Breaking News English

Date: Oct 3, 2007
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WARM-UPS

1. NORTH KOREA: Walk around the class and talk to other students about North Korea and South Korea. Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your original partner(s) and share what you found out.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

welcoming people / summits / bitter rivals / animosity / peace treaties /
lavish receptions / plastic flowers / greetings / sincerity / honors / borders

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. NEIGHBOURS: Do you get on with your neighbours? Discuss this with your partner(s). What do you think relations are like between these neighbours?

USA and Canada USA and Mexico India and Pakistan Iraq and Iran

Japan and China England and France South Africa and Zimbabwe You choose _____________________

4. RIVALS: Fill in the table below about rivals (bitter, friendly or healthy). Talk about what you wrote with your partner(s).

My rival in my English class is My biggest rival ever is My rival in my family is My rival in sports / music… is My country’s biggest rival is My favorite team’s biggest rival is A rival in love is/was

5. RIVALRY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word “rivalry”. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. QUICK DEBATE: Students A think the world should have no borders. Students B think the opposite. Change partners often. After your debates, share what you talked about.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	North Korea’s leader has visited South Korea for the second time.	T / F
b.	The two Koreas have been divided for almost sixty years.	T / F
c.	The Korean leaders signed a peace treaty in the year 2000.	T / F
d.	S. Korea’s President Moo-Hyun walked over the border to N. Korea.	T / F
e.	Lavish orchestras were in North Korea’s capital to greet Moo-Hyun.	T / F
f.	N. Koreas Kim Jong Il leapt up and down with excitement.	T / F
g.	Moo-Hyun’s motorcade arrival in Pyongyang was a rare event.	T / F
h.	North and South Koreans expect a peace deal in the coming days.	T / F

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

1.	welcomed	a.	VIPs
2	summit	b.	hostility
3.	rivals	c.	spectators
4.	animosity	d.	fancy
5.	promptly	e.	conference
6.	lavish	f.	arranged
7.	orchestrated	g.	greeted
8.	onlookers	h.	honesty
9.	sincerity	i.	swiftly
10.	dignitaries	j.	adversaries

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

1.	the second-ever summit	a.	its kind
2	spent most of the past six	b.	animosity between them
3.	meeting with the aim of ending the	c.	at onlookers
4.	the two states are still technically	d.	was lavish
5.	took the historic step of walking across	e.	unemotional throughout
6.	The reception in Pyongyang	f.	at war with one another
7.	Kim Jong-Il seemed reserved and	g.	the heavily militarized border
8.	he waved and smiled	h.	between the two Koreas
9.	it was the second of	i.	high-level dignitaries
10.	an honor only for	j.	decades as bitter rivals

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

Koreas meet for second time ever
 

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il __________ South Korea's president Roh Moo-Hyun to Pyongyang on October the 2nd for only the second-ever __________ between the two Koreas. The two neighbours have been divided since 1948 and have spent most of the past six decades as __________ rivals. The two leaders are meeting with the aim of ending the __________ between them. Since no peace treaty has ever been signed, the two states are still __________ at war with one another. President Moo-Hyun took the historic __________ of walking across the heavily __________ border that divides the Korean Peninsula. It is the first time that a South Korean leader has ever done this. Four North Korean officials were waiting to greet him. They __________ took him to North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, by car.		annum strain predicted due around taken warning originally
The reception in Pyongyang was __________ and in true North Korean style, __________ orchestrated. Citizens enthusiastically waved plastic flowers as they cheered the meeting of the two national leaders. Kim Jong-Il seemed __________ and unemotional throughout the proceedings, while South Korea’s leader appeared to enjoy every moment as he waved and smiled at __________. A government official said: “The greeting may seem to be less emotional and enthusiastic because it was the second of its __________ …However, the North showed its best sincerity.” Another spokesperson told reporters that such a welcome, with an open motorcade, is very rare and an __________ only for high-level __________. People on both sides of the border now hope their leaders can make further __________ towards peace.		sure crisis worries limit action ports build swift

LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Koreas meet for second time ever

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il welcomed South Korea's president Roh Moo-Hyun to Pyongyang on October the 2nd _______________________ summit between the two Koreas. The two neighbours have been divided since 1948 and _______________________ six decades as bitter rivals. The two leaders are meeting with the aim of _______________________ them. Since no peace treaty has ever been signed, the two states are still technically _______________________. President Moo-Hyun took the historic step of walking across the heavily militarized border that divides the Korean Peninsula. It is _______________________ South Korean leader has ever done this. Four North Korean officials _______________________. They promptly took him to North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, by car.

The reception in Pyongyang _______________________ North Korean style, _______________________. Citizens enthusiastically waved plastic flowers as they cheered the meeting of the two national leaders. Kim Jong-Il seemed reserved _______________________ the proceedings, while South Korea’s leader appeared to enjoy every moment as he waved and smiled at onlookers. A government official said: “The greeting may seem to be less emotional and enthusiastic because it was _______________________ …However, the North showed its best sincerity.” Another spokesperson told reporters that such a welcome, with an open motorcade, is very rare and an _______________________ dignitaries. People on both sides of the border now hope their leaders _______________________ towards peace.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘bitter’ and ‘rival’.

bitter

rival

• 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 exactly how these were used in the text:

welcomed summit bitter animosity technically promptly

lavish plastic onlookers second rare steps

STUDENT RIVALRY SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about rivalry 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What do you know about the situation between the two Koreas?
c)	Does your country get on well with its neighbours?
d)	Do you get on well with your neighbours?
e)	Do you know of any international rivalries that can compare with North and South Korea?
f)	What healthy rivalries does your country have with other countries?
g)	Do you think there is animosity between the people of North and South Korea?
h)	Why is North Korea seen as a pariah state?
i)	How do you think Moo-Hyun felt to be the first South Korean leader ever to walk across the border to North Korea?

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

a)	Did you like reading this article?
b)	What do you think of lavish, carefully orchestrated government greetings?
c)	Do you think the North Korean people should have waved real rather than plastic flowers?
d)	Why do you think the South Korean president seemed the happier of the two leaders?
e)	Do you think all countries should always open doors to refugees?
f)	Do you think the two Koreas will make peace soon and unify?
g)	Why do you think Kim Jong Il is so reluctant to unify the two Koreas?
h)	What questions would you like to ask Kim Jong Il?
i)	Did you like this discussion?

LANGUAGE

CORRECT WORD: Put the correct words from a–d below in the article.

Koreas meet for second time ever

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il welcomed South Korea's president Roh Moo-Hyun to Pyongyang on October the 2nd for (1) ____ the second-ever summit between the two Koreas. The two neighbours have been (2) ____ since 1948 and have spent most of the past six decades as (3) ____ rivals. The two leaders are meeting with the aim of ending the animosity between them. Since no peace treaty has ever been signed, the two states are still (4) ____ at war with one another. President Moo-Hyun took the historic step of walking across the (5) ____ militarized border that divides the Korean Peninsula. It is the first time that a South Korean leader has ever done this. Four North Korean officials were waiting to greet him. They (6) ____ took him to North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, by car.

The reception in Pyongyang was lavish and (7) ____ true North Korean style, expertly orchestrated. Citizens enthusiastically waved plastic flowers as they cheered the meeting of the two national leaders. Kim Jong-Il seemed
(8) ____ and unemotional throughout the proceedings, while South Korea’s leader appeared to enjoy every moment as he waved and smiled at (9) ____. A government official said: “The greeting may seem to be less emotional and enthusiastic because it was the second of its (10) ____ …However, the North showed its best (11) ____.” Another spokesperson told reporters that such a welcome, with an open motorcade, is very rare and an honor only for high-level dignitaries. People on both sides of the border now hope their leaders can make further (12) ____towards peace.

1.	(a)	only	(b)	justly	(c)	once	(d)	twice
2.	(a)	division	(b)	multiplied	(c)	splits	(d)	divided
3.	(a)	better	(b)	bitter	(c)	butter	(d)	batter
4.	(a)	technical	(b)	technique	(c)	technically	(d)	technician
5.	(a)	heavy	(b)	heaving	(c)	heavenly	(d)	heavily
6.	(a)	prompted	(b)	prompts	(c)	promptly	(d)	prompt
7.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	out	(d)	off
8.	(a)	reserving	(b)	reserved	(c)	reservation	(d)	reversed
9.	(a)	ones	(b)	on air	(c)	onwards	(d)	onlookers
10.	(a)	kind	(b)	kindness	(c)	kindly	(d)	kinder
11.	(a)	sincerely	(b)	sincerity	(c)	since	(d)	sincerest
12.	(a)	stepping	(b)	step	(c)	steps	(d)	steppes

WRITING: 

Write about rivalry for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

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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 more information about the two Koreas. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. BITTER RIVALS: Make a poster about two countries that are bitter rivals. Explain what divides them and make suggestions as to how the animosity between them could disappear. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about the effects of unification of the two Koreas on the Korean people and the world. Include imaginary interviews with a North and South Korean.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?

5. LETTER: Write a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Ask him three questions about his country. Give him three pieces of advice on what he should do to improve the lives of his people. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. F

b. T

c. F

d. T

e. F

f. F

g. T

h. F

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	welcomed	a.	greeted
2	summit	b.	conference
3.	rivals	c.	adversaries
4.	animosity	d.	hostility
5.	promptly	e.	swiftly
6.	lavish	f.	fancy
7.	orchestrated	g.	arranged
8.	onlookers	h.	spectators
9.	sincerity	i.	honesty
10.	dignitaries	j.	VIPs

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	the second-ever summit	a.	between the two Koreas
2	spent most of the past six	b.	decades as bitter rivals
3.	meeting with the aim of ending the	c.	animosity between them
4.	the two states are still technically	d.	at war with one another
5.	took the historic step of walking across	e.	the heavily militarized border
6.	The reception in Pyongyang	f.	was lavish
7.	Kim Jong-Il seemed reserved and	g.	unemotional throughout
8.	he waved and smiled	h.	at onlookers
9.	it was the second of	i.	its kind
10.	an honor only for	j.	high-level dignitaries

GAP FILL:

Koreas meet for second time ever

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il welcomed South Korea's president Roh Moo-Hyun to Pyongyang on October the 2nd for only the second-ever summit between the two Koreas. The two neighbours have been divided since 1948 and have spent most of the past six decades as bitter rivals. The two leaders are meeting with the aim of ending the animosity between them. Since no peace treaty has ever been signed, the two states are still technically at war with one another. President Moo-Hyun took the historic step of walking across the heavily militarized border that divides the Korean Peninsula. It is the first time that a South Korean leader has ever done this. Four North Korean officials were waiting to greet him. They promptly took him to North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, by car.

The reception in Pyongyang was lavish and in true North Korean style, expertly orchestrated. Citizens enthusiastically waved plastic flowers as they cheered the meeting of the two national leaders. Kim Jong-Il seemed reserved and unemotional throughout the proceedings, while South Korea’s leader appeared to enjoy every moment as he waved and smiled at onlookers. A government official said: “The greeting may seem to be less emotional and enthusiastic because it was the second of its kind…However, the North showed its best sincerity.” Another spokesperson told reporters that such a welcome, with an open motorcade, is very rare and an honor only for high-level dignitaries. People on both sides of the border now hope their leaders can make further steps towards peace.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - a

2 -d

3 - b

4 - c

5 - d

6 - c

7 -a

8 - b

9 -d

10 - a

11 - b

12 - c

 

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