Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Multitasking
简体
Multitasking
多任务处理

How to Use the Second Conditional

Date: Mar 02 2012

Themes: Tech

Grammar: Second Conditional

Intro

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

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

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

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Right now, as you read this lesson, what else are you doing at the same time? You might be checking Facebook, chatting with a friend, shopping, and maybe even trying to get some work or studying done. In the 21st century, nearly everyone multitasks. But it’s hard to say if that means we actually get more done.

Amy is a proud multitasker who believes she can easily do many different things at the same time, and do them well. But Marni is more skeptical of multitasking, and the technology that makes it seem so easy and irresistible. Find out if either of them can convince the other to change her mind.

此刻,在你读本课的同时,还在干什么?你可能在查看 Facebook、与好友聊天、购物,甚至可能正尝试完成某项工作或学习任务。在 21 世纪,几乎人人都在执行多重任务。但是,很难说这意味着我会实际做更多的事情。
艾米是一位善于处理多种事务的人,她相信自己可以同时轻松处理很多事情并能把这些事情做好。但是玛尼对处理多重事务持怀疑态度,并且该技术看上去太简单,太有诱惑力。找出她们中的一位能否说服另一位改变主意。

Dialog

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

Log in to Listen

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

Marni

Marni

Amy

Amy

Marni:  Hey Amy, I wanted you to look at this article that I’m reading. There’re some really fascinating points here. Would you take a look at it.

Amy:  Uh-huh. Uh…just…wha…Oh, sorry. I was sending a text.

Marni:  Yeah, I know. I see that. But I really need your attention.

Amy:  Well, I’m paying attention. I mean, I can listen and send a text at the same time. I know how to multitask.

Marni:  Yeah, that’s just it. You know, our society, we’re so obsessed with multitasking. We think we’re getting everything done simultaneously, when really we’re just doing everything in a halfhearted way.

Amy:  I don’t think that’s true. I mean, I just sent a text, I’m updating my relationship status on Facebook right now, and we’re having a pretty deep conversation.

Marni:  Are we? Are we having a deep conversation? Do I really have your attention, or are you more focused on your status update, and the response you’re gonna get?

Amy:  Well, I think that’s just human nature. I mean, even if there weren’t cell phones and smart phones and all that kind of stuff, we would still be thinking about different things at the same time. You know? I think that’s just how it is.

Marni:  Perhaps, but I think that technology is really causing this huge divide in our culture, I really think that what’s gonna help us is if we take some real intentional time to focus on what we’re doing in the present moment.

Amy:  Just don’t take my cell phone away.

 

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Second Conditional" from this lesson Go Super!

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

Go Super to Listen Go Super!

Marni tries to tell Amy about an article she’s reading. But Amy is distracted by the text she’s sending. Marni gets annoyed, but Amy says she can talk and text at the same time. She thinks she is a good multi-tasker.

In Marni’s opinion, people try to do too many things at once and are often distracted by technology. She thinks that we’re so distracted, we don’t do anything well. We need to focus on the present and try to reconnect with those around us.

Do you think you are good at multitasking? Is multitasking a problem, or does it help us get more done in less time?

 

Comments

Log in to Comment

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

nitu dubey, nice interruption. I like itLaughing

05:51 PM Mar 02 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Buttafly, can I be a gentle breeze?


can I be the one to caress you upwards in the air , for the butterfly you are?


:)

05:49 PM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

I was sure you are always funny. My imagination has been brokenCry

05:48 PM Mar 02 2012 |

nitu dubey

India

i can do multitask. If the work is easy and you know how to perform it then there is no problem in multitasking.Yes,it helps us to get more done in less time. So we can save our time to other work.

05:48 PM Mar 02 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

a goofball is a goofy person,  silly and not always funny


:)

05:47 PM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

Even better ( for me anyway)Laughing

05:46 PM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

What is goofball ??Laughing

05:45 PM Mar 02 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

People, what if “Snoopyboy” was in reality “snoopygirl” ?


mmm… I’m just saying!


:)

05:44 PM Mar 02 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Anja, a gentle breeze indeed. 

05:44 PM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Lesya is a medium


:)

05:43 PM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

Smartphone will have replaced to the new cosmic phones by that time. But please try to persuade her do not use innovations

05:43 PM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

I’ll force her to wear tutus and shirts that read “World’s best uncle”..  during her years of innoncence, before she wises up and find out that her uncle is just a goofball


: )

05:42 PM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

 julito

julito

Argentina

By now,we are all used to see Ryo vanish into thin air. Where has she gone  hehehe 

05:41 PM Mar 02 2012 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

Class (mean SUPERB)...... Anja, I’m dying of the laugh from your words.  :))))))))You said “she/he”.


Ryo is a young girl 18 years old. She has just confused the figures to 81. It sould be 18

05:41 PM Mar 02 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Lesya, I have a good decade to enjoy her, before she’s given a smartphone and forget about me


: (


 

05:40 PM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

You are so caring uncle, Snoopy Smile

05:38 PM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

Ryo, where are you? Did you vanish again?? Smile

05:36 PM Mar 02 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

sorry, my heart got the better of me and said “you” (Butta)


but in my head I wanted to say “her”


:)

05:36 PM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Ryo,


I want to drink off the same chalice you drank from


You’re mind blowing

05:35 PM Mar 02 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Butta, I’ll bring her lullabies and good nights


and stories


:)

05:34 PM Mar 02 2012 |

Likes (32):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast