Breaking News English Lesson on Notre Dame

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One billion dollars promised to rebuild Notre Dame (19th April, 2019)

The Reading / Listening - Notre Dame - Level 3

People have donated over one billion dollars to help rebuild the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. The 850-year-old cathedral was badly damaged in a fire on Monday. The UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most important cultural buildings in France. Wealthy people from all over France and around the world have given hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore the cathedral to its former glory. French president Emmanuel Macron told the nation in a televised address that he would make sure the reconstruction would be finished within five years. This would be in time for the opening of the Paris Olympics in 2024. However, architects say it could take decades to rebuild the world-famous landmark.

Some of the donors that are handing over cash are French billionaires. They include the owners of the luxury brand Louis Vuitton and the cosmetics company L'Oreal. The French oil company Total is also pledging 100 million euros. Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted that his company would donate an unspecified amount. He said: "We are heartbroken for the French people and those around the world for whom Notre Dame is a symbol of hope. Relieved that everyone is safe. Apple will be donating to the rebuilding efforts to help restore Notre Dame's precious heritage for future generations." However, many people are asking whether the money would be better spent on helping the world's poor.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Notre Dame - Level 0, Notre Dame - Level 1 or Notre Dame - Level 2

Sources

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/skbaer/notre-dame-fire-rebuild-pinault-donation-french-billionaire
https://www.france24.com/en/20190416-fundraising-campaigns-multiply-macron-vows-rebuild-notre-dame
https://www.npr.org/2019/04/16/714116303/donation-pledges-roll-in-for-notre-dames-reconstruction

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. NOTRE DAME: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Notre Dame. 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?
a billion dollars / cathedral / damaged / cultural / glory / address / architects / nation
donor / luxury / brand / cosmetics / heartbroken / symbol / hope / heritage / the poor
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. WORLD HERITAGE: Students A strongly believe World Heritage sites are very important; Students B strongly believe they aren't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. LANDMARKS: What do you know about these landmarks? How important are they? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	Importance
Notre Dame
The Statue of Liberty
The Pyramids
Big Ben
Taj Mahal
Angkor Wat

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. FIRE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "fire". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. DONATIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things to donate to at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

clean water projects
children's charities
helping the aged
political parties
building restoration
cancer research
wildlife projects
save a school

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	cathedral	a.	Repair or fix a building, work of art, vehicle, etc. to return it to its original condition.
2.	cultural	b.	The action of rebuilding something after it has damaged or destroyed.
3.	wealthy	c.	The biggest and most important church in a city.
4.	restore	d.	An object or feature of a landscape or town that is easily seen and recognized from a distance.
5.	reconstruction	e.	About the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a society.
6.	decade	f.	Very rich.
7.	landmark	g.	A period of ten years.

Paragraph 2

8.	donors	h.	Greatly loved or treasured by someone.
9.	handing over	i.	A person who gives money to something (especially to a charity).
10.	cash	j.	Giving.
11.	brand	k.	Promising.
12.	pledging	l.	An expensive company that makes higher quality goods.
13.	hope	m.	Money that is coins or notes.
14.	precious	n.	A feeling of wanting a certain thing to happen.

Before reading / listening

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

The article said the cathedral is 857 years old. T / F
Notre Dame cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site. T / F
France's president spoke to the French people on TV about Notre Dame. T / F
Architects say it will take five years to rebuild Notre Dame. T / F
None of the donors giving money to Notre Dame are billionaires. T / F
An oil company said it would give 100 million euros to help Notre Dame. T / F
Apple promised to give 100 million euros to help Notre Dame. T / F
Many people think the world's poor should get the money instead. T / F

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

donated
damaged
former
address
landmark
handing over
pledging
unspecified
hope
poor

unnamed
speech
giving
harmed
promising
optimism
given
monument
impoverished
past

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

People have donated
restore the cathedral
make sure the reconstruction would be
architects say it could take decades
the world-
Some of the donors that are
the owners of the luxury
donate an unspecified
a symbol
help restore Notre Dame's precious

handing over cash
to rebuild
famous landmark
heritage
brand Louis Vuitton
finished within five years
of hope
over one billion dollars
amount
to its former glory

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

within
badly
over
decades
cathedral
opening
glory
cultural

People have donated over one billion dollars to help rebuild the Notre Dame (1) ____________ in Paris. The 850-year-old cathedral was (2) ____________ damaged in a fire on Monday. The UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most important (3) ____________ buildings in France. Wealthy people from all (4) ____________ France and around the world have given hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore the cathedral to its former (5) ____________. French president Emmanuel Macron told the nation in a televised address that he would make sure the reconstruction would be finished (6) ____________ five years. This would be in time for the (7) ____________ of the Paris Olympics in 2024. However, architects say it could take (8) ____________ to rebuild the world-famous landmark.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

luxury
efforts
amount
poor
handing
generations
pledging
whom

Some of the donors that are (9) ____________ over cash are French billionaires. They include the owners of the (10) ____________ brand Louis Vuitton and the cosmetics company L'Oreal. The French oil company Total is also (11) ____________ 100 million euros. Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted that his company would donate an unspecified (12) ____________. He said: "We are heartbroken for the French people and those around the world for (13) ____________ Notre Dame is a symbol of hope. Relieved that everyone is safe. Apple will be donating to the rebuilding (14) ____________ to help restore Notre Dame's precious heritage for future (15) ____________." However, many people are asking whether the money would be better spent on helping the world's (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) People have donated over one billion dollars to help ______Notre Dame cathedral
     a. the build the
     b. a builder
     c. to build the
     d. rebuild the
2) The UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most important ______
     a. cultural building
     b. culturally buildings
     c. cultural buildings
     d. culture building
3) given hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore the cathedral to ______
     a. its former gory
     b. its farmer glory
     c. its former glory
     d. its firmer gory
4) he would make sure the reconstruction would be finished ______
     a. within five years
     b. wither five years
     c. without five years
     d. divine five years
5) However, architects say it could take decades to rebuild the world-______
     a. famous landing make
     b. famous landmark
     c. famous land marks
     d. famous land make

6) Some of the donors that are ______
     a. handing over cash
     b. handing overly cash
     c. handing overs cash
     d. handing overt cash
7) They include the owners of the luxury brand Louis Vuitton and the ______
     a. cosmos ticks company
     b. cosmetics company
     c. chasm ticks company
     d. cost metrics company
8) Cook tweeted that his company would donate an ______
     a. unspecifiable amount
     b. unspecified amount
     c. unspecific the amount
     d. special amount
9) donating to the rebuilding efforts to help restore Notre Dame's ______
     a. precious heritage
     b. previous heritage
     c. precocious heritage
     d. preciously heritage
10) asking whether the money would be better spent on helping ______
     a. the world's spore
     b. the world's poor
     c. the world's paw
     d. the world's par

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

People have (1) ___________________ billion dollars to help rebuild the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. The 850-year-old cathedral was badly (2) ___________________ fire on Monday. The UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most important cultural buildings in France. Wealthy people (3) ___________________ France and around the world have given hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore the cathedral to (4) ___________________. French president Emmanuel Macron told the nation in a televised address that he would make sure the reconstruction would be finished (5) ___________________. This would be in time for the opening of the Paris Olympics in 2024. However, architects say it could (6) ___________________ rebuild the world-famous landmark.

Some of the donors that are (7) ___________________ are French billionaires. They include the owners (8) ___________________ brand Louis Vuitton and the cosmetics company L'Oreal. The French oil company Total is also pledging 100 million euros. Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted that his company (9) ___________________ unspecified amount. He said: "We are heartbroken for the French people and those around the world for whom Notre Dame is a (10) ___________________. Relieved that everyone is safe. Apple will be donating to the rebuilding (11) ___________________ restore Notre Dame's precious heritage for future generations." However, many people are asking whether the money would be (12) ___________________ helping the world's poor.

Comprehension questions

How old is the Notre Dame cathedral?
What does France's president want to restore Notre Dame to?
How long did France's president say the rebuilding would take?
What does France's president want Notre Dame to be rebuilt in time for?
How long did architects say it would take to rebuild Notre Dame?
What is the name of the luxury brand that was mentioned?
Which company's CEO said his company would donate money?
What did a company CEO say Notre Dame was a symbol of?
What is a company CEO relieved about?
Who do some people think the money should be given to?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How old is the Notre Dame cathedral?
a) 580 years old
b) 805 years old
c) 508 years old
d) 850 years old
2) What does France's president want to restore Notre Dame to?
a) a church
b) its former glory
c) a landmark
d) a global monument
3) How long did France's president say the rebuilding would take?
a) 15 years
b) 20 years
c) 5 years
d) 10 years
4) What does France's president want Notre Dame to be rebuilt in time for?
a) the 2024 Olympics
b) the 2022 World Cup
c) the 1,000-year centenary
d) Christmas
5) How long did architects say it would take to rebuild Notre Dame?
a) generations
b) years
c) decades
d) centuries

6) What is the name of the luxury brand that was mentioned?
a) Hermes
b) Louis Vuitton
c) Givenchy
d) Chanel
7) Which company's CEO said his company would donate money?
a) Facebook
b) Google
c) Amazon
d) Apple
8) What did a company CEO say Notre Dame was a symbol of?
a) hope
b) Paris
c) the cross
d) culture
9) What is a company CEO relieved about?
a) the fire is out
b) artwork was saved
c) everyone is safe
d) he can still pray
10) Who do some people think the money should be given to?
a) the Church
b) the poor
c) the homeless
d) fire fighters

Role play

Role A – Building Restoration
You think it is best to make a donation to building restoration. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): cancer research, education projects or political parties.

Role B – Cancer Research
You think it is best to make a donation to cancer research. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): building restoration, education projects or political parties.

Role C – Education Projects
You think it is best to make a donation to education projects. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): cancer research, building restoration or political parties.

Role D – Political Parties
You think it is best to make a donation to political parties. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least worthy of these (and why): cancer research, education projects or building restoration.

After reading / listening

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

'billion'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'promise'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

cash

brand

oil

hope

precious

poor

850

most

hundreds

former

nation

decades

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 - One billion dollars promised to rebuild Notre Dame

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 'billion'?
What do you know about Notre Dame cathedral?
How sad is it that an 850-year-old building is damaged in a fire?
How important are UNESCO World Heritage sites?
What are your country's most important cultural buildings?
How much money would you give to restore your favourite building?
What is your favourite building?
What is a cathedral?
Why might it take longer than five years to reconstruct Notre Dame?

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 'promise'?
What do you think about what you read?
What did you see or read of this news?
How important are places of worship?
What do you think of brands donating so much money?
What is the biggest symbol of hope in the world?
Would as much money have been raised for flood victims?
Should the money be given to the world's poor?
What questions would you like to ask France's president?

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)

People have donated over one billion dollars to (1) ____ rebuild the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. The 850-year-old cathedral was (2) ____ damaged in a fire on Monday. The UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most important cultural buildings in France. Wealthy people (3) ____ all over France and around the world have given hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore the cathedral to its former (4) ____. French president Emmanuel Macron told the nation in a televised address that he would make sure the reconstruction would be finished (5) ____ five years. This would be in time for the opening of the Paris Olympics in 2024. However, architects say it could take (6) ____ to rebuild the world-famous landmark.

Some of the donors that are (7) ____ over cash are French billionaires. They include the owners of the luxury brand Louis Vuitton and the cosmetics company L'Oreal. The French oil company Total is also (8) ____ 100 million euros. Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted that his company would donate an unspecified amount. He said: "We are heartbroken (9) ____ the French people and those around the world for (10) ____ Notre Dame is a symbol of hope. Relieved that everyone is safe. Apple will be donating to the rebuilding efforts to help restore Notre Dame's (11) ____ heritage for future generations." However, many people are asking whether the money would be better spent on helping (12) ____ world's poor.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) helps (b) helped (c) helping (d) help
(a) badge (b) baddie (c) bad (d) badly
(a) at (b) from (c) by (d) of
(a) gorge (b) garish (c) gory (d) glory
(a) without (b) wither (c) within (d) with
(a) decades (b) decides (c) deduces (d) declares
(a) banding (b) handing (c) landing (d) sanding
(a) pledging (b) pledge (c) pledges (d) pledged
(a) as (b) for (c) at (d) of
(a) that (b) which (c) whom (d) when
(a) spacious (b) previous (c) precocious (d) precious
(a) every (b) all (c) a (d) the

Spelling

Paragraph 1

People have ndtodea over one billion dollars
the most important lracutlu buildings
restore the latdacerh
its former yolgr
it could take seecdda to rebuild
the world-famous radmlnak

Paragraph 2

owners of the ulxury brand
the csemsctoi company
an snefupiidce amount
a myblso of hope
Notre Dame's precious ahietreg
for future eesgrinaont

Put the text back together

(...) also pledging 100 million euros. Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted that his company would donate an
(...) the world have given hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore the cathedral to its former
(...) be finished within five years. This would be in time for the opening of the Paris Olympics in
(...) people are asking whether the money would be better spent on helping the world's poor.
(...) of the most important cultural buildings in France. Wealthy people from all over France and around
(...) to the rebuilding efforts to help restore Notre Dame's precious heritage for future generations." However, many
(...) whom Notre Dame is a symbol of hope. Relieved that everyone is safe. Apple will be donating
(...) glory. French president Emmanuel Macron told the nation in a televised address that he would make sure the reconstruction would
(...) Some of the donors that are handing over cash are French billionaires. They include the owners
( 1 ) People have donated over one billion dollars to help rebuild the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. The 850-year-
(...) unspecified amount. He said: "We are heartbroken for the French people and those around the world for
(...) of the luxury brand Louis Vuitton and the cosmetics company L'Oreal. The French oil company Total is
(...) 2024. However, architects say it could take decades to rebuild the world-famous landmark.
(...) old cathedral was badly damaged in a fire on Monday. The UNESCO World Heritage site is one

Put the words in the right order

billion one People over dollars . have donated
important of the most buildings . cultural One
glory . cathedral Help the its former to restore
sure finished . be Make would the reconstruction
to decades landmark . world-famous rebuild Take the
luxury brand . of owners include They the the
an donate company His amount . unspecified would
people . the We French heartbroken for are
be donating Apple the efforts . will to rebuilding
spent poor . Be helping on world's the better

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

People have donation / donated over one billion dollars to help rebuild the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. The 850-year-old cathedral was badly / bad damaged in a fire on Monday. The UNESCO World Heritage site / sight is one of the most important cultural building / buildings in France. Wealthy people from all over France and around the world have gave / given hundreds of millions of dollars to help rest / restore the cathedral to its former glory / gory. French president Emmanuel Macron told the nation in a televised address that he would make sure the reconstruction would be / do finished within five years. This would be in time for the opening / open of the Paris Olympics in 2024. However, architects say it could have / take decades to rebuild the world-famous landmark.

Some of the donors that are handling / handing over cash are French billionaires. They include / including the owners of the luxury brand Louis Vuitton and the cosmetics / cosmetic company L'Oreal. The French oil company Total is also / addition pledging 100 million euros. Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted that his company would donate an unspecified volume / amount. He said: "We are heartbroken for the French people and them / those around the world for whom Notre Dame is a symbol / symbolic of hope. Relieved that everyone is safe. Apple will be donating to the rebuilding efforts / effects to help restore Notre Dame's precious heritage for future generations." However, many people are ask / asking whether the money would be better spent on helping the world's poor / poverty.

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)

P__ p l_ h_v_ d_n_t_d _v_r _n_ b_l l__ n d_l l_r s t_ h_l p r_b__ l d t h_ N_t r_ D_m_ c_t h_d r_l _n P_r_s . T h_ 8 5 0 - y__ r -_l d c_t h_d r_l w_s b_d l y d_m_g_d _n _ f_r_ _n M_n d_y . T h_ U N E S C O W_r l d H_r_t_g_ s_t_ _s _n_ _f t h_ m_s t _m p_r t_n t c_l t_r_l b__ l d_n g s _n F r_n c_. W__ l t h y p__ p l_ f r_m _l l _v_r F r_n c_ _n d _r__ n d t h_ w_r l d h_v_ g_v_n h_n d r_d s _f m_l l__ n s _f d_l l_r s t_ h_l p r_s t_r_ t h_ c_t h_d r_l t_ _t s f_r m_r g l_r y . F r_n c h p r_s_d_n t E m m_n__ l M_c r_n t_l d t h_ n_t__ n _n _ t_l_v_s_d _d d r_s s t h_t h_ w__ l d m_k_ s_r_ t h_ r_c_n s t r_c t__ n w__ l d b_ f_n_s h_d w_t h_n f_v_ y__ r s . T h_s w__ l d b_ _n t_m_ f_r t h_ _p_n_n g _f t h_ P_r_s O l y m p_c s _n 2 0 2 4 . H_w_v_r , _r c h_t_c t s s_y _t c__ l d t_k_ d_c_d_s t_ r_b__ l d t h_ w_r l d - f_m__ s l_n d m_r k .

S_m_ _f t h_ d_n_r s t h_t _r_ h_n d_n g _v_r c_s h _r_ F r_n c h b_l l__ n__ r_s . T h_y _n c l_d_ t h_ _w n_r s _f t h_ l_x_r y b r_n d L___s V__ t t_n _n d t h_ c_s m_t_c c_m p_n y L ' O r__ l . T h_ F r_n c h __ l c_m p_n y T_t_l _s _l s_ p l_d g_n g 1 0 0 m_l l__ n __ r_s . A p p l_ C E O T_m C__ k t w__ t_d t h_t h_s c_m p_n y w__ l d d_n_t_ _n _n s p_c_f__ d _m__ n t . H_ s__ d : " W_ _r_ h__ r t b r_k_n f_r t h_ F r_n c h p__ p l_ _n d t h_s_ _r__ n d t h_ w_r l d f_r w h_m N_t r_ D_m_ _s _ s y m b_l _f h_p_. R_l__ v_d t h_t _v_r y_n_ _s s_f_. A p p l_ w_l l b_ d_n_t_n g t_ t h_ r_b__ l d_n g _f f_r t s t_ h_l p r_s t_r_ N_t r_ D_m_' s p r_c___s h_r_t_g_ f_r f_t_r_ g_n_r_t__ n s . " H_w_v_r , m_n y p__ p l_ _r_ _s k_n g w h_t h_r t h_ m_n_y w__ l d b_ b_t t_r s p_n t _n h_l p_n g t h_ w_r l d ' s p__ r .

Punctuate the text and add capitals

people have donated over one billion dollars to help rebuild the notre dame cathedral in paris the 850yearold cathedral was badly damaged in a fire on monday the unesco world heritage site is one of the most important cultural buildings in france wealthy people from all over france and around the world have given hundreds of millions of dollars to help restore the cathedral to its former glory french president emmanuel macron told the nation in a televised address that he would make sure the reconstruction would be finished within five years this would be in time for the opening of the paris olympics in 2024 however architects say it could take decades to rebuild the worldfamous landmark

some of the donors that are handing over cash are french billionaires they include the owners of the luxury brand louis vuitton and the cosmetics company loreal the french oil company total is also pledging 100 million euros apple ceo tim cook tweeted that his company would donate an unspecified amount he said we are heartbroken for the french people and those around the world for whom notre dame is a symbol of hope relieved that everyone is safe apple will be donating to the rebuilding efforts to help restore notre dames precious heritage for future generations however many people are asking whether the money would be better spent on helping the worlds poor

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

PeoplehavedonatedoveronebilliondollarstohelprebuildtheNotreDa
mecathedralinParis.The850-year-oldcathedralwasbadlydamagedi
nafireonMonday.TheUNESCOWorldHeritagesiteisoneofthemostimp
ortantculturalbuildingsinFrance.WealthypeoplefromalloverFrancea
ndaroundtheworldhavegivenhundredsofmillionsofdollarstohelprest
orethecathedraltoitsformerglory.FrenchpresidentEmmanuelMacron
toldthenationinatelevisedaddressthathewouldmakesurethereconst
ructionwouldbefinishedwithinfiveyears.Thiswouldbeintimefortheop
eningoftheParisOlympicsin2024.However,architectssayitcouldtake
decadestorebuildtheworld-famouslandmark.Someofthedonorsthat
arehandingovercashareFrenchbillionaires.Theyincludetheownersof
theluxurybrandLouisVuittonandthecosmeticscompanyL'Oreal.TheF
renchoilcompanyTotalisalsopledging100millioneuros.AppleCEOTim
Cooktweetedthathiscompanywoulddonateanunspecifiedamount.He
said:"WeareheartbrokenfortheFrenchpeopleandthosearoundthewo
rldforwhomNotreDameisasymbolofhope.Relievedthateveryoneissaf
e.ApplewillbedonatingtotherebuildingeffortstohelprestoreNotreDa
me'spreciousheritageforfuturegenerations."However,manypeoplea
reaskingwhetherthemoneywouldbebetterspentonhelpingtheworld's
poor.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

It is important to preserve historic buildings. 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. NOTRE DAME: Make a poster about Notre Dame. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. $1 BILLION: Write a magazine article about $1 billion being donated to help rebuild Notre Dame. 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 Notre Dame. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to rebuild it. 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 Notre Dame

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