Breaking News English Lesson: 2021 in Review

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2021 not as bad as 2020, says think tank (3rd January, 2022)

The Reading / Listening - 2021 in Review - Level 6

An influential think tank has suggested that the year 2021 wasn't as bad as 2020. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a United States not-for-profit body of experts specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs. It celebrated its centenary in 2021. It stated that 2021 "wasn't as tumultuous as 2020, which put in a claim to be the worst year ever". However, there was still plenty of dreadful news. Number one on the bad news list was the world's failure to properly address the climate change challenge. This led to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres declaring "a code red for humanity". Other top-ten stories included the mutating of the coronavirus, mass migration, the supply chain crisis, and the Taliban returning to power.

The CFR asserted that 2021 did bring some good news. It said: "For a moment in early summer, it seemed that COVID-19 was in the rearview mirror." On the brighter side, more than 9 billion covid-19 vaccinations were administered globally. Many notable achievements occurred in 2021. NASA's Perseverance rover successfully "drilled, extracted and stored a sample of Martian rock" for the very first time. In health news, "after decades of targeted and sustained action," the WHO declared China free of malaria. There was also good news regarding sustainability as United Airlines flew the first passenger aircraft with 100 per cent sustainable fuel. And… cheese lovers were guaranteed there is "no evidence that cheese causes weight gain".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

2021 in Review - Level 4 or 2021 in Review - Level 5

Sources

https://www.cfr.org/blog/ten-most-significant-world-events-2021
https://www.wired.com/story/2021-positive-news/
https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/world-news/955150/best-good-news-stories-from-2021

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 YEAR 2021: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the year 2021. 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?
think tank / 2021 / foreign relations / experts / international affairs / code red / crisis
good news / summer / vaccinations / health / malaria / sustainability / fuel / cheese
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BETTER: Students A strongly believe the year 2022 will be better than 2021; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. 2021: What was good and bad about 2021? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good	Bad
Environment
Sport
School
Hobbies
My English
Politics

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. YEAR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "year". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. 2022: Rank these with your partner. Put the things you want most for 2022 at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Better English
More clothes
Good health
More exercise
Healthier diet
Saving money
More restaurants
New friends

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	influential	a.	An organized group of people with a common purpose or function.
2.	body	b.	Causing or involving great suffering, fear, or unhappiness; extremely bad or serious.
3.	centenary	c.	Excited, confused, or disorderly.
4.	tumultuous	d.	The hundredth anniversary of a significant event.
5.	dreadful	e.	Having the power to change or affect someone or something.
6.	mutating	f.	Movement of people to a new area or country in order to find work or better living conditions.
7.	migration	g.	Changing in form or nature.

Paragraph 2

8.	asserted	h.	Continuing for an extended period or without interruption.
9.	administered	i.	Stated a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.
10.	notable	j.	Obtained a substance or resource from something by a special method.
11.	rover	k.	The available body of facts or information indicating whether something is true.
12.	extracted	l.	Worthy of attention or notice; remarkable.
13.	sustained	m.	A vehicle for driving over rough terrain, especially on other planets or the Moon.
14.	evidence	n.	Gave, applied or injected a medicine or vaccine.

Before reading / listening

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

A Canadian not-for-profit body said 2021 was better than 2020. T / F
The Council on Foreign Relations is 100 years old. T / F
Failures over climate change topped the list of bad news. T / F
The USA declared a code red for humanity. T / F
A non-profit body said the pandemic was over last summer. T / F
NASA managed to get rock samples from Mars last year. T / F
The article says malaria was finally eradicated in Africa. T / F
The article suggested cheese lovers might have been happy with 2021. T / F

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

influential
body
tumultuous
dreadful
crisis
asserted
administered
sample
guaranteed
evidence

given
terrible
promised
organization
declared
important
proof
catastrophe
stormy
specimen

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

a United States not-for-profit body
2021 wasn't
there was still plenty of
the mutating
the supply
For a moment
On the brighter
extracted and stored a sample
after decades of targeted and
no evidence that cheese

causes weight gain
of the coronavirus
sustained action
of experts
side
as tumultuous
in early summer
chain crisis
of Martian rock
dreadful news

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

claim
influential
code
list
mass
tumultuous
experts
address

An (1) _____________________ think tank has suggested that the year 2021 wasn't as bad as 2020. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a United States not-for-profit body of (2) _____________________ specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs. It celebrated its centenary in 2021. It stated that 2021 "wasn't as (3) _____________________ as 2020, which put in a (4) _____________________ to be the worst year ever". However, there was still plenty of dreadful news. Number one on the bad news (5) _____________________ was the world's failure to properly (6) _____________________ the climate change challenge. This led to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres declaring "a (7) _____________________ red for humanity". Other top-ten stories included the mutating of the coronavirus, (8) _____________________ migration, the supply chain crisis, and the Taliban returning to power.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

notable
decades
asserted
extracted
lovers
rearview
gain
regarding

The CFR (9) _____________________ that 2021 did bring some good news. It said: "For a moment in early summer, it seemed that COVID-19 was in the (10) _____________________ mirror." On the brighter side, more than 9 billion covid-19 vaccinations were administered globally. Many (11) _____________________ achievements occurred in 2021. NASA's Perseverance rover successfully "drilled, (12) _____________________ and stored a sample of Martian rock" for the very first time. In health news, "after (13) _____________________ of targeted and sustained action," the WHO declared China free of malaria. There was also good news (14) _____________________ sustainability as United Airlines flew the first passenger aircraft with 100 per cent sustainable fuel. And... cheese (15) _____________________ were guaranteed there is "no evidence that cheese causes weight (16) _____________________".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a United States not-for-profit ______
     a. body of expats
     b. body of expects
     c. body of experts
     d. body of egg spurts
2) specializing in U.S. foreign policy and ______
     a. international as fares
     b. international afters
     c. international affects
     d. international affairs
3) However, there was still plenty ______
     a. of dreadful news
     b. of dread full news
     c. of dead full news
     d. of dread fuel news
4) This led to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres declaring "a code ______
     a. read for humanity
     b. red for humanity
     c. lead for humanity
     d. reed for humanity
5) Other top-ten stories included the mutating of the coronavirus, ______
     a. amass emigration
     b. mass migration
     c. massed migration
     d. mass immigration

6) For a moment in early summer, it seemed that COVID-19 was in ______
     a. the roar view mirror
     b. the review mirror
     c. the rare view mirror
     d. the rearview mirror
7) drilled, extracted and stored a sample ______
     a. of Martian rock
     b. of marsh an rock
     c. of Marsh shamrock
     d. of Mars shamrock
8) after decades of targeted and sustained action, the WHO declared China ______
     a. freer malaria
     b. free off malaria
     c. free oft malaria
     d. free of malaria
9) United Airlines flew the first passenger aircraft with 100 per cent ______
     a. sustain a ball fuel
     b. suss stain a ball full
     c. sustainable fuel
     d. sustainable full
10) And... cheese lovers were guaranteed there ______
     a. is no evidence
     b. is now evidence
     c. is non evidence
     d. is new evidence

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

An influential (1) ____________________ suggested that the year 2021 wasn't as bad as 2020. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a United States not-for-profit (2) ____________________ specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs. It celebrated its centenary in 2021. It stated that 2021 "(3) ____________________ as 2020, which put in a claim to be the worst year ever". However, there was still plenty of dreadful news. Number one on the bad news list was the world's failure (4) ____________________ the climate change challenge. This led to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres declaring "a code (5) ____________________". Other top-ten stories included the mutating of the coronavirus, mass migration, the (6) ____________________, and the Taliban returning to power.

The CFR asserted that 2021 did bring some good news. It said: "For a (7) ____________________ summer, it seemed that COVID-19 was in the rearview mirror." On the brighter side, more than 9 billion covid-19 vaccinations (8) ____________________. Many notable achievements occurred in 2021. NASA's Perseverance rover successfully "drilled, extracted and (9) ____________________ of Martian rock" for the very first time. In health news, "after decades of targeted (10) ____________________," the WHO declared China free of malaria. There was also good news regarding sustainability as United Airlines flew the first passenger aircraft with 100 per cent sustainable fuel. And... (11) ____________________ guaranteed there is "no evidence that cheese (12) ____________________ ".

Comprehension questions

What is the name of the think tank?
How old is the think tank mentioned in the article?
What was number one on the bad news list?
What did the UN declare?
Who does the article say returned to power?
When did it seem that COVID-19 was "in the rearview mirror"?
What did NASA extract a sample of?
Which country was declared malaria-free?
What did an aircraft fly with 100 per cent of?
What food was dissociated with weight gain?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the think tank?
a) World Thoughts
b) Foreign Relations Thinking
c) The Council on World Thinking
d) The Council on Foreign Relations
2) How old is the think tank mentioned in the article?
a) 200 years old
b) 100 years old
c) 75 years old
d) 50 years old
3) What was number one on the bad news list?
a) wars
b) cybercrime
c) climate change failures
d) the coronavirus pandemic
4) What did the UN declare?
a) a code red for humanity
b) record profits
c) record losses
d) a code green for climate

5) Who does the article say returned to power?
a) Jo Biden
b) Antonio Guterres
c) the Taliban
d) the head of the WHO

6) When did it seem that COVID-19 was "in the rearview mirror"?
a) late summer
b) early summer
c) mid-spring
d) mid-to-late summer
7) What did NASA extract a sample of?
a) space dust
b) space sound
c) Saturn
d) Martian rock
8) Which country was declared malaria-free?
a) China
b) Namibia
c) Afghanistan
d) Peru
9) What did an aircraft fly with 100 per cent of?
a) recyclable aluminium
b) passengers
c) sustainable fuel
d) reusable plastics

10) What food was dissociated with weight gain?
a) hamburgers
b) cheese
c) pizza
d) French fries

Role play

Role A – Better English
You think better English is the most important thing to get in 2022. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): more exercise, healthier diet or new friends.

Role B – More Exercise
You think more exercise is the most important thing to get in 2022. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): better English, healthier diet or new friends.

Role C – Healthier Diet
You think a healthier diet is the most important thing to get in 2022. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): more exercise, better English or new friends.

Role D – New Friends
You think new friends is the most important thing to get in 2022. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least desirable of these (and why): more exercise, healthier diet or better English.

After reading / listening

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

'think'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'tank'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

influential

experts

centenary

worst

code

crisis

good

side

notable

health

aircraft

lovers

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 - 2021 in Review

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 'year'?
What do you know about think tanks?
What did you think of 2021?
How does last year compare to 2020?
What was good and bad about 2021 for you?
What do you know about code red for humanity?
How has your government handled the coronavirus?
Has mass migration affected your country?
What do you think of the Taliban returning to power?

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 'review'?
What do you think about what you read?
What did you think of 2020?
What good news was there in 2021?
What do you think of the exploration of Mars?
What do you know about malaria?
What do you think 2022 will be like?
What do you think of cheese?
What questions would you like to ask the think tank?

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

An influential think tank has (1) ____ that the year 2021 wasn't as bad as 2020. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a United States not-for-profit (2) ____ of experts specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs. It celebrated its centenary in 2021. It stated that 2021 "wasn't as tumultuous as 2020, which put (3) ____ a claim to be the worst year ever". However, there was still plenty of dreadful news. Number one on the bad news list was the world's failure to properly (4) ____ the climate change challenge. This led to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres declaring "a (5) ____ red for humanity". Other top-ten stories included the mutating of the coronavirus, (6) ____ migration, the supply chain crisis, and the Taliban returning to power.

The CFR (7) ____ that 2021 did bring some good news. It said: "For a moment in early summer, it seemed that COVID-19 was in the rearview mirror." On the (8) ____ side, more than 9 billion covid-19 vaccinations were administered globally. Many (9) ____ achievements occurred in 2021. NASA's Perseverance rover successfully "drilled, extracted and stored a sample of Martian rock" for the very first time. In health news, "after decades of targeted and sustained action," the WHO declared China (10) ____ of malaria. There was also good news regarding sustainability as United Airlines flew the first passenger aircraft with 100 per cent sustainable fuel. And... cheese (11) ____ were guaranteed there is "no evidence that cheese causes weight (12) ____".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) suggested (b) suggestive (c) suggesting (d) suggest
(a) head (b) arm (c) body (d) leg
(a) aside (b) on (c) in (d) down
(a) label (b) solution (c) list (d) address
(a) node (b) lode (c) code (d) mode
(a) amass (b) mass (c) massed (d) masses
(a) asset (b) asserted (c) assist (d) accosted
(a) shinier (b) brighter (c) sparkling (d) flashy
(a) memo (b) dictation (c) notable (d) messaging
(a) freely (b) freedom (c) frees (d) free
(a) love-ins (b) luvvies (c) loves (d) lovers
(a) gai (b) against (c) again (d) gain

Spelling

Paragraph 1

not-for-profit body of xsteper
2021 wasn't as utmsuulotu as 2020
plenty of edurafld news
declaring a code red for tumnyiah
the muttgina of the coronavirus
mass trgomanii

Paragraph 2

The CFR rsedsaet that
naisvnoiactc were administered globally
the WHO declared China free of raailam
good news regarding ialtisbnatuiys
cheese lovers were grnedateau
there is no edceienv

Put the text back together

(...) news. Number one on the bad news list was the world's failure to properly address the climate change
(...) Foreign Relations (CFR) is a United States not-for-profit body of experts specializing in U.S. foreign policy
(...) tumultuous as 2020, which put in a claim to be the worst year ever". However, there was still plenty of dreadful
(...) challenge. This led to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres declaring "a code red for humanity". Other top-ten stories
(...) were administered globally. Many notable achievements occurred in 2021. NASA's Perseverance rover
(...) regarding targeted and sustained action," the WHO declared China free of malaria. There was also good news with
(...) and international affairs. It celebrated its centenary in 2021. It stated that 2021 "wasn't as
(...) summer, it seemed that COVID-19 was in the rearview mirror." On the brighter side, more than 9 billion covid-19 vaccinations
(...) sustainability as United Airlines flew the first passenger aircraft with 100 per cent sustainable
(...) included the mutating of the coronavirus, mass migration, the supply chain crisis, and the Taliban returning to power.
(...) successfully "drilled, extracted and stored a sample of Martian rock" for the very first time. In health news, "after decades
(...) fuel. And... cheese lovers were guaranteed there is "no evidence that cheese causes weight gain".
(...) The CFR asserted that 2021 did bring some good news. It said: "For a moment in early
( 1 ) An influential think tank has suggested that the year 2021 wasn't as bad as 2020. The Council on

Put the words in the right order

has influential tank An that . think suggested
worst claim the to year ever . be A
climate world's failure address The change . to properly
for declared a red code humanity . The UN
the coronavirus . the stories included Other mutating of top-ten
seemed the was in rearview It mirror . COVID-19
China of WHO free The malaria . declared
was news good also sustainability . There regarding
aircraft passenger first sustainable 100% with fuel . The
that evidence cheese weight There's causes gain . no

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

An influential think tank has suggesting / suggested that the year 2021 wasn't as bad as 2020. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a United States not-for-profit head / body of experts specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affair / affairs. It celebrated its centenary / century in 2021. It stated that 2021 "wasn't as tumultuous / tumult as 2020, which put in a disclaim / claim to be the worst year ever". However, there was still plenty of dreadful / dread news. Number one on the bad news list was the world's failure / fails to properly address the climate change challenge. This led to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres declaring "a code red for humane / humanity". Other top-ten stories included the mutating of the coronavirus, mass migration, the supply chain crisis / critics, and the Taliban returning to power.

The CFR assertion / asserted that 2021 did bring some good news. It said: "For a moment / momentum in early summer, it seemed that COVID-19 was in the rearview vanity / mirror." On the brighter side, more than 9 billion covid-19 vaccinations were administered worldly / globally. Many notable achievements occurred in 2021. NASA's Perseverance rover successfully "drilled, distracted / extracted and stored a sample of Martian rock" for the very first time. In health news, "after decadence / decades of targeted and sustained action," the WHO declared China freedom / free of malaria. There was also good news regarding sustainability has / as United Airlines flew the first passengers / passenger aircraft with 100 per cent sustainable fuel. And... cheese lovers were guaranteed there is "no evidence that cheese causes weight again / gain".

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

_n _nfl__nt__l th_nk t_nk h_s s_gg_st_d th_t th_ y__r 2021 w_sn't _s b_d _s 2020. Th_ C__nc_l _n F_r__gn R_l_t__ns (CFR) _s _ _n_t_d St_t_s n_t-f_r-pr_f_t b_dy _f _xp_rts sp_c__l_z_ng _n _.S. f_r__gn p_l_cy _nd _nt_rn_t__n_l _ff__rs. _t c_l_br_t_d _ts c_nt_n_ry _n 2021. _t st_t_d th_t 2021 "w_sn't _s t_m_lt___s _s 2020, wh_ch p_t _n _ cl__m t_ b_ th_ w_rst y__r _v_r". H_w_v_r, th_r_ w_s st_ll pl_nty _f dr__df_l n_ws. N_mb_r _n_ _n th_ b_d n_ws l_st w_s th_ w_rld's f__l_r_ t_ pr_p_rly _ddr_ss th_ cl_m_t_ ch_ng_ ch_ll_ng_. Th_s l_d t_ _N S_cr_t_ry G_n_r_l _nt_n__ G_t_rr_s d_cl_r_ng "_ c_d_ r_d f_r h_m_n_ty". _th_r t_p-t_n st_r__s _ncl_d_d th_ m_t_t_ng _f th_ c_r_n_v_r_s, m_ss m_gr_t__n, th_ s_pply ch__n cr_s_s, _nd th_ T_l_b_n r_t_rn_ng t_ p_w_r.

Th_ CFR _ss_rt_d th_t 2021 d_d br_ng s_m_ g__d n_ws. _t s__d: "F_r _ m_m_nt _n __rly s_mm_r, _t s__m_d th_t C_V_D-19 w_s _n th_ r__rv__w m_rr_r." _n th_ br_ght_r s_d_, m_r_ th_n 9 b_ll__n c_v_d-19 v_cc_n_t__ns w_r_ _dm_n_st_r_d gl_b_lly. M_ny n_t_bl_ _ch__v_m_nts _cc_rr_d _n 2021. N_S_'s P_rs_v_r_nc_ r_v_r s_cc_ssf_lly "dr_ll_d, _xtr_ct_d _nd st_r_d _ s_mpl_ _f M_rt__n r_ck" f_r th_ v_ry f_rst t_m_. _n h__lth n_ws, "_ft_r d_c_d_s _f t_rg_t_d _nd s_st__n_d _ct__n," th_ WH_ d_cl_r_d Ch_n_ fr__ _f m_l_r__. Th_r_ w_s _ls_ g__d n_ws r_g_rd_ng s_st__n_b_l_ty _s _n_t_d __rl_n_s fl_w th_ f_rst p_ss_ng_r __rcr_ft w_th 100 p_r c_nt s_st__n_bl_ f__l. _nd... ch__s_ l_v_rs w_r_ g__r_nt__d th_r_ _s "n_ _v_d_nc_ th_t ch__s_ c__s_s w__ght g__n".

Punctuate the text and add capitals

an influential think tank has suggested that the year 2021 wasnt as bad as 2020 the council on foreign relations cfr is a united states notforprofit body of experts specializing in us foreign policy and international affairs it celebrated its centenary in 2021 it stated that 2021 wasnt as tumultuous as 2020 which put in a claim to be the worst year ever however there was still plenty of dreadful news number one on the bad news list was the worlds failure to properly address the climate change challenge this led to un secretary general antonio guterres declaring a code red for humanity other topten stories included the mutating of the coronavirus mass migration the supply chain crisis and the taliban returning to power

the cfr asserted that 2021 did bring some good news it said for a moment in early summer it seemed that covid19 was in the rearview mirror on the brighter side more than 9 billion covid19 vaccinations were administered globally many notable achievements occurred in 2021 nasas perseverance rover successfully drilled extracted and stored a sample of martian rock for the very first time in health news after decades of targeted and sustained action the who declared china free of malaria there was also good news regarding sustainability as united airlines flew the first passenger aircraft with 100 per cent sustainable fuel and cheese lovers were guaranteed there is no evidence that cheese causes weight gain

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Aninfluentialthinktankhassuggestedthattheyear2021wasn'tasbada
s2020.TheCouncilonForeignRelations(CFR)isaUnitedStatesnot-for-
profitbodyofexpertsspecializinginU.S.foreignpolicyandinternational
affairs.Itcelebrateditscentenaryin2021.Itstatedthat2021"wasn'tast
umultuousas2020,whichputinaclaimtobetheworstyearever".Howev
er,therewasstillplentyofdreadfulnews.Numberoneonthebadnewslist
wastheworld'sfailuretoproperlyaddresstheclimatechangechallenge.
ThisledtoUNSecretaryGeneralAntonioGuterresdeclaring"acoderedf
orhumanity".Othertop-tenstoriesincludedthemutatingofthecoron
avirus,massmigration,thesupplychaincrisis,andtheTalibanreturning
topower.TheCFRassertedthat2021didbringsomegoodnews.Itsaid:"
Foramomentinearlysummer,itseemedthatCOVID-19wasintherearv
iewmirror."Onthebrighterside,morethan9billioncovid-19vaccina
tionswereadministeredglobally.Manynotableachievementsoccurred
in2021.NASA'sPerseveranceroversuccessfully"drilled,extractedand
storedasampleofMartianrock"fortheveryfirsttime.Inhealthnews,"aft
erdecadesoftargetedandsustainedaction,"theWHOdeclaredChinafr
eeofmalaria.TherewasalsogoodnewsregardingsustainabilityasUnite
dAirlinesflewthefirstpassengeraircraftwith100percentsustainablefu
el.And...cheeseloverswereguaranteedthereis"noevidencethatchees
ecausesweightgain".

Free writing

Write about 2021 in review for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

The year 2021 wasn't as bad as 2020. 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 YEAR 2021: Make a poster about the year 2021. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. 2022: Write a magazine article about the year 2022 being a great year. Include imaginary interviews with people who believe this and people who do not.
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 year 2021. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on 2021. 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: 2021 in Review

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