The Reading / Listening - Level 2

The organization that controls the code for Internet pages has added 250 characters in its recent update. All of the letters, numbers or symbols we see online have a special code. Internet browsers read this code and know what to show online. The system is called Unicode. It makes sure characters look the way they should look. The new "emoji" include many characters used in SMS and text messages. People can now make nicer-looking websites using new symbols that include a smiling face, a spider, a thumbs up, a dove of peace, and many more.

"Emoji" were developed in Japan for mobile phones. "Emoji" in Japanese is short for “picture-writing character". They quickly became popular worldwide, especially among younger people. The big phone makers and software companies, like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, etc. will now have to update their fonts. They then have to provide updates so we can use the "emoji". The new "emoji" are not from all cultures. They are mainly for Americans and Europeans. They include things like a hand signal from the U.S. TV series Star Trek.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 1   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.

recent

a.

and text messages

2.

numbers or symbols

b.

update

3.

Internet

c.

of peace

4.

It makes sure characters look the

d.

we see online

5.

characters used in SMS

e.

up

6.

new symbols that include

f.

way they should look

7.

a thumbs

g.

a smiling face

8.

a dove

h.

browsers


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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" were developed

a.

popular worldwide

2.

"Emoji" in Japanese is short for

b.

fonts

3.

They quickly became

c.

Americans

4.

software

d.

updates

5.

update their

e.

in Japan

6.

provide

f.

companies

7.

mainly for

g.

TV series

8.

the U.S.

h.

"picture-writing character"

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The organization (1) ___________________ code for Internet pages has added 250 characters in (2) ___________________. All of the letters, numbers or symbols (3) ___________________ have a special code. Internet browsers read this code and know what to show online. The system is called Unicode. (4) ___________________ look the way they should look. The new "emoji" include many characters used (5) ___________________ messages. People can now make nicer-looking websites using new symbols that include (6) ___________________, a spider, a thumbs up, a dove of peace, and many more.

"Emoji" (7) ___________________ Japan for mobile phones. "Emoji" in Japanese is short for "picture-writing character". They quickly (8) ___________________, especially among younger people. The big phone makers (9) ___________________, like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, etc. will (10) ___________________ their fonts. They then have to provide updates so we can use the "emoji". The new "emoji" (11) ___________________ cultures. They are mainly for Americans and Europeans. They (12) ___________________ a hand signal from the U.S. TV series Star Trek.

PUT A SLASH ( / )WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheorganizationthatcontrolsthecodeforInternetpageshasadded
250charactersinitsrecentupdate.Alloftheletters,numbersorsymb
olsweseeonlinehaveaspecialcode.Internetbrowsersreadthiscode
andknowwhattoshowonline.ThesystemiscalledUnicode.Itmakes
surecharacterslookthewaytheyshouldlook.Thenew"emoji"includ
emanycharactersusedinSMSandtextmessages.Peoplecannowm
akenicer-lookingwebsitesusingnewsymbolsthatincludeasmilingf
ace,aspider,athumbsup,adoveofpeace,andmanymore."Emoji"w
eredevelopedinJapanformobilephones."Emoji"inJapaneseisshor
tfor"picture-writingcharacter".Theyquicklybecamepopularworl
dwide,especiallyamongyoungerpeople.Thebigphonemakersand
softwarecompanies,likeApple,Samsung,Nokia,etc.willnowhavet
oupdatetheirfonts.Theythenhavetoprovideupdatessowecanuset
he"emoji".Thenew"emoji"arenotfromallcultures.Theyaremainlyf
orAmericansandEuropeans.Theyincludethingslikeahandsignalfr
omtheU.S.TVseriesStarTrek.

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.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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