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Emoticons
Emoticons

Learn English with this emoticons English lesson

Date: Aug 10 2018

Themes: Pop Culture, Tech

Grammar: Gerunds vs. Infinitives

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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People have used emoticons long before there were cell phones, or even the internet. A writer first created one in the magazine Reader’s Digest way back in 1967! But once email became common, emoticons became similarly common. While there used to be just smiley and sad faces, over the years many more “faces” were created, along with countless other emoticons to show all kinds of emotions.

Cell phones allow people to take emoticons even further. It’s easy to quickly send emails or text messages that have hearts, animals, and other objects to show meaning. Some people are so used to communicating this way that they use more emoticons than words. If you’re young, that’s probably OK. But is it OK if your grandmother only writes to you with emoticons? Is it OK to write to your boss using emoticons? At some point, it has to stop!

Gary and Jessica are talking about emoticons, and one of them has a strong opinion against using them. Who do you think it is? Find out in today’s English lesson about communication.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Gary

Gary

Jessica

Jessica

Gary:  My phone won’t stop beeping with all of these text messages from my cousins, Jessica.

Jessica:  Oh, I’m sorry.

Gary:  Smiley face. Sad face. Thumbs up! Heart. So many emoticons!

Jessica:  That sounds like me. I use a lot of emoticons when I am sending ridiculous or charming messages.

Gary:  I would actually offer that I think that there are too many, so it’s a bit ridiculous for me to see all of these emoticons. It’s so impersonal to me when all I get is, thumbs up, thumbs up, thumbs up!

Jessica:  Really? You think it’s meaningless?

Gary:  No, I don’t think it’s meaningless. But it feels like they’re not communicating with me. It’s more of just a passing high five, or a passing “Cool, man.”

Jessica:  Sometimes you can use emoticons to leave someone wondering what you’re implying.

Gary:  That could be really cool.

Jessica:  Yeah.

Gary:  I’d like to get that kind of text message.

Jessica:  Secret messaging through the use of emoticons.

Gary:  Oooh. Game on.

 

Grammar Point

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Gary is truly tired of emoticons. His text messages from his cousins are full of emoticons, and Gary feels like they’re impersonal and not true communication.

Jessica uses emoticons all the time, however. She thinks they’re fun, and she enjoys using them in a way that makes the person getting her message wonder what she’s trying to say. Gary agrees that using emoticons that way is far more interesting, and he even sounds like he’d be open to the challenge.

How do you feel about emoticons? Are they fun, or are they meaningless? When is it not OK to use an emoticon?

 

Comments

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Najlaalmudimegh

Saudi Arabia

hi i go to the univercity next month

09:55 PM Aug 11 2018 |

1 person likes this

yetkin1243

yetkin1243

Turkey

I think sometimes it is necessary that you are not face to face with someone and at that moment you can want to express yourself so you can use these emoticons. This story was some ruthless I think.

08:40 AM Aug 10 2018 |

1 person likes this

max1983max

max1983max

Germany

Son,a second grader, wrote e-mail to the teacher. Dad (checking spelling and punctuation): “What should be put in the end of the sentence?”

Son: “Emoticon!”

04:10 PM Oct 01 2014 |

1 person likes this

meysam66

meysam66

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

in my opinion someone who uses emoticons has a sense of humer.

05:19 AM Sep 30 2014 |

1 person likes this

AURA

AURA

Turkey

Well, when the emoticon is in question, lots of ideas pop into my head as I am an emoticon lover regardless of where it is used. In my opinion, emoticons are fun especially to encourage people to speak; however, some people may find it absurd and may keep distance during the conversation. Although using emoticons is a way to give a clear message to opposite addressee, some people may find it meaningless, therefore we should bear in mind that an emoticon should be used with the right person because there are some moments when people are down in the mouth and not excited enough to see an emoticon but rather are enthusiastic about a supportive or suggestive idea.

05:53 PM Sep 29 2014 |

1 person likes this

sara1234b

sara1234b

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hey !


They can be useful to display happiness or friendliness.


I often use them at the end of my sentences, They somehow help me to not offend anyone.



Sometimes, it makes chatting enjoyable for me.

04:43 PM Sep 29 2014 |

 aminoo2

aminoo2

Algeria


Actually i like  what both jssica and garry are saying cos using emoticons can be deceiving and does not express what the sender feels .


On the other hand i find using emoticons really fun during witten chat…BUT I prefer video chat.

04:07 PM Sep 29 2014 |

2 people like this

caiogianottiSuper Member!

Brazil

Emoticons for me are so boring, i don’t like emoticons when I was reading

04:05 PM Sep 29 2014 |

1 person likes this

iwori

iwori

Japan

Emoticons are definitely convenience!


I always use them but the reason I add them to text is not that I love them.


My friends will feel comfort if Emoticons express my smile or appreciation effusively.

03:48 PM Sep 29 2014 |

clutchmann

clutchmann

Hungary

Emoticons have become usual but it is important when its usage is allowed.


You can use it when you send message or letters to your friend or family member but it is not allowed if you write a formal letter to your boss or your business partner.


Of course, there are some exceptions to. Some people don’t like emoticons and these people may belong to your family. Or you may have such a business partner who is almost your friend and more informality is allowed.


So, lot of :) for you

11:34 AM Sep 29 2014 |

smolya

smolya

Russian Federation

I think that emoticons can express our emotions and feelings but our words are more vivid and more sincere. I use emoticons in my e-mails and messages but not a lot. 

11:34 AM Sep 29 2014 |

1 person likes this

Seiyf_khawas

Turkey

:) Emoticons …a simple reflection of Emotions…


sometimes we can tell our feelings only one emoticon ,it can express it better, more than words.

10:25 AM Sep 29 2014 |

2 people like this

vik32

vik32

India

i use emoticons more often while talking to someone over the messages. its like fun and more interested than simple talking in words. it brings up a smile on your face when you smiling face and moreover through emoticons somewhat you get to know the true feelings of another person. 


However, in professional world it isnt wise to use emoticons while talkng to your boss and any other colleague of your office. 

07:26 AM Sep 29 2014 |

1 person likes this

judinasve

judinasve

Russian Federation

Appositely. An emoticon “smile” :-) has a birthday. September 19, 1982 Professor at Carnegie Mellon University Scott Fahlman (Scott E. Fahlman) first proposed the use of three characters, consecutive – colon, hyphen and closing bracket, to mean “a smiling face” in the text that is typed on the computer. It was the completion of a major electronic lexicon.

05:38 AM Sep 29 2014 |

judinasve

judinasve

Russian Federation

I use emoticons in my e-mails or text messages. Talking face-to-face allow to see emotions expressions on companion’s face. But text messages are impersonal. It happens sometime, you joked but your companion was in bad mood and took your joke seriously and didn’t understand you. Using emoticons helps to give mood to a message, to make it more expressive. Of course emoticons are unacceptable for official correspondence.
As for the messages to colleagues or boss, emoticons using depends of your relationship. But anyway emoticons shouldn’t be too many.
By the way. My daughter-teenager argue against using emoticons. She tells this is not cool and young people don’t communicate in this way. :-)

05:30 AM Sep 29 2014 |

1 person likes this

ola33

ola33

Japan

I used to use emoticons a lot, but not anymore. You never know what’s behind the smile, but the sad one is always genuine.

04:03 AM Sep 29 2014 |

mojtaba

mojtaba

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Wow.I use from emoticons every day for communication whit my friends,maybe its be wrong but it easy to show your emotion with that immediatelly .☺☺☺☺😄

03:51 AM Sep 29 2014 |

3 people like this

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