How Good Is Your English? Let’s Test It through a News Article!

How well can you understand a real news article in English? Let’s find out! 📰

In this lesson, you’ll test your English listening, vocabulary, and grammar using a news article from The Week magazine about smartphone use, internet use, and the benefits of a digital detox.

First, listen to the article without seeing the text and answer comprehension questions. Then we’ll study useful vocabulary words and expressions, including:
• cognitive decline
• plummet
• marked
• compulsive
and more!

You’ll also practice English collocations with prepositions, including:
• equivalent to
• an effect on

Finally, you’ll read along with me and then reflect and react to the article by sharing your own experiences and opinions.

This is a great way to improve your English listening, reading, vocabulary, grammar, and self-expression while learning from authentic news content.

💬 Your turn:
Has phone use harmed us as individuals and as a society?
Have you ever tried a digital detox?
Share your thoughts in the comments!

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:34 First reading: listen
4:59 Vocabulary
7:43 Grammar: collocations with prepositions
9:18 Second reading: read along
11:45 Reflect and react: writing task

NOTE: 11:40 My apologies for skipping the word “digital” in the phrase “digital detox.” I read it accurately in the first reading.

Source: “Spring Cleaning for the Brain.” The Week, vol. 26, no. 1285, 1 May 2026, p.21. This article was used with permission from the editorial team of The Week. I thank the publication for granting me this “fair use” for educational purposes.