Thursday

Listening & Speaking

 Listening (page 15)
You are going to hear two students discussing a research
project on useful technology.

• With your group, make a list of the 10 most useful

technological items in modern times.
• Why are they so useful?
• Give each item a score out of 10 for usefulness
• 1 = Not useful at all
• 10 = Extremely useful
Listening
• Strategies:
• Listen carefully to the instructions.
• Quickly try to think of vocabulary connected with the
topic.
• Read the questions and find the key words.
• Look for names (male and female) – this will help you
decide who is saying what.
• Read the options that are available in multiple choice.
• Try to think which one might be the most likely answer
(often some answers are obviously wrong – use your
common sense).
Section 3
Look at question 21.
• What are the key words?
• Think of possible synonyms/paraphrase.
• What do you think is the most likely answer? Why?
Male or
female?

21 Zahra’s talk is on electronic gadgets that

people
A find very annoying to have to listen to.
B bought in the recent past.
C feel they have to carry with them.

A = irritating/ bothersome/ disturbing. A possible answer, some people find

gadgets annoying (e.g. cell phones).
B = Recently/lately/not long ago. Another possible answer. Maybe she wants to
find the trends in what people are buying.
C = must have/cannot leave the house without/need. Possible. Opposite to
option A, people also rely on technology and cannot live without it.
Section 3
Look at questions 22 – 24
• Read the question stem. How can she say that she
has ‘not yet decided’ to do something?
• Read the options
• Think of synonyms/paraphrase
• Which ones are more likely? Why?
Section 3
Choose THREE letters, A – G.
Which THREE of the following elements of
conducting Zahra’s research are mentioned as not
yet decided?
I haven’t made my mind up yet….
I’m not decided….
I haven’t really thought about it…
I’m not sure at this stage…
Perhaps….
Maybe….

NOTE THAT BECAUSE THE DECISION IS NOT YET MADE, SHE

WILL BE USING A LOT OF PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (TO LINK THE
PAST WITH THE PRESENT).
Section 3
Number of questions
A length of the questionnaire
B pictures to use Diagrams/ illustrations
C volume of data Amount of information
D duration of interviews Amount of time
E period of research How long she will study
F age of interviewees
Exact numbers? Or age groups?
G exact aims
Definite goals
Section 3
Look at questions 25 – 30
• What are the titles of each column? How is this
going to help you?
• What other examples are given for you? How will
this help you?
• What could you use each gadget to do?
 Section 3
Tim’s electronic gadgets Use Score

Mobile Excluding phoning mainly for sending 10

 texts
 25 ……………………………….

What else can you send with a

mobile phone?

Laptop Typing assignments and 26 ……………………………….

Less than 10?
27 ……………………………….
What else would you use a
laptop for?
iPod Just listening to music Less than 10?
28 ……………………………….

Future newspaper reader Eventually for 29 ………………………………. 30 ……………………………….

What would you Less than 10?

Like a Kindle or a use it for?
tablet
• INDEPENDENT LISTENING
• Listen to the audio posted on the classroom page.
• Complete the listening section on page 15.
• INDEPENDENT LISTENING
• Listen to the audio posted on the classroom page (RFI
P44).
• Complete the listening section on page 15.
• NOW SHARE YOUR ANSWERS WITH YOUR GROUP. DID
YOU HAVE THE SAME?
Section 3
Z: Hi Tim.
T: Zahra, hi. So, have you decided yet what you're going to do your tutorial
paper on?
Z: Yes, actually I have. I agonized over it for ages, as you well know. You had
to listen to me.
T: Well, that's true, but you've had to listen to me too! ... So, what's it on?
Z: Electronic gadgets, but from a particular angle: 'must-carry' gadgets. You
know, gadgets that people cannot leave the house without, er ... like
mobile phones, etc. It's not particularly original.
T: That's really very neat.
Z: Oh. Do you think so?
T: Yes, actually I do.
Z: I thought it was really quite ordinary.
No mention of the other two options
Section 3
T: And how are you going to do the research for the
paper?
Z: I thought of interviewing people in the age groups
20-25 and 50 plus, so I can ask students for the first
group and I'll have to ask lecturers and people in the
street or people working on campus for the other
group. But I haven't made up my mind yet which
groups to choose.
 Section 3
T: Em ... and what are you setting out to show?
Z: I'm not sure at this stage, but something along the
lines of ... er ... the idea that we are making ourselves
more stressed, and it has reached such a stage that
we are so dependent on the gadgets that leaving the
house without them makes us ill. I'm just thinking on
my feet here. I haven't really thought it right through
to the end.

Thinking on my feet = Developing ideas whilst talking (unprepared)

Section 3
T: What about your questionnaire?
Z: Mmm ... , yes that's another thing. What I'm not
really decided about is the length the questionnaire
should be.
T: The best thing is to keep it short.
Z: Maybe. But I'll finalize the length when I sit down
to type it up.

No mention of pictures, the amount of data, the duration of interviews or the

period of research.
A person who is used
to test/practice
something.

Z: I need to find someone to try out my questions on. I've got

some already written.
T: I can be your guinea pig if you want.
Z: Great!
Begin!
T: Fire away!
Z: First ... question number one. What electronic gadgets are
you carrying with you now?
T: Let's see. I've got my mobile phone, ... my iPod, my laptop.
Z: Which do you carry with you every day?
T: All of them!
‘Downloading’. Not
sending

Z: What do you use your mobile phone for generally?

T: Em ... apart from phoning, mostly for texting and
downloading music. But I also use it for video-phoning,
sending emails ... and I talk to my family now using the
video on the phone.
Z: On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is not at all difficult and
10 very difficult, how difficult would you find it to leave
your mobile at home for a whole day?
T: Very difficult, so 10. I'd be completely lost without it.
Section 3
Z: And what about the laptop? What do you use it
for?
T: I use it for em ... writing up assignments, but
mainly for browsing the Internet.
Z: Using the same scale, what about your laptop?
T: Well, let's see ... It's not as essential as my mobile
phone, but it's still important. A score of ....8. This
one's not heavy, but I can do without it, if necessary.
I seem to use my mobile for most of the things I used
to use the laptop for. Soon I probably won't need it.
Section 3
• Z: What about the iPod?
• T: I can use my mobile for music as well, so it's not
essential, but I carry it everywhere with me
because it's light and it's got my whole music
collection on it that I can listen to on the move.
And, mmm ... well, for that, I'd give a score of 5.
Section 3
Z: Is there any gadget you intend to get in the near
future?
T: Yes. I'd like to get a newspaper reader when they
become lighter and cheaper and more readily
available. I think I’ll end up using it for everything,
even to replace the mobile.
Z: Do you think so?
T: Oh yeah. They'll be perfect for video messaging.
Z: And the score?
T: Definitely 10. And I'd like a pair of…
• Think about the list of useful gadgets you had at the
start of the class.
• Which one would you say is the MOST useful out of
all of them? Why?
vocabulary

access to

the opportunity or right to use something or to see somebody/something

The Internet has given us access to unlimited information.

vocabulary

appliance

a machine that is designed to do a particular thing in the home (preparing food, heating, cleaning etc.)

The most useful appliance in my home is my robot cleaner.

vocabulary

breakthrough

an important discovery/event/development

Scientists have made huge breakthroughs in treating Covid.

vocabulary

capable (of)

having the ability, power, or qualities to be able to do something

Robots are capable of destroying the world!

vocabulary

communicate

share information

Social media sites has made communication quick and easy.

vocabulary

device

an object or a piece of equipment that has been designed to do a particular job

My favourite technological device is my Kindle bookreader.

vocabulary

function

a special activity or purpose of a person or thing

Modern smart phones have hundreds of different functions

vocabulary

innovate

to introduce changes and new ideas

Scientists are making great innovations every day.

vocabulary

invent

to produce or design something that has not existed before

The greatest invention of all time is the printing press.

vocabulary

revolutionary

completely new and having a great effect

The internet was a revolutionary new idea when it was

invented.
vocabulary

addictive

a substance or activity which makes people unable to stop using it or doing it

Many young people have become addicted to their phones.

vocabulary

technophile

a person who is interested in modern technology and enjoys using it

I’m a complete technophile – I have to have the latest

gadgets.
vocabulary

technophobe

a person who is afraid of, dislikes or avoids new technology

I’m a complete technophobe – I don’t even have a mobile

phone.
vocabulary

ubiquitous

seeming to be everywhere; very common

iPhones are the most ubiquitous brand of smart phone in

the world.
vocabulary

user-friendly

easy for people who are not experts to use or understand

My laptop is completely user-friendly – even I can use it,

and I’m a technophobe!
vocabulary

artificial intelligence

the study and development of computer systems that can copy intelligent human behaviour

Artificial intelligence could lead to more cyber crime in the

future.
vocabulary

cutting-edge

at the newest, most advanced stage in the development of something

The most cutting-edge technology is also the most

expensive.
vocabulary

dependent on technology

“we are increasingly dependent on technology”

Students have become too dependent on technology and

they cannot think for themselves anymore.
vocabulary

state-of-the-art

very modern and using the most recent ideas and methods

My house is state-of-the-art – I can control everything just

by using my voice.
vocabulary

technological advances

progress in the area of technology

Technological advances mean that space tourism might be

possible in the future.
vocabulary

technological revolution

an important change in the area of technology

When Apple released the iPhone, it was a technological

revolution.
Talk about a type of technology that you couldn’t live without.
You should mention:

- What it looks like

- How you use it
- Why it is vital to you

…and talk about whether other people also find it useful

Speaking Part 3

LEARN TO PEE.
P: Present your main idea.
E: Explain your idea.
E: Exemplify your idea (give an example).

PEE.
What are some of the common gadgets that people
use in their homes?

• Make a list of some of the most common gadgets in

Vietnamese homes.
• Why are they useful?
• Give a specific example from your own home.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of using
technology for family life?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of using
technology for family life?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of using
technology for family life?

• What does ‘family life’ mean?

• What benefits does technology bring to the family?
• What drawbacks are there?
• Give a specific example from your own life.
What kind of gadgets will be available in the home in
the future?
What kind of gadgets will be available in the home in
the future?
What kind of gadgets will be available in the home in
the future?

• Think about household chores you hate doing.

• What gadgets could be invented to help you do those
chores?
How has technology benefitted peoples’ health?
How has technology benefitted peoples’ health?

• What technology is available for people who want to be

healthy?
• What do you use personally?
• How does it benefit health?
How has technology negatively affected peoples’
health?
How has technology negatively affected peoples’
health?

• What technology is there that might cause health

problems?
• What problems does it cause?
• What solutions can you give?
What effects does technology have on relationships?
What effects does technology have on relationships?

• What does the question mean by ‘relationships’?

• Friendship, boyfriend/girlfriend, marriage
• How can technology positively affect relationships?
• How can technology negatively affect relationships?
• What are some of the common gadgets that people
use in their homes?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of using
technology for family life?
• What kind of gadgets will be available in the home in
the future?
• How has technology benefitted peoples’ health?
• How has technology negatively affected peoples’
health?
• What effects does technology have on relationships?
Section 4
Introduction to Section 4
• Section 4 is the final section of the listening
module.
• Many students find that it is the hardest section.
• Why do you think that is?
Section 4
Introduction to Section 4
• Students are often worried about Section 4
because:
• They think that it is longer
• They think that it is faster
• They think that there is more academic vocabulary
• They don’t know anything about the topic
Section 4
Introduction to Section 4
• It is often no longer than any of the other sections.
For instance, in a recent test Section 1 had 553
words, Section 2 had 586 words, Section 3 had
728(!) words, and Section 4 had 553 words – less
than all the others!
Section 4
Introduction to Section 4
• Section 4 is no faster than the other sections, and it
is often slower. In the same test, Section 1 had 165
words per minute (wpm), 2 had 145wpm, 3 had
202wpm, and Section 4 had 128wpm.
• It just seems faster because there is no break in the
middle.
Section 4
Introduction to Section 4
• Yes, there is more academic and thematic
vocabulary – that is why we teach it to you.
• However, if you practice and learn how to
understand what the question is asking for then it
becomes a lot easier.
Section 4
Introduction to Section 4
• There is an extremely high chance that you will not
know anything about the topic of the listening.
• Recent examples include: Online Journalism, A History
of Japanese Stitching, Language and Social Value, The
World’s First Submersibles.
• The structure of the speech and the grammar used are
MUCH more important than the topic.
• In fact, if you can understand how the speech will be
structured and the grammar used then you will be
successful.
Section 4
Introduction to Section 4
• You will only have one minute to read through the
questions.
1. Read the title – is there anything that you know?
What vocabulary words will you expect to here?
2. Read the subtitles – extremely important! This is
the structure of the speech. There will be a slight
pause as the speaker moves from one subheading
to the next.
Section 4
Introduction to Section 4
• Of course, not all questions will be note
completion….
• …But, the vast majority of Section 4 questions will
be note completion (often requiring just one
word!).
• There will be no new types of question, so treat
each question type as you would for other sections.
Section 4
Very Important Language
• The idea of a lecture is that they introduce
information in a clear way.
• Therefore, they will always use a structure starting
with the introduction, then giving information, and
then concluding.
• You will not hear a full lecture, but you will hear
parts of the structure.
• So it is important for you to learn some of the
vocabulary that is used for each section.
Section 4
Very Important Language
The things you might hear are:
• Introducing a (new) topic
• Stating the order of the lecture
• Transitioning to a new idea
• Making generalizations
• Clarification and defining
• Causes and effects
These can use
• Agreeing and disagreeing language that is
• Problems and solutions similar to your T2
essays.
• Comparisons and contrasts
Introducing Order Transition Generalize Clarify/Define
Today, I’m going The first/next Firstly/second/ It seems that… In other words,….
to talk about…. thing I’m going to finally
discuss is…. It appears that… What this means
Today we’re going However/ on is….
to look at… Then, I want to the other hand In most cases,….
talk about…. This means that…
What is….? Now,..... In general,…
(rhetorical What is….? By that I mean….
question) (rhetorical Rhetorical
question) question (so
In this lecture, I’m what does this A term for (X) is…..
going to present… After that, I will mean for…?)
present….
I’m here today to Another…is….
present my Finally, I want to
findings on… finish by….

Today we
continue to talk
about…

The topic of my
talk is…
You will hear a woman talking to a group of first year
science undergraduates about the developing science
of nanotechnology.

• How many people are talking?

• Where is the talk taking place?
• What do you already know about nanotechnology?
• Write down ten vocabulary items you think you will
hear.
‘Nano-’ = very, very
small

• What is ‘nanotechnology’?
• What can it be used for in the future? Think of:
• Medicine
• Technology
• Transport
• The environment
• What are the dangers of such technology?
• Do the positives outweigh the drawbacks?
Section 4
Look at questions 31 – 33
• Read the question stems and options to find the key
words
• Think of paraphrase/synonyms for those key words
• Look at the options and think which one is more
likely
 How will he say that
Section 4 there is a problem?

31 The speaker says that one problem with

nanotechnology is that
A it could threaten our way of life.
Get data from
B it could be used to spy on people. someone without
them knowing
C it is misunderstood by the public.
A = Possible but unlikely. Technology is not so advanced that it threatens the human
race. Yet…
B = Possible but unlikely. The technology is not advanced enough to create small
cameras, etc.
C = Likely. Not many people are aware that nanotechnology exists or what it is.
How will he
express what
some believe?

32 According to the speaker, some scientists

believe that nano-particles
A should be restricted to secure environments.
B should be used with more caution.
C should only be developed for essential
products.

A = Possible, but if it is as useful as they say, we would want it in a lot of places

B = Likely. New technology which causes problems should be used carefully
C = Possible. But as the technology develops it will be used to create more
products
How will he express
an opinion?

33 In the speaker 's opinion, research into

nanotechnology
A has yet to win popular support.
B could be seen as unethical. Not morally correct
(e.g. committing a
C ought to be continued. crime)

A = Possible. If people do not know/understand the technology, they may not support
it.
B = Possible. It could harm the environment, hurt people, or raise the unemployment
rate.
C = Possible and likely. It is only through new research that we learn if something is
worthwhile or not
Section 4
Look at questions 34 – 40
• What are the headings for each section?
• How is this going to help you?
• How many words can you write?
• Look at the sentences (reading before and after the
gap). What grammar is being used (or not used!)?
What does this tell you?
• Underline key words and think of
synonyms/paraphrase
 Uses of Nanotechnology
Transport
Comparative adjective.
• Nanotechnology could allow the development of stronger 34 ........................................... .
No article = uncountable
• Planes would be much lighter in weight.
noun/plural
• 35 ........................................... travel will be made available to the masses.
Technology
• Travel = will
Computers noun. Either
be even an faster,
smaller, adjective orhave
and will modifying
a greater noun.
36 ............................................ .
• 37 ........................................... energy will become more affordable.
Article and adjective.
The Environment Energy = noun.
Countable noun.
• Adjective
Nano-robots couldneeded.
rebuild the ozone layer.
• Pollutants such as 38 ........................................... could be removed from water more easily.
• There will be no 39 ...........................................
No article = uncountable/plural from manufacturing.
Health and Medicine
• New methods of food production could eradicate famine.
• Analysis of medical 40No article = uncountable/plural
........................................... will be speeded up.
• Life expectancy could be increased.

Medical = modifying noun. No

article. Plural or uncountable
needed.
• INDEPENDENT LISTENING
• Listen to the audio posted on the main page (C10T4S4).
• Complete the listening section 4 (p.16)
Section 4
Today we're going to look at an important area of
science, namely nanotechnology. So what is it? Nano
means tiny, so it's science and engineering on the
scale of atoms and molecules. The idea is that by
controlling and rearranging atoms, you can literally
create anything. However, as we'll see, the science of
the small has some big implications affecting us in
many ways.
 ‘get the wrong
Problems when idea’ = do not
something is new. understand
completely.

There's no doubt that nanotechnology promises so

much for civilisation. However, all new technologies
have their teething problems. And with
nanotechnology society often gets the wrong idea
about its capabilities. Numerous science-fiction
books and movies have raised people's fears about
nanotechnology- with scenarios such as inserting
little nano-robots into your body that monitor
everything you do without you realising it, or self-
replicating nano-robots that eventually take over the
world. These are both ideas found in novels – they are
not true.
Section 4 i.e. more
caution

So how do we safeguard such a potentially powerful

technology? Some scientists recommend that nano-
particles be treated as new chemicals with separate
safety tests and clear labelling. They believe that
greater care should also be taken with nano-particles
in laboratories and factories. Others have called for a
withdrawal of new nano products such as cosmetics
and a temporary halt to many kinds of nanotech
research.

No mention about security or the products which are

made.
Continue to
develop

But as far as I'm concerned there's a need to plough

ahead with the discoveries and applications of
nanotechnology. I really believe that most scientists
would welcome a way to guard against unethical
uses of such technology. We can't go around thinking
that all innovation is bad, all advancement is bad. As
with the debate about any new technology, it is how
you use it that's important. So let's look at some of
its possible uses.

There is no mention of popular support, but he does state that most scientists want
to avoid it becoming unethical.
‘Durable’ = strong

Thanks to nanotechnology, there could be a major

breakthrough in the field of transportation with the
production of more durable metals. These could be
virtually unbreakable, lighter and much more pliable
leading to planes that are 50 times lighter than at
present.
Those same improved capabilities will dramatically
reduce the cost of travelling into space making it
more accessible to ordinary people and opening up a
totally new holiday destination.
More people will be able to
access/do it
Section 4 /maI’nju:t/ =
very small

In terms of technology, the computer industry will be

able to shrink computer parts down to minute sizes.
We need nanotechnology in order to create a new
generation of computers that will work even faster
and will have a million times more memory but will
be about the size of a sugar cube. Nanotechnology
could also revolutionise the way that we generate
power. The cost of solar cells will be drastically
reduced so harnessing this energy will be far more
economical than at present.
Something used
to create store
energy
Section 4
But nanotechnology has much wider applications than this and
could have an enormous impact on our environment. For instance,
tiny airborne nano-robots could be programmed to actually
rebuild the ozone layer, which could lessen the impact of global
warming on our planet. That's a pretty amazing thought, isn't it?
On a more local scale, this new technology could help with the
clean-up of environmental disasters as nanotechnology will allow
us to remove oil and other contaminants from the water far more
effectively.
And, if nanotechnology progresses as expected - as a sort of
building block set of about 90 atoms - then you could build
anything you wanted from the bottom up. In terms of production,
this means that you only use what you need and so there wouldn't
be any waste.
Section 4
The notion that you could create anything at all has major
implications for our health. It means that we'll eventually be able to
replicate anything. This would have a phenomenal effect on our
society. In time it could even lead to the eradication of famine
through the introduction of machines that produce food to feed
the hungry.
But it's in the area of medicine that nanotechnology may have its
biggest impact. How we detect disease will change as tiny
biosensors are developed to analyse tests in minutes rather than
days. There's even speculation nano-robots could be used to slow
the ageing process, lengthening life expectancy.
As you can see, I'm very excited by the implications that could be
available to us in the next few decades. Just how long it'll take, I
honestly don't know.
Talk about an area of science you are interested in. You should say:

- What it is
- When you became interested in it
- Where you learned about it

Explain why you are interested in it

What science subjects did you have to study at high school?

Which was your favourite? Why?
Is there an area of science you would like to learn more about?
 Talk about an area of science you are interested in. You should say:

- What it is

One important branch of science that I enjoy reading about is astronomy which is the study
of the Universe.
There are many different aspects to astronomy. First, there is a subtopic called cosmology,
which is the study of how the universe began. For example, most scientists who work in this
field tend to agree that the Universe started billions of years ago with The Big Bang. Since
then, they argue, it has continued to grow. However, scientists disagree about what will
happen next – whether the Universe continues to grow or begins to shrink.
 Talk about an area of science you are interested in. You should say:

- What it is
- When you became interested in it

I never really enjoyed science at school because I found the maths too difficult – I’m better
with words than numbers. However, a friend gave me a book called A Brief History of Time
written by Stephen Hawking, and after reading it I was hooked. Hawking made the book
really accessible to people without a scientific background.
 Talk about an area of science you are interested in. You should say:

- What it is
- When you became interested in it
- Where you learned about it

After reading that, I tried to learn as much as I could. I never had a formal education about it
because it’s not the type of thing they teach in high school. Therefore, I had to teach myself. I
read as much as I could and, although some of it was over my head, I got a grip on the
subject.
 Talk about an area of science you are interested in. You should say:

- What it is
- When you became interested in it
- Where you learned about it

Explain why you are interested in it

I have an interest in the subject because I think it helps us to understand where we came
from. A lot of people believe in god, and that’s fine, but I don’t, so I need to find answers
somewhere else. And astronomy can give me those answers. It’s not an easy subject, and
some of the facts are mind-boggling, but I find it really interesting.
Astronomy /əstrɒnəmi:/: The study of the Universe
Field /fi:ʊld/: A subject someone is an expert in
(to be) hooked /hɅkd/: To be really interested in something
Accessible /əksesIbʊl/: Easy to understand
Formal education /fɔmʊl edʒju:keIʃən/: The education you
receive in school (not self-taught)
Over my head /əʊvə mə͜ hed/: difficult to understand
(to) get a grip /ged͜ ə grIp/: To understand a topic
Mind-boggling /maIn͜ bɒglIŋ/: Really difficult to understand
Talk about an area of science you are interested in. You should say:

- What it is
- When you became interested in it
- Where you learned about it

Explain why you are interested in it