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Bgu – English Intermediate B2

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  1. Syllabus

    Unit 1: New year, new challenge
    5 Lessons
  2. Unit 2: Talking in public skills
    5 Lessons
  3. UNIT 3: Applying past tenses
    6 Lessons
  4. Unidad 4: Speaking skills
    7 Lessons
  5. Unit 5: Listening skills
    5 Lessons
  6. Unit 6: Writing skills
    6 Lessons
  7. prueba
Unit Progress
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    “Navigating Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword”

    Learning objectives

    • Critical Thinking: critically analyze the impacts of social media on teenagers’ lives.
    • Expressive Skills: Enhance your ability to articulate your thoughts, opinions, and experiences regarding social media both orally and in writing.
    • Vocabulary Expansion: Broaden your vocabulary related to digital literacy, social media, and mental health.
    • Ethical Reasoning: consider ethical considerations surrounding social media use, including privacy, cyberbullying, and the digital footprint.

    Discussion Starter Reading

    "In today's digital age, social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok have become integral to our daily lives, especially for teenagers. These platforms offer spaces for creativity, connection, and learning. However, they also raise questions about privacy, mental health, and the authenticity of online interactions. As we navigate this digital landscape, it's essential to balance the benefits of social media with its potential pitfalls."

    Activities

    Group Discussion: Personal Experiences with Social Media (20 minutes)
    • The class will be divide into small groups to discuss your personal experiences with social media. Prompts could include: What platforms do you use the most? How does social media affect your mood?
    • Each group summarizes their discussion to share with the class.
    Vocabulary Activity: Social Media Lexicon (15 minutes)

    Instruction: match definitions to words, then create sentences using the new vocabulary.

    • Key terms related to social media:
    1. Algorithm
    2. Cyberbullying
    3. Digital Footprint
    4. Engagement
    5. Influencer
    6. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
    7. Meme
    8. Privacy Settings
    9. Social Networking
    10. Trending
    11. Viral
    12. Content Creation
    13. Hashtag (#)
    14. User-Generated Content (UGC)
    15. Echo Chamber

    Definitions:

    • Content created and shared by consumers or end-users of an online platform or service. It can include videos, photos, blog posts, testimonials, etc.
    • A set of rules or processes used by social media platforms to determine which content is displayed to users, based on their behaviors and preferences.
    • Anxiety that arises from the perception that others are having rewarding experiences from which one is absent, often exacerbated by posts seen on social media.
    • User-selected controls available on social media platforms that allow individuals to manage who can see their content and personal information.
    • A situation in which beliefs are amplified or reinforced by communication and repetition inside a closed system, where differing or competing views are censored, or underrepresented.
    • Refers to topics, hashtags, or content that become very popular on social media within a short time.
    • The interaction between users and content on social media platforms, including likes, comments, shares, and views.
    • The use of digital platforms to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person, often anonymously.
    • The record of a person’s activities and interactions online, including social media use, websites visited, and information submitted.
    • The creation and maintenance of personal and professional relationships, especially online.
    • An individual with the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of their authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with their audience on social media.
    • A humorous image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by internet users.
    • Describes content that quickly becomes extremely popular on the internet, especially through social media sharing.
    • The process of generating topic ideas that appeal to one’s target audience, creating written or visual content around those ideas, and making that information accessible to the audience as a blog, video, infographic, or other formats.
    • A word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#), used on social media platforms to identify messages on a specific topic.
    Debate: “Be the Judge” (60 minutes)
    • Debate:”Social media does more harm than good to teenagers.”
    • The class will be divided into Pro (social media does more harm), Con (social media does more good), and Judges.
    • Each group will have 30 minutes to research their position. Use academic articles, reputable news sources, and personal experiences as evidence.
    • After presentations, judges articulate their verdict with supporting reasons.
    • The winners will earn “Krugs.”
    1. Debate Structure:
      • Opening Statements: Each side has 5 minutes to present their opening statement, outlining their main arguments.
      • Rebuttal Round: Each side has 3 minutes to rebut the opposing side’s arguments.
      • Questions from Judges: Judges can ask each side questions based on their statements and rebuttals. Each side has 2 minutes to respond to each question.
      • Closing Statements: Each side has 3 minutes to make their closing statements, summarizing their key points and why their position is valid.
    2. Judging Criteria:
      • Judges will evaluate based on the clarity of arguments, use of evidence, engagement with the opposing side’s points, and overall persuasiveness.
      • Judges will also consider the responses to their questions.

    While winning the debate is an achievement, the primary goals are learning, understanding diverse viewpoints, and enhancing communication skills.

    Creative Writing: Your Ideal Social Media Platform (20 minutes)

    Objectives:

    1. Encourage Creative Thinking: Stimulate your imagination to envision a social media platform that addresses current issues with existing platforms or introduces innovative features.
    2. Promote Critical Analysis: Develop your ability to critically analyze the strengths and weaknesses of existing social media platforms and propose improvements or alternatives.
    3. Enhance Writing Skills: Improve descriptive writing and persuasive argumentation by having you articulate their ideas in a structured format.
    4. Foster Technological Awareness: Increase your understanding of the impact of social media on society and encourage responsible digital citizenship.

    Instructions:

    1. Introduction (10 minutes):
      • We will begin with a discussion on popular social media platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.). Let’s discuss about your likes and dislikes about each platform.
      • I will introduce the concept of designing their own social media platform tailored to your desires and needs.
    2. Brainstorming Session (20 minutes):
      • Brainstorm in small groups about the features you think are most important in a social media platform. Think about:
        • Privacy: How will the platform protect user data?
        • User Interface: What will the platform look like? How user-friendly will it be?
        • Content Management: How will content be regulated? What filters or tools will be available?
        • Innovative Features: What new features could be introduced that don’t currently exist?
      • Each group should come up with at least one unique feature that addresses common concerns or gaps in existing platforms.
    3. Writing the Proposal (40 minutes):
      • Write a proposal for your ideal social media platform. The proposal should include:
        • Name of the Platform: What is it called?
        • Purpose: What is the main focus or niche? (e.g., networking, entertainment, education)
        • Key Features: Detailed descriptions of features and functionalities.
        • Target Audience: Who is the platform for?
        • Benefits: How does it improve upon existing platforms?
        • Challenges: What potential challenges might arise and how could they be addressed?
      • Be as detailed and persuasive as possible, using descriptive language and clear arguments to support their ideas.
    4. Sharing Ideas (30 minutes):
      • Present your proposals in small groups or to the entire class, depending on class size and time.
      • After each presentation, the floor will be opened for questions and feedback from peers and instructors. This will foster a deeper understanding of the ideas and encourage constructive criticism and debate.
    5. Reflection and Feedback (10 minutes):
      • We will conclude the activity with a reflection session. Consider what you learned about social media through this activity.
      • Let’s discuss how your ideas could be implemented realistically and what you would change about current platforms if given the chance.

    I highly encourage each of you to watch the enlightening TED talk “How Social Media Shapes Identity” by Ulrike Schultze. This engaging presentation delves into the intricate ways social media molds our perceptions of self and others.

    HAPPY LEARNING!

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