My phone is off for you!
(Level: Intermediate // B1 //  ** )

You are going to watch a report focusing on a recent invention - the phonekerchief.

Before watching: have you got any idea of what it can be and what it could be used for?
A clue: phonekerchief is the blend (portmanteau word - in French: "mot-valise") of "phone" and "handkerchief".

Now watch the report to check if you guessed properly.
Also answer the following question (you can do so in French):

- How did Ingrid Zweifel come to the idea of  designing the "phonekerchief"?

Vocabulary
to be focused on: être concentré sur
lined with silver: garni d'argent

Note:
MoMA: the Museum of Modern Art - an art museum in New York City specialising in modernist art and including works of architecture and design, drawings, paintings, sculpture, photography etc. The museum also has a library and stores (shops) .
For more details about the MoMA: http://www.moma.org/

When you're finished, check your answers:
What is the phonekerchief and what could it be used for?
phonekerchief: mot-valise formé par 'phone' + 'handkerchief'
Mouchoir serti d'argent destiné à emballer le téléphone portable le temps d'un repas par exemple et d'en bloquer les fréquences!

How did Ingrid Zweifel come to the idea of designing the "phonekerchief"?
Elle a été touchée par le récit d'une femme concernant ce qu'elle appelle "le geste ultime" lorsque ce monsieur lors d'un rendez-vous avec elle avait tout simplement laissé son GSM à la maison afin de pouvoir lui accorder toute son attention, rien qu'à elle, à 100%!


Extra activities
Phonekerchief as you now know is a portmanteau word or a blend.
A blend is when two (or more) words (or parts of words) are combined to create a new word.
Other examples include smog (smoke + fog), Wikipedia (wiki + encyclopedia) and brunch (breakfast + lunch).

So now, you can go further and have some fun!

Here is a list of portmanteau words (blends): find the two original words they derive from.

 

Chunnel Oxbridge breathalyzer camcorder fantabulous guesstimate moped rockumentary sexpert emoticon malware pixel Bollywood sitcom blog podcasting flog email fanzine Interpol Muppet workaholic   MORE DIFFICULT! goodbye o’clock fortnight

<  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <      <  <  <

Channel + Tunnel Oxford + Cambridge breath + analyzer

Now check your answers!

Chunnel Oxbridge breathalyzer camcorder fantabulous guesstimate moped rockumentary sexpert emoticon malware pixel Bollywood sitcom blog podcasting flog email fanzine Interpol Muppet workaholic   MORE DIFFICULT! goodbye o’clock fortnight

<  <  <  <   <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <  <      <  <  <

Channel + Tunnel Oxford + Cambridge breath + analyzer camera + recorder fantastic + fabulous guess + estimate motor + pedal rock + documentary sex + expert emotion + icon malicious + software picture + element Bombay + Hollywood situation + comedy web + log iPod + broadcasting fake + blog electronic + mail fan + magazine international + police marionette + puppet work + alcoholic     God + be (with)  + ye (= you) of + the + clock fourteen + nights