The Reading / Listening - Audio Enclaves - Level 6

The way in which we listen to music and hear sounds has changed over the centuries. Today, we have state-of-the-art, noise-cancelling ear buds that provide the highest quality aural experience. In the near future, we will be able to listen to music in public without headphones. New technology is being tested that can aim beams of sound at individuals, without people next to them hearing. This means we could be having private conversations in public without others listening in. A team of researchers at Penn State University in the USA developed an innovation called "audio enclaves". The ultrasound waves used for these enclaves cannot be heard en route to the recipient. In addition, the waves can be bent to get around obstacles.

The researchers spoke to the website "The Conversation" about their work. Lead researcher Jiaxin Zhong said: "We essentially created a virtual headset. Someone within an audible enclave can hear something meant only for them, enabling sound and quiet zones." He elaborated on the potential uses of the technology. Museums could provide headphone-free audio guides to visitors. Passengers in a car could listen to music without distracting the driver. Those requiring confidentiality could set up enclaves to ensure their conversations are not overheard. Individuals could also receive personalized ads as they walk through a shopping mall. In addition, audio enclaves could be set up to eliminate noise pollution in busy workplaces.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Audio Enclaves - Level 4  or  Audio Enclaves - Level 5

Sources
  • https://theconversation.com/researchers-created-sound-that-can-bend-itself-through-space-reaching-only-your-ear-in-a-crowd-252266
  • https://futurism.com/sound-audible-enclaves
  • https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/gear-gadgets/rip-headphones-new-tech-can-now-beam-music-into-your-ears-without-the-need-for-any-hardware


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. AUDIO: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about audio. 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?
       music / sounds / state-of-the-art / ear buds / the near future / conversations / waves
       website / quiet zones / technology / museums / personalized ads / noise / pollution
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. NOISE: Students A strongly believe noise is no problem; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MUSIC: What do you think of these ways of listening to music? What is the experience like? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Think

The Experience

On a smartphone with ear buds

 

 

On a smartphone (no ear buds)

 

 

Vinyl record

 

 

YouTube

 

 

Live concert

 

 

A video on TV

 

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

  • Falling rain
  • Trains
  • Birdsong
  • Phones ringing
  • Alarm clocks
  • A baby's laughter
  • A cat meowing
  • An amusement arcade

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. state-of-the-art a. A line of light or energy.
      2. aural b. A person who gets something.
      3. beam c. Very modern and using the newest technology.
      4. innovation d. About hearing or sound.
      5. enclave e. A new idea or way of doing something.
      6. recipient f. A small area inside a bigger area that is different from the rest.
      7. obstacles g. Things that make it hard to do something.

    Paragraph 2

      8. audible h. Keeping something secret.
      9. elaborated i. Able to be heard.
      10. potential j. Making it hard to focus.
      11. distracting k. Heard something without trying to.
      12. confidentiality l. Explained with more details.
      13. overheard m. To remove or get rid of something.
      14. eliminate n. The ability to do something in the future.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says we have art-of-the-state ear buds today.     T / F
  2. We could soon be able to listen to music in public without headphones.   T / F
  3. Beamed sound waves will only be heard by the intended listener.     T / F
  4. The new technology can bend sound waves around obstacles.     T / F
  5. The new technology will create "noisy zones".     T / F
  6. Visitors to museums could listen to audio guides without headphones.     T / F
  7. The technology is intended to stop drivers from distracting passengers.  T / F
  8. The new technology could end noise pollution in the workplace.     T / F

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

  1. state-of-the-art
  2. aim
  3. innovation
  4. recipient
  5. obstacles
  6. virtual
  7. elaborated
  8. distracting
  9. personalized
  10. eliminate
  1. receiver
  2. simulated
  3. customized
  4. barriers
  5. point
  6. putting off
  7. get rid of
  8. cutting edge
  9. expanded on
  10. breakthrough

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

  1. changed over
  2. state-of-the-art, noise-
  3. aim beams of sound
  4. ultrasound
  5. the waves can be bent to
  6. He elaborated on the potential
  7. listen to music without distracting
  8. ensure their conversations are not
  9. receive personalized ads as we walk
  10. eliminate noise pollution
  1. get around obstacles
  2. at individuals
  3. through a shopping mall
  4. the driver
  5. waves
  6. cancelling ear buds
  7. overheard
  8. in busy workplaces
  9. the centuries
  10. uses of the technology

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
near
listening
route
centuries
obstacles
aural
beams
innovation

The way in which we listen to music and hear sounds has changed over the (1) _________________________________. Today, we have state-of-the-art, noise-cancelling ear buds that provide the highest quality (2) _________________________________ experience. In the (3) _________________________________ future, we will be able to listen to music in public without headphones. New technology is being tested that can aim (4) _________________________________ of sound at individuals, without people next to them hearing. This means we could be having private conversations in public without others (5) _________________________________ in. A team of researchers at Penn State University in the USA developed an (6) _________________________________ called "audio enclaves". The ultrasound waves used for these enclaves cannot be heard en (7) _________________________________ to the recipient. In addition, the waves can be bent to get around (8) _________________________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
distracting
essentially
elaborated
eliminate
confidentiality
guides
audible
personalized

The researchers spoke to the website "The Conversation" about their work. Lead researcher Jiaxin Zhong said: "We (9) _________________________________ created a virtual headset. Someone within an (10) _________________________________ enclave can hear something meant only for them, enabling sound and quiet zones." He (11) _________________________________ on the potential uses of the technology. Museums could provide headphone-free audio (12) _________________________________ to visitors. Passengers in a car could listen to music without (13) _________________________________ the driver. Those requiring (14) _________________________________ could set up enclaves to ensure their conversations are not overheard. Individuals could also receive (15) _________________________________ ads as they walk through a shopping mall. In addition, audio enclaves could be set up to (16) _________________________________ noise pollution in busy workplaces.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The way in which we listen to music and hear sounds has changed ______
     a.  under the centuries
     b.  over the centuries
     c.  other the centuries
     d.  udder the centuries
2)  noise-cancelling ear buds that provide the highest
     a.  quality aerial experience
     b.  quality aurora experience
     c.  quality aural experience
     d.  quality oral experience
3)  New technology is being tested that can aim beams of ______
     a.  sound at individuals
     b.  sound that individuals
     c.  sound at individual
     d.  sound at individualize
4)  we could be having private conversations in public without ______
     a.  others listen in in
     b.  other listening in
     c.  others listening out
     d.  others listening in
5)  In addition, the waves can be bent to ______
     a.  get around obstacles
     b.  get about obstacles
     c.  gets around obstacles
     d.  get roundly obstacles

6)  Someone within an audible enclave can hear something meant ______
     a.  once for them
     b.  only of them
     c.  only from them
     d.  only for them
7)  He elaborated on ______
     a.  the potential useless
     b.  the potential uses
     c.  the potential use is
     d.  the potential you says
8)  Passengers in a car could listen to music without ______
     a.  dissecting the driver
     b.  distraction the driver
     c.  distracting the driver
     d.  disgusting the driver
9)  set up enclaves to ensure their conversations ______
     a.  are not overheat
     b.  are not overheard
     c.  are not over herd
     d.  are not overheated
10)  In addition, audio enclaves could be set up to ______
     a.  eliminate noisy pollution
     b.  eliminate nosy pollution
     c.  eliminate noise pollution
     d.  delineate noisy pollution

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The way in which we listen to music and hear sounds has changed (1) _______________________________________________. Today, we have state-of-the-art, noise-cancelling ear buds that provide the highest (2) _______________________________________________ . In the near future, we will be able to listen to music in public without headphones. New technology is being tested that can aim (3) _______________________________________________ at individuals, without people next to them hearing. This means we could be having private conversations in public without (4) _______________________________________________. A team of researchers at Penn State University in the USA (5) _______________________________________________ called "audio enclaves". The ultrasound waves used for these enclaves cannot be heard en route to the recipient. In addition, the waves can be (6) _______________________________________________ around obstacles.

The researchers spoke to the website "The Conversation" about their work. Lead researcher Jiaxin Zhong said: "We essentially (7) _______________________________________________ headset. Someone within an audible enclave can hear something meant only for them, enabling (8) _______________________________________________ zones." He elaborated on the (9) _______________________________________________ the technology. Museums could provide headphone-free audio guides to visitors. Passengers in a car could listen to music without (10) _______________________________________________. Those requiring confidentiality could set up enclaves to ensure their conversations are not overheard. Individuals could also (11) _______________________________________________ as they walk through a shopping mall. In addition, audio enclaves could be set (12) _______________________________________________ noise pollution in busy workplaces.

Comprehension questions

  1. What state-of-the-art things do we use today?
  2. When will we be able to listen to music without headphones?
  3. At what institution do the researchers work?
  4. What is the headphone-less innovation called?
  5. What can the sound waves be bent to get around?
  6. Who did the researchers talk to?
  7. Where could people listen to headphone-free audio guides?
  8. Who might receive fewer distractions because of this technology?
  9. What could we receive as they walk through shopping malls?
  10. Where might the technology be set up to eliminate noise pollution?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What state-of-the-art things do we use today?
a) cotton buds
b) ear buds
c) paint
d) computer graphics
2) When will we be able to listen to music without headphones?
a) immediately
b) in the far future
c) in the distant future
d) in the near future
3) At what institution do the researchers work?
a) Penn State University
b) The Audio Lab
c) The Department of Sound
d) Ear Buds Inc.
4) What is the headphone-less innovation called?
a) edible enclaves
b) addable enclaves
c) audio enclaves
d) adorable enclaves
5) What can the sound waves be bent to get around?
a) ears
b) obstacles
c) noise
d) walls

6) Who did the researchers talk to?
a) the "Audio Now" magazine
b) a CEO
c) The Conversation website
d) themselves
7) Where could people listen to headphone-free audio guides?
a) under the sea
b) in airplanes
c) in jungles and deserts
d) in museums
8) Who might receive fewer distractions because of this technology?
a) car drivers
b) teachers
c) children
d) soldiers
9) What could we receive as we walk through shopping malls?
a) personalized ads
b) notifications
c) directions
d) stress-reducing music
10) Where might the technology be set up to eliminate noise pollution?
a) train stations
b) busy workplaces
c) sports stadia
d) cities

Role play

Role  A – Falling Rain
You think falling rain is the best sound. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sounds. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these (and why): a baby's laughter, a cat meowing or an amusement arcade.

Role  B – A Baby's Laughter
You think a baby's laughter is the best sound. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sounds. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these (and why): falling rain, a cat meowing or an amusement arcade.

Role  C – A Cat Meowing
You think a cat meowing is the best sound. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sounds. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these (and why): a baby's laughter, falling rain or an amusement arcade.

Role  D – An Amusement Arcade
You think an amusement arcade is the best sound. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sounds. Also, tell the others which is the least appealing of these (and why): a baby's laughter, a cat meowing or falling rain.

After reading / listening

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

'noise'

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

    • and 'headphones'.

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

    • • 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:

    • way
    • state
    • tested
    • next
    • route
    • bent
    • virtual
    • quiet
    • guides
    • ensure
    • ads
    • busy

    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 - Audio Enclaves

    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 'noise'?
    3. How do you usually listen to music?
    4. What are the differences between headphones and ear buds?
    5. How important is sound quality when you listen to music?
    6. What do you think of the idea of 'audio enclaves'?
    7. How good is the audio equipment you use?
    8. How much does hearing other people's music bother you?
    9. How important is having a conversation without being overheard?
    10. How much does noise pollution bother you?

    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 'sound'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Which do you think are better, headphones or ear buds?
    5. Is it better to listen to music without headphones?
    6. What do you think of the idea of 'quiet zones'?
    7. Do you ever use audio guides in museums or sites?
    8. What do you think of the idea of receiving personalized ads in malls?
    9. To what degree are you bothered by noise in public places?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    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 way in which we listen to music and hear sounds has changed (1) ____ the centuries. Today, we have state-of-the-(2) ____, noise-cancelling ear buds that provide the highest quality aural experience. In the (3) ____ future, we will be able to listen to music in public without headphones. New technology is being tested that can aim (4) ____ of sound at individuals, without people next to them hearing. This means we could be having private conversations (5) ____ public without others listening in. A team of researchers at Penn State University in the USA developed an innovation called "audio enclaves". The ultrasound waves used for these enclaves cannot be heard en (6) ____ to the recipient. In addition, the waves can be bent to get around obstacles.

    The researchers spoke to the website "The Conversation" about their work. Lead researcher Jiaxin Zhong said: "We (7) ____ created a virtual headset. Someone within an audible enclave can hear something meant only for them, enabling sound and quiet zones." He elaborated (8) ____ the potential uses of the technology. Museums could provide headphone-free audio guides to visitors. Passengers in a car could listen to music without (9) ____ the driver. Those requiring confidentiality could set up enclaves to ensure their conversations are not (10) ____. Individuals could also receive personalized ads (11) ____ they walk through a shopping mall. In addition, audio enclaves could be set (12) ____ to eliminate noise pollution in busy workplaces.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     under     (b)     around     (c)     about     (d)     over    
    2. (a)     arts     (b)     arty     (c)     artist     (d)     art    
    3. (a)     nears     (b)     near     (c)     neared     (d)     nearly    
    4. (a)     beamer     (b)     beam     (c)     beams     (d)     beamers    
    5. (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     in     (d)     by    
    6. (a)     route     (b)     way     (c)     diversion     (d)     path    
    7. (a)     essence     (b)     essentially     (c)     essential     (d)     essentials    
    8. (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    9. (a)     disgusting     (b)     distracting     (c)     digesting     (d)     dystopia    
    10. (a)     hears     (b)     hearing     (c)     overheard     (d)     hearsay    
    11. (a)     is     (b)     has     (c)     as     (d)     was    
    12. (a)     over     (b)     under     (c)     down     (d)     up

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the highest quality ulraa experience
    2. aim beams of sound at dilivsaidnu
    3. developed an vtnaniooin
    4. audio secvneal
    5. changed over the utireescn
    6. bent to get around stblecaos

    Paragraph 2

    1. We essentially created a utvarli headset
    2. He dloaeebtra on the potential uses
    3. listen to music without tstdrcngaii the driver
    4. Those requiring clfnioiettandiy
    5. receive apelseroznid ads
    6. set up to mnliiaete noise pollution

    Put the text back together

    (    )  beams of sound at individuals, without people next to them hearing. This means we could be
    (    )  could be set up to eliminate noise pollution in busy workplaces.
    (    )  essentially created a virtual headset. Someone within an audible enclave can hear something meant only for
    (    )  future, we will be able to listen to music in public without headphones. New technology is being tested that can aim
    (    )  having private conversations in public without others listening in. A team of researchers at Penn State University
    (    )  heard en route to the recipient. In addition, the waves can be bent to get around obstacles.
    (    )  in the USA developed an innovation called "audio enclaves". The ultrasound waves used for these enclaves cannot be
    (    )  overheard. Individuals could also receive personalized ads as they walk through a shopping mall. In addition, audio enclaves
    (    )  provide headphone-free audio guides to visitors. Passengers in a car could listen to music without distracting
    (    )  the art, noise-cancelling ear buds that provide the highest quality aural experience. In the near
    (    )  the driver. Those requiring confidentiality could set up enclaves to ensure their conversations are not
    (    )  The researchers spoke to the website "The Conversation" about their work. Lead researcher Jiaxin Zhong said: "We
    (  1  )  The way in which we listen to music and hear sounds has changed over the centuries. Today, we have state-of-
    (    )  them, enabling sound and quiet zones." He elaborated on the potential uses of the technology. Museums could

    Put the words in the right order

    1. The   in   which   way   we   music   to   listen.
    2. Buds   provide   that   highest   aural   the   experience   quality.
    3. Listen   in   music   public   headphones   without   to.
    4. Private   in   public   conversations   listening   without   others   in.
    5. Waves   be   can   bent   around   to   obstacles   get.
    6. Someone   within   enclave   an   audible   something   hear   can.
    7. Elaborated   the   on   potential   uses   of   technology   the.
    8. Listen   music   to   distracting   without   driver   the.
    9. Those   confidentiality   requiring   could   enclaves   set   up.
    10. Enclaves   set   be   could   eliminate   up   noise   to.

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The way in / on which we listen to music and hear sounds has changed over the centuries. Today, we have state-of-the art / arts, noise-cancelling ear buds that provide the highest quality oral / aural experience. In the near future, we will be able to listen to music on / in public without headphones. New technology is being / been tested that can aim beam / beams of sound at individuals, without people next to them hearing. This means we could be having private conversations in public without others listening up / in. A team of researchers at Penn State University in the USA developed an innovative / innovation called "audio enclaves". The ultrasound waves / tides used for these enclaves cannot be heard en route to the recipient / incipient. In addition, the waves can be bent to get around obstacles.

    The researchers spoke to the website "The Conversation" about their work. Lead / Steel researcher Jiaxin Zhong said: "We essential / essentially created a virtual headset. Someone within an edible / audible enclave can hear something meant / meaning only for them, enabling sound and quiet zones." He elaborated on the potent / potential uses of the technology. Museums could provide headphone-free audio guides to visitors. Passengers in a car could listen to music without distraction / distracting the driver. Those requiring confidentiality could set up enclaves to ensure / insure their conversations are not overheard. Individuals could also receive personalized ads / aids as they walk through a shopping mall. In addition, audio enclaves could be set up / down to eliminate noise pollution in busily / busy workplaces.

    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)

    Th_  w_y  _n  wh_ch  w_  l_st_n  t_  m_s_c  _nd  h__r  s__nds  h_s  ch_ng_d  _v_r  th_  c_nt_r__s.  T_d_y,  w_  h_v_  st_t_-_f-th_  _rt,  n__s_-c_nc_ll_ng  __r  b_ds  th_t  pr_v_d_  th_  h_gh_st  q__l_ty  __r_l  _xp_r__nc_.  _n  th_  n__r  f_t_r_,  w_  w_ll  b_  _bl_  t_  l_st_n  t_  m_s_c  _n  p_bl_c  w_th__t  h__dph_n_s.  N_w  t_chn_l_gy  _s  b__ng  t_st_d  th_t  c_n  __m  b__ms  _f  s__nd  _t  _nd_v_d__ls,  w_th__t  p__pl_  n_xt  t_  th_m  h__r_ng.  Th_s  m__ns  w_  c__ld  b_  h_v_ng  pr_v_t_  c_nv_rs_t__ns  _n  p_bl_c  w_th__t  _th_rs  l_st_n_ng  _n.  _  t__m  _f  r_s__rch_rs  _t  P_nn  St_t_  _n_v_rs_ty  _n  th_  _S_  d_v_l_p_d  _n  _nn_v_t__n  c_ll_d  "__d__  _ncl_v_s".  Th_  _ltr_s__nd  w_v_s  _s_d  f_r  th_s_  _ncl_v_s  c_nn_t  b_  h__rd  _n  r__t_  t_  th_  r_c_p__nt.  _n  _dd_t__n,  th_  w_v_s  c_n  b_  b_nt  t_  g_t  _r__nd  _bst_cl_s.

    Th_  r_s__rch_rs  sp_k_  t_  th_  w_bs_t_  "Th_  C_nv_rs_t__n"  _b__t  th__r  w_rk.  L__d  r_s__rch_r  J__x_n  Zh_ng  s__d:  "W_  _ss_nt__lly  cr__t_d  _  v_rt__l  h__ds_t.  S_m__n_  w_th_n  _n  __d_bl_  _ncl_v_  c_n  h__r  s_m_th_ng  m__nt  _nly  f_r  th_m,  _n_bl_ng  s__nd  _nd  q___t  z_n_s."  H_  _l_b_r_t_d  _n  th_  p_t_nt__l  _s_s  _f  th_  t_chn_l_gy.  M_s__ms  c__ld  pr_v_d_  h__dph_n_-fr__  __d__  g__d_s  t_  v_s_t_rs.  P_ss_ng_rs  _n  _  c_r  c__ld  l_st_n  t_  m_s_c  w_th__t  d_str_ct_ng  th_  dr_v_r.  Th_s_  r_q__r_ng  c_nf_d_nt__l_ty  c__ld  s_t  _p  _ncl_v_s  t_  _ns_r_  th__r  c_nv_rs_t__ns  _r_  n_t  _v_rh__rd.  _nd_v_d__ls  c__ld  _ls_  r_c__v_  p_rs_n_l_z_d  _ds  _s  th_y  w_lk  thr__gh  _  sh_pp_ng  m_ll.  _n  _dd_t__n,  __d__  _ncl_v_s  c__ld  b_  s_t  _p  t_  _l_m_n_t_  n__s_  p_ll_t__n  _n  b_sy  w_rkpl_c_s.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the way in which we listen to music and hear sounds has changed over the centuries today we have stateofthe art noisecancelling ear buds that provide the highest quality aural experience in the near future we will be able to listen to music in public without headphones new technology is being tested that can aim beams of sound at individuals without people next to them hearing this means we could be having private conversations in public without others listening in a team of researchers at penn state university in the usa developed an innovation called audio enclaves the ultrasound waves used for these enclaves cannot be heard en route to the recipient in addition the waves can be bent to get around obstacles

    the researchers spoke to the website the conversation about their work lead researcher jiaxin zhong said we essentially created a virtual headset someone within an audible enclave can hear something meant only for them enabling sound and quiet zones he elaborated on the potential uses of the technology museums could provide headphonefree audio guides to visitors passengers in a car could listen to music without distracting the driver those requiring confidentiality could set up enclaves to ensure their conversations are not overheard individuals could also receive personalized ads as they walk through a shopping mall in addition audio enclaves could be set up to eliminate noise pollution in busy workplaces

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Thewayinwhichwelistentomusicandhearsoundshaschangedoverthe
    centuries.Today,wehavestate-of-the-art,noise-cancellingearbudst
    hatprovidethehighestqualityauralexperience.Inthenearfuture,wewi
    llbeabletolistentomusicinpublicwithoutheadphones.Newtechnology
    isbeingtestedthatcanaimbeamsofsoundatindividuals,withoutpeople
    nexttothemhearing.Thismeanswecouldbehavingprivateconversatio
    nsinpublicwithoutotherslisteningin.AteamofresearchersatPennStat
    eUniversityintheUSAdevelopedaninnovationcalled"audioenclaves".
    Theultrasoundwavesusedfortheseenclavescannotbeheardenroutet
    otherecipient.Inaddition,thewavescanbebenttogetaroundobstacles
    .Theresearchersspoketothewebsite"TheConversation"abouttheirwo
    rk.LeadresearcherJiaxinZhongsaid:"Weessentiallycreatedavirtualh
    eadset.Someonewithinanaudibleenclavecanhearsomethingmeanto
    nlyforthem,enablingsoundandquietzones."Heelaboratedonthepote
    ntialusesofthetechnology.Museumscouldprovideheadphone-freea
    udioguidestovisitors.Passengersinacarcouldlistentomusicwithoutdi
    stractingthedriver.Thoserequiringconfidentialitycouldsetupenclave
    stoensuretheirconversationsarenotoverheard.Individualscouldalso
    receivepersonalizedadsastheywalkthroughashoppingmall.Inadditio
    n,audioenclavescouldbesetuptoeliminatenoisepollutioninbusywork
    places.

    Free writing

    Write about the lesson page for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We must reduce the amount of noise in the world. 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. AUDIO: Make a poster about audio. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. NOISE POLLUTION: Write a magazine article about eradicating noise pollution. 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 audio. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on audio enclaves. 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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