Internet Safety Dialogues for English Learners
Dialogue 1: Recognizing Online Scams
Characters: Maria (student) and her teacher, Mr. Johnson
Maria: Mr. Johnson, I got this email yesterday. It says I won $10,000 from a contest!
Mr. Johnson: That’s interesting, Maria. Did you enter any contests recently?
Maria: No, I didn’t. But the email looks real. It has fancy colors and a big company logo.
Mr. Johnson: Remember what we learned about online scams? If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. What else did the email say?
Maria: It asked for my personal information – my full name, address, and phone number. And it wants me to pay $50 for “processing fees.”
Mr. Johnson: Those are big red flags! Real contests never ask winners to pay money. They also don’t need your personal information right away.
Maria: Oh no! I almost replied to the email. The spelling looked okay to me.
Mr. Johnson: Let me see the email. Look carefully at the sender’s address… Do you notice anything strange?
Maria: The company name is spelled wrong! It says “Amazom” instead of “Amazon.”
Mr. Johnson: Exactly! Poor spelling and fake email addresses are common signs of scams. What should you do with this email?
Maria: Delete it and never reply?
Mr. Johnson: Perfect! And remember – trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is. Always ask a trusted adult for help when you’re unsure.
Maria: Thank you, Mr. Johnson. I’ll be more careful next time.
Dialogue 2: Creating Strong Passwords and Avoiding Phishing
Characters: Alex and his friend Sara, discussing computer safety
Alex: Sara, I keep getting emails from my bank asking me to update my password. They say my account will be closed if I don’t click the link.
Sara: Wait, Alex! That sounds like phishing. Do you remember what phishing means?
Alex: Um… is it when someone pretends to be a trusted company to steal information?
Sara: Exactly! It’s like fishing with a fake worm. Real banks don’t usually ask for password updates through email.
Alex: But how can I tell if it’s fake? The email looks official.
Sara: First, check the sender’s email address carefully. Does it really come from your bank’s official website?
Alex: Let me look… The address says “yourbankhelp123@gmail.com.” That doesn’t look right.
Sara: Good catch! Real banks use their official domain names. Also, never click links in unexpected emails. Go directly to your bank’s website instead.
Alex: That makes sense. By the way, I need to create a new password for my email account. Any suggestions?
Sara: Yes! Remember the safe internet rules? Strong passwords should have uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
Alex: Like what?
Sara: Instead of using “password123,” try something like “MyDog$name7!” It has everything – capital letters, small letters, numbers, and symbols.
Alex: That’s much stronger! Should I write it down?
Sara: You can write it in a safe place at home, but never share it with anyone. And don’t use the same password for different accounts.
Alex: What about using shared computers at the library?
Sara: Always log out when you’re finished! And never save passwords on shared computers. Other people might use them after you.
Alex: Thanks, Sara. I feel much safer online now. I’ll delete that phishing email and create a strong password for my accounts.
Sara: Smart thinking! Remember – when in doubt, ask for help. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Vocabulary Review
Key Terms from the Dialogues:
- Online scams – tricks to steal information or money
- Phishing – pretending to be trusted companies to get private information
- Personal information – private details like your name, address, phone number
- Red flags – warning signs that something might be dangerous
- Strong passwords – passwords with letters, numbers, and symbols
- Shared computers – computers used by many different people
- Trust your instincts – listen to your feelings when something seems wrong
Discussion Questions
- What would you do if you received an email saying you won money from a contest you never entered?
- Why is it important to use different passwords for different accounts?
- What are three signs that an email might be a phishing attempt?
- How can you check if a website is safe before entering personal information?
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