G6U2L4 - Recounting Events ONLINE

The News
Recounting Events
Agenda
1. Formal and informal language

2. Reading & listening: Whale in the Saigon
River
3. Interview and profile articles:
introductions & structure
Key Vocabulary for this lesson
auction (n) An event where things are sold to whoever offers the most money
to beach (v) To come out of the water onto the beach
burglar (n) Someone who enters a building at night to steal things
to foil (v) To stop someone doing something
put down (v) To kill an animal because it is sick or too old
species (n) Animals that are are similar enough to breed
speculation (n) An opinion formed without all the facts
splash (v) To make water jump up by hitting its surface
stranded (adj) To be unable to get somewhere else
tidal (adj) Of water, going higher and lower usually twice a day
Time for our vocabulary quiz!
1 An event where things are sold to whoever offers the most
A to beach (v)
money
2 To come out of the water onto the beach B species (n)
3 Someone who enters a building at night to steal things C speculation (n)

4 To stop someone doing something D splash (v)
5 To kill an animal because it is sick or too old E tidal (adj)
6 Animals that are are similar enough to breed F stranded (adj)
7 An opinion formed without all the facts G auction (n)
8 To make water jump up by hitting its surface H put down (v)
9 To be unable to get somewhere else I burglar (n)
10 Of water, going higher and lower usually twice a day J to foil (v)
1 G Answers
2 A
3 I
4 J
5 H
6 B
7 C
8 D
9 F
10 E
Recount a story
Telling someone about
something that
happened is called
recounting.
Newspapers recount
the stories they tell.
Speaking: Recount your day
Tell the class about something that happened to you
recently.
What happened? What did you do? What did you eat? Where did
you go? Who did you spend your time with? How do you feel about
the day, was it a good or a bad one? Why?
Formal and informal language
People write in different
styles depending on the So what is formal and
type of text (T), the
audience (A), and the informal language?
purpose (P).
TAP can change how formal

and informal the language
should be.
Formal language
Formal writing is the kind of writing you would use
when writing for a very important audience, or in a
university essay. Formal writing is:
● Proper, official, serious

● Colleagues, teachers,
strangers and some
family members
● Longer, with correct
spelling and punctuation
Informal language
Informal writing is the kind of writing you would use
when writing to a friend or in a text message or on
Facebook.
● Casual, slang
● Friends and some
family members
● Shorter, with slang
and abbreviations
(imo, l8r, lol, idk)
Formal Informal
How are you? Yo, what's up, bro?
Thank you, sir. Thanks, man!
You are welcome. No problem.
Goodbye. See ya later!

Is this formal or informal?
English is pretty tough, eh? I didn't get
it until now. I've actually gotta study!
Informal.
Can you change this from informal to
formal?
Can you change this from informal to
formal?
English is quite difficult, is it not? I did not

understand it until now. I need to study.
That was an excellent film. I think it is
the best I have ever seen. Would you
like to watch it again?
Formal
Can you change this from informal to formal?
Can you change this from informal to formal?
That movie was wicked! I think it's the best
I've ever seen. U wanna watch it again?
What type of language would you expect to
see in this magazine?
formal
informal
formal
informal
formal
informal
formal
informal
formal
informal
formal
informal
formal
informal
formal
informal
Television vs. Newspapers
Television, radio and newspapers tell the
news in different ways. Can you think of
some of the main differences?
Radio Report: Whale in the Saigon
River
We are going to listen to
a recording and read an
LISTENING
article about a whale that

swam up the Saigon river.
We will then think about

the differences between
a radio news report and
the newspaper article.
Before we listen!
As you listen, you will
read a transcript of the
LISTENING
broadcast. Some words

are missing - listen and fill
the gaps!
On the next slide are the

sentences with missing
words for you to listen
for. Copy them down!
Before we listen!
1. ...the whale, believed to be a Minke and between four and five
meters long, swam around _________ kilometers upstream.
LISTENING
2. ...while a vet performed a check-up at the river's edge, before

the _________ arrived at the scene
3. This was a very rare and _________ incident.
4. Kake Manketo, 20, from _________, witnessed the spectacle.
5. It is believed the whale was first spotted at midday a few miles
down the river near the Phu My _________.
6. Their range extends from the ice edge in the _________ during
the summer to near the equator during winter.
Radio Report:
Good evening. Our top story tonight: A whale has swam up the Saigon river.
Concerns are growing for a small whale after it became stranded along the
LISTENING
Saigon River in south Vietnam this evening.

Hundreds gathered at Bach Dang Wharf Park, and later Vinhomes Central Park,
after the whale, believed to be a Minke and between four and five meters long,
swam around 1. _____ kilometers upstream.
Videos showed it being hosed down by a man believed to
be a Ho Chi Minh City Port Authority staffer, while a vet
performed a check-up at the river's edge, before the
2.___________ arrived at the scene to the cheers of
onlookers around 4pm.
Radio Report:
Coastguard commander Nguyen Duc Lam was at the scene:
“This was a very rare and 3._________ incident. Crews assisted the Coastguard,
the port authority and other marine agencies at the scene.
LISTENING
“Our crews were on standby while a marine biologist and vet assessed the
condition of the whale. The mammal’s health is being carefully monitored, but
it’s clearly exhausted and distressed.”
Radio Report:
Earlier, a witness told the PA news agency that "quite the crowd'' watched as
the attempted rescue took place. Kake Manketo, 20, from 4.__________,
witnessed the spectacle.
LISTENING
"Everyone here is just hoping they get it out. We couldn't believe our eyes when
we first saw the poor fella, not every day something like this happens in Ho Chi
Minh City.''
It is believed the whale was first spotted at midday a few

miles down the river near the Phu My 5. ________.
A spokesman for the Ho Chi Minh City Port Authority
explained the situation.
"At around 3pm, a small whale, approximately 4 to 5
meters long, believed to be a Minke whale, entered the
Saigon river.
Radio Report:
"Port Authority staff have attempted to assist the whale with water along with
the coastguard.''
Minke whales are the smallest of the great whales, growing to about 10m.
LISTENING
They can usually be found throughout the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Their range extends from the ice edge in the 6.________ during the summer to
near the equator during winter.
For the rescue workers it has been a tense operation, but
after hours of work the whale may soon be free. We will
continue to follow this story, with updates on the hour.
Radio Report:
1. ...the whale, believed to be a Minke and between four and five meters long,
swam around 64 kilometers upstream.
2. ...while a vet performed a check-up at the river's edge, before the
coastguard arrived at the scene
3. This was a very rare and unusual incident.
4. Kake Manketo, 20, from Australia, witnessed the spectacle.
5. It is believed the whale was first spotted at midday a few miles down the
river near the Phu My bridge.
6. Their range extends from the ice edge in the Arctic during the summer to
near the equator during winter.
Whale Stranded in the Saigon River
Now let's read a newspaper article about the story.
READING
Whale stranded in the Saigon River

Fears were growing for a whale that Experts say they are very concerned for
swam upstream in the Saigon river the whale - normally found in deep
today, reaching central Ho Chi Minh City seawater - and there was increasing
after losing its way in the ocean. concern about its chances of making it
back to the sea, around 40 miles
It is the first time since 1913 that downstream.
a northern bottlenose whale has been
seen in the Saigon River, and hundreds There was speculation that if it became
of onlookers rushed to the riverside to beached and stranded it could have to
watch as it progressed past Bach Dang be put down in a mercy killing to
Wharf Park. minimise its suffering.
Whale stranded in the
Saigon River
Fears were growing for a whale that swam
upstream in the Saigon river today, reaching
READING
central Ho Chi Minh City after losing its way in

the ocean.
It is the first time since 1913 that a northern
bottlenose whale has been seen in the Saigon
River, and hundreds of onlookers rushed to the
riverside to watch as it progressed past Bach
Dang Wharf Park.
Experts say they are very concerned for the whale
- normally found in deep seawater - and there
READING
was increasing concern about its chances of

making it back to the sea, around 40 miles
downstream.
There was speculation that if it became beached
and stranded it could have to be put down in a
mercy killing to minimise its suffering.
At one stage before 2 p.m., the 4.5 meter (15 ft)
long mammal came close to becoming beached
READING
near Vinhomes Central Park, coming within

meters of the riverbank. A number of members of
the public jumped into the river and splashed
around to encourage the whale to move back into
deeper waters.
It swam as far up river as Thanh Da island
before lifeboats turned it around just short of
READING
Kinh Thanh Da bridge.

By 5 p.m. the whale - thought to be not yet
fully grown - had moved away from the banks
near Thao Dien and was spending more time
beneath the surface.
Experts were on the scene, and a four-strong
fleet of boats - including a coastguard’s boat -
READING
kept watch on it.

Activity 1: Whale in the Saigon River
1. What are the main differences between a
newspaper article and a radio news report?
1. What are the main differences between a
newspaper article and a radio news report?
With radio reports, the audience listens rather than reads. Radio
cannot present any pictures, but you can hear the interviewer and
interviewees and the emotions in their voices. Radio news can
report and update stories quickly.
Newspapers use quotations and photographs and the audience

reads rather than listens. They cannot update stories quickly.
Concerns are growing for a small whale after it became stranded along the Saigon
River in south Vietnam this evening.
2. Is the language used in the radio news report formal or informal? Give two
pieces of evidence to support your answer.
Concerns are growing for a small whale after it became stranded along the Saigon
River in south Vietnam this evening.
2. Is the language used in the radio news report formal or informal? Give two
pieces of evidence to support your answer.
FORMAL
Evidence: “Good evening” “Concerns are growing”
Concerns are growing for a small whale after it became stranded along the
Saigon River in south Vietnam this evening.
after the whale, believed to be a Minke and between four and five meters
long, swam around 64 kilometers upstream.
3. What does this language suggest about the newsreader’s
opinion? Does the newsreader think it is funny or worrying that
the whale is stuck?
The language suggests it is a serious situation, the newsreader thinks
it is worrying the whale is stranded so uses formal language.
4. How do the newsreader’s voice help to express
this opinion?
4. How do the newsreader’s voice help to express
this opinion?
The newsreader's voice shows he feels

worried and it is serious.
Activity 2: Summarising the story
1. Re-read the newspaper article. Can you
find the 5 Ws?
Remember they are:

Who, what, where, when and why.
Try and write your answers as whole sentences.

Whale stranded in the
Saigon River
Fears were growing for a whale that swam
upstream in the Saigon river today, reaching
READING
central Ho Chi Minh City after losing its way in

the ocean.
It is the first time since 1913 that a northern
bottlenose whale has been seen in the Saigon
River, and hundreds of onlookers rushed to the
riverside to watch as it progressed past Bach
Dang Wharf Park.
Experts say they are very concerned for the
whale - normally found in deep seawater - and
READING
there was increasing concern about its chances

of making it back to the sea, around 40 miles
downstream.
There was speculation that if it became beached
and stranded it could have to be put down in a
mercy killing to minimise its suffering.
At one stage before 2 p.m., the 4.5 meter (15 ft)
long mammal came close to becoming beached
READING
near Vinhomes Central Park, coming within

meters of the riverbank. A number of members of
the public jumped into the river and splashed
around to encourage the whale to move back into
deeper waters.
It swam as far up river as Thanh Da island
before lifeboats turned it around just short of
READING
Kinh Thanh Da bridge.

By 5 p.m. the whale - thought to be not yet
fully grown - had moved away from the banks
near Thao Dien and was spending more time
beneath the surface.
Experts were on the scene, and a four-strong
fleet of boats - including a coastguard’s boat -
READING
kept watch on it.

Here are some of the most important key ideas from that
story:
1. Who: A whale is stuck in the Saigon River and rescuers

are trying to save it.
2. What: The whale swam into central Ho Chi Minh City.
3. Where: The Saigon River, HCMC.
4. When: at 2pm the whale came close to the bank but by
5pm it had moved away into deeper waters.
5. Why: it lost its way in the sea.
1. Who: A whale is stuck in the Saigon River and rescuers
are trying to save it.
WRITING
2. What: The whale swam into central Ho Chi Minh City.

3. Where: The Saigon River, HCMC.
4. When: at 2pm the whale came close to the bank but by
5pm it had moved away into deeper waters.
5. Why: it lost its way in the sea.
Let’s use this information to write a summary of the story.

Take 5 minutes to link these pieces of information together
into a summary!
Here’s an example of what it might look like:
WRITING
A whale that lost its way in the sea swam up

the Saigon river and reached central HCMC
today. It got close to the shore but rescuers
helped it and it moved away from the bank
and is now swimming in deeper water.
Interview and Profile Writing:
Introductions
Interviews need introductions. Let's look Page 19
at the example from the interview with
Ade Adepitan.
Introductions
To write an introduction think about the
Page 19
most important things about your subject.
E.g.
Not only is Christina Morton a passionate lawyer,

she is also a wonderful mother and yoga,
swimming and gardening lover. I interviewed her
to find out more about her life.
Writing an interview article
There are two
different ways to
write an interview.
The first is like the

interview with Ade. It
has questions and
then answers.
Writing an interview article
The second way is to add more of your own text.
For example:
I ask Christina about yoga and she is obviously

happy to talk about it. 'I love it. I do it everyday and
it really helps me to feel focussed and ready for the
day.'
Dictation
In our next activity, you will be listening to the
teacher read a paragraph. They will read it three
times - once at normal speed, and twice slowly -
and you need to write down what they say.
Dictation
What would your advice be to any other young people that would
want to write stories?
The most important thing is to read as much as you can, like I did. It
will give you an understanding of what makes good writing and it
will enlarge your vocabulary. And it's a lot of fun! And also, start by
writing about things you know - your own experiences, your own
feelings. That's what I do.
Dictation
What would your advice be to any other young people that would
want to write stories?
The most important thing is to read as much as you can, like I did. It
will give you an understanding of what makes good writing and it
will enlarge your vocabulary. And it's a lot of fun! And also, start by
writing about things you know - your own experiences, your own
feelings. That's what I do.
Who do you think was being interviewed when they said this?
Dictation
Who do you think was being interviewed when they said this?
JK Rowling!
Vocabulary task: Lesson 4
1. The ______________ was caught by the homeowner as he
was stealing her TV.
2. Police tried to ______________ the robbery but the thieves
escaped with millions.
3. Dogs love to ______________ when they swim or play in
water.
4. The aliens' spaceship crashed and now they're ___________
on Earth.
5. Our poor old dog was blind and couldn't walk so we had him
______________.
splash burglar put down stranded foil
Vocabulary task: Lesson 4- Answers
1. The burglar was caught by the homeowner as he was
stealing her TV.
2. Police tried to foil the robbery but the thieves escaped
with millions.
3. Dogs love to splash when they swim or play in water.
4. The aliens' spaceship crashed and now they're stranded
on Earth.
5. Our poor old dog was blind and couldn't walk so we had
him put down.
What have we learned?
1. The difference between formal and
informal language
2. Summarising a recount story
3. Writing a profile article

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The News

1. Formal and informal language

3 Someone who enters a building at night to steal things C speculation (n)

TAP can change how formal

● Proper, official, serious

Thank you, sir. Thanks, man!

You are welcome. No problem.

Goodbye. See ya later!

English is quite difficult, is it not? I did not

article about a whale that

We will then think about

broadcast. Some words

On the next slide are the

2. ...while a vet performed a check-up at the river's edge, before

Saigon River in south Vietnam this evening.

It is believed the whale was first spotted at midday a few

Whale stranded in the Saigon River

central Ho Chi Minh City after losing its way in

was increasing concern about its chances of

near Vinhomes Central Park, coming within

Kinh Thanh Da bridge.

kept watch on it.

Newspapers use quotations and photographs and the audience

The newsreader's voice shows he feels

Remember they are:

Try and write your answers as whole sentences.

central Ho Chi Minh City after losing its way in

there was increasing concern about its chances

near Vinhomes Central Park, coming within

Kinh Thanh Da bridge.

kept watch on it.

1. Who: A whale is stuck in the Saigon River and rescuers

2. What: The whale swam into central Ho Chi Minh City.

Let’s use this information to write a summary of the story.

A whale that lost its way in the sea swam up

Not only is Christina Morton a passionate lawyer,

The first is like the

I ask Christina about yoga and she is obviously

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