Breaking News English Lesson: Cashier-less Technology

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Amazon starts selling cashier-less technology (12th March, 2020)

The Reading / Listening - Cashier-less Technology - Level 3

The online retail giant Amazon will start selling its cashier-less technology to any store or retail outlet that wants it. The software is called "Just Walk Out". The software means stores do not need any cashiers. Shoppers simply scan a smartphone app when they arrive at a store and then put their shopping in their bag and... just walk out of the store. The software automatically calculates the cost of the customer's shopping and charges the cost of their shopping to the customer's Amazon account. The new software will allow customers to have their credit card or other payment card deducted instead. Amazon has been using the software for the past two years in its own Go Grocery stores.

The Just Walk Out software will reduce the amount of employees a store needs. Instead, the store will need to put hundreds of small cameras on the ceiling. The cameras link to software that detects what customers have put into their bag. The software then bills the customer and issues a receipt online. An industry expert expects Amazon to make a lot of money from selling the software to other stores. Many stores want to remove one of the biggest things customers complain about - slow checkouts. Amazon said the software will allow store staff, "to focus on more valuable activities". However, a retail expert worries that, "there will be fewer jobs as automation comes in".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Cashier-less Technology - Level 0, Cashier-less Technology - Level 1 or Cashier-less Technology - Level 2

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51801674
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/amazon-offers-its-cashier-free-technology-to-other-retailers/
https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-is-selling-its-cashierless-checkout-tech-to-other-retailers/

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. CASHIERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about cashiers. 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?
online / retail / giant / technology / cashier / app / store / software / customer / credit
employees / cameras / ceiling / receipt / bill / expert / complain / staff / automation
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. AUTOMATION: Students A strongly believe automation is a terrible thing; Students B strongly believe it is a great thing. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HUMANS: What are the advantages of humans and technology doing these jobs? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Humans	Technology
Cashier
Manager
Cleaner
Security
Shelf filler
Other _____

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. ONLINE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "online". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. STORES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best stores at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Amazon
McDonald's
Disney Store
Apple Store
IKEA
Seven-Eleven
CosctCo
UniQlo

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	giant	a.	A store offering things for sale.
2.	retail	b.	A very, very large company or organization.
3.	outlet	c.	A person handling payments and receipts in a store, bank, or other business.
4.	cashier	d.	Finds out the total or amount of something using maths.
5.	calculates	e.	The sale of goods to the public in relatively small quantities.
6.	allow	f.	Took away something from another thing.
7.	deducted	g.	Let happen.

Paragraph 2

8.	employee	h.	The top part of the inside of a room or building.
9.	ceiling	i.	A piece of paper that shows that you have paid for something.
10.	detects	j.	A worker in a company or organisation.
11.	bills	k.	Finds out; senses.
12.	receipt	l.	Say you are unhappy about something.
13.	complain	m.	Charges someone some money for goods or services.
14.	automation	n.	The use of robots or machines in a system that makes or does something.

Before reading / listening

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

Amazon will not sell its cahier-less technology to its rivals. T / F
Amazon's cashier-less technology is called "Just Walk Through". T / F
Shoppers put shopping in their bag and walk out of the store. T / F
The new Amazon technology only accepts payment by credit card. T / F
The technology makes use of hundreds of cameras. T / F
Shoppers receive a bill online for their shopping. T / F
Many stores want to remove checkouts. T / F
An expert is worried the software will cut the number of jobs. T / F

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

start
called
calculates
cost
deducted
amount
link
issues
remove
expert

sends out
price
specialist
number
named
take away
subtracted
begin
connect
works out

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

The online retail
The software means stores do not
The software automatically calculates
the customer's Amazon
Amazon has been using the software
reduce the amount of employees
put hundreds of small cameras
The software then bills the customer
one of the biggest things customers
there will be fewer jobs as

automation comes
for the past two years
complain about
a store needs
need any cashiers
and issues a receipt
giant Amazon
on the ceiling
the cost
account

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

scan
cost
own
giant
instead
calculates
outlet
allow

The online retail (1) ____________ Amazon will start selling its cashier-less technology to any store or retail (2) ____________ that wants it. The software is called "Just Walk Out". The software means stores do not need any cashiers. Shoppers simply (3) ____________ a smartphone app when they arrive at a store and then put their shopping in their bag and... just walk out of the store. The software automatically (4) ____________ the cost of the customer's shopping and charges the (5) ____________ of their shopping to the customer's Amazon account. The new software will (6) ____________ customers to have their credit card or other payment card deducted (7) ____________. Amazon has been using the software for the past two years in its (8) ____________ Go Grocery stores.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

detects
remove
fewer
amount
online
focus
ceiling
complain

The Just Walk Out software will reduce the (9) ____________ of employees a store needs. Instead, the store will need to put hundreds of small cameras on the (10) ____________. The cameras link to software that (11) ____________ what customers have put into their bag. The software then bills the customer and issues a receipt (12) ____________. An industry expert expects Amazon to make a lot of money from selling the software to other stores. Many stores want to (13) ____________ one of the biggest things customers (14) ____________ about - slow checkouts. Amazon said the software will allow store staff, "to (15) ____________ on more valuable activities". However, a retail expert worries that, "there will be (16) ____________ jobs as automation comes in".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) start selling its cashier-less technology to any store ______
     a. or retail outlet
     b. or retail inlet
     c. or retail islet
     d. or retail let
2) The software means stores do not ______
     a. need any caches
     b. need any cachets
     c. need any cashiers
     d. need any cashes
3) The software automatically ______
     a. calculates the cost
     b. calculates the lost
     c. calculates the coast
     d. calculates the cast
4) customers to have their credit card or other payment card ______
     a. induct it instead
     b. redacted instead
     c. conducted instead
     d. deducted instead
5) using the software for the past two years in ______ Grocery stores
     a. its an Go
     b. its down Go
     c. its own Go
     d. its owner Go

6) The Just Walk Out software will reduce the ______
     a. a mount of employees
     b. mountain of employees
     c. am mount of employees
     d. amount of employees
7) the store will need to put hundreds of small cameras ______
     a. on the sealing
     b. on the ceiling
     c. on the sailing
     d. on the selling
8) The software then bills the customer and issues ______
     a. a re-seat online
     b. a reseal online
     c. a recipe online
     d. a receipt online
9) Many stores want to remove one of the biggest things customers ______
     a. complains about
     b. complain about
     c. complaint about
     d. con plain about
10) a retail expert worries that there will be fewer jobs as automation ______
     a. come in
     b. comes out
     c. comes in
     d. comes sin

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The (1) ___________________ Amazon will start selling its cashier-less technology to any store (2) ___________________ that wants it. The software is called "Just Walk Out". The software means stores do not need any cashiers. Shoppers (3) ___________________ smartphone app when they arrive at a store and then put their shopping in their bag and... just walk out of the store. The software automatically (4) ___________________ of the customer's shopping and (5) ___________________ of their shopping to the customer's Amazon account. The new software will allow customers to have their credit card or other payment card deducted instead. Amazon has been using the software for the past two years (6) ___________________ Go Grocery stores.

The Just Walk Out software will (7) ___________________ of employees a store needs. Instead, the store will need to put hundreds of small cameras on the ceiling. The cameras link to software (8) ___________________ customers have put into their bag. The software then bills the customer and issues (9) ___________________. An industry expert expects Amazon to make a lot of money from selling the software to other stores. Many stores want to (10) ___________________ the biggest things customers complain about - slow checkouts. Amazon said the software will allow store staff, "to focus on more valuable activities". However, a (11) ___________________ that, "there will be (12) ___________________ automation comes in".

Comprehension questions

What is the name of the Amazon software?
What do shoppers need to scan?
What does the software automatically calculate?
What can shoppers use to pay besides a credit card?
For how long has Amazon been using the software in its grocery stores?
What will the software mean stores need fewer of?
Where will stores have to put hundreds of cameras?
What did an industry expert say Amazon would make?
What did the article say was one of the biggest customer complaints?
What did an expert say would lead to fewer jobs?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the Amazon software?
a) Just Adjust
b) Just Walk Out
c) Just Say No
d) Just Do It
2) What do shoppers need to scan?
a) shelves
b) their membership number
c) bar codes
d) a smartphone app
3) What does the software automatically calculate?
a) how much stock to reorder
b) sell-by and use-by dates
c) the cost of the shopping
d) profit
4) What can shoppers use to pay besides a credit card?
a) payments cards
b) cash
c) crypto-currency
d) vouchers
5) For how long has Amazon been using the software in its grocery stores?
a) 1 year
b) 2 years
c) 3 years
d) 4 years

6) What will the software mean stores need fewer of?
a) cashiers
b) managers
c) goods
d) profit
7) Where will stores have to put hundreds of cameras?
a) at the tills
b) everywhere
c) on the ceiling
d) on shelves
8) What did an industry expert say Amazon would make?
a) money
b) software
c) better products
d) a mess
9) What did the article say was one of the biggest customer complaints?
a) a lack of choice
b) high prices
c) rude staff
d) slow checkouts
10) What did an expert say would lead to fewer jobs?
a) higher prices
b) globalization
c) automation
d) coronavirus

Role play

Role A – Amazon
You think Amazon is the best store. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their stores. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the Disney Store, IKEA or Seven-Eleven.

Role B – The Disney Store
You think the Disney Store is the best store. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their stores. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): Amazon, IKEA or Seven-Eleven.

Role C – IKEA
You think IKEA is the best store. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their stores. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the Disney Store, Amazon or Seven-Eleven.

Role D – Seven-Eleven
You think Seven-Eleven is the best store. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their stores. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): the Disney Store, IKEA or Amazon.

After reading / listening

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

'online'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'cashier'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

giant

simply

automatically

account

credit

own

amount

ceiling

receipt

money

complain

jobs

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 - Cashier-less Technology

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

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'online'?
What do you think of Amazon?
Do you prefer online shopping or shopping in stores?
What do you think of cashiers?
What do you think of cashier-less stores?
Would you prefer to have cashiers in stores?
What are the bad things about this technology?
Do you prefer to pay by cash or card?
What do you think of shopping?

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

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'cashier'?
What do you think about what you read?
What do you think when you are waiting at a checkout?
What do you like and dislike about shopping?
What is your favourite store?
Do we need to have workers in stores?
What complaints do you have about checkouts?
Is it bad that automation is replacing so many jobs?
What questions would you like to ask Amazon's boss?

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 online retail (1) ____ Amazon will start selling its cashier-less technology to any store or retail (2) ____ that wants it. The software is called "Just Walk Out". The software means stores do not need any cashiers. Shoppers (3) ____ scan a smartphone app when they arrive at a store and then put their shopping in their bag and... just walk out of the store. The software automatically (4) ____ the cost of the customer's shopping and charges the cost of their shopping to the customer's Amazon account. The new software will (5) ____ customers to have their credit card or other payment card deducted instead. Amazon has been using the software for the past two years in its (6) ____ Go Grocery stores.

The Just Walk Out software will reduce the amount of (7) ____ a store needs. Instead, the store will need to put hundreds of small cameras on the (8) ____. The cameras link to software that detects what customers have put into their bag. The software then (9) ____ the customer and issues a receipt online. An industry expert expects Amazon to make a lot of money from selling the software to other stores. Many stores want to remove one of the biggest things customers complain (10) ____ - slow checkouts. Amazon said the software will allow store staff, "to focus (11) ____ more valuable activities". However, a retail expert worries that, "there will be fewer jobs (12) ____ automation comes in".

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) gigantic (b) gargantuan (c) gaunt (d) giant
(a) pamphlet (b) inlet (c) islet (d) outlet
(a) easy (b) simply (c) justly (d) fairly
(a) predates (b) dates (c) calculates (d) grates
(a) let (b) do (c) allow (d) follow
(a) own (b) down (c) up (d) sell
(a) employee (b) employees (c) employers (d) employer
(a) ceiling (b) sealing (c) sailing (d) selling
(a) tills (b) bills (c) wills (d) fills
(a) for (b) of (c) about (d) on
(a) up (b) to (c) on (d) as
(a) is (b) has (c) was (d) as

Spelling

Paragraph 1

The online laitre giant Amazon
stores do not need any eschasir
automatically llcctuseaa the cost
the customer's Amazon auonctc
allow customers to have their redcit card
other payment card detddecu instead

Paragraph 2

the amount of ylmpesoee
cameras on the liegcin
software that dstecte what customers
issues a etepcir online
things customers picmanlo about
fewer jobs as oatuntmaoi comes

Put the text back together

(...) card deducted instead. Amazon has been using the software for the past two years in its own Go Grocery stores.
(...) to put hundreds of small cameras on the ceiling. The cameras link to software that detects what
(...) of the customer's shopping and charges the cost of their shopping to the customer's Amazon
(...) expert expects Amazon to make a lot of money from selling the software to other stores. Many stores want to remove
(...) expert worries that, "there will be fewer jobs as automation comes in".
(...) allow store staff, "to focus on more valuable activities". However, a retail
(...) The Just Walk Out software will reduce the amount of employees a store needs. Instead, the store will need
(...) outlet that wants it. The software is called "Just Walk Out". The software means stores do not
(...) need any cashiers. Shoppers simply scan a smartphone app when they arrive at a store and then put their shopping
(...) customers have put into their bag. The software then bills the customer and issues a receipt online. An industry
(...) in their bag and... just walk out of the store. The software automatically calculates the cost
(...) account. The new software will allow customers to have their credit card or other payment
( 1 ) The online retail giant Amazon will start selling its cashier-less technology to any store or retail
(...) one of the biggest things customers complain about - slow checkouts. Amazon said the software will

Put the words in the right order

start selling will technology . cashier-less its Amazon
software means not cashiers . do The stores need
when arrive . app smartphone they a Scan
the of cost Automatically shopping . the customer's calculates
for the software the Using years . past two
a store employees amount the of Reduce needs .
ceiling . the small of on camera hundreds Put
what bag . Detect their into put have customers
biggest customers the One of things complain about .
jobs as fewer comes . There automation be will

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The online retail gigantic / giant Amazon will start selling its cashier-less technology to any store or retail outlet / inlet that wants it. The software is called "Just Walk Out". The software mean / means stores do not need any cashiers. Shoppers simply see / scan a smartphone app when they arrive at / to a store and then put their shopping in that / their bag and... just walk out of / off the store. The software automatically calculates / calculate the cost of the customer's shopping and charges the cost of their shopping to the customer's Amazon account. The new software will allow customers to have their credit card or other payment card deducted rather / instead. Amazon has been using the software for the past two years in its own / owner Go Grocery stores.

The Just Walk Out software will reduce / induce the amount of employees a store needs. Instead, the store will need to put hundred / hundreds of small cameras on the sealing / ceiling. The cameras link to software that detection / detects what customers have put into their bag. The software then bails / bills the customer and issues a receipt online. An industry expat / expert expects Amazon to make / do a lot of money from selling the software to other stores. Many stores want to removal / remove one of the biggest things customers complain about - slow checkouts. Amazon said the software will allowed / allow store staff, "to focus on more valuable activities". However, a retail expert worries that, "there will be fewer / less jobs as automation comes in".

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)

T h_ _n l_n_ r_t__ l g__ n t A m_z_n w_l l s t_r t s_l l_n g _t s c_s h__ r - l_s s t_c h n_l_g y t_ _n y s t_r_ _r r_t__ l __ t l_t t h_t w_n t s _t . T h_ s_f t w_r_ _s c_l l_d " J_s t W_l k O_t " . T h_ s_f t w_r_ m__ n s s t_r_s d_ n_t n__ d _n y c_s h__ r s . S h_p p_r s s_m p l y s c_n _ s m_r t p h_n_ _p p w h_n t h_y _r r_v_ _t _ s t_r_ _n d t h_n p_t t h__ r s h_p p_n g _n t h__ r b_g _n d . . . j_s t w_l k __ t _f t h_ s t_r_. T h_ s_f t w_r_ __ t_m_t_c_l l y c_l c_l_t_s t h_ c_s t _f t h_ c_s t_m_r ' s s h_p p_n g _n d c h_r g_s t h_ c_s t _f t h__ r s h_p p_n g t_ t h_ c_s t_m_r ' s A m_z_n _c c__ n t . T h_ n_w s_f t w_r_ w_l l _l l_w c_s t_m_r s t_ h_v_ t h__ r c r_d_t c_r d _r _t h_r p_y m_n t c_r d d_d_c t_d _n s t__ d . A m_z_n h_s b__ n _s_n g t h_ s_f t w_r_ f_r t h_ p_s t t w_ y__ r s _n _t s _w n G_ G r_c_r y s t_r_s .

T h_ J_s t W_l k O_t s_f t w_r_ w_l l r_d_c_ t h_ _m__ n t _f _m p l_y__ s _ s t_r_ n__ d s . I n s t__ d , t h_ s t_r_ w_l l n__ d t_ p_t h_n d r_d s _f s m_l l c_m_r_ _n t h_ c__ l_n g . T h_ c_m_r_s l_n k t_ s_f t w_r_ t h_t d_t_c t s w h_t c_s t_m_r s h_v_ p_t _n t_ t h__ r b_g . T h_ s_f t w_r_ t h_n b_l l s t h_ c_s t_m_r _n d _s s__ s _ r_c__ p t _n l_n_. A n _n d_s t r y _x p_r t _x p_c t s A m_z_n t_ m_k_ _ l_t _f m_n_y f r_m s_l l_n g t h_ s_f t w_r_ t_ _t h_r s t_r_s . M_n y s t_r_s w_n t t_ r_m_v_ _n_ _f t h_ b_g g_s t t h_n g s c_s t_m_r s c_m p l__ n _b__ t - s l_w c h_c k__ t s . A m_z_n s__ d t h_ s_f t w_r_ w_l l _l l_w s t_r_ s t_f f , " t_ f_c_s _n m_r_ v_l__ b l_ _c t_v_t__ s " . H_w_v_r , _ r_t__ l _x p_r t w_r r__ s t h_t , " t h_r_ w_l l b_ f_w_r j_b s _s __ t_m_t__ n c_m_s _n " .

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the online retail giant amazon will start selling its cashierless technology to any store or retail outlet that wants it the software is called just walk out the software means stores do not need any cashiers shoppers simply scan a smartphone app when they arrive at a store and then put their shopping in their bag and just walk out of the store the software automatically calculates the cost of the customers shopping and charges the cost of their shopping to the customers amazon account the new software will allow customers to have their credit card or other payment card deducted instead amazon has been using the software for the past two years in its own go grocery stores

the just walk out software will reduce the amount of employees a store needs instead the store will need to put hundreds of small cameras on the ceiling the cameras link to software that detects what customers have put into their bag the software then bills the customer and issues a receipt online an industry expert expects amazon to make a lot of money from selling the software to other stores many stores want to remove one of the biggest things customers complain about slow checkouts amazon said the software will allow store staff to focus on more valuable activities however a retail expert worries that there will be fewer jobs as automation comes in

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

TheonlineretailgiantAmazonwillstartsellingitscashier-lesstechnolo
gytoanystoreorretailoutletthatwantsit.Thesoftwareiscalled"JustWal
kOut".Thesoftwaremeansstoresdonotneedanycashiers.Shopperssi
mplyscanasmartphoneappwhentheyarriveatastoreandthenputtheir
shoppingintheirbagand...justwalkoutofthestore.Thesoftwareautom
aticallycalculatesthecostofthecustomer'sshoppingandchargestheco
stoftheirshoppingtothecustomer'sAmazonaccount.Thenewsoftware
willallowcustomerstohavetheircreditcardorotherpaymentcarddeduc
tedinstead.Amazonhasbeenusingthesoftwareforthepasttwoyearsini
tsownGoGrocerystores.TheJustWalkOutsoftwarewillreducetheamo
untofemployeesastoreneeds.Instead,thestorewillneedtoputhundre
dsofsmallcamerasontheceiling.Thecameraslinktosoftwarethatdetec
tswhatcustomershaveputintotheirbag.Thesoftwarethenbillsthecust
omerandissuesareceiptonline.AnindustryexpertexpectsAmazontom
akealotofmoneyfromsellingthesoftwaretootherstores.Manystoresw
anttoremoveoneofthebiggestthingscustomerscomplainabout-slowc
heckouts.Amazonsaidthesoftwarewillallowstorestaff,"tofocusonmo
revaluableactivities".However,aretailexpertworriesthat,"therewillb
efewerjobsasautomationcomesin".

Free writing

Write about cashier-less technology for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

There is too much technology replacing too many jobs. This is wrong. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. CASHIERS: Make a poster about cashiers. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. TECHNOLOGY: Write a magazine article about technology never replacing cashiers because people need jobs. 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 cashiers. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how stores can keep their cashiers. 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

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Answers

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

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