To friend or unfriend? v456

To friend or unfriend? v456

To friend or unfriend?

Introduction

The subject of this lesson is 'to friend or unfriend'.

  • Form groups of three or four pupils.

Discuss the following questions in your group:

  • Have you got lots of friends?
  • Are they ‘real’ friends, or ‘friends’ that you have on your social media accounts?
  • How many social media friends do you have?
  • Did you become ‘friends’ with them because they requested your friendship?
  • Are you really friends with them?

In this lesson you are going to think about who your friends really are.
You will learn some ‘friends’ vocabulary, and you will think about the qualities of a good friend.
Then you will look at some criteria to reduce your friend list on social media.

This lesson contains 10 steps and an evaluation. Work them through step by step.

Step Activity  
  Introduction Find out what you already know.
Step 1

Speaking

 Read the statements. Tick the right ones.
Discuss with a classmate, give three reasons.
Step 2

Words

 Pronounce the words. Divide them in two categories.
Fill the words in in two exercises.
Step 3 Writing Write down thoughts about friends & friendship.
Step 4

Reading

 Read the text. Tick the reasons. Do a true/false exercise.
Check with a classmate.
Step 5 Speaking (and writing) You can answer questions using the Past Perfect tense.
Step 6 Listening (and viewing) Tick annoying posts. Watch the video and answer the question.
Step 7 Words Example of prefixes. Two exercises about prefixes.
Step 8 Grammar Grammar desk and exercises: Simple Present.
Step 9 Pronunciation Pronunciations of third person 's'.
Listen to the pronunciation and watch the video.
Step 10 Task Look at activities for celebration friends day.
Discuss advantages and disadvantages.
  Evaluation Reflecting on what you have learned.

 

Step 1 - Speaking

Speaking
Read these statements and write down the ones that are true for you.

  • It’s important to have friends.
  • I know all my friends on social media.
  • I add a new friend at least every week.
  • The number of friends on social media is important.
  • I talk to my real time friends regularly.
  • It’s important to do things together with your friends.
  • A friend on social media is not a true friend.

Compare your answers with those of your classmate.
Both choose a different statement and discuss in English why that statement is true for you.
Both mention 3 reasons.

Step 2 - Words

Words
Look at the following words and expressions. They all have something to do with friendship.

get on well with

a good friend

can't stand

easy-going

the jealous type

a fun friend

best friend

friend

easy/difficult to get on with

spend time with

share an interest

a good laugh

a close friend

mate

be laid back

count on

hang out with

  


They can be divided into two categories:

  • type of friend (nouns)
  • feelings of friendship (verbs)

Do the exercise.

Now take a look at the following words and expressions.

best friend

enemy

mates

acquaintances

get's on well

can't stand

spending time with

having a horrible time

easy-going

the jealous type

a good laugh

easy to get on with

count on

hang out with

  


Use these words in the following exercise.
Choose the correct words in the sentences. Click here to do the exercise.

 

Step 3 - Writing

Thoughts about friends and friendships
What are the qualities of your friends?
Do you have a best friend?
Do you have lots of close friends?
Would you like to have more friends?

Write down your thoughts about friends and friendships.

  1. Think of three of your friends.
    Write down five qualities for each of them.
  1. Now, think about your #1 top best friend.
    Why is he or she your best friend?
    Write about 150 words describing this friend saying what qualities
    he or she has and describe what makes him or her so special.

Step 4 - Reading

To 'unfriend' a friend

Reading strategies provides you with tools needed to analyse text in the most effective way.
Read the information about reading strategies skimming and scanning:

Skimming and scanning


You are going to read a text (in two parts) quickly to look for certain information.
The title of the article is: The Faze Guide To National Unfriend Day.

The article lists some reasons to ‘unfriend’ a friend. Which reasons? Read the text quickly (skimming).

So it’s National Unfriend Day and let’s be honest, we all have a few questionable “friends” on Facebook.

You may not think about it when you log on, but today is the day to really get you thinking, who should stay and who should go? If you’re unsure about where to start, we’re here to help you narrow down who you should cut from your friends list:

1. Do you dislike them?
If running into them in real life or seeing them on your feed is an unenjoyable experience, it’s time to bite the bullet and hit unfriend. There’s no reason why you should keep seeing someone that you heavily dislike.

2. Do they post too much?
Facebook is not a place for a lot of sharing. No one wants to know what you had for breakfast or when your roommate left the dishes in the sink. It is also not the place to live-feed award shows or sports. If you see a fellow Facebook “friend” doing any of the above and share no interest in
either, click unfriend.

3. Are they an ex-girlfriend/boyfriend?
This goes without saying, sometimes it’s better to avoid any contact with ex-lovers. Unfriending them will
make it better for you to move on and avoid any future Facebook stalking sessions. Unless, of course, you
both managed to remain friends in light of the break up then good for you both.

4. When did you see them last?
If you met them once in biology class 4 years ago and haven’t talked to them since, it’s time to hit unfriend.
If you can barely consider them an acquaintance, there is no point in keeping them as a Facebook “friend.”
There should be a two-year limit to consider because beyond that you’ll probably never see them again.


5. Have you talked to them at all?

This may sound needless to say, but if you have never interacted with this person in real life or online, you need to hit “unfriend.” For all you know it could be your online stalker. Besides, there is no reason why you should have to deal with mindless life updates of a person you’ve never met.

6. Do they like to ruin your favourite shows before you watch them?
If they are the type of people that like to post spoilers of your favourite TV shows, consider unfriending them or avoid Facebook by all means. After all, they may be posting spoilers, but you can always count on them for sharing a similar interest as you.

7. If they do any of the following:

  • Fill out online quizzes daily and post the results on your feed.

  • Regularly invite you to play games like Farmville.

If their entire feed is made up the above posts, and if you have no interest in any of the above, it’s time to reconsider hitting the unfriend button. It’s not like you’ll miss seeing their activity spam. So feel free to consider our guide when you participate in this year’s National Unfriend Day
and say adieu to all the people that used to clutter your Facebook feed.


Do the first exercise.

Read the questions below.
Now read the whole text and do the second exercise: answer the questions.

Step 5 - Speaking

Speaking
Read these questions and take notes. Then compare your ideas with your classmate.
Talk to each other about the questions. Do you have the same ideas or different? How different are your opinions?

  1. Which friend have you known longest? Where did you meet and what did you have in common?
  2. What qualities do you appreciate in your friends? What are some things you like about your best friend?
  3. How important is it to have friends? How important are your Facebook friends?
  4. Some people have lots of friends, and other people prefer to have less.
    Why do you think this is?
  5. There are people who stay friends all their lives.
    How do you think they do that? What kind of things are important to do to maintain friendships?
  6. There is a saying "To have a good friend, you need to be a good friend." Do you think that is true?
    How can you be a good friend?
  7. A popular saying is ‘two’s company, three’s a crowd’. Do you agree?
    Why /Why not?

Step 6 - Listening

What types of posts annoy you on social media?
Write down the ones that annoy you the most.
Why do you find them annoying?

  • Your food
  • Your feet on holiday
  • Funny cat videos
  • Tagging your friends
  • Invitation to games
  • Your new outfit for a party
  • ................
  • ................

You’re going to watch a video.

Answer the question.

Step 7 - Words

Word formation: prefixes
You can make new words by adding a prefix.
Look at these prefixes and their meanings:

dis from, away disappear
il not illogical
im not, without impolite
in not, without inexpensive
mis bad, wrong misplace
un against, not, opposite unbelievable


In this exercise you drag the prefixes to the root word.

In this exercise you fill in the correct prefix of the word to complete the sentences.

Step 8 - Grammar

Grammar
If you want to be able to do the assignments correctly you will need to know more about some grammar items.

Simple Present


Fill in the correct form of the verb in Simple Present.

Do the following exercises.

Step 9 - Pronunciation

Pronunciation

  • The third person ‘s’ can be pronounced in different ways.

​​

After you've watched the video, try to decide if you hear: /s/, /z/ or /iz/.

  1. thinks
  2. catches
  3. makes
  4. knows
  5. teaches
  6. says
  7. plays
  8. enjoys

 

Answers

Step 10 - Task

Task
A friend of yours, Bobby, has asked you to help him set up a School Friend Day at your school – a day to celebrate friends.
Look at the following activities. Note down the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Then talk together with your classmate about the advantages and disadvantages.
Then, try to agree on two activities together.
 

Evaluation

Fill in the schedule and answer the questions below.

Activity easy difficult known​ new
Step 1 - Speaking        
Step 2 - Words        
Step 3 - Writing        
Step 4 - Reading        
Step 5 - Speaking        
Step 6 - Listening        
Step 7 - Words        
Step 8 - Grammar        
Step 9 - Pronunciation        
Step 10 - Task        

 

What have you learnt in this period? What do you have to ask your teacher?

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    Laatst gewijzigd
    11-05-2025 22:41:13
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    Toelichting
    Deze les valt onder de arrangeerbare leerlijn van de Stercollectie voor Engels voor vwo, leerjaar 4, 5 en 6. Dit is thema 'Love, friendship and relationships'. Het onderwerp van deze les is: To friend or unfriend? In deze les staan vriendschappen centraal. Er wordt aanbesteed aan wat vrienden zijn, wat kwaliteiten van een vriend zijn en belangrijke zaken zijn bij vriendschappen. Daarbij wordt ook aandacht besteedt aan (ont)vrienden op social media. De grammaticaopdracht gaat over de simple present.
    Leerniveau
    VWO 6; VWO 4; VWO 5;
    Leerinhoud en doelen
    Engels;
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    leerling/student
    Moeilijkheidsgraad
    gemiddeld
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    4 uur 0 minuten
    Trefwoorden
    (ont)vrienden, arrangeerbaar, engels, simple present, social media, stercollectie, to friend or unfriend?, v456, vrienden, vriendschappen

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    VO-content Engels. (2021).

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