LESSON TWO: HUMAN TRAITS

Objectives | Express the main features of human nature and/or why they are an
essential part of the human being.

Describir los aspectos esenciales del ser humano y discutir sobre su relevancia en su forma
de ser.
WARM UP: "One unique human trait is our superior social skills". Is this true nowadays?
Do people really use language to communicate?

Learn more about the History of Communication. Let’s Kahoot!

https://create.kahoot.it/share/da07bc1a-48e4-4775-92cb-95ff66d28001

LISTENING SECTION: Watch the video and then complete the exercises below.

“How Social Media and Texting Affects Our Ability to Communicate”

Tick the facts that you hear.

 Meredith and Lizzie have a lot to say about education.

 They wrote a book called “The engagement”.
 Meredith’s kids were not communicating in a way that would make a difference in
their lives.
 Good examples of basic communication skills are asking somebody to go on a date
or getting someone to say yes to go to the prom.
 Today’s kids have more practice on face-to-face skills than on texting.
 Doing things by yourself, like calling for a doctor’s appointment, can make you feel
more confident.
 Making kids to ask somebody to contribute to something that is important to them,
also helps to develop their communication skills.
 When you want your parents to say yes to something you want, you need to beg
politely.
  Face-to-face communications are critical for kids.
 Instead of having an argument with a friend, it is better to text them.

Reading Section

(A) Scan the text below and find a synonym for the words in blue. Can you guess them
through context?

WORD EXPRESSION MEANING

1. interact a) closeness
2. loner b) group
3. demographic c) renew
4. proximity d) communicate
5. newborn e) missing
6. condolences f) baby
7. nonexistent g) request
8. superficial h) hermit
9. update i) shallow
10. beg j) sympathy

(B) Word Search: Find the target words (in bold). Time yourself and see how many
words you can find in three minutes. In five minutes. In ten minutes.

N L U L A I C I F R E P U S N
F R G F K D W S M R T C P R O
L F O Z V E R A N N Q R D H I
K O V B N S K E E O O U E O T
S Z N N W T S T Q X I Y T G C
O E R E Z E S R I W Y L A R A
U O C I R I N M K W L C D A R
B H U N X E I M R M R P P P E
T A X E E T O B G W X G U H T
D K N R Y L V E W C H G J I N
O O E D E M O G R A P H I C I
N B U Y N C B D F Z F M R D I
 T N E T S I X E N F T P X E V
L O N E R S C I Q O G M I M D
D N H Q Y M J M H B C B K O V

While reading
People who refuse to
leave the house and have
only seen daylight on
nature programs
Social Hermits

Do social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter encourage social
interaction? Or do these sites encourage people to
become loners? The sites - and there are dozens and
dozens of them - have now caught on with working
professionals. In fact, people who are over twenty-five
are the largest growing demographic of users. People
continue to become busier, with demands at work and
at home requiring immediate attention. There simply
is not enough time in the day to meet with friends. Social networking sites allow people to stay
in contact, and without scheduling face time.
But there are other reasons than just time management. Social networking sites allow users to
keep in contact with "proximity friends." These are people who are or were physically but not
personally close, such as ex-classmates, ex-colleagues, parents of the children your kids play
with in the neighborhood, and friends of friends. We may send these people holiday and
birthday cards, call with congratulations of a wedding or a newborn, or express condolences
of a death in the family. Face to face contact, however, is largely nonexistent.
There is then the feeling of contact. As a result, many view the networking sites as a tool that
improves communication. The contact may be superficial and achieved through emails and
instant messages, yet many people now know more small details about one another. As long
as the personal pages are regularly updated, it is easy to share photos or hear about kids,
achievements, and other important news.
People "talk" with one another more frequently, but they rarely meet in person. Social
networking sites beg the following question then: Are people becoming social hermits?

(C) True or False? Decide whether the sentences are true or false.
 a. According to the article, more working professionals are using social networking
sites.
b. People have become busier and busier these days, which makes face-to-face
contact difficult.
c. "Proximity friends" are people to whom you are close physically and personally.
d. People know more about one another because of the sites, even when they do not
make updates.
e. People talk with one another online and face to face because of social networking
sites.

AFTER READING - SPEAKING ACTIVITY

Work in groups answering these questions. Then join the rest of the class for a round-up
activity.
 What is your general impression/sensation about this topic?
 Why do you think more and more people have begun to use social networking sites?
Please explain.
 Are people better or worse communicators because of social network sites? Why/not?
 What is a social hermit? What images or ideas does this phrase raise?
 How might social networking sites be used for business or education? What benefits
might there be?
 If there were no sites like Facebook or Instagram, would people once again regularly
meet face to face?
 Will social networking sites stand the test of time? In other words, will they be around
in twenty years?
 Answer key
 Meredith and Lizzie have a lot to say about education.
 They wrote a book called “The engagement”.
 Meredith’s kids were not communicating in a way that would make a difference in
their lives.
 Good examples of basic communication skills are asking somebody to go on a date
or getting someone to say yes to go to the prom.
 Today’s kids have more practice on face-to-face skills than on texting.
 Doing things by yourself, like calling for a doctor’s appointment, can make you feel
more confident.
 Making kids to ask somebody to contribute to something that is important to them,
also helps to develop their communication skills.
 When you want your parents to say yes to something you want, you need to beg
politely.
 Face-to-face communications are critical for kids.
 Instead of having an argument with a friend, it’s better to text them.

MATCH THE COLUMNS

WORD SYNONYM
1. interact D a) closeness
 2. loner H b) group
3. demographic B c) renew
4. proximity A d) communicate
5. newborn F e) missing
6. condolences J f) baby
7. nonexistent E g) request
8. superficial I h) hermit
9. update C i) shallow
10. beg G j) sympathy

(D) Word Search: Find the target words (in bold). Time yourself and see how many
words you can find in three minutes. In five minutes. In ten minutes.

N L U L A I C I F R E P U S N
F R G F K D W S M R T C P R O
L F O Z V E R A N N Q R D H I
K O V B N S K E E O O U E O T
S Z N N W T S T Q X I Y T G C
O E R E Z E S R I W Y L A R A
U O C I R I N M K W L C D A R
B H U N X E I M R M R P P P E
T A X E E T O B G W X G U H T
D K N R Y L V E W C H G J I N
O O E D E M O G R A P H I C I
N B U Y N C B D F Z F M R D I
T N E T S I X E N F T P X E V
L O N E R S C I Q O G M I M D
D N H Q Y M J M H B C B K O V

True or False? Decide whether the sentences are true or false. If false, correct the
sentence.
a. According to the article, more working professionals are using social networking
sites. TRUE
b. People have become busier and busier these days, which makes face-to-face
contact difficult. TRUE
c. "Proximity friends" are people to whom you are close physically and personally.
FALSE
d. People know more about one another because of the sites, even when they do not
make updates. FALSE
e. People talk with one another online and face to face because of social networking
sites. FALSE