IELTS Speaking Lesson about Computers
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Computers: Free Audio File
Table of Contents
IELTS Speaking Vocabulary: Computers
When we talk about using computers in IELTS Speaking here is some essential language to getting started.
To turn on
To switch on
To start up
To reboot = to turn on again
To re-start = to turn on again
To turn off your computer
To turn on sleep mode
We can use the following phrases to tell people what kind of computer we have.
- I have a Lenovo laptop
- I have a [brand / make] laptop / computer
- I’ve got a desktop
- I have a PC
- I have a MAC
- I tend to (=often/usually) use a tablet or a smartphone
Adjectives to describe computers
- A hefty laptop = big and heavy
- A clunky laptop = big and old fashioned
- A bulky desktop = takes up a lot of space
In contrast to the above adjectives, we have the following which are more positive.
- A slick tablet = thin, fashionable, nice-looking
- A lightweight laptop = not heavy
- A nifty laptop = small and fashionable
Activities
- Download and install new software
- Install the latest updates
- Download an application (an app)
- Upload a file
- To back up your computer (copy your data)
- To make a backup of files
- Turn on / off your firewall (to protect you from viruses)
Binomials:
A binomial is where we put two nouns together, separated with the word ‘and’.
For example,
Black and white
Neat and tidy
Notice the ‘and’ is pronounced /ən/
These are some common binomials related to computers.
Copy and paste
Cut and paste
Drag and drop
Uses of Computers
Most Common Mistakes
- “I use laptop for watch movies” ☹️
The mistake here is that we need the article ‘a’ before the noun.
Also if a preposition is followed by a verb, that verb needs to be a gerund, i.e. ending in ING.
So, the correct sentences are:
I use a laptop for watching movies
I use my laptop for watching movies
I use a laptop to watch movies
- “I have only smartphone” ☹️
The mistake here is that the adverb ‘only’ should go before the verb ‘have’ and again we need the article ‘a’ before the noun.
So, the correct sentences are:
I only have a smartphone
I’ve only got a smartphone
There are lots of ways of talking about how we use computers, including the following:
- I use my laptop to watch movies
OR
I make use of it to ____
do some research
follow the news
play games
check my Facebook status
OR
I use it for __+ verb ING___
I use it for watching movies
OR
It’s really handy for _____ (=convenient)
OR
It comes in handy for ______ (=to be convenient)
watching movies
coding
preparing presentations
surfing the Internet
shopping online
OR
I use /z/ it _+ noun____
for work
for work stuff
for business
for personal use /s/
for educational purposes
for almost everything
Challenges of using computers
Here are some ideas, phrases and language we can use to talk about the challenges of using computers.
- They do exactly what you tell them, not what you want them to do!
- They are so fragile and easy to break
- The battery can run out too quickly
- They often have compatibility issues, so I can’t share Mac Pages with a Windows computer.
- Insufficient storage space can be problematic
- Glitches can be a problem
_____ can be a problem
____ can be problematic
Idioms to talk about computers
- I feel brain dead = I can no longer focus
- I feel sluggish = I feel slow and without energy
- I need to get my brain in gear = to start focussing and concentrating
- I have just had a brainwave = a great idea
- Can you say it layman’s terms? = say it simply please!
- Cut out the jargon, please! = don’t use technical words!
- I like to surf the net = to browse the Internet
- I am not that tech savvy = I don’t know much about computers
- The internet connection is a bit hit and miss today = not very stable
More Free Lessons
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