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Conversation Advance · Module 21 · Unit 101

Trusting News Sources

C2 Proficient Upper

Learning Objectives

In today"s class, you will talk about trusting news sources and improve your everyday vocabulary.

Discussion

Direction: Answer these questions.
  1. How do you determine if a news article is credible?
  2. Have you ever fallen for a piece of misinformation?
  3. Do you tend to verify breaking news before you share it?

New Words & Expressions

Direction: Listen and repeat these words with your teacher.

  • Credibility

    noun

    /ˌkredəˈbɪləti/

    Meaning:The quality of being trusted and believed in.

    This outlet has lost all credibility due to false reporting.

    Real Life Tip:

    A major topic in contemporary American media discussions.

  • Verification

    noun

    /ˌverɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/

    Meaning:The process of establishing the truth or accuracy of something.

    Always seek verification from multiple sources.

    Real Life Tip:

    Often associated with checking facts online.

  • Look into

    phrasal verb

    /lʊk ˈɪntuː/

    Meaning:To investigate or examine the facts of a situation.

    I need to look into this story before I believe it.

    Real Life Tip:

    Commonly used when dealing with suspicious claims.

  • Take something with a grain of salt

    idiom

    /teɪk ˈsʌmθɪŋ wɪð ə ɡreɪn əv sɔːlt/

    Meaning:To view something with skepticism.

    I take everything I read on that site with a grain of salt.

    Real Life Tip:

    A standard expression for dealing with unverified info.

  • Clickbait

    slang

    /ˈklɪkbeɪt/

    Meaning:Content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage clicks.

    Do not read that article; it is just clickbait.

    Real Life Tip:

    Refers to misleading or sensationalized headlines.

Conversation

Direction:

  • Listen carefully as your teacher reads the conversation aloud.
  • Role-play the conversation with your teacher
Kevin and Jennifer are at home discussing a news story they saw online.
  • Kevin
    Did you see that headline about the city council? It seems suspicious.
  • Jennifer
    I did. I am going to take that report with a grain of salt.
  • Kevin
    Good call. It looks like total clickbait meant to stir up drama.

Q&A

Direction: Answer the questions based on the conversation.
  1. Why does Jennifer want to take the report with a grain of salt?
  2. What does Kevin call the article they saw?
  3. What is Jennifer concerned about regarding modern journalism?

Exercise

Direction: Choose the correct answer to complete each sentence, then read it aloud. Each question gives you 5 Points.

  1. What is clickbait?

  2. What does credibility mean?

  3. I will look ____ the facts tomorrow.

  4. Take that news with a ____ of salt.

  5. need / we / verification / more

  6. is / story / that / clickbait

Ask Your Teacher

Direction: Ask your teacher these questions.
  1. How do you check the credibility of a website?
  2. Why is it so tempting to click on clickbait?
  3. When was the last time you had to look into a suspicious story?

Your Time To Speak

Direction: Answer using the language you have learned in this lesson. Talk about yourself!
  1. How can I improve my media literacy?
  2. Why is verification often ignored?
  3. Are there tools to help spot fake news?
  4. Does social media destroy credibility?
  5. How should I look into international news?
  6. Is it okay to take opinion pieces with a grain of salt?
  7. What is the future of journalism?
  8. How do I explain clickbait to someone older?
  9. Why is truth sometimes less popular than fiction?
  10. How do I support reliable news outlets?
Jennifer
Exactly. We really need to look into who actually published it.
  • Kevin
    The lack of verification on these sites is becoming a real problem.
  • Jennifer
    It hurts the credibility of actual journalism.
  • Kevin
    People just want to share things without checking the facts first.
  • Jennifer
    Well, we are smarter than that. Let us find a real source.