节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2014-04-18
难易度:Medium
关键字:astonish, aggressive, wave of the future, touchscreen
Hello, and welcome back.
We've been continuing a conversation between Sean and Tim.
Tim thinks that if Sean adds up all of the time his son spends in front of
screens, it will be a very high number.
But Sean isn't too worried because his son has a lot of educational games on his
tablet.
So that time is well-spent because Jeff is learning.
Tim doubts he plays educational games all the time and is worried that Jeff
could become aggressive from playing violent games.
Well, let's find out Sean's response with the next part of our reading.
(Music).
How Much Screen Time?
Well, Jeff's certainly not aggressive.
That's good.
Besides, screens really are the wave of the future.
Someday everything might be controlled by touching a screen.
So I think the earlier kids start, the more familiar they'll be with touchscreen
technology.
It might even be an advantage in looking for a job someday.
We'll just have to wait and see about that.
I still think the key is to monitor our kids' screen use and encourage more
outdoor activities.
Speaking of outdoor activities, Jeff's soccer game is about to end, so I've got
to go.
OK. See you soon.
(Music).
All right.
(Chinese).
And now let's go to our teachers.
Thank you, Michelle.
Well, Sean was not very happy with the idea of his son becoming aggressive due
to the games he plays.
And he says that Jeff is certainly not aggressive.
So he wants to make it very clear that his son is different from these other
kids that Tim is talking about.
But Tim is just trying to help Sean by warning him of some of the dangers of too
much screen time.
Well, Sean doesn't think that screens are bad.
In fact, he thinks that screens are the wave of the future.
If something is the wave of the future, then it is something that is going to be
very important in the future.
Now sometimes you might hear people say "way of the future," but this is not
correct.
They should say "wave" of the future.
For example, solar-powered homes could be the wave of the future.
Many people are beginning to install solar panels on their houses, so they
certainly could be the wave of the future.
Driverless cars could also be the wave of the future.
And there are many technologies being developed that could be the wave of the
future, but we will have to wait and see if they actually become an important
part of the future.
Well, 30 years ago computers were the wave of the future, and now touchscreen
technology found in tablets and smartphones seems to be the wave of the future.
There are screens everywhere.
There are.
And Sean thinks that it's important for kids to be familiar with touchscreen
technology.
All right. If something is familiar, then it is something you are used to or can
easily recognize.
For example, you can be familiar with a song.
As soon as you hear just a few notes, you immediately know which song is
playing.
You could also be familiar with an area.
If you're familiar with a place, then you know how to get around easily and you
won't get lost.
Are there any places that you are familiar with?
How familiar are you with your hometown?
If it's a small town, you are probably very familiar with it.
Well, what about touchscreen devices?
Are you familiar with them?
Well, right now we... it's time for us to visit someone that we're pretty
familiar with, Steve and Ken, in the Information Cloud.
Then we'll watch a review skit, and of course join Linda for the Editor's
Summary.
Mostly we use the word "really" as an adverb.
Sometimes, like in today's lesson, we use it as an interjection.
In our lesson today, Sean uses it to express surprise at something Tim said.
Now there's one more usage of "really" that's just started to take off in the
last year or two.
It's very informal.
You won't find it in the dictionary.
But we wanted to bring it to your attention because it's being used a lot.
You'll hear it used on TV and in the movies, and you'll see it used on social
networking sites, too.
"Really?" used in this way, is a statement of strong disbelief, kind of like
"Seriously?"
It's used after someone says or does something thought to be unbelievably
foolish.
It's also used to express disapproval and disappointment when another person has
just shown a serious lack of common sense or awareness.
OK. Let's pretend Steve borrowed my car for three days but he didn't put any gas
in it.
Then he asked me if he could borrow it again.
I was like, "Really?"
Notice when you use "really" in this way, it's always pronounced in a flat, even
tone.
Really?
(Chinese).
Well, Grandma, I'm ready for a little screen time.
How about you?
Scream time... well, that's a good idea.
No! No, no, no, no, no, not "scream" time, screen time.
Well, screen time, what is that, anyway?
It's the time you spend using a screen.
Oh, I use screens all the time.
I have a screen on every window.
They keep the bugs out.
No, Grandma. I'm not talking about the screens on the windows.
I'm talking about the screens on cellphones, computers.
Well, that kind of "scream".
Yes! I text on my cellphone and keep in touch with my friends.
Well, that's really nice.
And I use a tablets computer.
Everyone should know how, even you!
Really! Well, tell me, Sonny, how long do you spend on "scream" time every day?
Well, let's see...
Or screen time.
Let me see... cellphone, TV, tablet... maybe around seven hours a day?
Seven hours a day! Oh, my. That's a lot.
Yeah. I'm astonished how fast time adds up.
Yeah, you should set limitations.
Oh, but Grandma, screen time is um... educational and fun.
Well, what about exercise?
And how does all that screen time affect your behavior?
Too much screen time is not a good thing, I'm sure.
But Grandma, screens are the wave of the future.
Well, I think you should wave those screens goodbye.
Huh?
Turn it off and get to work.
Hey, I can teach you how to knit.
OK, Grandma.
And cook chicken soup.
We can do lots of fun things... together.
Tim and Sean continue discussing how much time kids spend in front of some kind
of screen.
Tim suggests that Sean add up the hours on a TV, computers, tablets and
cellphones to really calculate the correct number of hours.
And even though Sean mentions the educational games on the computer, Tim is sure
that it is not what his son is engaged in.
They continue to discuss whether or not kids can become aggressive over too much
use.
Sean thinks screens are the wave of the future, so he feels kids should really
start using them early so they'll be used to touchscreen technology, while Tim
is a more wait-and-see kind of person.
I guess we'll have to wait and see, too.
Thank you, Linda.
So were you able to make up your mind?
How much is too much screen time?
Should parents limit their children's screen time?
Or is it OK if they play educational games?
Well, talk about it with someone in English.
And we will see you next time right here on Studio Classroom.
(Music).