Theme: Mobile phones
Lexical area: Phone language
Cross curricular links: Social studies

Instructions for language assistants in Italics

Classroom materials

Introduction
This lesson is about mobile phones and the issues that surround them. Students have the chance to learn some vocabulary related to phones and to do a quiz to test their knowledge of mobiles. Task 3 looks at text messaging and the language used for sending text messages. Students are given the chance to teach you about some of the text short-hand in their own language too.

Task 4 is a reading activity consisting of short texts which are individuals’ views on mobile phones. Issues arise such as phone addiction, using phones in public places and in schools, keeping up with new technology, road safety and mobiles. These topics can easily be developed as discussion topics.

Higher levels can use Task 5 as a role-play of using a mobile phone in an emergency situation. Students are given the freedom to choose the situations and language can be fed-in as and when appropriate for the level and age group.

The Task 6 is to design a mobile phone of the future. Younger students may enjoy this imaginative task and it could be extended into a whole project.

1. Mobile phone intro
Write this question on the board or ask students, “In 1992 only one person in 237 used one. In 2010, three people out of every 5 used one. What do you think it is?”

• Encourage students to discuss the answer before telling them. Answer: mobile phones.
  Go on to ask the class how many words they know connected to phones and making calls. Bring in a mobile if you have one or draw one on the board. To elicit the verbs use mime. Try to cover the following:
  
  • touch screen
  • keys / buttons
  • to switch on/off
  • to dial
  • to hang up
  • to text
  • ring tone
  • charger
  • apps / applications

• Add any more you think appropriate for the level. If any of them are new, write them up on the board and give students time to work in pairs and mime to each other to familiarise themselves with the new words.
• Discuss the questions as a group. Depending on which country you are in, questions may need some adaptation.

Task 1 Mobile phone intro
Ask your partner:

• Have you got a mobile phone?
• Do you think mobile phones were a good invention?
• Are there any places where you think mobiles should be banned?

2. Mobile phone quiz
Use this quiz with intermediate levels and above. If you think your students will need support with the vocabulary try to pre-teach some of the words before they start. You could include them in Task 1.

• As students do the quiz (in pairs or small groups) you can monitor and encourage debate amongst them as to which are the correct answers. (Most of the information is from a BBC website quiz summer 04)
  Answers:
  
  • 1) b (but 96% of all 15 – 24 year olds in UK own one)
  • 2) a
  • 3) c
  • 4) b
  • 5) c
    
  • 6) c (China has about 750 million, India about 525 million and the USA has about 270 million mobile phone users)
    
  • 7) b
    
  • 8) c (Using a hand-held mobile while driving is banned in Britain and carries a 60 pound fine)
  • 9) b
  • 10) a
    

Task 2 Mobile phone quiz
How much do you know about mobile phones? Try this quiz and find out.

1) What is the average number of mobile phones owned by each British person?
a) 0.8
b) 1.8
c) 2.8

2) When was the first mobile phone created?
a) 1973
b) 1983
c) 1993

3) What were the first words spoken on a mobile?
a) “Can you hear me?”
b) “I’m on the train”
c) “Guess where I’m calling from?”

4) How many phone numbers could the first mobile phones hold in their memory?
a)10
b)30
c)100

5) How much money was spent last year in Britain on ring tones?
a) ₤ 26 million
b) ₤ 56 million
c) ₤ 76 million

6) Which country has the most mobile phones in use?
a) The United States
b) India
c) In China

7) How many people in the whole world own a mobile phone?

a) 4 million
b) 4 billion
c) 4 trillion

8) What percentage of drivers use their mobile phone while driving in the UK?
a) 0.8
b) 1.8
c) 2.8

9) How many texts are sent every second in Britain?
a) 1000
b) 5000
c) 10 000

10) What is the universal emergency number for all mobile phones in the EU?
a) 112
b) 999
c) 911

• How many did you get right? Check the answers with your teacher.
• Who in your class got the highest mark?

3. Text messaging
This activity is appropriate in a society where mobiles and texting are common place. Extend the activity with any text language you use or have seen yourself.

• Write on the board: 'C U L8R' and ask students if they know what it means. Give clues until you get 'See you later' written up on the board.

• Then ask students to look at the chart below and see if they can write the text language in real English words. Add to the column of English text with any your students or you think of. The second two columns are for the students to think about their own language and to teach you a little of the text language of the country you are in.

• Depending on the level this could lead into a discussion on how language is changing with SMS and e-mail and how flexible both languages are.

Task 3 Text messaging
Complete the table of text language. Add more to the columns with the help of your classM8s and teacher!

• Now write a text message in English for your class to ‘translate’ into real English. Be as creative as you can with the language.
• Do you think texting is encouraging young people to spell badly?
• How many text messages do you send / receive each day?

4. Phone in
Set the scene: A radio programme asked its listeners to phone in and give any comments on mobile phones. The texts are designed to be used as spring boards for discussion for higher level groups so you can talk about many of the issues surrounding mobile phones, such as safety, phone etiquette etc.

An extension is to ask your students to phone in to the programme and give their point of view. They could write these out for homework.

Task 4 Phone in
A radio station recently asked its listeners for their points of view about mobile phones. This is what some of them said. As you read the dialogues think about the following:

• Do you agree with anything the people say?
• Do you know anyone with similar views to these people?
• What would you reply to this person if you were the radio presenter?

• Now imagine you are going to phone in to the radio programme. What would you say? Write your comment below and then share it with the class.

5. Emergency phone call
Ask students if they’ve ever had to use their mobiles in an emergency situation.

• Ask them to imagine situations where it may be really useful to have a mobile phone.
• Put their ideas on the board. Encourage your students to use their imaginations. (lost on a mountain walk, on a sinking ship etc. etc.)

Task 5 Emergency phone call
Most people would agree that mobile phones are useful in emergency situations. What situations can you think of where a mobile phone would be really helpful? Write three ideas below:

1.
2.
3.

Now you are going to imagine you are in one of these situations. Luckily you do have a mobile phone with you.

• Who would you call?
• What would you say?
• Work with a partner and write a dialogue.
  
  • One of you is in the emergency situation and the other is the person you call.

6. Design the next generation mobile phone
This activity can be used for all levels and could be extended to a mini-project for younger students. Students should work together to design the next generation mobile phone. They should be encouraged to be as imaginative as they can.

• To get them started, ask the questions to the group and see what they think.Bring in some photos of old and up-to-date mobiles if you can.
• As students are working in groups on the design, you can go around the groups and monitor. They may well need a lot of support with new vocabulary.
• When students have designed the phone and drawn it they could present their idea to the class. You could have a class vote to decide on the best design.

Task 6 Design the next generation mobile phone

• How have mobile phones changed since the 80s?
• What do you think mobile phones will be like in 20 or 100 years time?
• What will you be able to do with your phone?
• How big will it be and what will it look like?
• Imagine you work for a mobile phone company.
  
  • Work in a group to design a mobile phone of the future.
  • Think about the features it has and what it can do.
  • When you have decided, try to draw the phone and label all the features.
  • Then you can present your idea to the group.

Internet Links
Listen to a radio programme about the evolution of the mobile here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/technology/newsid_10000000/newsid_10004100/10004114.stm

Read and watch a short video about new mobile phone technology. This site is good to give ideas for phones of the future for Task 6:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/8523653.stm

For more information about the history of mobile phones look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone

Find out about iphones/smart phones here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone

Read about students learning English via their mobiles here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/rorycellanjones/2010/02/english_via_your_mobile.html

By Jo Budden and Sally Trowbridge

• Login or register to post comments
• Printer-friendly version