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Volkswagen to recall 11 million cars (2nd October, 2015)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The troubled German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) has announced it will recall around 11 million cars following the emissions tests scandal that has mired the company in controversy. Some industry analysts predict the recall could cost the auto manufacturer more than $6.5 billion. Last week, VW admitted cheating in diesel emissions tests in the United States and Europe. It manipulated data to falsely show that VW cars were a lot more fuel-efficient than was really the case. The company is Europe's largest carmaker and employs over 750,000 people. It has lost more than a third of its market value on stock markets and has badly tarnished its reputation as being a leader in clean energy.

Chief executives at VW could face criminal charges over the scandal. Olaf Lies, a Volkswagen board member, told the BBC TV programme Newsnight that some staff acted criminally over emission tests. He said: "Those people who allowed this to happen, or who made the decision to install this software, acted criminally. They must take personal responsibility." He added: "We only found out about the problems in the last board meeting, shortly before the media did. I want to be quite open, so we need to find out why the board wasn't informed earlier about the problems when they were known about over a year ago in the United States."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/09/29/uk-volkswagen-emissions-plan-idUKKCN0RT0P820150929
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34397426
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/vw-board-member-some-staff-were-warned-about-cheat-year-ago

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. VOLKSWAGEN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Volkswagen. 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?

troubled / carmaker / emissions / analysts / predict / fuel-efficient / market value / criminal / board member / software / responsibility / media / informed / problems

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

3. CARS: How can these things be improved? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Problems	Solutions
Fuel efficiency
Seats
Safety
Navigation
Reliability
Comfort

4. FULL COMPENSATION: Students A strongly believe Volkswagen car owners with the cheating software should get all their money back; Students B strongly believe not. 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. CAR TYPES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• SUV

• 2-seater mini-car

• family sedan

• people carrier

• sports convertible

• compact car

• Rolls Royce

• supercar

6. SCANDAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "scandal". 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 controversy is because of emissions tests.	T / F
b.	The scandal could cost VW $65 billion.	T / F
c.	VW lost almost a third of its market value.	T / F
d.	VW has damaged its green credentials.	T / F
e.	Bosses at the company will not have to face criminal charges.	T / F
f.	A VW board member said some staff acted criminally.	T / F
g.	Many board members found out about the scandal after the media did.	T / F
h.	People in the US knew about this until a year ago.	T / F

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

1.	announced	a.	falsified
2.	mired	b.	let
3.	admitted	c.	behaved
4.	manipulated	d.	entangled
5.	tarnished	e.	understood
6.	face	f.	confessed
7.	acted	g.	made it known
8.	allowed	h.	told
9.	informed	i.	blackened
10.	known	j.	come up against

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

1.	mired the company in	a.	was really the case
2.	industry	b.	before the media
3.	a lot more fuel-efficient than	c.	of its market value
4.	employs over	d.	member
5.	lost more than a third	e.	criminal charges
6.	Chief executives at VW could face	f.	analysts
7.	board	g.	controversy
8.	They must take	h.	informed earlier
9.	shortly	i.	750,000 people
10.	find out why the board wasn't	j.	personal responsibility

GAP FILL

The (1) ____________ German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) has announced it will recall around 11 million cars (2) ____________ the emissions tests scandal that has (3) ____________ the company in controversy. Some industry analysts (4) ____________ the recall could cost the auto manufacturer more than $6.5 billion. Last week, VW admitted (5) ____________ in diesel emissions tests in the United States and Europe. It manipulated data to (6) ____________ show that VW cars were a lot more fuel-efficient than was really the case. The company is Europe's largest carmaker and (7) ____________ over 750,000 people. It has lost more than a third of its market value on stock markets and has badly tarnished its (8) ____________ as being a leader in clean energy.

predict
following
cheating
employs
mired
reputation
troubled
falsely

Chief executives at VW could (9) ____________ criminal charges over the (10) ____________. Olaf Lies, a Volkswagen board member, told the BBC TV programme Newsnight that some staff acted (11) ____________ over emission tests. He said: "Those people who allowed this to happen, or who made the decision to (12) ____________ this software, acted criminally. They must take (13) ____________ responsibility." He added: "We only found out about the problems in the last (14) ____________ meeting, shortly before the (15) ____________ did. I want to be quite open, so we need to find out why the board wasn't (16) ____________ earlier about the problems when they were known about over a year ago in the United States."

scandal
personal
face
media
install
informed
criminally
board

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	the emissions tests scandal that has mired the company ______
	a. in controversy b. on controversy c. at controversy d. as controversy
2)	Last week, VW admitted cheating in diesel ______
	a. emission's tests b. emissions' tests c. emissions tests d. emission is tests
3)	show that VW cars were a lot more fuel-efficient than ______
	a. was reality the case b. was really a case c. was really the cases d. was really the case
4)	It has lost more than a third of its market value ______
	a. on stock markets b. on stocked markets c. on stocks markets d. on stock market
5)	badly tarnished its reputation as being a leader ______
	a. on clean energy b. in clean energy c. unclean energy d. inkling energy
6)	Chief executives at VW could face criminal charges ______
	a. overs the scandal b. over a scandal c. over the scandal d. overt the scandal
7)	Those people who allowed this to happen, or who made the decision to install this ______
	a. software, acted criminals b. software, acted criminal c. software, acted criminalise d. software, acted criminally
8)	We only found out about the problems in the ______
	a. last board meeting b. lasts board meeting c. last board meet in d. last boarding meeting
9)	I want to be quite open, so we need to find out why the board wasn't ______
	a. in formed earlier b. in form dahlia c. informed early d. informed earlier
10)	they were known about over a year ______ United States
	a. ago as the b. ago in the c. ago at the d. ago to the

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The troubled German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) (1) __________________ will recall around 11 million cars following the emissions tests scandal that has (2) ___________________ controversy. Some industry analysts predict the recall (3) ___________________ auto manufacturer more than $6.5 billion. Last week, VW admitted cheating in diesel emissions tests in the United States and Europe. It manipulated (4) ___________________ show that VW cars (5) ___________________ fuel-efficient than was really the case. The company is Europe's largest carmaker and employs over 750,000 people. It has (6) ___________________ third of its market value on stock markets and has badly tarnished its reputation as being a leader in clean energy.

Chief executives at VW could (7) ___________________ over the scandal. Olaf Lies, a Volkswagen board member, told the BBC TV programme Newsnight that (8) ___________________ criminally over emission tests. He said: "Those people (9) ___________________ to happen, or who made the decision to (10) ___________________, acted criminally. They must take personal responsibility." He added: "We only found out about the problems in the last board meeting, (11) ___________________ media did. I want to be quite open, so we need to find out why the board (12) ___________________ about the problems when they were known about over a year ago in the United States."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What does the article say the scandal has mired VW in?
2.	How much could the scandal cost VW?
3.	What did VW manipulate in the scandal?
4.	How many people work for VW in Europe?
5.	What did VW have the reputation of being a leader in?
6.	What could VW chief executives face over this scandal?
7.	How did a board member say people who installed software acted?
8.	When did the board member find out about the scandal?
9.	What does the board member want to be with people?
10.	Where have the problems been known about for a year?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What does the article say the scandal has mired VW in?	6.	What could VW chief executives face over this scandal?
	a) fortune b) muck c) controversy d) debt		a) heads b) criminal charges c) fuel-efficiency testing d) promotion
2.	How much could the scandal cost VW?	7.	How did a board member say people who installed software acted?
	a) $6.5 billion b) $6,500,000 c) $65,000,000 d) $65 billion		a) criminally b) skilfully c) discreetly d) honestly
3.	What did VW manipulate in the scandal?	8.	When did the board member find out about the scandal?
	a) data b) exhaust systems c) chief executives d) gasoline		a) a year before it erupted b) 2014 c) at the last board meeting d) after the media found out
4.	How many people work for VW in Europe?	9.	What does the board member want to be with people?
	a) 75% b) more than 750,000 c) three-quarters of a million d) more than 7,500,000		a) anonymous b) a whistle-blower c) a hero d) open
5.	What did VW have the reputation of being a leader in?	10.	Where have the problems been known about for a year?
	a) controversy b) abbreviated company names c) Formula 1 d) green energy		a) the USA b) Porsche c) on the factory floor d) car showrooms

ROLE PLAY

Role A – SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle)

You think an SUV is the best car to have nowadays. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cars aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): 2-seater mini-car, sports convertible or compact car.

Role B – 2-seater mini-car

You think a 2-seater mini-car is the best car to have nowadays. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cars aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): SUV, sports convertible or compact car.

Role C – Sports convertible

You think a sports convertible is the best car to have nowadays. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cars aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): 2-seater mini-car, SUV or compact car.

Role D – Compact car

You think a compact car is the best car to have nowadays. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cars aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): 2-seater mini-car, sports convertible or SUV.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

criminal

charge

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:

following
predict
week
lot
largest
being

face
acted
personal
meeting
open
year

VOLKSWAGEN SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Volkswagen 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.

VOLKSWAGEN 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 'emissions'?
3)	What do you think about what you read?
4)	What was your image of VW before this scandal and what is it now?
5)	How would you feel if you had a VW car?
6)	What do you know about the emissions tests scandal?
7)	How will this scandal affect VW's future?
8)	What does VW need to do to repair its reputation?
9)	Should VW pay compensation to VW car owners?
10)	How much do you trust big companies like VW?

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

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

11)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12)	What should happen to VW's executives?
13)	Why do you think staff acted criminally over the tests?
14)	What world company do you think has the cleanest image?
15)	How did VW keep the cheating a secret for a year?
16)	What car company do you like, and why?
17)	Should VW pay for producing more emissions than they claimed?
18)	What will VW be like in five years from now
19)	What advice would you give the boss of VW?
20)	What questions would you like to ask VW's boss?

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 troubled German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) has (1) ____ it will recall around 11 million cars (2) ____ the emissions tests scandal that has mired the company in controversy. Some industry analysts (3) ____ the recall could cost the auto manufacturer more than $6.5 billion. Last week, VW admitted cheating (4) ____ diesel emissions tests in the United States and Europe. It manipulated data to (5) ____ show that VW cars were a lot more fuel-efficient than was really the case. The company is Europe's largest carmaker and employs over 750,000 people. It has lost more than a third of its market value on stock markets and has (6) ____ tarnished its reputation as being a leader in clean energy.

Chief executives at VW could face criminal charges (7) ____ the scandal. Olaf Lies, a Volkswagen board member, told the BBC TV programme Newsnight that some staff (8) ____ criminally over emission tests. He said: "Those people who allowed this to happen, or who (9) ____ the decision to install this software, acted criminally. They must take personal responsibility." He added: "We only found out about the problems in the last (10) ____ meeting, shortly before the media did. I want to be quite (11) ____, so we need to find out why the board wasn't (12) ____ earlier about the problems when they were known about over a year ago in the United States."

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

1.	(a)	announcing	(b)	announced	(c)	announcement	(d)	announce
2.	(a)	followed	(b)	following	(c)	follows	(d)	followers
3.	(a)	prediction	(b)	predictive	(c)	predict	(d)	predicts
4.	(a)	of	(b)	in	(c)	as	(d)	to
5.	(a)	wrong	(b)	incorrect	(c)	false	(d)	falsely
6.	(a)	bad	(b)	badness	(c)	badly	(d)	baddie
7.	(a)	over	(b)	between	(c)	under	(d)	through
8.	(a)	starred	(b)	entertained	(c)	acted	(d)	executed
9.	(a)	rallied	(b)	happened	(c)	did	(d)	made
10.	(a)	board	(b)	bade	(c)	bored	(d)	bid
11.	(a)	open	(b)	out	(c)	oust	(d)	over
12.	(a)	informed	(b)	reformed	(c)	conformed	(d)	performed

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	ondencuan it will recall around 11 million cars
2.	the nsisseomi tests scandal
3.	mired the company in royvocnstre
4.	industry satlnsya
5.	fuel-tncfeiife
6.	badly tarnished its nutaripeto
Paragraph 2
7.	face cianmlri charges
8.	people who lwolaed this to happen
9.	take personal lspstribyiioen
10.	the last dabor meeting
11.	shortly before the deaim did
12.	wasn't rodnfime earlier about the problems

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	criminally. They must take personal responsibility." He added: "We only found out about the problems in the last
( )	board meeting, shortly before the media did. I want to be quite open, so we need to find
( )	carmaker and employs over 750,000 people. It has lost more than a third of its market value on stock
( )	tests scandal that has mired the company in controversy. Some industry analysts predict the recall could cost
( )	the auto manufacturer more than $6.5 billion. Last week, VW admitted cheating
( )	markets and has badly tarnished its reputation as being a leader in clean energy.
( )	Chief executives at VW could face criminal charges over the scandal. Olaf Lies, a Volkswagen board
( )	member, told the BBC TV programme Newsnight that some staff acted criminally over emission tests. He said: "Those people
( )	who allowed this to happen, or who made the decision to install this software, acted
( )	show that VW cars were a lot more fuel-efficient than was really the case. The company is Europe's largest
( )	known about over a year ago in the United States."
( )	out why the board wasn't informed earlier about the problems when they were
( )	in diesel emissions tests in the United States and Europe. It manipulated data to falsely
( 1 )	The troubled German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) has announced it will recall around 11 million cars following the emissions

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	that in has controversy mired the Scandal company .
2.	manufacturer predict could auto Analysts recall the the cost .
3.	efficient more were that fuel a VW Falsely - lot cars show .
4.	lost has It value market its of third a than more .
5.	energy being reputation in a as clean leader Its .
6.	could Chief face executives criminal at charges VW .
7.	over acted . Some emission criminally staff tests
8.	allowed who people Those happen to this .
9.	must They responsibility personal take .
10.	why the board wasn't informed We need to find out .

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The troubled / trouble German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) has announced it will recall around 11 million cars followed / following the emissions tests scandal that has mired / hired the company in controversy. Some industry analysts predict the recall could cost the auto / autos manufacturer more than $6.5 billion. Last week, VW admitted cheating as / in diesel emissions tests in the United States and Europe. It manipulated data to / for falsely show that VW cars were a lot more fuel-efficient than was really / reality the case. The company is Europe's largest carmaker and employers / employs over 750,000 people. It has lost more than a thirdly / third of its market value on stock markets and has badly tarnished its reputation as / has being a leader in clean energy.

Chief executives at VW could head / face criminal charges over / under the scandal. Olaf Lies, a Volkswagen board / bored member, told the BBC TV programme Newsnight that some staff acted criminal / criminally over emission tests. He said: "Those people who allowed / allowing this to happen, or who made the deciding / decision to install this software, acted criminally. They must take personal / personally responsibility." He added: "We only found out about the problems in the last / lasts board meeting, shortly before the media did. I want to be quite / quiet open, so we need to find out why the board wasn't informed earlier about the problems when they were knowing / known about over a year ago in the United States."

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_ tr__bl_d G_rm_n c_rm_k_r V_lksw_g_n (VW) h_s _nn__nc_d _t w_ll r_c_ll _r__nd 11 m_ll__n c_rs f_ll_w_ng th_ _m_ss__ns t_sts sc_nd_l th_t h_s m_r_d th_ c_mp_ny _n c_ntr_v_rsy. S_m_ _nd_stry _n_lysts pr_d_ct th_ r_c_ll c__ld c_st th_ __t_ m_n_f_ct_r_r m_r_ th_n $6.5 b_ll__n. L_st w__k, VW _dm_tt_d ch__t_ng _n d__s_l _m_ss__ns t_sts _n th_ _n_t_d St_t_s _nd __r_p_. _t m_n_p_l_t_d d_t_ t_ f_ls_ly sh_w th_t VW c_rs w_r_ _ l_t m_r_ f__l-_ff_c__nt th_n w_s r__lly th_ c_s_. Th_ c_mp_ny _s __r_p_'s l_rg_st c_rm_k_r _nd _mpl_ys _v_r 750,000 p__pl_. _t h_s l_st m_r_ th_n _ th_rd _f _ts m_rk_t v_l__ _n st_ck m_rk_ts _nd h_s b_dly t_rn_sh_d _ts r_p_t_t__n _s b__ng _ l__d_r _n cl__n _n_rgy.

Ch__f _x_c_t_v_s _t VW c__ld f_c_ cr_m_n_l ch_rg_s _v_r th_ sc_nd_l. _l_f L__s, _ V_lksw_g_n b__rd m_mb_r, t_ld th_ BBC TV pr_gr_mm_ N_wsn_ght th_t s_m_ st_ff _ct_d cr_m_n_lly _v_r _m_ss__n t_sts. H_ s__d: "Th_s_ p__pl_ wh_ _ll_w_d th_s t_ h_pp_n, _r wh_ m_d_ th_ d_c_s__n t_ _nst_ll th_s s_ftw_r_, _ct_d cr_m_n_lly. Th_y m_st t_k_ p_rs_n_l r_sp_ns_b_l_ty." H_ _dd_d: "W_ _nly f__nd __t _b__t th_ pr_bl_ms _n th_ l_st b__rd m__t_ng, sh_rtly b_f_r_ th_ m_d__ d_d. _ w_nt t_ b_ q__t_ _p_n, s_ w_ n__d t_ f_nd __t why th_ b__rd w_sn't _nf_rm_d __rl__r _b__t th_ pr_bl_ms wh_n th_y w_r_ kn_wn _b__t _v_r _ y__r _g_ _n th_ _n_t_d St_t_s."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the troubled german carmaker volkswagen (vw) has announced it will recall around 11 million cars following the emissions tests scandal that has mired the company in controversy some industry analysts predict the recall could cost the auto manufacturer more than $65 billion last week vw admitted cheating in diesel emissions tests in the united states and europe it manipulated data to falsely show that vw cars were a lot more fuel-efficient than was really the case the company is europe's largest carmaker and employs over 750000 people it has lost more than a third of its market value on stock markets and has badly tarnished its reputation as being a leader in clean energy

chief executives at vw could face criminal charges over the scandal olaf lies a volkswagen board member told the bbc tv programme newsnight that some staff acted criminally over emission tests he said "those people who allowed this to happen or who made the decision to install this software acted criminally they must take personal responsibility" he added "we only found out about the problems in the last board meeting shortly before the media did i want to be quite open so we need to find out why the board wasn't informed earlier about the problems when they were known about over a year ago in the united states"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThetroubledGermancarmakerVolkswagen(VW)hasannounceditwillr
ecallaround11millioncarsfollowingtheemissionstestsscandalthathas
miredthecompanyincontroversy.Someindustryanalystspredictther
ecallcouldcosttheautomanufacturermorethan$6.5billion.Lastweek,
VWadmittedcheatingindieselemissionstestsintheUnitedStatesandE
urope.ItmanipulateddatatofalselyshowthatVWcarswerealotmorefu
el-efficientthanwasreallythecase.ThecompanyisEurope'slargestca
rmakerandemploysover750,000people.Ithaslostmorethanathirdofi
tsmarketvalueonstockmarketsandhasbadlytarnisheditsreputationa
sbeingaleaderincleanenergy.ChiefexecutivesatVWcouldfacecrimina
lchargesoverthescandal.OlafLies,aVolkswagenboardmember,toldth
eBBCTVprogrammeNewsnightthatsomestaffactedcriminallyoverem
issiontests.Hesaid:"Thosepeoplewhoallowedthistohappen,orwhom
adethedecisiontoinstallthissoftware,actedcriminally.Theymusttake
personalresponsibility."Headded:"Weonlyfoundoutabouttheproble
msinthelastboardmeeting,shortlybeforethemediadid.Iwanttobequit
eopen,soweneedtofindoutwhytheboardwasn'tinformedearlierabout
theproblemswhentheywereknownaboutoverayearagointheUnitedS
tates."

FREE WRITING

Write about Volkswagen for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Everyone who bought a VW with the cheat software should get a full refund. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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

3. FUEL-EFFICIENT CARS: Make a poster about fuel-efficient cars. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. VOLKSWAGEN: Write a magazine article about the Volkswagen scandal. Include imaginary interviews with people who bought a VW and with the company's boss.

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 an auto expert. Ask him/her three questions about Volkswagen. Give him/her three ideas on what should happen to the company. 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

F

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	announced	a.	made it known
2	mired	b.	entangled
3.	admitted	c.	confessed
4.	manipulated	d.	falsified
5.	tarnished	e.	blackened
6.	face	f.	come up against
7.	acted	g.	behaved
8.	allowed	h.	let
9.	informed	i.	told
10.	known	j.	understood

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Controversy
2.	$6.5 billion
3.	Data
4.	Over 750,000
5.	Clean energy
6.	Criminal charges
7.	Criminally
8.	In the last board meeting
9.	Open
10.	The United States

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

10.

a

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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Volkswagen to recall 11 million cars (2nd October, 2015)

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