Surveillance and Privacy Today

Discussion

1. What fictional world do you think is the most frightening?
2. How does our current reality compare to the stories we read?
3. Is surveillance more common now than in the past?

New Words & Expressions

• Dystopian

  adjective

  /dɪsˈtoʊpiən/

  Meaning:Relating to an imagined state where there is great suffering.

  We are living in a slightly dystopian time.

  Real Life Tip:

  Refers to the genre of dark future stories.

• Propaganda

  noun

  /ˌprɒpəˈɡændə/

  Meaning:Information used to promote a political point of view.

  The news can sometimes feel like propaganda.

  Real Life Tip:

  Often implies biased or misleading information.

• Bring up

  phrasal verb

  /brɪŋ ʌp/

  Meaning:To mention or introduce a topic.

  I did not want to bring up the news again.

  Real Life Tip:

  Very common for starting conversations.

• The tip of the iceberg

  idiom

  /ðə tɪp əv ðɪ ˈaɪsbɜːrɡ/

  Meaning:Only a small part of a much larger problem.

  These surveillance cameras are just the tip of the iceberg.

  Real Life Tip:

  Used to describe hidden, larger issues.

• Fishy

  slang

  /ˈfɪʃi/

  Meaning:Arousing suspicion; not right.

  That new policy sounds a bit fishy to me.

  Real Life Tip:

  Synonymous with sketchy; used to express doubt.

Conversation

• David
  Do you think our society is becoming more dystopian?
• Olivia
  Sometimes. I did not want to bring up the news, but it feels that way.
• David
  The amount of propaganda we see online is concerning.
• 

Q&A

Exercise

1. What is propaganda?

   A type of bookBiased informationA news reportA camera

2. What does dystopian mean?

   HappyPerfectRelating to great sufferingAncient

3. Why did you bring ____ that topic?

   updownoutin

4. That deal sounds a bit ____.

   fishycleanbrightsmart

5. is / tip / the / of / iceberg / the

   This is the tip of the iceberg.The iceberg of tip the is this.Iceberg the of tip the is this.Tip of the iceberg the is this.

6. are / we / in / times / living / dystopian

   We are living in dystopian times.Dystopian we are living in times.Living in we are dystopian times.Times dystopian we are living in.

Ask Your Teacher

1. Do you think society is moving toward a dystopian state?
2. How can we identify propaganda in daily life?
3. Why do we enjoy reading stories that are not cheerful?

Your Time To Speak

1. How do I know if the news is propaganda?
2. What are some real-world examples of dystopian trends?
3. Why does fiction often predict future problems?
4. How do I bring up sensitive topics with friends?
5. What should I do if something feels fishy online?
6. Are there books that give hope instead of gloom?
7. How do I verify if a situation is the tip of the iceberg?
8. What is the difference between fact and propaganda?
9. How do I stay informed without feeling overwhelmed?
10. Can we change the direction of our society?