Communication giant Vodafone has created a vending machine that will sell mobile phones. The company is using a sales technique that is very successful with other goods, such as cigarettes, chocolate and soft drinks. The first of the company’s QuickPhone kiosks will be opened in Manchester, in the UK. The company hopes they will soon be everywhere and become a common sight at railway stations, airports, music festivals and shopping malls. People who need an emergency telephone can pay by cash. There is no need to give any personal information about credit cards or addresses.

Security experts are worried that terrorists, criminals and phone pests will start buying the phones. The phone buyer does not have to submit his/her name and proof of address. People can buy the phones anonymously. The police could never find out who owned any telephone used in a crime or act of terrorism. Some people are worried this may lead to terrorist attacks similar to those in Madrid, where terrorists used mobile phones to detonate their bombs. Perhaps the likeliest criminal activity will come from vandals, who might attack the machines and steal the phones inside.

WARM-UPS

1. TELEPHONES: In pairs / groups, talk about your history with telephones. What did they look like when you first used them? Could you live without telephones? What do you think telephones will do in the future?

2. KIOSKS: How often do you use kiosks or vending machines? What do you buy? Are they everywhere in your country? With your partner(s), talk about the good and bad points of vending machines selling the following things:

Mobile phones	Guns
Passports	Alcohol
Medicine	Cigarettes
Pornography	Pets

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

Communication / Vodafone / vending machines / mobile phones / kiosks / music festivals / personal information / proof of address / phone pests / vandals / looting

Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently.

4. VENDING MACHINES: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with vending machines. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

5. PERSONAL INFORMATION: Do you dislike giving your personal information to people? Talk with your partner(s) about the possible dangers of giving out the following info. Who do you give this information to?

Name Age Date of birth Address E-mail address

Weight Credit card number Telephone number Salary TOEIC score

6. MOBILE OPINIONS: Do you agree with these opinions? Talk about them with your partner(s).

a.    I can’t live without my mobile.

b.    Mobile phones give us greater freedom.

c.     Mobile phones are a criminal tool and need stricter rules.

d.    Mobile phone company charges are too high.

e.    Mobile phones will soon be replaced with watch phones.

f.     Vending machine mobile phones will lead to an increase in crime and terrorism.

g.    Kiosk mobile phones are a great idea. I hate the long sales process in stores.

h.    The mobile phone is the most useful invention in the past ten years.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	A company will start selling mobile phones from vending machines.	T / F
b.	Customers who successfully buy a phone will get free chocolates.	T / F
c.	The vending machines will soon be a common sight across the UK.	T / F
d.	People must type their name when using the vending machine.	T / F
e.	People are worried that terrorists will buy the mobile phones.	T / F
f.	People can buy the phones anonymously.	T / F
g.	Mobile phones were used to detonate bombs in Madrid, Spain.	T / F
h.	It is likely criminal activity will come from computer hackers.	T / F

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

a.	created	all over the place
b.	technique	info
c.	everywhere	explode
d.	common	made
e.	information	specialists
f.	experts	give
g.	pests	unidentified
h.	submit	method
i.	anonymously	familiar
j.	detonate	nuisances

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

a.	a vending machine that	to detonate their bombs
b.	a sales technique that is very	sight at railway stations
c.	become a common	start buying the phones
d.	no need to give	will sell mobile phones
e.	personal information about	anonymously
f.	criminals and phone pests will	any personal information
g.	name and proof	credit cards or addresses
h.	People can buy the phones	of terrorism
i.	a crime or act	of address
j.	terrorists used mobile phones	successful with other goods

AFTER READING / LISTENING

SYNONYM FILL: Place the number of the synonym group below in the correct gap in the text. It is not important to guess a correct word - any of the synonyms from each group could be put into the relevant gap.

Vodafone’s vending machine mobile phones

Communication giant Vodafone has created a vending machine that will ____ mobile phones. The company is using a sales technique that is very successful with ____, such as cigarettes, chocolate and soft drinks. The first of the company’s QuickPhone kiosks will be opened in Manchester, in the UK. The company hopes they will soon be everywhere and become a ____ sight at railway stations, airports, music festivals and shopping malls. People who need an emergency telephone can pay by cash. There is no need to give any personal information about credit cards or addresses.

Security ____ are worried that terrorists, criminals and phone ____ will start buying the phones. The phone buyer does not have to submit his/her name and proof of ____. People can buy the phones ____. The police could never find out who owned any telephone used in a crime or act of terrorism. Some people are worried this may lead to terrorist attacks similar to those in Madrid, where terrorists used mobile phones to detonate their bombs. Perhaps the likeliest criminal activity will come from vandals, who might attack the machines and ____ the phones inside.

 

1 steal plunder ransack loot	2 sell retail market merchandise	3 experts specialists authorities gurus	4 goods products merchandise commodities
5 common familiar everyday usual	6 pests nuisances creeps tormentors	7 address residence domicile abode	8 anonymously unidentified unnamed incognito

LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Vodafone’s vending machine mobile phones

Communication giant Vodafone has ________ a vending machine that will sell mobile phones. The company is using a sales ___________ that is very successful with other goods, such as cigarettes, chocolate and soft drinks. The _______ ____ the company’s QuickPhone kiosks will be opened in Manchester, in the UK. The company hopes they will soon be everywhere and become a ________ ________ at railway stations, airports, music festivals and shopping malls. People who need an emergency telephone ____ ____ ___ cash. There is no need to give any personal information about credit cards or ___________.

Security experts are worried that terrorists, criminals and phone ______ will start buying the phones. The phone buyer does not have to ________ his/her name and ________ of address. People can buy the phones anonymously. The police could never find out who owned any telephone used in a crime or _____ ___ terrorism. Some people are worried this may lead to terrorist attacks similar to those in Madrid, where terrorists used mobile phones to __________ their bombs. Perhaps the likeliest criminal activity will come from vandals, who might attack the machines and ________ the phones inside.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘mobile’ and ‘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. SYNONYM FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the synonym fill. 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. STUDENT “MOBILE PHONE” SURVEY: In pairs / groups, write down questions about mobile phones and the need for security and giving proof of address.

• Ask other classmates your questions and note down their answers.
• Go back to your original partner / group and compare your findings.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

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

created successful Manchester common cash addresses

pests submit police act Madrid steal

DISCUSSION

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

1. Did the headline make you want to read the article?
2. What do you think of the new vending machine phones?
3. How important are mobile phones to you?
4. What would happen if you had mobile phone for a month?
5. What kinds of problems would you have if you lost your mobile phone?
6. What are the dangers of mobile phones?
7. Do you think people should register their personal information to get a mobile phone?
8. Do you think governments should place stricter controls on mobile phone ownership?
9. Do you worry about giving personal information to companies?
10. What can governments do to stop phone pests?

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

1. Did you like reading this article?
2. What do you think about what you read?
3. Would you buy a phone from a vending machine?
4. What kinds of criminal activities are mobile phones used for?
5. Do you often use vending machines?
6. What kinds of things would you like to buy from vending machines?
7. Do you think people would spend $50 for an “emergency” phone when they could make a call from a public pay phone for 50 cents?
8. What functions do you think mobile phones will have in the future?
9. Would / Do vandals attack vending machines in your country?
10. Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

1. What question would you like to ask about this topic?
2. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
3. Was there a question you didn’t like?
4. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
5. What did you like talking about?
6. Do you want to know how anyone else answered the questions?
7. Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

MOBILE PHONE ROLE PLAY: Should mobile phones be sold from vending machines” Do people need to give personal information to own a phone?
Team up with classmates who have been assigned the same role to develop your roles and discuss ideas and “strategies” before the role play begins. Introduce yourself to the other role players.

Role A – VODAFONE CEO You believe the age where people must register to have a phone is over. It’s an invasion of privacy. A mobile phone is as essential part of daily life. People should be able to buy one quickly - any time, anywhere. It’s not fair to place strict rules on the mobile phone industry. THINK OF MORE REASONS WHY VENDING PHONES ARE GOOD.

Role B – SECURITY EXPERT You believe international terrorism will get a major boost from the new vending phones. You think the government should ban them. You also believe national security is more important than privacy issues. You think all mobile phones need greater regulation. THINK OF MORE REASONS WHY VENDING PHONES ARE BAD.

Role C – JO PUBLIC (FOR) You think there is nothing wrong with vending phones. You are tired of your government asking you to hand over so much personal information. A phone is no different from a camera – it’s something that’s very useful. The government should trust people more. THINK OF MORE REASONS WHY VENDING PHONES ARE GOOD.

Role D – JO PUBLIC (AGAINST) You think the government needs to have stricter controls on mobile phones. The mobile phone is an important tool for criminals. They help terrorists. You are worried that more phone crimes will take place if people can buy them anonymously. Registration is necessary for public protection. THINK OF MORE REASONS WHY VENDING PHONES ARE BAD.

Change roles and repeat the role play. Comment in groups about the differences between the two role plays.

Decide what should be done about requiring people to register their personal information to have a mobile phone.

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 more information on Vodafone’s new vending machine idea. Share your findings with your class in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

3. PROS AND CONS: Make a poster describing the good and bad points of mobile phones that do not need buyers to register their personal information. Show your posters to your classmates in your next lesson. Did you all find similar things? Discuss the good and bad points together.

4. LETTER: Write a letter to the government about the dangers of mobile phones. Describe your worries at people buying the phones without giving basic information like a name or address. Show what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all write about similar things?

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. T

b. F

c. T

d. F

e. T

f. T

g. T

h. F

SYNONYM MATCH:

a.	created	made
b.	technique	method
c.	everywhere	all over the place
d.	common	familiar
e.	information	info
f.	experts	specialists
g.	pests	nuisances
h.	submit	give
i.	anonymously	unidentified
j.	detonate	explode

PHRASE MATCH:

a.	a vending machine that	will sell mobile phones
b.	a sales technique that is very	successful with other goods
c.	become a common	sight at railway stations
d.	no need to give	any personal information
e.	personal information about	credit cards or addresses
f.	criminals and phone pests will	start buying the phones
g.	name and proof	of address
h.	People can buy the phones	anonymously
i.	a crime or act	of terrorism
j.	terrorists used mobile phones	to detonate their bombs

SYNONYM FILL:

Vodafone’s vending machine mobile phones

Communication giant Vodafone has created a vending machine that will ---2--- mobile phones. The company is using a sales technique that is very successful with other
---4---, such as cigarettes, chocolate and soft drinks. The first of the company’s QuickPhone kiosks will be opened in Manchester, in the UK. The company hopes they will soon be everywhere and become a ---5--- sight at railway stations, airports, music festivals and shopping malls. People who need an emergency telephone can pay by cash. There is no need to give any personal information about credit cards or addresses.

Security ---3--- are worried that terrorists, criminals and phone ---6--- will start buying the phones. The phone buyer does not have to submit his/her name and proof of ---7---. People can buy the phones ---8---. The police could never find out who owned any telephone used in a crime or act of terrorism. Some people are worried this may lead to terrorist attacks similar to those in Madrid, where terrorists used mobile phones to detonate their bombs. Perhaps the likeliest criminal activity will come from vandals, who might attack the machines and ---1--- the phones inside.

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