“Conversation Starter Lesson Series: Intermediate” is designed for intermediate-level ESL learners who want to improve their fluency and confidence in speaking English.
Each lesson includes an engaging reading material with audio, vocabulary and expressions, comprehension questions, and discussion questions to be used for one to one class, group class, or self-study for both online and offline classes.
Unit 6: Social Media and the Internet
Story 04: Fake News
Key Lesson Vocabulary & Expressions: Look over and review before proceeding.
- Misinformation
- Confusion
- Real-world consequences
- Evidence
- National security
- Exploited workers
- Legitimate news sources
- Public opinion
- Combat
- Accurately informed
Read or Listen to the following passage:
As a journalist, I’ve seen firsthand the damaging effects of fake news on our society. Not only does it spread misinformation and confusion, but it can also have real-world consequences.
One example of fake news that I encountered was a story that claimed a certain politician had ties to a foreign government and was actively working to undermine national security. The story was shared widely on social media and even picked up by some news outlets, despite the fact that there was no evidence to support the claim.
Another example of fake news I came across was a story that claimed a certain brand of clothing was made using child labor and exploited workers. The story was shared widely on social media, leading many people to boycott the brand, even though it was later proven to be false.
Fake news can have serious consequences, from eroding trust in legitimate news sources to influencing public opinion and even causing harm. As journalists, it’s our duty to verify information and report only the facts, in order to combat the spread of fake news and ensure that the public is informed accurately.
Comprehension Questions:
- What is fake news?
- What are some of the damaging effects of fake news?
- Can you give an example of fake news related to a politician?
- Can you give an example of fake news related to a brand?
- What is the responsibility of journalists in combating fake news?dult?
Conversations Starters:
- What is your definition of fake news?
- How does fake news impact society?
- What are some ways to combat fake news?
- Do you think social media companies have a responsibility to combat fake news? Why or why not?
- What are some ethical concerns surrounding the spread of fake news?
- Do you think censorship is ever justified when it comes to news and information?
- How do you determine if a news source is reliable or trustworthy?
- What role do you think journalists play in combating fake news?
- How has the rise of the internet and social media impacted the spread of fake news?
- Have you ever encountered fake news? How did you react?
