People known as 'digital nomads' have become a globally significant sociological group over the past ten years or so, and this group continues to grow. Being a digital nomad is a way of life that will certainly be an option for your students in the future.

So what is a 'digital nomad'? Here is Wikipedia's potted definition:

Digital nomads are people who travel freely while working remotely using technology and the internet. Such people generally have minimal material possessions and work remotely in temporary housing, hotels, cafes, public libraries, co-working spaces, or recreational vehicles, using Wi-Fi, smartphones or mobile hotspots to access the Internet. The majority of digital nomads describe themselves as programmers, content creators, designers, or developers.

Becoming a digital nomad

The following video is by Kristin, who has now spent years with this form of life, and so is well qualified to explain how to become a digital nomad.

.

Using the video

I have concentrated on the first quarter of the 20-minute video, in order to require the students to listen carefully and in detail. This section also deals in general with the advantages and disadvantages of being a digital nomad, so serves as a useful introduction to the concept of this life style.

The exercise ... consists of a cloze - students need to listen carefully to fill in the gaps in the text. Note that I have provided the text in two sections: the first is shorter, up to 2'55", and the second continues to 4'39". Use the shorter or extended versions as suitable for your students... or you may use both, with a gap for checking between the two sections.

The language tested are terms which are a little unusual, but which should be made clear in order to grasp the full meaning of the text.

Here are the expected answers: click on the icon below to see them.

Note that the full cloze exercise, on page 2, asks students to make summary notes of the advantages and disadvantages of being a digital nomad. This should focus ideas for the following discussion.

Discussion ... Start by finding out if the students find attractive the idea of travelling freely while earning their living. Many probably will - excitement, freedom from restraints and people telling you what to do (as in school!) ... but some may find the concept frightening, or even 'not serious'. It will be worthwhile exploring both attitudes carefully and in detail.

There are wider issues than their personal responses...

• Is such personal freedom 'responsible'? Consider the following - "No longer do you have to answer to anyone else, not to a boss, not to society..." (around 0'50", second paragraph of the transcript). Is this egocentric, at the expense of everybody else?
• What would happen to society if everyone became an isolated digital nomad?
• Is being a digital nomad available to everybody, or just to the smart and educated?
• Do digital nomads involve themselves in the societies and cultures that they visit, or do they just remain tourists?

Extension ... Having looked quite closely at the first section of the video, and discussed issues raised, you may wish to carry on to the end of the video, asking students to note down points of interest for further discussion. The recording lasts 20'07".

Further research & discussion

I provide the handout below in case your students are really interested in this whole topic, and you wish to develop ideas further. It provides practical advice about how to start being a digital nomad.

The language is quite simple and accessible, although you should check that students have understood all of the slightly more sophisticated vocabulary (e.g."portfolio", "mutually agreed" in point 11; or "onslaught" in point 12).

The simple task is for students to think behind the fairly straightforward pieces of advice - why is each piece of advice significant? What problems are they intended to avoid?

.