http://www.podcastsinenglish.com/listen/level2/facebook.mp3

1 Pre- listening:

- Make pupils think about as many friends and relations as possible and let them note down their names on small cards

- How often do they speak to them or contact them?

- What way of communication do they use?

2 While- listening:

Pupils tick the correct answers, choose whether the statements are true or false and complete the sentences

Exercises:

1. What’s the name of the interviewee? ____________________________

2. What’s facebook? Choose which sentence is true or false.

	true	false
A community with people from all over the world.
You can log on facebook like on your email.
You can only contact and find people from your country.
You can search for your friends.
It’s a good way of keeping in touch with people
You can make new friends there.

3. How did Lina find out about facebook?________________________________________________________

4. How many friends does she have in facebook? Circle the correct answer.

50 200 250

5. Why is it easy to make new friends with facebook? Decide which sentence is right and which is wrong.

	right	wrong
You can set up applications with which people can find out about your hobbies and interests.
Other people read your statements about interest etc. and find out that they have something in common with you.
You can join groups.
You can put all the countries you’ve been to on your personal world map.

6. What’s an application? Circle the correct answers

horoscopes vampires owls world map dogs

7. How can you contact people in facebook?

a) __________________________________

b) __________________________________

8. Why are British people keen on facebook?

______________________________________________

3 Post- listening:

Ø Pupils think back to the beginning of the lesson and compare their ways of getting in contact with their friends, especially those who are far away.

Ø Ask the pupils whether they are familiar with similar kinds of networks/ communities in Germany?

Ø What communities do they use?

Ø Why do they like those communities?

Ø Do you see any dangers when using these communities?

4 Reasons for choosing this podcast

Internet communities are growing very fast and many young people define themselves by using such communities. They log on to them nearly every day and check out their mails, messages and posts. For them it’s a nice way to stay in touch with their friends, exchange the latest gossip and arranging dates. Through this medium they get to know people who aren’t living in their area, too, which broadens their horizon. Having stated all the positive aspects of communities like facebook, schülervz, studivz, kwick etc. there are also negative aspects. They should also be dealt with in the lesson in a discussion after the listening part. Pupils should become sensitive about giving away too much information about themselves on the internet.