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Using The News In The EFL Classroom
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Are you feeling bored in your own lessons? Stuck for fun and exciting ideas? In a lesson planning rut?
Well then, you’ve come to the right place!
We understand that you spend hours planning your lessons but sometimes the lessons seem endless. Weeks and weeks of lessons and no holiday in sight and it can feel like you’re becoming boring. You know you should include authentic materials and engaging activities and interesting ideas into your classroom, but you’ve been pushing yourself for so long you’re running on empty.
Which is why we thought you’d like to know about a resource that is probably a part of your daily life but maybe you hadn’t thought how you could incorporate it into your lessons: the news.
Why you should use the news in your EFL lessons
The news is by its very nature current and up-to-date. It covers a wide range of topics, so you are able to find something that is interesting for everyone. It is an authentic material so you are exposing your students to real language. Finally, the students may already be aware of the news items which will provide a bridge to their understanding.
What materials can be used
There are a number of resources that you can use as materials for your lessons. You can use a traditional newspaper or you can use online news sites. Newspapers are easy enough to buy and if you collect them you can have a range of newspapers at your disposal. On the other hand, if you decide to go online, there are an endless number of resources you can use.
How you can use news materials
Newspapers can be used in a variety of ways:
- You can let the students find their own articles, read them and share their stories with the class
- Students can write their own news articles based on headlines
- Students can find articles online and do the related exercises
- Students can watch clips of news bulletins
- Students can debate an issue relating to an item on the news
When you can use the news
Anytime! There are items in the news every day that can be of interest to your class or there might be a big news story that you might want to tackle for a lesson. Whatever your needs, you are sure to find what you are looking for in a newspaper.
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