Some boys from a singing group called BTS are going to join the army in their country. Their names are RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. They have to do this because in their country, South Korea, all boys have to be soldiers for a little while. Two other boys from the group, Jin and J-Hope, already went before. People who like BTS are asked to wait for them until they come back.

People talked a lot about if these singing boys should go to the army because they are very famous. But they still have to go. They said they would stop singing together for a little bit so they can be soldiers. All the boys from BTS will be done being soldiers by the year 2025. They all said they will stay with their music friends and sing together again after they finish being soldiers.

Original news source: BTS’s RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook begin military enlistment process (BBC)

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out a word or phrase related to the article (e.g. singing, army, soldiers). The other groups must guess what they are acting out. Encourage the use of gestures and body language to convey meaning.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the article in their own words. They should include the main points and key details. After both partners have summarized, they can compare their summaries and discuss any differences or similarities.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a word related to the article (e.g. BTS, soldiers, famous). They must draw a picture to represent the word and have their classmates guess what it is. This activity helps reinforce vocabulary and encourages creativity.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the students to form an opinion about whether or not the BTS members should go to the army. Have them write down their opinion on a piece of paper and collect them. Display the opinions on the board and discuss the different viewpoints as a class.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the students to think about what they would do if they were in BTS’s position. Then, have them pair up with a partner to share their thoughts. Finally, as a class, students can share some of their ideas and discuss the different perspectives.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Who are the boys from the singing group called BTS?
2. Why do they have to join the army in their country?
3. Which two boys from BTS have already gone to the army?
4. What are people who like BTS asked to do?
5. Why did people talk a lot about whether the singing boys should go to the army?
6. What will the boys from BTS do while they are soldiers?
7. When will all the boys from BTS be done being soldiers?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some (1)______ from a singing group called BTS are going to join the army in their country. Their names are RM, (2)______, V, and Jung Kook. They have to do this because in their country, South Korea, all boys have to be (3)______ for a little while. Two other boys from the group, Jin and J-Hope, already went before. People who like BTS are asked to (4)______ for them until they come back.

People talked a lot about if these singing boys should go to the (5)______ because they are very (6)______. But they still have to go. They said they would stop singing together for a little bit so they can be soldiers. All the boys from BTS will be done being soldiers by the year 2025. They all said they will stay with their (7)______ (8)______ and sing together again after they finish being soldiers.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is the name of the singing group that the boys are in?
2. How do you think the boys feel about going to the army?
3. Do you think it’s fair that all boys in South Korea have to be soldiers?
4. Why do you think people are talking a lot about the singing boys going to the army?
5. How would you feel if you had to stop doing something you love for a little while?
6. Do you like BTS? Why or why not?
7. What do you think the boys will do after they finish being soldiers?
8. Why do you think the boys said they will stay with their music friends?
9. How long do you think it will take for all the boys from BTS to finish being soldiers?
10. Do you think it’s important for famous people to serve in the army like everyone else?
11. How would you feel if you had to wait for someone you liked until they came back from the army?
12. What do you think the boys will do when they come back from the army?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. boys
2. army
3. singing
4. group
5. soldiers
6. famous
7. music
8. friends

Meanings:
(a) Sounds that are made with instruments and voices
(b) People who protect their country and fight in wars
(c) Making sounds with your voice that sound nice
(d) People you like and enjoy spending time with
(e) Known by many people and well-liked
(f) A bunch of people who do something together
(g) A group of young males
(h) A place where people fight to protect their country
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who are the boys from BTS?
(a) Jin and J-Hope
(b) Soldiers from South Korea
(c) Famous singers from France
(d) RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook

2. Why do the boys from BTS have to join the army?
(a) Because they want to take a break from singing
(b) Because they want to travel to different countries
(c) Because they don’t like being famous
(d) Because all boys in their country have to be soldiers for a little while

3. When will all the boys from BTS be done being soldiers?
(a) By the year 2030
(b) By the year 2020
(c) By the year 2025
(d) By the year 2050

4. What did people talk a lot about regarding the singing boys going to the army?
(a) What they will eat in the army
(b) Whether they should go or not
(c) Where they will live in the army
(d) How long they will stay in the army

5. What did the boys from BTS say they will do after they finish being soldiers?
(a) Stay with their music friends and sing together again
(b) Become doctors and lawyers
(c) Stop singing forever
(d) Travel to different countries

6. What country are the boys from BTS from?
(a) South Korea
(b) France
(c) Germany
(d) Spain

7. Who are the two boys from BTS that already went to the army?
(a) RM and Jimin
(b) Jin and J-Hope
(c) V and Jung Kook
(d) Soldiers from South Korea

8. What are people who like BTS asked to do?
(a) Stop listening to their music
(b) Forget about them
(c) Wait for them until they come back
(d) Join the army with them

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. People talked a lot about if these singing boys should go to the army because they are very famous.
2. People who dislike BTS are asked to wait for them until they come back.
3. All the girls from BTS will be done being soldiers by the year 2025.
4. They have to do this because in their country, South Korea, all boys have to be soldiers for a little while.
5. Two other girls from the group, Jin and J-Hope, already went before.
6. They said they would stop singing together for a little bit so they can be soldiers.
7. Their names are RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook.
8. Some girls from a dancing group called BTS are going to join the navy in their country.
Go to answers ⇩

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 are the boys from the singing group BTS?
2. Why do the boys from BTS have to join the army?
3. Did all the boys from BTS go to the army already?
4. When will the boys from BTS finish being soldiers?
5. What will the boys from BTS do after they finish being soldiers?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who are the boys from the singing group called BTS?
The boys from the singing group called BTS are RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook.

2. Why do they have to join the army in their country?
They have to join the army in their country because all boys in South Korea have to be soldiers for a little while.

3. Which two boys from BTS have already gone to the army?
Jin and J-Hope have already gone to the army.

4. What are people who like BTS asked to do?
People who like BTS are asked to wait for them until they come back.

5. Why did people talk a lot about whether the singing boys should go to the army?
People talked a lot about whether the singing boys should go to the army because they are very famous.

6. What will the boys from BTS do while they are soldiers?
While they are soldiers, the boys from BTS will stop singing together for a little bit.

7. When will all the boys from BTS be done being soldiers?
All the boys from BTS will be done being soldiers by the year 2025.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) boys
(2) Jimin
(3) soldiers
(4) wait
(5) army
(6) famous
(7) music
(8) friends
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. boys
Answer: (g) A group of young males

2. army
Answer: (h) A place where people fight to protect their country

3. singing
Answer: (c) Making sounds with your voice that sound nice

4. group
Answer: (f) A bunch of people who do something together

5. soldiers
Answer: (b) People who protect their country and fight in wars

6. famous
Answer: (e) Known by many people and well-liked

7. music
Answer: (a) Sounds that are made with instruments and voices

8. friends
Answer: (d) People you like and enjoy spending time with
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who are the boys from BTS?
Answer: (d) RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook

2. Why do the boys from BTS have to join the army?
Answer: (d) Because all boys in their country have to be soldiers for a little while

3. When will all the boys from BTS be done being soldiers?
Answer: (c) By the year 2025

4. What did people talk a lot about regarding the singing boys going to the army?
Answer: (b) Whether they should go or not

5. What did the boys from BTS say they will do after they finish being soldiers?
Answer: (a) Stay with their music friends and sing together again

6. What country are the boys from BTS from?
Answer: (a) South Korea

7. Who are the two boys from BTS that already went to the army?
Answer: (b) Jin and J-Hope

8. What are people who like BTS asked to do?
Answer: (c) Wait for them until they come back
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. People talked a lot about if these singing boys should go to the army because they are very famous. (Answer: True)
2. People who dislike BTS are asked to wait for them until they come back. (Answer: False)
3. All the girls from BTS will be done being soldiers by the year 2025. (Answer: False)
4. They have to do this because in their country, South Korea, all boys have to be soldiers for a little while. (Answer: True)
5. Two other girls from the group, Jin and J-Hope, already went before. (Answer: False)
6. They said they would stop singing together for a little bit so they can be soldiers. (Answer: True)
7. Their names are RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. (Answer: True)
8. Some girls from a dancing group called BTS are going to join the navy in their country. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧