Internet Basics for ESL Students
Lesson 7
Internet Service Providers

keywords: bandwidth, server, domain, TCP/IP, modem, cyberspace, ISP, bps.

Dialogue 1: Picking an Internet Service Provider

An Okayama Provider

Pair work. Practice the conversation.

Jim: I want to go to cyberspace. Who is a good ISP?
Paul: Do you want one that's world-wide like Compuserve or a local one?
Jim: A local one's OK.
Paul: Use Cyber-net. They have very good support.
Jim: Do they also have newsgroups?
Paul: About 10,000, and they will give you a web page.

Which of the following do ISPs supply? 

domain name	    laptop	         connection		
Ethernet	    FTP     	     ports	
E-mail address	newsgroups       modem
CD-ROM		    cyberspace       floppy disk	
mouse		    monitor          password

Reading:There are many ways to use a computer for communication. On-line organizations such as America On-line or Compuserve offer many services like magazines, chat areas and information. Some Internet Service Providers only offer Dial-Up IP connections to the Internet. Usually, the On-line services cost more (many charge by the minute) but are easier to use. ISPs on the other hand offer annual fees and are cheaper.

Dialogue 2: Internet tools

Pair work. Practice the conversation.

Jim: What is Gopher?
Paul: Gopher made information available over a network, but it isn't used anymore.
Jim: Why not?
Paul: The World Wide Web has replaced it.
Jim: What other information tools can I use?
Paul: Other examples are Telnet, FTP, and some of the new push technologies like Pointcast.

The Internet

exercises: Match keywords with definitions.
1. CPU
2. backup
3. scanner
4. cyberspace
5. delete
 a. used to change a photo to a computer file
b. world created by networked computers
c. central processing unit
d. erase a computer file
e. save files on a floppy or tape

Dialogue 3

UrbanInternet

Pair work. Practice the conversation.

Jim: I signed up with an ISP, and they sent me the dial-up service guide. How do I get on-line?
Paul: You need the TCP/IP software that will let you connect to your ISP.
Jim: I found some on a CD-ROM in the back of an Internet magazine.
Paul: After you've installed the software, you have to set up the login. Usually, this means a login name and password and telling the software the name of the name server, mail server and news server.
Jim: It sounds difficult.
Paul: Not really, the Microsoft install wizard will do the hard part.

Word Processors

Use the computer lab's word processor.

How do you use the title bar and button bar?
How do you open an existing file and create a new one?
How do you save files?

Activity:
Visit 4 Okayama ISP's home pages. What services do they offer? How are they different?

This is a sub-page of Internet Basics for ESL Students
Lessons: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
Copyright (C) 1998 by Jim Schweizer (jimschweizer@yahoo.com)
http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/s/ib/isps.html