Grassley has been in his job for 48 years and is now the oldest person in Congress after Senator Dianne Feinstein died. He has not said anything about his talent for matchmaking, but he has a rival in this area. The leader of the Democratic Senate, Chuck Schumer, has helped 13 couples get married and 14 babies be born. Former workers say that Schumer likes to encourage his staff to get married.
People have different opinions about Grassley's staff getting married. Some people think it's a sweet story about how Grassley can bring people together. Others think it shows that he has been in his job for too long. But, many people on the internet are talking about Grassley's matchmaking, with some joking that they want to work for him to find love.
Original news source: Chuck Grassley crowned 'matchmaker' after 20 staff marriages (BBC)
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: In this activity, students will work in pairs or small groups to summarize the article in their own words. They can take turns reading paragraphs or sentences and then discuss and summarize the main points. Afterward, they can share their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups – one group who thinks Grassley's staff getting married is a sweet story and another group who thinks it shows he has been in his job for too long. Each group will come up with reasons to support their opinion. Then, they can present their arguments to the class and have a class discussion on the topic.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate cards or pieces of paper. Divide the class into teams and give each team a set of vocabulary cards. One person from each team will pick a card and draw a picture representing the word while their team tries to guess the word. This activity helps reinforce vocabulary and encourages creativity.
– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Write down keywords from the article on separate cards or pieces of paper. Divide the class into teams and give each team a set of keyword cards. One person from each team will choose a card and try to describe the keyword without using the word itself. Their team members have to guess the keyword. This activity helps students practice their speaking and listening skills.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: In this activity, students will individually think about and write down their thoughts on the following prompt: "What qualities or skills do you think make a good matchmaker?" Then, they will pair up with a partner and discuss their ideas. Finally, they will share their thoughts with the class, opening up a discussion on the topic.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Because 20 people who work for him got married after meeting in his office.
He posted a photo of him, his wife, and the newly married couple at their wedding in Iowa.
He has been in his job for 48 years.
Chuck Grassley is the oldest person in Congress now.
Chuck Schumer has helped 13 couples get married.
Some people think it's a sweet story about how Grassley can bring people together.
Some people are joking that they want to work for Grassley to find love.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Chuck Grassley, a 90-year-old man from the Republican Party, has been called the ""ultimate matchmaker"" because 20 people who work for him got after meeting in his office. Grassley posted a photo on the internet of him, his wife, and the newly married couple at their in Iowa. This news very popular, with some people joking that they want to work in Grassley's office to find love. But, some people think that so many staff members getting married that Grassley has been in his job for too long. Grassley has been in his job for 48 years and is now the person in Congress after Senator Dianne Feinstein died. He has not said anything about his talent for matchmaking, but he has a rival in this area. The leader of the Democratic Senate, Chuck Schumer, has helped 13 couples get married and 14 babies be born. Former workers say that Schumer to his staff to get married. People have opinions about Grassley's staff getting married. Some people it's a sweet story about how Grassley can bring people together. Others think it shows that he has been in his job for too long. But, many people on the are about Grassley's matchmaking, with some joking that they want to work for him to find love.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a matchmaker?
2. How would you feel if you met your future spouse at work?
3. Do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing that so many people who work for Grassley got married? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it's important for politicians to encourage their staff to get married? Why or why not?
5. If you had the chance, would you want to work in Grassley's office to find love? Why or why not?
6. How do you think Grassley feels about his talent for matchmaking?
7. Do you think it's better to have a long career in politics or to retire earlier? Why or why not?
8. What do you think about the story of Grassley bringing people together? Why?
9. Do you think it's easy or difficult to find love at work? Why?
10. How do you think Grassley's staff feel about him helping them find love?
11. What do you think about politicians getting involved in their staff's personal lives? Why?
12. Would you like to meet Chuck Grassley? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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