2.1. New rules of dating

 


Imagen de oriolsalvador en Flickr bajo licencia CC

Did you know that online dating is one of the most common ways
to start a relationship?

According to an article published in the Guardian last millennium 72% of us met our partners at school or university, at work or in networks of family or friends. Online dating offers the dream of removing the historic obstacles to true love (time, space, your dad sitting on the porch with a shotgun across his lap and an expression that says no boy is good enough for my girl). And online dating sites, which in the US are growing at 70% a year, surely make it easier than ever to meet the Prince Charming or the Fairytale Princess of your, frankly, infantile dreams.

SOURCE: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/06/is-online-dating-destroying-love

 

  • Do you know anybody who has met their partners through online dating, speed dating or social networking? How did it go?
  • Can two people who meet like this fall in love?
  • Which are the advantages and disadvantages of these new common ways of starting a relationship?
  • Which are the most popular online dating sites in your country?

Rellenar huecos

Listen to the text below which deals with online dating as a way to meet people. While listening fill in the gaps with just ONE WORD according to what the speaker says.

MOST PEOPLE THINK ONLINE DATING IS OK

A new report says most Americans think online dating is a good way to meet people. Almost 60 per cent of Internet users said there is nothing wrong with trying to find a on the Internet. This has changed from ten years ago when the figure was 44 per cent. The report is from the Pew Research Center. It says around one in ten Americans has used online services. It also said 11 per cent of people who started a long-term in the past decade met their partner online. However, some people think the Internet does not help with . Around 32 per cent of people agreed that "online dating keeps people from settling down because they always have options for people to date".
Sociologist Dr Kevin Lewis of the University of California told the USA Today newspaper that must be careful with online dates. He said: "For women, there are lots of who are just creepy or unattractive or undesirable." He also said men can have problems finding a date: "They can't get a woman to respond because women get so many messages." Dr Lewis also said that 38 per cent of online daters have read an online profile of someone they knew. The Pew Report warned people to be careful about those who tell about themselves online. About 54 per cent of online daters said they had a date with someone who was a lot different from their .

 

Enable JavaScript

Caso práctico

Watch the video below where you will see a way of chatting up. Explain what happens in the video. Have you ever lived this situation? What do you think of this way of meeting people?

 

Read the following dialogue between Emily and Sarah talking about a guy who was trying to flirt with Sarah at the bar. 

 

- Emily: Who was that guy you were talking to at the bar? It looked like he was hitting on you.

- Sarah: Yeah, we struck up a conversation, and eventually he asked me out. I gave him my number, but I’m not sure if I’ll actually go out with him.

- Emily: Oh? How come?

- Sarah: He’s nice, but I just don’t feel like we have much chemistry – so I don’t want to lead him on.

- Emily: Well, don’t be too quick to judge. My last boyfriend and I didn’t hit it off right away – I only started to fall for him after we went out a few times and I got to know him better. We were together for 3 years.

- Sarah: So why’d you split up? If you don’t mind my asking.

- Emily: Not at all. We just started to drift apart – different interests, different plans for the future. The breakup was mutual.

- Sarah: Ah, that’s great. My last relationship was a nightmare – I hooked up with a guy at a New Year’s party and we were together for six months – but we were constantly fighting and making up. I don’t know how I put up with him for so long.

- Emily: How’d it end?

- Sarah: He cheated on me – I caught him making out with his ex. He begged me for another chance, but I know he was just trying to jerk me around – so I said no.

- Emily: Ugh! Good for you.

- Sarah: Heh, thanks. So how about you – are you going out with anyone at the moment?

- Emily: Oh, I’ve gone on a few dates here and there, but nothing serious. To be honest, I’m not really interested in settling down just yet – I’m enjoying the single life too much!

SOURCE: http://www.espressoenglish.net/phrasal-verbs-for-romantic-relationships/

 

Rellenar huecos

As you can see the dialogue between Sarah and Emily is full of phrasal verbs. What do they mean? In the grid below match the phrasal verbs with the meanings. Write the letter in the space provided.

If you have problems to understand the phrasal verbs in the conversation, the video below will help you.

PHRASAL VERBS FOR RELATIONSHIPS LETTER MEANING
1. To hit on somebody a. To grow apart
2. To ask somebody out b. To tolerate a difficult, annonying or unpleasant person.
3. To lead somebody on c. To invite a person to go on a date.
4. To hit it off (with somebody) d. To be unfaithful to your partner.
5. To fall for somebody e. To say or do things that demonstrate romantic or sexual interest in somebody
6. To split up f. To manipulate somebody or to treat somebody in an unfair or dishonest way.
7. To drift apart g. When two people have a special connection the first time they meet.
8. To make up h. To be in a relationship.
9. To put up with somebody i. To provide false hope or expectations to the other person.
10. To cheat on somebody j. To restore peace in a relationship after a fight.
11. To make out k. To be in a long-term stable relationship.
12. To jerk somebody around l. To fall in love with somebody.
13. To go out with somebody m. To kiss a person very passionately.
14. To settle down n. To break up.

Enable JavaScript