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Chinese maths teachers to help UK schools (14th March, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The British government is looking to China to try to improve the standard of maths in British schools. Students in the Chinese city of Shanghai have the highest international test results according to a global testing agency. There is a huge difference in numeracy levels between the UK and China. Britain's Times newspaper reports that: "The children of cleaners in Shanghai outperform those of UK doctors and lawyers in global maths tests." To attempt to rectify this situation, the UK government will hire 60 of Shanghai's best maths teachers. It is part of a new initiative called the National Numeracy Challenge, which aims at improving the mathematics ability of one million British students.

The UK government said it was shocked that Britain lagged far behind many countries in maths. It warned that poor numeracy is costing the country's economy up to $30 billion a year. Britain's education minister Elizabeth Truss, who recently returned from a fact-finding mission in China, stated: "We have some brilliant maths teachers in this country but what I saw in Shanghai and other Chinese cities has only strengthened my belief that we can learn from them." She added: "They have a can-do attitude to maths and I want us to match that, and their performance." She said: "Good maths qualifications have the greatest earnings potential and provide the strongest protection against unemployment.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/education-26533428
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10691030/Chinese-teachers-sent-into-English-schools-to-boost-results.html
http://news.tes.co.uk/b/news/2014/02/18/china-39-s-poorest-children-outperform-uk-39-s-wealthiest-in-international-maths-tests.aspx

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. MATHS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about maths. Change partners often and share your findings.

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

improve / standard / test results / numeracy / outperform / rectify / initiative / ability / shocked / lagged far behind / economy / fact-finding mission / brilliant / protection

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

3. SUBJECTS: How can we improve students' levels? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Subject	What's wrong now?	Improvements
Maths
English
Sport
Physics
IT
Cooking

4. ENGLISH: Students A strongly believe English is more important than maths; Students B strongly believe the opposite is true. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. CAREER: Rank these with your partner. Put the ones that will best help people find a job at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• maths

• English

• computer coding

• physics

• history

• engineering

• art

• woodwork

6. TEST: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "test". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	Shanghai students are the world's best a maths.	T / F
b.	Britain is just behind China in international test score tables.	T / F
c.	Chinese children do better at maths than British doctors and lawyers.	T / F
d.	The UK wants to employ 600 maths teachers from China.	T / F
e.	Poor competence in maths costs the UK economy up to $30bn a year.	T / F
f.	Britain's education minister said Chinese maths teachers were the best.	T / F
g.	The minister said Chinese students have a never-say-die attitude.	T / F
h.	Good maths qualifications greatly help employment opportunities.	T / F

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

1.	improve	a.	trailed
2.	standard	b.	do better
3.	huge	c.	cautioned
4.	outperform	d.	quality
5.	initiative	e.	gifted
6.	lagged	f.	income
7.	warned	g.	better
8.	brilliant	h.	equal
9.	match	i.	enormous
10.	earnings	j.	scheme

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

1.	improve the	a.	in numeracy levels
2.	according	b.	numeracy
3.	There is a huge difference	c.	initiative
4.	outperform those	d.	belief
5.	It is part of a new	e.	to a global testing agency
6.	Britain lagged	f.	finding mission
7.	poor	g.	potential
8.	a fact-	h.	standard of maths
9.	strengthened my	i.	far behind
10.	the greatest earnings	j.	of UK doctors

GAP FILL

The British government is (1) ____________ to China to try to improve the standard of maths in British schools. Students in the Chinese city of Shanghai have the (2) ____________ international test results according to a global testing agency. There is a (3) ____________ difference in numeracy levels between the UK and China. Britain's Times newspaper reports that: "The children of (4) ____________ in Shanghai outperform those of UK doctors and lawyers in (5) ____________ maths tests." To attempt to rectify this situation, the UK government will (6) ____________ 60 of Shanghai's best maths teachers. It is part of a new (7) ____________ called the National Numeracy Challenge, which (8) ____________ at improving the mathematics ability of one million British students.

initiative
global
huge
aims
looking
hire
highest
cleaners

The UK government said it was (9) ____________ that Britain lagged far behind many countries in maths. It warned that poor (10) ____________ is costing the country's economy up to $30 billion a year. Britain's education minister Elizabeth Truss, who (11) ____________ returned from a fact-finding (12) ____________ in China, stated: "We have some brilliant maths teachers in this country but what I saw in Shanghai and other Chinese cities has only (13) ____________ my belief that we can learn from them." She added: "They have a (14) ____________ attitude to maths and I want us to match that, and their performance." She said: "Good maths (15) ____________ have the greatest earnings potential and provide the strongest protection against (16) ____________.

qualifications
numeracy
can-do
strengthened
recently
shocked
unemployment
mission

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	looking to China to try to improve the ______
	a. standards of maths b. standardise of maths c. standard of maths d. standardisation of maths
2)	the highest international test results according to a ______
	a. globally testing agency b. global test in agency c. global testing agents see d. global testing agency
3)	There is a huge difference in ______
	a. numeracy level b. numeracy levels c. numerals levels d. numerals level
4)	attempt to ______ situation
	a. really fly this b. rectify this c. react of this d. wreck to fly this
5)	It is part of a ______
	a. news initiative b. new initiatives c. news initiatives d. new initiative
6)	The UK government said it was shocked that Britain ______
	a. lagged far behind b. lugged far behind c. legged far behind d. ragged far behind
7)	recently returned from a ______
	a. fact-funding mission b. fact-finding mission c. fact-fending mission d. fact-find in mission
8)	what I saw in Shanghai and other Chinese cities has only ______
	a. strengthened my belief b. strengthened my beliefs c. strengthened my believe d. strengthened my believer
9)	She added: "They have a ______ to maths"
	a. can-do attitude b. canned do attitude c. caned do attitude d. cannot-do attitude
10)	Good maths qualifications have the ______
	a. greatest earning potential b. great test earnings potential c. greatest earnings potential d. great test earnings potentially

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The British government is looking to China (1) ___________________ the standard of maths in British schools. Students in the Chinese city of Shanghai have (2) ___________________ test results according to a global testing agency. There is a huge difference (3) ___________________ between the UK and China. Britain's Times newspaper reports that: "The children of cleaners in Shanghai (4) ___________________ UK doctors and lawyers in global maths tests." To (5) ___________________ this situation, the UK government will hire 60 of Shanghai's best maths teachers. It is part of a new initiative called the National Numeracy Challenge, which aims at improving (6) ___________________ of one million British students.

The UK government (7) ___________________ Britain lagged far behind many countries in maths. It warned that (8) ___________________ the country's economy up to $30 billion a year. Britain's education minister Elizabeth Truss, who recently returned from (9) ___________________ in China, stated: "We have some brilliant maths teachers in this country but what I saw in Shanghai and other Chinese cities has only strengthened my belief (10) ___________________ from them." She added: "They have a can-do attitude to maths and (11) ___________________ that, and their performance." She said: "Good maths qualifications have the greatest earnings (12) ___________________ the strongest protection against unemployment.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What or who is looking to China for help?
2.	In which world city do students have the best maths scores?
3.	What kind of difference is there in British and Chinese numeracy levels?
4.	Who do Chinese children beat in their maths test scores?
5.	How many students does the British government aim to help?
6.	What does Britain trail?
7.	What is the cost of poor numeracy to the UK economy?
8.	What kind of mission was the UK education minister on in China?
9.	What kind of attitude did the minister say Chinese students had?
10.	What provides protection against unemployment?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What or who is looking to China for help?	6.	What does Britain trail?
	a) the UK government b) a numeracy initiative c) British maths graduates d) The International Maths Association		a) in education standards b) mental arithmetic tests c) South America d) many countries in maths
2.	In which world city do students have the best maths scores?	7.	What is the cost of poor numeracy to the UK economy?
	a) Tokyo b) Seoul c) Shanghai d) Kuala Lumpur		a) $13 trillion b) $30 million c) $30bn d) $13bn
3.	What kind of difference is there in British and Chinese numeracy levels?	8.	What kind of mission was the UK education minister on in China?
	a) slight b) visible c) tiny d) huge		a) a very secretive one b) a fact-finding one c) a religious one d) to secure investment
4.	Who do Chinese children beat in their maths test scores?	9.	What kind of attitude did the minister say Chinese students had?
	a) their teachers b) British doctors c) their parents d) Einstein		a) a no-go attitude b) a never-say-die attitude c) a can-do attitude d) a boom-or-bust attitude
5.	How many students does the British government aim to help?	10.	What provides protection against unemployment?
	a) a million b) 20 million c) half a million d) a quarter of a million		a) money b) good maths qualifications c) education d) investments

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Maths

You think maths is the best qualification to have when job-hunting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them about potential problems with their qualifications. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): English, computer coding or engineering.

Role B – English

You think English is the best qualification to have when job-hunting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them about potential problems with their qualifications. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): maths, computer coding or engineering.

Role C – Computer coding

You think computer coding is the best qualification to have when job-hunting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them about potential problems with their qualifications. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): English, maths or engineering.

Role D – Engineering

You think engineering is the best qualification to have when job-hunting. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them about potential problems with their qualifications. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): English, computer coding or maths.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

maths

teacher

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:

looking
according
huge
doctors
60
million

far
education
fact
belief
match
provide

MATHS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about maths 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.

MATHS DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'maths'?
c)	Did you like studying maths at school?
d)	How important is it to be good at maths?
e)	What are you good at and not so good at in maths?
f)	What do you think of Britain hiring Chinese maths teachers?
g)	How are you at mental arithmetic?
h)	Why are Chinese students so good at maths?
i)	Is maths more important than English?
j)	Describe a time you really needed maths to do something.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Why are some people good at maths and others aren't so good?
c)	Is maths less important now we have computers?
d)	How would a better ability in maths improve your life?
e)	Do you calculate in your head or on your mobile phone?
f)	What were your maths teachers like?
g)	What do you have a can-do attitude for?
h)	Do maths qualifications help you get better jobs?
i)	What's the most difficult thing about maths?
j)	What questions would you like to ask a maths expert?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The British government is (1) ____ to China to try to improve the standard of maths in British schools. Students in the Chinese city of Shanghai have the highest international test results (2) ____ to a global testing agency. There is a huge difference in (3) ____ levels between the UK and China. Britain's Times newspaper reports that: "The children of cleaners in Shanghai (4) ____ those of UK doctors and lawyers in global maths tests." To attempt to (5) ____ this situation, the UK government will hire 60 of Shanghai's best maths teachers. It is part of a new initiative called the National Numeracy Challenge, which aims (6) ____ improving the mathematics ability of one million British students.

The UK government said it was (7) ____ that Britain lagged far behind many countries in maths. It warned that poor numeracy is costing the country's economy up (8) ____ $30 billion a year. Britain's education minister Elizabeth Truss, who recently returned from a fact-finding mission in China, stated: "We have some brilliant maths teachers in this country but what I saw in Shanghai and other Chinese cities has (9) ____ strengthened my belief that we can learn from them." She added: "They have a (10) ____ attitude to maths and I want us to match (11) ____, and their performance." She said: "Good maths qualifications have the greatest earnings potential and (12) ____ the strongest protection against unemployment.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	viewing	(b)	staring	(c)	gazing	(d)	looking
2.	(a)	acceding	(b)	receding	(c)	recording	(d)	according
3.	(a)	numerical	(b)	numeracy	(c)	numerate	(d)	numbers
4.	(a)	underact	(b)	overdo	(c)	outperform	(d)	indifference
5.	(a)	sanctify	(b)	electrify	(c)	rectify	(d)	pacify
6.	(a)	at	(b)	to	(c)	of	(d)	on
7.	(a)	shocker	(b)	shocked	(c)	shocks	(d)	shock
8.	(a)	to	(b)	of	(c)	for	(d)	by
9.	(a)	true	(b)	only	(c)	with	(d)	many
10.	(a)	to-do	(b)	no-go	(c)	can-do	(d)	no-no
11.	(a)	time	(b)	strike	(c)	that	(d)	pairs
12.	(a)	provident	(b)	evade	(c)	undivided	(d)	provide

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	improve the rdaasdtn of maths
2.	igdcocnar to a global testing agency
3.	UK doctors and ealrwys
4.	ifrtecy this situation
5.	part of a new eiitainvti
6.	the ahtmescatmi ability
Paragraph 2
7.	Britain lgeadg far behind
8.	returned from a fact-finding nssiimo
9.	They have a can-do uatidtte
10.	Good maths qtiuisniafcoal
11.	have the greatest signaren potential
12.	the strongest protection against ynpemnumoetl

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	do attitude to maths and I want us to match that, and their performance." She said: "Good maths qualifications
( )	maths teachers in this country but what I saw in Shanghai and other Chinese cities has only
( )	of UK doctors and lawyers in global maths tests." To attempt to rectify this situation, the UK government will hire
( )	numeracy is costing the country's economy up to $30 billion a year. Britain's education
( )	The UK government said it was shocked that Britain lagged far behind many countries in maths. It warned that poor
( )	have the greatest earnings potential and provide the strongest protection against unemployment."
( )	minister Elizabeth Truss, who recently returned from a fact-finding mission in China, stated: "We have some brilliant
( 1 )	The British government is looking to China to try to improve the standard of maths in British schools. Students in
( )	the Chinese city of Shanghai have the highest international test results according to a global testing
( )	60 of Shanghai's best maths teachers. It is part of a new initiative called the National
( )	newspaper reports that: "The children of cleaners in Shanghai outperform those
( )	agency. There is a huge difference in numeracy levels between the UK and China. Britain's Times
( )	Numeracy Challenge, which aims at improving the mathematics ability of one million British students.
( )	strengthened my belief that we can learn from them." She added: "They have a can-

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	standard of maths in British schools Try to improve the.
2.	levels huge difference There in is numeracy a.
3.	lawyers and doctors UK of those Outperform.
4.	teachers The UK will hire 60 of Shanghai's best maths.
5.	mathematics British ability students of one The million.
6.	behind many Britain countries lagged in far maths.
7.	is numeracy Poor economy country's the costing.
8.	finding mission in China Recently returned from a fact.
9.	my we from Strengthened that learn belief can them.
10.	protection unemployment Provide strongest against the.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The British government is looking to China to try to improve the standardized / standard of maths in British schools. Students in the Chinese city of Shanghai have the highest international test results according as / to a global testing agency. There is a huge / hugely difference in numeracy levels between / among the UK and China. Britain's Times newspaper reports that: "The children of cleaners in Shanghai underperform / outperform those of UK doctors and lawyers in global maths tests." To attempt to rarify / rectify this situation, the UK government will fire / hire 60 of Shanghai's best maths teachers. It is partner / part of a new initiative / initiation called the National Numeracy Challenge, which aims to / at improving the mathematics ability of one million British students.

The UK government said it was shocked / shocks that Britain legged / lagged far behind many countries in maths. It warned that poor numerical / numeracy is costing the country's economy up to $30 billion a year. Britain's education minister Elizabeth Truss, who recently returned from a fact-finding / fact-funding mission in China, stated: "We have some brilliance / brilliant maths teachers in this country but what I seen / saw in Shanghai and other Chinese cities has only strengthened / strengthening my belief that we can learn from them." She added: "They have a can-do / to-do attitude to maths and I want us to match / patch that, and their performance." She said: "Good maths qualifications have the greatest earnings potent / potential and provide the strongest protection against unemployment.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ Br_t_sh g_v_rnm_nt _s l__k_ng t_ Ch_n_ t_ try t_ _mpr_v_ th_ st_nd_rd _f m_ths _n Br_t_sh sch__ls. St_d_nts _n th_ Ch_n_s_ c_ty _f Sh_ngh__ h_v_ th_ h_gh_st _nt_rn_t__n_l t_st r_s_lts _cc_rd_ng t_ _ gl_b_l t_st_ng _g_ncy. Th_r_ _s _ h_g_ d_ff_r_nc_ _n n_m_r_cy l_v_ls b_tw__n th_ _K _nd Ch_n_. Br_t__n's T_m_s n_wsp_p_r r_p_rts th_t: "Th_ ch_ldr_n _f cl__n_rs _n Sh_ngh__ __tp_rf_rm th_s_ _f _K d_ct_rs _nd l_wy_rs _n gl_b_l m_ths t_sts." T_ _tt_mpt t_ r_ct_fy th_s s_t__t__n, th_ _K g_v_rnm_nt w_ll h_r_ 60 _f Sh_ngh__'s b_st m_ths t__ch_rs. _t _s p_rt _f _ n_w _n_t__t_v_ c_ll_d th_ N_t__n_l N_m_r_cy Ch_ll_ng_, wh_ch __ms _t _mpr_v_ng th_ m_th_m_t_cs _b_l_ty _f _n_ m_ll__n Br_t_sh st_d_nts.

Th_ _K g_v_rnm_nt s__d _t w_s sh_ck_d th_t Br_t__n l_gg_d f_r b_h_nd m_ny c__ntr__s _n m_ths. _t w_rn_d th_t p__r n_m_r_cy _s c_st_ng th_ c__ntry's _c_n_my _p t_ $30 b_ll__n _ y__r. Br_t__n's _d_c_t__n m_n_st_r _l_z_b_th Tr_ss, wh_ r_c_ntly r_t_rn_d fr_m _ f_ct-f_nd_ng m_ss__n _n Ch_n_, st_t_d: "W_ h_v_ s_m_ br_ll__nt m_ths t__ch_rs _n th_s c__ntry b_t wh_t _ s_w _n Sh_ngh__ _nd _th_r Ch_n_s_ c_t__s h_s _nly str_ngth_n_d my b_l__f th_t w_ c_n l__rn fr_m th_m." Sh_ _dd_d: "Th_y h_v_ _ c_n-d_ _tt_t_d_ t_ m_ths _nd _ w_nt _s t_ m_tch th_t, _nd th__r p_rf_rm_nc_." Sh_ s__d: "G__d m_ths q__l_f_c_t__ns h_v_ th_ gr__t_st __rn_ngs p_t_nt__l _nd pr_v_d_ th_ str_ng_st pr_t_ct__n _g__nst _n_mpl_ym_nt.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the british government is looking to china to try to improve the standard of maths in british schools students in the chinese city of shanghai have the highest international test results according to a global testing agency there is a huge difference in numeracy levels between the uk and china britain's times newspaper reports that "the children of cleaners in shanghai outperform those of uk doctors and lawyers in global maths tests" to attempt to rectify this situation the uk government will hire 60 of shanghai's best maths teachers it is part of a new initiative called the national numeracy challenge which aims at improving the mathematics ability of one million british students

the uk government said it was shocked that britain lagged far behind many countries in maths it warned that poor numeracy is costing the country's economy up to $30 billion a year britain's education minister elizabeth truss who recently returned from a fact-finding mission in china stated "we have some brilliant maths teachers in this country but what i saw in shanghai and other chinese cities has only strengthened my belief that we can learn from them" she added "they have a can-do attitude to maths and i want us to match that and their performance" she said "good maths qualifications have the greatest earnings potential and provide the strongest protection against unemployment

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheBritishgovernmentislookingtoChinatotrytoimprovethestanda
rdofmathsinBritishschools.StudentsintheChinesecityofShanghai
havethehighestinternationaltestresultsaccordingtoaglobaltestin
gagency.ThereisahugedifferenceinnumeracylevelsbetweentheU
KandChina.Britain'sTimesnewspaperreportsthat:"Thechildrenof
cleanersinShanghaioutperformthoseofUKdoctorsandlawyersingl
obalmathstests."Toattempttorectifythissituation,theUKgovernm
entwillhire60ofShanghai'sbestmathsteachers.Itispartofanewinit
iativecalledtheNationalNumeracyChallenge,whichaimsatimprovi
ngthemathematicsabilityofonemillionBritishstudents.TheUKgov
ernmentsaiditwasshockedthatBritainlaggedfarbehindmanycoun
triesinmaths.Itwarnedthatpoornumeracyiscostingthecountry'se
conomyupto$30billionayear.Britain'seducationministerElizabeth
Truss,whorecentlyreturnedfromafact-findingmissioninChina,s
tated:"Wehavesomebrilliantmathsteachersinthiscountrybutwha
tIsawinShanghaiandotherChinesecitieshasonlystrengthenedmy
beliefthatwecanlearnfromthem."Sheadded:"Theyhaveacan-doa
ttitudetomathsandIwantustomatchthat,andtheirperformance."S
hesaid:"Goodmathsqualificationshavethegreatestearningspoten
tialandprovidethestrongestprotectionagainstunemployment.

FREE WRITING

Write about maths for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Compare and contrast maths and English in terms of career prospects.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 maths. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MATHS: Make a poster about maths. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. NUMERACY: Write a magazine article about maths and English and which one is more important. Include imaginary interviews with people who think maths is and people who think English is.

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 a maths expert. Ask him/her three questions about maths. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make students better at it. 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	improve	a.	better
2.	standard	b.	quality
3.	huge	c.	enormous
4.	outperform	d.	do better
5.	initiative	e.	scheme
6.	lagged	f.	trailed
7.	warned	g.	cautioned
8.	brilliant	h.	gifted
9.	match	i.	equal
10.	earnings	j.	income

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The British government
2.	Shanghai
3.	A huge difference
4.	British doctors and lawyers
5.	One million
6.	Many countries in maths
7.	$30 billion
8.	A fact-finding mission
9.	A can-do attitude
10.	Good maths qualifications

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

a

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

d

7.

c

8.

b

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Chinese maths teachers to help UK schools (14th March, 2014)

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