How much does the internet weigh?

You are going to

• watch a video about the internet and answer some questions
• look at an infographic and do a multiple choice exercise
• practise the language of trends and graphs

1) Discuss

• What do you know about the internet?
• How many people in the world use it now?
• What do you think are are the most popular online activities?
• How much does the internet weigh?

Watch the video and find out.

2) Practise
Now do this True / False exercise on the information in the video clip

What do you think is the most "mind blowing" fact in the clip?







3) Read
Look at this infographic. What does it show?

infographic by http://open-site.org/



Look at the infographic again and do the multiple choice and matching exercises below.
1) Gap-fill

2) Matching exercise. Relative clauses - who / which / that

Printable exercises here

4) Practise

Look at the presentation below.

What language do you know for describing graphs and bar charts?

                  IELTS Task 1 vocab from David Mainwood

5) Write (IELTS)
Try this IELTS academic task 1 writing question on computer ownership.

The graphs above give information about computer ownership as a percentage of the population between 2002 and 2010, and by level of education for the years 2002 and 2010.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.
http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare-test/free-sample-tests/writing-sample-test-1-academic/writing-task-1


Go here for excellent advice on how to plan and write an IELTS academic task 1 writing question

Dominic Cole's IELTS and Beyond
http://www.dcielts.com/writing-2/academic-task-1/








More
More IELTS task 1 vocabulary
http://www.goodluckielts.com/ielts-writing-task-1-vocabulary.html



Read
Are you addicted to the internet? Take the test
http://counsellingresource.com/lib/quizzes/net-addiction-testing/internet-addiction/

Will the internet become conscious?
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20121121-will-the-net-become-conscious



More All Time 10s http://www.youtube.com/user/alltime10s



Why not try this?
http://efllecturer.blogspot.com.es/2012/07/what-is-weight-of-human-race.html

What do you know about YouTube?

You are going to

• watch a video and read text in the video
• look at an infographic about YouTube
• do some quiz comprehension activities
• practise reading quickly / scanning for information
• practise the past

Discuss

• What do you know about YouTube?
• Do you use it?
• What do you watch on it? 
• What is your favourite clip?
• Have you ever uploaded a clip to YouTube? 
• Have you ever been "Rickrolled"? What does it mean?

Vocabulary check
Drag and drop to match the words on the left with the definitions on the right




Watch
Watch the video and answer the questions.

• Who founded YouTube?
• What gave them the idea to start the site?
• When was the first YouTube video uploaded?
• How many people use the site?

Quiz
How much can you remember from the video?
Do this quiz.

Read
Read the text below about the history of YouTube from 2005 to 2010. Don't worry if you don't understand everything. Find the answers as quickly as you can.
You can answer the questions in the interactive exercise below

Find out

1. When did YouTube officially launch?
2. How much did Google buy YouTube for?
3. Which Queen has her own channel?
4. Which famous rock band performed live on Youtube?
5. How long does the average person spend on YouTube?
6. How many views a day did YouTube have in 2010?
7. What percentage of internet traffic does YouTube have?
8. How long was the first video?
9. What age group uses YouTube the most?
10. How many languages does Google's Automatic Speech Recognition Technology translate?

Infographic: The History of Youtube by Infographiclabs


Now answer the questions

Printable version here

Write / Research

What's your favourite webpage on the internet?
Write a short paragraph about it.
Intro

• What is it? 
• What can you do on it? 
• Are there other websites like it?

Find out

• Who founded it?
• Why?
• How old is it? When was it launched?
• Is it popular? How much traffic does it have?

Conclusion
Give you opinion of it. Say what's special about it



More
What are the most watched clips on YouTube?
Can you guess any?

Watch the clip below

• How many clips have you already seen?
• What activities are the people doing?

Should parents follow their children on facebook?

You are going to

• discuss social networks
• listen to some teenagers discussing social networks
• listen to some teenagers and parents talking about their online relationships and order their comments
• look at some language used for writing - connectives
• write a discursive essay on the topic

1) Discuss

• Do you use any social networks?
• Why do people use them?
• What do you do on them?
• What effect do you think they have on people?
• Do they change how you think about other people?
• Do they make people happy?

2) Listen

An American study suggests that social media can affect your thinking about other people. VOA Learning English talked to some young people to find out what they thought

Questions
Researchers at Utah Valley University wanted to explore if the amount of time spent on Facebook affected how users saw others.

• What questions did they ask college students?
• What did they find?
• Do you think it's true?
• What does Tod Kashdan say is important to do?

Answers - Highlight here = They asked college students if other people have better and happier lives. And, how long they had used the website and how many hours a week they spend following Facebook friends. The study found students who were more involved with Facebook were more likely to think other people's lives were happier.
Tod Kashdan says it is important to live your own life.

3) Discuss

Should parents to follow their children's activities on social network sites? Why / Why not?
Are you "friends" with your parents / children?

4) Listen

Students from around the UK told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour about how involved their parents get in their social media lives.

They discussed whether parents should be "friends" on sites like Facebook, and how much privacy they were allowed.

Answer

• How many of the comments are by parents / teenagers?
• Do they think being "friends" is a good idea?

Click play to listen

listen to ‘Should parents know about your social media life?’ on Audioboo

School Report is an annual BBC project which helps young people make their own news reports for a real audience. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/17388168

5) Put the comments in order

Read the comments below. Listen again and put them in the order you hear by choosing a number form the drop-down menu.

6) Informal expressions

These common informal expressions have been edited out
... and stuff... 
 ...it's like...  it's kind of like sort of...
I'm like...

What do they mean?
Highlight = for answers 
... and stuff...   = etc 
 ...it's like...  it's kind of like sort of... = describing something 
I'm like... = can be used like reported speech eg I'm like "Leave me alone!" or describe feelings eg I'm like so angry / happy...

7) Discuss

"If you post something that your mum won't be happy with then it's really not suitable"

• What kind of things do you think are suitable to post on a social network?
• What are the dangers of posting unsuitable material?

8) Writing / Connectives

If we are speaking we use quite informal language. However if we are writing we should use more formal expressions. Look at these connectives / linking words.

ESSAY WRITING LANGUAGE
Don’t forget to have an introduction Introduce the topic and question
ORGANISING POINTS Firstly Furthermore In addition
ANALYSIS So Therefore That is why As a consequence As a result of this / that	CONTRAST However Nevertheless On the other hand
GENERALIZING In general Generally On the whole	GIVING EXAMPLES For example For instance
OPINION It’s my opinion that… It seems to me that... I agree that... I am convinced that... It seems obvious to me that...
CONCLUSION Finally To sum up When all is said and done After careful thought we can see that... It can be seen that... In conclusion

Fill in the gaps with the connectives shown

Printable versions here

9) Read and discuss

Look at the information below.

• How many parents send a friend request to their kids?
• What do they look at on facebook?
• What else do they look at?
• Do you find any of the statistics surprising?

Vocabulary

Keep tabs = follow

Snooping = spying

nosy =  curiosity about other people's affairs.

Courtesy of: Online Schools

10) Write
"Children and teenagers are vulnerable on social networks and many are on facebook without their parents' permission" 

To what extent do you agree with this statement? Do you think it is justified for parents to follow their children's activities or is it an invasion of privacy?

Give reasons for your answer using your own ideas and experience.

More
More Connectives http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar/linking-words/

More reading
http://www.safetyweb.com/social-networking-safety-tips

Quiz. Are you addicted to facebook?
http://theoatmeal.com/quiz/facebook_addict/go

More on writing arguments and linking words
http://efllecturer.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/could-you-live-without-it.html





More on EFL SMARTblog
Sexting: is technology endangering teenagers? Advanced, Discussion Activities, Health and Safety, IELTS, Listening, Sexting, Smartphones, Technology, Upper Intermediate

Internet goes on strike - Discussion / Writing an argument

Updated 23/1/2012 to add the interview with Jacob Appelbaum who argues the case against SOPA and talks about Megaupload and the surveillance state. It's at the bottom of the post.

Why is the internet "on strike"? 
1) Read
18 January 2012
Wikipedia joins blackout protest at US anti-piracy moves
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16590585
Wikipedia has taken its English-language site offline as part of protests against proposed anti-piracy laws in the US.
Users attempting to access the site see a black screen and a political statement: "Imagine a world without free knowledge."
The user-generated news site Reddit and the blog Boing Boing are also taking part in the "blackout".
However, Twitter has declined to join the shutdown.


Read more
Viewpoints: Sites go offline in US piracy laws protest
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16604990

SOPA debate: Who’s involved and what are the stakes? A look at the politicians, companies and lobbying groups involved in the dispute over Stop Online Piracy Act.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/sopa-debate-whos-involved-and-what-are-the-stakes/2012/01/17/gIQAZAVq5P_gallery.html

Watch a video  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/dec/23/sopa-stop-online-piracy-act


2) Discuss

• What is copyright?
• What is online piracy?
• What should we do about online piracy?
• Have you ever downloaded movies and music?
• Do you think we should pay for them or should they be free?
• What are the consequences of free movies or music?
• for customers?
• for retailers?
• for business?
• for musicians, actors and people who work in those industries?
• Do you think they should look for other ways to invest in and sell their products?
• Give examples
• What other content on the web is free?
• Should news be free?
• Should knowledge be free? Why / Why not?
• Do you think wikipedia is right to shut down in protest or should we have laws that shut down websites that share content without paying copyright?
• What are the consequences of closing down websites which share copyrighted content? Which of your favourite websites would be affected?
• Take note of some advantages and disadvantages of free and paid internet content and prepare to write the question below

3) Write
Write an answer to this question.
The film and music industry want to close down websites which freely share copyrighted content. Others say that this goes against freedom of speech. Which view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

Interview with Jacob Appelbaum who argues against SOPA and talks about Megaupload and the surveillance state.

60 Seconds - Things That Happen On The Internet Every Sixty Seconds

You are going to

• Practise using the passive 
• Look at an infographic on internet use
• Do an interactive exercise practising the passive 

1) Discuss
What do people do on the internet?
What do you think are the most popular activities that people do on the internet?






2) Look at the infographic below
In 60 seconds

• How many emails are sent?
• How many tweets are generated?
• How many status updates are published on facebook?
• How many search queries are made on google?
• How many new videos are added to youtube?

Infographic by- Shanghai Web Designers

3) Practise the Passive
Fill in the gaps in the sentences below with one of the participles and the correct form of the verb to be (is / are) to practise making passives. You can use some of the participles more than once.

Do you find any of the figures surprising?

Source http://www.go-gulf.com/blog/60-seconds

If you are not sure how to make the passive look here

Passive present simple

View more presentations from David Mainwood

4) Discuss
What do you like doing on the internet?
What are the good things and bad things about using the internet?

The Virtual Revolution (Episode 4) - BBC Series about the internet (for Upper Int EFL or IELTS)

Do you think the invention of the internet has been a revolution? Watch some Youtube clips from the BBC series The Virtual Revolution and answer the questions below. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/virtualrevolution/

This is a  useful topic if you are doing the IELTS exam and there are some typical IELTS writng questions to follow up the activity.

 
 

1) Before you watch - Introduction / Discussion. What do you think?

• What effects has the internet had on modern life?
• Do you think the internet has caused a revolution?
• What do you think Homo Interneticus means?
• Are we changing from Home Sapiens to Homo Interneticus?
• Who is Generation Web?
• Is the internet trivializing our relationships and rotting our brains?
• Does the web distort or enrich our humanity?

2) Watch  clips 1-3 and take notes on these questions. (You may find the information useful for the writing actvities which follow)

1. What do you learn about the Gutenberg Bible and why is it compared to the internet?
2. What do you find out about South Korea?
3. What do you find out about Internet addiction?
4. What are the consequences of computer use on children?
5. What do you find out about online social networks?
6. What do you find out about facebook?
7. What is its relationship with fast food?
8. What does this say about facebook "friends"?
9. What is the Dunbar number?
10. What is the average number of friends facebook users interact with?

If you want you can watch the rest of the program here

The Virtual Revolution episode 4
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

3) Writing topics -  You can use some of the ideas in the program to help you. Look at the notes you took from the questions on the video clips

1) Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler?

2) We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in businesses, hospitals, crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will they be used for in future?.Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more suspicious of their benefits? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

3) Technology is making communication easier in today's world, but at the expense of personal contact as many people choose to work at home in front of a computer screen. What dangers are there for a society which depends on computer screens rather than face-to-face contact for its main means of communication?

4) Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient. Other people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful.What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

5) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Modern technology is creating a single world culture. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

6) Some people say that the Internet provides people with a lot of valuable information. Others think access to so much information creates problems. Which view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

7) Some say that the internet is making the world smaller by bringing people together. To what extent do to you agree that the internet is making it easier for people to communicate with one another.

8) As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role for teachers in the classroom.
• You should give reasons for your answer using your own ideas and experience.

9) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? With the help of technology, students nowadays can learn more information and learn it more quickly. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

 

Now watch the CEOP film Exposed to learn about some of the dangers of social networking

Are new communication technologies destroying language?

David Crystal - Texts and Tweets: myths and realities

Professor David Crystal, one of the world's leading linguistic experts, challenges some myths in this 30 minute talk.


The myths he covers are:

Myth 1: Youth text messages are littered with mangled abbreviations
Myth 2: The youth use abbreviations as a way to trick adults
Myth 3: The youth don't know how to spell
Myth 4: Youth school essays are filled with inappropriate abbreviations
Myth 5: We are rearing a generation of children who have no responsibility toward language

Watch the clip and make notes about the 5 "myths"

Exposed (CEOP Video - Staying Safe Online)

You are going to

• watch a film about internet safety
• do some gap-fill and matching exercises
• practise present simple
• discuss ways to stay safe online

Teacher's note;

‘Exposed’ is a 10 minute drama about a 15 year old girl called Dee who sends some compromising images of herself to her boyfriend. The film deals with some of the dangers of texting, "sexting", social networking and online bullying and offers some advice and solutions to those who make mistakes

Through the film and the accompanying activities, young people are encouraged to understand:

• the reasons why young people are taking and forwarding these image
• the issue of trust in relationships
• how photos can end up out of the hands of the intended recipient and be circulated much more widely
• the speed at which images can be spread on the internet
• the online and offline bullying which may occur as a result
• the  idea of digital footprint and online reputation
• the legal implications of self-generated indent images
• the process of removing content online, and where to seek further help and advice
• why they should not take and send these images. 

 

1) Discuss

• Do you use the internet a lot?
• Do you use social networking sites like facebook?
• What are the good things about using these sites and the internet?
• What are the bad things?

2) Watch the film.

• What does Dee do wrong?  
• What do you think of what she did?

 

3) Order the sentences 

Put the sentences in the same order as they happen in the film.
You can drag and drop the sentences over to the number on the left.

4) Listen to the end again. Do the gap-fill exercise

5) Summary. Do the gap-fill exercise

Printable version here

 

Writing activities 

Choose 1

1) In groups prepare, discuss and take notes to write an advice leaflet or an online guide / webpage giving advice to people called "How to be safe online"

2) Computers are everywhere nowadays. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using computers?

3) Some people say that the Internet provides people with a lot of valuable information. Others think access to so much information creates problems. Which view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. (IELTS)

More info here

http://thinkuknow.co.uk/11_16/control/sexting

http://www.ceop.police.uk/

http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/teachers/exposed/

E-Safety http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=131859