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Task

Daily News

As an English learner, keeping up with the news is a good way to build an understanding of cultures and world events, as well as expanding your vocabulary. Below, we have gathered links for a few webpages that offer daily news updates. Get into the habit of keeping up with the news every day!
Illustration: A computer screen is divided into four squares. In each square a different person is seen. They are showing different things. The computer screen is placed on a table. We can see a cup and a keyboard.
The internet means we can watch and listen to news broadcast from around the world. Image: Stuart Kinlough / CC BY-NC 4.0

In the UK, the BBC broadcasts a show called 'One Minute News' which is updated 24 hours a day. This is a quick and convenient way to get updated on the news.

Link to the BBC's webpage: One Minute News (TV)

If you have a bit more time on your hands, you can listen to the BBC's five minute news broadcast.

Link to the BBC's webpage: Five Minute News (radio)

For a simpler look at the news, you may want to try BBC's news programme for children called Newsround.

Link to the BBC's webpage: Newsround (TV)

If you prefer an American news outlet, NPR has a five minute news broadcast called 'NPR News' that you can listen to by following the link.

Link to NPR's webpage: NPR News (radio)

ABC News has ninety second news broadcasts covering stories from Australia as well as the rest of the world.

Link to ABC's webpage: 90 Second News (TV)

Note that there are many other news sites you can visit. Do an internet search and try to find one you like. The important thing is to get into the habit of watching the news every day. However, use your judgement to decide whether the news source is trustworthy or not.

Talk:

Watch or listen to two of the broadcasts found in the links above. Work in groups and discuss the questions.

  1. Did the broadcasts cover any of the same stories? If yes, what were they?

  2. What news story did you find most interesting?

  3. How can you find out more about the news story?

  4. Did you learn anything new from the news broadcast? If yes – what was it?

  5. Were there any words or phrases that you found difficult to understand? What were they? (Find out what they mean.)

  6. Have a look at the headlines and stories on a Norwegian news site, for example NRK. Do they cover the same stories at the ones you have watched or listened to on the English-language sites? If yes, why do you think these stories are covered in Norway as well? If no, why do you think these stories are not covered?

Develop a habit:

At the start of each lesson spend five minutes getting updated on the news, then discuss the news you have watched with a partner, in a group, or as a class. Whenever you learn something new from a broadcast, write it down.

At the end of one month, make an assessment: has watching the news been useful? Have you learned new things? Do you feel better informed about what is going on in the world? Should you keep the habit of starting lessons this way?

Write:

Choose one of the tasks to answer. Write a longer text.

  1. Write a discussion text with the title 'Why watch the news?'

  2. What makes a news broadcast reliable? Write a guide for other students about what they should look for when choosing a news provider.

  3. Some claim that it is our obligation as citizens in a democracy to keep informed about what is going on in the world. Do you agree? Write a speech where you try to convince others to share your opinion.

Present:

Find a news source other than the ones linked above, and present it in a group. What sorts of stories does the news source cover? What should the students watch or listen to? Is the news source reliable or unreliable? What do you like about the news source? What do you not like about the news source?