Topic Vocabulary >> Lesson 3: Technology
IELTS Technology vocabulary
The subject of ‘Technology’ frequently comes up in the IELTS Speaking exam. You may be asked to talk about something you own, your favourite websites, how technology has impacted on education etc. You’ll need to show the examiner your ability to express yourself using as wide a range of vocabulary as possible.
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you enjoy using technology?
Stephan: Well … I wouldn’t call myself a techie or a computer buff but I enjoy using computers … I’d like to find out more about how they work … when my computer crashes I never know what to do.
Examiner: Do you use the Internet for your studies?
Sophie: Yes … I’d be lost without it … I do lots of video conferencing to practise speaking and social media like Facebook is a good way to meet up with other students … and I download podcasts that teach English vocabulary and grammar.
Examiner: Do you have your own computer?
Tania: Yes … I have a Macbook Pro … I use it all the time … for word processing … browsing websites and catching up with TV programmes I’ve missed.
Part 2-style task
Describe an item of technology you have that is very important. You should say:
- what the technology is
- when you got it
- how often you use it
and say how different your daily life would be without it.
Mattie: I don’t have many gadgets … just a computer … a laptop and my mobile phone … but I’ll talk about my computer as it’s so useful … it’s funny really … 2 years ago I was still learning to use computers … how to use email … send attachments how to access websites … then I decided to do a digital editing course for video and photography … and so I bought the laptop when I started the course … my husband had a desktop PC but it was very slow so I decided to upgrade to a powerful one because we do a lot of video editing on the course … it’s a high-spec laptop … very fast … the latest operating system … it boots up really quickly and it’s fun to use so it makes working a pleasure … I’ve become a competent computer user now … if I didn’t have it I daresay I’d have to spend more time at college using their computers … but on the positive side I suppose I’d read a lot more if I didn’t have it … I probably waste a lot of time surfing the web … but hopefully I won’t have to be without it …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: What do you think are the important things people need to learn when they start using computers?
Alejandro: Well … there are things like how to use the Internet … how to enter a web address … how to navigate websites … that kind of thing but it’s also important to know how to back up your files in case your computer crashes … and all about Internet security.
Examiner: What kind of technological developments have made the biggest impact on our lives?
Faydene: In my lifetime it has to be the Internet of course but I also think wifi has made a huge difference to how we interact with the Internet … wireless networks at home and public wifi hotspots mean we can go online easily … access our mail … log into our work intranet and basically be connected wherever we are.
Examiner: Do computers make it much easier to study?
Jane: Definitely yes … researching information is much easier with the Internet .. you can bookmark webpages for future reference and writing essays is much easier … being able to cut and paste sections of text means you can experiment with organisation … so yes … compared to years ago when you had a pile of books on your desk and a pen and paper … it’s now much easier.
Definitions
- to access websites/email: to locate
- to back up files: to make a copy of files in case of a computer problem
- to boot up: to start a computer
- to bookmark a webpage: to mark a webpage for future reference
- to browse websites: to look at websites
- a computer buff: an expert computer user
- to crash: to suddenly stop working
- to cut and paste: to move text or images from one place in a document to another place
- a desktop PC: a computer that isn’t portable and remains in situ on a desk
- digital editing: to edit digital materials like audio or video files
- download (podcasts): to save a copy of a file from the internet to your own device
- to enter a web address: to type the address of a website into the address bar of your browser
- a gadget: a technological tool like a mobile phone or camera
- to go online: to start using the Internet
- high-spec (laptop): powerful computer with top quality components
- Internet security: Internet safety
- intranet: a network of connected computers within an organisation that is not accessible by unauthorised visitors
- to navigate a website: to find your way around a website
- operating system: the software that tells the computer how to work
- send an attachment: send an email with an accompanying file
- social media: media used to interact with other people such as Facebook or Twitter
- to surf the web: to look at a series of websites one after the other
- a techie: somebody who has an interest in technology
- to upgrade: to obtain a more powerful or feature-rich computer or piece of software
- video conferencing: to see and hear people from different locations using the Internet
- wireless hotspot: a public place where you can access the Internet
- wireless network: a network where users can access the Internet without the use of fixed cables
- word processing; producing written texts on a computer
Next Step?
Test yourself on topic vocabulary to talk about technology. Sign up to IELTS Speaking: Advanced for vocabulary tests and whole lot more!
its a good website
You guys are really doing a great job on teaching us how to use English vocabulary or the most commonly used vocabulary in technology.I really appreciate but i think i have a lot of work to do especially in terms of recalling what i have learnt.Your website and your work is really helping me.i will be having my exams on 17th of march.I really pray and hope i get a splendid grade.If there anyone who is willing to study with me via Skype we can .My id is anitathuo12
Not *ony* it on my
Mistyped
Yes!! I enjoy it a lot n more than enjoy; it has quite beneficial effects ony studies as well.
I have many gadgets such as mobile phone, PC, tablet, electronic dictionary, video games n so on. My mobile phone is one of my favorite gadgets.i can’t even think a day of my life without it. In case if i hv to sell it due to some error then without purchasing another one can’t sell.
It has many features to entertain like music, camera, editing, printing. Many useful applications, gmail, browser, calculator n calendar to fix meeting n many more beyond limits. With just a single click can surf internet.
Ofcourse, the process of learning has been changed and became easier since the introduction of computers.
I can make my assignments, PPT’s, assistance in paper work n many more academic knowledge can be gathered with computers.
Great but need clearly^.*
1) Yes, definitely. I think I would be lost without it. All those gadgets like smartphones and tablets are brilliant inventions. I really enjoy serfing the web on my iPad and the operation system on it, which is IOS is self upgrading everytime itself. So I experience no problems with such a smart device, I only have a pleasure browsing some social media like Facebook or downloading podcasts through that app on the AppStore.
2) as I said I couldn’t imagine my life without an iPad. I got attached to it so guickly and my life has become more convenient. It is not a desktop PC that stays at home. It is a small gadget that I can put into the pocket and use it on the road. Moreover, it has a lasting battery charge, which keeps my iPad alive for up to 10 hour straight of constant usage.
3) yes, of course the do make our studies easier. One can bookmark webpages to use it later instead of having a pile of books on the desk, then one can cut and paste some passages or fragments of text, one also can find an answer to any question as wireless networks and wifi hotspots are covering almost the whole territory.
OVER TO YOU
Use some of the vocabulary above to answer these or any of the other questions on this page.