The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Amazon just unveiled what it describes as the world's most advanced shopping technology. It is the prime feature of its new-concept grocery store that has no queues or checkout counters. It is called Amazon Go and is being trialled in the company's hometown of Seattle. The technology works via an app on a shopper's mobile device. The app automatically checks in when the shopper enters the store. It lets you shop as normal and then scans what you have bought as you leave the store. Amazon then bills you later and the shopping gets charged to your Amazon account. There is no waiting in line, no cashiers, and no being held up by slow customers, credit card transactions or waiting for change.

Amazon Go may revolutionize the high street shopping experience and provide a much-needed boost for brick-and-mortar stores. The grocery and convenience store markets are extremely tough nuts to crack. Profit margins are low and competition is intense. However, Amazon seems confident it can change people's shopping habits. Rumours are that the online retail giant has plans for 2,000 grocery stores across the USA. It could also get involved in selling the software for its shopping technology to retailers worldwide. Industry analyst Colin Sebastian suggested Amazon Go could challenge Internet shopping. He said: "It makes it just as convenient, if not more convenient, than online shopping in some cases."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/5/13842592/amazon-go-new-cashier-less-convenience-store
  • http://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazoncom-unveils-self-driving-brick-and-mortar-convenience-store/
  • http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/12/05/amazon-go-supermarket-no-checkout-no-cashiers-artificial-intelligence-sensors/94991612/


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. GROCERY STORES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about grocery stores. 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?

       Amazon / advanced / shopping / technology / checkout / hometown / cashiers /
       boost / brick / tough nuts / profit margins / confident / habits / software / convenient

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

3. ONLINE: Students A strongly believe online shopping is better than going to shopping malls; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. SHOPPING: How could it be better? Discuss this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Checkouts
  • Displays
  • Shop windows
  • Sales assistants
  • Store interiors
  • Customer service
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. STORE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "store". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. SHOPS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • bakeries
  • toy stores
  • DIY shops
  • florists
  • convenience stores
  • clothes shops
  • bookshops
  • computer stores

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Amazon has just shown off the most advanced technology store.     T / F
  2. The new store is being tested in New York and Los Angeles.     T / F
  3. An app calculates a shopper's bill as they leave the store.     T / F
  4. People at the store do not need to wait for change.     T / F
  5. The new technology may help other brick-and-mortar stores.     T / F
  6. Amazon said it would not sell tough nuts.     T / F
  7. Amazon could open 2,000 grocery stores across the USA.     T / F
  8. An analyst said the store could be more convenient than shopping online.   T / F

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

  1. unveiled
  2. prime
  3. trialled
  4. charged
  5. held up
  6. boost
  7. extremely
  8. confident
  9. suggested
  10. convenient
  1. support
  2. billed
  3. assured
  4. revealed
  5. very
  6. indicated
  7. main
  8. handy
  9. tested
  10. delayed

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

  1. the world's most advanced
  2. no queues or checkout
  3. The technology works via
  4. scans what you have bought
  5. There is no waiting
  6. provide a much-needed boost for
  7. extremely tough
  8. it can change people's
  9. retailers
  10. It makes it just
  1. an app
  2. brick-and-mortar stores
  3. in line
  4. as convenient
  5. counters
  6. shopping habits
  7. shopping technology
  8. nuts to crack
  9. as you leave the store
  10. worldwide

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
queues
normal
change
unveiled
held
prime
via
charged

Amazon just (1) ____________ what it describes as the world's most advanced shopping technology. It is the (2) ____________ feature of its new-concept grocery store that has no (3) ____________ or checkout counters. It is called Amazon Go and is being trialled in the company's hometown of Seattle. The technology works (4) ____________ an app on a shopper's mobile device. The app automatically checks in when the shopper enters the store. It lets you shop as (5) ____________ and then scans what you have bought as you leave the store. Amazon then bills you later and the shopping gets (6) ____________ to your Amazon account. There is no waiting in line, no cashiers, and no being (7) ____________ up by slow customers, credit card transactions or waiting for (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
margins
boost
analyst
experience
habits
cases
nuts
involved

Amazon Go may revolutionize the high street shopping (9) ____________ and provide a much-needed (10) ____________ for brick-and-mortar stores. The grocery and convenience store markets are extremely tough (11) ____________ to crack. Profit (12) ____________ are low and competition is intense. However, Amazon seems confident it can change people's shopping (13) ____________. Rumours are that the online retail giant has plans for 2,000 grocery stores across the USA. It could also get (14) ____________ in selling the software for its shopping technology to retailers worldwide. Industry (15) ____________ Colin Sebastian suggested Amazon Go could challenge Internet shopping. He said: "It makes it just as convenient, if not more convenient, than online shopping in some (16) ____________."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  It is the prime feature of its new-concept grocery store that ______
     a.  has no cues
     b.  has no queues
     c.  has no crews
     d.  has no clues

2)  It is called Amazon Go and is being trialled in the company's ______ Seattle
     a.  hone town of
     b.  home towns of
     c.  hometown of
     d.  home down of

3)  The app automatically checks in when the shopper ______
     a.  enters the store
     b.  entry the store
     c.  entries the store
     d.  entails the store

4)  Amazon then bills you later and the shopping gets charged to your ______
     a.  Amazon accounting
     b.  Amazon accountant
     c.  Amazon accountable
     d.  Amazon account

5)  There is no waiting in line, no cashiers, and no being held up ______
     a.  by slowing customers
     b.  by slow customer
     c.  by slow customers
     d.  by slowing customer

6)  provide a much-needed boost for brick-and-______
     a.  more tar stores
     b.  mall tar stores
     c.  maul tar stores
     d.  mortar stores

7)  The grocery and convenience store markets are extremely ______
     a.  tough bolts to crack
     b.  tough nails to crack
     c.  tough screws to crack
     d.  tough nuts to crack

8)  Profit margins are low and competition ______
     a.  is in tents
     b.  is incense
     c.  is in sense
     d.  is intense

9)  get involved in selling the software for its shopping technology to ______
     a.  retails worldwide
     b.  re tailors worldwide
     c.  retailers worldwide
     d.  re tail lairs worldwide

10)  just as convenient, if not more convenient, than online shopping ______
     a.  in some cases
     b.  in some causes
     c.  in some case is
     d.  in some quays

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Amazon just unveiled what (1) ___________________ the world's most advanced shopping technology. It is the prime feature of its new-concept grocery store that (2) ___________________ or checkout counters. It is called Amazon Go and is being trialled in the company's hometown of Seattle. The technology works (3) ___________________ a shopper's mobile device. The app automatically checks in when the shopper enters the store. It lets you shop (4) ___________________ then scans what you have bought as you leave the store. Amazon then (5) ___________________ and the shopping gets charged to your Amazon account. There is no waiting in line, no cashiers, and no (6) ___________________ by slow customers, credit card transactions or waiting for change.

Amazon Go may revolutionize the high street shopping experience and provide a (7) ___________________ for brick-and-mortar stores. The grocery and convenience store markets are (8) ___________________ nuts to crack. Profit (9) ___________________ low and competition is intense. However, Amazon seems confident it can change people's shopping habits. Rumours are that the online retail giant has plans for 2,000 grocery stores across the USA. It could also (10) ___________________ selling the software for its shopping technology to (11) ___________________. Industry analyst Colin Sebastian suggested Amazon Go could challenge Internet shopping. He said: "It (12) ___________________ convenient, if not more convenient, than online shopping in some cases."

Comprehension questions

  1. What advanced technology did Amazon say it had?
  2. Where is Amazon trialling the technology?
  3. What does the app automatically check someone in to?
  4. What does your grocery bill get charged to?
  5. Who are you not held up by with the new technology?
  6. What might the technology provide a boost for?
  7. What did the article say profit margins were?
  8. What did Amazon say it was confident it could change?
  9. How many stores might Amazon be opening across the USA?
  10. What did an analyst say Amazon Go might be more convenient than?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What advanced technology did Amazon say it had?
a) reading technology
b) shopping technology
c) convenient technology
d) online technology

2) Where is Amazon trialling the technology?
a) Milwaukee
b) Los Angeles
c) New York
d) Seattle

3) What does the app automatically check someone in to?
a) a club
b) a credit card
c) a store
d) a website

4) What does your grocery bill get charged to?
a) your Amazon account
b) the electricity
c) your mobile phone
d) Amazon

5) Who are you not held up by with the new technology?
a) store managers
b) slow customers
c) cashiers
d) shelf fillers

6) What might the technology provide a boost for?
a) brick-and-mortar stores
b) the Internet
c) farmers
d) analysts

7) What did the article say profit margins were?
a) steady
b) off the radar
c) low
d) crazy

8) What did Amazon say it was confident it could change?
a) shopper's habits
b) the world
c) cash
d) cash registers

9) How many stores might Amazon be opening across the USA?
a) 5,000
b) 4,000
c) 3,000
d) 2,000

10) What did an analyst say Amazon Go might be more convenient than?
a) markets
b) drive-thrus
c) online shopping
d) shopping malls

Role play

Role A — Convenience Stores

You think convenience stores are the best stores. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their stores. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bookshops, bakeries or toy stores.

Role B — Bookshops

You think bookshops are the best stores. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their stores. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): convenience stores, bakeries or toy stores.

Role C — Bakeries

You think bakeries are the best stores. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their stores. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bookshops, convenience stores or toy stores.

Role D — Toy Stores

You think toy stores are the best stores. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their stores. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bookshops, bakeries or convenience stores.

After reading / listening

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

'grocery'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'store'.

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

    • high
    • nuts
    • seems
    • across
    • worldwide
    • more
    • advanced
    • checkout
    • hometown
    • lets
    • charged
    • change

    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 - New store lets you shop, walk out and pay later

    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 'grocery'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What is your local grocery store like?
    5. What do you know about Amazon?
    6. Do you think it's a good idea to have no checkouts?
    7. How could going shopping be made a better experience?
    8. What are the drawbacks to paying via an app?
    9. What do you dislike about shopping?
    10. What is your usual experience at a grocery checkout counter?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. How is going shopping better than shopping online?
    3. Why is the competition between convenience stores so tough?
    4. What do you think of convenience stores?
    5. What are your shopping habits?
    6. What will happen to cashiers and sales assistants?
    7. Why do women seem to like going shopping more than men?
    8. What is your favourite store, and why?
    9. What will going shopping be like in 20 years from now?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the boss of Amazon?

    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)

    Amazon just (1) ____ what it describes as the world's most advanced shopping technology. It is the prime feature of its new-concept grocery store that has no (2) ____ or checkout counters. It is called Amazon Go and is being trialled in the company's hometown of Seattle. The technology works (3) ____ an app on a shopper's mobile device. The app automatically checks in when the shopper enters the store. It lets you shop as (4) ____ and then scans what you have bought as you leave the store. Amazon then bills you later and the shopping gets charged to your Amazon account. There is no waiting (5) ____ line, no cashiers, and no being held (6) ____ by slow customers, credit card transactions or waiting for change.

    Amazon Go may revolutionize the high street shopping experience and provide a much-needed (7) ____ for brick-and-mortar stores. The grocery and convenience store markets are extremely tough nuts to (8) ____. Profit margins are low and competition is intense. However, Amazon seems (9) ____ it can change people's shopping habits. Rumours are that the online retail giant has plans for 2,000 grocery stores across the USA. It could also get involved (10) ____ selling the software for its shopping technology to retailers worldwide. Industry analyst Colin Sebastian (11) ____ Amazon Go could challenge Internet shopping. He said: "It makes it just as convenient, if (12) ____ more convenient, than online shopping in some cases."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     unveiled     (b)     veiling     (c)     unveiling     (d)     veiled    
    2. (a)     cues     (b)     crews     (c)     queues     (d)     clues    
    3. (a)     vis-a-vis     (b)     at     (c)     via     (d)     viva    
    4. (a)     normality     (b)     normally     (c)     normalize     (d)     normal    
    5. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     on    
    6. (a)     to     (b)     up     (c)     on     (d)     down    
    7. (a)     boast     (b)     boost     (c)     baste     (d)     beast    
    8. (a)     creak     (b)     crack     (c)     croak     (d)     crick    
    9. (a)     confiding     (b)     confidence     (c)     confident     (d)     confidently    
    10. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    11. (a)     suggesting     (b)     suggestive     (c)     suggestion     (d)     suggested    
    12. (a)     never     (b)     non     (c)     nor     (d)     not

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. just elnidveu what it describes as…
    2. It is the prime tareefu
    3. no esuequ or checkout counters
    4. mobile iecevd
    5. no cisaresh
    6. credit card atcnistaorsn

    Paragraph 2

    1. lxreemyet tough nuts to crack
    2. Profit msargni are low
    3. competition is seenint
    4. get iedvlvno in selling the software
    5. Industry yatlasn
    6. just as neoeivctnn

    Put the text back together

    (    )     Amazon Go may revolutionize the high street shopping experience and provide a much-needed boost for

    (    )     to your Amazon account. There is no waiting in line, no cashiers, and no being held up

    (    )     feature of its new-concept grocery store that has no queues or checkout counters. It is called Amazon Go and is being

    (    )     shopping. He said: "It makes it just as convenient, if not more convenient, than online shopping in some cases."

    1  )     Amazon just unveiled what it describes as the world's most advanced shopping technology. It is the prime

    (    )     what you have bought as you leave the store. Amazon then bills you later and the shopping gets charged

    (    )     to retailers worldwide. Industry analyst Colin Sebastian suggested Amazon Go could challenge Internet

    (    )     by slow customers, credit card transactions or waiting for change.

    (    )     habits. Rumours are that the online retail giant has plans for 2,000 grocery stores across

    (    )     brick-and-mortar stores. The grocery and convenience store markets are extremely tough nuts to crack. Profit

    (    )     the USA. It could also get involved in selling the software for its shopping technology

    (    )     device. The app automatically checks in when the shopper enters the store. It lets you shop as normal and then scans

    (    )     margins are low and competition is intense. However, Amazon seems confident it can change people's shopping

    (    )     trialled in the company's hometown of Seattle. The technology works via an app on a shopper's mobile

    Put the words in the right order

    1. store   feature   new   grocery   prime   its   concept   The   of   -   .
    2. mobile   works   app   shopper's   technology   an   a   The   via   on   .
    3. leave   Scans   have   you   store   you   as   the   what   bought   .
    4. cashiers   ,   and   no   being   held   up   by   slow   customers   No   .
    5. revolutionize   may   Go   experience   shopping   street   high   the   .
    6. a   mortar  boost  much-   stores   and-   for  Provide   brick-   needed  .
    7. crack   to   nuts   tough   extremely   are   markets   Store   .
    8. stores   grocery   2,000   for   plans   has   giant   retail   online   The   .
    9. It   in   could   selling   also   the   get   software   involved   .
    10. shopping   online   than   convenient   More   cases   some   in   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Amazon just unveiled / veiled what it describes as the world's most advanced shopping technology. It is the prime featured / feature of its new-concept grocery store that has no queues / cues or checkout counters. It is called Amazon Go and is being trailed / trialled in the company's hometown of Seattle. The technology works via an app on a shopper's mobility / mobile device. The app automatically / automatic checks in when the shopper enters the store. It lets you shop as normal / normally and then scans what you have bought as / at you leave the store. Amazon then bills you later and the shopping gets charge / charged to your Amazon account. There is no waiting in line, no cashiers, and no being held down / up by slow customers, credit card transactions or waiting for change.

    Amazon Go may revolutionize the high / low street shopping experience and provide a much-needed boast / boost for brick-and-mortar stores. The grocery and convenience store markets are extremely / extremity tough nuts to crack. Profit margins are low and competition is intensely / intense. However, Amazon seems confidence / confident it can change people's shopping habits. Rumours are that the online retail giant / gigantic has plans for 2,000 grocery stores across the USA. It could also get involved on / in selling the software for its shopping technology to retails / retailers worldwide. Industry analyst / analysis Colin Sebastian suggested Amazon Go could challenge Internet shopping. He said: "It makes it just as convenient, if not more convenient, than online shopping in some causes / cases."

    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)

    _m_z_n j_st _nv__l_d wh_t _t d_scr_b_s _s th_ w_rld's m_st _dv_nc_d sh_pp_ng t_chn_l_gy. _t _s th_ pr_m_ f__t_r_ _f _ts n_w-c_nc_pt gr_c_ry st_r_ th_t h_s n_ q____s _r ch_ck__t c__nt_rs. _t _s c_ll_d _m_z_n G_ _nd _s b__ng tr__ll_d _n th_ c_mp_ny's h_m_t_wn _f S__ttl_. Th_ t_chn_l_gy w_rks v__ _n _pp _n _ sh_pp_r's m_b_l_ d_v_c_. Th_ _pp __t_m_t_c_lly ch_cks _n wh_n th_ sh_pp_r _nt_rs th_ st_r_. _t l_ts y__ sh_p _s n_rm_l _nd th_n sc_ns wh_t y__ h_v_ b__ght _s y__ l__v_ th_ st_r_. _m_z_n th_n b_lls y__ l_t_r _nd th_ sh_pp_ng g_ts ch_rg_d t_ y__r _m_z_n _cc__nt. Th_r_ _s n_ w__t_ng _n l_n_, n_ c_sh__rs, _nd n_ b__ng h_ld _p by sl_w c_st_m_rs, cr_d_t c_rd tr_ns_ct__ns _r w__t_ng f_r ch_ng_.

    _m_z_n G_ m_y r_v_l_t__n_z_ th_ h_gh str__t sh_pp_ng _xp_r__nc_ _nd pr_v_d_ _ m_ch-n__d_d b__st f_r br_ck-_nd-m_rt_r st_r_s. Th_ gr_c_ry _nd c_nv_n__nc_ st_r_ m_rk_ts _r_ _xtr_m_ly t__gh n_ts t_ cr_ck. Pr_f_t m_rg_ns _r_ l_w _nd c_mp_t_t__n _s _nt_ns_. H_w_v_r, _m_z_n s__ms c_nf_d_nt _t c_n ch_ng_ p__pl_'s sh_pp_ng h_b_ts. R_m__rs _r_ th_t th_ _nl_n_ r_t__l g__nt h_s pl_ns f_r 2,000 gr_c_ry st_r_s _cr_ss th_ _S_. _t c__ld _ls_ g_t _nv_lv_d _n s_ll_ng th_ s_ftw_r_ f_r _ts sh_pp_ng t_chn_l_gy t_ r_t__l_rs w_rldw_d_. _nd_stry _n_lyst C_l_n S_b_st__n s_gg_st_d _m_z_n G_ c__ld ch_ll_ng_ _nt_rn_t sh_pp_ng. H_ s__d: "_t m_k_s _t j_st _s c_nv_n__nt, _f n_t m_r_ c_nv_n__nt, th_n _nl_n_ sh_pp_ng _n s_m_ c_s_s."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    amazon just unveiled what it describes as the world's most advanced shopping technology it is the prime feature of its new-concept grocery store that has no queues or checkout counters it is called amazon go and is being trialled in the company's hometown of seattle the technology works via an app on a shopper's mobile device the app automatically checks in when the shopper enters the store it lets you shop as normal and then scans what you have bought as you leave the store amazon then bills you later and the shopping gets charged to your amazon account there is no waiting in line no cashiers and no being held up by slow customers credit card transactions or waiting for change

    amazon go may revolutionize the high street shopping experience and provide a much-needed boost for brick-and-mortar stores the grocery and convenience store markets are extremely tough nuts to crack profit margins are low and competition is intense however amazon seems confident it can change people's shopping habits rumours are that the online retail giant has plans for 2000 grocery stores across the usa it could also get involved in selling the software for its shopping technology to retailers worldwide industry analyst colin sebastian suggested amazon go could challenge internet shopping he said "it makes it just as convenient if not more convenient than online shopping in some cases"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Amazonjustunveiledwhatitdescribesastheworld'smostadvancedsho
    ppingtechnology.Itistheprimefeatureofitsnew-conceptgrocerystor
    ethathasnoqueuesorcheckoutcounters.ItiscalledAmazonGoandisbe
    ingtrialledinthecompany'shometownofSeattle.Thetechnologyworks
    viaanapponashopper'smobiledevice.Theappautomaticallychecksin
    whentheshopperentersthestore.Itletsyoushopasnormalandthensca
    nswhatyouhaveboughtasyouleavethestore.Amazonthenbillsyoulat
    erandtheshoppinggetschargedtoyourAmazonaccount.Thereisnowai
    tinginline,nocashiers,andnobeingheldupbyslowcustomers,creditcar
    dtransactionsorwaitingforchange.AmazonGomayrevolutionizethehi
    ghstreetshoppingexperienceandprovideamuch-neededboostforbr
    ick-and-mortarstores.Thegroceryandconveniencestoremarketsar
    eextremelytoughnutstocrack.Profitmarginsarelowandcompetitionis
    intense.However,Amazonseemsconfidentitcanchangepeople'sshop
    pinghabits.Rumoursarethattheonlineretailgianthasplansfor2,000gr
    ocerystoresacrosstheUSA.Itcouldalsogetinvolvedinsellingthesoftwa
    reforitsshoppingtechnologytoretailersworldwide.IndustryanalystCo
    linSebastiansuggestedAmazonGocouldchallengeInternetshopping.
    Hesaid:"Itmakesitjustasconvenient,ifnotmoreconvenient,thanonlin
    eshoppinginsomecases."

    Free writing

    Write about the lesson page for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Academic writing

    Bricks-and-mortar stores are better than online stores. 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 this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. GROCERY STORES: Make a poster about grocery stores. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. FUTURE SHOPPING: Write a magazine article about grocery stores in the future. Include imaginary interviews with sales assistants, shoppers and with store designers.

    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 grocery stores. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how they could be better. 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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