ESL WORKSHEET - Household robot

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

MEET YOUR NEW HOUSEHOLD ROBOT

LinguaHouse

Apr. 7, 2025

Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)
Type of language: General English
Tags: Breaking News; Science and Technology; Information Technology (IT); Gadgets and Inventions; Computing; Small Business; Business People; Ethics and Conduct; Speaking; Vocabulary Lesson; Article Based; 10-12 Years Old; 13-15 Years Old; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 04/07/2025

A lesson about a new household robot called NEO, with a report focusing on the story and an article examining four robots from around the world. Students will learn related vocabulary, practice reading and listening skills and reinforce their new vocabulary with conversation practice. (by David J. Marriott)

• 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/listen to the audio 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 British English.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

Newsreader: We’ve all seen movies in which people share their houses with robot servants. Could fiction soon become reality?
1X, a company based in Norway and San Francisco, raised eyebrows when it announced a new humanoid robot.
The robot, which is called NEO, is designed to help with household tasks, such as doing the laundry, cleaning and tidying up.
NEO should become available to consumers at some point in 2025. No pricing information has been released, but it is expected to cost around the same as a mid-range new car.
The robot will use AI to learn how to interact with people and perform tasks, but can also be controlled remotely.
In a short video presentation, NEO can be seen wearing clothes, with only its face and hands visible. The robot is shown hugging a woman and moving in a human-like manner, leading some to accuse 1X of putting a person in a robot costume in order to mislead the public.
However, the company, which is backed by OpenAI, is also developing a robot called EVE. Unlike NEO, EVE is designed for industrial tasks, such as lifting heavy goods or moving products from one area to another. With a humanoid torso, head and arms, EVE moves on wheels rather than legs.
1X is facing stiff competition in the field of humanoid robotics. Companies such as Tesla are investing in the technology, with a host of startups – often backed by shadowy AI corporations – keen to be the first to place robots in our homes.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/meet-your-new-household-robot. Accessed on April 10, 2025. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2025. All rights reserved.