2.1. New rules of dating
Focus on
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?
Do it yourself
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.
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?
- In the video, we can see part of an episode of the TV series Sex and the City where Miranda attends a speed dating event. Watch the video again with the transcript and explanations of the vocabulary used.
The idea of speed dating is that you get a bunch of single people in one room, sit the ladies at tables. Men go from table to table talking with women at each table. The trick is that there’s the time limit of 1 minute (or whatever for that matter) after which men have to move on. The idea behind speed dating is that you get to know and talk to a lot of people in a very short time. It is the first impression that matters.
Reading Activity
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/
|
Do it yourself
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.