Unit 17 – Influencers’ Influence
Warm-up and Vocabulary
Welcome! Today we are talking about Social Media Influencers. Before we listen to their stories, let’s learn some important words. Read the list below carefully. You will need these words for the exercises.
Vocabulary List:
- Influencer: A person on social media who affects what other people do or buy.
- Review: An opinion about a product (is it good or bad?).
- Sponsored: When a company pays an influencer to show a product.
- Authentic: Real, honest, and true. Not fake.
- Exaggerate: To say something is better or bigger than it really is.
- Inference: A guess or conclusion based on evidence and clues (reading between the lines).
- Tone: The feeling or emotion in a speaker’s voice (happy, sad, bored, sarcastic).
- Implied: Suggested without being said directly.
- Trend: Something that is popular right now.
- Skeptical: Not believing something easily; having doubts.
Activity 1: Let’s Discuss
Look at the questions below. Think about your answers or discuss them with a partner.
- Who is your favorite influencer on TikTok or Instagram? Why do you follow them?
- Have you ever bought something (like food or clothes) because an influencer recommended it? Was it good?
- Do you think influencers always tell the truth about products, or do they sometimes lie? Why?
Activity 2: Check Your Vocabulary
Choose the best word to complete the sentence.
Listening for Hidden Meanings
How to Hear What They Don’t Say
Read the explanation below. This strategy will help you answer the questions in this unit.
1. What is an Inference? An inference is a conclusion you make based on evidence. In listening, the speaker often does not say “I hate this.” Instead, they give you clues. You must act like a detective.
2. The “3 Clues” Technique: When listening to English, pay attention to these three things to find the hidden meaning:
- CLUE A: Signal Words (Transitions)
- Words like “But…”, “Actually…”, “Well…”, “To be honest…” usually mean a negative opinion is coming next.
- Example: “The hotel looks nice in photos, but…” (Inference: The reality is bad).
- CLUE B: Tone and Pitch
- High Energy / Fast: Usually means excitement or happiness.
- Flat / Slow / Low: Usually means boredom, sarcasm, or disappointment.
- Example: Saying “Wow, great” with a low, flat voice means they do not think it is great.
- CLUE C: Hesitation (Pauses)
- If a speaker stops to think (“Umm…”, “Err…”), they might be trying to be polite instead of telling the ugly truth.
- Example: “Do I like the food? Umm… it’s unique.” (Inference: It tastes bad).
3. Model Analysis:
- Influencer says: “This phone case is… definitely colorful.” (Voice is flat).
- Direct Meaning: The case has colors.
- Step 1 (Clue): The voice is flat. They didn’t use words like “beautiful” or “amazing.”
- Step 2 (Inference): The influencer thinks the case is ugly or too bright.
Skill Practice
Complete the following 4 exercises to practice your vocabulary and listening skills.
Exercise 1: Word Search
Exercise 2: Matching Vocabulary
Exercise 3: Listening for Tone
Listen to the short audio clips. Choose the best inference based on the speaker’s tone and words.
Exercise 4: Fill in the Blanks (Listening Cloze)