Aptis Speaking Exam: New Technologies

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What is your favorite gadget? Why?
- Answer: "Without a doubt, my smartphone. It’s like having a pocket-sized computer. I use it for everything, from checking my emails to navigating with GPS. It makes my life so much easier and keeps me connected with my friends and family."
How much time do you spend online every day?
- Answer: "Probably too much! I’d say I spend about 4 or 5 hours online, mostly for work. However, in the evenings, I try to unplug and read a book or watch a movie to avoid too much screen time."
Do you think children should have mobile phones?
- Answer: "It's a tricky question. I think they can be useful for safety reasons, so parents can reach them. However, there should be strict limits to prevent them from becoming addicted to social media at a very young age."

Describe this picture (Image B).
- Answer: "In this image, I can see a person sitting on a sofa holding a thin e-reader. The screen looks very clear, and they seem to be highlighting a text. It’s a very portable and modern way to carry thousands of books in one single device."
What are the advantages of digital devices over traditional ones?
- Answer: "The main advantage is convenience. E-readers are lightweight and can store an entire library. Digital devices also allow you to search for words instantly. However, traditional books don't require batteries and many people prefer the feel of paper."
Do you think paper books will eventually disappear?
- Answer: "I don't think so. While digital formats are becoming more popular, there is a nostalgic value to physical books. Many people enjoy collecting them, so I believe both formats will coexist for a long time."

Describe these two ways of working.
- Answer: "The first photo shows a traditional office environment where colleagues are interacting in person. The second one depicts teleworking, where a professional is attending a virtual meeting from their home office using a laptop."
How has technology changed the way we communicate at work?
- Answer: "It has made communication much faster but also more impersonal. We can now collaborate with people on the other side of the world in real-time, which is incredible. However, we lose the body language and the human touch of face-to-face meetings."
What will the "office of the future" look like?
- Answer: "I imagine it will be almost entirely digital. We might use Virtual Reality (VR) to have meetings in 3D spaces without leaving our homes. Offices might become smaller hubs where people only meet occasionally for social bonding."

Tell me about a time when a piece of technology failed you. How did you feel? Do you think we are too dependent on technology nowadays?
- Answer: "I remember once I had an important presentation at university. I had everything saved on a USB stick, but when I plugged it in, the file was corrupted! I felt absolutely mortified and panicked because I didn't have a backup. Luckily, I had emailed a draft to myself a few days before, so I managed to save the day. This experience made me realize that we are definitely over-reliant on gadgets. If the internet goes down or a device breaks, we often feel helpless. While technology is a wonderful tool, we should always have a 'Plan B' and ensure we don't lose our basic manual skills."

To be light years ahead: Estar a años luz (ser mucho más avanzado que los demás).
- Ex: "This new software is light years ahead of the old version."
Cutting-edge: De última generación / lo más avanzado.
- Ex: "Our academy uses cutting-edge technology for online lessons."
To pull the plug: "Desenchufar" o detener un proyecto o actividad.
- Ex: "The company decided to pull the plug on the failing app."
It’s not rocket science: No es ciencia de cohetes (se usa para decir que algo no es tan difícil de entender).
- Ex: "Using this app is easy; it’s not rocket science!"

Log in / out: Iniciar o cerrar sesión.
Back up: Hacer una copia de seguridad.
- Ex: "Always back up your files in the cloud."
Hack into: Acceder ilegalmente a un sistema informático.
Go down: Dejar de funcionar (especialmente redes o sitios web).
- Ex: "The server went down for two hours this morning."