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Level 5: Advanced Daily Audio Lessons

DailyStep-5_news-webcams-002_GB-02

James: So, basically, the parents of the boy that was reprimanded for

‘engaging in improper behaviour at home’ have filed a lawsuit against the

school.

Sarah: I’m not surprised. It’s such a gross invasion of privacy.

James: Yes, the parents are suing them on behalf of all the children in

the whole district that were issued with these free laptops. They allege

that the school district invaded their privacy and that the school is guilty

of “wiretapping” by putting the children under covert surveillance.

Sarah: I wonder what the school would class as ‘improper behaviour’ –

it’s such a subjective term, isn’t it?

James: Hmm, it would depend on who was watching the images sent

back by the webcam. Gosh, it really is creepy, isn’t it? It’s like something

the Stasi would have done back in East Germany. They would have had a

field day if they’d had access to all the technology we have these days.

Sarah: Yes, this new technology is all very well, but we have to make

sure that it is not allowed to invade our private lives, and we can’t allow

the authorities to keep an eye on us night and day!

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Level 5: Advanced Daily Audio Lessons

Situation: James explains to Sarah that the parents of some of the children are talking
legal action against the school involved in the spying case.

Style: general conversation

.

Functions:
1. Summing up: So, basically, the parents of the boy that was reprimanded for
‘engaging in improper behaviour at home’...
2. Emphasising: It’s such a gross invasion of privacy. (note: please copy the tone
and emphasis carefully here.)
3. Saying that something is frightening: Gosh, it really is creepy, isn’t it? (note:
please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
4. Talking about a hypothetical situation: They would have had a field day if
they’d had access to all the technology we have these days. (note: please copy
the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
5. Adding a note of caution: this new technology is all very well, but we have to
make sure that it is not allowed to invade our private lives note: please copy the
tone and emphasis carefully here.)
.

Notes:
1. So, basically = So, to explain it quickly
2. reprimanded (more formal) = told off (phrasal verb) / punished
3. engaging in improper behaviour (more formal) = behaving badly
4. have filed a lawsuit against the school = are taking the school to court
5. lawsuit = legal action
6. a gross invasion of privacy = a very serious infringement of the right to privacy
7. privacy = the right to go about (phrasal verb) your business without being spied
on or disturbed by other people
8. suing them = taking legal action against them in a civil court, usually in order to
get compensation
9. on behalf of = in the name of
10. district = area
11. invaded their privacy = infringed their right to privacy
12. guilty of = legally responsible for
13. wiretapping = listening to other people’s private conversations using electronic
equipment
14. putting the children under (phrasal verb) = subjecting the children to (phrasal
verb)
15. I wonder = I ask myself
16. class as = recognise as / consider to be
17. a subjective term = an expression that could be interpreted in many different
ways
18. sent back (phrasal verb) = returned
19. creepy = sinister / frightening
20. the Stasi = The East German Secret Police during the time of communism
21. back in East Germany = back in the time when The Democratic Republic of East
Germany still existed (before German re-unification)
22. They would have had a field day (idiom) = They would have had a great time
23. if they’d had access to = if they had been able to use / if they had possessed
(more formal)

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Level 5: Advanced Daily Audio Lessons

24. this new technology is all very well, (note: if we say that something is ‘all very
well’, it implies a slightly negative view of it. We mean ‘it has some advantages
but...’ ) = this new technology is fine up to a point
25. the authorities = the government / people in a position of authority
26. to keep an eye on us (idiom) = to watch us / to observe us / to spy on us
27. night and day (idiom) = all the time / constantly

.
Audio file name: DailyStep-5_news-webcams-002_GB-02
.

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A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step