UNIT 12 - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Telecommunications, computers and technology

I. VOCABULARY INTRODUCTION
Telecommunications
1.1. Before you listen, answer these questions
1. Do you have: a mobile phone; a laptop computer; a portable music device;
an email address?
Mobile phone/Laptop: Yes, actually I suppose everybody has a cell phone and
a laptop these days. Due to the fierce competition between mobile phone providers
and laptop manufacturers, these technological gadgets have become more
affordable than ever, so much so that, as a student with little income, an average
Smartphone is within my budget.
2. How long have you had it/them?
I have been using the phone for 2 years and I find it outstanding as it offers
me a wide variety of functions I could use.
● Offers me a wide variety of functions
I purchased my new laptop recently. I was lucky enough to get the laptop I wanted
when it was on sale last month. I don’t think I’ll get another one for the next 2 to 3
years.
3. If you need to connect to the Internet, what do you use? How long does it
take you?
Mobile phone: I guess if I have to pick the most handy function, I’d have to
choose its 3G/4G technology – a technology allowing its users to access the Internet
anytime anywhere at a very inexpensive monthly fee/charge. The speed is not that
fast, but it’s good enough for me.
4. How would you describe the technology you use?

A. up-to-date B. dated C. state-of-the-art

5. How do you prefer to stay in touch with people?

A. by post B. by email C. by phone

1.2. (Audio 12a) Listen to a conversation about two different mobile phones and
say whether the questions below apply to
A. the Smartphone
B. the Optima
C. both the Smartphone and the Optima.

Which phone
1. is small? ______(A) compact _________
2. is easy to use? _____________________
3. has normal phone buttons? _____________________
4. shows a calendar without being asked? _____________________
5. has the most up-to-date technology? _____________________
6. can obtain information from the Internet? _____________________
1.3. (Audio 12a) Now listen again and next to your answers in 1.2 write the words
that paraphrase the underlined words.
1.4. Complete the crossword with words from the recording

Across
1. easy to use
3. open a computer file
 6. move up or down on a screen
7. work a machine
9. the keys on a computer, typewriter or piano
11. an action or purpose something is designed for
Down
2. show on a screen
4. have specific tools
5. save or keep safe
8. the part of a computer that stores information
10. information
1.5. Listen to five people speaking. Each one has forgotten the name for
something. What is the word they need to use?
Speaker A: I use my _____________________ every day
Speaker B: I use my computer as a _____________________
Speaker C: I would like to get a _____________________
Speaker D: I can’t imagine what it was like without _____________________
Speaker E: I would love to get my mother a _____________________
Which two of the words you have used needed the suffix -or?
Computers and technology
2.1. Read this article and then look at the statements below. Write Yes if the
statement agrees with the opinions in the text and No if it contradicts them.
Underline the part of the text that gave you your answer.
Has the present lived up to the expectations of the past? Throughout the ages
people have tried to predict what life in the twenty-first century would be like. Many
science-fiction writers did manage to predict the influence the computer would have
on our world. Some even imagined that it would take over our lives, develop a
personality, and turn on its creators. To some extent they were right, especially when
it comes to children and cyber addiction. One constant prediction was that, thanks to
computers and machines, the time devoted to labour would diminish. Even in 1971,
in his book Future Shock, Alvin Toffler envisaged a society awash with 'free
time1.The author noted that time at work had been cut in half since the turn of the
previous century and wrongly speculated that it would be cut in half again by 2000.
 However, our gadget-filled homes are a tribute to the various visions of the
future: the microwave oven, internet fridges with ice-cube dispensers, freezers, video
monitors, climate control, dishwashers, washing machines, personal computers,
wireless connections and cupboards full of instant food. These may no longer be
considered cutting-edge but they have matched, if not surpassed, visions of how we
would live. The domestic robot never quite happened, but if you can phone ahead to
set the heating and use a remote control to operate the garage door, they may as
well be redundant.
The car, of course, has failed to live up to our expectations. It has been given
turbo engines, DVD players and automatic windows, but its tyres stick stubbornly to
the road. Why doesn't it take off?The past promised us a flying car in various guises.
In 1947 a prototype circled San Diego for more than an hour but later crashed in the
desert. Some 30 patents for flying cars were registered in the US patent office last
century but none of these ideas has been transformed into a commercially available
vehicle.
At least communication technology in this digital age hasn’t let us down. Even
in the most remote areas people have access to some form of communication
device. The introduction of the telephone last century changed our world, but today’s
mobile phones and the virtual world of the Internet have revolutionised it.
1. A modern problem proves that computers are dominating our lives in some
way. ___Yes___
2. Alan Toffler’s predictions have been proven true ___________________
3. Household gadgets today have been a disappointment ___________________
4. We have enough gadgets now to make robots unnecessary in the home
___________________
5. Today’s cars have fulfilled all predictions ___________________
6. The mobile phone and the Internet have changed our world for the better
___________________
2.2. Now match the words in bold in the text with these definitions.
1. guessed ___________________
2. a machine invented for a specific purpose (x 2) _____________
______________
3. the first working example of a machine ___________________
 4. almost real ___________________
5. very modern ___________________
6. be greater than expected ___________________
7. relating to computers ___________________
8. a screen that images can be seen on ___________________
9. an adjective used to describe anything related to computers
___________________
2.3. COMPOUND WORDS. Match a word from box A with a word from box B and use
the compound words to complete the sentences below
A

automatic cyber labour

silicon wireless remote

chip connectio control

n

saving space pilot

l. I can access the Internet from anywhere in my house because my laptop

has a _____________________
2. The invention of the _____________________ made watching television an
even more passive experience.
3. In my view the dishwasher is one of the greatest _____________________
devices.
4. People often talk about emails and text messages being lost in
_____________________ as if it were a real place.
5. Even flying a plane has been automated now. The _____________________ is
used for most of the flight.
6. The invention of the _____________________ meant that computers could be
much smaller.
2.4. Correct the mistakes in the text. Use ONE WORD only. Hyphenated words (e.g.
state-of-the-art ) count as one word.
 Today’s (1)advance technology has brought many benefits. For example,
nowadays we have many (2)small tools that can save time in the home and, if you
have access (3)with a computer and a telephone (4)connect then you can work
almost anywhere you choose. What is more, modern software (5)programmes are so
user-friendly that you don’t even need a great deal of computer knowledge to be able
to (6)play them.
However, there are some disadvantages to the (7)technology era. For
example, people today want to have the very (8)last technology but, as new
technology dates very quickly, an increasing amount of computer hardware is being
dumped. This adds to our already serious pollution problems.
Furthermore, (9)computerise has led to fewer jobs and less human contact as
many everyday transactions are now done (10)with computer rather than manually.

1. _____advanced__________ 6. _______________________
2. _______________________ 7. _______________________
3. _______________________ 8. _______________________
4. _______________________ 9. _______________________
5. _______________________ 10. _______________________

Error warning
Note the following spellings of the word program -, computer program (UK and US
spelling), television programme (UK spelling only). Note the different forms of
computer: computerise (verb); computerisation (noun); computerised (adj): We use
a computerised system. NOT a computerise system. Automated can be used in a
similar way, but includes machines as well as computers: Our processing system is
fully automated. We talk about the computer era, the digital era or the technological
era. NOT the technology era.

II. VOCABULARY IN FOCUS

1.Topic-related

Phrases/clauses Words/phrases Phrases/clauses (Eng) Pronunciati

 (Vie) (Eng) - in bold on

1 Những thiết bị công UK

nghệ này đang trở
/ˌtek.nə
nên rẻ hơn bao giờ
ˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl/
hết
US

/ˌtek.nə

ˈlɑː.dʒɪ.kəl/

2 thế giới ảo trên UK

Internet (mà Internet
/ˈvɝː.tʃu.əl
tạo ra) đã thay đổi
/
thế giới một cách
đáng kể US

/ˈvɝː.tʃu.əl

3 Máy ảnh phim này UK

thật lỗi thời
/ˈdeɪ.tɪd/

US

/ˈdeɪ.t̬ɪd/

4 Bạn nghĩ giao diện UK

của Macbook có đủ
/ˌjuː.zɚ
thân thiện với
ˈfrend.li/
người dùng không?
US /ˌjuː.zɚ

ˈfrend.li/
Hint: giao diện -
 interface

5 Chính phủ nên thêm UK

các luật để răn đe tội
/saɪ.bər-/
phạm công nghệ cao
US

/saɪ.bɚ-/

Hint: răn đe (v) deter

6 Những thứ này có UK /ˌkʌt.ɪŋ

thể không còn được ˈedʒ/
coi là công nghệ tân US /ˌkʌt̬ .ɪŋ
tiến nữa ˈedʒ/

7 Vi tính hoá đã dẫn UK /kəm

đến ít việc làm và ít
ˌpjuː.tər.aɪ
tương tác người với
người hơn ˈzeɪ.ʃən/

US /kəm

ˌpjuː.t̬ɚ.ə

ˈzeɪ.ʃən/

8 Nó là chiếc điện thoại UK

thông minh cao cấp/
/reɪndʒ/
tầm trung/ hạng thấp
US
của Sony
/reɪndʒ/
9 Nhưng nó không có UK

bất cứ bước đột /ˈbreɪk.θru

phá/sự đột phá trong ː/

công nghệ nào cả US

/ˈbreɪk.θru

ː/

10 Nếu/chỉ cần bạn có UK

thể sử dụng/có thể /ˈæk.ses/
truy cập vào máy tính US
/ˈæk.ses/
thì bạn có thể làm

việc ở gần như bất

cứ nơi nào

11 Tôi thấy đây là cách UK /tʌtʃ/

rất tiện để giữ liên lạc
US /tʌtʃ/
với bạn bè

12 Tôi chưa gặp anh ấy UK /kiːp/

US /kiːp/
từ lâu và muốn cập
nhập được (bắt kịp
với) cuộc sống của
anh ấy

13 Ngày nay, công nghệ UK /əd

tiên tiến đã mang lại
ˈvɑːnst/
nhiều lợi ích
US /əd

ˈvænst/
2. General Vocabulary

Phrases/clauses (Vie) Words/phrases Phrases/clauses (Eng) Pronunciati

(Eng) - in bold on

1 Do sự cạnh tranh dữ UK /fɪəs/

dội giữa các công ty di
US /fɪrs/
động, điện thoại đã trở
nên rẻ hơn

2 Kết nối internet đã trở UK /ə

nên vừa phải, phải
ˈfɔːdəbl/
chăng ( nói về giá cả,
tiền thuê nhà…) qua US /ə
các năm
ˈfɔr·də·bəl,

əˈfoʊr-/

3 một chiếc điện thoại UK

thông minh tầm trung
/ˈbʌdʒ.ɪt/
nằm trong khả năng
US
(chi trả) tôi được
/ˈbʌdʒ.ɪt/

4 Nó (cung cấp) cho tôi UK /və

rất nhiều (một lượng
ˈraɪ.ə.t̬i/
đa dạng) các ứng
dụng mà tôi có thể sử US /və
dụng được
ˈraɪ.ə.t̬i/

5 laptop của tôi có đủ UK

các đặc điểm(noun)
/ˈfiː.tʃər/
của một chiếc laptop
 bình thường US

/ˈfiː.tʃɚ/

6 Giá đó là tốt cho một UK

chiếc laptop tử tế/vừa
/ˈdiː.sənt/
phải
US

/ˈdiː.sənt/

7 bạn không cần nhiều + UK /diːl/

kiến thức về máy tính US /diːl/
để có thể dùng chúng

Hint - từ nhiều ở đây

(1) có sắc thái

formal hơn “a

lot of” & có thể

dùng trong

Writing

(2) Đi với danh từ

không đếm
được.

III. ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY

1. Topic-related Vocabulary

Words/ Words/phrases (Eng) - in bold Pronunciation

 phrases (Vie)

1 đang giảm giá/đang I was lucky enough to get the laptop I UK /seɪl/
được bán wanted when it was ______ last month
US /seɪl/

2 Một từ khác ngoài I guess if I have to pick the most _______ UK /ˈhæn.di/
convenient cho tiện lợi function, I’d have to choose its 3G/4G US /ˈhæn.di/
technology

3 giữ sạc cắm (không rút My laptop is excellent in battery life, UK /plʌɡ/
ra) which means that I don’t always have to
US /plʌɡ/
________ all the time.

4 phí hàng tháng không a technology allowing its users to UK /ˌɪn.ɪk

đắt (phí cố định) access the Internet anytime anywhere at
ˈspen.sɪv/
a/an _______
US /ˌɪn.ɪk

ˈspen.sɪv/

5 nhỏ gọn >< to lớn, kềnh Well I prefer this phone because it is so UK /kəm
càng (đồ vật) _______. I find the others a bit _____ for
ˈpækt/
my hand.
US /kəm

ˈpækt/

6 bàn phím điện thoại the smartphone has a standard ________, UK

and I really find them awkward to use
/ˈstæn.dəd/
when I’m sending messages
US

/ˈstæn.dɚd/

7 công nghệ mới nhất A lot of people want to the ________ UK

whether it’s a new phone or laptop
/ˈleɪ.tɪst/

US /ˈleɪ.t̬ɪst/
8 màn hình He just bought a new computer UK
________since his last one was broken
/ˈmɒn.ɪ.tər/

US

/ˈmɑː.nə.t̬ɚ/

9 mẫu thử/mẫu đầu tiên The past promised us a flying car. In UK

1947 a ______ circled San Diego for more
/ˈprəʊ.tə.taɪp
than an hour
/

US

/ˈproʊ.t̬ə.taɪp

10 điều khiển từ xa you can use the phone as a _____ to UK /rɪ

open the garage door
ˈməʊt/

US /rɪ

ˈmoʊt//

11 một phương tiện để giữ I would often go on Facebook to check UK /miːnz/

liên lạc my friends’ status. I find this an US /miːnz/
incredibly convenient ________ with my
friends

2. General Vocabulary

Words/ Words/phrases (Eng) - in Pronunciation

phrases (Vie) bold
1 không ….lăm/không …….. The speed is______ fast, UK /ðæt/
đến thế đâu (not that + but it’s good enough for US /ðæt/
adj) me.

2 thời điểm chuyển giao của The author noted that UK /ˈpriː.vi.əs/
thế kỉ trước time at work had been cut
US /ˈpriː.vi.əs/
in half since ________

3 phỏng đoán It was wrongly UK /ˈspek.jə.leɪt/

_________that it would be
US /ˈspek.jə.leɪt/
cut in half again by 2000

4 sự ra đời của _________the telephone UK /ˌɪn.trəˈdʌk.ʃən/

last century changed our
US /ˌɪn.trəˈdʌk.ʃən/
world

5 lúng túng/vụng về I really find them ________ UK /ˈɔːkwəd/

to use when I’m sending
US /ˈɔːkwərd/
messages.

6 bằng chứng (cho cái gì) Our gadget-filled homes UK /pruːf/

are _______the powerful US /pruːf/
impact of technology

7 làm ai thất vọng Communication UK /daʊn/

technology in the digital
US /daʊn/
age has not _________

8 có hình chữ nhật My cell phone is ________ UK /rekˈtæŋ.ɡjə.lər/

similar to other US /rekˈtæŋ.ɡjə.lɚ/
smartphones

9 kết hợp mỗi thứ có một tý It does not have any UK /ˌkɒm.bɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
special or breakthrough
US /ˌkɑːm.bəˈneɪ.ʃən/
technologies really, but
 it’s a ____________.

IV. Questions
1. Task 1,3:
1. What‘s your favorite technological device?
2. How often do you use that gadget/device?
3. What would you say is the most convenient function of your
laptop/phone?
4. How do you prefer to stay in touch with people?
5. Do you prefer the smartphone or traditional phone?
6. Has cutting-edge technology made a significant impact on the labour
force?
7. Is the means of communication today different from how it was in the
past?
8. Are there any disadvantages associated with the rapid pace of
technological advance?

Questions Idea

1. What‘s your Option 1 - Smartphone

favorite ● high-end (E.g. Iphone) /mid-range/low-end (Xiaomi…) phone
technological ● by Apple/Samsung/Sony…
device? ● Like, other phone, rectangular (in shape)
● like compact phone rather bulky (or prefer)
● get, birthday gift/ buy using savings (within budget)/ graduation
gift…
● on phone all the time (tiktok, Facebook)...
Option 2 - laptop/PC
● (1) Macbook & other premium laptops (premium - xịn, cao cấp)
○ high-end
○ cutting-edge technology
 ● (2) other laptops
○ Mid-range
○ Low-end, but quite decent a laptop
○ No cutting-edge technology, but a good combination of
everything
● Both
○ A variety of things
○ Work - nice keyboard - good typing experience
○ entertainment - nice monitor/screen, enjoyable to watch
movies/series

2. How often do Phone

you use that ● Use daily (basis)
gadget/device? ● offer a wide variety benefits
○ access internet
○ Come in handy when; search information
○ keep in touch with friends
○ Facebook & Instagram…
○ entertainment: movies, music, games
Laptop
Use daily (basis)
● Macbook
○ breakthrough, computer world
○ At first, find MacOS awkward to use
○ But get used to it; over time
● Other laptops
○ Quite a decent/good one
○ Windows - user-friendly interface
● Both
○ With, laptop & internet access
○ Find, great deal of information, on Internet
○ Do homework/assignment & study online OR Work on it
○ Nice screen, monitor; enjoyable to watch movies & series
3. What would Phone
you say is the ● most handy function: 3G/4G
most convenient ● allow; me, Internet access:
function of your ○ surf the Web
laptop/phone? ○ look up information,
○ read online news
○ Anytime, anywhere -> convenient
● monthly charge/fee
○ used to, expensive
○ but fierce competitions between service providers (Vinaphone,
Viettel..)
○ make it affordable/inexpensive, users
○ speed not that fast but enough
● Optional: 5G/6G prototype, being tested, in some countries
○ Hope to experience it, future
Laptop
● strong battery/excellent in battery life
○ can go long hours without charging
○ not have to keep charger plugged in
● Good cyber security
○ Go online a lot
○ Identity leaked -> information, stolen
○ Good anti-virus software -> prevent the risk
○ .. is strong battery. It can go long hours without charging, so
that I don’t have to keep my charger plugged in all the time

4. How do you ● Advanced technology, result in/give birth to, many means of
prefer to stay in communication, especially through Internet
touch with ○ Examples - Facebook, Instagram, Zalo, Snapchat
people? ● keep/stay in touch , friends, through these means
○ Much, fast & convenient; than traditional means
○ easily keep up with people’s lives
○ just take - click of a button
5. Do you prefer ● Prefer smartphone, because, convenience
the smartphone ○ slightly difficult, use at first; but easy enough, get used to
or traditional ○ Suit every purpose
phone? ● Internet access -> do a variety of, thing
○ lots. function, like, take photos, record videos…
○ Unthinkable to live without phone, even, a day
● Optional - waiting for Iphone (12, 13, 14…) Samsung Note … ,go on
sale -> get myself one
● Prefer traditional phone
○ smartphones, getting bulkier and bulkier ,
■ hard to hold/not fit hand
■ (while, in comparison) traditional phones compact
○ tricky operate smartphone,
■ traditional phone more user-friendly
○ only use phone, calls and messages
■ no need,fancy function

6. Has cutting- ● Yes, it has

edge technology ● Thanks, latest technology, computerization
made a ○ Time, spend, manual labour, diminish/reduce
significant ● Proof/evidence: time at work, cut in half
impact on the ○ since, turn of previous century
labour force? ● Machine, replace, human, dangerous job
○ For safety, performed though, remote control
● Optional -
○ Computerization/Automation (tự động hoá)
○ Result in higher productivity & higher product quality

7. Is the means ● Yes, the way, communicate,

of ○ change a great deal/transform, since turn of previous century
communication latest technology not let us down
today different ● before/previously
 from how it was ○ hard to communicate people, remote areas
in the past? ○ Even, when possible, very difficult and/or expensive
● Now
○ introduction of telephone change the world
■ Call someone half a world away
○ then introduction of internet -
■ connect with everyone through virtual world

8. Are there any Chọn 1 trong vài ý tưởng sau để nói - bạn không cần dùng hết
disadvantages ● (1) technology dates quickly
associated with ○ computer hardware get dumped
the rapid pace of ○ adds to pollution problem
technological ○ Cost money to replace
advance? ● (2) Less face-to-face (trực tiếp, tận mặt) communication
○ Online communication, replace face-to-face interaction
○ Less human contact
○ -> fall out of touch
● (3) Computerization & automation
○ Machine, perform, what, once, human’s job
○ Experts, speculate, many, out of job
● (4) Cyber issues
○ Cyberbullying - more common
○ Cybercrime - on the rise (đang tăng)
Techniques
Tại buổi 7 & Buổi 9 chúng ta đã học các set liên từ có thể sử dụng khi
nói nhiều ý
Firstly, secondly, finally
For one….; for another ….; Last but not least ….

2. Task 2
Describe a technological item you have bought recently
You should say:
 ● What you bought
● What it looks like
● Why you bought it
Say whether you’re pleased with your purchase

Idea Answe

● not expert in technology

Pick one
○ (1) but like, keep up with technology trend, from time to
time
○ (2) only care, how, gadget, look, rather, function
● old phone
○ broken (hỏng)
○ battery weak,
○ often have to keep phone plugged in -> replace
● recently buy new Iphone…/Samsung Note … (any other
high-end phone)
○ usually not affordable
○ student, with little, income and savings
○ high-end phone not within budget
○ save up, a long time
● Design
○ love,design,
○ very sleek, up-to-date
○ rectangular in shape,
○ not very compact, but fit in hand
○ compare to, bulky old phone, very awkward to hold
● Function
○ Latest/cutting-edge technology
○ offer a wide variety of functions and features,
○ Nice camera - high quality photos
○ Good web-surfing experience
● Your experience
○ only use it for a week but in love
○ so convenient, much faster, stronger battery
○ very good purchase,
○ hope use it long time