Breaking News English Lesson: Baldness

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Scientists say cure for baldness could be close (23rd March, 2021)

The Reading / Listening - Baldness - Level 6

Help may soon be at hand for those who are losing or have lost their hair. A team of Japanese scientists has discovered stem cells that are vital in the hair regeneration process. This is promising news for the millions of people worldwide who suffer from baldness. A cure has eluded scientists for decades, despite extensive research and significant investment in research. The scientists are now embarking on clinical research and laboratory trials. They hope to adapt the stem cells to finally create a therapy for hair loss. Baldness predominantly affects men. By the age of 35, around two-thirds of men will experience some degree of hair loss. By the age of 50, up to 85 per cent will experience significantly thinning hair.

The scientists took fur cells from mice and cultured them in the lab. They observed that hair growth was a cyclical process within the follicle. They analysed the stem cells and used 220 combinations of chemicals to make the hair regrow naturally. Lead scientist Takashi Tsuji said: "Our culture system establishes a method for cyclical regeneration of hair follicles from hair follicle stem cells and will help make hair follicle regeneration therapy a reality in the near future." He added: "Losing hair is not life-threatening, but it adversely affects the quality of life." Sam Baker, a 52-year-old bank worker, hopes the therapy works. He said: "Having a full head of hair again will make me look ten years younger".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Baldness - Level 4 or Baldness - Level 5

Sources

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/02/14/national/hair-loss-researchers/
https://bgr.com/2021/02/13/baldness-cure-stem-cell-hair-growth-riken-study/
https://interestingengineering.com/a-cure-for-baldness-may-lie-in-engineering-stem-cells-that-regenerate

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. BALDNESS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about baldness. 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?
help / losing hair / scientists / stem cells / research / laboratory / baldness / men /
fur / cyclical / follicle / combinations / therapy / life-threatening / quality of life
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. UNNECESSARY: Students A strongly believe hair is unnecessary; Students B strongly believe it is necessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. LOSS: How bad is it to lose these things? What can we do about it? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	How Bad?	What We Can Do
Hair loss
Teeth loss
Memory loss
Loss of bladder control
Loss of appetite
Hearing loss

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

hair dryer
hair grip
hair band
shampoo
hair spray
hair dye
hair
hair net

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	at hand	a.	Absolutely necessary or important; essential.
2.	vital	b.	Showing signs of future success.
3.	regeneration	c.	Mainly; for the most part.
4.	promising	d.	The action or process of making something grow again.
5.	cure	e.	Failed to be attained by someone.
6.	eluded	f.	Here; available now.
7.	predominantly	g.	A substance or treatment that makes a disease or condition go away.

Paragraph 2

8.	fur	h.	Of tissue cells, bacteria, etc. grown or propagated in an artificial way.
9.	cultured	i.	Happening again and again.
10.	cyclical	j.	In a way that prevents success or development; harmfully or unfavorably.
11.	combination	k.	The base of a hair under the skin in which the hair grows.
12.	follicle	l.	A mixture of different things.
13.	life-threatening	m.	The short, fine, soft hair of certain animals.
14.	adversely	n.	A great danger to the existence of someone.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says hair on people's hands could be put on heads. T / F
The article says scientists have promised millions of bald people. T / F
The article says scientists have not found a cure for centuries. T / F
Up to 85% of men will have thinned hair before they are 50. T / F
Scientists experimented on the fur of mice. T / F
A scientist wants to make a hair loss therapy in the far future. T / F
A scientist said hair loss is not life-threatening. T / F
A banker wants hair so he can look 10 years younger. T / F

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

at hand
vital
eluded
embarking on
degree
observed
combinations
therapy
reality
adversely

mixes
starting
level
essential
actuality
about to happen
treatment
negatively
evaded
noticed

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

Help may soon
discovered stem cells that
embarking
Baldness predominantly
significantly thinning
The scientists took fur
hair growth was a cyclical
a reality in the near
Losing hair is not life-
Having a full

affects men
on clinical research
hair
head of hair
process
be at hand
threatening
cells from mice
are vital
future

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

vital
embarking
thinning
hand
degree
eluded
therapy
suffer

Help may soon be at (1) _____________________ for those who are losing or have lost their hair. A team of Japanese scientists has discovered stem cells that are (2) _____________________ in the hair regeneration process. This is promising news for the millions of people worldwide who (3) _____________________ from baldness. A cure has (4) _____________________ scientists for decades, despite extensive research and significant investment in research. The scientists are now (5) _____________________ on clinical research and laboratory trials. They hope to adapt the stem cells to finally create a (6) _____________________ for hair loss. Baldness predominantly affects men. By the age of 35, around two-thirds of men will experience some (7) _____________________ of hair loss. By the age of 50, up to 85 per cent will experience significantly (8) _____________________ hair.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

adversely
combinations
follicles
fur
reality
cyclical
full
naturally

The scientists took (9) _____________________ cells from mice and cultured them in the lab. They observed that hair growth was a (10) _____________________ process within the follicle. They analysed the stem cells and used 220 (11) _____________________ of chemicals to make the hair regrow (12) _____________________. Lead scientist Takashi Tsuji said: "Our culture system establishes a method for cyclical regeneration of hair (13) _____________________ from hair follicle stem cells and will help make hair follicle regeneration therapy a (14) _____________________ in the near future." He added: "Losing hair is not life-threatening, but it (15) _____________________ affects the quality of life." Sam Baker, a 52-year-old bank worker, hopes the therapy works. He said: "Having a (16) _____________________ head of hair again will make me look ten years younger".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Help may soon be at hand for those who are losing or have ______
     a. lose their hairy
     b. lost their hairy
     c. lost their hair
     d. lose their hair
2) A team of Japanese scientists has discovered stem cells ______
     a. that are pivotal
     b. that are viral
     c. that are vital
     d. that are veto
3) people worldwide who suffer from baldness. A cure ______
     a. has eluded scientists
     b. has elude did scientists
     c. has elude scientists
     d. has eludes scientists
4) The scientists are now embarking on clinical research ______
     a. and laboratory trials
     b. and laboratory trails
     c. and laboratory tries
     d. and laboratory thrills
5) By the age of 50, up to 85 per cent will experience significantly ______
     a. thin in hair
     b. thinning hair
     c. thin non hair
   d. thin on hair

6) They observed that hair growth was a cyclical process ______
     a. within the folly call
     b. within the foal I call
     c. within the follower
     d. within the follicle
7) They analysed the stem cells and used 220 ______
     a. combination of chemicals
     b. combinations of chemicals
     c. combinations of chemical
     d. combination of chemical
8) Tsuji said: "Our culture system establishes a method ______
     a. for cycle call regeneration
     b. for sick lick all regeneration
     c. for sickly call regeneration
     d. for cyclical regeneration
9) He added: "Losing hair is not life-threatening, but it adversely ______
     a. affects the qualify
     b. affects the quantify
     c. affects the caller tea
     d. affects the quality
10) bank worker, hopes the therapy works. He said: "Having a full ______...
     a. head off hair
     b. head oft hair
     c. head over hair
     d. head of hair

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Help may soon (1) ____________________ for those who are losing or have lost their hair. A team of Japanese scientists has discovered stem cells that (2) ____________________ the hair regeneration process. This is promising news for the millions of people worldwide who suffer from baldness. A cure has eluded scientists (3) ____________________ extensive research and significant investment in research. The scientists are now embarking on clinical research (4) ____________________. They hope to adapt the stem cells to finally create a therapy for hair loss. Baldness predominantly affects men. By the age of 35, around two-thirds of men will experience (5) ____________________ hair loss. By the age of 50, up to 85 per cent will experience (6) ____________________.

The scientists took (7) ____________________ mice and cultured them in the lab. They observed that hair growth was (8) ____________________ within the follicle. They analysed the stem cells and used 220 combinations of chemicals to make the (9) ____________________. Lead scientist Takashi Tsuji said: "Our culture system establishes a method for cyclical regeneration of hair follicles from hair follicle stem cells and will help make hair follicle regeneration (10) ____________________ in the near future." He added: "Losing hair is not life-threatening, but (11) ____________________ the quality of life." Sam Baker, a 52-year-old bank worker, hopes the therapy works. He said: "Having a (12) ____________________ hair again will make me look ten years younger".

Comprehension questions

What nationality are the scientists who conducted this research?
What did scientists find that is vital for the hair regeneration process?
For how long does the article say a cure has evaded scientists?
What do scientists hope to find a therapy for?
What percentage of men experience hair thinning by the age of 50?
What animal's fur did scientists test?
How many combinations of chemicals did scientists use to regrow hair?
What did a scientist say hair loss is not?
What did a scientist say hair loss adversely affects?
How much younger did a banker say he wants to look?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What nationality are the scientists who conducted this research?
a) Peruvian
b) American
c) Egyptian
d) Japanese
2) What did scientists find that is vital for the hair regeneration process?
a) hair wax
b) stem cells
c) a hair brush
d) proteins
3) For how long does the article say a cure has evaded scientists?
a) years
b) centuries
c) decades
d) eons
4) What do scientists hope to find a therapy for?
a) hair loss
b) greasy skin
c) depression
d) bad hair days

5) What percentage of men experience hair thinning by the age of 50?
a) 25%
b) 65%
c) 85%
d) 30%

6) What animal's fur did scientists test?
a) bears
b) mice
c) orangutans
d) sheep
7) How many combinations of chemicals did scientists use to regrow hair?
a) 200
b) 230
c) 210
d) 220
8) What did a scientist say hair loss is not?
a) life-threatening
b) worrying
c) a bad thing
d) a sign of ageing
9) What did a scientist say hair loss adversely affects?
a) self-confidence
b) the scalp
c) the quality of life
d) the shampoo industry

10) How much younger did a banker say he wants to look?
a) 15 years
b) 10 years
c) 20 years
d) 25 years

Role play

Role A – Hair Dryer
You think a hair dyer is the most important hair product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): shampoo, hair dye or hair spray.

Role B – Shampoo
You think shampoo is the most important hair product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a hair dyer, hair dye or hair spray.

Role C – Hair Dye
You think hair dye is the most important hair product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): shampoo, a hair dyer or hair spray.

Role D – Hair Spray
You think hair spray is the most important hair product. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): shampoo, hair dye or a hair dyer.

After reading / listening

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

'baldness'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'cure'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

hand

vital

news

despite

now

age

fur

220

method

reality

quality

ten

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 - Baldness

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 'baldness'?
What do you think of baldness?
Why do we need hair?
What are the advantages of being bald?
What do you think of your hair?
How would you feel about being bald?
What do you think of bald people?
How important is a cure for baldness?
What advice do you have for people who are going bald?

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 'cure'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you do to look after your hair?
What can people do if they are going bald?
What do you know about the process of hair growth?
How might going bald affect people's mental health?
What do you think of bald women?
How attractive is it to be bald?
What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

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)

Help may soon be at (1) ____ for those who are losing or have lost their hair. A team of Japanese scientists has discovered stem cells that are (2) ____ in the hair regeneration process. This is (3) ____ news for the millions of people worldwide who suffer from baldness. A cure has eluded scientists for decades, despite extensive research and significant investment in research. The scientists are now embarking (4) ____ clinical research and laboratory trials. They hope to (5) ____ the stem cells to finally create a therapy for hair loss. Baldness predominantly affects men. By the age of 35, around two-thirds of men will experience some degree of hair loss. By the age of 50, up to 85 per cent will experience significantly (6) ____ hair.

The scientists took (7) ____ cells from mice and cultured them in the lab. They observed that hair growth was a (8) ____ process within the follicle. They analysed the stem cells and used 220 combinations of chemicals to make the hair regrow naturally. Lead scientist Takashi Tsuji said: "Our (9) ____ system establishes a method for cyclical regeneration of hair follicles from hair follicle stem cells and will help make hair follicle regeneration therapy a (10) ____ in the near future." He added: "Losing hair is not life-threatening, but it (11) ____ affects the quality of life." Sam Baker, a 52-year-old bank worker, hopes the therapy works. He said: "Having a full (12) ____ of hair again will make me look ten years younger".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) head (b) hand (c) heart (d) hamstring
(a) viral (b) vital (c) fetal (d) vocal
(a) vowing (b) avowing (c) pledging (d) promising
(a) at (b) on (c) of (d) as
(a) adept (b) adopt (c) adroit (d) depot
(a) wiping (b) slimming (c) thinning (d) dieting
(a) for (b) fir (c) fur (d) far
(a) cycling (b) cycled (c) cyclical (d) cylindrical
(a) tradition (b) heritage (c) customs (d) culture
(a) reality (b) fantasy (c) here and now (d) possible
(a) adversely (b) conversely (c) verses (d) versing
(a) hippocampus (b) skull (c) head (d) brain

Spelling

Paragraph 1

stem cells that are vaitl
A cure has delude scientists
despite xetnivese research
mkbaengir on clinical research
Baldness mditrplnonaye affects men
tsinnyciiafgl thinning hair

Paragraph 2

ultecurd them in the lab
hair growth was a acyclcil process
hair oillfecl
irteaoeegrnn therapy
Losing hair is not life-rteagnenthi
it salevdrey affects the quality of life

Put the text back together

(...) follicles from hair follicle stem cells and will help make hair follicle regeneration therapy a
(...) research and laboratory trials. They hope to adapt the stem cells to finally create a therapy for hair
( 1 ) Help may soon be at hand for those who are losing or have lost their hair. A team of Japanese scientists has discovered stem
(...) affects the quality of life." Sam Baker, a 52-year-old bank worker, hopes the therapy
(...) The scientists took fur cells from mice and cultured them in the lab. They observed that hair growth was a cyclical
(...) cells that are vital in the hair regeneration process. This is promising news for the millions of people
(...) works. He said: "Having a full head of hair again will make me look ten years younger".
(...) naturally. Lead scientist Takashi Tsuji said: "Our culture system establishes a method for cyclical regeneration of hair
(...) process within the follicle. They analysed the stem cells and used 220 combinations of chemicals to make the hair regrow
(...) loss. Baldness predominantly affects men. By the age of 35, around two-thirds of men will experience some
(...) degree of hair loss. By the age of 50, up to 85 per cent will experience significantly thinning hair.
(...) worldwide who suffer from baldness. A cure has eluded scientists for decades, despite extensive
(...) research and significant investment in research. The scientists are now embarking on clinical
(...) reality in the near future." He added: "Losing hair is not life-threatening, but it adversely

Put the words in the right order

who lost losing or have Those are hair .
of news millions This promising people . for is
clinical are The now on research . embarking scientists
stem cells finally to the therapies . create Adapt
hair experience Men some of degree loss . will
scientists took from mice . cells The fur
the chemicals regrow . to of hair Combinations make
follicles . for A regeneration of cyclical hair method
of loss quality Hair the life . adversely affects
look make hair me will years More younger .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Help may soon be at heart / hand for those who are losing or have lost their hair. A team of Japanese scientists has discovered stem cells that are rival / vital in the hair regeneration process. This is promising news for the millions of people worldwide who suffer of / from baldness. A cure has exuded / eluded scientists for decades, despite / spite extensive research and significant investment in / on research. The scientists are now barking / embarking on clinical research and laboratory trials. They hope to adapt the stem cells to finally create a therapeutic / therapy for hair loss. Baldness predominantly affects men. By the age of 35, around two-thirds of men will experience some degree / temperature of hair loss. By the age of 50, up to 85 per cent will experience significantly growing / thinning hair.

The scientists took fur / furry cells from mice and cultured them in the lab. They observed that hair growth was a cyclical progress / process within the follicle. They analysed the stem cells and used 220 combinations of chemicals to make the hair regrow naturally / natural. Lead scientist Takashi Tsuji said: "Our culture / tradition system establishes a method / methodological for cyclical regeneration of hair follicles from hair follicle stem cells and will help make hair follicle regeneration therapy a realism / reality in the near / nearly future." He added: "Losing hair is not life-threatening, but it conversely / adversely affects the quality of life." Sam Baker, a 52-year-old bank worker, hoping / hopes the therapy works. He said: "Having a full head of hair again will make me look ten years younger / youth".

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)

H_lp m_y s__n b_ _t h_nd f_r th_s_ wh_ _r_ l_s_ng _r h_v_ l_st th__r h__r. _ t__m _f J_p_n_s_ sc__nt_sts h_s d_sc_v_r_d st_m c_lls th_t _r_ v_t_l _n th_ h__r r_g_n_r_t__n pr_c_ss. Th_s _s pr_m_s_ng n_ws f_r th_ m_ll__ns _f p__pl_ w_rldw_d_ wh_ s_ff_r fr_m b_ldn_ss. _ c_r_ h_s _l_d_d sc__nt_sts f_r d_c_d_s, d_sp_t_ _xt_ns_v_ r_s__rch _nd s_gn_f_c_nt _nv_stm_nt _n r_s__rch. Th_ sc__nt_sts _r_ n_w _mb_rk_ng _n cl_n_c_l r_s__rch _nd l_b_r_t_ry tr__ls. Th_y h_p_ t_ _d_pt th_ st_m c_lls t_ f_n_lly cr__t_ _ th_r_py f_r h__r l_ss. B_ldn_ss pr_d_m_n_ntly _ff_cts m_n. By th_ _g_ _f 35, _r__nd tw_-th_rds _f m_n w_ll _xp_r__nc_ s_m_ d_gr__ _f h__r l_ss. By th_ _g_ _f 50, _p t_ 85 p_r c_nt w_ll _xp_r__nc_ s_gn_f_c_ntly th_nn_ng h__r.

Th_ sc__nt_sts t__k f_r c_lls fr_m m_c_ _nd c_lt_r_d th_m _n th_ l_b. Th_y _bs_rv_d th_t h__r gr_wth w_s _ cycl_c_l pr_c_ss w_th_n th_ f_ll_cl_. Th_y _n_lys_d th_ st_m c_lls _nd _s_d 220 c_mb_n_t__ns _f ch_m_c_ls t_ m_k_ th_ h__r r_gr_w n_t_r_lly. L__d sc__nt_st T_k_sh_ Ts_j_ s__d: "__r c_lt_r_ syst_m _st_bl_sh_s _ m_th_d f_r cycl_c_l r_g_n_r_t__n _f h__r f_ll_cl_s fr_m h__r f_ll_cl_ st_m c_lls _nd w_ll h_lp m_k_ h__r f_ll_cl_ r_g_n_r_t__n th_r_py _ r__l_ty _n th_ n__r f_t_r_." H_ _dd_d: "L_s_ng h__r _s n_t l_f_-thr__t_n_ng, b_t _t _dv_rs_ly _ff_cts th_ q__l_ty _f l_f_." S_m B_k_r, _ 52-y__r-_ld b_nk w_rk_r, h_p_s th_ th_r_py w_rks. H_ s__d: "H_v_ng _ f_ll h__d _f h__r _g__n w_ll m_k_ m_ l__k t_n y__rs y__ng_r".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

help may soon be at hand for those who are losing or have lost their hair a team of japanese scientists has discovered stem cells that are vital in the hair regeneration process this is promising news for the millions of people worldwide who suffer from baldness a cure has eluded scientists for decades despite extensive research and significant investment in research the scientists are now embarking on clinical research and laboratory trials they hope to adapt the stem cells to finally create a therapy for hair loss baldness predominantly affects men by the age of 35 around twothirds of men will experience some degree of hair loss by the age of 50 up to 85 per cent will experience significantly thinning hair

the scientists took fur cells from mice and cultured them in the lab they observed that hair growth was a cyclical process within the follicle they analysed the stem cells and used 220 combinations of chemicals to make the hair regrow naturally lead scientist takashi tsuji said our culture system establishes a method for cyclical regeneration of hair follicles from hair follicle stem cells and will help make hair follicle regeneration therapy a reality in the near future he added losing hair is not lifethreatening but it adversely affects the quality of life sam baker a 52yearold bank worker hopes the therapy works he said having a full head of hair again will make me look ten years younger

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Helpmaysoonbeathandforthosewhoarelosingorhavelosttheirhair.At
eamofJapanesescientistshasdiscoveredstemcellsthatarevitalintheh
airregenerationprocess.Thisispromisingnewsforthemillionsofpeople
worldwidewhosufferfrombaldness.Acurehaseludedscientistsfordec
ades,despiteextensiveresearchandsignificantinvestmentinresearch
.Thescientistsarenowembarkingonclinicalresearchandlaboratorytri
als.Theyhopetoadaptthestemcellstofinallycreateatherapyforhairlos
s.Baldnesspredominantlyaffectsmen.Bytheageof35,aroundtwo-
thirdsofmenwillexperiencesomedegreeofhairloss.Bytheageof50,upt
o85percentwillexperiencesignificantlythinninghair.Thescientiststoo
kfurcellsfrommiceandculturedtheminthelab.Theyobservedthathair
growthwasacyclicalprocesswithinthefollicle.Theyanalysedthestemc
ellsandused220combinationsofchemicalstomakethehairregrownatu
rally.LeadscientistTakashiTsujisaid:"Ourculturesystemestablishesa
methodforcyclicalregenerationofhairfolliclesfromhairfolliclestemcell
sandwillhelpmakehairfollicleregenerationtherapyarealityinthenearf
uture."Headded:"Losinghairisnotlife-threatening,butitadverselyaff
ectsthequalityoflife."SamBaker,a52-year-oldbankworker,hopesth
etherapyworks.Hesaid:"Havingafullheadofhairagainwillmakemeloo
ktenyearsyounger".

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

It would be better if we were all bald. 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. BALDNESS: Make a poster about baldness. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. NO HAIR: Write a magazine article about life being more convenient if none of us had hair. 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 baldness. 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: Baldness

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