Open World p 78. Progress Check

 Do Ex 1

Open World p 77. Computer Helpdesk Conversations. Listening

Script

Track 040

Conversation 1

Customer: Hi. I'm having problems with resetting my password. Could you help me please?

Tech Support: Sure. What exactly seems to be the problem?

Customer: Well, first of all, when I try to enter my old password, the system says it's not recognised.

I've checked it three times and I keep getting the same message.

Tech Support: OK. Is Caps Lock on? Don't forget that passwords are case-sensitive.

Customer: Oh, that hadn't occurred to me. Hold on ...

Yes, you were right. I feel so foolish.

Tech Support: Not to worry. You're not the first person to make that mistake and I'm sure you won't be the last.

Would you like me to stay on the line while you change your password?

Customer: Well, if you wouldn't mind. OK, new password ...

Oh, now that's not working.

Tech Support: Just to check, you also need to include a symbol in there somewhere, you know like a question mark or something.

Customer: Oh, I see. So if I add in, say, an asterisk at the end, that should work.

Let me give that a go ...

... yes, that's it. Brilliant. Thanks a lot.

Tech Support: Don't mention it.

Conversation 2

Customer: Hi. I think my computer's been infected by a virus.

It's got really slow and it's difficult to download stuff.

Tech Support: OK, let me check a few things with you.

Have you recently installed any new software on your computer or have you opened any email attachments from people you don't know?

Customer: No. I am very careful to make sure anything I install is from a reputable source and I know the risks in opening unknown attachments with regards to malware and so on.

Tech Support: OK, good. Let's take a different approach then.

Have you tried closing down any other computer programmes that you have running in the background?

Customer: No, how do I do that?

Tech Support: Click on Control, Alt and Delete all at the same time to access Task Manager.

There are some tabs along the top.

First click on Apps and close any you're not using. Then do the same with Processes.

Customer: OK, anything else?

Tech Support: Yes, it's best if you restart your computer before trying to use it again. That should do the trick.

If not, call me back on the same extension number you used. I may need to remotely access your computer.

Conversation 3

Customer: Hello. I'm calling because I'm having trouble with your online payment portal.

It was working OK on my PC but now I want to use it on my phone.

I've downloaded the app but I can't seem to make a payment.

Tech Support: OK. Go to Settings and select Apps. Can you see our App there?

Customer: OK, bear with me a moment ... Yes, I've got it. What now?

Tech Support: OK. We're going to delete it and reinstall it.

So, what are the options you can see for the app?

Customer: There are only two: Uninstall or Force Stop.

Tech Support: Right. Click on uninstall.

Now go to the App store and search for our App. Click download.

Customer: OK, I'm doing that now.

OK, done.

Tech Support: Good. Now open the App and go to the drop-down menu.

Click on 'add user information'. You need to enter your name, address and card details and set up a password.

After you've done that, restart your phone and you should be able to make your payments.

Give us another call if you have any further problems.

 

Vocabulary:

case-sensitive: a program which is case-sensitive recognizes the difference between capital letters and small letters.

E.g.

Don't forget that passwords are case-sensitive. 

 

malware: software such as a virus specifically designed to damage or gain access to a computer system without the user knowing. Sp. programa maligno.

E.g.

the threat posed by malware     

How to protect yourself against malware.     

This program will scan for malware and remove it from your computer.

 

tab: an additional document or page that can be opened on computer software. Sp. pestaña

E.g.

You can easily switch between tabs. 

 

do the trick ​(informal) to succeed in solving a problem or achieving a particular result.

E.g.

I don't know what it was that did the trick, but I am definitely feeling much better. 

portal: /ˈpɔːtl/ a website that is used as a point of entry to the internet, where information has been collected that will be useful to a person interested in particular kinds of things.

E.g.

a business/news/shopping portal

can't seem: try unsuccessfully. Sp. parecer imposible
I can't seem to (= I've tried, but I can't) get started today. 

 

bear with somebody/something  ​to be patient with somebody/something.

E.g.

She's under a lot of strain. Just bear with her. If you will bear with me (= be patient and listen to me) a little longer, I'll answer your question. 

 

drop-down menu (also drop-down, drop-down list): a menu that appears on a computer screen when you choose it, and that stays there until you choose one of the functions on it. Sp. desplegable.

E.g.

Select your country of residence from the drop-down list.

Open World p 74. New Technologies. Listening

Script

Narrator: Extract one. You hear two friends talking about Bitcoin, a type of digital currency.

Male: I've been wondering whether I should buy some Bitcoin.

Female: Mmm, well, at one point the price of Bitcoin fell over 80% within just a few months.

So, I suppose it depends whether you could stand to lose that money.

If you can, go ahead. You might just make a profit.

Male: Well, what I've read is that if you educate yourself and follow a few simple rules, you can reduce your risk.

For example, there are different exchanges you can buy from and you need to make sure you buy from one with a proven reputation.

Then, it's advisable not to leave your Bitcoins on the exchange, but move them into your own personal online wallet.

Female: Well, I don't doubt that's true but however many safeguards you put in place, you can still get drawn into some very sophisticated scams.

For instance, a friend of mine, a real tech wiz, was persuaded by an online friend to join a scheme which promised to double his Bitcoin.

Sure enough, for the first month or so, he was getting what he had been promised.

But suddenly the website just vanished - along with his money.

And that guy supposedly knew what he was doing.






Narrator: Extract two. You hear two friends talking about online crime.

Female: Would you say the internet has made it easier to commit crimes like fraud?

Male: Absolutely! The internet definitely facilitates crime and also diversifies criminal activity.

In the past, there was a limit to what fraudsters could accomplish, but now the number of ways to trick people out of their money is almost limitless.

Female: But don't you think people in general need to wise-up?

If they weren't so greedy, they wouldn't fall for these scams.

I mean, say someone sends you an email, a letter or whatever saying you've won a prize in a competition that, by the way, you didn't enter, but you need to send money to claim your prize ... surely you'd be suspicious ...

Male: Well, you do have a point there, but some people are very trusting.

For instance, imagine a woman in her 80s. All her life she has taken people at face value.

A poor old lady like that is a gift to these tricksters.

It's vulnerable people like that that need to be protected.

Female: Yes, well, I can't argue with that.

I'd support the harshest penalties being given to people who exploit the weaknesses of others like that.




Narrator: Extract three. You hear two friends discussing the use of robots.



Male: So, do you think using robots in the workplace enhances the work environment?

Female: Well, they certainly have the edge over humans in some areas.

Think about going into a radioactive zone after a leak in a nuclear reactor, for example.

And there are some jobs, like cleaning the sewers, that are intolerable for humans but robots don't feel disgust and can't smell, so they are not bothered.

Male: Yes, you've got a point there, but what I've heard is that the jobs for humans that operate alongside robots have become less challenging and actually rather tedious.

I'll give you an example. I read about a man who used to deliver materials within a huge factory.

He really enjoyed his job as he moved around and got to know everyone in different departments.

Then a robot took his job.

He was stuck in one place, doing one boring part of the process the robot couldn't handle.

His job satisfaction plummeted.

Female: That's a fair point and it is unfortunate, but I'm also sure it boosted productivity.

It's like in farming. A lot of the poetry and interaction has gone but overall more is produced.

So, what's more important?

 

Vocabulary

safeguard (against something) something that is designed to protect people from harm, risk or danger.

E.g.

Stronger legal safeguards are needed to protect the consumer. 

The measures have been introduced as a safeguard against fraud.


as a safeguard against ... Sp. como defensa contra ... 

 

put in place: implement.

E.g. The school has put measures in place to ensure no stranger can gain access to the building. 

 

draw into: involve. Sp. involucrar

E.g. Don't draw me into your problems!

 

whiz, whizz, wiz: expert, skilled person. Sp. genio

E.g.

My little sister's a real computer whiz. 

 

scheme: /skiːm/ a plan or system for doing or organizing something.

E.g. 

a local scheme for recycling newspapers

 

sure enough ​used to say that something happened as expected. Sp. efectivamente

E.g.

I said he'd forget, and sure enough he did. 

‘Stop,’ she said, ‘I can hear something.’ Sure enough, in the distance we could hear the sound of a car 

approaching

wise up (to something) ​(informal) to become aware of the unpleasant truth about a situation. Sp. abrir los ojos.

E.g.

Consumers need to wise up to the effect that advertising has on them.

Wise up and sort yourselves out before it's too late.

 

fall for something to be tricked into believing something that is not true. Sp. dejarse engañar por.

E.g.

I'm surprised you fell for that trick.

 

have aˈpoint (there) have made a good suggestion; have a good idea.

E.g.

He's got a point there; if you sell the house now you'll lose money, so why not wait till next year?

 

trusting: tending to believe that other people are good, honest, etc. Sp. confiado.

E.g.

If you're too trusting, other people will take advantage of you. 

 

take someone or something at face value: to accept someone or something just as it appears; to believe that the way things appear is the way they really are.

E.g.

It's hard to take Jeff at face value when he's been caught lying in the past.

He means what he says. You have to take him at face value. 

I take everything he says at face value.

You can't take what she says at face value: she always has an agenda. Sp. No puedes tomar todo lo que dice al pie de la letra; ella siempre tiene intenciones ocultas.

 

harsh: cruel, severe and unkind. Sp. duro, severo.

E.g. 

The punishment was harsh and unfair. 

The minister received some harsh criticism. 

the harsh treatment of prisoners 

He regretted his harsh words. 

We had to face up to the harsh realities of life sooner or later. It may seem harsh to criticize him after his death.

 

penalty: punishment. Sp. castigo.

E.g. The penalty for your crimes is ten years' imprisonment.

 

exploit: /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ take advantage of . Sp. explotar, abusar.

E.g.

Corporations systematically exploited their workers until they formed labour unions

 

have the edge over: to have an advantage over one. 

E.g.

I've been preparing for this debate for weeks so that I have the edge over my opponent  

 

disgust: physical revulsion Sp. repugnancia, asco.

E.g.

The idea fills me with disgust.

 

overall: in general.

E.g.

Overall, he did a fairly good job.

 

Open World p 74. Exam Focus

 Do the Reading and Use of English Part 4 Ex

 

be at a loss to be confused and uncertain about what to do or say  

E.g.

When her son finally left home, Emily felt completely at a loss.

be at a loss to do something  Detectives are so far at a loss to explain the reason for his death.  

He seemed, for once, at a loss for words (=unable to think what to say). 

She was at a loss to explain what had happened.   Sp.   Estaba confundida intentando explicar qué había sucedido

what are you, was he, etc. getting at?  ​(informal) used to ask, especially in an angry way, what somebody is/was suggesting. If you ask someone what they are getting at, you are asking them to explain what they mean, usually because you think that they are being unpleasant or are suggesting something that is untrue. 'What are you getting at now?'

E.g.

I'm partly to blame? What exactly are you getting at?

what you’re / he’s is getting at Sp. lo que quieres/quiere decir, lo que estás/está insinuando.

 



interest: a good result or an advantage for somebody/something.

E.g.
The union is working to protect the interests of its members.
to promote/defend somebody's interests
Tough talk doesn't always serve your interests.
I was voted in to represent the interests of my constituents.
You can't blame them for looking after their own interests.
in somebody's interest(s) She was acting entirely in her own interests.
These reforms were in the best interests of local government.
It is in the public interest that these facts are made known.
against somebody's interests The policy is clearly working against the interests of consumers.
It is crucial to our national interest to keep stability in the region.

Open World p 73. Reading and Use of English Part 4

Do Ex 1

KEY

There isn't a chance of repairing/ There is no chance of repairing

Do Ex 2

Do Ex 3

Do Ex 4

Do Ex 6

Open World p 67. Vocabulary

 Do Ex 4

speed up to move or happen faster, or to make something move or happen faster. OPP slow down.

E.g.

The truck speeded up going down the hill.

speed something ↔ up:  The new system will speed up the registration process. 

 

back up: to make a copy of information stored on a computer.

E.g.

Make sure you back up.

back something ↔ up:  These devices can back up the whole system.

back something ↔ up onto something:  Back all your files up onto a storage device or Cloud 

backup: (N) a copy of a computer document, program etc, which is made in case the original becomes lost or damaged.

E.g.

Make a backup of any work you do on the computer

go down: if a computer goes down, it stops working for a short time. Sp. caerse (sistema, red, ordenador)

E.g.  If one of the file servers goes down, you lose the whole network.

lock somebody ↔ out to keep someone out of a place by locking the door 

E.g.

I locked myself out of the house!

Open World p 66. Science and Technology. Extra Speaking

 

 

A Have a conversation as natural as possible with a partner about the topic. Use the pictures above and the questions below to help you.

1. What major technological breakthrough do you think has had the greatest impact on society? Why? In what ways has technology improved our lives? In what ways has it made life worse?

2. Imagine that you could only use one of the following: a computer, a telephone, or a car. Which one would you use and why?

3. Do computers save time or do they make us waste more time? If you had the possibility to only work from your house via a computer, would you do it? What would be the benefits and the drawbacks? Has a computer virus ever wreaked havoc on your laptop?

4. What would the world be like without the Internet? Do you remember the first time you used it?

5. What role do the new technologies play in education nowadays? Have traditional teaching methods outlived their usefulness? How do children learn best? Can children learn almost anything through video games? Or do you think that video games are a slippery slope? Have you ever been so intent on playing a computer game that you forgot to do something? Do you know anybody who is so intent on gaming that video games take priority over other interests? What will the classroom of the future look like?

6. What aspects of new technologies are Spanish people most attracted to? Why?
7. What technological gadgets or apps have taken off in Spain? Why? 

8. What are the uses of AI in Spain? Have Spanish people embraced it? What are the pros and cons of AI? Is it ethically correct to create replicas of human beings? Do our moral values allow us to recreate intelligence?  Do you think AI could pave the way for a better world? Or do you think AI represents the thin end of the wedge? Can you think of any big questions that are left hanging?

9. What characterises an ardent technophile and an inveterate technophobe?

10. What memes do you know that have gone viral? 

11. How can you deliberately design content which has a high chance of going viral? 

12. Have any of your files ever been corrupted? Do you make a point of backing them up regularly?

B MONOLOGUE

Student A 

1. Do we make a good use of mobiles? Do smartphones provide a stimulus for learning? Are smartphones making us smarter? or can they be counterproductive? What benefits can derive from using a mobile phone? Do you think landline phones may one day disappear?

2. Do Spanish companies offer their employees the possibility of working from home via a computer? What are its benefits and drawbacks?

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of social networking sites like Facebook or Instagram?  

 

Student B
1. Could Spanish children live without the Internet? How important is it for them? How has the Internet changed the way Spanish people live? What aspects of new technologies do Spanish people struggle to get to grips with?

2. What do you use the Internet for? How often do you access the Internet? How much time do you spend online? How has the Internet changed the world? What is the best thing about the Internet? What annoys you about it?

3. What are your favourite Internet sites? Would you recommend them? Why? 

Vocabulary:

wreak something (on somebody/something) to do great damage or harm to somebody/something.

E.g.

Their policies would wreak havoc on the economy.

havoc: a situation in which things are seriously damaged, destroyed or very confused.

E.g.

The floods caused havoc throughout the area.
Continuing strikes are beginning to play havoc with the national economy.
These insects can wreak havoc on crops.

 

the/a slippery slope      ​a course of action that is difficult to stop once it has begun, and can lead to serious problems or disaster.

E.g.

She realized he was on the slippery slope towards a life of crime.

 

intent on/upon something giving all your attention to something. Sp absorto.

E.g.

I was so intent on my work that I didn't notice the time.     

The bright brown eyes were intent on Marie.     

She was very intent on her work 

pave the way (for somebody/something)      ​to create a situation in which somebody will be able to do something or something can happen. Sp. allanar el camino.

E.g.

This decision paved the way for changes in employment rights for women.

the thin end of the wedge      ​(especially British English) an event or action that is the beginning of something more serious and/or unpleasant. Sp. el principio de algo peor.

E.g.

The introduction of a tax on workplace parking is seen by many as the thin end of the wedge.

leave hanging (also, leave hanging in the air or in midair). Keep undecided, uncertain, or in suspense. Sp, dejar en el aire.

E.g.

Since we hadn't found a big enough hall, we left the final date hanging.

She couldn't figure out a good ending for the book, so her audience was left hanging in midair

ardent: very enthusiastic and showing strong feelings about something/somebody. Synonym: passionate. Sp. apasionado.

E.g.

an ardent supporter of European unity.

corrupt (something)  /kəˈrʌpt/ (computing) to cause mistakes to appear in a computer file, etc. with the result that the information in it is no longer correct; (of a computer file, etc.) to start containing mistakes.

E.g.

The program has somehow corrupted the system files.     

A virus has corrupted the data and now it's useless

back something up      ​(computing) to prepare a second copy of a file, program, etc. that can be used if the main one fails or needs extra support. Sp. realizar una copia de seguridad.

E.g.

It's a good idea to back up your files onto a memory stick.

counterproductive: having the opposite effect to the one that was intended. Sp. contraproducente.

E.g.

Increases in taxation would be counterproductive.

 

come/get to grips with something    ​to begin to understand and deal with something difficult.

E.g.

I'm slowly getting to grips with the language. 

They have so far failed to come to grips with the ecological problems.

Useful language:

Vocabulary about the internet


surf the Net/Internet: 




to use the Internet. E.g. I was surfing the Net looking for information on Indian music.



ego-surfing:  



the activity of searching the Internet to find places where your own name has been mentioned.



silver surfer:  



an old person who spends a lot of time using the Internet. 



browse (something) 





(computing) to look for or to look at information on a computer, especially on the Internet or a specific website. E.g. I spent the whole evening just browsing on the Internet. I browsed the website for information about the event but didn’t find anything useful.



hook up: 



to connect somebody/something to a piece of electronic equipment, to a power supply or to the Internet. E.g.  Check that the computer is hooked up to the printer. A large proportion of the nation's households are hooked up to the Internet. 



lurk:  



to read a discussion in a chat room, etc. on the Internet, without taking part in it yourself.



netizen:  



a person who uses the Internet a lot. 



webhead: 



 a person who uses the Internet a lot.  


cyberbully: 



 /ˈsaɪbəbʊli/ a person who uses messages on social networking sites, emails, text messages, etc. to frighten or upset somebody. E.g. Fortunately, the victim reported the cyberbully to the moderator and the offensive messages were removed from the message board.



cyberbullying: 



 /ˈsaɪbəbʊliɪŋ/ the activity of using messages on social networking sites, emails, text messages, etc. to frighten or upset somebody. E.g. The school provides guidance for parents on how to deal with issues such as cyberbullying.



netiquette:  



the rules of correct or polite behaviour among people using the Internet.



troll:  



a message to a discussion group on the Internet that somebody deliberately sends to make other people angry; a person who sends a message like this.  

Vocabulary about phones

nomophobia:



/ˌnəʊməʊˈfəʊbɪə/ a state of stress caused by having no access to or being unable to use one’s mobile phone.


text: 



/tekst/ to send somebody a written message using a mobile/cell phone. E.g. Text me when you're on your way. Kids seem to be texting non-stop these days. I'll text you the final score.




hands-free set / kit: 



Sp. manos libres



missed call: 



Sp. llamada perdida.



send s.o. a missed call/give s.o. a missed call/ missed call s.o./ drop call s.o./ prank s.o./ give s.o. a prank call/ one bell s.o./ call s.o. and hang up: 



Sp. dar un toque 



Phone charger: 



Sp. cargador de batería
 


Low battery
 


Dead battery



Touch screen: 



noun(computing) a computer screen which allows you to give instructions to the computer by touching areas on it.



turn on/set airplane, vibrate or silent/mute mode. If you could all mute your phones, that'd be great. You may unmute your phones now.



There’s no signal / reception/ out of range: 



Sp. no hay cobertura



To be breaking up: 



when a person who is talking on a mobile/cell phone breaks up, you can no longer hear them clearly because the signal has been interrupted. Sp. se va el sonido, la voz; se corta la conversación.
 


Cut off: 



to interrupt somebody who is speaking on the telephone by breaking the connection. E.g. We were cut off in the middle of our conversation.



Engaged/ busy:  


  
The line is busy.



Handset: 



1. Mobile phone; 2. The part of a desktop telephone that contains the speaker and the microphone.



swipe (something) (on/across something) 



to move your finger quickly across the screen of an electronic device such as a mobile/cell phone or small computer in order to move text, pictures, etc. or give commands. E.g. Switch on the phone and swipe your finger across the screen to unlock it.



smiley: 



a simple picture or series of keyboard symbols :-) that represents a smiling face. The symbols are used, for example, in email or text messages to show that the person sending the message is pleased or joking.



emoticon: 



 /ɪˈməʊtɪkɒn/ a short set of keyboard symbols that represents the expression on somebody’s face, used in email, etc. to show the feelings of the person sending the message. For example :-) represents a smiling face (when you look at it sideways).   

 
A top-up card: 



tarjeta recargable



To top up: 



recargar el teléfono

 

Call rate: 



tarifa de llamada telefónica.

 

call waiting: 



llamada en espera

 

Contacts / phone book: 



guía

 

Contract : 


de contrato



pay-as-you-go: 



prepago


call forwarding:



Desvío de llamada: 

 

connection fee:



Establecimiento de llamada: 

 

Flat rate/Unmetered access: 



tarifa plana.

 

flip phone: 



móvil que se abre levantando la tapa

 

Hands-free set / kit: 



manos libres

 

Hash key: 



almohadilla.

 

Inbox: 



Buzón de entrada

 

Keypad: 



teclado numérico

 

Keys / buttons: 



teclas

 

landline / home phone: 



teléfono fijo

 

Larga distancia: 



long-distance call.

 

“Long-distance phoning centre”: 



locutorio

 

local call:



llamada urbana:

 
Menu: 



menú


Mobile phone / cell phone (handset): 



móvil.

 

to run out of minutes; not to have any minutes on one’s mobile phone; to run out of credit to call.



No tener saldo:

 

Outbox: 



buzón de salida


 
ring tone: 



tono de llamada

 

Screen: 


pantalla


 
Service provider/ carrier: 



operadora telefónica; compañía telefónica (Orange, Movistar, etc.)


 
to dial: 


marcar

 
to hang up: 



colgar

 

to jailbreak / to unlock a mobile phone: 



liberar un móvil.

 
To give sby a bell/buzz: 



llamar a alguien



voicemail: 


buzón de voz

 
Your credit is about to expire

 
Hold: 


to wait until you can speak to the person you have telephoned: That extension is busy right now. Can you hold? She asked me to hold the line.

 

Put sb/sth 'through (to sb / … ) 



to connect sb by telephone:
Could you put me through to the manager, please?

- Is Mary there?
-Speaking


erase: 



to remove sth completely. Delete.

 
Stylus: 



[ˈstaɪləs](Computer Science) A pointed instrument used as an input device on a pressure-sensitive screen.


Vocabulary about Social Networking


Log in/on: 



to perform the actions that allow you to begin using a computer system. E.g. You need a password to log on.


Log out/off: 



to perform the actions that allow you to finish using a computer system. E.g. Log out before switching the computer off.


Sign up:  



E.g. sign up to our social media.


Befriend:  



 /bɪˈfrend/ befriend somebody to become a friend of somebody, especially somebody who needs your help. E.g.  Shortly after my arrival at the school, I was befriended by an older girl. When did it become normal to befriend people you don’t know on Facebook?


Add a friend: 



E.g. add me as a friend on facebook.


Defriend or unfriend: 



to remove somebody from a list of friends or contacts on a social networking website. E.g. If a Facebook friend suddenly becomes your boss, do you unfriend them? Young adults are more likely to unfriend.


 
Report:  



 to tell a person in authority about a crime, an accident, an illness, etc. or about something bad that somebody has done. E.g. Please keep in mind that reporting something to Facebook doesn't guarantee that it will be removed. You can report inappropriate content on facebook and they will take it down. Report someone I reported him on Facebook for being annoying. 



Block: 



if you want to stop someone from contacting you, you can block them. E.g. When you block someone, they can't see your profile or posts.


 
Friend request: 



E.g. should you accept a friend request from someone you don't know?


 
Mutual friend: 



We have some mutual friends on facebook.


 
Update: 



 to give somebody the most recent information about something; to add the most recent information to something. E.g. Update your status by telling others what you're doing right now. Can you see my latest status update on Facebook?

 
Feed: 



(N) a special feature on a blog, news website, social networking website, etc. that allows you to see new information that has been added without having to visit the website. E.g. News Feed is the constantly updating list of stories in the middle of your Facebook home page.  

Poke: 



 (V) to quickly push your fingers or another object into somebody/something.  In Facebook it is a mechanism for getting someone's attention. E.g. I Facebook poked Wendy two hours ago, but she hasn't poked me back yet!

Poke: 



(N) the action of quickly pushing your fingers or another object into somebody/something. In Facebook it is a mechanism for getting someone's attention. E.g. Have you ever received a poke from someone on Facebook?

like something  



if you like something on a social networking service, news website, blog, etc. you show that you agree with it or that you think it is good by clicking a special button. E.g. By the next morning, over twenty of my friends had liked my new profile picture. Over seven hundred Facebook users have already liked the company’s website.

Like 



(N) if something on a social networking service, news website, blog, etc. receives a like, it means that somebody has shown that they agree with it or think it is good by clicking a special button. E.g. The band now has thousands of likes.

Comment: (V) comment (on/upon something) 



to express an opinion about something. E.g. Thanks everyone who commented on my blog.

comment (about/on something) 



something that you say or write which gives an opinion on or explains somebody/something. E.g. Please email us or leave a comment on our website.

Share: 



E.g. many followers shared my status update. 

follow: 



to choose to regularly receive messages from a person, company, etc. E.g. I don’t follow many celebrities on Twitter any more. 

follower: 


a person who chooses to regularly receive somebody’s messages. E.g. a celebrity with thousands of followers on Twitter. 

followee: 



a person, company, etc. whose messages people choose to receive regularly. E.g. I often use Twitter recommendations to select new followees.  

tweet: 



(N) a message sent using the Twitter social networking service. E.g. He started posting tweets via his cell phone to keep friends and family updated on his progress. He sends too many tweets

tweet: 



(also twitter) (V) tweet/twitter (something) to send a message using the Twitter™ social networking service. E.g. He tweeted that he was very busy. 

retweet: 



if you retweet a message written by another user on the Twitter social networking service, the message can be seen by all of the people who regularly receive messages from you. E.g. I retweeted a tweet from a friend about it. That tweet got retweeted over 500 times.

hashtag: 



a word or phrase with the symbol ‘#’ in front of it, included in some messages sent using the Twitter social networking service so that you can search for all messages with the same subject. E.g. I often use hashtags to search for trending topics.

Facebook: 



(V) 1 to communicate with someone by using the Facebook™ website. E.g. Noticing her healthy hair in a picture the other day, I Facebooked her a compliment. 2 to search for information about someone by using the Facebook™ website. E.g. My curiosity about Lloyd became overwhelming, and within five minutes I had facebooked him and found out where he lived on campus.

Location: 



E.g. turn off location if you do not want to advertise your whereabouts. 

Vocabulary about computers
 


sleek: 



having an elegant smooth shape. Sp. elegante. E.g. a sleek yacht. The sleek lines of the new car. Travel in style with a sleek laptop.



bug: 



 a fault in a machine, especially in a computer system or program.



crash: 



(N) a sudden failure of a machine or system, especially of a computer or computer system. E.g. A systems crash in the morning and a bomb scare in the afternoon provided enough excitement for one day. 



crash: 



(V) crash (something) if a computer crashes or you crash a computer, it stops working suddenly. E.g. Files can be lost if the system suddenly crashes. 



freeze, froze, frozen: 



when a computer screen freezes, you cannot move any of the images, etc. on it, because there is a problem with the system.

scroll: 



to move text on a computer screen up or down so that you can read different parts of it. E.g. Use the arrow keys to scroll through the list of files. Scroll down to the bottom of the document.  

Vocabulary about Email 

 
E-pal: (also e-friend): 



a person that you make friends with by sending emails, often somebody you have never met. E.g. She now has e-pals all over the world.

 

email: (V) 



to send a message to somebody by email. E.g. email (somebody) Patrick emailed me yesterday. Email something (to somebody) I'll email the documents to her. Email somebody something I'll email her the documents.


 
trash: 



E.g. To delete an email, you can move it to Trash


 
spam/junk mail:  



advertising material sent by email to people who have not asked for it


 
CC:  



carbon copy (to) (used on business letters and emails to show that a copy is being sent to another person) E.g. to Luke Peters, cc Janet Gold.


BCC:  



blind carbon copy (to) (used on emails or business letters to show that a copy is being sent to another person whose name and address cannot be seen by the other person or people who receive it).


snail mail: 



 used especially by people who use email to describe the system of sending letters by ordinary mail. 

Vocabulary related to Websites and Blogs 

Google: (V)



to search for something on the Internet, especially using the Google™ search engine. E.g. Last week, with the new year on the horizon, I Googled the top ten resolutions to help me prepare my answer for the question of the day. Having Googled my symptoms, I feared the worst.

googleable, googleability, ungoogleable


 
As online identity became more significant, being googleable (=found when entered as a Google™ search) was considered desirable, which in turn gave us the quality of googleability (=a measure of how easy it is to find someone or something by googling) and the potential to be ungoogleable. 

a blog post/entry

label (V)

label (N)

embed: 



E.g. embed videos

embed code


stream something 



(computing) to play video or sound on a computer by receiving it as a continuous stream, from the Internet for example, rather than needing to wait until the whole of the material has been downloaded. E.g. You can stream the song for a single listen. The programme was streamed on the Web 24 hours a day. He live streamed his party.

 

  

More vocabulary related to science and technology

The cutting edge (of something):  



the newest, most advanced stage in the development of something. Sp. lo más nuevo, lo último. E.g. working at the cutting edge of computer technology.

be all the rage: 



(informal) to be very popular and fashionable. E.g. Fax machines in cars are all the rage in California.

Wearable Technology:  



clothing and accessories incorporating computer and advanced electronic technologies.Sp. Wearable Technologies like Google Glass and Smartwatches are on the rise in personal and business use.

tech-savvy: well informed about or proficient in the use of modern technology, especially computers. E.g. today’s tech-savvy consumers. Kids are pretty tech-savvy these days.
 


 
Savvy: 



/ˈsævi/ practical knowledge or understanding of something. E.g. political savvy.



techie (also techy) 



 /ˈteki/ a person who is expert in or enthusiastic about technology, especially computers. E.g. many techies are often too busy to eat properly.

hack:  



to secretly find a way of looking at and/or changing information on somebody else’s computer system without permission. E.g. hack into something He hacked into the bank's computer. hack something They had hacked secret data.  



phishing: 



the activity of tricking people by getting them to give their identity, bank account numbers, etc. over the Internet or by email, and then using these to steal money from them.



pharming: 



the practice of secretly changing computer files or software so that visitors to a popular website are sent to a different website instead, without their knowledge, where their personal details are stolen and used to steal money from them. 

pirate: 



a person who makes illegal copies of DVDs, computer programs, books, etc., in order to sell them. E.g. a pirate edition. Software pirates.



pirate something 



 to copy and use or sell somebody’s work or a product without permission and without having the right to do so. E.g. pirated computer games. Jones was accused of having pirated the scientist’s work.  

Web 2.0: 



a second stage in the development of the World Wide Web, involving ways of sharing information such as blogs and wikis. It is a term used to describe how the internet has changed in recent years to facilitate greater sharing of personal information and user-operated design. E.g. On the one hand a Web 2.0 site may allow users to interact and collaborate with each other. They can access information about a wide range of topics on Web 2.0 sites. They offer information and data from all over the world. On the other hand, it is necessary to develop skills to evaluate what you find. When you use a research or academic library, the books, journals and other resources have already been evaluated by scholars, publishers and librarians. Inaccurate information can be misleading or even dangerous (health information for example). 



The term Web 3.0 (the “semantic Web”) 



describes sites where computers will be generating raw data on their own.



raw data:  



not yet organized into a form in which it can be easily used or understood. E.g. This information is only raw data and will need further analysis.



For Web 1.0 and 2.0, the Internet is trapped within the physical walls of the computer, but as more devices become connected to the Web, such as smartphones, cars, and other household appliances, the Internet will be set free and become omnipresent. Devices will be able to exchange data among each other and even generate new information (e.g. how Last.fm anticipates what music the user may enjoy based on their previous song selections).  The Internet will be able to perform tasks faster and more efficiently, such as search engines being able to search for the actual individual users interests, and not just for the keyword typed into search engines.  We are not there yet, but we will someday soon, and educators must be prepared because Web 3.0 technology will truly move the classroom beyond the basic lecture and take it to new exciting territories!

MOOC: 



/muːk/ the abbreviation for ‘massive open online course’ (a course of study that is made available over the Internet, usually without charge, to a very large number of people).



gamification 



/ˌɡeɪmɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ the use of elements of game-playing in another activity, usually in order to make that activity more interesting. E.g. The supermarket chain has started using gamification to make food shopping online fun. Gamification is no stranger to the education industry, as I'm sure many of us remember our teachers turning classroom learning into games.



gamify /ˈɡeɪmɪfaɪ/ to use elements of game-playing in another activity, usually in order to make that activity more interesting. E.g. We gamified the online survey by awarding virtual rewards at the end of each section. A gamified classroom engages students while allowing them to learn better. 

 


m-learning 



 /ˈem lɜːnɪŋ/ (also mobile learning) a system of learning that uses mobile devices such as mobile/cell phones, small computers and tablets that can be carried, etc. so that people can learn anywhere at any time. 

 


Flipped classroom: 



In a flipped classroom model, students watch online lectures, collaborate in online discussions, or carry out research at home and engage in concepts in the classroom with the guidance of the instructor. Flipped Learning is a  pedagogical approach in  which direct instruction moves  from the group  learning space  to the individual learning  space, and the resulting  group space is transformed  into a dynamic, interactive  learning environment where  the educator guides students  as they apply concepts and  engage creatively in the  subject  matter. In a flipped classroom students are doing the lower levels of cognitive work (gaining knowledge and comprehension) outside of class, and focusing on the higher forms of cognitive work (application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation) in class, where they have the support of their peers and instructor. This model contrasts from the traditional model in which “first exposure” occurs via lecture in class, with students assimilating knowledge through homework; thus the term “flipped classroom.” 
E.g. In a flipped classroom problems may arise if students come unprepared.