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Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. an attention span
    • ex. I felt sleepy during the long movie because I have a short attention span.
  2. distracted
    • ex. Lee got distracted when his phone rang, so he stopped what he was doing to check it.
  3. leisurely
    • ex. He spent the day reading and relaxing in a leisurely manner.
  4. multitasking
    • ex. She tried multitasking by cleaning and cooking to save time.
  5. on purpose
    • ex. Jayson drew a funny picture on purpose to make his friend laugh.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Research shows that people’s attention span for one screen is now shorter than it was before.  Because of phones and the internet, people get distracted easily. The pandemic also made people use screens more. Many people often feel it’s too difficult to change. However, experts believe we can still improve our focus.

Experts say taking “active breaks” can help us focus. These breaks can be simple, like taking a leisurely walk or doing something creative. Find other things to do other than just looking at your phone. Instead of multitasking, try to do one thing at a time. Experts recommend the Pomodoro Technique, in which you work for 25 or 30 minutes, then take a five-minute break.

To help focus, choose hobbies that have a clear goal. For example, learning to play music. Start with things you enjoy. It’s also important to be kind to yourself because everyone has good and bad days for focus. Experts say trying to focus on purpose is key.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Attention Span

  • Do you think you generally have a short or long attention span? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • Experts suggest using hobbies to help focus. What are some activities or hobbies that help you improve your focus (ex. listening to music, fishing)? Discuss.
  • The article says it's important to be kind to yourself when it’s hard to focus, because there are good and bad days for it. What are some specific things people can do to be kind to themselves when they can’t focus (ex. taking breaks, giving a reward after finishing a task)? Discuss.

Multitasking

  • Do you think multitasking is a good or bad habit? Why? Discuss.
  • Experts say taking "active breaks" can help us focus. Do you prefer to take active breaks or complete rest breaks in which you don’t do anything at all? Why? Discuss.
  • The Pomodoro Technique is working for 25 or 30 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. What do you think about this technique? Discuss.