English Learning Content: Sociology Basics

Dialogue

Alice: Bob, guess what I saw today?

Bob: What, Alice? Another squirrel trying to pay for coffee?

Alice: No, but close! I saw someone arguing with a traffic light. Like, really arguing.

Bob: Haha! That’s a classic case of… uh… ‘social deviance’ maybe?

Alice: Social deviance? Is that a fancy way of saying ‘crazy person’?

Bob: Well, in sociology, it means acting differently from what society usually expects. Like, most people don’t yell at traffic lights.

Alice: So, the ‘rules’ for acting are called ‘social norms’ then?

Bob: Exactly! Like waiting in line at the store. That’s a social norm.

Alice: Oh, I get it! So, when I pretend not to see someone I know in a supermarket to avoid talking, is that a social norm?

Bob: That’s a ‘social strategy’! But avoiding people isn’t a norm… unless you’re a secret agent.

Alice: What about ‘social roles’? Like, you’re a student, I’m a barista. Is that a social role?

Bob: Yes! And when we’re together, we have the role of ‘friends’. We act differently with friends than with our boss, right?

Alice: Totally! I wouldn’t ask my boss if they want to share my giant cookie.

Bob: See? Different roles, different expectations. It’s like a play, but everyone is a character.

Alice: Wow, Bob, you’re surprisingly good at explaining this ‘sociology stuff’! Maybe you should teach a class.

Bob: Nah, I just pay attention in class. Want to study social interaction over coffee?

Alice: Only if we don’t argue with the coffee machine!

Current Situation

Sociology is the study of human society, groups, and how people interact. It helps us understand why we behave the way we do, why societies have certain rules (called social norms), and how our positions in society (called social roles) influence us. For beginners, understanding sociology basics can make sense of everyday situations, from why people wait in line to how different cultures operate. It makes the world around you more understandable and interesting by providing a framework to observe and interpret human behavior and social structures.

Key Phrases

Guess what I saw today?: A common way to start sharing interesting news.
Example: Guess what I saw today? A dog wearing sunglasses!
Social deviance: Behavior that goes against the usual rules or expectations of a society.
Example: Talking to yourself loudly on the bus can be seen as social deviance.
Social norms: The unwritten rules about how to behave in society.
Example: Shaking hands when you meet someone new is a common social norm.
Social roles: The parts people play in society, like a student, a parent, or a friend.
Example: My social role at work is a manager, but at home, I have the social role of a father.
To pay attention in class: To listen and focus on what the teacher is saying.
Example: It’s important to pay attention in class if you want to understand the lesson.
To make sense of something: To understand something that was confusing before.
Example: This map helps me make sense of the city’s streets.
To argue with someone/something: To express disagreement, often loudly.
Example: My brother likes to argue with me about everything. / Don’t argue with the vending machine, it won’t give you a refund!
To act differently: To behave in a way that is not usual or expected.
Example: He started to act differently after he moved to a new city.
Totally!: (Informal) Completely; absolutely. Used to show strong agreement.
Example: “That movie was amazing!” “Totally!”

Grammar Points

1. Present Simple Tense

Used for facts, habits, and general truths.

Structure: Subject + Verb (s/es for third person singular)
Examples from dialogue: “most people don’t yell”, “it means acting”, “we act differently”.
Explanation: We use the present simple to talk about things that are generally true or happen regularly.
Example: The sun rises in the east. (Fact) I drink coffee every morning. (Habit)

2. Asking Questions (Wh-questions and Yes/No questions)

Wh-questions (What, Where, Why, Who, How): Used to ask for specific information.
- Structure: Wh-word + auxiliary verb (do/does, is/are) + subject + main verb?
- Examples from dialogue: “Guess what I saw today?”, “What about ‘social roles’?”
- Example: What do you like to do? Where are you going?
Yes/No Questions: Used when the answer is ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
- Structure: Auxiliary verb (do/does, is/are) + subject + main verb?
- Examples from dialogue: “Is that a fancy way…?”, “Is that a social role?”
- Example: Do you speak English? Are you happy?

3. The verb “to be”

Essential for describing, identifying, and indicating states.

Forms: am, is, are (present tense)
Examples from dialogue: “Is that a fancy way…”, “you’re a student”, “I’m a barista”, “it’s like a play”.
Explanation: We use “to be” to say who or what someone/something is, where they are, or how they feel.
Example: I am happy. She is a doctor. They are friends.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Use key phrases)

Don’t ______ with the computer, it won’t listen!
______ I saw today? A cat riding a skateboard!
Waiting for your turn is a common ______.
My ______ as a student is to study hard.
It took me a long time to ______ the instructions.

Exercise 2: Match the Phrase to its Meaning

Social deviance a. How people are expected to act in society.
Social norms b. Behavior that breaks society’s usual rules.
Social roles c. The parts people play in society.

Exercise 3: Make a Question (Use the words provided)

you / speak / English / ?
what / you / like / to do / ?
she / happy / ?

Exercise 4: True or False (Based on the dialogue)

Alice saw someone arguing with a dog.
Bob thinks yelling at traffic lights is a social norm.
Alice believes pretending not to see someone is a social norm.
Bob says they act differently with friends than with their boss.

Answers

Exercise 1:

argue
Guess what
social norm
social role
make sense of

Exercise 2:

1. b
2. a
3. c

Exercise 3:

Do you speak English?
What do you like to do?
Is she happy?

Exercise 4:

False
False
False
True

Sociology basics