TikTok, a fun app where people share videos, is stopping its shopping service in Indonesia. This is because the Indonesian government made new rules to help local shops. Indonesia was the first place to try TikTok’s shopping service. But now, the government says TikTok must keep its shopping and video sharing separate. If TikTok doesn’t follow the rules, it might not be allowed in the country.

TikTok said it wants to follow the rules. So, it will stop helping people buy and sell things on TikTok Shop in Indonesia. More people in Indonesia are shopping online, and TikTok Shop was becoming popular. But other platforms like Tokopedia, Shopee, and Lazada are still the biggest. TikTok has many users in Indonesia, and some of them make money by selling things on TikTok Shop.

Original news source: TikTok: Social media app shuts shop after Indonesia ban (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Give each team a set of vocabulary words related to online shopping (e.g. buy, sell, shop, money, platform, etc.). One student from each team will come to the front of the class and act out the word without speaking, while their team members try to guess the word. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “TikTok” on the board. Ask the students to brainstorm as many words as they can that they associate with TikTok and online shopping. Write their answers on the board. Then, as a class, discuss the different associations and how they relate to the article.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a set of vocabulary words related to the article. One student from each pair will choose a word and draw a picture of it on the board, while their partner tries to guess the word. The pair that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Give each student a copy of the article. Divide the class into pairs. One student will have 1 minute to read and summarize the article to their partner, using their own words. After 1 minute, the roles will switch and the other student will summarize the article. Encourage the students to use the vocabulary words from the article in their summaries.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the students to think about the implications of TikTok stopping its shopping service in Indonesia. Then, have them pair up and discuss their thoughts with their partner. After a few minutes, ask some pairs to share their ideas with the class. Encourage the students to use the vocabulary words from the article in their discussions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is TikTok?
2. Why is TikTok stopping its shopping service in Indonesia?
3. What did the Indonesian government do to help local shops?
4. What might happen if TikTok doesn’t follow the rules?
5. What did TikTok say about following the rules?
6. Why will TikTok stop helping people buy and sell things on TikTok Shop in Indonesia?
7. Which platforms are still the biggest for online shopping in Indonesia?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

TikTok, a fun app where (1)______ share videos, is stopping its shopping service in (2)______. This is because the Indonesian government made new rules to help local shops. Indonesia was the first place to try TikTok’s shopping service. But now, the government says TikTok must (3)______ its shopping and video sharing separate. If TikTok doesn’t (4)______ the rules, it might not be allowed in the country.

TikTok said it (5)______ to follow the (6)______. So, it will stop helping people buy and sell things on TikTok Shop in Indonesia. More people in Indonesia are shopping online, and TikTok Shop was (7)______ popular. But other platforms like Tokopedia, (8)______ee, and Lazada are still the biggest. TikTok has many users in Indonesia, and some of them make money by selling things on TikTok Shop.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is TikTok?
2. How would you feel if you couldn’t buy and sell things on TikTok anymore?
3. Do you like shopping online? Why or why not?
4. What are some other platforms where people can shop online in Indonesia?
5. How do you think the Indonesian government’s new rules will help local shops?
6. Do you think it’s important for TikTok to follow the rules? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever sold anything online? What was it?
8. How do you think TikTok users in Indonesia will feel about not being able to use TikTok Shop anymore?
9. Why do you think TikTok Shop was becoming popular in Indonesia?
10. Do you think more people will shop online in the future? Why or why not?
11. What are some things you like to buy online?
12. How do you think TikTok can still be fun without the shopping service?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. TikTok
2. app
3. videos
4. shopping
5. Indonesia
6. government
7. rules
8. separate

Meanings:
(a) Small movies that people make and share
(b) A place where you can get games and stuff
(c) A country in Southeast Asia
(d) Buying things from a store
(e) A fun thing you can do on your phone
(f) Not together
(g) Things you have to do
(h) The people who make the laws
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is TikTok?
(a) A game where people play with toys
(b) A website where people read books
(c) A TV show where people sing songs
(d) An app where people share videos

2. Why is TikTok stopping its shopping service in Indonesia?
(a) TikTok wants to focus on video sharing only
(b) TikTok is not popular in Indonesia
(c) The Indonesian government made new rules
(d) TikTok wants to help local shops

3. What might happen if TikTok doesn’t follow the rules?
(a) It will become more popular
(b) It might not be allowed in the country
(c) It will start a new shopping service
(d) It will become a TV show

4. Which country was the first to try TikTok’s shopping service?
(a) Russia
(b) Spain
(c) Indonesia
(d) Germany

5. Why did TikTok stop helping people buy and sell things on TikTok Shop?
(a) To follow the rules
(b) To become more popular
(c) To help local shops
(d) To focus on video sharing only

6. Which platforms are still the biggest for online shopping in Indonesia?
(a) TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram
(b) Twitter, Snapchat, and Pinterest
(c) Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime
(d) Tokopedia, Shopee, and Lazada

7. How do some TikTok users in Indonesia make money?
(a) By watching videos on TikTok
(b) By selling things on TikTok Shop
(c) By playing games on TikTok
(d) By singing songs on TikTok

8. What is the article about?
(a) TikTok stopping its shopping service in Indonesia
(b) TikTok becoming popular in Indonesia
(c) TikTok’s new rules for video sharing
(d) TikTok helping local shops in Indonesia

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. TikTok will stop helping people buy and sell things on TikTok Shop in Indonesia.
2. If TikTok follows the rules, it might be allowed in the country.
3. Other platforms like Tokopedia, Shopee, and Lazada are still the biggest in Indonesia.
4. TikTok is a boring app where people share videos.
5. Indonesia was the first place to try TikTok’s shopping service.
6. The Indonesian government made new rules to help local shops.
7. The government says TikTok must combine its shopping and video sharing features.
8. TikTok is continuing its shopping service in Indonesia.
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 TikTok?
2. Why is TikTok stopping its shopping service in Indonesia?
3. What did the Indonesian government say TikTok must do?
4. What will happen if TikTok doesn’t follow the rules?
5. How were some people making money on TikTok in Indonesia?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is TikTok?
– TikTok is a fun app where people share videos.

2. Why is TikTok stopping its shopping service in Indonesia?
– TikTok is stopping its shopping service in Indonesia because the Indonesian government made new rules to help local shops.

3. What did the Indonesian government do to help local shops?
– The Indonesian government made new rules that require TikTok to keep its shopping and video sharing separate to help local shops.

4. What might happen if TikTok doesn’t follow the rules?
– If TikTok doesn’t follow the rules, it might not be allowed in the country.

5. What did TikTok say about following the rules?
– TikTok said it wants to follow the rules.

6. Why will TikTok stop helping people buy and sell things on TikTok Shop in Indonesia?
– TikTok will stop helping people buy and sell things on TikTok Shop in Indonesia to follow the new rules set by the government.

7. Which platforms are still the biggest for online shopping in Indonesia?
– The biggest platforms for online shopping in Indonesia are Tokopedia, Shopee, and Lazada.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) people
(2) Indonesia
(3) keep
(4) follow
(5) wants
(6) rules
(7) becoming
(8) Shop
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. TikTok
Answer: (e) A fun thing you can do on your phone

2. app
Answer: (a) Small movies that people make and share

3. videos
Answer: (d) Buying things from a store

4. shopping
Answer: (c) A country in Southeast Asia

5. Indonesia
Answer: (h) The people who make the laws

6. government
Answer: (g) Things you have to do

7. rules
Answer: (f) Not together

8. separate
Answer: (b) A place where you can get games and stuff
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is TikTok?
Answer: (d) An app where people share videos

2. Why is TikTok stopping its shopping service in Indonesia?
Answer: (c) The Indonesian government made new rules

3. What might happen if TikTok doesn’t follow the rules?
Answer: (b) It might not be allowed in the country

4. Which country was the first to try TikTok’s shopping service?
Answer: (c) Indonesia

5. Why did TikTok stop helping people buy and sell things on TikTok Shop?
Answer: (a) To follow the rules

6. Which platforms are still the biggest for online shopping in Indonesia?
Answer: (d) Tokopedia, Shopee, and Lazada

7. How do some TikTok users in Indonesia make money?
Answer: (b) By selling things on TikTok Shop

8. What is the article about?
Answer: (a) TikTok stopping its shopping service in Indonesia
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. TikTok will stop helping people buy and sell things on TikTok Shop in Indonesia. (Answer: True)
2. If TikTok follows the rules, it might be allowed in the country. (Answer: False)
3. Other platforms like Tokopedia, Shopee, and Lazada are still the biggest in Indonesia. (Answer: True)
4. TikTok is a boring app where people share videos. (Answer: False)
5. Indonesia was the first place to try TikTok’s shopping service. (Answer: True)
6. The Indonesian government made new rules to help local shops. (Answer: True)
7. The government says TikTok must combine its shopping and video sharing features. (Answer: False)
8. TikTok is continuing its shopping service in Indonesia. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧