Breaking News English Lesson: Dopamine and Love

Home | Help This Site

Love is a drug called dopamine, say scientists (15th January 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Dopamine and Love - Level 6

Writers of novels and songs have for centuries claimed that love is a drug. Scientists have now gone a step further to prove this assertion. They conducted tests on the romantic relationships among prairie voles. Different pairs of the mouse-like rodents were tested for levels of dopamine – a neuro-transmitter that plays a role in our seeking pleasure and a craving for addictive things. It can provide an intense feeling of reward. The researchers found that the voles released large amounts of dopamine when they were physically with their "established partner". Researcher Dr Zoe Donaldson said parts of the voles' brains lit up "like a glow stick" when they were reunited with their mates, and dimmed when with unknown voles.

The researchers said their studies help to explain much about the complexities of human relationships. They say dopamine in our brains plays a key part when falling in love, and in the grief experienced when breaking up with a partner. Dr Donaldson said: "As humans, our entire social world is basically defined by different degrees of selective desire to interact with different people, whether it's your romantic partner or your close friends." She added: "This research suggests that certain people leave a unique chemical imprint on our brain that drives us to maintain these bonds over time." Research also suggests that women get over a breakup, and fall out of love faster than men.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Dopamine and Love - Level 4 or Dopamine and Love - Level 5

Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/jan/12/biological-changes-in-brain-may-help-in-getting-over-an-ex-study-finds
https://nypost.com/2024/01/12/lifestyle/yes-you-will-get-over-being-dumped-were-wired-to-bounce-back/
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-neuroscientists-chemical-imprint-desire.html

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. LOVE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about love. 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?
writers / novels / songs / love / drug / romantic / relationship / addictive / brain / vole
complexities / dopamine / grief / social / breaking up / partner / chemical / bonds
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EDUCATION: Students A strongly believe school children need lessons at school on love; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SONGS: What do you think these songs mean? What are your experiences of these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Love is…	Meaning	My Experiences
the drug
a battlefield
a long road
a losing game
a verb
a waste of time

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

Love
Shopping
Chocolate
TV
Smartphone
Eating
Gaming
Running

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	claimed	a.	A powerful desire for something.
2.	assertion	b.	A large open area of grassland, especially in North America.
3.	prairie	c.	A confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.
4.	rodent	d.	Made or become less bright or distinct.
5.	craving	e.	Stated or asserted that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof.
6.	addictive	f.	A mammal that includes rats, mice, squirrels, hamsters, porcupines, all with large front teeth.
7.	dimmed	g.	Causing or likely to cause someone to become physically and mentally dependent on.

Paragraph 2

8.	complexity	h.	Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.
9.	grief	i.	Make someone act in a particular way.
10.	entire	j.	Fix an idea firmly in someone's mind.
11.	unique	k.	Intense sorrow, especially caused by someone's death or loss.
12.	imprint	l.	The relationships between people or groups based on shared feelings, interests, or experiences
13.	drive	m.	The state or quality of being intricate or complicated.
14.	bonds	n.	With no part left out; whole.

Before reading / listening

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

Writers wrote a song called "Love is a Drug". T / F
Researchers looked at the romantic relationships of a species of rodent. T / F
Dopamine is part of why we want things that make us feel good. T / F
Voles released a lot of dopamine when they were with their mate. T / F
Researchers said their study would make human relations less complex. T / F
Researchers say we cannot fall in love without dopamine. T / F
A researcher said dopamine helps us drive better. T / F
Research suggests men take longer to get over relationship breakups. T / F

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

claimed
conducted
seeking
craving
dimmed
complexities
grief
entire
unique
bonds

searching for
sorrow
faded
whole
distinctive
asserted
complications
friendships
carried out
longing

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

Writers of novels and songs have for
Scientists have now gone a step further
a craving
It can provide an intense
parts of the voles' brains lit
explain much about the complexities
dopamine in our brains plays a key
desire to interact
our brain that drives us to maintain
women get

feeling of reward
over a breakup
to prove this assertion
with different people
of human relationships
for addictive things
these bonds over time
centuries claimed that
up like a glow stick
part when falling in love

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

pleasure
novels
mates
rodents
reward
glow
step
physically

Writers of (1) _____________________ and songs have for centuries claimed that love is a drug. Scientists have now gone a (2) _____________________ further to prove this assertion. They conducted tests on the romantic relationships among prairie voles. Different pairs of the mouse-like (3) _____________________ were tested for levels of dopamine - a neurotransmitter that plays a role in our seeking (4) _____________________ and a craving for addictive things. It can provide an intense feeling of (5) _____________________. The researchers found that the voles released large amounts of dopamine when they were (6) _____________________ with their "established partner". Researcher Dr Zoe Donaldson said parts of the voles' brains lit up "like a (7) _____________________ stick" when they were reunited with their (8) _____________________, and dimmed when with unknown voles.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

grief
interact
breakup
much
imprint
entire
key
certain

The researchers said their studies help to explain (9) _____________________ about the complexities of human relationships. They say dopamine in our brains plays a (10) _____________________ part when falling in love, and in the (11) _____________________ experienced when breaking up with a partner. Dr Donaldson said: "As humans, our (12) _____________________ social world is basically defined by different degrees of selective desire to (13) _____________________ with different people, whether it's your romantic partner or your close friends." She added: "This research suggests that (14) _____________________ people leave a unique chemical (15) _____________________ on our brain that drives us to maintain these bonds over time." Research also suggests that women get over a (16) _____________________, and fall out of love faster than men.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Scientists have now gone a step further to ______
     a. prove this insertion
     b. prove this asset shun
     c. prove this assertion
     d. prove this issuance
2) Different pairs of the mouse-like rodents were tested for ______
     a. levels off dopamine
     b. levels oft dopamine
     c. levels soft dopamine
     d. levels of dopamine
3) a neurotransmitter that plays a role in our seeking pleasure and a craving ______
     a. for addictive things
     b. for addiction things
     c. for addicted things
     d. for add dative things
4) It can provide an intense ______
     a. feeling of reward
     b. fueling of reward
     c. failing of reward
   d. falling of reward
5) Researcher Zoe Donaldson said parts of the voles' brains lit up like ______
     a. a grow stick
     b. a glower stick
     c. a glow stick
     d. a growth stick

6) The researchers said their studies help to explain much ______
     a. about the complex cities
     b. about the complex attires
     c. about the complex it is
     d. about the complexities

7) They say dopamine in our brains plays a key part when falling in love, and ______
     a. in the grief
     b. in the brief
     c. in the grieve
     d. in the thrift
8) our entire social world is basically defined by different degrees ______
     a. of selective aspire
     b. of selective respire
     c. of selective inspire
     d. of selective desire
9) a unique chemical imprint on our brain that drives us to maintain these ______
     a. fronds over time
     b. ponds over time
     c. grounds over time
     d. bonds over time
10) Research also suggests that women get ______
     a. over a set-up
     b. over a mix-up
     c. over a breakup
     d. over a meet-up

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Writers of novels and songs (1) ____________________ claimed that love is a drug. Scientists have now gone a step further to prove this assertion. They (2) ____________________ the romantic relationships among prairie voles. Different pairs of the mouse-like rodents were tested for levels of dopamine - a neurotransmitter that (3) ____________________ in our seeking pleasure and a craving for addictive things. It can provide an (4) ____________________ reward. The researchers found that the voles released large amounts of dopamine when they (5) ____________________ their "established partner". Researcher Dr Zoe Donaldson said parts of the voles' brains lit up "like a glow stick" when they were reunited with their mates, (6) ____________________ with unknown voles.

The researchers said their studies help to (7) ____________________ the complexities of human relationships. They say dopamine in our brains plays (8) ____________________ when falling in love, and in the grief experienced when breaking up with a partner. Dr Donaldson said: "As humans, our (9) ____________________ is basically defined by different degrees of selective (10) ____________________ with different people, whether it's your romantic partner or your close friends." She added: "This research suggests that certain people leave a (11) ____________________ on our brain that drives us to maintain these bonds over time." Research also suggests that women get (12) ____________________, and fall out of love faster than men.

Comprehension questions

For how long have writers claimed that love is a drug?
On what creature did researchers conduct their tests?
What does the article say dopamine creates a craving for?
What can dopamine provide an intense feeling of?
What did an animals' brain light up like?
What might the study explain about the complexities of?
What plays an important part of falling in love?
Whom do we have a desire to interact with?
What did a researcher say we maintain over time?
What does research suggest women do faster than men?

Multiple choice quiz

1) For how long have writers claimed that love is a drug?
a) since the beginning of time
b) for eternity
c) for centuries
d) 823 years
2) On what creature did researchers conduct their tests?
a) prairie voles
b) golden moles
c) newborn foals
d) Eurasian teals
3) What does the article say dopamine creates a craving for?
a) longer life
b) addictive things
c) friendships
d) a social life
4) What can dopamine provide an intense feeling of?
a) need
b) hate
c) satisfaction
d) reward
5) What did an animals' brain light up like?
a) a Christmas tree
b) the New York skyline
c) glow sticks
d) the 4th of July

6) What might the study explain about the complexities of?
a) the brain
b) human relationships
c) romance
d) dopamine
7) What plays an important part of falling in love?
a) life
b) roses
c) restaurant dinners
d) dopamine
8) Whom do we have a desire to interact with?
a) family
b) different people
c) like-minded people
d) close friends
9) What did a researcher say we maintain over time?
a) intelligence
b) bonds
c) desires
d) a chemical imprint
10) What does research suggest women do faster than men?
a) get over a breakup
b) make up
c) fall in love
d) get angry

Role play

Role A – Love
You think love is the best addiction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their addictions. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): running, shopping or TV.

Role B – Running
You think running is the best addiction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their addictions. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): love, shopping or TV.

Role C – Shopping
You think shopping is the best addiction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their addictions. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): running, love or TV.

Role D – TV
You think TV is the best addiction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their addictions. Also, tell the others which is the least beneficial of these (and why): running, shopping or love.

After reading / listening

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

'love'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'drug'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

writers

prove

pairs

role

intense

mates

explain

key

entire

partner

unique

faster

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 - Dopamine and Love

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 'love'?
What do you think of love?
How does love make us feel?
What different kinds of love are there?
Why do scientists think love is a drug?
What things are you addicted to?
What things in life give you the most pleasure?
Do you think we should be able to get dopamine from the doctor?
Is being in love the best feeling in the world?

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 'drug'?
What do you think about what you read?
How complex are human relationships?
How bad is it to fall out of love?
What kind of people are you romantically attracted to?
How can we increase the amount of love in this world?
Is it possible to fall in love at first sight?
Why might women get over broken hearts quicker than men?
What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

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)

Writers of novels and songs (1) ____ for centuries claimed that love is a drug. Scientists have now gone a step further to prove this (2) ____. They conducted tests on the romantic relationships among prairie voles. Different pairs of the mouse-like (3) ____ were tested for levels of dopamine - a neurotransmitter that plays a role in our seeking pleasure and a (4) ____ for addictive things. It can provide an intense feeling of reward. The researchers found that the voles released large amounts (5) ____ dopamine when they were physically with their "established partner". Researcher Dr Zoe Donaldson said parts of the voles' brains lit up "like a (6) ____ stick" when they were reunited with their mates, and dimmed when with unknown voles.

The researchers said their studies help to explain (7) ____ about the complexities of human relationships. They say dopamine in our brains plays a key part when falling in love, and in the grief experienced when breaking (8) ____ with a partner. Dr Donaldson said: "As humans, our entire social world is basically defined (9) ____ different degrees of selective desire to interact with different people, whether it's your romantic partner or your (10) ____ friends." She added: "This research suggests that certain people leave a unique chemical imprint on our brain that drives (11) ____ to maintain these bonds over time." Research also suggests that women get over a breakup, and fall (12) ____ of love faster than men.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) took (b) were (c) did (d) have
(a) asserted (b) asserts (c) assert (d) assertion
(a) radiates (b) rodents (c) redoubts (d) riddance
(a) craven (b) carving (c) craving (d) cave-in
(a) by (b) at (c) of (d) as
(a) glow (b) gnaw (c) glow (d) growl
(a) many (b) much (c) what (d) this
(a) up (b) of (c) down (d) in
(a) of (b) by (c) on (d) at
(a) proximity (b) adjacent (c) close (d) condensed
(a) we (b) they (c) us (d) all
(a) in (b) up (c) down (d) out

Spelling

Paragraph 1

for csernitue
gone a step further to prove this sresnaito
romantic relationships among iiaerpr voles
a turrteoamnesitrn that plays a role
a craving for edditaivc things
demmdi when with unknown voles

Paragraph 2

the exmltcsoieip of human relationships
pemnioda in our brains
the grefi experienced when breaking up
different degrees of eleivcset desire
taernitc with different people
a uueqin chemical imprint on our brain

Put the text back together

(.1.) Writers of novels and songs have for centuries claimed that love is a drug. Scientists have now gone a step
(...)   partner or your close friends." She added: "This research suggests that certain people leave a unique chemical
(...)   The researchers said their studies help to explain much about the complexities of human
(...)   that plays a role in our seeking pleasure and a craving for addictive things. It can provide an intense
(...)   imprint on our brain that drives us to maintain these bonds over time." Research also suggests that
(...)   women get over a breakup, and fall out of love faster than men.
(...)   among prairie voles. Different pairs of the mouse-like rodents were tested for levels of dopamine - a neurotransmitter
(...)   with their "established partner". Researcher Dr Zoe Donaldson said parts of the voles' brains lit
(...)   experienced when breaking up with a partner. Dr Donaldson said: "As humans, our entire social world is basically defined
(...)   further to prove this assertion. They conducted tests on the romantic relationships
(...)   by different degrees of selective desire to interact with different people, whether it's your romantic
(...)   relationships. They say dopamine in our brains plays a key part when falling in love, and in the grief
(...)   up "like a glow stick" when they were reunited with their mates, and dimmed when with unknown voles.
(...)   feeling of reward. The researchers found that the voles released large amounts of dopamine when they were physically

Put the words in the right order

gone Scientists now have step further . a
Tests on romantic voles . relationships among the prairie
can of an provide reward . It intense feeling
of dopamine . voles amounts The released large
a Voles' glow stick . brains like lit up
the of about complexities relationships . human Explain much
part falling a in Plays love . when key
grief partners . up with when experienced The breaking
brain . a Leave on imprint chemical our unique
get that women breakup . suggests Research a over

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Writers of novels and songs have for centuries claimed that love is a drug. Scientists have now gone a stair / step further to prove this assertion. They conducted tests on / in the romantic relationships among prairie voles / vole. Different pairs of the mouse-like indents / rodents were tested for levels of dopamine - a neurotransmitter that plays a roll / role in our seeking pleasure and a craving / carving for addictive things. It can provide an intense feeling of rewild / reward. The researchers found that the voles released large amounts / amount of dopamine when they were physically with their "established partner". Researcher Dr Zoe Donaldson said parts of the voles' brains lit up "like a grow / glow stick" when they were reunited with their mates, and dammed / dimmed when with unknown voles.

The researchers said their studious / studies help to explain much about the complexities of human relationships. They say dopamine in our brains plays a quay / key part when falling in love, and in the grief / glee experienced when breaking down / up with a partner. Dr Donaldson said: "As humans, our entirely / entire social world is basically defined at / by different degrees of selective desire to interact with / on different people, whether it's your romantic partner or your close / closed friends." She added: "This research suggests that certain people leave a unique chemical imprint on our brain that drives us to maintain them / these bonds over time." Research also suggests that women get over a breakup, and fall out of loving / love faster than men.

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)

Wr_t_rs _f n_v_ls _nd s_ngs h_v_ f_r c_nt_r__s cl__m_d th_t l_v_ _s _ dr_g. Sc__nt_sts h_v_ n_w g_n_ _ st_p f_rth_r t_ pr_v_ th_s _ss_rt__n. Th_y c_nd_ct_d t_sts _n th_ r_m_nt_c r_l_t__nsh_ps _m_ng pr__r__ v_l_s. D_ff_r_nt p__rs _f th_ m__s_-l_k_ r_d_nts w_r_ t_st_d f_r l_v_ls _f d_p_m_n_ - _ n__r_tr_nsm_tt_r th_t pl_ys _ r_l_ _n __r s__k_ng pl__s_r_ _nd _ cr_v_ng f_r _dd_ct_v_ th_ngs. _t c_n pr_v_d_ _n _nt_ns_ f__l_ng _f r_w_rd. Th_ r_s__rch_rs f__nd th_t th_ v_l_s r_l__s_d l_rg_ _m__nts _f d_p_m_n_ wh_n th_y w_r_ phys_c_lly w_th th__r "_st_bl_sh_d p_rtn_r". R_s__rch_r Dr Z__ D_n_lds_n s__d p_rts _f th_ v_l_s' br__ns l_t _p "l_k_ _ gl_w st_ck" wh_n th_y w_r_ r__n_t_d w_th th__r m_t_s, _nd d_mm_d wh_n w_th _nkn_wn v_l_s.

Th_ r_s__rch_rs s__d th__r st_d__s h_lp t_ _xpl__n m_ch _b__t th_ c_mpl_x_t__s _f h_m_n r_l_t__nsh_ps. Th_y s_y d_p_m_n_ _n __r br__ns pl_ys _ k_y p_rt wh_n f_ll_ng _n l_v_, _nd _n th_ gr__f _xp_r__nc_d wh_n br__k_ng _p w_th _ p_rtn_r. Dr D_n_lds_n s__d: "_s h_m_ns, __r _nt_r_ s_c__l w_rld _s b_s_c_lly d_f_n_d by d_ff_r_nt d_gr__s _f s_l_ct_v_ d_s_r_ t_ _nt_r_ct w_th d_ff_r_nt p__pl_, wh_th_r _t's y__r r_m_nt_c p_rtn_r _r y__r cl_s_ fr__nds." Sh_ _dd_d: "Th_s r_s__rch s_gg_sts th_t c_rt__n p__pl_ l__v_ _ _n_q__ ch_m_c_l _mpr_nt _n __r br__n th_t dr_v_s _s t_ m__nt__n th_s_ b_nds _v_r t_m_." R_s__rch _ls_ s_gg_sts th_t w_m_n g_t _v_r _ br__k_p, _nd f_ll __t _f l_v_ f_st_r th_n m_n.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

writers of novels and songs have for centuries claimed that love is a drug scientists have now gone a step further to prove this assertion they conducted tests on the romantic relationships among prairie voles different pairs of the mouselike rodents were tested for levels of dopamine a neurotransmitter that plays a role in our seeking pleasure and a craving for addictive things it can provide an intense feeling of reward the researchers found that the voles released large amounts of dopamine when they were physically with their established partner researcher dr zoe donaldson said parts of the voles brains lit up like a glow stick when they were reunited with their mates and dimmed when with unknown voles

the researchers said their studies help to explain much about the complexities of human relationships they say dopamine in our brains plays a key part when falling in love and in the grief experienced when breaking up with a partner dr donaldson said as humans our entire social world is basically defined by different degrees of selective desire to interact with different people whether its your romantic partner or your close friends she added this research suggests that certain people leave a unique chemical imprint on our brain that drives us to maintain these bonds over time research also suggests that women get over a breakup and fall out of love faster than men

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Writersofnovelsandsongshaveforcenturiesclaimedthatloveisadrug.
Scientistshavenowgoneastepfurthertoprovethisassertion.Theycond
uctedtestsontheromanticrelationshipsamongprairievoles.Different
pairsofthemouse-likerodentsweretestedforlevelsofdopamine-aneu
rotransmitterthatplaysaroleinourseekingpleasureandacravingforad
dictivethings.Itcanprovideanintensefeelingofreward.Theresearcher
sfoundthatthevolesreleasedlargeamountsofdopaminewhentheywer
ephysicallywiththeir"establishedpartner".ResearcherDrZoeDonalds
onsaidpartsofthevoles'brainslitup"likeaglowstick"whentheywerereu
nitedwiththeirmates,anddimmedwhenwithunknownvoles.Theresea
rcherssaidtheirstudieshelptoexplainmuchaboutthecomplexitiesofh
umanrelationships.Theysaydopamineinourbrainsplaysakeypartwhe
nfallinginlove,andinthegriefexperiencedwhenbreakingupwithapart
ner.DrDonaldsonsaid:"Ashumans,ourentiresocialworldisbasicallyde
finedbydifferentdegreesofselectivedesiretointeractwithdifferentpeo
ple,whetherit'syourromanticpartneroryourclosefriends."Sheadded:
"Thisresearchsuggeststhatcertainpeopleleaveauniquechemicalimpr
intonourbrainthatdrivesustomaintainthesebondsovertime."Researc
halsosuggeststhatwomengetoverabreakup,andfalloutoflovefastert
hanmen.

Free writing

Write about dopamine and love for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Love is a drug. 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. LOVE: Make a poster about love. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE: Write a magazine article about providing students with lessons on love at school. 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 love. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to increase the love in this world. 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.)

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".

Breaking News English Lesson: Dopamine and Love

Home | Help This Site

PRINT

LISTEN

READ

GRAMMAR

SPELL

WORDS