The Reading / Listening - Level 3

People in Britain now spend more time watching TV, gaming, and using their mobile phones and computers than sleeping. Research by the British communications agency Ofcom found that Britons use technology for 20 minutes longer than they spend sleeping. The average U.K. adult uses technology for eight hours and 41 minutes a day. They sleep for an average of eight hours and 21 minutes. One of the biggest reasons for this is broadband and wi-fi. People can get online almost anywhere, so they spend more time online. Many people make telephone calls or surf the web while watching television. Television was the most popular activity. Adults watched an average of three hours a day.

The study looked at technology and different age groups. It found that six-year-olds understand how to use technology at the same level as 45-year-olds. Another finding was that people understand digital technology most when they are 14 or 15. A doctor said technology is changing the way people communicate with each other. Dr Arthur Cassidy warned that we are becoming more and more anti-social. He said we are moving away from face-to-face conversations because of technology. He added that people are becoming addicted to their smart phones. Technology also means people are working at home after they get home from work.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/we-now-spend-more-time-in-front-of-a-screen-than-in-bed-ofcom-study-shows-9652631.html
  • http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/06/britain-communications-idUSL6N0QC4NF20140806
  • http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/news/cmr-2014/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. TECHNOLOGY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about technology. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

 

watching TV / gaming / mobile phones / sleeping / technology / average / popular / different age groups / surprising / digital / anti-social / addicted / working at home

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

3. AVERAGE: What's the average time you spend on these things? Is it OK? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

Average

Too high / low?

How to change

Watching TV

 

 

Gaming

 

 

Texting

 

 

Sleeping

 

 

Eating

 

 

Studying English

 

 

4. TIME-SAVING: Students A strongly believe technology saves us a lot of time; Students B strongly believe technology uses up too much of our time.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. ADDICTED: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst addictions at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • gaming

  • watching TV

  • gambling

  • Facebook

  • coffee

  • shopping

  • cigarettes

  • fast food

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

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.

People in Britain spend more time watching TV than sleeping.

T / F

b.

The average British adult sleeps 20 minutes more nowadays.

T / F

c.

The average British adult sleeps for over eight hours every day.

T / F

d.

The average British adult watches three hours of TV a day.

T / F

e.

Six year-olds are at the same level with technology as 45-year-olds.

T / F

f.

People understand technology most at the age of 24 to 25.

T / F

g.

A doctor said we are talking to each other face-to-face more nowadays.

T / F

h.

The doctor suggested that many people can't live without their phone.

T / F

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

1.

spend

a.

research

2.

average

b.

well-liked

3.

almost

c.

arrive

4.

web

d.

use up

5.

popular

e.

chats

6.

study

f.

hooked on

7.

finding

g.

pretty much

8.

conversations

h.

typical

9.

addicted to

i.

discovery

10.

get

j.

Internet

3. PHRASE MATCH:  (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.

Research by the British

a.

U.K. adult

2.

The average

b.

anti-social

3.

One of the biggest reasons

c.

of three hours a day

4.

Television was the most

d.

to their smart phones

5.

Adults watched an average

e.

groups

6.

different age

f.

from work

7.

digital

g.

popular activity

8.

we are becoming more and more

h.

technology

9.

people are becoming addicted

i.

communications agency

10.

after they get home

j.

for this is broadband

 

GAP FILL

People in Britain (1) ____________ spend more time watching TV, gaming, and using their mobile phones and computers than sleeping. Research by the British communications (2) ____________ Ofcom found that Britons use technology for 20 minutes longer than they spend sleeping. The average U.K. (3) ____________ uses technology for eight hours and 41 minutes a day. They sleep for an (4) ____________ of eight hours and 21 minutes. One of the biggest (5) ____________ for this is broadband and wi-fi. People can get online (6) ____________ anywhere, so they spend more time online. Many people make telephone calls or (7) ____________ the web while watching television. Television was the most (8) ____________ activity. Adults watched an average of three hours a day.

 

 

average
popular
agency
almost
now
adult
reasons
surf

The study looked at technology and different age (9) ____________. It found that six-year-olds understand how to use technology at the same (10) ____________ as 45-year-olds. Another finding was that people understand (11) ____________ technology most when they are 14 or 15. A doctor said technology is changing the (12) ____________ people communicate with each other. Dr Arthur Cassidy warned that we are becoming more and more (13) ____________ -social. He said we are moving away from face-to-face conversations (14) ____________ of technology. He added that people are becoming (15) ____________ to their smart phones. Technology also means people are working at home after they get home from (16) ____________.

 

way
addicted
level
because
work
groups
digital
anti

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

Research by the British communications ______

 

a.  agents see Ofcom
b.  agency Ofcom
c.  age antsy Ofcom
d.  age ends sea Ofcom

2)

They sleep for an ______ hours

 

a.  average of eight
b.  average off eight
c.  average if eight
d.  average have eight

3)

One of the biggest reasons for this is ______

 

a.  broadly band and wi-fi
b.  broadband and wi-fi
c.  broad bands and wi-fi
d.  broader band and wi-fi

4)

Many people make telephone calls or ______

 

a.  safe the web
b.  serf the web
c.  save the web
d.  surf the web

5)

Television was the most ______

 

a.  populate activity
b.  popularity activity
c.  popular activity
d.  popularise activity

6)

six-year-olds understand how to use technology at the same ______

 

a.  level was 45-year-olds
b.  level as 45-year-olds
c.  level has 45-year-olds
d.  level ass 45-year-olds

7)

A doctor said technology is changing the way people communicate ______

 

a.  with one other
b.  with another
c.  with each others
d.  with each other

8)

Dr Arthur Cassidy warned that we are becoming more and ______

 

a.  more anti-social
b.  more antsy-social
c.  more arty-social
d.  more antics-social

9)

He added that people are becoming addicted to ______

 

a.  their smart phones
b.  there smart phones
c.  they're smart phones
d.  them smart phones

10)

Technology also means people are working at home after they ______

 

a.  get homes from work
b.  get home from works
c.  get homes from works
d.  get home from work

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

People in Britain now spend more time watching TV, (1) ___________________ mobile phones and computers than sleeping. Research by the British communications agency Ofcom found that Britons use technology for 20 minutes longer than (2) ___________________. The average U.K. adult uses technology for eight hours and 41 minutes a day. They sleep (3) ___________________ eight hours and 21 minutes. One of the biggest reasons for (4) ___________________ and wi-fi. People can get online almost anywhere, (5) ___________________ time online. Many people make telephone calls or surf the web while watching television. Television was the (6) ___________________. Adults watched an average of three hours a day.

The study looked at technology and (7) ___________________. It found that six-year-olds understand how to use technology (8) ___________________ as 45-year-olds. Another finding was that people understand digital technology most when they are 14 or 15. A doctor said technology is changing the way people (9) ___________________ each other. Dr Arthur Cassidy warned that we are becoming more (10) ___________________. He said we are moving away (11) ___________________ conversations because of technology. He added that people are becoming (12) ___________________ phones. Technology also means people are working at home after they get home from work.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

What is the name of the communications agency?

2.

How much longer do people use technology than they sleep?

3.

What is one of the biggest reasons for greater use of technology?

4.

What do some people do while making phone calls and surfing the web?

5.

Who watches TV for an average of three hours a day?

6.

Who understands technology as well as 45-year-olds?

7.

At what age do people understand technology best?

8.

What did a doctor say is changing the way we communicate?

9.

What did a doctor say we are moving away from?

10.

What did the doctor say we are becoming addicted to?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

What is the name of the communications agency?

6.

Who understands technology as well as 45-year-olds?

 

a) Stead Off
b) OnSted
c) Ofcom
d) OnOff

 

a) doctors
b) 6-year-olds
c) 14-year-olds
d) researchers

2.

How much longer do people use technology than they sleep?

7.

What age group understands technology best?

 

a) 20 minutes
b) 22 seconds
c) 20 minutes and 20 seconds
d) 22 minutes

 

a) 14-15-year-olds
b) 6-year-olds
c) 45-year-olds
d) people in their twenties

3.

What is one of the biggest reasons for greater use of technology?

8.

What did a doctor say is changing the way we communicate?

 

a) broadband and wi-fi
b) fast food
c) cheaper Internet
d) longer holidays

 

a) English
b) air travel
c) technology
d) Google

4.

What do some people do while making phone calls and surfing the web?

9.

What did a doctor say we are moving away from?

 

a) walk in the street
b) watch TV
c) work
d) take a bath

 

a) our parents
b) dial-up Internet
c) analogue TVs
d) face-to-face conversations

5.

Who watches TV for an average of three hours a day?

10.

What did the doctor say we are becoming addicted to?

 

a) a doctor
b) children
c) researchers
d) adults

 

a) mobile phones
b) fast food
c) cartoons
d) wi-fi

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Gaming

You think gaming is the worst addiction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so bad about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least addictive of these (and why): gambling, shopping or fast food.

Role  B – Gambling

You think gambling is the worst addiction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so bad about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least addictive of these (and why): gaming, shopping or fast food.

Role  C – Shopping

You think shopping is the worst addiction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so bad about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least addictive of these (and why): gambling, gaming or fast food.

Role  D – Fast Food

You think fast food is the worst addiction. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so bad about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least addictive of these (and why):  gambling, shopping or gaming.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'mobile' and 'phone'.

mobile

phone

 

 

 

  • 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:

  • Britain
  • 20
  • biggest
  • anywhere
  • surf
  • activity
  • different
  • level
  • 15
  • social
  • face
  • home

TECHNOLOGY SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about technology 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.

TECHNOLOGY 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 'technology'?

c)

What's nicer, using technology or sleeping?

d)

How important is technology to you?

e)

What technology is most important to you (and why)?

f)

Why might using technology too much be bad?

g)

What do you think of the fact people use technology more than sleeping?

h)

What would life be like without technology?

i)

Do you ever use technology when you should be in bed?

j)

Is three hours of TV a day OK or too much?

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

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

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

How good is your understanding of technology?

c)

What do you find most difficult about technology?

d)

Are you surprised 6-year-olds have a good understanding of technology?

e)

How has technology changed the way you communicate?

f)

Do you prefer face-to-face or online communication?

g)

How can we help people who are addicted to technology?

h)

Is technology good or bad?

i)

Is it bad to work at home after leaving work?

j)

What questions would you like to ask the researcher?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

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

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

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

People in Britain now (1) ____ more time watching TV, gaming, and using their mobile phones and computers than sleeping. Research by the British communications agency Ofcom found (2) ____ Britons use technology for 20 minutes longer than they spend sleeping. The (3) ____ U.K. adult uses technology for eight hours and 41 minutes a day. They sleep for an average of eight hours and 21 minutes. One of the biggest (4) ____ for this is broadband and wi-fi. People can get online almost anywhere, so they spend more time online. Many people make telephone calls or (5) ____ the web while watching television. Television was the most (6) ____ activity. Adults watched an average of three hours a day.

The study looked at technology and (7) ____ age groups. It found that six-year-olds understand how to use technology at the same (8) ____ as 45-year-olds. Another finding was that people understand (9) ____ technology most when they are 14 or 15. A doctor said technology is changing the way people communicate with (10) ____ other. Dr Arthur Cassidy warned that we are becoming more and more anti-social. He said we are moving (11) ____ from face-to-face conversations because of technology. He added that people are becoming (12) ____ to their smart phones. Technology also means people are working at home after they get home from work.

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

1.

(a)

spends

(b)

spent

(c)

spending

(d)

spend

2.

(a)

these

(b)

when

(c)

what

(d)

that

3.

(a)

mean

(b)

average

(c)

standard

(d)

norm

4.

(a)

reason

(b)

reasoning

(c)

reasons

(d)

raisins

5.

(a)

serf

(b)

serve

(c)

surf

(d)

save

6.

(a)

popular

(b)

populate

(c)

populous

(d)

populace

7.

(a)

difference

(b)

different

(c)

differed

(d)

differs

8.

(a)

level

(b)

grade

(c)

normal

(d)

platform

9.

(a)

ancient

(b)

digital

(c)

technological

(d)

all

10.

(a)

one

(b)

all

(c)

each

(d)

every

11.

(a)

back

(b)

into

(c)

away

(d)

forward

12.

(a)

addiction

(b)

addicts

(c)

addictive

(d)

addicted

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

imlebo phones

2.

communications ayngce

3.

One of the biggest osenras

4.

make plneoeeth calls

5.

Television was the most luaropp activity

6.

an aearveg of three hours a day

Paragraph 2

7.

technology at different age srugpo

8.

litigda technology

9.

changing the way people caumcitmone

10.

more and more nati-csilao

11.

face-to-face istcnonvsaore

12.

becoming caddtdei

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

The study looked at technology and different age groups. It found that six-year-olds understand how

(    )

that Britons use technology for 20 minutes longer than they spend sleeping. The average U.K. adult uses

(    )

way people communicate with each other. Dr Arthur Cassidy warned that we are becoming more and more anti-

(    )

online almost anywhere, so they spend more time online. Many people make telephone calls or surf the

(    )

of technology. He added that people are becoming addicted to their smart phones. Technology

(    )

technology for eight hours and 41 minutes a day. They sleep for an average of eight hours

(    )

and computers than sleeping. Research by the British communications agency Ofcom found

1  )

People in Britain now spend more time watching TV, gaming, and using their mobile phones

(    )

also means people are working at home after they get home from work.

(    )

social. He said we are moving away from face-to-face conversations because

(    )

technology most when they are 14 or 15. A doctor said technology is changing the

(    )

to use technology at the same level as 45-year-olds. Another finding was that people understand digital

(    )

and 21 minutes. One of the biggest reasons for this is broadband and wi-fi. People can get

(    )

web while watching television. Television was the most popular activity. Adults watched an average of three hours a day.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

now    in    time    spend    Britain    watching    more    People    TV.   

2.

U.K.   for   adult    The   eight    uses   average    hours   technology    .

3.

can    online    anywhere    People    get    almost.   

4.

was    most    activity    Television    the    popular.   

5.

a    Adults    average    hours    an    three    day    watched    of.   

6.

the    Use    -    45   same   technology    olds   -   level   at    year   as.   

7.

people    way    the    changing    is    Technology    communicate.   

8.

face   from   away   moving   are   We   conversations    face   -  to    -.   

9.

addicted    to    People    their    are    smart    becoming    phones.   

10.

home    people    are    Technology    working    also    at    means.   

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

People in Britain now spend more / many time watching TV, gaming, and using their mobile phones and computers from / than sleeping. Research by the British communications agency Ofcom found that Britons usage / use technology for 20 minutes longer than they spend slept / sleeping. The average U.K. adult uses technology for eight hours / hourly and 41 minutes a day. They sleep by / for an average of eight hours and 21 minutes. One of the biggest reasons for these / this is broadband and wi-fi. People can get online almost / about anywhere, so they spend more time online. Many people make telephone calls or surf the web while / as watching television. Television was the most popular / popularity activity. Adults watched an average of three hours a day.

The study looked at / as technology and different age groups. It found that six-year-olds understand / understanding how to use technology at the same level / grade as 45-year-olds. Another finding / found was that people understand digitally / digital technology most when they are 14 or 15. A doctor said technology is changing / changed the way people communicate with each / one other. Dr Arthur Cassidy warned that we are becoming more and more pro-social / anti-social. He said we are moving away from face-to-face conversations because of technology. He added / multiplied that people are becoming addicted to their smart phones. Technology also mean / means people are working at home after they get home from work.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

P__pl_ _n Br_t__n n_w sp_nd m_r_ t_m_ w_tch_ng TV, g_m_ng, _nd _s_ng th__r m_b_l_ ph_n_s _nd c_mp_t_rs th_n sl__p_ng. R_s__rch by th_ Br_t_sh c_mm_n_c_t__ns _g_ncy _fc_m f__nd th_t Br_t_ns _s_ t_chn_l_gy f_r 20 m_n_t_s l_ng_r th_n th_y sp_nd sl__p_ng. Th_ _v_r_g_ _.K. _d_lt _s_s t_chn_l_gy f_r __ght h__rs _nd 41 m_n_t_s _ d_y. Th_y sl__p f_r _n _v_r_g_ _f __ght h__rs _nd 21 m_n_t_s. _n_ _f th_ b_gg_st r__s_ns f_r th_s _s br__db_nd _nd w_-f_. P__pl_ c_n g_t _nl_n_ _lm_st _nywh_r_, s_ th_y sp_nd m_r_ t_m_ _nl_n_. M_ny p__pl_ m_k_ t_l_ph_n_ c_lls _r s_rf th_ w_b wh_l_ w_tch_ng t_l_v_s__n. T_l_v_s__n w_s th_ m_st p_p_l_r _ct_v_ty. _d_lts w_tch_d _n _v_r_g_ _f thr__ h__rs _ d_y.

Th_ st_dy l__k_d _t t_chn_l_gy _nd d_ff_r_nt _g_ gr__ps. _t f__nd th_t s_x-y__r-_lds _nd_rst_nd h_w t_ _s_ t_chn_l_gy _t th_ s_m_ l_v_l _s 45-y__r-_lds. _n_th_r f_nd_ng w_s th_t p__pl_ _nd_rst_nd d_g_t_l t_chn_l_gy m_st wh_n th_y _r_ 14 _r 15. _ d_ct_r s__d t_chn_l_gy _s ch_ng_ng th_ w_y p__pl_ c_mm_n_c_t_ w_th __ch _th_r. Dr _rth_r C_ss_dy w_rn_d th_t w_ _r_ b_c_m_ng m_r_ _nd m_r_ _nt_-s_c__l. H_ s__d w_ _r_ m_v_ng _w_y fr_m f_c_-t_-f_c_ c_nv_rs_t__ns b_c__s_ _f t_chn_l_gy. H_ _dd_d th_t p__pl_ _r_ b_c_m_ng _dd_ct_d t_ th__r sm_rt ph_n_s. T_chn_l_gy _ls_ m__ns p__pl_ _r_ w_rk_ng _t h_m_ _ft_r th_y g_t h_m_ fr_m w_rk.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

people in britain now spend more time watching tv gaming and using their mobile phones and computers than sleeping research by the british communications agency ofcom found that britons use technology for 20 minutes longer than they spend sleeping the average uk adult uses technology for eight hours and 41 minutes a day they sleep for an average of eight hours and 21 minutes one of the biggest reasons for this is broadband and wi-fi people can get online almost anywhere so they spend more time online many people make telephone calls or surf the web while watching television television was the most popular activity adults watched an average of three hours a day

the study looked at technology and different age groups it found that six-year-olds understand how to use technology at the same level as 45-year-olds another finding was that people understand digital technology most when they are 14 or 15 a doctor said technology is changing the way people communicate with each other dr arthur cassidy warned that we are becoming more and more anti-social he said we are moving away from face-to-face conversations because of technology he added that people are becoming addicted to their smart phones technology also means people are working at home after they get home from work

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

PeopleinBritainnowspendmoretimewatchingTV,gaming,andusingtheirmobi
lephonesandcomputersthansleeping.ResearchbytheBritishcommunications
agencyOfcomfoundthatBritonsusetechnologyfor20minuteslongerthanthey
spendsleeping.TheaverageU.K.adultusestechnologyforeighthoursand41mi
nutesaday.Theysleepforanaverageofeighthoursand21minutes.Oneofthebig
gestreasonsforthisisbroadbandandwi-fi.Peoplecangetonlinealmosta
nywhere,sotheyspendmoretimeonline.Manypeoplemaketelephonecallsors
urfthewebwhilewatchingtelevision.Televisionwasthemostpopularactivity.A
dultswatchedanaverageofthreehoursaday.Thestudylookedattechnologyan
ddifferentagegroups.Itfoundthatsix-year-oldsunderstandhowtousetec
hnologyatthesamelevelas45-year-olds.Anotherfindingwasthatpeopleunde
rstanddigitaltechnologymostwhentheyare14or15.Adoctorsaidtechnologyis
changingthewaypeoplecommunicatewitheachother.DrArthurCassidywarne
dthatwearebecomingmoreandmoreanti-social.Hesaidwearemovin
gawayfromface-to-faceconversationsbecauseoftechnology.Headdedthatp
eoplearebecomingaddictedtotheirsmartphones.Technologyalsomeanspeop
leareworkingathomeaftertheygethomefromwork.

FREE WRITING

Write about technology for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

There is too much technology in our life. Discuss.

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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 technology and sleep. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. TECHNOLOGY: Make a poster about technology. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. SLEEPING: Write a magazine article about using technology for eight hours a day. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

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. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on technology. Ask him/her three questions about technology. Give him/her three of your ideas on how people can use technology less and sleep more. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

  • News
  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
  • Using headlines
  • Working with words
  • While-reading / While-listening
  • Moving from text to speech
  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

spend

a.

use up

2.

average

b.

typical

3.

almost

c.

pretty much

4.

web

d.

Internet

5.

popular

e.

well-liked

6.

study

f.

research

7.

finding

g.

discovery

8.

conversations

h.

chats

9.

addicted to

i.

hooked on

10.

get

j.

arrive

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Ofsted

2.

20 minutes

3.

broadband and wi-fi

4.

watch TV

5.

adults

6.

6-year-olds

7.

14-15-year-olds

8.

technology

9.

face-to-face conversations

10.

mobile phones

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

a

4.

b

5.

d

6.

b

7.

a

8.

c

9.

d

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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