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Multitasking
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Multitasking
多任务处理

How to Use the Second Conditional

Date: Mar 02 2012

Themes: Tech

Grammar: Second Conditional

Intro

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

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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.

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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.

 

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Discussion

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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

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marwa89

marwa89

Syrian Arab Republic

i think i ‘m to some txent good at multitasking…... it helps me to get more and save time

06:53 AM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

What else am I doing at the same time while I read the daily lesson on English,baby?


Well, I do many calculations with the special computer program at my office, talk by phone with different departments about data for my calculations,  I run from one office room to another to sign the documents and of course, throughout the day in the gaps of time between my main responsibilities I try to write comments on English, baby, to check my mails and to write replies.


When I’m at work all working tasks are the prime for me to do. When I’m with my family I forget about  my work and I think  only about my family and I do everything for my family.


Family was, family is and family will always be on the privileged place after my work.  I’m not a person who values success in his career above all else and seeks to advance it by any possible means.


Work is good, but family is better. You may change your work as often as you like , but you will never change your family in the similar way.


Marni is right people may do their work in a halfhearted way in case they try to catch up with everything at the same time.


I’m a good multi-tasker when I know my tasks are not complicated and easy to be done. When I know in advance that my deal will ask for the serious approach I will forget about everything to concentrate myself on the one, but  very important or urgent issue. Any work should be done with high quality without any mistakes.


Family and working life have quickly taught me how to be a multi-tasker.


Juggling act is continuing Laughing

06:37 AM Mar 02 2012 |

dr S K Yadav

India

Multitasking is a good job if people with to do. like this way we can save time after doing multitaks at a time and can utlize it in another way.

06:05 AM Mar 02 2012 |

1 person likes this

CatcheR

CatcheR

Iceland

In now days society I don’t find people who are not multitasking, seems to be everyone does the same, listening music while driving, reading text, writings, it’s very common you know, people are satisfied with technology, spending time /focus on one thing really waste of time, get more busy and train our brain to work together. left and right :D

05:52 AM Mar 02 2012 |

samirah

samirah

Saudi Arabia

women are famouse for being multitakser , while men are not …


05:35 AM Mar 02 2012 |

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