Grace Hopper: A Real Bug in the Computer… Then She Taught Computers Words
In 1947, Grace Hopper's team found a real moth inside a computer. Computers were supposed to use only numbers — but she built a compiler and persuaded people to use words. Learn five B2 words and how to use be supposed to with the true story of Grace Hopper.
Coming 18 December 2026, 3:00 pm New York time
Transcript
Tap a time to jump to that moment. Highlighted words have a meaning: tap them. Words in bold show today's grammar.
In 1947, a huge computer stopped working.
Inside, the team discovered a real insect.
This is the story of Grace Hopper.
Welcome to brightlivesenglish.com, where we teach real English using real-life stories.
. A is an insect like a butterfly that flies at night.
Her team discovered a stuck inside the machine.
. To a program is to find and remove its mistakes.
Programmers still say they their code.
. A is a program that turns human-like instructions into the code a computer understands.
In 1952, she built a .
. If you are , you doubt that something is true or possible.
Many experts were .
. To someone is to make them agree, by giving good reasons.
Slowly, she people to use words in programs.
Now, one pattern: be supposed to.
It describes what people expect or believe should happen.
Computers were supposed to use only numbers.
That was what everyone expected.
Computers were supposed to use only numbers.
Ready? Let's begin.
Grace Hopper was born in New York in 1906.
At seven, she took apart an alarm clock to see how it worked.
She couldn't put it back together, so she took apart several more.
She studied mathematics and physics, and in 1934 she earned a doctorate in mathematics at Yale, one of very few women of her time to do so.
She also taught at Vassar College.
During World War Two, she wanted to join the .
They said no: she was too old and too thin.
She did not give up, and she got special permission.
She finished first in her class of officers.
The sent her to Harvard to work on the Mark One, a computer as long as a room.
In September 1947, the Mark Two stopped working.
Her team discovered a stuck inside the machine.
They taped it into the and wrote, "First actual case of bug being found."
Engineers had called problems bugs for many years, so the team was making a joke.
But the story became famous.
Programmers still say they their code.
In the early 1950s, computers were supposed to use only numbers.
Grace had a different idea.
Why not let people give instructions in words?
Could a computer understand them?
In 1952, she built a .
She later said, "I had a running , and nobody would touch it."
Many experts were .
They believed computers could only do arithmetic.
She did not give up.
Her next language used English words like "add" and "compare".
Slowly, she people to use words in programs.
Her work helped to create COBOL, a language that businesses used for decades.
She was a wonderful teacher, too.
She gave people short wires about 30 centimetres long, to show how far electricity travels in one .
She wanted everyone to understand computers.
The asked her to retire in 1966, but called her back the next year, for six months.
She stayed for 19 years.
When she finally retired in 1986, aged 79, she was the oldest officer in the US .
She died in 1992.
A ship carries her name.
She liked to say, "It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission."
Let's review. Her team discovered a stuck inside the machine.
Programmers still say they their code.
In 1952, she built a .
Many experts were .
Slowly, she people to use words in programs.
And remember: computers were supposed to use only numbers.
Grace Hopper's story teaches us: when people say it can't be done, build it and show them.
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Step 3
Words from the story
Say the word, guess its meaning, then flip the card. Keep the ones you know, and practise the rest again.
Great work, you know every word in this story. Now try the quiz below.
moth noun
an insect like a butterfly that usually flies at night
“Her team discovered a moth stuck inside the machine.”
debug verb
to find and remove the mistakes in a computer program
“Programmers still say they debug their code.”
compiler noun
a program that turns human-like instructions into code a computer understands
“In 1952, she built a compiler.”
sceptical adjective
doubting that something is true or possible
“Many experts were sceptical.”
persuade verb
to make someone agree by giving good reasons
“Slowly, she persuaded people to use words in programs.”
logbook noun
a book where people write down what happens each day
“They taped the moth into the logbook.”
navy noun
a country's army at sea
“The Navy sent her to Harvard.”
nanosecond noun
one billionth of a second
“Her short wire showed one nanosecond.”
Grammar in the story
be supposed to + verb
We use it for: to say what people expect, believe or plan should happen (often when the reality is different)
- Computers were supposed to use only numbers.
- The meeting is supposed to start at nine.
From the story
- Computers were supposed to use only numbers.
- You're supposed to wear a helmet.
Find it in the story 4 times
Your turn
Computers were to use only numbers.
The train is supposed at nine, but it's late.
You supposed to use your phone in class.
Step 4
Story Challenge
7 quick rounds: choose, fill the gap, build the sentence and match the words. Answer in a row to build a streak and earn bonus points.
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Take it further
Before you watch: What does a “bug” in a computer mean? Do you know any computer languages?
After you watch: Write three sentences with be supposed to. For example: I’m supposed to finish my homework tonight. The bus was supposed to come at eight. We’re supposed to be quiet in the library.
Think about it: People were sceptical, but Grace Hopper built it anyway. Is it better to ask permission or to try first?
