Discussion Starters

Social Media Networks

“One of the greatest ironies
of the social media era is that
some of the least social people
in the world created it.”
—Sarah Lacy, technology journalist

Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions

1. How do you keep in touch with friends?

2. Do you have a Facebook or Twitter account?

3. Which social media network

is popular in your country?

4. Do you socialize online during work hours?

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

1. keep in touch a) a note typed out on a phone

2. status b) a condition or state that changes regularly
3. text message c) easy and quick to use
4. convenient d) in person
5. face-to-face e) a group that is connected
6. network f) a child born from your aunt or uncle’s child
7. waste time g) to spend too long doing something unimportant
8. dismissal h) to communicate with others for fun
9. block i) to prevent from entering
10. socialize j) a reasonable level or degree
11. stay on task k) firing or removing an employee
12. happy medium l) to stay connected through writing or speaking
13. second cousin m) to focus on the job

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 Social Media Networks
Discussion Starters

Reading
SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS
Taking Time for Friends

1.  eeping in touch with friends is easy these days. You can update
K
your Facebook status and follow your friends’ tweets on Twitter.
You can also send and check text messages from your cell phone.
Social media is convenient, but how often do you see your friends
face-to-face? Time and technology often go hand in hand. Some
people say they use networks like Instagram because they don’t
have time to socialize in person.

2. Others admit they waste time online when they are at work.
Social networking on the job is a common cause for dismissal.
Some companies block popular websites. They don’t trust their
employees to stay on task. Perhaps there is a happy medium.
Do you really need to know what your second cousin had for
lunch? Maybe you should wait until your break to check.

Comprehension
Discuss these questions in pairs, and write the answers below.
Use your notebook if you need more room.

1. Name three social media 4. Why does the writer mention

networks that are mentioned. the term “second cousin”?

2. How are cell phones commonly used these days? 5. What suggestion is made in the reading?

3. What excuse do many people

have for using social networks?

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 Social Media Networks
Discussion Starters

Vocabulary Review
A. Complete the Sentences

Complete the sentences using vocabulary from page 1.

You may need to change the word forms.

1. People these days don’t have time to with their friends .

2. I need to change my to say that I am going away for the weekend.

3. My daughter sending instead of doing her homework.

4. A popular social media in my country is Instagram.

5. I didn’t know that I had a until my aunt’s daughter added me as a relative on Facebook.

6. She finds it difficult to when the people around her are socializing.

B. Choose the Correct Word

Choose the word or phrase with the closest meaning to

the underlined word or phrase in the following sentences.

1. I am better at keeping in touch with friends 3. My company blocks us from

now that I have an Internet connection at home. using social media sites like YouTube.

a) dismissing a) encourages
b) sharing b) watches
c) contacting c) teaches
d) helping d) prevents

2. It is important to find a happy medium 4. S

 ending a text message during a meeting
between working and having fun. is cause for an automatic dismissal.

a) balance a) job loss

b) level b) punishment
c) mediocre c) pay cut
d) half d) job review

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 Social Media Networks
Discussion Starters

Discussion Questions
1. Do your friends share too much information on social media
networks? What type of content is too much information?

2. Should people announce births and deaths

on networks such as Facebook? Why or why not?

3. Is it wrong for parents to join the same social

media networks as their teens? Why or why not?

Class Opinion
Walk around the class and ask your classmates questions.
Write their answers in the chart below.

Do you check
Facebook or other Do you keep in touch
How much time per
social media with friends online
Classmate day do you spend
accounts while while you are at
socializing online?
socializing (face-to- work or school?
face) with friends?

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 Social Media Networks
Discussion Starters

Listening – Gap Fill

 http://blog.esllibrary.com/2010/02/26/podcast-social-media-networks/

Fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording.

SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS

Taking Time for Friends

1. Keeping in touch with friends is easy these days. You can

your Facebook status and follow your
friends’ tweets on Twitter. You can also send and check
text messages from your . Social media
is convenient, but how often do you see your friends
face-to-face? Time and technology often go hand in hand.
Some people say they use networks like Instagram because
they to socialize in person.

2. Others they waste time online when they

are at work. Social networking on the job is a common cause
for dismissal. Some companies block popular websites. They
their employees to stay on task. Perhaps
there is a happy medium. Do you really need to know what
your second cousin had for lunch? Maybe you should wait
until your to check.

5. break
4. don’t trust
3. admit
2. cell phone
1. update

ANSWERS:

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 Social Media Networks
Discussion Starters

Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION: TEACHING TIPS: LEVEL: Intermediate–Advanced

Students read about and discuss friendship See Discussion Starters Teaching Guide TIME: 1.5–2 hours
in the social media era. They discuss how (https://esllibrary.com/courses/72/lessons/)
TAGS: discussion, friendship, socializing,
much time they spend socializing online for a variety of ways to use the reading.
social networks, social network,
compared to face-to-face. Audio is available for this lesson. Students can
social media, Facebook, Twitter
access the audio via our podcast and iTunes.

Pre-Reading Vocabulary Review

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS A. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

Have students work in small groups or as a class. Discuss the quote. 1. socialize, face-to-face 4. network
2. status 5. second cousin
B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW 3. wastes time, text messages 6. stay on task

1. l 3. a 5. d 7. g 9. i 11. m 13. f
B. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
2. b 4. c 6. e 8. k 10. h 12. j

1. c 2. a 3. d 4. a
Reading (and/or Listening)
Discussion Questions
Read individually, in small groups, or as a class. You can also play
the listening as your students read along. A gap-fill version of the
Individual answers.
reading is available on page 5. Help your students with vocabulary
Can be done individually or in small groups or pairs.
and expressions that they are unfamiliar with.

Class Opinion
Comprehension
Have students walk around the class and ask their classmates
1. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
questions. They should record their answers in the chart.
2. Cell phones are commonly used
to send and receive text messages.
3. Many people say they don’t have
enough time to meet friends in person.
4. A second cousin is unlikely to be
a close friend to keep in touch with.
5. Avoid social media networks during work hours.

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