📘 Part 3: Sharing information

This episode's vocabulary

Showy (adj.) - attracting attention, sometimes by being extreme in color, design, or materials.

At large (phrase) - as a whole; in general.

Capability (noun) - the power or ability to do something.

Passion (noun) - a very powerful feeling, for example of sexual attraction, love, hate, anger, or other emotion.

Empathy (noun) - the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another.

Course of action (noun) - a set of intended actions, through which one intends to achieve a goal.

Rash (adj.) - careless or unwise, without thought for what might happen.

To boil down (phrasal verb) - to reduce information, usually so that it contains only its most important parts.

Aspect (noun) - a particular part or feature of something.

To spur on (phrasal verb) - to encourage someone to do something.

Echo chamber (noun) - an environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered.

Controversial (adj.) - relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument.

Misinformation (noun) - false or inaccurate information, especially that which is deliberately intended to deceive.

Media outlets (noun) - a publication or broadcast program that provides news and feature stories to the public through various distribution channels.

Questions and Answers

M: How do people share good news?

R: Well, it could be in person or over the phone, via text or messaging apps or on social media platforms, actually. the method of sharing often depends on the intended audience. And I suppose the level of personal connection. You probably wouldn't share news about a pay rise openly on a social media account, for instance, would you? It's a bit showy.

M: What kind of good news do people like to hear?

R: Well, usually something positive and uplifting, like news about personal achievements or promotions or a happy life event like a wedding. They might also enjoy hearing about positive news in their communities or in the world at large, like advancements in science or charity work or a successful social movement. It lets them know things are going right with the world.

M: Do people like to hear good news from their friends?

R: For sure! It can be a source of happiness and inspiration since you're usually close to and close with your friends so you can feel the same level of capability and passion. It can also help strengthen relationships and build a sense of connection and support through shared feelings, now that think about it.

M: How should people handle bad news?

R: Well, ideally, with care and empathy, both for themselves and others. It's important to acknowledge and process the news while also seeking support from friends or family, maybe professionals if needed. Oh, and it's important to take time to reflect and consider the best course of action moving forward. If you don't, you could wind up making rash decisions or hurting someone without intending to.

M: Why do people share news on social media?

R: Oh, for a variety of reasons. From staying connected with family and friends to expressing opinions. Although I suppose it all boils down to gaining attention and recognition in some way, shape or form. It's also fast and easy to use with a wide audience, which comes in handy for the whole attention thing we just mentioned.

M: How does social media help people access information?

R: Well, by providing a platform for sharing news, opinions and ideas from a range of sources, actually. It could also... Or it can also allow people to connect with experts in various fields, access educational content, and I suppose stay up to date with current events with relative ease compared to the more traditional methods. It does tend to lack depth though, which is always important to be aware of.

M: Should the media publish only good news?

R: Nah...Well, positive news stories can be uplifting and inspiring. It's important for the media to report on all aspects of society, including difficult or uncomfortable issues. It can help to raise awareness and spur on action to address them. Otherwise, you risk well, just living in a comfortable echo chamber while the world falls apart.

M: Is it good to share something on social media?

R: Well, I think we need to consider the context and, well, content being shared. I suppose while sharing personal achievements or positive news can be a source of inspiration and connection, sharing negative or controversial content could cause harm or spread misinformation. So it's important to consider the potential impact of sharing something on social media before doing so.

M: How do you think people will get their news in the future?

R: I doubt much will have changed, to be honest. People have and will always get news from a variety of sources, including more traditional media outlets and social media. And you get these personalised news apps now and none of them look likely to be extinguished entirely. I suppose advances in technology might allow for more personalised and targeted news delivery as well as new ways of consuming and interacting with news content. But the sources likely won't change, at least in my opinion.

Discussion

M: Hey, Rory, thank you for your answers. So dear listener, do you remember that news IS, yeah? Some good news is. And news is good. It is good. And there is a lot of good news or bad news. All right? And we can share news in person. So in person... So I have some good news. I share this news with Rory in person: Rory, we have more than 35,000 subscribers on our YouTube. Aren't you happy?

R: Yes, very happy. Thank you for sharing the good news.

M: Also, dear listener, so in person over the phone, the preposition is over the phone. Text messages or text or messaging apps what's the preposition? Via. So over the phone or share news via text or messaging apps. Apps - applications. What about social media platforms or social media? What's the preposition?

R: On because they're on the Internet.

M: Yes. So we have this craziness with prepositions. So share the news in person, share news over the phone via text apps (application) or via text or messaging apps, and on social media. On social media platforms. And maybe some people wouldn't share news about a pay rise. So a pay rise when they give you more money at work. What else can we say? News about a pay rise or a pay...

R: ...increase? Would you share news about a pay increase?

M: No, I don't think so. I would keep it secret. Well, maybe I'll just say like: Oh, now I have more money. No, no, I would say that.

R: That would be a horrible thing to say to your colleagues: Hahaha, now I have more money.

M: Yeah. Hey, look at you. Because, you know, if I say so, it's a bit showy, you know, I show it off right? So an adjective would be showy. So it's a bit showy. It's negative, right?

R: Well, usually physical thing is showy, but you could say you're showing off a bit.

M: But if I post things on Instagram that, okay, I got a pay rise. It's showy. So it's negative. You are showing off?

R: Yeah. Don't show off. It's not nice.

M: People enjoy hearing uplifting news. And Rory, what did you mean by uplifting?

R: News that makes your mood better or news that improves your mood.

M: So uplifting, like, just, like, lifts your spirit, lifts your mood. So lift up. So uplifting news, positive news, like nice news. And then Rory gave examples. So how do we give examples? So people enjoy hearing positive, uplifting news, news about happier life events like weddings. New episodes of our podcast. And then you said something like, In the World at large. What did you mean by large?

R: Well, I just meant the world in general, or the wider world or beyond the world around you immediately. The world at large is the whole world or a big part of it.

M: Where else can I use this at large? Could you give us another example?

R: If you talk about something really specific. So, for example, many people where I'm from have heard of the book, but perhaps not many in the world at large.

M: So in the world...

R: In the world beyond my immediate surroundings.

M: Yeah, Rory has his Rory world and then the other world. Right? So beyond Rory.

R: No, there's... Everybody has their own internal world. I was speaking with one of my students about this recently.

M: Yeah. Internal. Like, kind of your world. Right? And then we can give more examples. And now we are using such as. So people enjoy hearing about positive news in their communities or in the world at large, such as advancements in science, of course, or successful social movements. Right? So we gave an example with "like weddings" and also such as advancements in science. What did you mean by successful social movements? What is it? Social movements? Can they be unsuccessful?

R: Yes, they could be unsuccessful. But a social movement is like when a large group of people gets together in order to promote or achieve something connected to a cause. Let's think of a concrete example.

M: Picking up rubbish in the forest, right?

R: Yes. The other thing would be like Occupy Wall Street. Or Black Lives Matter are social movements.

M: Oh, okay. Like girls' power!

R: Is that a social movement? What's the name of that social movement?

M: It's girls' power, you know...

R: I feel like that's not a social movement...

M: No?

R: No.

M: Okay. When you get the news from your friends, you can feel the same level of capability and passion. So the same level of capability. Capability. Capa.

R: Capybara?

M: Capybara. Yes, it sounds like capybara.

R: Capybarability. That's what happens when you're like a capybara you have capybility.

M: Dear listener, now, you know what our favourite animal is. It is capybara. You can Google it now. The ability to do something, C1 is actually an advanced word.

R: Seriously?

M: Yes, C1! According to the online Cambridge dictionary... Advanced! So capability, for example, these tests are beyond the capability of an average student. So it's beyond our ability. Right? Or to have the capability to do something. To have the ability to do something. And here Rory told us that when you get the news from your friends, you can feel the same level of capability. What did you mean? The same level of ability?

R: You have the same feeling that you can do what they can do.

M: So the same level of capability you feel that you can do the same things that they can do. Wow!

R: Yes.

M: Really sophisticated.

R: Is it?

M: I think so.

R: Wow. It's almost like I'm an educated native speaker... Allegedly.

M: You are an educated native speaker.

R: I don't feel like one right now.

M: When you get the news from your friends it can help to strengthen relationships. Yeah? So you share news, ok, good/bad news and this strengthens, so it makes its stronger. So it strengthens your relationships and also builds a sense of connection. Okay, dear listener? So to build a sense of connection between you and your friends, how lovely is that? We can handle bad news. So when we handle bad news, what do we do? Handle. Deal with bad news?

R: We cope with it. We don't feel like the world is ending yet.

M: Can they say cope with the bad news?

R: Yes! It's a phrasal verb!

M: Cope with bad news. Handle bad news. And we should handle bad news with care and empathy. All right? So empathy, understanding. We can acknowledge bad news. Second knowledge. Like we kind of like. Oh, hello. Bad news. Okay, I get it. Yeah? So we acknowledge... Rory?

R: Yes. What, was I supposed to disagree or...

M: No, no, no. Just...

R: Just agree and tell me I'm wonderful. Yes, Maria is wonderful, and everything she says is correct. There we go.

M: So when we acknowledge bad news, we accept bad news, and then we process the news. So when we process bad news, we might be sad.

R: We might be coming to terms with it.

M: We come to terms with bad news.

R: But come to terms with it is not very complicated. It just means accept the way that things are.

M: And when we process something, so you get the news, you kind of like think about the news, you accept the news or don't accept the news. And then if you really feel sad, you should seek support from your friends. Look for support, get support or seek support from your friends or family or professionals, therapists, psychologists, perhaps. And then you should decide on the best course of action. Here, a course is not an English course, but the best course of action, like the best, like way.

R: Decide what to do.

M: Yeah, pretty much. You should decide what to do. Or if you want super vocabulary, you should decide on the best course of action. And then Rory is using his favourite phrasal verb! What is it, dear listener? Wind up.

R: Oh!

M: You could wind up making rash decisions.

R: I did say that.

M: So you could wind up. You could end up making rash decisions. So what does this mean rash decisions?

R: A rash decision is just a decision that you make without thinking carefully about the consequences or how to execute the decision.

M: And also, we're using a conditional. So if you don't think about the best course of action, you could end up, you could wind up doing something/making rash or quick decisions. When the examiner asks you the question why you can use this strategy. A very good one. So Rory said: for a variety of reasons. Okay? So you say, for different reasons. And then you go from blah blah to blah blah. Okay? So why do people share news on social media? For different reasons, from staying connected with friends to expressing opinions. Rory, let me ask you another question. Why do people enjoy hearing positive news?

R: Oh, for a variety of reasons. From the good feeling that they get when they hear the good news to the anticipation of sharing it with others.

M: Yeah. And then another phrasal verb, which is really cool: It all boils down to gaining attention, to getting attention. It all boils down to getting attention. Ooh, Rory, how can you paraphrase this one?

R: Oh, boils down to, it's like the main point, or if you reduce it in the simplest way - to the main point.

M: Yeah. So boils down to something - to reduce information.

R: To the main point or the simplest point.

M: For example, he boiled down a lengthy report, like a long report to just a few paragraphs. And in this context, it all boils down to gaining attention. So it's all about gaining attention. And here Rory said... So sharing news on social media is fast, easy to use with a wide audience, which comes in handy, which is really convenient for the whole attention thing we just mentioned. So here for means because?

R: Yes. With the purpose of. So it's like a very advanced way of saying because, but it's... In order to it's probably the better one because it talks about the end result of the action. It would be like because it's useful for getting attention.

M: Right. Okay.

R: So it's not just because, it's like, the connection of the explanation and the reason.

M: Could you paraphrase the same sentence with "in order to"?

R: Sure! It's fast and easy to use for the wide audience, which comes in handy in order to achieve the whole attention thing we just mentioned.

M: Yeah, you see? For is like really high-level. Social media provides a platform for people to share different news, opinions, ideas. It also allows people to connect with experts in various fields. So different experts in various fields. So we're having fun with prepositions. And stay up to date - to stay in tune with current events, to stay up to date on current events, dear listener. And then Rory told us that social media does tend to lack depth. Ok? So it's just like, not deep enough, right? So social media tends to lack depth or if we want to intensify, kind of like, it really lacks depth. We say it does tend to lack depth. Could you read out this sentence with this beautiful intonation of yours?

R: Of course! It does tend to like depth though, which is important to be aware of.

M: Yeah. You can say it tends to lack depth or it does tend to lack depth, like really lacks depth, like deep meaning. When we talk about the media, we mean radio, TV, newspapers, this online thing. So not only social media, right? And here Rory makes a contrast with "While". While blah, blah, blah, blah blah. Okay? So while girls like flowers, boys like cars. So a contrast. And here we go with: while positive news stories can be uplifting, it's important for the media to report on all aspects of society. So while media should post positive news, it should also post negative news. Right? And here it's important for the media to report on something. Okay? We are continuing having fun with crazy propositions. To report on all aspects of society. Negative news, we can call them uncomfortable issues. Okay? Bad news. And then when the media publish uncomfortable issues. Bad news. It helps to raise awareness of something bad which is going on in the world and spur on action to address them. Bad issues. When it spurs on action, what happens?

R: That just means when it encourages action to occur. So it's like, it promotes the idea of doing something.

M: Could you give us another example with a spur on action?

R: Yeah, sure. Actions by social movements are often spurred on by dramatic events.

M: Ambition spurred him on. Ambition encouraged him. Wow. It's a phrasal verb.

R: It is! A very advanced phrasal verb.

M: Oh, yeah. It's so advanced the Cambridge Dictionary doesn't even say how advanced.

R: It's so advanced, it's broken the dictionary.

M: So when people hear bad news, it could spur on some action to address it. Okay? To address bad news. No, we don't address the bad news. We address uncomfortable issues. Risk is a good verb to use. So if we don't address uncomfortable issues, people can risk living in a comfortable echo chamber. Wow. Rory, here you are getting philosophical. Echo chamber?

R: But an echo chamber is just... It's a description of a situation where you're sitting surrounded by information that just reflects what you want to hear about the world. So it's just hearing what you want to or hearing things that confirm your beliefs.

M: Yeah. Echo chamber. So we share something on social media. Yeah? The preposition is on. We can share different information, such as personal achievements, positive news, controversial content. So could you give us an example of controversial content?

R: We can't talk about controversial content. That's why it's controversial.

M: Would you use the word controversial in an essay like: Oh, it's a controversial topic.

R: Oh, I don't know. That's a very controversial thing to say. I prefer to just avoid the whole thing altogether and burn the midnight oil.

M: Oh, dear listener, no no. It is just unnatural language we're using.

R: Speak for yourself.

M: So controversial content could cause harm or spread misinformation. So we have information. And misinformation is inaccurate information. Incorrect information. And before posting something on social media, dear listener, you should consider the potential impact of sharing something on social media. Okay? So it's important to consider the potential impact, effect. When Rory talked about the future, he used the future perfect. Wow. Rory, you said: I doubt much will have changed. So, like, the ways people get the news will not have changed much in the future. People will always get news from a variety of sources. And then we give another example by using, not like, not such as, including is the third way of giving examples. So people will always get news from a variety of sources, including traditional media outlets, social media yeah? So we have, like weddings, such as, and also including is the third way of giving examples. Also in the essay dear listeners, yeah? Rory, what did you mean by outlets?

R: That's just an organisation that releases news.

M: But outlets usually we talk about like shopping, shopping outlets.

R: Shopping outlets release clothes. But media outlets release news.

M: And when you talk about the future, make sure you use likely to. So it's not likely to it won't probably be something. So probably means likely to. Right?

R: Yes.

M: For example, you said that the ways people get their news are not likely to be extinguished entirely. So extinguished. Like, disappear. Right?

R: Yeah. Or just the removed or destroyed.

M: So the ways people get their news are unlikely to be destroyed or are not likely to be extinguished. Are not likely to be removed. Okay? And then advances in technology, our favourite phrase. Advances in technology.

R: But that just means developments or improvements. It's always in. It's like in the field of.

M: Yeah. And actually, you can learn this sentence by heart, dear listener. It is a very good sentence. So advances in technology might allow for more personalised and targeted news delivery. So when the news is delivered to us in a targeted way. Rory's into cryptocurrency. So targeted news about cryptocurrency is going to be delivered to him. Yeah? Because the internet knows what Rory likes and dislikes. So personalised and targeted news delivery. Okay? As well as new ways of consuming news... We consume news and we interact with news. How do you interact with news? Oh, hello, News. I don't like you. Go away. Goodbye, News. Oh, hello to you. Yes, I like you. How are you doing? Well, we kind of. We interact with news. We read the news. Maybe we comment on the news, right? So the whole sentence: Advances in technology might allow for more personalised and targeted news delivery, as well as new ways of consuming and interacting with news content. Wow! You see? Cool, huh? Well, if you can't learn the whole sentence, learn just parts of the sentence. Maybe the first one.

R: Advances in technology might allow something. They might allow me to become a robot or a cat. I'm really tired. I can't think of any, like, real example.

M: Yes, I can see that. Rory, the cat. Oh, what's a piece of news!

R: For context, we are recording this in the middle of the night. So this is why we're both tired. We're burning the midnight oil.

M: Oh, stop it. Nobody says "burning the midnight oil", dear listener... Okay? I think we discussed it in our speaking part one episode about staying the place. And yeah, so don't say burn the midnight oil, okay? Say stay up late...

R: Unless you're actually burning the midnight oil...

M: God... Not again... Thank you very much for listening. We wish you to have only good news. Thank you very much. Hugs and Kisses!

R: Bye!

M: Bye!

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