START

1. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOUCES: What do you know about renewable energy sources? What do you know about wind farms? Go round the room swapping stories. Change partners often.

2. DICTATION: The teacher will read some of the article slowly and clearly. Students will write down what they hear. The teacher will repeat the passage slowly again. Self correct your work from page 2 - filling in spaces and correcting mistakes. Be honest with yourself on the number of errors. Advise the teacher of your total number of errors. Less than 5 is very good. 10 are acceptable. Any more is room for improvement! More than 20 - we need to do some work!

3. READING: Get students to read the passage aloud. Swap readers every paragraph.

4. VOCABULARY: Students look through the article. Underline/highlight any vocabulary you do not know. Look in dictionaries. Discuss and help each other out. The teacher will go through & explain any words or phrases you do not understand.

5. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES: Think of 6 renewable energy sources. List them below. Rank them in order of importance (1 = most important: 6 = least important). Then give an example of a place where you can find them. With your partner discuss your findings. The teacher will select some pairs to discuss in front of the class. Draw your results on a map on the board.                              

6. RENEWABLE ENERGY: With your partner on the board write as many words to do with the ‘renewable energy’ as you can. One-two minutes. Compare with other teams. Discuss together – linking your words.

7. FOSSIL ENERGY: Think of 4 types of fossil energy. List them below. Rank them if order of importance (1 = most important: 4 = least important). Then give an example of a place where you can find them. With your partner discuss your findings. The teacher will select some pairs to discuss in front of the class. Draw your results on a map on the board.                                                         

8. QUICK DEBATE: In pairs/small groups’ debate: (1) The emergence of China and India and what affect these 2 countries will have on world energy prices. (2) What renewable energy sources will they develop and use? (3) The USA’s dependence on cheap fossil fuel. (4) Brazil’s bio fuel using sugar cane. Six minutes.

9. PRESS CONFERENCE: In pairs: You are at a Climate and Energy press conference held by European Commission Chairman (ECC) Jose Manuel Barroso. One of you is the ECC. The other is a journalist from an international TV station. The journalist has to ask 3 questions. The ECC has to say a few words at the beginning before taking some questions. Role play: 5 minutes.

10. QUICK DISCUSSION: Student(s) A thinks the renewable energy is cool and is a good idea. Student(s) B thinks it’s all just hot air and that oil, petrol and gas are best.

11. RENEWABLE ENERGY ARTICLE QUIZ: With your partner or in small groups: (1 point for each correct answer. Lose ½ point if you look at the article for help!)                                                                                         

Student A                                                                                    

1)         What will Slovakia have to increase its share of?                                        

2)         What is being reduced by 30%?                                                      

3)         What is the third goal?                                                                

4)         What’s happening in Dunajska Luzna?                                                    

5)         Name the European Commission Chairman                                        

6)         What does ETS stand for?                                                                  

7)         Where is the EU headquarters?                                                           

8)         What can Slovakia produce more of?                                                  

9)         What did EU leaders vow to do in March last year?                            

10)         What is considered the most important part of the plan?                                     

Student B                                                                          

1)         Compare the difference between 1990 and 2005 emissions.                    

2)         How many windmills are being build in the village near Bratislava?           

3)         How high are the windmills that are going to be built?                            

4)         Sum up what the European Commission Chairman said                             

5)         What was the press conference on?                                                         

6)         What does the EU also want to increase and by when?                               

7)         What must be achieved by 2020?                                                      

8)         What is Jose Manuel Barroso’s job?                                                        

9)         What is unacceptable?                                                                    

10)         What do villagers object to?                                                          

12. SENTENCE STARTERS: With your partner(s), finish these sentence starters. Change partner(s) and talk about the sentences you made.

a)   Renewable energy _______________________________________________

b)   Emissions _____________________________________________________

c)    Climate change _________________________________________________

d)   Industry must _________________________________________________

e)   Villagers ______________________________________________________

f)     Wind farms ____________________________________________________

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: After reading the article guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

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

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article:

GAP FILL: READING

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

GAP FILL: LISTENING:

Listen and fill in the spaces.

EU countries have to increase the use of renewable energy sources

Slovakia will have to increase ___________________ from renewable sources from its current ___________________. Regarding CO2 emissions, which don’t fall under the so-called emissions trade scheme (ETS) Slovakia can produce 13% more emissions. ___________________ a European Commission statement issued on 23^rd January at a Climate and Energy press conference at EU Headquarters in Brussels. During it European Commission Chairman Jose Manuel Barroso announced sweeping _____________________ greenhouse gas emissions. He said, “________________ bloc around 60 billion euros a year.” Laying out a sweeping strategy to fight climate change he called on EU members to ratchet _______________ renewable energy and biofuels while also unveiling plans to make industry pay for the right to pollute.

The proposals should contribute to the fulfilment _________________ were agreed to by ___________________ last year's summit in March when the leaders vowed to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases by 20% by 2020 in comparison to 1990. If other countries join the effort, the EU is prepared to reduce the emissions by 30%. _________________ to increase the share of energy from renewable sources to 20% by 2020. The third goal pertains to biofuels in transport, __________________ should increase to 10% by 2020. Sustainability is considered ______________ important part of the plan. In comparison with 1990, the EU managed to decrease emissions by 6% as of 2005, which means that a further reduction of 14% must be achieved by 2020. Meanwhile a new wind farm made up of eighteen 150m high windmills ____________ built near Bratislava in the village of Dunajska Luzna. Villagers have objected ____________________ their view and endanger the local bird population. The local authority has declared the project unacceptable.

DISCUSSION

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

a)   Did the headline make you want to read the article?

b)   Are you worried about greenhouse gas emissions?

c)    What are you doing to help stop greenhouse gas emissions?

d)   What do you think of wind farms?

e)   Should the EU do more to support renewable energy?

f)     Should your country do more to support renewable energy?

g)   What do you think of biofuels?

h)   Do you have many wind farms in your country?

i)     Where are most wind farms situated and why?

j)     Should industry be made to pay for their emissions?

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

a)   Why should EU taxpayers pay for renewable energy sources?

b)   What exactly do the folk at the EU do all day in Brussels?

c)    Is the EU a never ending gravy train for those that work there?

d)   Should the EU encourage more diversity of energy sources?

e)   Are wind farms tourist attractions?

f)     Are wind farms a threat to radar?

g)   Are you worried about the ozone layer?

h)   What are your thoughts on rising sea levels?

i)     Should cars be made to have even lower emissions?

j)     Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

a.   What was the most interesting thing you heard?

b.   Was there a question you did not like?

c.    Was there something you totally disagreed with?

d.   What did you like talking about?

e.   Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

ROLE PLAY: SPEAKING:

In groups:

You are at a fringe meeting taking place during a climate and energy conference.

Think of 3 GOOD questions to ask your friends and colleagues about climate change. Go round the room finding out their response(s)…

The teacher will select some groups to present their debate / findings to the rest of the class.

LANGUAGE: CORRECT WORD: Choose the correct words from a–d below and write them in the article.

Slovakia will have to (1)___ the share of energy from renewable (2)___ from its current 6.7% to 14% by 2020. (3)___ CO2 emissions, which don’t fall under the so-called emissions trade scheme (ETS) Slovakia can produce 13% more emissions. That’s (4)___ to a European Commission statement issued on 23^rd January at a Climate and Energy press conference at EU Headquarters in Brussels. During it European Commission Chairman Jose Manuel Barroso (5)___ (6)___ new plans to slash EU greenhouse gas emissions. He said, “It will cost the bloc around 60 billion euros a year.” Laying out a sweeping strategy to fight climate change he called on EU members to ratchet up their use of renewable energy and biofuels while also unveiling plans to make industry pay for the right to pollute.

The (7)___ should contribute to the fulfilment of the goals that were agreed to by European leaders at last year's summit in March when the leaders vowed to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases by 20% by 2020 in comparison to 1990. If other countries join the effort, the EU is prepared to reduce the emissions by 30%. The EU also wants to increase the share of energy from renewable sources to 20% by 2020. The third (8)___ pertains to biofuels in transport, the share of which should increase to 10% by 2020. Sustainability is considered to be the most important part of the plan. In comparison with 1990, the EU managed to decrease emissions by 6% as of 2005, which means that a further reduction of 14% must be achieved by 2020. Meanwhile a (9)___ wind farm made up of eighteen 150m high windmills is due to be built near Bratislava in the village of Dunajska Luzna. (10)___ have objected saying it will spoil their view and endanger the local (11)___ population. The local authority has (12)___ the project unacceptable.

GRAMMAR 1: MIDWAY

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

GRAMMAR 2: EASY

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

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. NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: Write a newspaper article about renewable energy sources. (Minimum 200 words)

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Which article was best and why?

WRITING: IN CLASS:

1. FIVE MINUTE ARTICLE: Write an article on ‘renewable energy sources.’ You have five minutes. Afterwards swap articles with your partner. Read through their article and correct any mistakes. The teacher will select some students to read out their work.

Countdown: Every minute the teacher may say, “You have xx minutes.”

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

SYNONYM MATCH:

PHRASE MATCH:

GAP FILL: EU countries have to increase the use of renewable energy sources: Slovakia will have to increase the share of energy from renewable sources from its current 6.7% to 14% by 2020. Regarding CO2 emissions, which don’t fall under the so-called emissions trade scheme (ETS) Slovakia can produce 13% more emissions. That’s according to a European Commission statement issued on 23^rd January at a Climate and Energy press conference at EU Headquarters in Brussels. During it European Commission Chairman Jose Manuel Barroso announced sweeping new plans to slash EU greenhouse gas emissions. He said, “It will cost the bloc around 60 billion euros a year.” Laying out a sweeping strategy to fight climate change he called on EU members to ratchet up their use of renewable energy and biofuels while also unveiling plans to make industry pay for the right to pollute. The proposals should contribute to the fulfilment of the goals that were agreed to by European leaders at last year's summit in March when the leaders vowed to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases by 20% by 2020 in comparison to 1990. If other countries join the effort, the EU is prepared to reduce the emissions by 30%. The EU also wants to increase the share of energy from renewable sources to 20% by 2020. The third goal pertains to biofuels in transport, the share of which should increase to 10% by 2020. Sustainability is considered to be the most important part of the plan. In comparison with 1990, the EU managed to decrease emissions by 6% as of 2005, which means that a further reduction of 14% must be achieved by 2020. Meanwhile a new wind farm made up of eighteen 150m high windmills is due to be built near Bratislava in the village of Dunajska Luzna. Villagers have objected saying it will spoil their view and endanger the local bird population. The local authority has declared the project unacceptable.

LANGUAGE WORK