Breaking News English Lesson: Online Weddings

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New York allows online lockdown weddings (23rd April, 2020)

The Reading / Listening - Online Weddings - Level 6

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has decided that people can still get married in New York despite the city being under lockdown. Governor Cuomo has signed a special executive order permitting people to get married online. All wedding ceremonies had been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but special measures have been introduced to allow couples to tie the knot. The procedure for weddings under lockdown now entails applying for a marriage license online and having clerks conducting the ceremony virtually. Mr Cuomo said the new online weddings would be legally binding. A city official said: "The executive order will temporarily suspend a provision of law that requires in-person visits."

The new executive order means couples can get wed via video conferencing. This was previously not recognised as a legal way of getting married. Mr Cuomo joked to reporters that: "There is now no excuse when the question comes up for marriage. You can do it by Zoom." Mr Cuomo did not say whether Zoom was the only tele-conferencing platform that people could use on their happy day. The platform does allow guests to attend online. Stay-at-home measures have been extended in New York until at least the 15th of May. It could be months after that before social distancing measures are lifted. This means gatherings for events such as weddings may continue to be held online.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Online Weddings - Level 4 or Online Weddings - Level 5

Sources

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wedding-new-york-zoom-legal_n_5e9d08b4c5b6ea335d5df1d9
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52346437
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/zoom-yorkers-wed-online-200419165225473.html

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. ONLINE WEDDINGS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about online weddings. 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?
married / lockdown / special / executive / order / tie the knot / ceremony / online /
couples / video conferencing / reporters / happy / guests / measures / gatherings
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. VIRTUAL WEDDINGS: Students A strongly believe virtual weddings should be legally recognised from now on; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ONLINE: What are the pros and cons of these things being done online? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Pros	Cons
Weddings
School
Shopping
Dining
Banking
Gaming

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

weddings
graduations
birthdays
New Year parties
golden jubilees
children's parties
retirement parties
national day

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	permitting	a.	Suddenly stopped.
2.	halted	b.	An action that is conducted in a certain order or way.
3.	tie the knot	c.	Of an agreement or promise involving a promise that cannot be broken.
4.	procedure	d.	Get married.
5.	entails	e.	Temporarily prevent from continuing or being in force or effect.
6.	suspend	f.	Allowing someone to do something.
7.	binding	g.	Involves something as a necessary part.

Paragraph 2

8.	executive	h.	Enter into a formal agreement to marry.
9.	wed	i.	Acknowledges the existence, validity, or legality of something.
10.	recognised	j.	A meeting of people, especially for a social or happy event or one held for a specific purpose.
11.	platform	k.	A plan or course of action taken to achieve a particular purpose.
12.	measure	l.	A kind of software or operating system used on a computer or mobile phone.
13.	extended	m.	Having the power to put plans, actions, or laws into effect.
14.	gathering	n.	Made larger.

Before reading / listening

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

The president of New York decided to allow people to marry online. T / F
Only half of weddings are taking place in New York's churches. T / F
New Yorkers must now apply for a marriage license online. T / F
The online weddings in New York will be legally binding. T / F
Couples can get married via video conferencing platforms. T / F
New York's governor says New Yorkers have no excuse not to marry. T / F
There is a limit to the number of guests allowed at online weddings. T / F
A New York official said online weddings will end in two months. T / F

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

despite
permitting
halted
procedure
temporarily
previously
recognised
attend
extended
gatherings

stopped
acknowledged
method
get-togethers
letting
be present at
formerly
widened
in spite of
for the time being

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

despite the city
Cuomo has signed a special
All wedding ceremonies had
allow couples to tie
online weddings would be legally
couples can get
a legal way
There is now no
Stay-at-home measures have been
social distancing

extended
the knot
binding
of getting married
executive order
excuse
wed
being under lockdown
measures
been halted

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

license
signed
law
despite
couples
official
due
virtually

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has decided that people can still get married in New York (1) ____________ the city being under lockdown. Governor Cuomo has (2) ____________ a special executive order permitting people to get married online. All wedding ceremonies had been halted (3) ____________ to the COVID-19 pandemic, but special measures have been introduced to allow (4) ____________ to tie the knot. The procedure for weddings under lockdown now entails applying for a marriage (5) ____________ online and having clerks conducting the ceremony (6) ____________. Mr Cuomo said the new online weddings would be legally binding. A city (7) ____________ said: "The executive order will temporarily suspend a provision of (8) ____________ that requires in-person visits."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

excuse
measures
least
whether
held
legal
wed
guests

The new executive order means couples can get (9) ____________ via video conferencing. This was previously not recognised as a (10) ____________ way of getting married. Mr Cuomo joked to reporters that: "There is now no (11) ____________ when the question comes up for marriage. You can do it by Zoom." Mr Cuomo did not say (12) ____________ Zoom was the only tele-conferencing platform that people could use on their happy day. The platform does allow (13) ____________ to attend online. Stay-at-home measures have been extended in New York until at (14) ____________ the 15th of May. It could be months after that before social distancing (15) ____________ are lifted. This means gatherings for events such as weddings may continue to be (16) ____________ online.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) All wedding ceremonies ______
     a. had been hated
     b. had been vaulted
     c. had been bolted
     d. had been halted
2) but special measures have been introduced to allow couples to ______
     a. tie the not
     b. tie the knot
     c. tide the knot
     d. tie a knot
3) entails applying for a marriage license online and having ______ ceremony
     a. clerks conducting the
     b. clerks conduct in the
     c. clacks conducting the
     d. clots conduct in the
4) Mr Cuomo said the new online weddings would ______
     a. been legally binding
     b. being legally binding
     c. be legally binding
     d. begin legally binding
5) The executive order will temporarily suspend a provision of law that ______ visits
     a. requires on-person
     b. require imp-person
   c. requires imp-person
     d. requires in-person

6) The new executive order means couples can get ______ conferencing
     a. led via video
     b. bed via video
     c. fed via video
     d. wed via video
7) This was previously not recognised as ______
     a. a legally way
     b. a legal way
     c. a illegal way
     d. a league all way
8) There is now no excuse when the question comes ______
     a. up for marriage
     b. down for marriage
     c. over for marriage
     d. across for marriage
9) Zoom was the only tele-conferencing platform that people could use on ______
     a. there happy day
     b. their happily day
     c. their hap pea day
     d. their happy day
10) It could be months after that before social distancing ______
     a. measure are lift it
     b. measures be lifted
     c. measures are lift it
     d. measures are lifted

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (1) ___________________ people can still get married in New York (2) ___________________ being under lockdown. Governor Cuomo has signed a special executive order permitting people to get married online. All wedding ceremonies had (3) ___________________ to the COVID-19 pandemic, but special measures have been introduced to allow couples to (4) ___________________. The procedure for weddings under lockdown now entails applying for a marriage license online and having clerks conducting (5) ___________________. Mr Cuomo said the new online weddings would be legally binding. A city official said: "The executive order will (6) ___________________ provision of law that requires in-person visits."

The new executive order means couples can (7) ___________________ video conferencing. This was previously not recognised as a (8) ___________________ getting married. Mr Cuomo joked to reporters that: "There is now no excuse when the question comes up for marriage. You can do it by Zoom." Mr Cuomo did (9) ___________________ Zoom was the only tele-conferencing platform that people could use on their happy day. The platform does (10) ___________________ attend online. Stay-at-home measures have been extended in New York until at least the 15th of May. It could be months after that before social distancing (11) ___________________. This means gatherings for events such as weddings may continue to (12) ___________________.

Comprehension questions

What can New Yorkers still get married in spite of?
What special thing did New York's governor sign?
What did the article say couples could tie?
What must couples apply for online?
What did Mr Cuomo say about the legality of the online weddings?
What kind of websites can New Yorkers use to get married?
What website did Mr Cuomo say New Yorkers could use?
Who did the article say could attend weddings online?
What won't be lifted for months?
What might be held online for some time to come?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What can New Yorkers still get married in spite of?
a) a shortage of churches
b) divorce rates
c) a decline in religion
d) the lockdown
2) What special thing did New York's governor sign?
a) a greetings card
b) an executive order
c) a treaty
d) an online petition
3) What did the article say couples could tie?
a) string
b) loose ends
c) the knot
d) a ribbon
4) What must couples apply for online?
a) a marriage license
b) money
c) a wedding dress
d) wedding clerks

5) What did Mr Cuomo say about the legality of the online weddings?
a) their legality is pending
b) they are semi-legal
c) they are legally binding
d) he's not sure

6) What kind of websites can New Yorkers use to get married?
a) marriage websites
b) video conferencing
c) church websites
d) government websites
7) What website did Mr Cuomo say New Yorkers could use?
a) Whizz
b) Buzz
c) Pizzazz
d) Zoom
8) Who did the article say could attend weddings online?
a) guests
b) New York's governor
c) anyone
d) children
9) What won't be lifted for months?
a) cakes
b) gatherings
c) social distancing measures
d) credit limits
10) What might be held online for some time to come?
a) auctions
b) events such as weddings
c) webinars
d) university classes

Role play

Role A – Weddings
You think weddings are the best events. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least joyous of these (and why): birthdays, graduations or national day celebrations.

Role B – Birthdays
You think birthdays are the best events. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least joyous of these (and why): weddings, graduations or national day celebrations.

Role C – Graduations
You think graduations are the best events. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least joyous of these (and why): birthdays, weddings or national day celebrations.

Role D – National Day Celebrations
You think national day celebrations are the best events. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least joyous of these (and why): birthdays, graduations or weddings.

After reading / listening

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

'online'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'wedding'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

still

permitting

knot

entails

legally

suspend

means

way

up

happy

least

events

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 - Online Weddings

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 'lockdown'?
What do you think a lockdown wedding would be like?
How sad is it people have to get married online?
Would you wait until after the lockdown has ended to get married?
Should any wedding be allowed online?
Do you think online weddings will be normal in the future?
What is the best way of tying the knot?
How could an online wedding be different from a traditional one?
What do you think of New York's decision?

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 'wedding'?
What do you think about what you read?
What experiences do you have of video conferencing?
How would you feel about getting married on Zoom?
How can we help wedding businesses affected by the lockdown?
What other events could be held online?
What do you think of weddings?
What will you do after the lockdown ends?
What questions would you like to ask Governor Andrew Cuomo?

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)

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has decided (1) ____ people can still get married in New York despite the city being under lockdown. Governor Cuomo has signed a special executive order (2) ____ people to get married online. All wedding ceremonies had been halted due (3) ____ the COVID-19 pandemic, but special measures have been introduced to allow couples to tie the (4) ____. The procedure for weddings under lockdown now entails applying for a marriage license online and having clerks conducting the ceremony virtually. Mr Cuomo said the new online weddings would be legally (5) ____. A city official said: "The executive order will temporarily suspend a provision of law that (6) ____ in-person visits."

The new executive order means couples can get (7) ____ via video conferencing. This was previously not recognised as a legal way of getting married. Mr Cuomo joked to reporters that: "There is now no excuse when the question (8) ____ up for marriage. You can do it by Zoom." Mr Cuomo did not say whether Zoom was the only tele-conferencing platform that people could use (9) ____ their happy day. The platform does allow guests to attend online. Stay-at-home (10) ____ have been extended in New York until at least the 15th of May. It could be (11) ____ after that before social distancing measures are lifted. This means gatherings for events such as weddings may continue to be (12) ____ online.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) that (b) which (c) what (d) why
(a) pertaining (b) promoting (c) permitting (d) plaiting
(a) on (b) by (c) to (d) of
(a) string (b) rope (c) tassels (d) knot
(a) binding (b) bounding (c) banding (d) blending
(a) acquires (b) requires (c) inquires (d) enquires
(a) nuptial (b) vow (c) marriage (d) wed
(a) arrives (b) comes (c) delivers (d) goes
(a) of (b) that (c) on (d) to
(a) policy (b) estimates (c) gauges (d) measures
(a) monthly (b) month (c) monthlies (d) months
(a) doing (b) held (c) celebrate (d) married

Spelling

Paragraph 1

Cuomo has signed a special uceextvie order
The oedpercru for weddings under lockdown
conducting the ceremony avulilytr
would be legally nbingid
lorieprtmay suspend ...
a nsvprioio of law

Paragraph 2

This was iolrvspyeu not recognised
There is now no ecseux
the only tele-conferencing mraolpft
allow guests to tdeatn online
Stay-at-home easmeusr
eihggranst for events

Put the text back together

(...) of May. It could be months after that before social distancing measures are lifted. This means gatherings
(...) for events such as weddings may continue to be held online.
(...) binding. A city official said: "The executive order will temporarily suspend a provision of law that requires in-person visits."
(...) measures have been introduced to allow couples to tie the knot. The procedure for weddings under
(...) way of getting married. Mr Cuomo joked to reporters that: "There is now no excuse when the question comes
( 1 ) New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has decided that people can still get married in New York
(...) up for marriage. You can do it by Zoom." Mr Cuomo did not say whether Zoom was the only tele-conferencing
(...) lockdown now entails applying for a marriage license online and having clerks conducting
(...) the ceremony virtually. Mr Cuomo said the new online weddings would be legally
(...) people to get married online. All wedding ceremonies had been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but special
(...) despite the city being under lockdown. Governor Cuomo has signed a special executive order permitting
(...) platform that people could use on their happy day. The platform does allow guests to attend
(...) The new executive order means couples can get wed via video conferencing. This was previously not recognised as a legal
(...) online. Stay-at-home measures have been extended in New York until at least the 15th

Put the words in the right order

special A people permitting to marry . order executive
to knot . tie the couples Introduced allow to
for a license applying now Lockdown entails online .
be The weddings would binding . new online legally
in-person A of law provision requires visits . that
means executive The couples wed . new get order
married . as legal a getting Recognised of way
when No comes the question excuse up .
platform guests allow attend does The to online .
online . to held Weddings may continue be

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has decided / decision that people can still get married in New York despite the city been / being under lockdown. Governor Cuomo has signed a specially / special executive order permitting people to get married online. All wedding ceremonies had been halts / halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but special measures have been introduced to allow couples to tie the string / knot. The procedure for weddings over / under lockdown now entails applying for a marriage license online and having clerks / clicks conducting the ceremony virtual / virtually. Mr Cuomo said the new online weddings would be legally binding / bounding. A city official said: "The executive order will temporary / temporarily suspend a provision of law that requires in-person visits."

The new executive order mean / means couples can get wed via video conferencing. This was previously not recognised as a legal / legally way of getting married. Mr Cuomo joking / joked to reporters that: "There is now no excuse when the question comes down / up for marriage. You can do it by Zoom." Mr Cuomo did not say what / whether Zoom was the only tele-conferencing platform that people could use on their happily / happy day. The platform does allow guests to attend / attention online. Stay-at-home measures have been extended in New York until at last / least the 15th of May. It could be months after that before social distancing measure / measures are lifted. This means gatherings for events such as weddings may continue to be held / hold online.

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)

N_w Y_r k G_v_r n_r A n d r_w C__ m_ h_s d_c_d_d t h_t p__ p l_ c_n s t_l l g_t m_r r__ d _n N_w Y_r k d_s p_t_ t h_ c_t y b__ n g _n d_r l_c k d_w n . G_v_r n_r C__ m_ h_s s_g n_d _ s p_c__ l _x_c_t_v_ _r d_r p_r m_t t_n g p__ p l_ t_ g_t m_r r__ d _n l_n_. A l l w_d d_n g c_r_m_n__ s h_d b__ n h_l t_d d__ t_ t h_ C O V I D - 1 9 p_n d_m_c , b_t s p_c__ l m__ s_r_s h_v_ b__ n _n t r_d_c_d t_ _l l_w c__ p l_s t_ t__ t h_ k n_t . T h_ p r_c_d_r_ f_r w_d d_n g s _n d_r l_c k d_w n n_w _n t__ l s _p p l y_n g f_r _ m_r r__ g_ l_c_n s_ _n l_n_ _n d h_v_n g c l_r k s c_n d_c t_n g t h_ c_r_m_n y v_r t__ l l y . M r C__ m_ s__ d t h_ n_w _n l_n_ w_d d_n g s w__ l d b_ l_g_l l y b_n d_n g . A c_t y _f f_c__ l s__ d : " T h_ _x_c_t_v_ _r d_r w_l l t_m p_r_r_l y s_s p_n d _ p r_v_s__ n _f l_w t h_t r_q__ r_s _n - p_r s_n v_s_t s . "

T h_ n_w _x_c_t_v_ _r d_r m__ n s c__ p l_s c_n g_t w_d v__ v_d__ c_n f_r_n c_n g . T h_s w_s p r_v___s l y n_t r_c_g n_s_d _s _ l_g_l w_y _f g_t t_n g m_r r__ d . M r C__ m_ j_k_d t_ r_p_r t_r s t h_t : " T h_r_ _s n_w n_ _x c_s_ w h_n t h_ q__ s t__ n c_m_s _p f_r m_r r__ g_. Y__ c_n d_ _t b y Z__ m . " M r C__ m_ d_d n_t s_y w h_t h_r Z__ m w_s t h_ _n l y t_l_- c_n f_r_n c_n g p l_t f_r m t h_t p__ p l_ c__ l d _s_ _n t h__ r h_p p y d_y . T h_ p l_t f_r m d__ s _l l_w g__ s t s t_ _t t_n d _n l_n_. S t_y -_t - h_m_ m__ s_r_s h_v_ b__ n _x t_n d_d _n N_w Y_r k _n t_l _t l__ s t t h_ 1 5 t h _f M_y . I t c__ l d b_ m_n t h s _f t_r t h_t b_f_r_ s_c__ l d_s t_n c_n g m__ s_r_s _r_ l_f t_d . T h_s m__ n s g_t h_r_n g s f_r _v_n t s s_c h _s w_d d_n g s m_y c_n t_n__ t_ b_ h_l d _n l_n_.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

new york governor andrew cuomo has decided that people can still get married in new york despite the city being under lockdown governor cuomo has signed a special executive order permitting people to get married online all wedding ceremonies had been halted due to the covid19 pandemic but special measures have been introduced to allow couples to tie the knot the procedure for weddings under lockdown now entails applying for a marriage license online and having clerks conducting the ceremony virtually mr cuomo said the new online weddings would be legally binding a city official said the executive order will temporarily suspend a provision of law that requires inperson visits

the new executive order means couples can get wed via video conferencing this was previously not recognised as a legal way of getting married mr cuomo joked to reporters that there is now no excuse when the question comes up for marriage you can do it by zoom mr cuomo did not say whether zoom was the only teleconferencing platform that people could use on their happy day the platform does allow guests to attend online stayathome measures have been extended in new york until at least the 15th of may it could be months after that before social distancing measures are lifted this means gatherings for events such as weddings may continue to be held online

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

NewYorkGovernorAndrewCuomohasdecidedthatpeoplecanstillgetm
arriedinNewYorkdespitethecitybeingunderlockdown.GovernorCuo
mohassignedaspecialexecutiveorderpermittingpeopletogetmarried
online.AllweddingceremonieshadbeenhaltedduetotheCOVID-19pa
ndemic,butspecialmeasureshavebeenintroducedtoallowcouplestoti
etheknot.Theprocedureforweddingsunderlockdownnowentailsappl
yingforamarriagelicenseonlineandhavingclerksconductingthecerem
onyvirtually.MrCuomosaidthenewonlineweddingswouldbelegallybin
ding.Acityofficialsaid:"Theexecutiveorderwilltemporarilysuspendap
rovisionoflawthatrequiresin-personvisits."Thenewexecutiveorder
meanscouplescangetwedviavideoconferencing.Thiswaspreviouslyn
otrecognisedasalegalwayofgettingmarried.MrCuomojokedtoreport
ersthat:"Thereisnownoexcusewhenthequestioncomesupformarriag
e.YoucandoitbyZoom."MrCuomodidnotsaywhetherZoomwastheonl
ytele-conferencingplatformthatpeoplecoulduseontheirhappyday.Th
eplatformdoesallowgueststoattendonline.Stay-at-homemeasuresh
avebeenextendedinNewYorkuntilatleastthe15thofMay.Itcouldbemo
nthsafterthatbeforesocialdistancingmeasuresarelifted.Thismeansg
atheringsforeventssuchasweddingsmaycontinuetobeheldonline.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Online weddings are just as good as traditional weddings. 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. WEDDINGS: Make a poster about weddings. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. ONLINE WEDDINGS: Write a magazine article about online weddings. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.
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 online weddings. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on them. 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: Online Weddings

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