7D Means of communication

A Label the pictures with the means of communication in the box.

email fax mobile phone newspaper radio telegram telephone television

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8

B Discuss the questions in your group. Give reasons for your answers.
1 Which of the methods of communication do you think is the oldest/most modern?
2 Which do you use most/least regularly?
3 Which of them is most important to you personally?
4 Which do you think is the most important for society as a whole?
5 What do you know about the history and development of each of the methods?

C You are going to find out more about one of the methods to communicate. Use the following questions to help guide
your research. Prepare and deliver to the class a short group presentation about the means of communication.
1 When and where was it developed?
2 Who was it developed by?
3 Why was it first created?
4 Why did it catch on?
5 How does it work as a means of communication?
6 Today, is it more or less popular than in the past? Why?

Solutions 2nd edition  Upper-Intermediate © Oxford University Press • Photocopiable

 7D Means of communication

Aims  To engage students in a group project to research a

method of communication and deliver a presentation
Time  15 minutes + extra time for presentations
Materials  8 handouts for the class; students will need Internet
access to complete the research project
• Divide the class into eight groups and give each group
a handout. Tell them to complete task A and then check
answers as a class.
Answer Key
1 telephone 4 radio 7 newspaper
2 fax 5 television 8 mobile phone
3 e-mail 6 telegram
• Give students time in groups to discuss the questions in B.
Get feedback from the class on their opinions and ideas.
• Assign a different means of communication from A to each
group. Allow them time to conduct some online research,
using the questions in task C as a basis, and prepare a
short presentation.
• Each group in turn delivers their presentation to the class.
Get feedback from students on which of the presentations/
information they found most interesting.

Solutions 2nd edition  Upper-Intermediate © Oxford University Press