LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERSROBOT OR HUMAN?
Jul. 26, 2022
Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)
Type of English: English for Teenagers
Tags: Information Technology (IT); Science and Technology; Society and Change; AI Technology; Expressing Probability and Chance; 13-15 Years Old; 16-18 Years Old; Article Based
Publication date: 07/26/2022
The topic of this lesson is robots and whether advances in technology and artificial intelligence are always a good thing. Students read an article about how robots are being successfully used in a number of different workplaces throughout the world and listen to two teenagers talking about the advantages and disadvantages of using robots in businesses. Students will learn level-appropriate vocabulary and take a look at the future perfect to talk about things in the future that happen at different times. They will also take part in a fun roleplay with a robot. In addition to this, there is an opportunity to write an essay about the advantages and disadvantages of more robots being used at home and at work or school. (by Richard Moon)
- CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
- CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
- CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
- CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
- CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English.
- CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.
AUDIO TRANSCRIPT
Ahmed: Hey, have you read this? It says that some robot superheroes are going to do a show at our park next month.
Brooklyn: Oh, no, I hate that type of thing.
Ahmed: Why? They’re amazing. Let me show you a video of a jump one of them can do! It’s so realistic! There are loads of clips on YouTube. Look at this.
Brooklyn: I suppose it does look cool. Maybe we should go. I just hope they don’t try to talk to me. I went to a museum a few weeks ago and there was a robot head there, all metal and plastic, except for the eyes. Those looked exactly like human eyes, and they moved as I moved. It was really weird and a bit scary.
Ahmed: Well, they can also make them look cute, too. Robots are here to stay – they’re going to make our world a better place.
Brooklyn: I’m really not sure about that. They can jump well and give you terrifying dreams but what else can they do?
Ahmed: They can chat with you and play games.
Brooklyn: Hey, robot! Do you want to play a game of tennis? No, thanks...
Ahmed: They can serve you in restaurants and hotels.
Brooklyn: Okay, that’s a more serious problem if you ask me. What happens to the jobs of all the people who work in services right now? Robots will just take them.
Ahmed: That is a good point, but that’s what happened in the industrial revolution, too. Machines saved people a lot of work. A farmer was able to do the work of ten men with a new tractor.
Brooklyn: Well, I’m sure that was great for the farmer, but what happened to those men and their families?
Ahmed: Hopefully they found different work, maybe more interesting work, too.
Brooklyn: Hmm. Maybe you’re right.
Ahmed: And people need to design and program the robots. Those are new jobs. This article I read mentioned a café where robots are controlled by people working from home, so that even helps people work when maybe they couldn’t before.
Brooklyn: I can see how that is a good thing, but I still think more people will lose their jobs, especially in areas like construction. If robots build everything, what do builders do?
Ahmed: Well, I'm not sure.
Brooklyn: And also, I know this is a bit like a science fiction story, but I am slightly concerned that robots will take over and take control of our lives, do you know what I mean?
Ahmed: I do know what you mean, but I don’t think we should worry about that. It’s not like Star Wars or The Matrix or something. Think how useful robots already are – they can clean for us, give us information, help us, entertain us.
Brooklyn: No, I understand that, but they’ll never be as creative as people, right? We create art, poetry, music, and literature. What robot could do that?
Ahmed: Well, you say that, but robots with AI have started creating art and writing novels…
Brooklyn: Really? Really? The next Shakespeare will be a robot? I’m not so sure about that.
Ahmed: You never know.
Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/english-for-teenagers/robot-or-human. Accessed on July 31, 2024. © 2008–2024 LinguaHouse.com. All rights reserved.
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