Background: This ESL podcast is about cell phones. Almost everyone nowadays has one. They have so many new features now too. Have a listen to this podcast about cell phones and new technologies while learning great phrases for daily conversation and English listening skills. Tell us what you think on the discussion forum linked below.
Discussion forum
Cell Phone
English Learning Reading
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Since their inception, cell phones have been constantly getting smaller, cheaper, and equipped with more functions, and the best has yet to come. The increasing power of microprocessors and the world’s ever-expanding infrastructure of high-speed networks are making this all possible. Technology buffs paint us a picture of the near future, where the cell phone will become an all-in-one gadget and an integral part of daily life. It will be commonplace for one cell phone to be able to handle streaming video, read text messages out loud, surf the internet, play video games, store a huge database of information, monitor heart rate, count calories, and be able to take high quality digital photos and videos. There has also been talk about a “family friendly” service, where family members can track the exact location of other family members by using GPS capabilities. |
Phrases and Vocabulary used:
Inception: The beginning or start of some event. It’s often used to talk about the time a new product came out or the time a new law was put into place. We often use it as, “since it’s inception”. Apple’s I phone was popular since it’s inception. Since the inception of this new law, crime in the city has been greatly reduced.
Microprocessors: The small computer chip that processes the information of electronic devices like cell phones, Ipods, and computers.
Infrastructure: Major facilities and institutions that are shared by many people to help the functioning of society. Roads, Bridges, Schools, and hospitals are all examples of infrastructure. The high-speed networks such as 3G networks are also an example of infrastructure. It’s important for the government to invest in infrastructure for the long-term health of a society.
Buffs: An interested and knowledgeable person about a particular topic. A technology buff, for example, is someone who is interested in technology and knows a lot about it.
Gadget: A mechanical device. These are often small things that people have. Cell phones, mp3 players, and laptop computers are examples of gadgets.
Integral: A necessary part of something. If you said, he played an integral role on his soccer team, it means that he was a crucial member of the team.
Commonplace: common and widespread. It is commonplace for a mother to worry about her newborn baby. In today’s society, it is commonplace for unmarried couples to live together.
Streaming video: This is video that you can start to watch before it completely downloads. The videos on you tube are examples of streaming video.
Database: A large collection of organized information. On my computer, I have a large database of all my friends and their contact information.
GPS: (Global positioning system) This is a system of satellites that is able to locate an object’s exact location on the planet. If you are carrying a cell phone that works with GPS, people will be able to find out exactly where you are located, anywhere on earth!
December 27th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
It seems high level English here
, Since I am preparing for TOEFL exam, this one is especially useful for me, Thanks
October 1st, 2009 at 7:22 am
Hi sir
I am an English teacher .If its possible send me an online book about daily conversation,also with audio.I cant afford to buy some books in this regard.I try to publish a book inthis regard ,please send me this panphelet you sure that I use your name and your institute,
if you do this we can work with each other.
Sincerely Yours
Dariush Nadri
October 18th, 2010 at 9:41 am
It seems many of the regular non-VIP lessons are unavailable now, even though they were not listed as VIP before. Will that be fixed in the future or are regular lessons being removed?
June 5th, 2011 at 8:33 am
Hi, just wandered by doing some research for a cell phone to home phone blog post. Truly more information that you can imagine on the web. Wasn’t what I was looking for, but very nice site. Cya later.