The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Millions of people around the world take dietary supplements in the belief that they will boost their health. New research casts doubt on the benefits of these pills and tablets. A new report from the American organisation Consumer Reports (CR) found serious health risks from supplements that included vitamins, probiotics, and weight loss pills. CR said the biggest problem with supplements is that they are largely unregulated. While medicinal drugs have to be tested for safety and effectiveness, dietary supplements need far less government approval in many countries. This means that consumers are largely in the dark regarding the ingredients of the supplements and how the body will react to them.

Lisa Gill, an editor at CR, said the report showed how dangerous many supplements were. She said they could cause liver failure, kidney failure requiring kidney transplants, seizures, and heart problems. Gill added: "Just because it's not prescription, you say, 'oh, it's safe,' but that's not necessarily true." Gill urges consumers to avoid 15 ingredients commonly found in supplements, including red yeast and caffeine powder. She warned: "There have been deaths associated with each of these." She told people to seek medical help before taking supplements. She said: "Tell your doctor and your pharmacist what you're taking. Treat it like a medication. It's that important. It's really about your health."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/07/29/new-report-finds-serious-health-risks-from-taking-dietary-supplements/
  • http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dietary-supplements-health-risks-consumer-reports-15-ingredients-to-avoid/
  • http://www.consumerreports.org/vitamins-supplements/supplements-can-make-you-sick/


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about dietary supplements. 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?

       millions / belief / boost / benefits / pills / weight loss / safety / consumers / react /
       editor / failure / heart problems / prescription / true / deaths / pharmacist / health

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

3. WASTE: Students A strongly believe supplements are a waste of money; Students B strongly believe they are very effective.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. HEALTH: How do these things affect our health? What can we do to be healthier? Discuss this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Supplements
  • Sleep
  • Work
  • Food
  • Family and friends
  • Money
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. BELIEF: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "belief". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. WELL-BEING: Rank these with your partner. Put the best important things for our well-being at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • exercise
  • good food
  • sleep
  • shelter
  • dietary supplements
  • no stress
  • money
  • happiness

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says people take dietary supplements to boost their height.    T / F
  2. Research casts doubt on whether or not supplements are good for us.     T / F
  3. The biggest problem with supplements is the lack of regulation.     T / F
  4. The article said its best to take supplements in the dark.     T / F
  5. An editor said a report shows that supplements can cause kidney failure. T / F
  6. Things that don't need a prescription are not harmful to us.     T / F
  7. The report lists 50 ingredients for us to avoid.     T / F
  8. The editor said we treat supplements the same as medication.     T / F

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

  1. belief
  2. boost
  3. doubt
  4. effectiveness
  5. react
  6. dangerous
  7. seizures
  8. necessarily
  9. treat
  10. health
  1. improve
  2. automatically
  3. hazardous
  4. respond
  5. deal with
  6. uncertainty
  7. well-being
  8. opinion
  9. fits
  10. value

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

  1. New research casts
  2. weight
  3. medicinal drugs have to be
  4. consumers are largely in
  5. how the body will
  6. She said they could cause liver
  7. that's not necessarily
  8. Gill urges consumers
  9. Tell your doctor and your pharmacist
  10. Treat it
  1. what you're taking
  2. the dark
  3. true
  4. doubt on the benefits
  5. to avoid 15 ingredients
  6. tested for safety
  7. like a medication
  8. loss pills
  9. failure
  10. react to them

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
serious
far
doubt
safety
react
belief
largely
loss

Millions of people around the world take dietary supplements in the (1) ____________ that they will boost their health. New research casts (2) ____________ on the benefits of these pills and tablets. A new report from the American organisation Consumer Reports (CR) found (3) ____________ health risks from supplements that included vitamins, probiotics, and weight (4) ____________ pills. CR said the biggest problem with supplements is that they are largely unregulated. While medicinal drugs have to be tested for (5) ____________ and effectiveness, dietary supplements need (6) ____________ less government approval in many countries. This means that consumers are (7) ____________ in the dark regarding the ingredients of the supplements and how the body will (8) ____________ to them.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
necessarily
failure
medical
including
pharmacist
prescription
seizures
associated

Lisa Gill, an editor at CR, said the report showed how dangerous many supplements were. She said they could cause liver (9) ____________, kidney failure requiring kidney transplants, (10) ____________, and heart problems. Gill added: "Just because it's not (11) ____________, you say, 'oh, it's safe,' but that's not (12) ____________ true." Gill urges consumers to avoid 15 ingredients commonly found in supplements, (13) ____________ red yeast and caffeine powder. She warned: "There have been deaths (14) ____________ with each of these." She told people to seek (15) ____________ help before taking supplements. She said: "Tell your doctor and your (16) ____________ what you're taking. Treat it like a medication. It's that important. It's really about your health."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  take dietary supplements in the belief that they will ______
     a.  boast their health
     b.  bust their health
     c.  boost their health
     d.  boots their health

2)  New research casts doubt on the benefits of these ______
     a.  pill and tablet
     b.  pill and tablets
     c.  pills and tablet
     d.  pills and tablets

3)  CR said the biggest problem with supplements is that they are ______
     a.  largely not regulated
     b.  largely unregulated
     c.  largely non-regulated
     d.  largely no regulated

4)  This means that consumers are largely ______
     a.  on the dark
     b.  in the dark
     c.  in a park
     d.  in the park

5)  regarding the ingredients of the supplements and how the body ______
     a.  will reacted to them
     b.  will react to them
     c.  will reacts to them
     d.  will reaction to them

6)  kidney failure requiring kidney transplants, seizures, ______
     a.  and hearty problems
     b.  and hearted problems
     c.  and heartless problems
     d.  and heart problems

7)  Just because it's not prescription, you say, 'oh, it's safe,' but that's ______
     a.  not necessarily true
     b.  not necessarily truly
     c.  not necessary true
     d.  not necessary truth

8)  Gill urges consumers to avoid 15 ingredients commonly ______
     a.  found in supplements
     b.  fund in supplements
     c.  find in supplements
     d.  fond in supplements

9)  There have been deaths associated ______
     a.  with each off these
     b.  with each of these
     c.  with each of them
     d.  with each of those

10)  She said: "Tell your doctor and your pharmacist ______."
     a.  what you've taking
     b.  what they're taking
     c.  what we're taking
     d.  which you're taking

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Millions of people (1) ___________________ take dietary supplements in the belief that they will boost their health. New research casts doubt on the (2) ___________________ pills and tablets. A new report from the American organisation Consumer Reports (CR) found (3) ___________________ from supplements that included vitamins, probiotics, and weight loss pills. CR said the biggest problem with supplements (4) ___________________ largely unregulated. While medicinal drugs have to be tested for safety and effectiveness, dietary supplements (5) ___________________ government approval in many countries. This means that consumers are largely in the dark regarding the ingredients of the supplements and how the body (6) ___________________.

Lisa Gill, an editor at CR, said the report (7) ___________________ many supplements were. She said they could (8) ___________________, kidney failure requiring kidney transplants, (9) ___________________ problems. Gill added: "Just because it's not prescription, you say, 'oh, it's safe,' but that's not necessarily true." Gill (10) ___________________ avoid 15 ingredients commonly found in supplements, including red yeast and caffeine powder. She warned: "There have been (11) ___________________ with each of these." She told people to seek medical help before taking supplements. She said: "Tell your doctor and your pharmacist what you're taking. Treat it (12) ___________________. It's that important. It's really about your health."

Comprehension questions

  1. What do people think dietary supplements will do to their health?
  2. What does new research cast on the benefits of supplements?
  3. What does the article say is the biggest problem with supplements?
  4. What does the article say needs to be tested for safety?
  5. Where are consumers regarding knowledge of what's in supplements?
  6. What is Lisa Gill's job?
  7. What could happen to your liver or kidneys because of supplements?
  8. How many ingredients did Lisa Gill advise people to avoid?
  9. What kind of powder was mentioned?
  10. What does Lisa Gill tell us to treat supplements like?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What do people think dietary supplements will do to their health?
a) make us live longer
b) boast it
c) boost it
d) keep it the same

2) What does new research cast on the benefits of supplements?
a) doubt
b) new light
c) nets
d) an eye

3) What does the article say is the biggest problem with supplements?
a) they are too big
b) they are unregulated
c) they are expensive
d) they are toxic

4) What does the article say needs to be tested for safety?
a) researchers
b) equipment
c) supplements
d) medicinal drugs

5) Where are consumers regarding knowledge of what's in supplements?
a) at the back
b) up the creek
c) in the dark
d) on the job

6) What is Lisa Gill's job?
a) supplement tester
b) editor
c) researcher
d) supplement maker

7) What could happen to your liver or kidneys because of supplements?
a) they could slow down
b) they could turn blue
c) they could get bigger
d) they could fail

8) How many ingredients did Lisa Gill advise people to avoid?
a) 14
b) 15
c) 16
d) 17

9) What kind of powder was mentioned?
a) gun powder
b) caffeine
c) milk
d) cocoa

10) What does Lisa Gill tell us to treat supplements like?
a) medication
b) candy
c) an angry tiger
d) boiling water

Role play

Role A — Dietary supplements

You think taking dietary supplements is the best thing for our health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so necessary about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): no stress, exercise or sleep.

Role B — No stress

You think no stress is the best thing for our health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so necessary about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): dietary supplements, exercise or sleep.

Role C — Exercise

You think exercise is the best thing for our health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so necessary about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): no stress, dietary supplements or sleep.

Role D — Sleep

You think sleep is the best thing for our health. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so necessary about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): no stress, exercise or dietary supplements.

After reading / listening

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

'boost'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'health'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • editor
    • cause
    • true
    • 15
    • each
    • really
    • belief
    • doubt
    • weight
    • tested
    • dark
    • react

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Dietary supplements could be bad for you

    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 'supplement'?
    3. What do you think of taking vitamins and supplements?
    4. What are the dangers of supplements?
    5. Why don't people eat more healthily instead of taking supplements?
    6. How healthy is your diet?
    7. Why do people think they need supplements?
    8. What surprised you about what you read?
    9. Why aren't supplements more regulated?
    10. How much do you know about supplements?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. How healthy do you think you are?
    3. Has what you read changed your mind about supplements?
    4. How dangerous is it to take things without a prescription?
    5. How much do you trust medicines?
    6. Would you ask a doctor before taking supplements?
    7. What are the healthiest things you can eat?
    8. Do we really need supplements?
    9. How good are you at taking care of your health?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Millions of people around the world take dietary supplements in the (1) ____ that they will boost their health. New research (2) ____ doubt on the benefits of these pills and tablets. A new report from the American organisation Consumer Reports (CR) found serious health risks from supplements (3) ____ included vitamins, probiotics, and weight loss pills. CR said the biggest problem with supplements is that they are largely unregulated. (4) ____ medicinal drugs have to be tested for safety and effectiveness, dietary supplements need (5) ____ less government approval in many countries. This means that consumers are largely in the dark regarding the ingredients of the supplements and how the body will react (6) ____ them.

    Lisa Gill, an editor at CR, said the report showed how dangerous many supplements were. She said they could (7) ____ liver failure, kidney failure requiring kidney transplants, (8) ____, and heart problems. Gill added: "Just because it's not prescription, you say, 'oh, it's safe,' but that's not necessarily true." Gill (9) ____ consumers to avoid 15 ingredients commonly found in supplements, including red yeast and caffeine powder. She warned: "There have been deaths associated (10) ____ each of these." She told people to (11) ____ medical help before taking supplements. She said: "Tell your doctor and your pharmacist what you're taking. (12) ____ it like a medication. It's that important. It's really about your health."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     belief     (b)     believe     (c)     believing     (d)     believer    
    2. (a)     coats     (b)     costs     (c)     casts     (d)     castes    
    3. (a)     what     (b)     so     (c)     that     (d)     such    
    4. (a)     Whatsoever     (b)     When     (c)     Which     (d)     While    
    5. (a)     for     (b)     from     (c)     far     (d)     of    
    6. (a)     of     (b)     to     (c)     at     (d)     on    
    7. (a)     causal     (b)     cause     (c)     case     (d)     causation    
    8. (a)     seize     (b)     seizures     (c)     seizes     (d)     seized    
    9. (a)     warning     (b)     things     (c)     urges     (d)     says    
    10. (a)     as     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     with    
    11. (a)     speak     (b)     soak     (c)     search     (d)     seek    
    12. (a)     Do     (b)     Think     (c)     Deal     (d)     Treat

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. in the elfieb that they will
    2. casts tdbuo on the benefits
    3. imintvas, probiotics, and weight loss pills
    4. they are largely ungeldeutra
    5. ilncdieam drugs
    6. the nnisdgreeit of the supplements

    Paragraph 2

    1. requiring kidney tnpaslsnrat
    2. Just because it's not prrietsnoipc
    3. but that's not inaclssryee true.
    4. deaths aiadctseos with each of these
    5. Tell your doctor and your acpitamhrs
    6. Treat it like a dancmioeti

    Put the text back together

    (    )     safety and effectiveness, dietary supplements need far less government approval in many countries. This means

    (    )     prescription, you say, 'oh, it's safe,' but that's not necessarily true." Gill urges consumers

    (    )     boost their health. New research casts doubt on the benefits of these pills

    (    )     and tablets. A new report from the American organisation Consumer Reports (CR) found serious health

    (    )     Lisa Gill, an editor at CR, said the report showed how dangerous many supplements were. She said they could cause liver

    (    )     you're taking. Treat it like a medication. It's that important. It's really about your health."

    (    )     risks from supplements that included vitamins, probiotics, and weight loss pills. CR said the biggest problem

    (    )     failure, kidney failure requiring kidney transplants, seizures, and heart problems. Gill added: "Just because it's not

    1  )     Millions of people around the world take dietary supplements in the belief that they will

    (    )     to avoid 15 ingredients commonly found in supplements, including red yeast and caffeine powder. She warned:

    (    )     with supplements is that they are largely unregulated. While medicinal drugs have to be tested for

    (    )     taking supplements. She said: "Tell your doctor and your pharmacist what

    (    )     "There have been deaths associated with each of these." She told people to seek medical help before

    (    )     that consumers are largely in the dark regarding the ingredients of the supplements and how the body will react to them.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. that   health   they   In   will   the   boost   belief   their   .
    2. pills   casts   the   these   research   on   of   New   doubt   benefits   .
    3. vitamins  included   that   supplements  from   risks   health   Serious   .
    4. far   government   Dietary   need   less   approval   supplements   .
    5. means   dark   in   are   that   This   the   largely   consumers   .
    6. report   The   were   supplements   many   dangerous   how   showed   .
    7. supplements   15   commonly   in   Avoid   ingredients   found   .
    8. each   been   of   deaths   these   associated   There   with   have   .
    9. medical   help   supplements   ."   She   before   taking   said:   "Seek  
    10. your   what   doctor   you're   and   taking   your   Tell   pharmacist   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Millions of people around the world take / eat dietary supplements in the belief that they will boost / boast their health. New research casts doubt in / on the benefits of these pills and tablets. A new report from the American organisation Consumer Reports (CR) found serious healthy / health risks from supplements that included / including vitamins, probiotics, and weight loss pills. CR said the biggest problem with supplements is that they are large / largely unregulated. While medicinal drugs have to be tested for safety / safe and effectiveness, dietary supplements need far / for less government approved / approval in many countries. This means that consumers are largely in the dark regarding the ingredients of the supplements and how the body will react for / to them.

    Lisa Gill, an editor at CR, said the report showed how / what dangerous many supplements were. She said they could cause liver / liven failure, kidney failure requiring kidney transplant / transplants, seizures, and heart problems. Gill added: "Just because it's not prescription / proscribe, you say, 'oh, it's safe,' but that's not necessarily / necessary true." Gill urges consumers to evade / avoid 15 ingredients commonly / common found in supplements, including red yeast and caffeine powder. She warned: "There have been deaths associated with / of each of these." She told people to seek medical help before taking supplements. She said: "Tell your doctor and your pharmacist what you're talking / taking. Treat it like a medication. It's that / then important. It's really about your health."

    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)

    M_ll__ns _f p__pl_ _r__nd th_ w_rld t_k_ d__t_ry s_ppl_m_nts _n th_ b_l__f th_t th_y w_ll b__st th__r h__lth. N_w r_s__rch c_sts d__bt _n th_ b_n_f_ts _f th_s_ p_lls _nd t_bl_ts. _ n_w r_p_rt fr_m th_ _m_r_c_n _rg_n_s_t__n C_ns_m_r R_p_rts (CR) f__nd s_r___s h__lth r_sks fr_m s_ppl_m_nts th_t _ncl_d_d v_t_m_ns, pr_b__t_cs, _nd w__ght l_ss p_lls. CR s__d th_ b_gg_st pr_bl_m w_th s_ppl_m_nts _s th_t th_y _r_ l_rg_ly _nr_g_l_t_d. Wh_l_ m_d_c_n_l dr_gs h_v_ t_ b_ t_st_d f_r s_f_ty _nd _ff_ct_v_n_ss, d__t_ry s_ppl_m_nts n__d f_r l_ss g_v_rnm_nt _ppr_v_l _n m_ny c__ntr__s. Th_s m__ns th_t c_ns_m_rs _r_ l_rg_ly _n th_ d_rk r_g_rd_ng th_ _ngr_d__nts _f th_ s_ppl_m_nts _nd h_w th_ b_dy w_ll r__ct t_ th_m.

    L_s_ G_ll, _n _d_t_r _t CR, s__d th_ r_p_rt sh_w_d h_w d_ng_r__s m_ny s_ppl_m_nts w_r_. Sh_ s__d th_y c__ld c__s_ l_v_r f__l_r_, k_dn_y f__l_r_ r_q__r_ng k_dn_y tr_nspl_nts, s__z_r_s, _nd h__rt pr_bl_ms. G_ll _dd_d: "J_st b_c__s_ _t's n_t pr_scr_pt__n, y__ s_y, '_h, _t's s_f_,' b_t th_t's n_t n_c_ss_r_ly tr__." G_ll _rg_s c_ns_m_rs t_ _v__d 15 _ngr_d__nts c_mm_nly f__nd _n s_ppl_m_nts, _ncl_d_ng r_d y__st _nd c_ff__n_ p_wd_r. Sh_ w_rn_d: "Th_r_ h_v_ b__n d__ths _ss_c__t_d w_th __ch _f th_s_." Sh_ t_ld p__pl_ t_ s__k m_d_c_l h_lp b_f_r_ t_k_ng s_ppl_m_nts. Sh_ s__d: "T_ll y__r d_ct_r _nd y__r ph_rm_c_st wh_t y__'r_ t_k_ng. Tr__t _t l_k_ _ m_d_c_t__n. _t's th_t _mp_rt_nt. _t's r__lly _b__t y__r h__lth."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    millions of people around the world take dietary supplements in the belief that they will boost their health new research casts doubt on the benefits of these pills and tablets a new report from the american organisation consumer reports (cr) found serious health risks from supplements that included vitamins probiotics and weight loss pills cr said the biggest problem with supplements is that they are largely unregulated while medicinal drugs have to be tested for safety and effectiveness dietary supplements need far less government approval in many countries this means that consumers are largely in the dark regarding the ingredients of the supplements and how the body will react to them

    lisa gill an editor at cr said the report showed how dangerous many supplements were she said they could cause liver failure kidney failure requiring kidney transplants seizures and heart problems gill added "just because it's not prescription you say 'oh it's safe' but that's not necessarily true" gill urges consumers to avoid 15 ingredients commonly found in supplements including red yeast and caffeine powder she warned "there have been deaths associated with each of these" she told people to seek medical help before taking supplements she said "tell your doctor and your pharmacist what you're taking treat it like a medication it's that important it's really about your health"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Millionsofpeoplearoundtheworldtakedietarysupplementsinthebelief
    thattheywillboosttheirhealth.Newresearchcastsdoubtonthebenefits
    ofthesepillsandtablets.AnewreportfromtheAmericanorganisationCo
    nsumerReports(CR)foundserioushealthrisksfromsupplementsthati
    ncludedvitamins,probiotics,andweightlosspills.CRsaidthebiggestpr
    oblemwithsupplementsisthattheyarelargelyunregulated.Whilemedi
    cinaldrugshavetobetestedforsafetyandeffectiveness,dietarysupple
    mentsneedfarlessgovernmentapprovalinmanycountries.Thismeans
    thatconsumersarelargelyinthedarkregardingtheingredientsofthesu
    pplementsandhowthebodywillreacttothem.LisaGill,aneditoratCR,sa
    idthereportshowedhowdangerousmanysupplementswere.Shesaidt
    heycouldcauseliverfailure,kidneyfailurerequiringkidneytransplants,
    seizures,andheartproblems.Gilladded:"Justbecauseit'snotprescripti
    on,yousay,'oh,it'ssafe,'butthat'snotnecessarilytrue."Gillurgesconsu
    merstoavoid15ingredientscommonlyfoundinsupplements,including
    redyeastandcaffeinepowder.Shewarned:"Therehavebeendeathsas
    sociatedwitheachofthese."Shetoldpeopletoseekmedicalhelpbeforet
    akingsupplements.Shesaid:"Tellyourdoctorandyourpharmacistwha
    tyou'retaking.Treatitlikeamedication.It'sthatimportant.It'sreallyab
    outyourhealth."

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    No one needs dietary supplements. 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 the dangers of dietary supplements. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: Make a poster about the different types of dietary supplements. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. REGULATED: Write a magazine article about dietary supplements and whether or not they should be regulated. 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 an expert on dietary supplements. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas about how to make them 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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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