Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Why did Tiktok become popular?
- What songs/kinds of music do you usually listen to? Could you tell me more about them?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- feature /FEE-cher/
- viewer /VYOO-er/
- statement /STEYtT-muhnt/
- conduct /kuhn-DUHKT/
- popularity /pop-yuh-LAR-i-tee/
[noun] – a typical quality or an important part of something
Several new features have been added to our most recent cell phone model.
[noun] – a person who watches something
Millions of viewers watched the Superbowl video online.
[noun] – something that someone says or writes officially, or an action done to express an opinion
The government is anticipated to make a public announcement regarding the investigation.
[verb] – to organize and perform a particular activity
Scientists in New York conducted the experiments.
[noun] – the fact that something or someone is liked, enjoyed, or supported by many people
The band’s popularity has grown at an unstoppable rate.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Spotify is the latest app to experiment with a vertical video feed, similar to the popular TikTok format. According to a new feature in an early test build for iPhone, a new Discover tab has been added to the app’s top page. It has a similar user interface to TikTok, with vertical music video clips that viewers can easily swipe through. It is unclear whether the function will be made available to the general public or whether it is just a test that will not be included in the main app.
In a statement, Spotify stated that the new feature had not been properly disclosed. “At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience,” a spokesperson said. “Some of those tests end up paving the way for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning. We don’t have any further news to share at this time.” TikTok’s vertical-scrolling video format has been often imitated since its debut in 2016, and its popularity has risen in recent years. Shorts is a YouTube experiment, Reels is an Instagram feature similar to Shorts, and Spotlight is a new Snapchat feature. Byte and Triller are two additional apps that share similar essential traits.
In a statement, Spotify stated that the new feature had not been properly disclosed. “At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience,” a spokesperson said. “Some of those tests end up paving the way for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning. We don’t have any further news to share at this time.” TikTok’s vertical-scrolling video format has been often imitated since its debut in 2016, and its popularity has risen in recent years. Shorts is a YouTube experiment, Reels is an Instagram feature similar to Shorts, and Spotlight is a new Snapchat feature. Byte and Triller are two additional apps that share similar essential traits.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What is the latest app to experiment with a vertical video feed?
- Will the vertical video feed in Spotify be made available to the general public?
- What does Spotify routinely conduct to improve users’ experience?
- What is Shorts?
- According to the passage, what is the new Snapchat feature?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Do you have a Spotify account? Why?
- Do you have a Tiktok account? Could you tell me more about this app?
- If you could, would you also change Spotify’s format similar to Tiktok’s? Why?
- Do you agree with testing to improve users’ experience?
- What do you think of Tiktok’s vertical format? Please elaborate on your answer.