Instructions
Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and follow the instructions to practise your speaking.
Preparation
Worksheets and downloads
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!’
…
Gemma: What are we like?!
Sam: What do you mean, ‘what are we like’?
Gemma: I m___ … look a__ us! We’re here, we’ve met for a coffee and a ‘chat’ and we’re not even talking to e___ o____.
Sam: Hang on … What did you say? Sorry, I didn’t catch that.
Gemma: ‘What d__ y__ say? Sorry, I d____ c____ t___.’ Err … maybe that’s because you’re n__ listening t__ m__!
Sam: Yeah, yeah, OK, 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 s____ t____! T____ my point. The real-life person should come first. D____ you t____?
Sam: Err … yeah, but sometimes you 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 r____ in some ways … but for me, the b______ disadvantage o__ having a mobile phone is that we’re constantly being distracted from w____ happening in the real world!
Sam: Yeah ... but in a good way. You can carry on what you’re doing, but you can keep up with all your friends at the same time.
Gemma: Yeah, there are a lot of a_________ … but when you’ve got one of your best mates sitting right i__ f____ o__ you, maybe it’s time to switch off?!
Sam: You mean … actually switching off our phones right now?
Gemma: Shall we? What d__ y__ t____?
Sam: Er, OK. It’ll give me something to post on Facebook later.
Gemma: Yeah, come o__! Honestly, we haven’t had a good chat i__ r___ l___ for ages.
Sam: All right – you’re absolutely right.
Gemma: O__! Brilliant. On three then!
Gemma and Sam: One … two … three …
Sam: Wow! We did it.
Gemma: That d____ hurt t__ m___!
Sam: Not yet.
Gemma: I__ g__ 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 o__ the advantages! It f____ s__ 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 s________ to p___ on Facebook. ‘Sam survives a whole day without his phone!’
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?
Comments
So i think, that using phones when we are with friends is sometimes great because you can show your friend some photos, games or something else, but if both of friends are on phones..... They just don’t know what to talk about, or they just bored. If you are with your friend just put phones away and talk together. On phone you can be at home.
I never use phones while I spending time with my friends. I like to talk with them.I like to see their faces with beautiful smiling.I think mobiles are useful.But not all the times.Sometimes I hates mobiles.
I don't like messeging, because you can spend that time for much more important things.
I sometimes use my phone even when I'm with my friends. There's a lot of pros and cons to be honest.
I just use a bit because i like talking with friends. The pros are we can chat with friends fast and searching in google quickly,... The cons are we just focus in the phone too much and we not talking to friends, parents,...
I rarely use my phone when I'm with my friends. There is something important, I will go out and handle it. So, I also don't like my friends to use their phones when we meet.
In my opinion, some of the advantages of the phone are: contacting someone anywhere and anytime easily by calling or texting; relaxing by watching movies, reading and listening to music at the same time; or even learning any subject. The smartphone can become a camera, an alarm clock, a notebook, a voice recorder ... and so on.
But everything has two sides. Smartphone also has many disadvantages if we use it in the wrong way. First of all, we waste lots of time to play with it. Then, we don't concentrate on our works, our study. And the biggest disadvantage is that we’re constantly being distracted from what's happening in the real world.
Thus, let's use your smartphone smartly!
I think that as a society we already spend a lot of time on the cell phone and we no longer socialize as much due to the devices.
I very rarely use my phone when I spend time with my friends. Actually, in my life I use my phone once in a while because I'm not a phone addicted. I think phones have more negative effects than possitive effects.For example, they emit a lot of radiation to their surroundings, if we use phones for hours on end, they can negatively affects body development, they have negative effects for our health and psychology.
I don't use my phone when am with my friends.
So phone is very important in life. You get many important news related to world. But now people are so much attached with phone and they have no times for each other . Even children are using phone for games and all the time
they play games and they are not interested in their studies.
So we have to use phone only knowing to good things and news.
I think both are right. But mobile phones have many advantages that help us to chat and keep in touch with our friends. At the other hand I would say, that if you meet a friend you have to put it away so that you can talk easialy. Another important thing is, that we have to learn how we use the phones so that we have enough time for doing sprt or other things. In my oppinion I absolutely agree to the video and I hope my friend could have seen this video.
I really agree with Gemma. It‘s rude when meet up with somebody and they are only on their phone. I don‘t think you have to turn it off completely but the other person needs to show you that you are more interesting than their mobile phone. Otherwise it’s nonsense to hang out with them because you could be on your phone when you’re alone.
I seldom use my phone when I'm with my friends.
Unfortunately, if I hang out with my best friend, I tend to check my notifications. In general, I try to switch off my phone in order not to seem rude.
In my opinion, the biggest advantage of having a
mobile phone is that it allows you to keep in touch
with your relatives and friends anytime. You can
also use it to go online and find information for
your school projects and homework. Nowadays, the Internet improves knowledge. For example, there are so many useful websites for students and applications for every subject.
Using your camera phone is convenient. After all, you own it and carry it with you.
Another advantage is that you can use your mobile phone to call for help in an emergency.
On top of that, watching movies and TV series, playing mobile games and getting involved on social media are good ways to overcome boredom.
In the other hand, mobile phones have negative effects on our physical and mental health. Sleeping with your phone could increase the risk of brain cancer. Besides that, these devices may ruin your eyesight. Eye strain, myopia or dry eyes may occur.
Smartphones make people distracted and unproductive. Teenagers are no longer able to hold face-to-face conversations or communicate effectively in person.
Very good comments and arguments, Andreea. I'm proud of you!
When I'm hangout with my friends I usually not use my phone but guess what!? My friends busy with their phone and ignore me, they prefer to make an instagram story and send messages on Whatsapp with other peoples to talk with me. The more features that contain in phone and social media, the more you get ignore by your friend while you hangout with them.
I usually don' t use my phone when I am with my friends, but I use it a lot to contact them when we are apart especially on snapchat.
I think the mobile phone is very useful to keep touch with friends and it helps you not to feel alone.
Furthermore, it is the main way to ask for help when you are in danger if you get a signal.
On the other hand, spending too much time in front of the phone's screen would do bad to your eyes and also make you feel bored.
Use your phone wisely!
To be honest, what might actually surprise some of you, I rarely use my mobile phone when I am with my friends. I totally disagree with Sam's opinion that using mobile phone is not rude. Naturally, there are some extraordinary situations when it is advisable to check out your phone and send a quick massage or pick up call, but generally we should focus on our conversation and person we are talking with.
The pros and cons of mobile phones.
Students, scholars, businessmen have been kicking (debating) about it for ages. That is exquisite topic adequatue to write immense research work. Although it is extremely tough to present the most important facts, briefly, I face the challenge.
Advantages are:
You can quickly inform someone about something (useful when something broke up or someone got hurt)
You can easily find out about anything, which in particular helps in school. Mobile phones really raise awareness.
Disadvantages are:
You are constantly being distracted from what’s happening in the real world
It's dangerous to use it while doing activities such as driving or crossing the street. (result of this we have seen after Pokémon was launched - mortal cases)
Thank you, all patient and persistent people who have just read it. Hope you enjoyed!
I wish I could be like you but my friends doesn't even let me talk when I am with them.
So just to make sure that I am there and I am also a human being which has some social importance I use my phone to wonder around the social (online one) world.
Yes, I totally agree with you.
I think you can use the mobile when you are with one person but not stay all moment using it.
I think you can use the tecnology in the rigth or wrong way, it's your choice ahre
I think it depends on each person if they use their phone too much or just the necessary. If they can't accept reality as it comes and they want to hide in social networks then they are in their right to...
I prefer using mobilephone as little as posiible. Absolutely agree with this video about pros and cons of mobilephones. Advantages of smartphones is that you can get much information from it. Disadvantages of smartphones is that it is very harmful for our health.
I prefer using mobilephone as little as posiible. Absolutely agree with this video about pros and cons of mobilephones. Advantages of smartphones is that you can get much information from it. Disadvantages of smartphones is that it is very harmful for our health.
If i Gemma,I don't sending a message.and i say "don't sending a message,When someone is talking.and to respect me."to sam.
Hi Jinhyuk. That sounds good. Are your friends like Sam, using their phones instead of talking face to face?
Jonathan (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
On the one hand, mobile phones help us to keep in touch with our friends and relatives who live far from us. We can easily make a phone call, send messages,...Moreover, we also can broaden knowledge because of easy access to the Internet.
On the other hand, mobile phones result in the lack of face-to- face communication, people who are always staring at the screen often have difficulty in interacting with others, they may feel confused to express their feelings as there is no support from emotion icons.
I think there are many the advantages and disadvantage of having a mobile phone, but very important is how we use it.
This video is focusing on an important issue! I have the feeling that we sometimes don't really talk with each other even if we sit together. I hope my friends could have seen this video. It would have made it easier to decide not to use our mobile phones while we are together.
Yeah, I agree with you. Sometimes, we don´t treasure things which is small and around us. At that time, chatting with our friends maybe very usual and we think it will last forever. But one day it will be valuable moment in our memory
Best wishes :)
Nowadays, mobile phones are everywhere. Undeniably, we use it in our everyday lives.
But there is a little detail.
And it is extremely important to understand this problem.
Phones damage our social life in real life.
While you speak with someone in internet , a human sits and sits . and the he or she realises that for you phone is more important than real life and goes away.
So it is increasingly important to be with real human and without web while you are in real life.
And I absolutely agree with this video about pros and cons of mobile phones.
For me it was a problem , but then it was fixed.
As conclusion, do only one thing at one time, and everything will be okay.
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