The Reading / Listening - Internet Use - Level 6

There is a plethora of research on the potential harm of the Internet. However, new research suggests that spending time online could be good for the mental health of older people. A study conducted by researchers from New York University found that regular Internet use could reduce the risk of dementia in those over 50. Study co-author Dr Virginia Chang explained why there could be a link between being online and better mental health. She wrote: "Online engagement may help to develop and maintain cognitive reserve, which can in turn compensate for brain aging and reduce the risk of dementia." The study concluded that "regularly using the Internet may be associated with cognitive longevity".

Researchers analyzed data from an American health and retirement study. This research involved questioning 18,154 adults over the age of 50 every two years for 16 years. All of the participants were dementia-free at the start of the research. Everyone was asked about their physical and mental wellbeing, and about how long they spent interacting with the Internet. The researchers discovered that those who used the Internet for up to two hours a day were half as likely to be diagnosed with having signs of dementia than those who were never online. The research also found that excessive Internet use (of 6 to 8 hours a day) may exacerbate the risks of developing dementia.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Internet Use - Level 4  or  Internet Use - Level 5

Sources
  • https://gizmodo.com/Internet-use-dementia-risk-hours-online-brain-health-1850405066
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/03/health/Internet-use-dementia-risk-wellness/index.html
  • https://nypost.com/2023/05/03/daily-Internet-use-may-lower-older-adults-dementia-risk-study/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. INTERNET USE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Internet use. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       plethora / research / Internet / dementia / mental health / cognitive / longevity / risk
       data / adults / retirement / age / questioning / physical / mental / signs / half / likely
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. LIMIT: Students A strongly believe there should be a two-hour daily limit on Internet use; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. WEBSITES: What are the best websites for these things? Why Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

The Best Websites

Why?

News

 

 

Studying English

 

 

Travel

 

 

Shopping

 

 

Social media

 

 

Cooking

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. WELLBEING: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "wellbeing". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. LONGEVITY: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that best increase longevity at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Happiness
  • Vegetable diet
  • Friends
  • Sleep
  • Medicine
  • Exercise
  • Doctors
  • Water

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. plethora a. Long life.
      2. potential b. Organized and carried out.
      3. conducted c. Relating to the mental action of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses
      4. engagement d. A large or excessive amount of something.
      5. cognitive e. Give someone something, typically money, in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury incurred.
      6. compensate f. Having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future.
      7. longevity g. The act of being busy and occupied doing something.

    Paragraph 2

      8. participant h. Such as well might happen or be true; probable.
      9. wellbeing i. Identified the nature of an illness or other problem.
      10. interacting j. Make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
      11. likely k. The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
      12. diagnosed l. More than is necessary, normal, or desirable.
      13. excessive m. Communicating or being involved directly.
      14. exacerbate n. A person who takes part in something.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says there is a dearth of research on Internet harm.     T / F
  2. Being online could be good for the mental health of older people.     T / F
  3. Being online could offset the effects of the aging of the brain.     T / F
  4. A study said being online could help us be more intelligent.     T / F
  5. Over 18,500 participants took part in a study.     T / F
  6. The research looked at 16 years' worth of data.     T / F
  7. Two hours of Internet use could halve the onset of dementia.     T / F
  8. Being online for six hours reduces the risk of getting dementia.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. plethora
  2. conducted
  3. risk
  4. engagement
  5. associated
  6. data
  7. wellbeing
  8. diagnosed
  9. excessive
  10. exacerbate
  1. statistics
  2. connected
  3. carried out
  4. immoderate
  5. identified
  6. participation
  7. abundance
  8. make worse
  9. good health
  10. likelihood

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. There is a plethora
  2. dementia in those
  3. a link between being online and better
  4. compensate for brain aging and reduce
  5. be associated with cognitive
  6. All of the participants were dementia-
  7. asked about their physical and
  8. diagnosed with having
  9. excessive Internet
  10. exacerbate the risks
  1. mental health
  2. the risk of dementia
  3. signs of dementia
  4. longevity
  5. mental wellbeing
  6. over 50
  7. of developing dementia
  8. free at the start
  9. of research
  10. use

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
regular
suggests
longevity
link
risk
conducted
plethora
turn

There is a (1) _____________________ of research on the potential harm of the Internet. However, new research (2) _____________________ that spending time online could be good for the mental health of older people. A study (3) _____________________ by researchers from New York University found that (4) _____________________ Internet use could reduce the risk of dementia in those over 50. Study co-author Dr Virginia Chang explained why there could be a (5) _____________________ between being online and better mental health. She wrote: "Online engagement may help to develop and maintain cognitive reserve, which can in (6) _____________________ compensate for brain aging and reduce the (7) _____________________ of dementia." The study concluded that "regularly using the internet may be associated with cognitive (8) _____________________".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
participants
online
interacting
data
exacerbate
retirement
wellbeing
diagnosed

Researchers analyzed (9) _____________________ from an American health and (10) _____________________ study. This research involved questioning 18,154 adults over the age of 50 every two years for 16 years. All of the (11) _____________________ were dementia-free at the start of the research. Everyone was asked about their physical and mental (12) _____________________, and about how long they spent (13) _____________________ with the Internet. The researchers discovered that those who used the Internet for up to two hours a day were half as likely to be (14) _____________________ with having signs of dementia than those who were never (15) _____________________. The research also found that excessive Internet use (of 6 to 8 hours a day) may (16) _____________________ the risks of developing dementia.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  There is a plethora of research on ______
     a.  the potential charm
     b.  the potential haram
     c.  the potential harm
     d.  the potential farm
2)  be good for the mental health of older people. A study ______
     a.  conduct it by researchers
     b.  conducted by researchers
     c.  conduct tidy researchers
     d.  conducted briar searchers
3)  Online engagement may help to develop and ______
     a.  maintain cognitive reserve
     b.  maintain cognitive preserve
     c.  maintain cognitive conserve
     d.  maintain cognitive suave
4)  which can in turn compensate for brain aging and reduce the ______
     a.  risk off dementia
     b.  risk oft dementia
     c.  risk of dementia
     d.  risk cough dementia
5)  regularly using the internet may be associated ______
     a.  within cognitive longevity
     b.  wither cognitive longevity
     c.  withs cognitive longevity
     d.  with cognitive longevity

6)  Researchers analyzed data from an American health ______
     a.  end retirement study
     b.  and retirement study
     c.  sand retirement study
     d.  and retire meant study
7)  All of the participants were dementia-free at the start ______
     a.  off the research
     b.  of a research
     c.  of the research
     d.  off a research
8)  Everyone was asked about their physical ______
     a.  and mental well been
     b.  and mental well bean
     c.  and mental well Bing
     d.  and mental wellbeing
9)  those who used the Internet for up to two hours a day were ______
     a.  half was likely
     b.  half as likely
     c.  half has likely
     d.  half is likely
10)  6 to 8 hours a day may exacerbate the risks ______
     a.  of developing dementia
     b.  of develop in dementia
     c.  of develop ping dementia
     d.  of develop pin dementia

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

There is (1) ____________________ research on the potential harm of the Internet. However, new research suggests that (2) ____________________ could be good for the mental health of older people. A study conducted by researchers from New York University (3) ____________________ Internet use could reduce the risk of dementia in those over 50. Study co-author Dr Virginia Chang explained why there could (4) ____________________ between being online and better mental health. She wrote: "Online engagement may help (5) ____________________ maintain cognitive reserve, which can in turn compensate for brain aging and reduce the risk of dementia." The study concluded (6) ____________________ the internet may be associated with cognitive longevity".

Researchers (7) ____________________ an American health and retirement study. This (8) ____________________ 18,154 adults over the age of 50 every two years for 16 years. All of the participants were dementia-free at the start of the research. Everyone was asked about their (9) ____________________ wellbeing, and about how long they spent interacting with the Internet. The researchers discovered that those who used the Internet for up to two hours a day were (10) ____________________ to be diagnosed with (11) ____________________ dementia than those who were never online. The research also found that excessive Internet use (of 6 to 8 hours a day) (12) ____________________ risks of developing dementia.

Comprehension questions

  1. How much research does the article say there is on Internet harm?
  2. Where was the research conducted?
  3. Whose mental health might being online help?
  4. What could being online compensate for?
  5. What did a researcher say Internet use was associated with?
  6. How many people's data were analyzed in this research?
  7. How often did the research participants have to answer questions?
  8. What were research participants asked about?
  9. By how much could being online for two hours cut the risks of dementia?
  10. What might 8 hours of being online exacerbate?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  How much research does the article say there is on Internet harm?
a) a bit
b) a plethora
c) a lot
d) a countless amount
2) Where was the research conducted?
a) the Sorbonne
b) Tokyo University
c) Cairo University
d) New York University
3) Whose mental health might being online help?
a) the over-70s
b) everyone's
c) the over-50s
d) children's
4) What could being online compensate for?
a) brain aging
b) libraries
c) books
d) television
5) What did a researcher say Internet use was associated with?
a) cybercrime
b) cognitive longevity
c) greater equality
d) social media

6) How many people's data were analyzed in this research?
a) 18,154 adults
b) 18,514 adults
c) 18,145 adults
d) 18,451 adults
7) How often did the research participants have to answer questions?
a) every two months
b) every two weeks
c) every two years
d) every two days
8) What were research participants asked about?
a) their physical and mental wellbeing
b) their typing speed
c) their earliest memories
d) their intelligence
9) By how much could being online for two hours cut the risks of dementia?
a) by three-quarters
b) by two-fifths
c) by a third
d) by half
10) What might 8 hours of being online exacerbate?
a) tiredness
b) typing hand fatigue
c) the risks of developing dementia
d) the chances of weight gain

Role play

Role  A – Happiness
You think happiness is best for longevity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): a vegetable diet, medicine or exercise.

Role  B – Vegetable Diet
You think a vegetable diet is best for longevity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): happiness, medicine or exercise.

Role  C – Medicine
You think medicine is best for longevity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): a vegetable diet, happiness or exercise.

Role  D – Exercise
You think exercise is best for longevity. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): a vegetable diet, medicine or happiness.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'Internet'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'dementia'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • plethora
    • time
    • link
    • maintain
    • turn
    • concluded
    • data
    • 16
    • start
    • long
    • half
    • 8

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Internet Use

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'Internet'?
    3. What do you think of the Internet?
    4. What's the harm of spending too long online?
    5. How might the Internet be bad for our mental health?
    6. How important is the Internet to you?
    7. What do you know about dementia?
    8. How can we keep dementia at bay?
    9. What else can we do to prevent the onset of dementia?
    10. Do you really need the Internet?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'dementia'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How would your life be different without the Internet?
    5. How has the Internet changed the world?
    6. How does the Internet affect your wellbeing?
    7. How long should people be online for each day?
    8. What did you use the Internet for yesterday?
    9. What's the future of the Internet?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    There is a (1) ____ of research on the potential harm of the Internet. However, new research suggests that spending time online could be good for the mental health of (2) ____ people. A study conducted by researchers from New York University found that regular Internet use could reduce the (3) ____ of dementia in those over 50. Study co-author Dr Virginia Chang explained why there could be a link (4) ____ being online and better mental health. She wrote: "Online engagement may help to develop and maintain cognitive reserve, which can in (5) ____ compensate for brain aging and reduce the risk of dementia." The study concluded that "regularly using the internet may be associated with cognitive (6) ____".

    Researchers analyzed (7) ____ from an American health and retirement study. This research involved questioning 18,154 adults over the age of 50 every two years for 16 years. All of the (8) ____ were dementia-free at the start of the research. Everyone was asked about their (9) ____ and mental wellbeing, and about how long they spent interacting with the Internet. The researchers discovered that those who used the Internet for up to two hours a day were half as likely to be (10) ____ with having signs (11) ____ dementia than those who were never online. The research also found that excessive Internet use (of 6 to 8 hours a day) may (12) ____ the risks of developing dementia.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     diaspora     (b)     fedora     (c)     pandora     (d)     plethora    
    2. (a)     ageist     (b)     oldies     (c)     olden     (d)     older    
    3. (a)     risqué     (b)     risk     (c)     brisk     (d)     risky    
    4. (a)     among     (b)     amid     (c)     between     (d)     allying    
    5. (a)     turn     (b)     twist     (c)     veer     (d)     spin    
    6. (a)     longevity     (b)     longing     (c)     lengthen     (d)     longs    
    7. (a)     dat     (b)     datum     (c)     dated     (d)     data    
    8. (a)     participants     (b)     participates     (c)     entrants     (d)     partakers    
    9. (a)     physique     (b)     physical     (c)     psychic     (d)     psyche    
    10. (a)     verified     (b)     spotted     (c)     diagnosed     (d)     pinpointed    
    11. (a)     for     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     on    
    12. (a)     exonerate     (b)     exacerbate     (c)     exactitude     (d)     exalt

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. There is a erthlapo of research
    2. the aetlionpt harm of the Internet
    3. Study oc-othaur Dr Virginia Chang
    4. Online mgnanteeeg
    5. sapcetomen for brain aging
    6. associated with cognitive gvilnteoy

    Paragraph 2

    1. All of the rspcpnaiatit
    2. physical and mental eellwngib
    3. rinenattcgi with the Internet
    4. aongedids with having signs
    5. sesvxicee Internet use
    6. breacaxeet the risks of developing dementia

    Put the text back together

    (...)  and maintain cognitive reserve, which can in turn compensate for brain aging and
    (...)  questioning 18,154 adults over the age of 50 every two years for 16 years. All of the participants were dementia-free
    (...)  by researchers from New York University found that regular Internet use could reduce
    (...)  the risk of dementia in those over 50. Study co-author Dr Virginia Chang explained why there could
    (...)  be a link between being online and better mental health. She wrote: "Online engagement may help to develop
    (...)  that those who used the Internet for up to two hours a day were half as likely to be
    (...)  at the start of the research. Everyone was asked about their physical and mental
    (...)  wellbeing, and about how long they spent interacting with the Internet. The researchers discovered
    (...)  reduce the risk of dementia." The study concluded that "regularly using the internet may be associated with cognitive longevity".
    (...)  Internet use (of 6 to 8 hours a day) may exacerbate the risks of developing dementia.
    (...)  Researchers analyzed data from an American health and retirement study. This research involved
    (...)  suggests that spending time online could be good for the mental health of older people. A study conducted
    (...)  diagnosed with having signs of dementia than those who were never online. The research also found that excessive
    (  1  ) There is a plethora of research on the potential harm of the Internet. However, new research

    Put the words in the right order

    1. of   on   research   potential   harm   .   the   plethora   A
    2. could   Internet   reduce   dementia   .   use   risk   of   the
    3. being   mental   and   A   link   health   .   between   online
    4. Online   develop   to   help   reserve   .   cognitive   may   engagement
    5. be   longevity   .   may   cognitive   associated   The   with   internet
    6. study   .   American   data   an   Researchers   analyzed   health   from
    7. the   start   .   the   were   dementia-free   participants   All   at
    8. mental   about   Everyone   their   asked   wellbeing   .   was
    9. with   likely   as   dementia   .   diagnosed   be   Half   to
    10. of   use   dementia   .   risks   may   the   exacerbate   Internet

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    There is a plethora of research on / in the potential harm of the Internet. However, new research suggestive / suggests that spending time online could be good for the mental health of olden / older people. A study conducted at / by researchers from New York University found that regular / regularly Internet use could reduce the risk of dementia in those over 50. Study co-author Dr Virginia Chang explained why / what there could be a link between / among being online and better mental health. She wrote: "Online engagement may help to develop and maintain cognitive reverse / reserve, which can in turn compensate to / for brain aging and reduce the risk of dementia." The study concluded that "regularly using the internet may be associated with cognitive longevity / lengthening".

    Researchers analyzed data from an American health and retirement / retiring study. This research involved questioning 18,154 adults over the old / age of 50 every two years for 16 years. All of the participants / participates were dementia-free at the start of the research. Everyone was asked about their physical / physique and mental wellbeing, and about how long they spent interaction / interacting with the Internet. The researchers discovered / discovery that those who used the Internet for up to two hours a day were half / halved as likely to be diagnosed with having signs of dementia than those / them who were never online. The research also found that excessive / recessive Internet use (of 6 to 8 hours a day) may excruciate / exacerbate the risks of developing dementia.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_r_  _s  _  pl_th_r_  _f  r_s__rch  _n  th_  p_t_nt__l  h_rm  _f  th_  _nt_rn_t.  H_w_v_r,  n_w  r_s__rch  s_gg_sts  th_t  sp_nd_ng  t_m_  _nl_n_  c__ld  b_  g__d  f_r  th_  m_nt_l  h__lth  _f  _ld_r  p__pl_.  _  st_dy  c_nd_ct_d  by  r_s__rch_rs  fr_m  N_w  Y_rk  _n_v_rs_ty  f__nd  th_t  r_g_l_r  _nt_rn_t  _s_  c__ld  r_d_c_  th_  r_sk  _f  d_m_nt__  _n  th_s_  _v_r  50.  St_dy  c_-__th_r  Dr  V_rg_n__  Ch_ng  _xpl__n_d  why  th_r_  c__ld  b_  _  l_nk  b_tw__n  b__ng  _nl_n_  _nd  b_tt_r  m_nt_l  h__lth.  Sh_  wr_t_:  "_nl_n_  _ng_g_m_nt  m_y  h_lp  t_  d_v_l_p  _nd  m__nt__n  c_gn_t_v_  r_s_rv_,  wh_ch  c_n  _n  t_rn  c_mp_ns_t_  f_r  br__n  _g_ng  _nd  r_d_c_  th_  r_sk  _f  d_m_nt__."  Th_  st_dy  c_ncl_d_d  th_t  "r_g_l_rly  _s_ng  th_  _nt_rn_t  m_y  b_  _ss_c__t_d  w_th  c_gn_t_v_  l_ng_v_ty".

    R_s__rch_rs  _n_lyz_d  d_t_  fr_m  _n  _m_r_c_n  h__lth  _nd  r_t_r_m_nt  st_dy.  Th_s  r_s__rch  _nv_lv_d  q__st__n_ng  18,154  _d_lts  _v_r  th_  _g_  _f  50  _v_ry  tw_  y__rs  f_r  16  y__rs.  _ll  _f  th_  p_rt_c_p_nts  w_r_  d_m_nt__-fr__  _t  th_  st_rt  _f  th_  r_s__rch.  _v_ry_n_  w_s  _sk_d  _b__t  th__r  phys_c_l  _nd  m_nt_l  w_llb__ng,  _nd  _b__t  h_w  l_ng  th_y  sp_nt  _nt_r_ct_ng  w_th  th_  _nt_rn_t.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  d_sc_v_r_d  th_t  th_s_  wh_  _s_d  th_  _nt_rn_t  f_r  _p  t_  tw_  h__rs  _  d_y  w_r_  h_lf  _s  l_k_ly  t_  b_  d__gn_s_d  w_th  h_v_ng  s_gns  _f  d_m_nt__  th_n  th_s_  wh_  w_r_  n_v_r  _nl_n_.  Th_  r_s__rch  _ls_  f__nd  th_t  _xc_ss_v_  _nt_rn_t  _s_  (_f  6  t_  8  h__rs  _  d_y)  m_y  _x_c_rb_t_  th_  r_sks  _f  d_v_l_p_ng  d_m_nt__.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    there is a plethora of research on the potential harm of the internet however new research suggests that spending time online could be good for the mental health of older people a study conducted by researchers from new york university found that regular internet use could reduce the risk of dementia in those over 50 study coauthor dr virginia chang explained why there could be a link between being online and better mental health she wrote online engagement may help to develop and maintain cognitive reserve which can in turn compensate for brain aging and reduce the risk of dementia the study concluded that regularly using the internet may be associated with cognitive longevity

    researchers analyzed data from an american health and retirement study this research involved questioning 18154 adults over the age of 50 every two years for 16 years all of the participants were dementiafree at the start of the research everyone was asked about their physical and mental wellbeing and about how long they spent interacting with the internet the researchers discovered that those who used the internet for up to two hours a day were half as likely to be diagnosed with having signs of dementia than those who were never online the research also found that excessive internet use of 6 to 8 hours a day may exacerbate the risks of developing dementia

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    ThereisaplethoraofresearchonthepotentialharmoftheInternet.Howe
    ver,newresearchsuggeststhatspendingtimeonlinecouldbegoodforth
    ementalhealthofolderpeople.AstudyconductedbyresearchersfromN
    ewYorkUniversityfoundthatregularInternetusecouldreducetherisko
    fdementiainthoseover50.Studyco-authorDrVirginiaChangexplaine
    dwhytherecouldbealinkbetweenbeingonlineandbettermentalhealth
    .Shewrote:"Onlineengagementmayhelptodevelopandmaintaincogn
    itivereserve,whichcaninturncompensateforbrainagingandreduceth
    eriskofdementia."Thestudyconcludedthat"regularlyusingtheinterne
    tmaybeassociatedwithcognitivelongevity".Researchersanalyzeddat
    afromanAmericanhealthandretirementstudy.Thisresearchinvolved
    questioning18,154adultsovertheageof50everytwoyearsfor16years.
    Alloftheparticipantsweredementia-freeatthestartoftheresearch.Eve
    ryonewasaskedabouttheirphysicalandmentalwellbeing,andaboutho
    wlongtheyspentinteractingwiththeInternet.Theresearchersdiscover
    edthatthosewhousedtheInternetforuptotwohoursadaywerehalfaslik
    elytobediagnosedwithhavingsignsofdementiathanthosewhowerene
    veronline.TheresearchalsofoundthatexcessiveInternetuse(of6to8h
    oursaday)mayexacerbatetherisksofdevelopingdementia.

    Free writing

    Write about daily Internet use for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    People should not use the Internet for over two hours a day. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. INTERNET USE: Make a poster about Internet use. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. TWO-HOUR LIMIT: Write a magazine article about imposing a two-hour daily limit on Internet use. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on Internet use. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can make good use of our time online. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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