Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- revive / rɪˈvaɪv / (v.) – to bring something back or make it useful, active, or strong again
Example:Social media influencers are reviving interest in vintage photography, making film cameras trendy again.
- appealing / əˈpi lɪŋ / (adj.) – having qualities that are good, attractive, or interesting
Example:The job offer was appealing because it included a high salary and flexible working hours.
- edgy / ˈɛdʒ i / (adj.) – new, different, and a bit bold or unusual, often making some people feel uncomfortable
Example:I like edgy movies because they explore sensitive topics and make people think deeply about the world.
- out of bounds / aʊt ʌv baʊndz / (idiom) – not allowed or acceptable, often because it goes beyond the usual limits or standards
Example:Talking about personal matters during team meetings is out of bounds.
- foster / ˈfɔ stər / (v.) – to encourage or help someone/something grow or develop
Example:The organization fosters young leaders by providing training and leadership opportunities.
Article
Read the text below.
They may belong to the TikTok generation, but a group of Australian high schoolers is reviving the classic tradition of the student magazine. The teens believe it’s more crucial than ever that their voices are heard away from the realm of social media.
Student Spotlight is now up to its seventh issue and between student writers, editors and graphic designers, it can count on more than 20 volunteers to fill its pages. It is available online to all the schools of the Greater Darwin region.
For these students of the social media era, going “old-school” was very appealing.
“Someone has sat down and really put their time and effort into this, and I feel like there’s more care, and people will take that more seriously, rather than just ‘oh, an Instagram reel, scroll’,” says contributor Nicole.
Featuring impactful news, edgy short stories, and sharp opinion pieces, no subject is out of bounds.
“This is entirely student-driven. I’m just here as a supervisor, and I think they’re showing what students are capable of when we sit back and let them take charge,” says teacher Trilokesh Chanmugam.
Student Spotlight was founded by 16-year-old Pak who grew up in Hong Kong, where he says he witnessed violent arrests of young pro-democracy protesters.
“I think just seeing those protests and seeing so many young people not being heard really left a long-lasting impact in how I think and how I act,” explains Pak.
The students hope their magazine will give young people in Australia’s Northern Territory a voice.
“The Northern Territory fosters a lot of great young people and a lot of the time they have to work under less resources, but they’re very resilient and they’re also very good at finding different opportunities, there must be a way to showcase that,” says Pak.
“Even if I’m one person, one person still makes a massive difference,” concludes Nicole.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- If you had to share an important message, would you use social media or a different method? Why? In your opinion, is social media a good place to talk about serious topics, like climate change, human rights, or health? Why or why not? Discuss.
- In this TikTok generation, a group of Australian high schoolers is reviving the classic tradition of the student magazine. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not? How do people’s reading habits and practices now differ from the past (ex. people don’t read a lot anymore)? Discuss.
Discussion B
- The magazine is entirely student-run, with little teacher involvement. In your opinion, should students have more freedom to run their own projects at school? Why or why not? What skills can students learn from managing a project like this? Discuss.
- The students are interested in real journalism, not just fast social media updates. Do you think young people today are interested in serious news? Why or why not? What do you think would make journalism more appealing to young audiences? Discuss.
