Breaking News English Lesson: 2020 Dubai Expo

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2020 Dubai Expo opens to 'astonish the world' (4th October, 2021)

The Reading / Listening - 2020 Dubai Expo - Level 6

The 2020 Dubai Expo has finally opened after being delayed by the covid-19 pandemic. An extravagant opening ceremony ushered in the global event, which will run until March 2022. A host of stars from the music world joined the spectacular ceremony. These included the world-renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli, China's flamboyant pianist Lang Lang and Saudi Arabian singer Mohammed Abdu. International news agencies reported on the dazzling ceremony. CNN said: "Dubai doesn't do anything by half. The city always goes big." The Reuters news agency wrote about "the lavish ceremony of fireworks, music and messaging about the power of global collaboration for a more sustainable future".

The World Expo is a global event that takes place in a different city every five years. Its aims are to showcase solutions to fundamental challenges faced by humanity, and to bring people of the world together. Organizers of the Dubai Expo selected the theme: "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". The Expo will also be dedicated to the sub-themes of sustainability, mobility and opportunity. It is the first Expo to be held in the Middle East. Over the next six months, 25 million visitors will see cutting-edge and cultural exhibitions from almost 200 countries. When Dubai made its bid to host the Expo, the city's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum promised Dubai would "astonish the world".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

2020 Dubai Expo - Level 4 or 2020 Dubai Expo - Level 5

Sources

https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2021/10/01/night-falls-on-expo-2020-dubai-the-coolest-new-spot-in-town/
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/middle-easts-first-expo-open-dubai-under-shadow-pandemic-2021-09-20/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_2020#Themes

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. DUBAI: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Dubai. 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?
Dubai / Expo / pandemic / opening ceremony / opera / pianist / singer / fireworks /
global / aims / challenges / the future / sustainability / mobility / opportunity / ruler
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. OPPORTUNITY: Students A strongly believe there will be greater opportunities for people in the future; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MY EXPO: What would you include if Expo came to your town? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What?	Why?
Fireworks
Music
Dance
Video
Celebrities
Aims

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. GLOBAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "global". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. THE FUTURE: Rank these with your partner. Put which of these things will be best in the future at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Food
Education
Jobs
Weather
Happiness
Mobility
Peace
Technology

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	delayed	a.	Expensive, grand and fantastic.
2.	extravagant	b.	Very, very rich, elaborate, or luxurious.
3.	ushered	c.	Known or talked about by many people; famous.
4.	renowned	d.	Caused or marked the start of something.
5.	lavish	e.	Made someone or something late or slow.
6.	collaboration	f.	Conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.
7.	sustainable	g.	The action of working with someone to produce something.

Paragraph 2

8.	showcase	h.	An attempt or effort to achieve something.
9.	fundamental	i.	Exhibit; display.
10.	dedicated	j.	The latest or most advanced stage in the development of something.
11.	opportunity	k.	Surprise or impress someone greatly.
12.	cutting-edge	l.	Exclusively allocated to or intended for a particular purpose.
13.	bid	m.	A chance for employment or promotion.
14.	astonish	n.	Affecting or relating to the essential nature of something or the crucial point about an issue.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says the Dubai Expo opening ceremony lacked extravagance. T / F
Dubai Expo will last for a year. T / F
A Saudi Arabian singer sang at the opening ceremony. T / F
Reuters called the Dubai Expo fireworks lavish. T / F
The World Expo happens every four years. T / F
The aim of the Expo is to showcase challenges to humanity. T / F
The Dubai Expo theme is "Connecting the Future, Creating Minds". T / F
Over 200 countries will have exhibits at the Dubai Expo. T / F

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

delayed
extravagant
renowned
flamboyant
lavish
fundamental
dedicated
cutting-edge
bid
astonish

famous
state-of-the-art
gorgeous
proposal
expensive
amaze
energetic
devoted
postponed
basic

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

The 2020 Dubai Expo has finally opened
An extravagant opening ceremony ushered
A host of stars
the world-
the power of global
Its aims are to
fundamental challenges faced
dedicated to the sub-themes
It is the first Expo to be
When Dubai made its bid

by humanity
from the music world
showcase solutions
collaboration
held in the Middle East
of sustainability
after being delayed
renowned opera singer
to host the Expo
in the global event

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

renowned
ushered
half
collaboration
spectacular
lavish
delayed
news

The 2020 Dubai Expo has finally opened after being (1) _____________________ by the covid-19 pandemic. An extravagant opening ceremony (2) _____________________ in the global event, which will run until March 2022. A host of stars from the music world joined the (3) _____________________ ceremony. These included the world-(4) _____________________ opera singer Andrea Bocelli, China's flamboyant pianist Lang Lang and Saudi Arabian singer Mohammed Abdu. International (5) _____________________ agencies reported on the dazzling ceremony. CNN said: "Dubai doesn't do anything by (6) _____________________. The city always goes big." The Reuters news agency wrote about "the (7) _____________________ ceremony of fireworks, music and messaging about the power of global (8) _____________________ for a more sustainable future".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

aims
cutting
selected
promised
global
held
bid
dedicated

The World Expo is a (9) _____________________ event that takes place in a different city every five years. Its (10) _____________________ are to showcase solutions to fundamental challenges faced by humanity, and to bring people of the world together. Organizers of the Dubai Expo (11) _____________________ the theme: "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". The Expo will also be (12) _____________________ to the sub-themes of sustainability, mobility and opportunity. It is the first Expo to be (13) _____________________ in the Middle East. Over the next six months, 25 million visitors will see (14) _____________________ -edge and cultural exhibitions from almost 200 countries. When Dubai made its (15) _____________________ to host the Expo, the city's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (16) _____________________ Dubai would "astonish the world".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The 2020 Dubai Expo has finally opened after being ______ covid-19 pandemic
     a. deployed by the
     b. relayed by the
     c. levelled by the
     d. delayed by the
2) An extravagant opening ceremony ______ global event
     a. wished in the
     b. rushed in the
     c. ushered in the
     d. usher in the
3) music world joined the spectacular ceremony. These included ______ opera singer
     a. the world-renewed
     b. the world-really known
     c. the world-re noun
     d. the world-renowned
4) International news agencies reported ______ ceremony
     a. on the dazzling
     b. on the dazzle in
     c. on the dazzle ring
     d. on the dozen
5) messaging about the power of global collaboration for a ______
     a. more sustainability future
     b. more sustainable future
     c. more sustain navel future
     d. more sustain a ball future

6) Its aims are to showcase solutions to fundamental challenges ______
     a. fact by humanity
     b. face by humanity
     c. faced by humanity
     d. fazed by humanity
7) The Expo will also be dedicated to the ______ sustainability
     a. sub-them of
     b. sub-memes of
     c. sub-theme of
     d. sub-themes of
8) It is the first Expo to be held in ______
     a. the Far East
     b. the Centre East
     c. the Middle East
     d. the Near East
9) When Dubai made its ______ the Expo
     a. bid to host
     b. bad to host
     c. bod to host
     d. bud to host
10) Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum promised Dubai would "______"
     a. astonish a world
     b. astonish all world
     c. astonish worldly
     d. astonish the world

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The 2020 Dubai Expo has finally opened after (1) ____________________ the covid-19 pandemic. An extravagant opening (2) ____________________ the global event, which will run until March 2022. A host of stars from the music world (3) ____________________ ceremony. These included the world-renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli, China's flamboyant pianist Lang Lang and Saudi Arabian singer Mohammed Abdu. International news agencies reported (4) ____________________ ceremony. CNN said: "Dubai doesn't do (5) ____________________. The city always goes big." The Reuters news agency wrote about "the lavish ceremony of fireworks, music and messaging about the power (6) ____________________ for a more sustainable future".

The World Expo is a global event that takes place in a different city every five years. Its aims (7) ____________________ solutions to fundamental challenges faced by humanity, and to bring people of the world together. Organizers of the Dubai Expo (8) ____________________: "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". The Expo will also (9) ____________________ the sub-themes of sustainability, (10) ____________________. It is the first Expo to be held in the Middle East. Over the next six months, 25 million visitors will see cutting-edge (11) ____________________ from almost 200 countries. When Dubai made its bid to host the Expo, the city's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum promised Dubai would "(12) ____________________".

Comprehension questions

What delayed the 2020 Dubai Expo?
Where was the pianist from who played at the opening ceremony?
Which news agency said Dubai doesn't do anything by half?
What did a news agency say about the fireworks at the ceremony?
What kind of collaboration did the news agency write about?
How often does the World Expo take place?
What is the theme of the Dubai Expo?
How many previous Expos had been held in the Middle East?
How many visitors could attend the Dubai Expo?
Who said Dubai would "astonish the world"?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What delayed the 2020 Dubai Expo?
a) security
b) finances
c) availability of singers
d) the covid-19 pandemic
2) Where was the pianist from who played at the opening ceremony?
a) Japan
b) China
c) India
d) Thailand
3) Which news agency said Dubai doesn't do anything by half?
a) BBC
b) ABC
c) CNN
d) Al Jazeera
4) What did a news agency say about the fireworks at the ceremony?
a) It was lavish
b) It was colourful
c) It was unprecedented
d) Ii was cool
5) What kind of collaboration did the news agency write about?
a) daily collaboration
b) community collaboration
c) global collaboration
d) intensive collaboration

6) How often does the World Expo take place?
a) every for years
b) every five years
c) every ten years
d) every few years
7) What is the theme of the Dubai Expo?
a) Correcting Minds, Creating a Future
b) Connecting the Globe, Creating the Future
c) Connecting the Future, Creating Minds
d) Connecting Minds, Creating the Future
8) How many previous Expos had been held in the Middle East?
a) none
b) 1
c) 2
d) 3
9) How many visitors could attend the Dubai Expo?
a) 27 million
b) 24 million
c) 25 million
d) 28 million
10) Who said Dubai would "astonish the world"?
a) singers at the opening ceremony
b) Dubai's ruler
c) the US President
d) the people of Dubai

Role play

Role A – Food
You think food is the thing that will be most improved in the future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't improve. Also, tell the others which of these will improve the least (and why): employment, education or technology.

Role B – Employment
You think employment is the thing that will be most improved in the future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't improve. Also, tell the others which of these will improve the least (and why): food, education or technology.

Role C – Education
You think education is the thing that will be most improved in the future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't improve. Also, tell the others which of these will improve the least (and why): employment, food or technology.

Role D – Technology
You think technology is the thing that will be most improved in the future. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things won't improve. Also, tell the others which of these will improve the least (and why): employment, education or food.

After reading / listening

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

'Dubai'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'Expo'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

finally

ushered

pianist

dazzling

half

wrote

different

aims

selected

mobility

200

ruler

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 - 2020 Dubai Expo

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 'Dubai'?
What do you know about Dubai?
What do you know about Expo?
Would you like to attend the Dubai Expo?
Have you ever been to an extravagant opening ceremony?
What do you think of huge fireworks displays?
Who would you like to see perform at an Expo opening ceremony?
How good is your country at collaborating?
What do you think of a sustainable future?

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 'Expo'?
What do you think about what you read?
Should Expo take place more often?
What benefits does Expo have for a city?
What are the fundamental challenges faced by humanity?
What opportunities are there for you in the future?
What do you think the future will be like?
How might Expo 'astonish the world'?
What questions would you like to ask Expo's organizers?

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 Dubai Expo has finally opened after being (1) ____ by the covid-19 pandemic. An extravagant opening ceremony (2) ____ in the global event, which will run until March 2022. A (3) ____ of stars from the music world joined the spectacular ceremony. These included the world-renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli, China's (4) ____ pianist Lang Lang and Saudi Arabian singer Mohammed Abdu. International news agencies reported on the dazzling ceremony. CNN said: "Dubai doesn't do anything by (5) ____. The city always goes big." The Reuters news agency wrote about "the lavish ceremony of fireworks, music and (6) ____ about the power of global collaboration for a more sustainable future".

The World Expo is a global event that takes place in a different city every five years. Its aims are to (7) ____ solutions to fundamental challenges faced (8) ____ humanity, and to bring people of the world together. Organizers of the Dubai Expo selected the theme: "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". The Expo will also be (9) ____ to the sub-themes of sustainability, mobility and opportunity. It is the first Expo to be held in the Middle East. Over the next six months, 25 million visitors will see cutting-(10) ____ and cultural exhibitions from almost 200 countries. When Dubai made its (11) ____ to host the Expo, the city's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (12) ____ Dubai would "astonish the world".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) delayed (b) relays (c) delay (d) relayed
(a) plush (b) wished (c) ushered (d) winded
(a) heist (b) haste (c) host (d) hasty
(a) flammable (b) flaming (c) flambéed (d) flamboyant
(a) half (b) third (c) quarter (d) whole
(a) massaging (b) messaging (c) missing (d) amassing
(a) accuse (b) encase (c) bookcase (d) showcase
(a) at (b) by (c) on (d) of
(a) desiccated (b) decorated (c) dedicated (d) dictated
(a) rim (b) line (c) border (d) edge
(a) bod (b) bud (c) bed (d) bid
(a) permitted (b) promised (c) parsed (d) précised

Spelling

Paragraph 1

An enartatvaxg opening ceremony
the world-roeendwn opera singer
China's amanboytlf pianist
the havisl ceremony
the power of global iocorlalobtna
a more abiutlesasn future

Paragraph 2

Its aims are to showcase ilountoss
dunfmenaalt challenges
eedltesc the theme
Expo will also be edacedidt
mobility and uirtpopnyot
cultural oxhbntiieis

Put the text back together

(...) together. Organizers of the Dubai Expo selected the theme: "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". The Expo will also be
(...) The World Expo is a global event that takes place in a different city every five years. Its aims are to
(...) ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum promised Dubai would "astonish the world".
(...) world joined the spectacular ceremony. These included the world-renowned opera
(...) half. The city always goes big." The Reuters news agency wrote about "the lavish ceremony
(...) exhibitions from almost 200 countries. When Dubai made its bid to host the Expo, the city's
(...) in the Middle East. Over the next six months, 25 million visitors will see cutting-edge and cultural
(...) showcase solutions to fundamental challenges faced by humanity, and to bring people of the world
(...) singer Andrea Bocelli, China's flamboyant pianist Lang Lang and Saudi Arabian singer Mohammed Abdu. International news
(...) ceremony ushered in the global event, which will run until March 2022. A host of stars from the music
(...) agencies reported on the dazzling ceremony. CNN said: "Dubai doesn't do anything by
(...) of fireworks, music and messaging about the power of global collaboration for a more sustainable future".
( 1 ) The 2020 Dubai Expo has finally opened after being delayed by the covid-19 pandemic. An extravagant opening
(...) dedicated to the sub-themes of sustainability, mobility and opportunity. It is the first Expo to be held

Put the words in the right order

An global ceremony in ushered event . the extravagant
the music stars world . from A host of
doesn't anything half . CNN do by Dubai said
the lavish of Reuters about wrote ceremony fireworks .
collaboration more sustainable a for Global future .
different in every place five Takes years . cities
faced humanity . solutions fundamental by to challenges Showcase
Expo be in to held Middle East . first The the
almost cultural and 200 Cutting-edge from countries . exhibitions
Expo . Dubai made its to When host bid

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The 2020 Dubai Expo has finally / finality opened after being delayed by the covid-19 pandemic. An extravagant opening ceremony ushering / ushered in the global event, which will run until / for March 2022. A host of stars from the music world joined / joint the spectacular ceremony. These included the world-renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli, China's flamboyance / flamboyant pianist Lang Lang and Saudi Arabian singer Mohammed Abdu. International news agencies reported on the leveling / dazzling ceremony. CNN said: "Dubai doesn't do anything by quarter / half. The city always goes big." The Reuters news agency wrote about "the lavish / theme ceremony of fireworks, music and messaging about the power of global collaboration for / to a more sustainable ahead / future".

The World Expo is a global event that takes / gives place in a different city every five years. Its alms / aims are to showcase solutions to fundamental challenges faced of / by humanity, and to bring people to / of the world together. Organizers of the Dubai Expo selected / elected the theme: "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". The Expo will also be deducted / dedicated to the sub-themes of sustainability, mobility and opportune / opportunity. It is the first Expo to be held in the Middle East. Over the next six months, 25 million visitors will see cutting- ledge / edge and cultural exhibitions from almost 200 countries. When Dubai made its bide / bid to host the Expo, the city's ruler / rule Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum promised Dubai would "astonish the world".

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 D_b__ _xp_ h_s f_n_lly _p_n_d _ft_r b__ng d_l_y_d by th_ c_v_d-19 p_nd_m_c. _n _xtr_v_g_nt _p_n_ng c_r_m_ny _sh_r_d _n th_ gl_b_l _v_nt, wh_ch w_ll r_n _nt_l M_rch 2022. _ h_st _f st_rs fr_m th_ m_s_c w_rld j__n_d th_ sp_ct_c_l_r c_r_m_ny. Th_s_ _ncl_d_d th_ w_rld-r_n_wn_d _p_r_ s_ng_r _ndr__ B_c_ll_, Ch_n_'s fl_mb_y_nt p__n_st L_ng L_ng _nd S__d_ _r_b__n s_ng_r M_h_mm_d _bd_. _nt_rn_t__n_l n_ws _g_nc__s r_p_rt_d _n th_ d_zzl_ng c_r_m_ny. CNN s__d: "D_b__ d__sn't d_ _nyth_ng by h_lf. Th_ c_ty _lw_ys g__s b_g." Th_ R__t_rs n_ws _g_ncy wr_t_ _b__t "th_ l_v_sh c_r_m_ny _f f_r_w_rks, m_s_c _nd m_ss_g_ng _b__t th_ p_w_r _f gl_b_l c_ll_b_r_t__n f_r _ m_r_ s_st__n_bl_ f_t_r_".

Th_ W_rld _xp_ _s _ gl_b_l _v_nt th_t t_k_s pl_c_ _n _ d_ff_r_nt c_ty _v_ry f_v_ y__rs. _ts __ms _r_ t_ sh_wc_s_ s_l_t__ns t_ f_nd_m_nt_l ch_ll_ng_s f_c_d by h_m_n_ty, _nd t_ br_ng p__pl_ _f th_ w_rld t_g_th_r. _rg_n_z_rs _f th_ D_b__ _xp_ s_l_ct_d th_ th_m_: "C_nn_ct_ng M_nds, Cr__t_ng th_ F_t_r_". Th_ _xp_ w_ll _ls_ b_ d_d_c_t_d t_ th_ s_b-th_m_s _f s_st__n_b_l_ty, m_b_l_ty _nd _pp_rt_n_ty. _t _s th_ f_rst _xp_ t_ b_ h_ld _n th_ M_ddl_ __st. _v_r th_ n_xt s_x m_nths, 25 m_ll__n v_s_t_rs w_ll s__ c_tt_ng _dg_ _nd c_lt_r_l _xh_b_t__ns fr_m _lm_st 200 c__ntr__s. Wh_n D_b__ m_d_ _ts b_d t_ h_st th_ _xp_, th_ c_ty's r_l_r Sh__kh M_h_mm_d b_n R_sh_d _l M_kt__m pr_m_s_d D_b__ w__ld "_st_n_sh th_ w_rld".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the 2020 dubai expo has finally opened after being delayed by the covid19 pandemic an extravagant opening ceremony ushered in the global event which will run until march 2022 a host of stars from the music world joined the spectacular ceremony these included the worldrenowned opera singer andrea bocelli chinas flamboyant pianist lang lang and saudi arabian singer mohammed abdu international news agencies reported on the dazzling ceremony cnn said dubai doesnt do anything by half the city always goes big the reuters news agency wrote about the lavish ceremony of fireworks music and messaging about the power of global collaboration for a more sustainable future

the world expo is a global event that takes place in a different city every five years its aims are to showcase solutions to fundamental challenges faced by humanity and to bring people of the world together organizers of the dubai expo selected the theme connecting minds creating the future the expo will also be dedicated to the subthemes of sustainability mobility and opportunity it is the first expo to be held in the middle east over the next six months 25 million visitors will see cutting-edge and cultural exhibitions from almost 200 countries when dubai made its bid to host the expo the citys ruler sheikh mohammed bin rashid al maktoum promised dubai would astonish the world

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

The2020DubaiExpohasfinallyopenedafterbeingdelayedbythecovid-
19pandemic.Anextravagantopeningceremonyusheredintheglobale
vent,whichwillrununtilMarch2022.Ahostofstarsfromthemusicworldj
oinedthespectacularceremony.Theseincludedtheworld-renowne
doperasingerAndreaBocelli,China'sflamboyantpianistLangLangand
SaudiArabiansingerMohammedAbdu.Internationalnewsagenciesre
portedonthedazzlingceremony.CNNsaid:"Dubaidoesn'tdoanythingb
yhalf.Thecityalwaysgoesbig."TheReutersnewsagencywroteabout"t
helavishceremonyoffireworks,musicandmessagingaboutthepowero
fglobalcollaborationforamoresustainablefuture".TheWorldExpoisagl
obaleventthattakesplaceinadifferentcityeveryfiveyears.Itsaimsaret
oshowcasesolutionstofundamentalchallengesfacedbyhumanity,and
tobringpeopleoftheworldtogether.OrganizersoftheDubaiExposelect
edthetheme:"ConnectingMinds,CreatingtheFuture".TheExpowillals
obededicatedtothesub-themesofsustainability,mobilityandopport
unity.ItisthefirstExpotobeheldintheMiddleEast.Overthenextsixmont
hs,25millionvisitorswillseecutting-edgeandculturalexhibitionsfrom
almost200countries.WhenDubaimadeitsbidtohosttheExpo,thecity's
rulerSheikhMohammedbinRashidAlMaktoumpromisedDubaiwould"
astonishtheworld".

Free writing

Write about 2020 Dubai Expo for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

World Expos are among the greatest events 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. DUBAI: Make a poster about Dubai. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. WORLD EXPO: Write a magazine article about making the World Expo every year. 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 Dubai. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions of the city. 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: 2020 Dubai Expo

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