Technology

Technology – vocabulary Look at the machine and write down what it does Name of Machine What it does 1. Personal Computer (PC) send e-mails and connects to the internet Plays games 2. Games console Powers vehicles 3. Electric motor Makes copies and prints 4. Photocopier Cooks food 5. Microwave Lets you watch movies 6. Flat screen TV 7. Digital camera Uses batteries, takes photos 8. MP3 player Plays music 9. Mobile Phone Lets you make calls on the move 10. Boiler Heats your house

Pre-Listening Do we rely too much on the technology we use? What happened the last time your computer broke down? Listen to the IT technician explaining what’s wrong with your laptop. How much will it cost to fix?

Listen again and answer the questions 1. Who’s the message for? Colin 2. Who’s it from? PC repair shop 3. When did he leave the laptop at the shop? Last week 4. What three problems did his laptop have? Dust in keyboard / hard drive full of viruses / battery was nearly dead 5. Write down one thing he did to fix the machine. He cleaned it / re-installed the hard drive (windows) / put a new battery in 6.How much was the battery? £70 7. What was the total cost? £60 8. When can you pick it up? Anytime before five.

Talk about these technology questions with a partner. What machines do you use everyday? Do you think we rely too much on machines? What is the most important invention of the last 100 years? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the internet? 5. Do you use Facebook or any other social networking site? 6. Tell me about your mobile phone. 7. What machines would you wish hadn’t been invented. 8. If you could invent any machine, what would it do?

Writing – argumentative essay We rely on technology too much in the modern world. The world would be a better place without mobile phones. Write about the advantages and disadvantages of the internet.