The Reading / Listening - Drinking Coffee - Level 6

There is potentially good news for coffee lovers. Drinking three or more cups of coffee a day may help people live longer. This is according to a 16-year-long study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and Imperial College London. Researchers looked at health data on over half a million people over the age of 35 from 10 European countries. They suggest that drinking more coffee is linked to a lower risk of death, particularly from heart diseases. This study showed that people who had a daily minimum of three cups of coffee were 8-18% less likely to die from health problems than non-coffee drinkers. Researchers said coffee drinkers had better liver function and a stronger immune system.

Not all experts agree with the research findings. Health experts suggest that the health benefits of drinking coffee could be because coffee drinkers may have more money and therefore live a healthier lifestyle. They also say that because drinking coffee can be a social activity, coffee drinkers may socialize more and this may increase wellbeing and help us live longer. They say the research does not prove that drinking coffee has concrete health benefits. Researchers also caution against drinking too much coffee. The upper level of safe caffeine intake is around 400 mg. More than this increases the risk of suffering from panic attacks, heart problems, and insomnia.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Drinking Coffee - Level 4  or  Drinking Coffee - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/health-40567047
  • https://www.emaxhealth.com/13737/studies-show-drinking-coffee-helps-you-live-longer
  • http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318324.php


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. GOOD NEWS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about good news. 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?

       potentially / good news / coffee lovers / study / health / risk / minimum / function /
       experts / benefits / healthier lifestyle / concrete / upper level / caffeine / panic

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

3. DRUG: Students A strongly believe coffee with caffeine should be banned because it is a drug; Students B strongly believe this would be silly.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. HEALTH BENEFITS: Are these things healthy? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Health Benefits

Health Dangers

Coffee

 

 

Chocolate

 

 

Salt

 

 

Steak

 

 

Milk

 

 

Raw fish

 

 
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. CUP: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "cup". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. COFFEE: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about coffee at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • social activity
  • coffee shops
  • smell
  • variety of coffee
  • health benefits
  • taste
  • wake-up effect
  • price

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says coffee makes you a better lover.     T / F
  2. Researchers conducted a 16-year-long study into coffee drinking.     T / F
  3. Researchers looked at the health data of just under half a million people.  T / F
  4. The study found that drinking coffee damaged the liver.     T / F
  5. The article said there was not agreement by experts on these findings.     T / F
  6. Coffee drinkers may be healthier because they are wealthier.     T / F
  7. Researchers advised against having more than 400mg of caffeine a day.   T / F
  8. Researchers said 500mg of caffeine helps to avoid panic attacks.     T / F

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

  1. according to
  2. data
  3. linked
  4. risk
  5. likely
  6. experts
  7. lifestyle
  8. prove
  9. upper
  10. insomnia
  1. possibility
  2. top
  3. specialists
  4. statistics
  5. show
  6. probable
  7. as claimed by
  8. sleeplessness
  9. way of life
  10. connected

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

  1. There is potentially good
  2. This is according
  3. health data
  4. drinking more coffee is linked to a
  5. 8-18% less likely to
  6. Not all experts agree
  7. live a healthier
  8. this may increase
  9. prove that drinking coffee has concrete
  10. increases the risk of suffering from panic
  1. to a 16-year-long study
  2. attacks
  3. die from health problems
  4. wellbeing
  5. lifestyle
  6. news for coffee lovers
  7. health benefits
  8. on over half a million people
  9. with the research findings
  10. lower risk of death

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
data
risk
non
potentially
system
suggest
according
daily

There is (1) ____________ good news for coffee lovers. Drinking three or more cups of coffee a day may help people live longer. This is (2) ____________ to a 16-year-long study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and Imperial College London. Researchers looked at health (3) ____________ on over half a million people over the age of 35 from 10 European countries. They (4) ____________ that drinking more coffee is linked to a lower (5) ____________ of death, particularly from heart diseases. This study showed that people who had a (6) ____________ minimum of three cups of coffee were 8-18% less likely to die from health problems than (7) ____________-coffee drinkers. Researchers said coffee drinkers had better liver function and a stronger immune (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
benefits
concrete
insomnia
lifestyle
wellbeing
upper
agree
socialize

Not all experts (8) ____________ with the research findings. Health experts suggest that the health (10) ____________ of drinking coffee could be because coffee drinkers may have more money and therefore live a healthier (11) ____________. They also say that because drinking coffee can be a social activity, coffee drinkers may (12) ____________ more and this may increase (13) ____________ and help us live longer. They say the research does not prove that drinking coffee has (14) ____________ health benefits. Researchers also caution against drinking too much coffee. The (15) ____________ level of safe caffeine intake is around 400 mg. More than this increases the risk of suffering from panic attacks, heart problems, and (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  There is potentially good news for ______
     a.  coffee loves
     b.  coffee love-ins
     c.  coffee lovers
     d.  coffee lovelies

2)  Drinking three or more cups of coffee a day may help ______
     a.  people live lengthier
     b.  people live longing
     c.  people live longer
     d.  people live longs

3)  Researchers looked at health data on over half a million people over ______
     a.  the old of 35
     b.  the age of 35
     c.  the aged of 35
     d.  the aging of 35

4)  people who had a daily minimum of three cups of coffee were 8-18% ______
     a.  less likelier to die
     b.  less likely to die
     c.  less likelihood to die
     d.  less liked to die

5)  Researchers said coffee drinkers had better liver function and a stronger ______
     a.  common system
     b.  retune system
     c.  commune system
     d.  immune system

6)  coffee drinkers may have more money and therefore live a ______
     a.  healthier lifestyle
     b.  healthier lifestyles
     c.  healthier life styles
     d.  healthier life's style

7) coffee can be a social activity, coffee drinkers may socialize more and this may ______
     a.  increase well been
     b.  increase well be in
     c.  increase well being
     d.  increase wellbeing

8)  They say the research does not prove that drinking coffee has ______ benefits
     a.  concrete health
     b.  cement health
     c.  plaster health
     d.  creosote health

9)  The upper level of safe caffeine ______ 400 mg
     a.  outtake is around
     b.  uptake is around
     c.  intake is around
     d.  retake is around

10)  More than this increases the risk of suffering from panic attacks, heart problems ______
     a.  end insomnia
     b.  and insomnia
     c.  and insomniac
     d.  and in so many

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There is potentially (1) ___________________ coffee lovers. Drinking three or more cups of coffee a day may help people live longer. This (2) ___________________ 16-year-long study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and Imperial College London. Researchers looked at health (3) ___________________ half a million people over the age of 35 from 10 European countries. They suggest that drinking more coffee is linked (4) ___________________ death, particularly from heart diseases. This study showed that people who had a daily minimum of three cups of coffee were 8-18% (5) ___________________ from health problems than non-coffee drinkers. Researchers said coffee drinkers had better (6) ___________________ stronger immune system.

Not (7) ___________________ with the research findings. Health experts suggest that the health benefits of drinking coffee could be because coffee drinkers may have more money and therefore (8) ___________________ lifestyle. They also say that because drinking coffee can (9) ___________________, coffee drinkers may socialize more and this may increase wellbeing and (10) ___________________. They say the research does not prove that drinking coffee has concrete health benefits. Researchers also (11) ___________________ drinking too much coffee. The upper level of safe caffeine intake is around 400 mg. More than this (12) ___________________ suffering from panic attacks, heart problems, and insomnia.

Comprehension questions

  1. For whom is there potentially good news?
  2. How long was the research that was mentioned in the article?
  3. How many people's health data did researchers look at?
  4. What did researchers say drinking more coffee was linked to?
  5. What did researchers say was stronger in coffee drinkers?
  6. Who suggested coffee drinkers may be healthier because they are richer?
  7. What did the researchers say socializing might increase?
  8. What did the researchers caution against?
  9. What is the upper level of safe caffeine intake?
  10. What kind of attacks did the article say lots of caffeine could cause?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  For whom is there potentially good news?
a) tea farmers
b) coffee lovers
c) Imperial College London
d) researchers

2) How long was the research that was mentioned in the article?
a) 8 years
b) 10 years
c) 12 years
d) 16 years

3) How many people's health data did researchers look at?
a) over 5,000,000
b) fewer than half a million
c) more than 500,000
d) a million-and-a-half

4) What did researchers say drinking more coffee was linked to?
a) a lower risk of death
b) poverty
c) heart disease
d) energy

5) What did researchers say was stronger in coffee drinkers?
a) the stomach
b) the immune system
c) the heart
d) the kidneys

6) Who suggested coffee drinkers may be healthier because they are richer?
a) health experts
b) coffee lovers
c) tea farmers
d) sociologists

7) What did the researchers say socializing might increase?
a) happiness
b) a circle of friends
c) wellbeing
d) money

8) What did the researchers caution against?
a) drinking too much coffee
b) caffeine
c) social activity
d) insomnia

9) What is the upper level of safe caffeine intake?
a) 400kg
b) 400ml
c) 400g
d) 400mg

10) What kind of attacks did the article say lots of caffeine could cause?
a) asthma attacks
b) cyber attacks
c) panic attacks
d) caffeine attacks

Role play

Role  A – Effect on Health

You think its effect on health is the best thing about coffee. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least convincing of these (and why): its wake-up effect, social activity or its taste.

Role  B – Wake-up Effect

You think its wake-up effect is the best thing about coffee. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least convincing of these (and why): its effect on health, social activity or its taste.

Role  C – Social Activity

You think the social activity of drinking coffee is the best thing about coffee. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least convincing of these (and why): its wake-up effect, its effect on health or its taste.

Role  D – Taste

You think its taste is the best thing about coffee. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least convincing of these (and why):  its wake-up effect, social activity or its effect on health.

After reading / listening

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

'drink'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'coffee'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • agree
    • therefore
    • social
    • longer
    • caution
    • panic
    • more
    • 16
    • 35
    • particularly
    • 8
    • function

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Coffee drinkers may live longer

    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 coffee?
    4. Why does one study say coffee is bad for us and another says it is good?
    5. Why is coffee so popular around the world?
    6. Would you drink more coffee if it had health benefits?
    7. What do you drink to stay healthy?
    8. Do you prefer coffee or tea? Why?
    9. From what age is it OK to start drinking coffee?
    10. How is your immune system?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'drink'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Do you think it's true that coffee lovers have more money?
    5. Why might socializing make us live longer?
    6. What is the problem with drinking too much coffee?
    7. Do you suffer from panic attacks or insomnia?
    8. What do you think of the smell of coffee?
    9. How important is coffee in your culture?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    There is (1) ____ good news for coffee lovers. Drinking three or more cups of coffee a day may help people live (2) ____. This is according to a 16-year-long study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and Imperial College London. Researchers looked at (3) ____ data on over half a million people over the age of 35 from 10 European countries. They suggest that drinking more coffee is linked (4) ____ a lower risk of death, particularly from heart diseases. This study showed that people who had a daily minimum of three cups of coffee were 8-18% less (5) ____ to die from health problems than non-coffee drinkers. Researchers said coffee drinkers had better (6) ____ function and a stronger immune system.

    Not all experts agree with the research findings. Health experts suggest that the health benefits of drinking coffee could (7) ____ because coffee drinkers may have more money and therefore live a healthier lifestyle. They also say that because drinking coffee can be a social (8) ____, coffee drinkers may socialize more and this may increase wellbeing and help us live longer. They say the research does not (9) ____ that drinking coffee has (10) ____ health benefits. Researchers also caution against drinking too much coffee. The (11) ____ level of safe caffeine intake is around 400 mg. More than this increases the risk of suffering from panic attacks, heart problems, and (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     potent     (b)     potential     (c)     potentially     (d)     portent    
    2. (a)     longer     (b)     lengthier     (c)     longing     (d)     longs    
    3. (a)     health     (b)     healthy     (c)     healthier     (d)     healthiest    
    4. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     by     (d)     on    
    5. (a)     likeliest     (b)     likelihood     (c)     liked     (d)     likely    
    6. (a)     slivers     (b)     sliver     (c)     livery     (d)     liver    
    7. (a)     be     (b)     do     (c)     have     (d)     give    
    8. (a)     active     (b)     actively     (c)     activate     (d)     activity    
    9. (a)     prove     (b)     proving     (c)     proven     (d)     proof    
    10. (a)     coral     (b)     concrete     (c)     creosote     (d)     cement    
    11. (a)     uppers     (b)     upper     (c)     upping     (d)     ups    
    12. (a)     insomnia     (b)     insomuch     (c)     insomniac     (d)     insomniacs

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. There is otlpntaeily good news
    2. goicrdnca to a 16-year-long study
    3. They gsguest that
    4. a daily iumminm of three cups
    5. 8-18% less lkelyi to die
    6. a stronger minemu system

    Paragraph 2

    1. Not all stexpre agree
    2. live a healthier yesfltlei
    3. this may increase binwgleel
    4. etonrecc health benefits
    5. The upper level of safe ncefafei intake
    6. heart problems and oansinmi

    Put the text back together

    (  1  )     There is potentially good news for coffee lovers. Drinking three or more cups of coffee a day may help people live

    (    )     drinkers had better liver function and a stronger immune system.

    (    )     longer. This is according to a 16-year-long study from the International Agency for Research

    (    )     prove that drinking coffee has concrete health benefits. Researchers also caution

    (    )     were 8-18% less likely to die from health problems than non-coffee drinkers. Researchers said coffee

    (    )     death, particularly from heart diseases. This study showed that people who had a daily minimum of three cups of coffee

    (    )     Not all experts agree with the research findings. Health experts suggest that the health benefits of drinking coffee could

    (    )     against drinking too much coffee. The upper level of safe caffeine intake is around 400 mg. More

    (    )     lifestyle. They also say that because drinking coffee can be a social activity, coffee drinkers may

    (    )     socialize more and this may increase wellbeing and help us live longer. They say the research does not

    (    )     than this increases the risk of suffering from panic attacks, heart problems, and insomnia.

    (    )     on Cancer and Imperial College London. Researchers looked at health data on over half a million people over the age

    (    )     be because coffee drinkers may have more money and therefore live a healthier

    (    )     of 35 from 10 European countries. They suggest that drinking more coffee is linked to a lower risk of

    Put the words in the right order

    1. potentially   is   There   lovers   coffee   for   news   good   .
    2. 16-     year-   to   according   is   This   study   long   a   .
    3. linked   Suggest  to   that   a   drinking   lower   more  risk   coffee   is   .
    4. a   who   cups   daily   of   minimum   coffee   of   People   three   had   .
    5. said   better   had   drinkers   Researchers   function   liver   coffee   .
    6. agree   research   Not   experts   the   findings   all   with   .
    7. concrete   has   coffee   drinking   that   Prove   benefits   health   .
    8. much   too   drinking   against   caution   also   Researchers   coffee   .
    9. caffeine   around   The   of   is   mg   level   intake   400   upper   safe   .
    10. the   panic   risk   attacks   of   This   suffering   increases   from   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    There is potentially good news for coffee loves / lovers. Drinking three or more cups of coffee a day may help people live longer / lengthier. This is according of / to a 16-year-long study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and Imperial College London. Researchers looked at health / healthy data on over half a million people over the aged / age of 35 from 10 European countries. They suggest / suggestive that drinking more coffee is linked to a lower risky / risk of death, particularly from heart diseases. This study showed that people who had a daily / day minimum of three cups of coffee were 8-18% less likely / liked to die from health problems than non-coffee drinkers. Researchers said coffee drinkers had better liven / liver function and a stronger immune system.

    Not all experts agree on / with the research findings. Health experts suggest that the health benefits off / of drinking coffee could be caused / because coffee drinkers may have more money and therefore / however live a healthier lifestyle. They also say that because drinking coffee can be a socially / social activity, coffee drinkers may socialize more and this may increase wellbeing / being and help us live longer. They say the research does not proof / prove that drinking coffee has concrete / concreted health benefits. Researchers also caution against drinking too much coffee. The upper level of safe caffeine intake / outtake is around 400 mg. More than this increases the risk of suffering from panic attacks, heart problems, and insomnia / insomuch.

    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_r_ _s p_t_nt__lly g__d n_ws f_r c_ff__ l_v_rs. Dr_nk_ng thr__ _r m_r_ c_ps _f c_ff__ _ d_y m_y h_lp p__pl_ l_v_ l_ng_r. Th_s _s _cc_rd_ng t_ _ 16-y__r-l_ng st_dy fr_m th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l _g_ncy f_r R_s__rch _n C_nc_r _nd _mp_r__l C_ll_g_ L_nd_n. R_s__rch_rs l__k_d _t h__lth d_t_ _n _v_r h_lf _ m_ll__n p__pl_ _v_r th_ _g_ _f 35 fr_m 10 __r_p__n c__ntr__s. Th_y s_gg_st th_t dr_nk_ng m_r_ c_ff__ _s l_nk_d t_ _ l_w_r r_sk _f d__th, p_rt_c_l_rly fr_m h__rt d_s__s_s. Th_s st_dy sh_w_d th_t p__pl_ wh_ h_d _ d__ly m_n_m_m _f thr__ c_ps _f c_ff__ w_r_ 8-18% l_ss l_k_ly t_ d__ fr_m h__lth pr_bl_ms th_n n_n-c_ff__ dr_nk_rs. R_s__rch_rs s__d c_ff__ dr_nk_rs h_d b_tt_r l_v_r f_nct__n _nd _ str_ng_r _mm_n_ syst_m.

    N_t _ll _xp_rts _gr__ w_th th_ r_s__rch f_nd_ngs. H__lth _xp_rts s_gg_st th_t th_ h__lth b_n_f_ts _f dr_nk_ng c_ff__ c__ld b_ b_c__s_ c_ff__ dr_nk_rs m_y h_v_ m_r_ m_n_y _nd th_r_f_r_ l_v_ _ h__lth__r l_f_styl_. Th_y _ls_ s_y th_t b_c__s_ dr_nk_ng c_ff__ c_n b_ _ s_c__l _ct_v_ty, c_ff__ dr_nk_rs m_y s_c__l_z_ m_r_ _nd th_s m_y _ncr__s_ w_llb__ng _nd h_lp _s l_v_ l_ng_r. Th_y s_y th_ r_s__rch d__s n_t pr_v_ th_t dr_nk_ng c_ff__ h_s c_ncr_t_ h__lth b_n_f_ts. R_s__rch_rs _ls_ c__t__n _g__nst dr_nk_ng t__ m_ch c_ff__. Th_ _pp_r l_v_l _f s_f_ c_ff__n_ _nt_k_ _s _r__nd 400 mg. M_r_ th_n th_s _ncr__s_s th_ r_sk _f s_ff_r_ng fr_m p_n_c _tt_cks, h__rt pr_bl_ms, _nd _ns_mn__.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    there is potentially good news for coffee lovers drinking three or more cups of coffee a day may help people live longer this is according to a 16-year-long study from the international agency for research on cancer and imperial college london researchers looked at health data on over half a million people over the age of 35 from 10 european countries they suggest that drinking more coffee is linked to a lower risk of death particularly from heart diseases this study showed that people who had a daily minimum of three cups of coffee were 8-18% less likely to die from health problems than non-coffee drinkers researchers said coffee drinkers had better liver function and a stronger immune system

    not all experts agree with the research findings health experts suggest that the health benefits of drinking coffee could be because coffee drinkers may have more money and therefore live a healthier lifestyle they also say that because drinking coffee can be a social activity coffee drinkers may socialize more and this may increase wellbeing and help us live longer they say the research does not prove that drinking coffee has concrete health benefits researchers also caution against drinking too much coffee the upper level of safe caffeine intake is around 400 mg more than this increases the risk of suffering from panic attacks heart problems and insomnia

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Thereispotentiallygoodnewsforcoffeelovers.Drinkingthreeormorecu
    psofcoffeeadaymayhelppeoplelivelonger.Thisisaccordingtoa16-yea
    r-longstudyfromtheInternationalAgencyforResearchonCancerandIm
    perialCollegeLondon.Researcherslookedathealthdataonoverhalfamil
    lionpeopleovertheageof35from10Europeancountries.Theysuggestth
    atdrinkingmorecoffeeislinkedtoalowerriskofdeath,particularlyfromh
    eartdiseases.Thisstudyshowedthatpeoplewhohadadailyminimumoft
    hreecupsofcoffeewere8-18%lesslikelytodiefromhealthproblemsth
    annon-coffeedrinkers.Researcherssaidcoffeedrinkershadbetterlive
    rfunctionandastrongerimmunesystem.Notallexpertsagreewiththere
    searchfindings.Healthexpertssuggestthatthehealthbenefitsofdrinkin
    gcoffeecouldbebecausecoffeedrinkersmayhavemoremoneyandthere
    foreliveahealthierlifestyle.Theyalsosaythatbecausedrinkingcoffeeca
    nbeasocialactivity,coffeedrinkersmaysocializemoreandthismayincre
    asewellbeingandhelpuslivelonger.Theysaytheresearchdoesnotprove
    thatdrinkingcoffeehasconcretehealthbenefits.Researchersalsocautio
    nagainstdrinkingtoomuchcoffee.Theupperlevelofsafecaffeineintakei
    saround400mg.Morethanthisincreasestheriskofsufferingfrompanica
    ttacks,heartproblems,andinsomnia.

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    Caffeine is a drug and should be banned. 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 this news. 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. HEALTH BENEFITS: Write a magazine article about the health benefits of coffee. 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 how healthy it is. Give him/her three of your opinions on coffee. 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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Back to the top

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You