📖 Reading
Technology changes how we experience the world today. Many teenagers enjoy combining their love for sports with modern gadgets. For example, a young athlete often uses a smartwatch to track their heart rate and speed. These devices provide important data that helps people improve their performance during training. In the digital age, a simple smartphone is now a powerful tool for every sportsperson.
Travel is also different because of new apps. Ricardo, a student from Brazil, usually plans his trips online. He always looks for the best stadiums to visit in Europe because he loves football. He never travels without his noise-cancelling headphones because the planes are often loud. Digital maps are very useful too; they show an accurate route to any sports arena in a new city. Using an app is usually faster than asking for directions.
However, some people think we use technology too much. They say that a person should enjoy the moment without a screen. But for most teens, a camera or a drone is a great way to capture memories. Technology doesn't replace the experience; it makes the trip more exciting. Whether it is a wearable GPS for hiking or a high-tech racket for tennis, gadgets are now a part of our daily lives.
🗣️ Speaking — discussion
Context
- Modern travel is deeply connected to the gadgets we carry.
- Many teenagers today use apps to plan their entire trip, from flights to dinner.
- Sports tourism (traveling to see games or participate in matches) is a growing trend.
- Technology makes the world feel smaller, but does it change the experience of the destination?
Themes
- Digital Exploration — How smartphones and apps have replaced traditional paper maps and guides.
- The Athlete's Journey — The specific habits and routines of people who travel for football or basketball tournaments.
- Unplugging on Vacation — The importance of disconnecting from the internet to enjoy the physical world.
Personal Response
- How often do you travel to different cities for sports competitions?
- Do you prefer to visit a place with a lot of technology or a place with a lot of nature? why?
- What is a typical day like when you are on vacation?
Themes & Ideas
- How does technology help a person navigate a new city?
- Does a regular tourist usually carry a map or a smartphone today?
- In your opinion, is the internet the most important tool for a traveler?
Critical Thinking
- An expensive trip isn't always the best trip. Do you agree? Why?
- How often do people get distracted by their phones while visiting a beautiful landmark?
- Describe the routine of a professional athlete. Is it a difficult life?
🎭 Classroom activity
The 'Travel Influencer' Challenge: Ricardo has to plan a 1-week trip to a famous tech city (like Tokyo or San Francisco) and present his daily routine using the Simple Present and adverbs of frequency.
✏️ Questions
- Ricardo usually watches ___ e-sports tournament on YouTube every Saturday morning before he goes to his soccer practice.
- My brother is not very adventurous; he ___ (hardly ever / go) to the beach because he prefers staying home to play video games.
- Which of the following sentences correctly describes the use of technology in travel?
- a) A) Is always the technology helpful to travel.
- b) B) Technology always is helpful for travel.
- c) C) Technology is always helpful when you are traveling abroad.
- d) D) Always technology is helpful when traveling.
- At ___ Olympic Games, ___ athletes from all over the world use ___ internet to share their experiences with fans.
- a) A) a / the / a
- b) B) the / - / the
- c) C) - / the / -
- d) D) an / the / an
- Rewrite the sentence adding the adverb 'often': Sofia checks her flight status on her smartphone before leaving for the airport.
- A new sports app provides an information about football teams.
- What is the main idea of the text?
- a) The history of the Olympic Games in Europe.
- b) Why teenagers should never use smartphones.
- c) The way gadgets improve sports and travel experiences.
- d) How to become a professional football player in Brazil.
- According to the first paragraph, what device does an athlete use to check their heart rate?
- a) A smartwatch.
- b) A digital map.
- c) A noise-cancelling headphone.
- d) A high-tech racket.
- How often does Ricardo look for stadiums to visit when he plans his trips?
- a) Rarely.
- b) Never.
- c) Sometimes.
- d) Always.
- Why does Ricardo bring noise-cancelling headphones on a plane?
- a) He wants to listen to loud music.
- b) The planes are usually noisy.
- c) He doesn't like talking to people.
- d) They help him find the sports arena.
- Complete the sentence from the text: 'Using ___ app is usually faster than asking for directions.'
- a) A.
- b) An.
- c) The.
- d) Some.
- What is the author's opinion about using technology during a trip?
- a) Technology makes trips very boring.
- b) Technology replaces the real experience.
- c) Screens are more important than the moment.
- d) Technology adds excitement to the experience.