Lab n23

Book: Language Leader (advanced) Unit 6

Level: Upper intermediate
Adolescents
CEM Institute
N of sts: 16
Topic: Technology and change
Project: discussing the effects of technological changes/
innovations, sharing attitudes to technology, and debating.
CLASS 1
- The T writes the word Technology on the board and she asks the sts some questions such as:
What do you understand by the word technology? How have advances in technology affected
your working/studying and social life? What kind of advances would you like to see in the next 20
years? Is the latest technology always an improvement? Can you give any examples when it hasnt
been?
- The sts do the following technology quiz:

Then, they check their answers:

The sts have to say if the agree with the results and why.
- The sts will work with vocabulary related to technology. In groups, they have to deduce and put
the following adjectives under the correct heading.

Behind the times

Cutting-edge

Ground-breaking

Innovative

Newfangled

Obsolete

Old-hat

Outdated

Outmoded

Pioneering

Redundant

Retro

Revolutionary

State-of-the-arte

Out-of-date

Up-to-date

The sts use their cell phones to check their answers and the meanings.
- The T uses a Power Point presentation to show the sts different sentences. They have to
complete each sentence using a suitable adjective from the box. The sentences are:

I dont understand those____________ phones. I just want something simple that I can
call people on.

That device was _____________ before it even went on the market. Nobody uses them
anymore.

This really is a ____________ development. It will change the way we communicate

forever.

Its not exactly ____________ technology, but its still a pretty useful piece of
equipment.

Then, in groups they have to create one more sentence using the adjectives.

CLASS 2
- The sts will read the message board opinion and answer these questions: Which of the people
are for/ against/undecided about the question? Which points do you agree/ disagree with? Which
is closest to your own point of view?

- The sts have to write their own opinion for a message board on the following question: Have
technological advances had a positive effect on peoples lives in your country?
They have to send their opinion to a classmate by WhatsApp. Then, they have to write a response
about it, and send it again. Some of the answers will be shared with the rest.

CLASS 3
- The T asks the sts what they know about Google, and what apps they like the most (Translator,
Gmail, Drive, YouTube, Maps, Calendar, News, etc.). They have to explain why.
- The sts have to predict whether the following statements about Google are true or false:

Google staff spend half their time on their own ideas and initiatives.

Google is successful because it carries out extensive market surveys.

All Google staff have to asses ideas submitted to the suggestion box.

Google takes great care when hiring new staff.

Then, the sts read the article to check the answers:

- They have to discuss in groups the following questions:

How does Google encourage innovation?
Would you like to work at Google? Why? Why not?
What sort of working environment encourages innovation?

CLASS 4
Listening activity. The sts will listen to track 2.3 part 1:

They have to complete the following activity from the book:

Then, they listen to part 2, track 2.4 and do the following activity:

- The sts work in groups. In groups of 4, they choose one of the modern technologies on page 167.
They are given a structure for their presentations:

What technology is

What its uses are

What criticisms have been made of the technology

What the technologys benefits are

Conclusion

The sts are given some useful phrases to use in the presentation:

They can create a presentation using their computers.

CLASS 5
- The groups take turns to present the case for your chosen technology and answer questions from
the other members of the groups.
- At the end, each group decides and votes which technology has been most beneficial to
mankind.