In today's lesson:

Task 1: Understanding the topic 

Task 2: Summary of an introduction 

Task 3: Identifying advantages and disadvantages 

Task 4: Note-taking for an academic lecture 

Task 5: Discussion! 

​Adapted from Oxford EAP: A course in English for academic purposes (Intermediate/B1+) Unit 7A Listening Lectures (5) by de Chazal & Rogers (PG 92-93).

Task 1: Understanding the topic

Discussion #1 (10-12 min.)

Consider the following question: What is cloud computing? 

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Work in your groups to come up with a definition for cloud computing. Think of ONE or TWO examples of cloud computing you use in your life.  

Share your answers!

Some text here about the topic of discussion

For the Recording:

EAP B1+ Videos | OUP Canada

Username: ILAC

Password: Dreambig​

Task 2: Summary of an Introduction

​You will listen to the introduction of an academic lecture. Fill in the missing spaces in the summary below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER (Track 7.1)

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1. Cloud computing is the biggest creator of …............................. in history 

2. Origins of the Internet stems from the …............................. 

3. Researchers Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau claim that the Internet is a …............................. where a small number of links is enough to move from any point A to any point B 

4. Tim Berners-Lee created an experiment that welcomed …............................. to see how a network can grow 

5. It became so large that, by 2009, there were …............................. websites and it was still growing immensely fast 

You will listen to the introduction of an academic lecture. Fill in the missing spaces in the summary below using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER. 

1. Cloud computing is the biggest creator of wealth in history 

2. Origins of the Internet stems from the American military 

3. Researchers Tim Berners-Lee and Robert Cailliau claim that the Internet is a network where a small number of links is enough to move from any point A to any point B 

4. Tim Berners-Lee created an experiment that welcomed collaborators to see how a network can grow 

5. It became so large that, by 2009, there were 230 million websites and it was still growing immensely fast 

Task 3: Identifying Advantages and Disadvantages

2. The term “cloud” is useful because 

   ​

   a. It speaks to the vast amounts of information that is covered  

   b. It is unclear what it is 

   c. It refers to the large scope of the Internet 

1. Based on the research of Berners-Lee and Cailliau, the meaning of cloud computing is 

   ​

   a. A well-developed idea used by businesses 

   b. An underdeveloped but well-known idea 

   c. Still unsure and debatable 

Questions 1-2: Choose the best answer A, B, or C to finish each sentence. (Track 7.3)

2. The term “cloud” is useful because 

   ​

   a. It speaks to the vast amounts of information that is covered  

   b. It is unclear what it is 

   c. It refers to the large scope of the Internet 

1. Based on the research of Berners-Lee and Cailliau, the meaning of cloud computing is 

   ​

   a. A well-developed idea used by businesses 

   b. An underdeveloped but well-known idea 

   c. Still unsure and debatable 

Questions 1-2: Choose the best answer A, B, or C to finish each sentence.

The following are disadvantages of cloud computing: 

A. Cost of services likely to rise  

B. The security of data is managed externally 

C. Data selling is common among cloud service providers 

D. The service provider may experience technical issues 

E. The services are very basic when done externally 

Pick THREE [3] Letters

The following are advantages of cloud computing: 

A. Cost savings for businesses 

B. All businesses get equal resources 

C. Efficient management of resources 

D. Purchase of products bigger than needed 

E. Built in security features when purchasing cloud storage 

​Pick THREE [3] Letters

Questions 3-8: Advantages and Disadvantages (Track 7.2)

The following are disadvantages of cloud computing: 

A. Cost of services likely to rise  

B. The security of data is managed externally 

C. Data selling is common among cloud service providers 

D. The service provider may experience technical issues 

E. The services are very basic when done externally 

Pick THREE [3] Letters

The following are advantages of cloud computing: 

A. Cost savings for businesses 

B. All businesses get equal resources 

C. Efficient management of resources 

D. Purchase of products bigger than needed 

E. Built in security features when purchasing cloud storage 

​Pick THREE [3] Letters

Questions 3-8: Advantages and Disadvantages

Task 4: Note-taking for a Lecture

Listen again (Track 7.2). Write down the 1 key point for each advantage of cloud computing identified: 

Cost savings for businesses:

• ​

​

Efficient ​management of resources:

​

Built-in security features when purchasing cloud storage:

• ​

Listen again. Write down the 1 key point for each advantage of cloud computing identified: 

Cost savings for businesses:

• ​cost of purchasing space much lower than cost of installation

​

Efficient ​management of resources:

• users only have to purchase and use what they need

​

Built-in security features when purchasing cloud storage:

• ​many could computing services come with built-in data protection, backup, and recovery

Listen again. Write down the 1 key point for each disadvantage of cloud computing identified: 

Security risks due to external management of data:

• ​

​

​Service provider may experience technical issues:

​

​Cost of services:

• ​

Listen again. Write down the 1 key point for each disadvantage of cloud computing identified: 

​Security risks due to external management of data:

• the service provider has full access to the data you store in their service

​Service provider may experience technical issues:

• ​if the service provider goes down, the consumer loses access to their data​

Cost of services:

• ​as more companies want to use the service, the price of the service will go up

Task 5: Discussion

Discussion #5 (10-12 min.)

How do you use cloud computing in your life? Does it have an overall positive or negative impact in your life?

References

de Chazal, E. and Rogers, L. 7A Listening Lectures (5). Oxford EAP:  A course in English for academic purposes (Intermediate/B1+). Oxford University Press.