College students at Media City’s University Technical College recently took part in a project where they had to give up their smartphones and use basic Nokia handsets instead. The project was organized by BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Bitesize to see how much young people rely on their smartphones. During the project, the students could only communicate through calls and text messages.

The students had different experiences without their smartphones. Some found it hard to get used to the limited features of the basic Nokia handsets, while others enjoyed taking a break from constant notifications and distractions. Many students said they felt more focused and present without their smartphones, and some even discovered new hobbies and interests during the project.

The project showed how much smartphones affect young people’s lives, like their social interactions, mental health, and productivity. It also got people talking about finding a good balance between using technology and living in the real world. The students realized that they can still stay connected and engaged without relying too much on smartphones.

Overall, the project gave us important information about how smartphones affect college students. It made them think about their habits and how technology fits into their lives. While smartphones have lots of benefits, the project reminded the students that it’s important to take breaks and be fully present in the moment.

Original news source: College students on life without a smartphone (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Each pair will read the article and then summarize it in their own words in 3-4 sentences. Afterward, pairs will take turns sharing their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the class create a survey with questions related to the article, such as “Do you think college students rely too much on smartphones?” or “Have you ever taken a break from using your smartphone?”. Students can then walk around the class, interviewing their classmates and recording their responses. Afterward, they will share their findings with the class.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “smartphone” on the board and ask students to brainstorm as many words or phrases related to the article as they can in 2 minutes. Afterward, go around the class and have each student share one word or phrase they came up with, explaining how it relates to the article.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will choose one scene or concept from the article and create a quick sketch to represent it. Afterward, groups will present their sketches to the class and explain their choices.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to take a moment to think about their own smartphone usage and how it affects their lives. Then, have them pair up with a partner and discuss their thoughts and experiences. Finally, open the discussion to the whole class and have a few students share their reflections.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What was the purpose of the project at Media City’s University Technical College?
2. How did the students have to communicate during the project?
3. What were some of the different experiences the students had without their smartphones?
4. How did many of the students feel without their smartphones?
5. What did some of the students discover during the project?
6. What aspects of young people’s lives do smartphones affect, according to the project?
7. What did the project get people talking about?
8. What did the students realize about staying connected and engaged without relying too much on smartphones?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

(1)______ students at Media City’s University Technical College recently took part in a project where they had to give up their (2)______ and use basic Nokia handsets instead. The project was organized by BBC (3)______ 5 Live and BBC Bitesize to see how much (4)______ people rely on their smartphones. During the project, the students could only communicate through calls and text messages.

The students had different experiences without their smartphones. Some (5)______ it hard to get used to the (6)______ features of the basic Nokia handsets, while others (7)______ taking a break from constant (8)______ and distractions. Many students said they felt more focused and present without their smartphones, and some even discovered new hobbies and interests during the project.

The project showed how much smartphones affect young people’s lives, like their social (9)______, mental health, and productivity. It also got people talking about finding a good balance between using technology and (10)______ in the real world. The students (11)______ that they can still stay (12)______ and engaged without relying too much on smartphones.

Overall, the project gave us (13)______ information about how smartphones affect college students. It made them (14)______ about their habits and how (15)______ fits into their (16)______. While smartphones have lots of benefits, the project reminded the students that it’s important to take breaks and be fully present in the moment.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a smartphone and how do you use it in your daily life?
2. How would you feel if you had to give up your smartphone for a week? Why?
3. Do you think young people rely too much on their smartphones? Why or why not?
4. How do smartphones affect social interactions among young people?
5. What are some benefits of using smartphones? Can you think of any drawbacks?
6. Do you think smartphones have a positive or negative impact on mental health? Why or why not?
7. How did the students in the article feel when they had to use basic Nokia handsets instead of smartphones? Why?
8. Have you ever taken a break from using your smartphone? How did it make you feel?
9. What are some hobbies or interests that you could discover if you didn’t have a smartphone?
10. How do you find a good balance between using technology and living in the real world?
11. Do you think it’s important to take breaks from using smartphones? Why or why not?
12. What are some ways to stay connected and engaged without relying too much on smartphones?
13. How do you think smartphones affect college students’ productivity?
14. Have you ever thought about your smartphone habits and how they fit into your life? What did you realize?
15. Why do you think it’s important to be fully present in the moment, even with smartphones around?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. project
2. organized
3. communicate
4. notifications
5. distractions
6. focused
7. present
8. interactions
9. productivity
10. balance
11. engaged
12. relying
13. benefits
14. habits
15. technology

Meanings:
(A) The ability to get things done efficiently
(B) Paying close attention to one thing
(C) Being involved or interested in something
(D) To share or exchange information
(E) Arranged or put together in a structured way
(F) Things that take your attention away from what you are doing
(G) Being fully aware and involved in the current moment
(H) Tools and machines created to solve problems or make tasks easier
(I) Regular actions or behaviors
(J) A planned activity or task with a specific goal
(K) The way people act and communicate with each other
(L) A state where different elements are in the right proportions
(M) Alerts or messages that pop up on your device
(N) Good things or advantages
(O) Depending on something or someone
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What was the purpose of the project at Media City’s University Technical College?
(a) To teach students about basic Nokia handsets
(b) To organize a radio show about smartphones
(c) To see how much young people rely on their smartphones
(d) To promote BBC Bitesize

2. How did the students communicate during the project?
(a) Through social media apps
(b) Through video calls
(c) Through email
(d) Through calls and text messages

3. How did some students feel about using basic Nokia handsets?
(a) They found it hard to get used to the limited features
(b) They enjoyed the break from constant notifications and distractions
(c) They missed their smartphones
(d) They didn’t notice a difference

4. What did many students feel when they didn’t have their smartphones?
(a) Anxious and stressed
(b) Bored and lonely
(c) More focused and present
(d) Overwhelmed and distracted

5. What did some students discover during the project?
(a) New hobbies and interests
(b) The limitations of basic Nokia handsets
(c) The importance of smartphones in their lives
(d) The benefits of constant notifications and distractions

6. What aspects of young people’s lives did the project show smartphones affect?
(a) Physical health, academic performance, and sleep patterns
(b) Social interactions, mental health, and productivity
(c) Family relationships, career prospects, and creativity
(d) Sports performance, fashion choices, and music preferences

7. What did the project get people talking about?
(a) The benefits of smartphones over basic Nokia handsets
(b) The future of smartphone technology
(c) The importance of constant notifications and distractions
(d) Finding a good balance between using technology and living in the real world

8. What did the project remind the students about using smartphones?
(a) They should rely more on smartphones for social interactions
(b) It’s important to take breaks and be fully present in the moment
(c) They should use smartphones for all forms of communication
(d) It’s important to constantly check notifications and be distracted

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The students realized that they can still stay connected and engaged without relying too much on smartphones.
2. Many students felt more distracted and absent without their smartphones, and some even lost interest in hobbies and activities during the project.
3. It sparked conversations about finding a good balance between using technology and living in the real world.
4. University students at Media City’s University Technical College recently declined to participate in a project where they had to give up their smartphones and use basic Nokia handsets instead.
5. The project downplayed the impact of smartphones on young people’s lives, including their social interactions, mental health, and productivity.
6. During the project, the students could only communicate through calls and text messages.
7. The project was organized by CNN Radio 5 Live and BBC Bitesize to see how little young people rely on their smartphones.
8. Some students found it difficult to adjust to the limited features of the basic Nokia handsets, while others enjoyed the break from constant notifications and distractions.
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 was the purpose of the project that the college students participated in?
2. How did the students communicate with each other during the project?
3. What were some of the different experiences that the students had without their smartphones?
4. What aspects of young people’s lives did the project show are affected by smartphones?
5. What did the students learn from the project about finding a balance between using technology and living in the real world?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What was the purpose of the project at Media City’s University Technical College?
The purpose of the project was to see how much young people rely on their smartphones.

2. How did the students have to communicate during the project?
During the project, the students could only communicate through calls and text messages using basic Nokia handsets.

3. What were some of the different experiences the students had without their smartphones?
Some students found it hard to get used to the limited features of the basic Nokia handsets, while others enjoyed taking a break from constant notifications and distractions.

4. How did many of the students feel without their smartphones?
Many students felt more focused and present without their smartphones.

5. What did some of the students discover during the project?
Some students discovered new hobbies and interests during the project.

6. What aspects of young people’s lives do smartphones affect, according to the project?
According to the project, smartphones affect young people’s social interactions, mental health, and productivity.

7. What did the project get people talking about?
The project got people talking about finding a good balance between using technology and living in the real world.

8. What did the students realize about staying connected and engaged without relying too much on smartphones?
The students realized that they can still stay connected and engaged without relying too much on smartphones.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) College
(2) smartphones
(3) Radio
(4) young
(5) found
(6) limited
(7) enjoyed
(8) notifications
(9) interactions
(10) living
(11) realized
(12) connected
(13) important
(14) think
(15) technology
(16) lives
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. project
Answer: (J) A planned activity or task with a specific goal

2. organized
Answer: (E) Arranged or put together in a structured way

3. communicate
Answer: (D) To share or exchange information

4. notifications
Answer: (M) Alerts or messages that pop up on your device

5. distractions
Answer: (F) Things that take your attention away from what you are doing

6. focused
Answer: (B) Paying close attention to one thing

7. present
Answer: (G) Being fully aware and involved in the current moment

8. interactions
Answer: (K) The way people act and communicate with each other

9. productivity
Answer: (A) The ability to get things done efficiently

10. balance
Answer: (L) A state where different elements are in the right proportions

11. engaged
Answer: (C) Being involved or interested in something

12. relying
Answer: (O) Depending on something or someone

13. benefits
Answer: (N) Good things or advantages

14. habits
Answer: (I) Regular actions or behaviors

15. technology
Answer: (H) Tools and machines created to solve problems or make tasks easier
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What was the purpose of the project at Media City’s University Technical College?
Answer: (c) To see how much young people rely on their smartphones

2. How did the students communicate during the project?
Answer: (d) Through calls and text messages

3. How did some students feel about using basic Nokia handsets?
Answer: (a) They found it hard to get used to the limited features

4. What did many students feel when they didn’t have their smartphones?
Answer: (c) More focused and present

5. What did some students discover during the project?
Answer: (a) New hobbies and interests

6. What aspects of young people’s lives did the project show smartphones affect?
Answer: (b) Social interactions, mental health, and productivity

7. What did the project get people talking about?
Answer: (d) Finding a good balance between using technology and living in the real world

8. What did the project remind the students about using smartphones?
Answer: (b) It’s important to take breaks and be fully present in the moment
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The students realized that they can still stay connected and engaged without relying too much on smartphones. (Answer: True)
2. Many students felt more distracted and absent without their smartphones, and some even lost interest in hobbies and activities during the project. (Answer: False)
3. It sparked conversations about finding a good balance between using technology and living in the real world. (Answer: True)
4. University students at Media City’s University Technical College recently declined to participate in a project where they had to give up their smartphones and use basic Nokia handsets instead. (Answer: False)
5. The project downplayed the impact of smartphones on young people’s lives, including their social interactions, mental health, and productivity. (Answer: False)
6. During the project, the students could only communicate through calls and text messages. (Answer: True)
7. The project was organized by CNN Radio 5 Live and BBC Bitesize to see how little young people rely on their smartphones. (Answer: False)
8. Some students found it difficult to adjust to the limited features of the basic Nokia handsets, while others enjoyed the break from constant notifications and distractions. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧