APIEIELTS Speaking: Old Gadgets and Technology
Old gadgets and changing technology
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Unit: Old Gadgets and Changing Technology
Module 1: Vocabulary & Sentence Build-Up (25 minutes)
📌 How to use this lesson
👩🏫 For Teachers
• Guide students through this 25-minute build-up module to practice gadget vocabulary and key sentence patterns before speaking practice.
• Check answers automatically together and encourage students to use the sentence patterns in their warm-up discussion.
🎓 For Learners
• First, complete the vocabulary review and collocation matching activities to practise the words.
• Next, study the 4 useful sentence patterns and try the fun guess-the-number questions to get ready for speaking!
Welcome to Module 1! Let's review key technology words, learn natural speaking patterns, and look at interesting real-world facts.
🔤 Part 1: Unit Words Review
Fill in each blank with the correct word from our unit vocabulary list (cassette, landline, typewriter, vinyl, dial, wire, player, modern, outdated, upgrade).
1. My grandfather typed all his letters on an old ____ before computers were invented.
Hint: A machine used for writing text onto paper.
2. We decided to ____ our home internet connection to get faster download speeds.
Hint: To change to a newer and better version of something.
3. Many young people do not have a ____ at home because they only use smartphones.
Hint: A phone connected to a house by wires.
4. Heavy CD players are now quite ____ because most people listen to online streaming apps.
Hint: An adjective meaning old-fashioned or no longer useful.
5. On very old home phones, you had to turn a round wheel to ____ the telephone number.
Hint: To enter numbers when making a telephone call.
🔗 Part 2: Useful Collocations Matching
Match each common technology collocation on the left to its correct meaning on the right.
1. modern technology
2. outdated equipment
3. vinyl player
4. landline phone
5. dial a number
6. upgrade a gadget
🗣️ Part 3: Useful Sentence Patterns
Use these 4 sentence structures to talk about old technology and your personal habits in IELTS Speaking Part 1 & Part 3.
My family still ...
Use this pattern to describe traditional habits or old gadgets that your family continues to keep at home.
Example sentence:
"My family still keeps an old desktop computer in the study room for reading news."
I don't ... any more.
Use this pattern to talk about an action or device you stopped using in your daily life.
Example sentence:
"I don't play physical music CDs any more because I stream all my songs on my smartphone."
I used to ..., but now I ...
Use this pattern to clearly contrast past technology habits with modern habits.
Example sentence:
"I used to write notes on paper, but now I save everything on my tablet."
It's much easier to ... than to ...
Use this pattern to compare convenience between modern devices and old methods.
Example sentence:
"It's much easier to take digital photos on a phone than to carry a heavy camera around."
📊 Part 4: Technology Fun Facts (Guess the Number!)
Test your knowledge about changing home technology before moving to speaking practice!
In the second half of 2024, what percentage of US adults lived in homes with a mobile phone and no landline?
Among US adults aged 65 and over, what percentage had their own mobile phone and lived in a home without a landline?
🎉 Ready for Module 2!
Great job completing Module 1. You have built up your vocabulary and sentence patterns. Now you are ready for IELTS Speaking Parts 1 and 3 practice!
Module 2: IELTS Speaking Part 1
Answer 4 short personal questions about old gadgets and technology in daily life.
Now it's time to speak! Record your answer for each question using your own words. Click the model answer afterwards to check useful phrases.
Do you still keep any old phones, cameras or music players at home?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💡 Model Answer & Useful Phrases Click to expandWhy this works:
Why this works: A natural spoken filler to start your answer smoothly.
Why this works: Says that you still have something and have not thrown it away.
Why this works: Says that you have stopped using something, in a soft way.
Why this works: A small filler word that people say when they talk.
Is there a gadget that you use every day now but did not have five years ago?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💡 Model Answer & Useful Phrases Click to expandWhy this works:
Why this works: Gives a confident and direct answer right away.
Why this works: Talks about the past, before things changed.
Why this works: Means that you do it very often.
Why this works: Says that one way is not as hard as another.
Which gadget at home would you miss most if you lost it for a week?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💡 Model Answer & Useful Phrases Click to expandWhy this works:
Why this works: Starts your answer with the idea in the question.
Why this works: Says that it would be hard for you.
Why this works: Says that you are telling the truth.
Why this works: Says that it is too hard to think about.
Does your family still do anything the old way, for example reading paper newspapers or writing letters?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💡 Model Answer & Useful Phrases Click to expandWhy this works:
Why this works: Says that your family keeps doing something the old way.
Why this works: Says what one person likes to do.
Why this works: A simple conjunction to connect contrasting ideas.
Why this works: Compares an easy way with a harder way.
🎉 Module 2 Complete!
Great work completing your Part 1 speaking practice. You are now ready to tackle more in-depth Part 3 discussion questions!
Module 3: IELTS Speaking Part 3
Answer 4 bigger questions about how technology changes. Give a reason and an example.
Now try longer answers. Record your answer for each question in your own words. Then open the model answer to check the useful phrases.
Why do some people keep old technology when there are newer things to buy?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💡 Model Answer & Useful Phrases Click to expandWhy this works:
Why this works: A good way to start when you have more than one idea.
Why this works: Means that you like something a lot and do not want to lose it.
Why this works: A small filler that you say when you explain more.
Why this works: Means that the answer is not the same for everyone.
What kinds of things will disappear from homes in the next twenty years?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💡 Model Answer & Useful Phrases Click to expandWhy this works:
Why this works: Say this when a question is not easy. It gives you time to think.
Why this works: A polite way to give your opinion.
Why this works: Shows that you are not completely certain.
Why this works: Means that nobody can know the answer.
Is it good or bad that technology changes so quickly?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💡 Model Answer & Useful Phrases Click to expandWhy this works:
Why this works: Use it when your answer has two sides.
Why this works: Starts a small, real example from your life.
Why this works: Means that something is not easy for someone.
Why this works: Means 'in general'. You can use it to finish your opinion.
Should schools teach children how to use old gadgets as well as new ones?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💡 Model Answer & Useful Phrases Click to expandWhy this works:
Why this works: A natural way to give yourself time before you answer.
Why this works: A soft way to say that you like an idea.
Why this works: Means for enjoyment, not for a serious reason.
Why this works: Means sometimes, but not very often.
🎉 Module 3 Complete!
Well done. You finished all three modules and spoke about old gadgets in Part 1 and Part 3.
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