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250 extra characters added to Internet (20th June, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 3

The organization that looks after the code behind the Internet has included an additional 250 characters in its most recent update. All of the characters we see in our Internet browsers, whether they be letters, numbers or symbols, all have a special code so the browser knows what to show online. The system is called Unicode and makes sure that whatever the browser or world language, the characters look as they should. The new "emoji" include many characters used on smart phones in SMS and text messages. People who make websites and Internet users can now make their pages look nicer with symbols that include a smiling face, a spider, a thumbs up, a dove of peace, and many more.

"Emoji" were originally developed in Japan for use on Japanese mobile phones. The word in Japanese is short for “picture-writing character". They quickly became popular around the world, especially among younger people. It could be a while before we can start using the new "emoji" on our cellphones. For that to happen, the big phone makers and software companies, like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, etc. will have to update their fonts and provide updates for consumers. There is still a way to go, however, before the "emoji" are from all cultures. They are currently biased towards Americans and Europeans, including things like a hand signal from the U.S. TV series Star Trek.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 0, Level 1 or Level 2

Sources

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2364340/unicode-update-lets-you-say-spider-dark-glasses-in-pictures.html
http://www.cnet.com/news/behold-250-new-emoji-vulcan-symbol-floppy-disks-and-more/
http://techcrunch.com/2014/06/17/the-250-new-emoji-heres-what-theyll-look-like/

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 :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. THE INTERNET: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Internet. 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?

code / characters / symbols / browser / world language / smart phones / messages / developed / popular / younger people / software company / fonts / cultures / TV series

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. INTERNET: How could things be better? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Problems now	Things that could be better
Symbols
Letters
Pictures
Videos
Music
Menus

4. EMOJI: Students A strongly believe the Internet needs emoji; Students B strongly believe they aren't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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. CHARACTERS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• question mark

• exclamation mark

• smiling face

• thumbs up

• the ampersand sign (&)

• hashtag

• @

• peace sign

6. BROWSER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "browser". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

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

a.	Google has added 250 characters for people to use on the Internet.	T / F
b.	Every letter and number on the Internet has a special code.	T / F
c.	Many of the new characters are already used on smart phones.	T / F
d.	One of the new characters is a smiling face.	T / F
e.	Emoji originally came from Finland.	T / F
f.	We won't be able to use the new emoji on smart phones just yet.	T / F
g.	Software companies have updated their fonts so we can use the emoji.	T / F
h.	All of the new emoji can be used and understood by all cultures.	T / F

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

1.	looks after	a.	appear
2.	included	b.	display
3.	show	c.	give
4.	look	d.	controls
5.	many	e.	particularly
6.	originally	f.	presently
7.	especially	g.	added
8.	update	h.	first
9.	provide	i.	revise
10.	currently	j.	a lot

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

1.	The organization that looks	a.	to show online
2.	its most recent	b.	for consumers
3.	so the browser knows what	c.	of peace
4.	the characters look	d.	younger people
5.	a dove	e.	after the code
6.	originally developed	f.	before we can start
7.	especially among	g.	signal
8.	It could be a while	h.	update
9.	provide updates	i.	as they should
10.	a hand	j.	in Japan

GAP FILL

The organization that looks after the code (1) ____________ the Internet has included an additional 250 characters in its most (2) ____________ update. All of the characters we see in our Internet browsers, whether they be letters, numbers or (3) ____________, all have a special code so the browser knows what to show (4) ____________. The system is called Unicode and makes sure that whatever the (5) ____________ or world language, the characters look as they should. The new "emoji" include many characters (6) ____________ on smart phones in SMS and text messages. People who make websites and Internet users can now make their pages look (7) ____________ with symbols that include a smiling face, a spider, a (8) ____________ up, a dove of peace, and many more.

browser
nicer
recent
online
thumbs
behind
symbols
used

"Emoji" were (9) ____________ developed in Japan for use on Japanese mobile phones. The word in Japanese is (10) ____________ for "picture-writing character". They quickly became (11) ____________ around the world, especially among (12) ____________ people. It could be a while before we can start using the new "emoji" on our cellphones. For that to happen, the big phone makers and software companies, like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, etc. will have to (13) ____________ their fonts and provide updates for consumers. There is still a (14) ____________ to go, however, before the "emoji" are from all cultures. They are currently (15) ____________ towards Americans and Europeans, including things like a hand (16) ____________ from the U.S. TV series Star Trek.

younger
signal
biased
short
update
originally
popular
way

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The organization that looks after the code _____
	a. beyond the Internet b. behind the Internet c. remind the Internet d. refined the Internet
2)	All of the characters we see in our ______
	a. Internet browsers b. Internet browse is c. Internet browsing d. Internet blouses
3)	a special code so the browser knows what ______
	a. to stow online b. to slow online c. to snow online d. to show online
4)	the characters look ______
	a. was they should b. was they should c. as they should d. is they should
5)	Internet users can now make their pages look ______
	a. nice and with symbols b. nicer with symbols c. nicer within symbols d. nicer with symbol
6)	The word in Japanese is short for "picture-______"
	a. written character b. writing characters c. written characters d. writing character
7)	popular around the world, especially among ______
	a. younger people b. younger people c. younger people d. younger people
8)	the big phone makers and ______
	a. software company b. soft where companies c. software company is d. soft wear companies
9)	update their fonts and provide updates ______
	a. from consumers b. for consumers c. four consumers d. for consume as
10)	There is still a way to go, however, before the "emoji" are ______
	a. of all cultures b. form all cultures c. from all cultures d. from all culture

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The organization that (1) ___________________ behind the Internet has included an additional 250 characters in its most recent update. All of the characters (2) ___________________ Internet browsers, whether they be letters, numbers or symbols, all have a special code so the browser knows (3) ___________________. The system is called Unicode and makes sure that whatever the browser or world language, the characters (4) ___________________. The new "emoji" include many characters used on smart phones in SMS (5) ___________________. People who make websites and Internet users can now make their pages look nicer with symbols that include a smiling face, a spider, (6) ___________________ dove of peace, and many more.

"Emoji" were (7) ___________________ in Japan for use on Japanese mobile phones. The word in Japanese is short for "picture-writing character". They quickly (8) ___________________ the world, especially among younger people. It could be a while (9) ___________________ using the new "emoji" on our cellphones. (10) ___________________, the big phone makers and software companies, like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, etc. will have to update their fonts and (11) ___________________ consumers. There is still a way to go, however, before the "emoji" are from all cultures. They are currently biased towards Americans and Europeans, (12) ___________________ a hand signal from the U.S. TV series Star Trek.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	What does the organization mentioned in the article look after?
2.	What changes the code into letters and numbers online?
3.	What is the system called?
4.	What can people already use the emoji on?
5.	What kind of face symbol was mentioned at the end of paragraph one?
6.	Where did emoji first start?
7.	Who really liked and used emoji when they first came out?
8.	How long will it be before we use emoji on our cellphones?
9.	What will software companies have to provide for consumers?
10.	What kind of signal was mentioned at the end of paragraph two?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	What does the organization mentioned in the article look after?	6.	Where did emoji first start?
	a) Google b) websites c) code d) browsers		a) Google b) Japan c) Technoland d) Finland
2.	What changes the code into letters and numbers online?	7.	Who really liked and used emoji when they first came out?
	a) browsers b) online forms c) digital devices d) Google		a) pop stars b) Google c) business leaders d) younger people
3.	What is the system called?	8.	How long will it be before we use emoji on our cellphones?
	a) One-Code b) Code-One c) Coder d) Unicode		a) 3 days b) a while c) as long as a piece of string d) many years
4.	What can people already use the emoji on?	9.	What will software companies have to provide for consumers?
	a) their TVs b) smart phones c) paper d) Google		a) font updates b) mobile phones c) refunds d) a thumbs up
5.	What kind of face symbol was mentioned at the end of paragraph 1?	10.	What kind of signal was mentioned at the end of paragraph two?
	a) an embarrassed face b) a sad face c) a smiling face d) a red face		a) an easy one b) one to alert people c) a left-turn signal d) a hand signal

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Google

You think Google is the best tech company. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their company. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): Apple, Microsoft or Facebook.

Role B – Apple

You think Apple is the best tech company. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their company. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): Google, Microsoft or Facebook.

Role C – Microsoft

You think Microsoft is the best tech company. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their company. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): Apple, Google or Facebook.

Role D – Facebook

You think Facebook is the best tech company. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their company. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): Apple, Microsoft or Google.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

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

recent

update

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:

after
recent
knows
sure
nicer
up

originally
quickly
before
provide
way
hand

THE INTERNET SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about the Internet 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.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

THE INTERNET DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'Internet'?
c)	What do you think of having 250 extra Internet characters?
d)	Do you often use emoticons and symbols in text messages?
e)	What do you think of messages with smiling faces, hearts, etc.?
f)	What is the best thing about text messages?
g)	Do you prefer just writing or writing with pictures and symbols?
h)	What are the good and bad things about emoji?
i)	Is plain text better than text full of tiny pictures?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	Why do you think it has taken so long to put emoji in Internet browsers?
c)	What's your favourite Internet browser, and why?
d)	Is it OK to use emoji in formal letters or in essays for school?
e)	When would you use emoji?
f)	Do you think emoji encourage children to write?
g)	How many emoji do you think there'll be in 10 years from now?
h)	Do emoji characters have any extra meaning in a mail?
i)	What questions would you like to ask the Internet code people?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The organization that looks (1) ____ the code behind the Internet has included an additional 250 characters in its most (2) ____ update. All of the characters we see in our Internet browsers, (3) ____ they be letters, numbers or symbols, all have a special code so the browser knows what to show online. The system is called Unicode and makes sure that (4) ____ the browser or world language, the characters look as they should. The new "emoji" include many characters used on smart phones in SMS and text messages. People who make websites and Internet users can now make their pages look nicer with symbols that (5) ____ a smiling face, a spider, a thumbs up, a (6) ____ of peace, and many more.

"Emoji" were (7) ____ developed in Japan for use on Japanese mobile phones. The word in Japanese is (8) ____ for "picture-writing character". They quickly became popular around the world, especially among younger people. It could be a (9) ____ before we can start using the new "emoji" on our cellphones. For that to (10) ____, the big phone makers and software companies, like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, etc. will have to update their fonts and provide updates for consumers. There is still a (11) ____ to go, however, before the "emoji" are from all cultures. They are currently biased towards Americans and Europeans, including things like a hand signal from the U.S. TV (12) ____ Star Trek.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	before	(b)	past	(c)	after	(d)	behind
2.	(a)	recent	(b)	latest	(c)	newest	(d)	updated
3.	(a)	waiver	(b)	whether	(c)	wither	(d)	weather
4.	(a)	whoever	(b)	wherever	(c)	whenever	(d)	whatever
5.	(a)	including	(b)	inclusive	(c)	include	(d)	inclusion
6.	(a)	love	(b)	dove	(c)	move	(d)	rove
7.	(a)	originally	(b)	origins	(c)	original	(d)	originate
8.	(a)	shortening	(b)	shortly	(c)	shorts	(d)	short
9.	(a)	hour	(b)	when	(c)	while	(d)	period
10.	(a)	happening	(b)	happened	(c)	happens	(d)	happen
11.	(a)	wait	(b)	way	(c)	times	(d)	when
12.	(a)	series	(b)	cereal	(c)	serious	(d)	services

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	an dndiatlaio 250 characters
2.	Internet werbosrs
3.	world glgaaneu
4.	text smeasesg
5.	make their pages look nicer with slosmyb
6.	endcilu a smiling face
Paragraph 2
7.	"Emoji" were roiiglynla developed in Japan
8.	They quickly became rpauolp
9.	eealpiscyl among younger people
10.	tfwareos companies
11.	provide uepdast for consumers
12.	a hand lisgan

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	as they should. The new "emoji" include many characters used on smart phones in SMS and text
( )	messages. People who make websites and Internet users can now make their pages look
( )	nicer with symbols that include a smiling face, a spider, a thumbs up, a dove of peace, and many more.
( )	the "emoji" are from all cultures. They are currently biased towards Americans and
( 1 )	The organization that looks after the code behind the Internet has included an
( )	Europeans, including things like a hand signal from the U.S. TV series Star Trek.
( )	browsers, whether they be letters, numbers or symbols, all have a special code so the browser knows what to show
( )	happen, the big phone makers and software companies, like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, etc. will have to update their
( )	fonts and provide updates for consumers. There is still a way to go, however, before
( )	additional 250 characters in its most recent update. All of the characters we see in our Internet
( )	online. The system is called Unicode and makes sure that whatever the browser or world language, the characters look
( )	"Emoji" were originally developed in Japan for use on Japanese mobile phones. The word in Japanese is short
( )	for "picture-writing character". They quickly became popular around the world, especially among
( )	younger people. It could be a while before we can start using the new "emoji" on our cellphones. For that to

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	code the after looks that organization The.
2.	All characters in browsers the see Internet of we our.
3.	online show to what knows browser The.
4.	who People users Internet and websites make.
5.	that smiling Look symbols a with include face nicer.
6.	mobile Developed for Japanese Japan on phones in use.
7.	quickly world around became They the popular.
8.	be before start could while can It a we.
9.	updates Update fonts provide their and.
10.	are biased Americans They currently towards.

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The organization that looks before / after the code behind the Internet has included an addition / additional 250 characters in its most recent / recently update. All of the characters we see in our Internet browsers, whether they be letters, numbers or symbols, all have a special / specially code so the browser knows what to show online. The system is called Unicode and makes / make sure that whatever the browser or world language, the characters look as they would / should. The new "emoji" include many characters used or / on smart phones in SMS and text messages. People who make websites and Internet usages / users can now make their pages look nicer with symbols that include a smiling face / faces, a spider, a thumbs up, a dove of peace, and many / more more.

"Emoji" were origin / originally developed in Japan for use on Japanese mobile phones. The word in Japanese is short / shortly for "picture-writing character". They quickly became popular around the world, especially around / among younger people. It could be a while / age before we can start using the new "emoji" on our cellphones. For that / what to happen, the big phone markets / makers and software companies, like Apple, Samsung, Nokia, etc. will have to update their fonts / forts and provide updates for consumers. There is still a long / way to go, however, before the "emoji" are from all cultures. They are currency / currently biased towards Americans and Europeans, including things like a hand / hard signal from the U.S. TV series Star Trek.

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)

Th_ _rg_n_z_t__n th_t l__ks _ft_r th_ c_d_ b_h_nd th_ _nt_rn_t h_s _ncl_d_d _n _dd_t__n_l 250 ch_r_ct_rs _n _ts m_st r_c_nt _pd_t_. _ll _f th_ ch_r_ct_rs w_ s__ _n __r _nt_rn_t br_ws_rs, wh_th_r th_y b_ l_tt_rs, n_mb_rs _r symb_ls, _ll h_v_ _ sp_c__l c_d_ s_ th_ br_ws_r kn_ws wh_t t_ sh_w _nl_n_. Th_ syst_m _s c_ll_d _n_c_d_ _nd m_k_s s_r_ th_t wh_t_v_r th_ br_ws_r _r w_rld l_ng__g_, th_ ch_r_ct_rs l__k _s th_y sh__ld. Th_ n_w "_m_j_" _ncl_d_ m_ny ch_r_ct_rs _s_d _n sm_rt ph_n_s _n SMS _nd t_xt m_ss_g_s. P__pl_ wh_ m_k_ w_bs_t_s _nd _nt_rn_t _s_rs c_n n_w m_k_ th__r p_g_s l__k n_c_r w_th symb_ls th_t _ncl_d_ _ sm_l_ng f_c_, _ sp_d_r, _ th_mbs _p, _ d_v_ _f p__c_, _nd m_ny m_r_.

"_m_j_" w_r_ _r_g_n_lly d_v_l_p_d _n J_p_n f_r _s_ _n J_p_n_s_ m_b_l_ ph_n_s. Th_ w_rd _n J_p_n_s_ _s sh_rt f_r "p_ct_r_-wr_t_ng ch_r_ct_r". Th_y q__ckly b_c_m_ p_p_l_r _r__nd th_ w_rld, _sp_c__lly _m_ng y__ng_r p__pl_. _t c__ld b_ _ wh_l_ b_f_r_ w_ c_n st_rt _s_ng th_ n_w "_m_j_" _n __r c_llph_n_s. F_r th_t t_ h_pp_n, th_ b_g ph_n_ m_k_rs _nd s_ftw_r_ c_mp_n__s, l_k_ _ppl_, S_ms_ng, N_k__, _tc. w_ll h_v_ t_ _pd_t_ th__r f_nts _nd pr_v_d_ _pd_t_s f_r c_ns_m_rs. Th_r_ _s st_ll _ w_y t_ g_, h_w_v_r, b_f_r_ th_ "_m_j_" _r_ fr_m _ll c_lt_r_s. Th_y _r_ c_rr_ntly b__s_d t_w_rds _m_r_c_ns _nd __r_p__ns, _ncl_d_ng th_ngs l_k_ _ h_nd s_gn_l fr_m th_ _.S. TV s_r__s St_r Tr_k.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the organization that looks after the code behind the internet has included an additional 250 characters in its most recent update all of the characters we see in our internet browsers whether they be letters numbers or symbols all have a special code so the browser knows what to show online the system is called unicode and makes sure that whatever the browser or world language the characters look as they should the new "emoji" include many characters used on smart phones in sms and text messages people who make websites and internet users can now make their pages look nicer with symbols that include a smiling face a spider a thumbs up a dove of peace and many more

"emoji" were originally developed in japan for use on japanese mobile phones the word in japanese is short for "picture-writing character" they quickly became popular around the world especially among younger people it could be a while before we can start using the new "emoji" on our cellphones for that to happen the big phone makers and software companies like apple samsung nokia etc will have to update their fonts and provide updates for consumers there is still a way to go however before the "emoji" are from all cultures they are currently biased towards americans and europeans including things like a hand signal from the us tv series star trek

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheorganizationthatlooksafterthecodebehindtheInternethasincl
udedanadditional250charactersinitsmostrecentupdate.Allofthec
haractersweseeinourInternetbrowsers,whethertheybeletters,nu
mbersorsymbols,allhaveaspecialcodesothebrowserknowswhatt
oshowonline.ThesystemiscalledUnicodeandmakessurethatwhat
everthebrowserorworldlanguage,thecharacterslookastheyshoul
d.Thenew"emoji"includemanycharactersusedonsmartphonesin
SMSandtextmessages.PeoplewhomakewebsitesandInternetuse
rscannowmaketheirpageslooknicerwithsymbolsthatincludeasmil
ingface,aspider,athumbsup,adoveofpeace,andmanymore."Emo
ji"wereoriginallydevelopedinJapanforuseonJapanesemobilephon
es.ThewordinJapaneseisshortfor"picture-writingcharacter".The
yquicklybecamepopulararoundtheworld,especiallyamongyoung
erpeople.Itcouldbeawhilebeforewecanstartusingthenew"emoji"
onourcellphones.Forthattohappen,thebigphonemakersandsoftw
arecompanies,likeApple,Samsung,Nokia,etc.willhavetoupdateth
eirfontsandprovideupdatesforconsumers.Thereisstillawaytogo,h
owever,beforethe"emoji"arefromallcultures.Theyarecurrentlybi
asedtowardsAmericansandEuropeans,includingthingslikeahand
signalfromtheU.S.TVseriesStarTrek.

FREE WRITING

Write about the Internet for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Which is better to send and receive, letters on paper or e-mail? Why? Write three good pints and three bad points for each.

_____________________________________________________________________________

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 emoji and the Internet. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. THE INTERNET: Make a poster about the Internet. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. EMOJI: Write a magazine article about the new emoji for the Internet. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against them.

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 the Internet. Ask him/her three questions about the new emoji. Give him/her three of your opinions on them. 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...

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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

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	looks after	a.	controls
2.	included	b.	added
3.	show	c.	display
4.	look	d.	appear
5.	many	e.	a lot
6.	originally	f.	first
7.	especially	g.	particularly
8.	update	h.	revise
9.	provide	i.	give
10.	currently	j.	presently

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	The code behind the Internet
2.	Browsers
3.	Unicode
4.	Smart phones
5.	A smiling face
6.	Japan
7.	Younger people
8.	A while
9.	Updates
10.	Hand signal

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

d

4.

b

5.

c

6.

d

7.

b

8.

d

9.

a

10.

d

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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250 extra characters added to Internet (20th June, 2014)

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