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Paris halts filming of action movies after terror attacks (9th February, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Authorities in Paris have halted the filming of scenes from action movies on its streets in the wake of the recent terror attacks. The city is still on high alert following the attack on the magazine Charlie Hebdo and other attacks, which left 20 people dead. Security has been heightened around synagogues, newspaper and broadcasting offices and shopping malls. Armed police and soldiers are clearly visible on the streets. Security measures have now been extended to the movie industry. Paris' police commander Sylvie Barnaud said: "There's a problem with these action-type scenes, as the actors in uniform could be targets for terrorists….Also, the actors could pose confusion for the general public."

Ms Barnaud said she did not know how long the ban would last but feels the time is not right for car chases, fake weapons and pyrotechnics. She said: "I was shocked to hear witnesses of the Charlie Hebdo attacks say on television that it seemed like a movie shoot". One French movie insider said the new restrictions could have an impact on big American productions. She said: "It's not the right moment to do it. Even if Steven Spielberg wanted to film a big scene with police and a shoot-out in the streets…I'm sure it would not have got made. Paris is hosting the annual Film Set Fair this week, hoping to attract big productions. Filmmakers are worried the restrictions could reduce the number of movies filmed in Paris.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31163424
http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/5/7984431/paris-action-movie-ban-terror-attacks
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/paris-bans-filming-of-action-movies-in-wake-of-charlie-hebdo-attacks-10026471.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. ACTION MOVIES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about action movies. 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?

filming / action movies / terror attacks / security / armed police / uniforms / confuse / ban / car chases / weapons / pyrotechnics / witnesses / shoot-out / annual / worried

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

3. MOVIES: How could these be better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Genre	Why are they good?	How could they be better?
Action movies
Romance
Sci-fi
Animation
Spy movies
Horror

4. BAN: Students A strongly believe Paris is wrong to ban the filming of action movies because of the terror attacks; Students B strongly believe otherwise. 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. ACTION MOVIES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about action movies at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• actors

• the story

• the locations

• the music

• the car chases

• the fights

• the special effects

• the ending

6. SECURITY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "security". 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.	The French government has banned action movies being made in Paris.	T / F
b.	Security has been relaxed in buildings such as shopping malls.	T / F
c.	Armed police can easily be seen on the streets.	T / F
d.	The police said people could get confused if they saw movie filming.	T / F
e.	The police leader said the ban would be for three months.	T / F
f.	The ban does not apply to Steven Spielberg movies.	T / F
g.	A yearly fair based on film sets will be in Paris this week.	T / F
h.	Filmmakers are worried that fewer movies will be made in Paris.	T / F

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

1.	authorities	a.	expanded
2.	in the wake of	b.	observers
3.	heightened	c.	following
4.	extended	d.	imitation
5.	pose	e.	holding
6.	fake	f.	officials
7.	witnesses	g.	present
8.	impact	h.	lessen
9.	hosting	i.	effect
10.	reduce	j.	increased

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

1.	halted the filming of scenes	a.	visible on the streets
2.	in the wake of the recent	b.	alert
3.	The city is still on high	c.	weapons
4.	Security has been heightened	d.	moment to do it
5.	soldiers are clearly	e.	terror attacks
6.	she did not know how long	f.	filmed in Paris
7.	fake	g.	from action movies
8.	It's not the right	h.	out in the streets
9.	a shoot-	i.	the ban would last
10.	reduce the number of movies	j.	around synagogues

GAP FILL

Authorities in Paris have (1) ____________ the filming of scenes from action movies on its streets in the (2) ____________ of the recent terror attacks. The city is still on high (3) ____________ following the attack on the magazine Charlie Hebdo and other attacks, which left 20 people dead. Security has been (4) ____________ around synagogues, newspaper and broadcasting offices and shopping malls. Armed police and soldiers are clearly (5) ____________ on the streets. Security measures have now been (6) ____________ to the movie industry. Paris' police commander Sylvie Barnaud said: "There's a problem with these action-type (7) ____________, as the actors in uniform could be targets for terrorists….Also, the actors could (8) ____________ confusion for the general public."

heightened
halted
scenes
alert
extended
pose
wake
visible

Ms Barnaud said she did not know how long the (9) ____________ would last but feels the time is not right for car chases, (10) ____________ weapons and pyrotechnics. She said: "I was shocked to hear (11) ____________ of the Charlie Hebdo attacks say on television that it seemed like a movie shoot." One French movie (12) ____________ said the new restrictions could have an (13) ____________ on big American productions. She said: "It's not the right moment to do it. Even if Steven Spielberg wanted to film a big scene with police and a (14) ____________ in the streets…I'm sure it would not have got made." Paris is hosting the annual Film Set Fair this week, hoping to (15) ____________ big productions. Filmmakers are worried the restrictions could (16) ____________ the number of movies filmed in Paris.

insider
fake
shoot-out
ban
reduce
impact
attract
witnesses

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	halted the filming of scenes from action movies on its streets ______ the recent terror attacks
	a. in the wakes of b. in the waking of c. in the wake of d. in the awoke of
2)	The city is still on high alert ______
	a. following an attack b. following the attack c. following this attack d. following these attacks
3)	Security has been heightened ______
	a. abound synagogues b. a round synagogues c. a bound synagogues d. around synagogues
4)	Armed police and soldiers are clearly ______
	a. visible on the streets b. visibility on the streets c. risible on the streets d. divisible on the streets
5)	the actors in uniform could be targets ______
	a. from terrorists b. four terrorists c. for terrorists d. fore terrorists
6)	the time is not right for car chases, ______ pyrotechnics
	a. faked weapons and b. fakes weapons and c. faking weapons and d. fake weapons and
7)	the new restrictions could have an ______ American productions
	a. impact on big b. impact in big c. impact ton big d. impacts on big
8)	It's not the right ______
	a. moment to be it b. moment to have it c. moment to film it d. moment to do it
9)	Paris is hosting the annual Film Set Fair this week, hoping ______ productions
	a. to attract bigger b. to attract biggest c. to attract big d. to attract bigwigs
10)	Filmmakers are worried the restrictions could reduce the number ______ Paris
	a. of movies films in b. of movies filmed in c. of movies filming in d. of movies film in

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Authorities in Paris (1) ___________________ filming of scenes from action movies on its streets (2) ___________________ the recent terror attacks. The city is (3) ___________________ following the attack on the magazine Charlie Hebdo and other attacks, which left 20 people dead. Security has been heightened around synagogues, newspaper and broadcasting offices and shopping malls. Armed police and soldiers (4) ___________________ on the streets. Security measures have now been extended to the movie industry. Paris' police commander Sylvie Barnaud said: "There's a problem with these (5) ___________________, as the actors in uniform could be targets for terrorists….Also, the actors could pose confusion for (6) ___________________."

Ms Barnaud said she did not know (7) ___________________ would last but feels the time is not right for car chases, (8) ___________________ and pyrotechnics. She said: "I was shocked to (9) ___________________ the Charlie Hebdo attacks say on television that it seemed like a movie shoot." One French movie insider said the new restrictions (10) ___________________ on big American productions. She said: "It's not the right moment to do it. Even if Steven Spielberg wanted to film a big scene with police and a shoot-out in the streets…I'm sure it would not have got made." Paris is (11) ___________________ Film Set Fair this week, hoping to attract big productions. Filmmakers are worried the restrictions could reduce the (12) ___________________ filmed in Paris.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Who in Paris halted the filming of scenes from action movies?
2.	What has happened to security around shopping malls?
3.	Where are armed police clearly visible?
4.	Who did a police leader say could be targets for terrorists?
5.	For whom could the actors in action movie scenes be confusing?
6.	How long did Ms Barnaud say the ban would last?
7.	Who said the restrictions could impact big American productions?
8.	What is Paris hosting this week?
9.	What is Paris hoping to attract?
10.	Who is worried the number of movies made in France will go down?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Who in Paris halted the filming of scenes from action movies?	6.	How long did Ms Barnaud say the ban would last?
	a) filmmakers b) authorities c) actors d) the French president		a) she didn't know b) she said as long as it takes c) 3 months d) until the end of the year
2.	What has happened to security around shopping malls?	7.	Who said the restrictions could impact big American productions?
	a) nothing b) it has been relaxed c) it has disappeared d) it has been heightened		a) Sylvie Barnaud b) an actor c) a movie insider d) Steven Spielberg
3.	Where are armed police clearly visible?	8.	What is Paris hosting this week?
	a) on the streets b) in movie theatres c) in action movies d) in police stations		a) the Film Set Fair b) the G8 Summit c) a fashion show d) an action movie exhibition
4.	Who did a police leader say could be targets for terrorists?	9.	What is Paris hoping to attract?
	a) the general public b) Steven Spielberg c) actors d) Sylvie Barnaud		a) big productions b) tourists c) movie fans d) restrictions
5.	For whom could the actors in action movie scenes be confusing?	10.	Who is worried the number of movies made in France will go down?
	a) the actors b) the general public c) terrorists d) filmmakers		a) Sylvie Barnaud b) Steven Spielberg c) the general public d) filmmakers

ROLE PLAY

Role A – The actors

You think the actors are the most important things in an action movie. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): the music, the story or the special effects.

Role B – The music

You think the music is the most important thing in an action movie. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): the actors, the story or the special effects.

Role C – The story

You think the story is the most important thing in an action movie. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): the music, the actors or the special effects.

Role D – The special effects

You think the special effects are the most important things in an action movie. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): the music, the story or the actors.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

action

movie

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:

wake
high
around
clearly
scenes
general

feels
hear
impact
right
annual
number

ACTION MOVIES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about action movies 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.

ACTION MOVIES DISCUSSION

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

1)	What did you think when you read the headline?
2)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'movie'?
3)	What kind of movies do you like?
4)	What do you think about what you read?
5)	Are Paris authorities right to ban the filming of action movies?
6)	Is the ban a victory for the terrorists?
7)	What kind of security is there in your town?
8)	Would you be comforted or alarmed at the site of soldiers in the street?
9)	What could authorities do so the public know it's just a movie?
10)	Should schools and hospitals also have armed security?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	Do you agree with Ms Barnaud?
13)	Was the footage of the Charlie Hebdo attack like a movie?
14)	Would you have imposed the ban if it were your decision?
15)	Shouldn't all cities ban filming involving fake weapons and pyrotechnics?
16)	What needs to happen to make the authorities lift the ban?
17)	How damaging is the ban for Paris?
18)	How damaging is the ban for the movie industry?
19)	Should Paris encourage more romantic movies?
20)	What questions would you like to ask the authorities in Paris?

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

Authorities in Paris have (1) ____ the filming of scenes from action movies on its streets in the wake of the recent terror attacks. The city is still on (2) ____ alert following the attack on the magazine Charlie Hebdo and other attacks, which left 20 people dead. Security has been (3) ____ around synagogues, newspaper and broadcasting offices and shopping malls. Armed police and soldiers are (4) ____ visible on the streets. Security measures have now been extended to the movie industry. Paris' police commander Sylvie Barnaud said: "There's a problem with these action-(5) ____ scenes, as the actors in uniform could be targets for terrorists….Also, the actors could pose confusion for the general (6) ____."

Ms Barnaud said she did not know how long the ban would (7) ____ but feels the time is not right for car chases, fake weapons and pyrotechnics. She said: "I was shocked to hear witnesses of the Charlie Hebdo attacks say (8) ____ television that it seemed like a movie shoot." One French movie insider said the new restrictions could have an impact (9) ____ big American productions. She said: "It's not the right moment to do it. Even if Steven Spielberg wanted to film a big scene with police and a shoot-(10) ____ in the streets…I'm sure it would not have got made." Paris is hosting the annual Film Set Fair this week, (11) ____ to attract big productions. Filmmakers are worried the restrictions could (12) ____ the number of movies filmed in Paris.

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

1.	(a)	halted	(b)	halting	(c)	halts	(d)	halt
2.	(a)	tall	(b)	above	(c)	high	(d)	up
3.	(a)	taller	(b)	upping	(c)	heightened	(d)	elevation
4.	(a)	clarity	(b)	clears	(c)	cleared	(d)	clearly
5.	(a)	type	(b)	kind	(c)	sort	(d)	variety
6.	(a)	publicity	(b)	public	(c)	private	(d)	privately
7.	(a)	runner-up	(b)	second	(c)	first	(d)	last
8.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	of	(d)	by
9.	(a)	to	(b)	of	(c)	on	(d)	by
10.	(a)	up	(b)	out	(c)	over	(d)	on
11.	(a)	hooping	(b)	happening	(c)	hopping	(d)	hoping
12.	(a)	deduce	(b)	reduce	(c)	educe	(d)	puce

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	dathle the filming
2.	Security has been ithdheegne
3.	clearly eiisblv on the streets
4.	Security eerssamu
5.	the actors in fnmriou
6.	the actors could pose unfnsooic
Paragraph 2
7.	fake eanwspo and pyrotechnics
8.	esswitsen of the Charlie Hebdo attacks
9.	the new sretcnsoirti
10.	big American psunoocditr
11.	a othso-tou in the streets
12.	hosting the nunala Film Set Fair

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	magazine Charlie Hebdo and other attacks, which left 20 people dead. Security has been heightened
( )	Ms Barnaud said she did not know how long the ban would last but feels the time is not right for car
( )	sure it would not have got made." Paris is hosting the annual Film Set Fair this week, hoping to attract
( )	big productions. Filmmakers are worried the restrictions could reduce the number of movies filmed in Paris.
( )	do it. Even if Steven Spielberg wanted to film a big scene with police and a shoot-out in the streets…I'm
( 1 )	Authorities in Paris have halted the filming of scenes from action movies on its streets in the wake
( )	commander Sylvie Barnaud said: "There's a problem with these action-type scenes, as the actors
( )	chases, fake weapons and pyrotechnics. She said: "I was shocked to hear witnesses of the Charlie Hebdo attacks
( )	say on television that it seemed like a movie shoot." One French movie insider said the new restrictions could
( )	in uniform could be targets for terrorists….Also, the actors could pose confusion for the general public."
( )	visible on the streets. Security measures have now been extended to the movie industry. Paris' police
( )	around synagogues, newspaper and broadcasting offices and shopping malls. Armed police and soldiers are clearly
( )	of the recent terror attacks. The city is still on high alert following the attack on the
( )	have an impact on big American productions. She said: "It's not the right moment to

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	on its streets The filming of scenes from action movies .
2.	city is still on high alert following the attack The .
3.	has heightened synagogues Security been around .
4.	soldiers visible streets and clearly the Police are on .
5.	type There's with - problem action scenes a these .
6.	how long the ban would last She did not know .
7.	time The chases car for right not is .
8.	it got sure have I'm not would made .
9.	is hosting the annual Film Set Fair this week Paris .
10.	the in number Paris of movies Reduce filmed .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Authorities in Paris have halted / halting the filming of scenes from action movies on its streets in the sleep / wake of the recent terror attacks. The city is still on high / height alert following the attack on the magazine Charlie Hebdo and other attacks, which leaves / left 20 people dead. Security has been / being heightened around synagogues, newspaper and broadcasting offices and shopping malls. Armed / Arming police and soldiers are clearly visible on the streets. Security measurements / measures have now been extended to the movie industry. Paris' police commander Sylvie Barnaud said: "There's a problem with these action-type / action-kind scenes, as the actors in uniform could be targets from / for terrorists….Also, the actors could pose confusion for the general public / private."

Ms Barnaud said she did not know how long the ban would lasted / last but feels the time is not right for car chases, fake / flake weapons and pyrotechnics. She said: "I was shocked / shocking to hear witnesses of the Charlie Hebdo attacks say / talk on television that it seemed like a movie shoot." One French movie insider said the new restrictions could have an impact / compact on big American productions. She said: "It's not the right moment / momentum to do it. Even if Steven Spielberg wanted to film a big scene / scenery with police and a shoot-out in the streets…I'm sure it would not have got making / made." Paris is hosting the annual Film Set Fair this week, hoping to attraction / attract big productions. Filmmakers are worried the restrictions could reduce / deduce the number of movies filmed in Paris.

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_r_t__s _n P_r_s h_v_ h_lt_d th_ f_lm_ng _f sc_n_s fr_m _ct__n m_v__s _n _ts str__ts _n th_ w_k_ _f th_ r_c_nt t_rr_r _tt_cks. Th_ c_ty _s st_ll _n h_gh _l_rt f_ll_w_ng th_ _tt_ck _n th_ m_g_z_n_ Ch_rl__ H_bd_ _nd _th_r _tt_cks, wh_ch l_ft 20 p__pl_ d__d. S_c_r_ty h_s b__n h__ght_n_d _r__nd syn_g_g__s, n_wsp_p_r _nd br__dc_st_ng _ff_c_s _nd sh_pp_ng m_lls. _rm_d p_l_c_ _nd s_ld__rs _r_ cl__rly v_s_bl_ _n th_ str__ts. S_c_r_ty m__s_r_s h_v_ n_w b__n _xt_nd_d t_ th_ m_v__ _nd_stry. P_r_s' p_l_c_ c_mm_nd_r Sylv__ B_rn__d s__d: "Th_r_'s _ pr_bl_m w_th th_s_ _ct__n-typ_ sc_n_s, _s th_ _ct_rs _n _n_f_rm c__ld b_ t_rg_ts f_r t_rr_r_sts…._ls_, th_ _ct_rs c__ld p_s_ c_nf_s__n f_r th_ g_n_r_l p_bl_c."

Ms B_rn__d s__d sh_ d_d n_t kn_w h_w l_ng th_ b_n w__ld l_st b_t f__ls th_ t_m_ _s n_t r_ght f_r c_r ch_s_s, f_k_ w__p_ns _nd pyr_t_chn_cs. Sh_ s__d: "_ w_s sh_ck_d t_ h__r w_tn_ss_s _f th_ Ch_rl__ H_bd_ _tt_cks s_y _n t_l_v_s__n th_t _t s__m_d l_k_ _ m_v__ sh__t." _n_ Fr_nch m_v__ _ns_d_r s__d th_ n_w r_str_ct__ns c__ld h_v_ _n _mp_ct _n b_g _m_r_c_n pr_d_ct__ns. Sh_ s__d: "_t's n_t th_ r_ght m_m_nt t_ d_ _t. _v_n _f St_v_n Sp__lb_rg w_nt_d t_ f_lm _ b_g sc_n_ w_th p_l_c_ _nd _ sh__t-__t _n th_ str__ts…_'m s_r_ _t w__ld n_t h_v_ g_t m_d_." P_r_s _s h_st_ng th_ _nn__l F_lm S_t F__r th_s w__k, h_p_ng t_ _ttr_ct b_g pr_d_ct__ns. F_lmm_k_rs _r_ w_rr__d th_ r_str_ct__ns c__ld r_d_c_ th_ n_mb_r _f m_v__s f_lm_d _n P_r_s.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

authorities in paris have halted the filming of scenes from action movies on its streets in the wake of the recent terror attacks the city is still on high alert following the attack on the magazine charlie hebdo and other attacks which left 20 people dead security has been heightened around synagogues newspaper and broadcasting offices and shopping malls armed police and soldiers are clearly visible on the streets security measures have now been extended to the movie industry paris' police commander sylvie barnaud said "there's a problem with these action-type scenes as the actors in uniform could be targets for terrorists…also the actors could pose confusion for the general public"

ms barnaud said she did not know how long the ban would last but feels the time is not right for car chases fake weapons and pyrotechnics she said "i was shocked to hear witnesses of the charlie hebdo attacks say on television that it seemed like a movie shoot" one french movie insider said the new restrictions could have an impact on big american productions she said "it's not the right moment to do it even if steven spielberg wanted to film a big scene with police and a shoot-out in the streets…i'm sure it would not have got made" paris is hosting the annual film set fair this week hoping to attract big productions filmmakers are worried the restrictions could reduce the number of movies filmed in paris

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AuthoritiesinParishavehaltedthefilmingofscenesfromactionmovieso
nitsstreetsinthewakeoftherecentterrorattacks.Thecityisstillonhigha
lertfollowingtheattackonthemagazineCharlieHebdoandotherattacks
,whichleft20peopledead.Securityhasbeenheightenedaroundsynago
gues,newspaperandbroadcastingofficesandshoppingmalls.Armedp
oliceandsoldiersareclearlyvisibleonthestreets.Securitymeasuresha
venowbeenextendedtothemovieindustry.Paris'policecommanderSylvie
Barnaudsaid:"There'saproblemwiththeseaction-typescen
es,astheactorsinuniformcouldbetargetsforterrorists….Also,theactor
scouldposeconfusionforthegeneralpublic."MsBarnaudsaidshedidnot
knowhowlongthebanwouldlastbutfeelsthetimeisnotrightforcarchas
es,fakeweaponsandpyrotechnics.Shesaid:"Iwasshockedtohearwitn
essesoftheCharlieHebdoattackssayontelevisionthatitseemedlikeam
ovieshoot."OneFrenchmovieinsidersaidthenewrestrictionscouldhav
eanimpactonbigAmericanproductions.Shesaid:"It'snottherightmo
menttodoit.EvenifStevenSpielbergwantedtofilmabigscenewithpolic
eandashoot-outinthestreets…I'msureitwouldnothavegotmade."Pari
sishostingtheannualFilmSetFairthisweek,hopingtoattractbigproduc
tions.Filmmakersareworriedtherestrictionscouldreducethenumbero
fmoviesfilmedinParis.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Compare and contrast action movies and romantic movies. Which are better? Why?

_____________________________________________________________________________

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

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

4. THE BAN: Write a magazine article about the ban on filming action movies in Paris. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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 the head of police in Paris. Ask her three questions about the ban on filming action movies. Give her three pieces of advice on what to do from now. 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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	authorities	a.	officials
2	in the wake of	b.	following
3.	heightened	c.	increased
4.	extended	d.	expanded
5.	pose	e.	present
6.	fake	f.	imitation
7.	witnesses	g.	observers
8.	impact	h.	effect
9.	hosting	i.	holding
10.	reduce	j.	lessen

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Authorities
2.	It has heightened
3.	On the streets
4.	Actors
5.	The general public
6.	She didn't know
7.	A French movie insider
8.	The annual Film Fair Set
9.	Big productions
10.	Filmmakers

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

d

3.

a

4.

c

5.

b

6.

a

7.

c

8.

a

9.

a

10.

d

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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Paris halts filming of action movies after terror attacks (9th February, 2015)

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