Breaking News English Lesson: Paralympics

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2020 Tokyo Paralympics under way (26th August, 2021)

The Reading / Listening - Paralympics - Level 3

The 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games began on Tuesday night with the opening ceremony at Japan's National Stadium. The twelve-day sporting celebration includes a total of 539 events in 22 para sports. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said a total of 161 countries and 4,500 para athletes are taking part in the Games. This includes the Refugee Paralympic Team. The opening ceremony took place in an empty stadium. Japan's Emperor Naruhito opened the Games. He said: "I would like to join you in wishing all athletes the very best." The IPC president said: "The Paralympics are not just fantastic to watch, they also have the ability to transform society like no other sports event on this planet."

The Games should have taken place last year but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The IPC president Andrew Parsons spoke about his happiness at the event finally happening. He said: "I cannot believe we are finally here. Many people doubted this day would happen. Many thought it was impossible. But, thanks to the efforts of many, the most transformative sport event on Earth is about to begin." A 14-year-old Ugandan swimmer, Husnah Kukundakwe, summed up her excitement about being at the Games. She said: "I feel like I'm meeting movie stars." She added: "Since it's the Paralympics and everybody else is disabled, I feel really comfortable."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Paralympics - Level 0, Paralympics - Level 1 or Paralympics - Level 2

Sources

https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0007704337
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14425044
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/08/e5935c34a293-japan-emperor-hoping-paralympians-can-reach-highest-highs.html

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. THE PARALYMPICS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Paralympics. 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?
Tokyo / opening ceremony / stadium / celebration / athletes / ability / sports / planet
last year / coronavirus / pandemic / happiness / swimmer / movie stars / disabled
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SPORT: Students A strongly believe sport is the best thing to bring people together ; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TRANSFORM: How can sport transform these people? How can goverments get these people to do more sport? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Transform	How?
Schoolchildren
Pensioners
People with disabilities
People with mental health issues
Overweight people
Prisoners

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. CEREMONY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "ceremony". 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 at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Cycling
Swimming
Goalball
Wheelchair rugby
Wheelchair tennis
5-a-side football
Athletics
Archery

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	ceremony	a.	Joining in.
2.	celebration	b.	A formal or public occasion, especially one that celebrates the opening of an event, an achievement, or an anniversary.
3.	event	c.	A thing that happens or takes place, especially one that is important.
4.	taking part	d.	A person who is very good at sports and other forms of physical exercise.
5.	empty	e.	Change the form, nature, or appearance of something or someone.
6.	athlete	f.	An enjoyable activity held to be happy about something.
7.	transform	g.	Containing nothing; not filled.

Paragraph 2

8.	postponed	h.	The work and activities of a group of people with the same goal.
9.	pandemic	i.	Feeling relaxed.
10.	doubted	j.	Of a person having a physical or mental condition that limits their movements, senses, or activities.
11.	efforts	k.	Felt unsure that something would happen.
12.	summed up	l.	Said something again in very few words.
13.	disabled	m.	Caused or arranged for something to take place at a time later than that first scheduled.
14.	comfortable	n.	Of a disease that is everywhere over a whole country or the world.

Before reading / listening

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

The Paralympics opening ceremony was at the Tokyo City stadium. T / F
There will be over 500 events at the Paralympics. T / F
The stadium at the opening ceremony was half empty. T / F
The Paralympics president said the Games could change society. T / F
The coronavirus pandemic delayed the 2020 Paralympics. T / F
The Paralympics president could not believe the Games went ahead. T / F
A teenage swimmer said she felt like a movie star. T / F
The teenage swimmer said she felt comfortable at the Paralympics. T / F

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

began
celebration
taking part
took place
transform
postponed
happiness
doubted
excitement
comfortable

joy
occurred
delayed
occasion
questioned
relaxed
started
elation
change
participating

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

The twelve-day sporting
4,500 para athletes
The opening ceremony took place
I would like to join you in wishing all athletes
the ability to transform society like
The Games should have
Many people doubted this
thanks to the efforts
summed
I feel like I'm

in an empty stadium
day would happen
meeting movie stars
are taking part
up her excitement
of many
no other sports event
celebration
the very best
taken place last year

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

taking
join
fantastic
ceremony
society
includes
best
place

The 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games began on Tuesday night with the opening (1) _____________________ at Japan's National Stadium. The twelve-day sporting celebration (2) _____________________ a total of 539 events in 22 para sports. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said a total of 161 countries and 4,500 para athletes are (3) _____________________ part in the Games. This includes the Refugee Paralympic Team. The opening ceremony took (4) _____________________ in an empty stadium. Japan's Emperor Naruhito opened the Games. He said: "I would like to (5) _____________________ you in wishing all athletes the very (6) _____________________." The IPC president said: "The Paralympics are not just (7) _____________________ to watch, they also have the ability to transform (8) _____________________ like no other sports event on this planet."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

doubted
begin
happiness
disabled
finally
summed
postponed
efforts

The Games should have taken place last year but were (9) _____________________ because of the coronavirus pandemic. The IPC president Andrew Parsons spoke about his (10) _____________________ at the event (11) _____________________ happening. He said: "I cannot believe we are finally here. Many people (12) _____________________ this day would happen. Many thought it was impossible. But, thanks to the (13) _____________________ of many, the most transformative sport event on Earth is about to (14) _____________________." A 14-year-old Ugandan swimmer, Husnah Kukundakwe, (15) _____________________ up her excitement about being at the Games. She said: "I feel like I'm meeting movie stars." She added: "Since it's the Paralympics and everybody else is (16) _____________________, I feel really comfortable."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games began on Tuesday night with ______
     a. the open in ceremony
     b. the opening ceremony
     c. the opening ceremonial
     d. the opening ceremonies
2) The twelve-day sporting celebration includes a ______ events
     a. total of 536
     b. total of 537
     c. total of 538
     d. total of 539
3) The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said a total ______
     a. of 161 country
     b. of 161 countries
     c. of 161 countrified
     d. of 161 counties
4) The opening ceremony took place in ______
     a. on empty stadium
     b. an empty stadium
     c. a empty stadium
     d. inner empty stadium
5) The Paralympics are not just fantastic to watch, they also have the ability ______
     a. too transform society
     b. two transform society
     c. to transform society
     d. though transform society

6) The Games should have taken place last year ______
     a. but were postponed
     b. but are postponed
     c. but when postponed
     d. but where postponed
7) Andrew Parsons spoke about his happiness at the ______
     a. event final happening
     b. event finally happen in
     c. event finally happening
     d. event final happening
8) I cannot believe we are finally here. Many ______
     a. people doubt it this
     b. people doubled this
     c. people doubt Ted this
     d. people doubted this
9) Many thought it was impossible. But, thanks to the ______
     a. efforts of meanie
     b. efforts of any
     c. efforts of many
     d. efforts of much
10) Since it's the Paralympics and everybody else is disabled, I feel ______
     a. really comfort table
     b. really comfortable
     c. really comfortableness
     d. really comfortably

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games began on Tuesday (1) ____________________ opening ceremony at Japan's National Stadium. The twelve-day sporting celebration (2) ____________________ of 539 events in 22 para sports. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said (3) ____________________ 161 countries and 4,500 para athletes are taking part in the Games. This includes the Refugee Paralympic Team. The opening ceremony (4) ____________________ an empty stadium. Japan's Emperor Naruhito opened the Games. He said: "I would (5) ____________________ you in wishing all athletes the very best." The IPC president said: "The Paralympics are not just fantastic to watch, they also have the ability to transform society (6) ____________________ sports event on this planet."

The Games should have taken place last year (7) ____________________ because of the coronavirus pandemic. The IPC president Andrew Parsons spoke about his happiness at (8) ____________________ happening. He said: "I cannot believe we are finally here. Many people doubted this day would happen. Many thought (9) ____________________. But, thanks to the efforts of many, the most transformative sport event on Earth (10) ____________________ begin." A 14-year-old Ugandan swimmer, Husnah Kukundakwe, (11) ____________________ excitement about being at the Games. She said: "I feel like I'm meeting movie stars." She added: "Since it's the Paralympics and everybody else is disabled, I (12) ____________________."

Comprehension questions

What stadium did the Paralympics Opening Ceremony take place in?
How many events are there at the Paralympics?
How many spectators were at the Opening Ceremony?
Who wished all the athletes well?
What did the Paralympics president say the Games could do to society?
What caused the delay of the Paralympics?
Who doubted whether the Paralympics would take place?
What event does Husnah Kukundakwe take part in?
Who does Husnah Kukundakwe feel like she is meeting?
How does Husnah Kukundakwe feel at the Paralympics?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What stadium did the Paralympics Opening Ceremony take place in?
a) the Tokyo Giants baseball stadium
b) the Tokyo City Stadium
c) Yokohama Stadium
d) Japan's National Stadium
2) How many events are there at the Paralympics?
a) 359
b) 539
c) 593
d) 395
3) How many spectators were at the Opening Ceremony?
a) 5,000
b) 10,000
c) none (the stadium was empty)
d) 2,783
4) Who wished all the athletes well?
a) Japan's emperor
b) the IPC president
c) Japan's prime minister
d) the IOC president
5) What did the Paralympics president say the Games could do to society?
a) educate it
b) entertain it
c) transform it
d) make it fitter

6) What caused the delay of the Paralympics?
a) technical problems
b) the coronavirus pandemic
c) money problems
d) internal arguments
7) Who doubted whether the Paralympics would take place?
a) the IOC president
b) athletes
c) many people
d) the IPC president
8) What event does Husnah Kukundakwe take part in?
a) swimming
b) fencing
c) archery
d) wheelchair tennis
9) Who does Husnah Kukundakwe feel like she is meeting?
a) her idols
b) royalty
c) movie stars
d) future superstars
10) How does Husnah Kukundakwe feel at the Paralympics?
a) worried
b) comfortable
c) nervous
d) happy

Role play

Role A – Cycling
You think cycling is the best Paralympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as enjoyable. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): wheelchair tennis, 5-a-side football or goalball.

Role B – Wheelchair Tennis
You think wheelchair tennis is the best Paralympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as enjoyable. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): goalball, 5-a-side football or cycling.

Role C – 5-a-side Football
You think 5-a-side football is the best Paralympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as enjoyable. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): wheelchair tennis, goalball or cycling.

Role D – Goalball
You think goalball is the best Paralympics event. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their events aren't as enjoyable. Also, tell the others which is the least enjoyable of these (and why): wheelchair tennis, 5-a-side football or cycling.

After reading / listening

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

'sport'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'games'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

night

twelve

161

empty

all

other

because

happiness

thanks

being

movie

really

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 - Paralympics

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 'ceremony'?
What do you think of the Paralympics?
What are your favourite Paralympic sports?
Was it right that the stadium was empty?
Who are your country's best Paralympians?
What do you think being in the Paralympics village is like?
What do you think the training is like to be a Paralympian?
What advice do you have for the Paralympians?
How can the Paralympics transform society?

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 'Paralympics'?
What do you know about Tokyo?
What do you think about what you read?
Should the Games be happening during a pandemic?
Should the Paralympics and Olympics be combined?
Would you like to attend the events in Tokyo?
What three adjectives best describe this story?
In what ways are the Paralympics better than the Olympics?
What questions would you like to ask the Paralympians?

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 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games began (1) ____ Tuesday night with the opening ceremony at Japan's National Stadium. The twelve-day sporting celebration includes a total (2) ____ 539 events in 22 para sports. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said a total of 161 countries and 4,500 para athletes are taking (3) ____ in the Games. This includes the Refugee Paralympic Team. The opening ceremony (4) ____ place in an empty stadium. Japan's Emperor Naruhito opened the Games. He said: "I would like to join you in (5) ____ all athletes the very best." The IPC president said: "The Paralympics are not just fantastic to watch, they also have the ability to (6) ____ society like no other sports event on this planet."

The Games should have taken place last year but were (7) ____ because of the coronavirus pandemic. The IPC president Andrew Parsons spoke about his happiness at the event (8) ____ happening. He said: "I cannot believe we are finally here. Many people (9) ____ this day would happen. Many thought it was impossible. But, thanks to the efforts of many, the most transformative sport event on Earth is (10) ____ to begin." A 14-year-old Ugandan swimmer, Husnah Kukundakwe, summed (11) ____ her excitement about being at the Games. She said: "I feel like I'm meeting movie stars." She added: "Since it's the Paralympics and everybody (12) ____ is disabled, I feel really comfortable."

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) at (b) in (c) on (d) to
(a) of (b) by (c) at (d) as
(a) party (b) part (c) partner (d) participate
(a) did (b) had (c) gave (d) took
(a) washing (b) whiling (c) wishing (d) whistling
(a) pressure (b) transform (c) movement (d) protest
(a) postponed (b) reposted (c) posted (d) posited
(a) finals (b) finality (c) final (d) finally
(a) doubled (b) indebted (c) doubted (d) dabbled
(a) kind (b) roughly (c) around (d) about
(a) down (b) up (c) in (d) out
(a) else (b) other (c) another (d) others

Spelling

Paragraph 1

the opening eremocny
took place in an empty tdasium
wishing all thletaes the very best
atfsantic to watch
the ability to transform icoesty
other sports event on this lnapet

Paragraph 2

the coronavirus andempic
people obudted this day would happen
thanks to the foferts of many
summed up her etmenteicx
everybody else is ldsiebda
I feel really coebfotmlar

Put the text back together

(...) pandemic. The IPC president Andrew Parsons spoke about his happiness at the event finally
(...) happen. Many thought it was impossible. But, thanks to the efforts of many, the most transformative sport event on
(...) stars." She added: "Since it's the Paralympics and everybody else is disabled, I feel really comfortable."
(...) like to join you in wishing all athletes the very best." The IPC president said: "The Paralympics are not just
(...) events in 22 para sports. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said a total of 161 countries
(...) and 4,500 para athletes are taking part in the Games. This includes the Refugee Paralympic Team. The opening
(...) fantastic to watch, they also have the ability to transform society like no other sports event on this planet."
(...) up her excitement about being at the Games. She said: "I feel like I'm meeting movie
(...) Earth is about to begin." A 14-year-old Ugandan swimmer, Husnah Kukundakwe, summed
(...) Japan's National Stadium. The twelve-day sporting celebration includes a total of 539
( 1 ) The 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games began on Tuesday night with the opening ceremony at
(...) ceremony took place in an empty stadium. Japan's Emperor Naruhito opened the Games. He said: "I would
(...) happening. He said: "I cannot believe we are finally here. Many people doubted this day would
(...) The Games should have taken place last year but were postponed because of the coronavirus

Put the words in the right order

celebration 539 includes sporting The events . twelve-day
total athletes . countries A 161 of and 4,500
The took place stadium . an in ceremony empty
said like join I to you . He would
transform also the to society . have They ability
Games taken The place year . should last have
I we believe here . are finally cannot
Many day doubted this people would happen .
I'm meeting feel like movie I stars .
everybody the else Paralympics disabled . is It's and

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games began on Tuesday night within / with the opening ceremony to / at Japan's National Stadium. The twelve-day sporting celebration inclusive / includes a total of 539 events in 22 para sports. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said a totally / total of 161 countries and 4,500 para athletes are taking part / partner in the Games. This includes the Refugee Paralympic Team. The opening ceremony gave / took place in an empty stadium. Japan's Emperor Naruhito opened the Games. He said: "I would like to joint / join you in wishing all athletes the very best." The IPC president said: "The Paralympics are not just fantastic / fantastically to watch, they also have the ability / able to transform society like no other sports event in / on this planet."

The Games should have taken place lasted / last year but were postponed because of a / the coronavirus pandemic. The IPC president Andrew Parsons spoke about his happiness at / of the event finally happening. He said: "I cannot believe we are final / finally here. Many people doubled / doubted this day would happen. Many thought it was impossible. But, thanks to the efforts of much / many, the most transformative sport event on Earth is about to beginning / begin." A 14-year-old Ugandan swimmer, Husnah Kukundakwe, summed up / down her excitement about being at the Games. She said: "I feel like I'm meeting movie suns / stars." She added: "Since it's the Paralympics and everybody else is / be disabled, I feel really comfortable."

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_ 2020 T_ky_ P_r_lymp_c G_m_s b_g_n _n T__sd_y n_ght w_th th_ _p_n_ng c_r_m_ny _t J_p_n's N_t__n_l St_d__m. Th_ tw_lv_-d_y sp_rt_ng c_l_br_t__n _ncl_d_s _ t_t_l _f 539 _v_nts _n 22 p_r_ sp_rts. Th_ _nt_rn_t__n_l P_r_lymp_c C_mm_tt__ (_PC) s__d _ t_t_l _f 161 c__ntr__s _nd 4,500 p_r_ _thl_t_s _r_ t_k_ng p_rt _n th_ G_m_s. Th_s _ncl_d_s th_ R_f_g__ P_r_lymp_c T__m. Th_ _p_n_ng c_r_m_ny t__k pl_c_ _n _n _mpty st_d__m. J_p_n's _mp_r_r N_r_h_t_ _p_n_d th_ G_m_s. H_ s__d: "_ w__ld l_k_ t_ j__n y__ _n w_sh_ng _ll _thl_t_s th_ v_ry b_st." Th_ _PC pr_s_d_nt s__d: "Th_ P_r_lymp_cs _r_ n_t j_st f_nt_st_c t_ w_tch, th_y _ls_ h_v_ th_ _b_l_ty t_ tr_nsf_rm s_c__ty l_k_ n_ _th_r sp_rts _v_nt _n th_s pl_n_t."

Th_ G_m_s sh__ld h_v_ t_k_n pl_c_ l_st y__r b_t w_r_ p_stp_n_d b_c__s_ _f th_ c_r_n_v_r_s p_nd_m_c. Th_ _PC pr_s_d_nt _ndr_w P_rs_ns sp_k_ _b__t h_s h_pp_n_ss _t th_ _v_nt f_n_lly h_pp_n_ng. H_ s__d: "_ c_nn_t b_l__v_ w_ _r_ f_n_lly h_r_. M_ny p__pl_ d__bt_d th_s d_y w__ld h_pp_n. M_ny th__ght _t w_s _mp_ss_bl_. B_t, th_nks t_ th_ _ff_rts _f m_ny, th_ m_st tr_nsf_rm_t_v_ sp_rt _v_nt _n __rth _s _b__t t_ b_g_n." _ 14-y__r-_ld _g_nd_n sw_mm_r, H_sn_h K_k_nd_kw_, s_mm_d _p h_r _xc_t_m_nt _b__t b__ng _t th_ G_m_s. Sh_ s__d: "_ f__l l_k_ _'m m__t_ng m_v__ st_rs." Sh_ _dd_d: "S_nc_ _t's th_ P_r_lymp_cs _nd _v_ryb_dy _ls_ _s d_s_bl_d, _ f__l r__lly c_mf_rt_bl_."

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the 2020 tokyo paralympic games began on tuesday night with the opening ceremony at japans national stadium the twelveday sporting celebration includes a total of 539 events in 22 para sports the international paralympic committee ipc said a total of 161 countries and 4500 para athletes are taking part in the games this includes the refugee paralympic team the opening ceremony took place in an empty stadium japans emperor naruhito opened the games he said i would like to join you in wishing all athletes the very best the ipc president said the paralympics are not just fantastic to watch they also have the ability to transform society like no other sports event on this planet

the games should have taken place last year but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic the ipc president andrew parsons spoke about his happiness at the event finally happening he said i cannot believe we are finally here many people doubted this day would happen many thought it was impossible but thanks to the efforts of many the most transformative sport event on earth is about to begin a 14yearold ugandan swimmer husnah kukundakwe summed up her excitement about being at the games she said i feel like im meeting movie stars she added since its the paralympics and everybody else is disabled i feel really comfortable

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

The2020TokyoParalympicGamesbeganonTuesdaynightwiththeope
ningceremonyatJapan'sNationalStadium.Thetwelve-daysportingce
lebrationincludesatotalof539eventsin22parasports.TheInternation
alParalympicCommittee(IPC)saidatotalof161countriesand4,500par
aathletesaretakingpartintheGames.ThisincludestheRefugeeParaly
mpicTeam.Theopeningceremonytookplaceinanemptystadium.Japa
n'sEmperorNaruhitoopenedtheGames.Hesaid:"Iwouldliketojoinyou
inwishingallathletestheverybest."TheIPCpresidentsaid:"TheParaly
mpicsarenotjustfantastictowatch,theyalsohavetheabilitytotransfor
msocietylikenoothersportseventonthisplanet."TheGamesshouldha
vetakenplacelastyearbutwerepostponedbecauseofthecoronavirusp
andemic.TheIPCpresidentAndrewParsonsspokeabouthishappinessa
ttheeventfinallyhappening.Hesaid:"Icannotbelievewearefinallyhere
.Manypeopledoubtedthisdaywouldhappen.Manythoughtitwasimpos
sible.But,thankstotheeffortsofmany,themosttransformativesportev
entonEarthisabouttobegin."A14-year-oldUgandanswimmer,Husna
hKukundakwe,summedupherexcitementaboutbeingattheGames.S
hesaid:"IfeellikeI'mmeetingmoviestars."Sheadded:"Sinceit'sthePa
ralympicsandeverybodyelseisdisabled,Ifeelreallycomfortable."

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

The Paralympics are the most transformative event on Earth. 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. THE PARALYMPICS: Make a poster about the Paralympics. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. TRANSFORMING: Write a magazine article about how the Paralympics could change the world.
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 the Paralympics. Ask him/her three questions about the Games. Give him/her three of your opinions 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: Paralympics

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