Teacher Resources / C1 · Post-Truth and Misinformation
Objectives
Use post-truth, misinformation, disinformation, confirmation bias accurately in context
Read and discuss a topic-specific article at C1 level
Practise speaking fluently on post-truth and misinformation
Complete written exercises with vocabulary in context
Teaching Notes
Warm-up: allow 8-10 min, let personal answers develop
Article: read together or have students read silently first
Vocabulary match: good for pair work
Speaking: encourage full sentences, not one-word answers
Exit questions: 5-min closer, no prep needed
Timing Guide
Warm-up: 8 min
Article + comprehension: 12 min
Vocabulary + match: 10 min
Exercises: 10 min
Speaking + discussion: 15 min
Exit + recap: 5 min
Teacher Question Bank
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C1 · Lesson 12 · Post-Truth and Misinformation
Post-Truth and Misinformation
Post-Truth and Misinformationpost-truthmisinformationdisinformation
Getting started
Warm-Up Questions
Click the button to get your first question
Read & Understand
Article
Post-Truth and Misinformation
The concept of post-truth does not mean that facts have disappeared. It means that, for a significant portion of the population, facts no longer have the final word. Emotional resonance and tribal identity now compete with - and often defeat - evidence. This is not entirely new. Propaganda has always existed. What is new is the scale and speed at which false or misleading information travels. A viral lie reaches millions in hours. A correction, slower and less emotionally charged, reaches thousands. Platforms have been slow to act, partly because engagement - including outrage - is profitable. The challenge is structural: truth needs friction to be verified, but sharing needs to be frictionless to feel good.
💡 Did you know? Studies show false news travels 6 times faster on Twitter than true news - and is 70% more likely to be retweeted. Novelty drives engagement more than accuracy.
Topic: Post-Truth and Misinformation
Key words
Vocabulary
01
post-truth
a context where emotional appeals matter more than facts in shaping opinion
02
misinformation
false or inaccurate information spread without intent to deceive
03
disinformation
deliberately false information spread to deceive
04
confirmation bias
the tendency to favour information that confirms existing beliefs
05
echo chamber
an environment where a person encounters only beliefs that mirror their own
06
debunk
to expose a claim as false or exaggerated
07
epistemology
the branch of philosophy concerned with how we know what we know
08
credibility
the quality of being trusted and believed
09
amplify
to make something louder, stronger, or more widespread
010
friction
resistance in a system that slows down a process
Match the Words
Click a word on the left, then click its definition on the right.
post-truth
misinformation
disinformation
confirmation bias
echo chamber
debunk
epistemology
credibility
amplify
friction
the quality of being trusted and believed
the tendency to favour information that confirms existing beliefs
deliberately false information spread to deceive
to make something louder, stronger, or more widespread
to expose a claim as false or exaggerated
the branch of philosophy concerned with how we know what we know
resistance in a system that slows down a process
an environment where a person encounters only beliefs that mirror their own
a context where emotional appeals matter more than facts in shaping opinion
false or inaccurate information spread without intent to deceive
Say it right
Pronunciation
post-truth
POS-t-t-ruth
misinformation
MISI-nfor-mation
disinformation
DISI-nfor-mation
confirmation bias
CONFIRMATION bias
echo chamber
ECHO chamber
debunk
DEB-unk
Read & Discuss
Short Dialogue
A:
I've been thinking a lot about post-truth recently.
B:
Really? What's your take on it?
A:
I think the issue of misinformation is often misunderstood.
B:
I agree. Most people don't consider the impact of disinformation.
A:
Exactly. And when you add confirmation bias into the mix, it gets complicated.
B:
So what do you think the solution is?
A:
Honestly? It requires both individual action and systemic change.
B:
That's a fair point. It's never just one or the other.
Comprehension
What topic are they discussing?
What does person B agree with?
What does person A say the solution requires?
Practice
Exercises
Gap Fill
Complete each sentence using vocabulary from today's lesson.
1. The ' era' was named word of the year in 2016.
2. about vaccines spread rapidly online.
3. State-sponsored campaigns have targeted elections.
4. Social media algorithms exploit .
5. We risk living in s if we only follow people we agree with.
Error Correction
Find and correct the mistake in each sentence.
The post-truth of data has raise serious concerns.
Despite of the challenges, they succeeded.
The report, that was published last year, is relevant.
She suggested to review the confirmation bias more carefully.
Speaking practice
Speaking Prompts
Discuss with your partner
How do you personally verify information before sharing or believing it?
Is media literacy a realistic solution to misinformation, or are the forces too powerful?
Who bears more responsibility for the spread of misinformation: platforms, politicians, or individuals?
Summarise today's topic in 3 sentences using vocabulary from this lesson.
Grammar focus: Cleft sentences for emphasis: 'It is the algorithm that amplifies misinformation... — can you give an example?
Open discussion
Discussion Generator
More Questions
Use with pairs or whole class · Encourage full answers
Post-Truth and Misinformation — reading & comprehension
Practice
Gap fill, error correction, vocabulary matching
Speaking
Prompts, discussion generator& hot takes debate
Homework
Write a 250-word essay: What is the most effective solution to the spread of misinformation - platform regulation, media literacy, or something else? Use cleft sentences for rhetorical emphasis.
