Devices, apps, everyday tech problems, and where technology is going. 20 questions from A1 to C1, with follow-ups and role plays. Answer out loud in full sentences.
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A1Beginner
What devices do you use every day?
Do you have a favorite app?Then: What do you use it for?
Do you use a phone or a computer more?
Do you like to take photos?Then: What do you take photos of?
Do you like video games?Then: What games do you play?
A2Elementary
What was the first phone or computer you ever used?Then: What was it like?
Have you ever lost or broken a phone?Then: What did you do?
Is new technology easier for young people than for older people?Then: Why do you think so?
How many hours a day do you usually look at a screen?
B1Intermediate
How has technology changed the way you learn new things?Then: Which tools help you most with English?
If you could invent a gadget to fix one everyday problem, what would it do?
What advice would you give someone who is nervous about using a smartphone for the first time?
Have you ever used a voice assistant or an AI chatbot?Then: Was it helpful?
What did people use to do before smartphones that they rarely do now?
B2Upper intermediate
What are the pros and cons of having so many everyday services available only through apps?
Do you think devices from twenty years ago were built to last longer than today’s?Then: Why might companies design products that don’t last?
How do people in your country use technology differently from people in other places you know about?
C1Advanced
Should people have the right to repair their own devices, even when manufacturers object?Then: Who would gain and who would lose?
How far should we trust AI tools to make decisions in areas like hiring, healthcare, or the law?
Is technological progress something societies choose, or does it happen whether we want it or not?
Role plays
Work with a partner or a tutor. Read the situation together, then each person opens only their own card. Use the phrases to help you.
B1 Intermediate
Calling tech support
Your internet stopped working this morning, and you have an important video call in one hour. You call your internet provider.
Card A: Customer
Explain the problem clearly. You have already restarted the router twice. You need a solution before your call, so ask what you can do in the meantime.
Card B: Support agent
Ask the customer to describe the lights on the router and follow your checklist. Then you discover a problem in their area that will take about three hours to fix. Offer extra mobile data or a technician visit.
Useful phrases
I’ve already tried…
What do you see on…?
There seems to be a problem in your area.
How long will it take to fix?
Is there anything I can do in the meantime?
I’m sorry for the inconvenience.
A2 Elementary
Choosing a new phone
You are in an electronics store because your old phone is very slow. You want a new one, but you have a budget.
Card A: Customer
You want a good camera and a battery that lasts all day, but you can spend only 300 dollars. Ask questions and compare the two phones.
Card B: Salesperson
Phone A has a great camera but costs 350 dollars. Phone B costs 280 dollars and has a better battery, but the camera is not as good. Help the customer choose.