Open World SB p 31. Travel and Social Media. Speaking

 

1. Conversation: Talk about the following questions with your partner for about 3 minutes. The pictures are there to help you.

1. How do people generally regard travel Instagrammers?

2. Do you know anybody who roams round the world and makes an excellent living from it?

3. Is being a travel influencer a lucrative job?

4. Would you be able to squeeze your most treasured possessions in a rucksack? Could you get by with so little? What would you most sorely miss? What are the swings and roundabouts of living out of a suitcase? Are you one of those backpackers who likes to travel light?

5. Has anybody ever tried to talk you into living abroad? In what way can it be an enriching experience? What are the benefits and drawbacks of living abroad?

6. When was the last time you approached somebody for help or advice and they were up for it?

2. Monologue: Below there are some issues related to the topic. You must talk about at least two of them for 2 minutes approx. You may be asked further questions about the topic when you have finished.

STUDENT A

1. Would you agree with the statement "content is king"? What content have you recently found enlightening and thought-provoking?

2. Do you try to make a point of drafting, redrafting and proofreading whatever leaves your desk, tablet or handheld device?

3. When was the last time someone suggested exactly what you wanted to hear and you said "now you're talking"?

STUDENT B 

1. How important is it to show the ropes to new employees? What do they need to know about the culture and work environment at your place of work?

2. Has something recently dawned on you that others thought was obvious?

3. Do you know anybody whose reputation has changed overnight due to cancel culture? What did they say or do to screw up?

regard: (V) to think about someone or something in a particular way.

E.g.

regard somebody/something as something  

Paul seemed to regard sex as sinful and immoral.  

Edith was widely regarded as (=considered by many people to be) eccentric.  

His work is highly regarded (=regarded as very good) by art experts.

make a living: to earn the money one needs to pay for housing, food, etc.  

E.g.

He made a living by working as a cook.

 

influencer: /ˈɪnfluənsə(r)/ a person or thing that influences somebody/something, especially a person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by recommending it on social media.

E.g.
the social media feeds of fashion influencers

 

lucrative: /ˈluːkrətɪv/ producing a large amount of money; making a large profit.

E.g.
a lucrative business/contract/market
Had the plan worked it would have proved highly lucrative.

 

squeeze: to force somebody/something/yourself into or through a small space.

E.g.

squeeze somebody/something into, through, etc. something 

We managed to squeeze six people into the car.     

It's a pretty town, squeezed between the mountains and the ocean.     

(figurative) We managed to squeeze a lot into a week (= we did a lot of different things). 

get by: to manage to live or do a particular thing using the money, knowledge, equipment, etc. that you have. Sp. arreglárselas, sobrevivir con.

E.g.

How does she get by on such a small salary? 

I can just about get by in German (= I can speak basic German).

live out of a/(one's) suitcase To only have the clothes and personal items in one's suitcase(s) available to one. 

E.g.

I'm on the road for three months at a time for work, so I've gotten pretty used to living out of a suitcase. Sarah's been living out of her suitcases in her brother's apartment ever since getting evicted from her house.

travel light travel with a minimum load or minimum luggage. 

E.g.

"she's one of those backpackers who likes to travel light"

talk somebody/yourself into/out of something: ​to persuade somebody/yourself to do/not to do something.

E.g.

I didn't want to move abroad but Bill talked me into it. 

talk somebody/yourself into/out of doing something 

She tried to talk him out of leaving.

 

approach: to speak to somebody about something, especially to ask them for something or to offer to do something.

E.g.
approach somebody 

We have been approached by a number of companies that are interested in our product.
I'd like to ask his opinion but I find him difficult to approach (= not easy to talk to in a friendly way).
approach somebody for something 

She was often approached for help and advice.
approach somebody about something 

We have approached the company about the possibility of a merger.
approach somebody about doing something 

Have you approached John about organizing a concert?
approach somebody to do something 

She was approached to take part in the event. 

be up for sth: to want to do something. 

E.g. We're going clubbing tonight if you're up for it.

content is king: we have to aim at unique, high-quality, interesting and relevant content. 

The term was first coined by Bill Gates.

“Content is where I expect much of the real money will be made on the Internet, just as it was in broadcasting" A statement quoted by Bill Gates in his essay, Content is King

 

enlightening: /ɪnˈlaɪtnɪŋ/
giving information so that you can understand something better. Sp. esclarecedor.
It was a very enlightening interview.
Her comments were both enlightening and thought-provoking.
The research should be particularly enlightening about the way the virus is transmitted.

 

make a point of doing something: to do something deliberately, even when it involves making a special effort. Sp. poner empeño en.

E.g.

He made a point of spending Saturdays with his children. 

I always make a point of being early.

 

draft something to write the first rough version of something such as a letter, speech, book or law. Sp. hacer un borrador.

E.g.
I'll draft a letter for you.

redraft: (V) /ˌriːˈdrɑːft/ to write an article, a letter, etc. again in order to improve it or make changes. Sp. Reescribir, redactar de nuevo.

E.g.

The Department of Health may have to redraft the guidelines.

proofread: /ˈpruːfriːd/ proofread (something) to read and correct a piece of written or printed work.

E.g.
Has this document been proofread?

 

handheld: /ˌhændˈheld/
small enough to be held in the hand while being used.

E.g.
a handheld camera/device

 

now you're talking

Used to say that someone has said or suggested something that one thinks is good, worth doing, etc. Said when someone makes a suggestion or offer that is better than one that they have already made. That is what I wanted to hear; that's a good idea or a good plan, especially compared to previous suggestions.

E.g.

 "You don't want hamburgers. Well, how about steak?" "Yeah, now you're talking."

‘Fancy an ice cream?’ ‘Now you’re talking.’ 

A: "We could just have some sandwiches for dinner." B: "Meh." A: "Or we could try that new Thai place." B: "Oh yeah, now you're talking!"

 

show somebody/know/learn the ropes
​(informal) to show somebody/know/learn how a particular job should be done.

E.g.
I spent the first month just learning the ropes. 

He works repairing streets, and knows the ropes when it comes to safety. 

Miss McGinley will show you the ropes and answer any questions. 

 

dawn on somebody if something dawns on you, you begin to realize it for the first time.

E.g.

It dawns on somebody that… Suddenly it dawned on me that they couldn't possibly have met before.

overnight: 

1. during or for the night
E.g. We stayed overnight in London after the theatre. 

2. suddenly or quickly
E.g. Don't expect it to improve overnight. She became famous overnight. 

 

Cancel culture or call-out culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – whether it be online, on social media, or in person. Those subject to this ostracism are said to have been "cancelled". Cancel culture refers to the popular practice of withdrawing support for (canceling) public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive. Cancel culture is generally discussed as being performed on social media in the form of group shaming.

 

screw up to deal with a situation very badly.

Synonym mess up 

E.g.

You really screwed up there!