Breaking News English Lesson: Electric Scooters

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Electric scooter gets speaker to sound like sports car (18th April, 2022)

The Reading / Listening - Electric Scooters - Level 6

Electric scooters are all the rage in many cities across the world. The electric-powered two-wheelers are helping people nimbly zip through traffic and effortlessly get about town. However, they have also brought problems and safety concerns. Many scooter riders disregard road regulations, ignore traffic lights and illegally ride on sidewalks. A major scooter manufacturer has started selling a speaker that will alert pedestrians and other road users of the scooter's presence. Segway is marketing a new speaker accessory that can add V12 engine noises to its scooters. Alternatively, the user can plug in their music device and the speaker will boom out the rider's favourite tunes.

Segway's $150 Ninebot Engine Speaker can play music or revved up sports car sounds for 23 hours when fully charged. The speaker syncs with the scooter's accelerator, so the faster the vehicle goes, the louder the speaker's rev sounds are. Segway said its engine speaker acts as a continuous warning to anyone in earshot that the rider is approaching. Many road safety analysts believe the speaker could reduce the number of collisions between scooter riders and pedestrians. However, critics are concerned about an increase in noise pollution. They say the beauty of electric engines is their silence. They believe a simple beeping sound is sufficient to alert other road users and a V12 sound is overkill.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Electric Scooters - Level 4 or Electric Scooters - Level 5

Sources

https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/14/23025585/segway-ninebot-engine-wireless-speaker-engine-noise-v8
https://gizmodo.com/segways-strap-on-speaker-makes-your-scooter-sound-like-1848783531
https://hiconsumption.com/segway-superscooter/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. ELECTRIC SCOOTERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about electric scooters. 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?
electric / scooters / all the rage / traffic / safety / traffic lights / pedestrians / tunes /
music / accelerator / vehicle / engine / analysts / critics / collisions / silence / alert
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. LICENSE: Students A strongly believe a scooter rider needs a license; Students B strongly believe they don't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TRAFFIC RULES: What do you know about these traffic rules? How can they be made better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	What I Know	Improvements
Speed
Traffic lights
Parking
Distance
Overtaking
Emergencies

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. TRAFFIC: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "traffic". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. VEHICLES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Electric scooter
Bus
Bicycle
Motorbike
Train
Helicopter
Car
Airplane

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	all the rage	a.	A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority.
2.	nimbly	b.	Connect something to a power source.
3.	zip	c.	Very, very popular.
4.	disregard	d.	In a way that is quick and light in movement or action.
5.	regulation	e.	Pay no attention to; ignore.
6.	pedestrian	f.	A person walking rather than travelling in a vehicle.
7.	plug in	g.	Move at high speed.

Paragraph 2

8.	revved	h.	A short, high-pitched sound made by electronic equipment or a vehicle horn.
9.	sync	i.	A person who expresses an unfavourable opinion of something.
10.	in earshot	j.	An instance of one moving object or person striking violently against another.
11.	collision	k.	Increased the speed of an engine by pressing the accelerator.
12.	critic	l.	Excessive use, treatment, or action.
13.	beeping	m.	Cause to operate at the same time or rate as something else.
14.	overkill	n.	Very near.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

Electric scooters cause rage all across the world. T / F
A new electric scooter has a zip that makes people's hands numb. T / F
The article suggested scooter riders go through red lights. T / F
The new speaker can only play a variety of engine sounds. T / F
The new speaker can play sounds for a whole day. T / F
The speaker is synchronized with the scooter's accelerator. T / F
Road safety experts think the scooter will cut the number of crashes. T / F
The critics believe a beeping sound is better than an engine sound. T / F

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

all the rage
zip
disregard
alert
tunes
charged
continuous
collisions
beauty
sufficient

melodies
warn
good thing
speed
uninterrupted
very fashionable
enough
ignore
crashes
topped up

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

Electric scooters are all
helping people nimbly zip
Many scooter riders disregard
a speaker that will alert
the user can plug in
The speaker syncs with the
a continuous warning to anyone
collisions between scooter riders
the beauty
a simple beeping

their music device
and pedestrians
through traffic
sound is sufficient
of electric engines
pedestrians
the rage
in earshot
road regulations
scooter's accelerator

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

zip
plug
sidewalks
boom
concerns
alert
rage
presence

Electric scooters are all the (1) _____________________ in many cities across the world. The electric-powered two-wheelers are helping people nimbly (2) _____________________ through traffic and effortlessly get about town. However, they have also brought problems and safety (3) _____________________. Many scooter riders disregard road regulations, ignore traffic lights and illegally ride on (4) _____________________. A major scooter manufacturer has started selling a speaker that will (5) _____________________ pedestrians and other road users of the scooter's (6) _____________________. Segway is marketing a new speaker accessory that can add V12 engine noises to its scooters. Alternatively, the user can (7) _____________________ in their music device and the speaker will (8) _____________________ out the rider's favourite tunes.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

pollution
accelerator
sufficient
revved
overkill
collisions
continuous
beauty

Segway's $150 Ninebot Engine Speaker can play music or (9) _____________________ up sports car sounds for 23 hours when fully charged. The speaker syncs with the scooter's (10) _____________________, so the faster the vehicle goes, the louder the speaker's rev sounds are. Segway said its engine speaker acts as a (11) _____________________ warning to anyone in earshot that the rider is approaching. Many road safety analysts believe the speaker could reduce the number of (12) _____________________ between scooter riders and pedestrians. However, critics are concerned about an increase in noise (13) _____________________. They say the (14) _____________________ of electric engines is their silence. They believe a simple beeping sound is (15) _____________________ to alert other road users and a V12 sound is (16) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The electric-powered two-wheelers are helping people nimbly ______
     a. sip through traffic
     b. strip though traffic
     c. zip through traffic
     d. zip lock traffic
2) However, they have also brought problems ______
     a. and safest concerns
     b. and safety concern
     c. and safe tea concerns
     d. and safety concerns
3) A major scooter manufacturer has started selling a speaker that ______
     a. will alarm pedestrians
     b. will alert pedestrians
     c. will a lurch pedestrians
     d. will alert pedestrian
4) Segway is marketing a new speaker accessory that can add ______
     a. V11 engine noises
     b. V12 engine noises
     c. V20 engine noises
     d. W12 engine noises
5) their music device and the speaker will boom out the ______
     a. rager's favourite tunes
     b. raver's favourite tunes
     c. raider's favourite tunes
     d. rider's favourite tunes

6) The speaker syncs with the scooter's accelerator, so the faster ______
     a. the vehicle go
     b. the vehicle glows
     c. the vehicle goes
     d. the vehicle goers
7) Segway said its engine speaker acts as a continuous warning to ______
     a. anyone inner shot
     b. anyone in a shot
     c. anyone in earshot
     d. anyone in near shop
8) Many road safety analysts believe the speaker could reduce the ______
     a. number of collusions
     b. number of collisions
     c. number of allusions
     d. number of callouses
9) They say the beauty of electric engines ______
     a. is their silent
     b. is their silos
     c. is theirs eye lends
     d. is their silence
10) sound is sufficient to alert other road users and a V12 ______
     a. sounds is overt kill
     b. sound is overt kill
     c. sound is overly kill
     d. sound is overkill

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Electric scooters are (1) ____________________ in many cities across the world. The electric-powered two-wheelers are helping people nimbly zip through traffic (2) ____________________ about town. However, they have also brought problems and safety concerns. Many scooter riders disregard road regulations, ignore traffic lights and (3) ____________________ sidewalks. A major scooter manufacturer has started selling a speaker that will (4) ____________________ other road users of the scooter's presence. Segway is marketing a new speaker accessory that can add V12 engine noises to its scooters. Alternatively, the user (5) ____________________ their music device and the speaker will (6) ____________________ rider's favourite tunes.

Segway's $150 Ninebot Engine Speaker can play music or revved up sports car sounds for 23 hours (7) ____________________. The speaker syncs with the scooter's accelerator, so the faster the vehicle goes, the louder the speaker's (8) ____________________. Segway said its engine speaker acts as a continuous warning to (9) ____________________ that the rider is approaching. Many road safety analysts believe the speaker could reduce the (10) ____________________ between scooter riders and pedestrians. However, critics are concerned about (11) ____________________ noise pollution. They say the beauty of electric engines is their silence. They believe a simple beeping sound is (12) ____________________ other road users and a V12 sound is overkill.

Comprehension questions

Where are electric scooters all the rage?
Where do many scooter riders ride illegally?
Who will the speaker alert besides pedestrians?
What kind of engine noise can the speaker make?
What will the rider be able to play besides engine noises?
How much does the speaker cost?
What makes the revving sound louder?
Who believes the speaker could cut the number of collisions?
What are critics worried about?
What do critics believe is better than the engine sound?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where are electric scooters all the rage?
a) Italy
b) in many cities across the world
c) on sidewalks
d) downtown
2) Where do many scooter riders ride illegally?
a) in cities
b) on farms
c) on sidewalks
d) on motorways
3) Who will the speaker alert besides pedestrians?
a) people with hearing problems
b) old people
c) children
d) other road users
4) What kind of engine noise can the speaker make?
a) an F1 car
b) a V12 sound
c) a jet engine sound
d) a Harley Davidson
5) What will the rider be able to play besides engine noises?
a) their favourite tunes
b) classical music
c) computer games
d) racing games

6) How much does the speaker cost?
a) $150
b) $180
c) $170
d) $190
7) What makes the revving sound louder?
a) foggy weather
b) a computer chip
c) narrow streets
d) the accelerator
8) Who believes the speaker could cut the number of collisions?
a) car drivers
b) motorbike riders
c) road safety experts
d) the speaker maker
9) What are critics worried about?
a) discarded batteries
b) collisions
c) air pollution
d) noise pollution
10) What do critics believe is better than the engine sound?
a) a siren
b) a beeping sound
c) an electric sound
d) music

Role play

Role A – Electric Scooter
You think an electric scooter is the best mode of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their modes. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bicycle, train or car.

Role B – Bicycle
You think a bicycle is the best mode of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their modes. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): electric scooter, train or car.

Role C – Train
You think a train is the best mode of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their modes. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bicycle, electric scooter or car.

Role D – Car
You think a car is the best mode of transport. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their modes. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bicycle, train or electric scooter.

After reading / listening

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

'electric'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'scooter'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

rage

concerns

lights

major

add

device

23

syncs

acts

reduce

pollution

sufficient

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 - Electric Scooters

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'electric'?
What do you think of electric scooters?
What's the best way to get around town?
What's the traffic like in your town?
What are the good things about electric scooters?
How safe are electric scooters?
Should people require a driving license to use an electric scooter?
Should electric scooters be allowed on sidewalks?
What do you think of being able to use a V12 engine sound?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'scooter'?
What do you think about what you read?
Would you use an electric scooter?
Do you think the speaker will cut the number of collisions?
What are the bad things about electric scooters?
What kinds of noise pollution are in your town?
Are electric scooters the future?
Is a V12 sound to alert pedestrians overkill?
What questions would you like to ask Segway?

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)

Electric scooters are all the (1) ____ in many cities across the world. The electric-powered two-wheelers are helping people (2) ____ zip through traffic and effortlessly get about town. However, they have also brought problems and safety concerns. Many scooter riders (3) ____ road regulations, ignore traffic lights and illegally ride on sidewalks. A major scooter manufacturer has started selling a speaker that will alert pedestrians and other road users of the scooter's (4) ____. Segway is marketing a new speaker accessory that can add V12 engine noises (5) ____ its scooters. Alternatively, the user can plug in their music device and the speaker will (6) ____ out the rider's favourite tunes.

Segway's $150 Ninebot Engine Speaker can play music or revved (7) ____ sports car sounds for 23 hours when fully charged. The speaker syncs with the scooter's accelerator, so the faster the vehicle goes, the louder the speaker's rev sounds (8) ____. Segway said its engine speaker acts as a continuous warning to anyone in earshot that the rider is (9) ____. Many road safety analysts believe the speaker could reduce the number of (10) ____ between scooter riders and pedestrians. However, critics are concerned about an increase in noise pollution. They say the (11) ____ of electric engines is their silence. They believe a simple beeping sound is sufficient to alert other road users and a V12 sound is (12) ____.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) gauge (b) sage (c) rage (d) page
(a) nimbly (b) rambling (c) amply (d) numbly
(a) disregard (b) guard (c) guarded (d) regards
(a) presence (b) presents (c) prescience (d) pretense
(a) at (b) up (c) of (d) to
(a) gloom (b) doom (c) zoom (d) boom
(a) up (b) down (c) over (d) around
(a) be (b) sounding (c) becomes (d) are
(a) approaching (b) approaches (c) approach (d) approached
(a) collides (b) collisions (c) colanders (d) collections
(a) beatification (b) beauty (c) beautification (d) bounty
(a) overkill (b) roadkill (c) skill (d) subskill

Spelling

Paragraph 1

bylmni zip through traffic
disregard road glountsreia
A major scooter uautmearcfnr
a speaker that will alert dntrapeiess
a new speaker ryoeccass
music edcvei

Paragraph 2

ervedv up sports car sounds
The speaker nyscs with the scooter's accelerator
the faster the evlihec goes
reduce the number of noiscllios
a simple beeping sound is ueficnsift
a V12 sound is evillrko

Put the text back together

(...) brought problems and safety concerns. Many scooter riders disregard road regulations, ignore
(...) pollution. They say the beauty of electric engines is their silence. They believe a simple beeping sound
(...) charged. The speaker syncs with the scooter's accelerator, so the faster the vehicle goes, the louder the speaker's rev
(...) pedestrians and other road users of the scooter's presence. Segway is marketing a new speaker
(...) traffic lights and illegally ride on sidewalks. A major scooter manufacturer has started selling a speaker that will alert
(...) Segway's $150 Ninebot Engine Speaker can play music or revved up sports car sounds for 23 hours when fully
(...) accessory that can add V12 engine noises to its scooters. Alternatively, the user can plug
(...) in their music device and the speaker will boom out the rider's favourite tunes.
(...) between scooter riders and pedestrians. However, critics are concerned about an increase in noise
(...) approaching. Many road safety analysts believe the speaker could reduce the number of collisions
(...) wheelers are helping people nimbly zip through traffic and effortlessly get about town. However, they have also
(...) is sufficient to alert other road users and a V12 sound is overkill.
(...) sounds are. Segway said its engine speaker acts as a continuous warning to anyone in earshot that the rider is
( 1 ) Electric scooters are all the rage in many cities across the world. The electric-powered two-

Put the words in the right order

scooters cities . rage in all Electric are the
effortlessly get about and through Zip traffic town .
ride Ignore and illegally sidewalks . traffic lights on
engine A accessory that speaker V12 noises . adds
in can The their device . user music plug
hours . revved car up 23 Play for sounds
speaker Its continuous as acts a warning . engine
about concerned Critics pollution . are noise increases in
engines their is beauty The silence . electric of
They sound beeping is simple believe a sufficient .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Electric scooters are all the sage / rage in many cities across the world. The electric-powered two-wheelers are helping people nimbly / numbly zip through traffic and effortlessly get up / about town. However, they have also brought problems and safety concern / concerns. Many scooter riders disregard road regulations, ignore traffic lights and illegally ride on / in sidewalks. A major scooter manufacturer has started selling a speaker what / that will alert pedestrians and other road users / uses of the scooter's presence. Segway is marketing a new speaker accessory that can plus / add V12 engine noises to its scooters. Alternatively / Likewise, the user can plug in their music device and the speaker will boom up / out the rider's favourite tunes.

Segway's $150 Ninebot Engine Speaker can play music or revered / revved up sports car sounds for 23 hours when / what fully charged. The speaker syncs with the scooter's accelerator, so the fastest / faster the vehicle goes, the louder the speaker's rev sounds be / are. Segway said its engine speaker acts as a continuous / continues warning to anyone in earshot that the rider is approaching. Many road safety analysts / analysis believe the speaker could reduce a / the number of collisions between scooter riders and pedestrians. However, critiques / critics are concerned about an increase in / on noise pollution. They say the beauty of electric engines is their silence. They believe a simple beeping sound is suffice / sufficient to alert other road users and a V12 sound is overkill.

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

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

_l_ctr_c sc__t_rs _r_ _ll th_ r_g_ _n m_ny c_t__s _cr_ss th_ w_rld. Th_ _l_ctr_c-p_w_r_d tw_-wh__l_rs _r_ h_lp_ng p__pl_ n_mbly z_p thr__gh tr_ff_c _nd _ff_rtl_ssly g_t _b__t t_wn. H_w_v_r, th_y h_v_ _ls_ br__ght pr_bl_ms _nd s_f_ty c_nc_rns. M_ny sc__t_r r_d_rs d_sr_g_rd r__d r_g_l_t__ns, _gn_r_ tr_ff_c l_ghts _nd _ll_g_lly r_d_ _n s_d_w_lks. _ m_j_r sc__t_r m_n_f_ct_r_r h_s st_rt_d s_ll_ng _ sp__k_r th_t w_ll _l_rt p_d_str__ns _nd _th_r r__d _s_rs _f th_ sc__t_r's pr_s_nc_. S_gw_y _s m_rk_t_ng _ n_w sp__k_r _cc_ss_ry th_t c_n _dd V12 _ng_n_ n__s_s t_ _ts sc__t_rs. _lt_rn_t_v_ly, th_ _s_r c_n pl_g _n th__r m_s_c d_v_c_ _nd th_ sp__k_r w_ll b__m __t th_ r_d_r's f_v__r_t_ t_n_s.

S_gw_y's $150 N_n_b_t _ng_n_ Sp__k_r c_n pl_y m_s_c _r r_vv_d _p sp_rts c_r s__nds f_r 23 h__rs wh_n f_lly ch_rg_d. Th_ sp__k_r syncs w_th th_ sc__t_r's _cc_l_r_t_r, s_ th_ f_st_r th_ v_h_cl_ g__s, th_ l__d_r th_ sp__k_r's r_v s__nds _r_. S_gw_y s__d _ts _ng_n_ sp__k_r _cts _s _ c_nt_n___s w_rn_ng t_ _ny_n_ _n __rsh_t th_t th_ r_d_r _s _ppr__ch_ng. M_ny r__d s_f_ty _n_lysts b_l__v_ th_ sp__k_r c__ld r_d_c_ th_ n_mb_r _f c_ll_s__ns b_tw__n sc__t_r r_d_rs _nd p_d_str__ns. H_w_v_r, cr_t_cs _r_ c_nc_rn_d _b__t _n _ncr__s_ _n n__s_ p_ll_t__n. Th_y s_y th_ b___ty _f _l_ctr_c _ng_n_s _s th__r s_l_nc_. Th_y b_l__v_ _ s_mpl_ b__p_ng s__nd _s s_ff_c__nt t_ _l_rt _th_r r__d _s_rs _nd _ V12 s__nd _s _v_rk_ll.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

electric scooters are all the rage in many cities across the road the electricpowered twowheelers are helping people nimbly zip through traffic and effortlessly get about town however they have also brought problems and safety concerns many scooter riders disregard road regulations ignore traffic lights and illegally ride on sidewalks a major scooter manufacturer has started selling a speaker that will alert pedestrians and other road users of the scooters presence segway is marketing a new speaker accessory that can add v12 engine noises to its scooters alternatively the user can plug in their music device and the speaker will boom out the riders favourite tunes

segways 150 ninebot engine speaker can play music or revved up sports car sounds for 23 hours when fully charged the speaker syncs with the scooters accelerator so the faster the vehicle goes the louder the speakers rev sounds are segway said its engine speaker acts as a continuous warning to anyone in earshot that the rider is approaching many road safety analysts believe the speaker could reduce the number of collisions between scooter riders and pedestrians however critics are concerned about an increase in noise pollution they say the beauty of electric engines is their silence they believe a simple beeping sound is sufficient to alert other road users and a v12 sound is overkill

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Electricscootersarealltherageinmanycitiesacrosstheworld.Theelectr
ic-poweredtwo-wheelersarehelpingpeoplenimblyzipthroughtraffic
andeffortlesslygetabouttown.However,theyhavealsobroughtproble
msandsafetyconcerns.Manyscooterridersdisregardroadregulations,
ignoretrafficlightsandillegallyrideonsidewalks.Amajorscootermanuf
acturerhasstartedsellingaspeakerthatwillalertpedestriansandotherr
oadusersofthescooter'spresence.Segwayismarketinganewspeaker
accessorythatcanaddV12enginenoisestoitsscooters.Alternatively,t
heusercanplugintheirmusicdeviceandthespeakerwillboomouttherid
er'sfavouritetunes.Segway's$150NinebotEngineSpeakercanplaym
usicorrevvedupsportscarsoundsfor23hourswhenfullycharged.Thes
peakersyncswiththescooter'saccelerator,sothefasterthevehiclegoe
s,thelouderthespeaker'srevsoundsare.Segwaysaiditsenginespeake
ractsasacontinuouswarningtoanyoneinearshotthattheriderisapproa
ching.Manyroadsafetyanalystsbelievethespeakercouldreducethenu
mberofcollisionsbetweenscooterridersandpedestrians.However,crit
icsareconcernedaboutanincreaseinnoisepollution.Theysaythebeaut
yofelectricenginesistheirsilence.Theybelieveasimplebeepingsoundi
ssufficienttoalertotherroadusersandaV12soundisoverkill.

Free writing

Write about electric scooters for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

We need electric scooter driving licenses for all electric scooter riders. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ELECTRIC SCOOTERS: Make a poster about electric scooters. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. LICENSES: Write a magazine article about requiring everyone who rides an electric scooter to get a driving license. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
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 electric scooters. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make roads safer. 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

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Answers

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

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