The Reading / Listening - Gaming Disorder - Level 3

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that too much gaming is officially a mental health problem. The WHO has put "gaming addiction" as a mental health condition on its official list of diseases. The list is called the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It says that gaming disorder happens when people cannot stop playing and gaming becomes more important than other interests in life. The WHO says this must happen for at least a year for a doctor to say someone has gaming disorder. Someone with gaming disorder will insist on gaming even if they know they have a problem and they have suffered "negative consequences" from gaming too much.

The WHO said doctors should be aware that addiction to gaming is a clear and present danger to people's health because it has "serious" consequences. A WHO spokesman said: "Most people who play video games don't have a disorder, just like most people who drink alcohol don't have a disorder either. However, in certain circumstances, overuse can lead to adverse effects." Some doctors believe that too much gaming should not be considered a mental illness. Psychiatrist Allen Frances compared an addiction to gaming to coffee addiction. He said: "Billions of people around the world are hooked on caffeine for fun or better functioning, but only rarely does this cause more trouble than its worth."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Gaming Disorder - Level 0,  Gaming Disorder - Level 1   or  Gaming Disorder - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.inquisitr.com/4699428/gaming-disorder-to-be-recognized-by-who-as-a-mental-health-condition/
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/gaming-disorder-mental-health-condition-video-games-addiction-a8121876.html
  • https://www.newscientist.com/article/2157042-video-gaming-disorder-to-be-officially-recognised-for-first-time/


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. GAMING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about gaming. 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?

       WHO / gaming / mental / health / problem / diseases / interests / disorder / negative
       aware / addiction / consequences / alcohol / adverse / coffee / functioning / rarely

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

3. DISORDER: Students A strongly believe gaming can be a mental health disorder; Students B strongly believe it can't be. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. ADDICTIONS: How serious are these addictions? How can we treat them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How dangerous?

How can we threat the addiction?

Gaming

 

 

Internet

 

 

Smartphone

 

 

Chocolate

 

 

Shopping

 

 

Gambling

 

 
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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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5. HEALTH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "health". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

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

  • sports games
  • chess
  • role play games
  • children's games
  • video games
  • phone app games
  • board games
  • card games

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.

officially

a.

A breakdown of normal physical or mental functions.

2.

addiction

b.

In a formal and public way.

3.

condition

c.

An illness or other medical problem.

4.

disorder

d.

Ask for something very strongly, not accepting no as an answer.

5.

at least

e.

Results or effects of an action or condition.

6.

insist

f.

The fact or condition of physically or mentally needing a thing (like alcohol or drugs) or activity.

7.

consequences

g.

Not less than.

 

    Paragraph 2

8.

aware

h.

Harmful; unfavorable.

9.

serious

i.

Significant or worrying because of possible danger or risk.

10.

overuse

j.

Estimated, measured, or noted the similarity or dissimilarity between things.

11.

adverse

k.

Using something too much.

12.

considered

l.

Thought carefully about something, usually before making a decision.

13.

compared

m.

Having knowledge or the ability to see, hear, smell or feel something.

14.

hooked

n.

Became in great need of something.

 

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The WHO recognized too much gaming as a mental disorder.     T / F
  2. Gaming addiction is now on the WHO's official list of diseases.     T / F
  3. Gaming is not a disorder if the gamer has played for less than a year.     T / F
  4. Gamers usually stop gaming when they suffer negative consequences.     T / F
  5. The WHO said all doctors know about the dangers of gaming.     T / F
  6. The WHO said that most people who drink alcohol have a disorder.     T / F
  7. The WHO said overuse of games can bring about adverse effects.     T / F
  8. The WHO said billions of people around the world are hooked on gaming. T / F

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

  1. problem
  2. condition
  3. happens
  4. insist
  5. consequences
  6. aware
  7. circumstances
  8. hooked
  9. functioning
  10. worth
  1. occurs
  2. operating
  3. stress
  4. situations
  5. addicted
  6. difficulty
  7. benefit
  8. knowledgeable
  9. illness
  10. results

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

  1. too much gaming is officially a mental
  2. on its official
  3. more important than other
  4. this must happen for at
  5. they have suffered negative
  6. The WHO said doctors should
  7. a clear and present danger to
  8. in certain circumstances, overuse can
  9. Billions of people around the world are
  10. only rarely does this cause more
  1. lead to adverse effects
  2. consequences
  3. be aware
  4. list of diseases
  5. trouble
  6. least a year
  7. health problem
  8. hooked on caffeine
  9. interests in life
  10. people's health

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
insist
officially
list
too
interests
suffered
condition
disorder

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that too much gaming is (1) ____________ a mental health problem. The WHO has put "gaming addiction" as a mental health (2) ____________ on its official list of diseases. The (3) ____________ is called the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It says that gaming (4) ____________ happens when people cannot stop playing and gaming becomes more important than other (5) ____________ in life. The WHO says this must happen for at least a year for a doctor to say someone has gaming disorder. Someone with gaming disorder will (6) ____________ on gaming even if they know they have a problem and they have (7) ____________ "negative consequences" from gaming (8) ____________ much.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
spokesman
hooked
danger
overuse
worth
most
aware
compared

The WHO said doctors should be (9) ____________ that addiction to gaming is a clear and present (10) ____________ to people's health because it has "serious" consequences. A WHO (11) ____________ said: "Most people who play video games don't have a disorder, just like (12) ____________ people who drink alcohol don't have a disorder either. However, in certain circumstances, (13) ____________ can lead to adverse effects." Some doctors believe that too much gaming should not be considered a mental illness. Psychiatrist Allen Frances (14) ____________ an addiction to gaming to coffee addiction. He said: "Billions of people around the world are (15) ____________ on caffeine for fun or better functioning, but only rarely does this cause more trouble than its (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  (WHO) has said that too much gaming is officially a ______
     a.  mentally health problem
     b.  mental healthy problem
     c.  mental health problem
     d.  mentally healthy problem

2)  put "gaming addiction" as a mental health condition on ______
     a.  its officially list
     b.  its officials list
     c.  its official list
     d.  its officialdom list

3)  people cannot stop playing and gaming becomes more important than ______ life
     a.  others interests on
     b.  other interest sin
     c.  others interested in
     d.  other interests in

4) this must happen for at least a year for a doctor to ______ gaming disorder
     a.  says someone has
     b.  say someone has
     c.  say someone was
     d.  says someone was

5)  they know they have a problem and ______
     a.  they have suffer
     b.  they have suffers
     c.  they have surfer
     d.  they have suffered

6)  be aware that addiction to gaming is a clear ______
     a.  and presents danger
     b.  and present danger
     c.  and presence danger
     d.  and pretense danger

7)  Most people who play video games don't ______
     a.  has the disorder
     b.  had a disorder
     c.  have the disorder
     d.  have a disorder

8)  just like most people who drink alcohol don't have ______
     a.  a disorder either
     b.  a disorder ether
     c.  a disorder neither
     d.  a disorder eider

9)  in certain circumstances, overuse can lead ______
     a.  to adverse effects
     b.  to adversely affects
     c.  to ad verse effects
     d.  to ad verse affects

10)  He said billions of people around the world ______ caffeine
     a.  are hooked ton
     b.  are hooked on
     c.  are hook ton
     d.  a hook ton

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said (1) ___________________ gaming is officially a mental health problem. The WHO has put "gaming addiction" as a mental health condition (2) ___________________ list of diseases. The list is called the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It says that gaming disorder happens when people (3) ___________________ and gaming becomes more important than other interests in life. The WHO says this must happen (4) ___________________ a year for a doctor to say someone has gaming disorder. Someone with gaming disorder (5) ___________________ gaming even if they know they have a problem and they have suffered "negative consequences" from (6) ___________________.

The WHO said doctors should (7) ___________________ addiction to gaming is a clear and present danger to people's health because (8) ___________________" consequences. A WHO spokesman said: "Most people who play video games don't have a disorder, just like most people who drink alcohol don't have (9) ___________________. However, in certain circumstances, overuse can lead to adverse effects." Some doctors believe that too much gaming should not (10) ___________________ mental illness. Psychiatrist Allen Frances compared an addiction to gaming to coffee addiction. He said: "Billions of people around the world (11) ___________________ caffeine for fun or better functioning, but only rarely does this cause more trouble (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. Which organization said gaming addiction was a disease?
  2. What kind of list did an organization put gaming addiction on?
  3. What must gaming become more important than for it to be a disorder?
  4. How long must someone have a gaming problem for if it is a disorder?
  5. What will someone with gaming disorder insist on doing?
  6. Who should be aware of the dangers of an addiction to gaming?
  7. What kind of effects did a spokesman say overuse could lead to?
  8. What did psychiatrist Allen Frances compare a gaming addiction to?
  9. How many people around the word are hooked on coffee?
  10. How often did the psychologist say caffeine addiction caused trouble?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Which organization said gaming addiction was a disease?
a) the WHO
b) the IMF
c) Sony
d) the FBI

2) What kind of list did an organization put gaming addiction on?
a) a big list
b) a computer database
c) an official list of diseases
d) a blacklist

3) What must gaming become more important than for it to be a disorder?
a) free time
b) other interests in life
c) other diseases
d) addictions

4) How long must someone have a gaming problem for if it is a disorder?
a) 10 years
b) 2 weeks
c) 6 months
d) at least a year

5) What will someone with gaming disorder insist on doing?
a) gaming
b) quitting
c) suffering
d) winning

6) Who should be aware of the dangers of an addiction to gaming?
a) most people
b) a spokesman
c) gaming company CEOs
d) doctors

7) What kind of effects did a spokesman say overuse could lead to?
a) great effects
b) adverse effects
c) personal effects
d) nice effects

8) What did psychiatrist Allen Frances compare a gaming addiction to?
a) psychiatry
b) a drug addiction
c) circumstances
d) an addiction to coffee

9) How many people around the word are hooked on coffee?
a) hundreds of millions
b) millions
c) billions
d) hundreds of thousands

10) How often did the psychologist say caffeine addiction caused trouble?
a) twice a month
b) rarely
c) often
d) every day

Role play

Role  A – Computer Games

You think computer games are the best kind of games. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): board games, card games or sports games.

Role  B – Board Games

You think board games are the best kind of games. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): computer games, card games or sports games.

Role  C – Card Games

You think card games are the best kind of games. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): board games, computer games or sports games.

Role  D – Sports Games

You think sports games are the best kind of games. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their games. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): board games, card games or computer games.

After reading / listening

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

'gaming'

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

    • and 'disorder'.

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

    • • 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:

    • aware
    • serious
    • either
    • believe
    • coffee
    • worth
    • officially
    • called
    • happens
    • interests
    • insist
    • negative

    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 - Too much gaming is mental health issue

    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 'gaming'?
    3. What do you think of gaming?
    4. How useful is gaming?
    5. Why do people get addicted to gaming?
    6. What's your favorite game, and why?
    7. Do you think too much gaming is a disease?
    8. Why can't some people stop gaming?
    9. Is gaming a waste of time?
    10. What 'negative consequences' might there be from gaming too much?

    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 'addiction'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How dangerous could gaming be?
    5. How similar are addictions to coffee and addictions to gaming?
    6. Are you addicted to anything?
    7. How can we help people who are addicted to gaming?
    8. Have you ever been hooked on something?
    9. How would you feel about being hooked on a game?
    10. What questions would you like to ask someone addicted to gaming?

    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 World Health Organization (WHO) has said that too much gaming is (1) ____ a mental health problem. The WHO has put "gaming addiction" (2) ____ a mental health condition on its official list of diseases. The list is called the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It says that gaming disorder (3) ____ when people cannot stop playing and gaming becomes more important than other interests (4) ____ life. The WHO says this must happen for at least a year for a doctor to say someone has gaming disorder. Someone with gaming disorder will insist (5) ____ gaming even if they know they have a problem and they have (6) ____ "negative consequences" from gaming too much.

    The WHO said doctors should be aware that (7) ____ to gaming is a clear and present danger to people's health because it has "(8) ____" consequences. A WHO spokesman said: "Most people who play video games don't have a disorder, just (9) ____ most people who drink alcohol don't have a disorder either. However, in certain circumstances, overuse can lead to (10) ____ effects." Some doctors believe that too much gaming should not be considered a mental illness. Psychiatrist Allen Frances compared an addiction (11) ____ gaming to coffee addiction. He said: "Billions of people around the world are hooked on caffeine for fun or better functioning, but only rarely does this cause more trouble than its (12) ____."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     officials     (b)     officialdom     (c)     official     (d)     officially    
    2. (a)     'twas     (b)     was     (c)     has     (d)     as    
    3. (a)     happening     (b)     happens     (c)     happen     (d)     happenstance    
    4. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     to    
    5. (a)     at     (b)     in     (c)     on     (d)     by    
    6. (a)     suffered     (b)     suffers     (c)     suffering     (d)     suffer    
    7. (a)     addict     (b)     addiction     (c)     addicts     (d)     addiction    
    8. (a)     serious     (b)     series     (c)     seriously     (d)     seriousness    
    9. (a)     then     (b)     like     (c)     that     (d)     only    
    10. (a)     verse     (b)     anniversary     (c)     adverse     (d)     reverses    
    11. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     to     (d)     by    
    12. (a)     worthier     (b)     worthwhile     (c)     worthy     (d)     worth

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. cfifyaliol a mental health problem
    2. gaming oincaidtd
    3. list of ssdseaie
    4. other tniseerts in life
    5. itnsis on gaming
    6. and they have effsuedr

    Paragraph 2

    1. doctors should be arwea
    2. it has ssieoru consequences
    3. people who drink lcoohal
    4. overuse can lead to srdvaee effects
    5. koohde on caffeine
    6. more trouble than its rwtho

    Put the text back together

    (  1  )     The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that too much gaming is officially a mental

    (    )     addiction to gaming to coffee addiction. He said: "Billions of people around the world are hooked

    (    )     health problem. The WHO has put "gaming addiction" as a mental health condition on its official list

    (    )     games don't have a disorder, just like most people who drink alcohol don't have a disorder

    (    )     of diseases. The list is called the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It says that gaming disorder

    (    )     on caffeine for fun or better functioning, but only rarely does this cause more trouble than its worth."

    (    )     with gaming disorder will insist on gaming even if they know they have a problem

    (    )     that too much gaming should not be considered a mental illness. Psychiatrist Allen Frances compared an

    (    )     either. However, in certain circumstances, overuse can lead to adverse effects." Some doctors believe

    (    )     happens when people cannot stop playing and gaming becomes more important than other interests in

    (    )     The WHO said doctors should be aware that addiction to gaming is a clear and present danger to people's

    (    )     and they have suffered "negative consequences" from gaming too much.

    (    )     life. The WHO says this must happen for at least a year for a doctor to say someone has gaming disorder. Someone

    (    )     health because it has "serious" consequences. A WHO spokesman said: "Most people who play video

    Put the words in the right order

    1. gaming   much   Too   problem   health   mental   a   is   .
    2. interests   life   important   other   in   More   than   .
    3. happen   must   This   year   a   least   at   for   .
    4. have   they   know   they   if   Even   problem   a   .
    5. Negative   much   too   gaming   from   consequences   .
    6. be   The   said   should   aware   WHO   doctors   .
    7. can   adverse   lead   effects   to   Overuse   .
    8. illness   not   should   Gaming   a   considered   be   mental   .
    9. hooked   are   world   the   around   People   caffeine   on   .
    10. trouble   rarely   this   more   Only   does   cause   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that too many / much gaming is officially a mental health problem. The WHO has put "gaming addiction" as / was a mental health condition on its officially / official list of diseases. The list is / it's called the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It says that gaming disorder happens / occur when people cannot stop playing and gaming becomes more important than other interest / interests in life. The WHO says this must happen / happening for at last / least a year for a doctor to say someone has gaming disorder. Someone with gaming disorder will consist / insist on gaming even if they know they have a problem and they have suffering / suffered "negative consequences" from gaming too much.

    The WHO said doctors should be aware / beware that addiction to gaming is a clear and present / presently danger to people's health because it has "serious" consequences. A WHO spokesman said: "Most people who play video games don't do / have a disorder, just like / liked most people who drink alcohol don't have a disorder either / neither. However, in certain circumstances, overuse / underuse can lead to adverse effects." Some doctors believe that too much gaming should not been / be considered a mental illness. Psychiatrist Allen Frances compared / comparison an addiction to gaming to coffee addiction. He said: "Billions for / of people around the world are hooked in / on caffeine for fun or better functioning, but only rarely / rare does this cause more trouble than its worth."

    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_ W_rld H__lth _rg_n_z_t__n (WH_) h_s s__d th_t t__ m_ch g_m_ng _s _ff_c__lly _ m_nt_l h__lth pr_bl_m. Th_ WH_ h_s p_t "g_m_ng _dd_ct__n" _s _ m_nt_l h__lth c_nd_t__n _n _ts _ff_c__l l_st _f d_s__s_s. Th_ l_st _s c_ll_d th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l Cl_ss_f_c_t__n _f D_s__s_s (_CD). _t s_ys th_t g_m_ng d_s_rd_r h_pp_ns wh_n p__pl_ c_nn_t st_p pl_y_ng _nd g_m_ng b_c_m_s m_r_ _mp_rt_nt th_n _th_r _nt_r_sts _n l_f_. Th_ WH_ s_ys th_s m_st h_pp_n f_r _t l__st _ y__r f_r _ d_ct_r t_ s_y s_m__n_ h_s g_m_ng d_s_rd_r. S_m__n_ w_th g_m_ng d_s_rd_r w_ll _ns_st _n g_m_ng _v_n _f th_y kn_w th_y h_v_ _ pr_bl_m _nd th_y h_v_ s_ff_r_d "n_g_t_v_ c_ns_q__nc_s" fr_m g_m_ng t__ m_ch.

    Th_ WH_ s__d d_ct_rs sh__ld b_ _w_r_ th_t _dd_ct__n t_ g_m_ng _s _ cl__r _nd pr_s_nt d_ng_r t_ p__pl_'s h__lth b_c__s_ _t h_s "s_r___s" c_ns_q__nc_s. _ WH_ sp_k_sm_n s__d: "M_st p__pl_ wh_ pl_y v_d__ g_m_s d_n't h_v_ _ d_s_rd_r, j_st l_k_ m_st p__pl_ wh_ dr_nk _lc_h_l d_n't h_v_ _ d_s_rd_r __th_r. H_w_v_r, _n c_rt__n c_rc_mst_nc_s, _v_r_s_ c_n l__d t_ _dv_rs_ _ff_cts." S_m_ d_ct_rs b_l__v_ th_t t__ m_ch g_m_ng sh__ld n_t b_ c_ns_d_r_d _ m_nt_l _lln_ss. Psych__tr_st _ll_n Fr_nc_s c_mp_r_d _n _dd_ct__n t_ g_m_ng t_ c_ff__ _dd_ct__n. H_ s__d: "B_ll__ns _f p__pl_ _r__nd th_ w_rld _r_ h__k_d _n c_ff__n_ f_r f_n _r b_tt_r f_nct__n_ng, b_t _nly r_r_ly d__s th_s c__s_ m_r_ tr__bl_ th_n _ts w_rth."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the world health organization (who) has said that too much gaming is officially a mental health problem the who has put "gaming addiction" as a mental health condition on its official list of diseases the list is called the international classification of diseases (icd) it says that gaming disorder happens when people cannot stop playing and gaming becomes more important than other interests in life the who says this must happen for at least a year for a doctor to say someone has gaming disorder someone with gaming disorder will insist on gaming even if they know they have a problem and they have suffered "negative consequences" from gaming too much

    the who said doctors should be aware that addiction to gaming is a clear and present danger to people's health because it has "serious" consequences a who spokesman said "most people who play video games don't have a disorder just like most people who drink alcohol don't have a disorder either however in certain circumstances overuse can lead to adverse effects" some doctors believe that too much gaming should not be considered a mental illness psychiatrist allen frances compared an addiction to gaming to coffee addiction he said "billions of people around the world are hooked on caffeine for fun or better functioning but only rarely does this cause more trouble than its worth"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)hassaidthattoomuchgamingiso
    fficiallyamentalhealthproblem.TheWHOhasput"gamingaddiction"as
    amentalhealthconditiononitsofficiallistofdiseases.Thelistiscalledthe
    InternationalClassificationofDiseases(ICD).Itsaysthatgamingdisord
    erhappenswhenpeoplecannotstopplayingandgamingbecomesmorei
    mportantthanotherinterestsinlife.TheWHOsaysthismusthappenfora
    tleastayearforadoctortosaysomeonehasgamingdisorder.Someone
    withgamingdisorderwillinsistongamingeveniftheyknowtheyhaveapr
    oblemandtheyhavesuffered"negativeconsequences"fromgamingto
    omuch.TheWHOsaiddoctorsshouldbeawarethataddictiontogamingi
    saclearandpresentdangertopeople'shealthbecauseithas"serious"co
    nsequences.AWHOspokesmansaid:"Mostpeoplewhoplayvideogame
    sdon'thaveadisorder,justlikemostpeoplewhodrinkalcoholdon'thave
    adisordereither.However,incertaincircumstances,overusecanleadto
    adverseeffects."Somedoctorsbelievethattoomuchgamingshouldnot
    beconsideredamentalillness.PsychiatristAllenFrancescomparedana
    ddictiontogamingtocoffeeaddiction.Hesaid:"Billionsofpeoplearound
    theworldarehookedoncaffeineforfunorbetterfunctioning,butonlyrar
    elydoesthiscausemoretroublethanitsworth."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Gaming addiction should be listed as a medical illness. 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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

    4. GAMING DISORDER: Write a magazine article about gaming disorder becoming an official disease. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on gaming. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can help people with gaming disorder. 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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