Breaking News English Lesson: Learning Vocabulary

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We may be able to learn vocabulary while sleeping (6th February, 2019)

The Reading / Listening - Learning Vocabulary - Level 3

A new study shows that we could learn vocabulary while we are sleeping. This is great news for students struggling to learn a new language. It is also good for anyone who is trying to expand their knowledge of words. Researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland have shown that it is possible to learn new information while we are sleeping deeply, and then recall this information when we need it after we wake up. This new information includes foreign language vocabulary. The researchers conducted tests on whether or not a person can remember new words and their translations while they were asleep. They said our sleeping brain is much more aware of the outside world than we thought.

Researcher Marc Züst said, "language areas of the brain and the hippocampus - the brain's essential memory hub - were activated" after a person woke up. He said these areas of the brain allow us to remember vocabulary during deep sleep. The researchers said that during deep sleep, our brain cells are active for a short period of time - about half a second. The cells then enter into a period of inactivity - again, about half a second. The active state is called "up-state" and the inactive state is called "down-state." The "up-state" period is the time when our brain could learn new vocabulary. The researchers say more research is needed to be 100 per cent sure that we can learn vocabulary while asleep.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Learning Vocabulary - Level 0, Learning Vocabulary - Level 1 or Learning Vocabulary - Level 2

Sources

https://interestingengineering.com/study-shows-that-new-vocabulary-can-be-learned-while-sleeping
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190131113837.htm
https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/uob-lnv012819.php

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. LEARNING VOCABULARY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about learning vocabulary. 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?
study / sleeping / language / knowledge / possible / information / vocabulary / aware
brain / essential / memory / active / remember / inactivity / time / period / asleep
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SLEEPING: Students A strongly believe sleeping is for sleeping, not learning; Students B strongly believe sleeping is also for learning. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. VOCABULARY: How can we learn vocabulary better using these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What we can do	Why this will work
Sleep
Internet
Movies
Music
Newspapers
Friends

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. NEWS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "news". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SLEEP: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to listen to while we sleep at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

poetry
nothing
the news
your heart
new vocabulary
motivational quotes
music
the sea

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	struggling	a.	Trying very hard to achieve something difficult.
2.	expand	b.	A written or spoken meaning of a word, speech, book, or other text, in another language.
3.	knowledge	c.	Become or make larger or more extensive.
4.	deeply	d.	Bring a fact, event, or situation back into one's mind, especially to tell it to other people.
5.	recall	e.	Facts, information, and skills a person gets through experience or education.
6.	translation	f.	Greatly; very much.
7.	aware	g.	Having knowledge or understanding of a situation or fact.

Paragraph 2

8.	essential	h.	Working and moving.
9.	hub	i.	Give the necessary time or opportunity for something to happen.
10.	cell	j.	Absolutely necessary; extremely important.
11.	allow	k.	The state of not moving or working.
12.	active	l.	The center of an activity, region, or network.
13.	inactivity	m.	A length of time.
14.	period	n.	The smallest living part of a human animal or plant.

Before reading / listening

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

This story is great news for people struggling to learn a language. T / F
The research was conducted by researchers from a Swiss university. T / F
Researchers tested language translations while people were asleep. T / F
Our sleeping brain may be more aware of things than we thought. T / F
The hippocampus is the part of the brain used to forget things. T / F
In deep sleep, our brains are active for half-a-second at a time. T / F
A sleeping period called "up-state" allows us to learn vocabulary. T / F
The researchers are 100% sure we can learn vocabulary while we sleep. T / F

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

struggling
expand
recall
conducted
aware
essential
allow
period
research
sure

remember
testing
certain
vital
time
grow
did
conscious
trying hard
permit

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

we could learn vocabulary
This is great
struggling to
while we are sleeping
new words and their
after a person
brain cells are active for a
about half
The active state is
more research is needed

deeply
woke up
called "up-state"
news for students
to be 100 per cent sure
a second
while we are sleeping
translations
learn a new language
short period of time

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

expand
includes
while
aware
possible
thought
struggling
translations

A new study shows that we could learn vocabulary (1) ____________ we are sleeping. This is great news for students (2) ____________ to learn a new language. It is also good for anyone who is trying to (3) ____________ their knowledge of words. Researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland have shown that it is (4) ____________ to learn new information while we are sleeping deeply, and then recall this information when we need it after we wake up. This new information (5) ____________ foreign language vocabulary. The researchers conducted tests on whether or not a person can remember new words and their (6) ____________ while they were asleep. They said our sleeping brain is much more (7) ____________ of the outside world than we (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

state
areas
deep
sure
inactivity
brain
memory
time

Researcher Marc Züst said, "language (9) ____________ of the brain and the hippocampus - the brain's essential (10) ____________ hub - were activated" after a person woke up. He said these areas of the brain allow us to remember vocabulary during (11) ____________ sleep. The researchers said that during deep sleep, our brain cells are active for a short period of (12) ____________ - about half a second. The cells then enter into a period of (13) ____________ - again, about half a second. The active state is called "up-state" and the inactive (14) ____________ is called "down-state." The "up-state" period is the time when our (15) ____________ could learn new vocabulary. The researchers say more research is needed to be 100 per cent (16) ____________ that we can learn vocabulary while asleep.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A new study shows that we could learn vocabulary ______ sleeping
     a. while we were
     b. while were
     c. while weir
     d. while we are
2) This is great news for students ______ learn
     a. struggling of
     b. struggling at
     c. struggling to
     d. struggling on
3) learn new information while we are sleeping deeply, and then ______ information
     a. recall these
     b. recall this
     c. recall those
     d. recall that
4) tests on whether or not a person can remember new words and ______
     a. their translations
     b. their translation
     c. their transitions
     d. their transition
5) They said our sleeping brain is much ______
     a. more aware
     b. more beware
     c. more are aware
     d. more are wear

6) areas of the brain and the hippocampus - the brain's essential ______
     a. memorial hub
     b. memories hub
     c. memory hub
     d. memorize hub
7) during deep sleep, our brain cells are active for a short ______
     a. period of time
     b. periods off time
     c. periodical of time
     d. period off time
8) The cells then enter into a period of inactivity - again, ______ second
     a. about half a
     b. about halve a
     c. a bout half a
     d. abbot half a
9) The "up-state" period is the time when our brain ______
     a. could learning
     b. could learn
     c. could learnt
     d. could learned
10) The researchers say more research is needed to be 100 ______
     a. per cent share
     b. per cent shore
     c. per cent surely
     d. per cent sure

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new study shows that we could learn vocabulary (1) __________________ sleeping. This is great news for students struggling to learn a new language. It is also (2) ___________________ who is trying to expand their knowledge of words. Researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland have shown (3) ___________________ possible to learn new information while we are sleeping deeply, and then recall this information when we need it after (4) ___________________. This new information includes foreign language vocabulary. The researchers conducted tests (5) ___________________ not a person can remember new words and their translations while they were asleep. They said our sleeping brain is much (6) ___________________ the outside world than we thought.

Researcher Marc Züst said, "language (7) ___________________ brain and the hippocampus - the brain's essential memory hub - were activated" after (8) ___________________ up. He said these areas of the brain allow us to remember vocabulary during deep sleep. The researchers said that during deep sleep, our brain cells (9) ___________________ a short period of time - about half a second. The cells then enter into a period of inactivity - again, about half a second. The (10) ___________________ called "up-state" and the inactive state is called "down-state." The "up-state" (11) ___________________ time when our brain could learn new vocabulary. The researchers say more research is needed to be 100 per cent sure that (12) ___________________ vocabulary while asleep.

Comprehension questions

What kind of news did the article say this was for students?
In which country do the researchers work?
When did researchers say we recall information learnt while we sleep?
What did researchers say they tested besides new words?
What did the researchers say the sleeping brain was more aware of?
What is the hippocampus?
How long is each period of brain activity and inactivity?
What is the inactive state of our brain while we sleep called?
What can we do in the "up-state" period of our sleep?
How sure did researchers say they needed to be?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of news did the article say this was for students?
a) interesting news
b) good news
c) bad news
d) breaking news
2) In which country do the researchers work?
a) Swaziland
b) Sweden
c) Switzerland
d) Eswatini
3) When did researchers say we recall information learnt while we sleep?
a) just after breakfast
b) in dreamland
c) at 6am
d) when we wake up
4) What did researchers say they tested besides new words?
a) sleep
b) translations
c) dreams
d) grammar
5) What did the researchers say the sleeping brain was more aware of?
a) the outside world
b) pillows
c) light
d) phrasal verbs

6) What is the hippocampus?
a) the brain's essential memory hub
b) an animal
c) a grammar term
d) a place where hippos study
7) How long is each period of brain activity and inactivity?
a) 30 seconds
b) one night
c) two seconds
d) half a second
8) What is the inactive state of our brain while we sleep called?
a) the "inter-state"
b) the "up-state"
c) the "down-state"
d) the "dream-state"
9) What can we do in the "up-state" period of our sleep?
a) sleepwalk
b) speak English
c) see with our eyes shut
d) learn new vocabulary
10) How sure did researchers say they needed to be?
a) pretty sure
b) 100% sure
c) more sure than not
d) not that sure

Role play

Role A – New Vocabulary
You think new vocabulary is the best thing to listen to while you are asleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): motivational quotes, your heart or the sea.

Role B – Motivational Quotes
You think motivational quotes are the best thing to listen to while you are asleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): new vocabulary, your heart or the sea.

Role C – Your Heart
You think your heart is the best thing to listen to while you are asleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): motivational quotes, new vocabulary or the sea.

Role D – The Sea
You think the sea is the best thing to listen to while you are asleep. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): motivational quotes, your heart or new vocabulary.

After reading / listening

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

'learn'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'vocabulary'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

hub

allow

short

half

inactive

sure

shows

good

recall

includes

whether

much

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 - We may be able to learn vocabulary while sleeping

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 'learn'?
How important is sleeping?
What is the best way to learn vocabulary?
What do you think of learning vocabulary while sleeping?
Is sleeping only for sleeping?
Could there be any dangers to learning while asleep?
How happy are you with your vocabulary?
What are your three favourite English words?
What else could we learn while we are asleep?

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 'vocabulary'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about the brain?
What problems do you have learning vocabulary?
Will we be able to inject languages into the brain one day?
How well do you sleep?
How do you think this method works?
Will you try learning vocabulary while you are asleep?
What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

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

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

A new study shows that we could (1) ____ vocabulary while we are sleeping. This is great news for students (2) ____ to learn a new language. It is also good for anyone who is trying to expand their knowledge of words. Researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland have (3) ____ that it is possible to learn new information while we are sleeping (4) ____, and then recall this information when we need it after we wake up. This new information includes foreign language vocabulary. The researchers conducted tests on (5) ____ or not a person can remember new words and their translations while they were asleep. They said our sleeping brain is much more (6) ____ of the outside world than we thought.

Researcher Marc Züst said, "language areas of the brain and the hippocampus - the brain's essential memory (7) ____ - were activated" after a person woke up. He said these areas of the brain allow us to remember vocabulary (8) ____ deep sleep. The researchers said that during deep sleep, our brain cells are (9) ____ for a short period of time - about half a second. The cells then enter into a period of inactivity - again, about (10) ____ a second. The active state is called "up-state" and the inactive state is called "down-state." The "up-state" period is the (11) ____ when our brain could learn new vocabulary. The researchers say more research is needed to be 100 per cent (12) ____ that we can learn vocabulary while asleep.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) learning (b) learns (c) learn (d) learnt
(a) struggling (b) struggles (c) struggled (d) struggle
(a) shown (b) shows (c) showing (d) show
(a) deeply (b) depth (c) deeps (d) deepen
(a) might (b) if (c) depends (d) whether
(a) wares (b) ware (c) beware (d) aware
(a) hub (b) pub (c) cub (d) dub
(a) among (b) middle (c) while (d) during
(a) active (b) activity (c) activate (d) activation
(a) halve (b) half (c) halved (d) halves
(a) timely (b) time (c) times (d) timed
(a) sure (b) surety (c) surely (d) assure

Spelling

Paragraph 1

lutngggrsi to learn a new language
expand their knwgedelo
recall this noirfmtanio
onrfgie language vocabulary
new words and their sanltastnoir
more aewra of the outside world

Paragraph 2

the brain's seneatisl memory
vataectid after a person woke up
these eraas of the brain
nrdugi deep sleep
more hcaserer is needed
be 100 per cent rsue

Put the text back together

(...) information when we need it after we wake up. This new information includes foreign language vocabulary. The researchers conducted
(...) sleep. The researchers said that during deep sleep, our brain cells are active for a short
(...) to learn a new language. It is also good for anyone who is trying to expand their knowledge
(...) when our brain could learn new vocabulary. The researchers say more research is
(...) possible to learn new information while we are sleeping deeply, and then recall this
(...) of words. Researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland have shown that it is
(...) were asleep. They said our sleeping brain is much more aware of the outside world than we thought.
(...) hub - were activated" after a person woke up. He said these areas of the brain allow us to remember vocabulary during deep
(...) state is called "up-state" and the inactive state is called "down-state." The "up-state" period is the time
(...) needed to be 100 per cent sure that we can learn vocabulary while asleep.
(...) tests on whether or not a person can remember new words and their translations while they
(...) period of time - about half a second. The cells then enter into a period of inactivity - again, about half a second. The active
( 1 ) A new study shows that we could learn vocabulary while we are sleeping. This is great news for students struggling
(...) Researcher Marc Züst said, "language areas of the brain and the hippocampus - the brain's essential memory

Put the words in the right order

we We learn while sleeping . are vocabulary could
struggling Great learn . for to news students
to their knowledge . is expand who trying Anyone
vocabulary . new includes information This foreign language
world . more the aware of Much outside
to sleep . Allow us during vocabulary remember deep
short Brain period . active are for a cells
then inactivity . into period a enter Cells of
time brain learns new The our when vocabulary .
that vocabulary Sure can we asleep . while learn

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

A new study shows / showing that we could learn vocabulary while we are sleeping. This is greatly / great news for students struggling to learn a new language. It is also good for / as anyone who is trying to expand their knowledge / knowing of words. Researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland have showing / shown that it is possible to learn new information while we are sleeping deeply / deep, and then recall this information when we need it after we wake / woken up. This new information includes foreign language vocabulary. The researchers conducted test / tests on whether or not a person can remember new words and their transitions / translations while they were asleep. They said our sleeping brain is much more aware / beware of the outside world than we thought.

Researcher Marc Züst said, "language area / areas of the brain and the hippocampus - the brain's essential memory / memorial hub - were activated" after a person woken / woke up. He said these areas of the brain allow us to remember vocabulary while / during deep sleep. The researchers said that during deep sleep, our brain cells are active / actively for a short period of time - about half a second. The cells / calls then enter into a period of inactivity - again, about half a / the second. The active state is called "up-state" and the inactive state is called "down-state." The "up-state" during / period is the time when our brain could learn new vocabulary. The researchers say more research is needy / needed to be 100 per cent sure / surely that we can learn vocabulary while asleep.

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)

A n_w s t_d y s h_w s t h_t w_ c__ l d l__ r n v_c_b_l_r y w h_l_ w_ _r_ s l__ p_n g . T h_s _s g r__ t n_w s f_r s t_d_n t s s t r_g g l_n g t_ l__ r n _ n_w l_n g__ g_. I t _s _l s_ g__ d f_r _n y_n_ w h_ _s t r y_n g t_ _x p_n d t h__ r k n_w l_d g_ _f w_r d s . R_s__ r c h_r s f r_m t h_ U n_v_r s_t y _f B_r n _n S w_t z_r l_n d h_v_ s h_w n t h_t _t _s p_s s_b l_ t_ l__ r n n_w _n f_r m_t__ n w h_l_ w_ _r_ s l__ p_n g d__ p l y , _n d t h_n r_c_l l t h_s _n f_r m_t__ n w h_n w_ n__ d _t _f t_r w_ w_k_ _p . T h_s n_w _n f_r m_t__ n _n c l_d_s f_r__ g n l_n g__ g_ v_c_b_l_r y . T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s c_n d_c t_d t_s t s _n w h_t h_r _r n_t _ p_r s_n c_n r_m_m b_r n_w w_r d s _n d t h__ r t r_n s l_t__ n s w h_l_ t h_y w_r_ _s l__ p . T h_y s__ d __ r s l__ p_n g b r__ n _s m_c h m_r_ _w_r_ _f t h_ __ t s_d_ w_r l d t h_n w_ t h__ g h t .

R_s__ r c h_r M_r c Z ü s t s__ d , " l_n g__ g_ _r__ s _f t h_ b r__ n _n d t h_ h_p p_c_m p_s - t h_ b r__ n ' s _s s_n t__ l m_m_r y h_b - w_r_ _c t_v_t_d " _f t_r _ p_r s_n w_k_ _p . H_ s__ d t h_s_ _r__ s _f t h_ b r__ n _l l_w _s t_ r_m_m b_r v_c_b_l_r y d_r_n g d__ p s l__ p . T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s s__ d t h_t d_r_n g d__ p s l__ p , __ r b r__ n c_l l s _r_ _c t_v_ f_r _ s h_r t p_r__ d _f t_m_ - _b__ t h_l f _ s_c_n d . T h_ c_l l s t h_n _n t_r _n t_ _ p_r__ d _f _n_c t_v_t y - _g__ n , _b__ t h_l f _ s_c_n d . T h_ _c t_v_ s t_t_ _s c_l l_d "_p - s t_t_" _n d t h_ _n_c t_v_ s t_t_ _s c_l l_d " d_w n - s t_t_. " T h_ "_p - s t_t_" p_r__ d _s t h_ t_m_ w h_n __ r b r__ n c__ l d l__ r n n_w v_c_b_l_r y . T h_ r_s__ r c h_r s s_y m_r_ r_s__ r c h _s n__ d_d t_ b_ 1 0 0 p_r c_n t s_r_ t h_t w_ c_n l__ r n v_c_b_l_r y w h_l_ _s l__ p .

Punctuate the text and add capitals

a new study shows that we could learn vocabulary while we are sleeping this is great news for students struggling to learn a new language it is also good for anyone who is trying to expand their knowledge of words researchers from the university of bern in switzerland have shown that it is possible to learn new information while we are sleeping deeply and then recall this information when we need it after we wake up this new information includes foreign language vocabulary the researchers conducted tests on whether or not a person can remember new words and their translations while they were asleep they said our sleeping brain is much more aware of the outside world than we thought

researcher marc zust said language areas of the brain and the hippocampus the brains essential memory hub were activated after a person woke up he said these areas of the brain allow us to remember vocabulary during deep sleep the researchers said that during deep sleep our brain cells are active for a short period of time about half a second the cells then enter into a period of inactivity again about half a second the active state is called upstate and the inactive state is called downstate the upstate period is the time when our brain could learn new vocabulary the researchers say more research is needed to be 100 per cent sure that we can learn vocabulary while asleep

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Anewstudyshowsthatwecouldlearnvocabularywhilewearesleeping.
Thisisgreatnewsforstudentsstrugglingtolearnanewlanguage.Itisals
ogoodforanyonewhoistryingtoexpandtheirknowledgeofwords.Rese
archersfromtheUniversityofBerninSwitzerlandhaveshownthatitispo
ssibletolearnnewinformationwhilewearesleepingdeeply,andthenrec
allthisinformationwhenweneeditafterwewakeup.Thisnewinformatio
nincludesforeignlanguagevocabulary.Theresearchersconductedtest
sonwhetherornotapersoncanremembernewwordsandtheirtranslati
onswhiletheywereasleep.Theysaidoursleepingbrainismuchmoreaw
areoftheoutsideworldthanwethought.ResearcherMarcZüstsaid,"lan
guageareasofthebrainandthehippocampus-thebrain'sessentialme
moryhub-wereactivated"afterapersonwokeup.Hesaidtheseareaso
fthebrainallowustoremembervocabularyduringdeepsleep.Theresea
rcherssaidthatduringdeepsleep,ourbraincellsareactiveforashortperi
odoftime-abouthalfasecond.Thecellsthenenterintoaperiodofinacti
vity-again,abouthalfasecond.Theactivestateiscalled"up-state"andt
heinactivestateiscalled"down-state."The"up-state"periodisthetim
ewhenourbraincouldlearnnewvocabulary.Theresearcherssaymorer
esearchisneededtobe100percentsurethatwecanlearnvocabularywhi
leasleep.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Sleep is for sleeping, not for learning vocabulary. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. LEARNING VOCABULARY: Make a poster about learning vocabulary. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. SLEEP: Write a magazine article about sleep being for sleep and not for learning vocabulary. 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 learning vocabulary. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how best to learn vocabulary. 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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