Breaking News English

WARM-UPS

1. RINGTONES: Walk around the class and talk to other students about ringtones. Change partners often. After you finish, sit with your partner(s) and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

European Union / shady websites / mobile phone services / hidden charges / victims / microscopes / industry giants / fines / taxes / subscriptions / the small print

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

3. CHARGES: Are you happy with the charges you pay for different services? Write down what you get and what more you want for these. Change partners and share what you wrote.

Services	What I get	What more I want
Mobile phone
Internet Provider
English school
Clubs
Transport
Other ___________

4. MOBILE PHONE: Which of these mobile phone services are important? Rate them: 10 = “A must”; 1 = “I can live without this”. How much would you pay a month for each service? Talk with your partner(s) about this.

_____  ringtone _____  text / SMS _____  answer phone _____  Internet

_____  camera _____  GPS navigation _____  touch-screen / scrolling _____  MP3

5. HEADLINE PREDICTION: With your partner(s), use the words in the “Chat” activity above to predict what the news article will be about. Once you have your story, change partners and share them. Who was closest to the real story?

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

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	The EU is after dodgy sites that are dishonestly charging for ringtones.	T / F
b.	An EU commissioner says companies are hiding charges on their sites.	T / F
c.	The elderly are most at risk to being cheated when buying ringtones.	T / F
d.	Many people will be surprised when they see their first phone bill.	T / F
e.	The value of the European ringtone market is more than US$10 billion.	T / F
f.	Some famous mobile phone companies need to change their websites.	T / F
g.	Most websites make it very clear their service is a subscription.	T / F
h.	The EU commissioner warned against phones with a small text size.	T / F

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

1.	shady	a.	dishonest
2	hidden	b.	expected
3.	charges	c.	area
4.	misleading	d.	untrustworthy
5.	costly	e.	deal with
6.	region	f.	careful
7.	address	g.	unseen
8.	closures	h.	expensive
9.	on your guard	i.	costs
10.	bargained for	j.	shutdowns

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

1.	The European Union is cracking	a.	with the latest phone fashions
2	paying hidden	b.	Ms Kuneva’s microscope
3.	Many sites are cheating	c.	up to a subscription
4.	keep up to date	d.	people out of their money
5.	people are falling	e.	your guard
6.	the companies under	f.	victim to costly surprises
7.	could lead to heavy	g.	down on shady websites
8.	signing	h.	for
9.	Be on	i.	charges
10.	more than you bargained	j.	fines or site closures

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

The European Union is __________ down on shady websites that are __________ selling or charging for mobile phone services. The EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva has warned the __________ that they may be paying __________ charges for ringtones, news feeds, video games and wallpaper. Many sites are cheating people __________ of their money, especially trend-conscious teenagers, who like to keep up to date with the latest phone __________.  An EU investigation into 500 sites discovered that 80 per cent were misleading consumers. "Far too many people are falling __________ to costly surprises from mysterious charges, fees and ringtone subscriptions [that] they __________ about for the first time when they see their mobile phone bill," Kuneva told reporters.		public fashions learn cracking hidden victim wrongly out
The Reuters news agency reports that the __________ of ringtone sales in 2007 within the EU was in the __________ of US$1.10 billion. Among the companies under Ms Kuneva’s microscope are industry __________ such as Vofafone and VeriSign. Failure by these providers to address the commissioner’s concerns could lead to __________ fines or site closures. The investigation identified a number of __________ dishonest practices. These include unclear price information, not telling the consumer about taxes, and not making it __________ to consumers they were signing up to a subscription. Kuneva warned: "We need to get a clear __________ out particularly to teenagers and children. Be on your guard. It's all about the small __________ ….Make sure you are not signing up for more than you bargained for."		region  clear heavy print value common message giants

LISTENING:  Listen and fill in the spaces.

The European Union is cracking _________________ websites that are wrongly selling or charging for mobile phone services. The EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva has _________________ that they may be paying hidden charges for ringtones, news feeds, video games and wallpaper. Many sites are _________________ of their money, especially trend-conscious teenagers, who like to keep _________________ the latest phone fashions.  An EU investigation _________________ discovered that 80 per cent were misleading consumers. "Far too many people are ________________ costly surprises from mysterious charges, fees and ringtone subscriptions [that] they learn about for the first time when they see their mobile phone bill," Kuneva told reporters.

The Reuters news agency reports that the value of ringtone sales in 2007 within the EU _________________ of US$1.10 billion. Among the companies under Ms Kuneva’s microscope are _________________ as Vofafone and VeriSign. Failure by these _________________ the commissioner’s concerns could lead to heavy fines or site closures. The investigation identified a _________________ dishonest practices. These include unclear price information, not telling the consumer about taxes, and not making it clear to consumers they were _______________ subscription. Kuneva warned: "We need to get a clear message out particularly to teenagers and children. Be on your guard. It's _________________ print….Make sure you are not signing up for more than you bargained for."

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘small’ and ‘print’.

small

print

• 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:

cracking hidden up to date 500 victim first time

US$1.10 billion giants heavy common message print

STUDENT RINGTONE SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about ringtones in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

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

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

RINGTONE DISCUSSION

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

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘ringtone’?
c)	Do you like different ringtones?
d)	What mobile phone services do you pay for?
e)	Is it important to have a good ringtone?
f)	Have you ever paid hidden charges you didn’t know about?
g)	Have you ever been cheated out of your money?
h)	Do you like to keep up to date with the latest fashions?
i)	Have you ever fallen victim to a company’s shady practice?
j)	How do you feel when you get your mobile phone bill?

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

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

a)	Did you like reading this article?
b)	Are you surprised the European ringtone market is worth so much?
c)	What companies would you like to put under the microscope and why?
d)	What do you think of the dishonest practices mentioned in the article?
e)	Are you always on your guard when you sign up for things?
f)	Are you happy with your current mobile phone subscription?
g)	Do you always read the small print?
h)	What things are contained in the small print?
i)	Have you ever signed up for something you didn’t bargain for?
j)	What questions would you like to ask EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva?

LANGUAGE

The European Union is cracking (1) ____ on shady websites that are wrongly selling or charging (2) ____ mobile phone services. The EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva has warned the public that they may be paying (3) ____ charges for ringtones, news feeds, video games and wallpaper. Many sites are cheating people (4) ____ of their money, especially trend-conscious teenagers, who like to keep up to date with the latest phone fashions.  An EU investigation into 500 sites discovered that 80 per cent were misleading consumers. "Far too many people are falling victim to (5) ____ surprises from mysterious charges, fees and ringtone subscriptions [that] they learn about for the first time when they see their mobile phone (6) ____," Kuneva told reporters.

The Reuters news agency reports that the value of ringtone sales in 2007 within the EU was in the (7) ____ of US$1.10 billion. Among the companies (8) ____ Ms Kuneva’s microscope are industry giants such as Vofafone and VeriSign. Failure by these providers to address the commissioner’s concerns could lead to (9) ____ fines or site closures. The investigation identified a number of common dishonest practices. These include unclear price information, not telling the consumer about (10) ____, and not making it clear to consumers they were signing up to a subscription. Kuneva warned: "We need to get a (11) ____ message out particularly to teenagers and children. Be on your guard. It's all about the small print….Make sure you are not signing up for more than you bargained (12) ____."

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

1.	(a)	up	(b)	on	(c)	down	(d)	in
2.	(a)	with	(b)	for	(c)	to	(d)	by
3.	(a)	hide	(b)	hiding	(c)	hidden	(d)	hid
4.	(a)	with	(b)	for	(c)	all	(d)	out
5.	(a)	cost-plus	(b)	cost effective	(c)	cost	(d)	costly
6.	(a)	sill	(b)	gill	(c)	bill	(d)	till
7.	(a)	region	(b)	regional	(c)	regions	(d)	regionally
8.	(a)	over	(b)	under	(c)	behind	(d)	on
9.	(a)	tubby	(b)	overweight	(c)	heavy	(d)	obese
10.	(a)	taxes	(b)	taxis	(c)	taxation	(d)	taxed
11.	(a)	cleared	(b)	clearest	(c)	clearly	(d)	clear
12.	(a)	about	(b)	for	(c)	with	(d)	over

WRITING: 

Write about ringtones for 10 minutes. Correct your partner’s paper.

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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 ringtone charges. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MOBILE PHONES: Make a poster about the perfect mobile phone. Describe all of the services it has. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. FALLING VICTIM: Write a magazine article about teenagers who fall victim to hidden charges on websites offering ringtones. Include imaginary interviews with a teenager and a mobile phone company boss.

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. DIARY / JOURNAL: You are a mobile phone. Write your diary entry for one day in your life. Is your owner good to you? Read your entry to your classmates in the next lesson.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to the boss of a mobile phone company. Ask him/her three questions about the charges for their different services. Give him/her three pieces of advice how to improve his/her service. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. T

b. T

c. F

d. T

e. F

f. T

g. F

h. F

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.	shady	a.	untrustworthy
2	hidden	b.	unseen
3.	charges	c.	costs
4.	misleading	d.	dishonest
5.	costly	e.	expensive
6.	region	f.	area
7.	address	g.	deal with
8.	closures	h.	shutdowns
9.	on your guard	i.	careful
10.	bargained for	j.	expected

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	The European Union is cracking	a.	down on shady websites
2	paying hidden	b.	charges
3.	Many sites are cheating	c.	people out of their money
4.	keep up to date	d.	with the latest phone fashions
5.	people are falling	e.	victim to costly surprises
6.	the companies under	f.	Ms Kuneva’s microscope
7.	could lead to heavy	g.	fines or site closures
8.	signing	h.	up to a subscription
9.	Be on	i.	your guard
10.	more than you bargained	j.	for

GAP FILL:

EU warns of hidden ringtone charges

The European Union is cracking down on shady websites that are wrongly selling or charging for mobile phone services. The EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva has warned the public that they may be paying hidden charges for ringtones, news feeds, video games and wallpaper. Many sites are cheating people out of their money, especially trend-conscious teenagers, who like to keep up to date with the latest phone fashions.  An EU investigation into 500 sites discovered that 80 per cent were misleading consumers. "Far too many people are falling victim to costly surprises from mysterious charges, fees and ringtone subscriptions [that] they learn about for the first time when they see their mobile phone bill," Kuneva told reporters.

The Reuters news agency reports that the value of ringtone sales in 2007 within the EU was in the region of US$1.10 billion. Among the companies under Ms Kuneva’s microscope are industry giants such as Vofafone and VeriSign. Failure by these providers to address the commissioner’s concerns could lead to heavy fines or site closures. The investigation identified a number of common dishonest practices. These include unclear price information, not telling the consumer about taxes, and not making it clear to consumers they were signing up to a subscription. Kuneva warned: "We need to get a clear message out particularly to teenagers and children. Be on your guard. It's all about the small print….Make sure you are not signing up for more than you bargained for."

LANGUAGE WORK

1 - a

2 - b

3 - c

4 - d

5 - d

6 - c

7 - a

8 - b

9 - c

10 - a

11 - d

12 - b

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