Have you taken a selfie lately? What type of selfie was it? What type of selfies do you take? What do you think of selfies? Why do you think people take so many selfies?
This reading and listening activity will help prepare you for English exams such as KET and TOEFL.
1. Pre-reading
Look at the pictures of the different types of selfie. How many of them can you identify? How many of them have you taken? Which ones would you never take? Why?
2. Reading I
Read or listen to the article once. What’s your favourite type of selfie? Why? What’s your least favourite? Why?
3. Reading II
Read the article again. Then, write the correct type of selfie next to each statement.
1. It’s often taken with a well-known person.
2. I t’s also known as a morning selfie.
3. I t’s a picture of you with big lips.
4. I t’s a picture of you looking awkward.
5. I t’s a picture of you and your partner.
6. I t’s guaranteed to make your friends jealous.
Thousands of smartphone selfportraits or “selfies” are taken and shared every day. But not all selfies are the same.
The bed selfie Take a picture of yourself in bed. Also known as a morning selfie.
A food selfie A picture of you with a plate of food that you’re about to eat.
The gym selfie A picture taken of you at the gym, with some impressive equipment in the background.
The drunk selfie A selfie of you while you’re drunk.
The duckface selfie For this selfie, simply push out your lips and make them look bigger and sexier. Also known as a trout pout selfie.
A friends selfie Take a horizontal picture of you with lots of friends to show just how popular you are.
The shy selfie A picture of you looking shy and awkward, as if you didn’t want the picture taken... even though it was you who took it!
Belfie An abbreviated form of “bottom selfie”, this is a self-portrait showing your backside. This is popular among celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Rihanna.
The holiday selfie A picture of you in some exotic location. Guaranteed to make your friends jealous.
The famous friends selfie Take a picture of yourself with someone famous, then let all your friends know about it.
The badass selfie A picture of yourself looking really mean and hard, even though the worst thing you’ve ever done is to cross the road when the lights were red.
The happy couple selfie A picture that says, “Look, I’ve got a wonderful boyfriend/girlfriend.”
The naked selfie Naked selfies are often used for sexting. Democratic congressman Anthony Wiener became internationally famous after sending naked selfies to a number of women.
The inappropriate selfie A selfie taken at an inappropriate moment, such as at a funeral, or like the one David McCarthy took after German cyclist Marcel Kittel had collapsed to the ground with exhaustion, or the one a young man took of himself at Eastbourne pier (in southern England), which was in blazes.
GLOSSARY
a self portrait n - a photo you take of yourself, or a painting you paint of yourself
stuck adj - if you’re “stuck” in an office, you’re trapped there and can’t leave
a trout pout n - someone with a “trout pout” has thick lips (the part of your mouth you use for kissing). Literally, a “trout” is a type of fish; a “pout” is a look in which you push out your lips. Kids sometimes do it when they're angry
shy adj - a “shy” person is nervous in the company of other people
awkward adj - someone who feels “awkward” feels uncomfortable or nervous
jealous adj - If you’re “jealous” of another person, you feel angry because you aren't in their situation
mean adj - a “mean” person is violent or cruel
hard adj - strong both physically and mentally
sexting n - the act of sending messages with sexually explicit photos between mobile phones
Congressman n - an elected member of the House of Representatives in the USA
a pier n - a wooden structure that goes into the sea. It often has shops or theatres on it
in blazes exp - if something is “in blazes”, it’s burning
Video
Find out how to take the perfect selfie. Search YouTube for “How to Take The Perfect Selfie”.