E8 G - Reduce, reuse, repair
aiMOOCE8 G - Reduce, reuse, repair
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E8 G - Reduce, reuse, repair
Mini-Beschreibung: Understand short practical tips about reducing waste, reusing things and repairing items. Decide which action makes sense in fictional everyday situations.
Level: English as a first foreign language, Year 8, G level, Baden-Württemberg.
Start with the picture. What do the three arrows make you think of? Say three English words. If you need help, use: use – again – waste – repair – buy – throw away.
Your learning route
English first → context → try → ask → hint → German help if needed.
Try in English first. Do not translate every word. Use the situation, the picture and known words. Ask for help only when you need it. A short German hint is there as a last step.
I can ...
- I can understand short tips about reduce, reuse and repair.
- I can find the main idea in a short video or text.
- I can decide what a person should do in a simple situation.
- I can give my opinion and one reason.
- I can write a short connected message about a practical environmental choice.
- I can notice passive forms and the past perfect in a text without having to produce them.
What you already know
Look at these situations. Say one idea for each one.
- A T-shirt has a small hole.
- Your water bottle still works.
- A friend wants a new phone although the old phone still works.
- You have books you do not read anymore.
Useful words: keep, use again, fix, give away, buy less.
Hint: Think: Do I really need a new thing?
German help: Es geht um einfache Entscheidungen: weniger kaufen, Dinge weiterverwenden, reparieren oder weitergeben.
Media start: What can stay in use?
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Look – think – speak. The bag can be used many times. Which is the better sentence?
- “I use this bag once.”
- “I can use this bag again and again.”
Say one more example of a thing you can reuse.
Picture task: What can people do in a second-hand shop? Choose two useful verbs: buy – sell – reuse – throw away – repair.
Core idea: Reduce, reuse, repair
Reduce means: use less and avoid unnecessary waste.
Reuse means: use an item again, or give it to another person.
Repair means: fix a broken item so you can use it longer.
A circular way of thinking tries to keep products and materials in use instead of quickly turning them into waste.
Media task: Look at the picture before you read more. What is the main idea?
Try: “Repair can come before recycling because ...”
Hint: Think about the whole product. Can it still be used?
German help: Reparieren kann sinnvoll sein, bevor ein Gegenstand zu Material für das Recycling wird.
Three quick rules
| Situation | Useful action | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| You do not need an item. | Reduce | Do not buy it. |
| The item still works. | Reuse | Keep using it or pass it on. |
| The item is broken but fixable. | Repair | Keep it in use longer. |
Important: Recycling is useful too, but this course focuses first on reducing, reusing and repairing.
Listening and viewing 1: Rethink progress
First viewing: Watch a short part without subtitles. Do not stop for every unknown word.
Question: Is the video mainly about...
- making and using things in a different way,
- learning how to repair one bicycle,
- buying more products?
Feedback: The main idea is making and using things in a different way. If you understood this, your first viewing was successful.
Second viewing: Watch again with English subtitles or the YouTube transcript. Use the transcript only now, after your first listening try.
Find these ideas: waste – design – use again – materials.
Viewing challenge: Say one sentence: “One useful idea is ... because ...”
Reading: Three fictional profiles
All profiles are fictional.
Nora, 14: Nora wants a new backpack. Her old backpack is dirty, but it is not broken. She cleans it. Then she decides to use it for another school year. She says that buying less can be a good choice.
Sam, 13: Sam’s bike has a problem with the brakes. Sam does not try a risky repair alone. An adult checks the bike with Sam. The bike is repaired and can be used again.
Leo, 14: Leo has two hoodies that are too small. They are still in good condition. Leo gives them to a local second-hand project.
Reading task: Match each person with one main action: reduce – reuse – repair.
Feedback: Nora → reduce. Sam → repair. Leo → reuse. More than one idea can sometimes fit real life, but these are the main actions in the profiles.
Read for reasons
Complete the ideas in your own words.
- Nora keeps the backpack because ...
- Sam gets help because ...
- Leo passes on the hoodies because ...
Hint: Use because + reason.
Example structure: “I think this is useful because the item can stay in use.”
Context vocabulary
Do not learn a long list first. Use the words in the situations.
| English | Simple meaning | Short German help |
|---|---|---|
| waste | things or materials we do not use anymore | Abfall |
| reduce | use or buy less | verringern |
| reuse | use again | wiederverwenden |
| repair | fix something | reparieren |
| broken | not working correctly | kaputt |
| second-hand | used before by another person | gebraucht |
| spare part | a part used to replace a broken part | Ersatzteil |
| throw away | put something in the waste | wegwerfen |
| keep | continue to have or use | behalten |
| choice | a decision between options | Wahl |
Mini-check: Which word fits?
“The zip is broken, but the bag can be ______.”
Feedback: repaired
Pronunciation
Focus on being easy to understand. You do not need a perfect accent.
- reduce – stress the second syllable.
- reuse – stress the second syllable.
- repair – stress the second syllable.
- waste – make the final /st/ clear.
- choice – make the final sound clear.
Speak slowly once. Then speak naturally. Record yourself only if you want to. Keep recordings private. Do not upload them without a clear reason and permission.
Listening and viewing 2: Circular economy
Before watching: Predict. Which words may appear? reuse – waste – materials – repair – future.
First try: Watch without subtitles. Choose the best main idea:
“Products and materials should stay in use for longer.”
Second try: Watch again with English subtitles. Listen for two words you predicted.
After watching: Tell a partner one idea from the video. Do not retell everything.
Hint: “The video says that ...”
Reading with a visual: Repair before replace?
A repair café is a place where people can work on broken everyday items together. People may share tools, experience and practical skills.
Situation: A lamp does not work. The cable looks damaged.
What is the sensible action?
- Stop using it.
- Ask a qualified adult or repair service for help.
- Do not open unsafe electrical equipment by yourself.
English first: Explain the reason in one sentence.
Hint: Use “It may be dangerous, so ...”
German help: Sicherheit geht vor. Nicht jede Reparatur ist eine Aufgabe für Lernende.
Another repair example
A loose button or a small hole in a shirt can often be a simple repair task.
Try: What would you do first?
- Find out what the problem is.
- Check what tool you need.
- Ask for help if you are unsure.
Functional grammar: Notice it, use only what you need
Passive: receptive at G level
Read these sentences.
“The bike is repaired.”
“The old shirt was repaired.”
The important information is the action or result. You only need to recognise this form here. You do not have to build new passive sentences in this course.
Past perfect: receptive at G level
Read:
“Sam used the bike again after it had been repaired.”
The form helps show that one action happened before another past action. At G level, understanding the meaning is enough.
No pressure: You do not need to produce the past perfect here.
Reported speech without backshift
Nora says: “Repair is useful.”
You can report:
“Nora says that repair is useful.”
Use this simple form when you report what a person says now. No backshift is needed in this task.
Try: Sam says: “The bike works again.”
Write: “Sam says that ...”
Feedback: Sam says that the bike works again.
Speaking: What should they do?
Work with fictional situations.
Situation A: A student wants new headphones. The old ones still work.
Situation B: A jacket zip is broken.
Situation C: A family has five reusable shopping bags at home.
Choose one situation and speak for about 30–45 seconds.
Use connected ideas:
“I think ...”
“The reason is ...”
“So I would ...”
Challenge: Add one alternative: “Another option is ...”
Feedback check: Your answer is successful if you name the situation, choose an action and give one reason.
Writing: A short practical message
Write 70–100 words to a fictional classmate.
Task: Your classmate wants to throw away a backpack because one strap is loose. Give practical advice.
Structure:
- Greeting
- Problem
- Your suggestion
- One reason
- Friendly ending
Use only a few supports: I think ... / You could ... / because ...
Do not copy a model text. Your own text can be short and clear.
Self-feedback:
- Did I answer the problem?
- Did I give a reason?
- Are my sentences connected?
- Did I check key words and verb forms?
Mediation: Short help in English
A German-speaking visitor sees this notice in a fictional school workshop:
„Kaputte Kleingeräte bitte nicht selbst öffnen. Erst eine betreuende Person fragen.“
Your job is not to translate every word. Give the important message in simple English.
Try first.
Hint: Start with: “Please do not ... Ask ... first.”
Possible answer: Please do not open broken electrical items yourself. Ask the person in charge first.
Media task: Repair choices
Look carefully. Name three things you can see. Then answer:
Which information would you need before deciding whether a bike repair is safe to do yourself?
Think about tools, skills and the type of problem.
Compare the two pictures.
Speaking prompt: “Bike repair can be different from clothes repair because ...”
There is no need to use difficult technical words. Clear meaning is more important.
Decision lab: Which action fits?
Read the fictional cases.
| Case | Choose | Explain |
|---|---|---|
| A notebook has many empty pages. | reduce / reuse / repair | Use it again for notes. |
| A chair has one loose screw. | reduce / reuse / repair | Fix it safely with the right tool. |
| A phone works well, but a newer model is advertised. | reduce / reuse / repair | Keep the working phone. |
| A clean jacket is too small. | reduce / reuse / repair | Pass it on. |
| A glass jar is empty and clean. | reduce / reuse / repair | Use it for storage if suitable. |
Important: In real life, more than one answer can be possible. Give a reason for your choice.
Error analysis
Read the learner sentences.
- “I reuse my bottle yesterday.”
- “The bag is repair by Sam.”
- “She says that she reused it because is useful.”
Find the problem. Do not rewrite everything at once.
Hints:
- Look at the time word yesterday.
- Remember: passive is for recognition here; a simpler active sentence may be easier.
- Check whether the sentence after because has a subject.
Feedback: Possible corrections: “I reused my bottle yesterday.” “Sam repairs the bag.” “She says that she reused it because it is useful.” At G level, choose a clear form you can control.
AI and digital tools: Use them carefully
AI can make mistakes. Check language level, facts and feedback.
- Use AI for a hint, not as a replacement for your own text.
- Do not enter private names, addresses, account data or private social-media information.
- Do not upload a recording or photo without permission.
- If you use an external tool, your teacher should first check whether it is suitable and allowed.
- Compare AI feedback with your textbook, teacher feedback or a reliable dictionary.
Rule: Your learning matters more than a perfect-looking answer.
Transfer: Your 24-hour challenge
Choose one real but privacy-safe action for one day:
- Use one reusable item you already have.
- Repair or maintain one simple safe item.
- Avoid one unnecessary purchase.
- Pass on one usable item.
Then write three English sentences:
“Today I ...”
“It was useful because ...”
“Next time I ...”
Do not post the result publicly. Sharing in class is optional.
Can-do check
| I can ... | Yes | Almost | Not yet |
|---|---|---|---|
| understand the main idea of a short sustainability video | □ | □ | □ |
| understand practical tips about reduce, reuse and repair | □ | □ | □ |
| choose an action for a fictional situation and give a reason | □ | □ | □ |
| speak in connected sentences for about 30–45 seconds | □ | □ | □ |
| write a short practical message | □ | □ | □ |
| recognise simple passive and past-perfect forms in context | □ | □ | □ |
If “Almost”: repeat one media task and use the hints.
If “Not yet”: use the vocabulary table and one short situation. Do not repeat the whole course.
Follow-up course
Continue with E8 G - Smart choices and waste.
You can also review Nachhaltigkeit, Recycling, Reparatur and Kreislaufwirtschaft.
Interaktive Aufgaben
Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen
What does reduce mean in this course? (Use or buy less) (!Throw every item away) (!Buy a new item quickly) (!Use more packaging)
What is a good example of reuse? (Use a clean jar again for storage) (!Break a working jar) (!Buy a new jar every day) (!Throw a usable jar away)
What does repair mean? (Fix a broken item) (!Advertise a new item) (!Hide an item) (!Use more electricity)
A backpack is dirty but not broken. What is a sensible first action? (Clean it and keep using it) (!Throw it away immediately) (!Buy two new backpacks) (!Cut the straps)
A bike brake has a serious problem. What is a safe choice? (Ask a skilled adult or repair service for help) (!Ignore the problem) (!Ride faster) (!Repair it without knowing how)
Which sentence gives an opinion with a reason? (I think reuse is useful because the item stays in use) (!Reuse) (!A bottle) (!Yesterday at school)
What should you do before using a video transcript in this course? (Try listening first) (!Read only the German translation) (!Skip the video) (!Copy every line)
What do you need to do with passive forms at G level here? (Recognise and understand them) (!Produce long passive texts) (!Change every sentence into passive) (!Memorise all passive tenses)
Which sentence reports speech without backshift? (Nora says that repair is useful) (!Nora repair useful) (!Nora saying useful) (!Repair says Nora)
What is a good rule for AI use in this course? (Check the output and keep your own thinking) (!Let AI replace your whole text) (!Upload private data) (!Trust every answer without checking)
Memory
| Reduce | use less |
| Reuse | use again |
| Repair | fix a broken item |
| Second-hand | used before by another person |
| Waste | material or items not used anymore |
| Spare part | replacement part for a broken part |
Drag and Drop
| Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu. | Thema |
|---|---|
| Reduce | avoid an unnecessary purchase |
| Reuse | use a clean jar again |
| Repair | fix a loose chair screw safely |
| Second-hand | pass on a good jacket |
| Check | look at facts and safety before acting |
|}
...
Kreuzworträtsel
| repair | What verb means to fix something? |
| reuse | What verb means to use something again? |
| waste | What word means material or items that are no longer used? |
| choice | What word means a decision between options? |
| broken | What adjective describes something that does not work correctly? |
| reduce | What verb means to use or buy less? |
LearningApps
Lückentext
Offene Aufgaben
Leicht
- Reuse photo hunt: Find three reusable objects at home or at school. Write one English sentence for each. Do not photograph private information.
- Repair or replace: Choose five fictional objects and sort them into repair, reuse or replace only if necessary. Give one reason each.
- Mini speaking: Record a private 30-second answer to “How can I reduce waste this week?” Recording is voluntary.
- Vocabulary cards: Create eight small cards with an English word on one side and a simple English meaning on the other.
Standard
- Advice message: Write a 90-word message to a fictional student whose jacket has a broken zip.
- Media comparison: Compare two Commons pictures from this course. Explain one similarity and one difference.
- Class repair guide: Design a short English poster with three safe repair rules and three reuse ideas.
- Interview simulation: With a partner, role-play a short interview with a fictional repair-café volunteer. Use no real private data.
Schwer
- Decision report: Analyse four fictional household situations and explain which action is most sensible in each case.
- Video response: Watch one embedded video again and write a 120-word response with the main idea, one example and your opinion.
- Mediation challenge: Explain a short German school notice about reuse in simple English without translating every word.
- Mini project: Plan a one-week class “use it longer” challenge. Include safe actions, a simple English slogan and a reflection question.
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Lernkontrolle
- Decision and reason: A fictional student wants to replace a working phone. Explain two possible actions and the consequences of each.
- Transfer to school: Choose one school object and explain how reduce, reuse and repair could apply to it.
- Media understanding: Describe the message of one repair image from memory and connect it to one course idea.
- Language in context: Explain why “The bike had been repaired before Sam used it again” shows two past moments. You do not need to produce a new past-perfect sentence.
- Safety transfer: A small electrical item is broken. Explain what a learner should do and why.
- Opinion task: “Repair is always better than buying new.” Give a balanced short response with one reason and one exception.
Lernnachweis
For a learning record, show that you can:
- understand the main idea of a short English text or video about reduce, reuse and repair,
- use important context vocabulary,
- make a sensible decision in a fictional everyday situation,
- give an opinion with a reason,
- write a short connected practical text,
- understand simple passive and past-perfect forms in context,
- use digital and AI tools carefully without giving away private data,
- reflect on one transfer action.
A learning record should show your own work. A perfect accent is not required. Clear English is the goal.
OERs zum Thema
Wikimedia Commons media used in this course:
- Recycling symbol
- Reusable shopping bag
- Second-hand shop
- Repair versus recycling
- Repair Café Trier
- Textile repair
- Bike repair
- Clothes repair
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Further open learning:
Verknüpfte Lernbereiche