Breaking News English Lesson: Recycling Coffee Cups

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Discount for bringing own cup to Starbucks (22nd March, 2016)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

The international coffee shop chain Starbucks will start giving customers a discount if they bring their own cups. The discount is part of a two-month trial in cafes in England. Starbucks said it wants to reduce the amount of waste and recycle more. The vice president of Starbucks UK said: "Starbucks is committed to increasing recycling rates and reusable cups are a key part of our overall waste reduction strategy." Bosses will look at the success of the trial and then decide if they will continue it. The company wants to cut down on the huge number of paper cups that are put in the trash. Customers who bring their own mugs will get a discount on all drinks, except for the cafe's cheaper filter coffee.

The issue of disposable paper cups has been in the news in England a lot recently. Around 2.5 billion of them are thrown away every year – that's about seven million cups every day. Journalists have said that some coffee chains lie about how many paper cups they recycle. The journalists say the companies do not recycle as many cups as they say they do. This means customers wrongly believe that a coffee shop is environmentally friendly. A recycling service in the UK said that fewer than one in 400 paper cups at coffee shop chains are recycled. One coffee drinker said she would now bring her own cup. She said: "I am disappointed that cafes recycle so little. I thought they were more responsible."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/starbucks-to-offer-50p-discount-to-customers-with-their-own-cup-a3207521.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/shopping-and-consumer-news/12198714/Starbucks-offers-discount-to-customers-who-bring-their-own-coffee-cup-in-campaign-win.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/starbucks-offers-50p-discount-if-you-bring-your-own-cup-a6941026.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. COFFEE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about coffee. 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?

international / coffee shop / discount / waste / recycling / strategy / success / trial / disposable / journalists / customers / environmentally friendly / disappointed / cup

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

3. RECYCLE: How can we recycle these things more? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What happens now?	A better way to recycle?
Paper cups
Newspapers
Computers
Cars
Plastic bottles
Batteries

4. NO MORE: Students A strongly believe cafes should stop using paper cups; Students B strongly believe that's a silly idea. 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. RECYCLING: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things to recycle at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• paper cups

• plastic bottles

• batteries

• plastic shopping bags

• chopsticks

• mobile phones

• light bulbs

• clothes

6. DISCOUNT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "discount". 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 discount is part of a two-month trial.	T / F
b.	Reusable cups are not a part of the cafe's waste reduction strategy.	T / F
c.	Bosses will decide the future of the discounts after the trial finishes.	T / F
d.	Starbucks customers will get a discount on the cheapest filter coffee.	T / F
e.	Around 2.5 million paper cups are thrown away each year.	T / F
f.	Journalists say some cafes lie about the amount they recycle.	T / F
g.	A recycling service said coffee shops recycle one in 400 paper cups.	T / F
h.	A coffee drinker was very happy with how cafes recycle.	T / F

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

1.	international	a.	very large
2.	trial	b.	topic
3.	huge	c.	apart from
4.	trash	d.	trustworthy
5.	except for	e.	rubbish
6.	issue	f.	throwaway
7.	disposable	g.	global
8.	thrown away	h.	saddened
9.	disappointed	i.	disposed of
10.	responsible	j.	experiment

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

1.	part of a two-	a.	paper cups
2.	it wants to reduce the amount of	b.	are put in the trash
3.	a key part of our overall waste	c.	in 400 paper cups
4.	the huge number of paper cups that	d.	every day
5.	except for the cafe's	e.	reduction strategy
6.	disposable	f.	month trial
7.	that's about seven million cups	g.	friendly
8.	environmentally	h.	cheaper filter coffee
9.	fewer than one	i.	recycle so little
10.	I am disappointed that cafes	j.	waste and recycle more

GAP FILL

The international coffee shop (1) ____________ Starbucks will start giving customers a discount if they bring their own cups. The discount is part of a two-month (2) ____________ in cafes in England. Starbucks said it wants to reduce the amount of (3) ____________ and recycle more. The vice president of Starbucks UK said: "Starbucks is committed to increasing recycling rates and (4) ____________ cups are a key part of our overall waste reduction strategy." Bosses will look at the (5) ____________ of the trial and then decide if they will continue it. The company wants to cut down on the (6) ____________ number of paper cups that are put in the trash. Customers who bring their own (7) ____________ will get a discount on all drinks, except for the cafe's (8) ____________ filter coffee.

reusable
huge
waste
cheaper
chain
trial
mugs
success

The (9) ____________ of disposable paper cups has been in the news in England a lot (10) ____________. Around 2.5 billion of them are thrown away every year – that's about seven million cups every day. Journalists have said that some coffee chains (11) ____________ about how many paper cups they recycle. The journalists say the companies do not (12) ____________ as many cups as they say they do. This means customers wrongly believe that a coffee shop is environmentally (13) ____________. A recycling service in the UK said that (14) ____________ than one in 400 paper cups at coffee shop chains are recycled. One coffee (15) ____________ said she would now bring her own cup. She said: "I am disappointed that cafes recycle so (16) ____________. I thought they were more responsible."

lie
friendly
drinker
issue
little
recently
recycle
fewer

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	Starbucks will start giving customers a discount if they bring ______
	a. their own cups b. their own caps c. their own clubs d. their own claps
2)	Starbucks said it wants to reduce the amount of waste ______
	a. and recycles more b. and recycled more c. and recycle more d. and recycling more
3)	reusable cups are a key part of our overall waste ______
	a. reduction strategies b. reduction strategy c. reductions strategy d. reductions strategies
4)	cut down on the huge number of paper cups that are put ______
	a. in the trashes b. in the trashed c. in the trashy d. in the trash
5)	Customers who bring their own mugs will get a discount ______
	a. on all drink b. on all drinks c. on all drinkers d. on all drinkies
6)	The issue of disposable paper cups has been in the news in England ______
	a. a lot recently b. a load recently c. allot recently d. a lots recently
7)	Journalists have said that some coffee chains lie about how many paper ______
	a. cups they're recycle b. cups them recycle c. cups that recycle d. cups they recycle
8)	The journalists say the companies do not recycle as many cups as ______
	a. they say they do b. they say they did c. they say they doing d. they say they does
9)	This means customers wrongly believe that a coffee shop is ______
	a. environmentally friendlier b. environmentally friendly c. environmentally friended d. environmentally friendliest
10)	I am disappointed that cafes recycle so little. I thought they ______
	a. was more responsible b. were more responsible c. were many responsible d. were more responsibility

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The international coffee shop chain Starbucks (1) ___________________ customers a discount if they bring their own cups. The discount is part of a two-month (2) ___________________ in England. Starbucks said it wants to (3) ___________________ of waste and recycle more. The vice president of Starbucks UK said: "Starbucks is committed to increasing recycling rates and reusable cups are (4) ___________________ our overall waste reduction strategy." Bosses will look at (5) ___________________ the trial and then decide if they will continue it. The company wants to cut down on the huge number of paper cups that are (6) ___________________. Customers who bring their own mugs will get a discount on all drinks, except for the cafe's cheaper filter coffee.

The issue of disposable paper cups (7) ___________________ the news in England a lot recently. Around 2.5 billion of them (8) __________________ every year – that's about seven million cups every day. Journalists have said that some coffee chains (9) ___________________ many paper cups they recycle. The journalists say the companies do not recycle as many cups as they say they do. This means customers (10) ___________________ that a coffee shop is environmentally friendly. A recycling service in the UK said that fewer than (11) ___________________ paper cups at coffee shop chains are recycled. One coffee drinker said she would now bring her own cup. She said: "I am disappointed that cafes (12) ___________________. I thought they were more responsible."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	To whom will Starbucks give a discount for bringing their own cups?
2.	How long will the trial be?
3.	What does Starbucks want to do more?
4.	What is a key part of Starbucks' overall waste reduction strategy?
5.	Which drinks will customers not get a discount on?
6.	What issue has been in the English news a lot recently?
7.	How many paper cups get thrown away each day?
8.	Who said some coffee chains lie about how much they recycle?
9.	How many paper cups did a recycling service say are recycled?
10.	How did a coffee drinker feel about the cafes?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	To whom will Starbucks give a discount for bringing their own cups?	6.	What issue has been in the English news a lot recently?
	a) staff b) coffee growers c) tea drinkers d) customers		a) coffee b) disposable cups c) recycling d) discounts
2.	How long will the trial be?	7.	How many paper cups get thrown away each day?
	a) 5 months b) 2 months c) 6 months d) 3 months		a) 1.7 million b) 17 million c) 700,000 d) 7,000,000
3.	What does Starbucks want to do more?	8.	Who said some coffee chains lie about how much they recycle?
	a) discount b) use paper cups c) recycle d) drink coffee		a) journalists b) baristas c) coffee lovers d) ice cream shops
4.	What is a key part of Starbucks' overall waste reduction strategy?	9.	How many paper cups did a recycling service say are recycled?
	a) reusable cups b) electricity c) trash cans / rubbish bins d) coffee		a) fewer than one and 400 b) fewer than 400 in one c) fewer than one in 400 d) fewer than 100 and four
5.	Which drinks will customers not get a discount on?	10.	How did a coffee drinker feel about the cafes?
	a) cappuccino b) latter c) filter coffee d) espresso		a) full b) disappointed c) satisfied d) happy

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Paper cups

You think paper cups are the most important thing to recycle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important to recycle. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): plastic bottles, mobile phones or clothes.

Role B – Plastic bottles

You think plastic bottles are the most important thing to recycle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important to recycle. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): paper cups, mobile phones or clothes.

Role C – Mobile phones

You think mobile phones are the most important thing to recycle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important to recycle. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): plastic bottles, paper cups or clothes.

Role D – Clothes

You think clothes are the most important thing to recycle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important to recycle. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): plastic bottles, mobile phones or paper cups.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

coffee

shop

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:

start
part
vice
success
huge
filter

news
2.5
lie
believe
400
little

COFFEE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about coffee 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.

COFFEE 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 'coffee'?
3)	What do you think of Starbucks?
4)	What do you think about what you read?
5)	What do you think of the idea of a discount for bringing your own cup?
6)	Should cafes and restaurants stop using disposable cups?
7)	What other things can cafes do to recycle things?
8)	What things could you recycle more often?
9)	What can fast food restaurants recycle more of?
10)	Would you take your own mug to a cafe to get a discount?

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

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 coffee?
13)	What is your favourite cafe and why?
14)	What do you think of the number of paper cups that are thrown away?
15)	Do you believe what companies say about their recycling?
16)	How environmentally friendly do you think Starbucks is?
17)	How bad is it that only one in 400 paper cups are recycled?
18)	Is a coffee at home better than a coffee in a cafe?
19)	Would you stop going to cafes if they were not environmentally friendly?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the Starbucks CEO?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The international coffee shop chain Starbucks will start (1) ____ customers a discount if they bring their own cups. The discount is part (2) ____ a two-month trial in cafes in England. Starbucks said it wants to reduce the amount of waste and recycle more. The vice president of Starbucks UK said: "Starbucks is committed to increasing recycling rates and (3) ____ cups are a key part of our overall waste reduction strategy." Bosses will look at the success of the trial and then (4) ____ if they will continue it. The company wants to cut down (5) ____ the huge number of paper cups that are put in the trash. Customers who bring their own mugs will get a discount on all drinks, except (6) ____ the cafe's cheaper filter coffee.

The issue of disposable paper cups has been in the news in England a lot (7) ____. Around 2.5 billion of them are thrown away every year – that's about seven million cups every day. Journalists have said that some coffee chains (8) ____ about how many paper cups they recycle. The journalists say the companies do not recycle as (9) ____ cups as they say they do. This means customers wrongly believe that a coffee shop is environmentally friendly. A recycling service in the UK said that fewer than one (10) ____ 400 paper cups at coffee shop chains are recycled. One coffee (11) ____ said she would now bring her own cup. She said: "I am disappointed that cafes recycle so (12) ____. I thought they were more responsible."

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

1.	(a)	giving in	(b)	give in	(c)	given in	(d)	giving
2.	(a)	at	(b)	by	(c)	for	(d)	of
3.	(a)	abused	(b)	reusable	(c)	defused	(d)	treatable
4.	(a)	decider	(b)	decision	(c)	decide	(d)	decides
5.	(a)	to	(b)	of	(c)	on	(d)	by
6.	(a)	for	(b)	by	(c)	at	(d)	to
7.	(a)	recent	(b)	recently	(c)	recant	(d)	recanted
8.	(a)	lie	(b)	lay	(c)	dishonest	(d)	liar
9.	(a)	most	(b)	many	(c)	much	(d)	more
10.	(a)	as	(b)	by	(c)	in	(d)	under
11.	(a)	drunk	(b)	drunkard	(c)	drinker	(d)	drink
12.	(a)	less	(b)	small	(c)	few	(d)	little

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	The international coffee shop acihn
2.	part of a two-month rtali
3.	reduce the oamunt of waste
4.	committed to isiaerncgn recycling rates
5.	decide if they will utoceinn it
6.	rfltie coffee
Paragraph 2
7.	isbpoeldas paper cups
8.	in the news in England a lot lynerect
9.	tsirsajnoul say the companies do not recycle
10.	customers ywngorl believe that
11.	weefr than one in 400 paper cups
12.	I thought they were more isprslnoebe

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	number of paper cups that are put in the trash. Customers who bring their own mugs will get a
( )	recycle as many cups as they say they do. This means customers wrongly believe that a coffee shop is environmentally
( )	at the success of the trial and then decide if they will continue it. The company wants to cut down on the huge
( )	to increasing recycling rates and reusable cups are a key part of our overall waste reduction strategy." Bosses will look
( )	paper cups at coffee shop chains are recycled. One coffee drinker said she would now bring her own cup. She said:
( )	own cups. The discount is part of a two-month trial in cafes in England. Starbucks said it wants to reduce the amount
( )	chains lie about how many paper cups they recycle. The journalists say the companies do not
( )	thrown away every year – that's about seven million cups every day. Journalists have said that some coffee
( )	discount on all drinks, except for the cafe's cheaper filter coffee.
( )	friendly. A recycling service in the UK said that fewer than one in 400
( )	"I am disappointed that cafes recycle so little. I thought they were more responsible."
( )	The issue of disposable paper cups has been in the news in England a lot recently. Around 2.5 billion of them are
( 1 )	The international coffee shop chain Starbucks will start giving customers a discount if they bring their
( )	of waste and recycle more. The vice president of Starbucks UK said: "Starbucks is committed

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	two part The in - of discount cafes month a is trial .
2.	are cups Reusable reduction waste overall our of part key a .
3.	trial will the the Bosses at of look success .
4.	trash put cups number in that of The the are paper huge .
5.	discount Customers who bring their own mugs will get a .
6.	paper disposable of issue The news the in been has cups .
7.	how many paper cups they recycle Coffee chains lie about .
8.	coffee shop Believe is that environmentally a friendly .
9.	coffee at cups paper 400 in one than Fewer chains shop .
10.	cafes I recycle am so disappointed little that .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The international coffee shop chain Starbucks will start / starting giving customers a discount if they bring their own caps / cups. The discount is part of a two-month trial in cafes in England. Starbucks said it wants to reduce the amount of wasting / waste and recycle more. The vice president of Starbucks UK said: "Starbucks is committed to increasing recycling rate / rates and reusable cups are a key party / part of our overall waste reduction strategy." Bosses / Boss will look at the success of the trial and then decision / decide if they will continue it. The company wants to cut down on / in the huge number of paper cups that are put / putting in the trash. Customers who bring their own mugs will get a discount on all / every drinks, except for the cafe's cheaper filter coffee.

The issue / tissue of disposable paper cups has been in the news in England a lot recent / recently. Around 2.5 billion of them are thrown away every year – that's about seven million cups every / all day. Journalists have said that some coffee chains lie / lies about how many paper cups they recycle. The journalists say the companies do not recycle has / as many cups as they say they doing / do. This means customers wrongly believe / belief that a coffee shop is environmentally friendly. A recycling service in the UK said that fewer than one in 400 paper cups at coffee shop chains are recyclers / recycled. One coffee drunk / drinker said she would now bring her own cup. She said: "I am disappointed that cafes recycle such / so little. I thought they were more responsible."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l c_ff__ sh_p ch__n St_rb_cks w_ll st_rt g_v_ng c_st_m_rs _ d_sc__nt _f th_y br_ng th__r _wn c_ps. Th_ d_sc__nt _s p_rt _f _ tw_-m_nth tr__l _n c_f_s _n _ngl_nd. St_rb_cks s__d _t w_nts t_ r_d_c_ th_ _m__nt _f w_st_ _nd r_cycl_ m_r_. Th_ v_c_ pr_s_d_nt _f St_rb_cks _K s__d: "St_rb_cks _s c_mm_tt_d t_ _ncr__s_ng r_cycl_ng r_t_s _nd r__s_bl_ c_ps _r_ _ k_y p_rt _f __r _v_r_ll w_st_ r_d_ct__n str_t_gy." B_ss_s w_ll l__k _t th_ s_cc_ss _f th_ tr__l _nd th_n d_c_d_ _f th_y w_ll c_nt_n__ _t. Th_ c_mp_ny w_nts t_ c_t d_wn _n th_ h_g_ n_mb_r _f p_p_r c_ps th_t _r_ p_t _n th_ tr_sh. C_st_m_rs wh_ br_ng th__r _wn m_gs w_ll g_t _ d_sc__nt _n _ll dr_nks, _xc_pt f_r th_ c_f_'s ch__p_r f_lt_r c_ff__.

Th_ _ss__ _f d_sp_s_bl_ p_p_r c_ps h_s b__n _n th_ n_ws _n _ngl_nd _ l_t r_c_ntly. _r__nd 2.5 b_ll__n _f th_m _r_ thr_wn _w_y _v_ry y__r – th_t's _b__t s_v_n m_ll__n c_ps _v_ry d_y. J__rn_l_sts h_v_ s__d th_t s_m_ c_ff__ ch__ns l__ _b__t h_w m_ny p_p_r c_ps th_y r_cycl_. Th_ j__rn_l_sts s_y th_ c_mp_n__s d_ n_t r_cycl_ _s m_ny c_ps _s th_y s_y th_y d_. Th_s m__ns c_st_m_rs wr_ngly b_l__v_ th_t _ c_ff__ sh_p _s _nv_r_nm_nt_lly fr__ndly. _ r_cycl_ng s_rv_c_ _n th_ _K s__d th_t f_w_r th_n _n_ _n 400 p_p_r c_ps _t c_ff__ sh_p ch__ns _r_ r_cycl_d. _n_ c_ff__ dr_nk_r s__d sh_ w__ld n_w br_ng h_r _wn c_p. Sh_ s__d: "_ _m d_s_pp__nt_d th_t c_f_s r_cycl_ s_ l_ttl_. _ th__ght th_y w_r_ m_r_ r_sp_ns_bl_."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the international coffee shop chain starbucks will start giving customers a discount if they bring their own cups the discount is part of a two-month trial in cafes in england starbucks said it wants to reduce the amount of waste and recycle more the vice president of starbucks uk said "starbucks is committed to increasing recycling rates and reusable cups are a key part of our overall waste reduction strategy" bosses will look at the success of the trial and then decide if they will continue it the company wants to cut down on the huge number of paper cups that are put in the trash customers who bring their own mugs will get a discount on all drinks except for the cafe's cheaper filter coffee

the issue of disposable paper cups has been in the news in england a lot recently around 25 billion of them are thrown away every year – that's about seven million cups every day journalists have said that some coffee chains lie about how many paper cups they recycle the journalists say the companies do not recycle as many cups as they say they do this means customers wrongly believe that a coffee shop is environmentally friendly a recycling service in the uk said that fewer than one in 400 paper cups at coffee shop chains are recycled one coffee drinker said she would now bring her own cup she said "i am disappointed that cafes recycle so little i thought they were more responsible"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheinternationalcoffeeshopchainStarbuckswillstartgivingcustomer
sadiscountiftheybringtheirowncups.Thediscountispartofatwo-mo
nthtrialincafesinEngland.Starbuckssaiditwantstoreducetheamount
ofwasteandrecyclemore.ThevicepresidentofStarbucksUKsaid:"Star
bucksiscommittedtoincreasingrecyclingratesandreusablecupsareak
eypartofouroverallwastereductionstrategy."Bosseswilllookatthesuc
cessofthetrialandthendecideiftheywillcontinueit.Thecompanywants
tocutdownonthehugenumberofpapercupsthatareputinthetrash.Cus
tomerswhobringtheirownmugswillgetadiscountonalldrinks,except
orthecafe'scheaperfiltercoffee.Theissueofdisposablepapercupshasb
eeninthenewsinEnglandalotrecently.Around2.5billionofthemarethr
ownawayeveryyear–that'saboutsevenmillioncupseveryday.Jour
nalistshavesaidthatsomecoffeechainslieabouthowmanypapercupst
heyrecycle.Thejournalistssaythecompaniesdonotrecycleasmanycu
psastheysaytheydo.Thismeanscustomerswronglybelievethatacoffe
eshopisenvironmentallyfriendly.ArecyclingserviceintheUKsaidthatf
ewerthanonein400papercupsatcoffeeshopchainsarerecycled.Oneco
ffeedrinkersaidshewouldnowbringherowncup.Shesaid:"Iamdisappo
intedthatcafesrecyclesolittle.Ithoughttheyweremoreresponsible."

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

All disposable cups should be banned in cafes and restaurants. 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 coffee shops. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. DISPOSABLE COFFEE CUPS: Write a magazine article about disposable coffee cups and whether they should be banned. 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 coffee. Ask him/her three questions about coffee. 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

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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.	international	a.	global
2.	trial	b.	experiment
3.	huge	c.	very large
4.	trash	d.	rubbish
5.	except for	e.	apart from
6.	issue	f.	topic
7.	disposable	g.	throwaway
8.	thrown away	h.	disposed of
9.	disappointed	i.	saddened
10.	responsible	j.	trustworthy

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Customers
2.	2 months
3.	Recycle
4.	Reusable cups
5.	Cheaper filter coffee
6.	Disposable cups
7.	Seven million
8.	Journalists
9.	Fewer than one in 400
10.	Disappointed

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

c

4.

a

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

a

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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Breaking News English Lesson: Recycling Coffee Cups

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Discount for bringing own cup to Starbucks (22nd March, 2016)

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