Build the English skills to troubleshoot confidently, give clear advice, and keep your team in the loop — using the grammar, vocabulary, and idioms that IT professionals use to solve problems and share updates.
In the fast-paced world of IT, problems can arise at any moment — and solving them often means giving the right advice, at the right time, in clear English. This course helps learners build the English needed to troubleshoot, guide users, and share updates with their team. Practice includes phrasal verbs such as “narrow down” and “follow up,” modal verbs (should, must, might), time expressions, conditionals, and present tenses to give advice, make suggestions, and explain what is happening now or what needs to happen next. Key IT vocabulary spans terms such as latency, compression, bandwidth, validation, algorithm, and logs — applied across real IT contexts including AI prompting, software development, data analysis, tech support, and community management. The course progresses from A2 to B1 English proficiency and includes 2 vocabulary video lessons, 7 grammar video lessons, 3 reading activities, 9 listening activities, and 20+ practice exercises. Developed in collaboration with OpenEDG, this is part of the English for IT – Basics Learning Collection.
Curriculum Chapters
- 1. Better Tools, Better Results
- 2. Make Life Easier and Ask the Right Questions
- 3. Key Terms
- 4. Analysis Problems
- 5. Team Participation
- 6. Good Teams, Good Results
Skills You Will Learn
Give advice, make suggestions, and express obligations using modal verbs (should, must, might). Describe current actions, plans, outcomes, and ongoing problems using present tenses and conditionals. Use phrasal verbs including “narrow down” and “follow up” in IT troubleshooting and communication contexts. Apply time expressions to explain what is happening now and what needs to happen next. Build confidence with essential IT vocabulary including latency, compression, bandwidth, monitor, inconsistency, validation, algorithm, and logs. Communicate effectively in real IT contexts including AI prompting, software development, data analysis, tech support, and community management. Progress from A2 to B1 English proficiency for IT professional and study environments.
What’s Included
2 vocabulary video lessons
7 grammar video lessons
3 reading activities
9 listening activities
20+ practice exercises
Course Details
Course Type: Free self-paced
Time: 15 Hours
Modules: 6
Level: Beginner (A2 → B1)
Prerequisites
None. Courses in the English for IT – Basics collection can be taken in any order, though following the recommended sequence provides the most cohesive learning experience.
Certification & Career
Career and Certification alignment: This course is part of the English for IT – Basics Learning Collection, developed in collaboration with OpenEDG. Completing all four courses in the collection prepares learners for the English for IT B1 / GSE 36–49 certification exam. Skills are applicable across all IT roles requiring professional English communication.
Achievements & Badges
Upon completion, earn a Cisco Networking Academy digital badge. Learners who pass the optional certification exam also earn the English for IT – Basics Advice and Time B1 GSE 36–49 certification. Share your verified achievements on LinkedIn, your CV, or professional profile.
What Cisco verifies: Cisco verifies the earner of this badge successfully completed the English for IT: Advice and Time course. The holder of this credential has developed B1-level English proficiency for IT contexts, including the ability to give advice and make suggestions using modal verbs, describe current and ongoing situations using present tenses and conditionals, apply IT-specific phrasal verbs and vocabulary, and communicate clearly in troubleshooting, team participation, and project update scenarios.
Ready to Start This Course?
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