Would You Give Up Your Smartphone for a Month for $1,000?
Learn topic-related expressions and join the speaking club to practice them!
Hi there! I'm Jonah from Langclub. I'm interested in new technologies to help people learn languages and connecting people.
Topic guide Optional
A quick way to understand the topic and find useful language. Read as much or as little as you like.
1-minute overview
Giving up a smartphone for a month sounds simple until you list what the device now does. It is a phone, camera, wallet, map, boarding pass, alarm clock, bank token and office in one. A 2026 US survey by a phone-number company found that Gen Z and Millennial respondents averaged more than six hours of daily screen time. That suggests the habit runs deep, though surveys like this are not representative of everyone.
The $1,000 offer turns the question into a trade-off between money and convenience. For some people it would be an easy reward for a break from notifications. For others, the cost could be missed work messages, difficult travel, or trouble with services that expect an app, a QR code or two-factor authentication.
The key tension is whether the challenge would reveal healthy freedom or simply show how dependent modern life is on one device. A basic phone might soften the experience, but it also raises a question about what counts as giving up.
The $1,000 offer turns the question into a trade-off between money and convenience. For some people it would be an easy reward for a break from notifications. For others, the cost could be missed work messages, difficult travel, or trouble with services that expect an app, a QR code or two-factor authentication.
The key tension is whether the challenge would reveal healthy freedom or simply show how dependent modern life is on one device. A basic phone might soften the experience, but it also raises a question about what counts as giving up.
Useful vocabulary
Approx. CEFR · Topic relevance
dependence
/dɪˈpɛndəns/A state of needing something to function normally, whether practically or psychologically.
The month made me realize my dependence on my phone was practical, not just emotional.
digital detox
A planned period of avoiding digital devices to reduce stress or overuse.
A digital detox sounds relaxing until you need to find an address.
two-factor authentication
A security method requiring a second proof of identity, often a code sent to a phone.
Two-factor authentication could lock me out of my bank during the challenge.
notification
/ˌnoʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/An alert from an app or device that demands attention.
Without constant notifications, I might finally finish a book.
workaround
/ˈwɜːrkəˌraʊnd/A practical way to avoid a problem without fully solving it.
My workaround for navigation would be printing maps before each trip.
compulsive
/kəmˈpʌlsɪv/Done repeatedly because it is hard to resist, rather than by conscious choice.
My compulsive checking often happens when I am not even expecting a message.
Useful expressions
It comes down to whether
Identifying the central issue in a complex debate.
It comes down to whether convenience is worth losing privacy and attention.
That depends on the extent to which
Qualifying a general claim by naming a key variable.
That depends on the extent to which your job requires being reachable.
On the one hand, but on the other
Comparing competing advantages and disadvantages.
On the one hand, I would save time, but on the other, travel would become stressful.
I would push back on the idea that
Politely challenging an assumption.
I would push back on the idea that a basic phone makes this a real test.
Admittedly, that overlooks
Conceding a point while raising a limitation.
Admittedly, that overlooks people who depend on phone apps for health care.
Question list
- Ice breaking
- Main topic
- Free talk
| Q1. | Do you enjoy visiting popular destinations or off-the-beaten-path spots? |
|---|---|
| Q2. | If you could send a message to someone you miss, what would it say? |
| Q3. | What's' the most expensive thing you have broken/lost? |
| Q4. | Where did you experience unexpected joy recently? |
| Q5. | Do you think it's possible to know someone completely? |
| Q6. | What's your greatest strength and weakness? |
| Q7. | How do you find beauty in mundane things? |
| Q8. | Where does a person’s true worth come from? |
| Q1. | Which smartphone feature would you miss first? |
|---|---|
| Q2. | Would one thousand dollars be enough for you to try? |
| Q3. | How would you contact people without your smartphone? |
| Q4. | What would be hardest about traveling during this month? |
| Q5. | Could a basic phone make the challenge easier? |
| Q6. | What might you do with the time you saved? |
| Q7. | Would this challenge affect your work or studies? |
| Q8. | Which phone habits would you change after the month? |
| Q1. | What small detail can instantly improve your day? |
|---|---|
| Q2. | What helps you identify unspoken expectations in relationships? |
| Q3. | What do you think about artificial intelligence? |
| Q4. | What is one thing you would like to see changed in your community? |
| Q5. | What problems do you come across in your work or life? |
| Q6. | What makes you comfortable around strangers? |
| Q7. | What role should governments play in society? |
| Q8. | What is your opinion on the importance of forgiveness? |
Rules
Please be kind and respectful.
Note: You can be banned for violating any of these rules
No flirting! Don't ask for other people's social network, number etc. if he/she refuses to give them.
Note: You can be banned for violating any of these rules
Give others an equal opportunity to speak.
Note: You can be banned for violating any of these rules
Avoid Smoking / Drinking while you are talking.
Note: You can be banned for violating any of these rules
Turning your camera on is mandatory.
Note: You can be banned for violating any of these rules
Ready to join the conversation?
Book your spot and bring your perspective to the discussion.
