A lady named Mitsuko Tottori is going to be the boss of Japan Airlines. She is the first lady boss there. She started working on airplanes a long time ago. Mitsuko wants other girls to be bosses too. There was a sad airplane accident, and now Mitsuko is the boss.

Mitsuko knows a lot about keeping people safe on airplanes. She says this is the most important thing for her job. It’s hard for girls to be bosses, but Mitsuko hopes they will try. More girls are becoming bosses of big airplane companies. But in Japan, not many girls are bosses yet.

Original news source: Japan Airlines appoints ex-flight attendant as first female president (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Write down key vocabulary words from the article on small pieces of paper and put them in a hat or bowl. One student from each team will take turns picking a word and acting it out without speaking. Their team members must guess the word within a certain time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “boss” on the board. Have students take turns saying a word that they associate with the word “boss.” Encourage them to explain why they chose that word. For example, if a student says “power,” they might explain that bosses have power and authority. Continue the activity with other words from the article, such as “airplane” or “safety.”

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a word from the article, such as “accident” or “job.” One student will draw a picture representing that word, while the other student tries to guess the word. They can only communicate through gestures and drawings. After a certain amount of time, switch roles and give a new word to each pair.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Write several key sentences from the article on separate pieces of paper. Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair one sentence. Set a timer for a few minutes and have students take turns summarizing the sentence to their partner as quickly as possible. The partner must then try to repeat the summary back. After the time is up, switch partners and repeat with a new sentence.

– Two Truths and a Lie
Instructions: Have each student come up with two true statements and one false statement about themselves related to the article or the vocabulary. For example, a student might say “I have flown on an airplane before” (true), “I want to be a boss someday” (true), and “I have met Mitsuko Tottori” (false). Each student takes turns sharing their statements, and the rest of the class must guess which statement is the lie.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is going to be the boss of Japan Airlines?
2. Is Mitsuko Tottori the first lady boss of Japan Airlines?
3. What did Mitsuko start working on a long time ago?
4. What does Mitsuko want other girls to be?
5. Why did Mitsuko become the boss of Japan Airlines?
6. What does Mitsuko think is the most important thing for her job?
7. Are there many girls who are bosses in Japan?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A lady (1)______ (2)______ Tottori is going to be the boss of Japan Airlines. She is the first lady boss there. She started working on airplanes a long time ago. Mitsuko wants other (3)______ to be bosses too. There was a sad airplane (4)______, and now Mitsuko is the boss.

Mitsuko knows a lot about keeping (5)______ (6)______ on airplanes. She says this is the most important thing for her job. It’s hard for girls to be bosses, but Mitsuko hopes they will try. (7)______ girls are (8)______ bosses of big airplane companies. But in Japan, not many girls are bosses yet.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a boss?
2. How do you think Mitsuko feels about being the first lady boss at Japan Airlines?
3. Do you think it’s important for girls to be bosses? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever been on an airplane? How did you feel?
5. How would you feel if you were in charge of keeping people safe on airplanes?
6. Do you like airplanes? Why or why not?
7. What do you think Mitsuko’s job is like as the boss of Japan Airlines?
8. Have you ever seen an airplane accident on TV or in a movie? How did it make you feel?
9. Do you think more girls will become bosses of big airplane companies in the future? Why or why not?
10. How do you think Mitsuko became the boss of Japan Airlines?
11. Have you ever wanted to be a boss? Why or why not?
12. What other jobs do you think are important for keeping people safe?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. lady
2. boss
3. airplanes
4. working
5. accident
6. important
7. hard
8. hopes
9. becoming
10. companies

Meanings:
(A) When something bad and not planned happens
(B) Big machines that fly in the sky like birds
(C) Starting to be something new
(D) When something is not easy to do
(E) Doing a job or activity
(F) A grown-up girl
(G) Something that really matters a lot
(H) Wishing for something to happen in the future
(I) Places where people work together to make or sell things
(J) The person who is in charge and tells others what to do
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is going to be the boss of Japan Airlines?
(a) Mr. Suzuki
(b) Mrs. Tanaka
(c) Mitsuko Tottori
(d) Mr. Yamamoto

2. What is special about Mitsuko Tottori?
(a) She is a famous singer
(b) She is a professional soccer player
(c) She is the first lady boss of Japan Airlines
(d) She is a teacher

3. What did Mitsuko Tottori start doing a long time ago?
(a) Painting pictures
(b) Working on airplanes
(c) Playing the piano
(d) Cooking

4. What does Mitsuko want other girls to be?
(a) Doctors
(b) Teachers
(c) Chefs
(d) Bosses

5. Why is keeping people safe on airplanes important to Mitsuko?
(a) It is the most important thing for her job
(b) She likes to travel on airplanes
(c) She wants to be a pilot
(d) She wants to be a flight attendant

6. What does Mitsuko hope girls will do?
(a) Try to be doctors
(b) Try to be teachers
(c) Try to be chefs
(d) Try to be bosses

7. Are there many girls who are bosses in Japan?
(a) No, not many
(b) Yes, a lot
(c) Some
(d) I don’t know

8. What is the article about?
(a) A famous singer named Mitsuko Tottori
(b) A lady named Mitsuko Tottori becoming the boss of Japan Airlines
(c) A lady named Mitsuko Tottori who likes to travel on airplanes
(d) A lady named Mitsuko Tottori who wants to be a pilot

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Mitsuko does not know a lot about keeping people safe on airplanes.
2. Mitsuko Tottori is not going to be the boss of Japan Airlines.
3. Mitsuko is the first lady boss at Japan Airlines.
4. In Japan, not many girls are bosses yet.
5. Mitsuko wants other boys to be bosses too.
6. Mitsuko hopes more boys will try to be bosses.
7. Mitsuko has been working on airplanes for a long time.
8. There was a sad airplane accident.
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 is going to be the boss of Japan Airlines?
2. Is Mitsuko Tottori the first lady boss of Japan Airlines?
3. What did Mitsuko start working on a long time ago?
4. What does Mitsuko want other girls to be?
5. What does Mitsuko think is the most important thing for her job?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who is going to be the boss of Japan Airlines?
Mitsuko Tottori is going to be the boss of Japan Airlines.

2. Is Mitsuko Tottori the first lady boss of Japan Airlines?
Yes, Mitsuko Tottori is the first lady boss of Japan Airlines.

3. What did Mitsuko start working on a long time ago?
Mitsuko started working on airplanes a long time ago.

4. What does Mitsuko want other girls to be?
Mitsuko wants other girls to be bosses too.

5. Why did Mitsuko become the boss of Japan Airlines?
Mitsuko became the boss of Japan Airlines because of a sad airplane accident.

6. What does Mitsuko think is the most important thing for her job?
Mitsuko thinks keeping people safe on airplanes is the most important thing for her job.

7. Are there many girls who are bosses in Japan?
No, there are not many girls who are bosses in Japan yet.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) Mitsuko
(3) girls
(4) accident
(5) people
(6) safe
(7) More
(8) becoming
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. lady
Answer: (F) A grown-up girl

2. boss
Answer: (J) The person who is in charge and tells others what to do

3. airplanes
Answer: (B) Big machines that fly in the sky like birds

4. working
Answer: (E) Doing a job or activity

5. accident
Answer: (A) When something bad and not planned happens

6. important
Answer: (G) Something that really matters a lot

7. hard
Answer: (D) When something is not easy to do

8. hopes
Answer: (H) Wishing for something to happen in the future

9. becoming
Answer: (C) Starting to be something new

10. companies
Answer: (I) Places where people work together to make or sell things
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is going to be the boss of Japan Airlines?
Answer: (c) Mitsuko Tottori

2. What is special about Mitsuko Tottori?
Answer: (c) She is the first lady boss of Japan Airlines

3. What did Mitsuko Tottori start doing a long time ago?
Answer: (b) Working on airplanes

4. What does Mitsuko want other girls to be?
Answer: (d) Bosses

5. Why is keeping people safe on airplanes important to Mitsuko?
Answer: (a) It is the most important thing for her job

6. What does Mitsuko hope girls will do?
Answer: (d) Try to be bosses

7. Are there many girls who are bosses in Japan?
Answer: (a) No, not many

8. What is the article about?
Answer: (b) A lady named Mitsuko Tottori becoming the boss of Japan Airlines
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Mitsuko does not know a lot about keeping people safe on airplanes. (Answer: False)
2. Mitsuko Tottori is not going to be the boss of Japan Airlines. (Answer: False)
3. Mitsuko is the first lady boss at Japan Airlines. (Answer: True)
4. In Japan, not many girls are bosses yet. (Answer: True)
5. Mitsuko wants other boys to be bosses too. (Answer: False)
6. Mitsuko hopes more boys will try to be bosses. (Answer: False)
7. Mitsuko has been working on airplanes for a long time. (Answer: True)
8. There was a sad airplane accident. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧