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Innovation in Learning

A A VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

The media
Lesson code: MS9T-2ASB-ACJ9-H UPPER INTERMEDIATE +

1 People in the media

Match the people on the left with their activities on the right:

1. an announcer a. describes an event, e.g. a sports match, as it happens

2. a host b. introduces guests and performers, especially on television or
radio
3. a columnist c. introduces programmes or reads the news on the television or
radio
4. an editor-in-chief d. reads the news on TV or radio
5. a ghost writer e. regularly writes articles in a newspaper or magazine
6. a foreign correspondent f. reports on events from other countries
7. a broadcaster g. speaks on the radio or television programmes
8. a critic h. writes a book, article, etc. for another person who then
publishes it as his/her own work
9. a newsreader i. writes for a newspaper and decides which articles will be
printed in it
10. a commentator j. writes reviews (of films, books, etc.)

Which of the above jobs would you prefer to do? Which ones would not appeal to you?

2 Television
Study the sentences below and match the underlined words to their meaning on the next page.

1. I hate it when the commercial interrupts the film at the most exciting moment.
2. I can't stand this programme. Pass me the remote.
3. The first part was pretty good but the sequel was appalling!
4. The news is broadcast during prime time, when everybody is watching.
5. My mother always watches soap operas in the afternoon.
6. I can't stand voice-overs. I prefer either dubbing or subtitles.
7. The director told everyone to be quiet while the programme was on air.
8. The author's best-selling book was made into a television serial.
9. George Clooney was the star of a TV series called ER.
10. Friends is a popular American sitcom that is broadcast all over the world.
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The media
Innovation in Learning

A A A A VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

a. TV advertisement
b. a set of television episodes on the same topic and using the same characters, but each episode is
a different story
c. a single story on television or radio broken into several episodes
d. a television series with the same characters, created to make people laugh
e. being broadcast on television
f. device for changing the TV channel
g. next part (of a film)
h. television series about the lives and problems of ordinary people
i. when someone you cannot see speaks the words of an actor
j. when the largest number of people are watching

Answer the following questions.

1. Which popular series, serials or sitcoms do you have in your country? Do you watch any of them?
2. Do you prefer subtitles, dubbing or voice-overs when watching a foreign film or TV show?

3 Adjectives for describing the media

Look up the meaning of or translate the following adjectives. Say whether they are positive or negative
and then complete the sentences below.

fascinating hilarious informative melodramatic

newsworthy sensational trashy trivial

1. I regularly watch the news and current affairs programmes. I find them very .
2. These days, there are so many TV shows like Big Brother. It's not easy to find quality
programmes that are both entertaining and educational.
3. The sitcom Seinfeld was absolutely .
4. Soap operas are not my cup of tea. I find them poorly-acted and too for my taste.
5. I don't read tabloid newspapers. They are full of articles about the private lives of
celebrities.
6. With all the serious political changes going on in the world today, I can't understand why they don't
cover more stories on the news.
7. I don't spend much time reading blogs on the internet. I find them rather .
8. I've always been very interested in nature. The wildlife documentary on TV last night was really
.
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The media
Innovation in Learning

A A A A VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

4 Media idioms
Study the sentences and match the underlined idioms with their correct meaning below.

1. The new drama serial will hit the airwaves this Thursday.
2. The politician hit the headlines last year when he was caught accepting a bribe.
3. I heard about Joanne's illness. When did the doctor break the news?
4. The seriousness of the story was completely blown out of proportion in the media.
5. The news of the terrorist attack spread like wildfire.
6. Pierre watches the telly almost 8 hours a day! He's a real couch potato.

a. a person who is very lazy and addicted to television

b. be broadcast on television or radio
c. became known by more and more people
d. exaggerated
e. make known new information, usually bad information
f. to appear in the news suddenly or receive a lot of attention in news reports

5 Talking point
Discuss any of the following questions:

1. Which news stories have hit the headlines this week?

2. Can you think of any news stories that have been blown out of proportion?
3. What type of shows do you watch on TV? Have any interesting programmes hit the airwaves recently?
4. Can you think of any news stories that spread like wildfire?
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The media - Key
Innovation in Learning

A A A A VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

1- People in the media

1. c 2. b 3. e 4. i 5. h 6. f 7. g 8. j 9. d 10. a

2- Television

1. a 2. f 3. g 4. j
5. h 6. i 7. e 8. c
9. b 10. d

3- Adjectives for describing the media

1. informative
2. trashy
3. hilarious
4. melodramatic
5. sensational
6. newsworthy
7. trivial
8. fascinating

4- Media idioms

1. b 2. f 3. e 4. d 5. c 6. a

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Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI

O
c Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT