Are we more connected, but lonelier?

Answer and give a real example for each one.

1. Do you enjoy being alone sometimes? When?
2. When did you last have a really meaningful conversation?
3. Do you think people are lonelier now than 30 years ago?
4. Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?
5. How do you feel when you see photos of a party you weren't invited to?
6. Who do you reach out to when you feel down?

For each word or phrase, say one true sentence about your life or people you know.

Choose the word or phrase that fits.

1. After my friends moved away, I felt quite .
2. I love going to the cinema .
3. Many experts say is as dangerous as smoking.
4. My grandad lives in a small village and feels very .
5. If you feel bad, don't wait. Please to someone.
6. I joined a book club and found a great .
7. Everyone was speaking a language I didn't know. I felt .
8. I don't want small talk. I want conversations.

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

1. I live
   alonelonely
   , but I have lots of friends nearby.
2. He felt very
   lonelyalone
   after the divorce.
3. to feel left
   outoffaway
4. a sense of
   belongingbelongbelonged
5. to make the first
   movestep upgo
6. to drift
   apartaway from eachoff

Use each phrase to talk about connection and loneliness in your life.

• I wish I...Шкода, що я не... / Хотів(-ла) б я...I wish I saw my friends more often.
• If only...Якби ж то...If only we lived closer to each other!
• There's a difference between being alone and...Є різниця між тим, щоб бути на самоті, і...There's a difference between being alone and being lonely.
• Technology brings us closer, but...Технології зближують нас, але...Technology brings us closer, but it can also keep us apart.
• What really makes me feel connected is...Що справді дає мені відчуття зв'язку, так це...What really makes me feel connected is cooking with friends.
• I've been meaning to call...Я вже давно збираюся подзвонити...I've been meaning to call my old school friend for months.
• It's easy to feel left out when...Легко почуватися виключеним, коли...It's easy to feel left out when everyone posts party photos.
• Sometimes all it takes is...Іноді все, що потрібно, — це...Sometimes all it takes is one message.

Read the article. Hover over the dotted words for help.

1. The report said about half of American adults had experienced loneliness.
   TrueFalse
2. Loneliness has no effect on physical health.
   TrueFalse
3. The UK and Japan appointed ministers for loneliness.
   TrueFalse
4. The article says all technology use makes us lonely.
   TrueFalse
5. Small actions, like talking to a neighbour, can help.
   TrueFalse

1. Are you surprised that loneliness can be as harmful as smoking?
2. Should governments have a minister for loneliness?
3. How do you use technology to feel more connected, not less?
4. Which small action could you take this week?

With be, use were: I wish I were more outgoing. For abilities use could: I wish I could see my family more. Careful: ✗ I wish I have more time. ✗ I wish I will see you.

1. I wish I
   hadhave
   more friends in this city.
2. If only my family
   livedlive
   closer!
3. I wish I
   couldcan
   visit my grandmother more often.
4. I wish I
   weream
   more confident with new people.
5. I
   have been feelingfeel
   a bit lonely lately.
6. Social media makes me
   feelto feel
   left out sometimes.
7. Loneliness
   will probablyprobably will to
   become an even bigger problem.
8. She told me she
   feltfeels being
   isolated.

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

1. I wish I have more time. →
2. If only I can see you more. →
3. I wish I am more outgoing. →
4. I'm feeling lonely since I moved. →
5. It makes me to feel left out. →
6. She said me she was lonely. →

Answer in detail. Use I wish / If only and Block 5 grammar.

1. What do you wish were different about your social life?
2. Complete: "If only I..." and explain.
3. How have you been keeping in touch with people who live far away?
4. What makes you feel connected, and what makes you feel left out?
5. Will people be more or less lonely in 20 years? Why?
6. Report a conversation where someone told you how they really felt.

For each person: why do they feel lonely? How can technology help them, and how might it make things worse? Create a "connection plan" with three small steps for each.

This is the final speaking task of Block 5. Your teacher will time you.

1. Plan for one minute, then speak for two minutes without stopping.
2. Part 1: how your technology habits have been changing lately (Present Perfect Continuous).
3. Part 2: how technology makes you feel, and what you wish were different (make / let, I wish).
4. Part 3: your prediction: will technology make people more connected or lonelier in the future? (will / might)

1. When do you feel most connected to other people?
2. When was the last time you felt left out?
3. Do you prefer a few close friends or many acquaintances?
4. Who have you been meaning to call for a long time?
5. Where do you feel you really belong?
6. Do you enjoy talking to strangers?
7. What do you do when you feel lonely?
8. Have you ever made a friend online who became a real-life friend?

1. Which groups of people are most at risk of loneliness?
2. How can cities help people feel less isolated?
3. Do young people or old people feel lonelier?
4. Can pets help with loneliness?
5. Should companies care about their employees' loneliness?
6. How has the war affected loneliness and connection in Ukraine?

1. Is technology the cause of loneliness or just a symptom?
2. Can AI companions help lonely people, or is that dangerous?
3. Should governments spend money fighting loneliness?
4. Is it possible to be lonely in a big family?
5. Are introverts lonelier than extroverts?
6. What would a "less lonely" society look like?

"Technology makes us lonelier."

Round 1: give your real opinion for 1–2 minutes. Round 2: defend the opposite side for 1 minute. Use: I've been noticing that... · It makes people feel... · I wish more people... · In the future, it might...