2 English for Information Technology A2-B1 Vocational English Teacher’s Book

1   a missing file on the caller’s computer  

2   The problem will be escalated to tier 2  

    support. A software engineer will call back 

    within twenty-four hours.  

3  tier 

1 

Language  

 

The language of speculation and deduction is 

useful for diagnosis, the topic of this section. 

Diagnosis is often carried out through a trial-

and-error process: the first step is to speculate 

about what might be the cause of the problem, 

then checks are made to see if this is correct. If 

not, another round of speculation and checking 

begins.  

 

To introduce the language, you could follow  

this procedure:  

•  Play track 45 again from OK. Have you tried 

 downloading 

... (A’s second turn from the end). 

  Ask students to write down what the 

  technician actually said about the cause of the 

 problem 

(there might be a missing file). 

 • 

Ask: 

Was the technician sure about the cause of 

  the problem? How do we know? (No. She said 

  might, not is).  

•  Elicit other language that conveys the same 

  lack of certainty, such as I think ..., and the 

  language in the Language box. 

5

  In pairs, students look at six situations and 

speculate about what the problem might be, 

using language from the Language box.  

Suggested answers