After we discussed how certain technologies drive people crazy, we practiced expressing frustration in pronunciation. Students often have problems hearing and producing emotion conveyed via pronunciation options, either by drawing out certain vowels, or increasing one’s volume.  We supplemented Chapter 10 by looking at technology and socializing, or how social media have given rise to new ways to communicate face to face, and ways to avoid it.

I gave them this worksheet to accompany a video clip from the movie “He’s Just Not That Into You”.  The clip shows two friends shopping at the drug store and discussing one’s misadventures in trying to get in touch with a potential date. The main character, Mary, is very frustrated about having to check seven electronic portals just to see if anyone has tried to get in touch with her.

• What tone do you think Mary uses when she says, “I can’t text. I’m just not charming via text.”?

Does she feel down about not being good at texting? Or, does she feel frustrated? I modeled the two ways of expressing those emotions and then we watched the clip.

The worksheet analyzes how her pronunciation manifests frustration, and offers students practice in this. It also preps them for the clip by reviewing vocabulary, main ideas, and offers two conversation activities: tell a frustrating story, explain when you like to and don’t like to use technology for socializing.

The students appreciated the topic.  I saw that it generated a lot of good discussion and opportunities to use their English skills.