Breaking News English Lesson: Farming

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Older UK farmers to get $140,000 for retiring (24th May, 2021)

The Reading / Listening - Farming - Level 3

The government in the United Kingdom wants to change its farming industry. It wants younger people to enter the profession. It has a new plan to pay older farmers to retire. Some older farmers could get up to $140,000 in cash if they retire. One of the reasons the government wants older farmers to retire is to protect the environment. Older farmers use more traditional methods to farm their land. These methods are not as environmentally friendly as they should be. The UK's farming minister believes younger farmers are more open to "green" methods. He said: "A fresh perspective can make a world of difference." He added that older farmers were "standing in the way of change".

The average age of farmers in the UK is 59. Around 40 per cent of them are above the age of 65. The farming minister said: "We need to address the twin challenges of helping new [farmers] fulfill their dream of gaining access to land, while also helping an older generation to retire with dignity." The scheme is popular with many veteran farmers. A farmers' association said 75 per cent of its farmers were interested in the retirement plan. The UK's National Farmers' Union welcomed the government's plan. It said: "We want to see a fair transition which allows farmers who are considering leaving the industry to have sufficient time and information to make those life-changing decisions."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Farming - Level 0, Farming - Level 1 or Farming - Level 2

Sources

https://www.thepigsite.com/news/2021/05/uk-government-publishes-consultation-on-paying-older-farmers-to-retire
https://www.thecattlesite.com/news/56944/uk-farming-groups-respond-to-lump-sum-exit-payment-consultation/
https://www.ft.com/content/4d4bbf25-97c4-498d-9772-80c0b165f52e

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. FARMS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about farms. 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?
government / industry / retire / farmers / cash / traditional / environment / green /
address / challenges / dream / dignity / veteran / transition / time / information
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FARMING: Students A strongly believe farming is the world's most important industry; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. KINDS OF FARMING: How important are these kinds of farming? What problems might there be? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Importance	Problems
Rice
Cattle
Chicken
Coffee
Wheat
Fish

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

Being on the land
Growing things
Having no boss
Beautiful views
Animals
Driving a tractor
Healthy lifestyle
Money

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	industry	a.	A paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification.
2.	profession	b.	Keep safe from harm or injury.
3.	cash	c.	A way of looking at something; a viewpoint.
4.	protect	d.	Money (coins or cash).
5.	traditional	e.	A particular way of doing something.
6.	method	f.	Business activity concerned with growing or making things.
7.	perspective	g.	Something that has been done for a long time.

Paragraph 2

8.	average	h.	Do something about a problem.
9.	address	i.	To get something done that you wanted to do.
10.	fulfill	j.	Enough.
11.	generation	k.	The state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.
12.	dignity	l.	All of the people born and living at about the same time.
13.	transition	m.	A number that shows the most normal or usual of something.
14.	sufficient	n.	The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.

Before reading / listening

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

The farming industry in the UK wants to change the government. T / F
All UK farmers will get $140,000 if they retire. T / F
The UK government said older farmers are less environmentally friendly. T / F
The government said older farmers are standing in the way of change. T / F
The average age of a farmer in the UK is 40. T / F
The UK wants to address two issues related to farming. T / F
The government's plan is popular with many older farmers. T / F
A farmers' union said farmers don't need time to make decisions. T / F

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

change
profession
methods
believes
perspective
address
fulfill
veteran
welcomed
sufficient

enough
thinks
deal with
practices
long-serving
viewpoint
reshape
greeted
business
achieve

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

It wants younger people to enter
protect the
These methods are not as environmentally
A fresh perspective can make a
farmers were standing in the way
The average age of
We need to address the twin
helping an older generation to retire
We want to see a fair
make those life-

farmers in the UK is 59
changing decisions
world of difference
environment
with dignity
the profession
transition
of change
challenges
friendly

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

friendly
profession
protect
way
industry
green
fresh
cash

The government in the United Kingdom wants to change its farming (1) _____________________. It wants younger people to enter the (2) _____________________. It has a new plan to pay older farmers to retire. Some older farmers could get up to $140,000 in (3) _____________________ if they retire. One of the reasons the government wants older farmers to retire is to (4) _____________________ the environment. Older farmers use more traditional methods to farm their land. These methods are not as environmentally (5) _____________________ as they should be. The UK's farming minister believes younger farmers are more open to "(6) _____________________" methods. He said: "A (7) _____________________ perspective can make a world of difference." He added that older farmers were "standing in the (8) _____________________ of change".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

dream
veteran
decisions
sufficient
address
welcomed
age
popular

The average age of farmers in the UK is 59. Around 40 per cent of them are above the (9) _____________________ of 65. The farming minister said: "We need to (10) _____________________ the twin challenges of helping new [farmers] fulfill their (11) _____________________ of gaining access to land, while also helping an older generation to retire with dignity." The scheme is (12) _____________________ with many (13) _____________________ farmers. A farmers' association said 75 per cent of its farmers were interested in the retirement plan. The UK's National Farmers' Union (14) _____________________ the government's plan. It said: "We want to see a fair transition which allows farmers who are considering leaving the industry to have (15) _____________________ time and information to make those life-changing (16) _____________________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The government in the United Kingdom wants to change ______
    a. its farming industrial
     b. its farm in industry
     c. its far Ming industry
     d. its farming industry
2) It wants younger people to ______
     a. re-enter the profession
     b. entry the profession
     c. entrance the professional
     d. enter the profession
3) It has a new plan to pay older ______
     a. farmers tour tire
     b. farmers to retry
     c. farmers too re time
     d. farmers to retire
4) Older farmers use more traditional methods to ______
     a. farm their land
     b. farming their land
     c. farm there land
     d. farm there'll land
5) He added that older farmers were standing in the ______
     a. why off change
     b. way of change
     c. way of changed
     d. weigh of changes

6) Around 40 per cent of them are above the ______
     a. aged of 65
     b. old of 65
     c. wage of 65
     d. age of 65
7) The farming minister said: "We need to address ______."
     a. the twins challenges
     b. the twin challenges
     c. the twinned challenges
     d. that win challenges
8) while also helping an older generation to ______
     a. retire with dignify
     b. retire with dig nifty
     c. retire with digital
     d. retire with dignity
9) want to see a fair transition which allows farmers who are considering ______
     a. leave in the industry
     b. leaver the industry
     c. leaving the industry
     d. leaf in the industry
10) have sufficient time and information to make those ______
     a. life-changing decisions
     b. live-changing decisions
     c. rife-changing decisions
     d. rifle-changing decisions

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The government in the United Kingdom (1) ____________________ its farming industry. It wants younger people to enter the profession. It has a new (2) ____________________ older farmers to retire. Some older farmers could get up to $140,000 in cash if they retire. One of the reasons the government wants older farmers to retire (3) ____________________ the environment. Older farmers use more traditional methods to farm their land. (4) ____________________ not as environmentally friendly as they should be. The UK's farming minister believes younger farmers are more open to "green" methods. He said: "(5) ____________________ can make a world of difference." He added that older farmers were "standing in the (6) ____________________".

The (7) ____________________ farmers in the UK is 59. Around 40 per cent of them are above the age of 65. The farming minister said: "We need to address the (8) ____________________ helping new [farmers] fulfill their dream of gaining access to land, while also helping an older generation to (9) ____________________." The scheme is popular with many veteran farmers. A farmers' association said 75 per cent of its farmers (10) ____________________ the retirement plan. The UK's National Farmers' Union welcomed the government's plan. It said: "We want to see a fair transition which allows farmers (11) ____________________ leaving the industry to have sufficient time and information to make those (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

Who does the UK government want to enter the farming profession?
What is one reason the UK government wants older farmers to retire?
What methods does the article say older farmers use?
What does the article say younger farmers are more open to?
What did a farming minister say older farmers are standing in the way of?
What is the average age of a UK farmer?
How many challenges did the farming minister he wants to address?
How many farmers in an association were interested in the plan?
Who does the article say welcomed the government's plan?
What kind of decisions to older farmers need time to make?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who does the UK government want to enter the farming profession?
a) children
b) younger people
c) big companies
d) politicians
2) What is one reason the UK government wants older farmers to retire?
a) to save money
b) to grow more food
c) to thank them
d) to protect the environment
3) What methods does the article say older farmers use?
a) green methods
b) agricultural methods
c) traditional methods
d) new methods
4) What does the article say younger farmers are more open to?
a) "green" methods
b) making money
c) social distance
d) genetically-modified food

5) What did a farming minister say older farmers are standing in the way of?
a) tractors
b) change
c) crops
d) traffic

6) What is the average age of a UK farmer?
a) 59
b) 65
c) 40
d) 75
7) How many challenges did the farming minister he wants to address?
a) three
b) four
c) two
d) one
8) How many farmers in an association were interested in the plan?
a) 75%
b) 65%
c) 59%
d) 40%
9) Who does the article say welcomed the government's plan?
a) retired farmers
b) young farmers
c) dairy farmers
d) the National Farmers' Union
10) What kinds of decisions do older farmers need time to make?
a) when to plant seeds
b) decisions to rotate crops
c) life-changing decisions
d) what seeds to plant

Role play

Role A – Growing Things
You think growing things is the best thing about being a farmer. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): being with animals, a healthy lifestyle or money.

Role B – Being with Animals
You think being with animals is the best thing about being a farmer. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): growing things, a healthy lifestyle or money.

Role C – Healthy Lifestyle
You think a healthy lifestyle is the best thing about being a farmer. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): being with animals, growing things or money.

Role D – Money
You think money is the best thing about being a farmer. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): being with animals, a healthy lifestyle or growing things.

After reading / listening

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

'farmer'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'retire'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

change

cash

reasons

more

believe

way

average

address

older

75

fair

make

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 - Farming

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 'farm'?
What do you think of farming?
What is the job of a farmer like?
Would you be a good farmer?
How much do farmers protect the environment?
Should we all grow our own food?
What do you think of farms?
How difficult or dangerous is farming?
At what age would you like to retire?

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 'farmer'?
What do you think about what you read?
How important is farming?
What kind of farming would you like to do?
What more can farmers do to protect the environment?
Is a job on a farm or in an office best?
What was the last life-changing decision you made?
What advice do you have for farmers?
What questions would you like to ask a farmer?

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)

The government in the United Kingdom wants to change its farming industry. It wants younger people to (1) ____ the profession. It has a new plan to (2) ____ older farmers to retire. Some older farmers could get up to $140,000 in cash if they retire. One of the (3) ____ the government wants older farmers to retire is to protect the environment. Older farmers use (4) ____ traditional methods to farm their land. These methods are not as environmentally friendly as they should (5) ____. The UK's farming minister believes younger farmers are more open to "green" methods. He said: "A fresh perspective can make a world (6) ____ difference." He added that older farmers were "standing in the way of change".

The average age of farmers in the UK is 59. Around 40 per cent of them are (7) ____ the age of 65. The farming minister said: "We need to address the twin challenges of helping new [farmers] fulfill their dream of gaining access to land, (8) ____ also helping an older generation to retire (9) ____ dignity." The scheme is popular with many veteran farmers. A farmers' association said 75 per cent of its farmers were interested (10) ____ the retirement plan. The UK's National Farmers' Union welcomed the government's plan. It said: "We want to see a (11) ____ transition which allows farmers who are considering leaving the industry to have sufficient time and information to make (12) ____ life-changing decisions."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) entrant (b) entertain (c) entrance (d) enter
(a) salary (b) purchase (c) sell (d) pay
(a) raisins (b) reasons (c) reasoning (d) resonance
(a) much (b) lot (c) more (d) loads
(a) be (b) have (c) do (d) dig
(a) of (b) to (c) on (d) by
(a) height (b) top (c) higher (d) above
(a) while (b) whole (c) whim (d) where
(a) on (b) with (c) at (d) by
(a) on (b) at (c) in (d) of
(a) flair (b) fare (c) fair (d) fear
(a) what (b) those (c) which (d) them

Spelling

Paragraph 1

change its farming nidrutsy
younger people to enter the srfesionpo
ctperot the environment
Older farmers use more atdrlaition methods
The UK's farming mesirnit
A fresh irpscpveete

Paragraph 2

The vegeaar age of farmers
We need to rsdaesd the twin challenges
their dream of gaining casesc to land
The mecseh is popular
many ranveet farmers
have uisfcteinf time and information

Put the text back together

(...) time and information to make those life-changing decisions."
( 1 ) The government in the United Kingdom wants to change its farming industry. It wants younger people to
(...) as environmentally friendly as they should be. The UK's farming minister believes younger
(...) enter the profession. It has a new plan to pay older farmers to retire. Some older farmers could get
(...) up to $140,000 in cash if they retire. One of the reasons the government wants older farmers to retire is to protect
(...) of difference." He added that older farmers were "standing in the way of change".
(...) veteran farmers. A farmers' association said 75 per cent of its farmers were interested
(...) transition which allows farmers who are considering leaving the industry to have sufficient
(...) The average age of farmers in the UK is 59. Around 40 per cent of them are above the age
(...) of gaining access to land, while also helping an older generation to retire with dignity." The scheme is popular with many
(...) in the retirement plan. The UK's National Farmers' Union welcomed the government's plan. It said: "We want to see a fair
(...) farmers are more open to "green" methods. He said: "A fresh perspective can make a world
(...) of 65. The farming minister said: "We need to address the twin challenges of helping new [farmers] fulfill their dream
(...) the environment. Older farmers use more traditional methods to farm their land. These methods are not

Put the words in the right order

wants the people younger It profession . enter to
traditional use farm . more to Older farmers methods
methods . more "green" open to are farmers Younger
difference . Fresh of a world can make perspectives
of in standing change . way were Farmers the
to need We challenges . the twin address
dream gaining of access to land . their Fulfill
popular is The farmers . scheme many with veteran
a to fair We want transition . see
are who the considering leaving Farmers industry .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The government in the United Kingdom wants to change its farming industry / industrial. It wants younger people to / for enter the profession. It has a new plan to pay older farmers to retire. Some older farmers could get up to $140,000 on / in cash if they require / retire. One of the reasons the government wants older farmers to retire is to project / protect the environment. Older farmers use more traditional methods to farm / harm their land. These methods are not as environmentally amicable / friendly as they should be. The UK's farming minister believes younger farmers are more wide / open to "green" methods. He said: "A fresh / flesh perspective can make a world of difference." He added that older farmers were "standing / sitting in the way of change".

The average old / age of farmers in the UK is 59. Around 40 per cent of them are higher / above the age of 65. The farming minister said: "We need to address the twin / twins challenges of helping new [farmers] fulfill their dream of / to gaining access to land, while also helps / helping an older generation to retire with dignity." The scheme is popular with / at many veteran farmers. A farmers' association said 75 per cent of its farmers were interested in / on the retirement plan. The UK's National Farmers' Union welcomed the government's plant / plan. It said: "We want to see a fair transition which allows farmers who / what are considering leaving the industry to have sufficiently / sufficient time and information to make those life-changing decisions."

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)

Th_ g_v_rnm_nt _n th_ _n_t_d K_ngd_m w_nts t_ ch_ng_ _ts f_rm_ng _nd_stry. _t w_nts y__ng_r p__pl_ t_ _nt_r th_ pr_f_ss__n. _t h_s _ n_w pl_n t_ p_y _ld_r f_rm_rs t_ r_t_r_. S_m_ _ld_r f_rm_rs c__ld g_t _p t_ $140,000 _n c_sh _f th_y r_t_r_. _n_ _f th_ r__s_ns th_ g_v_rnm_nt w_nts _ld_r f_rm_rs t_ r_t_r_ _s t_ pr_t_ct th_ _nv_r_nm_nt. _ld_r f_rm_rs _s_ m_r_ tr_d_t__n_l m_th_ds t_ f_rm th__r l_nd. Th_s_ m_th_ds _r_ n_t _s _nv_r_nm_nt_lly fr__ndly _s th_y sh__ld b_. Th_ _K's f_rm_ng m_n_st_r b_l__v_s y__ng_r f_rm_rs _r_ m_r_ _p_n t_ "gr__n" m_th_ds. H_ s__d: "_ fr_sh p_rsp_ct_v_ c_n m_k_ _ w_rld _f d_ff_r_nc_." H_ _dd_d th_t _ld_r f_rm_rs w_r_ "st_nd_ng _n th_ w_y _f ch_ng_".

Th_ _v_r_g_ _g_ _f f_rm_rs _n th_ _K _s 59. _r__nd 40 p_r c_nt _f th_m _r_ _b_v_ th_ _g_ _f 65. Th_ f_rm_ng m_n_st_r s__d: "W_ n__d t_ _ddr_ss th_ tw_n ch_ll_ng_s _f h_lp_ng n_w [f_rm_rs] f_lf_ll th__r dr__m _f g__n_ng _cc_ss t_ l_nd, wh_l_ _ls_ h_lp_ng _n _ld_r g_n_r_t__n t_ r_t_r_ w_th d_gn_ty." Th_ sch_m_ _s p_p_l_r w_th m_ny v_t_r_n f_rm_rs. _ f_rm_rs' _ss_c__t__n s__d 75 p_r c_nt _f _ts f_rm_rs w_r_ _nt_r_st_d _n th_ r_t_r_m_nt pl_n. Th_ _K's N_t__n_l F_rm_rs' _n__n w_lc_m_d th_ g_v_rnm_nt's pl_n. _t s__d: "W_ w_nt t_ s__ _ f__r tr_ns_t__n wh_ch _ll_ws f_rm_rs wh_ _r_ c_ns_d_r_ng l__v_ng th_ _nd_stry t_ h_v_ s_ff_c__nt t_m_ _nd _nf_rm_t__n t_ m_k_ th_s_ l_f_-ch_ng_ng d_c_s__ns."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the government in the united kingdom wants to change its farming industry it wants younger people to enter the profession it has a new plan to pay older farmers to retire some older farmers could get up to 140000 in cash if they retire one of the reasons the government wants older farmers to retire is to protect the environment older farmers use more traditional methods to farm their land these methods are not as environmentally friendly as they should be the uks farming minister believes younger farmers are more open to green methods he said a fresh perspective can make a world of difference he added that older farmers were standing in the way of change

the average age of farmers in the uk is 59 around 40 per cent of them are above the age of 65 the farming minister said we need to address the twin challenges of helping new farmers fulfill their dream of gaining access to land while also helping an older generation to retire with dignity the scheme is popular with many veteran farmers a farmers association said 75 per cent of its farmers were interested in the retirement plan the uks national farmers union welcomed the governments plan it said we want to see a fair transition which allows farmers who are considering leaving the industry to have sufficient time and information to make those lifechanging decisions

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ThegovernmentintheUnitedKingdomwantstochangeitsfarmingindu
stry.Itwantsyoungerpeopletoentertheprofession.Ithasanewplantop
ayolderfarmerstoretire.Someolderfarmerscouldgetupto$140,000in
cashiftheyretire.Oneofthereasonsthegovernmentwantsolderfarmer
storetireistoprotecttheenvironment.Olderfarmersusemoretradition
almethodstofarmtheirland.Thesemethodsarenotasenvironmentally
friendlyastheyshouldbe.TheUK'sfarmingministerbelievesyoungerfa
rmersaremoreopento"green"methods.Hesaid:"Afreshperspectivec
anmakeaworldofdifference."Headdedthatolderfarmerswere"standi
nginthewayofchange".TheaverageageoffarmersintheUKis59.Aroun
d40percentofthemareabovetheageof65.Thefarmingministersaid:"
Weneedtoaddressthetwinchallengesofhelpingnew[farmers]fulfillth
eirdreamofgainingaccesstoland,whilealsohelpinganoldergeneration
toretirewithdignity."Theschemeispopularwithmanyveteranfarmers.
Afarmers'associationsaid75percentofitsfarmerswereinterestedinth
eretirementplan.TheUK'sNationalFarmers'Unionwelcomedthegover
nment'splan.Itsaid:"Wewanttoseeafairtransitionwhichallowsfarmer
swhoareconsideringleavingtheindustrytohavesufficienttimeandinfo
rmationtomakethoselife-changingdecisions."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

We should only buy vegetables frown using green farming methods. 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. FARMING: Make a poster about farming. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. GREEN: Write a magazine article about requiring all farming to be very, very green. 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 farming. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on farming. 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

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Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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