44 - Computer crisis
Language to use in dealing with IT (information technology) problems
Disaster strikes the computers of Tip Top Trading! Something has happened and everyone's work has disappeared. Anna calls in the IT support, but can she explain to them what the problem is and can they actually help?
Intermediate · 170503 · 2017-05-03
Disaster strikes the computers of Tip Top Trading! Something has happened and everyone's work has disappeared. Anna calls in the IT support, but can she explain to them what the problem is and can they actually help? Language to use in dealing with IT (information technology) problems This episode focuses on language that you might use when sorting out a problem with your computer.
1. I am having problems with my computer.
BBC UK: I am having problems with my computer.
2. The screen keeps freezing.
BBC UK: The screen keeps freezing.
3. I seem to have lost some documents.
BBC UK: I seem to have lost some documents.
4. I have turned the computer off and on but that hasn't fixed it.
BBC UK: I have turned the computer off and on but that hasn't fixed it.
5. Can you help, please?
BBC UK: Can you help, please?
1. Anna
It's frozen. Nothing will work...
BBC UK: It's frozen. Nothing will work…
2. Tom
Yeah and all my football scores... I mean company accounts... have disappeared.
BBC UK: Yeah and all my football scores… I mean company accounts… have disappeared.
3. Paul
Can anyone get their computers to work? Or is just me?
BBC UK: Can anyone get their computers to work? Or is just me?
4. Narrator
Welcome back to the offices of Tip Top Trading where, as you can hear, there appears to be a bit of computer trouble. Everyone's work seems to have disappeared. This is serious so who can sort it out?
BBC UK: Welcome back to the offices of Tip Top Trading where, as you can hear, there appears to be a bit of computer trouble. Everyone's work seems to have disappeared. This is serious so who can sort it out?
5. Denise
Leave it to me. I'll sort it out. You just need to switch it off... and on again ... like that.
BBC UK: Leave it to me. I'll sort it out. You just need to switch it off… and on again … like that.
6. Anna
Hold on, let's check... Denise! All my documents have gone now!
BBC UK: Hold on, let's check… Denise! All my documents have gone now!
7. Denise
Oh, sorry, I was just trying to help. You'll just have to call I.T. Support, look, here’s their number.
BBC UK: Oh, sorry, I was just trying to help. You'll just have to call I.T. Support, look, here’s their number.
8. Anna
'It' Support?
BBC UK: 'It' Support?
9. Narrator
No Anna not 'it' but I.T. Support - information technology - sometimes called Computer Support. Most big companies have them. These are the people who sort out your computer problems and get everything working again. But be careful, they might ask some tricky questions.
BBC UK: No Anna not 'it' but I.T. Support – information technology – sometimes called Computer Support. Most big companies have them. These are the people who sort out your computer problems and get everything working again. But be careful, they might ask some tricky questions.
10. Anna
Okay, thanks. But what should I say to them?
BBC UK: OK, thanks. But what should I say to them?
11. Narrator
Tell them: "I am having problems with my computer", then say "the screen keeps freezing" and "I seem to have lost some documents". Tell them "I have turned the computer off and on but that hasn't fixed it". Finally, ask if they can help - please!
BBC UK: Tell them: "I am having problems with my computer", then say "the screen keeps freezing" and "I seem to have lost some documents". Tell them "I have turned the computer off and on but that hasn't fixed it". Finally, ask if they can help – please!
12. Anna
Well, I'll give it a try. Here goes. I.T. Man I.T., Dave speaking, how can I help?
BBC UK: Well, I'll give it a try. Here goes. I.T. Man I.T., Dave speaking, how can I help?
13. Anna
Oh hello Dave - I'm having some computer problems - in fact everyone is here. I.T. Man Right. What system are you using?
BBC UK: Oh hello Dave – I'm having some computer problems – in fact everyone is here. I.T. Man Right. What system are you using?
14. Anna
What system? I.T. Man Yeah, what are you using? PC, laptop, Windows XP?
BBC UK: What system? I.T. Man Yeah, what are you using? PC, laptop, Windows XP?
15. Denise
Tell him it's Windows 7.
BBC UK: Tell him it's Windows 7.
16. Anna
Um... it's Windows 7 on a PC. I.T. Man Good, good, this should be easy. Were you using many applications when it crashed?
BBC UK: Erm… it's Windows 7 on a PC. I.T. Man Good, good, this should be easy. Were you using many applications when it crashed?
17. Anna
Applications? I.T. Man Did you have lots of things open - documents, spreadsheets, videos, other software?
BBC UK: Applications? I.T. Man Did you have lots of things open – documents, spreadsheets, videos, other software?
18. Anna
Well, I suppose I did. I.T. Man Right, well... Anna isn't it?
BBC UK: Well, I suppose I did. I.T. Man Right, well… Anna isn't it?
19. Anna
Yes. I.T. Man Right, well Anna, try pressing control, alt, delete, at the same time - after that try opening Windows again.
BBC UK: Yes. I.T. Man Right, well Anna, try pressing control, alt, delete, at the same time – after that try opening Windows again.
20. Anna
Okay. Tom, could you open the windows please.
BBC UK: OK. Tom, could you open the windows please.
21. Tom
What eh? The windows?!
BBC UK: What eh? The windows?!
22. Anna
Yes. Dave says so. I.T. Man No, no, no. Open Windows 7 on your computer.
BBC UK: Yes. Dave says so. I.T. Man No, no, no. Open Windows 7 on your computer.
23. Anna
Oh, silly me! No, the screen just freezes. I'm a bit worried because I think I've lost some documents. I.T. Man Hmmm. In that case the only thing to do is reboot it.
BBC UK: Oh, silly me! No, the screen just freezes. I'm a bit worried because I think I've lost some documents. I.T. Man Hmmm. In that case the only thing to do is reboot it.
24. Anna
Reboot it?You mean kick it?!
BBC UK: Reboot it?You mean kick it?!
25. Denise
No! Reboot means turn it on and off again.
BBC UK: No! Reboot means turn it on and off again.
26. Anna
Oh I see. No Dave, I have already tried turning it off and on again but that hasn't fixed it. What am I going to do? I.T. Man Don't panic! I'll come and have a look. You're on the 2nd floor right?
BBC UK: Oh I see. No Dave, I have already tried turning it off and on again but that hasn't fixed it. What am I going to do? I.T. Man Don't panic! I'll come and have a look. You're on the 2nd floor right?
27. Narrator
Oh dear. This is a bit worrying but I'm sure Dave, the IT man, will get things sorted. Remember if you have important documents, it's best to back them up on a memory stick just in case you have a problem like this. Let's remind ourselves of the phrases we might use if we have to call computer support: I am having problems with my computer The screen keeps freezing I seem to have lost some documents I have turned the computer off and on but that hasn't fixed it Can you help, please? I.T. Man Oh hi. Is Anna here?
BBC UK: Oh dear. This is a bit worrying but I'm sure Dave, the IT man, will get things sorted. Remember if you have important documents, it's best to back them up on a memory stick just in case you have a problem like this. Let's remind ourselves of the phrases we might use if we have to call computer support: I am having problems with my computer The screen keeps freezing I seem to have lost some documents I have turned the computer off and on but that hasn't fixed it Can you help, please? I.T. Man Oh hi. Is Anna here?
28. Denise
She's over there.
BBC UK: She's over there.
29. Tom
So Anna, I'm just going to unplug the screen and put the wire back in here...
BBC UK: So Anna, I'm just going to unplug the screen and put the wire back in here…
30. Anna
Okay Tom but are you okay down there? Mind your head. I.T. Man Excuse me, are you Anna? I've come to fix your computer.
BBC UK: OK Tom but are you OK down there? Mind your head. I.T. Man Excuse me, are you Anna? I've come to fix your computer.
31. Anna
Oh, hello... you must be... Dave. I really like your hair.
BBC UK: Oh, hello… you must be… Dave. I really like your hair.
32. Tom
Ow! I.T. Man Thanks. You look rather lovely. I'd better take a look at your computer.
BBC UK: Ow! I.T. Man Thanks. You look rather lovely. I'd better take a look at your computer.
33. Tom
Don't worry guys, it’s okay, I think I've fixed it!
BBC UK: Don't worry guys, it’s OK, I think I've fixed it!
34. Narrator
Looks like Tom has a rival. Is Anna going to fall for the charms of Dave, the I.T. man, or is he just going to upgrade her software? This could get very interesting - but there's still work to be done - so join us again soon for English at Work. Bye.
BBC UK: Looks like Tom has a rival. Is Anna going to fall for the charms of Dave, the I.T. man, or is he just going to upgrade her software? This could get very interesting – but there's still work to be done – so join us again soon for English at Work. Bye.
Question
What is the technical term for turning the computer off and on again?
Answer
To reboot the computer.