Embedded Files
Preparation work for live session
Preparation work for live session
The TED talk that we're going to listen to today is from 2012, but its discussion is still very topical. Is internet freedom a human right, or are there situations where governments need to put controls in place? Before we start the preparation activities, think about the following questions:
Which countries do you know about that have restricted access to the Internet?
In what situations can government control of the internet have a positive effect?
Do you tend to use applications and platforms (such as social media) that are international, or that are popular just in your country?
Live session - critical discussion
Live session - critical discussion
What was the purpose of Michael Anti’s talk on the Great Firewall of China?
To give us information?
To entertain the audience?
To try to change the way people think about something?
The talk was delivered in 2012. To what extent is it still relevant?
As well as giving a voice to the powerless, social media platforms have a dark side. They can facilitate child sexual exploitation and grooming (Dance & Satariano, 2020), cyber bullying, which in turn can contribute to depression and suicide among teens (Lukianoff & Haidt, 2018) and the intentional spread of false information (Howard, Ganesh & Liotsiou, 2018). What powers do you think governments should have over social media companies to monitor and control their content?
Dance, G. & Satariano, A. (2020). E.U. Privacy Rule Would Rein In the Hunt for Online Child Sexual Abuse. The New York Times. [Online]. 04 Dec 2020. Available at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/technology/european-union-child-sexual-abuse.html {Accessed 5th December 2020].Howard, P., Ganesh, B. & Liotsiou, D (2018). The IRA, Social Media and Political Polarization in the United States, 2012-2018. [Online]. Available at https://comprop.oii.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/93/2018/12/IRA-Report-2018.pdf [Accessed 5th December 2020]. Haidt, J. and Lukianoff, G. (2018). The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure. London: Penguin.
Live session discussion - student led listening
Live session discussion - student led listening
Next term we're going to have some student-led listening classes, where you will get the chance to present a text for the class to listen to and discuss. 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.
What texts have you come across that would make interesting listening activities for the class?
What kinds of discussion questions have worked best in your group this term? What do people most like to talk about?
What texts do you think would also be beneficial for language practice?
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