Are cellphones helpful or harmful at school?
Mark! Why didn't you meet me for lunch? Didn't you get my text message?
No, I didn't. My math teacher took away my phone until after school.
Why did he do that?
I wasn't paying attention in class. I was reading on my phone about a new movie.
Not smart! But I've noticed more and more students misusing their phones in class. Maybe schools should ban cellphones completely.
No way! I couldn't live one hour without my phone! I rely on it for everything.
But you won't do well in school if your phone distracts you too much.
Hmm. What if we could do some lessons on our phones? Then we would need cellphones in class. Hey! I think I just had a great idea!
Maybe. But how can teachers know if students are using their phones for learning or not?
Maybe there's an app that can help teachers to know.
You should hope not. Besides, not everyone can afford a nice new smartphone like yours. My old phone can't teach anyone anything. All it can do is make calls and text.
Aha! Now I know why you don't want cellphones in class.
Language Lab
misuse v.
to use (something) incorrectly
- The patient was hospitalized because he misused his medication.
- The bank clerk was charged with misusing customers' money.
the act of using something in an illegal, improper, or unfair way : incorrect use
- The mayor was jailed for misuse of power and taking bribes.
ban v.
to forbid people from using (something) : to say that something cannot be used or done
- Indoor smoking is banned in many countries.
to forbid (someone) from doing or being part of something — usually + from
- The members of the baseball team were banned from drinking during training seasons.
ban n.
an official rule saying that people are not allowed to use or do something
- The ban on pork imports was lifted last month.
confiscate v.
/ˈkɑːnfəˌskeɪt/
to take (something) away from someone especially as punishment or to enforce the law or rules
- The teacher confiscated all cell phones for the duration of the field trip.
app=application n.
a computer program that performs a special function :
- This app can only run on computers, not smart phones or tablets.
- The app can translate seven different languages into English in an instant.
- You can download this app for free, but you have to pay if you want to use the upgraded version.
afford v.
to be able to pay for (something)
- The couple can't afford a house now, so they bought an apartment instead.
to supply or provide (something needed or wanted) to someone
- I can't afford an hour for lunch today; I'm really busy.
affordable adj.
to be able to pay for (something)
- Expensive college tuition isn't affordable for many families.
Info Cloud
Topic: monophobia = no-mobile-phone-phobia
Hello and welcome to info cloud, friends.
Today we are talking about a newer word that describes a certain type of fear.
And the word is nomophobia. It’s the fear of not having or not being able to use your smartphone.
Keep in mind this isn’t an official phobia or fear yet. A psychologist won’t diagnose you with nomophobia, but it’s a common problem today.
The term originates in the UK, and is an abbreviation of no-mobile-phone-phobia.
Many psychologists believe that our overuse of smartphones causes us to have an unhealthy relationship with our phones.
Although, anyone could have anxiety related to not having their phone with them, it is far more common in teenagers and college students.
But to be honest, even I sometimes feel anxious by accidentally leave my smartphone at home. What if I miss an important message? In fact, both Rex and I have smartphones on us right now.
Now some people suggest finding time every week to turn off their phone and focus on face-to-face interactions.
It is certainly a good start. Nomophobia may be more common in younger people but any smartphone user can struggle with this problem.