8.5. Collocations and Reading and Use of English Part 1

What technological equipment do you think can be operated with software?

Individual Listening Exercise

https://www.topworksheets.com/t/2ghHN2cxVPT

Collaborative Exercise 1 about Collocations on page 69 on Wordwall

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/70703696

Collaborative Book Exercise 2 on page 69

https://wordwall.net/es/resource/113650998

Team Opinion Speaking Activity – Satellite Software Under Pressure

Level

B2 English

Objective

Students will express opinions, agree and disagree politely, justify ideas, and discuss technology problems in teams.

Activity Title

Could Humans Still Control the Situation?

Instructions

Work in teams of 3–4 students.

Read the situation from the satellite story and discuss the questions together. Every student must participate actively in the discussion.

After discussing, students must answer all the questions in a written way using complete sentences and clear arguments.

Try to use expressions for:

• agreeing
• disagreeing
• giving reasons
• speculating

Discussion Situation

A dangerous software failure almost destroyed an important satellite communication system belonging to a telecommunications supplier during a storm in Mexico. Engineers believed that a computer worm, poor maintenance, and human error caused the problem.

The engineers finally restored the system, but millions of people were close to losing communication services.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think modern satellites depend too much on software? Why or why not?
2. In your opinion, what was the biggest problem in the story:

• the computer worm,
• human error,
• or poor maintenance?

3. Should governments invest more money in cybersecurity for satellites and communication systems?
4. Do you think AI could manage satellite emergencies better than humans in the future?
5. What could happen if communication satellites stopped working for one full day?
6. Would you personally like to work in a high-pressure technology job like Andrés or Lucía? Why or why not?

Useful Expressions

Giving Opinions

• We think that…
• In our opinion…
• From our point of view…
• Personally speaking, we believe…

Speculating

• It could happen if…
• They might…
• There’s a possibility that…

Team Challenge

At the end, each team must agree on ONE final answer:

“What is the most dangerous risk for satellite systems today?”

Then, write a short paragraph explaining your team’s decision and share it with the class.

Plenary: What are satellites used for?

What do you think we would do without satellites on Earth?