A big store on the internet called Amazon has to pay a lot of money because it watched its workers too much in France. The people who make sure private information is safe said Amazon did not follow the rules. They said Amazon kept too much information from little machines the workers used. Amazon does not agree and wants to say “no” to this decision.

People have been worried about how Amazon watches its workers before. In a place called the UK, they also watch workers a lot. If workers do not work fast enough, they can lose their jobs. Some people who make rules and a group for workers say this is not good. They say it is not nice to watch workers so closely.

Original news source: Amazon fined for ‘excessive’ surveillance of workers (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. One person from each team will come to the front of the class and act out a job or task related to the article, without using any words. The team members then have to guess what job or task is being acted out.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. They should try to use their own words and keep their summaries brief.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the words “Amazon” and “workers” on the board. In pairs or small groups, students will take turns saying a word or phrase that they associate with each of these words. They can use words from the article or come up with their own.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. Amazon, workers, rules, jobs). One person from each group will come to the front of the class and draw a picture to represent one of the words. The rest of the group has to guess what word it is.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. One group will discuss the pros of closely monitoring workers, while the other group will discuss the cons. Each group should come up with at least three points to support their argument. After a few minutes, each group can present their points to the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the big store on the internet that had to pay a lot of money?
2. Why did the people who make sure private information is safe say Amazon did not follow the rules?
3. What did Amazon keep too much information from?
4. Does Amazon agree with the decision that they have to pay a lot of money?
5. Where else do they watch workers a lot?
6. What can happen to workers if they don’t work fast enough?
7. Why do some people think it’s not nice to watch workers so closely?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A big store on the internet called Amazon has to pay a lot of money because it watched its workers too much in France. The (1)______ who (2)______ sure private information is safe said Amazon did not (3)______ the rules. They said Amazon kept too much information from little machines the workers used. Amazon does not agree and (4)______ to say “no” to this decision.

People have been (5)______ about how Amazon watches its (6)______ before. In a place called the UK, they also watch workers a lot. If workers do not work fast enough, they can (7)______ their jobs. Some people who make rules and a group for workers say this is not good. They say it is not nice to (8)______ workers so closely.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Amazon?
2. How do you think the workers at Amazon feel about being watched so much?
3. Do you think it’s fair for Amazon to watch its workers so closely? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if your boss watched you all the time at work?
5. What do you think the workers in France and the UK want Amazon to do?
6. Do you like the idea of being watched while you work? Why or why not?
7. How do you think the workers at Amazon in France feel now that Amazon has to pay a lot of money?
8. What do you think Amazon should do to make the workers feel better?
9. Do you think it’s important for companies to follow rules? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if you lost your job because you didn’t work fast enough?
11. Do you think it’s fair for workers to lose their jobs if they don’t work fast enough? Why or why not?
12. What would you do if you were a worker at Amazon and you didn’t like being watched all the time?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Amazon
2. workers
3. France
4. private
5. information
6. machines
7. agree
8. decision
9. worried
10. closely

Meanings:
(A) Looking at something very, very carefully
(B) A big shop where you can buy things without leaving your house
(C) Things we know or learn about someone or something
(D) Choosing what to do or think about something
(E) Things like robots or computers that can do special jobs
(F) To say “yes” or “okay” to something
(G) Something that is just for you, not for sharing with everyone
(H) A country where people speak French and eat croissants
(I) Feeling scared or thinking something bad might happen
(J) People who do jobs to help make things or do things for others
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the big store on the internet?
(a) Walmart
(b) Target
(c) Amazon
(d) eBay

2. Why did Amazon have to pay a lot of money in France?
(a) Because it sold too many products
(b) Because it gave away free stuff
(c) Because it closed down
(d) Because it watched its workers too much

3. Who said that Amazon did not follow the rules?
(a) The workers at Amazon
(b) The customers who shop on Amazon
(c) The government of France
(d) The people who make sure private information is safe

4. What did Amazon keep too much information from?
(a) Big machines the workers used
(b) Little machines the workers used
(c) The customers who shop on Amazon
(d) The government of France

5. Where else do they watch workers a lot?
(a) The UK
(b) Germany
(c) Spain
(d) China

6. What can happen if workers do not work fast enough?
(a) They can get a raise
(b) They can lose their jobs
(c) They can go on vacation
(d) They can get a promotion

7. Who says it is not good to watch workers so closely?
(a) The customers who shop on Amazon
(b) The government of France
(c) Some people who make rules and a group for workers
(d) The workers at Amazon

8. What does Amazon want to say to the decision?
(a) “No”
(b) “Yes”
(c) “Maybe”
(d) “I don’t know”

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Amazon does not agree with the decision and wants to say “no” to it.
2. Some people who make rules and a group for workers say it is not nice to watch workers so closely.
3. In the UK, Amazon rarely monitors workers.
4. The people who make sure private information is safe said Amazon followed the rules.
5. If workers do not work fast enough, they can lose their jobs at Amazon.
6. Amazon did not have to pay a lot of money because it watched its workers appropriately in France.
7. People have been worried about how Amazon watches its workers before.
8. Amazon did not retain excessive information from the small machines used by workers.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the name of the big store that had to pay a lot of money in France?
2. Why did the people who make sure private information is safe say Amazon did not follow the rules?
3. Where else do they watch workers a lot, like in France?
4. What can happen to workers if they don’t work fast enough?
5. Why do some people think it is not nice to watch workers so closely?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the name of the big store on the internet that had to pay a lot of money?
The big store is called Amazon.

2. Why did the people who make sure private information is safe say Amazon did not follow the rules?
They said Amazon kept too much information from little machines the workers used.

3. What did Amazon keep too much information from?
Amazon kept too much information from little machines the workers used.

4. Does Amazon agree with the decision that they have to pay a lot of money?
No, Amazon does not agree with the decision.

5. Where else do they watch workers a lot?
They also watch workers a lot in the UK.

6. What can happen to workers if they don’t work fast enough?
Workers can lose their jobs if they don’t work fast enough.

7. Why do some people think it’s not nice to watch workers so closely?
Some people think it’s not nice to watch workers so closely because it’s not fair and can make workers feel uncomfortable.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) people
(2) make
(3) follow
(4) wants
(5) worried
(6) workers
(7) lose
(8) watch
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Amazon
Answer: (B) A big shop where you can buy things without leaving your house

2. workers
Answer: (J) People who do jobs to help make things or do things for others

3. France
Answer: (H) A country where people speak French and eat croissants

4. private
Answer: (G) Something that is just for you, not for sharing with everyone

5. information
Answer: (C) Things we know or learn about someone or something

6. machines
Answer: (E) Things like robots or computers that can do special jobs

7. agree
Answer: (F) To say “yes” or “okay” to something

8. decision
Answer: (D) Choosing what to do or think about something

9. worried
Answer: (I) Feeling scared or thinking something bad might happen

10. closely
Answer: (A) Looking at something very, very carefully
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the big store on the internet?
Answer: (c) Amazon

2. Why did Amazon have to pay a lot of money in France?
Answer: (d) Because it watched its workers too much

3. Who said that Amazon did not follow the rules?
Answer: (d) The people who make sure private information is safe

4. What did Amazon keep too much information from?
Answer: (b) Little machines the workers used

5. Where else do they watch workers a lot?
Answer: (a) The UK

6. What can happen if workers do not work fast enough?
Answer: (b) They can lose their jobs

7. Who says it is not good to watch workers so closely?
Answer: (c) Some people who make rules and a group for workers

8. What does Amazon want to say to the decision?
Answer: (a) “No”
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Amazon does not agree with the decision and wants to say “no” to it. (Answer: True)
2. Some people who make rules and a group for workers say it is not nice to watch workers so closely. (Answer: True)
3. In the UK, Amazon rarely monitors workers. (Answer: False)
4. The people who make sure private information is safe said Amazon followed the rules. (Answer: False)
5. If workers do not work fast enough, they can lose their jobs at Amazon. (Answer: True)
6. Amazon did not have to pay a lot of money because it watched its workers appropriately in France. (Answer: False)
7. People have been worried about how Amazon watches its workers before. (Answer: True)
8. Amazon did not retain excessive information from the small machines used by workers. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧