computer problems – Thay Paul's Notes

13th May 2020

Young asian girls smiling and happy using laptop computer ...

Today is an extended listening piece from the British Council website, then some suggestions for talking subjects in which you can practice using any new vocabulary.

Listen first and see how much you understand. You will probably need to replay the recording several times.

Finally, listen along with the text, repeating any expressions and copying intonation and stress.

Listening practice: Online Safety: http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening-skills-practice/online-safety-conversation

Asian Mother with Her Son Stock Footage Video (100% Royalty-free ...

Charlie: Mum! That’s my computer!
Mum: I know, I know. Don’t worry, I’m changing your privacy settings.
Charlie: Privacy settings?
Mum: Yes. There are privacy settings on your social networking sites. Your account is totally public at the moment, and you’re logged in!
Charlie: Oh. What are the privacy settings for?
Mum: To make you safe online. You want to be safe, don’t you? And for the right people to see your information, not EVERYONE.
Charlie: Everyone?
Mum: Yes. If you don’t change your privacy settings, when you upload a photo, anyone can see it. It’s important to change them so only your friends can see them. You don’t want everyone to see everything, do you?
Charlie: No! But I can delete things, can’t I?
Mum: Well, you can, but it’s very difficult. Some things stay there forever.
Charlie: That’s really scary, Mum.
Mum: Don’t worry, but you must learn how to stay safe. You mustn’t tell anyone your password!
Charlie: I won’t!
Mum: Crazy Charlie one two one, isn’t it?
Charlie: Mum! Yes, it is. How …
Mum: It’s on your notebook. Right there. On your desk. It isn’t a very secret place, is it?
Charlie: No, it isn’t.
Charlie: Mum! That’s my computer!
Mum: I know, I know. Don’t worry, I’m changing your privacy settings.
Charlie: Privacy settings?
Mum: Yes. There are privacy settings on your social networking sites. Your account is totally public at the moment, and you’re logged in!
Charlie: Oh. What are the privacy settings for?
Mum: To make you safe online. You want to be safe, don’t you? And for the right people to see your information, not EVERYONE.
Charlie: Everyone?
Mum: Yes. If you don’t change your privacy settings, when you upload a photo, anyone can see it. It’s important to change them so only your friends can see them. You don’t want everyone to see everything, do you?
Charlie: No! But I can delete things, can’t I?
Mum: Well, you can, but it’s very difficult. Some things stay there forever.
Charlie: That’s really scary, Mum.
Mum: Don’t worry, but you must learn how to stay safe. You mustn’t tell anyone your password!
Charlie: I won’t!
Mum: Crazy Charlie one two one, isn’t it?
Charlie: Mum! Yes, it is. How …
Mum: It’s on your notebook. Right there. On your desk. It isn’t a very secret place, is it?
Charlie: No, it isn’t.

Talking subjects

Do you have passwords ? Do you have DIFFERENT passwords for different websites ?

Is your password complicated and contain a mix of letters, numbers and symbols ( jT4u#p2W%) or easy to guess (john2020).

What should you be careful of when opening emails ?

Have you ever been a victim of an online crime ?

Do you know of any scams in your country ?

Photos: Two Nigerian "romance scammers" preying on gullible Thai women on Facebook, arrested in Bangkok — Thai police arresting two online scammers

A scam is a trick to cheat people into paying for something they either don’t need or will never receive for example, pretending to be from Microsoft and saying that the user’s computer is infected BUT it can be fixed IF the user sends money.

Scam and Virus Alerts | Professional Computer Systems — A typical computer scam

5th February 2020

What can go wrong at work ?

Warm up: Ask students about problems at work. Encourage them to share their own stories.

Computers

The network is down (LAN or WAN)

My computer has crashed

The wifi is slow

I forgot my password

The printer is jammed / the ink has run out

I can’t access the file

Staff

We get on well together

We’re on the same wavelength (think the same thing)

He doesn’t pull his weight (doesn’t do his share of work)

My boss is a slave-driver (ironic / irony)

You’re not the boss of me !

He gets on my nerves ! (He annoys me)

General conditions

We need a pay-rise ! (we need more money for this job)

The air-con is too high / too low

It’s a great atmosphere here (it’s a nice place to work, people are friendly).

It’s not the friendliest place in the world ! (it’s not a happy or friendly office).

The commute is too long (time travelling to/from work).

Create a scenario:

What could the problems be ? Work in pairs or small groups. What would you do in these situations ? How would you feel ?

It is 11.55 am, just five minutes before lunch. You missed breakfast and are very hungry but then your supervisor comes to YOU and demands that you write some emails and check some files.

It is 16.00, you are tired and want to go home. You have to send some emails to Germany but … what could go wrong ?

The air con is on 18 degrees. You are very cold and only have a thin shirt.

You need to print out a file but the printer has jammed.

You try to send an important file to a college’s computer but the wifi is slow … and then your computer crashed.

You have some angry costumers … very angry !

An incident at work

Your colleague, John Harris, had an accident in the workplace.

Watch the first clip (0.00 – 0.40)

You have to report to your manager.

What was the task ?

What happened exactly ?

Were all safety procedures followed ?

What should have happened ?

Vocabulary

Idioms and expressions:

Very busy:

I’m snowed under / I’m up to my eyes in work / I’m working flat out /

Very quiet, not much work:

We are having some down time / It’s a quiet period / The place is deserted /

Time phrases– think of sentences using:

recently / nowadays / once in a while / in the long term / a few years ago

Talk about your work-day using a time phrase and an idiom.

Talk about some problems at work. How did you solve them ?

Have you ever had an angry costumer ? How did you deal with them or handle the situation ?

Tag: computer problems

Listening exercise: Computer safety.

Adult Speaking Class, Level 3. Theme: Work problems