The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A new report in England states that thousands of patients a year wake up during an operation. The report is from two leading organisations for anaesthetists – people who put us to sleep before surgery. It said: "At least 150, and possibly several thousand, patients a year are conscious while they are undergoing operations." Doctors say it is very rare for someone to wake up during major surgery. One doctor says it happens in one in every 19,000 operations. Patients who do wake up on the operating table reported having feelings of fear and panic. A patient cannot alert the doctors if he/she wakes up because the drugs relax their muscles so they cannot move or communicate.

Researchers looked at details from around three million operations in public hospitals in the U.K. and Ireland. They used the data to find areas that could be improved during an operation. They made a list of 64 recommendations to try and reduce accidents happening in operating theatres. The most basic recommendation was for doctors to use an anaesthesia checklist before each operation. This could reduce mistakes made by doctors and make sure the patient has the correct levels of the correct drugs. They also recommend using a monitor so doctors know if the patient wakes up and cannot move. A professor said: "I hope this report will ensure anaesthetists pay even greater attention to preventing episodes of awareness."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.nhs.uk/news/2014/09September/Pages/Hundreds-report-waking-up-during-surgery.aspx
  • http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/509217/Surgery-Awake-Patient-UK-Anaesthetic-NHS
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/hundreds-of-patients-wakeup-during-surgery-9724262.html


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. SURGERY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about surgery. 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?

 

new report / operation / patients / major surgery / wake up / operating table / relax / details / hospitals / recommendations / checklist / drugs / pay attention / awareness

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

3. DOCTORS: What do these doctors do? How important are they? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What do they do?

How important are they?

Allergist

 

 

Dermatologist

 

 

ENT Specialist

 

 

Neurologist

 

 

Pediatrician

 

 

Psychiatrist

 

 

4. AWAKE: Students A strongly believe it's better to be awake during surgery; Students B strongly believe it's better to be asleep.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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5. HOSPITAL: Rank these with your partner. Put the least scary things done at hospitals at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • blood donation

  • tooth pulled out

  • stitches

  • face lift

  • skin graft

  • appendix removal

  • liposuction

  • camera down throat

6. PATIENT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "patient". 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.

A report said over 10,000 patients woke up during surgery last year.

T / F

b.

An anaesthetist's job is to make us sleep before an operation.

T / F

c.

A doctor said it wasn't so rare for someone to wake up during surgery.

T / F

d.

Patients who wake up cannot talk because of drugs that relax muscles.

T / F

e.

Researchers used data from 3 million operations in their report.

T / F

f.

Researchers made over 100 recommendations to reduce accidents.

T / F

g.

Researchers said monitors to alert doctors would be of little use.

T / F

h.

A professor said anaesthetists did not need to pay more attention.

T / F

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

1.

leading

a.

uncommon

2.

undergoing

b.

facts

3.

rare

c.

fundamental

4.

alert

d.

major

5.

communicate

e.

stopping

6.

details

f.

cut

7.

improved

g.

having

8.

basic

h.

warn

9.

reduce

i.

bettered

10.

preventing

j.

tell

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

1.

two leading

a.

to wake up

2.

people who put us to

b.

and panic

3.

very rare for someone

c.

attention

4.

feelings of fear

d.

three million operations

5.

the drugs relax

e.

organisations

6.

details from around

f.

be improved

7.

find areas that could

g.

sleep before surgery

8.

operating

h.

correct drugs

9.

the correct levels of the

i.

their muscles

10.

pay even greater

j.

theatres

 

GAP FILL

A new report in England (1) ____________ that thousands of patients a year wake up during an operation. The report is from two leading organisations for anaesthetists – (2) ____________ who put us to sleep before surgery. It said: "At least 150, and possibly several thousand, patients a year are (3) ____________ while they are undergoing operations." Doctors say it is very (4) ____________ for someone to wake up during (5) ____________ surgery. One doctor says it happens in one in (6) ____________ 19,000 operations. Patients who do wake up on the operating table reported having feelings of fear and (7) ____________. A patient cannot alert the doctors if he/she wakes up because the drugs relax their (8) ____________ so they cannot move or communicate.

 

 

every
rare
people
muscles
states
major
conscious
panic

Researchers looked at (9) ____________ from around three million operations in public hospitals in the U.K. and Ireland. They used the data to find (10) ____________ that could be improved during an operation. They made a (11) ____________ of 64 recommendations to try and reduce accidents happening in operating theatres. The most (12) ____________ recommendation was for doctors to use an anaesthesia checklist before each operation. This could (13) ____________ mistakes made by doctors and make sure the patient has the correct (14) ____________ of the correct drugs. They also recommend using a (15) ____________ so doctors know if the patient wakes up and cannot move. A professor said: "I hope this report will ensure anaesthetists pay even greater (16) ____________ to preventing episodes of awareness."

 

reduce
monitor
areas
levels
details
basic
attention
list

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

thousands of patients a year wake up ______

 

a.  during the operation
b.  during any operation
c.  during an operation
d.  during and operation

2)

The report is from two ______

 

a.  leaping organisations
b.  leaving organisations
c.  loading organisations
d.  leading organisations

3)

At least 150, and possibly several thousand, patients a ______

 

a.  year are conscious
b.  year are consciously
c.  year are consciousness
d.  year are conscience

4)

Doctors say it is very rare for someone to wake up ______

 

a.  during made a surgery
b.  during may jar surgery
c.  during maid jar surgery
d.  during major surgery

5)

A patient cannot alert the doctors if he/she wakes up because the drugs ______

 

a.  relaxant their muscles
b.  relax their muscles
c.  relaxes their muscles
d.  relaxed their muscles

6)

Researchers looked at details from around three million operations ______

 

a.  in public hospitals
b.  in publics hospitals
c.  on public hospitals
d.  on publics hospitals

7)

try and reduce accidents happening in ______

 

a.  operation theatres
b.  operating cinemas
c.  operating theatres
d.  operations theatres

8)

The most basic recommendation was for doctors to use ______

 

a.  an anaesthesia checked list
b.  an anaesthesia checklist
c.  an anaesthesia checklists
d.  an anaesthesia checking list

9)

make sure the patient has the correct levels of ______

 

a.  the correct drugs
b.  the corrected drugs
c.  the correctly drugs
d.  the corrective drugs

10)

ensure anaesthetists pay even greater attention to preventing ______

 

a.  episodes of awareness
b.  episode of awareness
c.  episodic of awareness
d.  epee sodas of awareness

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A new report in England states that thousands of patients a year wake up (1) ___________________. The report is from two leading organisations for anaesthetists – people (2) ___________________ before surgery. It said: "At least 150, and possibly several thousand, patients (3) ___________________ they are undergoing operations." Doctors say (4) ___________________ someone to wake up during major surgery. One doctor says it happens in (5) ___________________ operations. Patients who do wake up on the operating table reported having feelings of fear and panic. A patient cannot alert the doctors if he/she wakes up because (6) ___________________ muscles so they cannot move or communicate.

Researchers (7) ___________________ around three million operations in public hospitals in the U.K. and Ireland. They used the data to find areas that could be improved during an operation. They (8) ___________________ recommendations to try and reduce accidents happening in operating theatres. The most (9) ___________________ was for doctors to use an anaesthesia checklist before each operation. This could reduce mistakes made by doctors (10) ___________________ patient has the correct levels of the correct drugs. They also recommend (11) ___________________ doctors know if the patient wakes up and cannot move. A professor said: "I hope this report will ensure anaesthetists pay (12) ___________________ to preventing episodes of awareness."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

Where is the report from?

2.

How many anaesthetists' organisations helped make the report?

3.

What is the minimum number of people who woke up in operations?

4.

How many people did a doctor say wake up during operations?

5.

What can't people do because of drugs?

6.

How many different operations did researchers look at?

7.

How many recommendations did the researchers make?

8.

What could a checklist reduce?

9.

What did researchers suggest so doctors know about waking patients?

10.

Who did a professor say needed to pay more attention?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

Where is the report from?

6.

How many different operations did researchers look at?

 

a) England
b) Japan
c) Brazil
d) Saudi Arabia

 

a) 30,000,000
b) three billion
c) 300,000
d) 3,000,000

2.

How many anaesthetists' organisations helped make the report?

7.

How many recommendations did the researchers make?

 

a) 4
b) 3
c) 2
d) 1

 

a) 65
b) 46
c) 64
d) 56

3.

What is the minimum number of people who woke up in operations?

8.

What could a checklist reduce?

 

a) 105
b) 115
c) 155
d) 150

 

a) surgery times
b) doctors' mistakes
c) blood loss
d) levels of drugs

4.

How many people did a doctor say wake up during operations?

9.

What did researchers suggest so doctors know about waking patients?

 

a) 19,000
b) one in 19,000
c) 19,000 in one
d) 19,001

 

a) giving more drugs
b) looking at patients every minute
c) using a monitor
d) giving patients a bell

5.

What can't people do because of drugs?

10.

Who did a professor say needed to pay more attention?

 

a) communicate
b) sleep
c) wake up
d) relax

 

a) everyone
b) anaesthetists
c) patients
d) researchers

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Blood donation

You think blood donation is the least scary thing to do in a hospital. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are really scary about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least scary of these (and why): stitches, tooth extraction or liposuction.

Role  B – Stitches

You think stitches is the least scary thing to do in a hospital. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are really scary about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least scary of these (and why): blood donation, tooth extraction or liposuction.

Role  C – Tooth extraction

You think tooth extraction is the least scary thing to do in a hospital. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are really scary about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least scary of these (and why): stitches, blood donation or liposuction.

Role  D – Liposuction

You think liposuction is the least scary thing to do in a hospital. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are really scary about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least scary of these (and why):  stitches, tooth extraction or blood donation.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

surgery

operation

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • states
  • two
  • least
  • rare
  • 19,000
  • relax
  • three
  • 64
  • basic
  • reduce
  • monitor
  • greater

SURGERY SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about surgery 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.

SURGERY 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 'operation'?

c)

What do you think of people waking up on the operating table?

d)

Would you prefer to be asleep or awake during an operation?

e)

Have you ever had an operation?

f)

How risky is it to have an operation?

g)

What would you do if you woke up during surgery

h)

Do you think a surgeon is a good job?

i)

Would you be a good surgeon?

j)

Brits usually say, "have an operation;" Americans say, "have surgery". Which do you like better?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

What are the hospitals like in your country?

c)

How scary would it be to wake up during an operation?

d)

It's 2014. Why do anaesthetists still need new checklists?

e)

Why do accidents happen in operating theatres?

f)

Should patients also check the checklist before their surgery?

g)

What would you do in the hours before an operation?

h)

What would you think about in the 30 minutes before surgery?

i)

If you had an operation, would you like to see a video of it after?

j)

What questions would you like to ask a surgeon?

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

A new report in England (1) ____ that thousands of patients a year wake up during an operation. The report is from two (2) ____ organisations for anaesthetists – people who put us to sleep before surgery. It said: "At least 150, and possibly several thousand, patients a year are (3) ____ while they are undergoing operations." Doctors say it is very rare (4) ____ someone to wake up during major surgery. One doctor says it happens in one in (5) ____ 19,000 operations. Patients who do wake up on the operating table reported having feelings of fear and panic. A patient cannot (6) ____ the doctors if he/she wakes up because the drugs relax their muscles so they cannot move or communicate.

Researchers looked at (7) ____ from around three million operations in public hospitals in the U.K. and Ireland. They used the data to find areas that could be (8) ____ during an operation. They made a list of 64 recommendations to try and reduce accidents happening in operating (9) ____. The most basic recommendation was for doctors to use an anaesthesia checklist before each operation. This could (10) ____ mistakes made by doctors and make sure the patient has the correct levels of the correct drugs. They also (11) ____ using a monitor so doctors know if the patient wakes up and cannot move. A professor said: "I hope this report will ensure anaesthetists (12) ____ even greater attention to preventing episodes of awareness."

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

1.

(a)

states

(b)

status

(c)

statues

(d)

starts

2.

(a)

leads

(b)

leads

(c)

leading

(d)

leader

3.

(a)

subconscious

(b)

unconscious

(c)

conscious

(d)

conscience

4.

(a)

with

(b)

to

(c)

by

(d)

for

5.

(a)

every

(b)

each

(c)

all

(d)

whole

6.

(a)

alarm

(b)

alert

(c)

endanger

(d)

emergency

7.

(a)

stuff

(b)

statistic

(c)

fact

(d)

details

8.

(a)

improving

(b)

improved

(c)

improvement

(d)

improves

9.

(a)

studios

(b)

cinemas

(c)

theatres

(d)

lounges

10.

(a)

reduces

(b)

reducing

(c)

reduction

(d)

reduce

11.

(a)

recompense

(b)

commend

(c)

command

(d)

recommend

12.

(a)

spend

(b)

pay

(c)

use

(d)

do

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

thousands of tnsetipa a year wake up

2.

possibly elvares thousand

3.

ncoucsois while they are undergoing….

4.

one in every 19,000 oarstnoepi

5.

the drugs relax their lsumsce

6.

they cannot move or tmmcuincaoe

Paragraph 2

7.

Researchers looked at liseadt

8.

areas that could be vedoiprm

9.

try and reduce ieacdcnts

10.

They also eremcodmn using a monitor

11.

pay even greater tntaetino

12.

etgnnverip episodes of awareness

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

19,000 operations. Patients who do wake up on the operating table reported having feelings of fear and panic. A patient cannot alert

(    )

and Ireland. They used the data to find areas that could be improved during an operation. They made a list

(    )

year are conscious while they are undergoing operations." Doctors say it is very

(    )

the doctors if he/she wakes up because the drugs relax their muscles so they cannot move or communicate.

(    )

operation. The report is from two leading organisations for anaesthetists – people who put us to

(    )

rare for someone to wake up during major surgery. One doctor says it happens in one in every

(    )

cannot move. A professor said: "I hope this report will ensure anaesthetists pay even greater attention to preventing episodes of awareness."

(    )

sleep before surgery. It said: "At least 150, and possibly several thousand, patients a

(    )

correct drugs. They also recommend using a monitor so doctors know if the patient wakes up and

(    )

Researchers looked at details from around three million operations in public hospitals in the U.K.

(    )

each operation. This could reduce mistakes made by doctors and make sure the patient has the correct levels of the

1  )

A new report in England states that thousands of patients a year wake up during an

(    )

theatres. The most basic recommendation was for doctors to use an anaesthesia checklist before

(    )

of 64 recommendations to try and reduce accidents happening in operating

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

of   patients   a   year  wake   up    during   an   operation   Thousands.

2.

who     before     put     surgery     us     to     People     sleep.    

3.

it    say   Doctors    up    wake    to    someone    for    rare    very    is.

4.

19,000     every     It     in     in     operations     happens     one.    

5.

drugs     muscles     cannot     The     their     they    relax    so    move.

6.

operations     Details     around     million     from     three.    

7.

each     before     checklist     anaesthesia     an     Use     operation.    

8.

doctors     by     made     mistakes     reduce     could     This.    

9.

cannot    and    up   wakes   the   Doctors   move    patient    if    know.

10.

even     attention     Ensure     pay     greater     anaesthetists.    

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A new / newly report in England states that thousands of patients a year wake up during an operation. The report is from two leaping / leading organisations for anaesthetists – people who put us to sleepy / sleep before surgery. It said: "At least 150, and possibly several thousand, patients a year are conscious / consciously while they are under / undergoing operations." Doctors say it is very rare / rarely for someone to wake up during major surgery. One doctor says it happening / happens in one in every 19,000 operations. Patients who do wake up on the operating table / desk reported having feelings of fear and panic / panics. A patient cannot alert the doctors if he/she wakes up because the drugs relax their muscles / biceps so they cannot move or communicate.

Researchers looked at retails / details from around three million operations in public hospitals in the U.K. and Ireland. They used / useful the data to find areas that could be improved / improvement during an operation. They made a list of 64 recommendations to try and redo / reduce accidents happening in operating theatres / studios. The most basic / basically recommendation was for doctors to use an anaesthesia checklist after / before each operation. This could reduce mistakes made by / for doctors and make sure the patient has the correct levels of the correct / correction drugs. They also recommend using a monitor so doctors know if the patient wakes up and cannot move. A professor said: "I hope this report will sure / ensure anaesthetists pay even greater attention to preventing episodes of awareness."

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)

_ n_w r_p_rt _n _ngl_nd st_t_s th_t th__s_nds _f p_t__nts _ y__r w_k_ _p d_r_ng _n _p_r_t__n. Th_ r_p_rt _s fr_m tw_ l__d_ng _rg_n_s_t__ns f_r _n__sth_t_sts – p__pl_ wh_ p_t _s t_ sl__p b_f_r_ s_rg_ry. _t s__d: "_t l__st 150, _nd p_ss_bly s_v_r_l th__s_nd, p_t__nts _ y__r _r_ c_nsc___s wh_l_ th_y _r_ _nd_rg__ng _p_r_t__ns." D_ct_rs s_y _t _s v_ry r_r_ f_r s_m__n_ t_ w_k_ _p d_r_ng m_j_r s_rg_ry. _n_ d_ct_r s_ys _t h_pp_ns _n _n_ _n _v_ry 19,000 _p_r_t__ns. P_t__nts wh_ d_ w_k_ _p _n th_ _p_r_t_ng t_bl_ r_p_rt_d h_v_ng f__l_ngs _f f__r _nd p_n_c. _ p_t__nt c_nn_t _l_rt th_ d_ct_rs _f h_/sh_ w_k_s _p b_c__s_ th_ dr_gs r_l_x th__r m_scl_s s_ th_y c_nn_t m_v_ _r c_mm_n_c_t_.

R_s__rch_rs l__k_d _t d_t__ls fr_m _r__nd thr__ m_ll__n _p_r_t__ns _n p_bl_c h_sp_t_ls _n th_ _.K. _nd _r_l_nd. Th_y _s_d th_ d_t_ t_ f_nd _r__s th_t c__ld b_ _mpr_v_d d_r_ng _n _p_r_t__n. Th_y m_d_ _ l_st _f 64 r_c_mm_nd_t__ns t_ try _nd r_d_c_ _cc_d_nts h_pp_n_ng _n _p_r_t_ng th__tr_s. Th_ m_st b_s_c r_c_mm_nd_t__n w_s f_r d_ct_rs t_ _s_ _n _n__sth_s__ ch_ckl_st b_f_r_ __ch _p_r_t__n. Th_s c__ld r_d_c_ m_st_k_s m_d_ by d_ct_rs _nd m_k_ s_r_ th_ p_t__nt h_s th_ c_rr_ct l_v_ls _f th_ c_rr_ct dr_gs. Th_y _ls_ r_c_mm_nd _s_ng _ m_n_t_r s_ d_ct_rs kn_w _f th_ p_t__nt w_k_s _p _nd c_nn_t m_v_. _ pr_f_ss_r s__d: "_ h_p_ th_s r_p_rt w_ll _ns_r_ _n__sth_t_sts p_y _v_n gr__t_r _tt_nt__n t_ pr_v_nt_ng _p_s_d_s _f _w_r_n_ss."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a new report in england states that thousands of patients a year wake up during an operation the report is from two leading organisations for anaesthetists – people who put us to sleep before surgery it said "at least 150 and possibly several thousand patients a year are conscious while they are undergoing operations" doctors say it is very rare for someone to wake up during major surgery one doctor says it happens in one in every 19000 operations patients who do wake up on the operating table reported having feelings of fear and panic a patient cannot alert the doctors if he/she wakes up because the drugs relax their muscles so they cannot move or communicate

researchers looked at details from around three million operations in public hospitals in the uk and ireland they used the data to find areas that could be improved during an operation they made a list of 64 recommendations to try and reduce accidents happening in operating theatres the most basic recommendation was for doctors to use an anaesthesia checklist before each operation this could reduce mistakes made by doctors and make sure the patient has the correct levels of the correct drugs they also recommend using a monitor so doctors know if the patient wakes up and cannot move a professor said "i hope this report will ensure anaesthetists pay even greater attention to preventing episodes of awareness"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AnewreportinEnglandstatesthatthousandsofpatientsayearwakeupduring
anoperation.Thereportisfromtwoleadingorganisationsforanaesthetists–
peoplewhoputustosleepbeforesurgery.Itsaid:"Atleast150,andpossiblysev
eralthousand,patientsayearareconsciouswhiletheyareundergoingoperati
ons."Doctorssayitisveryrareforsomeonetowakeupduringmajorsurgery.O
nedoctorsaysithappensinoneinevery19,000operations.Patientswhodowa
keupontheoperatingtablereportedhavingfeelingsoffearandpanic.Apatient
cannotalertthedoctorsifhe/shewakesupbecausethedrugsrelaxtheirmuscl
essotheycannotmoveorcommunicate.Researcherslookedatdetailsfromar
oundthreemillionoperationsinpublichospitalsintheU.K.andIreland.Theyus
edthedatatofindareasthatcouldbeimprovedduringanoperation.Theymade
alistof64recommendationstotryandreduceaccidentshappeninginoperatin
gtheatres.Themostbasicrecommendationwasfordoctorstouseananaesth
esiachecklistbeforeeachoperation.Thiscouldreducemistakesmadebydoct
orsandmakesurethepatienthasthecorrectlevelsofthecorrectdrugs.Theyal
sorecommendusingamonitorsodoctorsknowifthepatientwakesupandcan
notmove.Aprofessorsaid:"Ihopethisreportwillensureanaesthetistspayeve
ngreaterattentiontopreventingepisodesofawareness."

FREE WRITING

 

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

It's better to be awake during an operation. 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 people waking up during operations. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

4. 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.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on surgery. Ask him/her three questions about surgery. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make it safer. 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

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

leading

a.

major

2.

undergoing

b.

having

3.

rare

c.

uncommon

4.

alert

d.

warn

5.

communicate

e.

tell

6.

details

f.

facts

7.

improved

g.

bettered

8.

basic

h.

fundamental

9.

reduce

i.

cut

10.

preventing

j.

stopping

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

England

2.

Two

3.

150

4.

One in 19,000

5.

Communicate or move

6.

Around three million

7.

64

8.

Mistakes made by doctors

9.

Using a monitor

10.

Anaesthetists

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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