Reading Task: The Touchy-Feely Future Of Technology.

Hello, there! Welcome to our Technology Unit Task. This time we are reading an article called The Touchy-Feely Future Of Technology. To get started, get in groups or in pairs and be ready to participate actively in the activity. Copy this activity and the article in a word document. Upload it to google docs, and share it with your partners.

Before you read.

Read the tittle of the article and discuss it with your partner. Write little notes on your notebooks. Draw mindmaps.
1. Visit the following link: The Touchy-Feely Future Of Technology. Look at the title and the photo in the page.
2. Now, What do you think the article is going to be about?

While reading.

Discuss the following questions. Write notes. Underline new words. Make a list of words related to technology.

Part 1
Who's Bill Buxton and what he did to help shape the future?
What was he trying to do before he did what he did?
What helped him do it?

Part 2
What are some literature examples that support the idea of a flat, personal computer shaped like a book has actually been around for a long time?

Part 3
What are Four Ways Technology Will Change Our Lives In The Future?

Part 4
How iPads Are Changing The Classroom?

Part 5
What are some concerns of hospitals in the use of tablets?

Part 6
What's The Fantasy Of Touch they talk about in the article?

Part 7
According to Buxton what's The Next ‘Bingo’ Moment? watch the video and describe some of this surface features at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBpP1QIMdk

After reading.

Now, after reading it and discussing it with your classmates. It's time for you to tell and write about it. Write a post in your blog. Use these questions: What was the article about? What did you like the most about it? what's your opinion about it  and what are some new words and expressions you found in it? You can add images, links and videos to your post.

Finally, record your opinion here http://www.voxopop.com/topic/b91093f3-f772-4c06-a28b-5145bd2d0395

Fall: a Machinima

Well, last class we discussed the video named Fall by Lainy Voom. A challenge was posted in Facebook for you to answer after watching the video:


Fall from Lainy Voom on Vimeo.
Love is both a beautiful and fragile thing....

What's the meaning of the word fall in this video?... here you can find some definitions: http://www.wordreference.com/definition/fall

Check the definitions. Which one fits better to the situation in the video?

Here we have some expresions and phrasal verbs using the word Fall

– phrases
fall foul (or N. Amer. afoul) of come into conflict with.
fall in (or into) line conform. [with ref. to military formation.]
fall into place begin to make sense.
fall over oneself to do something informal be excessively eager to do something.
fall short (of)
    * 1 (of a missile) fail to reach its target.
    * 2 be deficient or inadequate.
take the fall N. Amer. informal incur blame or punishment in the place of another.

– phrasal verbs
fall about Brit. informal laugh uncontrollably.
fall apart (or to pieces) informal lose one's capacity to cope.
fall back retreat.
fall back on have recourse to when in difficulty.
fall down fail.
fall for informal
    * 1 fall in love with.
    * 2 be deceived by.
fall in take one's place in a military formation.
fall in with
    * 1 meet by chance and become involved with.
    * 2 agree to.
fall on/upon
    * 1 attack fiercely or unexpectedly.
    * 2 (of someone's eyes) be directed towards.
    * 3 be the responsibility of.
fall out
    * 1 have an argument.
    * 2 leave one's place in a military formation.
    * 3 happen.
fall through fail.
fall to become the duty of.

Giving a presentation: Introductions

Listen to the following podcast with tips about giving and oral presentation and getting your audience's attention with a great introduction.

This podcast was taken from Splendid Speaking

Interview 9: Captivate your Audience with Memorable Introductions

Do you need to practise giving short presentations either for an English examination or at work or University? Are you confident that you could grab your audience’s attention right from the start with a memorable introduction This week’s podcast features Werner from Germany who is currently living in Poland.

This task was taken from the CAE Handbook, available on the Cambridge ESOL website (PDF file. Right Click and 'Save target as' to download):

http://cambridgeesol.org/teach/cae/speaking/data/sample_part3.pdf

Register to Splendid talking for more tips on how to improve your speaking skills.