The convenience culture

Kinga | Sep 16, 2026Sep 16, 2026

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

• discuss self-service devices and convenience culture;
• watch a video about a device that combines shopping and food ordering;
• review vocabulary related to convenience.

In this lesson, students discuss self-service devices and watch a video about a machine that combines grocery shopping with food ordering. They evaluate the pros and cons of automated services and discuss products linked to convenience culture (e.g. box diets, ride-sharing apps, digital wallets). Students also explore the Convenience Paradox and brainstorm ways to make everyday activities either more convenient or more enjoyable.

WARM-UP AND VIDEO

This lesson includes an extra vocabulary activity that teachers can use before the discussion. In the task, students match sentence halves to identify devices linked to convenience and give examples using the vocabulary (e.g. efficient, time-saving, user-friendly, on demand). Then, the lesson starts with a warm-up in which students look at photos of people using self-service devices and say what they have in common. Afterwards, they speculate about how a device that combines grocery shopping and food ordering might work. They then watch a video to check their ideas and choose the comment they relate to most. Students go on to discuss where this device might work well and share their own experience with self-service machines.

MORE ON CONVENIENCE CULTURE

In this part of the lesson, students look at products and services linked to convenience culture (e.g. box diets, ride-sharing apps, one-click shopping, digital wallets), say which they use and give an advantage and disadvantage of each. They then decide which product or service has changed people’s lives the most, saves the most time and is most likely to become more popular in the future. Moving on, students read everyday situations and think of the most convenient solution for each. Following that, they read about the Convenience Paradox and discuss whether they’ve noticed it in their own lives. Students also choose two everyday activities, propose a solution to make each more convenient, and weigh up its advantages and disadvantages. They also discuss solutions that would make the activity more enjoyable despite being less convenient. 

WORKSHEETS

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