Lesson Overview

‍Celebrities Announce Covid After Attending the Golden Globes

The Golden Globes

Script:

Several celebrities have tested positive for Covid-19 after attending the Golden Globes awards ceremony. These include Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Due to this, the Critics Choice Awards, which aired on Sunday, required Covid-19 tests for attendees. As a result, a few celebrities were forced to sit out the awards ceremony and shared their feelings about it on social media.

Safety precautions for Covid-19 have been inconsistent during this awards season, with some events not requiring any safety measures while others have required testing or proof of vaccination.

"Covid-19 deaths continue to rise"

Public health experts have said that this is not unexpected, as indoor gatherings during a time when there is a lot of virus circulating can lead to active transmission of viruses. The number of weekly cases of Covid-19 has exceeded 400,000 for the last six weeks, according to the Center for Disease Control, numbers not seen since September of last year. Additionally, weekly Covid-19 deaths continue to rise, with 3,907 reported as of January 11th.

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Part 1: Comprehension

Read and summarize the article thinking of who, what, when, where & why.

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Part 2: True or False Questions

a) True or False – A number of celebrities tested positive for Covid-19 after appearing at the Golden Globes. T/F

b) True or False – The Critics Choice Awards did not require Covid-19 tests for attendees. T/F

c) True or False – Safety precautions for Covid-19 have been consistent this awards season. T/F

d) True or False – According to public health experts, the recent outbreak of Covid-19 among celebrities is unexpected..   T/F

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Part 3a: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary/phrases.

a) "Positive"

b) "Sit out"

c) "Inconsistent"

d) "Unexpected"

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Part 3b: Vocabulary in Use: Write an example sentence using the words from 3a.

a) Positive

b) Sit out

c) Inconsistent

d) Unexpected

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Part 5: Talking Points

1. What measures do you think should be taken to ensure the safety of people attending large events during the Covid-19 pandemic?
2. Do you think celebrities have a responsibility to set an example and follow public health guidelines during the pandemic? Why or why not?
3. How do you feel about the fact that some events require testing or proof of vaccination while others do not during this awards season? Do you think this is fair?
4. What do you think are the potential consequences of holding large events during a pandemic?
5. Do you think the public is being too critical of celebrities who attend events during the pandemic? Why or why not?
6. How do you feel about the fact that some celebrities are being forced to sit out of awards ceremonies due to positive Covid-19 tests?
7. What role do you think governments should play in regulating events during the pandemic?
8. What steps can individuals take to protect themselves and others when attending events during the pandemic?
9. Do you think it is important for events to continue during the pandemic? Why or why not?
10. How do you think we can balance the need for entertainment with public health concerns during the pandemic?

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Part 6: Role play Scenarios

1: Journalist

You are a journalist interviewing a celebrity who has tested positive for Covid-19. How did you contract the virus? What symptoms have you experienced? How are you feeling now?

2: Public Health Expert

You are a public health expert giving a press conference about the recent outbreak of Covid-19 among celebrities. What precautions should people take to avoid contracting the virus? Why is it important for awards shows to have strict safety measures in place? How can we slow the spread of the virus?

3: Awards show Organizer

You are an awards show organizer discussing safety measures with a group of celebrities. How will you ensure that everyone stays safe at the event? What precautions will you take? Will there be testing or proof of vaccination requirements? How will you handle it if someone tests positive for Covid-19?

4: A Celebrity  

You are a celebrity who has to sit out of an awards show because you have tested positive for Covid-19. How did you feel when you found out? What are you going to do instead of attending the awards show? How do you feel about missing out on the opportunity to celebrate with your colleagues?

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Part 7: Writing Activity

Write a short paragraph about a past event that you participated in. Where was it? Who did you go with? What happened?

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Part 8: Critical Thinking

Your team has been tasked with organizing an end of year awards ceremony and party in your company/school.  

In small groups come up with a plan for the party and present it to the rest of the class. Finally, reach a consensus on the best party plan. You can consider things like:

1. Venue, 2. Safety, 3. Food, 4. Drinks, 5. Time, 6. Activities 7. Anything else the you think is important.

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Answers:

Part 1: Comprehension

Answer: It is likely that this article was written to inform the public about the recent positive Covid-19 cases among celebrities who attended the Golden Globes awards ceremony and the impact this has had on testing requirements for future events. It also discusses the inconsistent safety precautions for Covid-19 during this awards season and the opinion of public health experts on the potential for active transmission of viruses during indoor gatherings. Additionally, it provides the recent numbers of weekly cases and deaths from Covid-19. The purpose of the article could be to raise awareness about the ongoing risk of Covid-19 and the importance of taking safety precautions.

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Part 2: True or False

A: True B: True C: False D: False

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Part 3: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary or phrases

‍A) "Positive" Answer: This means that a medical test indicates the presence or a particular disease or condition. In this context, "positive" refers to testing positive for Covid-19. It means that the person has contracted the virus and is carrying it.

b) "Sit out" Answer: I think this means to refrain from participating or to not take part in something, often for a specific reason or by choice. In the article they talk about celebrities that couldn’t go to the award ceremony, and they could only share their thoughts on social media.  

c) "Inconsistent" Answer: This means not staying the same throughout. In this context, "inconsistent" refers to the safety precautions for Covid-19 being different at different events. It means that some events have stricter measures in place while others have less or no measures.

d) "Unexpected" Answer: I think this means something that was not anticipated or foreseen, because in the article they mention that experts say transmission of a virus is very likely at indoor events, so a breakout was not unexpected.

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Part 3b: Vocabulary in Use: Write an example sentence using the words from 3a.

(examples)

a) Positive: Her positive attitude and hard work paid off, leading to a well-deserved promotion at work.

b) Sit out: I had to sit out of the game due to a minor injury, but I cheered on my team from the sidelines.

c) Inconsistent: His inconsistent work ethic made it difficult for his team to rely on him to meet deadlines.

d) Unexpected: Her unexpected arrival at the party pleasantly surprised everyone.

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Part 7 Writing: (example)

A couple of years ago, I went to a special event at a fancy hotel in the city. I was there with my coworkers from the marketing team. We were all very excited and looking forward to celebrating our team's success. The event started with a party where we could talk and share stories about our hard work during the past year. The best part of the night was when our team won an award for having the "Best Marketing Campaign of the Year." It was a big surprise, and we were all very happy. You could feel how excited we were. The event ended with a delicious dinner and dancing. It was a night to remember, full of friendship and recognition.