Working with texts

Working with textsUna CunninghamPre-reading or listeningPrediction Give your students the title of the news story, and ask them to predict 10 words or phrases they think will be in the story. Students then read and/or listen to the news story to check their ideas.2What can you guess from the title?Garden in the clouds3Gapfill prediction Give your students the text of the News story, with the vocabulary items blanked out. Students try to work out what the missing words / phrases should be, then listen and/or read to check their answers.4While Reading / Listening

Find the mistakes Create a text version of the story with some mistakes in it. The mistakes can be factual or linguistic, or even a mixture of both. Students read the story while listening to the audio, and mark the mistakes on their written version. 5What is wrong with the text?When there's no space for a pool, the only way is up.One Japanese doctor has built a rocky retreat on top of this Beijing block of flats.But his villa is now being dismantled after police complained it was unfair and dangerous.Authorities say it was built illegally and have ordered its completion.6

When there's no space for a garden, the only way is up.One Chinese doctor has built a rocky retreat on top of this Beijing block of flats.But his villa is now being dismantled after neighbours complained it was noisy and dangerous.Authorities say it was built illegally and have ordered its demolition.6DictationNew figures from China show that the country has consolidated its position as the world's biggest source of tourists. A total of 97 million Chinese tourists travelled abroad in 2013, according to China's National Tourism Administration.7Dictogloss

8Listen twice, then work together to retell the content.China is the biggest source of tourists

Whatever measure you choose, Chinese tourists now top the global rankings. Last year just shy of 100 million Chinese made foreign trips. And collectively they spent well over $100bn overseas outstripping any other nationality. Little more than a generation ago few Chinese ventured abroad. But the restrictions have gone, most are now free to travel, although some minorities like Tibetans still complain of hurdles getting passports. And as China's economy has expanded, so have people's horizons. China's new middle classes want to see the world. The most popular destinations are in Asia and Europe, Thailand for beaches, France for history and culture. Britain, which requires a separate visa to the rest of Europe, has lagged behind. It received just 200,000 Chinese visitors two years ago, and is now trying to simplify the process so it doesn't miss out on China's new spenders.9