Jimin, a member of the K-pop group BTS, has made history by becoming the first solo artist from South Korea to top the US songs chart with his song “Like Crazy”. The song debuted in the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list, which is based on sales, streaming and radio airplay. Jimin celebrated the achievement on Instagram where he has 49 million followers. BTS was the first South Korean group to top the Billboard charts in 2020. The group has taken a break from performing to focus on solo projects and complete their military service. Jimin’s success reflects the group’s continued global popularity. BTS has had six number one hits, including “Dynamite” and “Butter”, and were the world’s second-best selling artist in 2020.
Original news source: BTS’ Jimin first S Korea solo artist to top US Billboard charts (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
1. LIKE CRAZY LYRICS
Instructions: Write the lyrics of “Like Crazy” on the board with some missing words. Have the students listen to the song and fill in the blanks. Then, discuss the meaning of the lyrics as a class.
2. BILLBOARD HOT 100 CHART
Instructions: Draw a table on the board with the top 5 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Have the students listen to each song and vote on their favorite. Then, discuss why those songs might be popular and what makes a good song.
3. K-POP GROUPS
Instructions: Write the names of different K-pop groups on the board. Have the students work in pairs or small groups to research a group and present their findings to the class. They should include information about the group’s history, members, and popular songs.
4. BTS SUCCESS TIMELINE
Instructions: Draw a timeline on the board with key events in BTS’s success, such as their debut, first number one hit, and Jimin’s solo success. Have the students work in pairs or small groups to research each event and present it to the class. Then, discuss how BTS became so successful.
5. MY FAVORITE SONG
Instructions: Have each student write down their favorite song and artist on a slip of paper. Collect the papers and read them out loud. As a class, discuss why people like different types of music and what it says about them.
Comprehension Questions:
1. Who is Jimin?
2. What is he famous for?
3. What did he achieve recently?
4. Which chart did he top?
5. How is the Billboard Hot 100 list made?
6. Where did Jimin celebrate his achievement?
7. How many followers does he have on Instagram?
8. What is BTS known for?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Jimin, a member of the K-pop group BTS, has made history by becoming the first solo artist from South Korea to top the US songs chart with his song “Like Crazy”. The song debuted in the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list, which is based on (1)__________, (2)__________ and radio airplay. Jimin celebrated the achievement on Instagram where he has 49 million (3)__________. BTS was the first South Korean group to top the Billboard charts in 2020. The group has taken a (4)__________ from performing to focus on solo projects and complete their military service. Jimin’s success reflects the group’s continued global (5)__________. BTS has had six number one hits, including “Dynamite” and “Butter”, and were the world’s (6)__________-selling artist in 2020.
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Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. Did you hear about Jimin from BTS?
2. Do you like the song “Like Crazy”?
3. Have you ever heard of the Billboard Hot 100 list?
4. Do you know what it means to debut in the number one spot?
5. Have you ever celebrated an achievement like Jimin did?
6. Do you have any followers on Instagram?
7. What do you think it means to have global popularity?
8. Have you ever taken a break from something to focus on something else?
9. Have you ever completed a project?
10. Do you like listening to music?
11. Have you ever heard of BTS before?
12. What is your favorite BTS song?
13. Do you know any other K-pop groups?
14. Have you ever wanted to be famous?
15. What do you think it takes to be successful like Jimin and BTS?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. solo
2. Billboard
3. streaming
4. popularity
5. number one
6. sales
7. global
8. achievements
Meanings:
A) The most successful or highest-selling song or album
B) Success or accomplishment, usually something difficult or impressive
C) A measurement of how well-known or liked something is around the world
D) A way of listening to music or watching videos online without downloading them
E) A performance or piece of music done by one person alone
F) A chart that ranks the most popular songs or albums of the week based on various factors
G) The act of exchanging something for money
H) Something that is popular or well-liked by people in many different parts of the world
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Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Who made history by topping the US songs chart as a solo artist from South Korea?
(a) Jimin
(b) Jungkook
(c) Jin
(d) V
2. Which song by Jimin debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 list?
(a) “Like Crazy”
(b) “Butter”
(c) “Dynamite”
(d) “Permission to Dance”
3. How is the Billboard Hot 100 list determined?
(a) By social media likes
(b) By record label preference
(c) By sales, streaming, and radio airplay
(d) By music critics’ opinions
4. How did Jimin celebrate his achievement of topping the US songs chart?
(a) On Twitter
(b) On Instagram
(c) On TikTok
(d) On Facebook
5. Which was the first South Korean group to top the Billboard charts in 2020?
(a) BTS
(b) Blackpink
(c) Twice
(d) EXO
6. Why did BTS take a break from performing?
(a) To focus on solo projects and complete their military service
(b) To retire from the music industry
(c) To start a new band
(d) To go on a world tour
7. How many number one hits has BTS had?
(a) Five
(b) Six
(c) Seven
(d) Eight
8. What was BTS’s ranking among the best-selling artists in the world in 2020?
(a) First
(b) Second
(c) Third
(d) Fourth
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True or False Questions:
1. Jimin is a member of a K-pop group called BTS.
2. Jimin’s song “Like Crazy” came in second place on the Billboard Hot 100 list.
3. Jimin has 49 million followers on Instagram.
4. BTS was the first South Korean group to top the Billboard charts in 2020.
5. BTS is currently performing together as a group.
6. Jimin’s success shows that BTS is still very popular around the world.
7. BTS has had six number one hits.
8. BTS was the best selling artist in the world in 2020.
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Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. Who is Jimin?
2. What did Jimin accomplish?
3. What is the Billboard Hot 100 list?
4. How did Jimin celebrate his achievement?
5. Who else has had success on the Billboard charts?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. Who is Jimin?
Answer: Jimin is a singer from a popular music group called BTS.
2. What is he famous for?
Answer: He is famous for singing and dancing, and being a member of the popular music group BTS.
3. What did he achieve recently?
Answer: He achieved the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list with his song “Like Crazy”.
4. Which chart did he top?
Answer: He topped the Billboard Hot 100 list, which is a list of the most popular songs in the United States.
5. How is the Billboard Hot 100 list made?
Answer: The Billboard Hot 100 list is made by looking at how many times a song is played on the radio, how many times it is streamed online, and how many copies of the song are sold.
6. Where did Jimin celebrate his achievement?
Answer: Jimin celebrated his achievement on Instagram, where he has many followers.
7. How many followers does he have on Instagram?
Answer: He has 49 million followers on Instagram.
8. What is BTS known for?
Answer: BTS is known for making popular music that is enjoyed all around the world. They have had many number one hits and are very famous.
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
1. sales
2. streaming
3. followers
4. break
5. popularity
6. second-best
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. solo
Answer: E) A performance or piece of music done by one person alone
2. Billboard
Answer: F) A chart that ranks the most popular songs or albums of the week based on various factors
3. streaming
Answer: D) A way of listening to music or watching videos online without downloading them
4. popularity
Answer: C) A measurement of how well-known or liked something is around the world
5. number one
Answer: A) The most successful or highest-selling song or album
6. sales
Answer: G) The act of exchanging something for money
7. global
Answer: H) Something that is popular or well-liked by people in many different parts of the world
8. achievements
Answer: B) Success or accomplishment, usually something difficult or impressive
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Who made history by topping the US songs chart as a solo artist from South Korea?
Answer: (a) Jimin
2. Which song by Jimin debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 list?
Answer: (a) “Like Crazy”
3. How is the Billboard Hot 100 list determined?
Answer: (c) By sales, streaming, and radio airplay
4. How did Jimin celebrate his achievement of topping the US songs chart?
Answer: (b) On Instagram
5. Which was the first South Korean group to top the Billboard charts in 2020?
Answer: (a) BTS
6. Why did BTS take a break from performing?
Answer: (a) To focus on solo projects and complete their military service
7. How many number one hits has BTS had?
Answer: (b) Six
8. What was BTS’s ranking among the best-selling artists in the world in 2020?
Answer: (b) Second
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True or False Answers:
1. Jimin is a member of a K-pop group called BTS.
Answer: True
2. Jimin’s song “Like Crazy” came in second place on the Billboard Hot 100 list.
Answer: False
3. Jimin has 49 million followers on Instagram.
Answer: True
4. BTS was the first South Korean group to top the Billboard charts in 2020.
Answer: True
5. BTS is currently performing together as a group.
Answer: False
6. Jimin’s success shows that BTS is still very popular around the world.
Answer: True
7. BTS has had six number one hits.
Answer: True
8. BTS was the best selling artist in the world in 2020.
Answer: False
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