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Multitasking
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Multitasking
多任务处理

How to Use the Second Conditional

Date: Mar 02 2012

Themes: Tech

Grammar: Second Conditional

Intro

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Right now, as you read this lesson, what else are you doing at the same time? You might be checking Facebook, chatting with a friend, shopping, and maybe even trying to get some work or studying done. In the 21st century, nearly everyone multitasks. But it’s hard to say if that means we actually get more done.

Amy is a proud multitasker who believes she can easily do many different things at the same time, and do them well. But Marni is more skeptical of multitasking, and the technology that makes it seem so easy and irresistible. Find out if either of them can convince the other to change her mind.

此刻,在你读本课的同时,还在干什么?你可能在查看 Facebook、与好友聊天、购物,甚至可能正尝试完成某项工作或学习任务。在 21 世纪,几乎人人都在执行多重任务。但是,很难说这意味着我会实际做更多的事情。
艾米是一位善于处理多种事务的人,她相信自己可以同时轻松处理很多事情并能把这些事情做好。但是玛尼对处理多重事务持怀疑态度,并且该技术看上去太简单,太有诱惑力。找出她们中的一位能否说服另一位改变主意。

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Marni

Amy

Amy

Marni:  Hey Amy, I wanted you to look at this article that I’m reading. There’re some really fascinating points here. Would you take a look at it.

Amy:  Uh-huh. Uh…just…wha…Oh, sorry. I was sending a text.

Marni:  Yeah, I know. I see that. But I really need your attention.

Amy:  Well, I’m paying attention. I mean, I can listen and send a text at the same time. I know how to multitask.

Marni:  Yeah, that’s just it. You know, our society, we’re so obsessed with multitasking. We think we’re getting everything done simultaneously, when really we’re just doing everything in a halfhearted way.

Amy:  I don’t think that’s true. I mean, I just sent a text, I’m updating my relationship status on Facebook right now, and we’re having a pretty deep conversation.

Marni:  Are we? Are we having a deep conversation? Do I really have your attention, or are you more focused on your status update, and the response you’re gonna get?

Amy:  Well, I think that’s just human nature. I mean, even if there weren’t cell phones and smart phones and all that kind of stuff, we would still be thinking about different things at the same time. You know? I think that’s just how it is.

Marni:  Perhaps, but I think that technology is really causing this huge divide in our culture, I really think that what’s gonna help us is if we take some real intentional time to focus on what we’re doing in the present moment.

Amy:  Just don’t take my cell phone away.

 

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Discussion

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Marni tries to tell Amy about an article she’s reading. But Amy is distracted by the text she’s sending. Marni gets annoyed, but Amy says she can talk and text at the same time. She thinks she is a good multi-tasker.

In Marni’s opinion, people try to do too many things at once and are often distracted by technology. She thinks that we’re so distracted, we don’t do anything well. We need to focus on the present and try to reconnect with those around us.

Do you think you are good at multitasking? Is multitasking a problem, or does it help us get more done in less time?

 

Comments

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xin7

xin7

Chile

I’m not that good at multitasking, generally I need to focus on one thing to do it well, but it depends on what kind of things I want to do simultaneously. For example is easier to talk to someone on the phone and check facebook at the same time, than study for a test and check facebook at once.


In summary I think multitasking could help us get more done in less time as long as we choose the tasks wisely taking into consideration our abilities.

01:45 AM Mar 08 2012 |

qualmpaw56

qualmpaw56

United States

 


Speaking for my self , I admit I have difficulties getting my point across because I talk to much. LOL


So I want to share an example of various ways one can multitask: From a abstract point of view



“Finite Math” is a catch-all title for a collection of topics that are anything but calculus. The purpose of the course is to give a survey of mathematical analysis techniques used in the working world, but you might also say that this course gives valuable experience at organizing information and then analyzing it. In a larger sense, it’s also another way we use math to give people experience at analytical thinking. Business, accounting and computer majors tend to take this course, or are required to by their program. It is an excellent choice for many education majors to fill their math requirements,



I also wish to mention that architecture ( requiring high levels of math skills) is one of the most pronounced arts all beginning of when man begin to use tools. To think now even possible it was a dialect as the first tool: that advanced a way of communicating, that allowed them to integrate ideas of mastering the art of architecture. Who really knows. Here now I’m multitasking in theory’s : for a moment~

11:34 AM Mar 07 2012 |

1 person likes this

manik athawale

India

I know how painful to work without house worker because all work need to do itself all human have so many problem but don’t wary may God carry you and your little kids.

07:00 PM Mar 05 2012 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Sunfriend > : )


 

05:22 PM Mar 05 2012 |

sunfriend

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i think it is a skill and reaching this skill needs practice on our consentration . i believe every one can do but needs a little calm and consentration. humans ability is over that. i know u can. try please.

05:19 PM Mar 05 2012 |

qualmpaw56

qualmpaw56

United States

I was a single parent for 13 years, and without the skills of multitasking I would have gone crazy.

04:51 PM Mar 05 2012 |

CatcheR

CatcheR

Iceland

When you are a mother you have to learn to be a multi-tasker, it’s not about taxting message or those kinda task, but do household, cooking, cleaning, take care of your children, mother need too cope with all those things and I think it’s not easy, so learn before you are going to get married :D

02:52 PM Mar 05 2012 |

kukuka

kukuka

Ukraine

I agree with Marni. Even though I often try to make many things at once I think it’s a bad habit. People should be more concentrated on what they’re doing right now. And I’m not an exception. So, I’m kinda working in that direction, more or less succesfully :-).

02:36 PM Mar 05 2012 |

Lyn94

Malaysia

sometimes its good but sometimes its inappropriate..well,depend on situations actuallyWink

04:23 AM Mar 05 2012 |

ola33

ola33

Japan


I’m not good at all at multitasking. It makes me distracted, not efficient if any hardly cognizant what I’m doing. I’ve always fascinated with my colleague who is talking on the phone and doing sth else. It’s impossible for me. I need to be totally with my 100 % attention on the task. It doesn’t matter, whether I check an e-mail, talk on the phone or clean out the in-boxes. Even, when I’m cooking and listening my mp3 player, it doesn’t work. The food will be bland, not tasty, and I don’t remember after what I was listening. It looks like a short-term memory loss. The technologies looks like offered us the best solution to our constant time shortage of accomplishing the task, but does it work? It requires us to adapt to do more than one thing at a time, but how is it possible? It’s a juggling madness! You need to have two heads or many many arms or adapt your cognitive mind to be constantly distracted and interrupted and to be able to filter out that data out of the onslaught of information. More, more, more is on the plate, but can we digest it? It’s way too stressful. I think it’s better to prioritize what is more important, to be more organized, able to say “no” to irrelevant data because this multitasking, really, it slows us down, rather than making the things done faster. It impairs our concentration, decrease our effectiveness and productivity. Yeah, it’s not easy to switch gears while driving.. no good for a car and for me as well :)


11:02 PM Mar 04 2012 |

nfrtary

nfrtary

Egypt

well i think i am multi-tasker , likewise i love to be multi-tasker. alwayes i don`t want to make onething only , alwayes you find me make at least two things in the same time eating and watching tv , chatting and playing YUGI , calling my friend and tiding my room this is me and i like to be that i don`t agree with marni that the multi-tasker doing the things halfhearted i thnink it`s depends some perople can do it and the other can`t.


alwayes i faced peoblem with my friend she don`t conviced that there is anything called multitask like marni but i was arguing her and i said if you want me to repeat your speach and say wht did you said i`ll because i really focus with you and i foucs also whith the other thing when she says she can`t do it i said it`s personialty dear it doesn`t mean becuse you can`t do it there isn`t anything called it.



10:58 PM Mar 04 2012 |

1 person likes this

 julito

julito

Argentina

VICTORIAA.  I agree, I tend to procrastinate lately , I am not a good manager of my time.

02:30 PM Mar 04 2012 |

Victoriaa

Victoriaa

France

Multitasking has become a habit for many people nowadays because we are trying to do so many things everyday that 24 hours is just not enough. I believe it is to be a problem. Even if you consider yourself good at multitasking, there is always something which gets behind you, which you miss and you can’t enjoy both things fully. Technology is sure plaing a significant role here. Social networks, blogs, music and videos attract people and make them loose their time so much needed for work, homes chores or going out. To my mind what every person needs now is to learn managing smartly its time, to avoid multitasking and to devote oneself to one thing at a time, but, at the same time, fullfilling all the needed actions.

02:20 PM Mar 04 2012 |

ganon4e_92

ganon4e_92

Bulgaria

I love to multitask! When I am studing I love to listent to music, or to eat something. I can do it together perfect, hahhaha, it’s easy and I feel good and happy when i multitask!!! :)

11:09 AM Mar 04 2012 |

1 person likes this

qualmpaw56

qualmpaw56

United States

Missed you to Crystal my Dear Friend, I am fine thx and how are you?

10:34 AM Mar 04 2012 |

qualmpaw56

qualmpaw56

United States

Very nice said Crystal ::: Precise, and to the point : )

06:02 AM Mar 04 2012 |

1 person likes this

aadil82

aadil82

Oman

about me i can do multitasking at the same time, it’s very nice to do and finsh many things at the same time.

05:11 AM Mar 04 2012 |

1 person likes this

qualmpaw56

qualmpaw56

United States


That is what I’m tring to say. some things require all attention.



There is an also an abstract view to understand. for example a quarterback in a football team must fully devote all his attrition in many multitasking ways in order to deal with every moment of unexpected surprises he will encounter to ensue the goal is met.



We are all unique and to hold our own center have diverse\ ways of correctly completing things..

04:53 AM Mar 04 2012 |

it's me Riza

Indonesia

According to me , Multitasking will result UNPERFECTLY
I mean , if we do many tasks at the same time we will not do that perfeclty,  
Base on psychology, we may not GIVE OUR BEST!
because there are so many items in our mind LOL … 
even we may do not do what we should do and we do what we should not do, rigth?!
I’m not a serious person in Job, need jokes and relax too.
I ever do multitasking at the same time , and it’s rigth i can not give my best , I did it unperfectly.
It’s better for me to do at least two items at the same time. Therefore I can get More and do my job perfectly ;-)  

04:40 AM Mar 04 2012 |

qualmpaw56

qualmpaw56

United States

husenjan,


Depending on you are multi tasking both could be true. For instance if I your studying for a calculus exam or any thing that requires total concentration.. That is the very reason multitasking is what allows me the opportunity to not have any thing distracting my attention. ,, anything of that magnitude of such importance I could not multitask. Some multitask doing many simple things through physical memory like our daily task in which multitasking is habit, So the night before I would be a days work I would prepare all I can , so in the morning I have few multicast to do. Example: First I would make some tea, and then all in one sequence, take shower, warn up car, cook breakfast , and clean as I I go all in a half of an hour. The simplicity behind this allows me to began my day with a blank page.



Beginning my day with a clear mind. The day fills out the rest. In our ways of thinking some are multitasking in a method where memory trails of certain land marks are associated for simple and faster results. So there is angle needed. Like to pass any math exam my challenge was solving a way to include the formula required for each answer. Some of us do not need formulas, and know the answer at a glance. which In turn makes the simple become complicated. It also depends on how high we are reaching in this life. Good feed back, it helps us all grow to communicate more.



Maybe one day if I understood many more dialects I could say all this in one sentence.

04:40 AM Mar 04 2012 |

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