Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Pen Pal Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this reading:
READING
June the 1st is Pen Pal Day. I’m sure most of us have had a pen pal at one time in our lives. Many of us still have one. Today is the day to say thank you to your pen pals. It is also the day to thank your key pals too. Nowadays, most people communicate via e-mail, chat or text messaging. We type using keys, rather than write with pens. Using the latest technology, we can also have webcam pals. Times have changed since the original idea of a pen pal. Many language students have pen pals because it’s a great way to practice writing in another language. There are many websites people can visit to find a pen pal. If you would like a pen pal, perhaps this is the day to start looking and make a new friend.
Being pen pals can lead to lifelong friendships. Some pen pals arrange to meet face to face and others even get married. It is a natural part of who we are to want to communicate with other people and share our hobbies, interests and facts about our life. Many of us are pen pals without even knowing it. Perhaps we all strike up a friendship with someone online and then keep in contact. It might be that the Internet will change the idea of a pen pal forever. The traditional mailing of a letter written on paper and then mailed in an envelope may soon disappear. Many traditionalists say it is more exciting to receive a real letter through the post. Before the Internet, opening and reading a letter from a pen pal was special.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
at one time
a.
in another language
2
most people communicate
b.
a new friend
3.
Times have
c.
via e-mail
4.
a great way to practice writing
d.
in our lives
5.
websites people can visit to
e.
changed
6.
start looking and make
f.
find a pen pal
Paragraph 2
1.
Being pen pals can lead to
a.
face to face
2
arrange to meet
b.
written on paper
3.
It is a natural part of
c.
lifelong friendships
4.
strike up a friendship
d.
was special
5.
The traditional mailing of a letter
e.
who we are
6.
reading a letter from a pen pal
f.
with someone online
LISTENING GAP FILL
June the 1st is Pen Pal Day. I’m __________________ had a pen pal at one time in our lives. Many of us still have one. Today is the day to say thank you to your pen pals. It is also the day __________________ pals too. Nowadays, most people communicate via e-mail, chat or text messaging. We type using keys, __________________ pens. Using the latest technology, we can also have webcam pals. Times have changed __________________ of a pen pal. Many language students have pen pals because it’s a great way to practice __________________ language. There are many websites people can visit to find a pen pal. If you would like a pen pal, perhaps this is the day to start looking __________________ friend.
Being pen pals __________________ friendships. Some pen pals arrange to meet face to face and others even get married. It is a natural __________________ to want to communicate with other people and share our hobbies, interests and facts about our life. Many of us are pen pals ____________________ it. Perhaps we all strike up a friendship with someone online and then keep in contact. It might be that the Internet will __________________ a pen pal forever. The traditional mailing of a letter written on paper and then ____________________ may soon disappear. Many traditionalists say it is more exciting to receive a real letter through the post. Before the Internet, __________________ letter from a pen pal was special.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
June the 1st is Pen Pal Day. I’m __________ most of us have had a pen pal at one time in our __________. Many of us still have one. Today is the day to say thank you to your pen pals. It is also the day to thank your key pals too. Nowadays, most people communicate __________ e-mail, chat or text messaging. We type using __________, rather than write with pens. Using the latest technology, we can also have webcam pals. Times have changed since the __________ idea of a pen pal. Many language students have pen pals because it’s a great way to __________ writing in another language. There are many websites people can __________ to find a pen pal. If you would like a pen pal, perhaps this is the day to start looking and __________ a new friend.
via keys visit sure make practice lives original
Being pen pals can lead to __________ friendships. Some pen pals arrange to meet face to face and others even get __________. It is a natural part of who we are to want to communicate with other people and share our hobbies, interests and __________ about our life. Many of us are pen pals without even knowing it. Perhaps we all __________ up a friendship with someone online and then keep in contact. It might be that the Internet will change the idea of a pen pal __________. The traditional mailing of a letter written on paper and then mailed in an envelope may soon __________. Many traditionalists say it is more __________ to receive a real letter through the post. Before the Internet, __________ and reading a letter from a pen pal was special.
strike lifelong disappear facts opening exciting married forever
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
June the 1st is Pen Pal Day. I’m sure most of us have had a pen pal at one time in our living / lives. Many of us still have one. Today is the day to say thank you to your pen pals. It is also the day to thank your key / keys pals too. Nowadays, most people communicate viva / via e-mail, chat or text messaging. We type using keys, rather than written / write with pens. Using the latest technology, we can also have webcam pals. Times have changed since the original / origin idea of a pen pal. Many language students have pen pals because it’s a great way to practice writing in other / another language. There are many websites people can visit to finding / find a pen pal. If you would like a pen pal, perhaps this is the day to start looking and make / take a new friend.
Being pen pals can lead to lifelong friendships / befriended. Some pen pals arrange to meet face to face and others even get married. It is a natural / naturally part of who we are to want to communicate with other people and sharing / share our hobbies, interests and facts about our life. Many of us are pen pals without even knowing them / it. Perhaps we all strike down / up a friendship with someone online and then keep in contact. It might be that the Internet will change the idea of a pen pal forever. The traditional mailing by / of a letter written on paper and then mailed in an envelope may soonish / soon disappear. Many traditionalists say it is more exciting to receive a real letter through the post. Before the Internet, opening and reading a letter from a pen pal was especially / special.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
June the 1st is Pen Pal Day. I’m sure most of (1) ____ have had a pen pal at one time in our (2) ____. Many of us still have one. Today is the day to say thank you to your pen pals. It is also the day to thank your key pals too. Nowadays, most people communicate (3) ____ e-mail, chat or text messaging. We type using keys, rather than write with pens. Using the (4) ____ technology, we can also have webcam pals. Times have changed since the original idea of a pen pal. Many language students have pen pals because it’s a great way to practice writing (5) ____ another language. There are many websites people can visit to find a pen pal. If you would like a pen pal, perhaps this is the day to start (6) ____ and make a new friend.
Being pen pals can (7) ____ to lifelong friendships. Some pen pals arrange to meet face to face and others even get married. It is a natural part of who we are (8) ____ want to communicate with other people and share our hobbies, interests and facts about our life. Many of us are pen pals without even knowing (9) ____. Perhaps we all strike up a friendship with someone online and then keep in contact. It might be that the Internet will change the (10) ____ of a pen pal forever. The traditional mailing of a letter written on paper and then mailed in an envelope may (11) ____ disappear. Many traditionalists say it is more exciting to receive a real letter through the post. Before the Internet, (12) ____ and reading a letter from a pen pal was special.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
them
(b)
they
(c)
we
(d)
us
2.
(a)
lively
(b)
livelihood
(c)
lives
(d)
living
3.
(a)
viva
(b)
via
(c)
vial
(d)
vibes
4.
(a)
late
(b)
latest
(c)
last
(d)
lasting
5.
(a)
on
(b)
at
(c)
in
(d)
to
6.
(a)
looking
(b)
looked
(c)
looks
(d)
look
7.
(a)
leader
(b)
leaded
(c)
lead
(d)
leads
8.
(a)
to
(b)
for
(c)
at
(d)
to
9.
(a)
it
(b)
them
(c)
us
(d)
me
10.
(a)
ideals
(b)
idea
(c)
ideally
(d)
idealism
11.
(a)
soonish
(b)
sooner
(c)
soonest
(d)
soon
12.
(a)
opener
(b)
opens
(c)
open
(d)
opening
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
at one time in our ivles
2.
chat or text saegigsmn
3.
Using the seltta technology
4.
Times have ahgndec
5.
writing in oetnarh language
6.
the day to start okionlg
Paragraph 2
7.
lead to ngilleof friendships
8.
hesar our hobbies
9.
isterk up a friendship
10.
someone nnloie
11.
ildmea in an envelope
12.
enongip and reading a letter
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
all strike up a friendship with someone online and then keep in contact. It might be that the Internet will
( )
get married. It is a natural part of who we are to want to communicate with other people and share our
( )
keys, rather than write with pens. Using the latest technology, we can also have webcam pals. Times
( )
pals too. Nowadays, most people communicate via e-mail, chat or text messaging. We type using
( )
have one. Today is the day to say thank you to your pen pals. It is also the day to thank your key
( )
have changed since the original idea of a pen pal. Many language students have pen pals because it’s a great
( )
hobbies, interests and facts about our life. Many of us are pen pals without even knowing it. Perhaps we
( )
Being pen pals can lead to lifelong friendships. Some pen pals arrange to meet face to face and others even
( 1 )
June the 1st is Pen Pal Day. I’m sure most of us have had a pen pal at one time in our lives. Many of us still
( )
way to practice writing in another language. There are many websites people can visit to find a pen pal. If
( )
you would like a pen pal, perhaps this is the day to start looking and make a new friend.
( )
letter through the post. Before the Internet, opening and reading a letter from a pen pal was special.
( )
change the idea of a pen pal forever. The traditional mailing of a letter written on paper and then mailed
( )
in an envelope may soon disappear. Many traditionalists say it is more exciting to receive a real
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
pen sure us a I’m of had pal most have
2.
e-mail communicate Nowadays via , most people
3.
since original Times changed the idea have
4.
practice to way great a writing
5.
looking a the start make friend to and new day
6.
lifelong to lead can pals pen Being friendships
7.
part It of is who a we natural are
8.
someone strike a with online up friendship
9.
and envelope then written mailed on in paper an
10.
a letter reading opening pen from a and pal
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
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 more information about Pen Pal Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Pen Pal Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Pen Pal Day. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
