The shrinking world

From the summary

Lesson overview

The shrinking world. Discuss the questions in pairs or small groups. The title of this Unit suggests that the world is getting smaller (shrinking). In what ways might this be true?. What is the picture saying about this idea?. Read the two texts quickly. Then answer the questions. Which text gives evidence to show how young people communicate? Which text is about personal feelings?. Which text includes a list of concerns?. Which text suggests that we shouldn’t worry about young people’s use of technology? MODERN LIVING | COMMUNICATION. Communication. today TEXT B Like it or not, today’s young people are. how young people are using technology. hours every day texting or chatting online,. ‘If you look back,’ she says, ‘you find the. or updating his social media page. He says. same panic reaction from older people to. he’s going to do his homework, but an. the growth of the telephone or television. hour or two later still hasn’t started it, and. Often it comes from a fear of something. I can’t help feeling that he’s wasting so. they don’t understand, but our research. much time on this instead of doing useful. indicates that young people are quite. things, or even just being with his friends. capable of telling the difference between. and communicating with real people. be able to answer questions like these. a public site.’ Period 1 / Reading and comprehension. Complete the definitions with words from the texts. If you are to something, you can’t stop yourself from doing it. (Text A, paragraph 2) A problem isn’t a problem yet, but might become one in the future. (Text A, paragraph 2) If things , they are different in different situations. (Text B, paragraph 1) If an action or idea is , it is the correct thing to do or believe. (Text B, paragraph 2) A feeling of happens when we stop thinking properly because we are frightened. Why is it not a good idea to post a message like ‘I’m having a party next Saturday’ on a public site? What might happen?. Do a poll of your class by answering the questions below. ▸ Which is the most popular method of communicating with friends? ▸ Which is the most popular social media site?. ▸ How many hours a day does the average student spend on these sites or on exchanging messages with friends?. How similar are the results from your class to the results of the US study in Text B? Period 2 / Reading and comprehension. Read the article quickly. Then answer the question below. Is the writer’s idea of the effect of communications technology on society … A mostly negative?.

From the question bank

According to Text A, why is the parent worried about their son?

• Because he spends too much time texting and on social media instead of doing useful things.
• Because he is failing his school exams.
• Because he refuses to communicate with his family members.
• Because he is spending too much money on technology.