The Reading / Listening - Toilet Scrolling - Level 3

Many people use their smartphone in the toilet. They feel it is a good chance to send a text or check out the latest videos on social media. However, doctors say scrolling through your phone while on the toilet could damage your body. Dr. Saurabh Sethi is a gastroenterologist who graduated from Harvard University. He studied the functions of the stomach and intestines. He has warned that bacteria in the bathroom pose many health risks. Dr Sethi said too many people were taking their phones to the lavatory without knowing about the dangers. He urged us to stop this habit. He said being addicted to smartphones, "can actually have some serious consequences, especially whilst doing a 'number two'".

Dr Sethi said many people wrongly believe using their smartphone in the toilet is harmless. He listed several issues that could arise while checking your emails on the loo. One is that it can damage the "toilet areas" of your stomach. Using a smartphone results in sitting on the toilet for longer periods of time. This puts extra pressure on our "tubes" and can make people's veins swell up. Another potential hazard comes from micro-organisms and germs. Dr Sethi warned that using your phone in the loo can, "make your device a "breeding ground for bacteria". He added: "The average smartphone is dirtier than a public toilet seat, so try avoiding scrolling while using the toilet."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Toilet Scrolling - Level 0,  Toilet Scrolling - Level 1   or  Toilet Scrolling - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/doctor-says-using-your-phone-31100350
  • https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1821079/doctor-warning-using-phone-on-the-toilet
  • https://nypost.com/2023/10/02/here-is-the-real-reason-why-you-shouldnt-use-your-phone-on-the-toilet/


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. TOILETS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about toilets. 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?
       smartphone / toilet / text / social media / body / stomach / intestines / health risks /
       issues / emails / pressure / veins / hazard / micro-organisms / device / scrolling
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TOILET BAN: Students A strongly believe there should be on smartphones in toilets; Students B strongly believe that's silly. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. SMARTPHONE USE: What are the dos and don'ts about using smartphones in these places? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Dos

Don'ts

In the toilet

 

 

Classrooms

 

 

On trains

 

 

In restaurants

 

 

In cinemas

 

 

On the beach

 

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

  • Phone
  • Music player
  • Text messaging
  • Camera
  • Internet
  • Video chats
  • Maps
  • Translation

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. chance a. An activity that is natural to or the purpose of a person or thing.
      2. latest b. A possibility of something happening.
      3. function c. The long tubes from the end of the stomach to the exit of the body that food passes through.
      4. intestines d. A regular thing we do that is hard to stop doing.
      5. habit e. The most recent.
      6. addicted f. A result or effect, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
      7. consequence g. Physically and/or mentally needing something.

    Paragraph 2

      8. harmless h. A small number larger than two.
      9. several i. Having or showing the capacity to change into something in the future.
      10. pressure j. Safe.
      11. tube k. A non-stop physical force on or against an object by something in contact with it.
      12. potential l. The act of producing more babies or young.
      13. breeding m. A long, hollow cylinder to hold or move things.
      14. avoiding n. Keeping away from or stopping oneself from doing something.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says everyone uses their smartphone on the toilet.     T / F
  2. Dr. Saurabh Sethi studied gastronomy at Harvard University.     T / F
  3. Dr Sethi studied the functions of the intestines and stomach.     T / F
  4. Using a smartphone while doing a "number two" can be bad for us.     T / F
  5. Many people believe using the smartphone in the loo is harmless.     T / F
  6. Using a smartphone shortens how long we sit on a toilet.     T / F
  7. Bacteria can breed on a smartphone taken into a toilet.     T / F
  8. The average smartphone is cleaner than a public toilet seat.     T / F

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

  1. chance
  2. latest
  3. bacteria
  4. lavatory
  5. consequences
  6. wrongly
  7. harmless
  8. pressure
  9. potential
  10. avoiding
  1. germs
  2. possible
  3. incorrectly
  4. results
  5. safe
  6. most recent
  7. keeping away from
  8. opportunity
  9. toilet
  10. load

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

  1. a good chance
  2. check out the latest videos
  3. the functions of the stomach
  4. being addicted
  5. serious
  6. sitting on the toilet for longer
  7. make people's veins
  8. Another potential hazard comes from
  9. a breeding
  10. The average smartphone is dirtier than
  1. and intestines
  2. swell up
  3. consequences
  4. ground for bacteria
  5. a public toilet seat
  6. to send a text
  7. micro-organisms
  8. to smartphones
  9. periods of time
  10. on social media

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
doctors
urged
latest
feel
addicted
pose
number
functions

Many people use their smartphone in the toilet. They (1) _____________________ it is a good chance to send a text or check out the (2) _____________________ videos on social media. However, (3) _____________________ say scrolling through your phone while on the toilet could damage your body. Dr. Saurabh Sethi is a gastroenterologist who graduated from Harvard University. He studied the (4) _____________________ of the stomach and intestines. He has warned that bacteria in the bathroom (5) _____________________ many health risks. Dr Sethi said too many people were taking their phones to the lavatory without knowing about the dangers. He (6) _____________________ us to stop this habit. He said being (7) _____________________ to smartphones, "can actually have some serious consequences, especially whilst doing a (8) _____________________ two'".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
areas
device
believe
avoiding
periods
issues
bacteria
swell

Dr Sethi said many people wrongly (9) _____________________ using their smartphone in the toilet is harmless. He listed several (10) _____________________ that could arise while checking your emails on the loo. One is that it can damage the "toilet (11) _____________________" of your stomach. Using a smartphone results in sitting on the toilet for longer (12) _____________________ of time. This puts extra pressure on our "tubes" and can make people's veins (13) _____________________ up. Another potential hazard comes from micro-organisms and germs. Dr Sethi warned that using your phone in the loo can, "make your (14) _____________________ a "breeding ground for (15) _____________________". He added: "The average smartphone is dirtier than a public toilet seat, so try (16) _____________________ scrolling while using the toilet."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) a good chance to send a text or check out ______
     a.  the latest videos
     b.  the latent videos
     c.  the lay test videos
     d.  the least videos
2)  He has warned that bacteria in the bathroom pose ______
     a.  many health risks
     b.  many health disks
     c.  many health frisks
     d.  many health brisk
3)  many people were taking their phones to the lavatory without knowing ______
     a.  about the dangerous
     b.  about the endangers
     c.  about the daggers
     d.  about the dangers
4)  He urged us to stop this habit. He said being ______
     a.  addicted of smartphones
     b.  addicted to smartphones
     c.  addicted on smartphones
     d.  addicted at smartphones
5)  have some serious consequences, especially whilst doing ______
     a.  a number two
     b.  a number three
     c.  a number one
     d.  a number four

6)  Dr Sethi said many people wrongly believe using their smartphone in the ______
     a.  toilet is harms less
     b.  toilet is armless
     c.  toilet is harmless
     d.  toilet is harm least
7)  He listed several issues that could arise while checking your emails ______
     a.  on the poo
     b.  on the loo
     c.  on the moo
     d.  on the goo
8)  Using a smartphone results in sitting on the toilet for longer ______
     a.  period of time
     b.  periods off time
     c.  periods of times
     d.  periods of time
9)  This puts extra pressure on our "tubes" and can make people's ______
     a.  veins swell up
     b.  veins swell down
     c.  veins dwell up
     d.  veins dwell down
10)  The average smartphone is dirtier than a ______
     a.  publicly toilet seat
     b.  pub lick toilet seat
     c.  pub-licked toilet seat
     d.  public toilet seat

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Many people use their smartphone in the toilet. They feel it is (1) ____________________ to send a text or check out the latest videos on social media. However, doctors say scrolling through your phone (2) ____________________ toilet could damage your body. Dr. Saurabh Sethi is a gastroenterologist who graduated from Harvard University. He studied the functions of (3) ____________________ intestines. He has warned that bacteria in the bathroom (4) ____________________ risks. Dr Sethi said too many people were taking their phones to the lavatory without knowing about the dangers. He (5) ____________________ stop this habit. He said being addicted to smartphones, "can actually have some serious consequences, (6) ____________________ a 'number two'".

Dr Sethi said many people (7) ____________________ their smartphone in the toilet is harmless. He listed several issues that could arise while checking your emails on the loo. One is that it can damage (8) ____________________ of your stomach. Using a smartphone results in sitting on the toilet for longer (9) ____________________. This puts extra pressure on our "tubes" and can make people's veins swell up. Another potential (10) ____________________ micro-organisms and germs. Dr Sethi warned that using your phone in the loo can, "make (11) ____________________ "breeding ground for bacteria". He added: "The average smartphone is dirtier than a public toilet seat, (12) ____________________ scrolling while using the toilet."

Comprehension questions

  1. What do people check out on their smartphone in the toilet?
  2. Which university did Dr Sethi graduate from?
  3. What did Dr Sethi urge us to stop?
  4. What did Dr Sethi say can have serious consequences?
  5. What expression in the last sentence of paragraph one means "poo"?
  6. What do many people wrongly believe about using phones in toilets?
  7. How does using a smartphone affect how long we sit on a toilet?
  8. What did Dr Sethi say was another potential hazard?
  9. What can smartphones be breeding grounds for?
  10. What is the average smartphone dirtier than?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What do people check out on their smartphone in the toilet?
a) prices
b) the latest videos
c) the weather
d) how many likes they got
2)  Which university did Dr Sethi graduate from?
a) New York
b) MIT
c) Harvard
d) Stanford
3)  What did Dr Sethi urge us to stop?
a) texting
b) smoking
c) using public toilets
d) a habit
4)  What did Dr Sethi say can have serious consequences?
a) bacteria
b) being addicted to smartphones
c) intestines
d) not using 4G in the toilet
5)  What expression in the last sentence of paragraph one means "poo"?
a) number two
b) didgeridoo
c) just a few
d) pee

6)  What do many people wrongly believe about using phones in toilets?
a) It's harmless.
b) They don't work.
c) They make us go quicker.
d) It's deadly.
7)  How does using a smartphone affect how long we sit on a toilet?
a) It doubles the time.
b) It doesn't.
c) It shortens the time.
d) We sit there for longer.
8)  What did Dr Sethi say was another potential hazard?
a) laptop computers
b) tablets
c) micro-organisms and germs
d) coins
9)  What can smartphones be breeding grounds for?
a) illnesses
b) viruses
c) new technology
d) bacteria
10)  What is the average smartphone dirtier than?
a) an elevator button
b) a public toilet seat
c) a door handle
d) the inside of a fridge

Role play

Role  A – Phone
You think the phone is the best feature of smartphones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): music player, camera or video chat.

Role  B – Music Player
You think the music player is the best feature of smartphones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): phone, camera or video chat.

Role  C – Camera
You think the camera is the best feature of smartphones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): music player, phone or video chat.

Role  D – Video Chat
You think video chat is the best feature of smartphones. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): music player, camera or phone.

After reading / listening

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

'toilet'

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

    • and 'phone'.

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

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • chance
    • latest
    • studied
    • pose
    • urged
    • serious
    • believe
    • arise
    • longer
    • extra
    • device
    • average

    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 - Toilet Scrolling

    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 'toilet'?
    3. How important is your smartphone to you?
    4. How important is social media to you?
    5. What kinds of videos do you like on social media?
    6. How might using a smartphone in a toilet be dangerous?
    7. In what other places should we not use smartphones?
    8. What do you know about the stomach?
    9. How addicted are you to your smartphone?
    10. Will you stop taking your smartphone into the toilet?

    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 'body'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How often do you use your smartphone in the toilet?
    5. What do you use your smartphone for most?
    6. How much do you care about toilet cleanliness?
    7. What would you do if you didn't own a smartphone?
    8. What should we do to make sure smartphones are clean?
    9. What things do we touch that are full of bacteria?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the doctor?

    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)

    Many people use their smartphone in the toilet. They (1) ____ it is a good chance to send a text or check out the (2) ____ videos on social media. However, doctors say scrolling through your phone while on the toilet could damage your body. Dr. Saurabh Sethi is a gastroenterologist who graduated from Harvard University. He studied the (3) ____ of the stomach and intestines. He has warned that bacteria in the bathroom (4) ____ many health risks. Dr Sethi said too many people were taking their phones to the lavatory without knowing about the dangers. He urged us to stop this (5) ____. He said being addicted to smartphones, "can actually have some serious consequences, especially whilst (6) ____ a 'number two'".

    Dr Sethi said many people (7) ____ believe using their smartphone in the toilet is harmless. He listed several issues that could (8) ____ while checking your emails on the loo. One is that it can damage the "toilet areas" of your stomach. Using a smartphone results in sitting on the toilet for longer (9) ____ of time. This puts extra pressure on our "tubes" and can make people's veins swell (10) ____. Another potential hazard comes from micro-organisms and germs. Dr Sethi warned that using your phone in the loo can, "make your device a "(11) ____ ground for bacteria". He added: "The average smartphone is dirtier than a public toilet seat, so try (12) ____ scrolling while using the toilet."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     feel     (b)     felt     (c)     feeling     (d)     feels    
    2. (a)     least     (b)     last     (c)     latest     (d)     lost    
    3. (a)     average     (b)     bowels     (c)     functions     (d)     danger    
    4. (a)     oppose     (b)     propose     (c)     suppose     (d)     pose    
    5. (a)     habit     (b)     line     (c)     response     (d)     evil    
    6. (a)     does     (b)     doing     (c)     do     (d)     done    
    7. (a)     wronged     (b)     wrongs     (c)     wrong     (d)     wrongly    
    8. (a)     raise     (b)     arise     (c)     up     (d)     elevate    
    9. (a)     bits     (b)     minutes     (c)     periods     (d)     strains    
    10. (a)     down     (b)     in     (c)     on     (d)     up    
    11. (a)     blooding     (b)     bleeding     (c)     brooding     (d)     breeding    
    12. (a)     avoids     (b)     avoiding     (c)     avoidance     (d)     avoided

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. check out the satetl videos
    2. dradagteu from Harvard University
    3. the functions of the tscamho and intestines
    4. He duegr us to stop this habit
    5. being tedacidd to smartphones
    6. saeeiylclp whilst doing a number two

    Paragraph 2

    1. erasvel issues that could arise
    2. sitting on the toilet for longer rediops of time
    3. Another tatleinop hazard
    4. a breeding ground for acearbti
    5. The agareev smartphone is dirtier
    6. so try aivnogdi scrolling

    Put the text back together

    (...)   Dr Sethi said many people wrongly believe using their smartphone in the toilet is harmless. He listed several
    (...)   than a public toilet seat, so try avoiding scrolling while using the toilet."
    (...)   issues that could arise while checking your emails on the loo. One is that it can damage the "toilet areas"
    (...)   and germs. Dr Sethi warned that using your phone in the loo can, "make your device a "breeding
    (...)   ground for bacteria". He added: "The average smartphone is dirtier
    (...)   pressure on our "tubes" and can make people's veins swell up. Another potential hazard comes from micro-organisms
    (...)   of your stomach. Using a smartphone results in sitting on the toilet for longer periods of time. This puts extra
    (...)   from Harvard University. He studied the functions of the stomach and intestines. He has warned that bacteria in
    (...)   the bathroom pose many health risks. Dr Sethi said too many people were taking their phones to the
    (...)   on the toilet could damage your body. Dr. Saurabh Sethi is a gastroenterologist who graduated
    (...)   videos on social media. However, doctors say scrolling through your phone while
    (...)   lavatory without knowing about the dangers. He urged us to stop this habit. He said being addicted
    (  1  )Many people use their smartphone in the toilet. They feel it is a good chance to send a text or check out the latest
    (...)   to smartphones, "can actually have some serious consequences, especially whilst doing a 'number two'".

    Put the words in the right order

    1. in   smartphone   use   toilet   .   their   the   people   Many
    2. a   chance   text   .   to   It's   send   good   a
    3. media   .   the   Check   social   latest   on   videos   out
    4. the   health   risks   .   pose   bathroom   many   in   Bacteria
    5. urged   us   to   habit   .   He   stop   this
    6. issues   listed   He   arise   .   could   several   that
    7. periods   Sitting   of   time   .   on   longer   toilets   for
    8. our   tubes   .   puts   on   This   extra   pressure
    9. your   for   a   device   bacteria   .   Make   breeding   ground
    10. the   avoiding   while   toilet   .   scrolling   Try   using

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Many people use their smartphone in the toilet. They feel it is a good change / chance to send a text or check out the last / latest videos on social media. However, doctors say scrolling thoroughly / through your phone while on the toilet could damage your body / bodily. Dr. Saurabh Sethi is a gastroenterologist who graduated for / from Harvard University. He studied the functions of the stomach and intestines. He has warmed / warned that bacteria in the bathroom post / pose many health risks. Dr Sethi said too many people were taking their phones to the lavatory without knowing / known about the dangers. He urged us to stop this habit. He said being addicted of / to smartphones, "can actually have some serious consequences, especially whilst doing / do a 'number two'".

    Dr Sethi said many people wrongly / wrong believe using their smartphone in the toilet is harmless / harmed. He listed several issue / issues that could arise while checking your emails on the poo / loo. One is that it can damage the "toilet areas" of your stomach. Using a smartphone results in sitting on the toilet for longer periods of / on time. This puts extra pressure on our "tubes" and can make people's veins swell down / up. Another potential hazard comes / goes from micro-organisms and germs. Dr Sethi warned that using your phone in the loo can, "make your device a "breeding / feeding ground for bacteria". He added: "The usually / average smartphone is dirtier than a public toilet seat, so try avoiding / avoid scrolling while using the toilet."

    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_ny  p__pl_  _s_  th__r  sm_rtph_n_  _n  th_  t__l_t.  Th_y  f__l  _t  _s  _  g__d  ch_nc_  t_  s_nd  _  t_xt  _r  ch_ck  __t  th_  l_t_st  v_d__s  _n  s_c__l  m_d__.  H_w_v_r,  d_ct_rs  s_y  scr_ll_ng  thr__gh  y__r  ph_n_  wh_l_  _n  th_  t__l_t  c__ld  d_m_g_  y__r  b_dy.  Dr.  S__r_bh  S_th_  _s  _  g_str__nt_r_l_g_st  wh_  gr_d__t_d  fr_m  H_rv_rd  _n_v_rs_ty.  H_  st_d__d  th_  f_nct__ns  _f  th_  st_m_ch  _nd  _nt_st_n_s.  H_  h_s  w_rn_d  th_t  b_ct_r__  _n  th_  b_thr__m  p_s_  m_ny  h__lth  r_sks.  Dr  S_th_  s__d  t__  m_ny  p__pl_  w_r_  t_k_ng  th__r  ph_n_s  t_  th_  l_v_t_ry  w_th__t  kn_w_ng  _b__t  th_  d_ng_rs.  H_  _rg_d  _s  t_  st_p  th_s  h_b_t.  H_  s__d  b__ng  _dd_ct_d  t_  sm_rtph_n_s,  "c_n  _ct__lly  h_v_  s_m_  s_r___s  c_ns_q__nc_s,  _sp_c__lly  wh_lst  d__ng  _  'n_mb_r  tw_'".

    Dr  S_th_  s__d  m_ny  p__pl_  wr_ngly  b_l__v_  _s_ng  th__r  sm_rtph_n_  _n  th_  t__l_t  _s  h_rml_ss.  H_  l_st_d  s_v_r_l  _ss__s  th_t  c__ld  _r_s_  wh_l_  ch_ck_ng  y__r  _m__ls  _n  th_  l__.  _n_  _s  th_t  _t  c_n  d_m_g_  th_  "t__l_t  _r__s"  _f  y__r  st_m_ch.  _s_ng  _  sm_rtph_n_  r_s_lts  _n  s_tt_ng  _n  th_  t__l_t  f_r  l_ng_r  p_r__ds  _f  t_m_.  Th_s  p_ts  _xtr_  pr_ss_r_  _n  __r  "t_b_s"  _nd  c_n  m_k_  p__pl_'s  v__ns  sw_ll  _p.  _n_th_r  p_t_nt__l  h_z_rd  c_m_s  fr_m  m_cr_-_rg_n_sms  _nd  g_rms.  Dr  S_th_  w_rn_d  th_t  _s_ng  y__r  ph_n_  _n  th_  l__  c_n,  "m_k_  y__r  d_v_c_  _  "br__d_ng  gr__nd  f_r  b_ct_r__".  H_  _dd_d:  "Th_  _v_r_g_  sm_rtph_n_  _s  d_rt__r  th_n  _  p_bl_c  t__l_t  s__t,  s_  try  _v__d_ng  scr_ll_ng  wh_l_  _s_ng  th_  t__l_t."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    many people use their smartphone in the toilet they feel it is a good chance to send a text or check out the latest videos on social media however doctors say scrolling through your phone while on the toilet could damage your body dr saurabh sethi is a gastroenterologist who graduated from harvard university he studied the functions of the stomach and intestines he has warned that bacteria in the bathroom pose many health risks dr sethi said too many people were taking their phones to the lavatory without knowing about the dangers he urged us to stop this habit he said being addicted to smartphones can actually have some serious consequences especially whilst doing a number two

    dr sethi said many people wrongly believe using their smartphone in the toilet is harmless he listed several issues that could arise while checking your emails on the loo one is that it can damage the toilet areas of your stomach using a smartphone results in sitting on the toilet for longer periods of time this puts extra pressure on our tubes and can make peoples veins swell up another potential hazard comes from microorganisms and germs dr sethi warned that using your phone in the loo can make your device a breeding ground for bacteria he added the average smartphone is dirtier than a public toilet seat so try avoiding scrolling while using the toilet

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Manypeopleusetheirsmartphoneinthetoilet.Theyfeelitisagoodchanc
    etosendatextorcheckoutthelatestvideosonsocialmedia.However,do
    ctorssayscrollingthroughyourphonewhileonthetoiletcoulddamagey
    ourbody.Dr.SaurabhSethiisagastroenterologistwhograduatedfrom
    HarvardUniversity.Hestudiedthefunctionsofthestomachandintestin
    es.Hehaswarnedthatbacteriainthebathroomposemanyhealthrisks.
    DrSethisaidtoomanypeopleweretakingtheirphonestothelavatorywit
    houtknowingaboutthedangers.Heurgedustostopthishabit.Hesaidbe
    ingaddictedtosmartphones,"canactuallyhavesomeseriousconseque
    nces,especiallywhilstdoinga'numbertwo'".DrSethisaidmanypeople
    wronglybelieveusingtheirsmartphoneinthetoiletisharmless.Helisted
    severalissuesthatcouldarisewhilecheckingyouremailsontheloo.Onei
    sthatitcandamagethe"toiletareas"ofyourstomach.Usingasmartpho
    neresultsinsittingonthetoiletforlongerperiodsoftime.Thisputsextrap
    ressureonour"tubes"andcanmakepeople'sveinsswellup.Anotherpot
    entialhazardcomesfrommicro-organismsandgerms.DrSethiwarnedt
    hatusingyourphoneintheloocan,"makeyourdevicea"breedinggroun
    dforbacteria".Headded:"Theaveragesmartphoneisdirtierthanapubli
    ctoiletseat,sotryavoidingscrollingwhileusingthetoilet."

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Smartphones should be banned in the toilet. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about 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. TOILET BAN: Write a magazine article about banning the use of smartphones in toilets. 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 toilets. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make them better. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Also...

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

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

    Buy my book

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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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