Self Checkout Machines

Lesson created by

Simply English

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​Self Checkout Machines

Leaving a tip in a restaurant or taxi is a part of life in many countries. Usually, we give a tip to a waiter or to a member of staff in a hotel. At other times, we put the tip in a jar next to the cash register. With modern technology, there is a new way to tip - self checkout machines. People are not so happy about them. The machines are asking for tips. They are in airports, stadiums, cookie shops, and cafes in the USA. Self- checkout machines mean there is no face-to-face contact between people. However, many of these machines are asking customers to leave a 20 per cent tip. Customers say they are not so happy about leaving a tip and giving extra money to a machine.

The Wall Street Journal reported that many people in the USA are becoming tired of tipping because of the self-checkout machines. Reporters wrote that many people are experiencing "tipping fatigue". Nearly 20 per cent of Americans are now leaving tips for things they never used to leave tips for. They are even tipping when buying a bottle of water. This was because there are more digital payment machines. A customer at an airport store said a prompt on a self-checkout machine was like "emotional blackmail". The payments company Square reported that the machines are increasing the number of tips. It said Americans are leaving 15 per cent more tips than before.

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Vocabulary Matching Paragraph One.

The action of communicating or meeting with people.

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Something that uses mechanical power and has different parts, each with a function or task.

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A person whose job is to give people food at their tables in a restaurant.

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All the people who work in a company or organisation.

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Money in coins or notes, not credit card or digital.

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Select answer

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A person who buys goods or services from a shop or business.

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A wide-mouthed glass container used for storing food (like jam or honey).

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Vocabulary Matching Paragraph Two.

The action of asking someone for money to keep information about them a secret.

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About a person's feelings.

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A word or symbol on a computer or smartphone screen to show that the system is waiting for you to click or type something.

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A newspaper or magazine that deals with a particular subject.

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Becoming or making bigger or larger.

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Being tired of something because it's always on the news or in our life.

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The action or process of giving money for something.

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Multiple Choice

True or False.

The article says people in all countries leave tips.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Some people leave a tip in a tip jar next to a cash register.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

People in the USA like self-checkout machines asking for tips.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Some machines are asking customers for a 20% tip.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

People are experiencing tipping fatigue because of the machines.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Some people are leaving tips when they buy bottles of water.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A customer said the machines were using "emotional blackmail".

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The machines are decreasing the number of tips people leave in the US.

• True

• False

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Synonym Match.

countries

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asking for

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contact

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customers

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extra

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tired

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experiencing

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increasing

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number

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before

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Select answer

Drag and Drop

Phrase Match.

a part of life

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Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

in many countries

becoming tired of tipping

contact

blackmail

next to the cash register

to leave tips for

machines

not so happy

technology

Drag and Drop

we put the tip in a jar

​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

next to the cash register

becoming tired of tipping

contact

blackmail

to leave tips for

in many countries

machines

not so happy

technology

Drag and Drop

modern

​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

technology

becoming tired of tipping

contact

blackmail

next to the cash register

to leave tips for

in many countries

machines

not so happy

Drag and Drop

there is no face-to-face

​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

contact

becoming tired of tipping

blackmail

next to the cash register

to leave tips for

in many countries

machines

not so happy

technology

Drag and Drop

Customers say they are

​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

not so happy

becoming tired of tipping

contact

blackmail

next to the cash register

to leave tips for

in many countries

machines

technology

Drag and Drop

many people in the USA are

​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

becoming tired of tipping

contact

blackmail

next to the cash register

to leave tips for

in many countries

machines

not so happy

technology

Drag and Drop

people are experiencing

​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

"tipping fatigue"

becoming tired of tipping

contact

blackmail

next to the cash register

to leave tips for

in many countries

machines

not so happy

technology

Drag and Drop

things they never used

​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

to leave tips for

becoming tired of tipping

contact

blackmail

next to the cash register

in many countries

machines

not so happy

technology

Drag and Drop

digital payment

​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

machines

becoming tired of tipping

contact

blackmail

next to the cash register

to leave tips for

in many countries

not so happy

technology

Drag and Drop

emotional

​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

blackmail

becoming tired of tipping

contact

next to the cash register

to leave tips for

in many countries

machines

not so happy

technology

Open Ended

Now listen to the recording, when the recording finishes type "ok" and press submit to move to the comprehension questions.

Multiple Choice

Multiple Choice.

Where does the article say people leave tips in restaurants and taxis?

• in big cities

• in many countries

• in rich countries

• everywhere

Multiple Choice

Where is there a jar in which people put tips?

• in restaurants

• at the door of the stores

• next to the cash register

• in taxis

Multiple Choice

What do people think about self checkout machines asking for tips?

• They think it's good.

• They're OK with it.

• They don't care.

• They're not happy.

Multiple Choice

What kind of contact does not happen with self checkout machines?

• close contact

• face-to-face contact

• little contact

• regular contact

Multiple Choice

How much of a tip are self checkout machines asking for?

• a 20% tip

• a 15% tip

• a 10% tip

• a 30% tip

Multiple Choice

What are people experiencing because of the self checkout machines?

• tipping fatigue

• poverty

• happiness

• angry feelings

Multiple Choice

What new things are people now leaving tips for?

• airplane tickets

• cakes

• concert tickets

• bottles of water

Multiple Choice

What did a customer say prompts on self checkout machines were like?

• using credit cards

• the future

• emtional blackmail

• saying thank you

Multiple Choice

What kind of company is Square?

• a tipping company

• a credit card company

• a cash register maker

• a digital payments company

Multiple Choice

How much more are Americans tipping because of the machines?

• 10% more

• 15% more

• 5% more

• 20% more

Reorder

Put the text back together.

• Leaving a tip in a restaurant or taxi is a part of life in many countries. Usually, we give a tip to a

• waiter or to a member of staff in a hotel. At other times, we put the tip in a jar next to the cash

• register. With modern technology, there is a new way to tip - self checkout machines. People are not so

• happy about them. The machines are asking for tips. They are in airports, stadiums, cookie

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Reorder

Put the text back together.

• shops, and cafes in the USA. Self-checkout machines mean there is no face-to-face contact between

• people. However, many of these machines are asking customers to leave

• a 20 per cent tip. Customers say they are not so happy about leaving a tip and giving extra money to a machine.

• The Wall Street Journal reported that many people in the USA are becoming tired of tipping because

• of the self-checkout machines. Reporters wrote that many people are experiencing "tipping

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Reorder

Put the text back together.

• fatigue". Nearly 20 per cent of Americans are now leaving tips for things they never used

• to leave tips for. They are even tipping when buying a bottle of water. This was because there are more digital

• payment machines. A customer at an airport store said a prompt on a self-checkout machine was

• like "emotional blackmail". The payments company Square reported that the machines are

• increasing the number of tips. It said Americans are leaving 15 per cent more tips than before.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

​Discussion

What do you think of tipping?

Do you like the idea of self-checkout machines?

Who should we give a tip to?

How much of a tip should we give?

Would you prefer a human or a machine when paying for things?

How important is face-to-face contact in life?

Should tipping only be for restaurants, taxis and hotels?

Is there a custom of tipping in your country?