Speaking Pairwork 18: Collect Information About Modern Technology

Click here for ‘The Basic Method for Speaking Pairwork’

Elicit from students a list of electric and electronic items and help them along until you have written on the board something like

mobile phones
smart phones
computers
printers
webcams
scanners
digital cameras
televisions
DVD players
microwaves
dish-washers
tablet computers
MP3 players
kettles
refrigerators
washing machines
hair dryers
toasters
vacuum cleaners
air conditioners
mixers
 
Then write on the board four categories
1) computers (hardware)
2) kitchen appliances
3) phones and cameras
4) TV, video & music

Ask each student/team to pick one and tell them they must write 5 survey questions for that category. This time they are trying to collect generally-known technical information, not just ask about personal usage habits. Give them possible questions like:

Do you know anything about _ _ _ _?
Do you know how to use/repair _ _ _ _?
Do you know how a  _ _ _ _ works?
What do you think of (brand)? How does it compare with (brand)?
Have you ever had any problems with _ _ _ _?

The goal is to get them to write questions along the lines of:
Do you know the specs of your computer?
Do you know the different kinds of television available now?
Do you know how a smart phone is different from a normal phone?
What would you tell someone using a microwave for the first time?
Can you explain the different features of a digital camera?

Help them along in this direction with suggestions if they’re having trouble.

When it comes time for the students to interview each other you may find that some still say ‘No, I have no idea’ but the point is for each student to share the information they collect and anything they know themselves or have learned during this exercise they can relate on to that student who knows nothing. Explain this to them before they start.