Breaking News English Lesson: Smartphone Repairs

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Company makes smartphone you can repair yourself (21st March, 2022)

The Reading / Listening - Smartphone Repairs - Level 6

Most of us have felt the exasperation of feeling helpless when our smartphone breaks. Phone manufacturers seem to go to extraordinary lengths to deter consumers from opening the back of their phones to try DIY repairs. Help is at hand. Fairphone is a new company that has produced a self-repairable mobile phone. The founder is Bas van Abel, a Dutch design engineer who set out to make "the world's first ethical smartphone". He started his company in 2013 with four basic principles. First, he wanted to use raw materials from non-conflict mining areas. He also wanted to make a product that was recyclable, durable and repairable. The new Fairphone embodies these aims.

The Fairphone website outlines the philosophy that underpins the company. It says its mission is to motivate "a massive industry to take responsibility for its impact on the world, by establishing a viable market for ethical electronics". It highlights the fact that many workers who produce technology are working in unacceptable conditions. It also points out the, "staggering amount of waste the electronics industry generates". Finally, it says: "Communication technology is on track to account for 14 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions by 2040." The Fairphone comes with a screwdriver and is easily repairable. The plastic used is 40-per-cent recycled, and the minerals are ethically sourced.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Smartphone Repairs - Level 4 or Smartphone Repairs - Level 5

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60374806
https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/theredbulletin/bas-van-abel-fairphone-smartphone-ethical
https://www.fairphone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Impact-Report-2020-Fairphone.pdf

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. SMARTPHONE REPAIRS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about smartphone repairs. 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?
exasperation / smartphone / consumers / help / design / engineer / raw materials /
philosophy / mission / responsibility / electronics / ethical / waste / screwdriver
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. 10 YEARS: Students A strongly believe we should use one smartphone for 10 years to help the planet; Students B strongly believe this is crazy. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. REPAIR: How easy or difficult is it to fix these things? How goad are you at repairing them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Easy or Difficult?	Your Experience
Smartphone
Bicycle
Hole in socks
Broken fence
A leaky pipe
A broken window

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

Price
Call quality
Maps
Size
The alarm clock
Apps
The camera
The torch

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	exasperation	a.	Able to take heavy use, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing.
2.	extraordinary	b.	Very unusual or remarkable.
3.	deter	c.	Relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these.
4.	ethical	d.	A feeling of intense irritation or annoyance.
5.	principle	e.	Be an expression of an idea, quality, or feeling.
6.	durable	f.	Discourage someone from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
7.	embody	g.	A rule or belief governing one's behaviour.

Paragraph 2

8.	philosophy	h.	Focus on.
9.	underpin	i.	Capable of working successfully.
10.	viable	j.	Following a course that is likely to achieve what is required.
11.	point out	k.	A theory or attitude that acts as a guiding principle for behaviour.
12.	staggering	l.	Supports, justifies, or forms the basis for.
13.	on track	m.	A place, person, or thing from which something originates or can be obtained.
14.	sourced	n.	To an astonishing or shocking degree.

Before reading / listening

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

The article says everyone feels helpless when a smartphone breaks. T / F
The article says it is easy to remove the back cover of a smartphone. T / F
A Dutch engineer wanted to make the world's first ethical smartphone. T / F
The engineer wants to use no materials from conflict areas. T / F
The engineer hopes people who like philosophy will buy the phone. T / F
The engineer wants the tech industry to be more responsible. T / F
Smartphones account for very little greenhouse gas emissions. T / F
The Fairphone contains 40 percent recycled plastic. T / F

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

exasperation
deter
at hand
ethical
embodies
philosophy
viable
staggering
on track
repairable

workable
moral
rectifiable
within reach
amazing
on schedule
reasoning
put off
irritation
includes

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

the exasperation
go to extraordinary
Help is
raw materials from non-
a product that was recyclable, durable
the philosophy that
take responsibility for its
the staggering
technology is on
the minerals are ethically

and repairable
amount of waste
impact on the world
at hand
sourced
conflict mining areas
of feeling helpless
track
lengths
underpins the company

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

hand
embodies
exasperation
durable
ethical
deter
founder
conflict

Most of us have felt the (1) _____________________ of feeling helpless when our smartphone breaks. Phone manufacturers seem to go to extraordinary lengths to (2) _____________________ consumers from opening the back of their phones to try DIY repairs. Help is at (3) _____________________. Fairphone is a new company that has produced a self-repairable mobile phone. The (4) _____________________ is Bas van Abel, a Dutch design engineer who set out to make "the world's first (5) _____________________ smartphone". He started his company in 2013 with four basic principles. First, he wanted to use raw materials from non-(6) _____________________ mining areas. He also wanted to make a product that was recyclable, (7) _____________________ and repairable. The new Fairphone (8) _____________________ these aims.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

viable
sourced
massive
track
points
comes
philosophy
generates

The Fairphone website outlines the (9) _____________________ that underpins the company. It says its mission is to motivate "a (10) _____________________ industry to take responsibility for its impact on the world, by establishing a (11) _____________________ market for ethical electronics". It highlights the fact that many workers who produce technology are working in unacceptable conditions. It also (12) _____________________ out the, "staggering amount of waste the electronics industry (13) _____________________ ". Finally, it says: "Communication technology is on (14) _____________________ to account for 14 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions by 2040." The Fairphone (15) _____________________ with a screwdriver and is easily repairable. The plastic used is 40-per-cent recycled, and the minerals are ethically (16) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Phone manufacturers seem to go to extraordinary ______ consumers
     a. lengths to defer
     b. lengths to ditto
     c. lengths to dater
     d. lengths to deter
2) from opening the back of their phones to ______
     a. tie DIY repairs
     b. trial DIY repairs
     c. time DIY repairs
     d. try DIY repairs
3) He started his company in 2013 with ______
     a. four basics principles
     b. four base sick principles
     c. four basic principles
     d. four bay sick principles
4) First, he wanted to use raw materials from non-______
     a. conflict my nine areas
     b. conflict mine in areas
     c. conflict my knee areas
     d. conflict mining areas
5) He also wanted to make a product that was recyclable, ______
     a. durable end repairable
     b. durable and repairable
     c. durable land repairable
     d. durable lend repairable

6) The Fairphone website outlines the philosophy that ______
     a. under pens the company
     b. end a pines the company
     c. underpins the company
     d. under pines the company
7) It says its mission is to motivate ______
     a. a missive industry
     b. a mass sieve industry
     c. a massive industry
     d. amass sieve industry
8) to take responsibility for its impact on the world, by establishing ______
     a. affable market
     b. avatar market
     c. a vile market
     d. a viable market
9) electronics industry generates". Finally, it says: "Communication technology ______
     a. is on track
     b. is in track
     c. isn't track
     d. mission track
10) The plastic used is 40-per-cent recycled, and the minerals ______
     a. are artistically sourced
     b. are ethnically sourced
     c. are ether callous awed
     d. are ethically sourced

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Most of us have felt (1) ____________________ feeling helpless when our smartphone breaks. Phone manufacturers seem to go to extraordinary lengths (2) ____________________ from opening the back of their phones to try DIY repairs. Help (3) ____________________. Fairphone is a new company that has produced a self-repairable mobile phone. The founder is Bas van Abel, a Dutch (4) ____________________ set out to make "the world's first ethical smartphone". He started his company in 2013 with (5) ____________________. First, he wanted to use raw materials from non-conflict mining areas. He also wanted to make a product that was recyclable, durable and repairable. The new Fairphone (6) ____________________.

The Fairphone website outlines the philosophy (7) ____________________ company. It says its mission (8) ____________________ "a massive industry to take responsibility for its impact on the world, by establishing (9) ____________________ for ethical electronics". It highlights the fact that many workers who produce technology are working in unacceptable conditions. It also points out (10) ____________________ of waste the electronics industry generates". Finally, it says: "Communication technology is (11) ____________________ account for 14 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions by 2040." The Fairphone comes with a screwdriver and is easily repairable. The plastic used is 40-per-cent recycled, and the minerals (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

What do smartphone makers stop us from opening?
What does the article say is at hand?
Where is the founder of Fairphone from?
When was the company Fairphone founded?
How many principles was the Fairphone founded on?
What does Fairphone want the tech industry to take responsibility for?
Where does Fairphone say many tech company workers work?
What does Fairphone say there is a staggering amount of?
What does the Fairphone come with?
What does the article say about the minerals used in the Fairphone?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What do smartphone makers stop us from opening?
a) our wallets
b) our minds
c) the back of phones
d) the doors or perception
2) What does the article say is at hand?
a) help
b) coding
c) stronger screens
d) screwdrivers
3) Where is the founder of Fairphone from?
a) California
b) Holland
c) India
d) Apple
4) When was the company Fairphone founded?
a) 2016
b) 2015
c) 2014
d) 2013
5) How many principles was the Fairphone founded on?
a) 7
b) dozens
c) 4
d) many

6) What does Fairphone want the tech industry to take responsibility for?
a) the poor
b) its impact on the world
c) cyber crime
d) weak wi-fi
7) Where does Fairphone say many tech company workers work
a) China
b) in silicon labs
c) from home
d) in unacceptable conditions
8) What does Fairphone say there is a staggering amount of?
a) semi-conductors
b) waste
c) unwanted phones
d) demand
9) What does the Fairphone come with?
a) love
b) a screwdriver
c) a 10-year guarantee
d) instructions
10) What does the article say about the minerals used in the Fairphone?
a) they are ethically sourced
b) there are rare-Earth minerals
c) they are the best
d) they are replaceable

Role play

Role A – Price
You think the price is the best thing about a smartphone. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): apps, the camera or the call quality.

Role B – Apps
You think apps are the best thing about a smartphone. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): the price, the camera or the call quality.

Role C – Camera
You think the camera is the best thing about a smartphone. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): apps, the price or the call quality.

Role D – Call Quality
You think the call quality is the best thing about a smartphone. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): apps, the camera or the price.

After reading / listening

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

'smartphone'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'repair'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• 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:

exasperation

lengths

hand

set

raw

aims

philosophy

mission

fact

points

account

plastic

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 - Smartphone Repairs

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 'smartphone'?
What do you think of smartphones?
How do you feel when your smartphone doesn't work?
When was the last time you felt exasperated?
Would you ever try to repair a smartphone?
Are smartphones too complicated?
What do you think of an ethical smartphone?
Are you worried about where the components of smartphones are from?
How durable and long-lasting should smartphones be?

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 'repair'?
What do you think about what you read?
What damage does smartphone production do to the world?
What are 'ethical electronics'?
What do you know about the working conditions in tech factories?
What would you do without a smartphone?
Should we use just one smartphone for 10 years?
What do you think of the price of smartphones?
What questions would you like to ask Fairphone?

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)

Most of us have (1) ____ the exasperation of feeling helpless when our smartphone breaks. Phone manufacturers seem to go to extraordinary lengths to (2) ____ consumers from opening the back of their phones to try DIY repairs. Help is (3) ____ hand. Fairphone is a new company that has produced a self-repairable mobile phone. The founder is Bas van Abel, a Dutch design engineer who set (4) ____ to make "the world's first ethical smartphone". He started his company in 2013 with four basic (5) ____. First, he wanted to use raw materials from non-conflict mining areas. He also wanted to make a product that was recyclable, (6) ____ and repairable. The new Fairphone embodies these aims.

The Fairphone website outlines the philosophy that (7) ____ the company. It says its mission is to motivate "a massive industry to take responsibility for its impact on the world, by establishing a (8) ____ market for ethical electronics". It highlights the fact that many workers who produce technology are working in unacceptable conditions. It also points (9) ____ the, "staggering amount of waste the electronics industry generates". Finally, it says: "Communication technology is (10) ____ track to account for 14 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions by 2040." The Fairphone (11) ____ with a screwdriver and is easily repairable. The plastic used is 40-per-cent recycled, and the minerals are (12) ____ sourced.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a)     feels     (b)     feelers     (c)     feeling     (d)     felt
(a)     defer     (b)     defend     (c)     depend     (d)     deter
(a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     by
(a)     up     (b)     on     (c)     out     (d)     in
(a)     principals     (b)     precipices     (c)     principles     (d)     preps
(a)     durable     (b)     dilatable     (c)     defendable     (d)     diabolical
(a)     undermines     (b)     underpins     (c)     underarms     (d)     underfeeds
(a)     viable     (b)     voluble     (c)     verbatim     (d)     verbal
(a)     of     (b)     out     (c)     up     (d)     down
(a)     at     (b)     up     (c)     on     (d)     down
(a)     provides     (b)     repairs     (c)     comes     (d)     attached
(a)     ethereal     (b)     ethanol     (c)     ethics     (d)     ethically

Spelling

Paragraph 1

felt the aepearxtsoin of feeling helpless
go to redaotxnirary lengths
the world's first thieacl smartphone
four basic ricppinles
a product that was recyclable, uardble and repairable
The new Fairphone mbodiees these aims

Paragraph 2

the hioposlphy that underpins the company
establishing a aivble market
working in cupcetnbaale conditions
the agegsrtnig amount of waste
greenhouse gas issmienos
comes with a esrwdrivcer

Put the text back together

(...) is Bas van Abel, a Dutch design engineer who set out to make "the world's first ethical
(...) a viable market for ethical electronics". It highlights the fact that many workers who produce technology are
( 1 ) Most of us have felt the exasperation of feeling helpless when our smartphone breaks. Phone manufacturers seem to
(...) materials from non-conflict mining areas. He also wanted to make a product that was
(...) DIY repairs. Help is at hand. Fairphone is a new company that has produced a self-repairable mobile phone. The founder
(...) for 14 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions by 2040." The Fairphone comes with a
(...) working in unacceptable conditions. It also points out the, "staggering amount of waste the electronics
(...) screwdriver and is easily repairable. The plastic used is 40-per-cent recycled, and the minerals are ethically sourced.
(...) is to motivate "a massive industry to take responsibility for its impact on the world, by establishing
(...) go to extraordinary lengths to deter consumers from opening the back of their phones to try
(...) smartphone". He started his company in 2013 with four basic principles. First, he wanted to use raw
(...) recyclable, durable and repairable. The new Fairphone embodies these aims.
(...) industry generates". Finally, it says: "Communication technology is on track to account
(...) The Fairphone website outlines the philosophy that underpins the company. It says its mission

Put the words in the right order

when of break . smartphones exasperation feeling helpless The
extraordinary to go seem manufacturers lengths . to Phone
back of consumers from Deter the phones . opening
company his He with started four basic principles .
raw materials from Use mining non-conflict areas .
the It that philosophy outlines underpins the company .
responsibility for its impact on Take the world .
staggering waste of amount the The industry generates .
is track Technology account to on for 14% .
with comes The a Fairphone for screwdriver repairs .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Most of us / them have felt the exasperation of feeling helpless when our smartphone breaks. Phone manufacturers seem to go to extraordinaire / extraordinary lengths to deter / defer consumers from opening the back of their phones to try DIY repairs. Help is at head / hand. Fairphone is a new company that has produced a self-repairable mobile phone. The founder is Bas van Abel, a Dutch design engineer who let / set out to make "the world's firstly / first ethical smartphone". He started his company in 2013 with four basic principals / principles. First, he wanted to use raw / law materials from non-conflict mining areas. He also wanted to make a product / produce that was recyclable, durable and repairable. The new Fairphone embodies / imposes these aims.

The Fairphone website outlines the philosophical / philosophy that underpins the company. It says its missive / mission is to motivate "a missive / massive industry to take responsibility for its impact of / on the world, by establishing a viable / viability market for ethical electronics". It highlights the fact / pact that many workers who produce technology are working in unacceptable conditions. It also points in / out the, "staggering amount of waste the electronics industry / industrial generates". Finally, it says: "Communication technology is on / in track to account for 14 per cent of the world's greenhouse gasses / gas emissions by 2040." The Fairphone comes with a screwdriver and is easily repairable. The plastic used is 40-per-cent recycled, and the minerals are ethically sauce / sourced.

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

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

M_st _f _s h_v_ f_lt th_ _x_sp_r_t__n _f f__l_ng h_lpl_ss wh_n __r sm_rtph_n_ br__ks. Ph_n_ m_n_f_ct_r_rs s__m t_ g_ t_ _xtr__rd_n_ry l_ngths t_ d_t_r c_ns_m_rs fr_m _p_n_ng th_ b_ck _f th__r ph_n_s t_ try D_Y r_p__rs. H_lp _s _t h_nd. F__rph_n_ _s _ n_w c_mp_ny th_t h_s pr_d_c_d _ s_lf-r_p__r_bl_ m_b_l_ ph_n_. Th_ f__nd_r _s B_s v_n _b_l, _ D_tch d_s_gn _ng_n__r wh_ s_t __t t_ m_k_ "th_ w_rld's f_rst _th_c_l sm_rtph_n_". H_ st_rt_d h_s c_mp_ny _n 2013 w_th f__r b_s_c pr_nc_pl_s. F_rst, h_ w_nt_d t_ _s_ r_w m_t_r__ls fr_m n_n-c_nfl_ct m_n_ng _r__s. H_ _ls_ w_nt_d t_ m_k_ _ pr_d_ct th_t w_s r_cycl_bl_, d_r_bl_ _nd r_p__r_bl_. Th_ n_w F__rph_n_ _mb_d__s th_s_ __ms.

Th_ F__rph_n_ w_bs_t_ __tl_n_s th_ ph_l_s_phy th_t _nd_rp_ns th_ c_mp_ny. _t s_ys _ts m_ss__n _s t_ m_t_v_t_ "_ m_ss_v_ _nd_stry t_ t_k_ r_sp_ns_b_l_ty f_r _ts _mp_ct _n th_ w_rld, by _st_bl_sh_ng _ v__bl_ m_rk_t f_r _th_c_l _l_ctr_n_cs". _t h_ghl_ghts th_ f_ct th_t m_ny w_rk_rs wh_ pr_d_c_ t_chn_l_gy _r_ w_rk_ng _n _n_cc_pt_bl_ c_nd_t__ns. _t _ls_ p__nts __t th_, "st_gg_r_ng _m__nt _f w_st_ th_ _l_ctr_n_cs _nd_stry g_n_r_t_s". F_n_lly, _t s_ys: "C_mm_n_c_t__n t_chn_l_gy _s _n tr_ck t_ _cc__nt f_r 14 p_r c_nt _f th_ w_rld's gr__nh__s_ g_s _m_ss__ns by 2040." Th_ F__rph_n_ c_m_s w_th _ scr_wdr_v_r _nd _s __s_ly r_p__r_bl_. Th_ pl_st_c _s_d _s 40-p_r-c_nt r_cycl_d, _nd th_ m_n_r_ls _r_ _th_c_lly s__rc_d.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

most of us have felt the exasperation of feeling helpless when our smartphone breaks phone manufacturers seem to go to extraordinary lengths to deter consumers from opening the back of their phones to try diy repairs help is at hand Fairphone is a new company that has produced a selfrepairable mobile phone the founder is bas van abel a dutch design engineer who set out to make the worlds first ethical smartphone he started his company in 2013 with four basic principles first he wanted to use raw materials from nonconflict mining areas he also wanted to make a product that was recyclable durable and repairable the new fairphone embodies these aims

the fairphone website outlines the philosophy that underpins the company it says its mission is to motivate a massive industry to take responsibility for its impact on the world by establishing a viable market for ethical electronics it highlights the fact that many workers who produce technology are working in unacceptable conditions it also points out the staggering amount of waste the electronics industry generates finally it says communication technology is on track to account for 14 per cent of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 the fairphone comes with a screwdriver and is easily repairable the plastic used is 40percent recycled and the minerals are ethically sourced

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Mostofushavefelttheexasperationoffeelinghelplesswhenoursmartp
honebreaks.Phonemanufacturersseemtogotoextraordinarylengthst
odeterconsumersfromopeningthebackoftheirphonestotryDIYrepair
s.Helpisathand.Fairphoneisanewcompanythathasproducedaself-re
pairablemobilephone.ThefounderisBasvanAbel,aDutchdesignengin
eerwhosetouttomake"theworld'sfirstethicalsmartphone".Hestarted
hiscompanyin2013withfourbasicprinciples.First,hewantedtouseraw
materialsfromnon-conflictminingareas.Healsowantedtomakeaprod
uctthatwasrecyclable,durableandrepairable.ThenewFairphoneemb
odiestheseaims.TheFairphonewebsiteoutlinesthephilosophythatun
derpinsthecompany.Itsaysitsmissionistomotivate"amassiveindustr
ytotakeresponsibilityforitsimpactontheworld,byestablishingaviable
marketforethicalelectronics".Ithighlightsthefactthatmanyworkersw
hoproducetechnologyareworkinginunacceptableconditions.Italsopo
intsoutthe,"staggeringamountofwastetheelectronicsindustrygener
ates".Finally,itsays:"Communicationtechnologyisontracktoaccount
for14percentoftheworld'sgreenhousegasemissionsby2040."TheFair
phonecomeswithascrewdriverandiseasilyrepairable.Theplasticused
is40-per-centrecycled,andthemineralsareethicallysourced.

Free writing

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

All smartphones should be easy for owners to repair. 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. SMARTPHONE REPAIRS: Make a poster about smartphone repairs. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. REPAIR KIT: Write a magazine article about all smartphones coming with a repair kit. 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 smartphone repairs. Ask him/her three questions about this. Give him/her three of your ideas on how smartphones could be better. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

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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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