Are the machines taking over?

You are going to 

• discuss our relationship with technology
• listen to a BBC radio clip about automation and do a comprehension activity
• look at the future continuous

1) Discuss

• How many machines, devices and gadgets do you use every day?
• What is artificial intelligence?
• What is automation?
• How many automated processes or tasks can you think of?
• When can you hear an automated voice?
• Do you prefer to pay at a self-service check-outs or a normal one when you go shopping?
• Do you think automation is a good thing?
• Do you think machines will replace human workers?
• Are machines getting smarter?
• What relationship will humans have with machines and technology in the future?
• Will we be living and working with robots in the future?

2) Listen.
Listen to this clip from BBC Radio 4's "Today" on "The rise of automated machines." 
A) Take notes.What do you learn about the following?

• The number of self-service check-outs in Britain
• The earliest automated machine
• The importance of automation to business
• Intelligent machines

listen to ‘The rise of automated machines’ on Audioboo

B) Listen again and do the quiz.

Printable worksheet here




3) Discuss
How will we be living in the future?
Practise the Future Continuous
Look at the presentation and discuss the pictures.

Future Continuous from David Mainwood

4) Discuss

• How do you see the future? Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
• Do you think the widespread use of technology has risks for humanity?
• Should we be careful about how technology is affecting our lives?
• Do you agree that in the future "The machines replacing humans might end up being better at being human that we are"?
• Do you think machines will replace humanity or radically transform us? 

 5) Write
Choose one

• We live in an age of technological revolution. How is technology affecting our lives today and should we be fearful of the effects it will have on life in the future?

• We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in businesses, hospitals, crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will they be used for in future? Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more suspicious of their benefits? Use specific details and examples in your answer (IELTS).

 



More

• Could you live without it? Mobile phones, Living without electricity, Advantages and disadvantages, IELTS, Intermediate, Linking words, Listening, Reading, Smartphones, Writing an argument, Contrasting, Technology

• Looking at the Future - Activities and Achievements, Discussion Activities, Future, Future Continuous, Future Perfect, Intermediate, Predictions, Targets, Technology, Upper Intermediate

• The Virtual Revolution (Episode 4) - BBC Series a...Advanced, Discussion Activities, Film and TV, IELTS, Listening, The Virtual Revolution, Technology, Writing

Who was the world's first online shopper?

You are going to 

• discuss shopping online
• practise listening
• look at and practise technology vocabulary

Note - activities in this post are level differentiated and can be used with students from pre-intermediate to upper intermediate levels.The final gap-fill and crossword are aimed at upper intermediate students.
You will hear the following vocabulary.

Discuss 
You are going to watch a video about the first person to shop online.

• Do you ever shop online?
  
• What do you buy online?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online?
• Who do you think was the first person to buy something online?
• Do you think it was a man or a woman?
• How old do you think he / she was?
• What do you think he / she bought?
• When do you think it happened? Where?

Watch
Watch the video and find out if you are right.







Discuss

• Does anything in the story surprise you?
• Why do you think Mrs Snowball is called a "silver surfer"?

Practise 
1) Watch again and do the matching exercise.



 

2) Quiz - Answer the questions.





3) Do the vocabulary matching exercise.





4) Read the summary and do the gap fill exercise



5) Gap fill of complete transcript here


6) Crossword of vocabulary used here




Download printable worksheets
1) Sentence matching exercise here
2) Listening Quiz here
3) Vocab matching exercise here
4) Gap-fill here
5) Complete transcript gap-fill here
6) Print Crossword (and answers) here





Write
Choose one

• Write a report about online shopping. Explain how to do it, why people do it and what to be careful of.

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping?

• "Technology has transformed the way we shop and changed the face of our high streets."  To what extent do you agree?

More

• UK goes online shopping Advanced, Business, IELTS, Listening, Technology, Upper Intermediate 

• What is the most important innovation of the last 100 years? Debate, Intermediate, Inventions, Inventors, Listening, Presentations, Science, Speaking, Technology, Upper Intermediate

• 60 Seconds - Things That Happen On The Internet Every 60 Seconds - Things That Happen On The Internet Every Sixty Seconds, Intermediate, Numbers, Technology,  Passive, Upper Intermediate
  
   

What's the deal? (The Dragons' Den / Negotiating)

You are going to

• watch a video clip from the BBC TV series "The Dragons' Den"
• do a gap-fill exercise practising some business vocabulary
• look at and practise the language of negotiation

1) Discuss

• Do you like puzzles and games?
• Have you ever tried to solve the Rubik's Cube?
• What about the Bedlam Cube?

Bedlam Cube

Rubik's Cube

• Have you ever tried to convince someone that something is a good idea?
• Could you convince some investors to invest money in an idea you've had?
• How would you "pitch" your idea?

You are going to watch Danny Bamping pitching for his company “Bedlam Puzzles” on the BBC TV series Dragons' Den

Dragons' Den is a TV series in which budding entrepreneurs get three minutes to pitch their business ideas to five multi-millionaires willing to invest up to £100,000 of their own money .




Here are the five multi-millionaires (the "Dragons")

The product idea Danny is trying to sell them is the “Bedlam Cube”
Will he be successful?
Will he get the £100,000 he needs?
Watch and find out.

2) Before you watch / Vocabulary

Check you will understand some of the vocabulary in the clip by matching the words with the definitions in this exercise.

3) Watch the clip

• Does Danny reach a deal with the entrepreneurs?
• What is the deal?

Watch the clip on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zBQa2XyvWE





4) Fill in the gaps
Now read this summary of the clip. Fill in the gaps with a word from the list. Watch the clip again if you need to.

5) Read
What happened next?
Find out what happened after the program

http://www.lammo.net/dragons-den/267/dragons-den-where-are-they-now-bedlam-cube/

• Did Danny continue with the deal he made with the Dragons?
• Was the Bedlam Cube a success?

6) Formal language for negotiating

When negotiating or presenting ideas in a business situation it is often best to use polite, tentative and formal language.
Match the expressions on the right to the situations on the left.

Adapted from http://www.sonnerct.com/English_Phrases/7_Negotiations.htm

Printable worksheets here

7) More

BBC Dragons' Den business language glossary
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/business/glossary/a

How to present yourself
http://efllecturer.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/presentations-how-to-present-yourself.html

Design your own TV commercial / advert
http://efllecturer.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/commercial-break-tv-adverts-commercials.html

What do you know about YouTube?

You are going to

• watch a video and read text in the video
• look at an infographic about YouTube
• do some quiz comprehension activities
• practise reading quickly / scanning for information
• practise the past

Discuss

• What do you know about YouTube?
• Do you use it?
• What do you watch on it? 
• What is your favourite clip?
• Have you ever uploaded a clip to YouTube? 
• Have you ever been "Rickrolled"? What does it mean?

Vocabulary check
Drag and drop to match the words on the left with the definitions on the right




Watch
Watch the video and answer the questions.

• Who founded YouTube?
• What gave them the idea to start the site?
• When was the first YouTube video uploaded?
• How many people use the site?

Quiz
How much can you remember from the video?
Do this quiz.

Read
Read the text below about the history of YouTube from 2005 to 2010. Don't worry if you don't understand everything. Find the answers as quickly as you can.
You can answer the questions in the interactive exercise below

Find out

1. When did YouTube officially launch?
2. How much did Google buy YouTube for?
3. Which Queen has her own channel?
4. Which famous rock band performed live on Youtube?
5. How long does the average person spend on YouTube?
6. How many views a day did YouTube have in 2010?
7. What percentage of internet traffic does YouTube have?
8. How long was the first video?
9. What age group uses YouTube the most?
10. How many languages does Google's Automatic Speech Recognition Technology translate?

Infographic: The History of Youtube by Infographiclabs


Now answer the questions

Printable version here

Write / Research

What's your favourite webpage on the internet?
Write a short paragraph about it.
Intro

• What is it? 
• What can you do on it? 
• Are there other websites like it?

Find out

• Who founded it?
• Why?
• How old is it? When was it launched?
• Is it popular? How much traffic does it have?

Conclusion
Give you opinion of it. Say what's special about it



More
What are the most watched clips on YouTube?
Can you guess any?

Watch the clip below

• How many clips have you already seen?
• What activities are the people doing?

UK goes online shopping

You are going to

• listen to a a radio interview about a report on commercial use of the internet
• do a gap fill exercise
• do a crossword based on the vocabulary used in the inteview

Note; the crossword can be done before or after the gap-fill

1) Discuss

• Do you use the internet for shopping or business?
• What kind of business can be done online?
• What are the advantages of using the internet for shopping and business?
• Do you think online shopping and e-commerce are trends that will grow in the future?

2) Vocabulary

Check you know these words
benefits      combination    consumption     contribution     development      downside      e-commerce     exports      GDP     household     incentives      infrastructure      investment      lead    locate     net     skills      workforce




3) Listen

A new study shows that the UK appears to be leading the world in the commercial use of the internet. The Boston Consulting Group's Paul Swillenberg, who wrote the report, explains why this is the case.
From BBC Radio 4 Today




Listen to the interview

• How much of the British economy is online?
• Why do people shop online?
• What recommendations are given to further support commercial use of the internet?

listen to ‘UK a 'world leader' in internet shopping’ on Audioboo

4) Gap-fill

Listen again and fill in the gaps

5) Do the crossword.

All vocabulary is from the listening

6) Discuss / Write

"We should also make sure people are not left behind. 10% of (UK) population is still not online and there are tremendous benefits if they were"
In what ways does having a large number of people with internet access benefit society and business? Do you agree that it is a positive development?

7) More

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17405016

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9706000/9706944.stm
 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet/9151934/UK-most-web-connected-economy.html

Printable versions of gap-fill here
crossword here

What are the worst branding gaffes?

You are going to 

• discuss gaffes, advertising and translating
• listen to a radio interview and do a true / false quiz
• practise the passive
• give advice about how to avoid making gaffes when speaking another language or visiting another country

Discuss

• What's a gaffe?

gaffe  /gaf/  Noun: An accidental act or remark causing embarrassment to its maker; a blunder: "an unforgivable social gaffe".

Synonyms: faux pas - blunder - mistake

• Have you ever made any gaffes? Describe one
• Do you ever make any gaffes when you are speaking in a foreign laguage?
• Do you know of any translations from your language into English which may cause a gaffe?
• Do you know of any translations from English into your language which may cause a gaffe?
• Why should we be very careful when we translate into another language?
• What are "false friends"
• What's an advertising or branding gaffe?
• Can you give any examples of advertising or branding gaffes?

Listen

Listen to a radio interview from BBC Radio 4 Today.  The interview is about branding gaffes.

The carmaker BMW launched a Mini Cooper marketing campaign in Germany to try to take advantage of the cold weather.  Unfortunately the Mini Cooper's name was attached to a cold weather front which killed many across Europe. BMW is embarrassed and a spokesman said that "it took on catastrophic proportions and left so many victims... we do regret it very much."

In this interview Allyson Stewart-Allen, a marketing expert who runs International Marketing Partners, explains how to avoid a branding mistake.

Listen to the interview
What other examples of branding gaffes do they give?




Listen again and do the exercise below

Grammar - Passive

What's the difference between these sentences?

• They translated the text into Chinese
• The text was translated into Chinese

Which one uses the passive?
When do we use the passive?

Not sure how to use the passive? Look here  http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/2011/04/passive-present-simple.html
or here http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/passive.htm

Try this exercise to practise the passive using phrases from the interview.

Printable version here

More practice

Passive
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/active_passive/sentences_gaps.htm
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_passive1.htm

Other activities
Things that happen on the internet every 60 seconds
http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/2011/08/60-seconds-things-that-happen-on.html
Making Potato chips
http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/2011/05/making-potato-chips-ielts-describing.html


Reading
More funny gaffes
http://k3hamilton.com/cb/cbgaffes.html

http://www.learnenglish.de/mistakes/HorrorMistakes.htm

Writing / Discussion

What advice would you give to an English speaking person who was learning your language or coming to visit your country?
How could he / she avoid making any gaffes?

Internet goes on strike - Discussion / Writing an argument

Updated 23/1/2012 to add the interview with Jacob Appelbaum who argues the case against SOPA and talks about Megaupload and the surveillance state. It's at the bottom of the post.

Why is the internet "on strike"? 
1) Read
18 January 2012
Wikipedia joins blackout protest at US anti-piracy moves
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16590585
Wikipedia has taken its English-language site offline as part of protests against proposed anti-piracy laws in the US.
Users attempting to access the site see a black screen and a political statement: "Imagine a world without free knowledge."
The user-generated news site Reddit and the blog Boing Boing are also taking part in the "blackout".
However, Twitter has declined to join the shutdown.


Read more
Viewpoints: Sites go offline in US piracy laws protest
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16604990

SOPA debate: Who’s involved and what are the stakes? A look at the politicians, companies and lobbying groups involved in the dispute over Stop Online Piracy Act.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/sopa-debate-whos-involved-and-what-are-the-stakes/2012/01/17/gIQAZAVq5P_gallery.html

Watch a video  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/dec/23/sopa-stop-online-piracy-act


2) Discuss

• What is copyright?
• What is online piracy?
• What should we do about online piracy?
• Have you ever downloaded movies and music?
• Do you think we should pay for them or should they be free?
• What are the consequences of free movies or music?
• for customers?
• for retailers?
• for business?
• for musicians, actors and people who work in those industries?
• Do you think they should look for other ways to invest in and sell their products?
• Give examples
• What other content on the web is free?
• Should news be free?
• Should knowledge be free? Why / Why not?
• Do you think wikipedia is right to shut down in protest or should we have laws that shut down websites that share content without paying copyright?
• What are the consequences of closing down websites which share copyrighted content? Which of your favourite websites would be affected?
• Take note of some advantages and disadvantages of free and paid internet content and prepare to write the question below

3) Write
Write an answer to this question.
The film and music industry want to close down websites which freely share copyrighted content. Others say that this goes against freedom of speech. Which view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

Interview with Jacob Appelbaum who argues against SOPA and talks about Megaupload and the surveillance state.

A Commercial Break: TV Adverts / Commercials - Make and present your own advert / commercial

You are going to 

1. Watch some TV commercials and answer some questions
2. Discuss advertising
3. Make an ad of your own
4. Write about advertising

1) Intro - Watch this TV ad.

• How does it make you feel? 
• Is it scary, funny or both? 
• Is it memorable? 
• Do you think it's a good ad?
• What is the ad telling you about the car?

2) Discuss

• Do you watch adverts on TV?
• Do you like them?
• Can you remember any? Can you think of any funny ones?
• What do you think makes a succesful ad?
• What's a slogan? What examples can you think of?
• What makes a good slogan?
• What do ads usually have to make them memorable?

Answers (highlight here) = Music, Slogan, Humour, Images...

3) Watch the clip of TV adverts and answer the questions

1) How many of the ads are for

• shops
• electrical items
• central heating
• films
• insurance
• cameras

2) What nine products or businesses do they advertise?

Answers (highlight here) =

1) How many of the ads are for

• shops 3 - Wickes, Currys, M&S
• electrical items 3 - TV Recorder, 02, Currys,
• central heating 1 - Worcester
• films 1 - The King's Speech
• insurance 1 - Churchill
• cameras 1 - Cannon

2) What nine products or businesses do they advertise?

1. Wickes Kitchen units shop sale
2. Freeview plus box TV recorder
3. O2 phone network
4. Cannon cameras
5. Currys and PC World shop Sale
6. Worcestor home heating
7. Churchill home insurance
8. The King's Speech film
9. M&S shop Sale

 
3) Watch again. How many of the ads have slogans?
What are they?

Answers (highlight here) =
6 have slogans
1. It's got our name on it  
2. Buy today. Watch today. Free forever
3. We're better, connected
4. -
5. -
6. Thank Worcester for that.
7. Count on Churchill
8. -
9. Quality worth every penny

Watch these ads. Are they funny? Why do you think so many ads try to be funny?

Answer = It's a way of getting your attention and making you remember the product
Humour is one way advertising gets your attention. What other ways are used?
Suggested Answers = Excitement, appealing to the emotions, sex, music, glamour, making you feel happy...

More TV Ads here  http://www.tellyads.com/index.php

4) Group Presentation Activity - Make an Advert

Make an advert and present it to the class. Choose what you want to advertise eg a drink, a holiday, your school.... The ad can be video or audio. You should have a slogan and it should be short and memorable. You must present your ad to the class.

Think of what kind of language you can practise in the ad.  

• direct speech - "..... "
• imperatives - Buy one, get one free!, Hurry!
• conditionals - If you....
• superlatives - It's the best, the fastest, the cheapest....
• adjectives - new, modern, clean....
• typical phrases - (Up to) 15% off,  Offer ends 15th March, Save £50, Half price,

When you have finished

1.  Describe the product you are advertising.
2.  Explain why you chose to advertise your product in the way you did. 

Answer these questions to help you plan and reflect

What is your product?
What kind of an ad is it? (Radio or TV) Why did you choose to advertise the product in this way?
What is your target market? Old, young, teenagers...? (If you have any experience of marketing or business can you explain the best way to approach your chosen market?)
Do you have a logo or slogan? How / why did you choose it?
Is the Ad convincing? Does it appeal to people’s emotions or something more intellectual or both?
What presentational style did you choose (is the advert funny / informative / does it tell a story / has it got music / what kind?)
What kind of language did you use in the ad (formal / informal, direct speech, imperatives, conditionals, superlatives, adjectives…? Why?)
Did you use music? What music did you choose? Why?
Do you think your ad has the qualities to be successful? - is it memorable, persuasive, funny…?
What difficulties did you encounter when designing the ad?
What skills do you think you have learned from this challenging activity?
What should you remember to do next time you do a presentation activity?

5) Discuss

• Where do you see advertising?
• Do you think advertising is a good thing or a bad thing?
• Does it help you or annoy you?
• Do you think advertisers always tell the truth?
• Is some advertising informative?
• Should advertisers be allowed to advertise to children?
• Do you think advertising encourages stereotypes? 
• Do you think advertising encourages people to buy things they don't need?
• What effects does advertising have on business, people and society?

6)Write

Choose one

1) Advertising is all around us, it is an unavoidable part of everyone's life. Some people say that advertising is a positive part of our lives while others say it is negative. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words. (IELTS)


2) Today, the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising and not the real needs of the society in which they are sold. To what extent do you agree or disagree? You should write at least 250 words. (IELTS)

Job Interviews: Body Language - Making A Good First Impression

You are going to

• watch a clip and discuss how to create a good impression in a job interview.
• watch a clip with Judi James, one of the UK’s leading body language / behaviour experts, who will give you some advice on good body language
• answer the questions based on the clips, discuss and write an advice leaflet.

Video 1
Discussion - Job Interviews

• What advice would you give to someone going to a job interview?
• Think of some ideas and then watch the video to check. What are their Dos and Don'ts?

Answers in black - Highlight here =  Here are some; Dress well, Good handshake, Give a concise summary of your career and goals, focus and what can be improved about yourself, avoid answering personal questions by emphasising your professional life... and turn off your phone

Video 2

1) Discuss  

• What is body language?

Answer highlight here = Body language is a form of non-verbal communication, which consists of body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye movements.

2) Who is Judi James?

Before you watch. Go here http://www.knightayton.co.uk/female-presenters/judi-james and find out

• Who is Judi James? 

3) Before you watch

Discuss the photos

4) Watch the clip and check your answers.  Then answer the questions below.

1) Make a great entrance
    How many seconds do you have to impress people when you first walk into an interview?
    What should you put on your face? 
    Why should you scan and look around the room?

2) A good handshake
    Why is a good handshake vital?
    What is a good handshake? 
    Where should you look?
    What should you remember to do? 

3) Posture
    What should you practise if you are nervous?
    Why should you sit well back?
    What should you do with your elbows and legs?

4) Hand Gestures
    Why shouldn't you fold your arms?
    Where should you keep your hands? 

5) Mirroring
    What is "mirroring"?
    Why should you do it?

Video link here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akLgnwZ4T_Q
or
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-can-i-make-a-good-first-impression-2

 

5) What can you remember?

Answer the questions in the quiz

Text here  http://www.videojug.com/film/how-can-i-make-a-good-first-impression-2




6) Reading - More information and advice for job interviews

• 10 most frequently asked interview questions 
• James Caan's top 10 tips to get a job
• Preparing for an interview
• http://www.jobinterviewquestions.org/

 

 

7) Writing

• Write a leaflet giving advice to someone who is going to a job interview.
• Write a leaflet giving advice to someone who is looking for work.

Don't forget to use language for advice and obligation - You should / shouldn't / ought to / must / mustn't

And make suggestions - Why don't you..?  

See here for more language for advice and suggestions 

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/2011/05/advice-and-suggestions-why-dont-you_02.html