Jungle Course English Intermediate/Upper-Intermediate

Topic 1. Living in a digital age. Computer essentials

• Listening : Computers at work. Different types of computer.
• Reading : The digital age. The magic of computer. Advertising slogans. What is the computer.
• Speaking : Discussing what computers do. Describing a diagram.
• Writing : An email explaining the benefits of laptops.
• Grammar : Collocations. Classifying.
• Vocabulary : Basic computer terms, computers in education, banks, offices, airports, libraries, entertainment, etc. Basic hardware and software terminology.

Topic 2. Inside the system. Buying a computer

• Listening : A PC system. In a computer shop. Choosing the right computer.
• Reading : Technical specifications. What is inside a PC system? How memory is measured. Computer adverts.
• Speaking : Describing your ideal computer system. Role play - buying a computer.
• Writing : Notes about your ideal computer system. An email recommending a computer.
• Grammar : Defining relative clauses. Language functions in a computer shop.
• Vocabulary : Processor, chip, control unit, etc. Units of memory : KM, MB, GB, etc.

Topic 3. Speaking Time. Computers today

• Function : Repeating of previous material.

Topic 4. Type, click and talk! Capture your favourite image

• Listening : Describing input devices. Mouse actions. Scanners.
• Reading : Interacting with your computer. Speech recognition systems. The eyes of your computer. Press release : a digital camera.
• Writing : A recommendation letter about computer.
• Speaking : Describing input devices. Describing a camera.
• Grammar : Superlative. Suffixes.
• Vocabulary : Input / Output devices, groups of keys, mouse actions, scanners, cameras.

Topic 5. Display screens and ergonomics. Choosing a printer

• Listening : Choosing the right display device. Ergonomics. Multi-function printers.
• Reading : How screen displays work. Which type of printer should I buy? Printer adverts.
• Speaking : Discussing which display devices you would most like to own. Choosing the right printer.
• Writing : Guidelines for an ergonomic office. An email to a friend comparing two printers.
• Grammar : Instructions and advice. Connectors. Comparatives.
• Vocabulary : Display screens, ergonomics. Types of printer, printer technology.

Topic 6. Devices for the disabled. Speaking Time

• Listening : Assistive technologies for the blind.
• Reading : Computers for disabled.
• Speaking : Discussing assistive technology.
• Writing : An email summarizing the different assistive technologies available.
• Grammar : Noun phrases.
• Vocabulary : Devices for the disabled.

Topic 7. Magnetic storage. Optical storage

• Listening : Buying a portable hard drive. CDs and DVDs.
• Reading : Magnetic storage. Optical discs and drives.
• Speaking : Discussing how to protect your data. Choosing storage devices.
• Writing : An email explaining hard drive precautions. A post on a forum discussion about format wars.
• Grammar : Precautions. Word building. Connectors.
• Vocabulary : Types of magnetic storage, technical details of magnetic storage. Types of optical storage, technical details of optical storage.

Topic 8. Flash memory.

• Listening : Flash drives.
• Reading : Memory in a flash!
• Speaking : Describing flash drives.
• Writing : A text message to a friend explaining the difference between MP3 and MP4.
• Grammar : Word building.
• Vocabulary : Types of flash drive, technical details of flash memory.

Topic 9. Speaking Time. Storage devices

• Function : Repeating and practicing of previous material.

Topic 10. The operating systems. Word Processing

• Listening : Windows Vista. The Cut and Paste technique.
• Reading : GUI operating systems. WP tools.
• Speaking : Comparing user interfaces. Giving instructions for carrying out tasks in Word.
• Writing : A summary of a text. Instructions for using Find and Replace in Word.
• Grammar : Countable and uncountable nouns. Articles. Giving and following instructions.
• Vocabulary : GUIs, the WIMP environment, desktop features, etc. Functions and features of word processors.

Topic 11. Spreadsheets and databases

• Listening : The Excel spreadsheet program.
• Reading : An invoice and covering letter. Databases.
• Speaking : Discussing the software you use at home and at work.
• Writing : A fax of complaint.
• Grammar : Plurals.
• Vocabulary : Functions and features of spreadsheets and databases.

Topic 12. Speaking Times. Basic software

• Function : Repeating and practicing of previous material.

Topic 13. The Internet and email. The Web

• Listening : Internet basics. E-commerce and online banking.
• Reading : Internet FAQs. Email features. A typical web page. The collectives of cyberspace.
• Speaking : Discussing controversial issues related to the Internet.
• Writing : A replying email. An article for work newsletter about the latest Internet phenomena.
• Grammar : Questions. Collocations. Prefixes.
• Vocabulary : E-commerce, online banking, online chatting, videoconferencing.

Topic 14. Chat and conferencing. Internet security

• Listening : At a cyber café. Safety online for children.
• Reading : Virtual meetings. Netiquette. Security and privacy on the Internet. The history of hacking.
• Speaking : Discussing online chatting.
• Writing : Online conversation using abbreviations. Summarizing a discussion.
• Grammar : Past Simple. Chat abbreviations. Collocations.
• Vocabulary : Security, privacy, abbreviations.

Topic 15. Speaking Time. Faces of the Internet

• Function : Repeating and practicing of previous material.

Topic 16. Graphics and design. Desktop publishing

• Listening : The toolbox. Steps in a DTP publication.
• Reading : Computer graphics. What is desktop publishing? Steps in a DTP publication.
• Speaking : Describing graphics. Discussing the pros and cons of e-publishing versus paper publishing.
• Writing : A letter to a newspaper.
• Grammar : The - ing form. Order of adjectives.
• Vocabulary : Graphics software, desktop publishing.

Topic 17. Multimedia. Web design

• Listening : Components and system requirements. Designing a website.
• Reading : Multimedia magic! Web page design.
• Speaking : Discussing how multimedia is used in different situations.
• Writing : An email about the use of multimedia. An entry for the blog.
• Grammar : Modal verbs. Conditional sentences.
• Vocabulary : Main components and applications of multimedia system.

Topic 18.Speaking Time. Creative software.

• Function : Repeating and practicing of previous material.

Topic 19. Program design and computer language. Java

• Listening : Steps in programming. The history of Java.
• Reading : Computer languages. Java applets. A letter of application.
• Speaking : Discussing programming and Java applets.
• Writing : Making detailed notes. An explanation of steps.
• Grammar : The infinitive. The -ed form.
• Vocabulary : programming, Java language.

Topic 20. Speaking Time. Programming and jobs in ICT.

• Function : Repeating and practicing of previous material.
• Listening : IT professionals. A job interview.
• Reading : Job adverts. A letter of application.

Topic 21. Communication systems. Networks

• Listening : VoIP technology. Small networks.
• Reading : Channels of communication. Networking FAQs.
• Speaking : Describing networks.
• Writing : Summarizing discussion. Description of the network.
• Grammar : Phrasal verbs. The passive.
• Vocabulary : Different ICT systems, basics of networking.

Topic 22. Video games. New technologies

• Listening : Present and future trends in gaming. RFID tags.
• Reading : Game genres. Future trends.
• Speaking : Describing different game platforms and genres. Making predictions about future trends.
• Writing : A For and Against essay. Writing predictions.
• Grammar : Future forms. Adverbs.
• Vocabulary : types of games, arguments, mobile gaming, nanotechnology.

Topic 23. Speaking Time

• Function : Repeating and practicing of previous material.

Topic 24. Final Exam

• Listening tasks.
• Reading tasks.
• Grammar tasks.
• Writing task.
• Speaking task.

Bonus. Preparation for tech interview