Japan’s government said yes to sending new fighter jets, made with the UK and Italy, to other countries. This is a big change because Japan usually does not like to fight or send weapons to other places. They want to spend more money on their army by 2027 because they are worried about China and North Korea. These special jets will have smart technology and will be ready by 2035, but they need to ask for permission every time they want to send them to another country.

The leader of Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, is planning to visit the US to show they are good friends and want to work together on keeping their countries safe. Japan says it needs to send these jets to other places so it can be a trusted partner in big projects to protect countries. Even though they are doing this, Japan says it will still follow its peaceful ways and be very careful about sending weapons to other countries.

After World War Two, Japan promised to be a peaceful country and only have an army to protect itself, not to fight in other countries. But, in the last few years, Japan has slowly started to send some weapons to other places, starting in 2014. And now, in 2023, they decided it’s okay to send more dangerous weapons that they make. This is all part of Japan’s plan to be stronger in protecting itself and working with other countries to keep peace.

Original news source: Japan to sell fighter jets in break from pacifism (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a slip of paper with a word or phrase related to the article (e.g. fighter jet, smart technology, peace). One person from each group will act out the word or phrase without speaking, and the rest of the group must guess what it is.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. Encourage them to use their own words and keep their summaries concise.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “Japan” on the board. Have students take turns coming up with words or phrases that they associate with Japan. Encourage them to think about the article and include relevant vocabulary (e.g. weapons, army, peace).

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and a pen. Choose 5-10 vocabulary words from the article and write them on the board. Students must draw a picture to represent each word without using any letters or numbers. The class then guesses the word based on the drawing.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Ask each group to discuss and come up with their opinion on whether Japan should be sending fighter jets to other countries. After the discussion, each group will present their opinion and provide reasons to support their stance.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why is Japan sending new fighter jets to other countries?
2. When will the special jets be ready?
3. Does Japan want to work together with the US to keep their countries safe?
4. What promise did Japan make after World War Two?
5. When did Japan start sending weapons to other places?
6. Why does Japan want to be stronger in protecting itself?
7. What is Japan’s plan for working with other countries?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Japan’s government said yes to (1)______ing new fighter jets, made with the UK and Italy, to other countries. This is a big change because Japan usually does not like to fight or send weapons to other places. They want to spend more money on their (2)______ by 2027 because they are worried about China and (3)______ Korea. These special jets will have smart technology and will be ready by 2035, but they need to ask for permission every time they want to send them to another country.

The leader of Japan, Prime (4)______ Fumio Kishida, is planning to visit the US to show they are good friends and want to work together on keeping their (5)______ safe. Japan (6)______ it needs to send these jets to (7)______ places so it can be a trusted partner in big projects to protect countries. Even though they are doing this, Japan says it will still follow its (8)______ ways and be very careful about sending weapons to other countries.

After World War Two, Japan (9)______ to be a peaceful country and only have an army to protect itself, not to fight in other countries. But, in the last few years, Japan has slowly started to send some weapons to other (10)______, (11)______ in 2014. And now, in 2023, they decided it’s okay to send more dangerous weapons that they (12)______. This is all part of Japan’s plan to be stronger in protecting itself and working with other countries to keep peace.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What are fighter jets?
2. How would you feel if your country sent weapons to other places?
3. Do you like the idea of Japan spending more money on their army? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for countries to work together to keep their countries safe? Why or why not?
5. Why do you think Japan wants to be a trusted partner in big projects to protect countries?
6. How do you think Japan can follow its peaceful ways while still sending weapons to other countries?
7. What do you know about World War Two?
8. Why do you think Japan promised to be a peaceful country after World War Two?
9. How do you feel about Japan slowly starting to send weapons to other places?
10. Why do you think Japan wants to be stronger in protecting itself?
11. How do you think Japan can work with other countries to keep peace?
12. Do you think it’s important for countries to have armies to protect themselves? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. government
2. fighter jets
3. technology
4. permission
5. Prime Minister
6. protect
7. trusted
8. projects
9. peaceful
10. weapons
11. army
12. partner

Meanings:
(A) A group of soldiers who fight for a country
(B) The leader of a country’s government
(C) Saying it’s okay for someone to do something
(D) To keep someone or something safe from harm or danger
(E) Believed to be good and reliable
(F) Not liking or wanting to fight; calm
(G) Big tasks or plans that are worked on
(H) Someone who works with another person or group to achieve something
(I) The group of people who run a country
(J) Things used to fight in wars, like guns or bombs
(K) Fast military airplanes used in battles
(L) The use of science in industry, engineering, etc., to invent useful things or to solve problems
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why is Japan planning to send new fighter jets to other countries?
(a) They want to show off their technology.
(b) They want to start a war.
(c) They want to make money.
(d) They are worried about China and North Korea.

2. When will the special jets be ready?
(a) 2027
(b) 2035
(c) 2014
(d) 2023

3. What does Japan promise to be after World War Two?
(a) A peaceful country
(b) A powerful country
(c) A dangerous country
(d) A fighting country

4. Why is Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visiting the US?
(a) To sell the new fighter jets.
(b) To ask for permission to send the jets to other countries.
(c) To start a war with the US.
(d) To show they are good friends and want to work together on keeping their countries safe.

5. What is Japan worried about?
(a) Russia and Germany
(b) China and North Korea
(c) France and Italy
(d) Spain and Mongolia

6. When did Japan start sending weapons to other places?
(a) 2035
(b) 2027
(c) 2014
(d) 2023

7. What is Japan’s plan?
(a) To start a war with other countries.
(b) To make money by selling weapons.
(c) To be stronger in protecting itself and working with other countries to keep peace.
(d) To become the most powerful country in the world.

8. What do the new fighter jets have?
(a) Smart technology
(b) Old technology
(c) No technology
(d) Dangerous technology

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Japan has agreed to send new fighter jets to other countries, which is a big change for them.
2. The fighter jets are being made with the help of the UK and Italy.
3. Japan promises to still follow its peaceful ways and be very careful about sending weapons to other countries, even though it is sending these new fighter jets.
4. Japan wants to spend more money on its army by 2027 because it is worried about China and North Korea.
5. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is not planning to visit the US to show that Japan and the US are good friends and want to work together to keep their countries safe.
6. Japan will not need to ask for permission every time it wants to send the jets to another country.
7. The special jets will not have smart technology and will be ready by 2035.
8. Japan claims it doesn’t need to send the jets to other places in order to be a trusted partner in big projects to protect countries.
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. What is Japan planning to send to other countries?
2. Why does Japan want to spend more money on its army?
3. Why is Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visiting the US?
4. What promise did Japan make after World War Two?
5. Why is Japan sending weapons to other countries now?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why is Japan sending new fighter jets to other countries?
Japan is sending new fighter jets to other countries because they want to be a trusted partner in protecting those countries.

2. When will the special jets be ready?
The special jets will be ready by 2035.

3. Does Japan want to work together with the US to keep their countries safe?
Yes, Japan wants to work together with the US to keep their countries safe. They want to show that they are good friends and can work together.

4. What promise did Japan make after World War Two?
After World War Two, Japan promised to be a peaceful country and only have an army to protect itself, not to fight in other countries.

5. When did Japan start sending weapons to other places?
Japan started sending weapons to other places in 2014.

6. Why does Japan want to be stronger in protecting itself?
Japan wants to be stronger in protecting itself because they are worried about countries like China and North Korea. They want to make sure they can defend themselves.

7. What is Japan’s plan for working with other countries?
Japan’s plan is to be a trusted partner in big projects to protect countries. They want to work together with other countries to keep peace and make the world safer.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) send
(2) army
(3) North
(4) Minister
(5) countries
(6) says
(7) other
(8) peaceful
(9) promised
(10) places
(11) starting
(12) make
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. government
Answer: (I) The group of people who run a country

2. fighter jets
Answer: (K) Fast military airplanes used in battles

3. technology
Answer: (L) The use of science in industry, engineering, etc., to invent useful things or to solve problems

4. permission
Answer: (C) Saying it’s okay for someone to do something

5. Prime Minister
Answer: (B) The leader of a country’s government

6. protect
Answer: (D) To keep someone or something safe from harm or danger

7. trusted
Answer: (E) Believed to be good and reliable

8. projects
Answer: (G) Big tasks or plans that are worked on

9. peaceful
Answer: (F) Not liking or wanting to fight; calm

10. weapons
Answer: (J) Things used to fight in wars, like guns or bombs

11. army
Answer: (A) A group of soldiers who fight for a country

12. partner
Answer: (H) Someone who works with another person or group to achieve something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why is Japan planning to send new fighter jets to other countries?
Answer: (d) They are worried about China and North Korea.

2. When will the special jets be ready?
Answer: (b) 2035

3. What does Japan promise to be after World War Two?
Answer: (a) A peaceful country

4. Why is Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visiting the US?
Answer: (d) To show they are good friends and want to work together on keeping their countries safe.

5. What is Japan worried about?
Answer: (b) China and North Korea

6. When did Japan start sending weapons to other places?
Answer: (c) 2014

7. What is Japan’s plan?
Answer: (c) To be stronger in protecting itself and working with other countries to keep peace.

8. What do the new fighter jets have?
Answer: (a) Smart technology
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Japan has agreed to send new fighter jets to other countries, which is a big change for them. (Answer: True)
2. The fighter jets are being made with the help of the UK and Italy. (Answer: True)
3. Japan promises to still follow its peaceful ways and be very careful about sending weapons to other countries, even though it is sending these new fighter jets. (Answer: True)
4. Japan wants to spend more money on its army by 2027 because it is worried about China and North Korea. (Answer: True)
5. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is not planning to visit the US to show that Japan and the US are good friends and want to work together to keep their countries safe. (Answer: False)
6. Japan will not need to ask for permission every time it wants to send the jets to another country. (Answer: False)
7. The special jets will not have smart technology and will be ready by 2035. (Answer: False)
8. Japan claims it doesn’t need to send the jets to other places in order to be a trusted partner in big projects to protect countries. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧