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GENERAL ENGLISH · VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

ALONE
TOGETHER
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1 Warm-up

How much time do you spend with your family at home?

2 Key words

Match the words to their definitions, and then put them in the correct sentences below.

1. a concern a. a deep understanding of a complicated problem

2. neglect b. existing now, modern

3. an insight c. something that causes you to worry

4. equate d. to not care about or pay attention to something/someone

5. witness (something) e. to say that one thing is the same as another thing

6. contemporary f. to see something happen

1. The new study offers an insight into the lives of Eskimos.

2. Over the years, Mark has continued to his house. It’s in a bad condition now.
3. Mrs Brown prefers music to older music.
4. My main is that you are spending too much time watching television!
5. Did anyone the accident?
6. People often money with happiness.

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3 Before you read

Decide if the statements below are true or false. Talk with your partner about it and then read the
article on the next page to check if you were right.

1. Children spent less time around their parents in 2015 than in 2000.
2. Nowadays, families spend less time watching TV and more time on family meals.
3. Children and parents both spent the same amount of time using their phones when they are
together.
4. In the US, teenagers spend less time outside the home away from their parents.
5. Nowadays, more time together at home means more quality time with your family.

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UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
ALONE TOGETHER
Alone together
How mobile devices have changed family time.
By Stella Chatzitheochari and Killian Mullan
1.
There is now widespread concern about the amount
of time children spend staring at screens – with many
people worried about the negative impacts mobile
devices might have on health and well-being.
2.
Concerns have also been raised about the influence
of technological change on relationships and face-to-
face interactions. Sherry Turkle, a professor of the
social studies of science, came up with the famous
term "alone together" – which is also the name of
her book. "Alone together" captures this idea of
spending time on devices and neglecting interactions
with those who are physically nearby.
3.
Many people believe that technological changes
have had a harmful impact on the time family
members spend together – with "alone together"
time colonising family life. Yet, to date, very few
studies have actually been done in this area.
4.
One recent research study, however, looks to change
this, by providing the first real insight into how
technology has influenced the way families spend
their time in the UK. Researchers have analysed time
diaries collected by parents and children aged eight
to 16 years-old in 2000 and then again in 2015.
This was a period that witnessed rapid technological
change.
5.
More time at home and alone
Contrary to expectations, children spent more time
around their parents in 2015 than in 2000. The extra
time equates to just over half an hour more per day.
Particularly, all of this additional time near parents
was spent at home.
6.
This was a surprising finding. But looking closer, it
was found that children reported they were "alone"
during all of this additional time at home with their
parents. In this sense then, "alone together" time has
increased.
7.
The analysis also showed some relatively small
changes in time for shared family activities, with
contemporary families spending less time watching
TV and more time on leisure activities and family
meals. But the overall time spent in shared activities
has remained the same.
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8.
The collected data shows that mobile device usage is
directly connected to how people spend their family
time. Children and parents both spent approximately
the same amount of time (around 90 minutes) using
mobile devices when together.
9.
All these patterns were found mostly among young
people aged 14 to 16. Young people in this group
spent around one hour more at home "alone" with
their parents in 2015 than in 2000. Mobile device
use when near their parents was also more frequent
and heavily concentrated.
10.
Lack of quality time?
Academics have long seen the importance of
technology to bring families together at home. And
while the research does seem to indicate this could
be the case, this increase in time at home may also
be associated with other issues such as the parent’s
concerns for their children’s safety. Research in the
US finds similar patterns of change – with teens
spending less time outside the home away from their
parents.
11.
There is increasing evidence that the simple
presence of a phone negatively affects face-to-
face interactions. Both children and parents were
using mobile devices during family meals, television
viewing, and other activities. So even though this
was for a relatively small amount of time, it may have
an unbalanced impact on the quality of this time for
family members.
12.
Of course, in some cases, it is possible that
mobile devices are in fact complementing family
interactions. If, for example, family members use
them for video streaming, to play group games or
to contact other relatives. And further research on
mobile device use and content is now necessary to
help learn their full impact on daily life and move
beyond commonly held negative assumptions.
13.
But what is clear, is that although a rise in "alone
together" time means families now spend more time
at home, it is not necessarily in a way that feels like
quality time.
Adapted from TheConversation.com
3/6
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ALONE TOGETHER

4 Checking understanding

Answer the questions.

1. What does the term ‘alone together’ mean?

...............................................................................................
2. What was significant about the extra time that children spent with their parents in 2015?
...............................................................................................
3. What is the difference in time spent on shared activities in the family between 2000 and 2015?
...............................................................................................
4. What is the approximate time for the ‘alone together time’ in a typical family?
...............................................................................................
5. In what ways do mobile devices improve family interactions?
...............................................................................................
6. What is the conclusion of the article?
...............................................................................................

5 Collocations

Look at the words below and form collocations. Check in the text if you are correct.

1. widespread a. assumptions

2. a harmful b. concern

3. face-to-face c. families

4. rapid d. impact on ...

5. contemporary e. interactions

6. relatively f. small changes

7. negative g. technological change

Now choose five collocations and create your own sentence with each phrase.

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6 Prepositional phrases

Complete the phrases with the prepositions below.

about of on on at to together with

1. stare at screens
2. worry the impacts
3. the influence relationships
4. come up an idea
5. spend time devices
6. contrary expectations
7. the importance technology
8. bring families

7 Grammar - Tenses from the article

Study the underlined structures in the following sentences from the text and match them to the rules
below:

1. Contrary to expectations, children spent more time around their parents in 2015
than in 2000.
2. Many people believe that technological changes have had a harmful impact on the
time family members spend together.
3. Both children and parents were using mobile devices during family meals,
television viewing, and other activities.
4. Yet, to date, very few studies have actually been done in this area.
5. Of course, in some cases, it is possible that mobile devices are in fact
complementing family interactions.

a completed event or situation in the past

a habitual action in the past
a present trend/activity in progress
a recent change that started in the past and is now complete
things that happen between a time in the past and now

Now put present continuous, past simple, present perfect simple, past continuous next to each sentence.

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ALONE TOGETHER

Complete the sentences below with the following verbs in the appropriate tenses. More than one
structure may be possible.

be be transformed
have
make (x2) spend
use
witness

1. In 2005, people more time talking on the phone than today.

2. The way we live and work as a result of the internet.
3. Till now, there several inconclusive studies on the health effects of
smartphone radiation.
4. These days, more and more people new friends online.
5. In the past few years, we a decrease in the number of teenagers who
smoke.
6. How often people mobile devices in 2010?
7. Do you think mobile devices our lives easier?
8. Technological change a positive and negative impact on people’s social
behaviour.

8 Talking point

Discuss any of the questions below.

1. How much time do you spend on your electronic devices every day?
2. Do you think technology affects the quality time you spend with friends or family?
3. Is it easier to make new friends and acquaintances than in the past?

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TEACHER MATERIALS · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

ALONE TOGETHER

Key
1. Warm-up

Time: 4 mins
Ask general questions to get your students to relax, for example: How do you feel today? How was your weekend?

Time: 2 min discussion

Write on the whiteboard: ‘Alone together’. Elicit some information such as: family, mobile phones, devices, games,
television etc.

2. Key words

Time: 5-6 min for the whole task

Read the words on the left. Stress correct pronunciation. Then ask the students to match the words with the
definitions. Monitor the class and ask students to compare their answers, before checking as a class. For individual
lessons, ask your student to read the answers aloud. Correct pronunciation.
1. c 2. d 3. a 4. e 5. f 6. b

Ask your students to put the words in the correct spaces.

Ask students to read the sentences aloud (one by one). Make sure that everyone has the same answer.
2. neglect 3. contemporary 4. concern 5. witness 6. equate

3. Before you read

Time: 3-5 mins

Read the instruction and questions to the class and ask for their opinions. Do not correct any of their answers.
Simply say ‘interesting’ or ‘we’ll see if you are correct’.
Ask the students to scan the text in order to find the answers. They will have time for a more thorough reading in
the next exercise. Check the answers with the whole class.
1. False 2. True 3. True 4. True 5. False

4. Checking understanding

Time: 5-10 mins

Read the instruction and ask your students to find the answers in the text by reading it more carefully than before.
Ask students to compare their answers then check with the whole class. Ask them to read their answers aloud.
Instead of correcting students who are wrong, try to encourage other students to help, e.g. by saying ‘Interesting,
but maybe there are other ideas?’, ‘Any other options?’, etc.
1. spending time on devices while neglecting interactions with people who are physically nearby
2. Children reported they were "alone" during all of this additional time at home with their parents.
3. no difference
4. 90 minutes
5. family members use them for video streaming, to play group games or to contact other relatives
6. Families spend more time together, but this is not necessarily quality time

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ALONE TOGETHER

5. Collocations

Time: 5 mins
Ask your students to read the words from both columns. They should try to match the words to form possible
collocations. Monitor the task and when completed, instruct your students to check their choices in the text.
1. b 2. d 3. e 4. g 5. c 6. f 7. a

Encourage your students to choose five collocations that they think they might use in the future. They then create
their own sentences and read them to a partner. In 1:1 lessons, ask your student to read his/her sentences to you.
Correct if necessary.

6. Prepositional phrases

Time: 3 mins
Introduce the task to your students. Explain briefly that prepositional phrases are very common in English and
students should learn them by heart.
2. about 3. on 4. with 5. on 6. to 7. of 8. together

Instruct the students to complete the phrases with the prepositions and compare their answers with a partner.

7. Grammar - Tenses from the article

Time: 6 mins
Introduce the grammar point (if you have the time, explain thoroughly and read all of the rules aloud to the class).
Ask if everything is understood. Ask your students to complete the sentences with the words in the appropriate
tense. Give your students enough time to finish the task. Ask them to compare their answers and then check by
asking everyone to read one sentence aloud.
1. Contrary to expectations, children spent more time around their parents in 2015 than in 2000. −→ a completed
event or situation in the past
2. Many people believe that technological changes have had a harmful impact on the time family members spend
together. −→ a recent change that started in the past and is now complete
3. Both children and parents were using mobile devices during family meals, television viewing, and other
activities. −→ a habitual action in the past
4. Yet, to date, very few studies have actually been done in this area. −→ things that happen between a time in the
past and now
5. Of course, in some cases, it is possible that mobile devices are in fact complementing family interactions. −→
a present trend/activity in progress

1. past simple 2. p. perfect simple 3. past continuous 4. p. perfect simple 5. pres. continuous

Students work alone and check in pairs. Go through the answers with the class, explaining the alternative answers/contexts.
1. were spending/spent 2. has been transformed/was transformed
3. have been 4. are making
5. ’ve witnessed 6. were people using/did people use
7. have made/are making 8. has had/is having

8. Talking point

Time: 5-10 mins (depending on your class discussion)

Try changing the seating positions of your students e.g. by asking them to move two seats to their right/left. Then
ask them to start a discussion. Encourage speaking in pairs or small groups.

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TEACHER MATERIALS · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

ALONE TOGETHER

Optional task for homework: Ask the students to choose one of the questions in Exercise . . . . and write an essay
answer for the next lesson (180-220 words).

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