Part 1

Do you use any gadgets on a daily basis?

Yes, surely I do… Although I don’t consider myself a geekSomeone who is obsessed with technology, especially computers., I quite enjoy using all the new items like laptops and smartphones… All in all, we’re living in the computer ageThe period in modern history characterized by rapid technology development and widespread computer use. and it’s impossible to ignore cutting-edgeInnovational, at the forefront of progress.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 InternetTo look through websites, searching for something you need, or simply for entertainment. is my hobby… I alsofrequently use World Wide Web for communication purposes… Though I don’t like social mediaMedia used to interact with other people. like Facebook, I often use video conferencingMaking video-calls. 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 screenA big-sized monitor. and convenient keyboard, so I use it for word processingWriting, editing and producing words on a computer by using special programs. and browsing websitesTo search for websites.. It is an old, but still well-oiled machineSomething that works perfectly well….

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 scienceA very complicated subject for someone. for me, after a few weeks I was able to do everything I needed… From browsing websitesSearching for websites. to reinstalling the operating systemResetting the most important program that runs the computer…. 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 InternetLooking for something on 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 essentialSomething you can’t imagine your life without. 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 addressWrite URL in your search engine…. how to navigate websitesTo find what you need on the website…. It is very important nowadays to be able to surf the netLook on the Internetfor 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 upTo start a computer.your computer an go onlineTo use the Internet…. And with wireless networks at home and public Wi-Fi hotspotsA public place where you can access the Internet. 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 editingA process of altering digital materials like audio or video files…. Without computers studying would have been time-consuming and inefficientSomething that takes too much of your time and isn’t rational to do….

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 computersTo master 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 Technology

• 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: to make a copy of files in case of a computer problem. 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: to 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. My computer, despite being 7 years old, is still a well-oiled machine.
• 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.