Bridging the Technology Gap

B1 – Intermediate

We are in the high technology age. Technical devices get upgraded almost every time.

However, did we consider those people still living in the past? If they have the same knowledge of technology as the people of this generation?

This article contains a video and an audio clip. Feel free to to watch and listen.

http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/teen-senior-bridge-technology-gap/2451596.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about this type of classes?
  2. Would you volunteer to be a tech teacher to an elderly person? Why or why not?
  3. What are some things that older people should learn about technology/internet etc. and why?
  4. What are other things old people should be taught about by younger people?
  5. Should this tech gap be considered a social issue? Explain.

Video: Young Kids as Coders

C1 – Advanced

Meet Max, a ten year old boy, whose interest is, probably, far different from most kids his age. Watch as he talks about why he thinks it’s important for young kids to be taught how to write codes.

Ten-year-old computer programmer backs school change

Discuss:

1. What can you say about Max?
2. Do you agree with what he said?
3. Do you think it would be good to teach Spanish children to code computer programs too?

Gaming Technology in Surgical Training

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Following Facebook’s recent acquisition of Oculus VR – a next generation virtual reality technology – gaming enthusiasts are expressing hostility towards it. Discover how gaming technology could be used in surgical training and find out why the gaming industry is being antagonistic about it.

Feel free to watch the videos included in the article.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/281752.php#1

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts about this news?
  2. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using such technology?
  3. What other technologies has drastically helped the medical industry?