Breaking News English Lesson: U.K. Knighthood

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UK government gives twice-fired politician top honour (7th March, 2022)

The Reading / Listening - U.K. Knighthood - Level 6

The U.K. government has awarded one of its highest honours to a former minister who was fired twice by successive Prime Ministers. Gavin Williamson, 45, will receive a knighthood for services to public life. He will become "Sir" Gavin Williamson. The award has angered many politicians in Britain due to Mr Willamsons' somewhat checkered career. He was fired as Defence Secretary by then Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019 over a national security leak over discussions about the UK's national security and Chinese telecoms company Huawei. Ms May said she had, "lost confidence in his ability to serve". Current PM Boris Johnson fired him from being Education Secretary in September 2021 following a series of gaffes.

Knighthoods are awarded to Britons who have excelled in their field or in areas of public life. Recipients have usually spent decades as incredible leaders or winners. Williamson only became a politician in 2010. Other politicians have said he is undeserving of the honour. One said the only award he should get was "worst Education Secretary in history". Another said his record in government was "disgraceful". She said: "Williamson left children to go hungry, created two years of complete chaos over exams, and failed to get laptops out to kids struggling to learn during lockdowns." Some newspapers said the award is in return for Williamson keeping quiet about allegations surrounding Boris Johnson.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

U.K. Knighthood - Level 4 or U.K. Knighthood - Level 5

Sources

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-tory-ex-education-secretary-26379946
https://news.sky.com/story/ex-education-secretary-gavin-williamson-given-a-knighthood-12556701
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-awards-knighthood-minister-who-was-fired-over-security-leak-2022-03-03/

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. HONOURS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about honours. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
government / honour / service / public life / politicians / defence / discussions / gaffes
excelled / field / decade / politician / record / disgraceful / learn / lockdowns / quit
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. HONOURS: Students A strongly believe all honours should be decided on by the general public; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HONOUR: Who would you honour? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Who?	Why?
World leader
Hero
Sports star
Business leader
Environmentalist
Ordinary person

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. SERVICE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "service". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MOST DESERVING: Rank these with your partner. Put the person most deserving of an honour at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Politician
Soldier
Scientist
Nurse
Environmentalist
Aid volunteer
Mother
Teacher

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	fired	a.	An unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator.
2.	former	b.	Following one another or following others.
3.	successive	c.	Marked by periods of varied fortune or discreditable incidents.
4.	knighthood	d.	Dismissed an employee from a job.
5.	checkered	e.	An intentional disclosure of secret information.
6.	leak	f.	Having previously been a particular thing.
7.	gaffe	g.	The title, rank, or status of a knight.

Paragraph 2

8.	excelled	h.	Shockingly unacceptable.
9.	recipient	i.	Complete disorder and confusion.
10.	undeserving	j.	A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof.
11.	disgraceful	k.	A person or thing that receives or is awarded something.
12.	chaos	l.	Trying to achieve or attain something in the face of difficulty or resistance.
13.	struggling	m.	Not worthy of something positive, especially help or praise.
14.	allegation	n.	Was exceptionally good at or proficient in an activity or subject.

Before reading / listening

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

A U.K. politician received Britain's highest award. T / F
The politician received the award for his service to private life. T / F
The politician was first fired when he was the UK Defence Secretary. T / F
The politician was also fired from his position as Education Secretary. T / F
The UK gives knighthoods to people from all across the world. T / F
Gavin Williamson became a politician in the year 2000. T / F
Another politician said Mr Williamson's record was a disgrace. T / F
A politician said Mr Williamson gave a laptop to every struggling child. T / F

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

awarded
fired
angered
leak
gaffes
excelled
disgraceful
chaos
struggling
allegations

shone
infuriated
battling
shameful
sacked
claims
revelation
given
mayhem
errors

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

awarded one of its
The award has
a national security
she had lost confidence
following a series of
excelled in their field or
his record in government was
two years of complete
kids struggling to learn
keeping quiet

about allegations
in his ability to serve
in areas of public life
"disgraceful"
leak
angered many politicians
during lockdowns
gaffes
highest honours
chaos

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

leak
receive
gaffes
former
angered
lost
checkered
successive

The U.K. government has awarded one of its highest honours to a (1) _____________________ minister who was fired twice by (2) _____________________ Prime Ministers. Gavin Williamson, 45, will (3) _____________________ a knighthood for services to public life. He will become "Sir" Gavin Williamson. The award has (4) _____________________ many politicians in Britain due to Mr Willamsons' somewhat (5) _____________________ career. He was fired as Defence Secretary by then Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019 over a national security (6) _____________________ over discussions about the UK's national security and Chinese telecoms company Huawei. Ms May said she had, "(7) _____________________ confidence in his ability to serve". Current PM Boris Johnson fired him from being Education Secretary in September 2021 following a series of (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

undeserving
struggling
chaos
excelled
history
decades
allegations
disgraceful

Knighthoods are awarded to Britons who have (9) _____________________ in their field or in areas of public life. Recipients have usually spent (10) _____________________ as incredible leaders or winners. Williamson only became a politician in 2010. Other politicians have said he is (11) _____________________ of the honour. One said the only award he should get was "worst Education Secretary in (12) _____________________". Another said his record in government was "(13) _____________________". She said: "Williamson left children to go hungry, created two years of complete (14) _____________________ over exams, and failed to get laptops out to kids (15) _____________________ to learn during lockdowns." Some newspapers said the award is in return for Williamson keeping quiet about (16) _____________________ surrounding Boris Johnson.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) highest honours to a former minister who was fired twice by ______
     a. successively Prime Ministers
     b. succeeding Prime Ministers
     c. success sieve Prime Ministers
     d. successive Prime Ministers
2) angered many politicians in Britain due to Mr Willamsons' ______
     a. somewhat checked career
     b. somewhat check aired career
     c. somewhat checkered career
     d. somewhat checker the career
3) Secretary by then Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019 over a ______
     a. national security leak
     b. national security bleak
     c. national security leek
     d. national security lick
4) Ms May said she had, "lost confidence in his ______"
     a. ability for serve
     b. ability to serve
     c. ability at serve
     d. ability to save
5) Education Secretary in September 2021 following a ______
     a. series of giraffes
     b. series of gaps
     c. series of gaffes
     d. series of gaffe

6) Knighthoods are awarded to Britons who have excelled in their field or in areas ______
     a. of public live
     b. of public lifer
     c. of public lively
     d. of public life
7) Recipients have usually spent decades as incredible ______
     a. leaders sore winners
     b. leader sore winners
     c. leaders awe winners
     d. leaders or winners
8) Another said his record in ______"
     a. government was "disgrace full
     b. government was "this grease full
     c. government was "disgraceful
     d. government was this "graceful
9) She said: "Williamson left children to go hungry, created two years ______
     a. of completed chaos
     b. of complete chaotic
     c. of complete chasm
     d. of complete chaos
10) in return for Williamson keeping quiet about allegations ______
     a. surround din Boris Johnson
     b. surrounding Boris Johnson
     c. surround in Boris Johnson
     d. surround ding Boris Johnson

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The U.K. government has awarded one of its highest honours to a former minister who was fired (1) ____________________ Prime Ministers. Gavin Williamson, 45, will receive (2) ____________________ services to public life. He will become "Sir" Gavin Williamson. The award has angered many politicians in Britain due to Mr Willamsons' (3) ____________________. He was fired as Defence Secretary by then Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019 over a national (4) ____________________ discussions about the UK's national security and Chinese telecoms company Huawei. Ms May said she had, "lost confidence in his (5) ____________________". Current PM Boris Johnson fired him from being Education Secretary in September 2021 following a (6) ____________________.

Knighthoods are awarded to Britons who (7) ____________________ their field or in areas of public life. Recipients have usually spent decades as (8) ____________________ winners. Williamson only became a politician in 2010. Other politicians have said he is undeserving of the honour. One said the (9) ____________________ should get was "worst Education Secretary in history". Another said his record in government was "disgraceful". She said: "Williamson left children to go hungry, created two years (10) ____________________ over exams, and failed to get laptops out to kids (11) ____________________ during lockdowns." Some newspapers said the award is in return for Williamson keeping (12) ____________________ surrounding Boris Johnson.

Comprehension questions

How old is Gavin Williamson?
What is the title Mr Williamson will be able to use?
What kind of career does the article say Mr Williamson had?
What was Mr Williamson fired over in 2019?
What was Mr Williamson's role when he was fired for the second time?
How long do recipients of a knighthood usually spend excelling?
When did Mr Williamson become a politician?
How did a politician describe Mr Williamson's record as being?
What did a politician say Mr Williamson created in education?
Who said Mr Williamson was keeping quiet?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How old is Gavin Williamson?
a) 42
b) 44
c) 45
d) 54
2) What is the title Mr Williamson will be able to use?
a) Sir
b) Dame
c) Lord
d) His Royal Highness
3) What kind of career does the article say Mr Williamson had?
a) a checkered career
b) a stellar career
c) an interesting career
d) a superlative career
4) What was Mr Williamson fired over in 2019?
a) falling asleep
b) a security leak
c) impropriety
d) breaking lockdown rules
5) What was Mr Williamson's role when he was fired for the second time?
a) Transport Minister
b) Sports Minister
c) Chief Whip
d) Education Minister

6) How long do recipients of a knighthood usually spend excelling?
a) 22 years
b) decades
c) more than a year
d) over 30 years
7) When did Mr Williamson become a politician?
a) 2010
b) 2012
c) 2011
d) 2014
8) How did a politician describe Mr Williamson's record as being?
a) unblemished
b) not bad
c) disgraceful
d) enviable
9) What did a politician say Mr Williamson created in education?
a) stunning results
b) major reforms
c) nothing
d) two years of chaos

10) Who said Mr Williamson was keeping quiet?
a) some newspapers
b) his friends
c) his colleagues
d) Mr Williamson himself

Role play

Role A – Politician
You think a politician is most deserving of an honour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people are not as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): environmentalist, teacher or soldier.

Role B – Environmentalist
You think an environmentalist is most deserving of an honour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people are not as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): politician, teacher or soldier.

Role C – Teacher
You think a teacher is most deserving of an honour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people are not as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): environmentalist, politician or soldier.

Role D – Soldier
You think a soldier is most deserving of an honour. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their people are not as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): environmentalist, teacher or politician.

After reading / listening

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

'honour'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'politician'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

highest

twice

due

leak

lost

series

excelled

decades

2010

worst

laptops

return

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 - U.K. Knighthood

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 'politician'?
What do you think of politicians?
What do you think of your politician?
Would you be a good politician?
Who should get top honours?
What do you know about Britain's knighthoods?
Should someone with a 'checkered career' get a top honour?
Have you ever made any gaffes?
What gaffes have politicians in your country made?

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 'honour'?
What do you think about what you read?
What would you do if you were a politician?
What should we honour people for?
Who would you give an honour to?
What should you be honoured for?
Have you ever excelled in anything?
Should the general public decide who gets national honours?
What questions would you like to ask Britain's leader?

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 U.K. government has (1) ____ one of its highest honours to a former minister who was fired twice by (2) ____ Prime Ministers. Gavin Williamson, 45, will receive a knighthood for services to public life. He will become "Sir" Gavin Williamson. The award has (3) ____ many politicians in Britain due to Mr Willamsons' somewhat checkered career. He was fired as Defence Secretary by (4) ____ Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019 over a national security leak over discussions about the UK's national security and Chinese telecoms company Huawei. Ms May said she had, "(5) ____ confidence in his ability to serve". Current PM Boris Johnson fired him from being Education Secretary in September 2021 following a series (6) ____ gaffes.

Knighthoods are awarded to Britons who have excelled (7) ____ their field or in areas of public life. Recipients have usually spent decades (8) ____ incredible leaders or winners. Williamson only became a politician in 2010. Other politicians have said he is undeserving (9) ____ the honour. One said the only award he should get was "worst Education Secretary in history". Another said his record in government was "disgraceful". She said: "Williamson (10) ____ children to go hungry, created two years of complete (11) ____ over exams, and failed to get laptops out to kids struggling to learn during lockdowns." Some newspapers said the award is in return for Williamson keeping quiet about (12) ____ surrounding Boris Johnson.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) warder (b) forwarded (c) rewarded (d) awarded
(a) victory (b) consecutively (c) in a row (d) successive
(a) angers (b) angered (c) anger (d) angry
(a) what (b) that (c) then (d) thus
(a) lost (b) given (c) mislaid (d) misplaced
(a) of (b) on (c) at (d) by
(a) under (b) over (c) by (d) in
(a) as (b) was (c) is (d) has
(a) on (b) of (c) at (d) under
(a) right (b) put (c) left (d) awarded
(a) chasm (b) chaotic (c) chaos (d) charlatan
(a) algorithms (b) allegations (c) allegories (d) Allegra

Spelling

Paragraph 1

fired twice by cceuisssve Prime Ministers
receive a doiontkhhg for services to public life
The award has dnaeerg many politicians
due to Mr Willamsons' somewhat ercdkeehc career
lost cofcdnenie in his ability to serve
following a series of asffge

Paragraph 2

Britons who have cxdleeel in their field
csetepinir have usually spent decades
he is nudvnesirge of the honour
his record in government was dceagiurfls
complete ochsa
ilseaanlotg surrounding Boris Johnson

Put the text back together

(...) in 2010. Other politicians have said he is undeserving of the honour. One said the only award he should get was
(...) life. Recipients have usually spent decades as incredible leaders or winners. Williamson only became a politician
(...) Knighthoods are awarded to Britons who have excelled in their field or in areas of public
(...) serve". Current PM Boris Johnson fired him from being Education Secretary in September 2021 following a series of gaffes.
(...) "worst Education Secretary in history". Another said his record in government was "disgraceful". She said: "Williamson left
(...) get laptops out to kids struggling to learn during lockdowns." Some newspapers said the award is in
(...) children to go hungry, created two years of complete chaos over exams, and failed to
(...) return for Williamson keeping quiet about allegations surrounding Boris Johnson.
(...) then Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019 over a national security leak over discussions about the UK's national
( 1 ) The U.K. government has awarded one of its highest honours to a former minister who was fired twice
(...) security and Chinese telecoms company Huawei. Ms May said she had, "lost confidence in his ability to
(...) by successive Prime Ministers. Gavin Williamson, 45, will receive a knighthood for services to
(...) public life. He will become "Sir" Gavin Williamson. The award has angered many politicians in Britain due
(...) to Mr Willamsons' somewhat checkered career. He was fired as Defence Secretary by

Put the words in the right order

one highest honours . awarded The its U.K. of
for a knighthood Receive public to services life .
award The politicians in many angered has Britain .
leak discussions over Britain's security . national about A
lost his serve . ability in She to confidence
Britons to Awarded their who excelled in field .
have as usually decades incredible Recipients spent leaders .
of said the is Politicians he undeserving honour .
Another was his record in said disgraceful . government
during to out struggling Get laptops kids lockdowns .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The U.K. government has awarded / rewarded one of its highest honours to a former minister who was fired twice by succession / successive Prime Ministers. Gavin Williamson, 45, will receive a knighthood / knight for services to public / publicly life. He will become "Sir" Gavin Williamson. The award has angry / angered many politicians in Britain due to Mr Willamsons' somewhat choked / checkered career. He was fired was / as Defence Secretary by then Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019 over a national security leak / leaky over discussions about the UK's national security and Chinese telecoms company Huawei. Ms May said she had, "lost confidence on / in his ability to serve". Current PM Boris Johnson fired him from being Education Secretary in September 2021 following a serious / series of gaffes.

Knighthoods are awarded to Britons who have excelled in / of their field or in areas of public life. Omnipotence / Recipients have usually spent decades as incredible leaders or winners / winnings. Williamson only became a politician in 2010. Other politicians have said he is undeserving of / to the honour. One said the only award he should get was / be "worst Education Secretary in history". Another said his record in / to government was "disgraceful". She said: "Williamson left children to go hunger / hungry, created two years of complete chaos / chaotic over exams, and failed to get laptops work / out to kids struggling to learn during lockdowns." Some newspapers said the award is in return for Williamson keeping quiet about allegations circumnavigating / surrounding Boris Johnson.

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)

Th_ _.K. g_v_rnm_nt h_s _w_rd_d _n_ _f _ts h_gh_st h_n__rs t_ _ f_rm_r m_n_st_r wh_ w_s f_r_d tw_c_ by s_cc_ss_v_ Pr_m_ M_n_st_rs. G_v_n W_ll__ms_n, 45, w_ll r_c__v_ _ kn_ghth__d f_r s_rv_c_s t_ p_bl_c l_f_. H_ w_ll b_c_m_ "S_r" G_v_n W_ll__ms_n. Th_ _w_rd h_s _ng_r_d m_ny p_l_t_c__ns _n Br_t__n d__ t_ Mr W_ll_ms_ns' s_m_wh_t ch_ck_r_d c_r__r. H_ w_s f_r_d _s D_f_nc_ S_cr_t_ry by th_n Pr_m_ M_n_st_r Th_r_s_ M_y _n 2019 _v_r _ n_t__n_l s_c_r_ty l__k _v_r d_sc_ss__ns _b__t th_ _K's n_t__n_l s_c_r_ty _nd Ch_n_s_ t_l_c_ms c_mp_ny H__w__. Ms M_y s__d sh_ h_d, "l_st c_nf_d_nc_ _n h_s _b_l_ty t_ s_rv_". C_rr_nt PM B_r_s J_hns_n f_r_d h_m fr_m b__ng _d_c_t__n S_cr_t_ry _n S_pt_mb_r 2021 f_ll_w_ng _ s_r__s _f g_ff_s.

Kn_ghth__ds _r_ _w_rd_d t_ Br_t_ns wh_ h_v_ _xc_ll_d _n th__r f__ld _r _n _r__s _f p_bl_c l_f_. R_c_p__nts h_v_ _s__lly sp_nt d_c_d_s _s _ncr_d_bl_ l__d_rs _r w_nn_rs. W_ll__ms_n _nly b_c_m_ _ p_l_t_c__n _n 2010. _th_r p_l_t_c__ns h_v_ s__d h_ _s _n-d_s_rv_ng _f th_ h_n__r. _n_ s__d th_ _nly _w_rd h_ sh__ld g_t w_s "w_rst _d_c_t__n S_cr_t_ry _n h_st_ry". _n_th_r s__d h_s r_c_rd _n g_v_rnm_nt w_s "d_sgr_c_f_l". Sh_ s__d: "W_ll__ms_n l_ft ch_ldr_n t_ g_ h_ngry, cr__t_d tw_ y__rs _f c_mpl_t_ ch__s _v_r _x_ms, _nd f__l_d t_ g_t l_pt_ps __t t_ k_ds str_ggl_ng t_ l__rn d_r_ng l_ckd_wns." S_m_ n_wsp_p_rs s__d th_ _w_rd _s _n r_t_rn f_r W_ll__ms_n k__p_ng q___t _b__t _ll_g_t__ns s_rr__nd_ng B_r_s J_hns_n.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the uk government has awarded one of its highest honours to a former minister who was fired twice by successive prime ministers gavin williamson 45 will receive a knighthood for services to public life he will become sir gavin williamson the award has angered many politicians in britain due to mr willamsons somewhat checkered career he was fired as defence secretary by then prime minister theresa may in 2019 over a national security leak over discussions about the uks national security and chinese telecoms company huawei ms may said she had lost confidence in his ability to serve current pm boris johnson fired him from being education secretary in september 2021 following a series of gaffes

knighthoods are awarded to britons who have excelled in their field or in areas of public life recipients have usually spent decades as incredible leaders or winners williamson only became a politician in 2010 other politicians have said he is undeserving of the honour one said the only award he should get was worst education secretary in history another said his record in government was disgraceful she said williamson left children to go hungry created two years of complete chaos over exams and failed to get laptops out to kids struggling to learn during lockdowns some newspapers said the award is in return for williamson keeping quiet about allegations surrounding boris johnson

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheU.K.governmenthasawardedoneofitshighesthonourstoaformer
ministerwhowasfiredtwicebysuccessivePrimeMinisters.GavinWillia
mson,45,willreceiveaknighthoodforservicestopubliclife.Hewillbeco
me"Sir"GavinWilliamson.TheawardhasangeredmanypoliticiansinBri
tainduetoMrWillamsons'somewhatcheckeredcareer.HewasfiredasD
efenceSecretarybythenPrimeMinisterTheresaMayin2019overanatio
nalsecurityleakoverdiscussionsabouttheUK'snationalsecurityandCh
inesetelecomscompanyHuawei.MsMaysaidshehad,"lostconfidencei
nhisabilitytoserve".CurrentPMBorisJohnsonfiredhimfrombeingEduc
ationSecretaryinSeptember2021followingaseriesofgaffes.Knightho
odsareawardedtoBritonswhohaveexcelledintheirfieldorinareasofpu
bliclife.Recipientshaveusuallyspentdecadesasincredibleleadersorwi
nners.Williamsononlybecameapoliticianin2010.Otherpoliticianshav
esaidheisundeservingofthehonour.Onesaidtheonlyawardheshoul
dgetwas"worstEducationSecretaryinhistory".Anothersaidhisrecordi
ngovernmentwas"disgraceful".Shesaid:"Williamsonleftchildrentog
ohungry,createdtwoyearsofcompletechaosoverexams,andfailedtog
etlaptopsouttokidsstrugglingtolearnduringlockdowns."Somenewsp
aperssaidtheawardisinreturnforWilliamsonkeepingquietaboutallega
tionssurroundingBorisJohnson.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Honours should only decided on by the public, not by governments. 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. HONOURS: Make a poster about honours. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. MERIT: Write a magazine article about members of the general public deciding who in a country gets top honours. 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 honours. Ask him/her three questions about them. Tell him/her about three people you would like to honour. 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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