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The Social Network

Learn about the modal verb should

Date: Nov 17 2010

Themes: Tech

Grammar: Modal Verbs

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Intro

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Facebook has changed the way we communicate, keep in touch, and make new friends. It’s even changed the English language. Before Facebook, “friend” was just a plain old noun. Now it’s also a verb, since Facebook has taught us how to “friend” people.

The Facebook phenomenon didn’t just come out of nowhere. A new movie, The Social Network, gives its history. And if you think a movie about starting a website doesn’t sound interesting, you may be wrong. The Social Network involves heartbreak, betrayal, secrecy, romance, and a lawsuit. Find out what Mason and Jeff think about this film.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Jeff

Mason: So Jeff, have you seen The Social Network yet?

Jeff: No, but I wouldn’t mind checking that out.

Mason: I think you should. I’ll give you a kinda bit of advice. I thought it didn’t live up to the hype. They make it this big sort of tell-all, airing the dirty laundry of Mark Zuckerberg, the guy who started Facebook. But it just kinda feels like it’s this story of this guy who made this thing, and yeah, some people maybe got hurt along the way but it wasn’t this corporate espionage kinda thing.

Jeff: Yeah. So you’re saying it could’ve been any number of other successful start-ups or companies?

Mason: Not really, I mean it’s definitely a unique story. And it kinda holds an interesting mirror up to society, right, that social networking online has become this big kinda phenomenon and we’re all doing it. I mean, are you on Facebook, Jeff?

Jeff: Yeah, I have an account.

Mason: Why aren’t we friends? See, that didn’t used to happen.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Mason recently saw The Social Network. He enjoyed the film, although he didn’t think it was as dramatic as it was made to seem. It basically just tells the real-life story of Mark Zuckerberg, who started Facebook.

Mason thinks the most interesting part of the movie is the way it reflects contemporary society. So many people use Facebook today. As Mason points out, Facebook can sometimes lead to hurt feelings. In fact, some think that Facebook is leading to more divorce, since it’s so easy to meet people online, which could tempt people to cheat on their spouses.

Do you use Facebook? How do you think social networking sites have changed society? Oh, and don’t forget to like English, baby!

Comments

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indianeha64

India

now a days social networking is very important …...n facebook is one of the best sites of social networking…..........and most important thing is we can find different people of different countries here ...............i like facebook very much….......

spacedragon

Brazil

facebook can hurt a lot !!!!!!!! but it is good too ,i can say that my life is divided in 2 … BF (before facebook ) and AF (after facebook) lol

Chheang Vannda

Cambodia

Well , I use FB ,but sometimes I feel boring it . previous ,I think that it is good for make friend , keep in touch and share idea to all friend . Help for making a new thinking.

johannah

Germany

Yes, I think Facebook and all the other social networking sites have changed our society a lot in many ways:

It's positive I think that you get to know to people easier – just via "friending" them and these sites also improve the chance of staying in touch and to comunicate, as really a LOT of people are using Facebook and you can easily post something on their profile so they know you haven't forgotten them.

Facebook here is quite a phenomenon because it's a big cocurrence to the other social websites and many people I know cancelled their account so they could use Facebook only. If you stay on the common local sites and don't join Facebook it might appear that you're behind the times…

caeserramos

Brazil

I don't like to use a FB but, instead of it, i prefer to use others to keep in touch with my friends and make friends. Good to think about social networking: The more you use it, the more you do some frinds.

sam.xu

China

I have not use the facebook . I think everythings have two sides .good and bad,like the appear of the internet ,a side of it is the progress of the socity.and another side is the bad thing of the socity.

Amar pandey

India

I have not seen this movie yet, but I have read Critic's review of the movie. It sounds good with its script. and most importantly It is about The famous social network which has above 5 million members all over the world.

As far as Impact of facebook over our life concerned, I can say It has redefined the way of communication over internet. Somehow It has been successful in making virtual world like real. And I do have an account on facebook. And To be honest I am enjoying it very much. You can say It has become part of life.

Thank you.

rebel lee

China

I like facebook and the idea, but I hate the movie which is totally bullshit.

In China we have a similar social networking website which is called 'renren'. I check out that site everyday to find out what my friends are doing. It is a great site.

Pezhman02

Germany

I am of no interest to Mark Zuckerberg and his boring story.

zhong yulu

China

i haven't see The Social Network. but i wouldn't mind checking it out.

i haven't used Facebook, not so interested in social networking.

XIAOBIN

China

yeah….its a good movie,and facebook is very wonderful…..

clutchmann

Hungary

I rarely use Facebook. It is hard to decide whether it changes the society. By means of Facebook the people can become more open but it is important to control this process because somebody else can use your openness against you.

anneu

Thailand

I haven't seen "The Social Network" film .But I think Facebook 's some kind of opened-society. I contacted my old friend who didn't contact long time.

Anyway I can keep in touch everyone I wanna be. I missed a lot of my old friend I contacted them with Facebook….:)

Abadi_7

Japan

when I first started facebook maybe I didn`t expect this situation coz right now I can`t spend one day without checking my page I got a real 300 friends so everyday I feel excited to keep up with them all ~