The Reading / Listening - Smiling Classes - Level 3

People in most countries have stopped wearing masks. In Japan, many people are still covering up. Some of those who have gone maskless, or who want to, are taking lessons in how to smile. A lot of adults say they have "forgotten" how to smile naturally after three years of wearing a face covering. They are taking lessons from "smile coaches" to relearn how to smile with confidence. One coach, Keiko Kawano from a "smile education" company, spoke to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper about her work. She said: "Mask wearing became normal, so people had fewer opportunities to smile. Many people developed a complex about smiling. I want people to smile for their physical and mental wellbeing."

Smile coaches in Japan may be busy for some time to come. A recent survey by Laibo Research found that 27.8% of company employees in their 20s to 50s would continue to wear masks. Just over two-thirds of people said they would wear a mask depending on the situation. Only 5.5% said they would go mask-free. Ms Kawano is well known in Japan. She has coached more than 4,000 people in the art of smiling. She has also trained hundreds of "smile specialists". She said: "Smiling makes a good impression on others and helps communication. It also has the effect of making yourself feel more positive." She added: "Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the key to a good smile."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Smiling Classes - Level 0,  Smiling Classes - Level 1   or  Smiling Classes - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14902858
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/16/grin-and-bare-it-as-mask-mandates-end-japan-turns-to-tutors-to-relearn-how-to-smile
  • https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japanese-get-trained-hollywood-smiles-masks-slowly-come-off-2023-06-05/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. SMILING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about smiling. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       countries / masks / Japan / adults / smiling / coach / education / complex / wellbeing
       busy / survey / employees / situation / art / a good impression / positive / muscles
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SMILING LESSONS: Students A strongly believe we should all take smiling lessons; Students B strongly believe that's silly. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. COACHES: How might coaches help with these things? Would you take a class? Why (not)? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Coaching Help

Would You Join?

Why (not)?

Smiling

 

 

 

Fashion

 

 

 

Better sleep

 

 

 

Telling jokes

 

 

 

English slang

 

 

 

Gaming skills

 

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. MASK: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "mask". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. THINGS THAT MAKE US SMILE: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that make us smile most at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Jokes
  • Exam success
  • Babies
  • Winning
  • Puppies
  • Getting money
  • Holidays
  • Free food

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. covering up a. The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
      2. adult b. Teach a subject or sport.
      3. coach c. A time or events that make it possible to do something.
      4. confidence d. Putting something on top of or in front of something else, to protect or hide it.
      5. opportunity e. A strong worry about something small that negatively affects mental health.
      6. complex f. A person who is fully grown or developed.
      7. wellbeing g. A positive feeling about one's own abilities or personality.

    Paragraph 2

      8. recent h. An example of human creativity, skill and imagination.
      9. survey i. A person highly trained or skilled in a subject, or in doing something.
      10. depending on j. A thing that allows us to do or understand something.
      11. art k. Looking at the opinions or experience of a group of people by asking them questions.
      12. specialist l. An idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone.
      13. impression m. According to.
      14. key n. Having happened, begun, or been done not long ago.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Japan is the only country wear people wear masks.     T / F
  2. Some people in Japan are taking lessons from smile coaches.     T / F
  3. People had fewer chances to smile when they wore a mask.     T / F
  4. A coach wants people to smile to keep them physically healthy.     T / F
  5. A survey found that 27.8% of all Japanese people still wear a mask.     T / F
  6. Just over 5.5% of company workers do not wear a mask.     T / F
  7. A smile coach has trained more than 4,000 "smile specialists".     T / F
  8. The smile coach said relaxing really helps with a good smile.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. stopped
  2. coaches
  3. confidence
  4. opportunities
  5. wellbeing
  6. survey
  7. employees
  8. situation
  9. specialists
  10. key
  1. workers
  2. self-belief
  3. experts
  4. discontinued
  5. study
  6. circumstances
  7. instructors
  8. answer
  9. good health
  10. chances

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. many people are still
  2. how to smile with
  3. people had fewer opportunities
  4. Many people developed a complex
  5. I want people to smile for their physical
  6. be busy for some
  7. relaxing the facial
  8. company employees in
  9. wear a mask depending
  10. the key to a good
  1. muscles
  2. and mental wellbeing
  3. time to come
  4. covering up
  5. smile
  6. to smile
  7. on the situation
  8. about smiling
  9. their 20s to 50s
  10. confidence

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
naturally
spoke
wellbeing
covering
complex
relearn
maskless
normal

People in most countries have stopped wearing masks. In Japan, many people are still (1) _____________________ up. Some of those who have gone (2) _____________________, or who want to, are taking lessons in how to smile. A lot of adults say they have "forgotten" how to smile (3) _____________________ after three years of wearing a face covering. They are taking lessons from "smile coaches" to (4) _____________________ how to smile with confidence. One coach, Keiko Kawano from a "smile education" company, (5) _____________________ to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper about her work. She said: "Mask wearing became (6) _____________________, so people had fewer opportunities to smile. Many people developed a (7) _____________________ about smiling. I want people to smile for their physical and mental (8) _____________________."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
known
employees
specialists
come
key
art
positive
depending

Smile coaches in Japan may be busy for some time to (9) _____________________. A recent survey by Laibo Research found that 27.8% of company (10) _____________________ in their 20s to 50s would continue to wear masks. Just over two-thirds of people said they would wear a mask (11) _____________________ on the situation. Only 5.5% said they would go mask-free. Ms Kawano is well (12) _____________________ in Japan. She has coached more than 4,000 people in the (13) _____________________ of smiling. She has also trained hundreds of "smile (14) _____________________". She said: "Smiling makes a good impression on others and helps communication. It also has the effect of making yourself feel more (15) _____________________." She added: "Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the (16) _____________________ to a good smile."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) In Japan, many people are ______
     a.  still covering down
     b.  still covering up
     c.  still covering in
     d.  still covering of
2)  A lot of adults say they have "forgotten" how ______
     a.  to smile natural lea
     b.  to smile nature lea
     c.  to smile natural
     d.  to smile naturally
3)  Mask wearing became normal, so people ______
     a.  had fewer opportunities
     b.  had sewer opportunities
     c.  had mewer opportunities
     d.  had pure opportunities
4)  Many people developed a ______
     a.  complex about smile in
     b.  complex a bout of smiling
     c.  complex about smiling
     d.  complex ab out smiling
5)  I want people to smile for their physical ______
     a.  end mental well been
     b.  land mental wellbeing
     c.  and mental well been
     d.  and mental wellbeing

6)  Smile coaches in Japan may be busy for some ______
     a.  time toucan
     b.  time took come
     c.  time to come
     d.  time too come
7)  over two-thirds of people said they would wear a mask depending ______
     a.  on the situation
     b.  on a situation
     c.  on then situation
     d.  other situation
8)  She has coached more than 4,000 people in the ______
     a.  are toff smiling
     b.  art toff smiling
     c.  yurt of smiling
     d.  art of smiling
9)  Smiling makes a good impression on others ______
     a.  and heaps communication
     b.  and helps communication
     c.  and kelps communication
     d.  and yelps communication
10)  Moving and relaxing the facial muscles ______
     a.  is the cue
     b.  is the keep
     c.  is the key
     d.  is the quay

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

People in most countries (1) ____________________ masks. In Japan, many people are still covering up. Some of those who (2) ____________________, or who want to, are taking lessons in how to smile. A lot of adults say they have "forgotten" how to smile naturally after three years of wearing (3) ____________________. They are taking lessons from "smile coaches" to relearn how to (4) ____________________. One coach, Keiko Kawano from a "smile education" company, spoke to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper about her work. She said: "Mask wearing became normal, so (5) ____________________ opportunities to smile. Many people developed a complex about smiling. I want people to smile for their (6) ____________________ wellbeing."

Smile coaches in Japan may be busy for some (7) ____________________. A recent survey by Laibo Research found that 27.8% of company employees in their 20s to 50s (8) ____________________ wear masks. Just over two-thirds of people said they would wear a mask depending (9) ____________________. Only 5.5% said they would go mask-free. Ms Kawano is well known in Japan. She has coached more than 4,000 people in (10) ____________________ smiling. She has also trained hundreds of "smile specialists". She said: "Smiling makes (11) ____________________ on others and helps communication. It also has the effect of making yourself feel more positive." She added: "Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is (12) ____________________ a good smile."

Comprehension questions

  1. Where have people stopped wearing masks?
  2. What have a lot of adults in Japan forgotten to do?
  3. What's the job of Keiko Kawano?
  4. What did people have fewer opportunities to do in Japan?
  5. Why does Keiko Kawano want people to smile?
  6. What's the age range of company workers who took part in a survey?
  7. What percentage of company workers no longer wear masks?
  8. How many people has Keiko Kawano coached?
  9. What did Keiko Kawano say smiling helps?
  10. What is relaxing facial muscles the key to?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where have people stopped wearing masks?
a) everywhere
b) the USA
c) Japan
d) in most countries
2) What have a lot of adults in Japan forgotten to do?
a) take off their mask
b) smile
c) say hello
d) wear a mask
3) What's the job of Keiko Kawano?
a) a doctor
b) a mask maker
c) a smile coach
d) a journalist
4) What did people have fewer opportunities to do in Japan?
a) smile
b) talk
c) work
d) coach
5) Why does Keiko Kawano want people to smile?
a) it looks beautiful
b) for a happier world
c) for their physical and mental wellbeing
d) to show their teeth

6) What's the age range of company workers who took part in a survey?
a) in their 30s to 50s
b) in their 20s to 50s
c) in their 20s to 60s
d) in their 30s to 60s
7) What percentage of company workers no longer wear masks?
a) 6.5%
b) 4.5%
c) 7.5%
d) 5.5%
8) How many people has Keiko Kawano coached?
a) more than 4,000
b) exactly 4,000
c) less than 4,000
d) around 4,000
9) What did Keiko Kawano say smiling helps?
a) facial muscles
b) relationships
c) communication
d) specialists
10) What is relaxing facial muscles the key to?
a) locks
b) a good smile
c) face coverings
d) good impressions

Role play

Role  A – Jokes
You think jokes are the things that make us smile most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't make us smile as much. Also, tell the others which of these is the least likely to make us smile (and why): puppies, exam success or free food.

Role  B – Puppies
You think puppies are the things that make us smile most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't make us smile as much. Also, tell the others which of these is the least likely to make us smile (and why): jokes, exam success or free food.

Role  C – Exam Success
You think exam success is the thing that makes us smile most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't make us smile as much. Also, tell the others which of these is the least likely to make us smile (and why): puppies, jokes or free food.

Role  D – Free Food
You think free food is the thing that makes us smile most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't make us smile as much. Also, tell the others which of these is the least likely to make us smile (and why): puppies, exam success or jokes.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'smile'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'mask'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • countries
    • maskless
    • confidence
    • education
    • fewer
    • mental
    • recent
    • continue
    • just
    • known
    • good
    • moving

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Smiling Classes

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'mask'?
    3. What do you think of face masks?
    4. What was your experience of wearing face masks?
    5. What do you think of smiling?
    6. Should we still be wearing masks?
    7. How did you feel when you went maskless?
    8. Would you like to take smiling lessons?
    9. How is smiling good for physical and mental wellbeing?
    10. What advice do you have for people who cannot smile?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'smile'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of your smile?
    5. Which person you know has the nicest smile?
    6. How might a smile coach get people to smile?
    7. How easy is it for you to smile?
    8. Is it sometimes difficult for you to smile?
    9. What makes you smile most?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a smile coach?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    People in most countries have stopped (1) ____ masks. In Japan, many people are still covering (2) ____. Some of those who have gone maskless, or who want to, are taking lessons in how to smile. A lot of adults say they have "forgotten" how to smile (3) ____ after three years of wearing a face covering. They are taking lessons from "smile coaches" to relearn how to smile (4) ____ confidence. One coach, Keiko Kawano from a "smile education" company, spoke to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper about her work. She said: "Mask wearing became normal, so people had (5) ____ opportunities to smile. Many people developed a complex about smiling. I want people to smile (6) ____ their physical and mental wellbeing."

    Smile coaches in Japan may be busy for some time to (7) ____. A recent survey by Laibo Research found that 27.8% of company employees in their 20s to 50s would continue to wear masks. Just (8) ____ two-thirds of people said they would wear a mask depending (9) ____ the situation. Only 5.5% said they would go mask-free. Ms Kawano is well known in Japan. She has coached more than 4,000 people in the (10) ____ of smiling. She has also trained hundreds of "smile specialists". She said: "Smiling makes a good impression (11) ____ others and helps communication. It also has the effect of making yourself feel more positive." She added: "Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the (12) ____ to a good smile."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     worn     (b)     wears     (c)     wear     (d)     wearing    
    2. (a)     down     (b)     in     (c)     out     (d)     up    
    3. (a)     natural     (b)     naturally     (c)     nature     (d)     naturalist    
    4. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     with     (d)     on    
    5. (a)     fewer     (b)     less     (c)     lot     (d)     much    
    6. (a)     for     (b)     of     (c)     to     (d)     on    
    7. (a)     go     (b)     be     (c)     have     (d)     come    
    8. (a)     over     (b)     high     (c)     up     (d)     across    
    9. (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     in     (d)     of    
    10. (a)     craft     (b)     talent     (c)     art     (d)     creative    
    11. (a)     off     (b)     in     (c)     on     (d)     out    
    12. (a)     clue     (b)     key     (c)     pitch     (d)     basis

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. people are still eivcnrgo up
    2. Some of those who have gone ekmslass
    3. A lot of ldsaut
    4. how to smile luanarlyt
    5. how to smile with diefceoncn
    6. their yilpcash and mental wellbeing

    Paragraph 2

    1. A recent vyurse by Laibo Research
    2. depending on the iatsntiuo
    3. hundreds of smile espilaistcs
    4. Smiling makes a good isnomeisrp
    5. making yourself feel more itivpeso
    6. Moving and relaxing the facial uselcsm

    Put the text back together

    (...)   that 27.8% of company employees in their 20s to 50s would continue to wear masks. Just over two-thirds of people
    (...)   her work. She said: "Mask wearing became normal, so people had fewer opportunities to smile. Many people developed
    (...)   a complex about smiling. I want people to smile for their physical and mental wellbeing."
    (...)   said they would wear a mask depending on the situation. Only 5.5% said they would go
    (...)   confidence. One coach, Keiko Kawano from a "smile education" company, spoke to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper about
    (...)   face covering. They are taking lessons from "smile coaches" to relearn how to smile with
    (...)   feel more positive." She added: "Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the key to a good smile." 
    (...)   up. Some of those who have gone maskless, or who want to, are taking lessons
    (...)   Smile coaches in Japan may be busy for some time to come. A recent survey by Laibo Research found
    (...)   mask-free. Ms Kawano is well known in Japan. She has coached more than 4,000 people in the art
    (...)   in how to smile. A lot of adults say they have "forgotten" how to smile naturally after three years of wearing a
    (  1  ) People in most countries have stopped wearing masks. In Japan, many people are still covering
    (...)   of smiling. She has also trained hundreds of "smile specialists". She said: "Smiling makes a good
    (...)   impression on others and helps communication. It also has the effect of making yourself

    Put the words in the right order

    1. most   in   stopped   wearing   masks   .   People   have   countries
    2. Japan   people   In   many   up   .   are   still   covering
    3. how   forgotten   to   say   Adults   have   smile   .   they
    4. taking   from   are   They   lessons   coaches   .   smile
    5. smiling   .   a   developed   about   complex   people   Many
    6. may   coaches   in   Smile   busy   .   be   Japan
    7. also   smile   hundreds   of   has   trained   specialists   .   She
    8. others   .   makes   impression   good   a   Smiling   on
    9. making   of   effect   positive   .   yourself   feel   The   more
    10. muscles   the   Relaxing   facial   key   .   is   the

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    People in most / much countries have stopped wearing masks. In Japan, many people are still covering down / up. Some of those who have gone maskless, or who want maskless / to, are taking lessons in how to smile. A lot of adults say they have "forgetting" / "forgotten" how to smile naturally after three years of wearing a face concealing / covering. They are taking lessons from "smile coaches" to relearn how to smile with confident / confidence. One coach, Keiko Kawano from a "smile education" company, spoke / speaks to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper about her work. She said: "Mask wearing became norm / normal, so people had fewer opportunities to smile. Many people developed the / a complex about smiling. I want people to smile for their physical and mentally / mental wellbeing."

    Smile coaches in Japan may be / have busy for some time to come / go. A recent survey by Laibo Research found that 27.8% of company employees in them / their 20s to 50s would continue to wear masks. Just over / more two-thirds of people said they would wear a mask depending / depends on the situation. Only 5.5% said they would go mask-free. Ms Kawano is well knowing / known in Japan. She has coached more than 4,000 people in the art of smiling. She has also trained hundreds to / of "smile specialists". She said: "Smiling makes a well / good impression on others and helps communication. It also has the affect / effect of making yourself feel more positive." She added: "Moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the key / lock to a good smile."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    P__pl_ _n m_st c__ntr__s h_v_ st_pp_d w__r_ng m_sks. _n J_p_n, m_ny p__pl_ _r_ st_ll c_v_r_ng _p. S_m_ _f th_s_ wh_ h_v_ g_n_ m_skl_ss, _r wh_ w_nt t_, _r_ t_k_ng l_ss_ns _n h_w t_ sm_l_. _ l_t _f _d_lts s_y th_y h_v_ "f_rg_tt_n" h_w t_ sm_l_ n_t_r_lly _ft_r thr__ y__rs _f w__r_ng _ f_c_ c_v_r_ng. Th_y _r_ t_k_ng l_ss_ns fr_m "sm_l_ c__ch_s" t_ r_l__rn h_w t_ sm_l_ w_th c_nf_d_nc_. _n_ c__ch, K__k_ K_w_n_ fr_m _ "sm_l_ _d_c_t__n" c_mp_ny, sp_k_ t_ th_ _s_h_ Sh_mb_n n_wsp_p_r _b__t h_r w_rk. Sh_ s__d: "M_sk w__r_ng b_c_m_ n_rm_l, s_ p__pl_ h_d f_w_r _pp_rt_n_t__s t_ sm_l_. M_ny p__pl_ d_v_l_p_d _ c_mpl_x _b__t sm_l_ng. _ w_nt p__pl_ t_ sm_l_ f_r th__r phys_c_l _nd m_nt_l w_llb__ng."

    Sm_l_ c__ch_s _n J_p_n m_y b_ b_sy f_r s_m_ t_m_ t_ c_m_. _ r_c_nt s_rv_y by L__b_ R_s__rch f__nd th_t 27.8% _f c_mp_ny _mpl_y__s _n th__r 20s t_ 50s w__ld c_nt_n__ t_ w__r m_sks. J_st _v_r tw_-th_rds _f p__pl_ s__d th_y w__ld w__r _ m_sk d_p_nd_ng _n th_ s_t__t__n. _nly 5.5% s__d th_y w__ld g_ m_sk-fr__. Ms K_w_n_ _s w_ll kn_wn _n J_p_n. Sh_ h_s c__ch_d m_r_ th_n 4,000 p__pl_ _n th_ _rt _f sm_l_ng. Sh_ h_s _ls_ tr__n_d h_ndr_ds _f "sm_l_ sp_c__l_sts". Sh_ s__d: "Sm_l_ng m_k_s _ g__d _mpr_ss__n _n _th_rs _nd h_lps c_mm_n_c_t__n. _t _ls_ h_s th_ _ff_ct _f m_k_ng y__rs_lf f__l m_r_ p_s_t_v_." Sh_ _dd_d: "M_v_ng _nd r_l_x_ng th_ f_c__l m_scl_s _s th_ k_y t_ _ g__d sm_l_."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    people in most countries have stopped wearing masks in japan many people are still covering up some of those who have gone maskless or who want to are taking lessons in how to smile a lot of adults say they have forgotten how to smile naturally after three years of wearing a face covering they are taking lessons from smile coaches to relearn how to smile with confidence one coach keiko kawano from a smile education company spoke to the asahi shimbun newspaper about her work she said mask wearing became normal so people had fewer opportunities to smile many people developed a complex about smiling i want people to smile for their physical and mental wellbeing

    smile coaches in japan may be busy for some time to come a recent survey by laibo research found that 278 of company employees in their 20s to 50s would continue to wear masks just over twothirds of people said they would wear a mask depending on the situation only 55 said they would go maskfree ms kawano is well known in japan she has coached more than 4000 people in the art of smiling she has also trained hundreds of smile specialists she said smiling makes a good impression on others and helps communication it also has the effect of making yourself feel more positive she added moving and relaxing the facial muscles is the key to a good smile

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Peopleinmostcountrieshavestoppedwearingmasks.InJapan,manyp
    eoplearestillcoveringup.Someofthosewhohavegonemaskless,orwh
    owantto,aretakinglessonsinhowtosmile.Alotofadultssaytheyhave"f
    orgotten"howtosmilenaturallyafterthreeyearsofwearingafacecoveri
    ng.Theyaretakinglessonsfrom"smilecoaches"torelearnhowtosmile
    withconfidence.Onecoach,KeikoKawanofroma"smileeducation"com
    pany,spoketotheAsahiShimbunnewspaperaboutherwork.Shesaid:"
    Maskwearingbecamenormal,sopeoplehadfeweropportunitiestosmil
    e.Manypeopledevelopedacomplexaboutsmiling.Iwantpeopletosmil
    efortheirphysicalandmentalwellbeing."SmilecoachesinJapanmaybe
    busyforsometimetocome.ArecentsurveybyLaiboResearchfoundthat
    27.8%ofcompanyemployeesintheir20sto50swouldcontinuetowear
    masks.Justovertwo-thirdsofpeoplesaidtheywouldwearamaskdepen
    dingonthesituation.Only5.5%saidtheywouldgomask-free.MsKawan
    oiswellknowninJapan.Shehascoachedmorethan4,000peopleinthear
    tofsmiling.Shehasalsotrainedhundredsof"smilespecialists".Shesaid
    :"Smilingmakesagoodimpressiononothersandhelpscommunication.
    Italsohastheeffectofmakingyourselffeelmorepositive."Sheadded:"
    Movingandrelaxingthefacialmusclesisthekeytoagoodsmile."

    Free writing

    Write about smiling classes for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We should all go to smiling classes. Discuss.

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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: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. SMILING: Make a poster about smiling. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SMILING CLASSES: Write a magazine article about having smiling classes at school. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on smiling. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make people smile more. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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