Some pre-discussion questions to help you think about the topic
Have you heard of sleep texting? Can you imagine what it is?
Do you have a problem with texting and can't stop texting?
It really seems like being in touch is a double edged sword. We can go anywhere in the world and be in touch with friends and family. In fact, it seems that some people are becoming addicted to being in touch, that is, they can't stop doing it and some are even doing it in their sleep.
Some doctors are saying that the latest phenomenon is sleep texting. Some, especially teenagers, have their phones by their bed and begin sleep texting, in the same way that people sleepwalk.
Dr Markus Schmidt of Ohio Sleep Medicine Institute, USA confirms this interesting news, he says he’s seeing more cases where people send texts while they should be asleep and can't remember what they did at night when they wake up the next day. Often the texts that they send are nonsense.
The doctor says that there aren’t any vivid explanations and details of sleep texting cases, but it seems that it usually occurs with teens who do not get enough sleep
Dr David Cunnington of the Melbourne Sleep Disorders clinic also says he’s seen cases-but that it’s not yet as prevalent as sleep e-mailing. Both the Doctors suggest a simple treatment, leave the phone and laptop outside the bedroom
But it doesn’t seem to be successful because most of the teens might sleep with their mobile phones beside them and refuse to give their phones up. Furthermore, the problem tends to be growing in proportions.
What’s so bad about it? - you may ask. Schmidt's conclusion is that the more you sleep-text, the less you are actually asleep, and so it causes health problems and it also affects the moral character of the teenager.
Match the words/phrases on the left with the closest meaning in the right column. The answers are below.
|
to be in touch |
A |
1 |
something that has a good part and a bad part |
|
double edged sword |
B |
2 |
very clear, easy to understand or see |
|
phenomenon |
C |
3 |
to surrender, to not keep |
|
vivid |
D |
4 |
good and honest behavior or character |
|
prevalent |
E |
5 |
percentage or piece of something |
|
give up |
F |
6 |
to contact |
|
tends |
G |
7 |
very common |
|
proportions |
H |
8 |
new fashions, new popular things |
|
moral |
I |
9 |
a one time and unusual event |
A=6, B=1, C=9, D=2, E=7, F=3, G=8, H=5, I=4
Good morning Maya,
this last weekend I was in Hanoi. It's has a beautiful downtown because of the French buildings that make you feel that you are in Paris, however it was soooo hot. Hotter than Hochimin City.
anyway, have a nice week,
thanks,
Darrell
Some discussion questions to help you learn the new words and phrases. Try to use the new words and phrases in your answer.
1. How important is it for you to always be in touch with friends and family?
2. In the reading, what does is the double edged sword situation being talked about?
3. What other phenomenons like sleep texting are there?
4. What vivid explanations do you think are being talked about in the reading?
5. Why do you think that sleep texting is not as prevalent as sleep emailing?
6. How hard would it be for you to give up texting? give up your cell phone for a day or a week?
7. Why do you think this situation tends to be growing in proportions?
8. How do you think sleep texting affects the moral character of teenagers?
Some example sentences to help you understand the meaning of the words and phrases.
1. He was busy, but he said that he would be in touch with us later.
2. Owning a cell phone is a double edged sword, you can contact someone anytime, but your boss can also call you anytime to give you work.
3. Economic recessions are not a new phenomenon, but this one might be different because it may go on for a longer time.
4. One of the things I vividly remember from my first day at school was how funny my teacher was.
5. In the summertime, mosquitos are prevalent.
6. If you want to have a baby then you have to give up your free time.
7. One of the recent trends is for more women to work in management positions.
8. A larger proportion of society can speak English well compared to ten years ago.
9. Some people say it is impossible to find a politician with high moral character.
ECK Education
