The Reading / Listening - Self-checkout Machines - Level 3

Leaving a tip in a restaurant or taxi is a part of life in many countries. Usually, we give a tip to a waiter or to a member of staff in a hotel. At other times, we put the tip in a jar next to the cash register. With modern technology, there is a new way to tip – self checkout machines. People are not so happy about them. The machines are asking for tips. They are in airports, stadiums, cookie shops, and cafes in the USA. Self-checkout machines mean there is no face-to-face contact between people. However, many of these machines are asking customers to leave a 20 per cent tip. Customers say they are not so happy about leaving a tip and giving extra money to a machine.

The Wall Street Journal reported that many people in the USA are becoming tired of tipping because of the self-checkout machines. Reporters wrote that many people are experiencing "tipping fatigue". Nearly 20 per cent of Americans are now leaving tips for things they never used to leave tips for. They are even tipping when buying a bottle of water. This was because there are more digital payment machines. A customer at an airport store said a prompt on a self-checkout machine was like "emotional blackmail". The payments company Square reported that the machines are increasing the number of tips. It said Americans are leaving 15 per cent more tips than before.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Self-checkout Machines - Level 0,  Self-checkout Machines - Level 1   or  Self-checkout Machines - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/05/15/service-charges-tips-fatigue/70220385007/
  • https://gizmodo.com/tipping-self-check-out-1850419084
  • https://www.businessinsider.com/customers-are-hesitant-to-tip-at-self-check-out-2023-5


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. TIPPING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about tipping. 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?
       tipping / restaurants / taxis / waiters / hotels / self-checkout machines / customers /
       tired / fatigue / bottle of water / digital payments / airports / blackmail / machines
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. GOOD JOB: Students A strongly believe we should tip everyone who does a good job; Students B strongly believe that isn't necessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WHO TO TIP: Should we tip these people? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Should We Tip?

Why (Not)?

English teachers

 

 

Taxi drivers

 

 

Supermarket cashiers

 

 

Cleaners

 

 

Police officers

 

 

Nurses

 

 
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. WAITER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "waiter". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MOST DESERVING: Rank these with your partner. Put the jobs most deserving of a tip at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Waiter
  • Hotel staff
  • English teacher
  • Street cleaner
  • Doctor
  • Bar staff
  • Firefighter
  • Lawyer

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. waiter a. The action of communicating or meeting with people.
      2. staff b. Something that uses mechanical power and has different parts, each with a function or task.
      3. jar c. A person whose job is to give people food at their tables in a restaurant.
      4. cash d. All the people who work in a company or organization.
      5. contact e. Money in coins or notes, not credit card or digital.
      6. customer f. A person who buys goods or services from a shop or business.
      7.

machine

 g. A wide-mouthed glass container used for storing food (like jam or honey).

    Paragraph 2

      8. journal h. The action of asking someone for money to keep information about them a secret.
      9. fatigue i. About a person's feelings.
      10. payment j. A word or symbol on a computer or smartphone screen to show that the system is waiting for you to click or type something.
      11. prompt k. A newspaper or magazine that deals with a particular subject.
      12. emotional l. Becoming or making bigger or larger.
      13. blackmail m. Being tired of something because it's always on the news or in our life.
      14.

increasing

 n. The action or process of giving money for 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 people in all countries leave tips.     T / F
  2. Some people leave a tip in a tip jar next to a cash register.     T / F
  3. People in the USA like self-checkout machines asking for tips.     T / F
  4. Some machines are asking customers for a 20% tip.     T / F
  5. People are experiencing tipping fatigue because of the machines.     T / F
  6. Some people are leaving tips when they buy bottles of water.     T / F
  7. A customer said the machines were using "emotional blackmail".     T / F
  8. The machines are decreasing the number of tips people leave in the US.  T / F

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

  1. countries
  2. asking for
  3. contact
  4. customers
  5. extra
  6. tired
  7. experiencing
  8. increasing
  9. number
  10. before
  1. adding to
  2. feeling
  3. additional
  4. fatigued
  5. communication
  6. amount
  7. nations
  8. previously
  9. requesting
  10. shoppers

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

  1. a part of life
  2. we put the tip in a jar
  3. modern
  4. there is no face-to-face
  5. Customers say they are
  6. many people in the USA are
  7. people are experiencing
  8. things they never used
  9. digital payment
  10. emotional
  1. becoming tired of tipping
  2. contact
  3. blackmail
  4. next to the cash register
  5. to leave tips for
  6. in many countries
  7. machines
  8. not so happy
  9. technology
  10. "tipping fatigue"

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
member
extra
happy
contact
leave
register
tip
stadiums

Leaving a (1) _____________________ in a restaurant or taxi is a part of life in many countries. Usually, we give a tip to a waiter or to a     (2) _____________________ of staff in a hotel. At other times, we put the tip in a jar next to the cash (3) _____________________. With modern technology, there is a new way to tip, and people are not so (4) _____________________ about it. The Wall Street Journal wrote that self-checkout machines are now in airports,                          (5) _____________________, cookie shops, and cafes in the USA. Self-checkout machines mean there is no face-to-face                          (6) _____________________ between people. However, many of these machines are asking customers to (7) _____________________ a 20 per cent tip. Customers say they are not so happy about leaving a tip and giving (8) _____________________ money to a machine.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
prompt
fatigue
buying
number
tired
blackmail
payment
previously

The Wall Street Journal reported that many people in the USA are becoming (9) _____________________ of tipping because of the self-checkout machines. Reporters wrote that many people are experiencing "tipping (10) _____________________". Nearly 20 per cent of Americans are now leaving tips for things they never used to (11) _____________________. They are even tipping when (12) _____________________ a bottle of water. This was because there are more digital (13) _____________________ machines. A customer at an airport store said a (14) _____________________ on a self-checkout machine was like "emotional (15) _____________________". The payments company Square reported that the machines are increasing the (16) _____________________ of tips. It said Americans are leaving 15 per cent more tips than before.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Leaving a tip in a restaurant or taxi is a part of life ______
     a.  in any countries
     b.  in many countries
     c.  in much countries
     d.  in manly countries
2)  Usually, we give a tip to a waiter or to a ______
     a.  member of stiff
     b.  member of staff
     c.  member of stuff
     d.  member of starve
3)  At other times, we put the tip in a jar next to ______
     a.  the cash registry
     b.  the cash regicide
     c.  the cash legislate
     d.  the cash register
4)  Self-checkout machines mean there is no face-______
     a.  to-head contact
     b.  to-skull contact
     c.  to-face contact
     d.  to-brain contact
5)  They are not so happy about leaving a tip and giving extra money ______
     a.  tomb machine
     b.  tower machine
     c.  tour machine
     d.  to a machine

6)  The Wall Street Journal reported that many people in the USA are becoming ______
     a.  tried of tipping
     b.  tirade of tipping
     c.  tide of tipping
     d.  tired of tipping
7)  Reporters wrote that many people are ______
     a.  experiencing tipping fatigues
     b.  experiencing tipping fat treat
     c.  experiencing tipping for twig
     d.  experiencing tipping fatigue
8)  This was because there are more ______
     a.  digital payout machines
     b.  digital paying machines
     c.  digital payment machines
     d.  digital pay mint machines
9)  a prompt on a self-checkout machine was ______
     a.  like emotional Hotmail
     b.  like emotional blackmail
     c.  like emotional chainmail
     d.  like emotional black male
10)  It said Americans are leaving 15 per cent more ______
     a.  tips than before
     b.  trips than before
     c.  taps than before
     d.  tops than before

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Leaving a (1) ____________________ restaurant or taxi is a part of life in many countries. Usually, we give a tip to a waiter (2) ____________________ member of staff in a hotel. At other times, we put the tip in a jar next to (3) ____________________. With modern technology, there is a new way to tip, and people are not so happy about it. The Wall Street Journal wrote that self-checkout machines are (4) ____________________, stadiums, cookie shops, and cafes in the USA. Self-checkout machines mean there is no face-to-face contact between people. However, many of these machines (5) ____________________ to leave a 20 per cent tip. Customers say they are not so happy about leaving a tip and giving (6) ____________________ a machine.

The Wall Street Journal reported that many people in the USA are becoming (7) ____________________ because of the self-checkout machines. Reporters wrote that many people are experiencing "tipping fatigue". Nearly 20 per cent of Americans (8) ____________________ tips for things they never used to leave tips for. They are even tipping (9) ____________________ bottle of water. This was because there are more digital payment machines. A customer at an airport store said (10) ____________________ a self-checkout machine was (11) ____________________. The payments company Square reported that the machines are increasing the (12) ____________________. It said Americans are leaving 15 per cent more tips than before.

Comprehension questions

  1. Where does the article say people leave tips in restaurants and taxis?
  2. Where is there a jar in which people put tips?
  3. What do people think about self checkout machines asking for tips?
  4. What kind of contact does not happen with self checkout machines?
  5. How much of a tip are self checkout machines asking for?
  6. What are people experiencing because of the self checkout machines?
  7. What new things are people now leaving tips for?
  8. What did a customer say prompts on self checkout machines were like?
  9. What kind of company is Square?
  10. How much more are Americans tipping because of the machines?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  Where does the article say people leave tips in restaurants and taxis?
a) in big cities
b) in many countries
c) in rich countries
d) everywhere
2)  Where is there a jar in which people put tips?
a) in restaurants
b) at the door of stores
c) next to the cash register
d) in taxis
3)  What do people think about self checkout machines asking for tips?
a) They think it's good.
b) They're OK with it.
c) They don't care.
d) They're not happy.
4)  What kind of contact does not happen with self checkout machines?
a) close contact
b) face-to-face contact
c) little contact
d) regular contact
5)  How much of a tip are self checkout machines asking for?
a) a 20% tip
b) a 15% tip
c) a 10% tip
d) a 30% tip

6)  What are people experiencing because of the self checkout machines?
a) tipping fatigue
b) poverty
c) happiness
d) angry feelings
7)  What new things are people now leaving tips for?
a) airplane tickets
b) cakes
c) concert tickets
d) bottles of water
8)  What did a customer say prompts on self checkout machines were like?
a) using credit cards
b) the future
c) emotional blackmail
d) saying thank you
9)  What kind of company is Square?
a) a tipping company
b) a credit card company
c) a cash register maker
d) a digital payments company
10)  How much more are Americans tipping because of the machines?
a) 10% more
b) 15% more
c) 5% more
d) 20% more

Role play

Role  A – Waiters
You think waiters are most deserving of a tip. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs aren't as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): English teachers, firefighters or lawyers.

Role  B – English Teachers
You think English teachers are most deserving of a tip. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs aren't as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): waiters, firefighters or lawyers.

Role  C – Firefighters
You think firefighters are most deserving of a tip. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs aren't as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): English teachers, waiters or lawyers.

Role  D – Lawyers
You think lawyers are most deserving of a tip. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their jobs aren't as deserving. Also, tell the others which is the least deserving of these (and why): English teachers, firefighters or waiters.

After reading / listening

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

'checkout'

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

    • and 'tip'.

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

    • • 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:

    • part
    • member
    • way
    • cookie
    • face
    • extra
    • tired
    • fatigue
    • things
    • bottle
    • prompt
    • 15

    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 - Self-checkout Machines

    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 'checkout'?
    3. What do you think of tipping?
    4. Do you like the idea of self-checkout machines?
    5. Who should we give a tip to?
    6. How much of a tip should we give?
    7. Would you prefer a human or a machine when paying for things?
    8. How important is face-to-face contact in life?
    9. Should tipping only be for restaurants, taxis and hotels?
    10. Is there a custom of tipping in your country?

    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 'tip'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of checkout counters?
    5. Is it OK for self-checkout machines to take away people's jobs?
    6. Do you deserve a tip in your job?
    7. Should we tip when buying a bottle of water?
    8. Is a prompt for a tip on a machine like blackmail?
    9. How do you feel when you tip someone?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a waiter?

    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)

    Leaving a tip in a restaurant or taxi is a (1) ____ of life in many countries. Usually, we give a tip to a waiter or to a member (2) ____ staff in a hotel. At other times, we put the tip in a jar next to the cash register. With modern technology, there is a new (3) ____ to tip, and people are not so happy about it. The Wall Street Journal wrote that self-checkout machines are now in airports, stadiums, cookie shops, and cafes in the USA. Self-checkout machines (4) ____ there is no face-to-face contact between people. However, many of (5) ____ machines are asking customers to leave a 20 per cent tip. Customers say they are not so happy about leaving a tip and (6) ____ extra money to a machine.

    The Wall Street Journal reported that many people in the USA are becoming tired (7) ____ tipping because of the self-checkout machines. Reporters wrote that many people are experiencing "tipping (8) ____". Nearly 20 per cent of Americans are now leaving tips for things they never used to leave tips for. They are (9) ____ tipping when buying a bottle of water. This was because there are more digital payment machines. A customer at an airport store said a (10) ____ on a self-checkout machine was like "emotional (11) ____". The payments company Square reported that the machines are increasing the number of tips. It said Americans are leaving 15 per cent more tips than (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     party     (b)     partner     (c)     part     (d)     parts    
    2. (a)     of     (b)     in     (c)     at     (d)     by    
    3. (a)     way     (b)     weight     (c)     weigh     (d)     whey    
    4. (a)     mean     (b)     meaning     (c)     means     (d)     meanie    
    5. (a)     them     (b)     these     (c)     that     (d)     their    
    6. (a)     gives     (b)     given     (c)     gave     (d)     giving    
    7. (a)     by     (b)     as     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    8. (a)     fating     (b)     fatigues     (c)     fatigued     (d)     fatigue    
    9. (a)     even     (b)     every     (c)     event     (d)     ever    
    10. (a)     prompt     (b)     hint     (c)     suggest     (d)     cause    
    11. (a)     blacklist     (b)     blackmail     (c)     blackball     (d)     blackout    
    12. (a)     past     (b)     early     (c)     before     (d)     after

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Leaving a tip in a attreunasr
    2. a member of ftfsa in a hotel
    3. next to the cash stergrie
    4. They are in airports, uasdismt…
    5. no face-to-face cntacot
    6. machines are asking crseosutm

    Paragraph 2

    1. The Wall Street raJuonl
    2. people are experiencing tipping uifetga
    3. aitdlig payment machines
    4. a tmoprp on a self-checkout machine
    5. molatieno blackmail
    6. esrinanigc the number of tips

    Put the text back together

    (...)  happy about them. The machines are asking for tips. They are in airports, stadiums, cookie
    (...)  fatigue". Nearly 20 per cent of Americans are now leaving tips for things they never used
    (...)  The Wall Street Journal reported that many people in the USA are becoming tired of tipping because
    (...)  register. With modern technology, there is a new way to tip - self checkout machines. People are not so
    (...)  shops, and cafes in the USA. Self-checkout machines mean there is no face-to-face contact between
    (...)  people. However, many of these machines are asking customers to leave
    (...)  increasing the number of tips. It said Americans are leaving 15 per cent more tips than before.
    (  1  ) Leaving a tip in a restaurant or taxi is a part of life in many countries. Usually, we give a tip to a
    (...)  of the self-checkout machines. Reporters wrote that many people are experiencing "tipping
    (...)  payment machines. A customer at an airport store said a prompt on a self-checkout machine was
    (...)  to leave tips for. They are even tipping when buying a bottle of water. This was because there are more digital
    (...)  waiter or to a member of staff in a hotel. At other times, we put the tip in a jar next to the cash
    (...)  a 20 per cent tip. Customers say they are not so happy about leaving a tip and giving extra money to a machine.
    (...)  like "emotional blackmail". The payments company Square reported that the machines are

    Put the words in the right order

    1. we tip Usually, a a waiter. give to
    2. about them. happy are not People so
    3. no Machines there contact. mean face-to-face is
    4. leave asking customers are Machines to tip. a
    5. They tip. a about happy so aren't leaving
    6. tipping. tired Many becoming people of are
    7. are said experiencing fatigue. tipping Reporters many people
    8. They tipping even when water. are buying
    9. are there Now, payment more machines. digital
    10. machines increasing number the The of tips. are

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Leaving a tip in a restaurant or taxi is a partner / part of life in many countries. Usually, we give a tip to a waiter / waiting or to a member of staff in a hotel. At another / other times, we put the tip in ajar / a jar next to the cash register. With modern technology, there is a new weigh / way to tip, and people are not so happy about it. The Wall Street Journal wrote that self-checkout machines are now on / in airports, stadiums, cookie shops, and cafes in the USA. Self-checkout machines mean there is now / no face-to-face contact between people. However, many of these / them machines are asking customers to leave a 20 per cent tip. Customers say they are not so / such happy about leaving a tip and giving extra money to the / a machine.

    The Wall Street Journal reported what / that many people in the USA are becoming tired / tried of tipping because of the self-checkout machines. Reporters wrote that many people are experienced / experiencing "tipping fatigue". Nearly 20 per cent of Americans are now leaving tips for thing / things they never used to leave tips in / for. They are every / even tipping when buying a bottle of water. This was because there are most / more digital payment machines. A customer at an airport store said a prom / prompt on a self-checkout machine was like "emotional blackmail". The payments company Square reported that the machines are increasing the number / numeral of tips. It said Americans are leaving 15 per cent more tips than before / after.

    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)

    L__v_ng  _  t_p  _n  _  r_st__r_nt  _r  t_x_  _s  _  p_rt  _f  l_f_  _n  m_ny  c__ntr__s.  _s__lly,  w_  g_v_  _  t_p  t_  _  w__t_r  _r  t_  _  m_mb_r  _f  st_ff  _n  _  h_t_l.  _t  _th_r  t_m_s,  w_  p_t  th_  t_p  _n  _  j_r  n_xt  t_  th_  c_sh  r_g_st_r.  W_th  m_d_rn  t_chn_l_gy,  th_r_  _s  _  n_w  w_y  t_  t_p,  _nd  p__pl_  _r_  n_t  s_  h_ppy  _b__t  _t.  Th_  W_ll  Str__t  J__rn_l  wr_t_  th_t  s_lf-ch_ck__t  m_ch_n_s  _r_  n_w  _n  __rp_rts,  st_d__ms,  c__k__  sh_ps,  _nd  c_f_s  _n  th_  _S_.  S_lf-ch_ck__t  m_ch_n_s  m__n  th_r_  _s  n_  f_c_-t_-f_c_  c_nt_ct  b_tw__n  p__pl_.  H_w_v_r,  m_ny  _f  th_s_  m_ch_n_s  _r_  _sk_ng  c_st_m_rs  t_  l__v_  _  20  p_r  c_nt  t_p.  C_st_m_rs  s_y  th_y  _r_  n_t  s_  h_ppy  _b__t  l__v_ng  _  t_p  _nd  g_v_ng  _xtr_  m_n_y  t_  _  m_ch_n_.

    Th_  W_ll  Str__t  J__rn_l  r_p_rt_d  th_t  m_ny  p__pl_  _n  th_  _S_  _r_  b_c_m_ng  t_r_d  _f  t_pp_ng  b_c__s_  _f  th_  s_lf-ch_ck__t  m_ch_n_s.  R_p_rt_rs  wr_t_  th_t  m_ny  p__pl_  _r_  _xp_r__nc_ng  "t_pp_ng  f_t_g__".  N__rly  20  p_r  c_nt  _f  _m_r_c_ns  _r_  n_w  l__v_ng  t_ps  f_r  th_ngs  th_y  n_v_r  _s_d  t_  l__v_  t_ps  f_r.  Th_y  _r_  _v_n  t_pp_ng  wh_n  b_y_ng  _  b_ttl_  _f  w_t_r.  Th_s  w_s  b_c__s_  th_r_  _r_  m_r_  d_g_t_l  p_ym_nt  m_ch_n_s.  _  c_st_m_r  _t  _n  __rp_rt  st_r_  s__d  _  pr_mpt  _n  _  s_lf-ch_ck__t  m_ch_n_  w_s  l_k_  "_m_t__n_l  bl_ckm__l".  Th_  p_ym_nts  c_mp_ny  Sq__r_  r_p_rt_d  th_t  th_  m_ch_n_s  _r_  _ncr__s_ng  th_  n_mb_r  _f  t_ps.  _t  s__d  _m_r_c_ns  _r_  l__v_ng  15  p_r  c_nt  m_r_  t_ps  th_n  b_f_r_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    leaving a tip in a restaurant or taxi is a part of life in many countries usually we give a tip to a waiter or to a member of staff in a hotel at other times we put the tip in a jar next to the cash register with modern technology there is a new way to tip and people are not so happy about it the wall street journal wrote that selfcheckout machines are now in airports stadiums cookie shops and cafes in the usa selfcheckout machines mean there is no facetoface contact between people however many of these machines are asking customers to leave a 20 per cent tip customers say they are not so happy about leaving a tip and giving extra money to a machine

    the wall street journal reported that many people in the usa are becoming tired of tipping because of the selfcheckout machines reporters wrote that many people are experiencing tipping fatigue nearly 20 per cent of americans are now leaving tips for things they never used to leave tips for they are even tipping when buying a bottle of water this was because there are more digital payment machines a customer at an airport store said a prompt on a selfcheckout machine was like emotional blackmail the payments company square reported that the machines are increasing the number of tips it said americans are leaving 15 per cent more tips than before

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Leavingatipinarestaurantortaxiisapartoflifeinmanycountries.Usuall
    y,wegiveatiptoawaiterortoamemberofstaffinahotel.Atothertimes,w
    eputthetipinajarnexttothecashregister.Withmoderntechnology,ther
    eisanewwaytotip-selfcheckoutmachines.Peoplearenotsohappyabo
    utthem.Themachinesareaskingfortips.Theyareinairports,stadiums,
    cookieshops,andcafesintheUSA.Self-checkoutmachinesmeantherei
    snoface-to-facecontactbetweenpeople.However,manyofthesema
    chinesareaskingcustomerstoleavea20percenttip.Customerssaythe
    yarenotsohappyaboutleavingatipandgivingextramoneytoamachine
    .TheWallStreetJournalreportedthatmanypeopleintheUSAarebecomi
    ngtiredoftippingbecauseoftheself-checkoutmachines.Reporterswro
    tethatmanypeopleareexperiencing"tippingfatigue".Nearly20percen
    tofAmericansarenowleavingtipsforthingstheyneverusedtoleavetipsf
    or.Theyareeventippingwhenbuyingabottleofwater.Thiswasbecause
    therearemoredigitalpaymentmachines.Acustomeratanairportstore
    saidapromptonaself-checkoutmachinewaslike"emotionalblackmai
    l".ThepaymentscompanySquarereportedthatthemachinesareincrea
    singthenumberoftips.ItsaidAmericansareleaving15percentmoretip
    sthanbefore.

    Free writing

    Write about self-checkout machines for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We should only leave tips if the service is better than excellent.  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. DIGITAL PAYMENTS: Make a poster about digital payments. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. TIPPING: Write a magazine article about tipping. 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 tipping. Ask him/her three questions about tipping. Give him/her three of your ideas. 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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