Breaking News English

WARM-UPS

1. E-MAIL: Walk around the class and talk to other students about E-mail. Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your partner(s) and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

being drunk / safeguards / applications / maths problems / send button / widgets / Friday nights / silly mails / menu bars / Monday mornings / crushes / damage

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. WHOOPS: Can you do much damage with a e-mail? Complete the table with your partners. What kind of embarrassment could you cause yourself with the following people? Change partners and share your ideas. Who has the most embarrassing situations?

Person	The e-mail contents	The embarrassment
A parent
Your boss
Your boy/girlfriend
Your best friend
A colleague
Next-door neighbour

4. I WAS DRUNK: Students A strongly believe any e-mail is forgivable if the author was drunk; Students B strongly believe drunkenness is no excuse. Change partners again and talk about your roles and conversations.

5. REGRETS: What are the biggest regrets in your life? Rank them in order. Talk to your partner(s) about your rankings and regrets.

_____  Buying something _____  Not going somewhere _____  Dating someone _____  Drinking too much alcohol

_____  Not studying _____  Saying something _____  Giving something away _____  Not telling someone something

6. ALCOHOL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word ‘alcohol’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	New software closes an e-mail if it knows the writer is drunk.	T / F
b.	The writer says the application is not particularly useful.	T / F
c.	The software asks you some maths problems to see if you’re with it.	T / F
d.	The new software could stop people from losing a job or their partner.	T / F
e.	Google’s new service only works on Friday and Saturday nights.	T / F
f.	Most mails that people regret are sent on Monday mornings.	T / F
g.	A Google engineer tried to get back with an ex and regretted it.	T / F
h.	The blog about this new service should be interesting.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	safeguard	a.	desire
2	goes by the name	b.	former
3.	urge	c.	stop
4.	sums	d.	stupid
5.	prevent	e.	protection
6.	active	f.	obsession
7.	silly	g.	maths
8.	crush	h.	watch
9.	ex-	i.	is called
10.	keep an eye on	j.	functional

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one. combination is possible):

1.	The search	a.	of mind
2	the urge	b.	crush on
3.	in the right state	c.	countless relationships
4.	This novel widget may just help save	d.	on Monday morning
5.	sending messages you wish	e.	setting
6.	a default	f.	in the menu bar
7.	go to the settings	g.	you hadn't
8.	first thing	h.	to mail people
9.	that girl I had a	i.	keep an eye on
10.	sure to be one to	j.	engine giant

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

If you have ever sent an e-mail when you were __________ and then regretted it, Google has the __________ for you. The search engine giant has created a new safeguard for __________ of its free e-mail service Gmail. The new feature goes by the name “Mail Goggles”. The unusual but __________ little application (especially for drunks who have the urge to mail people) makes you pass a few simple maths problems before clicking the send button. If you can’t do the __________, you will be asked if you’re really sure you’re in the right state of mind to continue. This novel widget may just help __________ countless relationships, jobs and other embarrassing situations. The Gmail __________ says: “Hopefully Mail Goggles will __________ many of you out there from sending messages you wish you hadn't.”		sums users blog drunk save answer prevent handy
Mail Goggles has a __________ setting that means it is only active on Friday and Saturday nights between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. This is the time when people send most angry and silly mails by __________. Users can go to the settings in the __________ bar and choose other times if they prefer. Perhaps another dangerous time to send e-mails is first __________ on Monday morning. Engineer Jon Perlow from Google Labs wrote on the Gmail blog: “Sometimes I send messages I shouldn't send. Like the __________ I told that girl I had a __________ on her over text message. Or the time I sent that late night email to my ex-girlfriend that we should get back together.” The Mail Goggles blog is sure to be one to __________ an eye on. Especially if it becomes full of stories of alcohol-fuelled mails that __________ damage.		time  mistake caused menu crush thing default keep

LISTENING:  Listen and fill in the spaces.

If you have _____________ e-mail when you were drunk and then _____________, Google has the answer for you. The search engine giant has created a new safeguard for _____________ free e-mail service Gmail. The new feature goes by the name “Mail Goggles”. The unusual _____________ little application (especially for drunks who have the urge to mail people) makes you pass a few simple maths problems before clicking the send button. If you can’t _____________, you will be asked if you’re really sure you’re in the _____________ mind to continue. This novel widget may _____________ countless relationships, jobs and other embarrassing situations. The Gmail blog says: “Hopefully Mail Goggles will prevent many of you out there from sending messages you _____________.”

Mail Goggles has a _____________ that means it is only active on Friday and Saturday nights between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. _____________ when people send most angry and silly mails by mistake. Users can go to the settings in the _____________ choose other times if they prefer. Perhaps another dangerous time to send e-mails is _____________ Monday morning. Engineer Jon Perlow from Google Labs wrote on the Gmail blog: “Sometimes I send messages I shouldn't send. _____________ I told that girl I _____________ her over text message. Or the time I sent that late night email to my ex-girlfriend that we should get back together.” The Mail Goggles blog is sure to be one to _____________. Especially if it becomes full of stories of alcohol-_____________ that caused damage.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘search’ and ‘engine’.

search

engine

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

drunk created handy sums novel prevent

default silly dangerous blog crush eye

STUDENT E-MAIL SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about E-mails in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

E-MAIL DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘regret’?
c)	What’s your biggest regret?
d)	Have you ever sent an e-mail you wish you hadn’t?
e)	What do you think of the Mail Goggles service?
f)	Do you like the name ‘Mail Goggles’?
g)	What e-mail service do you use and why?
h)	Do you think Mail Goggles will really save relationships and jobs?
i)	Have you ever been drunk and done something you shouldn’t have?
j)	Do you have any widgets or gadgets on your computer?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article?
b)	Do you think Mail Goggles is handy?
c)	What’s the handiest piece of software you use?
d)	When do you send most of your e-mails?
e)	Have you ever sent an angry mail?
f)	Do you get e-mail you don't want or don't like?
g)	What do you like and dislike about e-mail?
h)	How would life be different without e-mail?
i)	Will you be keeping an eye on the Mail Goggles blog?
j)	What questions would you like to ask the Google Labs engineers?

LANGUAGE

If you have ever sent an e-mail when you were (1) ____ and then regretted it, Google has the answer for you. The search engine (2) ____ has created a new safeguard for users of its free e-mail service Gmail. The new feature (3) ____ by the name “Mail Goggles”. The unusual but (4) ____ little application (especially for drunks who have the urge to mail people) makes you pass a few simple maths problems before clicking the send button. If you can’t do the (5) ____, you will be asked if you’re really sure you’re in the right state of mind to continue. This (6) ____ widget may just help save countless relationships, jobs and other embarrassing situations. The Gmail blog says: “Hopefully Mail Goggles will prevent many of you out there from sending messages you wish you hadn't.”

Mail Goggles has a default (7) ____ that means it is only active on Friday and Saturday nights between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. This is the time when people send most angry and silly mails (8) ____ mistake. Users can go to the settings in the menu bar and choose other times if they prefer. Perhaps another dangerous time to send e-mails is first (9) ____ on Monday morning. Engineer Jon Perlow from Google Labs wrote on the Gmail blog: “Sometimes I send messages I shouldn't send. Like the time I told that girl I had a (10) ____ on her over text message. Or the time I sent that late night email to my ex-girlfriend that we should (11) ____ back together.” The Mail Goggles blog is sure to be one to keep an (12) ____ on. Especially if it becomes full of stories of alcohol-fuelled mails that caused damage.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	drunks	(b)	drank	(c)	drink	(d)	drunk
2.	(a)	giant	(b)	monster	(c)	ogre	(d)	beast
3.	(a)	went	(b)	goes	(c)	gone	(d)	go
4.	(a)	handed	(b)	hands	(c)	handy	(d)	handing
5.	(a)	sum total	(b)	sum up	(c)	sums	(d)	sum of
6.	(a)	book	(b)	novel	(c)	magazine	(d)	journal
7.	(a)	sating	(b)	sitting	(c)	seating	(d)	setting
8.	(a)	by	(b)	on	(c)	for	(d)	to
9.	(a)	think	(b)	thing	(c)	thinly	(d)	thingamabob
10.	(a)	crusher	(b)	crushed	(c)	crushing	(d)	crush
11.	(a)	go	(b)	come	(c)	get	(d)	take
12.	(a)	eye	(b)	eyelash	(c)	eyebrow	(d)	eyelid

WRITING: 

Write about E-mails for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about Mail Goggles. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. FUNCTIONS: Make a poster about the different functions that e-mails have. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. BIG REGRET: Write a magazine article about someone who sent a silly e-mail while they were drunk and caused a lot of damage. Include an imaginary interview with the sender and recipient of the mail.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. DIARY / JOURNAL: Write about the mails you send and receive in a normal day. How do they make you feel? Was mail the best way of communicating? Read your entry to your classmates in the next lesson.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to the Google engineers. Ask them three questions about their services. Give them three suggestions on what new services they should provide. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. F

b. F

c. T

d. T

e. F

f. F

g. T

h. T

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	safeguard	a.	protection
2	goes by the name	b.	is called
3.	urge	c.	desire
4.	sums	d.	maths
5.	prevent	e.	stop
6.	active	f.	functional
7.	silly	g.	stupid
8.	crush	h.	obsession
9.	ex-	i.	former
10.	keep an eye on	j.	watch

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	The search	a.	engine giant
2	the urge	b.	to mail people
3.	in the right state	c.	of mind
4.	This novel widget may just help save	d.	countless relationships
5.	sending messages you wish	e.	you hadn't
6.	a default	f.	setting
7.	go to the settings	g.	in the menu bar
8.	first thing	h.	on Monday morning
9.	that girl I had a	i.	crush on
10.	sure to be one to	j.	keep an eye on

GAP FILL:

Google software to stop drunken e-mails

If you have ever sent an e-mail when you were drunk and then regretted it, Google has the answer for you. The search engine giant has created a new safeguard for users of its free e-mail service Gmail. The new feature goes by the name “Mail Goggles”. The unusual but handy little application (especially for drunks who have the urge to mail people) makes you pass a few simple maths problems before clicking the send button. If you can’t do the sums, you will be asked if you’re really sure you’re in the right state of mind to continue. This novel widget may just help save countless relationships, jobs and other embarrassing situations. The Gmail blog says: “Hopefully Mail Goggles will prevent many of you out there from sending messages you wish you hadn't.”

Mail Goggles has a default setting that means it is only active on Friday and Saturday nights between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. This is the time when people send most angry and silly mails by mistake. Users can go to the settings in the menu bar and choose other times if they prefer. Perhaps another dangerous time to send e-mails is first thing on Monday morning. Engineer Jon Perlow from Google Labs wrote on the Gmail blog: “Sometimes I send messages I shouldn't send. Like the time I told that girl I had a crush on her over text message. Or the time I sent that late night email to my ex-girlfriend that we should get back together.” The Mail Goggles blog is sure to be one to keep an eye on. Especially if it becomes full of stories of alcohol-fuelled mails that caused damage.

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - d

2 - a

3 - b

4 - c

5 - c

6 - b

7 - d

8 - a

9 - b

10 - d

11 - c

12 - a

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