	is on its way
5.	seeing the world through a screen	e.	of fans
6.	touring the world	f.	while
7.	dozens of sellout	g.	for a burst eardrum
8.	get surgery	h.	and not my eyes
9.	good news for his millions	i.	concerts
10.	his third album	j.	followers on Twitter

GAP FILL

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has announced he is "taking a break" from social media because he is (1) ____________ up with spending so much time looking at his mobile phone or iPad. The international (2) ____________ has 16 million (3) ____________ on Twitter and another 5.5 million on Instagram. He has been (4) ____________ in keeping his fans up to (5) ____________ on his personal life but now wants to have a rest. He wrote on his Instagram account: "Hello all. I'm taking a break from my phone, e-mails and all social media for a (6) ____________." He went on to explain: "I've had such an (7) ____________ [time] over the last five years but I find myself seeing the world through a screen and not my (8) ____________."

superstar
active
while
fed
eyes
followers
amazing
date

Sheeran has been touring the world (9) ____________ August 2014 giving dozens of sellout concerts. He apologised to his friends and family for his (10) ____________ online absence. He said he wanted to see the world instead of (11) ____________ working and touring. He wrote: "I'm taking this (12) ____________ of me not having to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world and see everything I (13) ____________." The singer will also use his time off to get (14) ____________ for a burst eardrum he got while doing a concert. He also had good news for his millions of fans. He announced that his third album is on its (15) ____________ and that it is the best thing he has produced so (16) ____________. He thanked his fans and said he would be back next autumn.

missed
upcoming
way
opportunity
since
far
continually
surgery

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Ed Sheeran has announced he is "taking a break" from social media because ______
	a. he is fed in b. he is fed out c. he is fed down d. he is fed up
2)	He has been active in keeping his fans ______
	a. up too date b. up two dates c. up to dates d. up to date
3)	Hello all. I'm taking a break from my phone, e-mails and all social ______
	a. media for a while b. media for a whilst c. media for a will d. media for a whale
4)	He went on to explain: "I've had such an amazing time over ______."
	a. the lasted five years b. the last five years c. the lasting five years d. the lasts five years
5)	I find myself seeing the world through a screen ______
	a. and not mine eyes b. and not me eyes c. and not my eyes d. and not main eyes
6)	Sheeran has been touring the world since August 2014 giving dozens ______
	a. of sellout concerts b. off sellout concert c. of selling out concerts d. off sellout concerts
7)	He apologised to his friends and family for his upcoming ______
	a. online absences b. online absentee c. online absenteeism d. online absence
8)	He said he wanted to see the world instead of continually ______
	a. working and tour in b. working and touring c. work in and touring d. work in and tour in
9)	The singer will also use his time off to get surgery for ______
	a. a bust eardrum b. a beast eardrum c. a baste eardrum d. a burst eardrum
10)	his third album is on its way and that it is the best thing he has ______
	a. produces so far b. produced so far c. produce so far d. production so far

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has announced (1) ___________________ a break" from social media because (2) ___________________ spending so much time looking at his mobile phone or iPad. The international superstar has (3) ___________________ on Twitter and another 5.5 million on Instagram. He has been active in keeping his fans (4) __________________ his personal life but now wants to have a rest. He wrote on his Instagram account: "Hello all. I'm taking a break from my phone, e-mails and all social (5) ___________________." He went on to explain: "I've had such an amazing [time] over the last five years but I find myself seeing the world through a screen (6) ___________________."

Sheeran (7) ___________________ the world since August 2014 giving dozens of sellout concerts. He apologised to his friends and family for his upcoming (8) ___________________. He said he wanted to see the world instead of continually working and touring. He wrote: "I'm taking this opportunity (9) ___________________ to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world (10) ___________________ I missed." The singer will also use his time off to get surgery for a burst eardrum he got while doing a concert. He (11) ___________________ news for his millions of fans. He announced that his third album is on its way and that it is the best thing he has produced so far. He thanked his fans and said he (12) ___________________ next autumn.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	How does Ed Sheeran feel about spending time on social media?
2.	How many Twitter followers does Ed Sheeran have?
3.	What does Ed Sheeran keep his fans up to date with?
4.	On what social media platform did Sheeran tell fans about his break?
5.	What does Ed Sheeran want to see the world through?
6.	When did Ed Sheeran start touring?
7.	What does Ed Sheeran want to see when he travels the world?
8.	On what part of his body does Ed Sheeran need an operation?
9.	What did Ed Sheeran say is on its way?
10.	When will Ed Sheeran be back on social media?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	How does Ed Sheeran feel about spending time on social media?	6.	When did Ed Sheeran start touring?
	a) well fed b) fed up c) in need of feeding d) ill fed		a) January 2015 b) October 2014 c) August 2014 d) July 2014
2.	How many Twitter followers does Ed Sheeran have?	7.	What does Ed Sheeran want to see when he travels the world?
	a) 16 trillion b) 1,600,000 c) 16 billion d) 16 million		a) the Gobi Desert b) other singers in concert c) the Taj Mahal d) everything he missed
3.	What does Ed Sheeran keep his fans up to date with?	8.	On what part of his body does Ed Sheeran need an operation?
	a) his personal life b) news of his hometown c) his love life d) his new songs		a) his ear b) his throat c) his thumb d) his knee
4.	On what social media platform did Sheeran tell fans about his break?	9.	What did Ed Sheeran say is on its way?
	a) Facebook b) Snapchat c) Instagram d) Twitter		a) his third album b) his first baby c) an MTV award d) old age
5.	What does Ed Sheeran want to see the world through?	10.	When will Ed Sheeran be back on social media?
	a) sunglasses b) his eyes c) a train window d) the International Space Station		a) 2017 b) next autumn c) 12th December 2016 d) 3pm

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Twitter

You think Twitter is the best website. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their websites. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): Facebook, SnapChat or Google.

Role B – Facebook

You think Facebook is the best website. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their websites. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): Twitter, SnapChat or Google.

Role C – SnapChat

You think SnapChat is the best website. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their websites. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): Facebook, Twitter or Google.

Role D – Google

You think Google is the best website. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their websites. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): Facebook, SnapChat or Twitter.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

social

media

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:

fed
16
another
wrote
time
eyes

2014
family
opportunity
surgery
news
next

SOCIAL MEDIA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about social media 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.

SOCIAL MEDIA 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 'break'?
3)	What do you need to take a break from?
4)	What do you know about Ed Sheeran?
5)	Do you ever get fed up looking at a screen?
6)	Do you prefer a TV screen or your mobile phone screen?
7)	How bad is it that people spend more time looking at screens than looking at other people?
8)	What would you do without social media?
9)	Which is better – a mobile phone or an iPad?
10)	What advice do you have for Ed Sheeran?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What social media site or app do you like best?
13)	How useful is social media?
14)	How dangerous is social media?
15)	How important is it to look at the world through your eyes?
16)	What are the benefits of traveling the world?
17)	Do you like not having to be anywhere?
18)	How much time each day do you spend staring at a screen?
19)	What will social media be like in 20 years from now?
20)	What questions would you like to ask Ed Sheeran?

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

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has announced he is "taking a break" from social media because he is fed (1) ____ with spending so much time looking at his mobile phone or iPad. The international superstar has 16 million followers (2) ____ Twitter and another 5.5 million on Instagram. He has been active in (3) ____ his fans up to date on his (4) ____ life but now wants to have a rest. He wrote on his Instagram account: "Hello all. I'm taking a break from my phone, e-mails and all social media for a while." He went on to explain: "I've had such an (5) ____ [time] over the last five years but I (6) ____ myself seeing the world through a screen and not my eyes."

Sheeran has been (7) ____ the world since August 2014 giving dozens of sellout concerts. He apologised to his friends and family for his upcoming online (8) ____. He said he wanted to see the world instead (9) ____ continually working and touring. He wrote: "I'm taking this opportunity of me not (10) ____ to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world and see everything I missed." The singer will also use his time off to get surgery for a burst eardrum he got while (11) ____ a concert. He also had good news for his millions of fans. He announced that his third album is on its way and that it is the best thing he has produced so (12) ____. He thanked his fans and said he would be back next autumn.

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

1.	(a)	out	(b)	in	(c)	down	(d)	up
2.	(a)	by	(b)	at	(c)	in	(d)	on
3.	(a)	keeps	(b)	keeping	(c)	kept	(d)	keep
4.	(a)	personally	(b)	personality	(c)	personal	(d)	personalised
5.	(a)	amazement	(b)	amazed	(c)	amazing	(d)	amazes
6.	(a)	find	(b)	search	(c)	locate	(d)	detail
7.	(a)	toured	(b)	touring	(c)	tours	(d)	tourist
8.	(a)	absence	(b)	absenteeism	(c)	absentee	(d)	absent
9.	(a)	from	(b)	of	(c)	on	(d)	at
10.	(a)	have	(b)	had	(c)	having	(d)	has
11.	(a)	done	(b)	did	(c)	doing	(d)	do
12.	(a)	furry	(b)	further	(c)	for	(d)	far

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	enonadncu he is taking a break
2.	The tnalnieoirnta superstar
3.	16 million llroeofsw
4.	He wrote on his Instagram ocnuatc
5.	I've had such an gaaiznm time
6.	seeing the world through a cseren
Paragraph 2
7.	ougrnti the world since August 2014
8.	oesdzn of sellout concerts
9.	his upcoming online aebecsn
10.	get rseuyrg for a burst eardrum
11.	good news for his msliloni of fans
12.	next tumuan

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	on Twitter and another 5.5 million on Instagram. He has been active in keeping his fans up to date on his personal
( )	to explain: "I've had such an amazing [time] over the last five years but I find myself seeing the
( )	that it is the best thing he has produced so far. He thanked his fans and said he would be back next autumn.
( )	everything I missed." The singer will also use his time off to get surgery for a burst eardrum he got while
( )	doing a concert. He also had good news for his millions of fans. He announced that his third album is on its way and
( )	life but now wants to have a rest. He wrote on his Instagram account: "Hello all. I'm taking a
( )	absence. He said he wanted to see the world instead of continually working and touring. He wrote: "I'm taking
( )	break from my phone, e-mails and all social media for a while." He went on
( )	Sheeran has been touring the world since August 2014 giving dozens of sellout
( )	concerts. He apologised to his friends and family for his upcoming online
( )	so much time looking at his mobile phone or iPad. The international superstar has 16 million followers
( 1 )	Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has announced he is "taking a break" from social media because he is fed up with spending
( )	world through a screen and not my eyes."
( )	this opportunity of me not having to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world and see

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	up fed is he because media social from break a Taking .
2.	The followers million 16 has superstar international .
3.	active been has He date to up fans his keeping in .
4.	five last the over time amazing an such had I've years .
5.	screen find the a I seeing through myself world .
6.	been world 2014 has the August Sheeran touring since .
7.	I world missed and see Travel everything the .
8.	for his millions of fans He also had good news .
9.	is on its way He announced that his third album .
10.	back He thanked his fans and said he would be .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has announced / announcing he is "taking a break" from social media because he is feed / fed up with spending so / such much time looking at his mobile phone or iPad. The international superstar has 16 million followers in / on Twitter and another 5.5 million on Instagram. He has been active in keeping his fans up / down to date on his personal life but now wants to have / be a rest. He wrote on his Instagram account: "Hello all. I'm taking / taken a break from my phone, e-mails and all social media for a while / whilst." He went on to explain: "I've had such an amazing [time] under / over the last five years but I find myself seeing the world through a screen and not / now my eyes."

Sheeran has been touring / toured the world since August 2014 given / giving dozens of sellout concerts. He apologised to his friends and family on / for his upcoming online absent / absence. He said he wanted to see the world instead of continually working and touring / toured. He wrote: "I'm taking this opportunity of me not have / having to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world and see everything I missed / mist." The singer will also use his time off to get surgery for a blast / burst eardrum he got while doing a concert. He also had good news for his millions of fans. He announced that his third / thirdly album is on its way and that it is the best thing he has producing / produced so far. He thanked his fans and said he would be back next autumn.

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)

S_ng_r-s_ngwr_t_r _d Sh__r_n h_s _nn__nc_d h_ _s "t_k_ng _ br__k" fr_m s_c__l m_d__ b_c__s_ h_ _s f_d _p w_th sp_nd_ng s_ m_ch t_m_ l__k_ng _t h_s m_b_l_ ph_n_ _r _P_d. Th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l s_p_rst_r h_s 16 m_ll__n f_ll_w_rs _n Tw_tt_r _nd _n_th_r 5.5 m_ll__n _n _nst_gr_m. H_ h_s b__n _ct_v_ _n k__p_ng h_s f_ns _p t_ d_t_ _n h_s p_rs_n_l l_f_ b_t n_w w_nts t_ h_v_ _ r_st. H_ wr_t_ _n h_s _nst_gr_m _cc__nt: "H_ll_ _ll. _'m t_k_ng _ br__k fr_m my ph_n_, _-m__ls _nd _ll s_c__l m_d__ f_r _ wh_l_." H_ w_nt _n t_ _xpl__n: "_'v_ h_d s_ch _n _m_z_ng [t_m_] _v_r th_ l_st f_v_ y__rs b_t _ f_nd mys_lf s___ng th_ w_rld thr__gh _ scr__n _nd n_t my _y_s."

Sh__r_n h_s b__n t__r_ng th_ w_rld s_nc_ __g_st 2014 g_v_ng d_z_ns _f s_ll__t c_nc_rts. H_ _p_l_g_s_d t_ h_s fr__nds _nd f_m_ly f_r h_s _pc_m_ng _nl_n_ _bs_nc_. H_ s__d h_ w_nt_d t_ s__ th_ w_rld _nst__d _f c_nt_n__lly w_rk_ng _nd t__r_ng. H_ wr_t_: "_'m t_k_ng th_s _pp_rt_n_ty _f m_ n_t h_v_ng t_ b_ _nywh_r_ _r d_ _nyth_ng t_ tr_v_l th_ w_rld _nd s__ _v_ryth_ng _ m_ss_d." Th_ s_ng_r w_ll _ls_ _s_ h_s t_m_ _ff t_ g_t s_rg_ry f_r _ b_rst __rdr_m h_ g_t wh_l_ d__ng _ c_nc_rt. H_ _ls_ h_d g__d n_ws f_r h_s m_ll__ns _f f_ns. H_ _nn__nc_d th_t h_s th_rd _lb_m _s _n _ts w_y _nd th_t _t _s th_ b_st th_ng h_ h_s pr_d_c_d s_ f_r. H_ th_nk_d h_s f_ns _nd s__d h_ w__ld b_ b_ck n_xt __t_mn.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has announced he is "taking a break" from social media because he is fed up with spending so much time looking at his mobile phone or ipad The international superstar has 16 million followers on Twitter and another 55 million on Instagram He has been active in keeping his fans up to date on his personal life but now wants to have a rest He wrote on his Instagram account "Hello all I'm taking a break from my phone e-mails and all social media for a while" He went on to explain "i've had such an amazing [time] over the last five years but I find myself seeing the world through a screen and not my eyes"

Sheeran has been touring the world since August 2014 giving dozens of sellout concerts He apologised to his friends and family for his upcoming online absence He said he wanted to see the world instead of continually working and touring He wrote "I'm taking this opportunity of me not having to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world and see everything I missed" The singer will also use his time off to get surgery for a burst eardrum he got while doing a concert He also had good news for his millions of fans He announced that his third album is on its way and that it is the best thing he has produced so far He thanked his fans and said he would be back next autumn

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Singer-songwriterEdSheeranhasannouncedheis"takingabreak"f
romsocialmediabecauseheisfedupwithspendingsomuchtimelooking
athismobilephoneoriPad.Theinternationalsuperstarhas16millionfoll
owersonTwitterandanother5.5milliononInstagram.Hehasbeenactiv
einkeepinghisfansuptodateonhispersonallifebutnowwantstohavear
est.HewroteonhisInstagramaccount:"Helloall.I'mtakingabreakfrom
myphone,e-mailsandallsocialmediaforawhile."Hewentontoexpl
ain:"I'vehadsuchanamazing[time]overthelastfiveyearsbutIfindmys
elfseeingtheworldthroughascreenandnotmyeyes."Sheeranhasbeen
touringtheworldsinceAugust2014givingdozensofselloutconcerts.He
apologisedtohisfriendsandfamilyforhisupcomingonlineabsence.Hes
aidhewantedtoseetheworldinsteadofcontinuallyworkingandtouring.
Hewrote:"I'mtakingthisopportunityofmenothavingtobeanywhereor
doanythingtotraveltheworldandseeeverythingImissed."Thesingerw
illalsousehistimeofftogetsurgeryforabursteardrumhegotwhiledoing
aconcert.Healsohadgoodnewsforhismillionsoffans.Heannouncedtha
thisthirdalbumisonitswayandthatitisthebestthinghehasproducedsof
ar.Hethankedhisfansandsaidhewouldbebacknextautumn.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

What are the good and bad things about social media? Why do you like or dislike it?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 the problems of spending too long on social media. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. SOCIAL MEDIA: Make a poster about social media. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. UNPLUG: Write a magazine article about social media and taking a break from it. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

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 social media. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how people can use it less. 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

T

b

F

c

F

d

F

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	announced	a.	made known
2	fed up	b.	tired
3.	active	c.	busy
4.	while	d.	time
5.	amazing	e.	awesome
6.	touring	f.	traveling around
7.	continually	g.	constantly
8.	surgery	h.	an operation
9.	produced	i.	made
10.	autumn	j.	fall

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Fed up
2.	16 million
3.	His personal life
4.	Instagram
5.	His eyes
6.	August 2014
7.	Everything he missed
8.	His ear
9.	His third album
10.	Next autumn

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

c

7.

d

8.

a

9.

a

10.

b

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

Ed Sheeran takes a year's break from social media (16th December, 2015)

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS