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Lesson planB290 minsNew. New: checked automatically for level, grammar, facts and originality; a teacher's review is still to come. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
B2 First Unit 4: Technology
Students build vocabulary for devices and the internet, practise passives and have something done, and try B2 First Reading and Use of English Parts 1, 4 and 7 and a Part 2 review.
Technology · Internet · Devices
B2 First preparationTopic unit
Or download everything as a ZIP (2 PDFs)This lesson plan and its PDFs are free.
Plan at a glance
Aims
- Use passives (all forms) and have / get something done accurately
- Learn and use 26 words and phrases in 3 sets: Devices and gadgets, Using the internet, Looking after your devices
- Practise B2 First Reading and Use of English Parts 1, 4 and 7
- Writing task (Part 2): a review of an app
Stages · 90 min
- 5 minLead-in: Pairs talk about the device they use most: what for, and how they look after it.
- 10 minVocabulary: Ex. 1–2
- 5 minLanguage focus: Go through the grammar notes together: passive forms and have / get something done.
- 10 minControlled practice: Ex. 3
- 5 minAccuracy practice: Ex. 4
- 20 minExam practice: Use of English: Ex. 5–6
- 15 minReading: Ex. 7
- 20 minWriting: Ex. 8
Printables
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Download all (ZIP, 2 PDFs)Grammar notes
The passive in tech contexts
- Use the passive when the action matters more than who does it: The software is being updated.
- Present: are uploaded · continuous: is being repaired · perfect: has been changed · past: were deleted · future: will be released.
- Reporting passive: This app is said to be very easy to use.
Have / get something done
- Use have (or get) + object + past participle when someone else does a job for you: I had my screen replaced.
- It works in every tense: I'm having my phone repaired tomorrow. You should get your laptop checked.
- Compare: I repaired my phone (I did it myself) / I had my phone repaired (someone did it for me).
Exam focus
- Part 1: the words around the gap decide the answer, especially prepositions (reach for, concentrate on).
- Part 7: the questions paraphrase the texts, so look for the same idea in different words.
Study tips
- Write each tech phrasal verb with an example from your own life: I back up my photos every month.
- When you read about technology, underline every passive and ask: who did the action, and does it matter?
Glossary
- Devices and gadgets7 items
- Using the internet9 items
- Looking after your devices10 items
Complete the exercises, then check your answers.
1
Tech words
Match each word or phrase with its meaning. There is one extra meaning.
Tap an item…
…then its match
2
Words people mix up
Choose the correct answer.
- a
Don't forget to ___ the file before you close the program.
- b
Can you ___ the photos from your phone to the class website so that everyone can see them?
- c
Your ___ is the name that you type when you log in, and other people can see it.
- d
There's nowhere to plug anything in on the train, so before a long journey always ___.
- e
If you forget your password, click on the link to ___ and choose a new one.
- f
I couldn't find the restaurant's ___, so I phoned them to ask about opening times.
3
Passives and have something done
Complete each sentence with the correct passive form, or with have something done, using the words in brackets.
- a
My laptop (repair) at the moment, so I'm using my brother's.
- b
Millions of photos (upload) to the internet every day.
- c
The new version of the app (release) next month.
- d
Your password (change) since you last logged in.
- e
The files (delete) by mistake, and nobody noticed until the next day.
- f
I'm going to (my screen / replace) because it's cracked.
- g
We (a new router / install) last week, so now the internet works in every room.
- h
You should (your phone / check) by an expert if it keeps switching itself off.
4
Find and correct the mistake
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correction.
- a
I found it in internet.
- b
I work in my laptop.
- c
I forgot the password of my email.
- d
I need to load my phone; the battery is low.
- e
Please introduce your password to continue.
- f
I searched information about the city.
5
A month without my phone
For each gap, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) that best fits. If more than one answer seems possible, choose the most natural one for the context.
Exam task: Reading and Use of English, Part 1
Tip: Look at the words after each gap: a preposition often decides which verb fits, as in rely on or wait for.
I realised I was 1 far too much time staring at a screen, so I decided to switch my phone 2 for a whole month.
At first, I found it 3 to get through the day without checking my messages, and I kept 4 for my phone in my pocket. However, after a week, I began to 5 more attention to the people around me. I also slept much better, as I no longer 6 through social media in bed.
When the month ended, I didn't go 7 to my old habits. Now I leave my phone in another room whenever I need to 8 on my work.
- 1
Gap 1
- 2
Gap 2
- 3
Gap 3
- 4
Gap 4
- 5
Gap 5
- 6
Gap 6
- 7
Gap 7
- 8
Gap 8
6
Key word transformations
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between two and five words, including the word given.
Exam task: Reading and Use of English, Part 4
Tip: Passives often need a form of be or been: check the tense of the first sentence before you write.
- a
Someone has stolen my laptop!
BEEN
My laptop !
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
- b
A technician is going to repair my phone tomorrow.
HAVING
I tomorrow.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
- c
They are updating the software at the moment.
BEING
The software at the moment.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
- d
My phone battery has no power left.
RUN
My phone battery power.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
- e
I forgot to save my work before the computer crashed.
REMEMBER
I didn't my work before the computer crashed.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
- f
People say that this app is very easy to use.
SAID
This app very easy to use.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
7
Four people and technology
Read about four people and their tech habits. For questions 1–10, choose from the people (A–D). You can choose a person more than once.
Exam task: Reading and Use of English, Part 7
Tip: The questions use different words from the texts: look for the same idea, not the same words.
A Maya I work from home, so my laptop is my office. I back up my files every Friday, because I once lost a whole week's work when my computer crashed. At the weekend I go offline completely and leave my charger in a drawer. My friends think I'm old-fashioned, but those two days are the most relaxing part of my week. B Daniel I love gaming, so I spend a lot on headphones and a fast keyboard. Last year I dropped my tablet and had the screen replaced at a repair shop in my town. The man there persuaded me to buy refurbished devices, and now I never pay full price. I always install updates straight away, because old software can be unreliable. C Rosa As a science teacher, I use several apps in my lessons: my students answer quiz questions on their phones, and I can see who needs more help. Last spring someone got into my school email account and sent strange messages to my colleagues. Since then, I've used a different password for every website. D Tom I retired two years ago and knew almost nothing about technology. My daughter set up a laptop for me, so now I make video calls to my grandchildren in Canada every Sunday. I've started shopping online too, but I'm careful: I only use websites I know, and I never click on links in unexpected emails.
Tap an item…
…then its match
8
Write a review
Write your review in 140–190 words.
Exam task: Writing, Part 2
Tip: Say what the app does, what you like and dislike, and finish with a clear recommendation.
You see this announcement on a technology website. Reviews wanted! Tell us about an app that has made your life easier. What does it do? What do you like about it, and is there anything you would change? Would you recommend it to other people? Write your review.
Suggested minimum: 140 words
Before you hand it in
- I give my review a title.
- I say what the app does and who it is for.
- I describe what I like, with an example.
- I mention one thing I would change.
- I finish with a clear recommendation.
0 words · aim for at least 140
Show a model answer
An app that keeps me organised I used to forget deadlines, birthdays and even dentist's appointments, so a friend recommended a simple planning app, and it has changed the way I organise my week. The app lets you add tasks, set reminders and share lists with other people. My flatmates and I use a shared shopping list, which means nobody buys milk three times any more. The best thing about it is how quick it is: you can add a task in a few seconds, and the reminders are sent to your phone exactly when you need them. It isn't perfect, though. The free version shows quite a lot of adverts, and some useful features can only be unlocked if you pay a monthly fee. I would also like it to work offline, because it is useless when I have no signal. Overall, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has a busy life. It is easy to use, reliable and, for most people, the free version is more than enough.
Spotted a mistake in this lesson?· tell us the exercise and item
Revise with a game
This lesson's own words and questions. Play on your own, or in teams on the classroom screen.
- Step UpAnswer the lesson's questions to climb to the top.
- Pair UpMatch the lesson's words to their meanings against the clock.
- SnapA word and a meaning: do they go together? Answer fast.
- Fix ItFind the mistake in each sentence, then correct it.
- Quiz BoardTeams choose questions worth 100 to 500 points.
- Retro arcadeWord Invaders, Word Snake, Word Maze and Word Crossing: classic arcade games with the lesson's words.
Glossary
The 26 words and phrases this lesson teaches, in 3 sets.
Devices and gadgets
- device
- a phone, tablet, laptop or other piece of electronic equipment
- laptop
- a small computer that you can carry and use anywhere
- screen
- the flat surface on a device where you see pictures and information
- keyboard
- the set of keys that you use to type
- charger
- a piece of equipment that puts power into a battery
- headphones
- a piece of equipment that you wear over your ears to listen to sound
- software
- the programs that run on a computer or phone
Using the internet
- internet
- the worldwide system that connects computers and other devices
- online
- connected to or available through the internet
- offline
- not connected to the internet
- download
- to copy files from the internet to your device
- upload
- to send files from your device to the internet
- search for
- to try to find information, for example on the internet
- website
- a set of pages on the internet about one subject or organisation
- attachment
- a file that you send with an email
- app
- a program that you use on a phone or computer
Looking after your devices
- charge your phone
- to put electrical power into your phone's battery
- back up
- to make an extra copy of your files or photos
- update
- to install the newest version of a program or app
- set up
- to prepare a device or program so that it is ready to use
- log in
- to enter a computer system or website with your name and password
- save
- to store your work on a computer so that you can use it later
- password
- a secret word or group of characters that you use to log in
- reliable
- able to be trusted to work well
- enter your password
- to type your password to get into a website or device
- run out of
- to have no more of something: My battery has run out of power.
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