Is social media really as social as it seems?

How many times have you checked your phone today ? Your Facebook ? Your Twitter ?

Social media has become a huge part of everyday life, and many people criticise the effect it has, especially on young people. Teenagers and young adults use technology in almost all of our daily activities: from tweeting a friend, to uploading pictures on Instagram, to checking our Facebook notifications. Some people see this constant usage as evidence of addiction to social media, but others defend it as a normal part of modern life and communication.

The biggest criticism is that using social media online makes us LESS social in real life. We can become obsessed with checking if we have new notifications or messages – up to hundreds of times a day. This can lead us to ignore people around us, and there's nothing more annoying than trying to talk to a friend who is texting someone else! Often, people confuse social media with reality. Having lots of Facebook friends doesn't mean having a connection with those people in real life, and we forget that somebody's 'image' online doesn't always reflect real life. Lots of people only the post the good things, so we believe their lives are perfect, and we spend a lot of time trying to achieve unrealistic standards.

But I believe that, although these concerns are sometimes valid, social media has opened up many new possibilities, especially to young people. It allows me to stay in touch with friends around the world, see their pictures and hear about their adventures, and I can find my old classmates too. I can follow my favourite bands and actors along with news websites. Social media is also a great way to promote causes, like the ALS ice bucket challenge, which raised an enormous of money for charity. Facebook has even been used to organise protests from Syria to Hong Kong. Social media has a lot more uses than just posting 'selfies'!
In my opinion, social media being a big part of your life is not necessarily a bad thing. Although using technology to the point of reliance is unhealthy, and being addicted to your smartphone means you can miss out on real life, using it in the right way, to connect with friends and stay informed about world events, is a huge advantage of modern times.

Discussion

What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of social media?

English Around the World

 

 

Vocabulary

 
travel bug (idiom)- strong desire to travel
to be bitten by the travel bug (idiom)- kind of a cute way to say when someone begins to want to travel. After the "bug" bites you, you will really want to travel.
to wander- to go from one place to another without any definite plans
to be in the comfort of (one's) own home- to be at home, in a familiar or comfortable place
to explore- to look around and find out new things
exotic (adjective)- strange, mysterious, exciting, unknown
mystery- something unknown, something that needs to be found out
to flock- large amounts of people go to the same place at the same time
vast (adjective)- very large
perspective- view, way of seeing things
accomplishment- feeling like you have done something important and good

Reading

Have you ever had the desire to wander the world and see what was out there? While some people prefer to stay in the comfort of their own home, others have been bitten by the travel bug and can't wait to explore the world. Exotic places call to them. "Come visit me and I will show you my mysteries," they say.

Every year millions of people pack their suitcases or put on backpacks and flock to visit the seven continents of the world. They wander through the castles and museums of Europe, and the cities and natural wonders of North and South America. Some visit the vast exotic cultures of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The great outback of Australia is a wonderland for those who go there. And a few lucky people even make to the most mysterious continent on the earth- Antarctica.

Why do people want to explore the world? It gives them a better perspective about the earth and the people living on it. It opens their minds, it gives them a feeling of accomplishment, and it makes them feel alive. So save some money, get your passport ready, and see the world. It will change your life forever.

Questions and Answers
Choose True or False. Check your answers at the bottom of the page by clicking on the arrow.

1. To be bitten by the travel bug means you like to stay home.
True False
2. People bitten by the travel bug like to visit new places.
True False
3. The great outback is in Europe.
True False
4. Antarctica is in Africa.
True False
5. Asia is vast.
True False
6. Traveling opens your mind.
True False
7. Traveling makes you feel alive.
True False
8. Traveling helps you see things in a new way.
True False

Improving Your English

  

A lot of people are always asking, "How do I improve my English?" There are many possible answers, but here are just a few pieces of advice.

Be responsible for your own learning
Sure you have teachers, reading materials, and websites to help you with your English, but who is really responsible for making sure you learn English well? Nobody but you. Make sure you are the one who is taking charge of your own learning.

Immerse yourself in English as much as possible
Immerse means to be surrounded by something. If you are immersed in English, it is all around you. Of course this isn't always possible, but you can do some things to surround yourself in English from time to time.

Listen to the radio in English. If there are no English radio stations where you live, listen to one on the internet.

Watch TV and movies in English. If you have English channels on your TV, watch them. If they have subtitles (the words written in your language) underneath the picture, see if they can be turned off. Some people even tape paper across the bottom of the screen so they can't see the words. Most DVD's are great because you can choose the language you want to hear.

Speak English to your friends. Get a conversation buddy (friend) and speak in English as much as possible. If it is a person whose native language is the same as your own, you may feel silly speaking in English at first. But don't worry. Continue to do it and it will become more natural to you. Finding friends whose native language is English is even better. Ask your friend to correct you when needed.

Study or travel to an English-speaking country. Of course the best way to immerse yourself in the English language is to live in an all English environment. You'll find yourself surrounded with the language everywhere you turn. It can be a more difficult and expensive choice, but you may find it to be a very valuable and helpful experience.

Other ideas. Take an English class, join an English group, find a tutor, read English magazines. Do whatever you can to immerse yourself in the language.

Monitor yourself
This means to pay attention to how you use English. Think (a little) about how you are going to say something before it comes out of your mouth. But don't think about all of the problems you have in English at the same time. Just choose something your know you are having difficulty with and work on using it correctly. For example, if you know that you have problems remembering to use a, an, and the, spend a few days trying to put them into sentences as you speak. Don't worry about anything else. Concentrate on that. When you feel that you are improving, choose something else to work on. Just keep trying and little by little, your English will get better everyday.

English as an International Language

 

  
  

Vocabulary
to spread- to go everywhere
in common- the same
communicate- talk
complicated- difficult
artificial- not real 

Reading
 
About one hundred years ago many educated people learned and spoke French when they met people from other countries. Today most people speak English when they meet foreigners. It has become the new international language. There are more people who speak English as a second language than people who speak English as a first language. Why is this?

There are many reasons why English has become so popular. One of them is that English has become the language of business. Another important reason is that popular American culture (like movies, music, and McDonald's) has quickly spread throughout the world. It has brought its language with it.


Is it good that English has spread to all parts of the world so quickly? I don't know. It's important to have a language that the people of the earth have in common. Our world has become very global and we need to communicate with one another. On the other hand, English is a fairly complicated language to learn and it brings its culture with it. Do we really need that?

Scientists have already tried to create an artificial language that isn't too difficult and doesn't include any one group's culture. It is called Esperanto. But it hasn't become popular. But maybe the popularity of English won't last that long either. Who knows? There are more people in the world who speak Chinese than any other language. Maybe someday Chinese will be the new international language.

Questions  
1. What was the world language 100 years ago?

2. Which group is larger- people who speak English as a first language or people who speak English as a second language?

3. What are two reasons English has become an international language today?

4. What are two reasons English isn't a good international language?

5. What is Esperanto?

6. What might the future international language be?

Friendship  

Vocabulary


spouse- husband or wife
bond- connection, something that makes two things stick together
twin spirit- someone very similar to you
stranger- someone you don't know at all
acquaintance- someone you don't know very well
right away- immediately
in common- things that you like or dislike are the same

Reading
Quotes about friendship:

Friendship is one mind in two bodies.
Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.
A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.

Some friends come into our lives for just a short time. Others come and stay forever. Think about your closest friends. How long have you known each other? Some people say that their spouse or family member is their best friend. Others say they have known their closest friends for many years. And some great friends haven't known each other all that long, but knew right away that there was a connection, or bond, between them. Could it be that there is a twin spirit out there for each of us?
 
What turns a stranger or acquaintance into a friend? Do you know right away if you are going to like someone? Some people think that any stranger can become a friend if they spend enough time together. That may be true for some people. But one thing most of us agree on is that true friendships seem to happen when people have something in common. Perhaps we see a part of ourselves in our friends. Maybe seeing the good in them helps us to see the good in us as well.

Check Your UnderstandingTrue or False Check your answers by clicking on the arrow below. According to the article...
1. Your husband or wife cannot be your best friend.
True
False
2. Many friends feel a connection when they first meet.
True
False
3. Every person definitely has a twin spirit.
True
False
4. A stranger is the same as an acquaintance.
True
False
5. A stranger is the same as a friend.
True
False
6. Most friends have similar likes and dislikes.
True
False