The Reading / Listening - Computer Coding - Level 3

The United Arab Emirates is starting a new programme to teach people computer coding. One million people will receive free training to learn how to code apps and computer software. The new initiative was launched by the UAE's Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is called the One Million Arab Coders initiative. Sheikh Mohammad wants young Arabs in the Middle East to have the skills to develop the digital economy in their countries. Sheikh Mohammad said: "Coding will create many job opportunities for young people to compete. It will pave the way for them to participate in the global economy online, from home."

The new initiative will encourage the large number of young people living in the Middle East to get into coding. Studies show that 50 per cent of the Arab population is under 25 years old, and that 40 per cent of these hope to own their own business within the next five years. Sheikh Mohammad said: "This project is part of [our] mission to spread hope in the region, create employment opportunities and give our youth the skills needed for them to successfully lead our region into the future." He added that: "From the world's leading companies to the global economy itself, programming is the future." The top ten students will receive $50,000, while the top student will win a $1 million prize.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Computer Coding - Level 0,  Computer Coding - Level 1   or  Computer Coding - Level 2

Sources
  • http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/education/uae-offers-to-train-1-million-arabs-in-computer-coding-1.2111848
  • https://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-to-train-one-million-young-arab-coders-in-the-language-of-the-future-1.669868
  • https://stepfeed.com/the-uae-will-train-1-million-arab-youth-to-become-coders-and-data-analysts-0830


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. COMPUTER CODING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about computer coding. 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?

       programme / coding / apps / initiative / develop / digital / economy / pave / global
       encourage / population / business / project / mission / opportunities / future / prize

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

3. EVERYONE: Students A strongly believe everyone should learn coding; Students B strongly believe coding isn't so important.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. DIGITAL STUFF: How good are these things? How could they be improved? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How good?

How could they be improved?

Mobile phone apps

 

 

Search engines

 

 

Social networks

 

 

Internet shopping

 

 

Online games

 

 

Learning English sites

 

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

6. CODING JOBS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • operating systems
  • social network design
  • photo software
  • website designer
  • apps developer
  • games developer
  • blog designer
  • security software

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A million people will pay a dollar each for a coding training programme.  T / F
  2. The new initiative was launched by Dubai's leader.     T / F
  3. The initiative is not just for people living in the UAE.     T / F
  4. The coding programme will mean people will be able to work at home.     T / F
  5. Around 25% of people in the Middle East are under 50 years old.     T / F
  6. About 40% of young people in the Middle East want their own business.  T / F
  7. It is hoped the project will lead the Far East in the future.     T / F
  8. The top student in the coding programme will win $50,000.     T / F

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

  1. receive
  2. initiative
  3. launched
  4. develop
  5. participate
  6. encourage
  7. within
  8. opportunities
  9. lead
  10. prize
  1. started
  2. chances
  3. persuade
  4. inside
  5. plan
  6. guide
  7. take part
  8. get
  9. award
  10. grow

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

  1. learn how to code
  2. ruler
  3. the skills to develop the digital
  4. create many job
  5. participate in
  6. get into
  7. part of our mission
  8. give our youth the skills
  9. successfully lead our region
  10. the top student will win a
  1. into the future
  2. the global economy
  3. coding
  4. apps
  5. economy
  6. $1 million prize
  7. opportunities
  8. to spread hope
  9. needed
  10. of Dubai

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
digital
apps
online
ruler
starting
compete
skills
launched

The United Arab Emirates is (1) ____________ a new programme to teach people computer coding. One million people will receive free training to learn how to code (2) ____________ and computer software. The new initiative was (3) ____________ by the UAE's Prime Minister and (4) ____________ of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is called the One Million Arab Coders initiative. Sheikh Mohammad wants young Arabs in the Middle East to have the (5) ____________ to develop the (6) ____________ economy in their countries. Sheikh Mohammad said: "Coding will create many job opportunities for young people to (7) ____________. It will pave the way for them to participate in the global economy (8) ____________, from home."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
own
top
encourage
needed
prize
mission
into
region

The new initiative will (9) ____________ the large number of young people living in the Middle East to get (10) ____________ coding. Studies show that 50 per cent of the Arab population is under 25 years old, and that 40 per cent of these hope to (11) ____________ their own business within the next five years. Sheikh Mohammad said: "This project is part of [our] (12) ____________ to spread hope in the region, create employment opportunities and give our youth the skills (13) ____________ for them to successfully lead our (14) ____________ into the future." He added that: "From the world's leading companies to the global economy itself, programming is the future." The (15) ____________ ten students will receive $50,000, while the top student will win a $1 million (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  starting a new programme to teach people ______
     a.  computer code in
     b.  computer's coding
     c.  computer coding
     d.  computerized coding

2)  One million people will receive free training to learn how ______
     a.  two code perhaps
     b.  to code mishaps
     c.  too code daps
     d.  to code apps

3)  young Arabs in the Middle East to have the skills to develop the ______
     a.  digital economical
     b.  digital economy
     c.  digital economize
     d.  digital economics

4)  Coding will create many job opportunities for young people ______
     a.  to compete
     b.  to complete
     c.  to come Pete
     d.  to competition

5)  It will pave the way for them to participate in the ______ online
     a.  globally economy
     b.  global economy
     c.  globalized economy
     d.  globe all economy

6)  the large number of young people living in the Middle East ______ coding
     a.  too get into
     b.  to get onto
     c.  to gets into
     d.  to get into

7)  This project is part of [our] mission to spread ______ region
     a.  hope in the
     b.  hoping the
     c.  hopping in the
     d.  hoping in the

8)  give our youth the skills needed for them to successfully lead our region ______ future
     a.  into the
     b.  onto the
     c.  unto the
     d.  as to the

9)  From the world's leading companies to the global ______, programming is the future
     a.  economy it shelf
     b.  economy its shelf
     c.  economy its elf
     d.  economy itself

10)  The top ten students will receive $50,000, while the top student will win a ______
     a.  $1 million price
     b.  $1 million pries
     c.  $1 million prize
     d.  $1 million praise

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Arab Emirates (1) ___________________ new programme to teach people computer coding. One million people (2) __________________ training to learn how to code apps and computer software. The new initiative was launched by the UAE's Prime Minister (3) ___________________ Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is called the One Million Arab Coders initiative. Sheikh Mohammad (4) ___________________ in the Middle East to have the skills to develop the (5) ___________________ their countries. Sheikh Mohammad said: "Coding will create many job opportunities for young people to compete. It will (6) __________________ for them to participate in the global economy online, from home."

The new initiative will encourage the large number of young people living in the Middle East to (7) ___________________. Studies show that 50 per cent of the Arab population is under 25 years old, and that 40 per cent of these hope to own their own business (8) ___________________ five years. Sheikh Mohammad said: "This project is part of [our] mission to spread hope (9) ___________________, create employment opportunities and give our youth the skills needed for them to successfully (10) ___________________ into the future." He added that: "From the world's leading companies to the (11) ___________________, programming is the future." The top ten students will receive $50,000, while the top student (12) ___________________ $1 million prize.

Comprehension questions

  1. How much will people have to pay for the computer coding?
  2. Which part of the UAE is the sheikh who launched the initiative from?
  3. What does the sheikh want people in the Middle East to develop?
  4. What will the initiative create?
  5. Where could future coders participate in the global economy from?
  6. How much of the Arab population in the Middle East is under 25?
  7. What do young people hope to own in the next five years?
  8. What might coders lead in the future?
  9. What did the sheikh say was the future?
  10. How much will the top student win?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How much will people have to pay for the computer coding?
a) $50,000
b) nothing
c) whatever they can afford
d) $1

2) Which part of the UAE is the sheikh who launched the initiative from?
a) Ras al Khaimah
b) Abu Dhabi
c) Sharjah
d) Dubai

3) What does the sheikh want people in the Middle East to develop?
a) the digital economy
b) soft skills
c) a sense of community
d) a computer

4) What will the initiative create?
a) competition
b) a new operating system
c) job opportunities
d) homes

5) Where could future coders participate in the global economy from?
a) Google
b) home
c) space
d) the desert

6) How much of the Arab population in the Middle East is under 25?
a) half
b) a third
c) a quarter
d) three-quarters

7) What do young people hope to own in the next five years?
a) stocks and shares
b) a search engine
c) their own business
d) their own home

8) What might coders lead in the future?
a) their region
b) the way
c) workshops
d) multinational companies

9) What did the sheikh say was the future?
a) programming
b) 2030
c) the global economy
d) leading

10) What will the top student win?
a) a top job
b) $50,000
c) free computers for life
d) $1 million

Role play

Role  A – App Developer

You think an app developer is the best coding job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these jobs (and why): a games designer, a website designer or a security analyst.

Role  B – Games Developer

You think a games designer is the best coding job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these jobs (and why): an app developer, a website designer or a security analyst.

Role  C – Website Designer

You think a website designer is the best coding job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these jobs (and why): a games designer, an app developer or a security analyst.

Role  D – Security Analyst

You think a security analyst is the best coding job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these jobs (and why): a games designer, a website designer or an app developer.

After reading / listening

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

'computer'

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

    • and 'coding'.

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

    • • 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:

    • large
    • 25
    • part
    • give
    • leading
    • prize
    • starting
    • free
    • ruler
    • young
    • compete
    • way

    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 - UAE will train a million people in coding

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'coding'?
    3. What do you think coding is?
    4. Would you like to learn coding?
    5. How lucky are the people to get free coding training?
    6. What is your country doing to train people in coding?
    7. What kind of job opportunities are there for coders?
    8. How important is the digital economy?
    9. What would it be like to work from home?
    10. How good are your computer skills?

    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 'software'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How useful do you think coding is?
    5. What are the bad things about coding?
    6. Should coding be taught at all schools?
    7. Would you like to own your own business?
    8. Hope much hope do you see in the next five years?
    9. Would you like to take this coding course?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the project leaders?

    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)

    The United Arab Emirates is starting a new programme to teach people computer (1) ____. One million people will receive free training to learn how to code (2) ____ and computer software. The new initiative was launched (3) ____ the UAE's Prime Minister and (4) ____ of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is called the One Million Arab Coders initiative. Sheikh Mohammad wants young Arabs in the Middle East to have the skills (5) ____ develop the digital economy in their countries. Sheikh Mohammad said: "Coding will create many job opportunities for young people to compete. It will pave the way for them to participate in the global economy online, from (6) ____."

    The new initiative will encourage the large (7) ____ of young people living in the Middle East to get into coding. Studies show that 50 per cent of the Arab population is under 25 years old, and that 40 per cent of these hope to (8) ____ their own business within the next five years. Sheikh Mohammad said: "This project is part of [our] mission to (9) ____ hope in the region, create employment opportunities and give our youth the skills needed for (10) ____ to successfully lead our region into the future." He added that: "From the world's leading companies to the global economy (11) ____, programming is the future." The top ten students will receive $50,000, (12) ____ the top student will win a $1 million prize.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     coding     (b)     coded     (c)     codes     (d)     codes    
    2. (a)     caps     (b)     perhaps     (c)     apps     (d)     mishaps    
    3. (a)     to     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    4. (a)     rules     (b)     ruled     (c)     ruling     (d)     ruler    
    5. (a)     for     (b)     by     (c)     to     (d)     at    
    6. (a)     building     (b)     home     (c)     apartment     (d)     house    
    7. (a)     numerology     (b)     number     (c)     numeral     (d)     numbering    
    8. (a)     down     (b)     own     (c)     gown     (d)     disown    
    9. (a)     roll     (b)     cover     (c)     spread     (d)     span    
    10. (a)     those     (b)     these     (c)     they     (d)     them    
    11. (a)     it     (b)     self     (c)     its     (d)     itself    
    12. (a)     also     (b)     such     (c)     as     (d)     while

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. reeeciv free training
    2. lerur of Dubai
    3. the One Million Arab Coders etvitiniai
    4. have the skills to vdeleop
    5. pave the way for them to pcipittraae
    6. in the global oyoenmc

    Paragraph 2

    1. ecgoeranu the large number of young
    2. the Arab niapoutolp
    3. part of our iiomssn
    4. successfully lead our noiegr
    5. the world's nagilde companies
    6. win a $1 million izrep

    Put the text back together

    (    )     by the UAE's Prime Minister, and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is called

    (    )     youth the skills needed for them to successfully lead our region into the

    (    )     is the future." The top ten students will receive $50,000, while the top student will win a $1 million prize.

    (    )     future." He added that: "From the world's leading companies to the global economy itself, programming

    (    )     The United Arab Emirates is starting a new programme to teach people computer coding. One million people will

    (    )     is part of [our] mission to spread hope in the region, create employment opportunities and give our

    (    )     show that 50 per cent of the Arab population is under 25 years old, and that 40 per cent

    (    )     the One Million Arab Coders initiative. Sheikh Mohammad wants young Arabs in the Middle East to have the

    (    )     The new initiative will encourage the large number of young people living in the Middle East to get into coding. Studies

    (    )     many job opportunities for young people to compete. It will pave the way for them

    (    )     to participate in the global economy online, from home."

    (    )     skills to develop the digital economy in their countries. Sheikh Mohammad said: "Coding will create

    (    )     of these hope to own their own business within the next five years. Sheikh Mohammad said: "This project

    (    )     receive free training to learn how to code apps and computer software. The new initiative was launched

    Put the words in the right order

    1. teach   to   programme   new   A   coding   computer   people   .
    2. will   learn   receive   One   free   million   training   people   to   .
    3. Have   economy   digital   the   develop   to   skills   the   .
    4. opportunities   young   Create   job   for   people   many   .
    5. way   It   for   will   them   pave   to   the   participate   .
    6. will   large  young   initiative  the   of   new  encourage   number  The  .
    7. hope   these  of   cent   per  40  About  business   own  their   own  to  .
    8. Part   mission   hope   region   our   spread   the   of   to   in   .
    9. the   Successfully   our   into   future   lead   region   .
    10. will   $1   prize   student   a   million   top   win   The   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The United Arab Emirates is started / starting a new programme to teach people computer coding. One million people will receive / receiving free training to learn how to code apps / applicants and computer software. The new initiative was launched to / by the UAE's Prime Minister and ruler off / of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is called / calling the One Million Arab Coders initiative. Sheikh Mohammad wants young Arabs in the Middle East to have the skills to envelope / develop the digital economy in their countries. Sheikh Mohammad said: "Coding will create / creative many job opportunities for young people to complete / compete. It will pave the way for them to participate in the global economy online, from home / house."

    The new initiative will encourage / encouragement the large number of young people living / life in the Middle East to get into coding / coded. Studies show that 50 per cent of the Arab population is under 25 years old, and that 40 per cent of these / them hope to own their own business with / within the next five years. Sheikh Mohammad said: "This project is part of [our] mission to spread hopeful / hope in the region, create employment opportunities and give our youth the skills needed for / of them to successfully lead our region into / onto the future." He added that: "From the world's leading companies to the globally / global economy itself, programming is the future." The top ten students will receive $50,000, while the top student will win a $1 million price / prize.

    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_ _n_t_d _r_b _m_r_t_s _s st_rt_ng _ n_w pr_gr_mm_ t_ t__ch p__pl_ c_mp_t_r c_d_ng. _n_ m_ll__n p__pl_ w_ll r_c__v_ fr__ tr__n_ng t_ l__rn h_w t_ c_d_ _pps _nd c_mp_t_r s_ftw_r_. Th_ n_w _n_t__t_v_ w_s l__nch_d by th_ ___'s Pr_m_ M_n_st_r _nd r_l_r _f D_b__ Sh__kh M_h_mm_d B_n R_sh_d _l M_kt__m. _t _s c_ll_d th_ _n_ M_ll__n _r_b C_d_rs _n_t__t_v_. Sh__kh M_h_mm_d w_nts y__ng _r_bs _n th_ M_ddl_ __st t_ h_v_ th_ sk_lls t_ d_v_l_p th_ d_g_t_l _c_n_my _n th__r c__ntr__s. Sh__kh M_h_mm_d s__d: "C_d_ng w_ll cr__t_ m_ny j_b _pp_rt_n_t__s f_r y__ng p__pl_ t_ c_mp_t_. _t w_ll p_v_ th_ w_y f_r th_m t_ p_rt_c_p_t_ _n th_ gl_b_l _c_n_my _nl_n_, fr_m h_m_."

    Th_ n_w _n_t__t_v_ w_ll _nc__r_g_ th_ l_rg_ n_mb_r _f y__ng p__pl_ l_v_ng _n th_ M_ddl_ __st t_ g_t _nt_ c_d_ng. St_d__s sh_w th_t 50 p_r c_nt _f th_ _r_b p_p_l_t__n _s _nd_r 25 y__rs _ld, _nd th_t 40 p_r c_nt _f th_s_ h_p_ t_ _wn th__r _wn b_s_n_ss w_th_n th_ n_xt f_v_ y__rs. Sh__kh M_h_mm_d s__d: "Th_s pr_j_ct _s p_rt _f [__r] m_ss__n t_ spr__d h_p_ _n th_ r_g__n, cr__t_ _mpl_ym_nt _pp_rt_n_t__s _nd g_v_ __r y__th th_ sk_lls n__d_d f_r th_m t_ s_cc_ssf_lly l__d __r r_g__n _nt_ th_ f_t_r_." H_ _dd_d th_t: "Fr_m th_ w_rld's l__d_ng c_mp_n__s t_ th_ gl_b_l _c_n_my _ts_lf, pr_gr_mm_ng _s th_ f_t_r_." Th_ t_p t_n st_d_nts w_ll r_c__v_ $50,000, wh_l_ th_ t_p st_d_nt w_ll w_n _ $1 m_ll__n pr_z_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the united arab emirates is starting a new programme to teach people computer coding one million people will receive free training to learn how to code apps and computer software the new initiative was launched by the uae's prime minister and ruler of dubai sheikh mohammad bin rashid al maktoum it is called the one million arab coders initiative sheikh mohammad wants young arabs in the middle east to have the skills to develop the digital economy in their countries sheikh mohammad said "coding will create many job opportunities for young people to compete it will pave the way for them to participate in the global economy online from home"

    the new initiative will encourage the large number of young people living in the middle east to get into coding studies show that 50 per cent of the arab population is under 25 years old and that 40 per cent of these hope to own their own business within the next five years sheikh mohammad said "this project is part of [our] mission to spread hope in the region create employment opportunities and give our youth the skills needed for them to successfully lead our region into the future" he added that "from the world's leading companies to the global economy itself programming is the future" the top ten students will receive $50000 while the top student will win a $1 million prize

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheUnitedArabEmiratesisstartinganewprogrammetoteachpeopleco
    mputercoding.Onemillionpeoplewillreceivefreetrainingtolearnhowt
    ocodeappsandcomputersoftware.Thenewinitiativewaslaunchedbyt
    heUAE'sPrimeMinisterandrulerofDubaiSheikhMohammadBinRashid
    AlMaktoum.ItiscalledtheOneMillionArabCodersinitiative.SheikhMoh
    ammadwantsyoungArabsintheMiddleEasttohavetheskillstodevelopt
    hedigitaleconomyintheircountries.SheikhMohammadsaid:"Coding
    willcreatemanyjobopportunitiesforyoungpeopletocompete.Itwillpa
    vethewayforthemtoparticipateintheglobaleconomyonline,fromhom
    e."Thenewinitiativewillencouragethelargenumberofyoungpeoplelivi
    ngintheMiddleEasttogetintocoding.Studiesshowthat50percentofthe
    Arabpopulationisunder25yearsold,andthat40percentofthesehopeto
    owntheirownbusinesswithinthenextfiveyears.SheikhMohammadsai
    d:"Thisprojectispartof[our]missiontospreadhopeintheregion,create
    employmentopportunitiesandgiveouryouththeskillsneededforthem
    tosuccessfullyleadourregionintothefuture."Headdedthat:"From the
    world'sleadingcompaniestotheglobaleconomyitself,programmingist
    hefuture."Thetoptenstudentswillreceive$50,000,whilethetopstude
    ntwillwina$1millionprize.

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Academic writing

    We must all learn how to code. Coding is the most important skill for the future. Discuss.

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    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. COMPUTER CODING: Make a poster about computer coding. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. SCHOOLS: Write a magazine article about computer coding and why all children should learn it at school. 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 computer coding. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on this. 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.)

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