Introduction
The subject of this period is mobile phones.
- Form groups of three or four pupils.
Discuss the following questions in your group:
- What kind of mobile phone do you have?
- Who pays for your phone?
- What are the advantages of mobile phones?
- What are the disadvantages of mobile phones?
Wees gerust, dit hoef je ook nog niet allemaal te weten.
Je gaat hiermee aan de slag in deze opdracht.
| Step | activiteit activity | leerdoel aim | tijd time | |
 | introduction | Find out what you already know. | 10 | |
| Step 1 |  | listening | You can understand a video about mobile phones and answer questions about it. | 15 |
| Step 2 | | reading | You can understand a text about mobile phones and answer questions about it. | 15 |
| Step 3 | | vocabulary and irregular verbs | You can understand and use vocabulary about mobile phones. The irregular verbs: to be, to beat, to become and to begin | 15 |
| Step 4 | | grammar | You can understand and use the Simple Past, Present Perfect and Past Perfect. | 10 |
| Step 5 | | speaking | You can have a discussion about mobile phones. | 10 |
| Step 6 | | writing | You can write an email about your mobile phone. | 10 |
Step 1 - Listening
Cell phones
You are going to watch a video by Geoff Watson.
- Watch the video and do assignment 1.
- Watch the video again and do assignment 2.
Assignment 1
Copy and fill in the grid (on your own) and discuss the answers in your group.
Apart from asking questions Geoff also tells a lot about himself. What does he say? (use key words) | |
In the introduction | |
After the first set of questions | |
After the next set of questions | |
At the end of the video | |
Assignment 2
In this video Geoff asks a lot of questions about cell phones.
- (On your own) watch the video and choose 10 questions to write down. (You can stop the video to write down the questions).
- (In your group) compare the questions you wrote down.
Step 2 - Reading
Advantages and Disadvantages of mobile phones
You are going to read a text about advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones.
- Read the text and do assignment 1.
- Read the text again and do assignment 2.
Assignment 1
Copy and fill in the grid (on your own) and discuss the answers in your group.
What are the: (use key words) | |||
Advantages | Disadvantages | Do’s | Don’ts |
Anyone who uses a cell phone can tell you how convenient it is to have one. They are especially useful when you are on the road traveling. If you need emergency road service or if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, a cell phone can be your best friend.
Cell phones are an effective way to keep in touch with family and friends. Cell phones are small and easy to carry around, and calls can be made anytime from any place. However, cell phones do have some disadvantages. One of the biggest disadvantages of using cell phones is that people are tempted to use them while driving. This causes a situation called “inattention blindness”.
Studies have shown that drivers who use cell phones while driving were “blind” (because they did not pay attention) to roadside billboards, signs and other sources of important information around them.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at any given moment of the day over 500,000
drivers are talking on cell phones while driving.
This means that there are a large number of people who are not giving their full attention to driving.
Everyone knows that in today’s traffic there should be as few distractions as possible.
The Automobile Association (AAA) recommends that cell phones not be used while driving.
But if there is an emergency reason for using a cell phone, the following safety tips are recommended:
- Position your cell phone within easy reach.
- Pull off the road and park in a safe place to make calls.
- Ask a passenger to make a call for you.
- Keep the phone conversation short and get off the phone as soon as possible.
- Use phone only when necessary.
In addition to problems related to driving, there are other disadvantages to cell phones.
Cell phones can be disruptive in places such as churches, theaters, and other places where quietness is needed. It is thought that ringing cell phones cause distractions in classes.
Many school districts have banned cell phones use in the schools. Some restaurant owners across the country are asking their customers to turn off the ringers on their cell phones when they enter the restaurant. Most cell phones have a vibrating feature that causes the phone to vibrate instead of ringing, and some have voice mail where messages can be stored so that they can be retrieved at more appropriate times. This makes it possible for cell phone users to continue to use their phones without disturbing the people around them. On any occasion, good manners are always the best way to go. It is important to be considerate of others and use good common sense all the time, including when using cell phones. According to USA Today, millions of cell phones in use in the United States ring in theaters, libraries, churches and other inappropriate places.
Cell phone users are encouraged to turn off cell phones in places where quietness is needed.
If for some reason the user cannot or will not turn off the phone, they should use the vibrating feature to alert them to incoming calls without disturbing others.
Cell phone users should also consider the following rules of courtesy:
- If there is a rule against cell phones, respect it.
- Respect the personal space of those around you. Take your calls away from others.
- When speaking on the phone, speak as quietly as possible.
- Do not interrupt a face-to-face conversation to take a cell phone call.
- If you must take a call while with others, keep the call brief.
- Whenever possible, let voice mail take your calls.
- Keep your ring tones turned to a low volume.
Perhaps more serious than damage to social relations, cell phones may have effects on the health of their users.
It has been found that cell phones give off radiation. Radiation can damage the cells in the body.
Scientists believe that this radiation can cause changes in brain cells which can cause nausea, dizziness, depression,
early memory loss, and brain tumors. There is no certain connection between cell phone use and health problems.
However, until further studies are done, most scientists suggest that people should limit the length of time spent talking on cell phones.
Source: http://www.abcteach.com/free/r/rc_unit_cellphones_upperelem.pdf
Step 3 - Vocabulary
- Study the vocabulary. (10 minutes)
- Study the irregular verbs.
- Do the exercises.
 | Woordenlijst Having a mobile phone |
Tip!
Er zijn veel manieren om te werken aan je woordenschat in StudioWozzol.
Je kunt de woorden hardop uitspreken of kopiëren.
Klik in StudioWozzol op de rode pijl voor de verschillende opties.
Irregular Verbs
Bekijk de onderstaande kennisbank en bestudeer de volgende irregular verbs (onregelmatige werkwoorden):
- to be
- to beat
- to become
- to begin
 | Irregular verbs |
Step 4 - Grammar
Simple Past, Present Perfect and Past Perfect
- Study the theory.
- Have a look at the irregular verbs.
- Do assignment 1.
| Past simple |
| Present perfect |
| Irregular verbs |
Step 5 - Speaking
A discussion about mobile phones
You watched the video of Geoff Watson about cell phones in step 2.
The questions you are going to discuss in your group are from this video.
Your discussion should take at least10 minutes, you don’t have to discuss all the questions. Choose the ones you like:
- When did you buy your current cell phone?
- How much was it?
- What kind of phone is it?
- Which phone company do you use?
- Do you have a monthly plan or do you use prepaid credit?
- Are you happy wih your cell phone?
- How much do you spend every month on your cell phone bill?
- Do you use your cell phone for (work) school?
- Who do you call most often?
- How long could you live without your cell phone?
- How important is it to you?
- Can you surf the web with your cell phone?
- How often do you use the camera of your cell phone?
- What does your ringtone sound like?
Step 6 - Writing
An email about your mobile phone
You have just bought an new mobile phone and you are going to write an email to your English pen pal.
- Begin your email by greeting your friend(think of a name).
- You are going to write about your new mobile phone.
- Give information about your new phone (type, price, phone company).
- Describe what you can do with your new phone.
- Ask your pen pal about his/her mobile phone.
- Think of something else to ask your pen pal.
- Finish your email.
Open het werkbestand in google docs: 1.1 Having a mobile phone- An email about your mobile phone.
Maak een kopie van het werkblad in je eigen omgeving (Bestand - Een kopie maken...)
of download het werkblad (Bestand - Downloaden als).
