Introduction

The second unit is called “Software” because the emphasis now is on this particular aspect of computers. However, the first section of the unit is again devoted to the linguistic aspects of learning. The main objective is that you learn the grammar and vocabulary of the English language and that you can apply them to develop the four skills through practice, but it is also very important that you learn how to learn a language.

The first section of the unit, then, includes a text devoted to non-verbal communication. This is an aspect that we often forget when we learn a foreign language, although it is sometimes even more important than the use of words (or ‘verbal language’). Most body language tends to be common to different cultures, but some gestures may have different meanings for different people. The second section is centered again on the world of computers. In this case, you will read about the system and the application software, with the corresponding language notes to explain some difficult points or give advice about the use of language. The reading text in the third section includes information about the office automation, which is the set of programs that help in the management of office information, as for example word processors, spreadsheets and databases.

The grammar sections introduce three other basic aspects. In section one, you will learn about the different present and past tenses, which are obviously used to speak about the present and the past, respectively. You will see the forms of the verbs and the difference in use between the present simple and continuous, and between the past simple, the past continuous and the present perfect. There is also a reference to the adverbials of time which are normally associated to the present and past tenses. The second section is devoted to explain the adjectives, which are the words used to describe the material world around us as well as our emotions. There is a special section to introduce the comparative adjectives and adverbs. We use these forms to make comparisons. The third section introduces the prepositions of place and time, which tell us where and when something happens. We will learn to destinguish their uses, with specific sections devoted to explain the date formats in English and the way of asking and saying the time.

The everyday language sections introduce other examples of this type of language. In the first part of the unit, you will learn the different questions and answers to ask for and give basic personal information, like your name, your age, your address, etc. This type of information is normally included in a friendly conversation with a colleague, or in a more formal situation, it may be part of a job interview. Next, you will see some words and expressions frequently used in telephone conversations. Telephone conversations are very common situations in our daily and working lives, and they require the use of the oral skills and some very specific language. Finally, you will also learn about the ways of giving advice. You give advice when you recommend an action to other people, and for this there are different ways which you can use in different contexts. The emphasis is on the grammatical structures used with each word and expression.

The vocabulary sections introduce more vocabulary related to computers. In the first section, you will find a list of different types of software and some related words. The second section includes several terms related to the operating systems. The last section in the unit introduces the vocabulary frequently used when we work with word processors, spreadsheets and databases.

Finally, the first section includes a subsection devoted to text summaries, where you will learn how to summarize a text. This will help you understand the most important ideas in a text.

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Summary