Lesson 10

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Lesson 10, talking about current events
Goals
Expose your point of view about current events
propose and run a debate
See more news: click on the remote control!
All of us must be aware of the things that are happening around us. Being informed about current events will give us knowledge on how things work around the world and help us decide which path we shall take for journey. As you have noticed, several news updates have become a big deal to the people around the world. Just like the North Korea's plan to launch a rocket.
Admit it or not, all of us were affected by the news. Current events serve as a guide for us to find out the things that we must do and should have done. Discussing current events makes us informed and involved citizens. Moreover, we will better understand people and how they relate to one another.
Let’s get started…
Where do you get your news from? Do you get news from different sources? Do you notice a difference in how the news gets covered by different sources? How does the news media in the U.S. compare to your home country?
Background
Many Americans like to know what is happening in local, national, and world news. Some people believe that to live in a democracy, it is important to stay informed about the important issues facing our world. Americans read about the news on the Internet and in newspapers and magazines, listen to the news on the radio, and watch the news on TV. Many Americans like to talk about current events and the news with their families, friends and co-workers. There are some controversial topics in today’s news such as the war in Iraq, US immigration reform, & the threat of global warming. It is very common for current events and news to be the topics of small talk.
But… and what’s the difference between ‘news’ and ‘current events’?
News is different from current events because not all current events make it to the news. For a current event to become News, someone or a reporter must have taken interest in the spread of such event, or a current event may occur without ever getting into the news until later in the future. In the same way, not all news items are current events. A person may be interested in an old story. Digging up age long information about remarkable stories becomes news. So, an event need not be a current event before it becomes news.
Read more about this difference between ‘news’ and ‘current events’:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_news_and_current_affairs#ixzz1wdngbhfJ 
Listen to some news or current events:
http://www.pbs.org/now/thisweek/archive.html 
Listen to people talking about a social event:
http://www.englishtown.com.br/community/channels/lesson2.aspx?dialogName=EOM205 
Talk about the following question or do the following activity
What are the most important issues facing our world today? (energy, nuclear weapons, human rights, global warming, hunger, etc.) Why?
Discussion Questions
Are you interested in current events and news?
How much time do you spend discussing current events with friends?
How often do you watch the news on TV or read the newspaper? What is your favorite television station or newspaper? Why?
Do you keep up with the news in your native country? If yes, how? If no, why not?
What sections of a newspaper or website do you check for current events (health, technology, business, etc.)?
Are you interested in news from other countries?
What is the last thing that you learned from the local, national, or world news?
What recent events are you fed up of hearing about?
In the U.S., it is common for TV stations to interrupt other TV shows to show “Breaking News” reports. Is this common in your native country?
Do you think that the news shows too much violence on TV? Why or why not?
In your opinion, is Brazilian news objective or biased?
What type of information – if any – do you think a government should keep from its citizens? Why?
ASKING QUESTIONS, SEEKING CLARIFICATION
When you are talking about news or current events, you may need to ask questions and seek clarification. Let’s see some ways of doing it, shall we?
Asking questions and seeking clarification can help you to understand the message and information more easily. Below are some useful phrases and questions to help you in this important role. Hopefully you will find this information helpful and practical.[1: /ˌkler.ə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃən/]
TIP! English typically uses a number of polite introductory phrases before a question is asked. This is because it can be considered impolite, or too direct, to state something without some kind of introduction to the question. However, it is quite common and normal for the introductory phrases to the question to be brief.
Try and use these phrases in your lessons. Notice the use of the introductory phrases in the POLITE / FORMAL, NEUTRAL and LEAST POLITE / INFORMAL sections.
Below you will find some language arranged from polite, to least polite for you to study.
II.1 ASKING QUESTIONS
Let’s see some ways for requesting extra information.
	POLITE / FORMAL
	NEUTRAL
	LEAST POLITE / INFORMAL
	I'd like to ask a question about... 
May I ask a question about...?
I wonder if you could tell me / us...
Do you happen to know...?
	I'd like to know... 
Where / how can I find out...? 
Do you know...?
What happens if...?
Can you tell me...?
	I have a question! 
I want to know... 
Tell me...
What about...?
II. 2 SEEKING CLARIFICATION 
ASKING FOR SOMETHING TO BE REPEATED, REPHRASED OR SUMMARISED
	POLITE / FORMAL
	NEUTRAL
	LEAST POLITE / INFORMAL
	 I beg your pardon but I don't quite follow
/ understand. 
Pardon me. Can / Could / Would you repeat that again, please?
	Do you think we could / Can we go over that again?
Would you mind repeating that? Would you mind saying that again? Sorry, but I'm not sure I'm following you.
Excuse me, but I didn't catch the last part / the part about... 
I'm sorry, but what did you say about...? 
Do you think you could repeat the part about...once again please?
	I didn't / don't get that.
What was that? You lost me.
What did you say? 
Again, please.
Say that again. I don't get it.
I'm lost / confused. 
What?
Huh?
ASKING SOMEONE TO GIVE EXAMPLES AND ILLUSTRATIONS
	POLITE / FORMAL
	NEUTRAL
	LEAST POLITE / INFORMAL
	Could you possibly give us / cite an example?
I wonder if you could give an illustration.
Would you have an illustration / example of what you mean?
	Do you think you could give an illustration / example? Are you able to give another example of that?
	For example? For instance? Give us / me an example.
(C) CHECKING THAT YOU HAVE UNDERSTOOD
	POLITE / FORMAL
	NEUTRAL
	LEAST POLITE / INFORMAL
	If I understand you correctly,
you mean / this means...
Do you / Does this mean then that...?
Would it be correct to say that...?
Can I conclude from this that...?
May I assume that... / Am I
right in assuming that...
	Let's see if I understand /
understood you correctly. ...
So, what you're really
saying is...
Does that / this mean...?
So, in other words...
	OK. You mean / this means...
What if...
Below are 5 situations which need your attention. Rewrite each of them, adding what is necessary to make them appropriate to the situation. Use the sentences above to help you.
Sir, tell us again what happens to the heating and ventilation system.
I didn't understand what you said about the project. Explain to us again.
Why doesn't the machine operate in this case?
I couldn't hear your last point about hospital care.
You didn't explain that clearly enough. Say it again.
Possible answers - of course others may be suitable. Basically, the LEAST POLITE / INFORMAL part would be inappropriate.
Sir, do you think you could repeat the part about the heating and ventilation system once again please?
Sorry, but I'm not sure I'm following you. Would you mind repeating the part about the project?
Do youthink you could give a reason why the machine doesn't operate in this case?
Excuse me, but I didn't catch the last point about hospital care.
Can we go over that again? Would you have an illustration of what you mean?
You are going to read a text about English as a global language. Then, you are going to talk about some selected topics.
ENGLISH AS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE
British or American, the language is basically the same, and its global stature (tamanho, estatura) is backed up (apoiado, respaldado) by massive English- language training programmes, an international business that in textbooks, language courses, tape cassettes, video programmes and computerized instruction — is worth hundreds of millions of pounds or dollars to the economies of the US and the UK. The English language is now one of Britain’s most reliable (confiável) exports. In the ironic words of the novelist Malcolm Bradbury, it is an ideal British product, “needing no workers and no work, no assembly lines (linhas de montagem), no spare parts (partes avulsas) and very little servicing (manutenção). We call it the English language” ...Dr Robert Burchfield, former (ex) Chief Editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, has remarked (comentado) that “any literate (alfabetizado), educated person on the face of the globe is deprived (desprovida) if he does not know English”.[2: /kəˈsets/]
The first level of the global sway (jugo) of English is to be found in those countries, formerly (outrora, anteriormente) British colonies, in which English as a second language has become accepted as a fact of cultural life that cannot be wished away (esquecer, retirar). In Nigeria, it is an official language; in Zambia, it is recognized as one of the state languages; in Singapore, it is the major language of government, the legal system and education.[3: (literary) power or influence over somebody]
The cross-cultural (transcultural) spread of English is unprecedented in other ways. It is more widely (amplamente, largamente) used than any of the other colonial languages like French, Portuguese or Spanish. It even has a wider use than some of the languages associated with international non-Western religious traditions, like Arabic or Sanskrit. In countries like India and Nigeria, English is used at all levels of society: in local English-language newspapers and broadcasting (radiodifusão), in public administration, in university education, in the major industries, the courts and the civil service. Indeed, with nearly 200 languages, India needs English to unify the country. Professor Lal, a champion of Indian English, who runs (coordena) a well-known writers’ workshop, claims that in simple numerical terms, in a country of 840 million, “more Indians speak English and write English than in England itself ...” You know what Malcolm Muggeridge said: “The last Englishman left will be an Indian.”[4: /ʌnˈpres.ə.den.t̬ɪd/]
THALWIL, Switzerland - In the tall stucco (estuque) schoolhouse here its big, airy (arejada) classrooms and views of Lake Zurich, English has become part of the daily routine. Students as young as 7 are learning multiplication or discussing the weather in English. In one classroom, lists of songs that the first grade has already mastered (aprender) include not only local German tunes (melodias) but “Old Mc Donald” and “How are you this morning?” Parents are delighted (encantados). “It is something that you need,” said Beatrix Caforeo, whose son, Andrea, goes to the school there. “Everywhere people are speaking English, not just abroad.”[5: noun [ no plural ] uk ​ /ˈstʌk.əʊ/ us ​ /ˈstʌk.oʊ/ a type of plaster used for covering walls and ceilings, especially one that can be formed into decorative patterns]
Throughout Europe, English is growing in use and acceptability. Beyond the schoolhouse here, European Universities, particularly in Northern Europe, are giving courses in science, philosophy and business in English. Even some companies like the French telecommunications giant Alcatel - state-owned until 1982- now use English as their internal language.[6: /əkˌsep.təˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/]
But the growing use of English is not going down (ser aceito) easily everywhere. The English program here has caused an uproar (tumulto, balbúrdia, gritaria) in other parts of the country, where critics have questioned why English should be taught before another one of Switzerland’s four national languages. In many places and in many ways, Europe is debating the growing prominence of English. Some see it as the language that might bind (unir, ligar, conectar) the Continent together. In one European Union survey, 70 percent of those surveyed (enquete, levantamento) agreed with the proposition that “everybody should speak English.” But nearly as many said their own language needed to be protected. Capturing the right balance (equilíbrio) is a subject of debate.
To talk about the topics below, use what learned in your previous class (giving opinion) and the structures shown below:
What do you think about the use of English as a global language?
Would it be practical?
Would it threaten or endanger national identity?
Could anything stop a global language?
Now, as you can mostly find news and current events on newspaper, let’s understand a little bit about news in English.
HEADLINE! ENTENDENDO NOTÍCIAS EM INGLÊS
Hoje em dia é importante saber o que está acontecendo no mundo à sua volta. No entanto, ler jornais em inglês pode ser difícil se você nunca aprendeu como, então aqui vão algumas dicas úteis para ter certeza de que você pegue the scoop!
USEFUL VOCABULARY ABOUT THE PRESS
The radio, the television and the press constitute the media.
Newspapers fall into two categories: The Popular Papers (Tabloids or rags) interested in scandals and the Quality Papers (broadsheet newspaper), such as:[7: rag noun [ C ] (NEWSPAPER) informal a newspaper or magazine that is considered to be of bad quality]
'The Independent' is a British newspaper. It's published every day, it's called a daily.
'Time Magazine' is an American magazine; it's printed every week, it's called a weekly.
'Newsweek' is another famous magazine which sells more than 3 million copies; it has a very large circulation.
In fact, the number of people who actually read it -its readership- is superior to this number.
Readers são as pessoas que compram e leem o jornal. O sucesso do jornal pode ser medido por sua readership ou circulation, o número de leitores que ele tem.
Other common names for newspapers include gazette, journal (diário,periódico), chronicle.[8: /ɡəˈzet/]
Many people buy their papers from a newsstand, but others prefer to receive it at home, that's why they subscribe (fazer uma assinatura) to their favourite paper.
Yellow journalism, or the yellow press, is a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines (manchetes apelativas) to sell more newspapers. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering (notícias caluniadoras, difamantes), or sensationalism. By extension, the term yellow journalism is used today as a pejorative to decry (menosprezar) any journalism that treats news in an unprofessional or unethical fashion.[9: / -mʌŋ.ɡɚ.ɪŋ/][10: /pɪˈdʒɔr·ə·t̬ɪv, -ˈdʒɑr-/ fml]
The front page is covered with big headlines while the cover of a magazine is often a colour photograph.
A Headline é o título ou início de um artigo, Por exemplo Exports shoot up as dollar plunges. (Exportações disparam enquanto o dólar afunda). Headlines costumam ser escritas em um estilo especial abreviado, e às vezes são difíceis de decifrar.
A magazine or a newspaper are divided into several sections: politics, sports, business, etc. It includes various things such as:
a leader or editorial written by an editorial writer,
international or world news to know what's going on in the world,
news items or news in brief about less serious topics. In-depth coverage- outras vezes eles preferem transmitir in-depth coverage para suas top stories. Coverage quer dizer a cobertura de uma história, e in-depth é um adjetivo para expressar detalhismo. Top story Quer dizer que as notícias mais importantes estão sendo informadas. Por exemplo, você pode ouvir, "In our top story, we'll take a look at the ongoing (em andamento) criminal investigation."
articles and stories about famous people, politicians, the fashion, etc.,
advertisements or ads for various products or services,
wanted ads or small ads for people who are looking for a job or people who want to buy/sell things. Classificados especiais chamados personals ajudam pessoas solitárias a encontrar parceiros românticos,
the weather report for people who want to know whether tomorrow will be a rainy day,
TV listings to know what's on television,
film or book reviews to know about the latest movie to see or the latest book to read,
the readers' mail or letters to the editor,
the obituary column with the names of celebrities who have just died,[11: /oʊˈbɪtʃ·uˌer·i/]
comics (tiras) for children or for adults too,
the horoscope or the stars for superstitious people,
the agony column or the lonely heart column for people who have problems in their sentimental lives,
crosswords and games to pass the time when travelling on buses or trains,
surveys and opinion polls (pesquisas de opinião) to discover what a majority of people think,
many photos with captions (legendas) underneath to report on events, etc.
News bulletin or news or story – noticiário. When you are watching the news, are you interested in the political news. ( Quando você está assistindo ao noticiário, as notícias sobre política lhe interessam?)
Paparazzi - Este é um termo negativo para fotógrafos de jornais ou revistas, especialmente aqueles que acompanham celebridades tentando tirar fotografias íntimas deles.[12: /ˌpɑː.pɑːˈrɑːt.si/]
To get the scoop - Essa é uma gíria que significa uma notícia importante, especialmente algo que ainda não foi informado por outros jornais (notícia de primeira mão). To get the scoop significa descobrir ou informar as notícias antes que os outros o façam. Pode-se também dizer um beat (furo de reportagem). Vejamos: “Besides, you'll have the inside scoop on all our exclusive games.” (Além disso, você terá acesso em primeira mão a todos os nossos jogos exclusivos).
Breaking news - O termo se refere às últimas, mais recentes notícias em curso. Por exemplo, "We've got some important, breaking news for you tonight." Uma expressão similar é Hot off the press!, significando que o jornal acaba de ser impresso e que as notícias são muito recentes.
"This just in..." - Repórteres gostam de usar essa frase para apresentar breaking news. Isso indica que as notícias são muito recentes. "This just in, a new candidate has decided to run for mayor."
"Our sources tell us..." - O trabalho dos repórteres não é inventar suas próprias histórias, mas confiar em sources (fontes), ou pessoas que são entrevistas, para fornecer os fatos. Quando os repórteres não querem identificar suas sources, eles podem dizer essa frase.
Exclusive interview - Agências de notícias costumam competir para conseguir exclusive interviews de sources importantes. Isso significa que eles são a única emissora (broadcasting station) a conseguir uma entrevista com essa pessoa.
Stay tuned - Essa é outra maneira de dizer "continue assistindo". Apresentadores de notícias usam essa frase para introduzir notícias e deixar seus telespectadores ligados, para que não mudem de canal. "Stay tuned for our exclusive interview with the key witness to the crime."
Reporting live - Às vezes os apresentadores informam as notícias depois de elas terem acontecido, mas outras vezes eles report live ao mesmo tempo em que as notícias estão acontecendo. "This is Jill, reporting live at the White House."
At the scene - Quando os repórteres report live, eles normalmente estão no lugar em que as notícias estão acontecendo. Ou, em outras palavras, eles estão at the scene. "Let's hear from John, who's reporting live at the scene."
Now, back to you... - Quando é hora de alguém at the scene terminar, normalmente eles chamam a atenção da audiência para o apresentador no estúdio com essa expressão. "Now, back to you Lisa."
QUIZ
1. Como as pessoas normalmente perguntam pelas notícias?
What's in the news?"
What’s for the news?
What’s at the news?
What's to the news?"
2. Enquanto você assistia ao noticiário, um repórter disse que tinha "breaking news" para informar. O que são "breaking news"?
notícias sobre um evento que acabou de acontecer
notícias financeiras
notícias públicas
más notícias
3. Você ouve dizer que um jornal está sendo criticado por sua "coverage" de um escândalo político internacional. O que é "coverage"?
a posição do jornal de ajudar a esconder esse escândalo
a maneira como o jornal reporta o escândalo
a maneira com o que o jornal reporta o escândalo
um aumento no preço das edições do jornal que informa sobre o escândalo
4. Organizações que informam as notícias são conhecidas coletivamente com o the newsman
The newsman
the outlets
the press
the tellers
5. O programa de notícias na TV que você está assistindo anuncia que semana que vem haverá uma "interview" com uma importante figura política. O que é uma "interview"
um debate
uma discussão
um jogo
uma reportagem
6. Seu amigo pergunta se você viu a notícia sobre o divórcio de um casal de celebridades no último "tabloid". O que é um "tabloid"?
um jornal internacional
um jornal ou revista que fala de rumores e fofocas
uma revista sobre namoro e relacionamentos
o programa noturno de notícias da televisão
7. Você ouve no noticiário sobre uma "exclusive" reportagem. O que é uma "exclusive"?
uma reportagem muito importante
uma reportagem que vai irritar muitas pessoas
uma reportagem que nenhum outro jornal ou programa fez
um boletim sobre o tempo
8. Qual é outro nome para noticiário?
a break 
a story
a title
a paper
1 – A; 2 - A; 3 - C; 4 - C; 5 – B; 6 – B; 7 – C; 8 – B.
For more newspaper vocabulary, take a look at: 
http://www.angelfire.com/trek/puknews/refsnp.html 
 
Listen to some news in English:
http://www.simpleenglishnews.com/ 
http://www.englishclub.com/listening/news.htm 
Activity
JUST FOR FUN: Can you guess the meaning of these headlines? Give it a shot.
Match the newspaper headlines on the left to their translation on the right. (The newspaper section is given to help you)
Dow breaks 10,000 (business)
SF club scene emerges from underground (art & entertainment)
Great rail journeys (travelling)
Twins big rally halts Indians' streak (sports)*
A mortgage that helps with those credit problems (real estate)
Sun to introduce new network product (technology)
Networking as a job search tool (careers)
911 tapes offer vivid glimpse into shooting's first minutes (national)
Evidence of new solar system found (science)
Trial by fire for NATO rookies: Poles, Czechs, Hungarians having second thoughts (international)
(7) Rede serve de ferramenta para emprego
(6) Sun apresenta novo produto da Rede
(1) Dow fecha acima de 10.000
(10) Prova de fogo para novatos da OTAN: poloneses,
tchecos, húngaros repensam tratado
(9) Encontrada evidência de novo sistema solar
(8) Fitas do 911 oferecem uma olhada ao vivo dos
primeiros minutos de tiroteio
(5) Hipoteca ajuda com problemas de crédito
(3) Fantásticas viagens de trem
(4) Grande jogada dos Twins para linha dos lndians
(2) SF club emerge do submundo
Well, my friends, this is time to say goodbye. Congratulations! We hope you can put the theories discussed into practice.
Although grammar and vocabulary lessons are important, and if we don’t have space for conversation, we may never become fluent. You’ll probably become a teacher very soon, so don’t forget it! Practice and let your students practice! You’ll see the results…Best wishes!! See you next term!
There is not next class.
In this class, you:
Exposed your point of view about current events
proposed and ran a debate