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E9 G - Explain a current issue in simple English

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E9 G - Explain a current issue in simple English

Look first. What can you see? Name three things in simple English.

Mini description: E-waste means old or broken electronic devices. The world produces a lot of e-waste. Many devices contain useful metals, but not enough e-waste is recycled safely. We can repair, reuse and recycle more.

I can ...

I can understand the main idea of a short text about e-waste.
I can react with a short opinion and one reason.
I can ask a simple follow-up question.
I can explain the issue in about 5–7 clear sentences.
I can improve my text after feedback.

Before you start

What do you already know?

Name two electronic devices you use often.
What happens to an old phone in your home?
Which is better: repair, reuse or throw away? Give one reason.

Useful starters: I think ... / In my home ... / Maybe ... because ...

Listening and Viewing

First viewing: Do not read a transcript yet. Watch for the main idea.

After the first viewing:

What is e-waste?
Name one cause of e-waste.
Name one possible solution.

Second viewing: Listen again. Write down three key words. Compare them with a partner.

Need help?

Hint 1: Listen for phone, computer, waste, recycle.
Hint 2: Stop after a short part and say the idea in one sentence.
Hint 3: Use: E-waste is ... / One problem is ... / One solution is ...

Transcript rule: Read a transcript only after your first listening attempt. First try to understand the message, not every word.

Reading: The issue in simple English

E-waste is a growing problem. It includes old phones, computers, TVs and other electrical devices. The latest global monitor used in this course reports that the world produced about 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022. Only about 22% was documented as formally collected and recycled.

Electronic devices can contain useful materials such as copper and gold. They can also contain harmful substances. Unsafe burning or dumping can hurt people and the environment.

A simple idea is: use devices longer, repair them, reuse them and recycle them correctly.

Source check:

Context vocabulary

English	Simple meaning	German hint
e-waste	old or broken electronic devices	Elektroschrott
device	an electronic object	Gerät
repair	make something work again	reparieren
reuse	use something again	wiederverwenden
recycle	get useful material from waste	recyceln
harmful	bad for health or nature	schädlich
resource	useful material	Rohstoff
landfill	a place where waste is put into the ground	Mülldeponie

Use the words: Choose four words and make one short sentence with each word.

Pronunciation and Fluency

Say these words slowly, then in a short sentence:

RE-cycle – We recycle old phones.
RE-use – We can reuse this device.
re-PAIR – Can we repair it?
E-waste – E-waste is a global problem.

Fluency tip: Speak in short idea groups. A clear message is more important than a perfect accent.

Try again: Record yourself only if you want to. Keep recordings private unless you choose to share them. Do not upload recordings without permission.

Speaking: respond and ask

Work with a partner.

Student A: I think people should use phones longer because it creates less waste.

Student B: React and ask one question.

Useful language:

I agree because ...
I am not sure because ...
Why do you think that?
What could we do at school?
Can you give an example?

Mini challenge: Speak for 30–45 seconds about one old device. Say what happened to it and what a better solution could be.

Writing: explain the issue

Write 5–7 sentences.

Use this plan:

Topic: E-waste is ...
Fact: A lot of e-waste ...
Problem: One problem is ...
Example: For example ...
Solution: We can ...
Opinion: I think ... because ...

Model:

E-waste is old electronic equipment. We use many phones and computers. When devices break, they can become waste. E-waste contains useful materials, but it can also be harmful. We can repair and reuse devices. We should recycle old electronics correctly. I think using a phone longer is a good idea because it creates less waste.

Functional grammar

Use only a few important structures.

can + verb for solutions: We can repair old devices.

should + verb for advice: People should recycle e-waste correctly.

because for a reason: I reuse my phone because it still works.

Accuracy focus:

After can and should, use the basic verb: can repair, not can repairs.
Use because to connect an opinion and a reason.
Start a sentence with a capital letter and finish it clearly.

Mediation

A German notice says:

Alte Handys und andere Elektrogeräte gehören nicht in den normalen Hausmüll. Gib sie an einer passenden Sammelstelle ab.

Tell an English-speaking visitor the important message. Do not translate every word.

Use: Old phones and electronic devices ... Please ...

Help levels

Level 1 – strong help: Use the sentence starters from the writing plan.

Level 2 – some help: Use only these key words: e-waste – problem – repair – reuse – recycle – because.

Level 3 – little help: Explain the issue without a sentence frame and add one follow-up question.

Feedback and improve

Give feedback with two stars and one next step.

Star 1: One sentence is very clear.
Star 2: One reason or example works well.
Next step: Improve one sentence.

Then rewrite only the sentence that needs improvement. Keep your own original text too, so you can see your progress.

Error analysis

Find and improve the mistakes.

We can recycles old phones.
I think repair is good it makes less waste.
People should to reuse devices.

Check: Which mistake is about can/should? Which sentence needs a connector such as because?

Transfer: use the language again

Choose a new current issue you know, for example food waste, plastic waste or saving energy.

Use the same pattern: The issue is ... One problem is ... For example ... We can ... I think ... because ...

Media challenge

Look at the repair photo above.

Name five things you can see.
What might the people be doing?
Make one sentence with repair.
Make one question with could or can.

Now compare it with this image:

Question: What is the difference between repair and recycling?

Deeper viewing

This video is longer and the English is harder. Use only a short part first. Focus on images and key words, not every detail.

Viewing task:

Watch about the first minute.
Note two things you see.
Note one word you understand.
Say: The video shows ...

Safety and source check: Videos can simplify a topic. Compare important facts with reliable sources such as WHO or ITU.

AI and source check

If you use an AI tool for ideas, check important facts with a reliable source. Do not copy a full AI answer as your own work. Keep your own sentences and improve them yourself.

Never enter private names, account data, private social-media information or other personal data into an external tool.

Can-do check

I can ...	Yes	Almost	Not yet
understand the main idea of a short e-waste text	□	□	□
give an opinion and one reason	□	□	□
ask one follow-up question	□	□	□
write 5–7 clear sentences	□	□	□
improve one sentence after feedback	□	□	□

Follow-up course

Next step: E9 G - Give your opinion on a current issue

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What is e-waste? (Old or broken electronic devices) (!Only food waste) (!Only paper) (!Clean drinking water)

Which item can become e-waste? (A mobile phone) (!A banana) (!A newspaper) (!A glass of water)

What does repair mean? (Make something work again) (!Throw something away) (!Buy two new devices) (!Hide waste at home)

What does reuse mean? (Use something again) (!Burn something) (!Break something) (!Lose something)

Which sentence gives a reason? (I reuse my phone because it still works.) (!Reuse my phone.) (!My phone old.) (!Because phone.)

Which form is correct? (We can repair it.) (!We can repairs it.) (!We can repaired it.) (!We can repairing it.)

Which form is correct advice? (People should recycle old devices.) (!People should recycles old devices.) (!People should to recycle old devices.) (!People should recycling old devices.)

What is one useful action? (Use a device longer) (!Throw every old phone into normal waste) (!Buy a new phone every week) (!Burn electronic parts)

What should you do before reading a transcript in this course? (Listen once for the main idea) (!Translate every word first) (!Skip the audio) (!Read only German)

What is the main communication goal? (Explain the issue clearly) (!Speak with a perfect accent) (!Use very long sentences) (!Memorise every statistic)

Memory

e-waste	old electronic devices
repair	make a device work again
reuse	use an item again
recycle	recover useful material
landfill	place where waste is buried
resource	useful material

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
repair	make a broken device work again
reuse	use an item again
recycle	recover material from waste
harmful	bad for people or nature
resource	useful material

Kreuzworträtsel

recycle	What can you do with old electronics to recover useful materials?
repair	What can you do when a device is broken but can work again?
copper	Which useful metal can be found in electronic devices?
landfill	What is a place where waste is put into the ground?
battery	What part gives power to many mobile devices?
reuse	What means using an item again?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Picture talk: Choose one Commons image from this course and describe five things you can see.
My old device: Write five sentences about an old phone, tablet or computer. Do not use private account information.
Question chain: Ask a partner three simple questions about repairing, reusing or recycling devices.
Mini poster: Make a small English poster with the message Repair – Reuse – Recycle and three short tips.

Standard

One-minute talk: Give a short talk about e-waste. Use one fact, one example and one solution.
School device survey: Ask classmates anonymously what they do with old devices. Report the results without names.
Repair or replace: Create a dialogue between two fictional students who discuss an old phone.
Short email: Write a structured email to a fictional school eco-team with one idea for reducing e-waste.

Schwer

Source check: Compare one statement from a video with WHO or ITU information. Explain whether the statement is supported.
Mini report: Write 100–120 words about the problem, causes and two solutions. Use simple paragraphs.
Mediation task: Read a short German recycling notice and explain the key message orally in English without translating every sentence.
Current issue transfer: Choose a different current issue and explain it with the same 5-step structure: topic, problem, example, solution, opinion.

Lernkontrolle

Main idea and evidence: Read a short text about old phones. State the main idea and choose two details that support it.
Problem and solution: Explain how repair can reduce e-waste. Use a cause-and-effect sentence.
Compare actions: Compare reuse and recycle. Explain when each action can be useful.
Source reliability: You see a surprising statistic in a short video. Describe two steps you can take to check it.
Transfer speaking: Explain another current issue in 5–7 simple English sentences and answer one follow-up question.
Improve a text: Revise a short learner text so that it has a clear topic sentence, one reason with because and a useful solution.

Lernnachweis

For a successful learning record, show that you can:

understand the main idea of a short text or video
use important topic words correctly
give an opinion with a reason
ask and answer a follow-up question
explain the issue in 5–7 clear sentences
use can, should and because correctly in simple sentences
check an important fact with a reliable source
improve your own text after feedback

A possible product is a short written explanation plus a 30–60 second talk. Audio or video recording is voluntary and should stay private unless you choose to share it.

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E9 G - Explain a current issue in simple English

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