Life skills teacher’s notes
Getting the reading habit
SELF STUDY
If your students will be working alone, note that 3b, 4a,
4b and the Reflect on it box all have open answers. If
possible, give self-study students the opportunity to
show you their answers and work, or to exchange their
answers and work with other students.
  Before watching
1 Ask students to match the different types of books and
reading materials with the correct definitions. Encourage
them to compare their answers in pairs before checking
as a class.
Answers
1 f  ​2 d  ​3 a  ​4 e  ​5 g  ​6 b  ​7 c
  While watching
2a 55  VIDEO SKILLS  Ask students to read through the video
skills box before doing this exercise. If your students
have seen the video before, get them to recall what
they remember about James’ video blog before they
look at the exercise. What does he talk about? Can they
remember any specific things he says? Students can
watch and see if they were right as they order the tips.
Answers
1 Ask other people for ideas.
2 Choose a book you want to read.
3 Think about your interests.
4 Read the information on the back.
5 See how long the book is.
6 Stop if you don’t like the book.
VIDEO SKILLS: Listen for important words
Long texts at natural speed can be difficult for students
to follow. Knowing that they can understand most things
if they focus on stressed words can help students to relax
when listening and understand more. The speaker uses
emphasis a lot to make his message clear.
2b 55 Make sure students understand that the questions
follow on from the tips in 2a and require students to
listen for more details related to what James says.
Answers
Tip 1 (Ask people)
You can ask your friends or teacher.
You can go online.
Tip 4 (Read the back)
Read the first page or two.
Tip 5 (How long?)
Start with short books.
Tip 6 (When to stop)
Read the next two or three pages.
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A2 Unit
3a 55 This exercise focuses in on details in James’
advice. If you see students are struggling to write
their answers, stop after each sentence they need to
complete to give them time to note down their answer.
Answers
1 to read it  ​2 at the blurb  ​3 the reading habit   ​
4 to be fun  ​5 tell somebody  ​6 books you read
3b Give students time to explain why they think the
sentences are good ideas or not. Then ask them what
they think of James’ advice in general.
  After reading
4a This exercise develops the life skill by encouraging
students to think about how they chose to read the
books or comics they have read recently. Was it a free
decision, or did someone make them read them? Did
they enjoy them, even if they didn’t choose them?
Asking them to consider if a friend would like them
makes students think about how we choose reading
matter according to our tastes and interests.
4b SKILLS 4 LIFE  The idea behind this activity is to set up a
way for students to give each other help in choosing a
book to read in English. If most of your students haven’t
read anything in English, bring the readers available at
your school to class, and ask students to write reviews
about the books they recognise, even if they haven’t
read them in English. They can use the film or TV
version of stories to help them do this. You can organise
a class folder or poster on the wall where they can read
each other’s reviews and choose a book to read, and
students can add new reviews during the school year as
they finish books.
REFLECT ON IT
The idea behind the questions is to encourage
students to think about why fewer and fewer
teenagers read. Make sure students feel they
can express their opinions openly, without being
judged, especially if they don’t read or don’t
like reading. It’s important for them to come
away thinking about what they don’t read, and,
hopefully, understanding that they miss out on lots
of possible benefits if they don’t.
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