The Reading / Listening - Television - Level 6

The television maker Vizio has agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle claims that it collected data from 11 million people without their consent. The lawsuit against the flat-panel TV maker was filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the USA. The FTC discovered that Vizio had been gathering and selling data on customers without permission for years. The FTC claimed Vizio began making televisions in 2014 that automatically tracked what people were watching. They fitted tracking devices to TVs made before 2014 by using software updates. The FTC said: "Consumers didn’t know that while they were watching their TVs, Vizio was watching them."

The FTC said Vizio captured second-by-second information about what people were watching. The company also recorded people's IP addresses. The FTC said this was a breach of privacy and security. It said: "The data generated when you watch television can reveal a lot about you and your household." Vizio sold information to advertisers about people's age, sex, household size and income, marital status, home ownership, and education level. However, the company did not share people's names. Vizio lawyer Jerry Huang said: "Today, the FTC has made it clear that all smart-TV makers should get people's consent before collecting and sharing television viewing information."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Television - Level 4  or  Television - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.pcmag.com/news/351582/own-a-vizio-tv-it-may-have-spied-on-you
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/vizio-settlement_us_589962dee4b0c1284f27e534
  • http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/02/06/vizio-fined-2-2-million-collecting-customer-viewing-histories-without-consent/


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. TELEVISION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about television. 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?

       agreed / claims / data / customers / permission / tracking / devices / updates / TV /
       information / addresses / privacy / security / income / marital status / education level

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

3. SELLING DATA: Students A strongly believe it should be illegal for companies to sell personal data; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. PERSONAL INFO: Is it OK to give these people the personal information below? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Bank

New friend

Online store

Gaming website

Matchmaking
Agency

Age

 

 

 

 

 

Date of birth

 

 

 

 

 

Address

 

 

 

 

 

Marital status

 

 

 

 

 

Income

 

 

 

 

 

Education level

 

 

 

 

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

6. CONFIDENTIAL: Rank these with your partner. Put the most confidential information at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • e-mail password
  • income
  • marital status
  • biggest secret
  • date of birth
  • weight
  • ATM card PIN number
  • passport number

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. A TV maker had to pay $22 million to settle claims about data collection. T / F
  2. The company collected data on 11 million people without their consent.   T / F
  3. The company's TVs automatically collected data on people's viewing.     T / F
  4. Customers knew that the TV maker was watching what they watched.     T / F
  5. The company collected data every other second.     T / F
  6. The TV maker also collected customers' IP addresses.     T / F
  7. The TV maker collected and sold information on people's marital status.   T / F
  8. A company lawyer said it wasn't clear what TV makers should do.     T / F

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

  1. agreed
  2. settle
  3. lawsuit
  4. fitted
  5. devices
  6. captured
  7. breach
  8. generated
  9. status
  10. clear
  1. legal action
  2. violation
  3. gadgets
  4. position
  5. resolve
  6. brought about
  7. recorded
  8. consented
  9. evident
  10. inserted

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

  1. agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle
  2. it collected data from 11 million people
  3. The lawsuit against the flat-panel TV maker
  4. automatically tracked what
  5. software
  6. Vizio captured second-
  7. recorded people's
  8. reveal a
  9. marital
  10. makers should get people's
  1. people were watching
  2. status
  3. claims
  4. by-second information
  5. lot about you
  6. was filed
  7. without their consent
  8. consent
  9. IP addresses
  10. updates

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
filed
tracked
agreed
while
gathering
devices
data
permission

The television maker Vizio has (1) ____________ to pay $2.2 million to settle claims that it collected (2) ____________ from 11 million people without their consent. The lawsuit against the flat-panel TV maker was (3) ____________ by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the USA. The FTC discovered that Vizio had been (4) ____________ and selling data on customers without (5) ____________ for years. The FTC claimed Vizio began making televisions in 2014 that automatically (6) ____________ what people were watching. They fitted tracking (7) ____________ to TVs made before 2014 by using software updates. The FTC said: "Consumers didn’t know that (8) ____________ they were watching their TVs, Vizio was watching them."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
breach
marital
addresses
consent
advertisers
captured
clear
reveal

The FTC said Vizio (9) ____________ second-by-second information about what people were watching. The company also recorded people's IP (10) ____________. The FTC said this was a (11) ____________ of privacy and security. It said: "The data generated when you watch television can (12) ____________ a lot about you and your household." Vizio sold information to (13) ____________ about people's age, sex, household size and income, (14) ____________ status, home ownership, and education level. However, the company did not share people's names. Vizio lawyer Jerry Huang said: "Today, the FTC has made it (15) ____________ that all smart-TV makers should get people's (16) ____________ before collecting and sharing television viewing information."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The television maker Vizio has agreed to pay $2.2 million to ______
     a.  settled clams
     b.  settler claims
     c.  settle clams
     d.  settle claims

2)  it collected data from 11 million people without ______
     a.  their consensus
     b.  their consent
     c.  their consents
     d.  their consensual

3) Vizio had been gathering and selling data on customers ______
     a.  without permission
     b.  without persimmon
     c.  without promissory
     d.  without premonition

4)  They fitted tracking devices to TVs made before 2014 by using ______
     a.  software uploads
     b.  software updates
     c.  software upbeats
     d.  software updated

5)  Consumers didn’t know that while they were watching their TVs, Vizio was ______
     a.  watching their
     b.  watching they
     c.  watching these
     d.  watching them

6)  Vizio captured second-by-second information about what ______
     a.  people were watching
     b.  peoples were watching
     c.  person was watching
     d.  people like watching

7)  The FTC said this was a breach of privacy ______
     a.  and secretary
     b.  and securities
     c.  and security
     d.  and secure it

8)  The data generated when you watch television can reveal a ______
     a.  lots about you
     b.  lot all about you
     c.  load all about you
     d.  lot about you

9) household size and income, marital status, home ownership, and ______
     a.  educational level
     b.  education level
     c.  educationally level
     d.  educations level

10)  get people's consent before collecting and sharing television ______
     a.  view in information
     b.  viewing in information
     c.  viewing formation
     d.  viewing information

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The television maker Vizio (1) ___________________ pay $2.2 million to settle claims that it collected data from 11 million people without their consent. The lawsuit against the flat-panel TV maker (2) ___________________ Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the USA. The FTC discovered that Vizio had been gathering and (3) ___________________ customers without (4) ___________________. The FTC claimed Vizio began making televisions in 2014 that automatically tracked what people were watching. They fitted (5) ___________________ TVs made before 2014 by using software updates. The FTC said: "Consumers didn’t (6) ___________________ they were watching their TVs, Vizio was watching them."

The FTC said Vizio captured (7) ___________________ information about what people were watching. The company also recorded people's (8) ___________________. The FTC said this was a breach of privacy and security. It said: "The data generated when you watch television (9) ___________________ about you and your household." Vizio sold information to advertisers about people's age, sex, household size and (10) ___________________, home ownership, and education level. However, the company did not share people's names. Vizio lawyer Jerry Huang said: "Today, the FTC has made (11) ___________________ smart-TV makers should get people's consent before collecting and sharing television (12) ___________________."

Comprehension questions

  1. How much did Vizio have to pay to settle claims against it?
  2. How many people did Vizio collect data from?
  3. For how long had Vizio been collecting data without permission?
  4. What did Vizio fit to TVs made before 2014?
  5. What didn't consumers know that Vizio was doing?
  6. What did Vizio record?
  7. How much data can watching TV reveal about you?
  8. What did Vizio not share about people?
  9. Who is Jerry Huang?
  10. What did Jerry Huang say TV makers should get before sharing info?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How much did Vizio have to pay to settle claims against it?
a) $22 million
b) $2.2 million
c) $220,000,000
d) $220,000

2) How many people did Vizio collect data from?
a) 1.1 million
b) 2.2 million
c) 22 million
d) 11 million

3) For how long had Vizio been collecting data without permission?
a) years
b) months
c) weeks
d) decades

4) What did Vizio fit to TVs made before 2014?
a) bar codes
b) screens
c) tracking devices
d) game consoles

5) What didn't consumers know that Vizio was doing?
a) using software
b) watching them
c) updating software
d) automatically

6) What did Vizio record?
a) people's IP addresses
b) music
c) events
d) TV programmes

7) How much data can watching TV reveal about you?
a) not that much
b) 27.8 GB
c) a lot
d) everything

8) What did Vizio not share about people?
a) their names
b) telephone numbers
c) secrets
d) passwords

9) Who is Jerry Huang?
a) a lawyer
b) a Vizio customer
c) an FTC worker
d) a security expert

10) What did Jerry Huang say TV makers should get before sharing info?
a) a permit
b) a bigger screen
c) a bigger hard drive
d) consent

Role play

Role A — Date of Birth

You think your date of birth is the most confidential information. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their info isn't as confidential. Also, tell the others which is the least confidential of these (and why): weight, income or passport number.

Role B — Weight

You think your weight is the most confidential information. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their info isn't as confidential. Also, tell the others which is the least confidential of these (and why): date of birth, income or passport number.

Role C — Income

You think your income is the most confidential information. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their info isn't as confidential. Also, tell the others which is the least confidential of these (and why): weight, date of birth or passport number.

Role D — Passport Number

You think your passport number is the most confidential information. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their info isn't as confidential. Also, tell the others which is the least confidential of these (and why): weight, income or date of birth.

After reading / listening

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

'data'

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

    • and 'information'.

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

    • • 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:

    • second
    • IP
    • reveal
    • size
    • names
    • clear
    • agreed
    • filed
    • years
    • tracked
    • updates
    • while

    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 - TV maker illegally tracked and sold viewing data

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'television'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How much do you worry about your personal information?
    5. How surprised are you a TV maker can do this?
    6. What do companies do with the data they collect on you?
    7. Should the 11 million people be able to sue the TV maker?
    8. How legal were the TV maker's actions?
    9. What would you do if you were one of the 11 million?
    10. Will you now worry more about your personal information?

    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 'data'?
    3. What can bad people do with your IP address?
    4. How secure do you think you are online?
    5. What advice do you have for people to safeguard their privacy?
    6. How dangerous is it to give personal information online?
    7. Why do you think the company did not share people's names?
    8. What would people learn about you from the Internet sites you visit?
    9. What do your TV viewing habits say about you?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the boss of Vizio?

    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 television maker Vizio has (1) ____ to pay $2.2 million to settle claims that it collected data from 11 million people without their (2) ____. The lawsuit against the flat-panel TV maker was (3) ____ by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the USA. The FTC discovered that Vizio had been gathering and selling data (4) ____ customers without permission for years. The FTC claimed Vizio began making televisions in 2014 that automatically (5) ____ what people were watching. They fitted tracking devices to TVs made before 2014 by (6) ____ software updates. The FTC said: "Consumers didn’t know that while they were watching their TVs, Vizio was watching them."

    The FTC said Vizio captured second-by-(7) ____ information about what people were watching. The company also recorded people's (8) ____ addresses. The FTC said this was a (9) ____ of privacy and security. It said: "The data generated when you watch television can (10) ____ a lot about you and your household." Vizio sold information to advertisers about people's age, sex, household size and income, (11) ____ status, home ownership, and education level. However, the company did not share people's names. Vizio lawyer Jerry Huang said: "Today, the FTC has made it (12) ____ that all smart-TV makers should get people's consent before collecting and sharing television viewing information."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     agree     (b)     agreed     (c)     agreement     (d)     a greed    
    2. (a)     consensus     (b)     consent     (c)     consensual     (d)     consents    
    3. (a)     filled     (b)     foiled     (c)     flied     (d)     filed    
    4. (a)     off     (b)     on     (c)     as     (d)     by    
    5. (a)     tacked     (b)     trucked     (c)     tricked     (d)     tracked    
    6. (a)     usage     (b)     uses     (c)     using     (d)     user    
    7. (a)     second     (b)     minute     (c)     third     (d)     runner-up    
    8. (a)     AP     (b)     OP     (c)     IP     (d)     EP    
    9. (a)     broach     (b)     branch     (c)     batch     (d)     breach    
    10. (a)     reveal     (b)     rebel     (c)     repeal     (d)     revel    
    11. (a)     marital     (b)     married     (c)     martial     (d)     marry    
    12. (a)     clear     (b)     clarity     (c)     opaque     (d)     misty

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. to eltset claims
    2. the aiswult
    3. Federal Trade mCmosinsoi
    4. without niesismpor
    5. tracking isveced
    6. software tasepdu

    Paragraph 2

    1. eapdcrtu second-by-second information
    2. a reachb of privacy
    3. avleer a lot about you
    4. aatmirl status
    5. Vizio yearlw
    6. get people's cntosen

    Put the text back together

    (    )     The FTC said Vizio captured second-by-second information about what people were watching. The company also recorded

    (    )     from 11 million people without their consent. The lawsuit against the flat-panel TV maker was filed

    (    )     generated when you watch television can reveal a lot about you and your household." Vizio sold

    (  1  )     The television maker Vizio has agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle claims that it collected data

    (    )     before 2014 by using software updates. The FTC said: "Consumers didn’t know that while

    (    )     they were watching their TVs, Vizio was watching them."

    (    )     televisions in 2014 that automatically tracked what people were watching. They fitted tracking devices to TVs made

    (    )     by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the USA. The FTC discovered that Vizio had been gathering and selling

    (    )     information to advertisers about people's age, sex, household size and income, marital status, home

    (    )     ownership, and education level. However, the company did not share people's

    (    )     people's consent before collecting and sharing television viewing information."

    (    )     names. Vizio lawyer Jerry Huang said: "Today, the FTC has made it clear that all smart-TV makers should get

    (    )     people's IP addresses. The FTC said this was a breach of privacy and security. It said: "The data

    (    )     data on customers without permission for years. The FTC claimed Vizio began making

    Put the words in the right order

    1. million   claims   collected   11   Settle   it   from   people   that   data   .
    2. against   the   flat   -   panel   TV   maker   was   filed   The   lawsuit   .
    3. customers   on   data   Selling   years   for   permission   without   .
    4. 2014   to   They   TVs   fitted   made   tracking   before   devices   .
    5. know   didn’t   Consumers   watching   were   they   while   that   .
    6. recorded   IP   The   also   people's   addresses   company   .
    7. watch   reveal   Data   you   can  lot   when   television   a  generated   .
    8. names   did   However   not   ,   share   the   people's   company   .
    9. -   people's   TV   consent   makers   All   should   smart   get   .
    10. sharing   and   Collecting   information   viewing   television   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The television maker Vizio has agreed / agreement to pay $2.2 million to settle claims that it collection / collected data from 11 million people without their consensual / consent. The lawsuit against / back the flat-panel TV maker was filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the USA. The FTC discovered that Vizio had been gathering and selling data on / at customers without permission for yearly / years. The FTC claimed Vizio began making televisions in 2014 that automatically tracked that / what people were watching. They fitted tracking devices to / at TVs made before 2014 by using software updates / uploads. The FTC said: "Consumers didn’t know that while / whilst they were watching their TVs, Vizio was watching them."

    The FTC said Vizio captured / captioned second-by-second information about what people were watching. The company also recorded people's AP / IP addresses. The FTC said this was a breach / broach of privacy and security. It said: "The data generation / generated when you watch television can reveal a lots / lot about you and your household." Vizio sold information two / to advertisers about people's age, sex, household size and income, marital / martial status, home ownership, and education level. However, the company did not share people's names. Vizio lawyer Jerry Huang said: "Today, the FTC has made it clarity / clear that all smart-TV makers should get people's consent before / prior collecting and sharing television viewed / viewing information."

    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)

    Th_ t_l_v_s__n m_k_r V_z__ h_s _gr__d t_ p_y $2.2 m_ll__n t_ s_ttl_ cl__ms th_t _t c_ll_ct_d d_t_ fr_m 11 m_ll__n p__pl_ w_th__t th__r c_ns_nt. Th_ l_ws__t _g__nst th_ fl_t-p_n_l TV m_k_r w_s f_l_d by th_ F_d_r_l Tr_d_ C_mm_ss__n (FTC) _n th_ _S_. Th_ FTC d_sc_v_r_d th_t V_z__ h_d b__n g_th_r_ng _nd s_ll_ng d_t_ _n c_st_m_rs w_th__t p_rm_ss__n f_r y__rs. Th_ FTC cl__m_d V_z__ b_g_n m_k_ng t_l_v_s__ns _n 2014 th_t __t_m_t_c_lly tr_ck_d wh_t p__pl_ w_r_ w_tch_ng. Th_y f_tt_d tr_ck_ng d_v_c_s t_ TVs m_d_ b_f_r_ 2014 by _s_ng s_ftw_r_ _pd_t_s. Th_ FTC s__d: "C_ns_m_rs d_dn’t kn_w th_t wh_l_ th_y w_r_ w_tch_ng th__r TVs, V_z__ w_s w_tch_ng th_m."

    Th_ FTC s__d V_z__ c_pt_r_d s_c_nd-by-s_c_nd _nf_rm_t__n _b__t wh_t p__pl_ w_r_ w_tch_ng. Th_ c_mp_ny _ls_ r_c_rd_d p__pl_'s _P _ddr_ss_s. Th_ FTC s__d th_s w_s _ br__ch _f pr_v_cy _nd s_c_r_ty. _t s__d: "Th_ d_t_ g_n_r_t_d wh_n y__ w_tch t_l_v_s__n c_n r_v__l _ l_t _b__t y__ _nd y__r h__s_h_ld." V_z__ s_ld _nf_rm_t__n t_ _dv_rt_s_rs _b__t p__pl_'s _g_, s_x, h__s_h_ld s_z_ _nd _nc_m_, m_r_t_l st_t_s, h_m_ _wn_rsh_p, _nd _d_c_t__n l_v_l. H_w_v_r, th_ c_mp_ny d_d n_t sh_r_ p__pl_'s n_m_s. V_z__ l_wy_r J_rry H__ng s__d: "T_d_y, th_ FTC h_s m_d_ _t cl__r th_t _ll sm_rt-TV m_k_rs sh__ld g_t p__pl_'s c_ns_nt b_f_r_ c_ll_ct_ng _nd sh_r_ng t_l_v_s__n v__w_ng _nf_rm_t__n."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the television maker vizio has agreed to pay $22 million to settle claims that it collected data from 11 million people without their consent the lawsuit against the flat-panel tv maker was filed by the federal trade commission (ftc) in the usa the ftc discovered that vizio had been gathering and selling data on customers without permission for years the ftc claimed vizio began making televisions in 2014 that automatically tracked what people were watching they fitted tracking devices to tvs made before 2014 by using software updates the ftc said "consumers didn’t know that while they were watching their tvs vizio was watching them"

    the ftc said vizio captured second-by-second information about what people were watching the company also recorded people's ip addresses the ftc said this was a breach of privacy and security it said "the data generated when you watch television can reveal a lot about you and your household" vizio sold information to advertisers about people's age sex household size and income marital status home ownership and education level however the company did not share people's names vizio lawyer jerry huang said "today the ftc has made it clear that all smart-tv makers should get people's consent before collecting and sharing television viewing information"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThetelevisionmakerViziohasagreedtopay$2.2milliontosettleclaimst
    hatitcollecteddatafrom11millionpeoplewithouttheirconsent.Thelaw
    suitagainsttheflat-panelTVmakerwasfiledbytheFederalTradeCommi
    ssion(FTC)intheUSA.TheFTCdiscoveredthatViziohadbeengathering
    andsellingdataoncustomerswithoutpermissionforyears.TheFTCclai
    medViziobeganmakingtelevisionsin2014thatautomaticallytrackedw
    hatpeoplewerewatching.TheyfittedtrackingdevicestoTVsmadebefor
    e2014byusingsoftwareupdates.TheFTCsaid:"Consumersdidn’tkno
    wthatwhiletheywerewatchingtheirTVs,Viziowaswatchingthem."The
    FTCsaidViziocapturedsecond-by-secondinformationaboutwhatpeop
    lewerewatching.Thecompanyalsorecordedpeople'sIPaddresses.The
    FTCsaidthiswasabreachofprivacyandsecurity.Itsaid:"Thedatagener
    atedwhenyouwatchtelevisioncanrevealalotaboutyouandyourhouse
    hold."Viziosoldinformationtoadvertisersaboutpeople'sage,sex,hous
    eholdsizeandincome,maritalstatus,homeownership,andeducationle
    vel.However,thecompanydidnotsharepeople'snames.ViziolawyerJe
    rryHuangsaid:"Today,theFTChasmadeitclearthatallsmart-TVmak
    ersshouldgetpeople'sconsentbeforecollectingandsharingtelevisionv
    iewinginformation."

    Free writing

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

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Academic writing

    When a company collects data on you without your consent, it is stealing. 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 collecting data on personal information. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. TELEVISION: Make a poster about television. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. TRACKING: Write a magazine article about companies tracking us online. 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 digital security. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how it could be improved. 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

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

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