UNIT 1.1
READING
Are Friends Online As Legitimate As Real-Life Friends? How The Internet Makes A Difference
Do you think friends on Facebook are real friends?
Do you regularly keep in touch with them?
How often do you see them?
Do you think friends on Facebook are real friends?
Do you regularly keep in touch with them?
How often do you see them?
What are the advantages or disadvantages of having too many friends on Facebook?
Let's read the text to find out more ideas.
The Internet has been a part of mainstream culture for well over two decades now. It's always in your pocket; you're always on some form of social media, and yet there is still a stigma towards online friends.
Gone are the days of anonymous chat rooms and wondering whether the person behind the computer was even real. Now, you can video chat with your friend with ease, talk to them wherever you are and have a digital bond that lasts. However, if the friend lives in a place where traveling to just isn't possible, you may wonder if that friend is as legitimate as a friend who lives nearby, who you meet in person on a regular basis.
The answer is, as you probably expect, yes. Nowhere in the definition of the word 'friend' does it say that the friend must be offline only. You can share a bond with someone from behind another screen, and sometimes the bond goes deeper than it does for your IRL friends. That's because the Internet allows us to find people who share the same interests and beliefs as everyone else. You may have good real-life friends, but there are probably some things you just can't tell them. Be it an embarrassing confession, or a secret they'll tell everyone.
With that said, there are pros and cons to having an online friend. Here are some pros.
Pros of having online friends
Mutual Interests
You can meet friends on forums dedicated to an interest. Be it a political group, a blog dedicated to a certain fandom, and so on. Having a mutual interest is a great icebreaker. You don't have to have everything in common with a friend; sometimes, differences can spice up a friendship, but having shared interests is one way to spark a conversation.
It's Cheaper
You don't have to go to the movies, go eat out or go shopping with an online friend. You can just relax at home and talk to them while you're about to go to bed, while you're working, and so on. That isn't to say you must spend money to hang out with a real-life friend, but it does help with the bills.
Easy to Break the Ice
Perhaps the best thing about online communication is how easy it is to strike up a conversation. If you're introverted, shy, or just don't like talking to strangers, it's hard to make that first move. On the Internet, it's easier for most to make that first comment or send that first message.
You Can Get to Know Them Faster
Most people online are more comfortable with talking about themselves.
You Can Make Friends All Around the Globe
To some, this is a disadvantage. If you live in America and another person lives in the UK, you aren't going to walk to their house and hang out. However, making friends with someone who is different from you can be a learning experience. You can learn about their culture, and they can learn from you.
Cons of Having an Online Friend
With that said, online friends have their disadvantages as well.
Hanging Out is Hard
Even if your online friend lives just a few hours from you, you're probably not going to visit them every weekend or anything. You two have lives and arranging a meeting with your online friend can be difficult, and costly if they live far. There is a plus to that, as mentioned above, but if you need your social fix, having online-only friends may not work.
Miscommunication
While there are always video chats, they can't work all the time. Your friend may even live in a place where it's just not feasible. So, you may end up texting each other.
The problem with text is that there isn't enough communication. Body language and tone of voice are absent. You can use emojis, but they're not always helpful.
Harder to Make Up
If you're going to be friends with someone for a long time, you're going to get into fights.
When communicating with an online friend, keep your cool if there is an argument. Don't reach for the block button. Take some time alone and talk again with a cool head. If you do hit the block button, remember you can always unblock.
They Disappear
If you grew up online, you probably have experienced this. Your online friend just disappears. Maybe their account got deleted, or the website you use to talk about is no more. Some people take breaks from social media, or tear down their accounts and rebuild them somewhere else. All it takes is a changed username to make reconnecting with an online friend very difficult.
They May Not Be What They Seem
The cliché of the online friend lying about who they are is exaggerated, especially in an age when you can see photos or video of them with ease, but if you're on a more anonymous message board, exercise caution when making an online friendship, especially if you're younger. Obviously, you shouldn't accept an invitation to hang out with someone until you know for sure they're real.
Stay True to Yourself
When making friends online, you want to stay true to yourself and what you want out of a friendship. You can find friends who reflect your interests and passions.
GRAMMAR
Present Simple/ Continuous and Perfect
Remember:
We use the present simple to talk about:
a. Things that are always or generally true.
b. Things that happen regularly, habitual actions.
We use the present continuous to talk about:
a. Things that are happening at/around the time when we speak.
b. Things that are changing.
We use the present perfect simple to talk about:
a. Our experiences (our lives until now)
b. Things that have already/just happened.
We use the present simple to talk about:
a. Things that are always or generally true.
b. Things that happen regularly, habitual actions.
We use the present continuous to talk about:
a. Things that are happening at/around the time when we speak.
b. Things that are changing.
We use the present perfect simple to talk about:
a. Our experiences (our lives until now)
b. Things that have already/just happened.
Let's remember the differences between the present simple and present continuous.
In a nutshell:
And the present perfect simple:
Now, you can practice doing these activities.
present-simple-present-continuous-present-perfect-grammar-drills-warmers-coolers_117983.docx | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
VOCABULARY AND LISTENING
Friendship
Listen to the audio from the book and decide if the sentences are True or False.
1. Josh often meets his friends outside work.
2. He has a lot in common with his friends from football.
3. He has just a few close friends.
4. She keeps in touch with most of her Facebook friends.
5. She doesn't have many friends in real life
6. She only has two close friends.
7. She has fallen out with one of her best friend.
1. Josh often meets his friends outside work.
2. He has a lot in common with his friends from football.
3. He has just a few close friends.
4. She keeps in touch with most of her Facebook friends.
5. She doesn't have many friends in real life
6. She only has two close friends.
7. She has fallen out with one of her best friend.
Study some vocabulary about friendship, it could be very useful for your monologue.
LISTENING
Listen to the audio about two friends who meet after a long period of time and do the activities below.
learnenglish-listening-b1-meeting-an-old-friend.pdf | |
File Size: | 74 kb |
File Type: |