Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

English Newsroom

Learn English through news articles - complete lesson plans, including articles, listening, classroom activities, quiz questions and more!

Couple Celebrates Marriage with Dragon Boat Ride

A Suffolk couple incorporates dragon boats and metal detecting into their wedding.
Try this article at a different level?

Liz Masding and Mike Markham-Lee chose to make their wedding memorable by taking a dragon boat ride instead of using a traditional car. Their choice reflects their shared love for dragon boating, a hobby Liz has enjoyed for many years and introduced to Mike. On their special day, they were married at Shire Hall before setting off on their dragon boat journey along the River Deben.

During the ride, friends from Liz's dragon boat team surprised them with a delightful picnic. The couple savored champagne, sandwiches, and sausage rolls, enjoying a peaceful hour of relaxation amid their bustling wedding activities. It was a cherished moment that allowed them to unwind.

In addition to the dragon boat adventure, Mike's hobby added a personal touch to their wedding. He proposed with a ring he found while metal detecting in the mud at Walton-on-the-Naze. To him, it symbolized not only his hobby but the treasure he found in his relationship with Liz. It was a perfect fit for their unique union.

After the wedding, the couple is excited about heading to Loch Ness for a dragon boat race. They anticipate this event will be just as unforgettable as their extraordinary wedding experience. Their journey reflects their love for adventure and celebrating what they both enjoy.

Original news source: 'I didn't want a wedding car, I wanted a dragon boat' – BBC News (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

📖 Vocabulary:

1. mutual
2. embarking
3. cherished
4. adventure
5. proposed
6. delighted
7. opted
8. unique
9. vehicle
10. crew
11. reflection
12. introduced
13. treasure
14. peaceful
15. memorable

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

1. Describe a memorable wedding you have attended.
2. Share what unique transportation methods you have seen or heard about.
3. Discuss a hobby you have introduced to a friend or family member.
4. Talk about a time you went on a boat ride.
5. Explain why someone might choose an unconventional wedding ceremony.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did Liz and Mike choose a dragon boat for their wedding?

2. What did friends from Liz's crew provide during the journey?

3. Where was the couple married?

4. What symbolized Mike's proposal to Liz?

5. What future event are Liz and Mike looking forward to?

6. Where did Mike find the engagement ring?

7. How did the couple relax during their wedding day?

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Liz Masding and Mike chose to make their wedding memorable by a boat ride instead of using a traditional car. Their choice reflects their shared love for dragon boating, a hobby Liz has enjoyed for many years and introduced to Mike. On their special day, they were at Shire Hall before setting off on their dragon boat journey along the River Deben. During the ride, friends from Liz's dragon boat team surprised them with a picnic. The couple savored champagne, , and sausage rolls, enjoying a peaceful hour of relaxation amid their bustling . It was a cherished moment that them to unwind. In to the dragon boat adventure, Mike's hobby added a personal to their wedding. He proposed with a ring he found while metal detecting in the mud at Walton-on-the-Naze. To him, it symbolized not only his hobby but the he found in his relationship with Liz. It was a fit for their unique union. the wedding, the couple is excited about heading to Loch Ness for a dragon boat race. They anticipate this event will be just as unforgettable as their extraordinary wedding experience. Their journey their love for adventure and what they both enjoy.

💬 Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think a traditional wedding is better than a unique one? Why or why not?
2. Why is it important for couples to share hobbies?
3. What do you think about proposing with something you found rather than bought?
4. Have you ever been on a dragon boat? What was the experience like?
5. How would you feel about having a wedding on a boat?
6. Is it important to incorporate personal hobbies into significant life events?
7. What’s the most unusual wedding you've heard about?
8. Do you believe weddings should have a touch of both partners' personalities?
9. How can shared activities strengthen a relationship?
10. Does the location of a wedding matter more than the people attending? Why?
11. What hobbies do you think would make a wedding more exciting?
12. How do you decide whether something is a good or bad idea for a wedding?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.

Words

1. mutual
2. embarking
3. cherished
4. adventure
5. proposed
6. delighted
7. opted
8. unique
9. vehicle
10. crew
11. reflection
12. introduced
13. treasure
14. peaceful
15. memorable

Meanings

(A) one of a kind
(B) a thought or idea
(C) group of people working together
(D) chose
(E) valuable object
(F) calm
(G) starting a journey
(H) brought into use for the first time
(I) pleased greatly
(J) mode of transport
(K) an exciting experience
(L) valued highly
(M) shared by two or more parties
(N) worth remembering
(O) asked someone to marry

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What mode of transport did Liz and Mike use for their wedding?
(a) Car
(b) Dragon boat
(c) Bicycle
(d) Train
2. Where did the couple get married?
(a) Shire Hall
(b) River Deben
(c) Walton-on-the-Naze
(d) Loch Ness
3. What type of boat did the couple use for their journey?
(a) Sailboat
(b) Motorboat
(c) Dragon boat
(d) Canoe
4. What did Mike find while metal detecting?
(a) A coin
(b) A watch
(c) A key
(d) A ring
5. Who provided the picnic during the boat ride?
(a) Friends from Liz's dragon boat team
(b) Relatives
(c) Mike's colleagues
(d) Wedding planners
6. What are Liz and Mike planning to do after the wedding?
(a) Go to a movie
(b) Attend a concert
(c) Participate in a dragon boat race
(d) Visit a museum
7. How does Mike feel about the ring he found?
(a) It's just a piece of metal
(b) It's worthless
(c) It's too expensive
(d) It's a fitting symbol of their union
8. What adds a personal touch to the wedding?
(a) A special cake
(b) The ring from metal detecting
(c) The guest list
(d) The venue

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The couple plans to participate in a dragon boat race.
2. Mike rejected with a metal-detected ring.
3. The wedding took place at Shire Hall.
4. Mike lost the ring at Walton-on-the-Naze.
5. Enemies from Liz's crew ruined a picnic.
6. The dragon boat journey was peaceful and relaxing.
7. Their wedding journey was ordinary and boring.
8. Liz introduced dragon boating to Mike.

Writing Questions:

1. Write about a unique event you've attended and what made it special.
2. Describe a hobby you might like to include in your own wedding.
3. Imagine planning a wedding with unique elements and describe them.
4. Discuss how sharing hobbies can impact a relationship.
5. Explain why unconventional weddings are becoming more popular.

How about these other Level 3 articles?

Online
Class
Writing
Coach

Feedback