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BUSINESS ENGLISH · BUSINESS VOCABULARY · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY

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1 Warm up

Discuss the following questions in pairs or small groups.

1. What is the difference between hardware and software?

2. Can you give an example of a piece of hardware in a computer?

3. Can you give an example of a software program commonly used for word processing?

4. How do hardware and software work together in a computer?

5. Why is it important to keep both hardware and software up to date?

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2 Hardware and software

Part A: Study the following words and put them into the correct categories below.

cable CMS driver email client operating system router

server spreadsheet text editor touchpad USB port VoIP application

1. hardware:

2. software:

Part B: Discuss the following questions in pairs.

1. What hardware do you have in your office? Which hardware does your computer have?
2. Which software is installed on your computer? Which software do you use on a regular basis?

3 Vocabulary: web hosting

Read the sentences and match the underlined words to their definitions.

1. Our website is becoming very popular. I think we need to move it to a dedicated server.

2. We have a small website. I think a shared server is good enough for our purposes.

3. Our plan has no bandwidth limitations. You can download and upload as much data as you like.

4. The hosting company offers 99% uptime.

5. The hosting plan offers free daily backups.

6. I think we need to change the host of our company. . There’s been too much downtime lately.

a. the time during which a server is not in operation

b. copies of data in case the original is lost or damaged

c. data transfer capacity

d. a computer used for hosting multiple websites

e. a single computer exclusively reserved for hosting a website

f. the time during which a server is in operation

What type of hosting plan does your company use? What’s the service like?

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4 Listening for gist

You are going to listen to a dialogue about different types of hosting options for businesses. While
listening tick items that you hear in the conversation.

1. downtime

2. backups

3. shared server

4. bandwidth

5. uptime

6. dedicated server

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5 Listening comprehension

You are going to listen to the recording again. While listening choose the correct answer.

1. What is the main difference between a shared server and a dedicated server?

a. A shared server is exclusively for one website while a dedicated server is for multiple websites.

b. A shared server is for multiple websites while a dedicated server is exclusively for one website.

c. A shared server is cheaper than a dedicated server.

d. A shared server has more control and customisation options than a dedicated server.

2. Which option would be more reliable in terms of downtime?

a. shared server

b. dedicated server

c. both options are equally

d. it depends on the daily backups

3. What is the main concern of person A in this conversation?

a. the cost of hosting

b. the control and customisation

c. the reliability of the hosting

d. the bandwidth

4. Are daily backups offered for both shared and dedicated servers?

a. yes

b. no

c. only for shared servers

d. only for dedicated servers

5. What is the final decision of Person A about the hosting option?

a. shared server

b. dedicated server

c. it’s not specified

d. not decided yet

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6 Vocabulary: web design

Part A: James is a junior website designer. His boss wants him to make a few changes to the company
website. Complete his boss’ questions below.

cluttered font live play pop-ups

scrolling showing up stand out user-friendly

1. Can you make the headers a bit more? I can’t see them very clearly.

2. Make sure that you check the site on different browsers before we finally go .

3. This page is not very . I don’t understand what to do.

4. Try to with the colours a little more. At the moment, they’re a bit
inconsistent.

5. I don’t like this . Can you use Arial instead?

6. Instead of creating a long page that requires extensive , can you

break it up into multiple pages?

7. Can you get rid of the ? People find them very annoying.

8. The images are not . Can you fix that?

9. The content on the page is a bit . Can you include some white
spaces?

Part B: Answer any of the questions below.

1. What kind of website would you consider to be user-friendly?

2. What website features do you find annoying?
3. What are some of your favourite websites? Why?
4. Have you ever designed a website? Was it easy?
5. How has web design changed in recent years?

7 Vocabulary: describing technology

Part A: Study the following adjectives and put them into the correct categories below.

buggy clunky efficient lightweight outdated powerful

seamless sophisticated state-of-the-art user-friendly versatile vulnerable

1. positive:

2. negative:

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Part B: Complete the sentences below. More than one answer may be possible.

1. If you don’t install a firewall, your network will be very .

2. Computers that were in the 1990s are completely

nowadays.

3. The new version of this software is a bit . Some of the features

don’t work at all.

4. Some employees are refusing to use software made for desktop

computers. They want mobile access to corporate data.

5. Mobile devices are extremely these days. There are apps for almost
anything!

6. Modern laptops are very compared to 15 years ago. You can carry
them in a small bag.

7. Nowadays, there are many apps that allow access to the same data
from your mobile device or your computer.

8 Listening
Part A: You are going to listen to a podcast about choosing the best software for a business. While
listening choose the correct answer to the following question.

1. Which of the following is NOT a key factor to consider when choosing software for a business?

a. Efficiency

b. Versatility

c. Sophistication

d. Security

e. None of the above

Part B: Listen to the recording again and decide if the following sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. Businesses should be looking for software that is lightweight and easy to use.

2. Outdated software can be a real problem for businesses because it leaves companies vulnerable
to security threats.

3. Businesses should be looking for software that is sophisticated.

4. It’s important to regularly review the software that you’re using and make sure that it still meets
the needs of your business.

5. The host of the podcast recommends not updating the software that a business is using.

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9 Troubleshooting

Match the IT problems below to the possible solutions or diagnoses. What typical IT problems do
you encounter in your work?

1. The company server has crashed.

2. My email client has frozen.

3. There’s been too much downtime lately.

4. My computer has been infected with a virus. Nothing works anymore.

5. The printer isn’t printing in colour anymore.

a. You may need to reboot your computer.

b. It might be out of toner.

c. It may have overheated again.

d. We may have to consider changing our hosting provider.

e. I’m afraid you’ll have to reinstall your operating system.

10 Talking point: roleplay

You are going to roleplay as an IT worker solving six different technical issues. You have to explain
solutions in as much detail as possible.

problem solution/diagnoses roleplay question

1) slow computer performance check for malware and run a You are an IT support
scan representative and a customer
is calling to report that their
computer is running very slow.
What steps would you suggest
they take to diagnose and fix
the problem?

2) network connection issues check the router and network You are an IT technician
cable connections visiting a customer’s office.
They are reporting difficulty
connecting to the internet.
What steps would you take to
diagnose and fix the problem?

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3) printer not working check the printer’s You are an IT support

connectivity and software representative and a customer
is calling to report that their
printer is not working. What
steps would you suggest they
take to diagnose and fix the
problem?

4) frequent system crashes check for hardware or You are an IT consultant and a
software issues customer is reporting that
their computer frequently
crashes. What steps would
you take to diagnose and fix
the problem?

5) email not working check the email server, You are an IT support
Internet connection, and email representative and a customer
settings is calling to report that their
email is not working. What
steps would you suggest they
take to diagnose and fix the
problem?

6) data loss check for backup or recover You are an IT technician and a
lost data customer is reporting that
they have lost important data.
What steps would you take to
diagnose and fix the problem?

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Transcripts

4. Listening for gist

Person A: Hello, I am interested in setting up a website for my business. Can you tell me more about
the different types of hosting options available?

Person B: Sure, we offer both shared and dedicated server options. A shared server is when multiple
websites are hosted on the same server, while a dedicated server is exclusively for one
website. With a dedicated server, you have more control and customisation options, but
it also tends to be more expensive.

Person A: I see. In terms of downtime, which option would be more reliable?

Person B: A dedicated server typically has less downtime because it is only dedicated to your
website and not shared with other websites. However, we also offer daily backups for
both shared and dedicated servers to ensure minimal downtime in case of any issues.

Person A: That’s great to know. Another thing I am concerned about is bandwidth. How does that
work with a shared server?

Person B: With a shared server, bandwidth is shared among all the websites hosted on that server.
So, if one website experiences high traffic, it can affect the bandwidth available for the
other websites. With a dedicated server, you have a dedicated amount of bandwidth.

Person A: I think I understand. Can you give me a moment to consider which option would be best
for my business?

Person B: Of course, take your time. Let me know if you have any further questions or need any
assistance

Person A: Thank you, I appreciate your help. I think a dedicated server would be the best option for
us.

Person B: Great choice. We can definitely set that up for you. Let’s go over the details and get your
website up and running as soon as possible.

8. Listening

Host: Welcome back to the tech talk podcast. Today, we’re going to be discussing the
latest trends in technology and what to look out for when choosing software
for your business.

Guest (non-native): Thanks for having me, it’s great to be here.

Host: So, let’s start off by talking about the importance of efficiency in software. What
should businesses be looking for when it comes to efficient software?

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Guest: Well, efficiency is key when it comes to software. Businesses should be looking
for software that is lightweight and easy to use. No one wants to deal with a
buggy or clunky software that takes forever to load. Users should be able to
navigate the software easily, without feeling overwhelmed.

Host: That’s definitely a good point. And what about the issue of outdated software?

Guest: Outdated software can be a real problem for businesses. Not only is it less
efficient, but it can also leave companies vulnerable to security threats. It’s
important to make sure that the software you’re using is up to date and that
regular updates are being released.

Host: Absolutely, security is a huge concern for businesses these days. And what
about the issue of sophistication?

Guest: Sophistication is definitely something to consider when choosing software.

While some businesses may need state-of-the-art, highly sophisticated
software, others may only need something that is user-friendly and versatile. It’s
important to identify the specific needs of your business and choose software
that meets those needs.

Host: That’s great advice. So, to sum it up, businesses should be looking for software
that is efficient, up-to-date, user-friendly and versatile.

Guest: Exactly, and it’s also important to keep in mind that technology is constantly
evolving, so it’s important to regularly review the software that you’re using and
make sure that it still meets the needs of your business.

Host: Thanks for joining us today, it’s been a pleasure having you on the show.

Guest: Thank you for having me, it was a great conversation.

Host: And that’s a wrap for this episode of the tech talk podcast. Join us next time for
more discussions on the latest trends in technology. Thank you for listening.

Guest: Thank you.

Host: Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a rating if you enjoyed the show. Until next
time, stay tech-savvy.

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Key

1. Warm up

5 mins.
This is an opportunity for students to express what they already know about the subject. Encourage them to share
their knowledge and opinions.

1. Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer, such as a processor, memory, and storage. Software,
on the other hand, refers to the instructions and data that a computer runs and processes.
2. An example of hardware in a computer is the central processing unit (CPU), which is the "brain" of the computer
and processes instructions.
3. An example of a software program commonly used for word processing is Microsoft Word.
4. Hardware and software work together in a computer by allowing the hardware to run the software. The
hardware provides the physical components necessary for the software to execute its instructions and process
data.
5. Keeping both hardware and software up to date is important because it ensures that the computer is
running efficiently and securely. Software updates often include security patches, and new hardware can
improve performance. Furthermore, new updates for software can bring new features and improvements in their
functionality.

2. Hardware and software

Part A:
3 mins.
Students categorise the expression as hardware or software. They may need more of your help as some of the
phrases might be unknown. You can introduce the most difficult ones before starting the exercise.
CMS - Content Management System
driver - software that controls a device, e.g. a printer
spreadsheet - a computer program such as Microsoft Excel
email client - a computer program used to access and manage a user’s email, e.g. Microsoft Outlook
VoIP (Voice over IP) application - a voice communication application such as Skype

1. HARDWARE: server ≀ router ≀ USB port ≀ cable ≀ touchpad

2. SOFTWARE: CMS ≀ driver ≀ operating system ≀ spreadsheet ≀ text editor ≀ VoIP
application ≀ email client
Part B:
2 mins.
Ask students to discuss the questions in pairs or small groups. Circulate and help as needed.

3. Vocabulary: web hosting

5 mins.
Students try to guess the meaning of the underlined words by matching them with the definitions. Let them do it
on their own first, then, they can check it in pairs.

1. → e. 2. → d. 3. → c. 4. → f. 5. → b. 6. → a.

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4. Listening for gist

5 mins.
This allows students to listen to the audio for the first time and get a general idea of the content ahead of the
comprehension task.

1. ✓ downtime
2. ✓ backups
3. ✓ shared server
4. ✓ bandwidth
6. ✓ dedicated server

5. Listening comprehension

5 mins.
Ask students to read the questions carefully and then play the recording again, students choose the correct
answers.

1. b. 2. b. 3. c. 4. a. 5. b.

6. Vocabulary: web design

Part A:
3 mins.
Students complete gapped sentences with given phrases. They should try doing it unaided first.

1. stand out 2. live 3. user-friendly 4. play 5. font

6. scrolling 7. pop-ups 8. showing up 9. cluttered
Part B:
2 mins.
After completing the gaps students answer questions in pairs using vocabulary that was introduced in this lesson.
Depending on the time they may answer all of them or just a few.

7. Vocabulary: describing technology

Part A:
5 mins.
Students categorise adjectives according to their positive/negative meaning, but you may need to first introduce
a few unfamiliar words:
clunky - old and not working well
seamless - having no awkward transitions, interruptions, or indications of disparity
versatile - able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities

1. POSITIVE: sophisticated ≀ user-friendly ≀ state-of-the-art ≀ efficient ≀ lightweight ≀ versatile ≀ seamless

≀ powerful

2. NEGATIVE: buggy ≀ clunky ≀ outdated ≀ vulnerable

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Part B:
5 mins.
Now students complete the gapped sentences with words from Part A. In some cases, there may be more than
one answer correct.

1. vulnerable
2. state-of-the-art/sophisticated ≀ outdated
3. buggy
4. clunky/outdated
5. versatile
6. lightweight
7. seamless/efficient

8. Listening

5 mins.
Students listen to the recording once, focusing on answering the question for general understanding.

1. c.
5 mins.
Students should think of synonyms for key words in the questions. The answers will appear in the same order as
the questions.

1. True - "Businesses should be looking for software that is lightweight and easy to use."
2. True - "Outdated software can be a real problem for businesses. Not only is it less efficient, but it can also leave
companies vulnerable to security threats."
3. False - "It’s important to identify the specific needs of your business and choose software that meets those
needs."
4. True - "...it’s important to regularly review the software that you’re using and make sure that it still meets the
needs of your business."
5. False - "...businesses should be looking for software that is efficient, up to date, user-friendly and versatile."

9. Troubleshooting

5 mins.
Ask students to match IT problems with solutions. Then, they should answer the question of what problems they
might have at work and what solutions they would implement.

1. → c. 2. → a. 3. → d. 4. → e. 5. → b.

10. Talking point: roleplay

5 mins.
You can divide your students into pairs or small groups giving them one question to elaborate on, or alternatively,
you can give each student a different question to work on, and have them explain their solution to their groups.

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