The big idea: why we should spend more time talking to strangers
This is a list of key vocabulary and expressions from the article in order of how useful they are. The student must choose 6 items from the list to study in the lesson.
To underestimate (something/ someone)
Would I say there was a heaven if my daughter asked, even if I didn’t fully believe it?
He said he missed the community
To strike up a conversation (with someone)
15 conversation-provoking questions related to the article.
1. What is the overall message of the article?
2. What happened on Sophie’s flight from Florida to New York?
3. What does the research say about ‘minimal social interactions’, speaking to strangers and commuting?
4. What was said about neighbours, loneliness and friendship?
5. What was said at the end of the article about the internet?
6. Do you agree that we should speak to strangers more?
7. After having read this article, are you going to change your behaviour?
8. Does the internet bring people together or drive them apart?
9. Do you think it’s a problem that one in five people have never spoken to their neighbours?
10. What type of neighbour would you not like to have?
11. Do you think it’s a problem that one in five say there is no one in their neighbourhood, beyond their immediate family, they could call on for support?
12. Do you have lots of human interaction at work? Do you enjoy it?
13. Do you like hanging out with people who have very different opinions to you?
14. Do you think it’s a bad thing that in the UK many pubs are closing?
15. Do you think it’s a bad thing that church attendance in the UK is declining?