Section 1 — The News
Session 1 of 16
Monday, June 1, 2026
What is news?
In our first session we ask the most fundamental question in journalism: what is news, really? We explore how stories are chosen, constructed, and delivered — and why not everything that happens becomes a news story. You'll learn the core vocabulary for talking about news and media in English, and start developing the critical eye that this course will sharpen over 16 sessions.
Vocabulary for this session
newsheadlinearticlesourceoutleteditorreporterbroadcastmediapublish
Grammar focus
Grammar focus: Passive voice in headlines — "Man arrested", "Deal reached", "Talks collapse". English news headlines often drop the subject and the verb "to be" to create urgency and brevity. The passive voice places the action — not the actor — at the center of the sentence.
Come prepared to discuss
"Is a news story the truth — or a version of the truth?" Come prepared to argue both sides.
Before this session
Prepare: Find one news headline in English that interests you. Come ready to explain what the story is about — and what questions the headline leaves unanswered.
Task-Based Activity
The Headline Game. Show students 5 headlines about the same event from different outlets (prepare in advance). Students work in pairs: What facts are in each headline? What is different? What language choices stand out? Debrief: Why do different headlines about the same event look so different? Who decided what to emphasize?
Career-Oriented Take — How to Frame It
The ability to read news fluently in English is increasingly a professional skill. Clients, colleagues, and employers notice whether you can discuss current events with confidence. People who read widely — and read critically — have more context, more perspective, and more to contribute in any room.
Big Picture — Global Context
News is not a mirror held up to reality — it is a window shaped by the person holding the frame. Over the next 16 sessions, we will learn to see the frame, not just the view. Every concept in this course builds on this first question: what is news?
Current Events Take
Every day, hundreds of thousands of stories go unreported. Ask the class: What major thing happened in your country this week that probably wasn't covered internationally? Why not? This question — about what is and isn't news — runs through the entire course.
Homework (assign after session)
Find three news headlines in English on the same topic. Write 3 sentences: What do all three have in common? What is different about each? What does this tell you about how news is shaped?