. Broken Hearts - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Broken Hearts - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson
Broken Hearts - ESL Lesson Plan - Breaking News English Lesson

Breaking News English Lesson: Broken Hearts

A broken heart is a real condition. The medical name for it is takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It is caused by severe emotional or physical stress. This stress can come from losing a loved one or breaking up with a romantic partner. Doctors think they have a cure for it. Researchers at Aberdeen University in Scotland conducted a 12-week test on 76 people with broken heart syndrome. The patients had a weekly counselling session. They also took part in an exercise programme, which included aerobics, cycling and swimming. The British Heart Foundation said it was surprised by how much the counselling "improved heart function and patients' fitness".

Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide suffer from broken heart syndrome. It mainly affects women and can double the risk of dying early. The syndrome may explain why a spouse dies soon after their partner's death. Sufferers feel like they are having a heart attack. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The syndrome makes the heart change shape. The heart becomes rounder, like an octopus. "Takotsubo" is a Japanese word. It means a round pot used to catch an octopus. Lead researcher Dr David Gamble said his research highlights the importance of the brain-heart relationship. He said mental and physical therapy can help sufferers.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

  • https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/aug/30/exercise-therapy-mend-broken-heart-syndrome-takotsubo-study
  • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/you-can-die-broken-heart-35814047
  • https://ca.news.yahoo.com/officially-mend-broken-heart-according-151252367.html

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities, and more.

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News

"Much has been said and written on the utility of newspapers; but one principal advantage which might be derived from these publications has been neglected; we mean that of reading them in schools."

The Portland Eastern Herald (June 8, 1795)

"News is history in its first and best form, its vivid and fascinating form, and. history is the pale and tranquil reflection of it."

Mark Twain, in his autobiography (1906)

"Current events provide authentic learning experiences for students at all grade levels. In studying current events, students are required to use a range of cognitive, affective, critical thinking and research skills."

Haas, M. and Laughlin, M. (2000) Teaching Current Events: It's Status in Social Studies Today.

Warm-ups

1. BROKEN HEARTS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about broken hearts. 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? broken heart / emotional stress / a loved one / romantic / cure / doctors / fitness / suffer / risk / spouse / chest pain / fatigue / octopus / research / brain / therapy Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently. 3. WORST FEELING: Students A strongly believe having a broken heart is the worst feeling in the world; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations. 4. HEART PHRASES: What do these phrases mean? How do they apply to you? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Meaning

Me

Be brokenhearted

Pour one's heart out

To lose heart

To have a heart of gold

To learn by heart

To have a change of heart

MY e-BOOK See a sample
  • Counselling
  • Cycling
  • Friends
  • Shopping
  • Time
  • Meditation
  • Hiking
  • Movies
Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1. condition a. Very strong or very bad. 2. medical b. A health problem. 3. severe c. About feelings like happy, sad, or angry. 4. emotional d. Something that makes a sick person healthy again. 5. cure e. About doctors, hospitals, or health. 6. counselling f. Became better. 7. improved g. Talking with a person trained to help with problems.

Paragraph 2

8. suffer h. Mostly, more than other things. 9. mainly i. The front part of the body between the neck and the stomach. 10. double j. Feel pain or to have a bad problem. 11. spouse k. Two times as much. 12. chest l. A feeling of being very, very tired. 13. fatigue m. Husband or wife. 14.

relationship n.

The way two people, or two things, are connected/linked to each other.

Before reading / listening 1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
  1. The article says a broken heart is not real. T / F
  2. Doctors say they are a long way from finding a cure for a broken heart. T / F
  3. Brokenhearted patients had daily counselling sessions for 12 weeks. T / F
  4. A heart foundation was surprised at the effectiveness of counselling. T / F
  5. Broken heart syndrome affects women most. T / F
  6. Broken heart syndrome makes the heart change shape. T / F
  7. The medical word for broken heart syndrome is a Japanese word. T / F
  8. The lead researcher said there was no link between the heart and brain. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
  1. tiredness
  2. carried out
  3. globally
  4. husband/wife
  5. illness
  6. focuses on
  7. remedy
  8. link
  9. serious
  10. therapy
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
  1. A broken heart is a real
  2. It is caused by severe emotional
  3. This stress can come from losing
  4. Doctors think they have
  5. the counselling improved heart
  6. Hundreds of
  7. double the risk
  8. Symptoms include chest
  9. a round pot used to
  10. the importance of the brain-
  1. thousands of people
  2. a cure for it
  3. condition
  4. catch an octopus
  5. or physical stress
  6. pain
  7. function
  8. heart relationship
  9. a loved one
  10. of dying early
Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below. part cure condition fitness emotional aerobics test one

A broken heart is a real (1) ______________________________________________. The medical name for it is takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It is caused by severe (2) ______________________________________________ or physical stress. This stress can come from losing a loved (3) ______________________________________________ or breaking up with a romantic partner. Doctors think they have a (4) ______________________________________________ for it. Researchers at Aberdeen University in Scotland conducted a 12-week (5) ______________________________________________ on 76 people with broken heart syndrome. The patients had a weekly counselling session. They also took (6) ______________________________________________ in an exercise programme, which included (7) ______________________________________________, cycling and swimming. The British Heart Foundation said it was surprised by how much the counselling "improved heart function and patients' (8) ______________________________________________".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

pain double catch death shape therapy suffer importance

Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide (9) ______________________________________________ from broken heart syndrome. It mainly affects women and can (10) ______________________________________________ the risk of dying early. The syndrome may explain why a spouse dies soon after their partner's (11) ______________________________________________. Sufferers feel like they are having a heart attack. Symptoms include chest (12) ______________________________________________, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The syndrome makes the heart change (13) ______________________________________________. The heart becomes rounder, like an octopus. "Takotsubo" is a Japanese word. It means a round pot used to (14) ______________________________________________ an octopus. Lead researcher Dr David Gamble said his research highlights the (15) ______________________________________________ of the brain-heart relationship. He said mental and physical (16) ______________________________________________ can help sufferers.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) It is caused by severe emotional ______ a. or physical stressed b. or physique stress c. or physical stress d. or physic all stress 2) This stress can come from losing ______ a. a loves one b. a loved one c. a love one d. a lovie one 3) Doctors think they have a ______ a. cured for it b. cures for it c. cue for it d. cure for it 4) They also took part in an exercise programme, ______ a. which included aerobics b. which include aerobics c. which includes aerobics d. which inclusive aerobics 5) it was surprised by how much the counselling ______ a. improve heart function b. improved hearts function c. improved heart function d. improved heart functional

6) It mainly affects women and can double the risk ______ a. of die early b. of dye in early c. of dying early d. of dine early 7) The syndrome may explain why a spouse dies soon after ______ a. their partner's debt b. their partner's dearth c. their partner's dead d. their partner's death 8) The syndrome makes the ______ a. heart changed shape b. heart changes shape c. heart change shape d. heart charge shape 9) Gamble said his research highlights the importance of the ______ a. brain-heart relativity b. brain-heart inflation c. brain-heart worship d. brain-heart relationship 10) He said mental and physical therapy ______ a. can help surfers b. can help suffered c. can help sufferers d. can help suffer

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A broken heart is (1) __________________________________________________. The medical name for it is takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It is caused by severe emotional or physical stress. This stress can come from losing (2) __________________________________________________ or breaking up with a romantic partner. Doctors think they have a (3) __________________________________________________. Researchers at Aberdeen University in Scotland conducted a 12-week test on 76 people with broken heart syndrome. The patients (4) __________________________________________________ counselling session. They also took part in an exercise programme, (5) __________________________________________________, cycling and swimming. The British Heart Foundation said it was surprised by how much the counselling "improved heart (6) __________________________________________________ fitness".

Hundreds of thousands of people (7) __________________________________________________ broken heart syndrome. It mainly affects women and can (8) __________________________________________________ of dying early. The syndrome may explain why a spouse dies soon after their partner's death. Sufferers feel like they are having a heart attack. Symptoms (9) __________________________________________________, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The syndrome makes the heart change shape. The heart becomes rounder, (10) __________________________________________________. "Takotsubo" is a Japanese word. It means a round pot used to (11) __________________________________________________. Lead researcher Dr David Gamble said his research highlights the importance of the brain-heart relationship. He said mental and physical (12) __________________________________________________ sufferers.

Comprehension questions
  1. What is the common name for the term takotsubo cardiomyopathy?
  2. What is broken heart syndrome caused by?
  3. How many brokenhearted people did the researchers test?
  4. How often did the patients have counselling sessions?
  5. How did the British Heart Foundation feel about the counselling?
  6. How many people around the world suffer from broken heart syndrome?
  7. What does having broken heart syndrome feel like?
  8. What does the article say the heart becomes as round as?
  9. What did a researcher highlight the importance of?
  10. What did the researcher say can help sufferers?
Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the common name for the term takotsubo cardiomyopathy? a) heart-to-heart b) heartache c) to have one's heart in one's mouth d) broken heart (syndrome) 2) What is broken heart syndrome caused by? a) high cholesterol b) severe emotional or physical stress c) not exercising enough d) cures 3) How many brokenhearted people did the researchers test? a) 68 b) 72 c) 74 d) 76 4) How often did the patients have counselling sessions? a) once every two weeks b) twice a week c) every week d) every day 5) How did the British Heart Foundation feel about the counselling? a) shocked b) happy c) worried d) surprised

6) How many people around the world suffer from broken heart syndrome? a) one hundred thousand b) hundreds and thousands c) hundreds of thousands d) tens of thousands 7) What does having broken heart syndrome feel like? a) like having a heart attack b) being in cold water c) being punched d) having a heavy cold 8) What does the article say the heart becomes as round as? a) an apple b) a soccer ball c) an octopus d) a doughnut 9) What did a researcher highlight the importance of? a) eating well b) the brain-heart relationship c) chatting to friends d) regular health checks 10) What did the researcher say can help sufferers? a) mental and physical therapy b) friends c) regular health checks d) eating avocados

Role play

Role A – Counselling You think counselling is the best way to heal a broken heart. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): shopping, meditation or time.

Role B – Shopping You think shopping is the best way to heal a broken heart. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): counselling, meditation or time.

Role C – Meditation You think meditation is the best way to heal a broken heart. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): shopping, counselling or time.

Role D – Time You think time is the best way to heal a broken heart. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): shopping, meditation or counselling.

After reading / listening

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

• 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:

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 - Broken Hearts

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

  1. What did you think when you read the headline?
  2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'therapy'?
  3. What do you think of broken hearts?
  4. What's the best way to recover from a broken heart?
  5. How often are you stressed?
  6. Have you ever had a broken heart?
  7. Has not passing or winning at something ever broken your heart?
  8. How well do you look after your heart?
  9. What would you say to someone who broke your heart?
  10. What advice do you have for someone with a broken heart?

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

  1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
  2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'broken heart'?
  3. What do you think about what you read?
  4. Why do you think women are more likely to have a broken heart?
  5. What can heartbreak teach us?
  6. Have you ever been heartbroken because you lost something?
  7. How important is the heart-brain relationship?
  8. Do men and women deal with heartbreak differently?
  9. Is mental or physical therapy better for your heart?
  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)

A broken heart is a (1) ____ condition. The medical name for it is takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It is caused (2) ____ severe emotional or physical stress. This stress can come from (3) ____ a loved one or breaking up with a romantic partner. Doctors think they have a cure for it. Researchers at Aberdeen University in Scotland conducted a 12-week test on 76 people with broken heart syndrome. The patients had a (4) ____ counselling session. They also took part in an exercise programme, which (5) ____ aerobics, cycling and swimming. The British Heart Foundation said it was surprised by how (6) ____ the counselling "improved heart function and patients' fitness".

Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide suffer (7) ____ broken heart syndrome. It mainly affects women and can double the (8) ____ of dying early. The syndrome may explain why a spouse dies soon after their partner's death. Sufferers feel like they are having a heart (9) ____. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The syndrome makes the heart change shape. The heart becomes rounder, (10) ____ an octopus. "Takotsubo" is a Japanese word. It means a round pot used to (11) ____ an octopus. Lead researcher Dr David Gamble said his research highlights the importance of the brain-heart (12) ____. He said mental and physical therapy can help sufferers.

Which of these words go in the above text?

  1. (a) reality (b) realistic (c) really (d) real
  2. (a) at (b) to (c) of (d) by
  3. (a) loss (b) losing (c) lost (d) loser
  4. (a) weak (b) week (c) weeks (d) weekly
  5. (a) inclusive (b) including (c) included (d) include
  6. (a) much (b) many (c) more (d) most
  7. (a) that (b) from (c) which (d) at
  8. (a) risk (b) policy (c) same (d) ill
  9. (a) push (b) attack (c) strike (d) act
  10. (a) such (b) similar (c) like (d) for
  11. (a) throw (b) toss (c) catch (d) jump
  12. (a) friendship (b) partner (c) family (d) relationship
Spelling Paragraph 1
  1. A broken heart is a real oiointdnc
  2. The icdaeml name for it
  3. eeserv emotional or physical stress
  4. tnddccueo a 12-week test on 76 people
  5. patients had a weekly counselling sssneoi
  6. counselling vrmdoepi heart function
Paragraph 2
  1. usferf from broken heart syndrome
  2. It mainly cffates women
  3. ubeold the risk of dying early
  4. chest pain, shortness of breath, and eaiutfg
  5. a round pot used to catch an ptocosu
  6. mental and physical apehrty
Put the text back together

( 1 ) A broken heart is a real condition. The medical name for it is takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It is caused ( ) aerobics, cycling and swimming. The British Heart Foundation said it was surprised by how ( ) an octopus. Lead researcher Dr David Gamble said his research highlights the importance ( ) by severe emotional or physical stress. This stress can come from losing a loved one or breaking ( ) conducted a 12-week test on 76 people with broken heart syndrome. The patients had a weekly ( ) counselling session. They also took part in an exercise programme, which included ( ) death. Sufferers feel like they are having a heart attack. Symptoms include chest ( ) Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide suffer from broken heart syndrome. It mainly affects women and can double ( ) like an octopus. "Takotsubo" is a Japanese word. It means a round pot used to catch ( ) much the counselling "improved heart function and patients' fitness". ( ) of the brain-heart relationship. He said mental and physical therapy can help sufferers. ( ) pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The syndrome makes the heart change shape. The heart becomes rounder, ( ) the risk of dying early. The syndrome may explain why a spouse dies soon after their partner's ( ) up with a romantic partner. Doctors think they have a cure for it. Researchers at Aberdeen University in Scotland

Put the words in the right order
  1. It emotional caused by stress. is severe
  2. Stress come a one. loved from can losing
  3. Doctors have they a it. cure for think
  4. The had counselling weekly session. a patients
  5. They in exercise also part programme. an took
  6. Hundreds people suffer. of thousands of worldwide
  7. It risk of early. can double dying the
  8. Sufferers a feel attack. like they're heart having
  9. The makes heart syndrome change the shape.
  10. A to round catch used an octopus. pot
Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

A broken heart is a really / real condition. The medical name for it is takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It is caused by several / severe emotional or physical stress. This stress can come from losing / loss a loved one or breaking up / down with a romantic partner. Doctors think they have a cure / sure for it. Researchers at Aberdeen University in Scotland conducted a 12-week test in / on 76 people with broken heart syndrome. The patients had a weekly counselling season / session. They also took part in an exercise programme, which / what included aerobics, cycling and swimming. The British Heart Foundation said it was surprised by how many / much the counselling "improved heart function and patients' fitness / fit".

Hundreds of thousand / thousands of people worldwide suffer from broken heart syndrome. It mainly effects / affects women and can double the risk / risky of dying early. The syndrome may explain why a spice / spouse dies soon after their partner's death. Sufferers feel like they are having / doing a heart attack. Symptoms include chest pain, short / shortness of breath, and fatigue. The syndrome makes the heart change / changing shape. The heart becomes rounder, like an octopus. "Takotsubo" is a Japanese word. It means a round pot used to throw / catch an octopus. Lead researcher Dr David Gamble said his research highlights the important / importance of the brain-heart relationship. He said mental and physical therapy / therapist can help sufferers.

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

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

_ br_k_n h__rt _s _ r__l c_nd_t__n. Th_ m_d_c_l n_m_ f_r _t _s t_k_ts_b_ c_rd__my_p_thy. _t _s c__s_d by s_v_r_ _m_t__n_l _r phys_c_l str_ss. Th_s str_ss c_n c_m_ fr_m l_s_ng _ l_v_d _n_ _r br__k_ng _p w_th _ r_m_nt_c p_rtn_r. D_ct_rs th_nk th_y h_v_ _ c_r_ f_r _t. R_s__rch_rs _t _b_rd__n _n_v_rs_ty _n Sc_tl_nd c_nd_ct_d _ 12-w__k t_st _n 76 p__pl_ w_th br_k_n h__rt syndr_m_. Th_ p_t__nts h_d _ w__kly c__ns_ll_ng s_ss__n. Th_y _ls_ t__k p_rt _n _n _x_rc_s_ pr_gr_mm_, wh_ch _ncl_d_d __r_b_cs, cycl_ng _nd sw_mm_ng. Th_ Br_t_sh H__rt F__nd_t__n s__d _t w_s s_rpr_s_d by h_w m_ch th_ c__ns_ll_ng "_mpr_v_d h__rt f_nct__n _nd p_t__nts' f_tn_ss".

H_ndr_ds _f th__s_nds _f p__pl_ w_rldw_d_ s_ff_r fr_m br_k_n h__rt syndr_m_. _t m__nly _ff_cts w_m_n _nd c_n d__bl_ th_ r_sk _f dy_ng __rly. Th_ syndr_m_ m_y _xpl__n why _ sp__s_ d__s s__n _ft_r th__r p_rtn_r's d__th. S_ff_r_rs f__l l_k_ th_y _r_ h_v_ng _ h__rt _tt_ck. Sympt_ms _ncl_d_ ch_st p__n, sh_rtn_ss _f br__th, _nd f_t_g__. Th_ syndr_m_ m_k_s th_ h__rt ch_ng_ sh_p_. Th_ h__rt b_c_m_s r__nd_r, l_k_ _n _ct_p_s. "T_k_ts_b_" _s _ J_p_n_s_ w_rd. _t m__ns _ r__nd p_t _s_d t_ c_tch _n _ct_p_s. L__d r_s__rch_r Dr D_v_d G_mbl_ s__d h_s r_s__rch h_ghl_ghts th_ _mp_rt_nc_ _f th_ br__n-h__rt r_l_t__nsh_p. H_ s__d m_nt_l _nd phys_c_l th_r_py c_n h_lp s_ff_r_rs.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

a broken heart is a real condition the medical name for it is takotsubo cardiomyopathy it is caused by severe emotional or physical stress this stress can come from losing a loved one or breaking up with a romantic partner doctors think they have a cure for it researchers at aberdeen university in scotland conducted a 12week test on 76 people with broken heart syndrome the patients had a weekly counselling session they also took part in an exercise programme which included aerobics cycling and swimming the british heart foundation said it was surprised by how much the counselling improved heart function and patients fitness

hundreds of thousands of people worldwide suffer from broken heart syndrome it mainly affects women and can double the risk of dying early the syndrome may explain why a spouse dies soon after their partners death sufferers feel like they are having a heart attack symptoms include chest pain shortness of breath and fatigue the syndrome makes the heart change shape the heart becomes rounder like an octopus takotsubo is a japanese word it means a round pot used to catch an octopus lead researcher dr david gamble said his research highlights the importance of the brainheart relationship he said mental and physical therapy can help sufferers

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Abrokenheartisarealcondition.Themedicalnameforitistakotsubocar diomyopathy.Itiscausedbysevereemotionalorphysicalstress.Thisstr esscancomefromlosingalovedoneorbreakingupwitharomanticpartn er.Doctorsthinktheyhaveacureforit.ResearchersatAberdeenUnivers ityinScotlandconducteda12-weekteston76peoplewithbrokenhearts yndrome.Thepatientshadaweeklycounsellingsession.Theyalsotook partinanexerciseprogramme,whichincludedaerobics,cyclingandswi mming.TheBritishHeartFoundationsaiditwassurprisedbyhowmucht hecounselling"improvedheartfunctionandpatients'fitness".Hundred softhousandsofpeopleworldwidesufferfrombrokenheartsyndrome.I tmainlyaffectswomenandcandoubletheriskofdyingearly.Thesyndro memayexplainwhyaspousediessoonaftertheirpartner'sdeath.Suffer ersfeelliketheyarehavingaheartattack.Symptomsincludechestpain, shortnessofbreath,andfatigue.Thesyndromemakestheheartchange shape.Theheartbecomesrounder,likeanoctopus."Takotsubo"isaJap aneseword.Itmeansaroundpotusedtocatchanoctopus.Leadresearch erDrDavidGamblesaidhisresearchhighlightstheimportanceofthebrai n-heartrelationship.Hesaidmentalandphysicaltherapycanhelpsuffe rers.

Free writing

Write about broken heart syndrome for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

Academic writing

A broken heart is the worst feeling in the world. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson. 3. BROKEN HEARTS: Make a poster about broken hearts. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things? 4. REPAIRING HEARTS: Write a magazine article about schools teaching students about how to repair broken hearts. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this. 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 broken hearts. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to heal a broken heart. 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

$US 9.99

Answers

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

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Sean Banville's Book
  • Download a sample of my book "1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers".
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