lingua house

TM

Innovation in Learning

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

Social networking
Lesson code: HTUU-NZ6B-DZ4R-D

INTERMEDIATE

1 Reading
Read the text about social networking and complete the definitions below with the words in bold:

Social networking
A social network is a website where people connect with `friends' -- people they know online and people
they know in real life.
The beginnings of social networking date back to the 1980s. Small computer networks that used telephone
lines allowed users to log in, share data and send private messages. However, connections were very
slow and long distance calls were very expensive.
In the 1990s the Internet started to become popular and social networking websites such as
Classmates.com and the dating site Match.com were created for specific audiences.
The modern age of social networking began in 2002, when Jonathon Abrams launched Friendster. He
wanted to create a website like Match.com, but didn't want it to be about dating. Google offered $30
million to buy Friendster, which was rejected. This turned out to be a big mistake.
In 2003, a few employees of a marketing company called Intermix Media copied the idea of Friendster and
launched MySpace. MySpace focused on music and allowed users to customize their profiles. It had a
much cooler image than Friendster and quickly became more popular.

: a website where people can meet in order to start a romantic relationship

2.

: connect to a computer system by typing your name and password

3.

: performed better than someone or something else

4.

: entered a computer system without permission

5.

: register on a website

6.

: via the Internet

7.

: started (a new business or product)

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Then, in October 2003, a student at Harvard University called Mark Zuckerberg hacked into the university
ID database and created Facemash, a site that let students compare ID photos. He then created `The
Facebook', a social network that started as an exclusive site for students. In 2006, anyone with an email
address could sign up. Two years later, Facebook overtook MySpace and became the world's most
popular social network.

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lingua house

Social networking
A

TM

Innovation in Learning

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

2 Facebook features
What can you do on Facebook? Match the features on the left with the functions on the right:
1. send a friend request

a. chat with someone in real-time using text

2. receive a friend request

b. display a public message for your friends to read

3. send an IM

c. give positive feedback about a comment

4. tag someone

d. label another person in a photo

5. post a status update

e. receive an invitation to be someone's friend

6. browse your news feed

f. remove a friend from your friend list

7. like a comment

g. see what your friends are doing on their profiles

8. unfriend somebody

h. start a personal page (where you can include your pictures,

information about you, etc.)

9. create a profile

i.

try to connect with someone who is not in your friend list

Now complete the dialogue below using the phrases above in the correct grammatical form.
Paul: Do you use Facebook?
Julie: Yes, everyday.
Paul: What do you use it for?
Julie: Well, I like to know what my friends are doing all the time so I often
1
. How about you?
2

Paul: I only

about a year ago, and I haven't used the site very much.

Julie: Why not?

3
lots of
from people I hardly know. I just don't see the point
Paul: Well, I
of it.
Julie: Really? You don't have to accept all of them. It's great when you travel and you meet someone
4
new. If you want to stay in touch, you can go on Facebook and
.
5
her.
Of course, if the person becomes really annoying, you can always decide to

Paul: Perhaps you're right. But I also don't like the idea that everybody knows what I'm doing in my life.
6
Julie: Well, you don't have to
all the time. That way, your friends won't
see what you are doing on their profile walls. But if you want to contact one of friends, you can
7
. Only that friend will see your message.
always

Paul: I see.
8

. The comment appears

Julie: Yes, I always add new photos to my profile. And my friends often
pictures. It's great.

me in their

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my

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Julie: Personally, I like it when my friends

in their friends' news feeds.
Paul: Do you post pictures?

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lingua house

Social networking
A

TM

Innovation in Learning

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

Which Facebook features do you use or not use? Why/why not?

3 Uses of social networks

There are many different reasons why people use social networks. Study the list below. Ask your
teacher to explain any unfamiliar words. Can you think of any examples of websites which specialize
in each of these areas?
1. Getting in touch with old classmates.
2. Friendship and dating.
3. Professional networking, job hunting and headhunting.
4. Learning foreign languages.
5. Photo sharing and commenting.
6. Organising and sharing things on an online pinboard.
7. Connecting with travellers and local communities.

Do you or your friends use any of the websites? Which ones?

4 Talking point
Discuss any of the questions below:
1. What are the advantages of social networking?
2. What are the disadvantages of social networking?
3. What kind of information are you comfortable displaying to the public?
4. What kind of information are you uncomfortable displaying to the public?

5 Review
In order to remember the vocabulary from this lesson, write down the more difficult words in a notebook
and try to study them at least once a week.

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Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.

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You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex

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For a more efficient method, review the vocabulary as multimedia flashcards using the Expemo
memorization system. Go to www.linguahouse.com, click `Learning English' and enter Lesson code:
HTUU-NZ6B-DZ4R-D.

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lingua house

Social networking - Key

A

TM

Innovation in Learning

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

1- Reading
Students can work alone and check in pairs. Go through the answers, providing your own additional examples
where necessary.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

dating site
log in
overtook
hacked into
sign up
online
launched

2- Facebook features

1. i

2. e

3. a

4. d

5. b

6. g

7. c

8. f

9. h

Students can work alone and check in pairs. Go through the answers with the class. Have the students read in
pairs or have two students read for the class. Encourage a class discussion on Facebook features.

1. browse my news feed

4. send a friend request
7. send an IM

2. created a profile
5. unfriend
8. like my comments

3. receive lots of friend requests

6. post status updates
9. tag

3- Uses of social networks

Terms that may be unfamiliar: networking (making contacts/connections), job hunting (looking for work),
headhunting (looking for potential employees), a pinboard (a place where people can leave public messages - also
called a `bulletin board' in the US or `noticeboard' in the UK).
Possible answers (students may also come up with examples of websites specific to their countries):

3. LinkedIn
4. Italki, TeachStreet
7. Couchsurfing, WAYN

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Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
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2. Badoo, Match.com
6. Pinterest

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1. Classmates.com
5. Flikr

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