Learning Objective: This is a reading and comprehension and conversation class. At the end of the session, the participants are expected to be able to practice reading properly, enhance comprehension and recall and answer the questions about the article.



Story Proper


A video of a father making his 4-year-old son train in freezing weather has caused outrage across the world. The man, He Liesheng, 44, calls himself "Eagle Dad" because he believes he will give his son strength and increase his intelligence if he trains him like eagles raise their young. Mr Liesheng recorded his son, He Yide, wearing just underpants and trainers running in a minus 13 degrees Centigrade blizzard. He said: "When the old eagle teaches its young, it takes the young eagles to the cliff side, beats them and pushes them to teach them to use their wings, and I believe I am helping my son in this way - to force him to challenge limitations and exceed his own expectations."

Liesheng said on Tuesday that his son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was born and that this could hinder the intellectual development of his son. He explained that the tough training schedule, including jogging in the snow without clothes, would make his son as healthy and intelligent as other children. He told CNN: “I consulted my doctor friends to ensure what we do is scientific and that it won't harm my son's body.” In the video footage, little Yide is crying as he chases his father and begs to be picked up. Xu Pengfei, a paediatric doctor said Mr Liesheng’s method “lacks scientific basis” and that “education can only lead to a modest change in IQ.”


Activity Proper


1. RAISING CHILDREN: Talk to other students about raising children.


2. CHAT: Decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

freezing weather / outrage / strength / intelligence / limitations / expectations / diagnosed / development / training schedule / video footage / begs / scientific basis

Have a chat about the topics you liked.

3. PARENTHOOD: What’s most difficult? Complete this table.


How big a worry?----- Why?


Kids’ health worries
Good education
Bullying
Paying for kids
Kids’ marriage
Discipline


4. TOUGH: Students A strongly believe children need to be toughened up; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Who do you agree with?


5. NEEDS: What do children need most? Rank these and share your rankings.

love
discipline
brothers and sisters
two parents
a good education
English
independence
toys



"Online activities, the mp3 and printable handouts are available for this lesson at http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com"