Speedaholic

'Speedaholics'

Some call it life on the treadmill.

One out of every two Korean office workers in a survey considered themselves so-called "speedaholics" who are constantly under pressure to get things done quickly.

 When asked why, the majority said they are always short on time. Others said they can't stand doing things slowly.

The majority pointed to an excessive workload as the number one reason for becoming a speedaholic.  

Discussion

1.    Are you a speedaholic?  Explain.

2.    When do you feel the need for speed?

3.    Do you think being a speedaholic is positive or negative?

4.    Why are office workers trending to “speedaholicism” these days?

5.    What happens to the health of speedaholics?

6.    What occupations are well suited to speedaholics?

7.    What occupations would you rather see people take their time at?

8.    How well do you manage your time?

9.    Do you prefer to take quick action or think before you act?

10. Do you plan well or wait until the last minute to finish a project?

speed idioms

up to speed

If you are up to speed with something, you have the latest information about it.

After Bill got his son a math tutor, little Billie was able to get up to speed with the other children in his class.

Before we start the is morning's meeting, I'm going to bring you up to speed on what's happening with unithe new union bargaining agreement.

full speed ahead

with complete energy and enthusiasm

The movie studio decided to go full speed ahead on its plans for an overseas theme park.

Social Networking

Social Networking

People use social networking sites to share ideas, opinions and interests. Millions post comments, videos, pictures, links and other content.

 Social media is still young and evolving. Take the example of Facebook. It was launched in 2004 as a social network just for

Harvard students. Facebook now has hundreds of millions of active users.

Not everyone is happy about that, however. Some students are not okay with older people using it.

 Public officials recognize the ways social media have changed the way people communicate. The White House has its own Facebook page.  

 President Obama, however, has also warned students to be careful about what they post on Facebook because it could be pulled up again later in their lives and come back to haunt them.

Vocabulary

• pulled up - revealed
• come back to haunt them - cause someone problems 

Conversation Practice 

1. What are the pro's and con's of social networking? 
2. Do you have a social networking account (Facebook, Twitter, Naver)?
3. How has social networking changed your life?
4. How has social networking changed the business world?
5. What do you think about older people using social networking sites like facebook?
6. How has social media changed world politics (Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street)?
7. Has social media opened up new market for unknown artists artists (music, film, etc.)?
8. What do you think about cyber bullying? Solutions?
9. What's your opinion on blogs that spread rumors?
10. Should on-line entertainment web sites that report on celebrities be regulated?
11. What do you think about on-line dating services?
12. Have you ever "googled" your name?

Global Warming: Cows?

India's cows – all 283 million of them - have entered the climate change debate.

The gas (methane) cows produce in India is a bigger factor in global warming than all their vehicles on the road.

Scientists have begun experimenting with new diets to make cows less “gassy.”

Researchers are also busy working on technology which can reuse the methane gas for energy. 

Since killing cows is illegal in India, old cows might one day be used as alternative sources of energy, powering electricity in homes.

Discussion

1.  What do you think about the impact of cows on global warming?
2. Would you give up eating meat to reduce global warming (Paul McCartney, Beatles, proposed going meatless one day a week)?
3. Do you think global warming is a serious issue or is it being overemphasized?
4. Can global warming be good news for some countries?
5. What do you do in your daily life to decrease global warming?

Vocabulary

on the road – being driven

carbon footprints – term used to describe energy usage

at the same time – also, too

entered -  come into   

Message in a Bottle

In 2009, Corey Swearingen put a letter in a bottle and tossed it into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. It was his high school science project.


A year later, his teacher received a message from Ireland on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean that the bottle had washed ashore where it was found by another high school student.

Discussion


1. What would you write on your message in a bottle?
2. If you left a message on your favorite entertainer's voicemail, what would you say?
3. Tomorrow, a giant meteor will hit planet earth. What's the last message you will ever write?
4. Did you pass messages in class when you were a student?
5. Do you ever use "I didn't get your message" to get out of doing something?
6. Do you instant message often? What "IM" expressions do you use?