Intro
1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.
2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.
Life is so busy that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We have work overload, stress overload, and information overload. Teachers and bosses want us to be productive all the time. We’re all trying to accomplish a million things in one day. Sometimes, we need to take a step back from our busy lives and find new ways to relax. Let’s brainstorm some ideas together.
If you have money and time, take a vacation. If you have only money, hire someone to clean your home or teach you something new. If you have only time, go for a long walk or read a good book. If you have no money and no time, put down your phone or even switch it off completely. Then, take a long nap! Can you think of some other ideas?
Dominique is feeling overwhelmed. Gary thinks a digital detox is a good idea. Listen to today’s English lesson to find out if Dominique can stop spending so much time online.
Dialog
1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.
2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.
Dominique: I spend so much time online. I think I need to just take a break, but I don’t know how to do it. What should I do?
Gary: You’re talking about a digital detox, yeah?
Dominique: I’m sharing too much of myself with the world…
Gary: Yeah.
Dominique: ... and I need to take a step back.
Gary: And I bet you’re overwhelmed by all the sharing that everyone else is doing.
Dominique: I am. I feel like every time Susan posts something, I need to post something too.
Gary: Right. Yeah, it’s this back and forth. You’ve got an information overload happening.
Dominique: I know, I need to relax. I just don’t know how to put down my phone.
Gary: Can you switch it off when you get home from work?
Dominique: Off? What’s that?
Gary: Maybe, one hour before you go to bed so you can feel productive before you go to bed and accomplish some things in your space.
Dominique: I can try that.
Gary: OK. Do you know anyone else who can offer some cool ideas, or are your friends all good with, just, super digital…
Dominique: My friends are all online.
Gary: Oh, it’s probably not the best thing to ask then.
Dominique: No.
Gary: Let’s brainstorm.
Dominique: OK.
Grammar Point
Go Super to learn "Phrasal Verbs" from this lesson
Quizzes
Lesson MP3
The iTEP® test
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Discussion
Dominique thinks it’s time for a digital detox, a break from using the internet. She tells Gary that she wants to take a step back from all the posting and social media sharing that everyone else is doing. Every time one of her friends posts something, Dominique feels like she should also post something. It’s a back and forth that never stops. All this posting and sharing makes Dominique overwhelmed.
Gary calls this an information overload. He tells Dominique to put down her phone, or even better, switch it off. Dominique laughs at this. She uses her phone so much, she doesn’t know how to put it down! She agrees to try switching it off an hour before bed. Then, she can use that time to be productive and accomplish some things at home. Gary and Dominique agree to brainstorm some other ways for her to relax more often.
How much time do you spend online in a day? Do you think you need to try a digital detox?