bridging generation gap
intro:
Critics of mobile phones are never short of ammunitions. But this time people are talking about
the upsides as well as downsides of text messaging for kids. How is it possible for parents and
children to feel closer by text messaging? Here is the report.
Please read the following words carefully before listening to the news.
acronym n. a word formed from the initials or other parts of several words, e.g. "NATO," from
the initial letters of "North Atlantic Treaty Organization"
首字母缩写而成的单词
Pew Research Center 一个做民意调查的机构，网址是 people-press.org
upside n. the most favorable or positive aspect of a situation or event 有利的一面
down to a science: describing something (as a sport or technique) that may be studied or learned
like systematized knowledge 可以系统学习的(事物)
emoticon n. emotional+icon （手机中或网络聊天中）表示感情的图标
lingo n. 专业术语
Spelling Bee: 美国的一个单词拼写比赛，参加选手都是青少年学生
miss out 错过
tendency n. （有做某件事的）趋向
adolescence n. 青少年时期
intimacy n. 亲密，亲近
illusion n. 幻觉，美好却又不真实的想法
companionship n. 有同伴陪伴，和同伴在一起
a fine balance to strike: 非常难取得的平衡
face-to-face contact: 面对面的交往
social lifeline:社交的重要途径
1
Can you write down the orginal words for the following acronyms?
ROFLL
________ (key: rolling)
________ (key: on)
________ (key: floor)
________ (key: laughing)
LOL
________ (key:laughing)
________ (key:out)
loud
TTYL
________ (key:talk )
________ (key:to )
________ (key:you)
________ (key:later)
MU
________ (key:miss)
________ (key:you)
GTG
________ (key:gotta)
________ (key:go)
POS
________ (key:parents)
________ (key:on)
________ (key:shoulder)
Please listen to the news and complete the following multiple-choice exercises.
1 Why are experts worried about the overuse of mobile phone communication such as
text-messaging for adolescents?
A. It will cost parents too much money.
B. Children are exposed to too much radiation.
C. Children may ignore the face-to-face contact with each other and have the illusion of
companionship.
D. Children are using these those acronyms in their homework.
2
Key: C
2 What did AT&T, a mobile phone compnay, do to encourage text messaging among teens?
A.The company offers better rate for kids who text constantly.
B. The company holds a national text competition called Text Bee.
C. The company makes text games for families to play together.
D. The company offers special phones designed to make text easier.
Key: B
Listen to the news and fill in the following blanks.
If you find the language of our times interesting, then you know it's been taken over by the
acronyms. LOL is laughing out loud. ROFLL stands for rolling on
the floor laughing. The problem is some teachers are not. This new language, largely of electronic
texing, is finding its way into conversations and writing
assignments. Two-thirds of the teenagers in the new Pew Research Center poll admit those funny
symbols that are called emoticons and expressions like LOL are
sometimes found in formal writing assginments. The upside of all this texting is a way of
communicating even with parents. Our story tonight from NBC's Mika
Brzezinski.
15-year old Savannah Pence has text messaging down to a science. She is always typing away. It's
her social lifeline anywhere, anytime.
"It's good because I can be with my parents, and still talking. "
The Pences, both busy with their restaurant and cooking show, say texting keeps them in touch.
That immediacy of response is really nice and comforting
because we are a busy family. But also admit they struggle with the lingo.
I think he sent me one like what a dog. But he spelt it up wrong. You know it is like what us dog.
And he is trying.
With more than 26 million young people using cell phones. Major phone companies see the value
of bridging the divide between parents and their kids.
"ROFLL."
"Eight points."
"WTG"
"ROFLL is not English."
AT&T actually holds Text Bees across the country, similar to spelling Bees but in text.
"While it may be hard to believe children as young as 9 years old have cell phones and can talk
totally in text. Girls help me out."
"TTYL."
"Talk to you later."
"MU."
3
"Miss you."
"How do you know miss u? GTG"
"Gotta go."
While it may seem kind of cute. Experts warned developing minds could be missing out."
"There is this tendency to escape into what's easy, what's there, what's digital."
Dr. Sherry Turkle of MIT has written several books on the subject.
Adolescence is a time when people are lonely, yet afraid of intimacy. And in some ways constant
texting gives the illusion of companionship without the
demands of friendship."
And in these friendships they talk about it all. This means lips are sealed. This drunk. And this
parents over shoulder. Seems alien? not to Savannah,
whose parents say, couldn't survive a day without her cell. But agree it is a fine balance to strike.
As the text generation grows up connecting without any
face-to-face contact.
GTG, MB, NBC, NY
Listen to the news and read the script carefully to understand the news better.
If you find the language of our times interesting, then you know it's been taken over by the
acronyms. LOL is laughing out loud. ROFLL stands for rolling on
the floor laughing. The problem is some teachers are not. This new language, largely of electronic
texing, is finding its way into conversations and writing
assignments. Two-thirds of the teenagers in the new Pew Research Center poll admit those funny
symbols that are called emoticons and expressions like LOL are
sometimes found in formal writing assginments. The upside of all this texting is a way of
communicating even with parents. Our story tonight from NBC's Mika
Brzezinski.
15-year old Savannah Pence has text messaging down to a science. She is always typing away. It's
her social lifeline anywhere, anytime.
"It's good because I can be with my parents, and still talking. "
The Pences, both busy with their restaurant and cooking show, say texting keeps them in touch.
That immediacy of response is really nice and comforting
because we are a busy family. But also admit they struggle with the lingo.
I think he sent me one like what a dog. But he spelt it up wrong. You know it is like what us dog.
And he is trying.
With more than 26 million young people using cell phones. Major phone companies see the value
of bridging the divide between parents and their kids.
"ROFLL."
"Eight points."
"WTG"
"ROFLL is not English."
AT&T actually holds Text Bees across the country, similar to spelling Bees but in text.
"While it may be hard to believe children as young as 9 years old have cell phones and can talk
totally in text. Girls help me out."
4
"TTYL."
"Talk to you later."
"MU."
"Miss you."
"How do you know miss u? GTG"
"Gotta go."
While it may seem kind of cute. Experts warned developing minds could be missing out."
"There is this tendency to escape into what's easy, what's there, what's digital."
Dr. Sherry Turkle of MIT has written several books on the subject.
Adolescence is a time when people are lonely, yet afraid of intimacy. And in some ways constant
texting gives the illusion of companionship without the
demands of friendship."
And in these friendships they talk about it all. This means lips are sealed. This drunk. And this
parents over shoulder. Seems alien? not to Savannah,
whose parents say, couldn't survive a day without her cell. But agree it is a fine balance to strike.
As the text generation grows up connecting without any
face-to-face contact.
GTG, MB, NBC, NY
5