READ ABOUT FITNESS APPS

THIS YEAR’S BEST FITNESS APPS

LESSON 4 READ ABOUT FITNESS APPS

72 UnIt 6

SU-MIN KIM

@Su-minK

Just reached 10 miles on my app with great time, and still going!

ReAd ABoUt FItness APPs

UNIT 6 T-72

LESSON 4 READ ABOUT FITNESS APPS

Choose a warm-up activity from the Warm-Up Activity Bank on page xxii.

• Read the lesson title aloud. Ask, Do you use any fitness apps? If not, what fitness apps are you familiar with?

(for example, walking apps, calorie counting apps, meditation apps, sleep apps, yoga apps)

• Read the social media message aloud. Ask, What kind of app do you think Su-min is describing? (maybe a running app or a cycling app) What does she mean when she says with great time? (a short amount of time) Is Su-min done with her workout? (no) How do you know? (She says, …and still going.)

1 BEFORE YOU READ

• Read the question aloud. Ask a S to read the example answer.

• In pairs, have Ss share their exercise preferences.

• Bring the class together and have Ss write their names and exercise preferences on the board. (for example, George: hiking; Marina: walking) Direct Ss’ attention to the board. Then ask, Do any students have the same exercise preferences?

• Have Ss preview the terms and definitions silently.

• Have Ss listen. Then have them listen and repeat.

• For lower-level Ss, provide example sentences for words they are not familiar with: Jack needed some encouragement while he trained for the marathon.

I usually rate purchases I make online to help other consumers make decisions. I adjusted the workout to be comfortable for both me and my sister. The app helps keep track of calories we eat every day.

Sam follows a low carbohydrate diet. My running app has many cool features like competing with my friends. The cashier scanned the barcode, but nothing happened. My incentive for working out is looking and feeling good.

2 READ

• After previewing, have volunteers share their answer to the question. (for example, running apps)

• Have Ss listen and read.

• Ask Ss to skim the article and underline the vocabulary from 1B. Then have them listen again.

(encouragement, line 9; rate, line 13; adjust, line 13;

keep track of, line 14; a diet, line 14; a feature, line 16;

a barcode, line 17; an incentive, line 19)

OPTION Lead a discussion about fitness apps and features that are appealing to Ss. Poll the class by asking, Which of the three apps in the review would you be interested in trying? Which features interested you most?

TEACHING TIP To take a poll, write a set of options or choices on the board. Say or read each option, and have Ss raise their hands when they hear their favorite.

Write the number of Ss who chose each option on the board. To conclude, make or have Ss make true statements based on the numbers. (For example, More than half of the students in the class prefer the YouGoPal app.)

www.frenglish.ru

3 CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

What is the main idea of the review? Circle the correct answer.

a. FitterNow is probably the best among the three apps.

b. Competition and financial incentives are most likely to make you exercise.

c. The best app choice depends on how you like to exercise.

Read the chart with some features of the fitness apps from the review. Write (✓) if the app has the feature and (X) if it doesn’t.

Features FitVeu FitterNow YouGoPal

Free

Provides a fitness coach Connects to social media Adjusts workout to fitness level Keeps track of – speed

– distance – diet

Lets you compete with friends

FOCUS ON LANGUAGE Reread lines 8–10 in the review. Think about the phrases push them to the next level and there’s nothing like a little competition. Circle the correct answers.

1. The expression push to the next level means .

a. to work harder b. to encourage one’s friends c. to gain social media followers 2. The expression there’s nothing like a little competition means .

a. people don’t like competition b. people don’t compete anymore

c. competition is a good incentive to exercise Read the Reading Skill.

1. Circle the two things that are compared or contrasted in the sentences below.

a. “Compared to FitVeu, FitterNow is more expensive, but I think it’s worth it.”

b. “FitterNow does everything FitVeu does, but unlike FitVeu, it has a diet feature that helps you keep track of your food.”

2. Write the two signal words from the sentences in 1a and 1b.

PAIRS What information did the review provide? Retell the most important ideas in the review. Use your own words.

The review compares three different…

4 MAKE IT PERSONAL

Think about what you want in a fitness app. Take some notes.

PAIRS Discuss your ideas in 4A.

For me, a great fitness app has to have…

READING SKILL Identify comparison and contrast

Writers often compare or contrast two or more things, people, or situations. Look for signals of comparison, such as like, similar, compared to, and just as. Signals of contrast include unlike, in contrast, and whereas.

Find some reviews of fitness apps online. Which ones have a high rating? Why?

UnIt 6 73 I cAn ReAd ABoUt FItness APPs.

UNIT 6 T-73

3 CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

• Have Ss answer the question individually.

• Then bring the class together and go over the answer.

Ask, Why is choice a not correct? (FitterNow has features that might appeal to some people; it’s not necessarily the best.) Why is choice b not correct?

(Competition and financial incentives are just some examples of things that make people exercise.)

• Have Ss do the exercise individually.

• Ask Ss to compare answers with a partner.

• Go over the answers as a class.

OPTION Ask, Do you think it would be helpful to include a chart like this with the review? Why or why not? Which app would best fit your exercise needs?

• Have Ss locate the expressions and circle them in the text.

• Go over the answers as a class. Invite Ss to give other examples of the phrases. (for example, Max pushed to the next level in his math class this semester and had an A+ average. There’s nothing like a little competition to get students to work harder.)

• Read the Reading Skill aloud. For lower-level Ss, clarify that to compare is to look for similarities between two or more things; to contrast is to look for differences.

• Bring the class together to go over the answers.

OPTION Invite Ss to find the contrast signal unlike in line 16. Ask, What two things are being contrasted?

(FitVeu and FitterNow) Invite Ss to think of a different way to say the same sentence. (For example, FitterNow and FitVeu are similar, but FitVeu has an additional feature—it helps you keep track of your food.)

• Create a two-column chart on the board. Elicit the comparison signals from the reading and write them in one of the columns. Elicit and write the contrast signals in the other column. (comparison: like, similar, compared to; contrast: worse, more, better, unlike, in contrast, whereas) Have Ss discuss the information in the chart in 3B using the compare and contrast signals.

Suggest that they start with the example prompt in their book.

4 MAKE IT PERSONAL

• Have Ss look at the list of features in the chart in 3B.

Tell them they can create a fifth column and check what they would like in their ideal app. Tell them to add other features that are important to them.

• Read the example answer aloud and fill in some information. In pairs, have Ss share their ideas.

EXTENSION Have Ss return to Su-min’s social media message. Ask, Which app in the review do you think Su-min would like? (For example, she may like FitVeu or FitterNow because she could share her workouts on social media.)

EXIT TICKET On the board, write, Write four sentences comparing and contrasting two fitness activities. (for example, running and cycling) Use a different signal of comparison or contrast in each sentence. Have Ss write their names and sentences on a blank card or piece of paper. Collect the cards as Ss leave. Read the cards to identify areas for review in later lessons.