The Reading / Listening - Smartphone Ban - Level 6

France has voted to ban smartphones and personal tablets from schools. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly by 62-1 on Monday to prohibit students aged between 3 and 15 from even bringing their devices to school. The ban is part of a campaign to reduce addiction to electronics. It fulfills a campaign promise made by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2017. French Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer also campaigned for the ban saying devices were harmful to children's development. He called mobile devices a public health crisis and said the law protects children from the "phenomenon of screen addiction and the phenomenon of bad mobile phone use."

The new ban extends a previous law made in 2010 that meant students could not use their devices in lessons. There are exceptions to the ban for students with disabilities and for using devices in the classroom for extra-curricular activities. Many lawmakers do not believe the ban is enough to bring about change. They believe the ban is little more than a publicity stunt. Application of the ban to students aged 15 and older will depend on the policy of individual schools. Experts have found that the increased use of mobile devices causes cyber-addiction, sleep disruption and bullying. Opponents of the ban say it is a backward step and will not lead to an increase in learning.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Smartphone Ban - Level 4  or  Smartphone Ban - Level 5

Sources
  • https://mashable.com/2018/08/01/france-smartphone-tablet-ban-school/
  • https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/01/france-bans-smartphones-schools/
  • https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/1/17640476/france-bans-smartphone-cellphones-school-emmanuel-macron


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. SMARTPHONES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about smartphones. 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?
       voted / ban / lawmakers / devices / campaign / addiction / development / harmful /
       previous / lessons / exceptions / disabilities / publicity stunt / bullying / learning
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. BAN: Students A strongly believe smartphones should be banned in schools; Students B strongly believe they shouldn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SCHOOL BANS: Should these things be banned in schools? Why/Why not? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Why?

Why not?

Mobile phones

 

 

Dyed hair

 

 

Piercings

 

 

Red ink

 

 

Detention

 

 

Hoodies

 

 
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. DEVICE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "device". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. DANGERS: Rank these with your partner. Put the biggest dangers of smartphones  at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • traffic accidents
  • brain cancer
  • identity theft
  • loss of conversation
  • eyesight problems
  • cyber-addiction
  • sleep disruption
  • bullying

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. overwhelmingly a. Formally forbid a person or group from doing something.
      2. prohibit b. The fact or condition of being physically and mentally dependent to a particular substance, thing, or activity.
      3. devices c. An organized course of action to achieve a particular goal.
      4. campaign d. A thing made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment.
      5. addiction e. To a very great degree or with a great majority.
      6. crisis f. A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question.
      7. phenomenon g. A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger.

    Paragraph 2

      8. extends h. Disturbance or problems which interrupt an event, activity, or process.
      9. exceptions i. Causes to cover a larger area; make longer or wider.
      10. disabilities j. Be controlled or determined by.
      11. publicity stunt k. The problem of people using their strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.
      12. depend l. Physical or mental conditions that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.
      13. disruption m. Something unusual done to attract attention from many, many people.
      14. bullying n. People or things that are excluded from a general statement or does not follow a rule.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. Lawmakers voted 62-1 to ban smartphones in schools.     T / F
  2. Children over the age of 15 will not be able to use smartphones.     T / F
  3. France's president made a promise in 2015 to ban smartphones.     T / F
  4. An education minister called mobile devices a private health crisis.     T / F
  5. Smartphones were banned from using devices in lessons in 2017.     T / F
  6. Students with disabilities may be able to use smartphones.     T / F
  7. Schools can decide their own policy for students aged 15-and over.     T / F
  8. People who disagree with the ban say it will not increase learning.     T / F

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

  1. ban
  2. reduce
  3. promise
  4. harmful
  5. protects
  6. extends
  7. exceptions
  8. enough
  9. individual
  10. backward
  1. special cases
  2. damaging
  3. widens
  4. separate
  5. lower
  6. sufficient
  7. prohibit
  8. safeguards
  9. retrograde
  10. vow

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

  1. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly
  2. prohibit
  3. part of a campaign to reduce
  4. harmful to children's
  5. the phenomenon
  6. The new ban extends
  7. There are exceptions
  8. extra-
  9. a publicity
  10. Opponents of the ban say it is a backward
  1. curricular activities
  2. development
  3. stunt
  4. a previous law
  5. students
  6. to the ban
  7. of screen addiction
  8. by 62-1 on Monday
  9. step
  10. addiction

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
voted
harmful
promise
addiction
ban
crisis
part
campaigned

France has voted to (1) ____________ smartphones and personal tablets from schools. Lawmakers (2) ____________ overwhelmingly by 62-1 on Monday to prohibit students aged between 3 and 15 from even bringing their devices to school. The ban is (3) ____________ of a campaign to reduce addiction to electronics. It fulfills a campaign (4) ____________ made by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2017. French Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer also (5) ____________ for the ban saying devices were (6) ____________ to children's development. He called mobile devices a public health (7) ____________ and said the law protects children from the "phenomenon of screen (8) ____________ and the phenomenon of bad mobile phone use."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
enough
exceptions
step
stunt
previous
bullying
activities
policy

The new ban extends a (9) ____________ law made in 2010 that meant students could not use their devices in lessons. There are (10) ____________ to the ban for students with disabilities and for using devices in the classroom for extra-curricular (11) ____________. Many lawmakers do not believe the ban is (12) ____________ to bring about change. They believe the ban is little more than a publicity (13) ____________. Application of the ban to students aged 15 and older will depend on the (14) ____________ of individual schools. Experts have found that the increased use of mobile devices causes cyber-addiction, sleep disruption and (15) ____________. Opponents of the ban say it is a backward (16) ____________ and will not lead to an increase in learning.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  France has voted to ban smartphones and personal ______ schools
     a.  tables from
     b.  tab lets from
     c.  table lets from
     d.  tablets from
2)  Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly by 62-1 on Monday to ______
     a.  prohibits students
     b.  prohibited students
     c.  prohibit students
     d.  prohibiting students
3)  The ban is part of a campaign to reduce ______ electronics
     a.  addiction to
     b.  addicted to
     c.  addicts on to
     d.  a diction to
4) Jean-Michel Blanquer also campaigned for the ban saying devices ______
     a.  were harmfully
     b.  were harmful
     c.  were harms full
     d.  were harmed full
5)  the phenomenon of screen addiction and the phenomenon of bad mobile ______
     a.  phones use
     b.  phoned use
     c.  phone use
     d.  phoning use

6)  students with disabilities and for using devices in the classroom for ______
     a.  extra-circular activities
     b.  extra-curriculum activities
     c.  extra-curry cooler activities
     d.  extra-curricular activities
7)  They believe the ban is little more than a ______
     a.  publicity stint
     b.  publicity stunt
     c.  publicity stent
     d.  publicity shunt
8)  Application of the ban to students aged 15 and older will ______ policy
     a.  deep end on the
     b.  drip end on the
     c.  depend on the
     d.  dip end on the
9)  Experts have found that the increased use of mobile devices causes ______
     a.  side-bar-addiction
     b.  sider-addiction
     c.  cider-addiction
     d.  cyber-addiction
10)  Opponents of the ban say it is a ______
     a.  back wood step
     b.  black wood step
     c.  blackguard step
     d.  backward step

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

France has (1) ___________________ smartphones and personal tablets from schools. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly by 62-1 on Monday to prohibit students aged between 3 and 15 (2) ___________________ their devices to school. The ban (3) ___________________ a campaign to reduce addiction to electronics. It fulfills (4) ___________________ made by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2017. French Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer also campaigned for the ban saying devices were harmful to children's development. He called mobile (5) ___________________ health crisis and said the law protects children from the "phenomenon of screen addiction and (6) ___________________ bad mobile phone use."

The new ban (7) ___________________ law made in 2010 that meant students could not use their devices in lessons. There (8) ___________________ the ban for students with disabilities and for using devices in the classroom for extra-curricular activities. Many lawmakers do not believe the (9) ___________________ to bring about change. They believe the ban is little more than a publicity stunt. Application of the ban to students aged 15 and older (10) ___________________ the policy of individual schools. Experts have found that the (11) ___________________ mobile devices causes cyber-addiction, sleep disruption and bullying. Opponents of the ban say it is a backward step and will (12) ___________________ an increase in learning.

Comprehension questions

  1. How many lawmakers voted against the ban?
  2. What did Emmanuel Macron make during the 2017 election?
  3. What did France's education minister say the devices harmed?
  4. What kind of crisis did the education minister talk about?
  5. What was the second phenomenon the education minister described?
  6. When was a previous law made?
  7. For whom might there be exceptions to the smartphone ban?
  8. What did many lawmakers call the ban?
  9. What did the article say mobile devices did to sleep?
  10. What did opponents of the ban call it?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How many lawmakers voted against the ban?
a) 16
b) 641
c) 64
d) 1
2) What did Emmanuel Macron make during the 2017 election?
a) a manifesto
b) a promise
c) a cake
d) a mistake
3) What did France's education minister say the devices harmed?
a) hearing
b) society
c) children's development
d) radio signals
4) What kind of crisis did the education minister talk about?
a) a public health crisis
b) an escalating crisis
c) a national crisis
d) an emerging crisis
5) What was the second phenomenon the education minister described?
a) cracked screens
b) expensive phone bills
c) bad mobile phone use
d) brain cancer

6) When was a previous law made?
a) 2012
b) 2010
c) 2009
d) 2011
7) For whom might there be exceptions to the smartphone ban?
a) under-10s
b) teachers
c) smartphone makers
d) students with disabilities
8) What did many lawmakers call the ban?
a) a publicity stunt
b) necessary
c) revolutionary
d) a mess
9) What did the article say mobile devices did to sleep?
a) made it deeper
b) extend it
c) disrupt it
d) add dreams to it
10) What did opponents of the ban call it?
a) a tragedy
b) a step backward
c) a mistake
d) a mess

Role play

Role  A – Poor Eyesight
You think poor eyesight is the biggest danger of smartphones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their dangers aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): cyber-addiction, sleep disruption or identity theft.

Role  B – Cyber-Addiction
You think cyber-addiction is the biggest danger of smartphones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their dangers aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): poor eyesight, sleep disruption or identity theft.

Role  C – Sleep Disruption
You think sleep disruption is the biggest danger of smartphones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their dangers aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): cyber-addiction, poor eyesight or identity theft.

Role  D – Identity Theft
You think identity theft is the biggest danger of smartphones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their dangers aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): cyber-addiction, sleep disruption or poor eyesight.

After reading / listening

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

'smartphone'

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

    • and 'ban'.

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

    • • 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:

    • new
    • exceptions
    • enough
    • publicity
    • older
    • step
    • voted
    • between
    • part
    • made
    • public
    • bad

    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 - France bans smartphones in schools

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'smartphone'?
    3. How important are smartphones in society?
    4. Do students need smartphones in schools?
    5. Will the smartphone ban help to stop cyber-addiction?
    6. What is cyber-addiction?
    7. Why might mobile devices be "a public health crisis"?
    8. Could you survive without a smartphone?
    9. How can we protect children from smartphones?
    10. What problems will we have with smartphones in the future?

    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 'ban'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How important is a smartphone to you?
    5. Why might students say they need smartphones at school?
    6. How did people survive without smartphones 20 years ago?
    7. Why might smartphones be harmful to children's development?
    8. How helpful are smartphones for students in schools?
    9. Why might the ban be a "backward step"?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the French government?

    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)

    France has voted to ban smartphones and (1) ____ tablets from schools. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly (2) ____ 62-1 on Monday to prohibit students aged between 3 and 15 from even bringing their devices to school. The ban is part of a campaign to reduce (3) ____ to electronics. It fulfills a campaign (4) ____ made by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2017. French Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer also campaigned (5) ____ the ban saying they were harmful to children's development. He called mobile devices a public health crisis and said the law protects children from the "phenomenon of (6) ____ addiction and the phenomenon of bad mobile phone use."

    The new ban (7) ____ a previous law made in 2010 that meant students could not use their devices in lessons. There are (8) ____ to the ban for students with disabilities and for using devices in the classroom for extra-curricular activities. Many lawmakers do not believe the ban is (9) ____ to bring about change. They believe the ban is little more than a publicity (10) ____. Application of the ban to students aged 15 and older will depend on the policy of individual schools. Experts have found that the increased (11) ____ of mobile devices causes cyber-addiction, sleep disruption and bullying. Opponents of the ban say it is a backward step and will not lead to an increase (12) ____ learning.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     personally     (b)     personalize     (c)     personal     (d)     personality    
    2. (a)     by     (b)     of     (c)     at     (d)     as    
    3. (a)     addict     (b)     addiction     (c)     addictively     (d)     addictive    
    4. (a)     permission     (b)     promised     (c)     promissory     (d)     promise    
    5. (a)     as     (b)     at     (c)     for     (d)     by    
    6. (a)     scree     (b)     screen     (c)     screed     (d)     screech    
    7. (a)     extends     (b)     extension     (c)     extend     (d)     extender    
    8. (a)     excepting     (b)     except     (c)     excepted     (d)     exceptions    
    9. (a)     suffice     (b)     plenty     (c)     enough     (d)     much    
    10. (a)     stamp     (b)     stand     (c)     stump     (d)     stunt    
    11. (a)     used     (b)     use     (c)     uses     (d)     using    
    12. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     by

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Lawmakers voted igelrmvolnhwey by 62-1
    2. toirbphi students aged between 3 and 15
    3. It fulfills a gacianpm promise
    4. nmcpigeada for the ban
    5. the law totpscre children
    6. the phenomenon of screen ddntaiioc

    Paragraph 2

    1. The new ban extends a suierovp law
    2. There are eoxnscitpe to the ban
    3. students with saestdbiiiil
    4. extra-curricular csvitiieat
    5. the policy of lddiiivuan schools
    6. sleep duonisptri

    Put the text back together

    (...)  extra-curricular activities. Many lawmakers do not believe the ban is enough to bring about
    (...)  older will depend on the policy of individual schools. Experts have found that the increased use
    (  1  ) France has voted to ban smartphones and personal tablets from schools. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly by
    (...)  to school. The ban is part of a campaign to reduce addiction to electronics. It fulfills a campaign
    (...)  "phenomenon of screen addiction and the phenomenon of bad mobile phone use."
    (...)  the ban say it is a backward step and will not lead to an increase in learning.
    (...)  campaigned for the ban saying devices were harmful to children's development. He called mobile
    (...)  promise made by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2017. French Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer also
    (...)  change. They believe the ban is little more than a publicity stunt. Application of the ban to students aged 15 and
    (...)  The new ban extends a previous law made in 2010 that meant students could not use their devices
    (...)  in lessons. There are exceptions to the ban for students with disabilities and for using devices in the classroom for
    (...)  devices a public health crisis and said the law protects children from the
    (...)  of mobile devices causes cyber-addiction, sleep disruption and bullying. Opponents of
    (...)  62-1 on Monday to prohibit students aged between 3 and 15 from even bringing their devices

    Put the words in the right order

    1. has   schools   .   smartphones   ban   to   voted   France   from
    2. campaign   Part   to   of   a   reduce   addiction   .
    3. were   devices   to   Saying   development   harmful   children's
    4. mobile   He   public   a   called   devices   health   crisis   .
    5. phenomenon   of   the   addiction   .   Protects   screen   from   children
    6. in   their   devices   not   Students   use   lessons   .   could
    7. to   is   about   The   ban   bring   enough   change   .
    8. of   Application   students   the   15   .   aged   ban   to
    9. mobile   causes   of   use   cyber-addiction   .   The   devices   increased
    10. to   in   an   learning   .   lead   won't   increase   It

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    France has voted to bin / ban smartphones and personal tablets from schools. Lawmakers voted overwhelming / overwhelmingly by 62-1 on Monday to prohibit students aged between 3 and 15 from even brought / bringing their devices to school. The ban is part / party of a campaign to reduce addiction / addicted to electronics. It fulfills a campaign promise made / done by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2017. French Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer also campaigned from / for the ban saying devices were harmful / harm to children's development. He called mobile devices a public health crisis and said the law protecting / protects children from the "phenomenon of screen addiction and the phenomenon of bad mobile phone use / used."

    The new ban extends / extension a previous law made in 2010 that meant students could not use their devices on / in lessons. There are exceptions to the ban for students with disability / disabilities and for using devices in the classroom for extra-curricular activity / activities. Many lawmakers do not belief / believe the ban is enough to bring about change. They believe the ban is little / small more than a publicity stunt. Application of the ban to students aged 15 and older / olden will depend on the policy of individual schools. Experts have found that the increase / increased use of mobile devices causes cyber-addiction, sleep disruption and bully / bullying. Opponents of the ban say it is a backward step and will not lead / leading to an increase in learning.

    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)

    F r_n c_ h_s v_t_d t_ b_n s m_r t p h_n_s _n d p_r s_n_l t_b l_t s f r_m s c h__ l s . L_w m_k_r s v_t_d _v_r w h_l m_n g l y b y 6 2 - 1 _n M_n d_y t_ p r_h_b_t s t_d_n t s _g_d b_t w__ n 3 _n d 1 5 f r_m _v_n b r_n g_n g t h__ r d_v_c_s t_ s c h__ l . T h_ b_n _s p_r t _f _ c_m p__ g n t_ r_d_c_ _d d_c t__ n t_ _l_c t r_n_c s . I t f_l f_l l s _ c_m p__ g n p r_m_s_ m_d_ b y F r_n c h P r_s_d_n t E m m_n__ l M_c r_n _n 2 0 1 7 . F r_n c h M_n_s t_r _f N_t__ n_l E d_c_t__ n J__ n - M_c h_l B l_n q__ r _l s_ c_m p__ g n_d f_r t h_ b_n s_y_n g t h_y w_r_ h_r m f_l t_ c h_l d r_n ' s d_v_l_p m_n t . H_ c_l l_d m_b_l_ d_v_c_s _ p_b l_c h__ l t h c r_s_s _n d s__ d t h_ l_w p r_t_c t s c h_l d r_n f r_m t h_ " p h_n_m_n_n _f s c r__ n _d d_c t__ n _n d t h_ p h_n_m_n_n _f b_d m_b_l_ p h_n_ _s_. "

    T h_ n_w b_n _x t_n d s _ p r_v___s l_w m_d_ _n 2 0 1 0 t h_t m__ n t s t_d_n t s c__ l d n_t _s_ t h__ r d_v_c_s _n l_s s_n s . T h_r_ _r_ _x c_p t__ n s t_ t h_ b_n f_r s t_d_n t s w_t h d_s_b_l_t__ s _n d f_r _s_n g d_v_c_s _n t h_ c l_s s r__ m f_r _x t r_- c_r r_c_l_r _c t_v_t__ s . M_n y l_w m_k_r s d_ n_t b_l__ v_ t h_ b_n _s _n__ g h t_ b r_n g _b__ t c h_n g_. T h_y b_l__ v_ t h_ b_n _s l_t t l_ m_r_ t h_n _ p_b l_c_t y s t_n t . A p p l_c_t__ n _f t h_ b_n t_ s t_d_n t s _g_d 1 5 _n d _l d_r w_l l d_p_n d _n t h_ p_l_c y _f _n d_v_d__ l s c h__ l s . E x p_r t s h_v_ f__ n d t h_t t h_ _n c r__ s_d _s_ _f m_b_l_ d_v_c_s c__ s_s c y b_r -_d d_c t__ n , s l__ p d_s r_p t__ n _n d b_l l y_n g . O p p_n_n t s _f t h_ b_n s_y _t _s _ b_c k w_r d s t_p _n d w_l l n_t l__ d t_ _n _n c r__ s_ _n l__ r n_n g .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    france has voted to ban smartphones and personal tablets from schools lawmakers voted overwhelmingly by 621 on monday to prohibit students aged between 3 and 15 from even bringing their devices to school the ban is part of a campaign to reduce addiction to electronics it fulfills a campaign promise made by french president emmanuel macron in 2017 french minister of national education jeanmichel blanquer also campaigned for the ban saying devices were harmful to childrens development he called mobile devices a public health crisis and said the law protects children from the phenomenon of screen addiction and the phenomenon of bad mobile phone use

    the new ban extends a previous law made in 2010 that meant students could not use their devices in lessons there are exceptions to the ban for students with disabilities and for using devices in the classroom for extracurricular activities many lawmakers do not believe the ban is enough to bring about change they believe the ban is little more than a publicity stunt application of the ban to students aged 15 and older will depend on the policy of individual schools experts have found that the increased use of mobile devices causes cyberaddiction sleep disruption and bullying opponents of the ban say it is a backward step and will not lead to an increase in learning.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Francehasvotedtobansmartphonesandpersonaltabletsfromschools.
    Lawmakersvotedoverwhelminglyby62-1onMondaytoprohibitstude
    ntsagedbetween3and15fromevenbringingtheirdevicestoschool.The
    banispartofacampaigntoreduceaddictiontoelectronics.Itfulfillsacam
    paignpromisemadebyFrenchPresidentEmmanuelMacronin2017.Fre
    nchMinisterofNationalEducationJean-MichelBlanqueralsocampaig
    nedforthebansayingdeviceswereharmfultochildren'sdevelopment.H
    ecalledmobiledevicesapublichealthcrisisandsaidthelawprotectschild
    renfromthe"phenomenonofscreenaddictionandthephenomenonofb
    admobilephoneuse."Thenewbanextendsapreviouslawmadein2010t
    hatmeantstudentscouldnotusetheirdevicesinlessons.Thereareexce
    ptionstothebanforstudentswithdisabilitiesandforusingdevicesinthec
    lassroomforextra-curricularactivities.Manylawmakersdonotbelievet
    hebanisenoughtobringaboutchange.Theybelievethebanislittlemore
    thanapublicitystunt.Applicationofthebantostudentsaged15andolder
    willdependonthepolicyofindividualschools.Expertshavefoundthatth
    eincreaseduseofmobiledevicescausescyber-addiction,sleepdisrup
    tionandbullying.Opponentsofthebansayitisabackwardstepandwillno
    tleadtoanincreaseinlearning.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    What are the pros and cons of smartphones in schools? Would you allow them?

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. SMARTPHONES: Make a poster about smartphones. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BANNED: Write a magazine article about banning smartphones in schools. 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 smartphones. Ask him/her three questions about smartphones. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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