The Reading / Listening - Level 3

There is bad news for students who like to use their mobile phones while they study. New research shows that students do not learn very well when they are texting and checking their social media accounts. The research is called: "Mobile Phones in the Classroom: Examining the Effects of Texting, Twitter, and Message Content on Student Learning". Researchers looked at 145 American university students in the classroom. Some of the students used their mobile phones during class, while the others had their phones switched off. The head researcher, Dr Jeffrey Kuznekoff, said students who did not use their mobile phones while the teacher was talking got higher scores on tests they took at the end of the class.

Kuznekoff said that one of the biggest challenges teachers have in the classroom is the non-stop battle of keeping students working. He said many students felt they needed to be online and checking messages even when they had important work to do in class. The researchers said it is very common for students to be physically present in class, but mentally absent because they are using their mobiles. Kuznekoff said teachers were fighting a "losing battle" because students were more interested in social media than learning. The London School of Economics did a study in England and found that test scores increased by six per cent after mobile phones were banned in class.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/09/us-mobile-phones-study-test_n_7541816.html
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/education-33047927
  • https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/could-texting-and-tweeting-lectures-be-good-learning


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. MOBILE PHONES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about mobile phones. 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?

 

bad news / new research / texting / social media / university students / test scores / challenges / keeping students working / important work / absent / losing battles

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

3. TEST SCORES: How could students increase their test scores? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Pros

Cons

Mobile phones

 

 

Study groups

 

 

Libraries

 

 

Homework

 

 

Websites

 

 

Social media

 

 

4. BANNED: Students A strongly believe mobile phones should be banned in the classroom; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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

5. CHALLENGES: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest challenges for teachers at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • mobile phones

  • student behaviour

  • students not doing homework

  • technology

  • boring course books

  • exam preparation

  • timetables

  • weaker students

6. STUDY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "study". 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.

There is good news for students who like using mobile phones in class.

T / F

b.

Research showed that using social media increased test scores.

T / F

c.

Researchers looked at the tests of 1,450 American students.

T / F

d.

Students who turned off their phones did better in tests.

T / F

e.

One of a teacher's biggest challenges is to keep students working.

T / F

f.

The article says it is common for students to be physically absent.

T / F

g.

A researcher said teachers are fighting a losing battle in the classroom.

T / F

h.

A study found test scores were 6% higher when phones were banned.

T / F

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

1.

new

a.

turned

2.

texting

b.

usual

3.

examining

c.

fresh

4.

switched

d.

marks

5.

scores

e.

went up

6.

non-stop

f.

messaging

7.

common

g.

prohibited

8.

battle

h.

looking at

9.

increased

i.

fight

10.

banned

j.

endless

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

1.

bad news for students who like to use

a.

stop battle

2.

students do not learn

b.

media accounts

3.

social

c.

but mentally absent

4.

used their mobile phones

d.

end of the class

5.

tests they took at the

e.

challenges

6.

one of the biggest

f.

their mobile phones

7.

the non-

g.

by six per cent

8.

be physically present in class,

h.

"losing battle"

9.

fighting a

i.

very well

10.

test scores increased

j.

during class

GAP FILL

There is bad (1) ____________ for students who like to use their mobile phones while they study. New research shows that students do not (2) ____________ very well when they are (3) ____________ and checking their social media accounts. The research is called: "Mobile Phones in the Classroom: Examining the Effects of Texting, Twitter, and Message Content on Student Learning". Researchers (4) ____________ at 145 American university students in the classroom. Some of the students used their mobile phones (5) ____________ class, while the others had their phones switched (6) ____________. The head researcher, Dr Jeffrey Kuznekoff, said students who did not (7) ____________ their mobile phones while the teacher was talking got higher scores on tests they took at the (8) ____________ of the class.

 

 

looked
news
during
use
texting
learn
end
off

Kuznekoff said that one of the biggest (9) ____________ teachers have in the classroom is the non-stop (10) ____________ of keeping students working. He said many students felt they needed to be online and checking (11) ____________ even when they had important work to do in class. The researchers said it is very (12) ____________ for students to be physically present in class, but mentally (13) ____________ because they are using their mobiles. Kuznekoff said teachers were fighting a "(14) ____________ battle" because students were more interested in social media than (15) ____________. The London School of Economics did a study in England and found that test scores increased by six per cent after mobile phones were (16) ____________ in class.

 

common
battle
learning
challenges
absent
banned
messages
losing

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

There is bad news for students who like to use their mobile phones ______

 

a.  while their study
b.  while they study
c.  whale they study
d.  will they study

2)

New research shows that students do not learn very well when ______

 

a.  they are text in
b.  they were texting
c.  they are texting
d.  they are text thing

3)

Researchers looked at 145 American university students ______

 

a.  in the classes room
b.  in the class rooms
c.  in the classy room
d.  in the classroom

4)

Some of the students used their mobile ______

 

a.  phones doing class
b.  phones during class
c.  phones daring class
d.  phones due ring class

5)

got higher scores on tests they took at the ______

 

a.  ends of the class
b.  ending of the class
c.  ended of the class
d.  end of the class

6)

one of the biggest challenges teachers have in the classroom is ______

 

a.  the non-stop battles
b.  the non-stop battled
c.  the non-stop battler
d.  the non-stop battle

7)

checking messages even when they had important work ______

 

a.  to do in class
b.  to doing class
c.  to do win class
d.  too do in class

8)

The researchers said it is very common for students to ______ in class

 

a.  be physically presence
b.  be physically present
c.  be physically presented
d.  be physically presenting

9)

students were more interested in social media ______

 

a.  that learning
b.  their learning
c.  than learning
d.  than learn in

10)

test scores increased by six per cent after mobile phones were ______

 

a.  banned in class
b.  band in class
c.  burned in class
d.  binned in class

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

There is bad news for students (1) ___________________ their mobile phones while they study. New research shows that students do not learn very well when they are (2) ___________________ their social media accounts. The research is called: "Mobile Phones in the Classroom: (3) ___________________ of Texting, Twitter, and Message Content on Student Learning". Researchers (4) ___________________ American university students in the classroom. Some of the students used their mobile phones during class, (5) ___________________ had their phones switched off. The head researcher, Dr Jeffrey Kuznekoff, said students who did not use their mobile phones while the teacher was talking got higher scores on tests they took (6) ___________________ class.

Kuznekoff said (7) ___________________ biggest challenges teachers have in the classroom is the non-stop (8) ___________________ students working. He said many students (9) ___________________ to be online and checking messages even when they had important work to do in class. The researchers said it is very common for students to be physically present in class, but (10) ___________________ because they are using their mobiles. Kuznekoff said teachers were fighting (11) ___________________ because students were more interested in social media than learning. The London School of Economics did a study in England and found that test scores increased by six per cent after mobile phones (12) ___________________ class.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

What kind of news is there for students?

2.

What do students check that stops them learning?

3.

How many students did the researchers look at?

4.

Who is Dr Jeffrey Kuznekoff?

5.

When did students take a test?

6.

What is one of the biggest challenges for teachers?

7.

What did a researcher say students felt they needed to do?

8.

What is it common for students to be in class?

9.

What kind of battle does the article say teachers are fighting?

10.

By how much did test scores increase after phones were banned?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

What kind of news is there for students?

6.

What is one of the biggest challenges for teachers?

 

a) no
b) old
c) bad
d) good

 

a) getting to the end of the week
b) keeping students working
c) controlling students
d) keeping students quiet

2.

What do students check that stops them learning?

7.

What did a researcher say students felt they needed to do?

 

a) social media accounts
b) test scores
c) schedules and timetables
d) TV guides

 

a) be good
b) study hard
c) homework
d) be online

3.

How many students did the researchers look at?

8.

What is it common for students to be in class?

 

a) 154
b) 145
c) 451
d) 1,450

 

a) perfect
b) physically present
c) noisy
d) mentally present

4.

Who is Dr Jeffrey Kuznekoff?

9.

What kind of battle does the article say teachers are fighting?

 

a) a website owner
b) a student
c) a teacher
d) a researcher

 

a) a tough one
b) a losing one
c) a winnable one
d) an easy one

5.

When did students take a test?

10.

By how much did test scores increase after phones were banned?

 

a) after joining Twitter
b) yesterday
c) at the end of a class
d) July, 2012

 

a) 6%
b) 5%
c) 4%
d) 3%

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Mobile phones

You think mobile phones are the biggest challenge for teachers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so challenging. Also, tell the others which is the least challenging of these (and why): boring course books, student behaviour or weaker students.

Role  B – Boring course books

You think boring course books are the biggest challenge for teachers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so challenging. Also, tell the others which is the least challenging of these (and why): mobile phones, student behaviour or weaker students.

Role  C – Student behaviour

You think student behaviour is the biggest challenge for teachers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so challenging. Also, tell the others which is the least challenging of these (and why): boring course books, mobile phones or weaker students.

Role  D – Weaker students

You think weaker students are the biggest challenge for teachers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't so challenging. Also, tell the others which is the least challenging of these (and why):  boring course books, student behaviour or mobile phones.

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:

  • bad
  • well
  • called
  • 145
  • off
  • end
  • biggest
  • needed
  • common
  • present
  • losing
  • six

MOBILE PHONES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about mobile phones 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.

MOBILE PHONES DISCUSSION

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

1)

What did you think when you read the headline?

2)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'study'?

3)

What do you think about what you read?

4)

In what ways do mobile phones help you learn English?

5)

Is it better for students to not use mobile phones in class?

6)

Why do students need to be online during class?

7)

What can schools do to stop students using social media in class?

8)

What other bad things are there about mobile phones?

9)

Is learning in classrooms better today than it was 50 years ago?

10)

Would it be easy for you to be offline for 24 hours?

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

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

11)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12)

What challenges do teachers face in the classroom?

13)

What should happen if students do not listen to teachers?

14)

What "battles" do teachers have with students?

15)

How important is it for you to check your messages online?

16)

How "absent" are students if they are on social media in class?

17)

How can teachers get students to learn using mobile phones?

18)

Is it a good idea for schools to ban mobile phones in class?

19)

If studies show test scores are higher when students do not use phones, why aren't they banned?

20)

What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

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

There is bad news for students who like to (1) ____ their mobile phones while they study. New research shows that students do not learn very (2) ____ when they are texting and checking their social media accounts. The research is called: "Mobile Phones in the Classroom: Examining the (3) ____ of Texting, Twitter, and Message Content on Student Learning". Researchers looked at 145 American university students in the classroom. Some of the students used their mobile phones during class, while the (4) ____ had their phones switched (5) ____. The head researcher, Dr Jeffrey Kuznekoff, said students who did not use their mobile phones while the teacher was talking (6) ____ higher scores on tests they took at the end of the class.

Kuznekoff said that one of the biggest (7) ____ teachers have in the classroom is the (8) ____-stop battle of keeping students working. He said many students felt they needed to be online and checking messages (9) ____ when they had important work to do in class. The researchers said it is very common for students to be physically present in class, but (10) ____ absent because they are using their mobiles. Kuznekoff said teachers were fighting a "losing (11) ____" because students were more interested in social media than learning. The London School of Economics did a study in England and found that test scores increased by six per cent after mobile phones were (12) ____ in class.

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

1.

(a)

usage

(b)

use

(c)

using

(d)

used

2.

(a)

goodly

(b)

nice

(c)

good

(d)

well

3.

(a)

Affects

(b)

Effects

(c)

Reflects

(d)

Inflects

4.

(a)

another

(b)

other

(c)

others

(d)

rests

5.

(a)

off

(b)

down

(c)

over

(d)

up

6.

(a)

got

(b)

took

(c)

did

(d)

were

7.

(a)

challenging

(b)

challenge

(c)

challengers

(d)

challenges

8.

(a)

non

(b)

not

(c)

now

(d)

nod

9.

(a)

ever

(b)

even

(c)

eves

(d)

event

10.

(a)

mental

(b)

meant all

(c)

mentally

(d)

meant ally

11.

(a)

war

(b)

skirmish

(c)

battle

(d)

punch-up

12.

(a)

binned

(b)

banned

(c)

band

(d)

burned

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

New arshecre

2.

when they are tgxeint

3.

checking their social media cancusot

4.

used their mobile phones gidurn class

5.

had their phones wtisdech off

6.

higher soresc on tests

Paragraph 2

7.

one of the biggest nhglclesae

8.

checking eeasgmss

9.

be yahlyiplcs present in class

10.

fighting a losing ttleba

11.

more etidtesern in social media

12.

resindeac by six per cent

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

accounts. The research is called: "Mobile Phones in the Classroom: Examining the Effects of Texting, Twitter,

1  )

There is bad news for students who like to use their mobile phones while they study. New research shows

(    )

classroom. Some of the students used their mobile phones during class, while the

(    )

that students do not learn very well when they are texting and checking their social media

(    )

use their mobile phones while the teacher was talking got higher scores on tests they took at the end of the class.

(    )

stop battle of keeping students working. He said many students felt they needed to be online and checking

(    )

messages even when they had important work to do in class. The researchers said it is very common

(    )

that test scores increased by six per cent after mobile phones were banned in class.

(    )

others had their phones switched off. The head researcher, Dr Jeffrey Kuznekoff, said students who did not

(    )

in social media than learning. The London School of Economics did a study in England and found

(    )

and Message Content on Student Learning". Researchers looked at 145 American university students in the

(    )

for students to be physically present in class, but mentally absent because they are using their

(    )

Kuznekoff said that one of the biggest challenges teachers have in the classroom is the non-

(    )

mobiles. Kuznekoff said teachers were fighting a "losing battle" because students were more interested

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

use   to  like   who  students   for  news   Bad   phones  mobile   their  .

2.

very   research   students   learn   New   that   not   well   shows   do   .  

3.

mobile   The   phones   students   during   used   class   their   .  

4.

talking   their   while   was   Use   phones   teacher   mobile   the   .  

5.

on   of   at   tests   Higher   the   the   they  scores   class   end  took   .

6.

teachers   have   The   in   biggest   the   challenges   classroom   .  

7.

even   work   when   they   Checking   had   messages   important   .  

8.

physically   be   to   students   for   Common   present   .  

9.

losing   teachers   battle   were   fighting   Kuznekoff   a   said   .  

10.

in   interested   more   were   Students   media   social   .  

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

There is bad news for students who / whom like to use their mobile phones while they study. New research shows that students do not learnt / learn very well when they are texting and checking their socially / social media accounts. The research is calling / called: "Mobile Phones in the Classroom: Examining the Effects of Texting, Twitter, and Message Content on Student Learning". Researchers looked / look at 145 American university students in the classroom. Some of the students used / usage their mobile phones during class, while the others had their phones switch / switched off. The head researcher, Dr Jeffrey Kuznekoff, said students who did not use them / their mobile phones while / among the teacher was talking got higher scores on tests they took at the end / ended of the class.

Kuznekoff said that once / one of the biggest challenges teachers have in the classroom is the non-stop battle of keeping / kept students working. He said many students felt they needy / needed to be online and checking message / messages even when they had important working / work to do in class. The researchers said it is very common / commons for students to be physically present in class, but mentally / mental absent because they are using their mobiles. Kuznekoff said teachers were fought / fighting a "losing battle" because students were more interested in / on social media than learning. The London School of Economics did a study in England and found that test scores increased by six per cent after mobile phones were bans / banned in class.

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)

Th_r_ _s b_d n_ws f_r st_d_nts wh_ l_k_ t_ _s_ th__r m_b_l_ ph_n_s wh_l_ th_y st_dy. N_w r_s__rch sh_ws th_t st_d_nts d_ n_t l__rn v_ry w_ll wh_n th_y _r_ t_xt_ng _nd ch_ck_ng th__r s_c__l m_d__ _cc__nts. Th_ r_s__rch _s c_ll_d: "M_b_l_ Ph_n_s _n th_ Cl_ssr__m: _x_m_n_ng th_ _ff_cts _f T_xt_ng, Tw_tt_r, _nd M_ss_g_ C_nt_nt _n St_d_nt L__rn_ng". R_s__rch_rs l__k_d _t 145 _m_r_c_n _n_v_rs_ty st_d_nts _n th_ cl_ssr__m. S_m_ _f th_ st_d_nts _s_d th__r m_b_l_ ph_n_s d_r_ng cl_ss, wh_l_ th_ _th_rs h_d th__r ph_n_s sw_tch_d _ff. Th_ h__d r_s__rch_r, Dr J_ffr_y K_zn_k_ff, s__d st_d_nts wh_ d_d n_t _s_ th__r m_b_l_ ph_n_s wh_l_ th_ t__ch_r w_s t_lk_ng g_t h_gh_r sc_r_s _n t_sts th_y t__k _t th_ _nd _f th_ cl_ss.

K_zn_k_ff s__d th_t _n_ _f th_ b_gg_st ch_ll_ng_s t__ch_rs h_v_ _n th_ cl_ssr__m _s th_ n_n-st_p b_ttl_ _f k__p_ng st_d_nts w_rk_ng. H_ s__d m_ny st_d_nts f_lt th_y n__d_d t_ b_ _nl_n_ _nd ch_ck_ng m_ss_g_s _v_n wh_n th_y h_d _mp_rt_nt w_rk t_ d_ _n cl_ss. Th_ r_s__rch_rs s__d _t _s v_ry c_mm_n f_r st_d_nts t_ b_ phys_c_lly pr_s_nt _n cl_ss, b_t m_nt_lly _bs_nt b_c__s_ th_y _r_ _s_ng th__r m_b_l_s. K_zn_k_ff s__d t__ch_rs w_r_ f_ght_ng _ "l_s_ng b_ttl_" b_c__s_ st_d_nts w_r_ m_r_ _nt_r_st_d _n s_c__l m_d__ th_n l__rn_ng. Th_ L_nd_n Sch__l _f _c_n_m_cs d_d _ st_dy _n _ngl_nd _nd f__nd th_t t_st sc_r_s _ncr__s_d by s_x p_r c_nt _ft_r m_b_l_ ph_n_s w_r_ b_nn_d _n cl_ss.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

there is bad news for students who like to use their mobile phones while they study new research shows that students do not learn very well when they are texting and checking their social media accounts the research is called "mobile phones in the classroom examining the effects of texting twitter and message content on student learning" researchers looked at 145 american university students in the classroom some of the students used their mobile phones during class while the others had their phones switched off the head researcher dr jeffrey kuznekoff said students who did not use their mobile phones while the teacher was talking got higher scores on tests they took at the end of the class

kuznekoff said that one of the biggest challenges teachers have in the classroom is the non-stop battle of keeping students working he said many students felt they needed to be online and checking messages even when they had important work to do in class the researchers said it is very common for students to be physically present in class but mentally absent because they are using their mobiles kuznekoff said teachers were fighting a "losing battle" because students were more interested in social media than learning the london school of economics did a study in england and found that test scores increased by six per cent after mobile phones were banned in class

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Thereisbadnewsforstudentswholiketousetheirmobilephoneswhileth
eystudy.Newresearchshowsthatstudentsdonotlearnverywellwhent
heyaretextingandcheckingtheirsocialmediaaccounts.Theresearchis
called:"MobilePhonesintheClassroom:ExaminingtheEffectsofTextin
g,Twitter,andMessageContentonStudentLearning".Researchersloo
kedat145Americanuniversitystudentsintheclassroom.Someofthest
udentsusedtheirmobilephonesduringclass,whiletheothershadtheirp
honesswitchedoff.Theheadresearcher,DrJeffreyKuznekoff,saidstud
entswhodidnotusetheirmobilephoneswhiletheteacherwastalkinggot
higherscoresonteststheytookattheendoftheclass.Kuznekoffsaidthat
oneofthebiggestchallengesteachershaveintheclassroomisthenon-
stopbattleofkeepingstudentsworking.Hesaidmanystudentsfeltthey
neededtobeonlineandcheckingmessagesevenwhentheyhadimporta
ntworktodoinclass.Theresearcherssaiditisverycommonforstudentst
obephysicallypresentinclass,butmentallyabsentbecausetheyareusi
ngtheirmobiles.Kuznekoffsaidteacherswerefightinga"losingbattle"b
ecausestudentsweremoreinterestedinsocialmediathanlearning.The
LondonSchoolofEconomicsdidastudyinEnglandandfoundthattestsco
resincreasedbysixpercentaftermobilephoneswerebannedinclass.

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Mobile phones should be banned in the classroom. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 mobile phones and learning. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MOBILE PHONES: Make a poster about mobile phones. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. BANNED: Write a magazine article about banning mobile phones in the classroom. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

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 mobile phones. Ask him/her three questions about mobile phones. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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

F

d

T

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

new

a.

fresh

2

texting

b.

messaging

3.

examining

c.

looking at

4.

switched

d.

turned

5.

scores

e.

marks

6.

non-stop

f.

endless

7.

common

g.

usual

8.

battle

h.

fight

9.

increased

i.

went up

10.

banned

j.

prohibited

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Bad news

2.

Social media accounts

3.

145

4.

A researcher

5.

At the end of a class

6.

Keeping students working

7.

Be online

8.

Physically present

9.

A losing one

10.

6%

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

b

4.

d

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

b

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

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

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You