Reporting news in English is one of the most practical ways to consolidate grammar structures while building real-world communication skills. In this final session of module three, the challenge is clear: listen to a news report, identify grammar concepts, and create your own short news video.
What is the Plantzy News role play about?
The activity revolves around a simulated news broadcast called Plantzy News. The anchor presents a real-life story: a 12-year-old boy from London earned approximately 290,000 euros during his school holidays by creating pixelated artworks known as Weird Whales and selling them as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) [00:27]. The report adds that Benjamin Ahmed is keeping his earnings in the form of Ethereum, the cryptocurrency in which the tokens were sold [00:47].
This short segment works as a model for how news is structured in English. Notice key elements:
- The use of present perfect (has made) to describe recent events with current relevance.
- Passive voice (it is said that…, in which they were sold) to give an impersonal, formal tone typical of journalism.
- Specific data like ages, amounts, and proper nouns to add credibility.
How can you identify grammar concepts in a news report?
The purpose of the exercise is to spot the grammar structures studied throughout the module by analyzing the news segment [01:04]. When you hear "a 12-year-old boy from London has made about 290,000 euros," you are listening to the present perfect tense, which connects a past action to the present moment.
When the reporter says "it is said that Benjamin Ahmed is keeping his earnings," two structures appear at once: the passive reporting structure (it is said that…) and the present continuous (is keeping), indicating an ongoing situation.
Training your ear to catch these patterns in authentic content strengthens both your listening comprehension and your grammatical awareness.
How do you create your own news report video?
The final task asks you to select recent news from your country and report it in a short video [01:07]. Here are some practical tips:
- Start with a greeting or intro phrase like "Welcome to…" to set a professional tone.
- Use present perfect for events that just happened: "The government has announced…"
- Include passive voice to sound more formal: "It has been reported that…"
- Close with a sign-off such as "Back to you" or "That's all for today."
Keeping the video brief forces you to prioritize clarity and structure, which is exactly what strong English communication demands. Upload your video in the comments to receive feedback and learn from other students' reports as well.
What recent news story from your country would you choose to report? Share your ideas and your video — practicing out loud is the fastest path to fluency.
