The Reading / Listening - Level 3

A British firm has developed a new product to help us save money. The product is a wristband that gives us an electric shock if we spend too much money. The wristband is called Pavlok. It is linked to our bank account. It knows how much money we have in the bank. If we go shopping and there is not enough money in our bank account, the wristband delivers a 255-volt electric shock to our wrist. This warns us not to overspend. The company is called Intelligent Environments. It wants to work with banks to help customers with their money. So far, no banks in Britain have said they would offer the Pavlok to their customers. They could start doing this in the future.

The Pavlok wristband is part of the Internet of Things. This is the idea that everything in our life will be connected to the Internet. The CEO of Intelligent Environments, David Webber, said people liked the idea of the Pavlok. Shoppers would rather get a small electric shock in the store from the wristband than get a big shock later when they see their credit card bill. Mr Webber said the Pavlok would be great for people who cannot stop spending because they have no willpower or their willpower is weak. He added that many young people suffer from the "ostrich effect". This is when people stick their heads in the sand and buy things rather than look at how much money they have in their bank.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36301778
  • http://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/big-spender-bank-give-you-8004336
  • http://www.thememo.com/2016/05/19/putting-the-buzz-back-into-banking-with-electroshock-therapy/


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. MONEY: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about money. 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?

       new product / wristband / electric shock / linked / bank account / overspend / intelligent /
       idea / everything / credit card / bill / great / spending / willpower / ostrich / money

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

3. CREDIT CARDS: Students A strongly believe credit cards are dangerous; Students B strongly believe they aren't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. ELECTRIC SHOCKS: How could they benefit us in these situations? Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Shopping
  • Eating
  • Studying
  • Driving
  • Sleeping
  • Working
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. SHOCK: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "shock". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. SAVING MONEY: Rank these with your partner. Put the best ways of saving money at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • invest
  • make a budget
  • stay at home
  • buy used goods
  • keep all coins
  • walk everywhere
  • no chocolate
  • stay single

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The electric shock device helps us to save money.     T / F
  2. The device is connected to our bank account.     T / F
  3. The wristband gives people a 2,550-volt shock.     T / F
  4. Banks in Britain have not given any of the wristbands to customers.     T / F
  5. The wristbands are part of the Internet of Things.     T / F
  6. Shoppers don't like the idea of the wristband.     T / F
  7. The wristband is no good for people with no willpower.     T / F
  8. A CEO said people always look at how much money they have in the bank.     T / F

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

  1. firm
  2. product
  3. linked
  4. delivers
  5. so far
  6. idea
  7. rather
  8. spending
  9. willpower
  10. weak
  1. prefer to
  2. until now
  3. item
  4. poor
  5. purchasing
  6. self control
  7. company
  8. gives
  9. concept
  10. connected

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

  1. a new product to help
  2. a wristband that gives us
  3. It is linked
  4. not enough
  5. offer the Pavlok
  6. everything in our life will be
  7. Shoppers would rather get a
  8. credit card
  9. cannot stop spending because they
  10. look at how much money
  1. to their customers
  2. money
  3. bill
  4. an electric shock
  5. connected to the Internet
  6. they have
  7. us save money
  8. have no willpower
  9. small electric shock
  10. to our bank account

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
enough
product
far
account
wrist
future
spend
customers

A British firm has developed a new (1) ____________ to help us save money. The product is a wristband that gives us an electric shock if we (2) ____________ too much money. The wristband is called Pavlok. It is linked to our bank (3) ____________. It knows how much money we have in the bank. If we go shopping and there is not (4) ____________ money in our bank account, the wristband delivers a 255-volt electric shock to our (5) ____________. This warns us not to overspend. The company is called Intelligent Environments. It wants to work with banks to help (6) ____________ with their money. So (7) ____________, no banks in Britain have said they would offer the Pavlok to their customers. They could start doing this in the (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
bill
connected
later
stick
idea
rather
rather
willpower

The Pavlok wristband is part of the Internet of Things. This is the (9) ____________ that everything in our life will be (10) __________ to the Internet. The CEO of Intelligent Environments, David Webber, said people liked the idea of the Pavlok. Shoppers would (11) ____________ get a small electric shock in the store from the wristband than get a big shock (12) ____________ when they see their credit card (13) ____________. Mr Webber said the Pavlok would be great for people who cannot stop spending because they have no (14) ____________ or their willpower is weak. He added that many young people suffer from the "ostrich effect". This is when people (15) ____________ their heads in the sand and buy things (16) ____________ than look at how much money they have in their bank.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A British firm has developed a new product to help ______
     a.  use save money
     b.  us saves money
     c.  us save money
     d.  us saved money

2)  a wristband that gives us an electric shock if we spend ______
     a.  two much money
     b.  to much money
     c.  too much money
     d.  through much money

3)  If we go shopping and there is not enough money in ______
     a.  your bank account
     b.  our banks account
     c.  our bank account
     d.  our bank accounts

4)  So far, no banks in Britain have said they would offer the Pavlok ______
     a.  to they're customers
     b.  to their customer
     c.  to their customers
     d.  two their customers

5)  They could start doing this ______
     a.  on the future
     b.  in the future
     c.  to the future
     d.  at the future

6)  This is the idea that everything in our life will be ______ Internet
     a.  connection to the
     b.  connected at the
     c.  connected to the
     d.  connected to a

7)  Shoppers would rather get a small electric ______
     a.  shocks in the store
     b.  shock in the stores
     c.  shock in a store
     d.  shock in the store

8)  get a big shock later when they see their ______
     a.  credit card bills
     b.  credit card pill
     c.  credit card pills
     d.  credit card bill

9)  people who cannot stop spending because they ______
     a.  have no willpower
     b.  have no will power
     c.  have no Wii power
     d.  have not willpower

10)  This is when people stick their heads ______
     a.  in the sand
     b.  in the sands
     c.  in the sandy
     d.  in these and

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A British firm has developed a new product (1) ___________________ money. The product is a wristband that gives us an electric shock if we spend too much money. The wristband is called Pavlok. It (2) ___________________ bank account. It knows how much money we have in the bank. If we go shopping and there is (3) ___________________ in our bank account, the wristband delivers a 255-volt electric shock to our wrist. This (4) ___________________ to overspend. The company is called Intelligent Environments. It wants to work (5) ___________________ customers with their money. So far, no banks in Britain have said they would offer the Pavlok to their customers. They could start doing (6) ___________________.

The Pavlok wristband (7) ___________________ Internet of Things. This is the idea that everything (8) ___________________ be connected to the Internet. The CEO of Intelligent Environments, David Webber, said people liked the idea of the Pavlok. Shoppers (9) ___________________ a small electric shock in the store from the wristband than get a big shock later when they see their credit card bill. Mr Webber said the Pavlok (10) ___________________ for people who cannot stop spending because they have (11) ___________________ or their willpower is weak. He added that many young people suffer from the "ostrich effect". This is when people stick their heads (12) ___________________ buy things rather than look at how much money they have in their bank.

Comprehension questions

  1. Where is the company that developed the wristband from?
  2. What is the Pavlok linked to?
  3. How strong is the electric shock that the wristband delivers?
  4. What kind of businesses does the Pavlok maker want to work with?
  5. When might the Pavlok be offered to customers?
  6. What is the Pavlok part of?
  7. Who is David Webber?
  8. What might shoppers get a shock at seeing?
  9. What might people who can't stop spending not have (besides money)?
  10. What do ostriches stick their head in?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where is the company that developed the wristband from?
a) Britain
b) Brazil
c) Belarus
d Burma

2) What is the Pavlok linked to?
a) security
b) theft
c) bank accounts
d) ideas

3) How strong is the electric shock that the wristband delivers?
a) 555 volts
b) 255 volts
c) 225 volts
d) 252 volts

4) What kind of businesses does the Pavlok maker want to work with?
a) security companies
b) successful ones
c) Pavlova cake makers
d) banks

5) When might the Pavlok be offered to customers?
a) in the future
b) after 2 weeks
c) when the design is finished
d) when banks open

6) What is the Pavlok part of?
a) The Internet of Banks
b) The Lock of Internet
c) the Things of Internet
d) the Internet of Things

7) Who is David Webber?
a) an ostrich farmer
b) CEO of the Pavlok maker
c) a bank customer
d) a bank manager

8) What might shoppers get a shock at seeing?
a) expensive products
b) empty shops
c) the Pavlok
d) credit card bills

9) What might people who can't stop spending not have (besides money)?
a) an ostrich
b) a bank account
c) willpower
d) a Pavlok

10) What do ostriches stick their head in?
a) the sky
b) sand
c) water
d) muddle

Role play

Role A — Keeping all your coins

You think keeping all your coins is the best way to save money. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): walking everywhere, making a budget or staying single.

Role B — Walking everywhere

You think walking everywhere is the best way to save money. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): keeping all your coins, making a budget or staying single.

Role C — Making a budget

You think making a budget is the best way to save money. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): walking everywhere, keeping all your coins or staying single.

Role D — Staying single

You think staying single is the best way to save money. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): walking everywhere, making a budget or keeping all your coins.

After reading / listening

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

'electric'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'shock'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • everything
    • liked
    • small
    • bill
    • weak
    • look
    • save
    • linked
    • enough
    • 255
    • warns
    • future

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Get an electric shock to stop buying things

    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 'money'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How would you describe your shopping habits?
    5. Why do people like shopping?
    6. How useful would the Pavlok be for you?
    7. When was the last time you spent too much?
    8. Would the Pavlok be good to stop overeating?
    9. How happy are you with your bank account?
    10. Would you get a Pavlok if the bank offered you one?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of the idea of the Pavlok?
    3. How often do you spend too much money?
    4. What other things do we need a shock to stop us doing something?
    5. What do you know about the Internet of Things?
    6. Why do many men hate shopping?
    7. What do you think when you see your credit card?
    8. How much willpower do you have?
    9. What do you think of the 'ostrich effect'?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the Pavlok CEO?

     

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A British firm has developed a new product (1) ____ help us save money. The product is a wristband (2) ____ gives us an electric shock if we spend too much money. The wristband is called Pavlok. It is (3) ____ to our bank account. It knows how much money we have in the bank. If we go shopping and there is (4) ____ enough money in our bank account, the wristband (5) ____ a 255-volt electric shock to our wrist. This warns us not to overspend. The company is called Intelligent Environments. It wants to work with banks to help customers with their money. So far, no banks in Britain have said they would (6) ____ the Pavlok to their customers. They could start doing this in the future.

    The Pavlok wristband is part of the Internet of Things. This is the idea that everything in our life will (7) ____ connected to the Internet. The CEO of Intelligent Environments, David Webber, said people liked the idea of the Pavlok. Shoppers would (8) ____ get a small electric shock in the store from the wristband than get a big shock later when they see their credit card (9) ____. Mr Webber said the Pavlok would be great for people who cannot stop spending because they have (10) ____ willpower or their willpower is weak. He added that many young people suffer (11) ____ the "ostrich effect". This is when people stick their heads in the sand and buy things rather (12) ____ look at how much money they have in their bank.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     for     (b)     to     (c)     by     (d)     so    
    2. (a)     what     (b)     that     (c)     this     (d)     then    
    3. (a)     lichen     (b)     lined     (c)     likened     (d)     linked    
    4. (a)     never     (b)     not     (c)     no     (d)     now    
    5. (a)     delivering     (b)     deliver     (c)     delivery     (d)     delivers    
    6. (a)     reject     (b)     combine     (c)     offer     (d)     protect    
    7. (a)     be     (b)     do     (c)     have     (d)     not    
    8. (a)     instead     (b)     prefer     (c)     rather     (d)     like    
    9. (a)     bull     (b)     ball     (c)     bell     (d)     bill    
    10. (a)     no     (b)     non     (c)     not     (d)     now    
    11. (a)     from     (b)     as     (c)     on     (d)     at    
    12. (a)     than     (b)     that     (c)     this     (d)     then    

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. developed a new opdtrcu
    2. not enough money in our bank ocntauc
    3. the wristband sedeirlv a 255-volt electric shock
    4. This warns us not to pendesrvo
    5. help curesosmt with their money
    6. They could start doing this in the rtfueu

    Paragraph 2

    1. onntecdce to the Internet
    2. Shoppers would erhtra get a small electric shock
    3. trdeci card bill
    4. they have no wlplorwei
    5. He added that many young people sffrue
    6. the "ostrich feefct"

    Put the text back together

    (    )     connected to the Internet. The CEO of Intelligent Environments, David Webber, said people liked the

    (    )     idea of the Pavlok. Shoppers would rather get a small electric shock in the store from the wristband than get a

    (    )     money in our bank account, the wristband delivers a 255-volt electric shock to our wrist. This warns us not to

    (    )     who cannot stop spending because they have no willpower or their willpower is weak. He added that

    1  )     A British firm has developed a new product to help us save money. The product is a wristband that gives us an

    (    )     overspend. The company is called Intelligent Environments. It wants to work with

    (    )     account. It knows how much money we have in the bank. If we go shopping and there is not enough

    (    )     sand and buy things rather than look at how much money they have in their bank.

    (    )     banks to help customers with their money. So far, no banks in Britain have said they would offer the Pavlok

    (    )     to their customers. They could start doing this in the future.

    (    )     The Pavlok wristband is part of the Internet of Things. This is the idea that everything in our life will be

    (    )     many young people suffer from the "ostrich effect". This is when people stick their heads in the

    (    )     big shock later when they see their credit card bill. Mr Webber said the Pavlok would be great for people

    (    )     electric shock if we spend too much money. The wristband is called Pavlok. It is linked to our bank

    Put the words in the right order

    1. that  much  we  electric  gives  A  spend  shock   us  wristband  too  if  an  .
    2. bank   how   we   the   knows   money   in   It   much   have   .
    3. our  to   shock  electric   volt   -  255   a   delivers  wristband   The   wrist   .
    4. Work   customers   with   with   banks   their   to   money   help   .
    5. start   could   They   future   the   in   this   doing   .
    6. in   will   to   Everything   life   connected   Internet   our   be   the   .
    7. electric   shock   in   the   store   Shoppers  would   rather   get   a   small   .
    8. credit   their   see   they   when   later   shock   big   a   Get   bill   card   .
    9. because   spending   stop   Cannot   willpower   no   have   they   .
    10. how   they   their   at   money   in   Look   much   have   bank   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A British firm has developing / developed a new product to help us save money. The product is a wristband that gives / given us an electric shock if we spend too much / many money. The wristband is called Pavlok. It is linked to our bank account. It knows how / what much money we have in the bank. If we go shopping and there is not / aren't enough money in our bank account, the wristband delivers a 255-volt electric shock to our writs / wrist. This warns us not to overspend. The company is called Intelligent Environments. It wants to / for work with banks to help customers with / within their money. So far, no banks in Britain have said they would giving / offer the Pavlok to their customers. They could start doing this in the / a future.

    The Pavlok wristband is party / part of the Internet of Things. This is the idea that everything in our life will be / being connected to the Internet. The CEO of Intelligent Environments, David Webber, said people likened / liked the idea of the Pavlok. Shoppers would rather get a small electronic / electric shock in the store from the wristband than get a big shock lately / later when they see their credit card bill / bell. Mr Webber said the Pavlok would be greet / great for people who cannot stop spending because they have no willpower or their willpower is weak / weakness. He added that many young people suffer from the "ostrich effect". This is when people stick / adhere their heads in the sand and buy things rather for / than look at how much money they have in their bank.

    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)

    _ Br_t_sh f_rm h_s d_v_l_p_d _ n_w pr_d_ct t_ h_lp _s s_v_ m_n_y. Th_ pr_d_ct _s _ wr_stb_nd th_t g_v_s _s _n _l_ctr_c sh_ck _f w_ sp_nd t__ m_ch m_n_y. Th_ wr_stb_nd _s c_ll_d P_vl_k. _t _s l_nk_d t_ __r b_nk _cc__nt. _t kn_ws h_w m_ch m_n_y w_ h_v_ _n th_ b_nk. _f w_ g_ sh_pp_ng _nd th_r_ _s n_t _n__gh m_n_y _n __r b_nk _cc__nt, th_ wr_stb_nd d_l_v_rs _ 255-v_lt _l_ctr_c sh_ck t_ __r wr_st. Th_s w_rns _s n_t t_ _v_rsp_nd. Th_ c_mp_ny _s c_ll_d _nt_ll_g_nt _nv_r_nm_nts. _t w_nts t_ w_rk w_th b_nks t_ h_lp c_st_m_rs w_th th__r m_n_y. S_ f_r, n_ b_nks _n Br_t__n h_v_ s__d th_y w__ld _ff_r th_ P_vl_k t_ th__r c_st_m_rs. Th_y c__ld st_rt d__ng th_s _n th_ f_t_r_.

    Th_ P_vl_k wr_stb_nd _s p_rt _f th_ _nt_rn_t _f Th_ngs. Th_s _s th_ _d__ th_t _v_ryth_ng _n __r l_f_ w_ll b_ c_nn_ct_d t_ th_ _nt_rn_t. Th_ C__ _f _nt_ll_g_nt _nv_r_nm_nts, D_v_d W_bb_r, s__d p__pl_ l_k_d th_ _d__ _f th_ P_vl_k. Sh_pp_rs w__ld r_th_r g_t _ sm_ll _l_ctr_c sh_ck _n th_ st_r_ fr_m th_ wr_stb_nd th_n g_t _ b_g sh_ck l_t_r wh_n th_y s__ th__r cr_d_t c_rd b_ll. Mr W_bb_r s__d th_ P_vl_k w__ld b_ gr__t f_r p__pl_ wh_ c_nn_t st_p sp_nd_ng b_c__s_ th_y h_v_ n_ w_llp_w_r _r th__r w_llp_w_r _s w__k. H_ _dd_d th_t m_ny y__ng p__pl_ s_ff_r fr_m th_ "_str_ch _ff_ct". Th_s _s wh_n p__pl_ st_ck th__r h__ds _n th_ s_nd _nd b_y th_ngs r_th_r th_n l__k _t h_w m_ch m_n_y th_y h_v_ _n th__r b_nk.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a british firm has developed a new product to help us save money the product is a wristband that gives us an electric shock if we spend too much money the wristband is called pavlok it is linked to our bank account it knows how much money we have in the bank if we go shopping and there is not enough money in our bank account the wristband delivers a 255-volt electric shock to our wrist this warns us not to overspend the company is called intelligent environments it wants to work with banks to help customers with their money so far no banks in britain have said they would offer the pavlok to their customers they could start doing this in the future

    the pavlok wristband is part of the internet of things this is the idea that everything in our life will be connected to the internet the ceo of intelligent environments david webber said people liked the idea of the pavlok shoppers would rather get a small electric shock in the store from the wristband than get a big shock later when they see their credit card bill mr webber said the pavlok would be great for people who cannot stop spending because they have no willpower or their willpower is weak he added that many young people suffer from the "ostrich effect" this is when people stick their heads in the sand and buy things rather than look at how much money they have in their bank

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ABritishfirmhasdevelopedanewproducttohelpussavemoney.Thepro
    ductisawristbandthatgivesusanelectricshockifwespendtoomuchmo
    ney.ThewristbandiscalledPavlok.Itislinkedtoourbankaccount.Itkno
    wshowmuchmoneywehaveinthebank.Ifwegoshoppingandthereisno
    tenoughmoneyinourbankaccount,thewristbanddeliversa255-volte
    lectricshocktoourwrist.Thiswarnsusnottooverspend.Thecompanyis
    calledIntelligentEnvironments.Itwantstoworkwithbankstohelpcusto
    merswiththeirmoney.Sofar,nobanksinBritainhavesaidtheywouldoff
    erthePavloktotheircustomers.Theycouldstartdoingthisinthefuture.T
    hePavlokwristbandispartoftheInternetofThings.Thisistheideathatev
    erythinginourlifewillbeconnectedtotheInternet.TheCEOofIntelligent
    Environments,DavidWebber,saidpeoplelikedtheideaofthePavlok.Sh
    opperswouldrathergetasmallelectricshockinthestorefromthewristb
    andthangetabigshocklaterwhentheyseetheircreditcardbill.MrWebb
    ersaidthePavlokwouldbegreatforpeoplewhocannotstopspendingbec
    ausetheyhavenowillpowerortheirwillpowerisweak.Headdedthatman
    yyoungpeoplesufferfromthe"ostricheffect".Thisiswhenpeoplestickt
    heirheadsinthesandandbuythingsratherthanlookathowmuchmoney
    theyhaveintheirbank.

    Free writing

    Write about electric shock for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    People should never spend more money than they have in the bank. 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 the Pavlok device. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. MONEY: Make a poster about spending too much money. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. ELECTRIC SHOCKS: Write a magazine article about devices that give us electric shocks if we spend or eat too much.. 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 money. Ask him/her three questions about how to save it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to save more money. 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

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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