The Reading / Listening - TikTok - Level 3

The on-off talks between Microsoft and the parent company of TikTok are back on again. Microsoft has been interested in buying part of TikTok for many months. The tech giant has been in talks with the parent company ByteDance Ltd. Discussions between the two companies came to a halt last week when US President Donald Trump suggested that he might ban TikTok from the USA. He was worried that the personal details of over 100 million Americans could get into the wrong hands. President Trump changed his mind at the weekend after the CEO of Microsoft phoned him. Microsoft said it "would ensure that all private data of TikTok's American users is transferred to and remains in the United States."

TikTok is the latest social media platform to become hugely popular around the globe. Users upload very short videos of themselves lip-syncing to well-known songs, dancing, making funny faces or doing other humorous things. TikTok's owner ByteDance is a Beijing-based Internet company founded in 2012 by Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming. It now has over 800 million users worldwide. Microsoft is offering ByteDance $50 billion for the operations in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However the business website Bloomberg disagrees with that valuation. It said: "The idea that TikTok - without the UK, India or dozens of other emerging markets - is worth $50 billion today is fanciful.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    TikTok - Level 0,  TikTok - Level 1   or  TikTok - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-08-03/tiktok-could-be-the-deal-of-the-decade-for-microsoft-ceo-nadella
  • https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/03/microsoft-confirms-talks-to-buy-tiktok-in-us.html
  • https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/08/02/tiktok-ban-microsoft-negotiating-purchase-video-app/5568778002/


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. TIKTOK: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about TikTok. 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?
       on-off / talks / part / TikTok / discussions / ban / personal / details / hands / data /
       social media / popular / globe / lip-syncing / humorous / worldwide / valuation
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SOCIAL MEDIA: Students A strongly believe social media is good for humankind; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. TECH GIANTS: What do you know about these tech giants? What new product should they create? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

New Products

Microsoft

 

 

Apple

 

 

Huawei

 

 

Alphabet Inc.

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Sony

 

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

  • TikTok
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Messenger
  • Zoom
  • Aarogya Setu

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. talks a. Formal discussions.
      2. giant b. The part of a person that makes them think and feel.
      3. halt c. A very large company or organization.
      4. ban d. Facts; pieces of information.
      5. details e. An end; a sudden stop.
      6. mind f. Officially stop someone from doing something.
      7. remains g. Stays.

    Paragraph 2

      8. hugely h. A person who takes personal risks to starts businesses.
      9. globe i. Funny.
      10. lip-syncing j. Very much; to a great extent.
      11. humorous k. An estimation of something's worth.
      12. entrepreneur l. The world.
      13. valuation m. Becoming more important.
      14. emerging n. Move the mouth silently in time with a song.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article said up-down talks between Microsoft and TikTok are off.     T / F
  2. Microsoft has wanted to buy TikTok for many years.     T / F
  3. The US President is worried about the data of 100 million Americans.     T / F
  4. Microsoft would keep the data of US users in the USA.     T / F
  5. TikTok allows users to lip-sync to songs and upload the video.     T / F
  6. The owner of TikTok is a company that started over a decade ago.     T / F
  7. Microsoft has offered $50 million for TikTok.     T / F
  8. The website Bloomberg said TikTok is worth what Microsoft is offering.    T / F

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

  1. talks
  2. halt
  3. ban
  4. data
  5. remains
  6. hugely
  7. globe
  8. operations
  9. valuation
  10. emerging
  1. prohibit
  2. up-an-coming
  3. stays
  4. world
  5. stop
  6. discussions
  7. price
  8. enormously
  9. information
  10. business

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

  1. The on-
  2. parent
  3. came to
  4. could get into
  5. transferred to and remains
  6. become hugely
  7. lip-syncing
  8. making
  9. Microsoft is offering ByteDance $50 billion
  10. emerging
  1. the wrong hands
  2. a halt
  3. markets
  4. in the United States
  5. funny faces
  6. off talks
  7. popular
  8. for the operations
  9. company
  10. to well-known songs

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
parent
hands
part
mind
halt
remains
on-off
details

The (1) _____________________ talks between Microsoft and the parent company of TikTok are back on again. Microsoft has been interested in buying (2) _____________________ of TikTok for many months. The tech giant has been in talks with the (3) _____________________ company ByteDance Ltd. Discussions between the two companies came to a (4) _____________________ last week when US President Donald Trump suggested that he might ban TikTok from the USA. He was worried that the personal (5) _____________________ of over 100 million Americans could get into the wrong (6) _____________________. President Trump changed his (7) _____________________ at the weekend after the CEO of Microsoft phoned him. Microsoft said it "would ensure that all private data of TikTok's American users is transferred to and (8) _____________________ in the United States."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
humorous
latest
operations
lip-syncing
worth
worldwide
globe
valuation

TikTok is the (9) _____________________ social media platform to become hugely popular around the (10) _____________________. Users upload very short videos of themselves (11) _____________________ to well-known songs, dancing, making funny faces or doing other (12) _____________________ things. TikTok's owner ByteDance is a Beijing-based Internet company founded in 2012 by Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming. It now has over 800 million users (13) _____________________. Microsoft is offering ByteDance $50 billion for the (14) _____________________ in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However the business website Bloomberg disagrees with that (15) _____________________. It said: "The idea that TikTok - without the UK, India or dozens of other emerging markets - is (16) _____________________ $50 billion today is fanciful.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) The on-off talks between Microsoft and the ______ TikTok
     a.  patent company of
     b.  parental company of
     c.  pure rent company of
     d.  parent company of
2)  Microsoft has been interested in buying ______
     a.  party of TikTok
     b.  partner of TikTok
     c.  partition of TikTok
     d.  part of TikTok
3)  Discussions between the two companies came to a ______
     a.  hold last week
     b.  shalt last week
     c.  should last week
     d.  halt last week
4)  the personal details of over 100 million Americans could get into ______
     a.  the wronged bands
     b.  the wrong hands
     c.  the wrongly lands
     d.  the wring sands
5)  all private data of TikTok's American users is transferred to and ______ United States
     a.  remain in the
     b.  rim mains in the
     c.  ream aims in the
     d.  rim manes in the

6)  TikTok is the latest social media platform to become hugely popular ______
     a.  around the cube
     b.  around the strobe
     c.  around the globe
     d.  around the lobe
7)  Users upload very short videos of ______
     a.  themselves lip-sync in
     b.  themselves lip-syncing
     c.  themselves lip-stinking
     d.  themselves lip-sync sing
8)  well-known songs, dancing, making funny faces or doing ______
     a.  other humorous things
     b.  other humorous thing
     c.  other humorous thingies
     d.  other humorous thinks
9)  Microsoft is offering ByteDance $50 billion for the ______ US
     a.  operates in the
     b.  operations in the
     c.  op rations in the
     d.  opera shuns in the
10)  The idea that TikTok - without the UK, India or dozens of ______
     a.  other re-emerging markets
     b.  other emerge in markets
     c.  other e-merging markets
     d.  other emerging markets

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The (1) ____________________ Microsoft and the parent company of TikTok are back on again. Microsoft has been (2) ____________________ part of TikTok for many months. The tech giant has (3) ____________________ the parent company ByteDance Ltd. Discussions between the two companies came to a halt last week when US President Donald Trump suggested that he might ban TikTok from the USA. He was worried that (4) ____________________ of over 100 million Americans could get into the wrong hands. President Trump (5) ____________________ at the weekend after the CEO of Microsoft phoned him. Microsoft said it "would ensure that all private data of TikTok's American users is transferred (6) ____________________ in the United States."

TikTok is (7) ____________________ media platform to become hugely popular around the globe. Users (8) ____________________ videos of themselves lip-syncing to well-known songs, dancing, making funny faces or doing (9) ____________________. TikTok's owner ByteDance is a Beijing-based Internet company founded in 2012 by Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming. It now has over 800 (10) ____________________. Microsoft is offering ByteDance $50 billion for (11) ____________________ the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However the business website Bloomberg disagrees with that valuation. It said: "The idea that TikTok - without the UK, India or (12) ____________________ emerging markets - is worth $50 billion today is fanciful.

Comprehension questions

  1. What kind of talks did the article say were back on again?
  2. How is ByteDance Ltd. related to TikTok?
  3. Where was President Trump worried personal data might end up in?
  4. Who telephoned President Trump at the weekend?
  5. Where did Microsoft promise to keep the data of all US TikTok users?
  6. How popular did the article say TikTok was?
  7. What do TikTok users do to popular songs?
  8. When was TikTok's parent company founded?
  9. How much is Microsoft offering TikTok's parent company?
  10. What kinds of markets are not part of the Microsoft-TikTok deal?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What kind of talks did the article say were back on again?
a) tough talks
b) on-off talks
c) never-ending talks
d) happy talks
2) How is ByteDance Ltd. related to TikTok?
a) they are huge rivals
b) they are brother and sister
c) TikTok is the parent company
d) ByteDance Ltd.is the parent company
3) Where was President Trump worried personal data might end up in?
a) the cloud
b) a data dump
c) the wrong hands
d) books
4) Who telephoned President Trump at the weekend?
a) the Microsoft CEO
b) the TikTok CEO
c) Melania
d) the ByteDance Ltd. CEO
5) Where did Microsoft promise to keep the data of all US TikTok users?
a) in the cloud
b) in the US
c) on a disk
d) in China

6) How popular did the article say TikTok was?
a) hugely popular
b) extremely popular
c) a bit popular
d) not at all popular
7) What do TikTok users do to popular songs?
a) rate them
b) rewrite the lyrics
c) lip-sync
d) dance
8) When was TikTok's parent company founded?
a) 2012
b) 2010
c) 2015
d) 2018
9) How much is Microsoft offering TikTok's parent company?
a) $15 million
b) $50 million
c) $15 billion
d) $50 billion
10) What kinds of markets are not part of the Microsoft-TikTok deal?
a) fruit markets
b) stock markets
c) emerging markets
d) night markets

Role play

Role  A – TikTok
You think TikTok is the best app. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their apps. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): YouTube, Zoom or Twitter.

Role  B – YouTube
You think YouTube is the best app. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their apps. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): TikTok, Zoom or Twitter.

Role  C – Zoom
You think Zoom is the best app. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their apps. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): YouTube, TikTok or Twitter.

Role  D – Twitter
You think Twitter is the best app. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their apps. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): YouTube, Zoom or TikTok.

After reading / listening

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

'video'

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

    • and 'platform'.

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

    • • 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:

    • parent
    • giant
    • halt
    • ban
    • mind
    • data
    • latest
    • lip
    • based
    • 800
    • business
    • worth

    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 - TikTok

    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 'video'?
    3. What do you know about TikTok?
    4. What do you know about Microsoft?
    5. Why does Microsoft want to buy TikTok?
    6. What do you think people will say in talks between the two companies?
    7. Why is Donald Trump worried about TikTok?
    8. Are you worried about your personal data online?
    9. How often do you change your mind?
    10. What do you think of the name 'TikTok'

    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 'social media'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What social media platforms do you like and dislike?
    5. Why do people like uploading videos of themselves online?
    6. What do you think of lip-syncing?
    7. What advice do you have for the TikTok bosses?
    8. What are the good and bad things about social media?
    9. What humorous things do you like?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the CEO of Microsoft?

    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)

    The on-off talks (1) ____ Microsoft and the parent company of TikTok are back on again. Microsoft has been interested (2) ____ buying part of TikTok for many months. The tech giant has been in talks with the parent company ByteDance Ltd. Discussions between the two companies came to a (3) ____ last week when US President Donald Trump suggested that he might ban TikTok from the USA. He was worried that the personal details of over 100 million Americans could get into the (4) ____ hands. President Trump changed his (5) ____ at the weekend after the CEO of Microsoft phoned him. Microsoft said it "would ensure that all private data of TikTok's American users is transferred to and (6) ____ in the United States."

    TikTok is the latest social media (7) ____ to become hugely popular around the globe. Users upload very short videos of themselves lip-syncing to well-known songs, dancing, making funny faces or doing other (8) ____ things. TikTok's owner ByteDance is a Beijing-(9) ____ Internet company founded in 2012 by Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming. It now has over 800 million users (10) ____. Microsoft is offering ByteDance $50 billion for the operations in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However the business website Bloomberg disagrees (11) ____ that valuation. It said: "The idea that TikTok - without the UK, India or dozens of other emerging markets - is (12) ____ $50 billion today is fanciful.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     next     (b)     inside     (c)     among     (d)     between    
    2. (a)     at     (b)     by     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    3. (a)     bolt     (b)     halt     (c)     salt     (d)     fault    
    4. (a)     strange     (b)     range     (c)     wrong     (d)     mistook    
    5. (a)     brain     (b)     conscious     (c)     mind     (d)     being    
    6. (a)     remains     (b)     stay     (c)     exists     (d)     keeps    
    7. (a)     stage     (b)     platform     (c)     soapbox     (d)     podium    
    8. (a)     humorous     (b)     humourless     (c)     hummus     (d)     hums    
    9. (a)     basted     (b)     based     (c)     biased     (d)     bass    
    10. (a)     worldly     (b)     worlds     (c)     worldwide     (d)     worldier    
    11. (a)     to     (b)     with     (c)     of     (d)     in    
    12. (a)     worth     (b)     worse     (c)     verse     (d)     forth

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the trnepa company of TikTok
    2. The tech intga has been in talks
    3. Trump usdtegegs that he might ban TikTok
    4. personal ldstaie of over 100 million Americans
    5. Microsoft said it would uneser that
    6. neasirm in the United States

    Paragraph 2

    1. become hugely popular around the eogbl
    2. making funny faces or doing other mhoosuru things
    3. founded in 2012 by a Chinese rneperntruee
    4. $50 billion for the tnporaoise in the US
    5. the business website Bloomberg rdeesasgi
    6. dozens of other nrigeegm markets

    Put the text back together

    (...)  in buying part of TikTok for many months. The tech giant has been in talks with the parent
    (...)  in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However the business website Bloomberg
    (...)  that all private data of TikTok's American users is transferred to and remains in the United States."
    (...)  that he might ban TikTok from the USA. He was worried that the personal details of over
    (...)  mind at the weekend after the CEO of Microsoft phoned him. Microsoft said it "would ensure
    (...)  of themselves lip-syncing to well-known songs, dancing, making funny faces or doing other humorous
    (...)  or dozens of other emerging markets - is worth $50 billion today is fanciful.
    (...)  disagrees with that valuation. It said: "The idea that TikTok - without the UK, India
    (...)  things. TikTok's owner ByteDance is a Beijing-based Internet company founded in 2012 by
    (...)  TikTok is the latest social media platform to become hugely popular around the globe. Users upload very short videos
    (...)  company ByteDance Ltd. Discussions between the two companies came to a halt last week when US President Donald Trump suggested
    (...)  100 million Americans could get into the wrong hands. President Trump changed his
    (  1  ) The on-off talks between Microsoft and the parent company of TikTok are back on again. Microsoft has been interested
    (...)  Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming. It now has over 800 million users worldwide. Microsoft is offering ByteDance $50 billion for the operations

    Put the words in the right order

    1. buying   been   has   Microsoft   interested   in   part   .
    2. came   to   companies   Discussions   a   the   halt   .   between
    3. of   personal   100   over   The   details   million   Americans   .
    4. him   .   of   After   the   Microsoft   phoned   CEO
    5. data   is   users   Private   TikTok's   of   American   transferred   .
    6. social   The   popular   .   to   latest   platform   media   become
    7. videos   upload   short   Users   lip-syncing   .   themselves   of   very
    8. in   Beijing-based   founded   2012   .   A   Internet   company
    9. million   It   worldwide   .   over   now   users   has   800
    10. website   The   business   with   that   disagrees   valuation   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The on-off talks / talk between Microsoft and the parent company of TikTok are back on again. Microsoft has been interesting / interested in buying part of TikTok for many / much months. The tech giant has been in talks with the parent / child company ByteDance Ltd. Discussions between the two companies came to a vault / halt last week when US President Donald Trump suggested that he might ban TikTok from the USA. He was worried that the personal / personality details of over 100 million Americans could get into the wrong / right hands. President Trump charged / changed his mind at the weekend after the CEO of Microsoft phoned / phone him. Microsoft said it "would ensure that all private data of TikTok's American users is transferred to and remains on / in the United States."

    TikTok is the latest social media inform / platform to become huge / hugely popular around the globe / global. Users upload very short videos of themselves lip-syncing to well-known songs, dancing, make / making funny faces or doing other humorous things / thing. TikTok's owner ByteDance is a Beijing-based Internet company floundered / founded in 2012 by Chinese entrepreneur Zhang Yiming. It now has over 800 million usage / users worldwide. Microsoft is offering ByteDance $50 billion for the operations / surgeries in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However the business website Bloomberg disagrees with that worth / valuation. It said: "The idea that TikTok - without the UK, India or dozens of other emerging markets - is worth $50 billion today is fanciful / fancies.

    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)

    T h_ _n -_f f t_l k s b_t w__ n M_c r_s_f t _n d t h_ p_r_n t c_m p_n y _f T_k T_k _r_ b_c k _n _g__ n . M_c r_s_f t h_s b__ n _n t_r_s t_d _n b_y_n g p_r t _f T_k T_k f_r m_n y m_n t h s . T h_ t_c h g__ n t h_s b__ n _n t_l k s w_t h t h_ p_r_n t c_m p_n y B y t_D_n c_ L t d . D_s c_s s__ n s b_t w__ n t h_ t w_ c_m p_n__ s c_m_ t_ _ h_l t l_s t w__ k w h_n U S P r_s_d_n t D_n_l d T r_m p s_g g_s t_d t h_t h_ m_g h t b_n T_k T_k f r_m t h_ U S A . H_ w_s w_r r__ d t h_t t h_ p_r s_n_l d_t__ l s _f _v_r 1 0 0 m_l l__ n A m_r_c_n s c__ l d g_t _n t_ t h_ w r_n g h_n d s . P r_s_d_n t T r_m p c h_n g_d h_s m_n d _t t h_ w__ k_n d _f t_r t h_ C E O _f M_c r_s_f t p h_n_d h_m . M_c r_s_f t s__ d _t " w__ l d _n s_r_ t h_t _l l p r_v_t_ d_t_ _f T_k T_k ' s A m_r_c_n _s_r s _s t r_n s f_r r_d t_ _n d r_m__ n s _n t h_ U n_t_d S t_t_s . "

    T_k T_k _s t h_ l_t_s t s_c__ l m_d__ p l_t f_r m t_ b_c_m_ h_g_l y p_p_l_r _r__ n d t h_ g l_b_. U s_r s _p l__ d v_r y s h_r t v_d__ s _f t h_m s_l v_s l_p - s y n c_n g t_ w_l l - k n_w n s_n g s , d_n c_n g , m_k_n g f_n n y f_c_s _r d__ n g _t h_r h_m_r__ s t h_n g s . T_k T_k ' s _w n_r B y t_D_n c_ _s _ B__ j_n g - b_s_d I n t_r n_t c_m p_n y f__ n d_d _n 2 0 1 2 b y C h_n_s_ _n t r_p r_n__ r Z h_n g Y_m_n g . I t n_w h_s _v_r 8 0 0 m_l l__ n _s_r s w_r l d w_d_. M_c r_s_f t _s _f f_r_n g B y t_D_n c_ $ 5 0 b_l l__ n f_r t h_ _p_r_t__ n s _n t h_ U S , C_n_d_, A_s t r_l__ _n d N_w Z__ l_n d . H_w_v_r t h_ b_s_n_s s w_b s_t_ B l__ m b_r g d_s_g r__ s w_t h t h_t v_l__ t__ n . I t s__ d : " T h_ _d__ t h_t T_k T_k - w_t h__ t t h_ U K , I n d__ _r d_z_n s _f _t h_r _m_r g_n g m_r k_t s - _s w_r t h $ 5 0 b_l l__ n t_d_y _s f_n c_f_l .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the onoff talks between microsoft and the parent company of tiktok are back on again microsoft has been interested in buying part of tiktok for many months the tech giant has been in talks with the parent company bytedance ltd discussions between the two companies came to a halt last week when us president donald trump suggested that he might ban tiktok from the usa he was worried that the personal details of over 100 million americans could get into the wrong hands president trump changed his mind at the weekend after the ceo of microsoft phoned him microsoft said it would ensure that all private data of tiktoks american users is transferred to and remains in the united states

    tiktok is the latest social media platform to become hugely popular around the globe users upload very short videos of themselves lipsyncing to wellknown songs dancing making funny faces or doing other humorous things TikToks owner bytedance is a beijingbased internet company founded in 2012 by chinese entrepreneur zhang yiming it now has over 800 million users worldwide microsoft is offering bytedance 50 billion for the operations in the us canada australia and new zealand however the business website bloomberg disagrees with that valuation it said the idea that tiktok  without the uk india or dozens of other emerging markets  is worth 50 billion today is fanciful.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Theon-offtalksbetweenMicrosoftandtheparentcompanyofTikTokar
    ebackonagain.MicrosofthasbeeninterestedinbuyingpartofTikTokfor
    manymonths.ThetechgianthasbeenintalkswiththeparentcompanyB
    yteDanceLtd.Discussionsbetweenthetwocompaniescametoahaltlas
    tweekwhenUSPresidentDonaldTrumpsuggestedthathemightbanTik
    TokfromtheUSA.Hewasworriedthatthepersonaldetailsofover100mill
    ionAmericanscouldgetintothewronghands.PresidentTrumpchanged
    hismindattheweekendaftertheCEOofMicrosoftphonedhim.Microsoft
    saidit"wouldensurethatallprivatedataofTikTok'sAmericanusersistra
    nsferredtoandremainsintheUnitedStates."TikTokisthelatestsocialm
    ediaplatformtobecomehugelypopulararoundtheglobe.Usersuploadv
    eryshortvideosofthemselveslip-syncingtowell-knownsongs,dancin
    g,makingfunnyfacesordoingotherhumorousthings.TikTok'sownerB
    yteDanceisaBeijing-basedInternetcompanyfoundedin2012byChi
    neseentrepreneurZhangYiming.Itnowhasover800millionusersworld
    wide.MicrosoftisofferingByteDance$50billionfortheoperationsinthe
    US,Canada,AustraliaandNewZealand.Howeverthebusinesswebsite
    Bloombergdisagreeswiththatvaluation.Itsaid:"TheideathatTikTok-
    withouttheUK,Indiaordozensofotheremergingmarkets-isworth$50
    billiontodayisfanciful.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    Social media sites like TikTok are great fun and not dangerous. 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. TIKTOK: Make a poster about TikTok. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SOCIAL MEDIA: Write a magazine article about putting very strict controls on personal information given to social media sites. 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 TikTok. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on sites like TikTok. 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

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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