The Perfect Match? How is technology affecting our relationships?

You are going to

• watch a short film
• use adjectives to describe personality
• discuss relationships 
• discuss technology 
• watch and discuss a short film

Note these are discussion activities for a speaking class based around a short 8 minute silent film called "97%"
(The film provoked considerable discussion when I used it in my FCE / CAE / CPE classes...)

Before you watch

A) Discuss personality

• Why do friends get on well with each other?
• How would you describe yourself to other people?
• Physically - choose any 3 words - eg tall, brunette, fair, dark-skinned, brown-eyed etc
• Personality - choose 5 words from the list below

• Who else in class has chosen the same words as you?

B) Discuss relationships

• How many of the personality adjectives above would you look for in a partner?
• Are you in a relationship? Do you have a partner/ boyfriend / girlfriend or are you married?
• What is a "perfect match" in a relationship? Is your partner a perfect match for you? Do "perfect matches" exist? Is personality important when choosing a partner?
• What do you look for in a partner?
• Would you accept a 50% match?

C) Discuss technology

• Do you have a smartphone?
• What do you use it for?
• Do you use social media (facebook, instragram, twitter)?
• What apps do you use?
• Are you addicted to it?

D) Watch
Watch the film below
What do you think the 97% in the title refers to?



97% (Short film) from Ben Brand on Vimeo.

E) After you watch - Discuss the film

• What do you think is the "message" of the film?
• Do you agree with it? Why / why not?
• What is the most important scene in the film? Why?
• What do you think is the man's attitude towards a) his phone? b) romantic relationships? c) other people? d) life?
• Do you think technology is changing the way we relate to each other? Can you give any examples from your own experience?
• Do you think using a phone app or a dating site is a good way to find a partner?
• Do you think technology will play an increasing role in our relationships and behaviour?

F) Write 
Choose 1

A) Write a review of the film discussing the film's ideas.

Plan
Introduction

• What is the name of the film? 
• What kind of film is it?
• What is the message of the film?
• Give a short (1 or 2 sentences) summary of the story. Do not give spoilers.

Main text

• Discuss the message of the film?
• Which scene best illustrates its message?
• Discuss the importance, prevalence and role of technology in our lives, our possible addiction to it and the effect it may be having on us and our relationships with each other.

Conclusion

• What is your opinion of the film's ideas and message?

B) "Our relationship with technology is having a damaging effect on the way we relate to each other." To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Plan
Introduction (3 sentences)

• Introduce the subject - modern technology 
• Introduce the idea to be discussed - our relationship with it.
• Introduce the question - What exactly are the effects it may be having on us?

Main text

• Discuss at least 3 examples of technology affecting our relationships or behavior. Give pros and cons. Support your ideas with specific examples.

Conclusion.
What is your opinion? Do you agree with the statement? Can you summarize your ideas in one sentence?

More

• What is beauty? Adjectives, Beauty, Crossword, Describing a person, Elementary, Fashion, Food, Health, IELTS, Intermediate, Life in the UK

•  Are the machines taking over?  Advanced, Business, Future, Future Continuous, IELTS, Shopping, Technology, Upper Intermediate

• Miss Devine Describing a person, Intermediate, Listening, Miss Devine, Past Habits,Upper Intermediate, Would  

• Are you always on your phone? Advanced, CAE, FCE, IELTS, Intermediate, Listening, Technology, Upper Intermediate, Writing, Writing an argument, Writing introductions for argument essays

• Could you live without it? Mobile phones, Living without electricity, Advantages and disadvantages, IELTS, Intermediate, Linking words, Listening, Reading, Smartphones, Writing an argument, Contrasting, Technology

What can we do about the environment?

You are going to 

• discuss environmental issues
• listen to someone talking about the environment
• do a gap-fill
• write an answer to a question related to the topic

1) Discuss

• What is the environment?
• What should our attitude be towards the environment?
• What is climate change?
• What do you think causes climate change?
• Do you think it is important? Why / Why not?
• What effects could climate change have on our lifestyles and the planet?
• What can we do to support the environment?

2) Listen
You are going to listen to Mary Sargeant talking about climate change and the environment on BBC Radio Devon.
Mary Sargeant is from Devon in the UK.

• What issues does she mention?
• What solutions does she offer?

listen to ‘Pause For Thought with Mary Sargeant’ on Audioboo

Listen again and do the gap fill below
Check you understand the vocabulary before you start.

Printable worksheet here




3) Discuss

• Do you agree with Mary?
• Do we do enough or should we do more?
• Should individuals be responsible for helping to protect the environment or is it the responsibility of governments?
• What do you do to help the environment?

4) Write
Choose 1 (IELTS)

1. “Many people think it is very important to protect the environment but they make no effort to do it themselves. Why do you think this is the case? What actions should individuals take to protect the environment?”
2. Nowadays environmental problems are too big to be managed by individual persons or individual countries. In other words, it is an international problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

More

• Are you always on your phone? Advanced, CAE, FCE, IELTS, Intermediate, Listening, Technology, Upper Intermediate, Writing, Writing an argument, Writing introductions for argument essays

• The Truth About British Rain - The Great British W...Advanced, Describing a cycle, IELTS, Life in the UK, Listening, Upper Intermediate, Weather, Writing

• What is the weight of the human race? Advice, Crossword, FCE, Food, Health, IELTS, Jamie Oliver, Listening, Obesity, Obligation, Writing, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate

Are you always on your phone?

You are going to

• listen to someone talking about the advantages and disadvantages of technology and do a gap-fill 
• practise essay planning
• write an argument essay 

Note this post can be used in combination with  Could you live without it?







1) Discuss

• Are you always on your phone?
• How often do you use your phone?
• What do you use it for?
• What are the good things and bad things about smartphones?
• Can you think of any situations when it would be inappropriate to use a phone?
• Are we addicted to technology now?

2) Match
You are going to listen to someone talking about the advantages and disadvantages of technology.
Before you listen. Look at the exercise below. If you were writing an essay on this subject what would make the best order of sentences?

3) Listen
Alison Treharne is talking about technology on BBC Radio Devon.
According to her;

• What are the good things?
• What are the bad things?
• Does she follow the structure above for talking about the topic?

listen to ‘Pause For Thought with Alison Treharne’ on Audioboo

4) Listen
Listen again and fill in the gaps.

Printable worksheet here






5) Write 
Use some of your own ideas and Alison's ideas to answer the question below.
Remember;

1. Introduce the topic to be discussed.
2. Explain the topic to be discussed
3. Restate the question in you own words (what are you going to tell us about?)
4. Give some advantages and disadvantages
5. Support your ideas with some specific examples of advantages and disadvantages
6. Give you conclusion (you can restate the question and give an an opinion)

"Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that people make? Has this been a positive or negative development?"
(IELTS - 250 words) 






Read
Mobile phones are ruining relationships
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9714616/Mobile-phone-addiction-ruining-relationships.html





More
Now try these posts

• Could you live without it? Mobile phones, Living without electricity, Advantages and disadvantages, IELTS, Intermediate, Linking words, Listening, Reading, Smartphones, Writing an argument, Contrasting, Technology

• IELTS: Writing introductions for task 2  Advanced, IELTS, Reading, Upper Intermediate, Writing, Writing introductions for argument essays

• More technology means more communication? Communication, Crossword, IELTS, Intermediate, Technology, Upper Intermediate , Writing an argument  

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

•  Should parents follow their children on facebook? Communication, Connectives, Intermediate, Internet, Linking words, Listening, Social networks, Technology, Upper Intermediate, Writing an argument

Question Time Capital Punishment Debate - Are you for or against?

You are going to

• watch a short debate about capital punishment from the BBC's Question Time programme
• practise vocabulary connected with crime
• look at some expressions connected with debating and stating opinions
• debate a topical question
• write an argument essay

1) Discuss

Capital punishment

• What is it?
• Is it fair?
• Is it necessary?
• Is it wrong? 
• is it revenge?
• Do two wrongs make a right?
• What is your opinion?

2) Before you watch
Vocabulary check
The words on the right are used in the clip you are going to watch. Do you understand them all? Match them with the definitions in the drop-down menu to check you know them.

3) Watch

Question Time is BBC TV debate show where a panel of guests discuss issues of the day. This program is from 22/11/2011

The participants in this clip are;
Priti Patel - Conservative MP http://www.priti4witham.com/
Ian Hislop - Editor of Private Eye (a British satirical and current affairs magazine)
Justine Roberts - co-founder of Mumsnet.

 
Watch the clip

• What opinions about Capital punishment are stated by the participants in the debate?
• Who is "for"?
• Who is "against"?

You can see the full debate here






4) Practise
Look at this summarized transcript of the debate.
Fill in the gaps with a word from the list.

5) Write
Choose 1 of the questions and write an answer. 
Look at the website below if you need some more ideas or views on capital punishment.

• In many countries where capital punishment has been abolished there has been a corresponding rise in violent crime rates. For this reason, many governments are considering its re-introduction as a form of deterrent. Should capital punishment be re-introduced? (IELTS)

• "Without capital punishment our lives are less secure and crimes or violence increase". To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? (IELTS)

• "By punishing murderers with the death penalty, society is also guilty of committing murder. Therefore, life in prison is a better punishment for murderers." (IELTS)

Read here for a summary of views on capital punishment.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/capitalpunishment/









6) Debate
Debating Language
1) Look at the text again
What language do the debaters use to state their opinions?




2) Look at the phrases below. Fill in the gaps

3) Debate for IELTS
Many IELTS students have problems thinking of ideas to put in their essays. Why not make your own version of Question Time? Choose some IELTS questions / topics and debate them in class.
Make a note of the points people make and include them in the essays which you can write after you've finished debating them.

Look at the questions for debate below. Choose one. 
A) In pairs or groups one person / group thinks of ideas to support an idea. The other person / group thinks of ideas to oppose it.
B) Debate the topic. Try and convince your "opponent" that you are right and give examples which support your points.
C) Have a "chairman" who can moderate the debate and make sure everyone gets an equal turn.
D) Let others in the class decide who has argued their ideas the best and "won" the debate.
E) Don't forget to use some of the debating language.
F) Use reason and logic. Don't get too emotional!

Some ideas for debating;

• Downloading free films and music from the internet is stealing. Do you agree or disagree?
• "Free Speech does not only cover saying what your opinion is without reprisals; it also gives you the right to be as foul, unpleasant and vile as you feel the need to be".   What do you think?
• Should rich countries forgive all debts for poor countries?
• Should money be spent on space exploration?
• Is animal testing necessary?
• Will the Internet bring people of the world closer together?
• Should retirement be compulsory at 65 years of age?
• Education is not a luxury, but a basic human right and as such should be free for everyone irrespective of personal wealth. Do you agree or disagree?
• Children should never be educated at home by their parents. Do you agree or disagree?
• Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is why they have the greater role in raising children in most societies. Others claim that men are just as good as women at parenting. What do you think?
• Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?
• Should criminals be punished with lengthy jail terms or re-educated and rehabilitated using community service programs for instance, before being reintroduced to society?
• All blood sports should be banned. Do you agree or disagree?
• Should governments ever intervene in the rights of the individual?
• Global warming is the most serious issue that the world is facing today. Do you agree or disagree?

More
Printable worksheets here


More language for expressing an opinion  
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/communication-lesson-opinion.php

More on debates
http://esl.about.com/od/conversationlessonplans/a/debate6.htm

More on "For and Against" essays
http://academicwriting.wikidot.com/for-and-against-essays

More on crime
http://efllecturer.blogspot.com.es/2012/05/what-happened-to-db-cooper.html

What's the point of university?

You are going to

• listen to people comparing university education with work experience
• do 2 listening comprehension exercises
• discuss and write about education

1) Discuss

• What is the value of a university education?
• Is it a means to an economic goal, a route to a better job?
• Is it an end in itself, learning for the sake of learning?
• Does having a lot of qualifications mean you will be good at your job? 
• Is it better to leave school and learn the skills needed for work a while working?
• Does / should a university education prepare you for life?
• Is going to university the best option for you? Why?

2) Listen - Why some18-year-olds are shunning university.

On this clip from Radio 4 Quentin Letts talks to A-level students about where they see their futures and if they see university as the best option.

• What advantages do they give for going straight into work?
• What advantages do they give for going to university?

Listen and find out.

Vocabulary

A-levels =  A-level exam courses are studied over a two-year period and are recognised as the standard for assessing the suitability of applicants for academic courses in English, Welsh, and Northern Irish universities.

Shunning = avoiding, turning away from

listen to ‘Why some 18-year-olds are shunning university’ on Audioboo


From http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01lt45k

Listen again and answer the questions below

3) Discuss

• Is it possible to succeed in life with going to university or having academic qualifications?
• Do you know anyone who has done so?

4) Listen - Jon Snow: There is life after A-levels

Jon Snow

You are going to listen to Jon Snow (born 28 September 1947). Jon is a British journalist and presenter, currently employed by ITN. He is best known for presenting Channel 4 News in the UK. 
He was not a very succesful student at school but says "there is life after "A" levels".
Listen and find out.

• What does he think you have to do to be successful in life?

listen to ‘Jon Snow: There is life after A-levels’ on Audioboo

Listen again and fill in the gaps in this summary.

Vocabulary

Graft = hard work

Read again

• Do you agree with Jon when he says "people have different ways of achieving what they want to do"?
• Do you think the advice he gives in the 3rd paragraph is good advice?

Printable worksheets here

5) Discuss / Write (IELTS)

Choose 1 of the questions below. 

• Discuss how you will write it with a partner. 
• Discuss the points you will make, you introduction and your conclusion.
• Make a plan of the points you want to make and write your answer.

1) Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school.
Discuss both views and give your opinion. 


2) Some people think that universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace. Others think that the true function of a university should be to give access to knowledge for its own sake, regardless of whether the course is useful to an employer.
What, in your opinion, should be the function of a university?

More

Teaching and learning styles - What makes a good teacher? How do you like to learn?
http://efllecturer.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/teaching-and-learning-styles-what-makes.html

The listenings contain several conditional forms. Can you find them?
Practise more conditionals here.
http://efllecturer.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/what-would-happen-if-2nd-conditional.html

and here
http://efllecturer.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/what-would-have-happened-if-10.html

Supersize Me!

You are going to 

• watch a clip from the film "Supersize Me" about fast food
• do a gap-fill listening exercise
• discuss the health aspects of eating fast food
• discuss whether the state should prohibit unhealthy activities
• write an argument essay based on the topic

1) Discuss

• Do you ever eat in fast food restaurants?  Why / Why not?
• What does “Super size me” mean?
• Have you seen the film?
• Is Fast Food good for you?  Why / Why not?
• Do you think Fast Food restaurants are responsible for making people fat or ill?
• What would happen if you only ate Fast Food for 1 month?

You are going to watch 2 clips from Morgan Spurlock's documentary Supersize Me. For 30 days Morgan Spurlock only ate at McDonald's, eating everything on the menu at least once. At the end of the film he examines what effect this diet has had on him.
You can buy the DVD on amazon here




2) Before you watch / Vocabulary Check
Do you know these words?
OBESE = FAT
SUED (To Sue) = To take someone to court for damages
CORONARY = Heart attack
JOINTS = Restaurants
FRIVOLOUS = Silly
STRAIGHT = Consecutively, following = 30 days straight.

3) Watch the clip

Why did 2 girls try to sue McDonalds?
What is Morgan Spurlock going to do for 1 month?

4) Gap-fill

Now do the gap-fill. Fill in the gaps with the right number or word.
Watch the clip again if you need to.

5) Discuss
What do you think happened after 30 days of eating nothing but fast food?

• Did he get fatter?
• Was he ill?
• How did he feel?

6) Watch
Watch the end of the film.

1. How much weight did he gain?
2. What happened to his liver?
3. What happened to his cholesterol?
4. Did he get fatter?
5. How much more likely is he to have a heart failure?
6. How did he feel?
7. What happened to his sex life?
8. Did he become addicted to fast food?

Answers and printable exercises - here

7) Discuss

• If fast food is unhealthy, should it be banned or restricted or is eating it a matter of personal choice?
• If you think it is a matter of personal choice, should people also be allowed to do other unhealthy or addictive things like drink alcohol, smoke or take illegal drugs? Where do you draw the line between allowing one unhealthy activity and prohibiting or restricting another?
• Should the government or state tell us what not to eat, drink, smoke or do with our bodies? Is the state trying to interfere with the individual's personal freedom and choice? Can these initiatives ever be successful or are they a waste of money?
• How do a person's unhealthy habits affect the state or society?

8) Write
Write an answer to this question.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "Fast food is addictive and unhealthy and it should be restricted in the same way that alcohol, cigarettes and drugs are."

More
 

Originally via: OnlineSchools.org

Fast food facts
http://www.vivavegie.org/101book/text/nolink/social/supersizeme.htm

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

Does more technology mean more communication?

You are going to

• discuss technology and communication
• listen to a short radio program about technology and communication
• do a sentence ordering exercise
• discuss, plan and write an IELTS style argument essay on the question
• practise some information and communication technology (ICT) vocabulary with a crossword

1) Discuss

• What kinds of technology do we communicate with?
• Is it easier to communicate now than 50 years ago? Why?
• How has technology affected communication and relationships?
• What are the good and bad things about modern forms of communicating?
• Do you use social network sites? Do you agree with any of the comments below?

2) Listen

You are going to listen to Rory Cellan-Jones, the technology correspondent of the BBC. He is going to find out whether more technology means more or better communication.
Look at these questions.

• What examples of information and communications technology (ICT) does he give?
• What disadvantages are mentioned?
• What advantages are given?
• What do you think is the Rory's opinion?

 

http://audioboo.fm/boos/605372-does-more-tech-more-communication-from-bbcr4today




3) Read
Look at the sentences below. You are going to put them in the right order to make a written summary of the program but before you do...
Read quickly and answer.

• Which sentence makes the best introduction? Why?
• Which sentence makes the best conclusion? Why?
• Which sentences can be seen as disadvantages?
• Which comments can be seen as advantages?

Now put the sentences in order. You can listen again to check.

4) Discuss

Look at the sentences again.

• How does Rory introduce the topic he is going to examine?
• How many examples of it does he give?
• How does he introduce the argument?
• How does he give a conclusion / sum up? Does he recognise more than one point of view?

What do you think?

• Does more technology mean more communication?
• Does more technology mean better communication?
• Do you agree that "technology is an addition, not a replacement" for face-to-face socialising and communication?

5) Write

Look at this IELTS question

Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology.

In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that people make? Has this been a positive or negative development?

Plan your essay.
How many paragraphs are you going to write?
1. Write an introduction
  a) Introduce the topic to be discussed.
  b) Explain it and give a few examples.
  c) Introduce the argument. Restate the question in your own words.

2. Give examples of how technology is changing relationships. State some advantages and disadvantages of these changes. Support your ideas - give some specific examples of the positive or negative effects of these changes.

3. Write a conclusion. Sum up what you have discussed.

6) Vocabulary - Crossword

How much vocabulary can you remember? 
All the answers in the crossword are from the radio clip.

Printable version of crossword here
Printable reading exercise  here

STaRt!

Discussion / Listening / Writing - Is smacking a child ever justified?

You are going to

• listen to a discussion and do a gap-filling exercise
• practise verbs used to report speech
• discuss parenting and children's behaviour
• prepare and write an IELTS task 2 question on this theme

Discuss

• What's the best way to educate children?
• What's the best way to teach children about right and wrong?
• How should parents discipline children when they do wrong?
• Do you think it is ever right to smack a child who has done wrong?
• What is the law in the UK with regard to smacking?
• What is the law in your country?
• How does the education of children affect society? 
• How did your parents raise you?
• Are you a parent? How do you / will you raise your children?

Listen
You are going to listen to a short discussion from the BBC Radio 4 Today programme
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm

David Lammy, the Labour MP for Tottenham and former minister, sparked controversy when he said parents in his constituency were confused about the law on smacking.
Cindy Butts, adviser on the Metropolitan Police's Operation Trident, and Sunny Hundal, Guardian writer and editor of left wing blog Liberal Conspiracy, discuss whether smacking is ever justified.


Listen to the discussion

1) Who says the following? Cindy Butts or Sunny Hundal?

• some families don't understand the law
• was beaten as a child
• people are more willing to ignore authority nowadays

Click play to listen





2) Listen again and fill in the gaps with a verb from the drop-down menu.

Printable version available here

Grammar - Reported Speech

Look at the text again.
The verbs in the gaps in the summary can all be used to report speech. We can also use Say and Tell but the test of good English is being able to use varied vocabulary.
What other verbs in the text are used to report speech?
Highlight for answers = dispute, maintain, claim, consider

Practise reported speech here
http://www.englishcafe.com/blog/reported-speech-reporting-verbs-27093



Discuss

• The law in the UK states that a parent can smack a child without reddening the skin. Do you agree that the law is fair and sensible?
• What are the alternatives to smacking?
• Do you think parents should have training to raise children?
• Are people more willing to ignore authority nowadays? Is this good or bad? What are the causes?
• Do you agree there has been a breakdown in discipline in young teenagers?
• How much are parents responsible for the actions of their children?

Writing

Choose one of the following IELTS questions

• Some people think it would be a good idea for schools to teach every young person how to be a good parent. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Describe the skills a person needs to be a good parent.
• Firm discipline is a necessary part of teaching children. To what extent do you agree or disagree
• In some countries children have very strict rules of behavior, while in other countries they are allowed to do almost anything they want. To what extent should children have to follow rules? Give Reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
• Behaviour in schools is getting worse. Explain the causes and effects of this problem, and suggest some possible solutions.

More Practice
More reported speech
http://www.englishcafe.com/blog/reported-speech-reporting-verbs-27093

Reporting verbs lists
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/rep7.cfm
http://academicenglishcafe.com/ReportedandQuotedSpeechVerbs.aspx

Game  http://academicenglishcafe.com/HotChocolateCoolQuotesBetaRV.aspx

Reading
Daily Mail - Labour MP: Smacking ban led to riots because parents fear children will be taken away if they discipline them
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093223/Labour-MP-David-Lammy-Smacking-ban-led-riots.html

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