8/2/2022 – Topic: News and Current Events - part 1

Today’s Words

news

News is information about current events. For example, a weather report.

EXAMPLE: News is reported by newspapers, radio, television, websites, and other forms of media.

 

current events

Current events are important news that is happening now (today) in the world. For example, the COVID pandemic is a current event.  

news outlet / media outlet

News or media outlets include newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the Internet.

follow the news

To read, listen to or watch the news.

EXAMPLE: I follow the news on TV. My friend follows the news in the newspaper.

social media

Social media is a news outlet on the internet. It is a way to share news with your community, family and friends.

EXAMPLE: Two popular social media outlets are Facebook and YouTube.

accurate / inaccurate

Accurate is correct, factual or no mistakes. Inaccurate is the opposite of accurate – not correct or factual.

EXAMPLE: Abraham Lincoln was the first president of the United States. Is this accurate or inaccurate?

 

accurate news / factual news

trust the news

Trust the news means to believe the news is accurate.

EXAMPLE: Do you trust the weather news forecast? Do you trust the news about the winner of the soccer game?

reporter / journalist

IDIOM: “It’s news to me!”

“It’s news to me!” means to hear or read something you did not know.

EXAMPLE:

Person A: Did you hear that the open hours for our neighborhood park changed? It’s open at 7am now, not 6am.

Person B: It’s news to me! I’ll change the time I go to the park.

 

Small Group Questions

 

1.     Where do you get your news? (e.g., newspapers, TV, radio, social media)

2.    There are many types of news – national, world, sports, weather. Name some examples.

3.    What types of news do you follow? Why?

4.    What news do you follow from your home country? Why? 

5.    What news do you follow about the U.S. or Seattle? Why?

6.    Is there a current event in the news you are concerned about?

7.    How do you know if a news report is accurate (e.g., true or not true)?

8.    Is there a news outlet that you trust? Don’t trust? Why?

9.    Is there a journalist or reporter you trust and follow? Who, and why?

10. Have you heard the American phrase, “It’s news to me!”? What does it mean?