The Reading / Listening - Level 1

An organization that controls the Internet has added 250 characters in a recent update. The letters, numbers and symbols we see online have a special code. Internet browsers read this code. The system is called Unicode. It makes sure characters look the right way. The new "emoji" include many SMS characters. People can now make nicer-looking websites. They can use new symbols like a smiling face, a thumbs up, or a dove of peace.

"Emoji" started in Japan. They quickly became popular with younger people. "Emoji" in Japanese means “picture-writing character". Phone and software companies, like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, etc. must update their fonts. They have to provide updates so we can use the "emoji". The new "emoji" are mainly for Americans and Europeans. There are things like a hand signal from the U.S. TV series Star Trek.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.pcworld.com/article/2364340/unicode-update-lets-you-say-spider-dark-glasses-in-pictures.html
  • http://www.cnet.com/news/behold-250-new-emoji-vulcan-symbol-floppy-disks-and-more/
  • http://techcrunch.com/2014/06/17/the-250-new-emoji-heres-what-theyll-look-like/


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 Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

a recent

a.

a smiling face

2.

numbers and symbols we see online

b.

SMS characters

3.

It makes sure characters look appear

c.

update

4.

The new "emoji" include many

d.

of peace

5.

People can now make nicer-

e.

have a special code

6.

new symbols like

f.

up

7.

a thumbs

g.

looking websites

8.

a dove

h.

the right way


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

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

"Emoji" started

a.

companies

2.

"Emoji" in Japanese means

b.

Americans

3.

software

c.

fonts

4.

update their

d.

series

5.

They have to

e.

signal

6.

mainly for

f.

"picture-writing character"

7.

a hand

g.

in Japan

8.

U.S. TV

h.

provide updates

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

An organization that controls the Internet has added 250 characters (1) ___________________. The letters, numbers and symbols (2) ___________________ a special code. Internet browsers read this code. (3) ___________________ Unicode. It makes sure characters look (4) ___________________ way. The new "emoji" include many SMS characters. People can now make (5) ___________________. They can use new symbols like a smiling face, a thumbs up, or (6) ___________________.

"Emoji" started in Japan. They (7) ___________________ with younger people. "Emoji" in Japanese (8) ___________________ character". Phone and (9) ___________________, like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, etc. must (10) ___________________. They have to provide updates (11) ___________________ "emoji". The new "emoji" are mainly for Americans and Europeans. There are things like (12) ___________________ the U.S. TV series Star Trek.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AnorganizationthatcontrolstheInternethasadded250charactersi
narecentupdate.Theletters,numbersandsymbolsweseeonlineha
veaspecialcode.Internetbrowsersreadthiscode.Thesystemiscalle
dUnicode.Itmakessurecharacterslooktherightway.Thene
w"emoji"includemanySMScharacters.Peoplecannowmakenicer-
lookingwebsites.Theycanusenewsymbolslikeasmilingface,athu
mbsup,oradoveofpeace."Emoji"startedinJapan.Theyquicklybeca
mepopularwithyoungerpeople."Emoji"inJapanesemeans"picture
-writingcharacter".Phoneandsoftwarecompanies,likeApple,Sa
msung,Nokia,etc.mustupdatetheirfonts.Theyhavetoprovideupd
atessowecanusethe"emoji".Thenew"emoji"aremainlyforAmerica
nsandEuropeans.TherearethingslikeahandsignalfromtheU.S.TV
seriesStarTrek.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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