The two short reading activities below focus on the pleasure of going out
and doing things alone; something I personally greatly enjoy. Watch the videos,
tackle the two reading tasks and write your essay where you share your own
views.
TEXT ONE: THE UNEXPECTED PLEASURE OF DOING THINGS ALONE
“People avoid going out by themselves because
they think they’ll appear antisocial, but it turns out they’ll end up having a
lot more fun than they expected”
By: Joe Pinsker
Published: May 6, 2015; The Atlantic; http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/05/the-unexpected-pleasure-of-doing-things-alone/392486/
Level of Difficulty: **
BEFORE YOU READ
Study the following and make some notes before
moving on to the reading tasks proper
·
“12 Things everybody should do alone
at least once” http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariannarebolini/things-everyone-should-do-alone-at-least-once#.km0XWB5W5
QUESTIONS
1.
The
opening of restaurants like Eenmaal should not really come as a surprise
because……………..and ………………………………….
2.
What
self destructive decision to some people make about doing fun things?
3.
What
misconception did Ratner and Hamilton’s test subjects entertain? Be very precise.
You will need to tweak the text.
4.
The
negative social reaction to doing things alone that causes reluctance is the
fear that………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5.
The
above fear makes no sense at all because there was a close correlation / a
positive correlation / little correlation / no correlation between
the negative labels these same people expected to be given when doing things
alone and those they themselves applied to similar people.
6.
Most
people seemed to feel that going to a café or restaurant alone was more
acceptable if they could feel that………………………………………………………………………………………
TEXT TWO: IN DEFENCE OF SEEING MOVIES ALONE
“Sitting solitary through a summer blockbuster has its perils. But
that’s O.K.”
By: Chris Le
Published: June 2, 2011; The Atlantic; http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/06/in-defense-of-seeing-movies-alone/239814/
Level of Difficulty: **
BEFORE YOU READ
·
“The case for going to the movies
alone” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf9eZwi0Hig
QUESTIONS
1.
Why
does the writer go to the movies?
·
To
be alone
·
To
listen to other people
·
To
watch a movie
·
To
meet people
2.
The
writer feels that it is strange / unusual / unnecessary / unpleasant / pathetic
/ fun to be accompanied to the movies.
3.
According
to the information in the text, which of the activities would not be “immune to
stigma”?
Going to a football match, going to the mall, going to a pop concert,
going on a picnic in the park, going to the school cafeteria, going to the
launderette
4.
Why
is the writer happy to go to the movies alone but not to a party where he
doesn’t know anyone? After all, he doesn’t know anyone else at the cinema
either. Use your own words.
5.
The
writer implies that whether the lone movie goer is likely to enjoy a solo visit
to a movie theatre in the summer or not depends on………………………………………..
WRITING TASK
Think about what you have watched
and read. Then write about the advantages and disadvantages of doing things
alone.
TEXT ONE: THE UNEXPECTED PLEASURE OF DOING THINGS ALONE KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
I have always felt sorry for people who shut
themselves up in their homes because they have no one to accompany them to
various places. I have personally always greatly enjoyed my solo outings
despite a wide circle of friends and actually crave the me time these
excursions to cafes, restaurants and the like provide the opportunity for. This
being the case, I couldn’t resist these two little texts. Hopefully, there will be some converts.
- Today more than a quarter of American
households are home to just one person and the median age at which
Americans get married has reached a record high.
2. They decide to not do things all the
time just because they are alone
3. They predicted low levels of
enjoyment while strolling through a nearby art gallery alone
4. People would think they didn’t have
any friends
5. Little correlation
6. They could be productive; OR the
experience was an accomplishment
TEXT TWO: IN DEFENCE OF SEEING MOVIES ALONE KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
1. To watch a movie
2. Unnecessary
3. Going to a football match, going to
a pop concert, going for a picnic in the park
4.
The
purposes are different. Watching a movie is an individual experience and
doesn’t have to be shared; the purpose of a party is to socialize.
5.
The
film; The type of film
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