Breaking News English Lesson: Ballet Dancer

Home | Help This Site

11-year-old's ballet video goes viral (14th July, 2020)

The Reading / Listening - Ballet Dancer - Level 6

An 11-year-old boy has achieved fame after a video of him dancing in the rain outside his home in Lagos, Nigeria went viral on social media. Anthony Mmesoma Madu impressed people worldwide with his skill, enthusiasm, passion and dedication. The Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis saw a video clip of Anthony and put it on her social media feeds. She tweeted: "We create, soar, can imagine, have unleashed passion, and love, despite the brutal obstacles that have been put in front of us. Our people can fly." Another social media user said: "As adults, it is our job to help each child find their talent and to support them...The joy from this propels them in all things they do."

Anthony is one of 12 students at the Leap of Dance Academy. The academy is in a poor district of Lagos. It provides free dance lessons to underprivileged children who have nowhere to practice. The academy's founder, Daniel Ajala Owoseni, told BBC News: "We are changing the narrative about the stereotype of male dancers." Anthony said: "Where I live there are no male ballet dancers like me. When people see ballet they think it is only for girls, they don't know that it is not only for girls." He added: "How I want them to see me is that when I am dancing they know that there is a male ballet dancer. The feeling that comes over me is as if I am dreaming."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Ballet Dancer - Level 4 or Ballet Dancer - Level 5

Sources

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/nigeria-ballet-dancer-11-anthony-mmesoma-madu-video-a4495481.html
https://www.scmp.com/photos/3092187/dance-academy-brings-ballet-underprivileged-nigerian-children
https://www.gulftoday.ae/lifestyle/2020/07/07/nigeria-dance-academy-looks-to-spread-ballet-among-lagos-children

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. BALLET DANCERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about ballet dancers. 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?
boy / fame / dancing / rain / passion / skill / social media / imagine / obstacles / joy /
leap / academy / underprivileged / narrative / stereotype / ballet / male / dreaming
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SCHOOL: Students A strongly believe ballet should be part of the school curriculum; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TALENTS: How can we get children to soar in these skills? What are the difficulties? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How	Difficulties
Dance
Coding
Art
English
Sport
Singing

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

ballet
breakdancing
disco
tango
tap dance
flamenco
folk dance
rain dance

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	fame	a.	Drive, push, or cause to move in a particular direction, usually forward.
2.	go viral	b.	The condition of being known or talked about by many people.
3.	dedication	c.	Released from a restraint.
4.	soar	d.	Of an image, video, piece of information, etc., that is circulated rapidly and widely from one Internet user to another.
5.	unleashed	e.	Increase rapidly above the usual level.
6.	obstacle	f.	The quality of being committed to a task or purpose.
7.	propel	g.	A thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress.

Paragraph 2

8.	leap	h.	Jump or spring a long way, to a great height, or with great force.
9.	academy	i.	A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
10.	district	j.	A place of study or training in a special field.
11.	underprivileged	k.	A representation of a particular situation or process in such a way as to reflect or conform to a set of aims or values.
12.	founder	l.	An area of a country or city.
13.	narrative	m.	Of a person not enjoying the same standard of living or rights as the majority of people in a society.
14.	stereotype	n.	A person who starts an institution or company.

Before reading / listening

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

A boy has achieved fame after ballet dancing in the rain. T / F
An Oscar winner posted a video of the boy on her social media feeds. T / F
The actor suggested her people could not fly. T / F
Someone said a child's joy propels them in what they want to do. T / F
There are 120 students enrolled at the Leap of Dance Academy. T / F
The academy wants to change the narrative about stereotypes. T / F
The boy said there were plenty of male ballet dancers where he lives. T / F
The boy said he often dreams about dancing around the world. T / F

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

fame
impressed
dedication
soar
propels
district
underprivileged
narrative
added
feeling

neighbourhood
fly
sensation
moved
story
pushes
commitment
went on to say
stardom
deprived

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

An 11-year-old boy has achieved
Madu impressed people worldwide
despite the brutal obstacles that have
help each child find their
The joy from this propels them
The academy is in a poor
free dance lessons to underprivileged
We are changing the
the stereotype
The feeling that comes over

with his skill
of male dancers
in all things they do
children
me is as if I am dreaming
talent
narrative
fame
district of Lagos
been put in front of us

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

impressed
fame
propels
soar
find
viral
clip
obstacles

An 11-year-old boy has achieved (1) _____________________ after a video of him dancing in the rain outside his home in Lagos, Nigeria went (2) _____________________ on social media. Anthony Mmesoma Madu (3) _____________________ people worldwide with his skill, enthusiasm, passion and dedication. The Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis saw a video (4) _____________________ of Anthony and put it on her social media feeds. She tweeted: "We create, (5) _____________________, can imagine, have unleashed passion, and love, despite the brutal (6) _____________________ that have been put in front of us. Our people can fly." Another social media user said: "As adults, it is our job to help each child (7) _____________________ their talent and to support them...The joy from this (8) _____________________ them in all things they do."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

narrative
dreaming
underprivileged
stereotype
see
district
founder
not

Anthony is one of 12 students at the Leap of Dance Academy. The academy is in a poor (9) _____________________ of Lagos. It provides free dance lessons to (10) _____________________ children who have nowhere to practice. The academy's (11) _____________________, Daniel Ajala Owoseni, told BBC News: "We are changing the (12) _____________________ about the (13) _____________________ of male dancers." Anthony said: "Where I live there are no male ballet dancers like me. When people see ballet they think it is only for girls, they don't know that it is (14) _____________________ only for girls." He added: "How I want them to (15) _____________________ me is that when I am dancing they know that there is a male ballet dancer. The feeling that comes over me is as if I am (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) dancing in the rain outside his home in Lagos, Nigeria ______ social media
     a. went rival on
     b. went libel on
     c. went viral on
     d. went rebel on
2) actress Viola Davis saw a video clip of Anthony and put it on her ______
     a. social medium feeds
     b. social mead ear feeds
     c. socially media feeds
     d. social media feeds
3) imagine, have unleashed passion, and love, despite the ______
     a. brutality obstacles
     b. brutal obstacles
     c. brute all obstacles
     d. brew tall obstacles
4) As adults, it is our job to help each child find their talent and ______
     a. twos support them
     b. chews sport them
     c. too sup port them
     d. to support them
5) The joy from this propels them in all ______
     a. things they do
     b. things they done
     c. things they does
     d. things they doing

6) at the Leap of Dance Academy. The academy is in a ______ Lagos
     a. poor less strict of
     b. poor district of
     c. poor distinct of
     d. pawed restrict of
7) We are changing the narrative about the stereotype ______
     a. of male dancers
     b. of mail dancers
     c. of mall dancers
     d. of Mali dancers
8) Where I live there are no male ballet ______
     a. dance ups like me
     b. dancers likely me
     c. dancers like me
    d. dance as like me
9) see me is that when I am dancing they know that there is a ______
     a. male ballet dancers
     b. male ballet dance
     c. male ballet dancing
     d. male ballet dancer
10) The feeling that comes over me is as if ______
     a. I am dreaming
     b. I am dreamer
     c. I am dream in
     d. I am dream Ming

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

An 11-year-old boy (1) ____________________ after a video of him dancing in the rain outside his home in Lagos, Nigeria went (2) ____________________ media. Anthony Mmesoma Madu impressed people worldwide with his skill, enthusiasm, (3) ____________________. The Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis saw a video clip of Anthony and put it on her social media feeds. She tweeted: "We (4) ____________________ imagine, have unleashed passion, and love, despite (5) ____________________ that have been put in front of us. Our people can fly." Another social media user said: "As adults, it is our job to help each child find their talent and to support them...The joy from (6) ____________________ in all things they do."

Anthony is one of 12 students at the Leap of Dance Academy. The academy is in a (7) ____________________ Lagos. It provides free dance lessons to underprivileged children who have (8) ____________________. The academy's founder, Daniel Ajala Owoseni, told BBC News: "We are changing the narrative about (9) ____________________ male dancers." Anthony said: "Where I live there are no male ballet dancers like me. When people see ballet they think it is (10) ____________________, they don't know that it is not only for girls." He added: "How I want them to see me is that when I am dancing they know that there (11) ____________________ ballet dancer. The feeling that comes over me is as if (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

Where is the boy's home?
What did the actor who posted the video win?
What did the actor say her people could do?
What did the actor say has been put in front of people?
What did the actor say propels children in the things they do?
How many students are there at the Leap of Dance Academy?
To whom does the academy provide free lessons?
What did the academy's director say he is changing?
What stereotypes did the director say he is changing?
What does the boy want people to know?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where is the boy's home?
a) Cairo, Egypt
b) Lagos, Nigeria
c) Nairobi, Kenya
d) Bujumbura, Burundi
2) What did the actor who posted the video win?
a) ballet tickets
b) many fans
c) a lot of money
d) an Oscar
3) What did the actor say her people could do?
a) fly
b) dance
c) succeed
d) win
4) What did the actor say has been put in front of people?
a) an orchestra
b) s ballet stage
c) brutal obstacles
d) danger
5) What did the actor say propels children in the things they do?
a) rhythm
b) joy
c) airplanes
d) dreams

6) How many students are there at the Leap of Dance Academy?
a) 12
b) 13
c) 14
d) 15
7) To whom does the academy provide free lessons?
a) dancers
b) anyone
c) underprivileged children
d) young adults
8) What did the academy's director say he is changing?
a) the narrative
b) the sets
c) the dance style
d) the music
9) What stereotypes did the director say he is changing?
a) stereotypes about male dancers
b) stereotypes about ballet
c) stereotypes about academies
d) stereotypes about Nigeria
10) What does the boy want people to know?
a) his name
b) the tune to Swan Lake
c) the history of ballet
d) that there is a male dancer

Role play

Role A – Ballet
You think ballet is the best form of dance. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dance forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): breakdance, tap dance or the tango.

Role B – Breakdance
You think breakdance is the best form of dance. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dance forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): ballet, tap dance or the tango.

Role C – Tap Dance
You think tap dance is the best form of dance. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dance forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): breakdance, ballet or the tango.

Role D – Tango
You think the tango is the best form of dance. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dance forms. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): breakdance, tap dance or ballet.

After reading / listening

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

'ballet'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'dancer'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

fame

skill

feeds

front

job

joy

12

poor

nowhere

live

know

comes

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 - Ballet Dancer

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 'ballet'?
Would you like to achieve fame?
What do you think of ballet?
What is your favourite form of dance?
What are your hopes for Anthony?
What do you have a passion for?
How do you deal with obstacles in front of you?
What do you like to create?
What things do you find joy in doing?

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 'dancer'?
What do you think about what you read?
How important is dance?
What is your image of male ballet dancers?
What advice do you have for Anthony?
How interested are you in ballet?
Would you encourage your children to study ballet?
What is in your dreams?
What questions would you like to ask Anthony?

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)

An 11-year-old boy has achieved (1) ____ after a video of him dancing in the rain outside his home in Lagos, Nigeria went (2) ____ on social media. Anthony Mmesoma Madu impressed people worldwide with his skill, enthusiasm, passion and dedication. The Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis saw a video (3) ____ of Anthony and put it on her social media feeds. She tweeted: "We create, (4) ____, can imagine, have unleashed passion, and love, despite the brutal (5) ____ that have been put in front of us. Our people can fly." Another social media user said: "As adults, it is our job to help each child find their talent and to support them...The joy from this (6) ____ them in all things they do."

Anthony is one of 12 students at the Leap of Dance Academy. The academy is in a poor (7) ____ of Lagos. It provides free dance lessons to underprivileged children who have nowhere to practice. The academy's (8) ____, Daniel Ajala Owoseni, told BBC News: "We are changing the narrative about the (9) ____ of male dancers." Anthony said: "Where I live there are no male ballet dancers (10) ____ me. When people see ballet they think it is only for girls, they don't know that it is not only for girls." He added: "(11) ____ I want them to see me is that when I am dancing they know that there is a male ballet dancer. The feeling that comes over me is as (12) ____ I am dreaming."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) famous (b) famed (c) fame (d) famously
(a) viral (b) rival (c) libel (d) rebel
(a) clip (b) bond (c) trigger (d) plush
(a) soar (b) thaw (c) sore (d) sower
(a) tentacles (b) obstacles (c) spectacles (d) receptacles
(a) tablets (b) molasses (c) ejects (d) propels
(a) urban (b) rural (c) district (d) ditty
(a) flounder (b) finder (c) fender (d) founder
(a) type (b) prototype (c) stereo (d) stereotype
(a) like (b) likely (c) liking (d) liked
(a) Wow (b) How (c) Now (d) Low
(a) thus (b) so (c) if (d) via

Spelling

Paragraph 1

An 11-year-old boy has dhaeviec fame
with his skill, aieumshstn ...
passion and iedcoaidtn
dnlesuhea passion and love
despite the brutal tlosebcsa
The joy from this polsper them in all things

Paragraph 2

in a poor tcridtis of Lagos
lessons to nrigruvedepiedl children
The academy's fruodne
changing the ienraartv
the etopesrtey of male dancers
there is a eaml ballet dancer

Put the text back together

(...) girls." He added: "How I want them to see me is that when I am dancing they know
(...) child find their talent and to support them...The joy from this propels them in all things they do."
(...) imagine, have unleashed passion, and love, despite the brutal obstacles that have been put in front
(...) in Lagos, Nigeria went viral on social media. Anthony Mmesoma Madu impressed people
(...) clip of Anthony and put it on her social media feeds. She tweeted: "We create, soar, can
(...) worldwide with his skill, enthusiasm, passion and dedication. The Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis saw a video
(...) Anthony is one of 12 students at the Leap of Dance Academy. The academy is in a poor
(...) that there is a male ballet dancer. The feeling that comes over me is as if I am dreaming."
(...) like me. When people see ballet they think it is only for girls, they don't know that it is not only for
(...) district of Lagos. It provides free dance lessons to underprivileged children who have nowhere to
(...) about the stereotype of male dancers." Anthony said: "Where I live there are no male ballet dancers
(...) of us. Our people can fly." Another social media user said: "As adults, it is our job to help each
( 1 ) An 11-year-old boy has achieved fame after a video of him dancing in the rain outside his home
(...) practice. The academy's founder, Daniel Ajala Owoseni, told BBC News: "We are changing the narrative

Put the words in the right order

video rain . of dancing A in the him
people worldwide skill . impressed with Madu dancing his
us . of put been front Obstacles have in
It each is to job our help child .
do . them they all Propels things in
academy The is in a district . poor
provides dance lessons It underprivileged free to children .
are the stereotype . We the narrative changing about
me . dancers like ballet There male are no
is male there They ballet a dancer . know

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

An 11-year-old boy has achieved famous / fame after a video of him dancing in the rain outside his home in Lagos, Nigeria went vital / viral on social media. Anthony Mmesoma Madu impressed people worldly / worldwide with his skill, enthusiasm, impassion / passion and dedication. The Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis saw a video flip / clip of Anthony and put it on her social media feeds. She tweeted: "We create, soar / sore, can imagine, have unleashed passion, and love, spite / despite the brutal obstacles that have been put in / on front of us. Our people can fly." Another social media user said: "As adults, it is our job to help each child find their talent and to support them...The joyous / joy from this propels them in all things they do / doing."

Anthony is one of 12 students at the Leap of Dance Academy. The academy is in a poor / poverty district of Lagos. It provides free / freely dance lessons to underprivileged children who have somewhere / nowhere to practice. The academy's finder / founder, Daniel Ajala Owoseni, told BBC News: "We are changing the narrative / paragraph about the stereotype of male / man dancers." Anthony said: "Where I live there are no male ballet dancers unlike / like me. When people see ballet they think it is only for girls, they don't know that it is just / not only for girls." He added: "How I want them to see me is that when I am dancing they know that there is a male ballet dancer. The feeling that comes / does over me is as whether / if I am dreaming."

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 1 1 - y__ r -_l d b_y h_s _c h__ v_d f_m_ _f t_r _ v_d__ _f h_m d_n c_n g _n t h_ r__ n __ t s_d_ h_s h_m_ _n L_g_s , N_g_r__ w_n t v_r_l _n s_c__ l m_d__ . A n t h_n y M m_s_m_ M_d_ _m p r_s s_d p__ p l_ w_r l d w_d_ w_t h h_s s k_l l , _n t h_s__ s m , p_s s__ n _n d d_d_c_t__ n . T h_ O s c_r - w_n n_n g _c t r_s s V__ l_ D_v_s s_w _ v_d__ c l_p _f A n t h_n y _n d p_t _t _n h_r s_c__ l m_d__ f__ d s . S h_ t w__ t_d : " W_ c r__ t_, s__ r , c_n _m_g_n_, h_v_ _n l__ s h_d p_s s__ n , _n d l_v_, d_s p_t_ t h_ b r_t_l _b s t_c l_s t h_t h_v_ b__ n p_t _n f r_n t _f _s . O_r p__ p l_ c_n f l y " . A n_t h_r s_c__ l m_d__ _s_r s__ d : " A s _d_l t s , _t _s __ r j_b t_ h_l p __ c h c h_l d f_n d t h__ r t_l_n t _n d t_ s_p p_r t t h_m . . . T h_ j_y f r_m t h_s p r_p_l s t h_m _n _l l t h_n g s t h_y d_. "

A n t h_n y _s _n_ _f 1 2 s t_d_n t s _t t h_ L__ p _f D_n c_ A c_d_m y . T h_ _c_d_m y _s _n _ p__ r d_s t r_c t _f L_g_s . I t p r_v_d_s f r__ d_n c_ l_s s_n s t_ _n d_r p r_v_l_g_d c h_l d r_n w h_ h_v_ n_w h_r_ t_ p r_c t_c_. T h_ _c_d_m y ' s f__ n d_r , D_n__ l A j_l_ O w_s_n_, t_l d B B C N_w s : " W_ _r_ c h_n g_n g t h_ n_r r_t_v_ _b__ t t h_ s t_r__ t y p_ _f m_l_ d_n c_r s . " A n t h_n y s__ d : " W h_r_ I l_v_ t h_r_ _r_ n_ m_l_ b_l l_t d_n c_r s l_k_ m_. W h_n p__ p l_ s__ b_l l_t t h_y t h_n k _t _s _n l y f_r g_r l s , t h_y d_n ' t k n_w t h_t _t _s n_t _n l y f_r g_r l s . " H_ _d d_d : " H_w I w_n t t h_m t_ s__ m_ _s t h_t w h_n I _m d_n c_n g t h_y k n_w t h_t t h_r_ _s _ m_l_ b_l l_t d_n c_r . T h_ f__ l_n g t h_t c_m_s _v_r m_ _s _s _f I _m d r__ m_n g . "

Punctuate the text and add capitals

an 11yearold boy has achieved fame after a video of him dancing in the rain outside his home in lagos nigeria went viral on social media anthony mmesoma madu impressed people worldwide with his skill enthusiasm passion and dedication the oscarwinning actress viola davis saw a video clip of anthony and put it on her social media feeds she tweeted we create soar can imagine have unleashed passion and love despite the brutal obstacles that have been put in front of us our people can fly another social media user said as adults it is our job to help each child find their talent and to support them the joy from this propels them in all things they do

anthony is one of 12 students at the leap of dance academy the academy is in a poor district of lagos it provides free dance lessons to underprivileged children who have nowhere to practice the academys founder daniel ajala owoseni told bbc news we are changing the narrative about the stereotype of male dancers anthony said where i live there are no male ballet dancers like me when people see ballet they think it is only for girls they dont know that it is not only for girls he added how i want them to see me is that when i am dancing they know that there is a male ballet dancer the feeling that comes over me is as if i am dreaming

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

An11-year-oldboyhasachievedfameafteravideoofhimdancinginther
ainoutsidehishomeinLagos,Nigeriawentviralonsocialmedia.Anthony
MmesomaMaduimpressedpeopleworldwidewithhisskill,enthusiasm,
passionanddedication.TheOscar-winningactressViolaDavissawav
ideoclipofAnthonyandputitonhersocialmediafeeds.Shetweeted:"We
create,soar,canimagine,haveunleashedpassion,andlove,despitethe
brutalobstaclesthathavebeenputinfrontofus.Ourpeoplecanfly."Anot
hersocialmediausersaid:"Asadults,itisourjobtohelpeachchildfindthe
irtalentandtosupportthem...Thejoyfromthispropelstheminallthingst
heydo."Anthonyisoneof12studentsattheLeapofDanceAcademy.The
academyisinapoordistrictofLagos.Itprovidesfreedancelessonstound
erprivilegedchildrenwhohavenowheretopractice.Theacademy'sfoun
der,DanielAjalaOwoseni,toldBBCNews:"Wearechangingthenarrativ
eaboutthestereotypeofmaledancers."Anthonysaid:"WhereIlivether
earenomaleballetdancerslikeme.Whenpeopleseeballettheythinkitis
onlyforgirls,theydon'tknowthatitisnotonlyforgirls."Headded:"HowI
wantthemtoseemeisthatwhenIamdancingtheyknowthatthereisama
leballetdancer.ThefeelingthatcomesovermeisasifIamdreaming."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Everyone should learn ballet when they are at school. 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. BALLET DANCERS: Make a poster about ballet dancers. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. STUDY: Write a magazine article about everyone having to study ballet when they are at school. 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 ballet dancers. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinions on ballet. 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.)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English Lesson: Ballet Dancer

Home | Help This Site

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS