The Reading / Listening - Level 0

There is bad news for students. New research says students do not learn very well when they use mobile phones in class. Researchers looked at 145 university students. Some of the students used their mobile phones in class; others switched them off. The students who turned off their phones in class got higher scores on tests.

It is difficult to keep students working. They want to be online and check messages. They do not want to work. Their body is in class, but their brain is absent. They are texting or on social media. Teachers are fighting a "losing battle". Some schools in England banned mobile phones and test scores went up by 6%.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 1,  Level 2   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/09/us-mobile-phones-study-test_n_7541816.html
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/education-33047927
  • https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/could-texting-and-tweeting-lectures-be-good-learning


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.

bad

a.

in class

2.

new

b.

them off

3.

students do not

c.

research

4.

145 university

d.

news

5.

used their mobile phones

e.

learn very well

6.

others switched

f.

on tests

7.

turned off

g.

students

8.

higher scores

h.

their phones


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.

It is difficult to keep

a.

their brain is absent

2.

They want to be

b.

students working

3.

check

c.

battle

4.

They do not

d.

messages

5.

Their body is in class, but

e.

up by 6%

6.

They are texting or on

f.

online

7.

Teachers are fighting a losing

g.

want to work

8.

test scores went

h.

social media

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

There (1) ___________________ students. New research says students do (2) ___________________ well when they use mobile phones in class. Researchers (3) ___________________ university students. Some (4) ___________________ used their mobile phones in class; others (5) ___________________. The students who turned off their phones (6) ___________________ scores on tests.

It is (7) ___________________ students working. They want to be (8) ___________________ messages. They do not want to work. Their body is in class, but their (9) ___________________. They are texting (10) ___________________ media. Teachers are fighting (11) ___________________. Some schools in England banned mobile phones and test (12) ___________________ 6%.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Thereisbadnewsforstudents.Newresearchsaysstudentsdonotlearnv
erywellwhentheyusemobilephonesinclass.Researcherslookedat145
universitystudents.Someofthestudentsusedtheirmobilephonesincla
ss;othersswitchedthemoff.Thestudentswhoturnedofftheirphonesin
classgothigherscoresontests.Itisdifficulttokeepstudentsworking.Th
eywanttobeonlineandcheckmessages.Theydonotwanttowork.Their
bodyisinclass,buttheirbrainisabsent.Theyaretextingoronsocialmedi
a.Teachersarefightinga"losingbattle".SomeschoolsinEnglandbanne
dmobilephonesandtestscoreswentupby6%.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

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

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about mobile phones for 10 minutes. Read and talk about your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Back to the top

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You