TOOLS

Part 1
 Do you have your own computer or laptop?
 If yes, when did you first have a computer? If no, would you like to have your
own computer?
 How do you think computers have changed the world?
 What do you use the Internet for?
 What is your favourite website?
 Is there anything you don’t like about the Internet?
 Have you ever made friends on the Internet?
 How important is the Internet to you?
 Do you have any problems using the Internet?
 What technological products do you have in your home?
 Which product is the most useful?
 Do you find any problems when using them?
 How often do you make telephone calls?
 Who do you spend most time talking to on the phone?
 Can you live without your phone?
 Do you use any social networking sites?
 Why shouldn’t you share information about yourself online?
 Do you think that ‘Friends’ on social-networking sites are not real friends?
 Do you have any apps on your phone?
 What kinds of things can mobile apps do?
 What kind of apps are most popular in your country? Why?

Do you use any gadgets on a daily basis?

Yes, absolutely. Honestly, I am not a geek but I’m extremely passionate about
technological devices such as smartphones and tablets. In a nutshell, we’re living in
the computer era and there is no reason to overlook cutting-edge technology.

How often do you use the internet?

The internet is an indispensable part of my daily grind. It’s really beneficial for my
studies and helps me to relax. Surfing the Internet is my hobby during my downtime.
Frequently, I browse websites to buy something on e-commerce platforms or to
search for information. I often video conference with my classmates for class projects.
How much time do you spend using a computer at work or at home?

I work on the computer for about 4 to 6 hours every day, either to do projects or my
home homework. It is useful for other extra-hour activities, too, including watching
YouTube, editing my new videos and podcasts, and chatting with my friends, all of
which can take up to two hours every day.

Have you ever bought anything online?

I recently purchased a lot of items online, mostly from e-commerce platforms.

Sometimes I think I'm addicted to shopping, but I can't seem to stay away from the
tempting promotion deals. My last purchase was a cleaning kit for my cute dogs.

Do you believe that people today rely too much on technology?

Honestly, I have to admit that technology gives us numerous benefits. But in fact,
people nowadays do rely on technological devices a lot. In some cases, it can damage
our relationships and mental health. For example, students are wired to use
smartphones all day and neglect their studies, which can lead to bad academic
performance.

1. What mobile apps have you recently used?

Well, for the better part of the last 5 months, I have been using several apps on my
smartphone. And I guess my most commonly-used app is Netflix which is basically a
streaming movie platform. It’s a fascinating app with eclectic movie genres which I
find absolutely captivating.

On top of that, I also use some social network apps like Facebook or Instagram, but I
don’t think I use them as often as the first one that I’ve mentioned.

2. What kinds of mobile apps are you usually interested in?

I’m into quite a few applications, especially ones that inform me about my health like
how long I have walked a day or how many calories I should consume on a daily
basis so as to get fit as a fiddle. I think this is because I’m a health-conscious person,
you know.

3. What was the first mobile app you used?

It was a long time ago so I guess the very first one that I used was the Oxford
Dictionary. That was when I was a freshman in high school and I had a lot on my
plate, especially with my English study. This app truly did wonders for me,
especially in boosting my vocabulary.

4. What kinds of mobile apps would you like to use in the future?

Actually, I haven’t thought about this that much. But I think I may go abroad for
higher education in the future, so apps that can help me explore cultures would be
something I opt for.
Part 2:
Describe an occasion when you were not allowed to use your mobile phone.

Well, I think that mobile phones have now become a must-have item for everybody in
daily life, so much so that we somehow feel we can’t live without them.

I still remember the one time that I had to be apart from my phone when I was sitting
my high school graduation exam 2 years ago, and I have to say it was quite
uncomfortable.

So, my high school graduation exam is a mandatory examination that students have to
take at the end of grade 12 to get their diploma and it’s one of the most important
events in a students’ life, I guess, because it pretty much shapes their future.

And of course, cell phones are not allowed in the test, to ensure that no one gets
an unfair advantage by cheating. If your phone makes a noise, or if you are seen using
it at any time, including during breaks, you may be dismissed from the examination
immediately, and your scores will be cancelled without exception.

I myself had a bad habit of always going on the internet on my phone to make sure I
got the right answers when doing the practice tests at home, so during the exam, I
constantly had a burning desire to reach for my phone but obviously it was just a
thought and I didn’t dare to do it. However the feelings of uncertainty about my
results were haunting me and made me really nervous, and it wasn’t until I handed in
my papers and checked the answers when I got home, was I able to feel calm again.

From this experience, I realized that I do rely too much on my phone. And although
it’s a great tool to assist studying, I think we should learn how to be more confident in
ourselves.

Describe a piece of electronic equipment that you find useful.

A year ago, I accidentally got my phone robbed while walking on the street.
Therefore, I had to purchase another to use, and I consulted a lot of friends to see if I
should choose an iPhone or Samsung. After several days considering it, I decided to
buy the new iPhone which was recommended by most of my friends.

It is a black one with an elegant design which really caught my attention when I first
walked into the store. It was such an amazing experience when I tried using it for the
first time as everything operated smoothly without any delay. Unlike Android ones,
my iPhone can multitask with ease even at a very low battery state.

Personally, I use it mainly for contacting friends and relatives as it is convenient to

quickly access the
contact list and dial numbers

. Besides, playing games on this smartphone is an extremely wonderful experience for

me as the screen is sharply constructed and the touch screen is sensitive enough for
me to operate without considerable delays. Plus, joining meetings on Zoom or
streaming videos are also my frequent activities which are well supported by the
strong
processing core of the phone.

To be honest, I am really into this iphone simply because I purchased it with my own
money that I had earned in my part time jobs. Therefore, I cherish it and protect it
using some anti-shock cover bought from some specialized stores. By the way, many
people change their phones regularly, but I will not do the same as I expect my phone
to accompany me in the next 5 years at least.
Describe a useful website you have visited.

I use the internet almost every day, and if I make a list of useful websites that I like,
the list would be pretty long. For this topic, I would like to talk about
www.google.com website that I find very beneficial. Google.com is the most visited
website in the world as well as the best search engine we have. It helps people search
for anything they want. It brings websites, videos, news, images, and information for
the searched keywords. The results are relevant and one gets enough information
he/she is looking for from this website which mainly fetches information from all
around the internet.

I have first used this website in 2000 when I read an article in a computer magazine
about this search engine. Nowadays, this website has become so popular that a 5 years
kid from any part of the world knows about Google.

This website basically contains a search input box, different searching options like
video search, image search, web search, advanced search options, some copyright and
help links, and search buttons. Since this website brings results from the World Wide
Web, after we search for something, the results are shown on this website. This has
become a very popular search engine because the result it shows serves the searchers'
purpose pretty well.

For more than two decades, I have been using this website to search for the
information I need. It can find search results virtually for anything someone searches.
For me, this website is a great place to find information, references, academic books,
story, news, websites and anything I wanted to know and find. This website is the
gateway to other websites for me.
Describe an app you use in your mobile phone.

Today I’d like to talk about Facebook, which is probably the most commonly-
used app on my phone. You know, I am not really sure why but Facebook can be very
addictive.

If I’m not mistaken, I first knew about Facebook when I was in secondary school and
at that time, not many people knew about it since the majority was all hooked on Zing
Me, a Vietnamese social media platform. Unlike the others, I felt like using Facebook
would help me to stay up-to-date much faster and expand my network throughout the
world. My first username was such a joke that I had buried it over the years.

Anyway, when it comes to the reason why I spend a large amount of my time on
Facebook, it is because Facebook really comes in handy whenever I need to reach out
to someone instantly. Besides, I follow a lot of informative pages and blogs on
Facebook so I am always up-to-date with the latest news. I find reading short stories
and articles on Facebook very hard to resist for some reason.

I know it’s an unhealthy habit but I can’t help but glue my eyes to Facebook every
time I use the phone!