Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.
dateline: 10 July 2012
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN 🔈
Disney Comes To North Korea
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- televise: show on TV
- authorise: to give permission
- isolated: alone
- ease: to reduce in severity
- insider: a person who has access to information that others don’t
Comprehension Questions
- Which important figure attended the concert?
- How did the Disney company respond to this news?
- What media restriction is currently in place in North Korea?
Discussion Question: The actors in the North Korean concert were also dressed in clothing not normally seen in North Korean programming, such as strapless gowns and short skirts. Do you think this is a sign that big changes will take place under the new young leader?
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Disney Comes To North Korea
Disney characters including Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh appeared on stage in a televised North Korean concert for young leader Kim Jong-un this week. Other politicians and government officials were also in attendance. While Disney says it did not authorise the characters or the background footage of its films, some say this is a sign that major change could be coming to the isolated country. In the past, the state has made special effort to keep popular culture out of the media. It is still illegal for North Koreans to watch South Korean programming on TV; however, some believe that the restrictions on western culture are slowing being eased. Insiders have reported that the new leader is trying to change the image of North Korea to one of youth and modernity.
- Kim Kim Jong-un, the young leader of North Korea, attended the concert.
- Disney said it did not authorise the use of the characters and footage.
- South Korean programming is not permitted in North Korea.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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