AELA_E1002_SESI_SG

UNIT

Technological Wonders 16

Objectives

The learner will be able to:

Discuss about technology.

Use vocabulary related to gadgets.Write email assuring clients.

16.1 Futuristic Gadgets

Meet Cy Ipstein—the co-founder of Roboworld and find out about his Robo nanny RW-01.

16.1.1 About Robot RW-01

Cy Ipstein, the co-founder of Roboworld has created a robotic nanny for your child. It babysits and feeds your child in your absence. It also reads them stories they like. This was Cy’s dream project and a fruit of six years of his labour.

The Roboworld RW-01 is a domestic or work-based robot. The idea behind its creation was that it should be fun to own and totally adapted to the human environment. The RW-01’s brain is a miniature PC running the standard Windows operating system. It uses wireless networking (Wi-fi) to link to its owner’s PC.

Its wide range of senses allows RW-01 to interact safely with the world. It uses the on-board intelligence and information from sensors to balance, to understand its location and to hear and see.

The RW-01 has a number of operating modes.

In autonomous mode, it can think and act for itself without human intervention. It can also make decisions, find its way

around the house and do useful tasks. It can act on upto 60 verbal commands.

1.In explorer mode, the owner can control the nanny via voice command or remotely from their PC. The owner can log on to the robot via a PC and drive it around the house seeing through its eyes.

Importantly, for parents, Cy promises a nanny-like personality. This nanny can be programmed to put children to sleep and also scold them if they misbehave.

16.1.2 Exercise

Read the text again and identify five things that RW-01 can do.

16.1.3 Exercise

Read the text again and state whether the following statements are true or false.

1.Robo nanny was Cy’s dream project. __________ (True/False)

2.The RW-01’s brain is a Roboworld processor. __________ (True/

False)

3.RW-01 has a single operating mode. __________ (True/False)

16.1.4 Opinion

Would you like to use a robotic nanny? Why? Why not?

16.1.5 Exercise

1. Complete the questions about the specifications of RW-01.

Domestic Robot RW-01 – Key Specifications

A:What ___________ is it?

B:Gold or black.

A: How much does it ___________?

B: 12 kg.

A:How much does it ___________?

B:I don’t know. You’ll have to contact Roboworld.

2. Match the questions about the camera with the answers.

16.2 Handling Customer Queries

Do you prefer getting email messages or phone calls in English? Why?

How often do you get email messages in English at work? When did you get the last one?

16.2.1 Exercise

1. Here are some email types. Match them with the given phrases.

2. Complete the given email with appropriate phrases from the previous question.

Dear Ms. Parker,

(1)_________________ we have finished recovering the data on your crashed hard disk.

(2)_________________ about 30% of the data is unreadable due to the damage.

If you wish we could use the DataTech finder technology and try one more time. (3)_________________

that most of the data can be recovered with its help. Regards,

R. Jarred

3.Write an email to a customer apologizing for late delivery of a product and assuring that the problem will be solved.

UNIT

The Future of the World 17

Objectives

The learner will be able to:

Use the future forms — ‘will’, ‘can’, ‘may’ and ‘might’.Use the first conditional.

Use appropriate sentence stress.

17.1 What the Future Holds

Which of these ideas do you agree with?

17.2 Conversation

Benetha and her team have been studying the way the world is changing. Here are some predictions they make about the future. Listen to the conversation and see which of the ideas Benetha agrees with.

Interviewer: Benetha, what do you think the world will be like ten years from now?

Benetha: Well, our study shows the economic scenario of the world is likely to change. Some of the big economies might lose their strength, whereas some smaller countries may emerge as the new powers. China, for example, is poised for growth.

Interviewer: What about common people?

Benetha: People will be more dependent on technology in the future. Right from communication to work, a lot of things will be driven by technology. The upside of technological gadgets is that they rarely fail. So they will be trusted more than their human counterparts. Children may have robot friends, for instance.

Interviewer: What would you say about people’s work life?

Benetha: People would definitely want greater comfort. So working from home would be preferred. Moreover, people can change jobs frequently because bigger jobs won’t translate into greater security. This can add to the stress related to work.

17.2.1 Class Activity

Work in groups of four. Based on Benetha’s interview, discuss the answers for the following questions.

1.Why does Benetha say people will depend more on technology?

2.What will cause people to work from home?

3.What will make life stressful?

Make a presentation to the class.

17.3 Grammar

17.3.1 Future Tense: ‘will’, ‘can’, ‘may’ and ‘might’

We can use ‘will’, ‘can’, ‘may’ and ‘might’ to talk about the future. Look at the given examples.

17.3.2 Exercise

Answer the following questions.

Which events are certain?

Which are the events that are only possible?

17.4 Grammar

We can use first conditional sentences to connect two future events using ‘will’, ‘might’ and ‘can’.

We can also start a sentence with the main clause. We do not use a comma in this case.

17.4.1Class Activity

1.What is the difference between ‘will’, ‘can’, ‘may’ and ‘might’ in the examples?

2.What tense do we normally use in the if clause of the first conditional sentence?

3.What is the difference between if and when in these sentences?

If I get time, I’ll read the newspaper.When I get time, I’ll read the newspaper.

Work with your partner and discuss your opinions. Make sure you have a reason for your opinion.

17.4.2 Exercise

Correct the mistakes in these sentences.

a.If we are more careful, we don’t might make so many mistakes.

b.If you will let me know the time, I can plan my work accordingly.

c.I am sure they not will call us.

17.4.3 Class Activity

Write down your opinion regarding the future using ‘will’, ‘may’ or ‘might’ in these sentences. (There are no correct answers)

a.People __________ have more free time.

b.There __________ be less pollution in the world.

c.Travelling __________ become easier.

Work with your partner and discuss your opinions. Make sure you have a reason for your opinion.

17.4.4 Class Activity

Complete the following sentences with your own ideas. First decide whether to use if or when by circling the word. Then complete the sentence using will, may or might in the second part of the sentence.

1.If/When I retire, ______________________.

2.If/When I go home this evening, _______________________.

3.If/When I get a promotion this year,_______________________.

Now, work with your partner and discuss your sentences. Check that your sentences are grammatically correct.

17.5 Using Stress While Expressing Opinions

When we want to express clear opinions, we often speak with more energy and volume to stress the key words which express our opinions.

17.5.1 Conversation

Listen to two people disagreeing on a matter. Which words do the speakers place extra stress on in order to express their opinion more strongly?

Speaker 1: We can meet the manager today itself if we finish the analysis soon. Speaker 2: But we will be more relaxed if we meet him tomorrow.

17.5.2 Exercise

Look at the dialogues. Read the sentences of Speaker 2 and mark the words that should be stressed. Then, listen to the dialogue to check your answers.

Speaker 1: If we reduce the training time, we can save money.

Speaker 2: But if we reduce the training time, the quality will be compromised.

Speaker 1: If we spend more money on marketing the new product, it will be difficult to recover the cost.

Speaker 2: But if we don’t spend more money on marketing, it will be even more difficult to recover the cost.

17.5.3 Class Activity

Discuss with your partner what kind of changes you think the future will have. The changes could be based on technology, globalisation and education.

UNIT

The Art of Selling 18

Objectives

The learner will be able to:

Talk about sales using proper vocabulary.Learn two part verbs.

Use appropriate phrases while leading a meeting.

18.1 A Career in Sales

Would you like to be a sales person? Why? Why not?

18.2 Selling 5-Star Property

We asked Dana about her experiences in selling 5-star property to the rich and the famous.

18.2.1 Exercise

1.Look quickly through the text. Select the best heading for the article.

a.Lessons in sales

b.Selling property to the rich and the famous

c.Selling the Palm Jumeirah

You will often find Dana at high flying society events. She’s not a party animal, organising these events is one of the responsibilities of her job as a property dealer. She sells villas and apartments on Palm Jumeirah, the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Dana says it’s interesting to market property on Palm