A Lesson on CNN

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THE LESSON ON CNN

Click here for the PDF handout or try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on CNN. Click on the links below or see the activities below this article:


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CNN (Cable News Network) is an American-owned cable news channel that is viewed in over 200 countries. It was founded in 1980 by media giant Ted Turner. He succeeded in his vision of providing 24-hour television news coverage. CNN was the first all-news TV channel in the USA. It is owned by parent company Time Warner. The CNN websites says: “CNN is constantly updated to bring you the top news stories from around the world. It is produced by dedicated staff in London and Hong Kong, working with colleagues at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and with bureaus worldwide. CNN relies heavily on its global team of over 4,000 news professionals.” Estimates are that CNN reaches 100 million American households and a million U.S. hotel rooms.

ONLINE QUIZZES

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    WORKSHEET ACTIVITIES

    WARM-UPS

    1. BRAINSTORM: Write all the words you can think of about CNN on the board or on a piece of paper. Talk about these words with your partner(s).

    2. CNN MORNING: Each student pretends to be an employee of CNN. They walk around the class and talk about the company and their job.

    3. RUMOURS: Each student writes down a pretend rumour about CNN. They then walk around the class and talk to other students about their rumour.

    4. GOOD AND BAD: Brainstorm good and bad things about CNN and write them on the board. Students talk about these in pairs.

    5. TRUE OR FALSE: Students find out several facts about CNN. They write these down and add the same number of things about the company that are false. Students test each other on which of their points are true or false.

    6. FACTS: In groups, students write down as many facts as they can about CNN. The winner is the group with the most facts. Teacher may wish to have groups share their facts to make sure they are real.

    LISTENING / READING GAP FILL

    CNN (Cable News Network) is ____________________ news channel that ____________________ 200 countries. It was founded in 1980 by media giant Ted Turner. He succeeded in ____________________ 24-hour television news coverage. CNN was the first all-news TV channel in the USA. ____________________ company Time Warner. The CNN websites says: “CNN is constantly updated ____________________ news stories from around the world. It is produced ____________________ in London and Hong Kong, working with colleagues at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and ____________________. CNN relies heavily on its global team of over 4,000 news professionals.” Estimates are that CNN reaches 100 million American ____________________ million U.S. hotel rooms.

    CORRECT THE SPELLING

    CNN (Cable News Network) is an American-wndeo cable news channel that is vwdeei in over 200 countries. It was founded in 1980 by media giant Ted Turner. He succeeded in his vision of igivdporn 24-hour television news coverage. CNN was the first all-news TV channel in the USA. It is owned by tnraep company Time Warner. The CNN websites says: “CNN is stoatnnycl updated to bring you the top news stories from around the world. It is produced by cditeaded staff in London and Hong Kong, working with colleagues at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and with surabue worldwide. CNN relies vlyeiha on its global team of over 4,000 news professionals.” Estimates are that CNN hcsaere 100 million American ohussdoelh and a million U.S. hotel rooms.

    UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

    CNN (Cable News Network) is an American-owned cable in that over is news viewed channel 200 countries. It was founded in 1980 by media giant Ted Turner. He succeeded providing of vision his in 24-hour television news coverage. CNN was the first all-news TV channel in the USA. owned is It company parent by Time Warner. The CNN websites says: “CNN is constantly updated to from stories news top the you bring around the world. It by staff London produced dedicated in is and Hong Kong, working with colleagues at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, worldwide bureaus with and , Georgia. CNN relies heavily its team over on global of 4,000 news professionals.” Estimates are that CNN reaches 100 million U million a and households American S. hotel rooms.

    INSERT THE VOWELS

    CNN (C_bl_ N_ws N_tw_rk) _s _n _m_r_c_n-_wn_d c_bl_ n_ws ch_nn_l th_t _s v__w_d _n _v_r 200 c__ntr__s. _t w_s f__nd_d _n 1980 by m_d__ g__nt T_d T_rn_r. H_ s_cc__d_d _n h_s v_s__n _f pr_v_d_ng 24-h__r t_l_v_s__n n_ws c_v_r_g_. CNN w_s th_ f_rst _ll-n_ws TV ch_nn_l _n th_ _S_. _t _s _wn_d by p_r_nt c_mp_ny T_m_ W_rn_r. Th_ CNN w_bs_t_s s_ys: “CNN _s c_nst_ntly _pd_t_d t_ br_ng y__ th_ t_p n_ws st_r__s fr_m _r__nd th_ w_rld. _t _s pr_d_c_d by d_d_c_t_d st_ff _n L_nd_n _nd H_ng K_ng, w_rk_ng w_th c_ll__g__s _t CNN's w_rld h__dq__rt_rs _n _tl_nt_, G__rg__, _nd w_th b_r___s w_rldw_d_. CNN r_l__s h__v_ly _n _ts gl_b_l t__m _f _v_r 4,000 n_ws pr_f_ss__n_ls.” _st_m_t_s _r_ th_t CNN r__ch_s 100 m_ll__n _m_r_c_n h__s_h_lds _nd _ m_ll__n _.S. h_t_l r__ms.

    PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

    cnn (cable news network) is an american-owned cable news channel that is viewed in over 200 countries it was founded in 1980 by media giant ted turner he succeeded in his vision of providing 24-hour television news coverage cnn was the first all-news tv channel in the usa it is owned by parent company time warner the cnn websites says “cnn is constantly updated to bring you the top news stories from around the world it is produced by dedicated staff in london and hong kong working with colleagues at cnn's world headquarters in atlanta georgia and with bureaus worldwide cnn relies heavily on its global team of over 4000 news professionals” estimates are that cnn reaches 100 million american households and a million us hotel rooms

    CHOOSE THE CORRECT TENSE

    CNN (Cable News Network) .......... (be) an American-owned cable news channel that is .......... (view) in over 200 countries. It was .......... (found) in 1980 by media giant Ted Turner. He .......... (succeed) in his vision of providing 24-hour television news coverage. CNN was the first all-news TV channel in the USA. It is .......... (own) by parent company Time Warner. The CNN websites says: “CNN .......... (be) constantly updated to bring you the top news stories from around the world. It is .......... (produce) by dedicated staff in London and Hong Kong, working with colleagues at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and with bureaus worldwide. CNN .......... (rely) heavily on its global team of over 4,000 news professionals.” Estimates .......... (be) that CNN reaches 100 million American households and a million U.S. hotel rooms.

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    REWRITE WITH SPACES

    CNN(CableNewsNetwork)isanAmerican-ownedcablenewschannelthatisviewedinover200countries.Itwasfoundedin1980bymediagiantTed
    Turner.Hesucceededinhisvisionofproviding24-hourtelevisionnewscoverage.CNNwasthefirstall-newsTVchannelintheUSA.ItisownedbyparentcompanyTimeWarner.TheCNNwebsitessays:“CNN
    isconstantlyupdatedtobringyouthetopnewsstoriesfromaroundtheworld.Itisproducedbydedicated
    staffinLondonandHongKong,workingwithcolleaguesatCNN'sworldheadquartersinAtlanta,Georgia,
    andwithbureausworldwide.CNNreliesheavilyonitsglobalteamofover4,000newsprofessionals.”
    EstimatesarethatCNNreaches100millionAmericanhouseholdsandamillionU.S.hotelrooms.

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    CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

    CNN (Cable News Network) is an American-owned cable news channel that is ____________ in over 200 countries. It was founded in 1980 by ____________ giant Ted Turner. He succeeded in his vision of providing 24-hour television news ____________. CNN was the first all-news TV channel in the USA. It is ____________ by ____________ company Time Warner. The CNN websites says: “CNN is constantly ____________ to bring you the top news stories from around the world. It is produced by dedicated ____________ in London and Hong Kong, working with colleagues at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and with bureaus ____________. CNN relies ____________ on its global team of over 4,000 news professionals.” Estimates are that CNN ____________ 100 million American households and a million U.S. hotel rooms.

     

     

    owned
    worldwide
    updated
    media
    heavily
    coverage
    reaches
    viewed
    staff
    parent

    PROJECT CNN

    Part 1. Your mission is to increase the profits and sales of CNN. Complete this  table with your project partner(s):

    Main products

     

     

     

    How to improve them

     

     

     

    A brand new ‘killer’ product

     

    How CNN is better than the competition

     

    How to beat the competition

     

    Part 2. Change partners and look at their project. Suggest improvements. Ask for advice on your project:

    Part 3. Make a presentation on your project. Give it to the class. Vote the best projects.

    CNN – ROLE PLAY 1

    Role  A – CNN CEO

    You believe your company is the best in the world. It pays its workers very well and working conditions are great. Your company is very green – it cares about the environment. You think your levels of customer service are great. Disagree with person B, C and D.

    Role  B – CNN worker

    You think it’s a bad company to work for. You’re very unhappy with pay, raises and bonuses. You are very unhappy with the working environment. You don’t like the company’s policy on the environment. You keep hearing profits are more important than customers. Disagree with A and C. Tell D the truth.

    Role  C – CNN customer

    You are a customer of CNN. You used to think it was great, but not now. Its workers are always very rude. No one ever answers the phone. You are shocked about its policy on the environment. You think all staff should get less pay. You disagree with person A and B. Tell D the truth.

    Role  D – A journalist

    You keep hearing bad things about CNN. You want to tell the world in your newspaper. You heard the CEO gets a huge bonus every year. You found a company memo saying profits are more important than the environment. You want to know why so many staff are ill. Find the truth.

    CNN – ROLE PLAY 2

    Role  A – CNN New Products Director

    You have created a new product for CNN. You believe the new product will be the company’s best ever. It will be a bestseller. There are people who do not agree with you. You need B, C and D on your side. Tell them why this is a product that will bring great things to CNN.

    Role  B – CNN Marketing Director

    You think the company’s new product is a really bad idea. It will give your company a really bad name. You think the New Products Director is trying to destroy the company. Try to get him/her to understand there’s no way the new product will sell. Try to get person C and D on your side.

    Role  C – CNN Market Researcher

    You have interviewed thousands of people about the new product. They don’t like it or hate it. You think it will be successful if they make many changes. Tell the New Products Director he/she needs to change the product. You neither like nor trust person B. Disagree will him/her.

    Role  D – CNN Shareholder

    You know a lot about CNN’s new product. You are worried it will not sell and share prices will go down. You think A is crazy and must find a new job. You agree with everything B says. You don’t agree with C. The new product should not go on the market.

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    JOB INTERVIEW ROLE PLAY

    INTERVIEWER  (Write the questions you want to ask the candidate.)

    1.

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    INTERVIEWEE  (Write questions you want to ask the interviewer.)

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    DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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

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

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    CNN SURVEY

    Write five GOOD questions about CNN 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.

     

    STUDENT 1

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    STUDENT 2

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    STUDENT 3

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    Q.1.

     

     

     

     

    Q.2.

     

     

     

     

    Q.3.

     

     

     

     

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    WRITING 1 – SPEED WRITING

    Write anything about CNN for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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    WRITING 2 – LETTER OF COMPLAINT

    Write a letter to CNN. Complain about one of its products. Ask for a refund. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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    WRITING 3 – LETTER OF APOLOGY

    Write a letter of apology to the customer. Explain why you cannot give a refund. Show your partner your letter. Correct each other’s work.

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    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 INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about CNN. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about CNN. What have they done recently? What are their plans? Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    4. CNN POSTER Make a poster about CNN. Make sure you sell the company to the public.  Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

    5. MY CNN LESSON: Make your own English lesson on CNN. Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Teach the class / another group when you have finished.

    6. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, MySpace page, Twitter stream, Del-icio-us / StumbleUpon account, or any other social media tool to get opinions on CNN. Share your findings with the class.

    ANSWERS

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