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EU votes for universal phone charger (18th March, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Have you ever wondered why every smartphone manufacturer makes a charger for its phone that is different from the rest? Lawmakers at the European Union have also been pondering the same mystery. Consumers should welcome a new, common-sense initiative voted for by European politicians. The EU has decided that all smartphone companies will soon have to make the plug adaptor that connects to the electricity supply the same. They did not vote on making the other end of the cable, the part that connects to the phone itself, the same. This will leave many consumers feeling somewhat perplexed. They may well view the upcoming law as a half measure. There were calls to also standardize the connector that fits into the phone.

The dizzying variety in designs of current adaptors is detrimental to the environment. Every time someone buys a new phone, they usually end up throwing away their old charger and paying for another one that fits their new device. EU politician Barbara Weiler said the new law would help the environment by cutting down on electronic waste. She told reporters: "It will put an end to charger clutter and 51,000 tons of electronic waste annually." She added: "The current incompatibility of chargers for mobile phones, smart phones, tablets, digital cameras and music players is a nightmare and a real inconvenience for consumers." Manufacturers have until 2017 to comply with the new directive.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-24726077
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/enterprise/item/36152-smartphone-companies-to/
http://www.euractiv.com/innovation-enterprise/meps-vote-harmonise-mobile-phone-news-534138

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. PHONE CHARGERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about phone chargers. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

wondered / smartphone / mystery / initiative / cable / perplexed / consumers / variety / throwing away / device / electronic waste / nightmare / inconvenience

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

3. DEVICES: How can they be better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Smartphone	Tablet	Game console
Charger
Screen
Battery
Keys
Power button
Size

4. WIRELESS: Students A strongly believe all chargers and connectors should be the same; Students B strongly believe they shouldn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. NIGHTMARE: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest nightmare at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• phone down the toilet

• e-mail password hacked

• all computer files corrupted

• no wi-fi for a week

• log-in password forgotten

• banned from Facebook

• serious computer virus

• cyber-bully

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

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	EU lawmakers have been pandering over smartphone chargers.	T / F
b.	The article describes a new law as being one of common sense.	T / F
c.	The connector to the actual smartphone is to be standardized.	T / F
d.	Many consumers won't understand the decision made by the EU.	T / F
e.	The constant replacement of old chargers is bad for the environment.	T / F
f.	Over 50,000 tons of chargers are thrown away each year.	T / F
g.	A politician said phone chargers give people bad dreams.	T / F
h.	Smartphone makers have 5 years to change their chargers.	T / F

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

1.	wondered	a.	mismatch
2.	pondering	b.	look at
3.	initiative	c.	diversity
4.	connects	d.	strategy
5.	view	e.	speculated about
6.	variety	f.	reducing
7.	fits	g.	adhere to
8.	cutting down on	h.	considering
9.	incompatibility	i.	matches
10.	comply with	j.	joins

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

1.	a new, common-	a.	supply
2.	connects to the electricity	b.	for consumers
3.	the part that	c.	measure
4.	view the upcoming law as a half	d.	variety in designs
5.	There were calls to also standardize	e.	on electronic waste
6.	The dizzying	f.	sense initiative
7.	detrimental	g.	the connector
8.	cutting down	h.	to the environment
9.	a real inconvenience	i.	the new directive
10.	comply with	j.	connects to the phone

GAP FILL

Have you ever (1) ____________ why every smartphone manufacturer makes a charger for its phone that is different from the (2) ____________? Lawmakers at the European Union have also been pondering the same mystery. Consumers should (3) ____________ a new, common-sense (4) ____________ voted for by European politicians. The EU has decided that all smartphone companies will soon have to make the plug adaptor that connects to the electricity (5) ____________ the same. They did not vote on making the other (6) ____________ of the cable, the part that connects to the phone itself, the same. This will leave many consumers feeling somewhat (7) ____________. They may well view the upcoming law as a half (8) ____________. There were calls to also standardize the connector that fits into the phone.

perplexed
welcome
measure
supply
wondered
initiative
rest
end

The dizzying (9) ____________ in designs of current adaptors is detrimental to the environment. Every time someone buys a new phone, they usually (10) ____________ up throwing away their old charger and paying for another one that fits their new (11) ____________. EU politician Barbara Weiler said the new law would help the environment by cutting (12) ____________ on electronic waste. She told reporters: "It will put an end to charger (13) ____________ and 51,000 tons of electronic waste annually." She added: "The (14) ____________ incompatibility of chargers for mobile phones, smart phones, tablets, digital cameras and music players is a (15) ____________ and a real inconvenience for consumers." Manufacturers have until 2017 to comply with the new (16) ____________.

current
down
end
directive
variety
clutter
nightmare
device

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	a charger for its phone that is different ______
	a. from the best b. from the lest c. from the rest d. from the crest
2)	Lawmakers at the European Union have also been pondering ______
	a. the same mysteries b. the same historical c. the same mystery d. the same history
3)	Consumers should welcome a new, ______
	a. commons-sense initiative b. common-sense initiative c. community-sense initiative d. come-on-sense initiative
4)	the plug adaptor that connects to ______
	a. the electrical supply b. the electricity supply c. the electric city supply d. the electronics supply
5)	They may well view the upcoming law ______
	a. as a half measure b. as a half measured c. as a half measuring d. as a half measures
6)	The dizzying variety in designs of current adaptors ______
	a. is petro mental b. is retro mental c. is detrimental d. is occidental
7)	paying for another one that fits ______
	a. there new device b. their new device c. they're new device d. the new device
8)	help the environment by cutting down ______
	a. on electronic waste b. in electronic waste c. an electronic waste d. un-electronic waste
9)	a nightmare and a real inconvenience ______
	a. four consumers b. for consumers c. form consumers d. fore consumers
10)	Manufacturers have until 2017 to comply ______
	a. with the new directive b. with the new direction c. with the new director d. with the new direction

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Have you (1) ___________________ smartphone manufacturer makes a charger for its phone that is different from the rest? Lawmakers at the European Union have also been (2) ___________________ mystery. Consumers should welcome a new, (3) ___________________ voted for by European politicians. The EU has decided that all smartphone companies will soon have to make the plug (4) ___________________ to the electricity supply the same. They did not vote on making the other end of the cable, the part that connects (5) ___________________, the same. This will leave many consumers (6) ___________________. They may well view the upcoming law as a half measure. There were calls to also standardize the connector that fits into the phone.

The dizzying (7) ___________________ current adaptors is detrimental to the environment. Every time someone buys a new phone, they usually (8) ___________________ away their old charger and paying for another one that fits their new device. EU politician Barbara Weiler said the new law would help the environment (9) ___________________ electronic waste. She told reporters: "It will (10) ___________________ clutter and 51,000 tons of electronic waste annually." She added: "The (11) ___________________ chargers for mobile phones, smart phones, tablets, digital cameras and music players is a nightmare and a real inconvenience for consumers." Manufacturers have until 2017 (12) ___________________ directive.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	Who at the EU has been thinking about a mystery?
2.	How did the article describe the new initiative?
3.	What will the new, universal adaptor be plugged into?
4.	How might many people view the EU's upcoming law?
5.	What were there calls for to standardize?
6.	What is detrimental to the environment?
7.	How will the new charger help the environment?
8.	How much electronic waste is there each year?
9.	What two things did a politician say charger incompatibility was?
10.	When is the limit for manufacturers to comply with the new law?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	Who at the EU has been thinking about a mystery?	6.	What is detrimental to the environment?
	a) the EU Minister of Detectives b) the boss c) lawmakers d) the security guards		a) making phone calls b) the variety of adaptors c) dizziness d) politicians
2.	How did the article describe the new initiative?	7.	How will the new charger help the environment?
	a) as being one of common sense b) as being foolish c) as being too wordy d) as being full of intrigue and mystery		a) it is biodegradable b) it will convert C02 into oxygen c) electronic signals attack pollution d) it will reduce waste
3.	What will the new, universal adaptor be plugged into?	8.	How much electronic waste is there each year?
	a) the 21st century b) the electricity supply c) technology d) the floor		a) 51 million kilograms b) 51,000 tons c) 5 million tons d) 50 million kg
4.	How might many people view the EU's upcoming law?	9.	What two things did a politician say charger incompatibility was?
	a) half-heartedly b) the cup is half empty c) at half-time d) as a half measure		a) a bad dream and incontinence b) a nightmare and an inconvenience c) a dark horse and a spot of bother d) misery and headaches
5.	What were there calls for to standardize?	10.	When is the limit for manufacturers to comply with the new law?
	a) Apple and Samsung b) laws c) the connector to the phone d) phone call rates		a) 2017 b) 2022 c) 2027 d) 2032

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Phone down the toilet

You think a phone down the toilet is the biggest nightmare. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so bad with their problems. Also, tell the others which is the easiest of these to fix (and why): no wi-fi for a week, your e-mail password being hacked or being banned from Facebook.

Role B – No wi-fi for a week

You think no wi-fi for a week is the biggest nightmare. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so bad with their problems. Also, tell the others which is the easiest of these to fix (and why): a phone down the toilet, your e-mail password being hacked or being banned from Facebook.

Role C – E-mail password hacked

You think your e-mail password being hacked is the biggest nightmare. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so bad with their problems. Also, tell the others which is the easiest of these to fix (and why): no wi-fi for a week, a phone down the toilet or being banned from Facebook.

Role D – Banned from Facebook

You think being banned from Facebook is the biggest nightmare. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so bad with their problems. Also, tell the others which is the easiest of these to fix (and why): no wi-fi for a week, your e-mail password being hacked or a phone down the toilet.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

smart

phone

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:

rest
mystery
common
supply
cable
calls

designs
away
help
put
digital
real

PHONE CHARGERS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about phone chargers 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

PHONE CHARGERS DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'charger'?
c)	Why do companies make different chargers?
d)	What do you think of the new EU law?
e)	Is the new law a half measure?
f)	Why aren't plugs and connectors the same all over the world?
g)	Isn't it better for the end that goes into the phone to be the same?
h)	What leaves you feeling perplexed about electronics?
i)	How would wireless chargers change your life?
j)	How would never-ending batteries change your life?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What do you do with your old cables, chargers, adaptors, etc.?
c)	Do you think phones will be cheaper if you don't need a new charger every time?
d)	What else can electronics companies do to reduce waste?
e)	What do you do when your phone is dead and you cannot find your charger?
f)	Should houses have device chargers already in the walls?
g)	What is the biggest nightmare about electronics?
h)	Are electronics always a convenience?
i)	When will smartphones disappear and what will replace them?
j)	What would you like to ask an electronics company boss?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Have you ever (1) ____ why every smartphone manufacturer makes a charger for its phone that is different from the rest? Lawmakers at the European Union have also been (2) ____ the same mystery. Consumers should welcome a new, (3) ____-sense initiative voted for by European politicians. The EU has decided that all smartphone companies will soon have to make the plug adaptor that connects to the electricity (4) ____ the same. They did not vote on making the other end of the cable, the part that connects to the phone (5) ____, the same. This will leave many consumers feeling somewhat perplexed. They may well view the upcoming law as a half measure. There were calls to also standardize the connector that (6) ____ into the phone.

The dizzying (7) ____ in designs of current adaptors is detrimental to the environment. Every time someone buys a new phone, they usually end (8) ____ throwing away their old charger and paying for another one that fits their new device. EU politician Barbara Weiler said the new law would help the environment by cutting down (9) ____ electronic waste. She told reporters: "It will put an end to charger clutter and 51,000 tons of electronic waste (10) ____." She added: "The current incompatibility of chargers for mobile phones, smart phones, tablets, digital cameras and music players is a (11) ____ and a real inconvenience for consumers." Manufacturers have until 2017 to comply (12) ____ the new directive.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	warned	(b)	worried	(c)	wandered	(d)	wondered
2.	(a)	pounding	(b)	pandering	(c)	panting	(d)	pondering
3.	(a)	unique	(b)	common	(c)	original	(d)	ubiquitous
4.	(a)	demand	(b)	merchant	(c)	supply	(d)	market
5.	(a)	call	(b)	electricity	(c)	itself	(d)	power
6.	(a)	fits	(b)	calls	(c)	answers	(d)	annexes
7.	(a)	assorted	(b)	variety	(c)	mixing	(d)	compendia
8.	(a)	up	(b)	in	(c)	on	(d)	down
9.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	of	(d)	from
10.	(a)	minutely	(b)	universally	(c)	annually	(d)	provincially
11.	(a)	nightcap	(b)	nightfall	(c)	nightmare	(d)	night shift
12.	(a)	as	(b)	to	(c)	on	(d)	with

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	smartphone ruumfceatanr
2.	pondering the same yrsemty
3.	a new, common-sense iieaiitntv
4.	connects to the electricity uypslp
5.	leave many consumers feeling somewhat relpdeexp
6.	view the upcoming law as a half asurmee
Paragraph 2
7.	The dizzying tervyai in designs
8.	enmrdeliatt to the environment
9.	EU nioctiiapl Barbara Weiler said…
10.	51,000 tons of electronic waste ulylaann
11.	The current ocptbmailitinyi of chargers
12.	a real ecieivocnennn for consumers

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	mystery. Consumers should welcome a new, common-sense initiative voted for by European
( )	connects to the phone itself, the same. This will leave many consumers feeling somewhat perplexed. They may well
( )	politicians. The EU has decided that all smartphone companies will soon have to make the plug adaptor that connects
( )	The dizzying variety in designs of current adaptors is detrimental to the environment. Every time someone buys
( )	smart phones, tablets, digital cameras and music players is a nightmare and a real
( )	to the electricity supply the same. They did not vote on making the other end of the cable, the part that
( )	inconvenience for consumers." Manufacturers have until 2017 to comply with the new directive.
( )	device. EU politician Barbara Weiler said the new law would help the environment by cutting down on electronic
( )	annually." She added: "The current incompatibility of chargers for mobile phones,
( )	that is different from the rest? Lawmakers at the European Union have also been pondering the same
( )	view the upcoming law as a half measure. There were calls to also standardize the connector that fits into the phone.
( )	a new phone, they usually end up throwing away their old charger and paying for another one that fits their new
( 1 )	Have you ever wondered why every smartphone manufacturer makes a charger for its phone
( )	waste. She told reporters: "It will put an end to charger clutter and 51,000 tons of electronic waste

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	charger A rest the from different is that phone its for.
2.	supply plug connects electricity The that the adaptor to.
3.	part phone that itself connects to The the.
4.	well may They measure half a as law upcoming the view.
5.	fits Standardize into the the connector phone that.
6.	away charger usually throwing old They up their end.
7.	for that new Paying one their another fits device.
8.	by on environment down waste the cutting electronic Help.
9.	phones of chargers The for current mobile incompatibility.
10.	comply Manufacturers until to have 2017.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Have you ever wondered why / what every smartphone manufacturer makes a charger for its phone that is different from the restive / rest? Lawmakers at the European Union have also been pondering / pandering the same mystery. Consumers should welcome a new, common-sense initiative / initial voted for by European politicians. The EU has decided that all smartphone companies will soon have to make the plug adaptation / adaptor that connects to the electricity supply / demand the same. They did not vote on making the other end of the cabal / cable, the part that connects to the phone itself, the same. This will leave many consumers feeling something / somewhat perplexed. They may well view / gave the upcoming law as a half measure. There were calls / callings to also standardize the connector that fits into the phone.

The dizzying / dizzied variety in designs of current adaptors is detriment / detrimental to the environment. Every time someone buys a new phone, they usually end / send up throwing away their old charger and paying / payment for another one that fits their new device / devil. EU politician Barbara Weiler said the new law would help the environment by / from cutting down on electronic waste. She told reporters: "It will put an entry / end to charger clutter and 51,000 tons of electronic waste year / annually." She added: "The current incompatibility of chargers for mobile phones, smart phones, tablets, digital cameras and music players is a dream / nightmare and a real inconvenience for consumers." Manufacturers have until 2017 to comply / imply with the new directive.

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

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

H_v_ y__ _v_r w_nd_r_d why _v_ry sm_rtph_n_ m_n_f_ct_r_r m_k_s _ ch_rg_r f_r _ts ph_n_ th_t _s d_ff_r_nt fr_m th_ r_st? L_wm_k_rs _t th_ __r_p__n _n__n h_v_ _ls_ b__n p_nd_r_ng th_ s_m_ myst_ry. C_ns_m_rs sh__ld w_lc_m_ _ n_w, c_mm_n-s_ns_ _n_t__t_v_ v_t_d f_r by __r_p__n p_l_t_c__ns. Th_ __ h_s d_c_d_d th_t _ll sm_rtph_n_ c_mp_n__s w_ll s__n h_v_ t_ m_k_ th_ pl_g _d_pt_r th_t c_nn_cts t_ th_ _l_ctr_c_ty s_pply th_ s_m_. Th_y d_d n_t v_t_ _n m_k_ng th_ _th_r _nd _f th_ c_bl_, th_ p_rt th_t c_nn_cts t_ th_ ph_n_ _ts_lf, th_ s_m_. Th_s w_ll l__v_ m_ny c_ns_m_rs f__l_ng s_m_wh_t p_rpl_x_d. Th_y m_y w_ll v__w th_ _pc_m_ng l_w _s _ h_lf m__s_r_. Th_r_ w_r_ c_lls t_ _ls_ st_nd_rd_z_ th_ c_nn_ct_r th_t f_ts _nt_ th_ ph_n_.

Th_ d_zzy_ng v_r__ty _n d_s_gns _f c_rr_nt _d_pt_rs _s d_tr_m_nt_l t_ th_ _nv_r_nm_nt. _v_ry t_m_ s_m__n_ b_ys _ n_w ph_n_, th_y _s__lly _nd _p thr_w_ng _w_y th__r _ld ch_rg_r _nd p_y_ng f_r _n_th_r _n_ th_t f_ts th__r n_w d_v_c_. __ p_l_t_c__n B_rb_r_ W__l_r s__d th_ n_w l_w w__ld h_lp th_ _nv_r_nm_nt by c_tt_ng d_wn _n _l_ctr_n_c w_st_. Sh_ t_ld r_p_rt_rs: "_t w_ll p_t _n _nd t_ ch_rg_r cl_tt_r _nd 51,000 t_ns _f _l_ctr_n_c w_st_ _nn__lly." Sh_ _dd_d: "Th_ c_rr_nt _nc_mp_t_b_l_ty _f ch_rg_rs f_r m_b_l_ ph_n_s, sm_rt ph_n_s, t_bl_ts, d_g_t_l c_m_r_s _nd m_s_c pl_y_rs _s _ n_ghtm_r_ _nd _ r__l _nc_nv_n__nc_ f_r c_ns_m_rs." M_n_f_ct_r_rs h_v_ _nt_l 2017 t_ c_mply w_th th_ n_w d_r_ct_v_.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

have you ever wondered why every smartphone manufacturer makes a charger for its phone that is different from the rest lawmakers at the european union have also been pondering the same mystery consumers should welcome a new common-sense initiative voted for by european politicians the eu has decided that all smartphone companies will soon have to make the plug adaptor that connects to the electricity supply the same they did not vote on making the other end of the cable the part that connects to the phone itself the same this will leave many consumers feeling somewhat perplexed they may well view the upcoming law as a half measure there were calls to also standardize the connector that fits into the phone

the dizzying variety in designs of current adaptors is detrimental to the environment every time someone buys a new phone they usually end up throwing away their old charger and paying for another one that fits their new device eu politician barbara weiler said the new law would help the environment by cutting down on electronic waste she told reporters "it will put an end to charger clutter and 51000 tons of electronic waste annually" she added "the current incompatibility of chargers for mobile phones smart phones tablets digital cameras and music players is a nightmare and a real inconvenience for consumers" manufacturers have until 2017 to comply with the new directive

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Haveyoueverwonderedwhyeverysmartphonemanufacturermake
sachargerforitsphonethatisdifferentfromtherest?Lawmakersatth
eEuropeanUnionhavealsobeenponderingthesamemystery.Consu
mersshouldwelcomeanew,common-senseinitiativevotedforbyEur
opeanpoliticians.TheEUhasdecidedthatallsmartphonecompanies
willsoonhavetomaketheplugadaptorthatconnectstotheelectricitys
upplythesame.Theydidnotvoteonmakingtheotherendofthecable,t
hepartthatconnectstothephoneitself,thesame.Thiswillleavemany
consumersfeelingsomewhatperplexed.Theymaywellviewtheupco
minglawasahalfmeasure.Therewerecallstoalsostandardizethecon
nectorthatfitsintothephone.Thedizzyingvarietyindesignsofcurren
tadaptorsisdetrimentaltotheenvironment.Everytimesomeonebuy
sanewphone,theyusuallyendupthrowingawaytheiroldchargerand
payingforanotheronethatfitstheirnewdevice.EUpoliticianBarbara
Weilersaidthenewlawwouldhelptheenvironmentbycuttingdownon
electronicwaste.Shetoldreporters:"Itwillputanendtochargerclutte
rand51,000tonsofelectronicwasteannually."Sheadded:"Thecurre
ntincompatibilityofchargersformobilephones,smartphones,tablet
s,digitalcamerasandmusicplayersisanightmareandarealinconveni
enceforconsumers."Manufacturershaveuntil2017tocomplywithth
enewdirective.

FREE WRITING

Write about phone chargers for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

All adaptors, cables, plugs, etc. on all devices should be standardized. 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 phone chargers. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. PHONE CHARGERS: Make a poster about phone chargers. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. COMPATABILITY: Write a magazine article about making everything on all devices compatible. 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 IT expert. Ask him/her three questions about phone chargers. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make them 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

$US 9.99

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

T

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	wondered	a.	speculated about
2.	pondering	b.	considering
3.	initiative	c.	strategy
4.	connects	d.	joins
5.	view	e.	look at
6.	variety	f.	diversity
7.	fits	g.	matches
8.	cutting down on	h.	reducing
9.	incompatibility	i.	mismatch
10.	comply with	j.	adhere to

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Lawmakers
2.	As being one of common-sense
3.	The electricity supply
4.	As a half measure
5.	The connector to the phone
6.	Having so many different adaptors
7.	It will cut down on electronic waste
8.	51,000 tons
9.	A nightmare and an inconvenience
10.	2017

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

b

4.

d

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

b

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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EU votes for universal phone charger (18th March, 2014)

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