🔥 Warm-Up (5 minutes)
- What technology problems do you sometimes have at work or school (Wi-Fi, printers, software)?
- Do you usually try to fix technology problems yourself, or ask someone else for help?
📖 Key Vocabulary
| English | Type | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| install | v. | IT will install the new software tonight. |
| malfunction | v./n. | The printer malfunctioned again this morning. |
| troubleshoot | v. | Please troubleshoot the network issue first. |
| upgrade | v./n. | We upgraded all the office computers. |
| backup | n./v. | Always back up your files before an update. |
| IT support | n. | Contact IT support if your laptop won't start. |
| device | n. | Each employee is given a company device. |
| password | n. | Please reset your password every 90 days. |
| network | n. | The office network was down this morning. |
| software license | n. | Our software license expires next month. |
🧠 Grammar / Strategy Focus
Causative verbs (have/get + object + past participle) describe an action done by someone else on our behalf: "We had the printer repaired." "She got her laptop upgraded by IT." This pattern is common in workplace English when talking about outsourced or delegated tasks.
✏️ Part 5 Practice
Incomplete Sentences
📝 Part 6 Practice
Text Completion (Subject: Scheduled System Maintenance)
This weekend, we will (1) the company network upgraded to improve speed and security. All employees (2) advised to save their work and log off before 6 p.m. on Friday. If you experience any issues on Monday, please (3) the IT support desk. A backup of all files (4) before the update begins.
📰 Part 7 Practice
Reading Comprehension
Thanh Long Insurance recently had its entire office network upgraded to improve both speed and data security. The project, which took place over a single weekend, required all employees to back up their files and log off by 6 p.m. on Friday. IT support technicians worked through the weekend to install new software and test the system before Monday morning. Employees were asked to report any issues directly to the IT help desk rather than trying to fix problems themselves, since some settings had changed. Since the upgrade, the company has reported 40% faster file-loading times and no major network outages, compared to three outages in the previous six months.
🎧 Listening Practice
Talk (Part 4 style)
Teacher: read the script aloud twice (or record it) at natural speed, then ask students the questions below.
Hi everyone, this is a quick reminder about this weekend's network upgrade. We're having the entire system updated to improve speed and security, so please make sure to back up all your files and log off your computer by 6 p.m. on Friday. Our IT support team will be working throughout the weekend, and the new system should be ready by Monday morning. If you run into any issues after that, please don't try to fix it yourself — just contact the IT help desk right away, since several settings have changed.