Business English

Level B2
Prof.ssa Giulia Gentili

II semestre
A.A. 2022/2023
giulia.gentili@uniroma2.it
MODULE 2: technologies

LESSON 3
LISTENING AND SPEAKING
27/02/2023
 WARM UP

1. Are you addicted to your smartphone? Why/why not?

2. Which social media do you use and how often?

3. Where do you read news?

4. Have you ever come across fake news or hoaxes?

 VOCABULARY FOCUS
Complete the questions below with the words in the box.
article bookmark browsing google posts
reliable scroll streaming vlogs

a) When ______________ Google search results, do you ever ________ down to

the bottom of the page and go to the second page?
b) How often do you publish comments or read news ______________ on your
social media?
c) What is your favorite YouTube channel? What ______________ do you follow?
d) What type of information do you ______________ most often?
e) What negative consequences may live ______________ on Facebook have?
f) What links or sites do you ______________ so that you can easily find them
again?
g) How do you find ______________ information online?
h) Have you ever fact-checked an ______________ you found online? If yes,
how did you do it?
 NOW IT’S UP TO YOU

“A squirrel dying in front of your house may be more relevant

to your interests right now than people dying in Africa”

Mark Zuckerberg

Do you agree with this quote? Why/ Why not?

 LISTENING FOR GENERAL INFORMATION

Watch the video and answer to the questions.

1. What are ‘filter bubbles’?

2. What are ‘echo chambers’?

3. What are their negative aspects in your opinion?

 FOCUSED LISTENING
Watch the video again and answer to the questions.
1. Select the synonyms of the word 'prohibited' (as used in the video):
a) banned c) off limits e) hidden

b) restricted d) discouraged

2. Fill the gap: This led to a ___________________ of their political stance.

3. How can we get out of a filter bubble:

a) use different devices for searching online

b) balance your knowledge on different topics

c) question the content you see online

d) expand your news source

 NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
Match the halves to create common
expressions.

a) limit 1) your horizons

b) edit 2) the content

c) expand 3) your view

d) open your mind 4) of your comfort zone

e) close yourself 5) off to new ideas

f) challenge 6) out information

g) curate 7) your assumptions
h) step out 8) to other points of view
 HOW TO GIVE A 6-MINUTE SPEECH
1. ATTENTION GRABBER (1 minute)
a) Story → a story that connects to your speech topic and is engaging
b) Interesting fact → an intriguing fact about your topic
c) Question/answer → ask your listeners questions related to your topic.
2. INTRODUCTION (1 minute)
a) General details → give basic information about the topic
b) 3 main points → state the three main points of your speech
c) State your opinion → you can give your main point on the topic
3. THE BODY (3 minutes)
a) 3 details → Choose 3 details about the topic and explain each of them
b) 3 reasons → give 3 reasons for your opinion and explain them in detail
c) 3 examples → give 3 examples that support your opinion/topic
4. CONCLUSION (1 minute)
a) Restate → state your points again
b) Summarize → summarize your opinion one more time
c) Final point → make a final point to emphasize your opinion
 NOW IT’ UP TO YOU!
Prepare a 6-minute speech about filter bubbles and echo chambers. You can
you these questions to help you.
1. What news do you find relevant? Do you focus mainly on local news or
things that appear on your social media stream?

2. How do you feel about the fact that information you get online is curated

by algorithms?

3. How can filter bubbles and algorithms influence elections?

4. How should we deal with filter bubbles online? Can we force corporations

to stop curating what they serve us?

 IF YOU LIKED THIS TOPIC…
You can watch these videos:

• Beware online "filter bubbles" | Eli Pariser

• Challenge The Echo Chamber | Adam Greenwood |

TEDxRoyalTunbridgeWells
• Before; prior; earlier; formerly; previously
• While; as; just as; during; throughout; at the very moment
• After; then; after that; afterwards; following
• When; as soon as; once; on that occasion
• In the meantime; till then; since then; by the time
CONDITION

TIME
CAUSE,
REASON,
LINKING WORDS PURPOSE AND
ADDITION RESULT

CONCESSION
AND
CONTRAST
 Linking words: condition
• You can’t come in unless you have a ticket.

• You can borrow the bike on condition that you return it by five o’ clock.

• In case of fire, dial 999.

• You can stay, as long as you don’t mind sleeping on the sofa.

• Provided/providing (that) you don’t mind cats, you can stay with us.

• Supposing/What if he doesn’t turn up; what shall we do then?

NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
 Conditions with -ever
• However you do it, it will cost a lot of money.
• You’ll get to the railway station, whichever bus you take.
• Whoever wins the General Election, nothing will really change.
• That box is so big it will be in the way wherever you leave it.
or
• No matter how you do it, it will cost you a lot of money.
• You’ll get to the railway station, no matter which bus you take.
NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!
 Some nouns which express condition

• Certain conditions must be met before the Peace Talks can begin.
• A good standard of English is a prerequisite for studying at a British University.
• What are the entry requirements for doing a diploma in Management ay your
college?
• I would not move to London under any circumstances. I don’t like it!
 SPEAK UP!

1. Are there any prerequisites for the job you would like to do in the future?

2. Under what circumstances would you move from where you’re living at

the moment?

3. What are the normal entry requirements for university in your country?

4. On what condition would you lend a friend your house/flat?