Breaking News English Lesson: Osaka Expo

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Osaka Expo 2025 opens in Japan (17th April 2025)

The Reading / Listening - Osaka Expo - Level 3

The Osaka Expo 2025 opened on Sunday in Japan. People from many countries will visit the Expo before it ends in October. The organizers hope more than 28 million visitors will go to it. A World Expo is an event that brings together people from all over the world. The first one was called the Great Exhibition. It took place in London in 1851. World Expos hope to find answers to some of the world's biggest problems. The Osaka Expo showcases the culture, history and economy of 158 countries. The theme is "Creating a future society for our lives." At the U.S. and Chinese pavilions, people can see exhibits on space travel. The Italian pavilion has exhibits on architecture, art, and environmental design.

The Osaka Expo is taking place on an artificial island in Osaka Bay. The 80 pavilions are housed in a giant, round wooden building called the Grand Ring. Guinness World Records said the building is the world's "largest wooden architectural structure". It is 20 metres high and has a 2-kilometre circumference. A one-day ticket for adults costs ¥7,500, which is about $52. Visitors will get to see many aspects of Japanese culture. There are exhibits on high-tech robots and flying cars, and on Hello Kitty and Gundam. Visitors will also see the Expo mascot. This is a mysterious creature called Myaku-Myaku. It has a blue face and many red eyeballs. It is good at finding rainbows.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Osaka Expo - Level 0, Osaka Expo - Level 1 or Osaka Expo - Level 2

Sources

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15709562
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250414/p2g/00m/0na/012000c
https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/overview/purpose/
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/13/japan/osaka-world-expo-opening-day/

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. MY COUNTRY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about their country. 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?
Osaka / Expo / Sunday / Japan / visitors / exhibition / answers / problems / society /
artificial island / pavilion / building / ticket / culture / Hello Kitty / mascot / rainbows
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EXPO: Students A strongly believe Expo helps to bring the world together; Students B strongly believe it doesn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. THE BEST PARTS: What are the best parts of your country for these things? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What?	Why?
Sights
Nature
Shopping
City life
Sports
Food

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. WORLD: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "world". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ISSUES: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest issues we must deal with at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Global warming
Nuclear weapons
A.I.
Cyber crime
War
Immigration
Obesity
Food security

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	visit	a.	The system of money, work, and business in a country.
2.	organizer	b.	The design and style of buildings.
3.	hope	c.	Go to a place for a short time.
4.	showcase (verb)	d.	A person who plans or arranges something.
5.	economy	e.	Show something in a way that people can see and like it.
6.	pavilion	f.	A small building or tent, often used at events or shows.
7.	architecture	g.	Want something good to happen.

Paragraph 2

8.	artificial	h.	Show something in a place like a museum.
9.	house (verb)	i.	One part or side of something.
10.	structure	j.	The length of the line around a circle.
11.	circumference	k.	Made by people, not natural.
12.	aspect	l.	A living animal, especially one that is not a person.
13.	exhibit	m.	Give someone or something a place to live or stay.
14.	creature	n.	Something that is built, like a building or bridge.

Before reading / listening

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

The Osaka Expo opened last Sunday and will continue for 10 months. T / F
Over 29 million people visited Osaka Expo on the opening day. T / F
The first World Expo was in London in 1851. T / F
Visitors can see examples of Italian environmental design at the Expo. T / F
Osaka Expo is on a human-made island. T / F
You would walk 2 km if you walked round the outside of Expo 2025. T / F
It costs less than $50 to get in to the Osaka Expo. T / F
The Osaka Expo mascot is good at finding rainbows. T / F

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

countries
ends
answers
theme
exhibits
taking place
structure
circumference
aspects
skilled

good at
concept
happening
finishes
building
nations
perimeter
displays
solutions
features

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

visit the Expo before
an event that brings together people from
find answers to some of the world's
people can see exhibits
architecture, art, and environmental
The Osaka Expo is taking place on
The 80 pavilions are housed in a giant,
a 2-kilometre
Visitors will get to see many aspects
a mysterious creature

round wooden building
an artificial island
design
called Myaku-Myaku
on space travel
of Japanese culture
all over the world
it ends in October
circumference
biggest problems

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

economy
visitors
design
society
travel
ends
answers
called

The Osaka Expo 2025 opened on Sunday in Japan. People from many countries will visit the Expo before it (1) _____________________________________ in October. The organizers hope more than 28 million (2) ______________________________________________ will go to it. A World Expo is an event that brings together people from all over the world. The first one was (3) ______________________________________________ the Great Exhibition. It took place in London in 1851. World Expos hope to find (4) ______________________________________________ to some of the world's biggest problems. The Osaka Expo showcases the culture, history and (5) ______________________________________________ of 158 countries. The theme is "Creating a future (6) ______________________________________________ for our lives." At the U.S. and Chinese pavilions, people can see exhibits on space (7) ______________________________________________. The Italian pavilion has exhibits on architecture, art, and environmental (8) ______________________________________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

robots
artificial
largest
aspects
finding
round
mascot
circumference

The Osaka Expo is taking place on an (9) ______________________________________________ island in Osaka Bay. The 80 pavilions are housed in a giant, (10) ______________________________________________ wooden building called the Grand Ring. Guinness World Records said the building is the world's "(11) ______________________________________________ wooden architectural structure". It is 20 metres high and has a 2-kilometre (12) ______________________________________________. A one-day ticket for adults costs ¥7,500, which is about $52. Visitors will get to see many (13) ______________________________________________ of Japanese culture. There are exhibits on high-tech (14) ______________________________________________ and flying cars, and on Hello Kitty and Gundam. Visitors will also see the Expo (15) ______________________________________________. This is a mysterious creature called Myaku-Myaku. It has a blue face and many red eyeballs. It is good at (16) ______________________________________________ rainbows.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The Osaka Expo 2025 opened on ______
     a. Sunday on Japan
     b. Sunday in Japan
     c. Sunday at Japan
     d. Sunday by Japan
2) People from many countries will visit the Expo before it ______
     a. ends on October
     b. ends in October
     c. ends at October
     d. ends to October
3) The Osaka Expo showcases the culture, ______
     a. history and economic
     b. history and economics
     c. history and economical
     d. history and economy
4) The theme is "Creating a future society ______."
     a. for our lives
     b. for our living
     c. for our lifer
     d. for our loves
5) exhibits on architecture, art, ______
     a. and environmental resign
     b. and environmental dizzying
     c. and environmental design
     d. and environmental dozen

6) The Osaka Expo is taking place on ______
     a. an artificial eye land
     b. an artificial Ireland
     c. an artificial island
     d. an artificial Iceland
7) Guinness World Records said the building is the world's "largest ______"
     a. wooden architectural stricture
     b. wooden architectural structure
     c. wooden architectural scripture
     d. wooden architectural stature
8) There are exhibits on high-tech robots ______
     a. end fly in cars
     b. and flight cars
     c. end flying cars
     d. and flying cars
9) Hello Kitty and Gundam. Visitors will also see ______
     a. the Expo muscat
     b. the Expo mass cot
     c. the Expo mascot
     d. the Expo maths cot
10) It has a blue face and ______
     a. many red eyeballs
     b. many red i-balls
     c. many red eye bowls
     d. many red aye balls

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Osaka Expo 2025 (1) __________________________________________________ in Japan. People from many countries will visit the Expo (2) __________________________________________________ in October. The organizers hope more than 28 million visitors will go to it. A World Expo is an event that brings together people (3) __________________________________________________ the world. The first one was called the Great Exhibition. It took place in London in 1851. World Expos hope to find (4) __________________________________________________ of the world's biggest problems. The Osaka Expo showcases the culture, history and economy of 158 countries. The theme is "Creating (5) __________________________________________________ for our lives." At the U.S. and Chinese pavilions, people can see exhibits on space travel. The Italian pavilion (6) __________________________________________________ architecture, art, and environmental design.

The Osaka Expo is taking place on (7) __________________________________________________ in Osaka Bay. The 80 pavilions are housed in a giant, round wooden building called the Grand Ring. Guinness World Records said the building is the (8) __________________________________________________ architectural structure". It is 20 metres high and has a 2-kilometre circumference. A (9) __________________________________________________ for adults costs ¥7,500, which is about $52. Visitors will get to see many aspects of Japanese culture. There are exhibits on high-tech (10) __________________________________________________ cars, and on Hello Kitty and Gundam. Visitors will also see the Expo mascot. This is (11) __________________________________________________ called Myaku-Myaku. It has a blue face and many red eyeballs. It is good (12) __________________________________________________.

Comprehension questions

How many visitors do the organizers hope will go to the Expo?
Where and when was the very first World Expo?
How many countries are showcasing their culture at Osaka Expo?
What can you see at the Chinese pavilion?
In what pavilion can you see examples of architecture and art?
What kind of island is the Osaka Expo on?
What is the name of the building in which the Expo is housed?
How much does it cost to buy a one-day ticket for the Osaka Expo?
What can visitors see many aspects of?
What is good at locating rainbows?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many visitors do the organizers hope will go to the Expo?
a) exactly 28 million
b) just fewer than 28 million
c) about 28 million
d) more than 28 million
2) Where and when was the very first World Expo?
a) Tokyo, 1951
b) London, 1851
c) Paris, 1581
d) New York, 1918
3) How many countries are showcasing their culture at Osaka Expo?
a) 156
b) 157
c) 158
d) 159
4) What can you see at the Chinese pavilion?
a) exhibits on space travel
b) stones from the Great Wall of China
c) examples of Chinese cuisine
d) electric cars
5) In what pavilion can you see examples of architecture and art?
a) the Mexican pavilion
b) the Greek pavilion
c) the Italian pavilion
d) the Egyptian pavilion

6) What kind of island is the Osaka Expo on?
a) a tropical island
b) an artificial island
c) a tiny island
d) a remote island
7) What is the name of the building in which the Expo is housed?
a) the Great Ring
b) the Brand Ring
c) the Grounding
d) the Grand Ring
8) How much does it cost to buy a one-day ticket for the Osaka Expo?
a) ¥7,500
b) ¥6,500
c) ¥9,500
d) ¥8,500
9) What can visitors see many aspects of?
a) Earth in the 25th century
b) the World Expo 2026
c) Japanese culture
d) themselves
10) What is good at locating rainbows?
a) a computer
b) the Expo mascot (Myaku-Myaku)
c) a weather monitor
d) A.I.

Role play

Role A – Global Warming
You think global warming is the biggest problem we face. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their issues aren't as serious. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): Artificial Intelligence, war or obesity.

Role B – Artificial Intelligence
You think Artificial Intelligence is the biggest problem we face. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their issues aren't as serious. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): global warming, war or obesity.

Role C – War
You think war is the biggest problem we face. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their issues aren't as serious. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): Artificial Intelligence, global warming or obesity.

Role D – Obesity
You think obesity is the biggest problem we face. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their issues aren't as serious. Also, tell the others which is the least serious of these (and why): Artificial Intelligence, war or global warming.

After reading / listening

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

'future'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'society'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

many

event

first

showcases

see

Italian

island

giant

largest

ticket

mysterious

blue

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 - Osaka Expo

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'future'?
What do you know about Expos?
Would you like to see the Osaka Expo?
What are some of the world's biggest problems?
How can we solve the world's biggest problems?
What is best about the history of your country?
What is best about the culture of your country?
What is the economy of your country like?
What country's pavilion would you like to visit at Expo?

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 'society'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you know about Osaka?
What aspects of Japanese culture do you want to know about?
What are the best things about your country?
What do you think of flying cars?
What do you think of Hello Kitty?
What mascots do you like?
What questions would you like to ask the Expo organizers?

Discussion — Write your own questions

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

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

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

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

The Osaka Expo 2025 opened (1) ____ Sunday in Japan. People from many countries will visit the Expo before it (2) ____ in October. The organizers hope more than 28 million visitors will go to it. A World Expo is an event that brings together people from (3) ____ over the world. The first one was called the Great Exhibition. It took place in London in 1851. World Expos hope to find (4) ____ to some of the world's biggest problems. The Osaka Expo (5) ____ the culture, history and economy of 158 countries. The theme is "Creating a future society for our lives." At the U.S. and Chinese pavilions, people can see exhibits on space travel. The Italian pavilion has exhibits on architecture, (6) ____, and environmental design.

The Osaka Expo is (7) ____ place on an artificial island in Osaka Bay. The 80 pavilions are housed in a giant, round wooden building (8) ____ the Grand Ring. Guinness World Records said the building is the world's "largest wooden architectural structure". It is 20 metres (9) ____ and has a 2-kilometre circumference. A one-day ticket for adults costs ¥7,500, which is about $52. Visitors will get to see (10) ____ aspects of Japanese culture. There are exhibits on high-tech robots and flying cars, and on Hello Kitty and Gundam. Visitors will also see the Expo (11) ____. This is a mysterious creature called Myaku-Myaku. It has a blue face and many red eyeballs. It is good (12) ____ finding rainbows.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) on (b) at (c) in (d) to
(a) endings (b) ended (c) ends (d) ending
(a) whole (b) every (c) all (d) entire
(a) questions (b) solution (c) key (d) answers
(a) showcases (b) bookcases (c) nutcases (d) briefcases
(a) arty (b) art (c) artistic (d) artful
(a) raking (b) faking (c) making (d) taking
(a) name (b) called (c) that (d) recorded
(a) highly (b) highs (c) high (d) height
(a) any (b) much (c) number (d) many
(a) mash (b) market (c) major (d) mascot
(a) to (b) at (c) as (d) up

Spelling

Paragraph 1

The zroengrsia hope more
The Osaka Expo shewcsosa the culture
the culture, history and cyonmoe
a future yeticos
The Italian pavilion has exhibits on trcheiutcare
trnnamolvenei design

Paragraph 2

taking place on an cifirlaati island
80 alvpisoni
a 2-kilometre rrcemfnueicce
many tspcase of Japanese culture
This is a oyusmsiter creature
It is good at finding sniwroab

Put the text back together

(    )         "largest wooden architectural structure". It is 20 metres high and has a 2-kilometre circumference. A one-
(    )         building called the Grand Ring. Guinness World Records said the building is the world's
(    )         culture. There are exhibits on high-tech robots and flying cars, and on Hello Kitty and Gundam. Visitors will also
(    )         day ticket for adults costs ¥7,500, which is about $52. Visitors will get to see many aspects of Japanese
(    )         face and many red eyeballs. It is good at finding rainbows.
(    )         in October. The organizers hope more than 28 million visitors will go to it. A World Expo is an event that brings
(    )         place in London in 1851. World Expos hope to find answers to some of the world's biggest problems. The Osaka Expo showcases
(    )         see the Expo mascot. This is a mysterious creature called Myaku-Myaku. It has a blue
(    )         society for our lives." At the U.S. and Chinese pavilions, people can see exhibits on space
(    )         the culture, history and economy of 158 countries. The theme is "Creating a future
( 1 )       The Osaka Expo 2025 opened on Sunday in Japan. People from many countries will visit the Expo before it ends
(    )         The Osaka Expo is taking place on an artificial island in Osaka Bay. The 80 pavilions are housed in a giant, round wooden
(    )         together people from all over the world. The first one was called the Great Exhibition. It took
(    )         travel. The Italian pavilion has exhibits on architecture, art, and environmental design.

Put the words in the right order

People countries many from will visit the Expo .
More 28 million than visitors will to go it .
Answers some of to problems biggest the world’s .
Creating future for society lives a our .
The pavilion has exhibits on Italian architecture .
Expo is on taking artificial island an place .
It architectural largest the world’s is wooden structure .
Get many of to culture Japanese aspects see .
Visitors also will the see mascot Expo .
This creature a mysterious Myaku-Myaku is called .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The Osaka Expo 2025 opener / opened on Sunday in Japan. People from many countries will visit the Expo before it ended / ends in October. The organizers hope more than 28 million visitors will go to them / it. A World Expo is an event that brings together people from all over / under the world. The first one was called the Great Exhibition. It took / gave place in London in 1851. World Expos hope to find answers / questions to some of the world's biggest problems. The Osaka Expo showcases the cultural / culture, history and economy of 158 countries. The scheme / theme is "Creating a future society for our lives." At the U.S. and Chinese pavilions, people can see exhibits in / on space travel. The Italian pavilion has exhibits on architecture, art / arty, and environmental design.

The Osaka Expo is taking / took place on an artificial island in Osaka Bay. The 80 pavilions are house / housed in a giant, round wooden building called the Grand Ring. Guinness World Records said a / the building is the world's "largest wooden architectural / architecturally structure". It is 20 metres high and has a 2-kilometre circumference. A once-day / one-day ticket for adults costs ¥7,500, which has / is about $52. Visitors will get to see many aspects of Japanese culture. There are exhibits on high-tech robots / robot and flying cars, and at / on Hello Kitty and Gundam. Visitors will also see the Expo mascot. This is a mysterious creature name / called Myaku-Myaku. It has a blue face and many red eyeballs. It is good at finding / funding rainbows.

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_ _s_k_ _xp_ 2025 _p_n_d _n S_nd_y _n J_p_n. P__pl_ fr_m m_ny c__ntr__s w_ll v_s_t th_ _xp_ b_f_r_ _t _nds _n _ct_b_r. Th_ _rg_n_z_rs h_p_ m_r_ th_n 28 m_ll__n v_s_t_rs w_ll g_ t_ _t. _ W_rld _xp_ _s _n _v_nt th_t br_ngs t_g_th_r p__pl_ fr_m _ll _v_r th_ w_rld. Th_ f_rst _n_ w_s c_ll_d th_ Gr__t _xh_b_t__n. _t t__k pl_c_ _n L_nd_n _n 1851. W_rld _xp_s h_p_ t_ f_nd _nsw_rs t_ s_m_ _f th_ w_rld's b_gg_st pr_bl_ms. Th_ _s_k_ _xp_ sh_wc_s_s th_ c_lt_r_, h_st_ry _nd _c_n_my _f 158 c__ntr__s. Th_ th_m_ _s "Cr__t_ng _ f_t_r_ s_c__ty f_r __r l_v_s." _t th_ _.S. _nd Ch_n_s_ p_v_l__ns, p__pl_ c_n s__ _xh_b_ts _n sp_c_ tr_v_l. Th_ _t_l__n p_v_l__n h_s _xh_b_ts _n _rch_t_ct_r_, _rt, _nd _nv_r_nm_nt_l d_s_gn.

Th_ _s_k_ _xp_ _s t_k_ng pl_c_ _n _n _rt_f_c__l _sl_nd _n _s_k_ B_y. Th_ 80 p_v_l__ns _r_ h__s_d _n _ g__nt, r__nd w__d_n b__ld_ng c_ll_d th_ Gr_nd R_ng. G__nn_ss W_rld R_c_rds s__d th_ b__ld_ng _s th_ w_rld's "l_rg_st w__d_n _rch_t_ct_r_l str_ct_r_". _t _s 20 m_tr_s h_gh _nd h_s _ 2-k_l_m_tr_ c_rc_mf_r_nc_. _ _n_-d_y t_ck_t f_r _d_lts c_sts ¥7,500, wh_ch _s _b__t $52. V_s_t_rs w_ll g_t t_ s__ m_ny _sp_cts _f J_p_n_s_ c_lt_r_. Th_r_ _r_ _xh_b_ts _n h_gh-t_ch r_b_ts _nd fly_ng c_rs, _nd H_ll_ K_tty _nd G_nd_m. V_s_t_rs w_ll _ls_ s__ th_ _xp_ m_sc_t. Th_s _s _ myst_r___s cr__t_r_ c_ll_d My_k_-My_k_. _t h_s _ bl__ f_c_ _nd m_ny r_d _y_b_lls. _t _s g__d _t f_nd_ng r__nb_ws.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the osaka expo 2025 opened on sunday in japan people from many countries will visit the expo before it ends in october the organizers hope more than 28 million visitors will go to it a world expo is an event that brings together people from all over the world the first one was called the great exhibition it took place in london in 1851 world expos hope to find answers to some of the worlds biggest problems the osaka expo showcases the culture history and economy of 158 countries the theme is creating a future society for our lives at the us and chinese pavilions people can see exhibits on space travel the italian pavilion has exhibits on architecture art and environmental design

the osaka expo is taking place on an artificial island in osaka bay the 80 pavilions are housed in a giant round wooden building called the grand ring guinness world records said the building is the worlds largest wooden architectural structure it is 20 metres high and has a 2 kilometre circumference a oneday ticket for adults costs ¥7500 which is about 52 dollars visitors will get to see many aspects of japanese culture there are exhibits on hightech robots and flying cars and on Hello kitty and gundam visitors will also see the expo mascot this is a mysterious creature called myakumyaku it has a blue face and many red eyeballs it is good at finding rainbows

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheOsakaExpo2025openedonSundayinJapan.Peoplefrommanycou
ntrieswillvisittheExpobeforeitendsinOctober.Theorganizershopemo
rethan28millionvisitorswillgotoit.AWorldExpoisaneventthatbringsto
getherpeoplefromallovertheworld.ThefirstonewascalledtheGreatEx
hibition.IttookplaceinLondonin1851.WorldExposhopetofindanswer
stosomeoftheworld'sbiggestproblems.TheOsakaExposhowcasesthe
culture,historyandeconomyof158countries.Thethemeis"Creatingaf
uturesocietyforourlives."AttheU.S.andChinesepavilions,peoplecans
eeexhibitsonspacetravel.TheItalianpavilionhasexhibitsonarchitectu
re,art,andenvironmentaldesign.TheOsakaExpoistakingplaceonanar
tificialislandinOsakaBay.The80pavilionsarehousedinagiant,roundw
oodenbuildingcalledtheGrandRing.GuinnessWorldRecordssaidtheb
uildingistheworld's"largestwoodenarchitecturalstructure".Itis20me
treshighandhasa2-kilometrecircumference.Aone-dayticketforadult
scosts¥7,500,whichisabout$52.Visitorswillgettoseemanyaspectsof
Japaneseculture.Thereareexhibitsonhigh-techrobotsandflyingcars
,andonHelloKittyandGundam.VisitorswillalsoseetheExpomascot.Thi
sisamysteriouscreaturecalledMyaku-Myaku.Ithasabluefaceandman
yredeyeballs.Itisgoodatfindingrainbows.

Free writing

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

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Academic writing

My country is the best place in the world to visit. Discuss.

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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. OSAKA EXPO: Make a poster about the Osaka Expo. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. THE BEST: Write a magazine article about why your country is the best in the world. Include imaginary interviews with people who agree and disagree with 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 my country. Ask him/her three questions about my country. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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: Osaka Expo

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