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As English teachers, we sometimes may find that our students are bored with their course books or seem to be unmotivated in class from time to time. Has anyone tried using a newspaper story to revive your class? It’s time to have a try. A well-chosen newspaper text can bring lively and contemporary issues into the classroom and at the same time motivate the students.

What are the advantages of using English newspaper stories in the class?

Compared with other text materials, newspapers have the following distinctive characteristics that make them a valuable resource for the reading activities in the EFL class: First, newspapers are much more current than textbooks which usually take a few years to be developed and put to use. Newspapers report the current international events, new important technological breakthroughs, the changing world and society. It’s clear that newspapers follow the time closely and the contents are new and attractive. In this way, they can always keep students motivated and up-to-date.

Second, newspapers provide English learners most kinds of genres of writing written in authentic language. Different kinds of texts such as narratives, stories, letters, reports, and advertisements, etc, can serve as examples of writing and be made use of to help train students’ writing ability. In terms of the language they use, newspapers can give students useful models of contemporary and authentic written English. With the development of media in recent years, the contents of newspapers have become rich and diverse and the newspaper language at the same time has become more popular, lively and practical. Articles are often rich in collocations and latest vocabulary and idioms and they can also give learners examples of well-constructed texts which use clear paragraphing and appropriate linking words, such as in addition, however and moreover. 

Next, newspapers provide various materials for students to broaden their knowledge. Newspapers contain a sea of information. Through reading one can know about foreign cultures, understand foreigners’ value of life, ways of thinking, belief, behaviors and life trend better. It has a wide range of topics, including politics, diplomacy, economy, education, health, entertainment, science and technology. All these different materials can serve as interesting topics for classroom activities. Meanwhile, the wide range of information from newspapers can activate and build students’ background knowledge, and enrich their knowledge.

Besides, newspaper reading is also based on the sociolinguists’ definition of reading, in which reading is regarded as “social behavior”, a kind of human communication in society. Language, as a tool of communication, should not be separated from social life and the world. Through reading newspapers, students learn life as it happens. With the improvement of the language ability, students’ awareness of social responsibility, cultural background and critical thinking are also enhanced greatly.

Glossary

revive (v.) – to bring something back to life

authentic (adj.) – real, true

collocations (n.) –two or more words that co-occur in very high frequency

Discuss

Do you often use newspapers in teaching?

Do your students generally enjoy learning English through newspapers?