Many people like to start getting fit when a new year begins. They think it’s a good time to start new things, like exercise. But many people stop doing their new exercise very fast. It can be cold and hard to start after the holidays. It might be better to start before the new year when things are more quiet.

Gyms are not so busy before January. In January, many people go to the gym because they want to do better. But if you start before January, it’s not so crowded. You can learn and not feel shy. If you start early, you don’t have to rush in January.

Original news source: Why do people always wait until January to get fit? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of exercise-related words or phrases written on individual cards. One person from each group will act out the word or phrase without speaking, and the rest of the group has to guess what it is. The group that guesses correctly gets a point. Play several rounds, rotating the actor in each round.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students take turns summarizing the article in their own words. Encourage them to use simple sentences and focus on the main points. After each summary, the other student can ask questions for clarification. Switch roles and repeat the activity with a different partner.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write the question “Do you think it’s a good idea to start exercising before the new year?” on the board. Have students stand on one side of the classroom if they agree and on the other side if they disagree. Ask students to share their reasons for their opinion with a partner, then have a few volunteers share their opinions with the whole class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a list of exercise-related vocabulary words. One student from each team comes to the front of the class and draws a picture representing one of the words while their team tries to guess the word. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Rotate players and continue until all the words have been drawn.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Give each student a copy of the article. Set a timer for 3 minutes and have students read the article quickly. When the timer goes off, students have 1 minute to summarize the article to a partner. After 1 minute, have students switch partners and repeat the activity. Encourage students to focus on the main points and use simple sentences.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why do many people start exercising at the beginning of a new year?
2. Why do some people stop exercising soon after they start?
3. Why is it better to start exercising before the new year?
4. Why are gyms not as busy before January?
5. Why might it be easier to learn at the gym if you start before January?
6. Why don’t you have to rush if you start exercising early?
7. What are some reasons why it might be hard to start exercising after the holidays?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Many (1)______ like to start getting fit when a new year begins. They think it’s a good time to start new things, like (2)______. But many people stop doing their new exercise very fast. It can be (3)______ and hard to start after the (4)______. It might be better to start before the new year when (5)______ are more quiet.

(6)______ are not so busy before January. In January, many people go to the gym because they want to do better. But if you start before January, it’s not so crowded. You can learn and not feel shy. If you start early, you don’t (7)______ to (8)______ in January.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is exercise?
2. How would you feel if you started exercising in a new year?
3. Do you like going to the gym?
4. Do you think it’s better to start exercising before or after the new year? Why?
5. How do you feel when the gym is crowded?
6. Do you think it’s easier to learn exercise when there are fewer people around? Why or why not?
7. Why do you think many people stop exercising after starting in the new year?
8. What do you like to do to stay fit?
9. How do you feel when you rush to do something?
10. Do you think it’s important to start exercising early? Why or why not?
11. What other things can you do to stay fit besides going to the gym?
12. How do you feel when you are shy?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. exercise
2. holidays
3. crowded
4. gyms
5. rush
6. quiet
7. start
8. better
9. shy
10. fit

Meanings:
(A) A place with lots of people, very full
(B) Special days when you don’t go to school or work and have fun
(C) Feeling a little scared to talk or be with people
(D) Being strong and healthy
(E) To do something in a good way
(F) To do something very fast
(G) To begin doing something
(H) Moving your body to be strong and healthy
(I) Big rooms with machines for moving your body to be strong
(J) When there is not much noise and not many people
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. When do many people like to start getting fit?
(a) When a new year begins
(b) When it’s cold outside
(c) When it’s summer
(d) When they are on vacation

2. Why do many people stop doing their new exercise very fast?
(a) They don’t like exercise
(b) It can be cold and hard to start after the holidays
(c) They get too tired
(d) They don’t have time

3. When is the best time to start exercising if you want it to be less crowded?
(a) After January
(b) Before January
(c) During the summer
(d) During the holidays

4. Why is it better to start exercising before January?
(a) It’s warmer outside
(b) It’s easier to find a workout buddy
(c) It’s not so crowded at the gym
(d) It’s more fun

5. What can you do if you start exercising early?
(a) Go on vacation
(b) Eat a lot of junk food
(c) Sleep all day
(d) Learn and not feel shy

6. When do many people rush to the gym?
(a) January
(b) February
(c) March
(d) April

7. What happens to the gym in January?
(a) It closes for the month
(b) It gets a new owner
(c) It becomes cheaper
(d) It gets very crowded

8. What can you do if you start exercising before the new year?
(a) Quit after a week
(b) Eat a lot of unhealthy food
(c) Not rush in January
(d) Never go to the gym again

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Starting exercise after the holidays can be difficult because it is cold and hard.
2. Many people dislike starting exercising when a new year begins.
3. It might be better to start exercising before the new year when things are more quiet.
4. Starting early means you have to rush in January.
5. If you start exercising before January, it’s not so crowded.
6. In January, few people go to the gym because they want to do worse.
7. Gyms are very busy before January.
8. Starting early allows you to learn and not feel shy.
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. When do many people like to start getting fit?
2. Why do people think it’s a good time to start new things in the new year?
3. Why is it hard to start exercising after the holidays?
4. When are gyms not so busy?
5. Why is it better to start exercising before January?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why do many people start exercising at the beginning of a new year?
Because they think it’s a good time to start new things, like exercise.

2. Why do some people stop exercising soon after they start?
Because it can be cold and hard to start after the holidays.

3. Why is it better to start exercising before the new year?
Because gyms are not so busy before January and you can learn without feeling shy.

4. Why are gyms not as busy before January?
Because many people start going to the gym in January to do better.

5. Why might it be easier to learn at the gym if you start before January?
Because it’s not so crowded and you can take your time to learn.

6. Why don’t you have to rush if you start exercising early?
Because you have more time to learn and you don’t have to worry about the gym being too crowded.

7. What are some reasons why it might be hard to start exercising after the holidays?
Because it can be cold and people might be tired from the holidays.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) people
(2) exercise
(3) cold
(4) holidays
(5) things
(6) Gyms
(7) have
(8) rush
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. exercise
Answer: (H) Moving your body to be strong and healthy

2. holidays
Answer: (B) Special days when you don’t go to school or work and have fun

3. crowded
Answer: (A) A place with lots of people, very full

4. gyms
Answer: (I) Big rooms with machines for moving your body to be strong

5. rush
Answer: (F) To do something very fast

6. quiet
Answer: (J) When there is not much noise and not many people

7. start
Answer: (G) To begin doing something

8. better
Answer: (E) To do something in a good way

9. shy
Answer: (C) Feeling a little scared to talk or be with people

10. fit
Answer: (D) Being strong and healthy
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. When do many people like to start getting fit?
Answer: (a) When a new year begins

2. Why do many people stop doing their new exercise very fast?
Answer: (b) It can be cold and hard to start after the holidays

3. When is the best time to start exercising if you want it to be less crowded?
Answer: (b) Before January

4. Why is it better to start exercising before January?
Answer: (c) It’s not so crowded at the gym

5. What can you do if you start exercising early?
Answer: (d) Learn and not feel shy

6. When do many people rush to the gym?
Answer: (a) January

7. What happens to the gym in January?
Answer: (d) It gets very crowded

8. What can you do if you start exercising before the new year?
Answer: (c) Not rush in January
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Starting exercise after the holidays can be difficult because it is cold and hard. (Answer: True)
2. Many people dislike starting exercising when a new year begins. (Answer: False)
3. It might be better to start exercising before the new year when things are more quiet. (Answer: True)
4. Starting early means you have to rush in January. (Answer: False)
5. If you start exercising before January, it’s not so crowded. (Answer: True)
6. In January, few people go to the gym because they want to do worse. (Answer: False)
7. Gyms are very busy before January. (Answer: False)
8. Starting early allows you to learn and not feel shy. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧