FE B1 L12 Questions to Think The Internet

Warm-ups Look at the picture on p.181 and 183. What are they trying to tell us? The pictures are all about using the computer, especially the Internet. I think the author is trying to tell us that there is a variety of information on the Internet.

Please choose one word/phrase to summarize the information in each paragraph. Problem Solution—the Internet Popular A huge information center Communication—BBS or discussion groups Communication— A huge shopping center Many other ways

L 1-9 Have you ever had similar problems? How did you solve them? Do you enjoy doing assignment on the Internet? How and why?

L People say, “The computer saves us a lot of time.” Do you agree with the idea? Why/not? In a sense, the computer does help us a lot. For example, we can write to many people, near or far away, at the same time and with just a few seconds. However, sometimes the mechanical problems are very time- consuming. You may spend a whole day without achieving anything.

L14-20 Do you enjoy reading on-line? Why/not? What do you usually do with the information you have found? Copy-paste it (with source noted) Rearrange it to put it in my own way Take note of it Print it and read details later

L21-28 Do you like to chat on-line? Why/not? What kind of BBS site or discussion group do you usually join? What do you talk about? Do you know any English-learning discussion groups? What are they? ESL-café: Far-east learning website: Virtual Language Center: vlc.polyu.edu.hk

L29-34 Do we have any etiquette when writing an message? What are they? (see handout)

L35-39 What are things that we have to pay attention to when shopping on-line? What do you usually buy on-line? What kind of merchandise cannot be bought on- line? We should be careful about whether the virtual shop is reliable or not. Usually there is a security contract to guarantee that all customers’ personal data are under legal protection. If not, we’d better not shop there.

L40-46 If one day you can take long-distance English classes to replace the real ones, what kind of virtual classroom, do you think, will be most welcome? English conversation English writing English songs Business English News English

L40-46 If the teacher ask you to hand in your assignment by , what will be your problem? Are you for or against this way to deal with your homework? Why? Problems the teacher will have are: My box is not big enough. There may be virus contained in sts’ . It’s not easy to correct st’s errors on-line. My eye-sight is getting poorer.

Afterthought Think of some weaknesses of the computer to prove that “Modern is no better.”