1. Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’
Level 1 Elementary
1 Warmer: Brainstorming
addiction – a strong need that someone feels to regularly take an illegal or harmful drug:
There is a growing problem of drug addiction in our cities.
addiction to – a strong need or wish to spend as much time as possible doing a particular activity:
Many people have an addiction to nicotine.
His addiction to the Internet is taking over his life.
Source: Macmillan English Dictionary Online
What things might people become addicted to?
How many can you write down in one minute?
2 Key words and phrases
Write the key words and phrases from the article into the sentences.
withdrawal symptoms isolation psychiatrist clot estimate
groceries repercussions self-help group case recovery
discussion boards components excessive admit treatment
1. When something is _____________________ it is much more than is reasonable or necessary. (subtitle)
2. When you are alone and separated from other people you are in _____________________. (subtitle)
3. _____________________ are the unpleasant physical and mental effects suffered by someone who stops
taking a substance that they are addicted to. (subtitle)
4. A _____________________ is a doctor who treats people with mental disorders. (para 1)
5. _____________________ are parts, or features of something. (para 2)
6. _____________________ are the bad effects that something has, usually lasting for a long time. (para 2)
7. A _____________________ is a lump of blood in your veins that can be dangerous. (para 3)
8. An _____________________ is a guess at a number. (para 3)
9. _____________________ is another word for medical care. (para 3)
10. When you _____________________ to something, you agree that it is true. (para 5)
11. _____________________ are food and other goods you buy regularly for the home. (para 5)
12. _____________________ is another term for online forums. (para 6)
13. _____________________ is the process of getting better after an illness or health problem. (para 6 )
14. A _____________________ is a legal matter often decided at court. (para 6)
15. A _____________________ is a group of people who discuss their similar problems and find ways to deal with
them. (para 8)
D•
TE DE E
SI A L
EB LO B
W N IA
© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008
MWP
O DO O
FR BE C
O
NT
NEWS LESSONS / Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’ / Elementary
O
H
•P
CA

2. Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’
Level 1 Elementary
Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’ 4 Dr Block, a psychiatrist at the Oregon Health and
Science University in Portland, writes that it is
New evidence shows that excessive use of
more difficult to estimate how bad the problem
the Internet causes isolation, tiredness and
is in America because people go online at home
withdrawal symptoms
instead of in Internet cafes. “Unfortunately it is
David Smith, technology correspondent not easy to treat Internet addiction,” he said.
March 23, 2008 “The problem is with the relationship with the
computer,” he said. “If you try to remove the
1 Tense? Angry? Can’t get online? Internet computer, they feel they’ve lost their best friend.
addiction is now a serious health problem says a That can lead to depression or rage.”
leading psychiatrist.
5 Harry Husted, a single 51-year-old from New
2 In the American Journal of Psychiatry, Dr Jerald
York, spends 16 hours a day on the Internet.
Block writes that Internet addiction is caused by He says that he is not addicted, but admits that
excessive gaming, looking at online pornography, he used to be. “I used to work with computers
emailing and text messaging. He says that for eight hours, then get home and go online for
the disorder is now so common that it should another seven hours. I was online until two or
be included in medical text books. According three o’clock in the morning or until I got so tired
to Block, Internet addiction has four main that I had to go to bed. I didn’t go out to get the
components: groceries and I didn’t care about friends, TV, or
• Excessive use, and not realizing how long anything. When I realized what was happening I
you spend on the Internet; did something about it. Now I only use MySpace
• Withdrawal symptoms, including feelings of to advertise my business.”
anger, tension and/or depression when there
Internet addiction clinics are opening all around
6
is no access to the Internet;
the world, and many people have joined web
• The need for better computers, more
discussion boards such as Internet Addicts
software or more hours of use;
Anonymous. The Centre for Internet Addiction
• Negative repercussions, including
Recovery in Bradford, Pennsylvania, says
arguments, lying, not doing well at school or
Internet addiction is often a factor in criminal,
work, social isolation and tiredness.
divorce and employment cases.
3 Block says that in South Korea 10 people died
Robert Freedman, the editor of the American
7
from blood clots because they sat for long
Journal of Psychiatry, said Internet addiction
periods in Internet cafes and another was
is different from person to person. “In Korea,
murdered because of an online game. South
people are mostly addicted to gaming sites. In
Korea now sees Internet addiction as one
America, it is Facebook. They are also addicted
of its most serious public health issues. The
to online pornography, games, gambling, chatting
government estimates that around 210,000
with friends. All these things existed before the
South Korean children need treatment. 80 per
Internet, but now they’re a lot easier.”
cent of them might need medicines that help the
brain and nearly a quarter might need to go to
8 His advice to addicts is: “A self-help group is a
hospital. High school pupils there spend about
good place to start, but maybe a real group is
23 hours per week gaming, so another 1.2 million
better than an online one.”
need basic counselling about Internet addiction.
Many people are also worried about the number © Guardian News & Media 2008
of addicts who stop going to school or leave their First published in The Observer, 23/03/08
jobs to spend more time on computers. In China,
there might be 10 million teenage Internet addicts.
D•
TE DE E
SI A L
EB LO B
W N IA
© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008
MWP
O DO O
FR BE C
O
NT
NEWS LESSONS / Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’ / Elementary
O
H
•P
CA

3. Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’
Level 1 Elementary
3 Comprehension check
Match the sentence halves.
1. Internet addicts don’t realize how... ... lonely and tired.
2. Leading psychiatrists think... ... spends 23 hours a week playing online games.
3. The average South Korean high school student... ... difficult to treat.
4. People have died because of their... ... many hours they spend online.
5. South Koreans go online... ... social networking websites.
6. Internet addiction is... ... Internet addiction.
7. Facebook and MySpace are... ... better computers and software.
8. In the USA, most people... ... at Internet cafes more often than Americans.
9. Internet addicts are often... ... Internet addiction is a real illness.
10. Internet addicts think they need... ... surf the Internet at home.
4 Vocabulary: Prepositions
Fill in the missing prepositions. Check your answers in the article.
on (x2) from (x2) at (x2) to of in by
1. Internet addiction is caused _________ excessive gaming
2. looking _________ online pornography
3. it should be included _________ medical text books
4. feelings _________ anger
5. not doing well _________ school
6. 10 people died _________ blood clots
7. need to go _________ hospital
8. a single 51-year-old _________ New York
9. spend16 hours a day _________ the Internet
10. spend more time _________ computers
D•
TE DE E
SI A L
EB LO B
W N IA
© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008
MWP
O DO O
FR BE C
O
NT
NEWS LESSONS / Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’ / Elementary
O
H
•P
CA

4. Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’
Level 1 Elementary
5 Discussion: Addicted to
Do you agree with either of these sentences?
Many people are addicted to something and it is a big problem these days.
Being addicted to something is not a new problem.
6 Webquest
Go to the website www.netaddiction.com. Here you can take tests, read about real-life cases of Internet
addiction, listen to podcasts and watch videos.
D•
TE DE E
SI A L
EB LO B
W N IA
© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008
MWP
O DO O
FR BE C
O
NT
NEWS LESSONS / Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’ / Elementary
CA O
H
•P

5. Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’
Level 1 Elementary
KEY
2 Key words and phrases 4 Vocabulary: Prepositions
1. excessive 1. by
2. isolation 2. at
3. withdrawal symptoms 3. in
4. psychiatrist 4. of
5. components 5. at
6. repercussions 6. from
7. clot 7. to
8. estimate 8. from
9. treatment 9. on
10. admit 10. on
11. groceries
12. discussion boards
13. recovery
14. case
15. self-help group
3 Comprehension check
1. Internet addicts don’t realize how many hours they
spend online.
2. Leading psychiatrists think Internet addiction is a
real illness.
3. The average South Korean high school student
spends 23 hours a week playing online games.
4. People have died because of their Internet addiction.
5. South Koreans go online at Internet cafes more often
than Americans.
6. Internet addiction is difficult to treat.
7. Facebook and MySpace are social networking
websites.
8. In the USA, most people surf the Internet at home.
9. Internet addicts are often lonely and tired.
10. Internet addicts think they need better computers
and software.
D•
TE DE E
SI A L
EB LO B
W N IA
© Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2008
MWP
O DO O
FR BE C
O
NT
NEWS LESSONS / Addiction to Internet ‘is an illness’ / Elementary
CA O
H
•P