(Mon 31 Jan) Pre-Intermediate +

THE ARTICLE

It has been a long time coming, but Michael Jackson’s high profile trial for child molestation starts Monday and is set to grip the world’s attention until it finishes. The trial could last up to six months, and if he is found guilty he could spend as many as 20 years in prison. The superstar pop singer is on trial for ten accounts of child molestation and conspiracy. He is being accused of giving a thirteen-year-old boy alcohol and then seducing him in bed. Jackson has denied all charges on his website, saying he would be “acquitted and vindicated when the truth is told”. He said he believes in justice and the fairness of the American legal system, and wants to receive fair treatment the same as any ordinary citizen. He also said his life has been a nightmare since being arrested in December 1993 at his ‘Neverland’ ranch in California. Journalists from all over the world are camped outside the court in the small town of Santa Maria in a media frenzy, and will report every tiny detail of the case to a news hungry world. His millions of fans will be on the edge of their seats throughout the trial and all believe in his innocence. Jackson’s plea to the world is, “please keep an open mind and let me have my day in court.”

Lesson & plan in Word.doc     Example Class Handout in .pdf

POSSIBLE WARM UPS / COOL DOWNS

1. CHAT:  Talk in pairs or groups about Michael Jackson / Neverland / high profile celebrity court cases / the charges against Jackson / superstars / media frenzy / fair trial / innocence…
To make things more dynamic, try telling your students they only have one minute (or 2) on each chat topic before changing topics / partners. Change topic / partner frequently to energize the class.

2. MICHAEL BRAINSTORM: Put all the words on the board that students associate with Michael Jackson. Use these as springboard for conversation in pairs / groups.

3. SUPERSTAR: In pairs list all the advantages and disadvantages of being a rock super star like Michael Jackson. Rank which are the best advantages and which the worst disadvantages. Look at the disadvantages and decide whether you would still like to be a superstar.

4. OPINIONS: Discuss the following with your partner / group. Find out which are the most commonly held opinions:
(a)  Michael Jackson is guilty of the charges.
(b)  The media frenzy is terrible and may affect the final decision.
(c)  If he is guilty he should get the same sentence as an ordinary person.
(d)  A 40-year-old man inviting children to sleep over at his house, and in the same bed is not normal – He must be guilty.
(e)  Who cares? It doesn’t affect my life.
(f)  S uperstars and idols have a responsibility to be role models. Jackson should have behaved better.
(g)  Michael has brought so much joy to the world he should be given special treatment.
(h)  The real motive behind this case is someone trying to get money from Michael Jackson.
(i)  If he is guilty, he should be severely punished and used as an example for all child molesters.
(j)  He will receive a fair trial.
(k)  It is difficult to keep an open mind in a case such as this.

PRE-READING IDEAS

1. WORD SEARCH: Students look in their dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … of the words ‘high’, and ‘profile’.

2. TRUE / FALSE: Students look at the headline and predict whether they believe the following statements about the article are true or false:
(a)  People have waited for Michael Jackson’s trial for a long time.  T / F
(b)  The world isn’t so interested in this case.  T / F
(c)  He could spend up to six months in prison.  T / F
(d) He is being accused of giving a thirteen-year-old boy alcohol and then seducing him in bed.  T / F
(e)  Jackson has accepted some of the charges against him.  T / F
(f)  Jackson does not believe he will get a fair trial.  T / F
(g)  Many of his fans believe he is guilty. T / F
(h)  Jackson’s plea to the world is, “please keep an open mind.” T / F

3. DEFINITIONS: Students match the following words with the most likely definitions (Please think about the headline!):

(a) high profile (adj)
(i) relating to something that is  attracting a lot of attention and publicity in the newspapers and on TV
(ii) a resume / CV that shows someone has an excellent education and career history

(b) molestation (n)
(i) the secret area where spies meet before going on a dangerous mission
(ii) to do sexual things to someone against their wishes

(c) grip (v)
(i) to have a tight hold of something so that it can’t escape or fall
(ii) to complain non-stop when you are taken shopping and you want to go home

(d) trial (n)
(i) an event in which people listen to evidence about a crime and decide if someone is guilty or not guilty
(ii) something that is free which you can try out three times before making a decision to buy it

(e) guilty (adj)
(i) to be judged that someone committed a crime
(ii) a piece of office equipment for cutting paper

(f) conspiracy (n)
(i) an agreement by several people to commit a crime
(ii) the selling of illegal  / fake CDs, DVDs, computer software and brand bags on the street

(g) seducing (n)
(i) to recline the front seats in a family car and go to sleep
(ii) to try to encourage another person to have sexual relations with you

(h) acquitted (v)
(i) to be found not guilty of a crime, free from all charges.
(ii) to quit your job and then change your mind

(i) open mind (n)
(i) when it is easy to tell someone’s character or thoughts
(ii) thinking about all opinions and facts equally and fairly

(j) innocence (n)
(i) a sweet smelling stick that is burnt in homes and temples
(ii) being not guilty

4. SYNONYM MATCH: Students match the following synonyms from the article:

(a)	high profile	fascinate
(b)	trial	truth
(c)	grip	charged
(d)	molestation	well-known
(e)	accused	freed
(f)	acquitted	torment
(g)	justice	abuse
(h)	nightmare	clean hands
(i)	fans	court case
(j)	innocence	supporters

 

5. PHRASE MATCH: Students match the following phrases based on the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

(a)	It has been a long	all charges
(b)	high	frenzy
(c)	child	world
(d)	Jackson has denied	system
(e)	he believes in	time coming
(f)	American legal	profile trial
(g)	media	detail
(h)	report every tiny	molestation
(i)	a news hungry	seats
(j)	on the edge of their	justice

WHILE READING ACTIVITIES

1. GAP-FILL:  Put the missing words under each paragraph into the gaps.

Michael Jackson trial

It has been a long time __________, but Michael Jackson’s high profile trial for child molestation starts Monday and is set to grip the world’s __________ until it finishes. The trial could last up to six months, and if he is found guilty he could spend as many as 20 years in prison. The superstar pop singer is on __________ for ten accounts of child molestation and conspiracy. He is being accused of giving a thirteen-year-old boy alcohol and then seducing him in bed. Jackson has __________ all charges on his website, saying he would be “acquitted and vindicated when the truth is told”. He said he believes in justice and the __________ of the American legal system, and wants to receive fair treatment the same as any ordinary citizen. He also said his life has been a __________ since being arrested in December 1993 at his ‘Neverland’ ranch in California. Journalists from all over the world are camped outside the court in the small town of Santa Maria in a media frenzy, and will report every tiny __________ of the case to a news hungry world. His millions of fans will be on the edge of their seats throughout the trial and all believe in his innocence. Jackson’s plea to the world is, “please keep an __________ mind and let me have my day in court.”

nightmare       attention      detail      coming      trial      fairness      open denied

2. TRUE/FALSE:  Students check their answers to the T/F exercise.

3. SYNONYMS:  Students check their answers to the synonyms exercise.

4. PHRASE MATCH:  Students check their answers to the phrase match exercise.

5. QUESTIONS: Students make notes for questions they would like to ask the class about the article.

6. VOCABULARY:  Students circle any words they do not understand. In groups pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find the meanings.

POST READING IDEAS

1. GAP-FILL: Check the answers to the gap-fill exercise.

2. QUESTIONS:  Students ask the discussion questions they thought of above to their partner / group / class. Pool the questions for all students to share.

3. VOCABULARY: As a class, go over the vocabulary students circled above.

4. STUDENT-GENERATED SURVEY: Pairs/Groups write down 3 questions based on the article. Conduct their surveys alone. Report back to partners to compare answers. Report to other groups / the whole class.

5. ‘HIGH’/ ‘PROFILE’: Students make questions based on their findings from pre-reading activity #1.

6. DISCUSSION:  Students ask each other the following questions:
(a)  Do you like Michael Jackson?
(b)  What are your earliest memories of Michael Jackson?
(c)  What one word would you use to describe Michael Jackson, and why?
(d)  What do you think of his cosmetic surgery and skin colour changes?
(e)  He is loved by millions. Is he a good man?
(f)  Do you think he’ll get a fair trial?
(g)  Will the media circus happening outside the courtroom affect the jurors’ decision?
(h)  Is it possible for the jurors to keep an open mind in such a high profile trial?
(i)  Would you like to be a juror in this case?
(j)  He has admitted sleeping (only sleeping) next to children. What’s your take on that?
(k)  Do you think it’s possible the boy (or his parents) in this case is trying to get money?
(l)  Will you be on the edge of your seat watching this case unfold?
(m)  Do you have an open mind?
(n)  Is the American justice system a fair one Will MJ get a fair trial?
(o)  Teacher / Student additional questions

HOMEWORK

1. VOCAB EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or the Google search field to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information on this case. Share your findings with your class next lesson.

3. MJ POSTER: Create a poster about the life of Michael Jackson.

4. LETTER TO MICHAEL: Write a letter to Michael Jackson telling him your thoughts on his trial.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

(a)  People have waited for Michael Jackson’s trial for a long time.  T
(b)  The world isn’t so interested in this case.  F
(c)  He could spend up to six months in prison.  F
(d) He is being accused of giving a thirteen-year-old boy alcohol and then seducing him in bed.  T
(e)  Jackson has accepted some of the charges against him.  F
(f)  Jackson does not believe he will get a fair trial.  F
(g)  Many of his fans believe he is guilty. F
(h)  Jackson’s plea to the world is, “please keep an open mind.”  T

DEFINITIONS:

(a) high profile (adj)
(i) relating to something that is  attracting a lot of attention and publicity in the newspapers and on TV

(b) molestation (n)
(ii) to do sexual things to someone against their wishes

(c) grip (v)
(i) to have a tight hold of something so that it can’t escape or fall

(d) trial (n)
(i) an event in which people listen to evidence about a crime and decide if someone is guilty or not guilty

(e) guilty (adj)
(i) to be judged that someone committed a crime

(f) conspiracy (n)
(i) an agreement by several people to commit a crime

(g) seducing (n)
(ii) to try to encourage another person to have sexual relations with you

(h) acquitted (v)
(i) to be found not guilty of a crime, free from all charges.

(i) open mind (n)
(ii) thinking about all opinions and facts equally and fairly

(j) innocence (n)
(ii) being not guilty

SYNONYM MATCH:

(a)	high profile	well-known
(b)	trial	court case
(c)	grip	fascinate
(d)	molestation	abuse
(e)	accused	charged
(f)	acquitted	freed
(g)	justice	truth
(h)	nightmare	torment
(i)	fans	supporters
(j)	innocence	clean hands

PHRASE MATCH:

(a)	It has been a long	time coming
(b)	high	profile trial
(c)	child	molestation
(d)	Jackson has denied	all charges
(e)	he believes in	justice
(f)	American legal	system
(g)	media	frenzy
(h)	report every tiny	detail
(i)	a news hungry	world
(j)	on the edge of their	seats

GAP FILL:

Michael Jackson trial

It has been a long time coming, but Michael Jackson’s high profile trial for child molestation starts Monday and is set to grip the world’s attention until it finishes. The trial could last up to six months, and if he is found guilty he could spend as many as 20 years in prison. The superstar pop singer is on trial for ten accounts of child molestation and conspiracy. He is being accused of giving a thirteen-year-old boy alcohol and then seducing him in bed. Jackson has denied all charges on his website, saying he would be “acquitted and vindicated when the truth is told”. He said he believes in justice and the fairness of the American legal system, and wants to receive fair treatment the same as any ordinary citizen. He also said his life has been a nightmare since being arrested in December 1993 at his ‘Neverland’ ranch in California. Journalists from all over the world are camped outside the court in the small town of Santa Maria in a media frenzy, and will report every tiny detail of the case to a news hungry world. His millions of fans will be on the edge of their seats throughout the trial and all believe in his innocence. Jackson’s plea to the world is, “please keep an open mind and let me have my day in court.”