Embedded Files
Initial discussion
Initial discussion
- Which countries do you know about that have restricted access to the Internet?
- What arguments are made by governments for restricting freedom of speech online?
- Does government control of the Internet make citizens more secure?
Lexis from the talk
Lexis from the talk
Below is some of the more unusual or colloquial lexis that appears in the talk. Looking at the example sentences below, can you come up with synonyms? (words that have similar meanings). Try to deduce the meaning from context first before you use a dictionary.
- Chinese Internet society is booming.
- A dissident is someone who disagrees with the government.
- There was a crack down on micro-blogging.
- The Chinese government is transparent.
- The American embassy intervened in Chinese government policy.
- Twitter is a sphere for public opinion.
Comprehension questions
Comprehension questions
Click on the image above to watch the talk. After listening once, try and answer the comprehension questions below from your notes.
Click on the image above to watch the talk. After listening once, try and answer the comprehension questions below from your notes.
- How does the speaker describe China?
- What is the purpose of the Great Chinese Firewall?
- What is a Netizen?
- What metaphor does he use to describe the relationship between the government and citizens?
- Does the China net reflect the global internet? If so, how?
- Why does he think Chinese internet policy is smart?
- What action did Mubarak take to control the Internet in Egypt? Was he successful?
- How is China’s policy towards controlling the Internet different from that of Tunisia?
- What examples does he give of the Chinese internet creating platforms for Chinese citizens?
- What examples does he give of its limitations?
- Why were citizens allowed to criticize the cover up of the train crash for five days?
- What do these figures refer to: 300 million 500 million 10 million 21 million
Discussion and critical response
Discussion and critical response
- What was the purpose of Michael Anti’s talk on the Great Firewall of China?
- To give us information? 2. To entertain the audience? 3. to try to change the way people think about something?
- The talk was delivered in 2012. To what extent is it still relevant?
- Do you agree with the speakers’ stance that people should be able to Tweet without fear?
- What predictions can you make about the future of internet freedom?
Developing your own listening tasks
Developing your own listening tasks
Next term we're going to have some student-led listening classes, similar to how the presentation classes have been run this term. You'll work either individually or in pairs to produce a listening class for the rest of the group. By now you've got a good idea of the kinds of questions we've been using to become familiar with the texts, so try and adapt these. You should focus on getting a good combination of comprehension questions, language analysis along with critical thinking and discussion.
For the remainder of the class, start looking for an interesting text that you can use as the basis for your lesson. You're free to use anything you like. TED talks are great, but try and use your imagination. If you'd like to use TV, film, music, debates or anything else you can think of then go for it! The more variety we have the better, so don't worry if someone else is doing something different.
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