Includes video transcripts for TED Talks.

"21st Century Reading was created through a partnership between TED, a nonprofit dedicated to spreading ideas through short, powerful talks and National Geographic Learning. 21st Century Reading provides the ideal forum for learners of English to make connections with topics ranging from science to business to global issues. Using TED Talks as the springboard to share ideas, this new four-level reading series shows learners how to understand and respond to ideas and content in English.

Featuring extraordinary stories presented by inspiring thinkers and doers, TED Talks ignite curiosity and introduce learners to ideas which can change the world.

TED Talks use authentic language, delivered by experts in their field, providing learners with models of English that are real and relevant to their academic studies.

Critical and Creative Thinking skills – including analysis, evaluation, synthesis, reflection, inference, and problem-solving – are fully integrated into every unit, to help learners develop academic skills.

Scaffolded reading and vocabulary tasks guide learners to a better understanding of the key ideas, skills, and language." -Publisher's website

CONTENTS:

Unit 1: Hidden Miracles Life Sciences

Lesson A Reading
Viewing Nature's Beauty Through a New Lens - Interview

Reading Skills
Understanding reasons
Understanding key details
Paraphrasing ideas

Critical Thinking
Interpreting a statement
Reflecting on own experience

Lesson B TED Talks
Hidden Miracles of the Natural World - Louie Schwartzberg

Academic Skills
Understanding main ideas and key details
Connecting ideas using a concept map
Making predictions

Critical Thinking
Making predictions

Project
Researching for a presentation on biomimicry

Unit 2: Sleep Matters Health Science

Lesson A Reading
Are You Sleeping Enough? - Scientific Report

Reading Skills
Identifying reasons and effects
Understanding statistics
Understanding infographics

Critical Thinking
Analyzing a writer's claims
Evaluating an argument

Lesson B TED Talks
How to Succeed? Get More Sleep - Arianna Huffington

Academic Skills
Understanding main ideas and classifications
Understanding metaphors
Understanding a speaker's message

Critical Thinking
Evaluating an argument
Synthesizing ideas from multiple sources

Project
Researching for a presentation about sleep

Unit 3: Cyborg Tech Engineering / Technology

Lesson A Reading
We Are Cyborgs - Expository Article

Reading Skills
Understanding main ideas and key details

Critical Thinking
Analyzing an argument for evidence
Evaluating possible problems

Lesson B TED Talks
I Listen to Color - Neil Harbisson

Academic Skills
Understanding key details
Understanding a process

Critical Thinking
Reflecting on own viewpoint
Comparing similarities to other contexts

Project
Researching for a presentation on cyborg technology

Unit 4: Happy Planet Economics / Statistics

Lesson A Reading
The Road to Happiness? - Argumentative Article

Reading Skills
Linking ideas using a summary chart
Analyzing an argument
Understanding linguistics

Critical Thinking
Evaluating an argument
Questioning statements in a text

Lesson B TED Talks
The Happy Planet Index - Nic Marks

Academic Skills
Identifying key details Recognizing a speaker's message
Recognizing main ideas and examples

Critical Thinking
Questioning survey results
Applying information to own context

Project
Designing a plan for community happiness

Unit 5: Career Paths Business / Design

Lesson A Reading
My Year in the Arctic - Personal Blog

Reading Skills
Understanding sequence
Understanding reasons
Understanding figurative language

Critical Thinking
Evaluating pros and cons
Interpreting a statement

Lesson B TED Talks
The Power of Time Off - Stefan Sagmeister

Academic Skills
Understanding main ideas and key details
Making predictions
Understanding causes and effects

Critical Thinking
Synthesizing information
Evaluating pros and cons
Applying ideas to own context

Project
Creating a time-off plan for employees

Unit 6: Text Generation Linguistics

Lesson A Reading
The Death of Writing? - Explanatory Article

Reading Skills
Understanding key details
Making comparisons
Understanding contrastive language

Critical Thinking
Interpreting meaning

Lesson B TED Talks
Txting is Killing Language! JK!!! - John McWhorter

Academic Skills
Understanding key details
Making predictions
Applying information to new contexts
Summarizing information

Critical Thinking
Evaluating an argument
Applying ideas to own experience

Project
Presenting an analysis of how people use texting

Unit 7: Barriers and Bridges Sociology

Lesson A Reading
Bringing the World Together - Personal Blog

Reading Skills
Understanding tine and purpose using a concept map

Critical Thinking
Evaluating an argument using examples

Lesson B TED Talks
The Danger of a Single Story - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Academic Skills
Understanding key details
Understanding a sequence of events
Understanding a process
Identifying main ideas

Critical Thinking
Synthesizing ideas
Applying own ideas to context

Project
Critically evaluating an example of cultural stereotyping

Unit 8: Personality Types Psychology

Lesson A Reading
The Importance of Solitude - Personal recount / persuasive essay

Reading Skills
Understanding sequence
Identifying difference viewpoints
Understanding classifications

Critical Thinking
Making inferences
Evaluating an argument using examples

Lesson B TED Talks
The Power of Introverts - Susan Cain

Academic Skills
Understanding key details
Understanding cause and effect
Understanding a speaker's message

Critical Thinking
Reflecting on own experience
Applying own ideas to other contexts

Project
Researching for a presentation on contributions to society

Unit 9: Smart Thinking Behavior / Life Science

Lesson A Reading
Nature of Intelligence - Scientific Article

Reading Skills
Understanding key details
Inferring conclusions
Understanding reference

Critical Thinking
Applying ideas to other contexts

Lesson B TED Talks
The Gentle Genius of Bonobos - Susan Savage-Rumbaugh

Academic Skills
Understanding main ideas and key details
Understanding a speaker's message
Understanding sequence

Critical Thinking
Reflecting on own experience

Project
Proposing and justifying a wildlife research project

Unit 10: Facing Fear Psychology / Exploration

Lesson A Reading
Keep Calm! - Expository Article

Reading Skills
Linking ideas and examples
Creating a map of the text
Understanding a process

Critical Thinking
Questioning statements in a text
Applying ideas to other contexts

Lesson B TED Talks
What I Learned from Going Blind in Space - Chris Hadfield

Academic Skills
Recognizing and understanding main ideas
Interpreting descriptions
Understanding a sequence of events

Critical Thinking
Interpreting meaning

Project
Designing a 3-day course for tackling phobias

Level(s): Intermediate, High-intermediate, B2.