Topic 3: Talking about Technology
Part 1
- Do you use any gadgets on a daily basis?
Yes, surely I do… Although I don’t consider myself a geek, I quite enjoy using all the new items like laptops and smartphones… All in all, we’re living in the computer age and it’s impossible to ignore cutting-edge technology.
- How often do you use Internet?
I use Internet every day… It helps me with my studies and it entertains me when I’m down… Surfing the Internet is my hobby… I also frequently use World Wide Web for communication purposes… Though I don’t like social media like Facebook, I often use video conferencing for talking.
- Do you own a computer? If so, how often do you use it and for
what purposes
Yes, I have a personal computer and a laptop… I use my laptop mainly for education… It is very light and fits in my bag easily, so I take it with me to school… Meanwhile, my PC has a large screen and convenient keyboard, so I use it for word processing and browsing websites. It is an old, but still well-oiled machine…
Part 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe your favourite gadget. You should say:
- What is it
- When did you get it
- How often do you use it
and say why is it so important to you
I don’t own many gadgets… I have a PC, laptop and a smartphone and I can’t imagine my life without either of those… However, my laptop is the most important piece of technology for me… I got it as a birthday present from my parents a few years ago and I use it nearly every day now. Although at first using it was like rocket science for me, after a few weeks I was able to do everything I needed… From browsing websites to reinstalling the operating system… What’s more, without my laptop I wouldn’t be able to do my homework for the university… Also, I use it for surfing the Internet and finding whatever I want, whether it is a piece of code for my project or a useful tip on how to cook a steak… Generally, my laptop became an essential device for me…
Part 3
- Do you think we need to know much about computers?
Well… Not too much, but there is definitely a couple of essential things everyone should know. First of all, you need to know how to enter a web address… how to navigate websites… It is very important nowadays to be able to surf the net for the information you need…
- What is the most impactful piece of technology in our lives?
In my point of view, the Internet is the most important technological advance of our time… It gives us so many new opportunities to discover anything we want about our world! You just need to boot up your computer an go online… And with wireless networks at home and public Wi-Fi hotspots we can do it easily and almost everywhere
- How computers affect our everyday life?
In a positive way, certainly. They help with so many things, starting from writing and printing your own essay and ending with developing advanced programs and digital editing… Without computers studying would have been time-consuming and inefficient…
- How effective is the use of computers in the classroom?
Hmm… in my opinion, using computers in the classroom is very effective. I think it is important for students to become competent in the use of computers to prepare them for the workplace … you know, computers are used everywhere in the workplace now. But… I also think that having computers so easily available gives teachers the opportunity to introduce students to the variety of information on the Internet.
Vocabulary
- computer age: the period in modern history characterized by rapid technology development and widespread computer use.
| Living in a computer age has many benefits.
- computer buff: a user who is good at working with a computer.
| Mike is a computer buff. He got an A+ on his programming exam.
- computer fatigue: a syndrome of tiredness resulting from long computer usage.
| About 60% of IT specialists are affected by computer fatigue
- cutting-edge: something innovational and leading.
| Cutting-edge technology.
- desktop PC: a personal computer that remains on a desk.
| I have an old desktop PC that I use for surfing the net when I’m home.
- digital editing: a process of changing digital materials like audio or video files.
| Being good at digital editing is essential in our time.
- download (podcasts): to save a copy of a file from the internet to your own device.
| Yesterday I downloaded a few films that I plan to watch during the weekends.
- essential: something you can’t imagine your life without.
| Internet is an essential piece of technology for many people.
- gadget: an advanced piece of technology, like smartphone.
| Nowadays almost everybody owns a gadget.
- geek: someone who is obsessed with technology, especially computers.
| My friend is a real geek. He owns a bunch of computers and other gadgets.
- hold the line: wait a minute.
| She told me to hold the line, because she had to open the door.
- large screen: a big-sized monitor.
| A few days ago I decided to renew my computer, so I bought a large screen for it.
- light years ahead: very far away from.
| Modern computers are light years ahead of those which people used in 90s
- on the cutting edge: at the forefront of progress.
| Paul’s new laptop is on the cutting edge of technology.
- operating system: the most important program that runs the computer.
| I chose to buy a laptop which is based on the Windows operating system.
- out of steam: tired, exhausted.
| Due to today’s intense workday I am out of steam, so I won’t be able to work tomorrow
- rocket science:a very complicated subject for someone.
| Biology is a rocket science for me. I don’t understand anything in it.
- send an attachment: send an email with an added file.
| My brother sent an attachment with his homework to the professor.
- silver surfer: an old person, who uses the Internet.
| Uncle Bob is a silver surfer. He uses the Internet every day, although he’s almost 70.
- social media: media used to interact with other people.
| Facebook is the biggest social media in the world.
- time-consuming and inefficient: something that takes too much of your time and isn’t rational to do.
| I find watching football time-consuming and inefficient.
- to access websites/email: to visit websites/email.
| John accessed his email today to see if he had received any letters.
- to back up files:
| I had to back up files on my computer, because I was going to reinstall my operating system.
- to be stuck behind a computer: to use computer for a long period of time.
| A lot of teenagers are stuck behind their computers all day.
- to boot up: to start a computer.
| I booted up my computer as soon as I got home.
- to browse websites: to search for websites.
| I spent a few hours browsing the websites today, until I found was I was looking for.
- to crash: to suddenly stop working.
| My computer crashed when I was writing my essay.
- to go online: to use the Internet.
| Millions of people go online every day.
- to navigate a website: to find what you need on the website.
| Navigating a website is not very easy, especially if the website is poorly designed.
- to pull the plug: to end an activity.
| After being stuck behind a computer all day, I decided to pull the plug.
- to push someone’s buttons: tto do specific thing to irritate somebody (usually intentionally).
| I became so angry because he pushed my buttons by adding pepper to my ice cream!
- to surf the web: to look through websites, searching for something you need, or simply for entertainment.
| I was surfing the web yesterday for three hours, because I had nothing else to do.
- to upgrade: to renew a software or a piece hardware.
| Thanks to the new program for students, I updated my computer for free.
- well-oiled machine: something that works perfectly well.
| Thanks to the new program for students, I updated my computer for free.
- widespread computer use: that is to say people use computers very often.
- Wi-Fi hotspots: a public place where you can access the Internet.
| Our university has a Wi-Fi hotspot. It is very convenient.
- wireless network: a network where users can access the Internet without using any cables.
| We have installed a wireless network at home.
- word processing: : writing, editing and producing words on a computer, using special programs.
| There are tons of word processing programs