The Reading / Listening - Smartphone Toilet Paper - Level 6

An airport in Japan has taken toilet cleanliness to a new level. A company has installed "toilet paper" for smartphones in the public lavatories at Tokyo's Narita International Airport. Passengers are being encouraged to use the special wipes to disinfect their mobile devices. The cleansing rolls are the idea of Japanese mobile giant NTT Docomo. It also paid for the disinfectant dispensers to be put next to the regular toilet paper holder in 86 cubicles in seven rest rooms at the airport. A company YouTube video informed us that toilet seats were usually more hygienic than smartphones, saying: "There are more than five times the germs on a smartphone screen as compared to a toilet seat."

Japan is a world leader in toilet technology and boasts some of the most high-tech bathrooms in the world. Many Japanese homes have toilets that are equipped with innovative flushing, seat warming, and automated bidet functions. On some, the lid automatically rises when you enter the toilet and flushes when you finish. There is also a gadget that produces loud flushing sounds if you want to hide embarrassing "toilet noises". NTT Docomo has accompanied its smartphone wipes with a two-minute instructional video for tourists on how to use the sheets correctly, and also on how to use the other features common in Japan's toilets. It said it wants to make sure, "foreign tourists could enjoy their travel hygienically".

 

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Smartphone Toilet Paper - Level 4  or  Smartphone Toilet Paper - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38412707
  • http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/smartphone-toilet-paper-2/
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/22/swipe-right-toilet-paper-for-smartphones-tested-out-in-japanese-airport-bathrooms


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. PUBLIC TOILETS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about public toilets. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       airport / Japan / cleanliness / public lavatories / disinfect / mobile devices / germs /
       leader / technology / innovative / flushing / embarrassing / instructional / travel

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. HI-TECH: Students A strongly believe it is important for toilets to be as high-tech as possible; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. TOILETS: What are the pros and cons of having these things in public toilets? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Pros

Cons

Smartphone wipes

 

 

TV

 

 

Internet

 

 

Magazines

 

 

Tourist information

 

 

Free candies

 

 

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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5. SMARTPHONE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "smartphone". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. TOILET FUNCTIONS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important toilet functions at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • noise silencer
  • air freshener
  • music
  • disinfectant wipes
  • automatic flushing
  • heated seat
  • bidet
  • automatic lid

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. A Japanese airport has put all its toilets on one level.     T / F
  2. A giant mobile phone company has paid for the smartphone toilet paper. T / F
  3. The smartphone toilet paper is in 86 cubicles at the airport.     T / F
  4. Smartphone screens have over 5 times more germs than toilet seats.     T / F
  5. Japanese people boast about how high-tech their toilets are.     T / F
  6. All Japanese toilets have automatically rising lids.     T / F
  7. There is a gadget to hide embarrassing toilet noises.     T / F
  8. A company made a video for Japanese people on how to use toilets.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. cleanliness
  2. lavatories
  3. disinfect
  4. regular
  5. informed
  6. equipped
  7. innovative
  8. gadget
  9. correctly
  10. common
  1. state-of-the-art
  2. usual
  3. told
  4. properly
  5. toilets
  6. device
  7. hygiene
  8. widespread
  9. furnished
  10. clean

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. taken toilet cleanliness
  2. use the special wipes to disinfect
  3. 86 cubicles
  4. toilet seats were usually more
  5. There are more than five
  6. Japan is a world leader in toilet
  7. Japanese homes have toilets that are equipped
  8. a gadget that produces loud
  9. a two-minute
  10. the other features common
  1. their mobile devices
  2. times the germs
  3. in Japan's toilets
  4. flushing sounds
  5. in seven rest rooms
  6. with innovative flushing
  7. to a new level
  8. instructional video
  9. hygienic
  10. technology

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
installed
regular
cleanliness
compared
idea
hygienic
encouraged
cubicles

An airport in Japan has taken toilet (1) ____________ to a new level. A company has (2) ____________ "toilet paper" for smartphones in the public lavatories at Tokyo's Narita International Airport. Passengers are being (3) ____________ to use the special wipes to disinfect their mobile devices. The cleansing rolls are the (4) ____________ of Japanese mobile giant NTT Docomo. It also paid for the disinfectant dispensers to be put next to the (5) ____________ toilet paper holder in 86  (6) ____________ in seven rest rooms at the airport. A company YouTube video informed us that toilet seats were usually more   (7) ____________ than smartphones, saying: "There are more than five times the germs on a smartphone screen as               (8) ____________ to a toilet seat."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
equipped
instructional
gadget
travel
boasts
features
accompanied
rises

Japan is a world leader in toilet technology and                         (9) ____________ some of the most high-tech bathrooms in the world. Many Japanese homes have toilets that are                    (10) ____________ with innovative flushing, seat warming, and automated bidet functions. On some, the lid automatically        (11) ____________ when you enter the toilet and flushes when you finish. There is also a (12) ____________ that produces loud flushing sounds if you want to hide embarrassing "toilet noises". NTT Docomo has (13) ____________ its smartphone wipes with a two-minute (14) ____________ video for tourists on how to use the sheets correctly, and also on how to use the other      (15) ____________ common in Japan's toilets. It said it wants to make sure, "foreign tourists could enjoy their (16) ____________ hygienically".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  An airport in Japan has taken toilet cleanliness ______
     a.  to the new level
     b.  to all new level
     c.  to a new level
     d.  to anew level

2)  A company has installed "toilet paper" for smartphones in the ______
     a.  public laboratories
     b.  public lavatories
     c.  public lavatory
     d.  public laboratory

3)  dispensers to be put next to the regular toilet paper holder ______
     a.  in 86 cubicles
     b.  in 86 cubby holes
     c.  in 86 cubby calls
     d.  in 86 cubic calls

4)  A company YouTube video informed us that toilet seats were usually ______
     a.  more hygienically
     b.  more hygienic
     c.  more hygiene
     d.  more hygienist

5)  more than five times the germs on a smartphone screen ______ toilet seat
     a.  as compared tour
     b.  has compared to a
     c.  was compared tour
     d.  as compared to a

6)  Many Japanese homes have toilets that are equipped with ______
     a.  innovation flushing
     b.  innovative flush in
     c.  innovative flushing
     d.  innovation flush in

7)  the lid automatically rises when you enter the toilet and flushes ______
     a.  when you finished
     b.  when you Finnish
     c.  when you finish
     d.  when you finishing

8)  produces loud flushing sounds if you want to hide ______ noises"
     a.  embarrasses in "toilet
     b.  embarrassment "toilet
     c.  embarrass in "toilet
     d.  embarrassing "toilet

9)  NTT Docomo has accompanied its smartphone wipes with a two-minute ______
     a.  instructional video
     b.  institutional video
     c.  instruction all video
     d.  construction all video

10)  and also on how to use the other features ______ toilets
     a.  common inn Japan's
     b.  come on in Japan's
     c.  common in Japan's
     d.  come in Japan's

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

An airport in Japan (1) ___________________ cleanliness to a new level. A company has installed "toilet paper" for smartphones                                (2) ___________________ lavatories at Tokyo's Narita International Airport. Passengers are being encouraged to use (3) ___________________ to disinfect their mobile devices. The cleansing rolls are the idea of Japanese mobile giant NTT Docomo. It (4) ___________________ disinfectant dispensers to be put next to the regular toilet paper holder                         (5) ___________________ seven rest rooms at the airport. A company YouTube video informed us that toilet seats were usually more hygienic than smartphones, saying: "There are more than five times the germs on a smartphone screen (6) ___________________ a toilet seat."

Japan is a world leader in toilet technology (7) ___________________ of the most high-tech bathrooms in the world. Many Japanese homes have toilets that are equipped with (8) ___________________, seat warming, and automated bidet functions. On some, the lid automatically rises when you enter the toilet (9) ___________________ you finish. There is also a gadget that produces loud flushing sounds if you want to hide embarrassing "toilet noises". NTT Docomo (10) ___________________ smartphone wipes with a two-minute instructional video for tourists on how to use the sheets correctly, (11) ___________________ to use the other features common in Japan's toilets. It said it wants to make sure, "foreign tourists could enjoy their (12) ___________________".

Comprehension questions

  1. What level has a Japanese airport taken cleanliness to?
  2. What kind of company paid for the smartphone toilet paper?
  3. How many cubicles at the airport will have the toilet paper?
  4. What informed us that toilet seats were more hygienic?
  5. How many more germs are there on a smartphone than a toilet seat?
  6. What is Japan a world leader in?
  7. What is innovative about toilets in many Japanese homes?
  8. What kind of noises does a gadget hide?
  9. How long is an instructional video?
  10. Who is the instructional video for?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What level has a Japanese airport taken cleanliness to?
a) the top level
b) level 9
c) a new level
d) pre-intermediate level

2) What kind of company paid for the smartphone toilet paper?
a) a mobile company
b) a toilet paper company
c) an airplane company
d) a pet food company

3) How many cubicles at the airport will have the toilet paper?
a) 58
b) 85
c) 68
d) 86

4) What informed us that toilet seats were more hygienic?
a) a newspaper
b) a YouTube video
c) a brochure
d) an inflight guide

5) How many more germs are there on a smartphone than a toilet seat?
a) a few times more
b) a little more
c) 5 times more
d) countless times more

6) What is Japan a world leader in?
a) germs
b) toilet technology
c) toilet paper
d) smartphones

7) What is innovative about toilets in many Japanese homes?
a) the material
b) the shape
c) the colours
d) the flushing

8) What kind of noises does a gadget hide?
a) zips going up and down
b) embarrassing noises
c) coughs
d) flushing

9) How long is an instructional video?
a) two minutes
b) 12 minutes
c) 20 minutes
d) 22 minutes

10) Who is the instructional video for?
a) toilet paper makers
b) YouTube workers
c) airline passengers
d) foreign tourists

Role play

Role A —Disinfectant Wipes

You think disinfected wipes are the most important thing to have in a toilet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a heated seat, a bidet or music.

Role B —Heated Seat

You think a heated seat is the most important thing to have in a toilet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): disinfected wipes, a bidet or music.

Role C —Bidet

You think a bidet is the most important thing to have in a toilet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a heated seat, disinfected wipes or music.

Role D —Music

You think music is the most important thing to have in a toilet. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a heated seat, a bidet or disinfected wipes.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'toilet'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'paper'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • leader
    • some
    • seat
    • hide
    • common
    • enjoy
    • taken
    • special
    • giant
    • paid
    • 86
    • five

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Smartphone toilet paper at Japan airport

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'toilet'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How hygienic are you?
    5. What do you do to avoid germs?
    6. How clean do you think your smartphone is?
    7. How important is cleanliness?
    8. How good an idea is putting smartphone wipes in public places?
    9. What things in public places should be disinfected regularly?
    10. Are there really more germs on a smartphone than a toilet seat?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. How often do you think about germs?
    3. How hygienic are the things you touch in public places?
    4. How good is the smartphone toilet paper for NTT's image?
    5. How high-tech do toilets need to be?
    6. How important is having a warm toilet seat?
    7. What do you think of the gadget to hide embarrassing noises?
    8. Would you like to watch the instructional toilet video?
    9. What are the dangers of germs being everywhere?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the telephone company?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    An airport in Japan has (1) ____ toilet cleanliness to a new level. A company has installed "toilet paper" for smartphones in the public (2) ____ at Tokyo's Narita International Airport. Passengers are being encouraged to use the special (3) ____ to disinfect their mobile devices. The cleansing rolls are the idea of Japanese mobile giant NTT Docomo. It also paid for the disinfectant dispensers to be put next to the (4) ____ toilet paper holder in 86 (5) ____ in seven rest rooms at the airport. A company YouTube video informed us that toilet seats were usually more hygienic than smartphones, saying: "There are more than five times the germs on a smartphone screen as compared (6) ____ a toilet seat."

    Japan is a world leader in toilet technology and (7) ____ some of the most high-tech bathrooms in the world. Many Japanese homes have toilets that are equipped (8) ____ innovative flushing, seat warming, and automated bidet functions. On some, the (9) ____ automatically rises when you enter the toilet and flushes when you finish. There is also a gadget that produces loud flushing sounds if you want to hide embarrassing "toilet noises". NTT Docomo has accompanied its smartphone wipes (10) ____ a two-minute instructional video for tourists on how to use the sheets correctly, and also on how to use the other features (11) ____ in Japan's toilets. It said it wants to make sure, "foreign tourists could enjoy their travel     (12) ____ ".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     finished     (b)     sparkled     (c)     taken     (d)     cleaned    
    2. (a)     lavatories     (b)     latitudes     (c)     laboratories     (d)     langoustines    
    3. (a)     wipes     (b)     wipers     (c)     whips     (d)     wasps    
    4. (a)     regular     (b)     regulars     (c)     regularly     (d)     regulate    
    5. (a)     capsules     (b)     popsicles     (c)     icicles     (d)     cubicles    
    6. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     to    
    7. (a)     boasts     (b)     beats     (c)     beasts     (d)     bastes    
    8. (a)     by     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     with    
    9. (a)     lid     (b)     cap     (c)     top     (d)     roof    
    10. (a)     by     (b)     with     (c)     of     (d)     so    
    11. (a)     every     (b)     common     (c)     ubiquity     (d)     over    
    12. (a)     hygienic     (b)     hygienically     (c)     hygiene     (d)     hyenas

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. taken toilet nleiclnssea to a new level
    2. public tlioavasre
    3. special wipes to ictdesfni their mobile devices
    4. 86 elisubcc in seven rest rooms
    5. A company YouTube video iedrofmn us
    6. more nceygihi than smartphones

    Paragraph 2

    1. sotbas some of the most high-tech bathrooms
    2. nitoneiavv flushing
    3. dottaeamu bidet functions
    4. hide gasnibsamrer "toilet noises"
    5. a two-minute itsntlocuairn video
    6. use the other tsefeaur

    Put the text back together

    1  )     An airport in Japan has taken toilet cleanliness to a new level. A company has installed "toilet paper" for smartphones

    (    )     world. Many Japanese homes have toilets that are equipped with innovative flushing, seat

    (    )     us that toilet seats were usually more hygienic than smartphones, saying: "There are more

    (    )     minute instructional video for tourists on how to use the sheets correctly, and also on how to use the other

    (    )     to the regular toilet paper holder in 86 cubicles in seven rest rooms at the airport. A company YouTube video informed

    (    )     encouraged to use the special wipes to disinfect their mobile devices. The cleansing rolls are the idea

    (    )     warming, and automated bidet functions. On some, the lid automatically rises when you enter the toilet and

    (    )     Japan is a world leader in toilet technology and boasts some of the most high-tech bathrooms in the

    (    )     in the public lavatories at Tokyo's Narita International Airport. Passengers are being

    (    )     features common in Japan's toilets. It said it wants to make sure, "foreign tourists could enjoy their travel hygienically".

    (    )     than five times the germs on a smartphone screen as compared to a toilet seat."

    (    )     embarrassing "toilet noises". NTT Docomo has accompanied its smartphone wipes with a two-

    (    )     of Japanese mobile giant NTT Docomo. It also paid for the disinfectant dispensers to be put next

    (    )     flushes when you finish. There is also a gadget that produces loud flushing sounds if you want to hide

    Put the words in the right order

    1. level   cleanliness   Japan   to   has   a   taken   new   toilet   .
    2. wipes   to   Passengers   use   are   the   being   special   encouraged   .
    3. Japanese  mobile  giant  NTT  The  cleansing  rolls  are  the   idea   of   .
    4. 86   to   toilet   in   Next   regular   holder   cubicles   the   paper   .
    5. germs  on  a  smartphone  There  are  more   than   five   times   the   .
    6. of   the   most   high   -   tech   bathrooms   in   the   world   Some   .
    7. automatically   the   rises   toilet   when   The   you   lid   enter   .
    8. gadget   loud   There   a  produces   sounds   also   that   flushing   is   .
    9. video   instructional   minute   -   two   A   tourists   for   .
    10. to   other   in   How   the   common   toilets   use   features   Japan's   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    An airport in Japan has taken toilet cleanliness to a new / newly level. A company has installed "toilet paper" for smartphones on / in the public lavatories at Tokyo's Narita International Airport. Passengers are been / being encouraged to use the special / specially wipes to disinfect their mobile devices. The cleansing rolls / roles are the idea of Japanese mobile giant NTT Docomo. It also paid / paying for the disinfectant dispensers to be put next to the regulator / regular toilet paper holder in 86 cubicles / articles in seven rest rooms at the airport. A company YouTube video informed us that toilet seats were usual / usually more hygienic than smartphones, saying: "There are more than five times the germ / germs on a smartphone screen as compared / comparison to a toilet seat."

    Japan is a world leader in toilet technology and beasts / boasts some of the most high-tech bathrooms in / on the world. Many Japanese homes have toilets that are equipping / equipped with innovative / innovation flushing, seat warming, and automated bidet functions. On some, the slid / lid automatically rises when you enter the toilet and flushes / flushed when you finish. There is also a gadget that produces loud flashing / flushing sounds if you want to hide embarrassing / embarrass "toilet noises". NTT Docomo has accompanied its smartphone wipes with a two-minute instructional video for tourists on how to use the sheets correct / correctly, and also on how to use the other features common in Japan's toilets. It said it wants to make sure, "foreign tourists could enjoy / enjoyment their travel hygienically".

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _n __rp_rt _n J_p_n h_s t_k_n t__l_t cl__nl_n_ss t_ _ n_w l_v_l. _ c_mp_ny h_s _nst_ll_d "t__l_t p_p_r" f_r sm_rtph_n_s _n th_ p_bl_c l_v_t_r__s _t T_ky_'s N_r_t_ _nt_rn_t__n_l __rp_rt. P_ss_ng_rs _r_ b__ng _nc__r_g_d t_ _s_ th_ sp_c__l w_p_s t_ d_s_nf_ct th__r m_b_l_ d_v_c_s. Th_ cl__ns_ng r_lls _r_ th_ _d__ _f J_p_n_s_ m_b_l_ g__nt NTT D_c_m_. _t _ls_ p__d f_r th_ d_s_nf_ct_nt d_sp_ns_rs t_ b_ p_t n_xt t_ th_ r_g_l_r t__l_t p_p_r h_ld_r _n 86 c_b_cl_s _n s_v_n r_st r__ms _t th_ __rp_rt. _ c_mp_ny Y__T_b_ v_d__ _nf_rm_d _s th_t t__l_t s__ts w_r_ _s__lly m_r_ hyg__n_c th_n sm_rtph_n_s, s_y_ng: "Th_r_ _r_ m_r_ th_n f_v_ t_m_s th_ g_rms _n _ sm_rtph_n_ scr__n _s c_mp_r_d t_ _ t__l_t s__t."

    J_p_n _s _ w_rld l__d_r _n t__l_t t_chn_l_gy _nd b__sts s_m_ _f th_ m_st h_gh-t_ch b_thr__ms _n th_ w_rld. M_ny J_p_n_s_ h_m_s h_v_ t__l_ts th_t _r_ _q__pp_d w_th _nn_v_t_v_ fl_sh_ng, s__t w_rm_ng, _nd __t_m_t_d b_d_t f_nct__ns. _n s_m_, th_ l_d __t_m_t_c_lly r_s_s wh_n y__ _nt_r th_ t__l_t _nd fl_sh_s wh_n y__ f_n_sh. Th_r_ _s _ls_ _ g_dg_t th_t pr_d_c_s l__d fl_sh_ng s__nds _f y__ w_nt t_ h_d_ _mb_rr_ss_ng "t__l_t n__s_s". NTT D_c_m_ h_s _cc_mp_n__d _ts sm_rtph_n_ w_p_s w_th _ tw_-m_n_t_ _nstr_ct__n_l v_d__ f_r t__r_sts _n h_w t_ _s_ th_ sh__ts c_rr_ctly, _nd _ls_ _n h_w t_ _s_ th_ _th_r f__t_r_s c_mm_n _n J_p_n's t__l_ts. _t s__d _t w_nts t_ m_k_ s_r_, "f_r__gn t__r_sts c__ld _nj_y th__r tr_v_l hyg__n_c_lly".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    an airport in japan has taken toilet cleanliness to a new level a company has installed "toilet paper" for smartphones in the public lavatories at tokyo's narita international airport passengers are being encouraged to use the special wipes to disinfect their mobile devices the cleansing rolls are the idea of japanese mobile giant ntt docomo it also paid for the disinfectant dispensers to be put next to the regular toilet paper holder in 86 cubicles in seven rest rooms at the airport a company youtube video informed us that toilet seats were usually more hygienic than smartphones saying "there are more than five times the germs on a smartphone screen as compared to a toilet seat"

    japan is a world leader in toilet technology and boasts some of the most high-tech bathrooms in the world many japanese homes have toilets that are equipped with innovative flushing seat warming and automated bidet functions on some the lid automatically rises when you enter the toilet and flushes when you finish there is also a gadget that produces loud flushing sounds if you want to hide embarrassing "toilet noises" ntt docomo has accompanied its smartphone wipes with a two-minute instructional video for tourists on how to use the sheets correctly and also on how to use the other features common in japan's toilets it said it wants to make sure "foreign tourists could enjoy their travel hygienically"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AnairportinJapanhastakentoiletcleanlinesstoanewlevel.Acompanyh
    asinstalled"toiletpaper"forsmartphonesinthepubliclavatoriesatToky
    o'sNaritaInternationalAirport.Passengersarebeingencouragedtouse
    thespecialwipestodisinfecttheirmobiledevices.Thecleansingrollsare
    theideaofJapanesemobilegiantNTTDocomo.Italsopaidforthedisinfec
    tantdispenserstobeputnexttotheregulartoiletpaperholderin86cubicl
    esinsevenrestroomsattheairport.AcompanyYouTubevideoinformed
    usthattoiletseatswereusuallymorehygienicthansmartphones,sayin
    g:"Therearemorethanfivetimesthegermsonasmartphonescreenasc
    omparedtoatoiletseat."Japanisaworldleaderintoilettechnologyandboastssomeofthemosthigh-techbathroomsintheworld.ManyJapanes
    ehomeshavetoiletsthatareequippedwithinnovativeflushing,seatwar
    ming,andautomatedbidetfunctions.Onsome,thelidautomaticallyrise
    swhenyouenterthetoiletandflusheswhenyoufinish.Thereisalsoagad
    getthatproducesloudflushingsoundsifyouwanttohideembarrassing"
    toiletnoises".NTTDocomohasaccompanieditssmartphonewipeswith
    atwo-minuteinstructionalvideofortouristsonhowtousethesheetsco
    rrectly,andalsoonhowtousetheotherfeaturescommoninJapan'stoilet
    s.Itsaiditwantstomakesure,"foreigntouristscouldenjoytheirtravelhy
    gienically".

    Free writing

    Write about smartphone toilet paper for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We need to do a lot more to avoid contact with germs. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. PUBLIC TOILETS: Make a poster about public toilets. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. SMARTPHONE WIPES: Write a magazine article about all public places having to install disinfectant wipes for smartphones. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on public toilets. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how they can be used to promote hygiene and cleanliness. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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