The Reading / Listening - Gmail - Level 3

The world's most utilized email provider turned 20 on Monday. Gmail was launched on the 1st of April 2004. At that time, it was revolutionary because it offered a huge amount of storage, and it was free. Some people thought it was a hoax because it was announced on April Fools' Day. However, it was no joke. Gmail offered an enormous 1 gigabyte of storage for free. Many other providers only provided 15 megabytes. At first, people could only sign up for Gmail after receiving an invitation. It became a "must-have" tool for technology fans. Another reason for Gmail's success is that it searched mails faster than any other email service at the time. It was also better at filtering spam.

Since 2004, Gmail has become the world's biggest email provider. More than 1.7 billion people use it. That's 20 per cent of the world population. Around 45 per cent of email users in the USA use it. Over the years, Google has increased its free storage to 15 gigabytes and has added many new features. One of these is a one-click unsubscribe button to keep unwanted mail away. Another feature is an "undo send" button. This allows users to stop a mail from being sent after clicking "send". The PC Mag website said Gmail is an important part of life today. It wrote: "Gmail is so embedded in so many people's lives that hardly anyone thinks much about it." It is likely people will use it forever.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Gmail - Level 0,  Gmail - Level 1   or  Gmail - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.theverge.com/24113616/gmail-email-20-years-old-internet
  • https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/gmail-at-20-right-place-right-time
  • https://www.techradar.com/computing/email-messaging/no-joke-gmail-is-20-and-were-probably-better-for-it


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. GMAIL: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Gmail. 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?
       email / revolutionary / storage / hoax / April Fools' Day / gigabyte / invitation / spam
       world / population / free / unsubscribe / undo / send button / part of life / forever
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. WRITING LETTERS: Students A strongly believe writing letters is better than sending emails; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BIRTHDAYS: What things can people do on these birthdays? What kind of birthday party can they have? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What You Can Do

Birthday Party

First birthday

 

 

Fifth birthday

 

 

Twelfth birthday

 

 

Twentieth birthday

 

 

Sixtieth birthday

 

 

Hundredth birthday

 

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

  • Email
  • Chat
  • Video
  • Social media
  • Instant messaging
  • Smart speakers
  • Text messaging
  • Blogs

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. utilized a. Started; the beginning of something, like a project or a product.
      2. launched b. A place where things are kept; where items are stored.
      3. revolutionary c. Very big; something that is large in size or amount.
      4. huge d. Very new and different; something that brings big changes.
      5. storage e. Used; when something is put to practical use.
      6. hoax f. A request to come somewhere or do something; asking someone to join or participate in an event.
      7.

invitation

 g. A lie or trick; something intended to trick people.

    Paragraph 2

      8. provider h. When something is firmly attached or part of something else.
      9. population i. Someone or something that gives or supplies something; like a service or a product.
      10. increased j. Stop receiving something; to remove yourself from a mailing list or service.
      11. feature (noun) k. Almost not at all; when something happens very little or almost never.
      12. unsubscribe l. Became more; when something becomes larger or higher in amount or size.
      13. embedded m. A special characteristic or quality; something that makes something else stand out.
      14.

hardly

 n. The number of people living in a place; the total count of inhabitants.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Gmail was first started in February 2004.     T / F
  2. Gmail gave its users 15 megabytes of free storage.     T / F
  3. At first, you could only join Gmail after getting an invitation.     T / F
  4. Gmail was so successful because it filtered ham well.     T / F
  5. Over 1.5 billion people worldwide use Gmail.     T / F
  6. Over half of people in the USA use Gmail.     T / F
  7. There is a button on Gmail that allows you to unsubscribe to things.     T / F
  8. A PC website said we think about Gmail a lot.     T / F

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

  1. utilized
  2. launched
  3. hoax
  4. provided
  5. fans
  6. world
  7. features
  8. important
  9. embedded
  10. likely
  1. enthusiasts
  2. fixed
  3. gave
  4. probable
  5. started
  6. points
  7. global
  8. used
  9. valuable
  10. joke

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

  1. it offered a huge
  2. Some people thought it was a
  3. only sign up for Gmail after
  4. It became a must-
  5. It was also better at filtering
  6. a one-click
  7. Another feature is an undo
  8. stop a mail from being sent
  9. Gmail is so embedded in so
  10. It is likely people will
  1. receiving an invitation
  2. after clicking "send"
  3. use it forever
  4. amount of storage
  5. send button
  6. have tool
  7. many people's lives
  8. spam
  9. unsubscribe button
  10. hoax

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
hoax
launched
fans
provided
spam
huge
turned
invitation

The world's most utilized email provider (1) _____________________ 20 on Monday. Gmail was (2) _____________________ on the 1st of April 2004. At that time, it was revolutionary because it offered a (3) _____________________ amount of storage, and it was free. Some people thought it was a (4) _____________________ because it was announced on April Fools' Day. However, it was no joke. Gmail offered an enormous 1 gigabyte of storage for free. Many other providers only (5) _____________________ 15 megabytes. At first, people could only sign up for Gmail after receiving an (6) _____________________. It became a "must-have" tool for technology (7) _____________________. Another reason for Gmail's success is that it searched mails faster than any other email service at the time. It was also better at filtering (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
feature
billion
unsubscribe
users
embedded
forever
increased
clicking

Since 2004, Gmail has become the world's biggest email provider. More than 1.7 (9) _____________________ people use it. That's 20 per cent of the world population. Around 45 per cent of email (10) _____________________ in the USA use it. Over the years, Google has (11) _____________________ its free storage to 15 gigabytes and has added many new features. One of these is a one-click (12) _____________________ button to keep unwanted mail away. Another (13) _____________________ is an "undo send" button. This allows users to stop a mail from being sent after (14) _____________________ "send". The PC Mag website said Gmail is an important part of life today. It wrote: "Gmail is so (15) _____________________ in so many people's lives that hardly anyone thinks much about it." It is likely people will use it (16) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) it offered a huge amount of storage, and it was free. Some people thought it ______
     a.  was a coax
     b.  was a hoax
     c.  was a faux
     d.  was a hex
2)  Gmail offered an enormous 1 gigabyte of ______
     a.  storage four free
     b.  storage fore free
     c.  storage for free
     d.  storage form free
3)  It became a "must-have" tool ______
     a.  for technology fancy
     b.  for technology fans
     c.  for technology flans
     d.  for technology fan
4)  it searched mails faster than any other email service ______
     a.  at the time
     b.  at the timing
     c.  at the timed
     d.  at the timer
5)  It was also better ______
     a.  that filtering spam
     b.  what filtering spam
     c.  sat filtering spam
     d.  at filtering spam

6)  Since 2004, Gmail has become the world's ______
     a.  biggest email provided
     b.  biggest email provides
     c.  biggest email provide
     d.  biggest email provider
7)  That's 20 per cent of ______
     a.  the worldly population
     b.  the word population
     c.  the weird population
     d.  the world population
8)  Google has increased its free storage to 15 gigabytes and has added ______
     a.  many new feature
     b.  many new futures
     c.  many new fractures
     d.  many new features
9)  This allows users to stop a mail from being sent ______
     a.  after click in "send"
     b.  after clique in "send"
     c.  after clicking "send"
     d.  after clocking "send"
10)  hardly anyone thinks much about it. It is likely people will ______
     a.  use it forever
     b.  uses it forever
     c.  used it forever
     d.  youth it forever

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The world's (1) ____________________ provider turned 20 on Monday. Gmail was launched on the 1st of April 2004. At that time, it was revolutionary because it offered a huge (2) ____________________, and it was free. Some people thought it was a hoax because it was announced on April Fools' Day. However, it (3) ____________________. Gmail offered an enormous 1 gigabyte of storage for free. Many other providers only provided 15 megabytes. At first, people could (4) ____________________ for Gmail after receiving an invitation. It became a (5) ____________________ for technology fans. Another reason for Gmail's success is that it searched mails faster than any other email service at the time. It was also better (6) ____________________.

Since 2004, Gmail has become (7) ____________________ email provider. More than 1.7 billion people use it. That's 20 per cent of the world population. Around 45 per cent of email users in the USA use it. (8) ____________________, Google has increased its free storage to 15 gigabytes and has added (9) ____________________. One of these is a one-click unsubscribe button to keep unwanted mail away. Another feature is an "undo send" button. This allows users to stop a mail from being (10) ____________________ "send". The PC Mag website said Gmail is an important part of life today. It wrote: "Gmail is so embedded in so many people's (11) ____________________ anyone thinks much about it." It is likely people will (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. On what date was the launch of Gmail?
  2. How much storage did Gmail's competitors offer?
  3. Why did some people think Gmail was a hoax, at first?
  4. How were people able to join Gmail after it was launched?
  5. What was Gmail better at doing than other email providers?
  6. How many people around the world use Gmail?
  7. How many email users use Gmail in the USA?
  8. What does a one-click button allow people to do?
  9. What did PC Mag say Gmail was an important part of?
  10. How long does the article say people might use Gmail?

Multiple choice quiz

1) On what date was the launch of Gmail?
a) 1st of March 2004
b) 1st of April 2004
c) 1st of May 2004
d) 2nd of April 2004
2) How much storage did Gmail's competitors offer?
a) 15 gigabytes
b) 1.5 gigabytes
c) 1.5 megabytes
d) 15 megabytes
3) Why did some people think Gmail was a hoax, at first?
a) They read some news about it.
b) It was too good to be true.
c) It started on April Fools' Day.
d) There was a rumour.
4) How were people able to join Gmail after it was launched?
a) by invitation
b) by paying
c) by going to Google's website
d) by joining a waiting list
5) What was Gmail better at doing than other email providers?
a) storing messages
b) filtering spam
c) spell-checking mails
d) translating mails

6) How many people around the world use Gmail?
a) more than 1.7 billion
b) exactly 1.7 billion
c) less than 1.7 billion
d) around 1.7 billion
7) How many email users use Gmail in the USA?
a) less than 45% of them
b) exactly 45% of them
c) around 45% of them
d) over 45% of them
8) What does a one-click button allow people to do?
a) unsubscribe to unwanted mail
b) buy things
c) say hello
d) search for deleted mails
9) What did PC Mag say Gmail was an important part of?
a) the Internet
b) cyberspace
c) communication
d) life today

10) How long does the article say people might use Gmail?
a) another decade or two
b) another few years
c) forever
d) until a better provider comes along

Role play

Role  A – Email
You think Email is the best way to communicate. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): video chat, letters or social media.

Role  B – Video Chat
You think video chat is the best way to communicate. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): Email, letters or social media.

Role  C – Letters
You think letters are the best way to communicate. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): video chat, Email or social media.

Role  D – Social Media
You think social media is the best way to communicate. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): video chat, letters or Email.

After reading / listening

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

'Google'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'email'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • launched
    • offered
    • hoax
    • sign
    • tool
    • spam
    • biggest
    • 45
    • added
    • away
    • clicking
    • thinks

    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 - Gmail

    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 'Google'?
    3. What do you think of email?
    4. What is the best email provider?
    5. What do you think of Google?
    6. Is email or letter-writing best?
    7. What April fools' jokes do you like?
    8. How much storage do you need for your email?
    9. How useful is email?
    10. What is a 'must-have' technology tool for you?

    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 'email'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What can we use instead of email?
    5. What new things would you like email to have?
    6. What do you think of an 'undo send' button?
    7. Do you ever send mails you wish you hadn't?
    8. How important is Google in your life?
    9. Will we be using email forever?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Gmail bosses?

    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)

    The world's most utilized email provider (1) ____ 20 on Monday. Gmail was launched on the 1st of April 2004. At that (2) ____, it was revolutionary because it offered a huge amount of storage, and it was free. Some people thought it was a  (3) ____ because it was announced on April Fools' Day. However, it was no joke. Gmail offered an enormous 1 gigabyte of storage for free. Many other providers only provided 15 megabytes. At first, people could only sign (4) ____ for Gmail after receiving an invitation. It became a "(5) ____ -have" tool for technology fans. Another reason for Gmail's success is that it searched mails faster than any other email service at the time. It was also better (6) ____ filtering spam.

    Since 2004, Gmail has become the world's biggest email provider. More than 1.7 billion people use (7) ____. That's 20 per cent of the world population. Around 45 per cent of email users in the USA use it. (8) ____ the years, Google has increased its free storage to 15 gigabytes and has added many new features. One of these is a one-click unsubscribe button to keep (9) ____ mail away. Another feature is an "undo send" button. This allows users to stop a mail (10) ____ being sent after clicking "send". The PC Mag website said Gmail is an important part of (11) ____ today. It wrote: "Gmail is so embedded in so many people's lives that hardly anyone thinks much about it." It is (12) ____ people will use it forever.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     tuned     (b)     tanned     (c)     turned     (d)     tinned    
    2. (a)     time     (b)     era     (c)     age     (d)     hour    
    3. (a)     hoax     (b)     coax     (c)     hack     (d)     hex    
    4. (a)     up     (b)     in     (c)     on     (d)     down    
    5. (a)     bust     (b)     lust     (c)     just     (d)     must    
    6. (a)     on     (b)     of     (c)     to     (d)     at    
    7. (a)     it     (b)     them     (c)     these     (d)     all    
    8. (a)     Under     (b)     From     (c)     To     (d)     Over    
    9. (a)     unwanted     (b)     wanting     (c)     wants     (d)     want    
    10. (a)     of     (b)     from     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    11. (a)     living     (b)     life     (c)     livelihood     (d)     alive    
    12. (a)     likely     (b)     liked     (c)     likelihood     (d)     liking

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Gmail was ncueahdl on the 1st of April 2004
    2. it was orynuotvleair
    3. it offered a huge amount of gatseor
    4. people thought it was a aoxh
    5. after receiving an viintntiao
    6. better at tifleirgn spam

    Paragraph 2

    1. the world's biggest email vpoerrdi
    2. 20 per cent of the world auoltponpi
    3. a one-click unicssbbeur button
    4. Another atrefue is an "undo send" button
    5. mdddebee in so many people's lives
    6. people will use it efrorve

    Put the text back together

    (...)  years, Google has increased its free storage to 15 gigabytes and has added many new
    (...)  joke. Gmail offered an enormous 1 gigabyte of storage for free. Many other providers only provided
    (...)  anyone thinks much about it." It is likely people will use it forever.
    (...)  have" tool for technology fans. Another reason for Gmail's success is that it searched mails
    (...)  Since 2004, Gmail has become the world's biggest email provider. More than 1.7 billion
    (...)  button. This allows users to stop a mail being sent after clicking "send". The PC Mag website said Gmail is an important
    (...)  faster than any other email service at the time. It was also better at filtering spam.
    (...)  on the 1st of April 2004. At that time, it was revolutionary because it offered a huge amount of
    (...)  part of life today. It wrote: "Gmail is so embedded in so many people's lives that hardly
    (..1..) The world's most utilized email provider turned 20 on Monday. Gmail was launched
    (...)  people use it. That's 20 per cent of the world population. Around 45 per cent of email users in the USA use it. Over the
    (...)  15 megabytes. At first, people could only sign up for Gmail after receiving an invitation. It became a "must-
    (...)  storage, and it was free. Some people thought it was a hoax because it was announced on April Fools' Day. However, it was no
    (...)  features. One of these is a one-click unsubscribe button to keep unwanted mail away. Another feature is an "undo send"

    Put the words in the right order

    1. offered   of   storage   .   amount   a   huge   free   It
    2. after   up   for   Sign   an   invitation   .   receiving   Gmail
    3. became   fans   .   a   tool   for   It   "must-have"   technology
    4. than   at   the   other   Faster   email   time   .   services
    5. better   at   It   was   also   spam   .   filtering
    6. has   world's   become   email   biggest   Gmail   provider   .   the
    7. to   its   gigabytes   .   free   15   increased   Google   storage
    8. a   unsubscribe   One   of   one-click   is   button   .   these
    9. an   today   .   is   Gmail   of   life   important   part
    10. so   people's   in   embedded   lives   .   It's   so   many

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The world's most utilized email provision / provider turned 20 on Monday. Gmail was launched / lunched on the 1st of April 2004. At that time, it was revolutionary because it offered a hugely / huge amount of storage, and it was free. Some people thought it was a coax / hoax because it was announced on April Fools' Day. However, it was no joke / joking. Gmail offered an enormous 1 gigabyte of stored / storage for free. Many other providers only provided 15 megabytes. At first, people could only singe / sign up for Gmail after receiving an invitation. It became a "must-have" tool for technology fan / fans. Another reason for Gmail's success is that it searched mails faster than any other / another email service at the time. It was also better at filtering spasm / spam.

    Since 2004, Gmail has became / become the world's biggest email provider. More than 1.7 billion people use them / it. That's 20 per cent of the world population. Around 45 per cent of email usages / users in the USA use it. Over the years, Google has increased its free / freely storage to 15 gigabytes and has added many new features / feature. One of these is a one-click unsubscribe button to / for keep unwanted mail away. Another feature is an "undo send" button. This allows users to stop a male / mail from being sent after clicking "send". The PC Mag website said Gmail is an importance / important part of life today. It wrote: "Gmail is so embedded in so many people's life / lives that hardly anyone thinks much about it." It is liked / likely people will use it forever.

    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)

    Th_  w_rld's  m_st  _t_l_z_d  _m__l  pr_v_d_r  t_rn_d  20  _n  M_nd_y.  Gm__l  w_s  l__nch_d  _n  th_  1st  _f  _pr_l  2004.  _t  th_t  t_m_,  _t  w_s  r_v_l_t__n_ry  b_c__s_  _t  _ff_r_d  _  h_g_  _m__nt  _f  st_r_g_,  _nd  _t  w_s  fr__.  S_m_  p__pl_  th__ght  _t  w_s  _  h__x  b_c__s_  _t  w_s  _nn__nc_d  _n  _pr_l  F__ls'  D_y.  H_w_v_r,  _t  w_s  n_  j_k_.  Gm__l  _ff_r_d  _n  _n_rm__s  1  g_g_byt_  _f  st_r_g_  f_r  fr__.  M_ny  _th_r  pr_v_d_rs  _nly  pr_v_d_d  15  m_g_byt_s.  _t  f_rst,  p__pl_  c__ld  _nly  s_gn  _p  f_r  Gm__l  _ft_r  r_c__v_ng  _n  _nv_t_t__n.  _t  b_c_m_  _  "m_st-h_v_"  t__l  f_r  t_chn_l_gy  f_ns.  _n_th_r  r__s_n  f_r  Gm__l's  s_cc_ss  _s  th_t  _t  s__rch_d  m__ls  f_st_r  th_n  _ny  _th_r  _m__l  s_rv_c_  _t  th_  t_m_.  _t  w_s  _ls_  b_tt_r  _t  f_lt_r_ng  sp_m.

    S_nc_  2004,  Gm__l  h_s  b_c_m_  th_  w_rld's  b_gg_st  _m__l  pr_v_d_r.  M_r_  th_n  1.7  b_ll__n  p__pl_  _s_  _t.  Th_t's  20  p_r  c_nt  _f  th_  w_rld  p_p_l_t__n.  _r__nd  45  p_r  c_nt  _f  _m__l  _s_rs  _n  th_  _S_  _s_  _t.  _v_r  th_  y__rs,  G__gl_  h_s  _ncr__s_d  _ts  fr__  st_r_g_  t_  15  g_g_byt_s  _nd  h_s  _dd_d  m_ny  n_w  f__t_r_s.  _n_  _f  th_s_  _s  _  _n_-cl_ck  _ns_bscr_b_  b_tt_n  t_  k__p  _nw_nt_d  m__l  _w_y.  _n_th_r  f__t_r_  _s  _n  "_nd_  s_nd"  b_tt_n.  Th_s  _ll_ws  _s_rs  t_  st_p  _  m__l  fr_m  b__ng  s_nt  _ft_r  cl_ck_ng  "s_nd".  Th_  PC  M_g  w_bs_t_  s__d  Gm__l  _s  _n  _mp_rt_nt  p_rt  _f  l_f_  t_d_y.  _t  wr_t_:  "Gm__l  _s  s_  _mb_dd_d  _n  s_  m_ny  p__pl_'s  l_v_s  th_t  h_rdly  _ny_n_  th_nks  m_ch  _b__t  _t."  _t  _s  l_k_ly  p__pl_  w_ll  _s_  _t  f_r_v_r.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the worlds most utilized email provider turned 20 on monday gmail was launched on the 1st of april 2004 at that time it was revolutionary because it offered a huge amount of storage and it was free some people thought it was a hoax because it was announced on april fools day however it was no joke gmail offered an enormous 1 gigabyte of storage for free many other providers only provided 15 megabytes at first people could only sign up for gmail after receiving an invitation it became a musthave tool for technology fans another reason for gmails success is that it searched mails faster than any other email service at the time it was also better at filtering spam

    since 2004 gmail has become the worlds biggest email provider more than 17 billion people use it thats 20 per cent of the world population around 45 per cent of email users in the usa use it over the years google has increased its free storage to 15 gigabytes and has added many new features one of these is a oneclick unsubscribe button to keep unwanted mail away another feature is an undo send button this allows users to stop a mail from being sent after clicking send the pc mag website said gmail is an important part of life today it wrote gmail is so embedded in so many peoples lives that hardly anyone thinks much about it it is likely people will use it forever

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Theworld'smostutilizedemailproviderturned20onMonday.Gmailwas
    launchedonthe1stofApril2004.Atthattime,itwasrevolutionarybecau
    seitofferedahugeamountofstorage,anditwasfree.Somepeoplethoug
    htitwasahoaxbecauseitwasannouncedonAprilFools'Day.However,it
    wasnojoke.Gmailofferedanenormous1gigabyteofstorageforfree.Ma
    nyotherprovidersonlyprovided15megabytes.Atfirst,peoplecouldonl
    ysignupforGmailafterreceivinganinvitation.Itbecamea"must-have"t
    oolfortechnologyfans.AnotherreasonforGmail'ssuccessisthatitsearc
    hedmailsfasterthananyotheremailserviceatthetime.Itwasalsobetter
    atfilteringspam.Since2004,Gmailhasbecometheworld'sbiggestemai
    lprovider.Morethan1.7billionpeopleuseit.That's20percentoftheworl
    dpopulation.Around45percentofemailusersintheUSAuseit.Overthey
    ears,Googlehasincreaseditsfreestorageto15gigabytesandhasadded
    manynewfeatures.Oneoftheseisaone-clickunsubscribebuttontokee
    punwantedmailaway.Anotherfeatureisan"undosend"button.Thisall
    owsuserstostopamailfrombeingsentafterclicking"send".ThePCMag
    websitesaidGmailisanimportantpartoflifetoday.Itwrote:"Gmailissoe
    mbeddedinsomanypeople'slivesthathardlyanyonethinksmuchabout
    it."Itislikelypeoplewilluseitforever.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Email is better than writing letters.  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 story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. GMAIL: Make a poster about Gmail. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. EMAIL: Write a magazine article about encouraging people to write letters (with a pen) instead of using email. 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 email. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make it better. 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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