The implant is put on the lower part of the spinal cord and sends electrical signals to the leg muscles, making movement smoother. Marc still controls his movements, and the implant gives extra electrical signals for better mobility. After getting the implant, Marc had to do weeks of rehab to program it, using sensors on his legs and shoes.
The medical team is impressed with how well the treatment worked. The surgeon who put in Marc's device, Jocelyne Bloch, said the technology and procedure have helped people with spinal injuries before, but this was the first time it was used for Parkinson's disease. The team plans to test the device on six more Parkinson's patients to see how well it works.
This discovery is a big step forward, but it's not a cure for Parkinson's disease, which gets worse over time. The research is still in the early stages and needs more work and testing before it can be used widely. But it gives hope to people with advanced Parkinson's, where regular treatments may not work anymore.
Original news source: Parkinson's implant restores man's ability to walk (BBC)
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Students are divided into small groups. Each group is given a few minutes to read the article and summarize it in their own words, focusing on the main points: the new medical discovery, the patient's condition before and after the implant, and the future implications of the research. Afterward, each group presents their summary to the class and the teacher provides feedback on language use and content.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write a series of statements about the article on the board (e.g., "The new implant should be made available immediately," "This treatment will revolutionize Parkinson's care," etc.). Students walk around the classroom and sign their names under the statements they agree with. Then, they discuss their opinions with peers who have signed under the same or different statements, providing reasons for their choices and practicing argumentative language.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article (e.g., implant, spinal cord, electrical signals, rehab, mobility). Split the class into two teams. Members from each team take turns drawing the words on the board without speaking or writing any letters, while their teammates try to guess the word. This activity helps with vocabulary recall and understanding.
– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Pair up students and challenge them to take turns summarizing the article to their partner in under one minute. After both have had a turn, they can discuss any important details they may have missed. This activity encourages concise language use and the ability to identify key information quickly.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask the students to work individually or in pairs to write down their predictions about the future of this medical technology. They should consider questions like: How will it change the lives of people with Parkinson's disease? What are potential challenges? How might the treatment evolve? After writing, students share their predictions with the class, and the teacher facilitates a discussion on the use of future tenses and speculative language.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Marc Gauthier has advanced Parkinson's disease. The new medical discovery, a special implant that stimulates nerves in his spine, has helped him start walking again and be independent.
Marc Gauthier is 63 years old and he is from Bordeaux, France.
The special implant sends electrical signals to the leg muscles to make movement smoother, helping with walking and other movements.
The implant is placed on the lower part of the spinal cord.
After getting the implant, Marc had to do weeks of rehab with sensors on his legs and shoes to program the implant.
Jocelyne Bloch is the surgeon who put in Marc's device. She said that the technology and procedure have been used for people with spinal injuries before, but this was the first time it was used for Parkinson's disease.
The medical team plans to test the device on six more Parkinson's patients.
The new discovery is significant because it offers hope to people with advanced Parkinson's disease, especially when regular treatments may not be effective anymore.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A new medical discovery has helped a man with advanced Parkinson's start again. Marc , 63, from Bordeaux, France, was the first person to get a special implant that stimulates in his spine. Before the implant, Marc had trouble walking and often fell, but now he can walk long distances and be independent. The implant is put on the part of the spinal cord and sends electrical signals to the leg muscles, making smoother. Marc still controls his movements, and the implant extra electrical signals for better . After getting the implant, Marc had to do weeks of rehab to program it, using sensors on his legs and shoes. The medical team is with how well the treatment worked. The surgeon who put in Marc's device, Jocelyne , said the technology and procedure have people with spinal before, but this was the first time it was used for Parkinson's disease. The team plans to test the device on six more Parkinson's patients to see how well it works. This discovery is a big step forward, but it's not a cure for Parkinson's disease, which gets worse over time. The research is still in the early and more work and before it can be used widely. But it gives hope to people with advanced Parkinson's, where treatments may not work anymore.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is Parkinson's disease, and have you ever met someone with this condition?
2. How would you feel if a family member had Parkinson's disease and they were given a chance to try a new treatment like the implant mentioned?
3. Do you think technology is changing the way we treat diseases? Why or why not?
4. Have you or someone you know ever had to use an implant or a medical device to help with a health problem? What was it like?
5. The man in the article had to do weeks of rehab. Do you think you would have the patience for that if it meant getting better? Why?
6. Do you like the idea of using electronic devices in medicine? Why or why not?
7. How do you think Marc felt before and after receiving the implant?
8. What do you think about the fact that the treatment is not a cure but can improve quality of life?
9. Would you volunteer for medical trials if you had a disease that didn't have a cure?
10. Do you think it's important to keep researching new treatments for diseases like Parkinson's? Why or why not?
11. What is the biggest health issue in your country, and are there any new treatments being developed for it?
12. How do you feel about the risks and benefits of trying new medical procedures?
13. Do you think health care systems should invest more in developing treatments like this, even if they are expensive?
14. If you were a doctor, would you recommend a treatment like this to your patients? Why or why not?
15. Can you think of any other diseases that might benefit from a similar type of implant technology?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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