Everyday English · Computer time in class: taking a laptop or tablet from the charging cart, logging in, typing and saving work in a folder, using headphones, and staying safe and kind online.
Computer Time at School: 18 Everyday English Words
Learn the words for class laptops and tablets, such as log in, password, charging cart, trackpad, save, upload, mute and digital citizenship.
What to do
Many classes use laptops or tablets for some lessons. When the teacher says, "It's computer time," students often take a device from a charging cart, find a seat and open it up.
First you log in. You type your username, which tells the computer whose account it is, and your password, which keeps the account safe. Your password is private: keep it to yourself and the adults who help you.
Then you work. You might use the keyboard and trackpad to type a story, plug in headphones to listen to a video, or mute your microphone during a video call. When you finish, you save your work in a folder or upload it so your teacher can see it.
At the end, you log out, close the device and put it back in the cart to charge. Schools also teach digital citizenship: being safe, kind and responsible online. The words are here so you understand them when you hear them, not to memorise in one day.
Core everyday words
laptop
noun · LAP-topa small computer that folds open, with a screen on top and a keyboard below
Example: Each student takes one laptop from the cart.
tablet
noun · TAB-lita flat computer that you control by touching the screen
Example: The Grade 1 buddies read stories on a tablet.
charging cart
noun phrase · CHAR-jing KARTa cabinet on wheels where the class laptops or tablets are stored and charged
Example: Please put your laptop back in the charging cart and plug it in.
charger
noun · CHAR-jurthe cord and plug that put power back into a device's battery
Example: My battery is low, so I need the charger.
log in
verb phrase · LOG INto type your username and password so a computer or website lets you start
Example: Log in before the timer ends.
username
noun · YOO-zur-naymthe name a computer uses to know which account is yours
Example: Your username is on the card your teacher gave you.
password
noun · PASS-wurda secret word or set of characters that keeps your account safe
Example: Never tell a friend your password.
keyboard
noun · KEE-bordthe set of keys you press to type letters, numbers and symbols
Example: Find the letter Q on the keyboard.
trackpad
noun · TRAK-padthe flat square below the keyboard that you slide a finger on to move the pointer
Example: Tap the trackpad once to click.
screen
noun · SKREENthe flat glass part of a device that shows pictures and words
Example: Tilt your screen so you can see it without glare.
headphones
noun (plural) · HED-fohnza pair of small speakers you wear over or in your ears so only you hear the sound
Example: Plug in your headphones before you play the reading video.
mute
verb · MYOOTto turn off the sound, or turn off your microphone so others cannot hear you
Example: Mute your microphone during the video call until it is your turn.
save
verb · SAYVto keep your work stored on the computer or online so you can open it again
Example: Save your story before you close the laptop.
folder
noun · FOHL-dura place on a computer where you keep files together, like a paper folder
Example: Put your science notes in the folder called Science.
upload
verb · UP-lohdto send a file from your device to a website or online space
Example: Upload your poster so the teacher can see it.
bookmark
noun · BOOK-marka saved link that lets you go back to a web page quickly
Example: Click the bookmark for the class reading site.
log out
verb phrase · LOG OWTto close your account on a device so the next person cannot use it
Example: Always log out when you finish.
digital citizenship
noun phrase · DIJ-ih-tul SIT-ih-zun-shipusing computers and the internet in a safe, kind and responsible way
Example: Today's digital citizenship lesson is about kind comments.
Recognise the word
Recognise the word
Choose the meaning or the word that fits.
1. What is a charging cart?
- a cabinet on wheels where class devices are stored and charged
- a cart that brings lunch to the classroom
- the cord that plugs into one laptop
- a shopping cart for school supplies
2. What does log out mean?
- to turn the volume down
- to type your password to start
- to close your account so the next person cannot use it
- to put the laptop outside
3. Where is the trackpad on most laptops?
- on the back of the screen
- below the keyboard
- inside the charger
- on the headphones
4. Which one should you keep secret?
- your password
- the name of the class folder
- the letter keys on the keyboard
- the charging cart number
5. What is digital citizenship?
- owning the newest laptop
- typing faster than everyone else
- living in a city with fast Wi-Fi
- using computers and the internet in a safe, kind and responsible way
Use the word in a situation
Use the word in a situation
Think about what students and teachers really say at computer time.
6. "Type your ___ and password to log in."
- bookmark
- username
- folder
- charger
7. "___ your story before you close the laptop, or you might lose it."
- Mute
- Upload
- Save
- Log in
8. "The video is loud. Please wear your ___."
- headphones
- trackpad
- keyboard
- screen
9. "Please mute yourself until it is your turn to talk." What should you do?
- Close the laptop.
- Talk louder.
- Turn off your microphone so others cannot hear you.
- Turn off the screen.
10. "Put all your math files in one ___ so you can find them later."
- charger
- password
- bookmark
- folder
Quick-check answers
- 1. a cabinet on wheels where class devices are stored and charged
A charging cart holds the class laptops or tablets and charges them. It is not for lunch or shopping, and the single cord for one laptop is a charger. - 2. to close your account so the next person cannot use it
Log out ends your turn on the account. Typing your password to start is log in, which is the opposite, and turning the sound down is about volume. - 3. below the keyboard
The trackpad is the flat square under the keys that you slide a finger on. It is not on the screen's back, the charger or the headphones. - 4. your password
A password protects your account, so only you (and the adults who help you) should know it. Folder names, keys and cart numbers are not secrets. - 5. using computers and the internet in a safe, kind and responsible way
Digital citizenship is about how you act online: staying safe, being kind and being responsible. It has nothing to do with owning a new device, typing speed or where you live. - 6. username
You log in with a username and a password. A bookmark is a saved link, a folder holds files, and a charger gives power. - 7. Save
Save keeps your work so you can open it again. Mute turns off sound, upload sends a file to a website, and you log in at the start, not the end. - 8. headphones
Headphones let only you hear the sound, so the room stays quiet. The trackpad, keyboard and screen do not change who hears the video. - 9. Turn off your microphone so others cannot hear you.
In a video call, mute yourself means turn off your microphone. Closing the laptop or turning off the screen would end your part in the call, and talking louder is the opposite. - 10. folder
A folder keeps files together. A bookmark saves a web page link, not your own files, and a charger and a password do not hold files.