ChatGPT Upper-Intermediate Lesson idea

 As more boneheads use ChatGPT to cheat, the worth of excellence will skyrocket globally.” –Abhijit Naskar

Intro

This lesson is for ESL teachers who would like to cover the trendy subject of 2024 and beyond – AI and ChatGPT. Students are adapting to it quickly and using it to do their homework and get answers to their academic challenges. It’s a resource for them but probably their usage is like an encyclopedia. In this lesson teachers can reverse engineer ChatGPT to help students become aware of its capabilities while also giving them a very timely/current subject to learn English from. But, more importantly teachers can use it to force students to correct the AI mistakes(reverse engineering). This lesson idea includes Reading/ Speaking/ Vocabulary and a ChatGPT in-class activity.

Language Focus: Justifying opinions with reasons(see below activity)

Vocabulary covered: Words associated with the topic of Artificial Intelligence (see below)

Warm-up

Start by writing the quote above on the board or projecting it on the screen and ask students to discuss what the author of the quote is referring to, in other words, what does the author mean by this? Tell them to brainstorm three examples where this would be applicable and why. Do they agree/disagree with the quote? Yes/No and why(not)?

Alternatively ask students if they have used tools like ChatGPT, Siri, or Alexa, and talk about their experiences.

1. Does AI technology excite your or scare you? Why(not)?
2. Give an example of AI-use you know in daily life. How effective is it?

Speaking

Questions to incorporate in the lesson:

1. Have you ever used ChatGPT or other AI tools? If yes, what for?

2. What do you think AI is most useful for in everyday life?

3. Can you think of any jobs where ChatGPT or AI could help people?

4. What are some things AI cannot do as well as humans?

5. Do you think AI will become more important in the future? Why or why not?

1. Multiple Choice Question:

   What is AI (Artificial Intelligence)?

   A. A type of computer program designed to play music and videos.

   B. Technology that enables machines to think, learn, and solve problems like humans.

   C. A kind of robot that looks like a human and only works in factories.

   D. A software application used exclusively for creating video games.

   Correct Answer:

   B. Technology that enables machines to think, learn, and solve problems like humans.

Vocabulary

Matching Exercise: AI Vocabulary

Words:

1. Algorithm  2. Automation. 3. Data   4. Machine learning.  5. Chatbot.  6. Ethics.   7. Privacy   8. Innovation.   9. Neural network.   10. Prediction.   11. Analysis 12. Pattern

13. Virtual assistant.  14. Accuracy.  15. Technology.  16. Efficiency.  17. Feedback.   18. Language model.   19. Creative.   20. Adaptation

Definitions (Match the word to the correct definition):

A. The use of machines or technology to perform tasks without human help.

B. A computer program designed to simulate a conversation with humans.

C. Information, often numerical, collected for analysis or decision-making.

D. Tools and machines created using scientific knowledge to solve problems.

E. Moral principles that influence how we use and develop technology.

F. A new idea, method, or invention.

G. The right to keep personal information safe and secure.

H. A system modeled after the human brain that helps machines learn and recognize patterns.

Answer Key

1. Automation – A.   2. Chatbot – B.   3. Data – C.    4. Technology – D.    5. Ethics – E.   6. Innovation – F.   7. Privacy – G.    8. Neural network – H.

Follow-Up Activities:

• Group Discussion: Ask students which words were the hardest to match and why.

• Extension Task: Have students pick one word and use it in a sentence related to AI or another area of life.

Activity

Open an LLM (Large Language Model) on your phone and type: “Explain what AI is in two sentences at a (classes’ level of English) level of English. Provide two examples on how students of _______ level can use LLMs to help them learn/practice the language.

Ask students to read the responses they get and take notes on the two examples and their use.

Pro Tip: Give them a very strict time limit to do this otherwise they will immediately start playing around with their phones.

Work in pairs and tell your partners what your two examples are. Get feedback from students by asking them to tell you what their partners told them. -very important for reported speech and listening practice.

Tell half the pairs to prompt ChatGPT with “What are the advantages of using LLMs when learning English?” and ask the other half of the pairs to prompt with “What are the disadvantages of using LLMs when learning English?”

• Ask them to make notes and paraphrase the answer in their notebooks.
• Make new pairs and ask them to compare their answers and take notes on what their partner said. Afterwards get feedback.

Pro tip: Don’t just let them read off their phones the advantages and disadvantages but use their notes only and put phones away.

Language focus

After students have taken notes on the advantages and disadvantages give them some language to use in their discussion for supporting arguments with reasons:

Language for Supporting an Argument: Organized in a Table

Purpose Language Examples

Introducing Your Argument – I believe that…  – In my opinion…  – It is clear that…  – One of the main reasons why…

Giving Reasons – This is because…  – The main reason is that…  – One important reason is…  – For example, …

Explaining Your Reasons – This shows that…  – This means that…  – As a result, …  – Therefore, …

Adding More Support – In addition, …  – Furthermore, …  – Another reason is that…  – Moreover, …

Anticipating Counterarguments – Some people might say that…, but…  – It could be argued that…, however…  – Although some believe that…, I think…  – While it’s true that…, it’s also important to note that…

Summarizing Your Argument – To sum up, …  – In conclusion, …  – For these reasons, …  – This is why I believe that…

You can take anything or everything from above. You can introduce it by just writing it on the board or you can separate it all and ask them to put the appropriate language under the right heading.

Reading Activity

For those of you familiar with my lesson ideas, I am a huge fan of the jigsaw reading tasks. Because it incorporates multiple skills into the same activity. Here’s one for this topic. Cut out each occupation and distribute it evenly in groups. After it is read and students take notes, they sit with someone that has a different text and ask about their partner’s text. The bold words are potential vocabulary words to pre-teach or cover after the reading task. Here are the questions students can ask their partner after reading:

What’s your profession?

What tasks does ChatGPT assist you with?

How does it assist you?

How is this helpful?

How ChatGPT Can Be Used Effectively in Different Professions

1. Personal Assistant: Managing Daily Tasks

Claire, a personal assistant, uses ChatGPT to help organize her boss’s busy schedule. She inputs a list of tasks, meetings, and deadlines, and ChatGPT suggests ways to prioritize the day. It also helps her draft emails and meeting notes, ensuring that she communicates clearly and efficiently. By using ChatGPT, Claire manages to stay ahead of her workload, making her more effective in her role.

2. Social Worker: Drafting Reports and Case Notes

David, a social worker, uses ChatGPT to help him write and structure case notes and reports. After visiting a client, he types a brief summary of the situation into ChatGPT and asks for help turning it into a formal report. ChatGPT helps him organize the information logically, ensuring that he includes all important details while saving time. He also uses it to create resources or suggest strategies for addressing specific challenges with clients.

3. Environmental Consultant: Researching Sustainable Practices

Olga, an environmental consultant, relies on ChatGPT to help her research sustainable practices for her clients. She uses it to quickly gather information on topics like renewable energy, waste management, and eco-friendly materials. ChatGPT provides summaries of research papers and suggests innovative ideas for reducing carbon footprints. With this support, Olga can offer her clients well-informed recommendations without spending excessive hours on research.

4. Travel Agent: Crafting Customized Itineraries

Tom, a travel agent, uses ChatGPT to assist in crafting personalized itineraries for his clients. By inputting details like preferred destinations, budget, and activities, ChatGPT generates travel plans, including flights, accommodations, and sightseeing recommendations. Tom then customizes these suggestions based on his clients’ specific preferences. This allows him to provide unique, tailored experiences while saving time on planning and research.

5. Financial Advisor: Explaining Complex Concepts

Rita, a financial advisor, uses ChatGPT to explain complex financial concepts to her clients in a simple way. When discussing topics like investment strategies or tax planning, she inputs detailed financial jargon into ChatGPT and asks it to provide a clear, layman-friendly explanation. ChatGPT helps Rita communicate in a way that clients can easily understand, improving their financial literacy and making meetings more productive.

6. Architect: Generating Design Ideas

Simon, an architect, uses ChatGPT to help generate design ideas for his projects. When starting a new project, he describes the client’s needs and space requirements to ChatGPT, and the AI offers initial design concepts. Simon uses these ideas as a starting point, refining them with his expertise. ChatGPT also assists him with drafting project proposals and ensuring that his designs meet local building codes, allowing him to focus on the creative aspects of architecture.

ChatGPT proves to be a valuable tool for a wide range of professions, from administrative work to creative design. Professionals like Claire, David, Olga, Tom, Rita, and Simon are leveraging its capabilities to save time, streamline their work, and offer more personalized services. By using AI to handle routine tasks and assist with research, they can focus on what truly matters in their roles.

Which profession is ChatGPT helping the most? Why?

If you’d like this lesson idea you can become a member of the site and get unlimited access to all lesson ideas here. You can practice the language of giving opinions in the opinion lesson idea which is a whole lesson activity as well. Found this useful? Leave a comment with your feedback, it helps improve the site and the content.