Step 1With or without technology?
Exercise 1: Explain what you know about technology use around the world
1)Which country has the highest percentage of its population connected to the Internet?
a)The USA b) India c) China d) Iceland
2)What is the percentage of people who do not have access to the Internet?
a)20% b) 35% c) 60% d) 80%
3)Which country is the largest electricity consumer in the world?
a)China b) France c) Ghana d)the USA
4) How many electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.) does an average British household owns?
a)3 b) 7 c) 10 d) 17
5)What is the percentage of American households without a TV set?
a)5% b) 20% c) 45§% d) 60%
Exercise 2: The digitally excluded (audio recording): Listen and answer the following.
1)Explain what “digital exclusion” is.
2)Pick out the numbers you heard and say what they correspond to.
3)Explain who the most digitally excluded groups are and why they are disconnected.
4)Say what the benefits of being connected are.
5)Say what initiative was launched to tackle the issue.
Exercise 3: Disconnected by choice: the Amish
Read the following text and answer the questions
1)Classify the information under the following headings: Religion; language; Transportation; Living conditions, Clothing; Employment.
2)Find the equivalents for these words: s’installer, simple, costumes à manches longues, tablier, chignon, commodities.
3)Discuss the pros and cons of living in an Amish community.
The Amish are a community of people who keep themselves separate from the world, following the Biblical command “be not conformed to this world”. They came from Germany and Switzerland in the early 1700s to escape religious persecution and they settled in Pennsylvania. There are about 250,000 Amish people living in the USA.
The Amish live in small communities. They speak a German dialect and learn English at school. They wear plain clothing: dark-coloured suits and straw hats for men; modest long-sleeved dresses, with a cape and apron for women. Women’s hair is never cut and is worn in a bun. Amish boys learn farming and carpentry, while Amish girls concentrate on domestic matters.
The Amish disregard the modern way of life, and are content to live without modern conveniences such as electricity or television. Power comes from propane, wood, coal, natural gas, wind or solar panels. Church rules prohibit members from owning or driving ars; so they travel by horse or buggy.
Exercise 4: Digital consumption
1)Comment on the chart below. Say whether you think some percentages are surprising or not.
2)In your opinion, guess what the numbers would be for teens under 16.
INTERMEDIARY TASK: Interview your classmates about their digital habits.
Prepare a questionnaire entitled “Could you live without technology?” and interview your classmates. To find out if they are addicted to technology, ask them questions about their digital habits: How many.....how often.... how long ...... how much time ?