What types of magazines do you read and why do you like them?
Do you know of any free magazines or newspapers, and what do you think of them?
Have you ever worked on a magazine, for example, a school magazine?
You are going to listen to people designing a magazine. Play the recording and answer the question.
Listen again and note how people do the following.
1 give opinions
3 agree
2 make suggestions
4 disagree
Play the recording a few times, answers in between, and put them in the answer box.
1 I think. If you ask me, In my opinion
3 I’m with you on that, You’re right.
2 Why don’t we…?, How about…?
4 I’m not sure, I disagree, I can’t agree with you.
Main Activity
Now you are in focus groups to design a new ‘community lifestyle magazine’. When business people have an idea, they need to know if people will like it. So they ask a focus group of people to discuss it and answer questions about it. A community lifestyle magazine is a free magazine. It makes money from the adverts in it. It contains information and articles about how people spend their time.
Make groups consisting of six people. Each group will have: – a chairperson to control the group and ask questions – a secretary to keep notes of their ideas You can choose on your own or the teacher will choose it for you.
Look at it quickly and ask about anything that is not clear and think about what you would like in a magazine like this.
CHAIRPERSON
Ask about the five subjects one at a time and ask the group for their ideas.
You can use the suggestions from each subject to help people to think if they need them, but get lots of other ideas from them too. After each subject, ask the secretary to tell the group the list of ideas they had, before they start talking about the next subject.
Who are your readers? Who do you want to read your magazine? For example: – Think about the age group: teenagers and young people, families, and the whole community of all ages. – Is it for men, women, or both?
Hobbies and interests in the home
Possible suggestions: – cooking – health – TV and radio – new books – fashion
Facilities and activities in the area Possible suggestions: – restaurants and cafés – sport – music – cinema – theatre
Community issues and news Possible suggestions: – local politics – events – environment – community projects – charities
Other ideas What other types of articles and information would it be good to include?
SECRETARY
Make notes about the group’s ideas on each of the five subjects below.
After the group has finished talking about each subject, use your notes to tell them the list of ideas they had, before they start talking about the next subject. Check that your notes are complete for each subject.
Who are your readers? Who do you want to read your magazine? Notes:
Hobbies and interests in the home
Notes
Facilities and activities in the area Notes:
Community issues and news
Notes:
Other ideas
Notes:
*you type it in the answer box.
Chairpersons begin asking the group for their ideas, using your sheets for some ideas to start. Use the expressions above.
When you have finished, choose your five best ideas. 7
Secretaries explain the five ideas to the class. Ask the class what they think.
Follow up
Design the cover of your magazine with headlines, sub-headlines, and captions. You also, design the contents page with outlines of articles and features. You can include drawings or photographs. When finished, put them on the wall or circulate them around the class for comparison and comments.