Learning Objective: This is a reading and comprehension and conversation class. At the end of the session, the participants are expected to be able to practice reading properly, enhance comprehension and recall and answer the questions about the article.


Story Proper

A Brazilian inventor has come up with a new gadget that converts your breath into electricity. This means breathing has become a source of renewable energy – at least while you are alive. Joco Paulo Lammoglia, from Rio De Janeiro, won the Red Dot design award for his AIRE device. His invention uses the wind flow created by breathing and changes it into energy that can power mobile phones and iPods. Tiny turbines in the AIRE charger create the electrical power from your breath. The device is worn like a mask and can be used while exercising or even when sleeping. Mr Lammoglia hopes his new creation will help protect the environment.

Lammoglia explained how useful he hopes the AIRE will become. He said: “I hope to bring the concept into production and reduce the carbon footprint. It can be used indoors or outdoors, while you’re sleeping, walking, running or even reading a book.” He also said his invention encouraged people to exercise as well as saving energy and the environment. He explained why he thought the AIRE was so useful, saying: “Though many of our modern gadgets offer benefits, they tend to use a high amount of electrical energy. Harnessing energy from human activities and transforming it into electricity is possible and is a great solution.” The product is not yet on sale but is sure to be a big seller when it does hit the shelves.




Activity Proper

1. RENEWABLE ENERGY: Walk around the class and talk to other students about renewable energy.

2. CHAT: Decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

Brazilian / inventor / breath / design award / mobile phones / exercising / protect / concept / production / outdoors / saving energy / great solution / on sale / shelves

3. BODY POWER: Invent some crazy gadgets?


Power from… ---- Name---- Function---- How it works

your heartbeat
blinking
body temperature
chewing
thinking
talking


4. CLEAN: Students A strongly believe all energy will be clean in the future; Students B strongly believe otherwise.

What about you?


5. ENERGY: Which of these do you think will we use most in 2112?

oil
wind
solar
coal
tidal t
hermal
nuclear
something totally new




"Online activities, the mp3 and printable handouts are available for this lesson at http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com"