Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- censorship /SEN-ser-ship/
- notable /NOH-tuh-buhl/
- surpass /ser-PAS/
- retreat /ri-TREET/
- gateway /GEYT-wey/
[noun] – the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security
Newspapers were silenced by the country’s strict censorship laws.
[adjective] – important and deserving attention
Mary graduated from a notable university in the United States.
[verb] – to do or be better than
Coldplay’s new album surpassed 100,000 UK chart sales in just a week.
[noun] – the act of going away from a person or place because you are unwilling to fight anymore or are frightened
Watching movies is her way of retreat from reality.
[noun] – a way of achieving something
Facebook has been a useful gateway for communication and business.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Microsoft is shutting down its LinkedIn platform in China as the country continues to expand its internet censorship. This marks a major exit for one of the large US tech companies operating in the country. LinkedIn has been available in China since 2014, with more than 45 million users, making a notable presence. It has surpassed other social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, which are blocked by the Chinese government’s huge censorship medium called the Great Firewall.
Mohak Shroff, senior vice president of engineering at LinkedIn, said in a blog post that the platform’s retreat is due to a “significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China.” On the other hand, the company will establish a replacement—a new China-only portal called InJobs— later this year. “While we are going to sunset the localized version of LinkedIn in China later this year, we will continue to have a strong presence in China to drive our new strategy and are excited to launch the new InJobs app later this year, ” Microsoft said. The said platform will simply serve as a gateway to list and apply for jobs, excluding a “social feed or the ability to share posts or articles.” Most private companies describe operating in China as rigorous, and spikes have sharpened further in the past year under Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Mohak Shroff, senior vice president of engineering at LinkedIn, said in a blog post that the platform’s retreat is due to a “significantly more challenging operating environment and greater compliance requirements in China.” On the other hand, the company will establish a replacement—a new China-only portal called InJobs— later this year. “While we are going to sunset the localized version of LinkedIn in China later this year, we will continue to have a strong presence in China to drive our new strategy and are excited to launch the new InJobs app later this year, ” Microsoft said. The said platform will simply serve as a gateway to list and apply for jobs, excluding a “social feed or the ability to share posts or articles.” Most private companies describe operating in China as rigorous, and spikes have sharpened further in the past year under Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What job recruitment platform(s) do you use? Please tell more about it/them.
- What job position(s) did you search for recently?
- What do you think would happen if your country bans all social networking platforms?
- Should China start opening its doors to social networking like Facebook and Twitter?
- What policies do you think could help the Chinese government in regulating social networking sites without blocking them?
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- platform
- compliance
- strategy
- social feed
- rigorous