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British Prime Minister battles to save Brexit (17th November, 2018)

The Reading / Listening - Brexit - Level 3

The UK Prime Minister Theresa May is battling to save the Brexit divorce deal with the European Union, and her job. The Brexit agreement is in danger after the UK Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and other senior ministers resigned. They quit because of the "final" deal that Ms May agreed with Europe on Thursday. Mr Raab said the deal was bad for the UK. He said it would not allow the UK to leave the EU. Ms May said her government has a choice. It must choose to leave the EU with no deal, risk Brexit never happening, or support her deal. She said: "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated."

Brexit means "British exit from the European Union". On June 23, 2016, the British people voted to leave the EU. Nearly 52 per cent of voters voted to leave. They voted to leave because they thought Britain would be stronger outside of the EU. They wanted the UK to have more control over its future and to make trade agreements with other countries. They also wanted to be free from EU laws. People who voted to stay believe the UK is stronger as part of the EU. The United Kingdom is due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, at 11pm UK time. It is still unclear if or how the UK will leave the EU. Thursday's draft deal has further divided the country. Many people believe the UK's government will not agree to the new deal.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Brexit - Level 0, Brexit - Level 1 or Brexit - Level 2

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46228454
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/british-prime-minister-battles-to-save-brexit-deal-as-ministers-quit_us_5bed5696e4b0dbb7ea67cdcc
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brexit

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. BREXIT: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Brexit. 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?
battling / divorce / agreement / secretary / deal / government / choice / leave /
exit / voters / stronger / EU / UK / countries / free / laws / unclear / divided / agree
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. LEAVE: Students A strongly believe it is better for the UK to leave the European Union; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MY COUNTRY: What do you think of these things about your country? What changes could happen to them in the future? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What you think	Future changes
Capital city
Currency
Borders
Language
Cuisine
Government

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. AGREEMENT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "agreement". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. DEALS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important deals for your country at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

freedom of movement
freedom of labour
cultural ties
military ties
cyber-security
trade
tourism
energy

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	battling	a.	An agreement between two or more people, groups, businesses or countries, especially for business or in politics.
2.	deal	b.	Tried to reach an agreement or get a deal by discussing things with others.
3.	senior	c.	More experienced people.
4.	resigned	d.	Having a long and difficult fight or struggle.
5.	agreed	e.	Left a job or position; quit.
6.	choice	f.	Discussed or talked about and then accepted by everyone.
7.	negotiated	g.	An act of selecting or making a decision about two or more possibilities.

Paragraph 2

8.	exit	h.	A version of a piece of writing that comes before the final version.
9.	voted	i.	Expected at or planned for at a certain time.
10.	control	j.	The action of buying and selling goods and services.
11.	trade	k.	Leaving a particular situation or place.
12.	due to	l.	Separated or split into two parts.
13.	draft	m.	Made a choice in an election.
14.	divided	n.	The power to change or direct people's behavior or the course of events.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

Theresa May lost her job because of the Brexit agreement with the EU. T / F
A UK Brexit secretary quit because Theresa May's new Brexit deal. T / F
The Brexit secretary was the only politician to resign. T / F
Theresa May said the UK's government only had one choice. T / F
The word "Brexit" means "Britain Exits Italy". T / F
Less than 52 per cent of British people voted to leave the EU. T / F
Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29 at 11pm. T / F
Many people believe the UK government won't back the deal. T / F

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

battling
agreement
resigned
support
negotiated
exit
thought
still
draft
agree

believed
discussed terms
preliminary
departure
deal
approve
back
fighting
even now
quit

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

battling to save the Brexit divorce
The Brexit agreement is in
other senior
Mr Raab said the deal was bad
The choice
Brexit means
Nearly 52 per cent of voters
have more control
The United Kingdom is due
further divided

over its future
for the UK
voted to leave
is clear
danger
to leave the EU
ministers resigned
the country
deal
British exit

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

danger
support
deal
negotiated
final
risk
battling
choice

The UK Prime Minister Theresa May is (1) ____________ to save the Brexit divorce (2) ____________ with the European Union, and her job. The Brexit agreement is in (3) ____________ after the UK Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and other senior ministers resigned. They quit because of the "(4) ____________ " deal that Ms May agreed with Europe on Thursday. Mr Raab said the deal was bad for the UK. He said it would not allow the UK to leave the EU. Ms May said her government has a (5) ____________. It must choose to leave the EU with no deal, risk Brexit never happening, or (6) ____________ her deal. She said: "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can (7) ____________ no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be (8) ____________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

believe
unclear
voted
agree
stronger
further
future
due

Brexit means "British exit from the European Union". On June 23, 2016, the British people (9) ____________ to leave the EU. Nearly 52 per cent of voters voted to leave. They voted to leave because they thought Britain would be (10) ____________ outside of the EU. They wanted the UK to have more control over its (11) ____________ and to make trade agreements with other countries. They also wanted to be free from EU laws. People who voted to stay (12) ____________ the UK is stronger as part of the EU. The United Kingdom is (13) ____________ to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, at 11pm UK time. It is still (14) ____________ if or how the UK will leave the EU. Thursday's draft deal has (15) ____________ divided the country. Many people believe the UK's government will not (16) ____________ to the new deal.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) in danger after the UK Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and other senior ______
     a. ministers resign
     b. ministers re-signed
     c. ministers re-sign
     d. ministers resigned
2) He said it would not allow the UK to leave the EU. Ms May said her government ______
     a. has the choice
     b. has a choose
     c. has the choose
     d. has a choice
3) It must choose to leave the EU with no deal, ______ happening
     a. risk Brexit never
     b. risky Brexit never
     c. risks Brexit never
     d. risqué Brexit never
4) We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can ______
     a. choose to you knit
     b. choose to you night
     c. choose to ewe night
     d. choose to unite
5) support the best deal that ______
     a. can be negotiate it
     b. can be negotiate
     c. can be negotiation
     d. can be negotiated

6) On June 23, 2016, the British people ______ the EU
     a. voted at leave
     b. voted by leave
     c. voted to leave
     d. voted on leave
7) They wanted the UK to have more ______ future
     a. control overt its
     b. control obvert its
     c. control every its
     d. control over its
8) The United Kingdom ______ leave
     a. is due to
     b. is dew to
     c. is duty
     d. is jewel to
9) Thursday's draft deal has further ______ country
     a. divide the
     b. divide it the
     c. divides the
     d. divided the
10) Many people believe the UK's government will not agree to ______
     a. the new dealt
     b. the new ideals
     c. the new deal
     d. the new ideal

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The UK Prime Minister Theresa May is (1) ___________________ the Brexit divorce deal with the European Union, and her job. The Brexit agreement is in (2) ___________________ UK Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and other senior ministers resigned. They quit because of (3) ___________________ that Ms May agreed with Europe on Thursday. Mr Raab said the deal was bad for the UK. He said it would not allow the UK to leave the EU. Ms May said her government (4) ___________________. It must choose to leave the EU with no deal, risk Brexit never happening, or support her deal. She said: "The choice is clear. We can (5) ___________________ with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to (6) ___________________ the best deal that can be negotiated."

Brexit means "British exit from the European Union". On June 23, 2016, the British people (7) ___________________ the EU. Nearly 52 per cent of voters voted to leave. They voted to leave because they thought Britain would be (8) ___________________ the EU. They wanted the UK to have more control over its future and (9) ___________________ agreements with other countries. They also wanted to be free from EU laws. People who voted to stay believe the UK is (10) ___________________ of the EU. The United Kingdom is due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, at 11pm UK time. It is (11) ___________________ or how the UK will leave the EU. Thursday's draft deal has further divided the country. Many people believe the UK's government will not (12) ___________________ new deal.

Comprehension questions

What is Theresa May battling to save?
Who else resigned besides the Brexit secretary?
What did the Brexit secretary say Brexit was bad for?
What did Theresa May say about the choice over Brexit?
What did Theresa May say people risk?
What does Brexit mean?
How many voters voted to leave the European Union?
What did people who voted to leave want more of for the UK?
At what time will the UK leave the European Union?
What has the draft Brexit deal done to the country?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is Theresa May battling to save?
a) her career
b) trees
c) the Brexit (divorce) deal
d) Britain's farming industry
2) Who else resigned besides the Brexit secretary?
a) senior ministers
b) the EU leader
c) Theresa May's secretary
d) EU ministers
3) What did the Brexit secretary say Brexit was bad for?
a) the UK
b) apple growers
c) Europe
d) Theresa May
4) What did Theresa May say about the choice over Brexit?
a) it was important
b) it was clear
c) it was unclear
d) it was difficult
5) What did Theresa May say people risk?
a) their health
b) money
c) Britain's economy
d) having no Brexit at all

6) What does Brexit mean?
a) Britain Exits Italy
b) British exit from the European Union
c) Brussels Exit
d) British Example Itinerary
7) How many voters voted to leave the European Union?
a) nearly 52%
b) about 52%
c) just over 52%
d) exactly 52%
8) What did people who voted to leave want more of for the UK?
a) laws
b) food
c) control
d) money
9) At what time will the UK leave the European Union?
a) 6am
b) midnight
c) lunchtime
d) 11pm
10) What has the draft Brexit deal done to the country?
a) divided it
b) unified it
c) made it richer
d) made it poorer

Role play

Role A – Cyber-security
You think cyber-security is the most important deal to make with other countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their deals. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): trade, tourism or freedom of movement.

Role B – Trade
You think trade is the most important deal to make with other countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their deals. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): cyber-security, tourism or freedom of movement.

Role C – Tourism
You think tourism is the most important deal to make with other countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their deals. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): trade, cyber-security or freedom of movement.

Role D – Freedom of Movement
You think freedom of movement is the most important deal to make with other countries. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their deals. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): trade, tourism or cyber-security.

After reading / listening

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

'vote'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'leave'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

exit

nearly

outside

free

due

divided

divorce

senior

final

allow

clear

support

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 - British Prime Minister battles to save Brexit

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'Brexit'?
What do you know about Brexit?
Is it better for the UK to stay in the European Union?
Have you ever quit something?
Have you ever made a deal?
What do you think of your government?
What organizations is your country a member of?
What do you think of the United Kingdom?
Do you think you are good at negotiating?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'divorce'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about Theresa May?
What do Europeans think of the UK leaving the EU?
If the UK leaves the EU, will other countries follow?
How strong is your country?
What things divide your country?
How important is the UK?
What questions would you like to ask Theresa May?

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 UK Prime Minister Theresa May is (1) ____ to save the Brexit divorce deal with the European Union, and her job. The Brexit agreement is (2) ____ danger after the UK Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and (3) ____ senior ministers resigned. They quit because of the "final" deal that Ms May agreed with Europe on Thursday. Mr Raab said the deal was bad for the UK. He said it would not (4) ____ the UK to leave the EU. Ms May said her government has a choice. It must choose to leave the EU with no deal, risk Brexit never (5) ____, or support her deal. She said: "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at (6) ____, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated."

Brexit (7) ____ "British exit from the European Union". On June 23, 2016, the British people voted to leave the EU. Nearly 52 per cent of voters voted to leave. They voted to leave because they (8) ____ Britain would be stronger outside of the EU. They wanted the UK to have more control (9) ____ its future and to make trade agreements with other countries. They also wanted to be free from EU laws. People who voted to stay believe the UK is stronger (10) ____ part of the EU. The United Kingdom is due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, at 11pm UK time. It is still unclear if or how the UK will leave the EU. Thursday's (11) ____ deal has further divided the country. Many people (12) ____ the UK's government will not agree to the new deal.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) battling (b) battled (c) battles (d) battle
(a) on (b) by (c) in (d) at
(a) others (b) another (c) the others (d) other
(a) allowing (b) allow (c) allowance (d) allowed
(a) happen (b) happened (c) happens (d) happening
(a) entire (b) every (c) all (d) whole
(a) meanings (b) means (c) meanie (d) mean
(a) thought (b) fought (c) ought (d) caught
(a) over (b) under (c) through (d) thus
(a) was (b) has (c) as (d) is
(a) daft (b) deft (c) drift (d) draft
(a) believe (b) believe (c) belie (d) bailiff

Spelling

Paragraph 1

battling to save the Brexit eoivcdr deal
The Brexit maeegrent is in danger
other insero ministers resigned
srpotpu her deal
The choeic is clear
the best deal that can be tdnagieote

Paragraph 2

stronger dtsoieu of the EU
more rolotnc over its future
People who veotd to stay
It is still caunerl
further vidddie the country
eaerg to the new deal

Put the text back together

(...) draft deal has further divided the country. Many people believe the UK's government will not agree to the new deal.
(...) risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated."
(...) Brexit means "British exit from the European Union". On June 23, 2016, the British
(...) deal, risk Brexit never happening, or support her deal. She said: "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can
(...) on Thursday. Mr Raab said the deal was bad for the UK. He said it would not allow the UK to
( 1 ) The UK Prime Minister Theresa May is battling to save the Brexit divorce deal with the European Union, and her
(...) ministers resigned. They quit because of the "final" deal that Ms May agreed with Europe
(...) job. The Brexit agreement is in danger after the UK Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and other senior
(...) due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, at 11pm UK time. It is still unclear if or how the UK will leave the EU. Thursday's
(...) from EU laws. People who voted to stay believe the UK is stronger as part of the EU. The United Kingdom is
(...) people voted to leave the EU. Nearly 52 per cent of voters voted to leave. They voted to leave
(...) because they thought Britain would be stronger outside of the EU. They wanted the UK to have more
(...) control over its future and to make trade agreements with other countries. They also wanted to be free
(...) leave the EU. Ms May said her government has a choice. It must choose to leave the EU with no

Put the words in the right order

save the divorce to deal . Brexit Battling
would It not to the UK allow leave .
EU deal . the Choose leave with to no
can choose to with no leave We deal .
that negotiated . best Support deal can be the
outside would be the stronger Britain EU . of
the control . They more wanted have UK to
to wanted They EU free laws . be from
divided further has draft country . Thursday's deal the
the believe UK's will agree . People not government

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The UK Prime Minister Theresa May is battling / battled to save the Brexit divorce deal with the European Union, and her job. The Brexit agreement is in / on danger after the UK Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and another / other senior ministers resigned. They quit because of the "final" dealt / deal that Ms May agreed / agreement with Europe on Thursday. Mr Raab said the deal was bad for the UK. He said it would not allow the UK to believe / leave the EU. Ms May said her government has a choice / choose. It must choose to leave the EU with no deal, risk Brexit never happening / happen, or support her deal. She said: "The choose / choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unity / unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated."

Brexit means "British exit / excite from the European Union". On June 23, 2016, the British people voted to leave the / an EU. Nearly 52 per cent of voters voted to leave. They voted to leave so / because they thought Britain would be stronger outside of the EU. They wanted the UK to have more control / controlled over its future and to make trade agrees / agreements with other countries. They also wanted to be free / flee from EU laws. People who voted to stay believe the UK is stronger / strength as part of the EU. The United Kingdom is dew / due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, at 11pm UK time. It is still unclear if or how the UK will leave the EU. Thursday's draft / daft deal has further divided / multiplied the country. Many people believe the UK's government will not agree to the new deal.

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)

T h_ U K P r_m_ M_n_s t_r T h_r_s_ M_y _s b_t t l_n g t_ s_v_ t h_ B r_x_t d_v_r c_ d__ l w_t h t h_ E_r_p__ n U n__ n , _n d h_r j_b . T h_ B r_x_t _g r__ m_n t _s _n d_n g_r _f t_r t h_ U K B r_x_t s_c r_t_r y D_m_n_c R__ b _n d _t h_r s_n__ r m_n_s t_r s r_s_g n_d . T h_y q__ t b_c__ s_ _f t h_ " f_n_l " d__ l t h_t M s M_y _g r__ d w_t h E_r_p_ _n T h_r s d_y . M r R__ b s__ d t h_ d__ l w_s b_d f_r t h_ U K . H_ s__ d _t w__ l d n_t _l l_w t h_ U K t_ l__ v_ t h_ E U . M s M_y s__ d h_r g_v_r n m_n t h_s _ c h__ c_. I t m_s t c h__ s_ t_ l__ v_ t h_ E U w_t h n_ d__ l , r_s k B r_x_t n_v_r h_p p_n_n g , _r s_p p_r t h_r d__ l . S h_ s__ d : " T h_ c h__ c_ _s c l__ r . W_ c_n c h__ s_ t_ l__ v_ w_t h n_ d__ l , w_ c_n r_s k n_ B r_x_t _t _l l , _r w_ c_n c h__ s_ t_ _n_t_ _n d s_p p_r t t h_ b_s t d__ l t h_t c_n b_ n_g_t__ t_d . "

B r_x_t m__ n s " B r_t_s h _x_t f r_m t h_ E_r_p__ n U n__ n " . O n J_n_ 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 , t h_ B r_t_s h p__ p l_ v_t_d t_ l__ v_ t h_ E U . N__ r l y 5 2 p_r c_n t _f v_t_r s v_t_d t_ l__ v_. T h_y v_t_d t_ l__ v_ b_c__ s_ t h_y t h__ g h t B r_t__ n w__ l d b_ s t r_n g_r __ t s_d_ _f t h_ E U . T h_y w_n t_d t h_ U K t_ h_v_ m_r_ c_n t r_l _v_r _t s f_t_r_ _n d t_ m_k_ t r_d_ _g r__ m_n t s w_t h _t h_r c__ n t r__ s . T h_y _l s_ w_n t_d t_ b_ f r__ f r_m E U l_w s . P__ p l_ w h_ v_t_d t_ s t_y b_l__ v_ t h_ U K _s s t r_n g_r _s p_r t _f t h_ E U . T h_ U n_t_d K_n g d_m _s d__ t_ l__ v_ t h_ E U _n M_r c h 2 9 , 2 0 1 9 , _t 1 1 p m U K t_m_. I t _s s t_l l _n c l__ r _f _r h_w t h_ U K w_l l l__ v_ t h_ E U . T h_r s d_y ' s d r_f t d__ l h_s f_r t h_r d_v_d_d t h_ c__ n t r y . M_n y p__ p l_ b_l__ v_ t h_ U K ' s g_v_r n m_n t w_l l n_t _g r__ t_ t h_ n_w d__ l .

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the uk prime minister theresa may is battling to save the brexit divorce deal with the european union and her job the brexit agreement is in danger after the uk brexit secretary dominic raab and other senior ministers resigned they quit because of the final deal that ms may agreed with europe on thursday mr raab said the deal was bad for the uk he said it would not allow the uk to leave the eu ms may said her government has a choice it must choose to leave the eu with no deal risk brexit never happening or support her deal she said the choice is clear we can choose to leave with no deal we can risk no brexit at all or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated

brexit means british exit from the european union on june 23 2016 the british people voted to leave the eu nearly 52 per cent of voters voted to leave they voted to leave because they thought britain would be stronger outside of the eu they wanted the uk to have more control over its future and to make trade agreements with other countries they also wanted to be free from eu laws people who voted to stay believe the uk is stronger as part of the eu the united kingdom is due to leave the eu on march 29 2019 at 11pm uk time it is still unclear if or how the uk will leave the eu thursdays draft deal has further divided the country many people believe the uks government will not agree to the new deal

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheUKPrimeMinisterTheresaMayisbattlingtosavetheBrexitdivorced
ealwiththeEuropeanUnion,andherjob.TheBrexitagreementisindang
eraftertheUKBrexitsecretaryDominicRaabandotherseniorministersr
esigned.Theyquitbecauseofthe"final"dealthatMsMayagreedwithEur
opeonThursday.MrRaabsaidthedealwasbadfortheUK.Hesaiditwould
notallowtheUKtoleavetheEU.MsMaysaidhergovernmenthasachoice.
ItmustchoosetoleavetheEUwithnodeal,riskBrexitneverhappening,o
rsupportherdeal.Shesaid:"Thechoiceisclear.Wecanchoosetoleavewi
thnodeal,wecanrisknoBrexitatall,orwecanchoosetouniteandsupport
thebestdealthatcanbenegotiated."Brexitmeans"Britishexitfromthe
EuropeanUnion".OnJune23,2016,theBritishpeoplevotedtoleavethe
EU.Nearly52percentofvotersvotedtoleave.Theyvotedtoleavebecaus
etheythoughtBritainwouldbestrongeroutsideoftheEU.Theywantedt
heUKtohavemorecontroloveritsfutureandtomaketradeagreements
withothercountries.TheyalsowantedtobefreefromEUlaws.Peoplewh
ovotedtostaybelievetheUKisstrongeraspartoftheEU.TheUnitedKing
domisduetoleavetheEUonMarch29,2019,at11pmUKtime.Itisstillunc
leariforhowtheUKwillleavetheEU.Thursday'sdraftdealhasfurtherdivi
dedthecountry.ManypeoplebelievetheUK'sgovernmentwillnotagree
tothenewdeal.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Brexit will be a good thing for the UK and Europe.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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. BREXIT: Make a poster about Brexit. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. EUROPEAN UNION: Write a magazine article about the European Union and that it is best for Britain to stay part of it. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on Brexit. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on Brexit. 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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Breaking News English Lesson on Brexit

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