Online Class Notes (Jesse)

use your own words, think like you’re explaining it to a kid, or a non-native English speaker.

In Moscow, more and more people choose to spend some money to find someone to accompany them to watch a movie, join a party or talk about what they can’t talk about on weekdays. On Avito website, when you input “rent a friend”, you can read lots of information including address, age, picture, hobby etc. and the price is around 500-2500 Rouble per hour. And a photographer, Agnes decided to take photos with the “renters” since she wanted to know why young people rent themselves out to others as friends. And during shooting, she found that most renters have worked in this industry for 6 to 18 months, and among the pandemic period, they could get the orders everyday. From the shoot, Agnes realized that in most of time, people’s need is to listen and to be listened. From last year, Moscow population helping center started a chatting program which is called “ Don’t be panic”, and the number of applicator exceed 23thousand in nearly one year. After exploration of lonely and the communication with the renters, Agnes made a summary: In fact, the most unbearable thing for people is not formal loneliness, but psychological loneliness. Even if you have many friends, even if you are in a company, a school or a big family, you still need to face life and loneliness by yourself.

In Moscow, more and more people choose to spend some money to find someone to accompany them to watch a movie / to see a movie with them, join a party or talk about / discuss / chat about / go over what they can’t talk about on weekdays / during the week. On the Avito website, when you input “rent a friend”, you can read lots of information including address, age, picture, hobby etc. and the price is / and it costs around 500-2500 Rouble per hour. As a photographer, Agnes decided to take photos with the “renters” since / as she wanted to know why young people rent themselves out to others as friends. And during shooting, she found that most renters have worked in this industry for 6 to 18 months, and during / throughout the pandemic period, they can / are able to get the orders everyday. From the shoot, Agnes realized that most of the time, people need is to listen and to be listened to. From last year, the Moscow population helping center started a chatting program which is called “ Don’t be panic”, and the number of applications exceeded 23 thousand in nearly one year. After exploration of loneliness and the communication with the renters, Agnes made a summary: In fact, the most unbearable thing for people is not being alone, but psychological loneliness. Even if you have many friends, and even if you are in a company, a school or a big family, you still need to face life and loneliness by yourself.

Vocabulary

a 4 day work-week 

it’s a game on paper – it’s just a weekend on paper but not in reality 

he looks really good on paper = his CV is good but in reality maybe he isn’t good

Grammar

save the money

I’m work all the things by myself – I worked on everything by myself

he’s a gay – he’s gay 

I want you to listen to me.
I want to be listened to (by you)