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Theme: Mobile phones
Lexical area: Phone language
Cross curricular links: Social studies
Introduction
This lesson is about mobile phones and the issues that surround them. Students have the chance to learn some vocabulary related to phones and to do a quiz to test their knowledge of mobiles. Task 2 looks at text messaging and the language used for sending text messages. Students are given the chance to teach you about some of the text short-hand in their own language too.
Task 3 is a reading activity consisting of short texts which are individuals’ views on mobile phones. Issues arise such as phone addiction, using phones in public places and in schools. These topics can easily be developed as discussion topics.
Higher levels can use Task 4 as a role-play of using a mobile phone in an emergency situation. Students are given the freedom to choose the situations and language can be fed-in as and when appropriate for the level and age group.
The Task 5 is to design a mobile phone of the future. Younger students may enjoy this imaginative task and it could be extended into a whole project.
1. Mobile phone intro
Write this question on the board or ask students,
- Encourage students to discuss the answer before telling them. Answer: mobile phones.
- Go on to ask the class how many words they know connected to phones and making calls. Bring in a mobile if you have one or draw one on the board. To elicit the verbs use mime. Try to cover the following:
- screen
- keys / buttons
- to switch on/off
- to dial
- to hang up
- to text
- ring tone
- Add any more you think appropriate for the level. If any of them are new, write them up on the board and give students time to work in pairs and mime to each other to familiarise themselves with the new words.
- Discuss the questions as a group. Depending on which country you are in, questions may need some adaptation.
Ask your partner:
- Have you got a mobile phone?
- Do you think mobile phones were a good invention?
- Are there any places where you think mobiles should be banned?
2. Text messaging
This activity is appropriate in a society where mobiles and texting are common place. Extend the activity with any text language you use or have seen yourself.
- Write on the board: 'C U L8R' and ask students if they know what it means. Give clues until you get 'See you later' written up on the board.
- Then ask students to look at the chart below and see if they can write the text language in real English words. Add to the column of English text with any your students or you think of. The second two columns are for the students to think about their own language and to teach you a little of the text language of the country you are in.
- Depending on the level this could lead into a discussion on how language is changing with SMS and e-mail and how flexible both languages are.
Complete the table of text language. Add more to the columns with the help of your classM8s and teacher!
| English Text |
English Word |
Text in your language |
Word in your language |
| C |
see |
|
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| U |
you |
|
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| L8 |
|
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| R |
|
|
|
| 4 |
|
|
|
| B4 |
|
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Now write a text message in English for your class to ‘translate’ into real English. Be as creative as you can with the language.
- Do you think texting is encouraging young people to spell badly?
- How many text messages do you send / receive each day?
3. Phone in
Set the scene: A radio programme asked its listeners to phone in and give any comments on mobile phones. The texts are designed to be used as spring boards for discussion for higher level groups so you can talk about many of the issues surrounding mobile phones, such as health, phone etiquette etc.
An extension is to ask your students to phone in to the programme and give their point of view. They could write these out for homework.
A radio station recently asked its listeners for their points of view about mobile phones. This is what some of them said. As you read the dialogues think about the following:
- Do you agree with anything the people say?
- Do you know anyone with similar views to these people?
- What would you reply to this person if you were the radio presenter?
Paula from Newcastle “I couldn’t live without my mobile phone. I think I’m addicted to it in fact! make over twenty phone calls a day and send at least forty text messages. I just like to be in touch with all my friends. I can’t really remember what my life was like before I had my mobile. I wouldn’t give it up for all the money in the world.” |
Maria from Cardiff “I have a mobile but I try not to use it too much. When I do have to use it for a long time I worry about what’s happening to my brain. Sometimes my ear gets really hot and I get a headache. I’m sure it’s not good for you to use a mobile for long periods of time. We all use them but there hasn’t been much research into the possible dangers.” |
Mahesh from London “I think they’re really useful. It’s great to be able to call a mate and tell him you’ll be a bit late to meet him. The other day my car broke down on the motorway and it was great to be able to phone for help. I got lost on the way to a friend’s house the other day and she told me the directions as I was walking along. That was really handy.” |
Simon from Plymouth “ I have never had a mobile phone. I work from home, I’m a writer, so I really don’t need one. I have to phone friends on their mobiles though and my phone bill has gone up lots since everyone started using mobiles. My girlfriend keeps trying to convince me to get one, but I won’t. People think I’m a bit strange not having one but I don’t want people to be able to know where I am and what I’m doing every minute of the day. I like to be un-contactable!” |
Anna from London “I have a phone but I’m really careful about switching it off when I’m in public places. I hate having to listen to other people’s conversations on the train and on the bus. I try not to listen but it’s impossible when people speak loudly. Often they have really personal conversations and I just don’t want to know their private business. It can be embarrassing. I think they should be banned in restaurants, art galleries and on public transport. The whole mobile phone culture is out of control and we shouldn’t accept it. It’s noise pollution.” |
Josh from Dublin “I’m a teacher in a secondary schools and mobile phones really annoy me. The students send text messages to each other in the class and last month I caught two of my students cheating in an exam by sending messages to each other. In theory they are not allowed to bring them to school but it’s nearly impossible to stop them. I don’t think parents should buy them for their children. It’s crazy to see eleven year olds with their own mobiles. It must cost a fortune for their parents too.” |
Ben from Glasgow “I’m a bit of a phone fanatic. I always want to have the latest model. I now have one of those phones that takes photos. It’s great when you’re out partying; you can take photos of pretty girls in the bars and send them to your mates! We have such a laugh taking photos of people when they don’t know. Once I saw my sister’s boyfriend out with another girl – so I took a photo of him and this other girl and sent it to my sister! That was the end of that relationship! I never liked him much anyway!” |
- Now imagine you are going to phone in to the radio programme. What would you say? Write your comment below and then share it with the class.
4. Emergency phone call
Ask students if they’ve ever had to use their mobiles in an emergency situation.
- Ask them to imagine situations where it may be really useful to have a mobile phone.
- Put their ideas on the board. Encourage your students to use their imaginations. (lost on a mountain walk, on a sinking ship etc. etc.)
Most people would agree that mobile phones are useful in emergency situations. What situations can you think of where a mobile phone would be really helpful? Write three ideas below:
Now you are going to imagine you are in one of these situations. Luckily you do have a mobile phone with you.
- Who would you call?
- What would you say?
- Work with a partner and write a dialogue.
- One of you is in the emergency situation and the other is the person you call.
6. Design the next generation mobile phone
This activity can be used for all levels and could be extended to a mini-project for younger students. Students should work together to design the next generation mobile phone. They should be encouraged to be as imaginative as they can.
- To get them started, ask the questions to the group and see what they think.
- As students are working in groups on the design, you can go around the groups and monitor. They may well need a lot of support with new vocabulary.
- When students have designed the phone and drawn it they could present their idea to the class. You could have a class vote to decide on the best design.
- What do you think mobile phones will be like in 20 or 100 years time?
- What will you be able to do with your phone?
- How big will it be and what will it look like?
- Imagine you work for a mobile phone company.
- Work in a group to design a mobile phone of the future.
- Think about the features it has and what it can do.
- When you have decided, try to draw the phone and label all the features.
- Then you can present your idea to the group.
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