DIGITAL NATIVES, DIGITAL IMMIGRANTS

GETTING READY
1) Suppose you are at a disco and you are interested in a person there. You want to
be creative and make a good first impression. What pick-up line would you use?
Tell your teacher!
2) Can you think of differences between these pick-up-lines and the ones people
use virtually (on facebook, instant messagers etc)?
3) What arouses a persons romantic interest in another person?

EXPLORING 1
1) (track 11) A recently divorced woman is talking to her daughter. Listen to the
first part of the conversation and answer these questions:
a) What are they talking about?
b) Describe Vanessas and Sylvias moods. How do you think they feel?
c) Check the sentences used to talk about past habits:
(
) I used to spend a long time in front of the computer.
(
) I used to spend hours surfing these online communities like Facebook.
(
) Back in the day, we used to go to places and meet people.
(
) I got married over twenty years ago and I would go everywhere with my
husband.
(
) I remember I would go to the country club.

TRYING OUT 1
1) Think about:
Your first relationship
The beginning of your life at school
Your first job
What did you use to do then that you dont do anymore? What did you not use to do
then that you do now? Take notes.

2) Now

work with your classmate and share your ideas. Look at these examples:
My relationships would last much longer in the past.
When I was in school, I wouldnt do anything after class.
I didnt use to work so hard at my first job.

Ten years ago, we used to have only one computer for four people in the
office.

TRYING OUT 2
Talk about someone who is older than you (a family member or a friend, for example)
about his/her habits in the past. Talk about:

If he/she would help with household chores

What he/she would do with friends
What he/she woould do at work
What he/she would do on weekends oro n trips.

EXPLORING 2
1) (track 15) Listen to the second part of the conversation and answer these
questions:
a) Who sounds more excited? Why?
b) Check the sentences they used to talk about presente habits:
(
) You can also say that youve been learning languages.
(
) I think Im too shy to use these online communities.
(
) I dont know if I can get used to talking about myself to strangers.
(
) I believe nice people like animals.
(
) Youll soon get used to visiting them.

TRYING OUT 3
Think about your everyday life at work, college, home or elsewhere. Choose
something you do regularly and give your partner as many hints as necessary so that
he/she can guess what the activity is. Use the new expressions you have just worked
on. Dont be obvious! Follow the example below.
I usually do it in the evening. Im used to doing it with friends. Ive been doing it for 5
months now. I get really tired when I do it. (go to the gym)

GRAMMAR TALK
1) Look at these examples and separate them into 2 groups. Write A or B.
a) (
) My hometown used to be very calm and peaceful, but perhaps I think
like that because I was an only child when I lived there.
b) (
) We didnt use to dependo n so many gadgets at home and work.
Nowadays, it seems we cant do without them.
c) (
) Shes used to talking regularly to her parentes with the webcam. Its
not the same as visiting them, but its the best thing.
d)

e) (
) Im not used to going to the gym in the morning. When I do, Im
sleepy all day long!
f) (
) People tend to think that life used to be easier in the past, but I
certainly dont think so. In my opinion, we didnt use to have as much
freedom or as many choices as we do now.
g) (
) Im used to working long hours on the computer. Maybe this is why
Ive been having headaches lately.

2) Complete the sentence rules:

1) When
we
want
to
talk
________________________________.

2) When we want to talk

____________________________.

about

about

past

presente

habits,

habits,

we

use

we

use

3) Complete this dialog with USED TO or BE USED TO:

A:
When
I
was
10
years
old,
__________________________________________________________.
B:
I
didnt.
Actually,
I
__________________________
whenever
I
__________________________.
A: And I also ________________________ then, but I dont do it anymore.
B: Really? _________________________________ in the morning every day.
INCORPORATING 1
With a partner, role play this situation:
STUDENT A

STUDENT B

You have been having a difficult

situation with a person who is very
close to you (someone in your family, at
work, your romantic partner etc). The
problem is that he/she insists on
sticking to some old habits which you
just cant live with anymore. Talk to
your partner about the situation and
ask him/her some advice on what you
could do to help this person improve
and dont do it anymore.

Your partner has been having a difficult

situation with someone very close to
him/her. The thing is that this person
insists on sticking to some old habits
which he/she cant live with anymore.
Talk to him/her and give him/her some
advice on what he/she could do to help
this person improve and dont do it
anymore.

WORDS IN ACTION
1) In the past few years, technology has changed the way in which we
communicate with each other and the changes will probably continue in the
future. Try to complete the chart below with different means of communication:

IN THE PAST

TODAY

IN THE
FUTURE

Ways to contact
people

Ways to gather
Information about
other
people

Ways to tell people

about you

2) Choose one of the options below and get ready to tell your partner how you
would make arrangements for a date. Describe the steps and give as many
details as possible. Be creative!

1985
Today
2025

STEPS
1.
2.
3.

INCORPORATING 2
With a partner, talk about the advantages and disadvantages of technology
nowadays. You can say that technology and information have a positive/negative
impact on peoples lives and talk about the problems technology is causing.

BITS OF CULTURE

1) How does Internet access work in your country? Are there any official
restrictions? Can you visit any website you want to?
2) This article was published by Reporters Without Borders, an international
organization which defends freedom of expression. Read it and give your
opinion about the topic.

Internet monitored and controlled, even in

democracies
After joint appeal with Amnesty International for an end to online
censorship, Reporters Without Borders issues report on Enemies of
the Internet.

Reporters Without Borders today issued a report entitled Enemies of the

Internet in which it examines Internet censorship and other threats to online
free expression in 22 countries.
The 12 Enemies of the Internet Burma, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, North
Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam
have all transformed their Internet into an Intranet in order to prevent their
population from accessing undesirable online information, Reporters Without
Borders said.
All these countries distinguish themselves not only by their ability to censor
online news and information but also by their virtually systematic persecution
of troublesome Internet users, the press freedom organization said. Reporters
Without Borders has placed 10 other governments under surveillance for
adopting worrying measures that could open the way to abuses. The
organization draws particular attention to Australia and South Korea, where
recente measures may endanger online free expression.
Not only is the Internet more and more controlled, but new forms of
censorship are emerging based on the manipulation of information, Reporters
Without Borders said. Orchestrating the posting of comments on popular

3) Why do you think some countries censor the Internet?

4) Have you ever been part of or witnessed any situation, either personal or
professional, in which Internet access was monitore dor censored?
5) If you had the power to do so, which sites would you ban from the Internet (if
any)? Why?

WRITE UP
JOINING THE BLOGOSPHERE

Blogosphere is a neologism used to define the

world of blogs on the Internet and all the
interconnections that take place in such an
environment.

After a long time of hearing people talk about blogs, you have decided to start your
own. You have no special reason for doing so, but you got interested in the idea of
having people read what you have to say and comment on it. Now its time to write
your very first part. Have fun!
Think about these questions:

Who is going to read it?

Why would they be interested in reading it?
What will your readers learn about you?
How do you think your readers will react?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

TAPESCRIPTS
TRACK 11
Sylvia

And there I was, sitting in

front of the computer, and
this really charming guy
whos been chatting online
with me for over 20 minutes
asks me out on a date.

Vanessa

And what did you do?

Sylvia

Nothing... well, not exactlu

nothing. Actually, I walked
away.

Vanessa

You what?

Sylvia

I panicked, OK? So, I just left

my computer and went out
for some air. When I came
back, he had already logged
off.

Vanessa

You do know you could only

leave the chat room.

Sylvia

Thats what Im saying...

you see, Vanessa, I just
dont know how to flirt
anymore. I got married over
twenty years ago life was
really different then...

Vanessa

Come on, Mom, it cant be

that hard. Youre a very
interesting woman. Youre
fun, intelligent, and you look
gorgeous. Men are probably
lining up to talk to you. All
you have to do is let them.
Im sure theres someone
just right for you waiting
around the corner.

Sylvia

Thats easy for you to say.

You have already found your
Mr. Right.

Vanessa

Yeah, but it took me quite

some time to find someone
interesting. I used to spend
hours surfing these online
communities like Facebook
trying to find a guy that I
liked until I stumbled upon
Carlos. Did I tell you he
went to the same school I
did?

Sylvia

See, thats what I mean

when I say I dont know how
to do it anymore. Back in
the day, we used to go to
places and meet people. I
remember I would go to the
country club, or to parties,
and to night clubs when I
got a little older. It all
seemed so much easier!

Vanessa

I totally understand. I too

would go out almost every
weekend to see friends and
meet people. But things are
different now. I mean, you
can still do that, but you
have new possibilities. Isnt
it good to have choices?

Sylvia

Yeah, but thats what you

kids do, not an antique like
me! I think I belong in the
Dating Museum if there is
such a thing.

Vanessa

OK. Enough with the selfpitty, Mom. Youre not old,

but it looks like youre trying
to convince yourself that
you are. Did you know that
Madonna is four years older
than you?

Sylvia

I
guess
youre
right.
Perhapos Im just a little
down i the dumps lately. I
was never really good at
flirting in the first place. And
now its even harder than it
used to be.

Vanessa

Cmon, Mom. Cheer up! Ill

help you out. Were going to
get some beautiful pictures
of you and create a nice
profile on Norkut. I have a
very good feeling about this.
We can...

Sylvia

I dont know, Vanessa... I

think Im too shy to use
these online communities.

Sylvia

Vanessa

Trust me, Mom, youll soon

get used to visiting them.
Actually, you may get
addicted to it.

Sounds easy. I can say I

always walk the dog, for
example. I believe nice
people like animals.

Vanessa

Way to go! You can also say

that youve been learning
languages, too.

Sylvia

Dont you think its too

much exposure? Im really
insecure I dont know if I
can get used to talking
about myself to strangers.

Vanessa

Come on, youre not that

shy. Youre the kind of
person
who
faces
challenges head on, so think
of
this
as
one
more
challenge in your life.

Sylvia

Right. No more indecision.

Lets do it!

TRACK 15

Sylvia

Do you really think so?

Vanessa

Absolutely! Ive been doing

it for ages, no need to worry.

Sylvia

All right then. What do I

have to do?

Vanessa

First you have to create a

profile. You will have to
upload a picture and write
some personal information,
like
habits,
preferences,
things like that. Just dont
write anything that can be
used to harm you, such as
phone
numbers
and
addresses, for example.