Things You Love the Most 2/13/06 4:38 PM Page 12

3 - Things you love the most 2/13/06 4:38 PM Page 12

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES TO GET TEENAGERS TALKING Lifestyle

3 Things you love the most A Valentine card for the dog …

… and the cat, Mum, Dad, Granny and Grandad. Proof that the special day for lovers has fallen victim to a cynical marketing machine

by BEN SHEPPARD

SO who says Valentine’s Day has Yet another says: ‘Daddy, you’re family and friends as well as lovers. become a cynical marketing so good to me, you’re such a lot of Valentine’s Day is becoming exercise rather than a celebration fun. And of all the daddies in the more expensive each year, with of true love? world, you’re just the nicest one.’ £40 million being spent on Well, anyone who has been A message from the family dog flowers. tempted to buy a card for their reads: ‘Happy Valentine’s Day Relationship expert Jenni Trent granny, brother or pet cat. Or their from the one who gives you Hughes warned people off parents, sisters, sons, daughters, unconditional puppy love.’ ‘platonic cards’. She said: ‘They nieces and nephews. Clinton Cards, which sells many are an American idea that has More and more shops are getting of the cards, would not comment come over here. A card could help in on the act by selling Valentine on whether it was entering the true a lonely grandparent, but most cards specifically not aimed at spirit of Valentine’s Day. sons would not appreciate a card couples in love. But a spokesman said: ‘These from their parents at all. Poems inside the cards include cards are increasingly popular and ‘I just can’t understand cards to lines such as ‘Happy Val’s Day to show that people want to express or from pets. One wife I know gets a son who stands out from the affection for the other loved ones a card from her cat, but not one crowd. Now don’t go all red but it in their lives as well as their from her husband. That’s a bad must be said, you make everybody partners. Romantic love is not the sign. I advise a simple gift between feel proud.’ only kind.’ lovers.’ About 23 million romantic Another reads: ‘Wherever there’s Some 32 million cards will be text messages will be sent and if laughter and good times, kindness sent this year, of which 20 million you receive a mystifying text that and gentleness too, there are two will be delivered by hand. reads ILYMTTASITS, don’t worry. special people who make it all The Royal Mail said the record It’s just that someone Loves You happen – a grandma and granddad levels are partly explained by the More Than There Are Stars In The like you.’ new fashion for sending cards to Sky.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES TO GET TEENAGERS TALKING Lifestyle

Most people celebrate Valentine’s Day (February 14th) d Jenni Trent Hughes says ... by sending a romantic card to their boyfriend, (1) platonic cards are a great idea. girlfriend, husband or wife. But a company called (2) a lonely grandparent would appreciate a card. Clinton Cards have now come up with a new idea. They (3) most sons would be happy to get a card from make Valentine’s cards for our grandparents, friends their parents. and even our pets with their own special messages. Now discuss the following. Before you read, discuss the following. What do you think of the idea of sending Valentine’s a Do you send Valentine’s cards? What about Father’s cards to your family, friends and pets? Day cards or Mother’s Day cards? Would you send a card to your best friend or your cat? b Do you have any special days in your country, e.g for teachers/grandparents/pets, or ‘national day’? If so, Glossary describe what happens. c What is your favourite festival or annual celebration? 1 fallen victim to: become a victim of, suffered What happens and why do you like it so much? 2 getting in on the act: joining in, doing the d Are ‘special days’ like these just a way of making same thing money, or are they important? 3 puppy love: child-like love 4 some 32 million: approximately, about 32 million The United Nations have announced plans to introduce a new event called As you read, answer the questions to World Friendship Day, to be celebrated find the meaning of these words. on June 8th every year. They have asked your group to come up with some a If the marketing machine is cynical, is it selfish or suggestions. Consider these things. unselfish? b Is your niece the daughter of your brother or sister, a What could happen on World Friendship Day? How or the son of your brother or sister? would people celebrate? What would they do? Use c Is your nephew the daughter of your brother or some of the following ideas. sister, or the son of your brother or sister? d If you stand out from the crowd, are you hidden parties dinners fireworks carnival street theatre or visible? b Would there be special programmes on TV? Would e If you go red, are you embarrassed or comfortable? everyone get a day off school? f If your love is unconditional, is it selfish or unselfish? c Would there be an international event, such as a pop g Does increasingly mean more and more, or about concert or sports event? If so, what would happen the same? and who would be invited? h Is platonic love based on friendship or romance? d Make a typical World Friendship Day card with an i If you appreciate a card, do you hate it or value it? illustration and message, or write a text message. j If the text is mystifying, is it easy to understand or difficult to understand? Present your messages and ideas to the rest of the class. Use the following language. Choose the best answer. On World Friendship Day, we would like to see

a According to the article, platonic cards ... ______(1) are becoming more popular. (2) are becoming less popular. The main event would be ______(3) are not sold in shops. People would send cards or text messages to b The article mentions ... (1) a card sent by a cousin. ______(2) a card sent by a dog. They would also celebrate the day by ______(3) a card sent by a teacher. c This year, … The best part of World Friendship Day would be (1) 32 million cards will be delivered by hand. ______(2) Valentine’s Day will be cheaper than last year. (3) we will spend £40 million on flowers. It would be a great idea because ______