Tag: video

Millions Are Connecting with Chatbots and AI

C1 – Advanced

Not surprisingly, Lexico’s 2020 Word of the Year is “quarantine,” or “cuarentena” in Spanish. It has dominated headlines and people’s lives, and it will endure in the stories we tell our grandchildren many years hence.

Part and parcel of the whole pandemic experience is the loneliness and overall impact on mental well-being experienced by a populace told to shelter in place for days on end. Restrictions on movement and reduced hours outdoors have led some to turn to technology to assuage their isolation in the new normal. Whether it’s reconnecting with loved ones on WhatsApp or attending an online class on Zoom, various communication platforms have come front and center as sensible solutions.

Now consider Replika, an artificial-intelligence app that was popular even in pre-COVID-19 times. Millions of users consider this chatbot a virtual friend whom they can connect with and share their feelings.

Given the possiblity of new lockdowns due to spikes in COVID-19 infections, are more downloads in store for these kinds of smartphone applications?

Get to know the Replika phenomenon further by watching the video below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe the possible contexts in which people would turn to AI for companionship?
  2. What possible use cases for bots like Replika are mentioned in the video? Can you think of other uses?
  3. Why do chatbot users sometimes prefer talking with their virtual friends rather the humans around them?
  4. Do you believe it’s truly possible to develop an emotional connection with a chatbot?
  5. What are some ethical considerations that arise as this technology continues to evolve?

Ways Companies Can Support Grieving Employees

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We all have different means on how to cope up with pain and grief. Some would use their work to get back up while living with their anguish. It’s called productive destruction as work itself can restore one’s purpose after dealing with loss.

Watch as Tilak Mandadi talks about the importance of culture of empathy in the workplace and how it can support grieving employees.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Discuss the 3 tips on the video. How can they be helpful for grieving employees?
  2. What was the most painful thing you had experienced? Who helped you get through it?
  3. How do you deal with grief and pain?
  4. What can you say about your work environment?
  5. What are the things that your company offers to mourning employees?

Better Brain Health

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever heard of the phrase ” You are what you eat”? When we celebrate many special festivities like Christmas, New Year, and even Three kings or Los Reyes Magos in Spain, food has been, of course, one of the highlights of these events. However, not many of us care about the effects of food on our brain.

Let’s watch the video below to further understand better brain health.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyQY8a-ng6g

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the effects of food on our brain?
  2. Do you agree with the statement “You are what you eat”?
  3. Do you pay attention to what you eat? How important is it to pay attention on the food we eat?
  4. Are you following a strict diet? How easy/difficult it is to follow a strict diet?
  5. Can you describe your country’s food culture?

How Craving Attention Makes You Less Creative

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Joseph Gordon-Levitt explains why our creativity is becoming more of a means to an end and that end is to get attention. When social media exploded, suddenly everybody wanted to show-off and get attention.

If we let our creativity be driven by a desire to get attention then we’ll never be creatively fulfilled.

Watch this video to find out why paying attention could make us happier than getting attention.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you know people who love to show-off?
  2. Why do you think people like seeking attention?
    How can it be bad for them?
  3. How much attention do you give to your social media accounts?
    Why does social media somehow trains our mind to crave for attention?
  4. Why do you think it’s necessary to see other creative people not as your competitors but as collaborators?

University Housing

B1 – Intermediate

Students heading off to college in another city or town are more likely to live in a dormitory. There are on-campus and off-campus housing options for students. Off-campus rents tend to be cheaper only because they do not include other services that on-campus provides.

Watch the video as Randall talks about the advantages and disadvantages of living in university housing.

University Housing – Video

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is ‘University Housing’?
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in university housing according to Randall?
  3. Have you lived in a university house/dormitory before? How was your experience?
  4. Do you think students living here have far better security than those renting outside the campus/university?

Are You a Body With a Mind or a Mind With a Body?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Man has made a lot of advances in the field of Natural Sciences. However, despite these accomplishments, we are still yet to fully understand the very core of all these—our brains. Experts say that we are yet to fully understand how the brain processes information.

There are a lot of theories that attempt to define what a “self” is, but the fundamental question remains. Are you a body with a mind or a mind with a body?

Let’s watch the video and find out.

Discussion Questions:

  1. According to the video, what does the Rubber Hand Illusion experiment show about our judgment?
  2. Do you believe that our body is part of our consciousness? Why or why not?
  3. What do you think is the reason why despite extensive research, we still understand very little of how the brain works?
  4. What is your opinion on neuroprosthetics and/or mind uploading? Do you think they’re possible?
  5. Based on the arguments raised in the video, which one do you think are we? A body with a mind or a mind with a body? Explain your answer.

What It Takes to Crush a Pandemic

B2 – Upper Intermediate

COVID is exposing all of us to the same challenges. That’s why it’s necessary for all the countries to be able to fight this pandemic in sync. How do we do that? Finding an effective tool is just one step in this big fight because we still have to consider the existence of the product and access to that product.

Watch as global health strategist Johanna Benesty talks about how to find the arsenal tools to fight COVID and why we need to make them accessible to all.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of the COVID19 vaccine? Do you think it’s going to be effective?

2. What will happen if there is not enough vaccines for everyone?

3. What has COVID/the pandemic taught you?

4. How strong is the health care system in your country?

Righteousness

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There’s a saying that “Righteousness and Wisdom will keep us safe on earth”. People tend to forget this because most of us are busy and so concentrated in living our lives and thinking and achieving the things that are only best for and will benefit us.

Some often forget to be more considerate and kind to others just because they only consider themselves.

In this inspiring story, we will somehow realize why being righteous will help us in instances that we can never imagine.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is righteousness?
  2. How do you show being righteous to other people?
  3. How did “righteousness” save the duke’s life?
  4. Explain the meaning of “Doing the right thing, the right way for the right reasons”.
  5. Do you know a self-righteous person? How do you deal with him/her?

To Future Generations of Women, You Are the Roots of Change

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Feminism was misunderstood in the beginning and people are still baffled by what really it is about. Feminism as described can dispense with the labels of gender and class and race and begin to realize our unique individuality. Feminism is not about female superiority or not a movement for lesbians only.

Watch as Gloria Steinem explains why we shouldn’t wait for somebody to tell us what to do and start being the roots of change.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is feminism?
  2. Do you agree that there’s still a lot to be done to reach gender equality? Why?
  3. Do you think women could be better leaders?
  4. What are the usual things that you notice that show women are still not equal to men? What can we do about them?
  5. What can you say about this quote “Follow the fear and do it anyway”?

Fire Safety

B1 – Intermediate

It takes a long time to build a house but only a few minutes to destroy it by the fire. Not only is fire economically damaging it could also be life-threatening. How do we get out of this situation or altogether avoid it?

Let’s watch the video and know some tips on fire safety.

Fire Safety

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are Randall’s fire safety tips?
  2. What other fire safety tips you observe at home?
  3. Are fire alarms and water sprinklers required in residential apartments in your country? If so, why do you think that is?
  4. Do you have a specific fire emergency number? How quickly do they respond?
  5. Have you witnessed fire before? How did you feel at that moment? How serious were the damages?