E-mail, telephones and the post

 

Before you start

1.Compare how many e-mails, phone calls and letters you make/send and receive each week.

 

Reading

2.Read the different opinions. Which one do you most agree with?

Which do our readers like using most: e-mail, telephones or the post? Here are three typical responses from last week's survey.

Lida, 28

For me it has to be e-mail, it's very fast, cheap and modern - you can download music and video, send letters and pictures, and it's informal, which I like, I know privacy and security can be problems but who sends important documents by e-mail? I get annoyed if I get hundreds of e-mails at work and they all expect an instant response, and obviously I hate getting spam, or even worse, a virus.

Jarek, 65

Well, I use all three, but I prefer the phone. It's more expensive, especially for long-distance calls, but I like the instant interaction and I think you can understand more when you hear a person's voice, I like the informality and speed and you can also use your mobile phone for e-mail and sending images.

With mobile phones you don't get a lot of unwanted communication, apart from the occasional wrong number.

Andrea, 39

I like modern things, but I still prefer the post. I know postal delivery is slow, but it's cheap, and you can be sure no one will read your mail or listen to your conversations. You can send anything by post, which you can't do with e-mail.

Personally, I like receiving handwritten letters - they look, feel and smell different from e-mails. I think it's sad that young people don't write letters now - they're usually more formal than e-mail and students can practice their grammar and spelling. Now, what I don't like is getting is bills and junk mail!

	E-Mail	Telephone	Post
cheap	□	□	□
send	□	□	□
pictures/images	□	□	□
instant	□	□	□
delivery	□	□	□
instant reply	□	□	□
interactive	□	□	□
modem	□	□	□
private	□	□	□
secure	□	□	□
slow	□	□	□
send sound	□	□	□
unwanted	□	□	□
communication	□	□	□
usually formal	□	□	□

 

3 Read the quotes again. Tick (\/) the features of each type of communication.

Vocabulary

Which of the words in the box do people usually think of as positive? Which do they think of as negative?

bills ■ communication ■instant ■ interaction■ privacy ■ security ■ spam ■ virus

 

Speaking

4 Work in pairs. How do you feel about getting these unwelcome messages? Why? Add other types of unwanted communication to the list.

wrong number phone calls ■ spam ■ viruses ■ junk mail ■ joke calls ■ bills ■calls from telephone salespeople

I don’t mind getting...

I don’t really like getting...

I really don’t like / can’t stand / (really) hate...

 

Writing

5 Write a paragraph describing the advantages and disadvantages of e-mail or telephones or the postal service.

Get real

Work in pairs. Send each other a handwritten letter in English through the post. Also send each other an e-mail. (They can have the same content.) Describe how the letter looked, how it felt and how it smelt when you received it. Compare the letter to the e-mail you have received. Tell the class which you preferred and why.

 

Mobile phones

Before you start

1.Answer the questions. Then discuss in pairs.

1 Do you use a mobile phone?

2 What do you use it for? Make a list.

3 When is it a good or bad time to make/receive mobile phone calls?

Reading

2.Label the parts of the mobile phones with the words in the box.

antenna ■ flip cover ■ display screen ■ faceplate ■ keypad ■ scroll keys

 

 

3. Read the adverts to check your answers to Exercise 2. Which phone is best for a business person and which is best for a student? Then write the correct names by Model 1 and Model 2 above.

 

The NEW Brightman QT1 This new super-cool model gives you the best in mobile phones · multimedia messaging to send snapshots to your friends · downloadable games, graphics and music · infrared signal transmission to your computer (no cables!) · voice-activated dialling - just speak to call · programmable ring tones so you know who is calling beforeyou answer · detachable faceplate so you can change it to match your clothes · antenna for clearer reception   SPECIFICATIONS Band mode dual Talk time 4 hours 5 hours Standby 5 days 7 days Dimensions 8 x4x1cm

The SP5 Deluxe Everything you need in mobile technology! - multimedia messaging with pictures and video - make calls while browsing the Web - digital and analog band modes for town and country - voicemail to send messages to your office - large screen with 6 text lines for text messages - large key pad and scroll keys for easy navigation - Personal Information Manager (PIM) for your appointment schedule - wireless connection to your PC and headset SPECIFICATIONS Band mode dual Talk time 5 hours 5 hours Standby 7 days 7 days Dimensions 5.5 x4x1cm

 

4.Which mobile phone has these features? Write QT1, SP5 or Both,

1 can work anywhere_____________

2 a diary_____________

3 a camera_____________

4 no cables_____________

5 faceplates you can change_____________

6 a one-week standby time_____________

7 ring tones you can program_____________

8 games you can download_____________

 

Vocabulary

5.Which of the words in the box are specific to phones/IT and which are used in general English?

band mode ■ connection ■ detachable ■ dimensions ■ dual ■ navigation ■ ring tones ■ text messages ■ transmission ■ voice mail

 

Speaking

6.Work in pairs. Text messages or SMS (Short Message Service) use abbreviations. Match the text messages (1-5) with their meanings.

1 gtg 2 brb 3 thx 4 J4F 5 I k%d meet u @ 7

I could meet you at 7.00. ■Be right back. ■ Thank you. ■Got to go. ■ Just for fun.

 

Writing

7.Write a paragraph about the mobile phone you have or the one you would like to have.

Get read

Use the Internet or magazines to find a new, up-to-date mobile phone. Make a list of the features it has and report back to the class.

 

Writing e-mails

Before you start

1.Which of these things do you do with e-mail and which do you do with letters? Compare your answers with another student.

write a subject ■ send copies ■ write an address ■ add attachments ■ sign in ■ sign your name ■ go to your inbox ■ use a post box m click on a name

2.E-mails, like letters, should have a start and an end. Which phrases usually start a message and which end one? Write S (start) or E (end) next to the phrase.

1 Yours sincerely,______________________

2 Love and kisses to all._________________________

3 Dear Sir or Madam,________________________

4 Thanks for your e-mail.__________________________

5 Give my regards to your family._____________________________

6 Good to hear from you._______________________________

Which are formal (F)? Which are informal (I)? Write F or I.

 

3.Write these messages in the correct order. Which are formal and which are informal?

1 e-mail 21st your August. I to refer dated

2 your I e-mail thanks, yesterday, got

3 you. can’t I see wait to

4 seeing look to you. forward I

5 me a Give if you need ring me.

6
require call if assistance. Please you

Reading/Speaking

4.Work in pairs, A and B. Each of you has a box of commands and fields and a diagram of a typical e-mail. Compose window with some of the commands and fields missing. You also have information about the commands and fields in your diagram.

• Look at your tables and diagrams before you start the activity.

• Take it in turns to ask and answer questions about your missing commands and fields.

• Write them in the spaces on your diagram.

Student A

Find out where to write the command or field in the box by asking questions like these:

Where is the Compose command? What does it do? Where is the To: field? What do I type?

Command: Compose Sign Out Help Send Add/Edit Attachments Contacts Field: To: Subject:

Now use your table to answer Student B’s questions. Give answers like these:

The Home command is t he first one top left. It takes you back to...

The Bcc: field is the third one. You type...

 

Command/Field	Information
Bcc: (blind carbon copy)	Type an address in this field to send a Bcc:. The person you send the e-mail to does not know who gets a Bcc:. You do not have to send a Bcc: - it is optional.
Cancel	Stops the computer sending the e-mail.
Cc: (carbon copy)	Stops the computer sending the e-mail. Type the address of the person you want to send a copy to. To send multiple copies, type in other e-mail addresses. Separate the addresses with a comma (,). This field is optional.
Home	Takes you back to the opening page of the e-mail program.
Inbox	Takes you to your inbox where you can see your list of messages.
Options	Gives you a number of choices about your e-mail, e.g. changing your password or stopping spam.
Save Draft	Opens your Draft folder to save an unfinished e-mail.

Student B

Student A will ask you questions about his/her missing commands and fields. Use the table below to give answers like these:

The Compose command is the third box. It gives you a new screen...

The To: field is the top field. You type...

Command/Field	Information
Add/Edit Attachments	Opens a window so you can attach files to your e-mail.
Compose	Gives you a new Compose screen.
Contacts	Gives you a list of the e-mail addresses in your e-mail program.
Help	Opens a Help screen that gives information on writing a message.
Send	Sends your e-mail message to the recipient.
Sign Out	Closes your e-mail program.
Subject:	Type the topic of the e-mail in this field. This field is usually optional so you can leave it empty.
To:	Type the address of the person you are sending the e-mail to (the recipient) in this field. If you use the Contacts list, you can | just click on a name.

Now complete your diagram by asking Student A about the missing commands and fields in your table. Use questions like these:

Where is the Home command? What does it do? Where is the Bcc: field? What do I type?

Command: Home Inbox Options Save Draft Cancel

 

Field: Bcc: Cc: