The Reading / Listening - Smiley Face Emojis - Level 6

New research suggests that using smiley face emojis in work e-mails could jeopardize your career. Researchers from a university in Israel report that people inserting emojis in work-related mail are likely to be deemed stupid and incompetent. The researchers conducted experiments on 549 professionals from 29 different countries to gauge their reaction to emojis. The professionals had to "evaluate both the competence and warmth" of the e-mail writer. Dr Ella Glikson said: "Our findings provide first-time evidence that, contrary to actual smiles, smileys do not increase perceptions of warmth and actually decrease perceptions of competence." She added: "In formal business e-mails, a smiley is not a smile."

Other research has also shown that emojis are often misunderstood. Some of this misunderstanding is related to how the reader or viewer interprets the emoji design. In other cases, there is a technological problem. The emoji that was typed in by the writer is not shown in the same way in the e-mail received and read by the reader. This happens when the writer and reader of an e-mail do not use the same software or operating system for their devices. Emojis originated on Japanese mobile phones in the late 1990s. They quickly spread in popularity and now more than six billion of them are sent every day around the world. There is even a World Emoji Day, which is celebrated on July the 17th every year.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Smiley Face Emojis - Level 4  or  Smiley Face Emojis - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/4241146/putting-smiley-face-emojis-in-work-emails-will-make-colleagues-hate-you-and-think-youre-incompetent/
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/14/using-emojis-makes-people-think-incompetent-research-finds/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoji


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. EMOJIS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about emojis. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       research / career / university / stupid / incompetent / professionals / warmth / formal
       misunderstood / design / technological / software / devices / popularity / celebrated

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. INCOMPETENT: Students A strongly believe people who use emojis in business e-mails are incompetent; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. COMMUNICATION: How can these ways of communicating be better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

Solutions

E-mail

 

 

 

Letter

 

 

 

Fax

 

 

 

Video calls

 

 

 

Social media

 

 

 

Phone calls

 

 

 

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

5. CAREER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "career". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. E-MAILS: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst e-mail mistakes at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Political signature quote
  • Writing too much
  • Bad subject line
  • Poor grammar
  • Not being polite
  • Using emojis
  • Using Reply To All
  • No 'Dear + name'

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Research says using emojis may not be so good for your career.     T / F
  2. People who use emojis in business mails could be deemed as stupid.   T / F
  3. Researchers checked people's reactions in 29 different countries.     T / F
  4. A researcher said smileys in business mails are smiles.     T / F
  5. The researchers said emojis are rarely misunderstood.     T / F
  6. Emojis do not always cross over different operating systems.     T / F
  7. Emojis originated in Silicon Valley, USA, in the late 1990s.     T / F
  8. World Emoji Day is celebrated in June every year.     T / F

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

  1. suggests
  2. inserting
  3. deemed
  4. gauge
  5. perceptions
  6. often
  7. interprets
  8. originated
  9. spread
  10. celebrated
  1. explains
  2. measure
  3. developed
  4. impressions
  5. putting
  6. commemorated
  7. indicates
  8. circulated
  9. frequently
  10. considered

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. emails could jeopardize
  2. The researchers conducted
  3. gauge their reaction
  4. increase perceptions
  5. formal
  6. emojis are often
  7. a technological
  8. use the same software or
  9. They quickly
  10. celebrated
  1. operating system
  2. of warmth
  3. misunderstood
  4. experiments
  5. spread in popularity
  6. to emojis
  7. your career
  8. on July the 17th
  9. business e-mails
  10. problem

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
inserting
findings
gauge
formal
jeopardize
contrary
deemed
warmth

New research suggests that using smiley face emojis in work e-mails could (1) ____________ your career. Researchers from a university in Israel report that people (2) ____________ emojis in work-related mail are likely to be (3) ____________ stupid and incompetent. The researchers conducted experiments on 549 professionals from 29 different countries to (4) ____________ their reaction to emojis. The professionals had to "evaluate both the competence and (5) ____________" of the e-mail writer. Dr Ella Glikson said: "Our (6) ___________ provide first-time evidence that, (7) ____________ to actual smiles, smileys do not increase perceptions of warmth and actually decrease perceptions of competence." She added: "In (8) ____________ business e-mails, a smiley is not a smile."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
shown
late
misunderstood
celebrated
typed
interprets
popularity
operating

Other research has also shown that emojis are often (9) ____________. Some of this misunderstanding is related to how the reader or viewer (10) ____________ the emoji design. In other cases there is a technological problem. The emoji that was (11) ____________ in by the writer is not (12) ____________ in the same way in the e-mail received and read by the reader. This happens when the writer and reader of an e-mail do not use the same software or (13) ____________ system for their devices. Emojis originated on Japanese mobile phones in the (14) ____________ 1990s. They quickly spread in (15) ____________ and now more than six billion of them are sent every day around the world. There is even a World Emoji Day, which is (16) ____________ on July the 17th every year.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) research suggests that using smiley face emojis in work e-mails could jeopardize ______
     a.  our career
     b.  you career
     c.  your career
     d.  yours career

2)  people inserting emojis in work-related mail are likely to be deemed stupid ______
     a.  and incompetence
     b.  and incompetent
     c.  and in comp a tent
     d.  and in come per tent

3)  experiments on 549 professionals from 29 different countries to ______ reaction
     a.  grade their
     b.  gage their
     c.  gouge their
     d.  gauge their

4)  contrary to actual smiles, smileys do not increase ______ warmth
     a.  perception of
     b.  perceptions of
     c.  perceptions off
     d.  perception off

5)  She added: "In formal business e-mails, a smiley is ______."
     a.  not a simile
     b.  not a smile
     c.  not a smiley
     d.  not a smiles

6)  Other research has also shown that emojis are ______
     a.  often miss understood
     b.  often mist understood
     c.  often miss under stood
     d.  often misunderstood

7) this misunderstanding is related to how the reader or viewer ______ design
     a.  interpret the emoji
     b.  interprets a emoji
     c.  interprets the emoji
     d.  interprets then emoji

8)  The emoji that was typed in by the writer is not shown ______ way
     a.  on a same
     b.  on the same
     c.  in a same
     d.  in the same

9) writer and reader of an e-mail do not use the same software or operating system ______
     a.  for their device is
     b.  for their devices
     c.  for there devices
     d.  fore their devices

10)  There is even a World Emoji Day, which is ______ July the 17th
     a.  celebrated on
     b.  celebrate it on
     c.  celebrity on
     d.  celebratory on

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

New research (1) ___________________ smiley face emojis in work e-mails could jeopardize your career. Researchers from a university in Israel report that people (2) ___________________ in work-related mail are likely to be deemed (3) ___________________. The researchers conducted experiments on 549 professionals from 29 different countries to (4) ___________________ to emojis. The professionals had to "evaluate both the competence and warmth" of the e-mail writer. Dr Ella Glikson said: "Our findings provide first-time evidence that, (5) ___________________ smiles, smileys do not increase perceptions of warmth and actually decrease perceptions of competence." She added: "In formal business e-mails, a smiley (6) ___________________."

Other research (7) ___________________ that emojis are often misunderstood. Some of this misunderstanding is related to how the reader (8) ___________________ the emoji design. In other cases there is a technological problem. The emoji that (9) ___________________ by the writer is not shown in the same way in the e-mail received and read by the reader. This happens when the writer and (10) ___________________ e-mail do not use the same software or operating system for their devices. Emojis originated on Japanese mobile phones (11) ___________________. They quickly spread in popularity and now more than six billion of them are sent every day around the world. There is even a World Emoji Day, which (12) ___________________ July the 17th every year.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did the article say emojis in e-mails could do to your career?
  2. How many professionals did the researchers look at?
  3. What did people have to evaluate in e-mail writers besides competence?
  4. What did a researcher say smileys decreased perception of?
  5. What did a researcher say was not a smile?
  6. What did researchers say were often misunderstood?
  7. What is not shared across devices to cause technological problems?
  8. When did emojis originate?
  9. How many emojis are sent around the world every day?
  10. When is World Emoji Day?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did the article say emojis in e-mails could do to your career?
a) continue it
b) enhance it
c) end it
d) jeopardize it

2) How many professionals did the researchers look at?
a) 459
b) 549
c) 495
d) 594

3) What did people have to evaluate in e-mail writers besides competence?
a) handwriting
b) grammar
c) warmth
d) spelling

4) What did a researcher say smileys decreased perception of?
a) competence
b) qualifications
c) technology
d) writing

5) What did a researcher say was not a smile?
a) a grimace
b) a frown
c) a smiley
d) a scowl

6) What did researchers say were often misunderstood?
a) workers
b) smileys
c) people
d) bosses

7) What is not shared across devices to cause technological problems?
a) passwords and usernames
b) secrets
c) know-how
d) software and operating systems

8) When did emojis originate?
a) the late 1990s
b) the mid-to-late 1990s
c) the mid 1990s
d) the early-to-mid 1990s

9) How many emojis are sent around the world every day?
a) fewer than 6 billion
b) exactly 6 billion
c) over 6 billion
d) around 6 billion

10) When is World Emoji Day?
a) June 17
b) July 17
c) July 16
d) June 16

Role play

Role  A – 'Reply To All'

You think the 'Reply To All' function is the worst thing to do in an e-mail. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things are OK. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): a bad subject line, using emojis or poor grammar.

Role  B – Bad Subject Line

You think a bad subject line is the worst thing to do in an e-mail. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things are OK. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): the 'Reply To All' function, using emojis or poor grammar.

Role  C – Using Emojis

You think using emojis is the worst thing to do in an e-mail. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things are OK. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): a bad subject line, the 'Reply To All' function or poor grammar.

Role  D – Poor Grammar

You think poor grammar is the worst thing to do in an e-mail. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things are OK. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why):  a bad subject line, using emojis or the 'Reply To All' function.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'smiley'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'face'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. 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. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • often
    • typed
    • happens
    • 1990s
    • six
    • 17
    • new
    • inserting
    • 549
    • reaction
    • findings
    • formal

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Smiley face emojis could hurt your career

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'emoji'?
    3. How important is e-mail to you?
    4. What do you think of emojis?
    5. Why is it wrong to use emojis in work e-mails?
    6. Are emojis linked to competence and warmth?
    7. What message do smiley face emojis give?
    8. When can you use smiley face emojis?
    9. Where do we learn how to write correct e-mails?
    10. Could there be any positives about using emojis in e-mails?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'e-mail'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why do you think emojis are misunderstood?
    5. What technological problems do you have?
    6. What do you think about the operating system you use?
    7. Why are emojis so popular?
    8. Do you have a favourite emoji?
    9. What do you think people would do on World Emoji Day?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    New research suggests that (1) ____ smiley face emojis in work e-mails could jeopardize your career. Researchers from a university in Israel report that people (2) ____ emojis in work-related mail are (3) ____ to be deemed stupid and incompetent. The researchers conducted experiments on 549 professionals from 29 different countries to (4) ____ their reaction to emojis. The professionals had to "evaluate both the competence and warmth" of the e-mail writer. Dr Ella Glikson said: "Our findings provide first-time evidence that, (5) ____ to actual smiles, smileys do not increase perceptions of warmth and actually decrease perceptions of competence." She added: "In (6) ____ business e-mails, a smiley is not a smile."

    Other research has also shown that emojis are often misunderstood. Some of this misunderstanding is related (7) ____ how the reader or viewer interprets the emoji design. In other (8) ____ there is a technological problem. The emoji that was typed in by the writer is not shown in the (9) ____ way in the e-mail received and read by the reader. This happens when the writer and reader of an e-mail do not use the same software or operating system for their (10) ____. Emojis originated on Japanese mobile phones in the late 1990s. They quickly spread in (11) ____ and now more than six billion of them are sent every day around the world. There is even a World Emoji Day, which is (12) ____ on July the 17th every year.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     use     (b)     using     (c)     used     (d)     usage    
    2. (a)     insertion     (b)     inserts     (c)     inserting     (d)     insert    
    3. (a)     likes     (b)     liking     (c)     likelihood     (d)     likely    
    4. (a)     gorge     (b)     gauge     (c)     gouge     (d)     gage    
    5. (a)     contrary     (b)     contraire     (c)     contrite     (d)     contract    
    6. (a)     formal     (b)     feral     (c)     fatal     (d)     follicle    
    7. (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     to    
    8. (a)     castes     (b)     causes     (c)     cases     (d)     ceases    
    9. (a)     simile     (b)     similar     (c)     similarity     (d)     same    
    10. (a)     devises     (b)     devices     (c)     divides     (d)     derides    
    11. (a)     popular     (b)     populate     (c)     popularity     (d)     polar    
    12. (a)     celebrate     (b)     celebratory     (c)     celebrates     (d)     celebrated

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. zrpdaoeije your career
    2. gguae their reaction to emojis
    3. Our findings provide first-time vedieecn
    4. actrynor to actual smiles
    5. decrease perceptions of eecnpotcme
    6. In ofarml business e-mails

    Paragraph 2

    1. the reader or viewer tternpesir the emoji
    2. there is a llcotganoheic problem
    3. operating system for their eescivd
    4. Emojis iondrgteai on Japanese mobile phones
    5. They quickly spread in pplroiauyt
    6. rdaecelebt on July the 17th

    Put the text back together

    (    )     deemed stupid and incompetent. The researchers conducted experiments on 549 professionals from 29 different

    (    )     to actual smiles, smileys do not increase perceptions of warmth and actually decrease perceptions

    (    )     warmth" of the e-mail writer. Dr Ella Glikson said: "Our findings provide first-time evidence that, contrary

    (    )     related to how the reader or viewer interprets the emoji design. In other cases, there is a technological

    (    )     1990s. They quickly spread in popularity and now more than six billion of them are sent every day

    (    )     of competence." She added: "In formal business e-mails, a smiley is not a smile."

    1  )     New research suggests that using smiley face emojis in work emails could jeopardize your

    (    )     or operating system for their devices. Emojis originated on Japanese mobile phones in the late

    (    )     read by the reader. This happens when the writer and reader of an email do not use the same software

    (    )     Other research has also shown that emojis are often misunderstood. Some of this misunderstanding is

    (    )     career. Researchers from a university in Israel report that people inserting emojis in work-related mail are likely to be

    (    )     around the world. There is even a World Emoji Day, which is celebrated on July the 17th every year.

    (    )     countries to gauge their reaction to emojis. The professionals had to "evaluate both the competence and

    (    )     problem. The emoji that was typed in by the writer is not shown in the same way in the e-mail received and

    Put the words in the right order

    1. jeopardize   in   emails   your   Emojis   work   could   career   .
    2. to   likely  are   mail  related   work-  in   Emojis   stupid   deemed  be  .
    3. on   experiments   conducted   Researchers   professionals   549   .
    4. increase   of   Smileys   not   perceptions   warmth   do   .
    5. business   smile   is   ,   In   not   a    formal   a   smiley   e-mails   .
    6. are  also   often  shown   misunderstood  that   Research  emojis  has   .
    7. problem   there   In   is   other   a   cases   technological   ,   .
    8. the   and   by   reader   In   received   read   the   e-mail   .
    9. the  Emojis  Japanese  in  1990s   on  phones  late  originated  mobile  .
    10. them   world   every   Six   day   billion   around   are   the   sent   of   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    New research suggests that using smiley face emojis in work e-mails could jeopardize your / yours career. Researchers from a university in Israel report that people inserting emojis in work-related mail are likelihood / likely to be deemed stupid / stupidity and incompetent. The researchers contracted / conducted experiments on 549 professionals from 29 differently / different countries to gauge / gouge their reaction to emojis. The professionals had to "evaluate both the competence and warmth / warm" of the e-mail writer. Dr Ella Glikson said: "Our findings provide first-time evidently / evidence that, contrary to actual smiles, smileys do not increase perceptions of warmth and actually / actual decrease perceptions of competence." She added: "In formal / formally business e-mails, a smiley is not a smile."

    Other research has also showing / shown that emojis are often misunderstood. Some of this misunderstanding / misunderstand is related to how the reader or viewer interpreting / interprets the emoji design. In other cases there is a technological problem. The emoji that was typed in / on by the writer is not shown in the same way in the e-mail received and read by the reader. This happens when the writer and reader of an e-mail do not use the same software or operating / operation system for their devices. Emojis origins / originated on Japanese mobile phones in the later / late 1990s. They quickly spread in / on popularity and now more than six billion of them are sent every day round / around the world. There is even a World Emoji Day, which is celebrated / celebration on July the 17th every year.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    N_w r_s__rch s_gg_sts th_t _s_ng sm_l_y f_c_ _m_j_s _n w_rk _-m__ls c__ld j__p_rd_z_ y__r c_r__r. R_s__rch_rs fr_m _ _n_v_rs_ty _n _sr__l r_p_rt th_t p__pl_ _ns_rt_ng _m_j_s _n w_rk-r_l_t_d m__l _r_ l_k_ly t_ b_ d__m_d st_p_d _nd _nc_mp_t_nt. Th_ r_s__rch_rs c_nd_ct_d _xp_r_m_nts _n 549 pr_f_ss__n_ls fr_m 29 d_ff_r_nt c__ntr__s t_ g__g_ th__r r__ct__n t_ _m_j_s. Th_ pr_f_ss__n_ls h_d t_ "_v_l__t_ b_th th_ c_mp_t_nc_ _nd w_rmth" _f th_ _-m__l wr_t_r. Dr _ll_ Gl_ks_n s__d: "__r f_nd_ngs pr_v_d_ f_rst-t_m_ _v_d_nc_ th_t, c_ntr_ry t_ _ct__l sm_l_s, sm_l_ys d_ n_t _ncr__s_ p_rc_pt__ns _f w_rmth _nd _ct__lly d_cr__s_ p_rc_pt__ns _f c_mp_t_nc_." Sh_ _dd_d: "_n f_rm_l b_s_n_ss _-m__ls, _ sm_l_y _s n_t _ sm_l_."

    _th_r r_s__rch h_s _ls_ sh_wn th_t _m_j_s _r_ _ft_n m_s_nd_rst__d. S_m_ _f th_s m_s_nd_rst_nd_ng _s r_l_t_d t_ h_w th_ r__d_r _r v__w_r _nt_rpr_ts th_ _m_j_ d_s_gn. _n _th_r c_s_s th_r_ _s _ t_chn_l_g_c_l pr_bl_m. Th_ _m_j_ th_t w_s typ_d _n by th_ wr_t_r _s n_t sh_wn _n th_ s_m_ w_y _n th_ _-m__l r_c__v_d _nd r__d by th_ r__d_r. Th_s h_pp_ns wh_n th_ wr_t_r _nd r__d_r _f _n _-m__l d_ n_t _s_ th_ s_m_ s_ftw_r_ _r _p_r_t_ng syst_m f_r th__r d_v_c_s. _m_j_s _r_g_n_t_d _n J_p_n_s_ m_b_l_ ph_n_s _n th_ l_t_ 1990s. Th_y q__ckly spr__d _n p_p_l_r_ty _nd n_w m_r_ th_n s_x b_ll__n _f th_m _r_ s_nt _v_ry d_y _r__nd th_ w_rld. Th_r_ _s _v_n _ W_rld _m_j_ D_y, wh_ch _s c_l_br_t_d _n J_ly th_ 17th _v_ry y__r.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    new research suggests that using smiley face emojis in work e-mails could jeopardize your career researchers from a university in israel report that people inserting emojis in work-related mail are likely to be deemed stupid and incompetent the researchers conducted experiments on 549 professionals from 29 different countries to gauge their reaction to emojis the professionals had to "evaluate both the competence and warmth" of the e-mail writer dr ella glikson said "our findings provide first-time evidence that contrary to actual smiles smileys do not increase perceptions of warmth and actually decrease perceptions of competence" she added "in formal business e-mails a smiley is not a smile"

    other research has also shown that emojis are often misunderstood some of this misunderstanding is related to how the reader or viewer interprets the emoji design in other cases there is a technological problem the emoji that was typed in by the writer is not shown in the same way in the e-mail received and read by the reader this happens when the writer and reader of an e-mail do not use the same software or operating system for their devices emojis originated on japanese mobile phones in the late 1990s they quickly spread in popularity and now more than six billion of them are sent every day around the world there is even a world emoji day which is celebrated on july the 17th every year

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Newresearchsuggeststhatusingsmileyfaceemojisinworke-mailscou
    ldjeopardizeyourcareer.ResearchersfromauniversityinIsraelreportt
    hatpeopleinsertingemojisinwork-relatedmailarelikelytobedeeme
    dstupidandincompetent.Theresearchersconductedexperimentson5
    49professionalsfrom29differentcountriestogaugetheirreactiontoem
    ojis.Theprofessionalshadto"evaluateboththecompetenceandwarmt
    h"ofthee-mailwriter.DrEllaGliksonsaid:"Ourfindingsprovidefirst-ti
    meevidencethat,contrarytoactualsmiles,smileysdonotincreaseperc
    eptionsofwarmthandactuallydecreaseperceptionsofcompetence."S
    headded:"Informalbusinesse-mails,asmileyisnotasmile."Otherres
    earchhasalsoshownthatemojisareoftenmisunderstood.Someofthis
    misunderstandingisrelatedtohowthereaderorviewerinterpretsthee
    mojidesign.Inothercasesthereisatechnologicalproblem.Theemojith
    atwastypedinbythewriterisnotshowninthesamewayinthee-mailre
    ceivedandreadbythereader.Thishappenswhenthewriterandreaderof
    ane-maildonotusethesamesoftwareoroperatingsystemfortheirdev
    ices.EmojisoriginatedonJapanesemobilephonesinthelate1990s.The
    yquicklyspreadinpopularityandnowmorethansixbillionofthemarese
    nteverydayaroundtheworld.ThereisevenaWorldEmojiDay,whichisc
    elebratedonJulythe17theveryyear.

    Free writing

    Write about smiley face emoji for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Emojis are an important way of communicating. Discuss.

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    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 out more about this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. EMOJIS: Make a poster about emojis. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. E-MAILS: Write a magazine article about when and when not to use emojis in e-mails. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on emojis. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on when to use them and when not to use them. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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