A Year Later, Still No Word on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

Vocabulary

Direction: Read each word and let the student repeat it.
confirm
[kənˈfɜːrm] (verb)
– to state or show that something is definitely true or correct
ex.I confirm, it was I who took the documents.

official
[əˈfɪʃl] (noun)
– a person with power in an organization; a representative of an organization or government; (adjective) of or out an office; approved by the government or someone in power
ex.This man is a government official.
ex.This is an official contract.

statement
[ˈsteɪtmənt] (noun)
– a formal or official account of facts or opinions
ex.A government official made a statement to the press this morning.

satellite
[ˈsætəlaɪt] (noun)
– a small object in space that moves around a larger object; anobject placed in orbit around the earth
ex.There are few satellites that take pictures of the Earth.

evidence

[ˈevɪdəns] (noun)

– the facts, signs or objects that make you believe that something is true
ex.The evidence proved that Mark was innocent.

aircraft
[ˈerkræft] (noun)
– any vehicle that can fly and carry goods or passengers
ex.The company Airbus makes transport aircraft.

civil
[ˈsɪvl] (adjective)
– connected with the people who live in a country
ex.Every citizen has civil rights!

newly-manufactured
[ˈnuːli ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərd] (adjective)
– made not too long ago in a large amount
ex.These shoes are newly-manufactured, they’re the latest model.

Article

Direction: Read each paragraph and let the student repeat it.

A Year Later, Still No Word on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

It has been one year since Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing. The airplane disappeared over the Indian Ocean on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The plane, a Boeing 777, was carrying 239 people.

The past 12 months have been a difficult time for families with loved ones on the plane. They are no closer to knowing what happened. The only thing confirmed is an airline official’s statement from one year ago.

[…]

Satellite records show Flight 370 likely crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. But months of air, sea and underwater searches have failed to find any evidence of the plane.

More than 20 countries joined in the investigation. At first, crews looked along the expected flight path and in the South China Sea. They later expanded their searches across parts of southern Asia. In all, crews searched more than one million square kilometers. The search of a smaller area is to be completed in May.

[…]

Aviation industry leaders are looking to improve safety worldwide. They hope to get better, more dependable equipment to monitor the movement of planes. The International Civil Aviation Organization has been considering several ideas. […]

[…]

In another measure, the United States plans to do away with flight recorders, or black boxes, that have battery power for 30 days. Newly-manufactured devices will last 90 days. They are to be required in U.S. aircraft by 2020.

Questions

Direction: Ask the students the questions, and give the answers.

1How many people were on the plane?

239 people.

2Around how many countries joined the investigation of the missing flight?

More than 20.

3How long will the new black boxes (or flight recorders) battery power last?

90 days.

Discussion

Direction: Discuss the topics.

1Have you ever flown in an airplane?

Follow-up question1: If yes; tell about your experience. What did you like/dislike?
Follow-up question2: If no; would you like to travel by plane or boat?

2Are you afraid of flying?

Follow-up question1: Why/why not?
Follow-up question2: What do you think is more likely: a plane crash or a traffic accident?

3What do you usually do on long trips?

Follow-up question1: Do you like to listen to music/read/watch movies/etc.?
Follow-up question2: Can you fall asleep easily on buses, planes, etc.?

Quoted from

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/a-year-later-no-word-on-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh370/2670531.html