Fix the Laptop Before Class
CEFR: B1
Read/Listen first
Yesterday, ten minutes before a training session, my laptop showed a blue screen and Teams wouldn’t open. It looked serious, but it wasn’t. I checked the power cable, then I restarted the computer and waited for it to load. While it was restarting, I was explaining the steps to a colleague so she could stay calm if it happened again. We had to connect to the VPN to access the lesson files, and I said, “You must wait until the VPN icon turns green before you open Teams.” I used a digital whiteboard in Microsoft Paint to replace the broken online board, and we were ready in time. Since that incident, I have written clear instructions for the whole team, because good notes reduce stress and protect company data. If the same problem happens tomorrow, we’ll follow the checklist instead of guessing.Word count: 142
⚡ Learning goals
- Can describe a laptop problem and what happened before class.
- Can give clear, calm step-by-step instructions to a colleague.
- Can explain what you must do before opening Teams on a work laptop.
✨ Key language
- You must wait until… “You must wait until it turns green.”
- We had to… “We had to connect to the VPN.”
- Since that incident, I have… “I have written clear instructions.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Past simple for a sequence of actions
Rule: Use past simple to describe completed steps in order.Examples: My laptop showed a blue screen.; I checked the power cable.; I restarted the computer.
Common pitfall + fix: Mixing present and past in the same story — Keep verbs in past simple for each step.
Which sentence is correct in the past simple?
Tip: Use the -ed form for a finished action yesterday.
Fill with the best answer: I ____ the power cable, then restarted the computer.
Tip: Past simple of “check” is “checked”.
2️⃣ Past continuous for background actions
Rule: Use was/were + -ing for an action in progress when something else happened.Examples: While it was restarting, I was explaining the steps.; Teams wasn’t opening.; We were getting ready in time.
Common pitfall + fix: Using past simple for the long background — Use “was/were + -ing” for the ongoing action.
Which sentence shows a background action?
Tip: Look for was/were + -ing.
Fill with the best answer: While it ____ , I explained the steps.
Tip: Use “was restarting” for an ongoing past action.
3️⃣ Had to / must for obligations
Rule: Use had to for a past obligation; use must for a rule now.Examples: We had to connect to the VPN.; You must wait until the icon turns green.; You must not guess with company tools.
Common pitfall + fix: Saying “musted” — Use “had to” for past obligation.
Which sentence shows an obligation in the past?
Tip: “Had to” = obligation in the past.
Fill with the best answer: You ____ wait until the VPN icon turns green.
Tip: Use “must” for a strong rule now.
4️⃣ Present perfect with since (present result)
Rule: Use have/has + past participle for a past action with a result now, often with since.Examples: Since that incident, I have written clear instructions.; We have followed the checklist.; She has learned the steps.
Common pitfall + fix: Using only past simple — Use present perfect when the result matters now.
Which sentence uses the present perfect correctly?
Tip: Use “have written” (have + past participle).
Fill with the best answer: Since that incident, I ____ clear instructions for the team.
Tip: “I have written” = present perfect.
✍️ Vocabulary
laptop
Meaning: a portable computer you can carry and use anywhere.Synonyms: notebook computer, portable computer
Chunk/Idiom: open the laptop
Example: Please open the laptop and try again.
Morphology: noun; countable
Self-practice: Say what you use your laptop for at work.
power cable
Meaning: the cable that connects a device to electricity.Synonyms: power cord, power lead
Chunk/Idiom: check the power cable
Example: I checked the power cable before I restarted.
Morphology: noun phrase; countable
Self-practice: Explain how you check a cable safely.
VPN
Meaning: a secure connection to access company systems from another network.Synonyms: secure network, virtual private network
Chunk/Idiom: connect to the VPN
Example: We had to connect to the VPN to access files.
Morphology: noun; abbreviation
Self-practice: Say when you must use a VPN at work.
digital whiteboard
Meaning: an on-screen board for writing, drawing, or sharing notes in a lesson.Synonyms: online board, virtual whiteboard
Chunk/Idiom: use a digital whiteboard
Example: I used a digital whiteboard to replace the online board.
Morphology: noun phrase; countable
Self-practice: Describe one activity you can do on a whiteboard.
restart
Meaning: to stop a device and start it again.Synonyms: reboot, start again
Chunk/Idiom: restart the computer
Example: If Teams freezes, restart the computer.
Morphology: verb; regular
Self-practice: Give two reasons you restart a laptop.
instructions
Meaning: clear steps that tell you how to do something.Synonyms: guidelines, directions
Chunk/Idiom: follow the instructions
Example: Everyone followed the instructions and stayed calm.
Morphology: noun; plural
Self-practice: Say one instruction you would write for your team.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
You must wait until the VPN icon turns green.
We had to connect to the VPN to access files.
While it was restarting, I was explaining the steps.
Since that incident, I have written clear instructions.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Which sentence best fits the story (past simple sequence)?
Tip: Use past simple for finished steps yesterday.
Which sentence shows an obligation in the past?
Tip: “Had to” is the correct past form.
Fill with the best answer:
Since that incident, I ____ clear instructions for the whole team.Tip: Present perfect = have/has + past participle.
Fill with the best answer:
While it ____, I was explaining the steps to my colleague.Tip: Use “was restarting” for the ongoing action.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
What was the main purpose of the VPN?
Tip: The VPN is for secure access to work files.
Why did they use Microsoft Paint as a whiteboard?
Tip: Paint was a replacement tool.
Fill with the best answer:
First, check the ____ before you panic.Tip: The simple check is often the power cable.
Fill with the best answer:
Since that incident, I have written clear ____ for the team.Tip: Written instructions help everyone follow the same steps.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: My laptop showed a blue screen before class.B: First, check the power cable, then restart it and connect to the VPN.
A: Thanks—now I can follow the instructions calmly.
Why this matters:
Clear instructions save time when tools fail. They reduce stress for colleagues. They also protect company data.Verb & Adjective Pack:
restart the computer — “Restart the computer if Teams won’t open.”connect to the VPN — “Connect to the VPN to access files.”
stay calm — “Stay calm and follow the checklist.”
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: If the digital whiteboard is broken, ____ Microsoft Paint.
Tip: Use the base verb after “If…”.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: We musted to connect to the VPN before class.
Tip: Use “had to” for past obligation.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
You must wait until the VPN icon turns green before you open Teams.
Tip: Keep the order: wait until green, then open Teams.