Warm-up
Technology & Innovation
Technology & Innovation
After this lesson you'll be able to...
- Use key technology and innovation vocabulary
- Explain the purpose of a tool or a decision
- Use to / in order to / so that / for + -ing correctly
- Present a new idea or product in simple terms
Get to know each other (3 minutes)
- Which technology do you use every day at work?
- Has a new tool ever changed the way you work? How?
- Are you excited or worried about artificial intelligence? Why?
- What is the most useful app or program that you know?
Say it out loud
Explain the purpose of a tool. → We use this app to share files quickly, so that everyone can see the latest version.
Fact worth knowing
Vocabulary
Technology and innovation vocabulary
Useful technology phrases
| We use it to save time. | Ми використовуємо це, щоб заощадити час. |
| In order to protect data, we update every week. | Щоб захистити дані, ми оновлюємо щотижня. |
| The software is designed so that anyone can use it. | Програма розроблена так, щоб нею міг користуватися будь-хто. |
| This tool is used for managing tasks. | Цей інструмент використовується для керування завданнями. |
| We will launch the app in May. | Ми запустимо застосунок у травні. |
| Could you fix this bug as soon as possible? | Чи могли б ви виправити цю помилку якнайшвидше? |
| It integrates with our email system. | Він інтегрується з нашою поштовою системою. |
| It’s a cutting-edge solution. | Це передове рішення. |
Try out the new words
Say why you use your favourite app. → I use my favourite app to … so that …
Explain what technology you would like to have at work and why. → I would like to have … in order to …
Which word is it?
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct word
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English.
Grammar
Expressing purpose
| to + infinitive | the simplest way to say why: We use this tool to save time. I called to ask about the update. Answers the question “Why?”. |
| in order to / so as to | more formal: In order to protect our data, we change passwords every month. Negative: so as not to / in order not to: We back up files daily so as not to lose data. |
| so that + clause | use when the subject changes or with can / will / would: We use a cloud system so that everyone can see the files. She spoke slowly so that we could understand. |
| for + noun / -ing | for + noun: a tool for design. for + -ing: This tool is used for managing tasks. NOT “for to manage”. Use to for a person’s reason: I use it to manage tasks. |
| Common mistakes | We use it for to save time ✗ → to save time ✓. We changed the system for we can save time ✗ → so that we can save time ✓. |
Which sentence is correct?
Complete with the correct word
Add the purpose
Join the two ideas with a purpose word. Several answers are possible.
Correcting mistakes
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Say it about your own work
Explain why you use one tool or program at work. → I use … to … so that …
Reading
Read: a new tool for the team
A new tool for our team
Last year, our start-up had a problem: we used five different programs to manage our work, and people often lost information. In order to solve this, we looked for a platform that could do everything in one place.
After testing three prototypes, we chose a cutting-edge tool that integrates with our email and calendar. We use it to assign tasks, share files and track deadlines. It is also used for sending automatic reminders, so that nobody forgets an important date.
Data security was very important for us. In order to protect our clients’ information, the platform has strong passwords and regular updates. We also trained the team so as not to make simple mistakes.
The results are impressive. Automation saves us about five hours a week, and the tool is scalable: it can grow when we hire more people. There were a few bugs at the beginning, but the supplier fixed them quickly. Next month, we will launch a mobile version so that colleagues can use it on the road.
True or false?
The team used five programs before the new tool.
The new tool does not integrate with email.
Automation saves about five hours a week.
There were no bugs at all.
The mobile version is already available.
Answer the questions
What was the problem last year?
What do they use the tool for?
How do they protect data?
Why will they launch a mobile version?
Find the key language
Write the word (or phrase) from the text.
Fill in from the text
Why is this a good text?
Your own opinion
- Which tools would help your team the most?
- What is the biggest risk of new technology at work?
- Do you think automation will take people’s jobs?
Practice
Picture the situation
Find the problem → Choose the tool → Protect the data → Launch. Always explain the purpose: why do we need this tool?
Match the phrase to its function
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Fill in the missing phrase
Say it in your own words
Write one sentence. Several answers are possible.
Translate into English
Write each sentence in English. Several answers are possible.
A useful tip
Speaking
How to use this section
Your tutor plays a colleague, a client or an IT manager. Present tools, explain their purpose, report problems and suggest improvements. Use to / in order to / so that / for + -ing.
Introducing a tool
Task: present a new project-management tool to your team. Say what it is and what it is for.
Starter: "This is a new platform for managing projects. We will use it to assign tasks and track deadlines, so that everyone can see the progress."
Explaining a choice
Task: your manager asks why you chose this tool. Give two reasons.
Starter: "We chose it because it is user-friendly. Also, it integrates with our email, so that we do not need to copy information."
Reporting a bug
Task: you found a problem in the system. Report it to IT and ask for a solution.
Starter: "I’m calling to report a bug. When I try to upload a file, the system shows an error. Could you fix it as soon as possible?"
Talking about security
Task: a client asks if their data is safe. Explain how you protect it.
Starter: "Data security is a priority for us. In order to protect your information, we use strong passwords and update the system every week."
Convincing the boss
Task: ask your boss to buy a new program. Explain its purpose and benefit.
Starter: "I’d like to suggest that we buy this program. We could use it to automate reports, so that we save about five hours a week."
Training a colleague
Task: show a colleague how to use a tool. Explain the steps and the purpose.
Starter: "First, click here to create a new task. We do this so that everyone knows who is responsible."
Discussing the future
Task: talk about a technology that will change your industry and why.
Starter: "I think artificial intelligence will change our work. It can be used for writing reports and analysing data, so that people have more time for creative tasks."
Full conversation — no stops
Run through a product demo with your tutor: present a new tool, explain its purpose, answer a question about security and ask for feedback — entirely in English.
Let's talk — reflection
- Which purpose phrase (to, in order to, so that, for -ing) do you use the most naturally?
- Was it easy to explain why a tool is useful?
- Which tool would you like to present next time?
Cool down
Now I can...
- Use key technology and innovation vocabulary
- Explain the purpose of a tool or a decision
- Use to / in order to / so that / for + -ing correctly
- Present a new idea or product in simple terms
Quick self-check
Do we say "for to + verb"?
When do we use "so that"?
How do we say a negative purpose?
One more thing before you go
Tell your tutor about a tool that you cannot work without. → I cannot work without … because I use it to …
Homework
Words to remember
| innovation | інновація |
| a prototype | прототип |
| to launch | запускати (продукт) |
| a breakthrough | прорив |
| automation | автоматизація |
| artificial intelligence | штучний інтелект |
| a software update | оновлення програмного забезпечення |
| user-friendly | зручний для користувача |
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct word
Open the brackets
Correct the mistake
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English. Several answers are possible.
Write it yourself
Write a short presentation (6–8 sentences) of a tool or program that you use at work or study. Say what it is, what you use it for, and why it is useful. Use to, in order to, so that and for + -ing at least once each.
Practise out loud
Say your presentation aloud as if you were showing the tool to a colleague. Speak clearly and keep a steady pace.
Read aloud
Read the text “A new tool for our team” aloud twice before the next lesson.
- 8.7 I wrote a presentation of a tool (6–8 sentences)
- 8.8 I said my presentation aloud
- 8.9 I read the text about the new tool aloud twice