Key points - Advantages and disadvantages of social media and gaming
Quantifiers and intensifiers are Generally used to describe a verb, or actions to add more detail about how something is being done (and when, where or how often something takes place). that are used to talk about quantities, amounts or degree, such as enough, a lot or a little.
They are often used next to adjectives and can add to detail when giving your opinion of social media and gaming.
Useful nouns to describe the advantages and disadvantages of media and technology include:
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| la cantidad | quantity | la protección | protection |
| el ciberacoso | cyberbullying | las redes sociales | social media |
| el contenido | content | el riesgo | risk |
| el joven, los jóvenes | teenager, teenagers/young people | la salud | health |
| los medios de comunicación | media | la seguridad | security, safety |
| el móvil | mobile phone | la tecnología | technology |
| el ordenador (portátil) | computer (laptop) | la variedad | variety, choice |
| el peligro | danger | la víctima | victim |
Useful adjectives include:
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| adictivo/a | addictive | moderno/a | modern |
| apropriado/a | appropriate, suitable | necesario/a | necessary |
| caro/a | expensive | peligroso/a | dangerous |
| fácil de usar | easy to use | popular | popular |
| fuerte | strong | seguro/a | safe, sure, secure |
| gratuito/a | free | social | social |
| important | important | útil | useful |
| inútil | useless | virtual | virtual |
For example:
El contenido de algunos sitios de Internet es muy peligroso. – The content of some websites is very dangerous.
Las redes sociales son muy populares con muchos jóvenes. – Social media is very popular with lots of young people.
Prefiero los medios de comunicación que son fáciles de usar. – I prefer media that’s easy to use.
El gaming puede ser muy adictivo. – Gaming can be very addictive.
Grammar - Quantifiers & intensifiers
Quantifiers and intensifiers are adverbs that are used to talk about quantities, amounts or degree, such as enough, a lot or a little. Here are some common quantifiers and intensifiers in Spanish:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - enough/quite
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - too much
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - a little
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - a lot
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - very
Intensifiers and qualifiers are often used next to adjectives.
For example:
Mi madre piensa que las redes sociales son muy peligrosas para los niños. – My mother thinks that social media is very dangerous for children.
Hago un poco de gaming. - I do a bit of gaming.
Los juegos en línea son demasiado adictivos. – Online games are too addictive.
Hay bastante juegos para los jóvenes. – There are enough games for young people.
Quantifiers and intensifiers – Mini quiz
Complete the following sentences in Spanish.
Es _________ peligroso.
It’s too dangerous.
Es demasiado peligroso.
Demasiado means ‘too’.
Las redes sociales son _________ adictivas.
Social media is very addictive.
Las redes sociales son muy adictivas.
Muy means ‘very’.
Juego en línea _________ .
I play online a bit.
Juego en línea un poco.
Un poco means ‘a little/ a bit’.
Escuchar música en línea puede ser _________ caro.
Listening to music online can be quite expensive.
Escuchar música en línea puede ser bastante caro.
Bastante means ‘quite’.
Find out more about using quantifiers and intensifiers in the Quantifiers, intensifiers and adverbs of time and place guide.
Reading practice
Read the introduction to this article about young peoples' use of technology and answer the questions below.
Las redes sociales son un problema de la sociedad moderna que preocupa tanto a profesores como a padres.
Muchos menores no quieren hacer otras actividades durante su tiempo libre, por ejemplo, estar al aire libre, salir con amigos, hacer deporte porque prefieren dedicar más tiempo a la tecnología.
What are parents and teachers worried about?
Social media
Why are they worried about this?
Because young people are stopping other activities to spend more time on new technology.
Now read the rest of the article and complete the sentences below with the correct answer.
Los niños pasan casi la misma cantidad de tiempo en el colegio que frente a* una pantalla.
Un estudio dice que un 50% de los jóvenes de entre 12 y 19 años pasa más de tres horas al día en internet y un 58% de los jóvenes juegan a los videojuegos con el ordenador y con los teléfonos móviles durante una hora cada día.
Estos juegos y apps son más populares que el cine, la música y las películas.
*frente a = in front of
- Children spend almost the same amount of time in front of a screen as…
| A | playing with friends. |
| B | at school. |
| C | doing homework. |
The answer is B.
Children spend almost the same amount of time in front of a screen as at school.
The article says - Los niños pasan casi la misma cantidad de tiempo en el colegio que frente a una pantalla.
Children spend almost as much time at school as they do in front of a screen.
- According to the article, 50% of young people spend…
| A | 50% of their time online. |
| B | 58% of their time online. |
| C | more than three hours a day online. |
The answer is C.
The article says - …un 50% de los jóvenes de entre 12 y 19 años pasa más de tres horas al día… - …50% of young people aged 12 to 19 spend more than three hours a day on the Internet…
- According to the article, young people use their phones to…
| A | play games. |
| B | watch videos. |
| C | chat with friends. |
The answer is A.
According to the article, young people use their phones to play games.
The article says - …58% de los jóvenes juegan a los videojuegos con el ordenador y con los teléfonos móviles durante una hora cada día.
…58% of young people play video games on computers and mobile phones for an hour each day. Using phones to watch videos and chat to friends is not mentioned in the article.
- According to the article, games apps are…
| A | as popular as listening to music. |
| B | more popular than listening to music. |
| C | less popular than listening to music. |
The answer is B.
According to the article, games apps are more popular as listening to music.
The article says - Estos juegos y apps son más populares que el cine, la música y las películas.
These games and apps are more popular than cinema, music and films.
Click or tap on Show more to read a translation.
Social media is a problem in modern society that worries both teachers and parents.
Many children do not want to do other activities during their free time, for example, being outdoors, going out with friends, playing sports because they prefer spending more time on technology.
Children spend almost as much time at school as they do in front of a screen.
One study states that 50% of young people aged 12 to 19 spend more than three hours a day on the Internet and 58% of young people play video games on computers and mobile phones for an hour each day. These games and apps are more popular than cinema, music and films.
Vocabulary – Opinions on social media and gaming
Opinions on social media and gaming include:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Pienso que las redes sociales son divertidas pero también pueden ser adictivas. | I think social media is fun but it can also be addictive. |
| Mi madre dice que paso demasiado tiempo en mi videoconsola jugando con mis amigos. | My mother says I spend too much time on my games console playing with my friends. |
| Me parece que el Internet es muy útil para ayudarte hacer búsquedas. | It seems to me that the Internet is very useful to help you do searches. |
| Mi padre dice que la inteligencia articificial le ayuda a escribir cartas y informes en su trabajo y guarda mucho tiempo. | My father says that artificial intelligence helps him write letters and reports at work and saves a lot of time. |
| En mi opinión usar bien la tecnología es necesario en nuestro mundo del siglo veintiuno. | In my opinion, using technology well is necessary in our twenty-first century world. |
| Lo que no me gusta es el ciberacoso porque no se puede esconder del Internet y mi mejor amiga ha sido víctima de eso. | What I don't like is cyberbullying because you can't hide from the Internet and my best friend has been a victim of that. |
All Foundation Tier vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.
Listening practice
Listen to the following clips from a radio programme where students from Tenerife are talking about the pros and cons of mobile phones.
For each speaker, choose the correct statement.
| A | They are too expensive |
| B | Some people are addicted |
| C | They are not very practical |
| D | They are useful for emails |
| E | You can stay in touch easily |
| F | You can download music |
Note there are six statements but only four people to match to a statement - two of the statements are there to distract from the correct answers.
Mika
What does Mika say?
The answer is E
Mika says that mobile phones are practical, but statement C is there as a distractor because what he goes on to say is that he can communicate easily with his friends.
Transcript
Sara: ¿Qué piensas de los móviles, Mika?
Mika: Mi móvil es práctico porque puedo comunicarme con mis amigos fácilmente.
Translation
Sara: What do you think of mobile phones, Mika?
Mika: My mobile is practical because I can communicate easily with my friends.
Luna
What does Luna say?
The answer is A
This is the only possible option as Luna mentions mobiles costing a lot of money.
Transcript
Mika: ¿Qué dices tú, Luna?
Luna: Creo que los móviles cuestan mucho dinero. Son demasiado caros para la mayoría de los jóvenes.
Translation
Mika: What do you say, Luna?
Luna: I think mobile phones cost a lot of money. They are too expensive for the majority of young people.
Dino
What does Dino say?
The answer is F
Dino doesn't use the word for music, he says he downloads songs. Don't be tricked by statement D – he says that he never sends emails.
Transcript
Luna: ¿Qué opinas, Dino?
Dino: Para mí, lo más útil es poder descargar mis canciones favoritas. Nunca mando correos electrónicos.
Translation
Luna: What is your opinion, Dino?
Dino: For me, the most useful thing is being able to download my favourite songs. I never send emails.
Sara
What does Sara say?
The answer is B
This is the only possible option as Sara talks about mobile phones being addictive for some people.
Transcript
Dino: ¿Y tú, Sara?
Sara: Pienso que los teléfonos móviles pueden ser adictivos para algunas personas. Personalmente paso muchísimo tiempo en línea.
Translation
Dino: And you, Sara?
Sara: I think that mobile phones can be addictive for some people. Personally, I spend a lot of time online.
Vocabulary sheet
Click or tap on the image below for a list of useful vocabulary to use when talking about the advantages and disadvantages of social media and gaming.
Higher Tier – Vocabulary – Advantages and disadvantages
Useful vocabulary includes:
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| la amenaza | threat | la pantalla | screen |
| la búsqueda | search | el usario, la usaria | user |
| la contraseña | password | una ventaja | an advantage |
| una desventaja | a disadvantage | práctico | practical, convenient |
All vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.
Higher Tier - Vocabulary sheet
Click or tap on the image below for a list of useful Higher Tier vocabulary to use when talking about the advantages and disadvantages of social media and gaming.
Now you have practised the key vocabulary and grammar needed for talking about advantages and disadvantages of social media and gaming, why not have a look at the Describing life at school in Spanish guide.
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