Tutor Preparations
Useful Links:
“Selfies” leading to more plastic surgery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkHWRAapPiM
Definition of “selfie”: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/selfie
Bradley Cooper’s selfie at the Oscars: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/03/13/article-2580296-1C02A48200000578-166_638x354.jpg
Related Article:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/selfie-trend-pushing-demand-for-face-related-plastic-surgery-survey-claims/
Warm-up (2-3 minutes)
Use the questions to lead your student to the article topic.
Do you often post your pictures online? Why is that so?
How do you feel about taking selfies?
Unlocking Word Meanings (5 minutes)
Let your student read the items below. Confirm that he/she understood each word. Use additional info/definition/question only when necessary.
1. all the rage [awl th uh reyj] (idiom) – to become popular at a particular time
Example: The colored hairdo became all the rage among the younger generation.
Additional info: The key phrase of the idiom is rage (n.), which means a brief excitement for something.
2. in-crowd [IN-kroud] (n.) – a group of people considered popular or fashionable
Example: He brought expensive clothes to be like the in-crowd.
Additional info: Members of the in-crowdusually have something superior and exclusive in common, like beauty or fame.
3. cosmetic [koz-MET-ik] (adj.) – refers to something that restores or improves someone’s looks
Example: The doctor recommended some cosmetic products to her client.
Additional info: This term is commonly used in dermatology and surgery.
4. self-esteem [SELF-i-STEEM] (n.) – a favorable impression of one’s own worth; confidence in oneself
Example: Most celebrities have a high self-esteem.
Additional info: The word is a combination of self and esteem. Esteem is synonymous to respect and appreciation.
5. legitimate [li-JIT-uh-mit] (adj.) – referring to something that is accepted; real or authorized
Example: The lawyer argued that the evidence is legitimate.
Additional info: The word is synonymous to valid.
Article (10 minutes)
Let the student read the article aloud. For the Comprehension Questions, you may:
(a) Ask the questions in between. Tell the student ahead of time when to pause from reading.
(b) Ask the questions after he or she finishes reading everything.
For words difficult to pronounce, pronunciation guides are provided beside the word.
Because of all the rage over selfies, the demand for plastic surgeries has overwhelmingly increased.
One third of the total members of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) reported that operations increased last year because of pictures posted on social media. The institution found that nose jobs, hair transplants, and eyelid surgery significantly rose by 10 per cent, seven per cent, and six per cent respectively.
Q: What did the AAFPRS find out?
A: The organization found an increase in the number of plastic surgeries last year because of selfie.
According to Dr. Edward Farrior, image-based social media sites such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Selfie.im urge people to change the way they look. They tend to compare themselves with the in-crowd, causing them to look at themselves critically. He said that people should lessen or completely stop taking selfies to avoid having low self-esteem.
Face lifts, nose jobs, and Botox were the most popular selfie-inspired cosmetic procedures for women, Dr. Farrior said. Men, on the other hand, commonly asked for Botox and hair transplant. A huge percentage of people who undergo plastic surgery are 30 years old and below.
Q: According to Dr. Farrior, what causes people to change the way they look?
A: According to Dr. Farrior, image based social media sites such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Selfie.im urge people to change the way they look.
Selfie continues to be at the height of social networking and pop culture. As a matter of fact, dictionaries like the Oxford English Dictionary already consider it a legitimate word.
People from different walks of life become more and more involved in this trend. According to a survey, British people take 35 million selfies a month. This includes older people who are 65 years old and above.
Popular personalities also openly participate in this mania. Actor Bradley Cooper took one of the most talked about celebrity selfies at the Oscars.
Q: What is the one of the most popular celebrity selfies?
A: One of the most celebrity selfies is the one taken by Bradley Cooper at the Oscars.
Follow-up (optional)
Use the question below to check if your student understood the article.
What is the article all about?
Viewpoint Discussion (7-8 minutes)
Lead the discussion using the questions below.
Discussion A
· Should plastic surgery be done for cosmetic purposes? Why or why not?
· Why do you think people take selfies?
Discussion B
· What can be the bad effects of social media?
· What should people avoid when using social media? Explain.