I Can't Live Without My Phone!
Technology, digital life, and screen time. Maya admits she's checked her phone 47 times in a day; the friends debate whether technology connects or distracts us.
📖 Reading: Screens and Screens
"I think I'm addicted to my phone," Maya tells Leo one morning at the café.
"What makes you say that?" asks Leo, putting down his own phone with a slight guilty look.
"I checked it 47 times yesterday. I counted! I use it to work, to connect with friends, to navigate, to pay for things, to read the news… I can't do anything without it."
"I know what you mean," says Leo. "I use mine to run the café — payments, orders, social media for marketing. It's essential."
"But is it healthy? I spend too much time on screens," says Maya. "And I don't spend enough time just… being present."
"I read that the average person spends over four hours a day on their phone," says Omar, who has just arrived.
"That's too many hours," says Priya. "That's almost an entire workday!"
"But technology connects us," says Leo. "If I didn't have my phone, I wouldn't know Jess. Or half of you."
"True. But I want to use it better, not less," says Maya. "More intentionally."
"Put it down during dinner," suggests Omar. "Start there."
"Deal," says Maya — and puts her phone face-down on the table.
Three minutes later, Leo's phone buzzes. He looks at it apologetically.
"It's a delivery for the café," he says. "Some things can't wait!"
🔑 Vocabulary Box
Eight key words from this lesson.
| Word | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| addicted | Unable to stop doing or using something | adj. — Maya thinks she's addicted to her phone. |
| navigate | To find your way using maps or GPS | v. — She uses her phone to navigate. |
| essential | Absolutely necessary; extremely important | adj. — The phone is essential for running the café. |
| present | Giving your full attention to what is happening now | adj. — She doesn't spend enough time being present. |
| intentionally | In a deliberate and planned way | adv. — She wants to use her phone more intentionally. |
| apologetically | In a way that shows you are sorry | adv. — He looks at it apologetically. |
| average | Typical; the usual amount for a group | adj./n. — The average person spends 4 hours a day on a phone. |
| buzz | To make a low, vibrating sound (a phone notification) | v. — Leo's phone buzzes. |
📚 Key Verbs in This Lesson | |
to connect (with) | Technology connects us with people all over the world. |
to navigate | I use my phone to navigate around the city. |
to count | She counted how many times she checked her phone. |
to spend (time) | I spend too much time on screens. |
📚 Grammar Focus
📚 Technology Vocabulary | |
Devices | smartphone, laptop, tablet, smartwatch, earbuds |
Actions | scroll, swipe, tap, download, upload, stream, charge |
Apps & features | social media, GPS, messaging app, calendar, camera |
Issues | crash, freeze, low battery, no signal, lost connection |
Too much / Too many / Not enough
📚 Too much / Too many / Not enough | |
too much + uncountable noun | I spend too much time on my phone. |
too many + countable noun | There are too many notifications. |
not enough + noun | I don't spend enough time offline. |
too + adjective | It's too easy to get distracted. |
Expressing Opinions About Technology
📚 Expressing Opinions About Technology | |
Advantages | Technology connects us / saves time / makes life easier. |
Disadvantages | We spend too much time on screens / lose focus / feel anxious. |
Balanced view | Technology is useful, but we need to use it intentionally. |
🎭 Dialogue: Are You Addicted to Your Phone?
Leo notices how often Maya checks her phone. They compare daily screen time and discover they're both above the average.
Maya, you've checked your phone three times in five minutes!
I know, I know. I'm trying to stop. I spend too much time on it.
Me too. I use it too much for the café though — it's essential.
How many hours do you think you use it per day?
Honestly? Maybe five or six hours. Too many!
Omar says the average is four hours. We're above average!
What are you going to do about it?
I'm going to put it away during meals. Starting now.
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
How many times did Maya check her phone yesterday?
How does Leo use his phone for the café?
What does Omar say about the average phone user?
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
I spend ___ time scrolling through social media. (uncountable noun: time)
There are ___ distractions on my phone. (countable noun: distractions)
I don't have ___ time to read books anymore.
🎭 Now It's Your Turn — Role Play
Practice with a partner. Use the dialogue as a model.
- Student A: Argue that technology is mostly positive in our lives. Give 3 specific examples.
- Student B: Argue that we use technology too much and it has negative effects. Give 3 examples.
- Then find common ground: what are 2 things you both agree on about technology?
- Use: I think / I believe / In my opinion / On the other hand / I agree / I disagree because…