Universidad Autónoma de Asunción

Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación y de la Comunicación

Departamento de Lenguas modernas

CLASS 12. COMPUTING SUPPORT ASSISTANT

I. READING COMPREHENSION.

Interview: Computing Support Assistant.

Organizations that have many computers normally have a technical support
department of some kind. The computing support assistant in these departments has
a range of responsibilities, including the purchase and installation of computer
hardware and software, setting up, managing, and maintaining network systems,
troubleshooting computing problems, and designing and adapting the software. He
also trains users in the use of both equipment and software.

General purpose office programs, such as word processors, spreadsheets, and databases usually have many
features, many of which are rarely used. Users often need help to find out how to operate these features. In PC
systems it is also possible for memory problems to occur, particularly if the user is using many programs at the
same time. Memory problems can cause the computer to stop functioning. When this happens, the computer is
said to have hung or frozen, although the term frozen usually refers to the display screen.

It is important for the computing support staff to be able to communicate with users as well as keep up to
date with current technical knowledge about hardware and software. Computing is changing at an accelerating
pace, and it is difficult for support assistants to keep up with all the changes. Ways that this computing support
assistant uses to keep in touch with developments include attending courses, using the Internet, and reading
current magazines.

Answer the following questions in your notebook.

1 What responsibility has the computing support assistant?
2 Are troubleshooting problems quite common when working at a computer?
3 Why do printing problems occur very often?
4 Do users often need help to find out how to operate general-purpose office programs?
5 Is it important for the computing support staff to keep up to date with current technical knowledge about
hardware and software? Why?
6 What are the ways for a computing support assistant to keep in touch with developments in computing?
2. VOCABULARY.
1. Match the words in the left column with their meanings in the right column.
1 freeze ….. a) a small picture used in WIMP system to
represent a program, folder, or file.
2 toners ….. b) the powder used inside laser printers
3 graphical user interfaces 1 c) suddenly stop responding. It is usually used in
reference to a screen display
4 recycle bin ……d) a dialog box component in the form of a small
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 square box used to indicate one or two alternative
states e.g., true, or false. When the user clicks the box
with a mouse, a cross appears in the box. Clicking
again clears the box.
5 check box …… e) a program used to hide files that are no longer
required and bring them back if they are required
again. Emptying the recycle bin deletes the files
completely.
6 WIMP system …… f) a secret code used to control access to a
network system
7 dialog box …… g) part of an operating system that allows the user
to interact with a computer using images and cursor
8 icon …… h) a list of options displayed on a computer screen
9 password …… i) acronym for windows, icons, menus, and
pointers/ a common type of graphical user interface
10 menu …… j) a window in a WIMP system that is used to
provide information or obtain information from the
user

2. Put the devices from the list into these sets.

Input 0utput Storage

Joystick Laser printer Floppy disk

CD-ROM disk joystick microphone

digital camera keyboard monitor
dot-matrix printer laser printer removable hard disk
fixed hard disk light pen scanner
floppy disk magneto-optical disk
inkjet printer magnetic tape
3. ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY

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 Adverbs of Frequency
We use these adverbs to show how often something is done, from something done very frequently (“always”) to
something not done at all (“never”).
Examples: I always watch TV at night. She is never late for work.
Study these extracts from the interview:
I: Are you bored?
A: No, not really: because it´s never the same things repeatedly: It´s different each time.

A: People have problems with the hardware, often with printers.... paper jamming. They also have problems finding
options in the programs. Mostly with word processing.
I: Are there any other hardware problems?
A: Occasionally a computer freezes. It hangs or freezes. It´s usually a memory problem.
I: Is it always the machine or is it sometimes the user?
A: Sometimes it is the user. The printer isn´t switched on, or there´s no paper in it.

The word in italics tells us how often something happens. For example:
I: How often does a computer crash?
A: Sometimes, not very often.

We can grade these words from ALWAYS to NEVER like this:

100% Always
90% Usually
70% Often
50% Sometimes
30% Occasionally
0% Never

THE POSITION OF THESE ADVERBS IN THE SENTENCE.

Adverbs of frequency usually go between the subject and the main verb EXCEPT with the verb TO BE where the
adverb of frequency is placed AFTER them. The time phrase usually goes at the end of the sentence.
Examples:
Edinburgh always has short days in winter.
The winter in Edinburgh is usually very cold.
It often snows in Edinburgh in winter.
Edinburgh sometimes has winters without snow.
Edinburgh never has short days in summer.
I occasionally walk to school.

Jim is always late. She isn´t usually on time.

Although the rules cited regarding the position of adverbs of frequency in the sentence are general, they
are often not respected. For example, when the speaker wants to emphasize the adverb, it is usual to
place it at the beginning (or even at the end) of the sentence; this is especially the case in adverbs that
suggest a “medium frequency”, such as “usually”, “often”, “sometimes”, etc.

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Pay attention!
The words EVER and NEVER are used a lot to talk about the frequencies of activities.
But remember that: NEVER is used to deny. EVER is used to ask.
If NEVER is present in the sentence, the verb is in AFFIRMATIVE. (Or else there would be a double negative)
• I don’t never buy CDs nowadays. ✗ -I never buy CDs nowadays. ✓
EVER = in negations means never. It is used when there is another negative element in the sentence.
Examples:
Do you ever talk to Maria? = ¿Alguna vez hablas con Maria?
Does your boss ever do his job? = ¿Alguna vez hace su trabajo…?
Do you ever work out, or do you just sit around all day? = ¿Alguna vez haces ejercicio…?

EXERCISES
1. Write the adverb of frequency in the right place.

Example: She doesn´t work at weekends. (usually)She usually doesn´t work at weekends.

1. He teaches English in the morning. (always) ..................................................................................

2. She is late for school. (never) .................................................................................

3. He doesn´t read books in the evening. (often) ...............................................................................

4. Mary eats soup. (never) .................................................................................
5. The man flies to Paris in spring. (always ................................................................................
6. I go by plane. (sometimes) ................................................................................

2. Put the words in the correct order to make sentences. Pay attention to the position of the
frequency adverbs in the sentence.

1 always / Argentina / to / go / we / spring / in We always go to Argentina in spring.

2 are/at this hotel / usually /they ..................................................................
3 plane / sometimes / by / go / you ..................................................................
4 interesting / job / is / my / usually ..................................................................
5 never / I / cereal / for / eat / breakfast ..................................................................
6 we / restaurant / go / a / often /to ..................................................................

3. Choose the best answer.

1. Helen hates vegetables. She never eats vegetable soup. (Usually, never)
2. I´m on a diet but I ……………………………. eat chocolate and ice cream. (Never, sometimes)
3. He loves dancing. He ………………… goes dancing on Sunday nights, (never, always)
4. They are punctual. They ………………………. come on time. (Usually, never)

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4. Look at the chart and complete the sentences.

1. They always eat dinner.

2. We …………………. …………………… travel.
3. He …………………. …………………… games.
4. She …………………. …………………… to school.
5. I …………………. …………………… the computer.
6. You …………………. …………………… the flute.

IV. READING COMPREHENSION.

1. Read the following text and answer the questions.

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ANSWER HERE
1 2 3 4 5
A
B
C

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2. Read and choose TRUE or FALSE.

1. I go to the cinema on Sundays. T

2. I sometimes go with my friends.
3. I go with my parents every time.
4. I don´t buy sweets at the cinema.
5. I take a drink from home,
6. I get popcorn every time I go.
3. Match them up! Write from 1 to 4 to match the adverbs of frequency with the examples:
1. always …… I go swimming only if I have nothing else to do.
2. usually …... I don´t go swimming – I can´t swim!
3. sometimes 1 I go swimming every chance I can – I love it!
4. never .….. I go swimming a lot, but not when I have extra homework.

4. Fill in the blanks in the speech bubbles with the present simple of the verbs and the adverb of frequency.

1. My father is usually tired at the end of the day.

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ACTIVITY. Multiple choice exercise. 6p.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Fuente:
Bibliografía
Glendinning,H.Eric,McEwan, John.(1999). Basic English for Computing. Oxford University Press,  www.oup.com.     
Olejniczak, Maja, (2014). English for Information  Technology, Vocacional  English Course book. Pearson
Educational  Limited, www.pearsonelt.com.
Olejniczak, Maja, Series Editor David Bonamy, English for Information Technology 1 & 2.
Editor David Bonamy, English for Information Technology 1, Person.
Jordan, Geoff & Del Castillo, Beatríz, MacGraw-Hill, English through Computers.
Universidad Autónoma de Asunción (2019 & 2020) Programa de Inglés para Informática 1 (Semestres Primavera &
Otoño)
Universidad Autónoma de Asunción 2021 Programa de Inglés para Informática 1 (Semestres Primavera).
Universidad Autónoma de Asunción 2022 Programa de Inglés para Informática 1 (Semestres Otoño).
Macmillan Essential Dictionary,
Oxford pocket Dictionary English – Spanish and Spanish English
Appleton´s New Cuyás Dictionary – English – Spanish and Spanish English
Materiales multimedia de la Web.
Adverbios de Frecuencia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaXWGajiyqY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryh0XUk3ojc

Adverbios de frecuencia y su posición en la oración .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoO3D00z-ck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrZI_tGUyw0

Material elaborado por la Prof. Lic. Josefina Modica. Inglés Técnico para Informática 1 - Clase 12