Lesson 6

Excursion to ‘ New English File’

a)Read the e-mail to language school.

From: Adriano Ruocco [Adriano@ tiscali. mail]

To: The Grange Language School [ enquiries@ grangeedinburg]

Subject: Information about courses

Dear Sir/Madam.

I am writing to ask for information about your language courses. I am especially interested in an intensive course of two weeks. I am 31 and I work in the library at Milan University. I can read English quite well but I need to improve my listening and speaking. The book I am currently studying is ‘ pre-intermediate’ (Common European Framework level A 2).

I have looked at your website, but there is no information about intensive courses next summer. Could you please send me information about dates and prices? I would also like some information about accommodation. If possible I would like to stay with a family. My wife is going to visit me for a weekend when I am at the school. Could she stay with me in the same family?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

Adriano Ruocco

b) Tick the questions that Adriano wants the school answer.

1. How much do the courses cost?

2. When do the courses start and finish?

3. How many students are there in a class?

4. Are there Business English classes?

5. Where can I stay?

6. Where are the teachers from?

c) Look at the underlined expressions.

How would they be different in an informal e-mail (or letter)?

Formal e-mail Informal e-mail

Dear Sir/Madam ………………………………

I am writing ………………………………

I would like ……………………………….

I look forward to hearing from you ……………………………….

Yours faithfully ………………………………..

d) Write a formal e-mail asking for information. Write two paragraphs.

Paragraph 1: Explain why you are writing and give some personal information.

Paragraph 2: Ask your questions, and ask them to send you information.

e) Read the advertisements and choose a course. Think of two or three questions you would like to ask.

Thai Cookery courses in Chiang Mai

Learn to cook Thai food in northern Thailand. One week courses, from April to October. Your accommodation in Chiang Mai is included. Beginners welcome. E-mail us for more information at thaicook @ blueelephant.com

Tennis courses in France

One- or two-week courses in different parts of the country. Professional tennis coaches. All levels, beginners to advanced. Small groups or private lessons. For more information e-mail us at info@tennisinfrance.com

Lesson 7 How Information Travels Over the Internet

All information is transmitted across the Internet in small units of data called packets. Software on the sending computer divides a large document into many packets for transmission; software on the receiving computer regroups incoming packets into the original document. Similar to a postcard, each packet has two parts: a packet header specifying the computer to which the packet should be delivered, and a packet payload containing the data being sent. The header also specifies how the data in the packet should be combined with the data in other packets by recording which piece of a document is contained in the packet.

A series of rules known as computer communication protocols specify how packet headers are formed and how packets are processed. The set of protocols used for the Internet are named TCP/IP after the two most important protocols in the set:

the Transmission Control Protocol and the Internet Protocol. Hardware devices that connect networks in the Internet are called IP routers because they follow the IP protocol when forwarding packets. A router examines the header in each packet that arrives to determine the packet’s destination. The router either delivers the packet to the destination computer across a local network or forwards the packet to another router that is closer to the final destination. Thus, a packet travels from router to router as it passes through the Internet.

TCP/IP protocols enable the Internet to automatically detect and correct transmission problems. For example, if any network or device malfunctions, protocols detect the failure and automatically find an alternative path for packets to avoid the malfunction. Protocol software also ensures that data arrives complete and intact. If any packets are missing or damaged, protocol software on the receiving computer requests that the source resend them. Only when the data has arrived correctly does the protocol software make it available to the receiving application program, and therefore to the user.