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🛡️ Online Safety • B1 Level • 20 Minutes

Online Safety & Passwords

Learn 10 everyday words for staying safe online.

10 Words • 16 Tasks • 12 Shadowing

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How to use this lesson

👩‍🏫 For the teacher:

Use this 20-minute lesson in class or assign it as quick homework.
Check answers together using the short tips under each question.

🎒 For the learner:

Start by reading the word table and sound tips carefully.
Next, complete the practice tasks and record your voice in the shadowing section.

Helpful pattern: Look at this sentence: "My sister is afraid of losing her phone." Notice how words connect naturally without needing complex rules.

Word table

Explore the 10 words, their meanings, real pairs, and simple memory tricks.

10 Terms

⚠️

Theme 1: Online dangers

Word	Meaning	Common collocations	Word forms	Example sentence	Memory tip
hacker	A person who secretly gets into other people's computers to steal data.	stop a hacker, computer hacker	hack (v)	A hacker tried to break into the bank website last night.	💡 Picture someone "chopping" or hacking through locked digital doors.
scam	A dishonest plan or trick to take people's money.	avoid a scam, online scam, scam email	scammer (n)	That prize email was a scam to steal money from me.	💡 Sounds like "sham" (fake) or "scheme" (tricky plan).
spam	Unwanted emails or messages sent to millions of people at once.	spam folder, send spam, filter spam	–	My email app moves annoying advertisements straight to spam.	💡 Picture cheap canned meat filling up every corner of your mailbox.
attachment	A computer file sent together with an email message.	open an attachment, download an attachment	–	Never open an attachment if you do not know the sender.	💡 Think of a paperclip that "attaches" a photo to a paper letter.

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Theme 2: Keeping accounts safe

Word	Meaning	Common collocations	Word forms	Example sentence	Memory tip
passcode	A secret sequence of numbers or letters used to unlock a phone or app.	enter a passcode, strong passcode, four-digit passcode	–	I typed my four-digit passcode to unlock my tablet screen.	💡 Two words joined together: a "code" that lets you "pass" the lock.
username	The special name you use to log into a computer program or website.	choose a username, registered username	–	Your username can be public, but your password must stay secret.	💡 Two simple parts: the "name" of the "user".
update	A new version of software that fixes bugs and improves safety.	install an update, software update, security update	–	Remember to install the latest phone update before going to sleep.	💡 Brings your machine "up" to the present "date".

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Theme 3: Describing safety

Word	Meaning	Common collocations	Word forms	Example sentence	Memory tip
suspicious	Feeling that something is wrong, strange, or dishonest.	look suspicious, suspicious link, suspicious activity	suspect (v), suspiciously (adv)	I saw a suspicious message asking for my mother's credit card.	💡 Connects with "suspect": feeling that something smells fishy.
secure	Safe and protected from danger or attack.	keep secure, secure connection, secure website	security (n), securely (adv)	Make sure the online shop uses a secure web address.	💡 Sounds close to "cure": solving risks makes you safe.
careless	Not paying enough attention, causing mistakes or danger.	careless mistake, careless with passwords	carelessly (adv), carelessness (n)	Don't be careless when typing your bank password on the bus.	💡 "Care" + "less": showing less and less care.

Practice

16 tasks arranged from easy to hard to build your skills step by step.

Tasks 1–16

Part A: Collocation Matrix

Match each verb with its natural noun partner

Pick the noun that pairs correctly with the verb in everyday English.

1. Which noun pairs with the verb "avoid an online..."?

____ scam ____ attachment ____ passcode ____ update

2. Which noun pairs with the verb "open an email..."?

____ scam ____ attachment ____ passcode ____ update

3. Which noun pairs with the verb "enter your..."?

____ scam ____ attachment ____ passcode ____ update

4. Which noun pairs with the verb "install a software..."?

____ scam ____ attachment ____ passcode ____ update

Part B: Gap-fill with Word Bank

Complete each short conversation

Choose the correct word from the bank below and type it into the gap.

Word Bank: spam secure careless hacker

Conversation 1

Dan: Why are you getting so many unwanted junk emails?

Mia: Someone probably sold my email address to a company that sends tons of ___.

____

Conversation 2

Dan: Is my banking app safe to use on public café Wi-Fi?

Mia: No, always use a private network to keep your personal data ___.

____

Conversation 3

Dan: How did someone break into your social media account?

Mia: I was ___ and left my profile open on a computer in the public library.

____

Conversation 4

Dan: Did someone really break through the school firewall?

Mia: Yes, a skilled ___ found an easy password and got inside.

____

Part C: Choose the Word

Select the single word that fits the meaning

All three choices fit the grammar, but only one makes sensible meaning.

9. Never send money to someone who asks for it in an email because it is probably a ___.

____ a. scam ____ b. spam ____ c. hacker

10. Before you can sign in to the website, please type your registered ___ in the first box.

____ a. username ____ b. update ____ c. attachment

11. If you receive a strange link asking for your secret bank PIN, you should be very ___.

____ a. secure ____ b. suspicious ____ c. careless

12. Do not download that file from the strange email because the ___ might carry a harmful virus.

____ a. attachment ____ b. passcode ____ c. username

Part D: Word Formation

Change the base word into the correct form

Use only the forms listed in your word table. Type the changed word into the gap.

Base word: hacker

Criminals try to ___ into corporate databases to copy private phone numbers.

____

Base word: scam

A clever ___ phoned my grandmother and pretended to be an official bank worker.

____

Base word: secure

Store all your account passwords ___ in an encrypted digital notebook.

____

Base word: careless

Simple ___ with your phone screen can let strangers see your personal PIN.

____

Shadowing

Listen to the natural rhythm, speak along, and record your voice for each item.

12 Speech Tasks

Part A: Collocations Listen, repeat the word pair, and record your speech.

1. Word pair

a strong passcode

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

2. Word pair

open an email attachment

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

3. Word pair

spot an online scam

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

4. Word pair

keep your data secure

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Part B: Everyday Sentences Short, real-life lines spoken at natural speed.

5. Everyday line

Never share your passcode with anyone.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

6. Everyday line

I got a scam text message this morning.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

7. Everyday line

You should update your phone right now.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

8. Everyday line

Do not be careless with your passwords.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

9. Everyday line

Delete that spam email right away.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

10. Everyday line

Make sure your account is safe and secure.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Part C: Pronunciation Focus Practice saying these longer words clearly syllable by syllable.

11. Focus word

suspicious

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

12. Focus word

attachment

[Bài tập luyện nói]

____

Online Safety and Passwords

Online Safety & Passwords

How to use this lesson

Word table

Theme 1: Online dangers

Theme 2: Keeping accounts safe

Theme 3: Describing safety

Practice

Match each verb with its natural noun partner

Complete each short conversation

Select the single word that fits the meaning

Change the base word into the correct form

Shadowing

Related lessons

Grammar: Online Safety and Passwords

Reading: Password Security Advice

IELTS Speaking: Online Safety & Passwords

IELTS Writing Task 1: Online Account Process

B1 Vocabulary: Studying and Collocations

Vocabulary: Everyday Phrasal Verbs