The Reading / Listening - Level 1

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

A big challenge for teachers is to keep students working. Many students want to be online and check messages, even when they have classwork. Researchers said students are physically present in class, but mentally absent because they are using their mobiles. Teachers are fighting a "losing battle" because students are more interested in social media. Other research found that test scores went up by 6% after mobile phones were banned in class.

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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.

their mobile phones

2.

students do not learn

b.

news

3.

social

c.

very well

4.

145 American university

d.

off their phones

5.

students used

e.

of the class

6.

turned

f.

students

7.

higher scores

g.

media

8.

at the end

h.

on tests


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.

A big challenge

a.

in class

2.

be online and

b.

banned in class

3.

even when they have

c.

battle

4.

physically present

d.

for teachers

5.

mentally absent because they are

e.

check messages

6.

fighting a losing

f.

up by 6%

7.

test scores went

g.

using their mobiles

8.

mobile phones were

h.

classwork

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

There (1) ___________________ students who use mobile phones in class. New research says students (2) ___________________ very well when they (3) ___________________ social media in class. Researchers (4) ___________________ American university students in the classroom. Some of the students used their mobile phones in class; (5) ___________________ their phones. The students who turned off their phones in class got higher scores on tests they took (6) ___________________ the class.

A (7) ___________________ teachers is to keep students working. Many students want to be (8) ___________________ messages, (9) ___________________ have classwork. Researchers said students are (10) ___________________ in class, but mentally absent because they are using their mobiles. Teachers are fighting (11) ___________________ because students are more interested in social media. Other research found that test scores (12) ___________________ after mobile phones were banned in class.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Thereisbadnewsforstudentswhousemobilephonesinclass.Newresea
rchsaysstudentsdonotlearnverywellwhentheytextandusesocialmed
iainclass.Researcherslookedat145Americanuniversitystudentsinthe
classroom.Someofthestudentsusedtheirmobilephonesinclass;other
sswitchedofftheirphones.Thestudentswhoturnedofftheirphonesincl
assgothigherscoresonteststheytookattheendoftheclass.Abigchallen
geforteachersistokeepstudentsworking.Manystudentswanttobeonli
neandcheckmessages,evenwhentheyhaveclasswork.Researcherss
aidstudentsarephysicallypresentinclass,butmentallyabsentbecause
theyareusingtheirmobiles.Teachersarefightinga"losingbattle"becau
sestudentsaremoreinterestedinsocialmedia.Otherresearchfoundth
attestscoreswentupby6%aftermobilephoneswerebannedinclass.

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 mobile phones for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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