The Reading / Listening - Dating App - Level 3

A new dating app in China is very popular with women. It is so popular that Chinese women are spending over $30 million a month on it. It is a little different from the usual dating app because the boyfriends are not real. There are just four single men on the app and they are all virtual boyfriends. Women have to role-play dating the four boyfriends. They have to use real money to buy "Purple Diamonds" from the app. They then spend their Purple Diamonds in the app to go on dates and keep their relationships going. The app is called Love and Producer. It is currently the biggest money earner on Apple's App Store in China. Players spent over 200 million Chinese Yuan ($30 million) on playing it last month.

A market research company said the app has more than two million daily active users. The vast majority of these are women in their early 20s. The company said users love the idea of romance and fun. A 19-year-old student at Wuhan University explained why she liked the app. She said: "It's like a romantic novel with fascinating voices. It's more real than reading a novel." She said she loved the app's "delicate drawings," as well as the "great voices" of the four male characters. Another young Chinese woman said: "I don't have a boyfriend, so I'm happy to have a relationship with a "paper partner". She also liked getting e-mail and chat messages from her virtual boyfriends.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Dating App - Level 0 Dating App - Level 1   or  Dating App - Level 2

Sources
  • https://qz.com/1193912/love-and-producer-chinas-female-gamers-are-spending-millions-of-dollars-on-virtual-boyfriends/
  • http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2127116/chinas-women-gamers-take-centre-stage-virtual-boyfriend-game-love
  • https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/02/asia-pacific/social-issues-asia-pacific/gaming-women-blooms-china-virtual-beau-captures-hearts/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. DATING APPS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about dating apps. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       dating / app / popular / boyfriends / virtual / role play / relationships / last month /
       market research / daily / active users / romance / novel / fascinating / drawings / chat
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. VIRTUAL PARTNER: Students A strongly believe a virtual partner is better than a real partner; Students B strongly believe a real partner is always better.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DATING: What do you think about dating? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good Things

Bad Things

Finding someone

 

 

First date

 

 

Deciding where to go

 

 

Conversation

 

 

Who pays

 

 

Romance

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. APP: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "app". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ROMANCE: Rank these with your partner. Put the most romantic things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • poetry
  • I love you
  • candles
  • French restaurant
  • roses
  • chocolates
  • love song
  • moonlight

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. popular a. An emotional and sexual link between two or more people.
      2. usual b. Now; at this time.
      3. single c. A person who gets money in return for working or services.
      4. role-play d. Liked or enjoyed by many people or by a particular person or group.
      5. relationships e. Unmarried or not in a stable sexual relationship.
      6. currently f. Act out or perform the part of a person or character.
      7. earner g. Happening or occurring often and in the same way.

    Paragraph 2

      8. active h. A lovely feeling of excitement because of love.
      9. users i. The bigger number of something; most; more than half.
      10. vast j. Joining in with a particular activity.
      11. majority k. Very, very, very interesting.
      12. romance l. People who operate a computer, app or machine.
      13. fascinating m. Very thin in detail, texture or structure.
      14. delicate n. Of very great extent or quantity.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. It takes Chinese women a month to spend $30 million on the app.   T / F
  2. There are only four virtual boyfriends on the dating app.   T / F
  3. Users of the app have to buy purple diamonds to go on dates.   T / F
  4. The app is the biggest-selling app on Apple's App Store worldwide.   T / F
  5. The app has more than three million active daily users.   T / F
  6. Most of the app's users are women in their early 30s.   T / F
  7. A young woman said she didn't like the drawings on the app.   T / F
  8. A woman liked getting chat messages from the virtual boyfriends.   T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. popular
  2. spending
  3. single
  4. currently
  5. over
  6. vast
  7. idea
  8. fascinating
  9. loved
  10. happy
  1. unmarried
  2. more than
  3. pleased
  4. huge
  5. well-liked
  6. interesting
  7. adored
  8. paying out
  9. concept
  10. presently

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. A new dating app in China is very
  2. It is a little different from the usual
  3. Women have to role-play
  4. go on
  5. It is currently the biggest money
  6. the app has more than two million
  7. The vast majority
  8. It's like a romantic
  9. the great voices of the
  10. chat
  1. messages
  2. dates
  3. daily active users
  4. dating app
  5. four male characters
  6. novel
  7. popular with women
  8. of these are women
  9. earner
  10. dating the four boyfriends

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
usual
going
role
playing
popular
earner
single
spend

A new dating app in China is very popular with women. It is so (1) ____________ that Chinese women are spending over $30 million a month on it. It is a little different from the (2) ____________ dating app because the boyfriends are not real. There are just four (3) ____________ men on the app and they are all virtual boyfriends. Women have to (4) ____________ -play dating the four boyfriends. They have to use real money to buy "Purple Diamonds" from the app. They then (5) ____________ their Purple Diamonds in the app to go on dates and keep their relationships (6) ____________. The app is called Love and Producer. It is currently the biggest money (7) ____________ on Apple's App Store in China. Players spent over 200 million Chinese Yuan ($30 million) on (8) ____________ it last month.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
idea
drawings
messages
market
fascinating
partner
majority
characters

A (9) ____________ research company said the app has more than two million daily active users. The vast (10) ____________ of these are women in their early 20s. The company said users love the (11) ____________ of romance and fun. A 19-year-old student at Wuhan University explained why she liked the app. She said: "It's like a romantic novel with (12) ____________ voices. It's more real than reading a novel." She said she loved the app's "delicate (13) ____________," as well as the "great voices" of the four male (14) ____________. Another young Chinese woman said: "I don't have a boyfriend, so I'm happy to have a relationship with a "paper (15) ____________". She also liked getting e-mail and chat (16) ____________ from her virtual boyfriends.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A new dating app in China is very ______ women
     a.  populate with
     b.  poplar with
     c.  popular with
     d.  pop polar with
2)  Chinese women are spending over $30 million a ______
     a.  month one it
     b.  month on it
     c.  month on nit
     d.  month on knit
3)  It is a little different from the usual dating app because the boyfriends ______
     a.  are not really
     b.  are not royal
     c.  are not rail
     d.  are not real
4)  They then spend their Purple Diamonds in the app to ______
     a.  go in dates
     b.  go on dates
     c.  go on date
     d.  going dates
5)  The app is called Love and Producer. It is currently the biggest ______
     a.  money earners
     b.  money earn a
     c.  money ear near
     d.  money earner

6)  A market research company said the app has more than two million ______
     a.  daily active users
     b.  day active users
     c.  doily active users
     d.  dolly active users
7)  The vast majority of these are women in ______
     a.  the early 20s
     b.  they're early 20s
     c.  there early 20s
     d.  their early 20s
8)  She said she loved the app's ______
     a.  delicacy drawings
     b.  delicate drawings
     c.  delicates drawings
     d.  Delhi Kate drawings
9)  I don't have a boyfriend, so I'm happy to have a relationship with ______
     a.  a paper partner
     b.  a papered partner
     c.  a papery partner
     d.  a papers partner
10)  She also liked getting e-mail and ______
     a.  chatted messages
     b.  chatty messages
     c.  chat message is
     d.  chat messages

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new dating app in China is (1) ___________________ women. It is so popular that Chinese women are spending over $30 million a month on it. It is a little different from (2) ___________________ app because the boyfriends are not real. There are just four single men on the app and they are all virtual boyfriends. Women have to (3) ___________________ the four boyfriends. They have to (4) ___________________ to buy "Purple Diamonds" from the app. They then spend their Purple Diamonds in the app to (5) ___________________ and keep their relationships going. The app is called Love and Producer. It is currently the (6) ___________________ on Apple's App Store in China. Players spent over 200 million Chinese Yuan ($30 million) on playing it last month.

A market research company said the app has more than two (7) ___________________ users. The vast majority of these are women in their early 20s. The company said users love the (8) ___________________ and fun. A 19-year-old student at Wuhan University explained why she liked the app. She said: "It's like a romantic novel (9) ___________________. It's more real than (10) ___________________." She said she loved the app's "delicate drawings," as well as the "great voices" of the four male characters. Another young Chinese woman said: "I don't have a boyfriend, so I'm (11) ___________________ a relationship with a "paper partner". She also liked getting e-mail and (12) ___________________ her virtual boyfriends.

Comprehension questions

  1. How long does it take Chinese women to spend $30 million on the app?
  2. How many virtual boyfriends are there on the app?
  3. What do users have to buy to be able to go shopping on the app?
  4. What is the name of the app?
  5. Where is the app the biggest money earner?
  6. How many active daily users does the app have?
  7. Who are the biggest users of the app?
  8. What did a student say the app was more real than?
  9. How did a student describe the drawings as being?
  10. What do users get sent from virtual boyfriends besides e-mails?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How long does it take Chinese women to spend $30 million on the app?
a) one year
b) one month
c) one day
d) one week
2) How many virtual boyfriends are there on the app?
a) 4,000
b) 400
c) 40
d) 4
3) What do users have to buy to be able to go shopping on the app?
a) purple diamonds
b) purple hearts
c) purple kisses
d) purple coins
4) What is the name of the app?
a) Love and Kisses
b) Love and Boyfriend
c) Love and Producer
d) Love and Romance
5) Where is the app the biggest money earner?
a) Japan
b) the Apple App Store in China
c) Google Play
d) YouTube

6) How many active daily users does the app have?
a) just fewer than 20 million
b) 12,000,000
c) over two million
d) 200,000
7) Who are the biggest users of the app?
a) teenagers
b) young men
c) office workers
d) women in their early 20s
8) What did a student say the app was more real than?
a) reading a novel
b) real dates
c) virtual reality
d) television
9) How did a student describe the drawings as being?
a) delicate
b) dreadful
c) dangerous
d) digital
10) What do users get sent from virtual boyfriends besides e-mails?
a) chocolates
b) chat messages
c) perfume
d) virtual kisses

Role play

Role  A – Roses
You think roses are the most romantic things. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least romantic of these (and why): love songs, moonlight or candles.

Role  B – Love Songs
You think love songs are the most romantic things. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least romantic of these (and why): roses, moonlight or candles.

Role  C – Moonlight
You think moonlight is the most romantic thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least romantic of these (and why): love songs, roses or candles.

Role  D – Candles
You think candles are the most romantic things. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least romantic of these (and why):  love songs, moonlight or roses.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'dating'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'app'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • active
    • vast
    • idea
    • great
    • happy
    • chat
    • spending
    • usual
    • buy
    • keep
    • called
    • last

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Chinese women spend $30 million on virtual boyfriends

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'dating'?
    3. What do you think of this dating app?
    4. What are the good things about dating apps?
    5. What do you think of virtual boyfriends and girlfriends?
    6. Why is the dating app more popular with women?
    7. What do you think of role-playing apps?
    8. Would you spend money on dating virtual partners?
    9. What is your idea of a perfect date?
    10. Are real partners better than virtual partners?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'app'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are the bad things about dating apps?
    5. What is your favourite app, and why?
    6. What do you think of romance?
    7. Why might this dating app be better than reading a novel?
    8. How happy could a virtual partner make you?
    9. What kind of chat messages might the app send to people?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the boss of the app company?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A (1) ____ dating app in China is very popular with women. It is so popular that Chinese women are spending (2) ____ $30 million a month on it. It is a little different from the (3) ____ dating app because the boyfriends are not real. There are just four single men on the app and they are all virtual boyfriends. Women have to role-play dating the four boyfriends. They have to use (4) ____ money to buy "Purple Diamonds" from the app. They then spend their Purple Diamonds in the app to go (5) ____ dates and keep their relationships going. The app is called Love and Producer. It is (6) ____ the biggest money earner on Apple's App Store in China. Players spent over 200 million Chinese Yuan ($30 million) on playing it last month.

    A market research company said the app has (7) ____ than two million daily active users. The (8) ____ majority of these are women in their early 20s. The company said users love the idea (9) ____ romance and fun. A 19-year-old student at Wuhan University explained why she liked the app. She said: "It's like a romantic novel with (10) ____ voices. It's more real than reading a novel." She said she loved the app's "delicate drawings," as well as the "(11) ____ voices" of the four male characters. Another young Chinese woman said: "I don't have a boyfriend, so I'm happy to have a relationship with a "paper partner". She also liked getting e-mail and chat messages from her (12) ____ boyfriends.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     news     (b)     newly     (c)     new     (d)     knew    
    2. (a)     over     (b)     more     (c)     up     (d)     much    
    3. (a)     user     (b)     usual     (c)     usefully     (d)     usually    
    4. (a)     reality     (b)     realize     (c)     really     (d)     real    
    5. (a)     in     (b)     by     (c)     on     (d)     at    
    6. (a)     current     (b)     currently     (c)     currant     (d)     currency    
    7. (a)     more     (b)     many     (c)     over     (d)     most    
    8. (a)     vats     (b)     vested     (c)     vest     (d)     vast    
    9. (a)     for     (b)     by     (c)     of     (d)     at    
    10. (a)     fascinator     (b)     fascinates     (c)     fascination     (d)     fascinating    
    11. (a)     grate     (b)     great     (c)     grated     (d)     grating    
    12. (a)     virtual     (b)     virile     (c)     viral     (d)     virtue

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. very paulrop with women
    2. different from the alusu dating app
    3. four slgnei men
    4. snedp their Purple Diamonds
    5. keep their psasnerohltii going
    6. currently the biggest money anerer

    Paragraph 2

    1. two million daily icavet users
    2. The vast iyroatjm of these are women
    3. a amicrnot novel
    4. the app's eteadcli drawings
    5. the four male acrrcthaes
    6. chat geeassms

    Put the text back together

    (   )  woman said: "I don't have a boyfriend, so I'm happy to have a relationship with a
    (   )  drawings," as well as the "great voices" of the four male characters. Another young Chinese
    (   )  going. The app is called Love and Producer. It is currently the biggest money earner
    (   )  role-play dating the four boyfriends. They have to use real money to buy "Purple Diamonds" from the
    (   )  novel with fascinating voices. It's more real than reading a novel." She said she loved the app's "delicate
    1  )  A new dating app in China is very popular with women. It is so popular that Chinese women are
    (   )  the boyfriends are not real. There are just four single men on the app and they are all virtual boyfriends. Women have to
    (   )  "paper partner". She also liked getting e-mail and chat messages from her virtual boyfriends.
    (   )  spending over $30 million a month on it. It is a little different from the usual dating app because
    (   )  A market research company said the app has more than two million daily active users. The vast
    (   )  app. They then spend their Purple Diamonds in the app to go on dates and keep their relationships
    (   )  majority of these are women in their early 20s. The company said users love the idea of romance
    (   )  on Apple's App Store in China. Players spent over 200 million Chinese Yuan ($30 million) on playing it last month.
    (   )  and fun. A 19-year-old student at Wuhan University explained why she liked the app. She said: "It's like a romantic

    Put the words in the right order

    1. a   over   million   are   spending   month   .   $30   Women
    2. dating   different   A   little   usual   app   .   the   from
    3. app   .   four   on   are   just   single   the   There   men
    4. dates   going   .   their   keep   Go   on   relationships   and
    5. the   currently   earner   .   It   biggest   money   is
    6. two   users   .   million   More   than   active   daily
    7. of   The   are   majority   women   .   vast   these
    8. a   novel   .   reading   more   real   It's   than
    9. four   the   voices"   characters   .   "great   male   The   of
    10. liked   getting   She   from   messages   boyfriends   .   virtual   chat

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A new dating app in China is very popular / populate with women. It is so popular that Chinese women are spending / spend over $30 million a month on it. It is a little different from the unusual / usual dating app because the boyfriends are not real / really. There are just four single man / men on the app and they are all virtual boyfriends. Women have to role-play dating the four boyfriends. They have to use really / real money to buy "Purple Diamonds" from the app. They then spend their Purple Diamonds in the app to go on dates / date and keep their relationships going. The app is called Love and Producer. It is currency / currently the biggest money earner on Apple's App Store in / at China. Players spent over 200 million Chinese Yuan ($30 million) on playing / played it last month.

    A market research company said the app has most / more than two million daily active users. The vast / vest majority of these are women on / in their early 20s. The company said users love the idea of romantic / romance and fun. A 19-year-old student at Wuhan University explained why she liked / liking the app. She said: "It's like a romantic novel with fascinating voices. It's more real than read / reading a novel." She said she loved the app's "delicate drawings," as well / good as the "great voices" of the four male characters. Another young Chinese woman said: "I don't have the / a boyfriend, so I'm happy to have a relation / relationship with a "paper partner". She also liked getting e-mail and chat messages from her virtual / virtually boyfriends.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    A n_w d_t_n g _p p _n C h_n_ _s v_r y p_p_l_r w_t h w_m_n . I t _s s_ p_p_l_r t h_t C h_n_s_ w_m_n _r_ s p_n d_n g _v_r $ 3 0 m_l l__ n _ m_n t h _n _t . I t _s _ l_t t l_ d_f f_r_n t f r_m t h_ _s__ l d_t_n g _p p b_c__ s_ t h_ b_y f r__ n d s _r_ n_t r__ l . T h_r_ _r_ j_s t f__ r s_n g l_ m_n _n t h_ _p p _n d t h_y _r_ _l l v_r t__ l b_y f r__ n d s . W_m_n h_v_ t_ r_l_- p l_y d_t_n g t h_ f__ r b_y f r__ n d s . T h_y h_v_ t_ _s_ r__ l m_n_y t_ b_y " P_r p l_ D__ m_n d s " f r_m t h_ _p p . T h_y t h_n s p_n d t h__ r P_r p l_ D__ m_n d s _n t h_ _p p t_ g_ _n d_t_s _n d k__ p t h__ r r_l_t__ n s h_p s g__ n g . T h_ _p p _s c_l l_d L_v_ _n d P r_d_c_r . I t _s c_r r_n t l y t h_ b_g g_s t m_n_y __ r n_r _n A p p l_' s A p p S t_r_ _n C h_n_. P l_y_r s s p_n t _v_r 2 0 0 m_l l__ n C h_n_s_ Y__ n ( $ 3 0 m_l l__ n ) _n p l_y_n g _t l_s t m_n t h . A m_r k_t r_s__ r c h c_m p_n y s__ d t h_ _p p h_s m_r_ t h_n t w_ m_l l__ n d__ l y _c t_v_ _s_r s . T h_ v_s t m_j_r_t y _f t h_s_ _r_ w_m_n _n t h__ r __ r l y 2 0 s . T h_ c_m p_n y s__ d _s_r s l_v_ t h_ _d__ _f r_m_n c_ _n d f_n . A 1 9 - y__ r -_l d s t_d_n t _t W_h_n U n_v_r s_t y _x p l__ n_d w h y s h_ l_k_d t h_ _p p . S h_ s__ d : " I t ' s l_k_ _ r_m_n t_c n_v_l w_t h f_s c_n_t_n g v__ c_s . I t ' s m_r_ r__ l t h_n r__ d_n g _ n_v_l . " S h_ s__ d s h_ l_v_d t h_ _p p ' s " d_l_c_t_ d r_w_n g s , " _s w_l l _s t h_ " g r__ t v__ c_s " _f t h_ f__ r m_l_ c h_r_c t_r s . A n_t h_r y__ n g C h_n_s_ w_m_n s__ d : " I d_n ' t h_v_ _ b_y f r__ n d , s_ I ' m h_p p y t_ h_v_ _ r_l_t__ n s h_p w_t h _ " p_p_r p_r t n_r " . S h_ _l s_ l_k_d g_t t_n g _- m__ l _n d c h_t m_s s_g_s f r_m h_r v_r t__ l b_y f r__ n d s .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a new dating app in china is very popular with women it is so popular that chinese women are spending over 30 million a month on it it is a little different from the usual dating app because the boyfriends are not real there are just four single men on the app and they are all virtual boyfriends women have to roleplay dating the four boyfriends they have to use real money to buy purple diamonds from the app they then spend their purple diamonds in the app to go on dates and keep their relationships going the app is called love and producer it is currently the biggest money earner on apples app store in china players spent over 200 million chinese yuan 30 million on playing it last month
    a market research company said the app has more than two million daily active users the vast majority of these are women in their early 20s the company said users love the idea of romance and fun a 19yearold student at wuhan university explained why she liked the app she said its like a romantic novel with fascinating voices its more real than reading a novel she said she loved the apps delicate drawings as well as the great voices of the four male characters another young chinese woman said i dont have a boyfriend so im happy to have a relationship with a paper partner she also liked getting email and chat messages from her virtual boyfriends.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AnewdatingappinChinaisverypopularwithwomen.Itissopopularthat
    Chinesewomenarespendingover$30millionamonthonit.Itisalittlediff
    erentfromtheusualdatingappbecausetheboyfriendsarenotreal.Ther
    earejustfoursinglemenontheappandtheyareallvirtualboyfriends.Wo
    menhavetorole-playdatingthefourboyfriends.Theyhavetouserealm
    oneytobuy"PurpleDiamonds"fromtheapp.TheythenspendtheirPurpl
    eDiamondsintheapptogoondatesandkeeptheirrelationshipsgoing.T
    heappiscalledLoveandProducer.Itiscurrentlythebiggestmoneyearne
    ronApple'sAppStoreinChina.Playersspentover200millionChineseYu
    an($30million)onplayingitlastmonth.Amarketresearchcompanysai
    dtheapphasmorethantwomilliondailyactiveusers.Thevastmajorityof
    thesearewomenintheirearly20s.Thecompanysaiduserslovetheideao
    fromanceandfun.A19-year-oldstudentatWuhanUniversityexplaine
    dwhyshelikedtheapp.Shesaid:"It'slikearomanticnovelwithfascinati
    ngvoices.It'smorerealthanreadinganovel."Shesaidshelovedtheapp'
    s"delicatedrawings,"aswellasthe"greatvoices"ofthefourmalecharac
    ters.AnotheryoungChinesewomansaid:"Idon'thaveaboyfriend,soI'
    mhappytohavearelationshipwitha"paperpartner".Shealsolikedgetti
    nge-mailandchatmessagesfromhervirtualboyfriends.

    Free writing

    Write about dating app for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Virtual boyfriends and girlfriends are better than real ones. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. DATING APPS: Make a poster about dating apps. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. VIRTUAL PARTNERS: Write a magazine article about practicing on virtual partners so we have better real-life relationships. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on dating apps. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make them better. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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