Breaking News English Lesson on Breast Cancer

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Breast cancer tests better with Google Health AI (4th January, 2020)

The Reading / Listening - Breast Cancer - Level 3

Doctors have a new tool to use when diagnosing breast cancer. It is called Google Health, and of course comes from Google. The tool uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recognise anything abnormal in breast tissue. Researchers trained the AI program to detect abnormalities. It read a huge number of results from X-rays over the past few years. X-rays are currently what doctors use to detect breast cancer. The Google Health program will help doctors in reading these X-rays more accurately. The current system is that two doctors agree on whether or not an X-ray shows cancer. If they cannot agree, they ask a third doctor. Google Health will make this diagnosis quicker.

Researchers from Google Health worked with experts from Imperial College London to design the AI program. They trained the program by inputting X-rays from more than 76,000 women in the U.K. and more than 15,000 in the USA into its software. The software then produced an algorithm. In hospital tests, the algorithm did better at reading X-rays than six doctors. Google Health spokesperson Dominic King said: "Our team is really proud of these research findings, which suggest that we are on our way to developing a tool that can help doctors spot breast cancer with greater accuracy." The World Cancer Research Fund said over two million new cases of breast cancer were reported in 2019.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Breast Cancer - Level 0, Breast Cancer - Level 1 or Breast Cancer - Level 2

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-50857759
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1799-6
https://time.com/5754183/google-ai-mammograms-breast-cancer/

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. BREAST CANCER: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about breast cancer. 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?
doctors / tool / breast cancer / cancer / X-rays / Artificial Intelligence / health / agree
researchers / experts / program / software / hospital tests / proud / accuracy / cases
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. A.I : Students A strongly believe Artificial Intelligence will replace doctors one day; Students B strongly believe that's impossible. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HEALTH: What function do these body organs have? What can we do to look after them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Function	Looking After It / Them
Heart
Brain
Kidneys
Lungs
Live
Stomach

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. X-RAY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "X-ray". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. TOOLS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

X-ray
Stethoscope
MRI scanner
Blood pressure checker
First-Aid Kit
Syringe
Thermometer
Reflex hammer

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	tool	a.	Finding an illness or other problem by examining the body.
2.	diagnosing	b.	Find or discover that something is there.
3.	recognise	c.	Moving from what is normal or usual, often in a way that is not wanted or is worrying.
4.	abnormal	d.	Understand who or what something is.
5.	detect	e.	Something held in the hand, used to carry out a particular function.
6.	accurately	f.	At the present time.
7.	currently	g.	In a way that is correct in all details; exactly.

Paragraph 2

8.	expert	h.	See or find someone or something that is difficult to detect.
9.	inputting	i.	A person who has a lot of knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
10.	algorithm	j.	Put forward for people to think about.
11.	proud	k.	An example of a particular thing happening.
12.	suggest	l.	A process or set of rules followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.
13.	spot	m.	Feeling very happy because of your (or someone else's) achievements, qualities, or possessions.
14.	case	n.	Feeding information into a computer or computer program.

Before reading / listening

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

The Google Health tool isn't actually from Google. T / F
Researchers trained the Google Health tool using many X-rays. T / F
People can use Google Health themselves to check their health. T / F
Google Health will mean doctors can make a diagnosis more quickly. T / F
More than 90,000 X-rays were used in developing Google health. T / F
A Google health algorithm was less accurate than six doctors. T / F
A spokesman said Google Health could help spot spots. T / F
There we over three million new cases of breast cancer last year. T / F

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

tool
abnormal
detect
currently
diagnosis
experts
spokesman
proud
accuracy
cases

instances
conclusion
specialists
unusual
representative
device
correctness
find
pleased
presently

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

a new tool to use when diagnosing
recognise anything abnormal
results from X-rays over
reading these X-rays more
If they cannot agree,
Researchers from Google Health worked
The software then produced
Our team
we are on our way
over two million new

they ask a third doctor
the past few years
an algorithm
breast cancer
to developing a tool
cases of breast cancer
with experts
in breast tissue
accurately
is really proud

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

tissue
detect
quicker
comes
whether
huge
anything
accurately

Doctors have a new tool to use when diagnosing breast cancer. It is called Google Health, and of course (1) ____________ from Google. The tool uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recognise (2) ____________ abnormal in breast (3) ____________. Researchers trained the AI program to detect abnormalities. It read a (4) ____________ number of results from X-rays over the past few years. X-rays are currently what doctors use to (5) ____________ breast cancer. The Google Health program will help doctors in reading these X-rays more (6) ____________. The current system is that two doctors agree on (7) ____________ or not an X-ray shows cancer. If they cannot agree, they ask a third doctor. Google Health will make this diagnosis (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

inputting
spokesperson
spot
experts
algorithm
cases
trained
proud

Researchers from Google Health worked with (9) ____________ from Imperial College London to design the AI program. They (10) ____________ the program by (11) ____________ X-rays from more than 76,000 women in the U.K. and more than 15,000 in the USA into its software. The software then produced an (12) ____________. In hospital tests, the algorithm did better at reading X-rays than six doctors. Google Health (13) ____________ Dominic King said: "Our team is really (14) ____________ of these research findings, which suggest that we are on our way to developing a tool that can help doctors (15) ____________ breast cancer with greater accuracy." The World Cancer Research Fund said over two million new (16) ____________ of breast cancer were reported in 2019.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) It is called Google Health, and of course ______ Google
     a. comes from
     b. goes from
     c. gives from
     d. takes from
2) Researchers trained the AI program to ______
     a. defect abnormalities
     b. detest abnormalities
     c. deject abnormalities
     d. detect abnormalities
3) The Google Health program will help doctors in reading these X-rays ______
     a. more accurate tea
     b. more rack curate
     c. more accurately
     d. more rack you at tea
4) The current system is that two doctors agree on whether or not an X-ray ______
     a. show cancer
     b. shows cancer
     c. shown cancer
     d. shores cancer
5) cannot agree, they ask a third doctor. Google Health will make this ______
     a. diagonal quicker
     b. digresses quicker
     c. diagnoses quicker
     d. diagnosis quicker

6) experts from Imperial College London to design ______
     a. the yay eye program
     b. the A eye program
     c. the aye aye program
     d. the AI program
7) the U.K. and more than 15,000 in the USA into ______
     a. its software
     b. its softly ware
     c. its soft where
     d. its soft wore
8) Dominic King said: "Our team is really proud of these ______"
     a. researched findings
     b. research funding
     c. research findings
     d. researches findings
9) we are on our way to developing a tool that can help doctors ______
     a. spot breast cancer
     b. spat breast cancer
     c. spit breast cancer
     d. sport breast cancer
10) The World Cancer Research Fund said over two ______
     a. millions new cases
     b. million new cases
     c. minion new cases
     d. milling new cases

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Doctors have a new (1) ___________________ when diagnosing breast cancer. It is called Google Health, and (2) ___________________ from Google. The tool uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recognise anything abnormal in breast tissue. Researchers trained the AI program to detect abnormalities. It read (3) ___________________ of results from X-rays over the past few years. X-rays (4) ___________________ doctors use to detect breast cancer. The Google Health program will help doctors (5) ___________________ X-rays more accurately. The current system is that two doctors agree on whether or not an X-ray shows cancer. If they cannot agree, they (6) ___________________ doctor. Google Health will make this diagnosis quicker.

Researchers from Google Health worked (7) ___________________ Imperial College London to design the AI program. They trained the program by inputting (8) ___________________ than 76,000 women in the U.K. and more than 15,000 in the USA into its software. The software then produced an algorithm. In hospital tests, the algorithm (9) ___________________ reading X-rays than six doctors. Google Health spokesperson Dominic King said: "Our team is (10) ___________________ these research findings, which suggest that we are on our way to developing a tool that can (11) ___________________ breast cancer with greater accuracy." The World Cancer Research Fund said over two million new cases of breast cancer (12) ___________________ 2019.

Comprehension questions

Who has a new tool to diagnose breast cancer?
What is A.I. used to recognise in breast tissue?
What do doctors currently use to detect breast cancer?
How many doctors could be involved in looking at X-rays?
What will doctors be able to make more quickly using Google Health?
Who did Google Health experts work with?
How many X-rays were used to create the Google Health software?
What did a Google Health algorithm read X-rays better than?
How does the Google Health team feel about their research findings?
How many new breast cancer cases were reported in 2019?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who has a new tool to diagnose breast cancer?
a) Google staff
b) nurses
c) doctors
d) everyone
2) What is A.I. used to recognise in breast tissue?
a) anything abnormal
b) anything
c) blood
d) DNA
3) What do doctors currently use to detect breast cancer?
a) MRI scans
b) X-rays
c) CAT scans
d) lasers
4) How many doctors could be involved in looking at X-rays?
a) 4
b) 2
c) 5
d) 3
5) What will doctors be able to make more quickly using Google Health?
a) medicine
b) appointments
c) a diagnosis
d) more money

6) Who did Google Health experts work with?
a) UCLA
b) Imperial College London
c) Jesus College Oxford
d) Tokyo University
7) How many X-rays were used to create the Google Health software?
a) slightly fewer than 91,000
b) around 91,000
c) exactly 91,000
d) over 91,000
8) What did a Google Health algorithm read X-rays better than?
a) a supercomputer
b) six doctors
c) a team of engineers
d) an X-ray expert
9) How does the Google Health team feel about their research findings?
a) tired
b) proud
c) hopeful
d) excited
10) How many new breast cancer cases were reported in 2019?
a) over two million
b) 200,000
c) 20,000,000
d) about 2.2 million

Role play

Role A – X-Ray
You think an X-ray machine is the most useful tool for a doctor. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their tool isn't as useful. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): stethoscope, first-aid kit or thermometer.

Role B – Stethoscope
You think a stethoscope is the most useful tool for a doctor. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their tool isn't as useful. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): X-ray machine, first-aid kit or thermometer.

Role C – First-Aid Kit
You think a first-aid kit is the most useful tool for a doctor. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their tool isn't as useful. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): stethoscope, X-ray machine or thermometer.

Role D – Thermometer
You think a thermometer is the most useful tool for a doctor. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their tool isn't as useful. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): stethoscope, first-aid kit or X-ray machine.

After reading / listening

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

'cancer'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'health'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

new

anything

huge

currently

two

quicker

experts

76,000

six

proud

spot

cases

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 - Breast Cancer

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 'cancer'?
What do you know about breast cancer?
What do you know about Artificial Intelligence?
How important is technology in our healthcare?
What do you think of X-rays?
What do you think of Google being our next doctor?
How healthy are you?
Will technology cure us of everything in the future?
What do you think of home computer software to cure us?

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 'health'?
What do you think about what you read?
Would you like to be a researcher?
What do you know about algorithms?
What are you proud of?
What other tools should Google Health develop?
Are you worried that better healthcare will increase overpopulation?
In what other ways will Google improve our lives?
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)

Doctors have a (1) ____ tool to use when diagnosing breast cancer. It is called Google Health, and of course (2) ____ from Google. The tool uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recognise anything abnormal (3) ____ breast tissue. Researchers trained the AI program to detect abnormalities. It read a huge number of results from X-rays (4) ____ the past few years. X-rays are currently what doctors use to detect breast cancer. The Google Health program will help doctors in reading (5) ____ X-rays more accurately. The current system is that two doctors agree on whether or not an X-ray shows cancer. If they cannot agree, they ask a third doctor. Google Health will make this diagnosis (6) ____.

Researchers from Google Health worked with (7) ____ from Imperial College London to design the AI program. They trained the program (8) ____ inputting X-rays from more than 76,000 women in the U.K. and more than 15,000 in the USA into its software. The software then produced an (9) ____. In hospital tests, the algorithm did better at reading X-rays than six doctors. Google Health spokesperson Dominic King said: "Our team is really (10) ____ of these research findings, which suggest that we are on our way to developing a tool that can help doctors (11) ____ breast cancer with greater accuracy." The World Cancer Research Fund said over two million new (12) ____ of breast cancer were reported in 2019.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) newt (b) news (c) new (d) newly
(a) comes (b) goes (c) takes (d) gives
(a) in (b) at (c) by (d) as
(a) over (b) round (c) under (d) by
(a) they (b) these (c) them (d) there
(a) quack (b) quick (c) quickens (d) quickly
(a) geeks (b) intelligentsia (c) experts (d) the jet set
(a) to (b) at (c) on (d) by
(a) algorithm (b) algebra (c) rhythmic (d) abacus
(a) parade (b) proud (c) proudly (d) pride
(a) dot (b) spot (c) speck (d) stain
(a) causes (b) casts (c) cases (d) castes

Spelling

Paragraph 1

ginasonidg breast cancer
recognise anything lanbamro in breast tissue
use to dttcee breast cancer
reading these X-rays more terycucaal
The nrcreut system
heerhwt or not an X-ray shows cancer

Paragraph 2

espertx from Imperial College London
design the AI rormpag
tnuigitnp X-rays
the gmrhioalt did better
Our team is really prudo
two million news ecssa of breast cancer

Put the text back together

(...) detect breast cancer. The Google Health program will help doctors in reading these X-rays more
(...) than 15,000 in the USA into its software. The software then produced an algorithm. In hospital tests, the algorithm did
( 1 ) Doctors have a new tool to use when diagnosing breast cancer. It is called Google Health, and of course
(...) accurately. The current system is that two doctors agree on whether or not an X-ray shows cancer. If they cannot agree, they ask
(...) a third doctor. Google Health will make this diagnosis quicker.
(...) better at reading X-rays than six doctors. Google Health spokesperson Dominic King said: "Our team is really
(...) Researchers from Google Health worked with experts from Imperial College London to design the AI
(...) program. They trained the program by inputting X-rays from more than 76,000 women in the U.K. and more
(...) proud of these research findings, which suggest that we are on our way to developing
(...) said over two million new cases of breast cancer were reported in 2019.
(...) of results from X-rays over the past few years. X-rays are currently what doctors use to
(...) comes from Google. The tool uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recognise anything abnormal in
(...) breast tissue. Researchers trained the AI program to detect abnormalities. It read a huge number
(...) a tool that can help doctors spot breast cancer with greater accuracy." The World Cancer Research Fund

Put the words in the right order

have a to new use . tool Doctors
anything to in abnormal recognise AI tissue . Use
results from A number huge X-rays . of
in accurately . these more X-rays doctors Help reading
diagnosis make will Health Google quicker . this
with Health from Researchers worked Google experts .
did algorithm X-rays . at The reading better
a on way to We're our developing tool .
cancer breast Help greater accuracy . spot with doctors
of Over breast cases cancer . two new million

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Doctors have a new tile / tool to use when diagnosing breast cancer. It is called Google Health, and of cause / course comes from Google. The tool uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recognise anything abnormal on / in breast tissue. Researchers trained the AI program to defect / detect abnormalities. It read a huge numeral / number of results from X-rays over the past few years. X-rays are currently / currency what doctors use to detect breast cancer. The Google Health program will help doctors in reading them / these X-rays more accurately. The current system is that / what two doctors agree on whether or not an X-ray showing / shows cancer. If they cannot agree, they ask a third doctor. Google Health will make this diagnosis quicker / quickens.

Researchers from Google Health worked with expats / experts from Imperial College London to design the AI program. They trained the program by / as inputting X-rays from more that / than 76,000 women in the U.K. and more than 15,000 in the USA into its software. The software then produced an algorithm / algebra. In hospital tests, the algorithm did good / better at reading X-rays than six doctors. Google Health spokesperson Dominic King said: "Our team is really pride / proud of these research findings, which suggest that we are in / on our way to developing a tool that can help doctors spit / spot breast cancer with greater accuracy / accurate." The World Cancer Research Fund said over two million new cases of breast cancer were reported on / in 2019.

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)

D_c t_r s h_v_ _ n_w t__ l t_ _s_ w h_n d__ g n_s_n g b r__ s t c_n c_r . I t _s c_l l_d G__ g l_ H__ l t h , _n d _f c__ r s_ c_m_s f r_m G__ g l_. T h_ t__ l _s_s A r t_f_c__ l I n t_l l_g_n c_ ( A I ) t_ r_c_g n_s_ _n y t h_n g _b n_r m_l _n b r__ s t t_s s__ . R_s__ r c h_r s t r__ n_d t h_ A I p r_g r_m t_ d_t_c t _b n_r m_l_t__ s . I t r__ d _ h_g_ n_m b_r _f r_s_l t s f r_m X - r_y s _v_r t h_ p_s t f_w y__ r s . X - r_y s _r_ c_r r_n t l y w h_t d_c t_r s _s_ t_ d_t_c t b r__ s t c_n c_r . T h_ G__ g l_ H__ l t h p r_g r_m w_l l h_l p d_c t_r s _n r__ d_n g t h_s_ X - r_y s m_r_ _c c_r_t_l y . T h_ c_r r_n t s y s t_m _s t h_t t w_ d_c t_r s _g r__ _n w h_t h_r _r n_t _n X - r_y s h_w s c_n c_r . I f t h_y c_n n_t _g r__ , t h_y _s k _ t h_r d d_c t_r . G__ g l_ H__ l t h w_l l m_k_ t h_s d__ g n_s_s q__ c k_r .

R_s__ r c h_r s f r_m G__ g l_ H__ l t h w_r k_d w_t h _x p_r t s f r_m I m p_r__ l C_l l_g_ L_n d_n t_ d_s_g n t h_ A I p r_g r_m . T h_y t r__ n_d t h_ p r_g r_m b y _n p_t t_n g X - r_y s f r_m m_r_ t h_n 7 6 , 0 0 0 w_m_n _n t h_ U . K . _n d m_r_ t h_n 1 5 , 0 0 0 _n t h_ U S A _n t_ _t s s_f t w_r_. T h_ s_f t w_r_ t h_n p r_d_c_d _n _l g_r_t h m . I n h_s p_t_l t_s t s , t h_ _l g_r_t h m d_d b_t t_r _t r__ d_n g X - r_y s t h_n s_x d_c t_r s . G__ g l_ H__ l t h s p_k_s p_r s_n D_m_n_c K_n g s__ d : " O_r t__ m _s r__ l l y p r__ d _f t h_s_ r_s__ r c h f_n d_n g s , w h_c h s_g g_s t t h_t w_ _r_ _n __ r w_y t_ d_v_l_p_n g _ t__ l t h_t c_n h_l p d_c t_r s s p_t b r__ s t c_n c_r w_t h g r__ t_r _c c_r_c y . " T h_ W_r l d C_n c_r R_s__ r c h F_n d s__ d _v_r t w_ m_l l__ n n_w c_s_s _f b r__ s t c_n c_r w_r_ r_p_r t_d _n 2 0 1 9 .

Punctuate the text and add capitals

doctors have a new tool to use when diagnosing breast cancer it is called google health and of course comes from google the tool uses artificial intelligence ai to recognise anything abnormal in breast tissue researchers trained the ai program to detect abnormalities it read a huge number of results from xrays over the past few years xrays are currently what doctors use to detect breast cancer the google health program will help doctors in reading these xrays more accurately the current system is that two doctors agree on whether or not an xray shows cancer if they cannot agree they ask a third doctor google health will make this diagnosis quicker

researchers from google health worked with experts from imperial college london to design the ai program they trained the program by inputting xrays from more than 76000 women in the uk and more than 15000 in the usa into its software the software then produced an algorithm in hospital tests the algorithm did better at reading xrays than six doctors google health spokesperson dominic king said our team is really proud of these research findings which suggest that we are on our way to developing a tool that can help doctors spot breast cancer with greater accuracy the world cancer research fund said over two million new cases of breast cancer were reported in 2019

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Doctorshaveanewtooltousewhendiagnosingbreastcancer.Itiscalled
GoogleHealth,andofcoursecomesfromGoogle.ThetoolusesArtificialI
ntelligence(AI)torecogniseanythingabnormalinbreasttissue.Resear
cherstrainedtheAIprogramtodetectabnormalities.Itreadahugenum
berofresultsfromX-raysoverthepastfewyears.X-raysarecurrentlywh
atdoctorsusetodetectbreastcancer.TheGoogleHealthprogramwillhel
pdoctorsinreadingtheseX-raysmoreaccurately.Thecurrentsystemist
hattwodoctorsagreeonwhetherornotanX-rayshowscancer.Iftheyc
annotagree,theyaskathirddoctor.GoogleHealthwillmakethisdiagnos
isquicker.ResearchersfromGoogleHealthworkedwithexpertsfromIm
perialCollegeLondontodesigntheAIprogram.Theytrainedtheprogra
mbyinputtingX-raysfrommorethan76,000womenintheU.K.andmor
ethan15,000intheUSAintoitssoftware.Thesoftwarethenproducedan
algorithm.Inhospitaltests,thealgorithmdidbetteratreadingX-raysth
ansixdoctors.GoogleHealthspokespersonDominicKingsaid:"Ourtea
misreallyproudoftheseresearchfindings,whichsuggestthatweareon
ourwaytodevelopingatoolthatcanhelpdoctorsspotbreastcancerwith
greateraccuracy."TheWorldCancerResearchFundsaidovertwomillio
nnewcasesofbreastcancerwerereportedin2019.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

One day AI will replace doctors. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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. BREAST CANCER: Make a poster about breast cancer. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. AI: Write a magazine article about AI replacing doctors. 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 breast cancer. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on 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 Breast Cancer

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