February 5 – 10
WORK PROCESS – Pros and cons of mobile phones
Gemma is sick of being ignored while Sam is on his phone. They discuss the pros and cons of being constantly connected.
Do the preparation exercise first. Then read the Conversation and do the exercises.
Preparation
- c. constantly
- e. freedom
- b. to ignore something
- a. multitasking
- f. weird
- d. to be distracted
Transcript
Gemma: What are we like?!
Sam: What do you mean, ‘what are we like’?
Gemma: I mean … look at us! We’re here, we’ve met for coffee and a ‘chat’ and we’re not even talking to each other.
Sam: Hang on … What did you say? Sorry, I didn’t catch that.
Gemma: ‘What did you say? Sorry, I didn’t catch that.’ Er … maybe that’s because you’re not listening to me!
Sam: Yeah, yeah, sorry. I was just sending a message. I was multitasking! I’m with you now.
Gemma: Yeah, but I don’t think you can send messages and talk to someone in real life at the same time! That’s my point. The real-life person should come first. Don’t you think?
Sam: Er … yeah, but sometimes you just need to send a quick message. I don’t think it’s rude. In fact, I think it’s rude to ignore messages, actually.
Gemma: Yeah, I suppose so. You’re right in some ways … but for me, the biggest disadvantage of having a mobile phone is that we’re constantly being distracted from what’s happening in the real world!
Sam: Yeah … but in a good way. You can carry on what you’re doing, and you can keep up with your friends at the same time.
Gemma: Yeah, there are a lot of advantages … but when you’ve got one of your best mates sitting right in front of you, maybe it’s time to switch off?
Sam: You mean … actually switching off our phones right now?
Gemma: Shall we? What do you think?
Sam: Er, OK. It’ll give me something to post on Facebook later.
Gemma: Yeah, come on! Honestly, we haven’t had a good chat in real life for ages.
Sam: All right – you’re absolutely right.
Gemma: OK! Brilliant. On three then!
Gemma and Sam: One … two … three … off!
Sam: Wow! We did it.
Gemma: That didn’t hurt too much!
Sam: Not yet.
Gemma: I’ve got a plan! Let’s just leave them off until we finish our drinks.
Sam: Yeah, that might be a good idea.
Gemma: We’ve just got to focus on the advantages! It feels so weird knowing no one can contact me.
Sam: Yeah, it does … but I like this feeling of freedom. I’m going to keep mine off all day.
Gemma: Wow. Really? Now that is something to post on Facebook. ‘Sam survives a whole day without his phone!’
- Check your understanding: multiple choice. Circle the best answer to these questions.
- Why did Gemma and Sam meet up?
a. to have something to eat
b. for a coffee and a chat
c. to do their homework together
- Why did Gemma get a bit annoyed with Sam?
a. because he was checking Facebook instead of listening to her
b. because he was playing a game instead of listening to her
c. because he was sending a message instead of listening to her
- What did Gemma say was the biggest disadvantage of having a mobile phone?
a. It distracts you from things happening around you in the real world.
b. It’s dangerous to use it while doing activities such as driving or crossing the street.
c. You need to recharge it quite often.
- For Sam, what was one good thing about having a mobile phone?
a. You can use it to call for help in an emergency.
b. It allows you to stay in contact with friends while you are doing another activity.
c. You can use it to go online and find information for school work.
- How long did Gemma plan to leave the phones switched off?
a. all day
b. for an hour
c. until they finish their drinks
- How did Sam feel after switching off his phone?
a. frustrated
b. anxious
c. free
- Discussion
How much do you use your phone when you’re with your friends? What do you think are the pros and cons of mobile phones?
When I’m with friends, I don’t use the phone, except to call my mom, or take pictures with friends.
There are many benefits from phones, for example, Mobile phones allow you to easily and quickly communicate with people through calls, messages and messaging applications, which helps to maintain communication regardless of distance. With the help of mobile phones, you can easily access a huge amount of information via the Internet, which facilitates learning and so on. Mobile phones serve as a lifeline in case of emergencies, allowing users to quickly call for help or contact emergency services. And there are also many disadvantages, such as prolonged use of mobile phones, especially for activities such as texting or browsing, can cause physical problems such as eye strain, neck pain and incorrect posture. Privacy risks, Addiction, Security risks, and so on
Overall, while mobile phones offer many benefits in terms of communication, access to information, and convenience, it is important to find a balance in their use to reduce possible disadvantages associated with distraction, social interactions, and health issues.