The Claw Machine Capital of Asia
Grammar: Discourse markers and connectors
A Level 6 English lesson exploring culture.
What's in this lesson
A Level 6 (proficiency) ESL lesson on culture, practising discourse markers and connectors. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Claw Machine Capital of Asia
Walk into any shopping arcade in Hong Kong today and you will likely hear it before you see it: the mechanical whirr of a crane arm descending, the collective held breath of a small crowd, and then either the groan of defeat or the clatter of a prize tumbling into the collection tray. Claw machines — those glass-fronted cabinets packed with plushies, Labubu dolls, and Pokémon collectibles — have multiplied across the city with remarkable speed. There are now more than 2,500 dedicated claw machine venues in Hong Kong alone, many of them operating around the clock, and many occupying the empty retail units left behind when businesses shuttered during the pandemic years.
Vocabulary
- apathetic
- contained
- excluded
- proliferated
- build
- cuts across
- give away
- left behind
- multiplied
Discussion questions
- Have you ever spent more money than you planned on something you thought would be fun?
- Should governments regulate activities that are entertaining but potentially addictive?
- What does a city's most popular pastime reveal about its people?
The Claw Machine Capital of Asia
Grammar: Discourse markers and connectors
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
Sign up to access full lesson plans
Start with a free trial — 5 lesson generations included
Get Started Free