1. 1
October 2023
This month our activities are dedicated to the topic of technology. Our C1 Advanced and B2 First
students will practise Use of English with a text on Artificial Intelligence in EU enterprises. Our
B1 Preliminary and B2 First students will watch a video about robots in science fiction and
prepare a presentation. Finally, our young learners will talk about different machines and what
they can do. Happy teaching!
1. AI in the workplace….……………………………..……………………………………………..…………………………….2
2. Robots and sci-fi…………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………….5
3. Technology…….…….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8
4. References………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………………11

2. 2
1. AI in the workplace
Level: B2 First / C1 Advanced
Skills: Speaking, Use of English and Writing
Interaction: Individual, in pairs and whole class activity
Time: 75 mins
Warm up (10’) – whole class activity
• What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
• Do you think it is useful? Why (not)?
• Can you give any examples of AI applications? Which ones do you use?
• How is AI used by companies? Why do they use it?
• In which kinds of jobs do you think AI is most useful?
Use of English (10’) – individual activity
Artificial intelligence in EU enterprises
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an area of strategic importance and a key driver 0. of economic
development. It can provide solutions to many challenges, such as treating diseases or
minimising the environmental impact of farming. Artificial intelligence gives machines and
systems the capability to analyse their environment and 1. __________ decisions with some
degree of autonomy to achieve specific goals.
In 2020, 7% of enterprises in the EU with at least 10 people employed used AI applications.
Machine learning was used to analyse big data internally in 2% of the enterprises and natural
language processing, natural language generation or speech recognition was used by 1% of the
enterprises for this purpose. A chat service, where a chatbot or virtual agent generated natural
language replies to customers, 2. __________ used in 2% of the enterprises. The same
proportion of enterprises, 2%, used service robots, 3. __________ are characterised by some
degree of autonomy, for example to carry out cleaning, dangerous or repetitive tasks such as
cleaning 4. _________ poisonous substances, sorting items in the warehouse, helping customers
with shopping or at payment points etc.
5. __________ the EU Member States, Ireland recorded the highest share of enterprises (23%)
that used any of the four considered AI applications in 2020. Other countries with widespread
uptake of AI technologies were Malta (19%), Finland (12%) and Denmark (11%).
6. __________ contrast, less than 10% of enterprises used any of the four AI applications in 2020
in all other Member States. The lowest shares 7. __________ recorded in Latvia (2%), Slovenia,
Hungary, Cyprus (3% each) and Poland (4%).
Adapted from Eurostat (2020)

3. 3
Follow-up (10’) – in pairs
Compare answers in pairs working together to explain why you chose this word. Then look at
the key and correct your answers. What was the problem with the questions you got wrong?
Now answer the following questions:
• According to the text, which challenges can AI be used to overcome? How is AI being
used by some enterprises in the EU?
• Why do you think companies are using these AI applications?
• Why might some companies not be using them?
Writing (45’) – individual activity
Imagine that the company where you work is evaluating the possibility of using more artificial
intelligence applications to improve their processes.
Your boss has asked you to write a report outlining which kinds of tasks could be automated
using AI and how this would improve their processes. They have also asked you to include any
risks of making these changes.
Write your report in 220-260 words.

4. 4
Key
Artificial intelligence in EU enterprises
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an area of strategic importance and a key driver of economic
development. It can provide solutions to many challenges, such as treating diseases or
minimising the environmental impact of farming. Artificial intelligence gives machines and
systems the capability to analyse their environment and 1. make / take / reach decisions with
some degree of autonomy to achieve specific goals.
In 2020, 7% of enterprises in the EU with at least 10 people employed used AI applications.
Machine learning was used to analyse big data internally in 2% of the enterprises and natural
language processing, natural language generation or speech recognition was used by 1% of the
enterprises for this purpose. A chat service, where a chatbot or virtual agent generated natural
language replies to customers, 2. was used in 2% of the enterprises. The same proportion of
enterprises, 2%, used service robots, 3. which are characterised by some degree of autonomy,
for example to carry out cleaning, dangerous or repetitive tasks such as cleaning 4. up poisonous
substances, sorting items in the warehouse, helping customers with shopping or at payment
points etc.
5. Among the EU Member States, Ireland recorded the highest share of enterprises (23%) that
used any of the four considered AI applications in 2020. Other countries with widespread uptake
of AI technologies were Malta (19%), Finland (12%) and Denmark (11%).
6. In / By contrast, less than 10% of enterprises used any of the four AI applications in 2020 in
all other Member States. The lowest shares 7. were recorded in Latvia (2%), Slovenia, Hungary,
Cyprus (3% each) and Poland (4%).
Adapted from Eurostat (2020)
Follow-up – possible answers
According to the text, which challenges can AI be used to overcome? How is AI being used by
some enterprises in the EU?
They can provide solutions to many challenges, for example, they can be used to treat diseases
or minimise the environmental impact of farming. AI is being used by some EU enterprises to
analyse big data, to reply to customers through a chat service and to carry out cleaning and
dangerous or repetitive tasks.

5. 5
2. Robots and sci-fi
Level: B1 Preliminary / B2 First
Skills: Speaking and Listening
Interaction: Individual, in pairs and whole class activity
Time: 35 minutes
Warm up (10’) – whole class activity
• What is science fiction (sci-fi)?
• Do you enjoy watching sci-fi films? Why (not)?
• Can you think of any robots you have seen in sci-fi films? What could they do?
• What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
• Can you think of any AI applications that you use? Why do you use them?
• Is there anything that robots or AI applications can’t do?
Listening (10’) – individual activity
You’re going to watch a video on the National Geographic website about robots and artificial
intelligence. Read questions 1-6 below and write an answer. You will watch the video twice.
1. When and where was the word ‘robot’ first used?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. How has sci-fi often shown robots?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

6. 6
3. Who was Rosie and what did she inspire?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. What can Boston Dynamics robots do?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
5. What can’t AI do?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
6. In reality, what will robots and AI be able to do in the future?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Speaking (15’) – in pairs and whole class activity
You have recently attended a creativity fair and the organisers of the event are running a
competition. They have asked participants to send in a video with an idea for a new product
which uses AI or another kind of technology. The participants with the most imaginative and
creative idea will win a €50 voucher to spend on electronic devices.
Work in pairs to think of an idea and prepare a 2-minute presentation for the video. You
should mention what the product would do, who would benefit from it and why it would be
useful. Present your idea to your classmates. Answer any questions your classmates have
about your product.
Now listen to your classmates’ presentations. Can you think of any questions you would like to
ask them about their product?

7. 7
Suggested answers
1. When and where was the word ‘robot’ first used?
In a Czech play (Rossum's Universal Robots) in 1920.
2. How has sci-fi often shown robots?
As either fully evil or fully good.
3. Who was Rosie and what did she inspire?
She was the Jetsons’ housekeeper. She was an inspiration for the robotic vacuum
cleaner, Roomba.
4. What can Boston Dynamics robots do?
Carry heavy objects, open doors and do parkour.
5. What can’t AI do?
Process human emotions and idiosyncrasies.
6. In reality, what will robots and AI be able to do in the future?
Anything we are creative enough to programme.

8. 8
3. Technology
Level: Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers, A2 Flyers
Skills: Speaking, Reading and Writing
Interaction: in pairs, whole class and individual activity
Time: 25-35 minutes
Warm up (10’) – whole class activity
• Look around your classroom. What machines can you see?
• What can they do?
• What machines do you use at home?
• What can they do?
Vocabulary (10’) – Individual activity (Pre A1 Starters and A1 Movers)
Look at the pictures. Look at the letters and write the words.
Example
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ DARIO
Words
1.
1.
___ ___ ___ ARC
2.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ MEAARC
3.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ NEPOH
R A D I 0

9. 9
4.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ TTLAEB
5.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ VTEILESNOI
6.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ CTHAW
7.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ EPCUOTMR
Follow-up (5’) – whole class activity (Pre A1 Starters and A1 Movers)
What can you do with these different machines? Talk about it with your teacher and
classmates.

10. 10
Reading (10’) – individual activity (A2 Flyers)
Read the sentences and write the correct word on each line. There are three extra words.
There is one example.
television robot astronaut engineer internet phone
watch computer plane camera keyboard car
Definitions adapted from Cambridge Dictionary (Cambridge University Press & Assessment, 2023)
Writing and Speaking (15’) – individual activity and in pairs (A2 Flyers)
Write four sentences about your favourite machine and then tell your partner about it.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
____________ This machine flies to different places around the world.
1. ____________ You can use this to talk to your friends and it fits in your pocket.
2. ____________ This machine has a computer and does things for you.
3. ____________ You can use this to write on a computer.
4. ____________ People can drive this on the road to go to another place.
5. ____________ This machine has a screen, a keyboard, and a mouse.
6. ____________ You can use this to watch programmes on a big screen at home.
7. ____________ This person can design or build machines.
8. ____________ People wear this to know the time.
Think about these questions:
• What can it do? / What can you do with it?
• Why do you like it?
• How often do you use it?
Plane

11. 11
4. References
Brgfx (n.d.). Vector gratuito cámara compacta clásica sobre fondo blanco. [image/jpeg].
Freepik. Available at: https://www.freepik.es/vector-gratis/camara-compacta-clasica-
sobre-fondo-
blanco_39921051.htm#query=camera%20cartoon&position=1&from_view=search&tr
ack=ais [Accessed 1st
September 2023]
Cambridge University Press and Assessment (2023). Dictionary Entry. English-English. Available
at: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ [1st
September 2023].
Eurostat (2021). Artificial intelligence in EU enterprises. Available at:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20210413-1
[Accessed 1st
September 2023]
Freepik (n.d.). Gente viendo una película en casa. [image/jpeg]. Freepik. Available at:
https://www.freepik.es/vector-gratis/gente-viendo-pelicula-
casa_8354253.htm#page=4&query=television&position=29&from_view=search&track
=sph [Accessed 20th
September 2023]
Macrovector (n.d.). Manos sosteniendo y tocando en tableta digital en estilo vintage.
Comunicación e informática, internet,... [image/jpeg]. Freepik. Available at:
https://www.freepik.es/vector-gratis/manos-sosteniendo-tocando-tableta-digital-
estilo-vintage-comunicacion-e-informatica-internet-electronica-
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https://www.freepik.es/vector-gratis/reloj-inteligente-realista-
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arch&track=ais [Accessed 1st
September 2023]
National Geographic Society (2022). Will Future Robots and A.I. Take Over? [online video].
Available at: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/will-future-robots-
and-i-take-over/ [1st
September 2023]
Naulicreative (n.d.). Modern blue urban adventure suv vehicle illustration. [image/jpeg].
Freepik. Available at: https://www.freepik.es/vector-gratis/modern-blue-urban-
adventure-suv-vehicle-
illustration_1361484.htm#query=cartoon%20car&position=0&from_view=search&trac
k=ais [Accessed 1st
September 2023]
Rawpixel.com (n.d.) Inteligencia artificial con chip ai, innovación tecnológica futura.
[image/jpeg]. Freepik. Available at: https://www.freepik.es/foto-gratis/inteligencia-
artificial-chip-ai-innovacion-tecnologica-
futura_17850485.htm#query=robot&position=9&from_view=search&track=sph
[Accessed 1st
September 2023]
Rawpixel.com (n.d.) Vector de smartphone. [image/jpeg]. Freepik. Available at:
https://www.freepik.es/vector-gratis/vector-
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w=search&track=ais [Accessed 1st
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12. 12
Rawpixel.com (n.d.) Ilustración del concepto de redes sociales. [image/jpeg]. Freepik. Available
at: https://www.freepik.es/vector-gratis/ilustracion-concepto-redes-
sociales_2922290.htm#page=3&query=technology%20cartoon&position=28&from_vie
w=search&track=ais [Accessed 1st
September 2023]
UCLES (2018). Pre A1 Starters Flash cards. Available at:
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/it/Images/425841-starters-flash-cards.pdf
[Accessed 1st
September 2023]
Vecstock (n.d.) Diseño de oficina moderna con equipo informático en el interior generado por
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September 2023]
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