Breaking News English Lesson: A.I. Matchmaking

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Japan to use artificial intelligence to match couples (11th December, 2020)

The Reading / Listening - A.I. Matchmaking - Level 3

Japan is trying to get more men and women to go on dates. It wants to increase its birth rate because there are fewer and fewer babies being born. Japan is going to use artificial intelligence (AI) to match couples and help residents find love. The government has decided to use $19 million next year to set the software up. There are already matchmaking services in half of Japan's 47 prefectures. These involve filling out forms and answering questions on hobbies and interests. A worker then matches people based on the answers. Some prefectures are now starting AI projects to automate the system. AI software can perform a more advanced analysis of data and get better matches.

The government hopes the project will increase the size of the population. Japan's fertility rate is one of the lowest in the world. The average number of children a Japanese woman is expected to have in her lifetime is 1.36. This figure is continuing to go down, which is why the government is trying the AI programme. A government spokesperson said: "We hope this support will help reverse the decline in the nation's birth rate." Japan's population is rapidly ageing because people are living longer. The longevity rate for women is the highest in the world. This is a problem for the economy. There are fewer and fewer younger workers to pay for the pension and welfare costs of retired people.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

A.I. Matchmaking - Level 0, A.I. Matchmaking - Level 1 or A.I. Matchmaking - Level 2

Sources

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/07/national/japan-ai-funding-matchmaking/
https://uk.reuters.com/article/japan-matchmaking-ai/love-match-tokyo-to-help-fund-japanese-ai-cupid-upgrades-report-idUKKBN28H19G
https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1209370.shtml

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. MATCHMAKING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about matchmaking. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
dates / birth rate / artificial intelligence / residents / love / software / system / data /
government / fertility rate / average / figure / decline / population / pension / welfare
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. A.I.: Students A strongly believe A.I. is the best way to match couples who want to fall in love; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MATCH: How good are these at matching people who want to find love? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Good Things	Bad Things
A.I.
Parents
Friends
A boss
Matchmaker
A dating app

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. ARTIFICAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "artificial". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. FIRST DATE: Rank these with your partner. Put the best first dates at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Movie theatre
Hiking
A museum
Restaurant lunch
A disco / club
A bar
An amusement park
Picnic on the beach

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	increase	a.	Made or produced by human beings, rather than occurring naturally.
2.	birth rate	b.	Become or make bigger in size, amount, intensity, or degree.
3.	artificial	c.	Put two people together because it is likely they will like each other.
4.	match	d.	A person who lives somewhere permanently or on a long-term basis.
5.	resident	e.	The number of babies born per thousand of population per year.
6.	involve	f.	Detailed examination of something.
7.	analysis	g.	Include something as a necessary part or result.

Paragraph 2

8.	fertility	h.	A number showing the middle value (number) in a set of data by dividing the total of all the values (numbers) by how many values (numbers) there are.
9.	average	i.	Very quickly; at a great rate.
10.	expected	j.	The ability to have children.
11.	reverse	k.	Believed or thought that something would happen.
12.	rapidly	l.	Long life.
13.	longevity	m.	Go backward.
14.	pension	n.	A regular payment made by the government to people of or above the official retirement age.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

Japan wants more men and women to start dating. T / F
A new A.I. project will help residents find love. T / F
Nearly a third of Japan's prefectures have a matchmaking service. T / F
The article says humans matchmaking get better matches than A.I. T / F
Japan has one of the highest fertility rates in the world. T / F
The average Japanese woman will have 1.36 children during her life. T / F
The article says Japanese people are ageing because they exercise. T / F
The number of younger Japanese workers is increasing. T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

increase
match
residents
filling out
analysis
hopes
lifetime
decline
rapidly
younger

existence
evaluation
wants
suit
quickly
grow
decrease
youthful
citizens
completing

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

get more men and women
It wants to increase its
there are fewer and fewer
matchmaking
These involve filling out forms and
Japan's fertility
expected to have in
help reverse the
The longevity rate
pension and welfare costs of

answering questions
services
decline
to go on dates
rate
retired people
birth rate
for women
babies being born
her lifetime

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

couples
based
half
better
dates
automate
software
forms

Japan is trying to get more men and women to go on (1) _____________________. It wants to increase its birth rate because there are fewer and fewer babies being born. Japan is going to use artificial intelligence (AI) to match (2) _____________________ and help residents find love. The government has decided to use $19 million next year to set the (3) _____________________ up. There are already matchmaking services in (4) _____________________ of Japan's 47 prefectures. These involve filling out (5) _____________________ and answering questions on hobbies and interests. A worker then matches people (6) _____________________ on the answers. Some prefectures are now starting AI projects to (7) _____________________ the system. AI software can perform a more advanced analysis of data and get (8) _____________________ matches.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

decline
fertility
support
retired
size
highest
ageing
lifetime

The government hopes the project will increase the (9) _____________________ of the population. Japan's (10) _____________________ rate is one of the lowest in the world. The average number of children a Japanese woman is expected to have in her (11) _____________________ is 1.36. This figure is continuing to go down, which is why the government is trying the AI programme. A government spokesperson said: "We hope this (12) _____________________ will help reverse the (13) _____________________ in the nation's birth rate." Japan's population is rapidly (14) _____________________ because people are living longer. The longevity rate for women is the (15) _____________________ in the world. This is a problem for the economy. There are fewer and fewer younger workers to pay for the pension and welfare costs of (16) _____________________ people.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Japan is trying to get more men and women to ______
     a. go on date
     b. go on diets
     c. go on days
     d. go on dates
2) It wants to increase its birth rate because there are fewer and fewer ______
     a. babies being born
     b. babies been born
     c. babies be in born
     d. babies boy in born
3) The government has decided to use $19 million next year to set ______
     a. the software down
     b. the software up
     c. the software in
     d. the software on
4) These involve filling out forms and answering questions on ______
     a. hobbies end interests
     b. hobbies send interests
     c. hobbies and interests
     d. hobby sand interests
5) AI software can perform a more advanced analysis of data and ______
     a. get better match is
     b. get better marches
     c. get better march is
     d. get better matches

6) The government hopes the project will increase the size ______
     a. off the population
     b. of a population
     c. of the population
     d. off a populations
7) The average number of children a Japanese woman is expected to have ______
     a. in her life timed
     b. in her lifetime
     c. in hers life times
     d. in their live time
8) A government spokesperson said: "We hope this support will help ______"
     a. reverse the cline
     b. reverse the incline
     c. reverse the recline
     d. reverse the decline
9) is the highest in the world. This is a problem ______
     a. for the economy
     b. for then economy
     c. from the economy
     d. four the economy
10) fewer and fewer younger workers to pay for the pension and welfare costs ______
     a. of retirement people
     b. of retire people
     c. of retried people
     d. of retired people

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Japan is trying to get more men and women to (1) ____________________. It wants to increase its birth rate because there are (2) ____________________ babies being born. Japan is going to use artificial intelligence (AI) to match couples and help (3) ____________________. The government has decided to use $19 million next year to set the software up. There are already matchmaking services (4) ____________________ Japan's 47 prefectures. These involve filling out forms and answering questions on hobbies and interests. A worker then matches people (5) ____________________ answers. Some prefectures are now starting AI projects to automate the system. AI software can perform a more advanced (6) ____________________ and get better matches.

The government (7) ____________________ will increase the size of the population. Japan's fertility rate is one of the lowest in the world. The (8) ____________________ children a Japanese woman is expected to have in her lifetime is 1.36. This (9) ____________________ to go down, which is why the government is trying the AI programme. A government spokesperson said: "We hope this support will help (10) ____________________ in the nation's birth rate." Japan's population is rapidly ageing because people are living longer. The longevity rate for women is (11) ____________________ the world. This is a problem for the economy. There are fewer and fewer younger workers to pay for the (12) ____________________ costs of retired people.

Comprehension questions

What is Japan trying to get more men and women to go on?
Who will artificial intelligence help to find love?
How much will the artificial intelligence software cost?
How many of Japan's 47 prefectures have a matchmaking service?
What does the article say AI software can perform better?
What does the article say is one of the world's lowest in Japan?
How many children will the average Japanese woman have?
What does the article say is rapidly ageing?
What does the article say is the highest in the world?
What are there fewer and fewer of to pay for pension costs?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is Japan trying to get more men and women to go on?
a) holidays
b) the Internet
c) dates
d) relationship workshops
2) Who will artificial intelligence help to find love?
a) couples and citizens
b) lovers and partners
c) boys and girls
d) the lonely
3) How much will the artificial intelligence software cost?
a) $18 million
b) $16 million
c) $17 million
d) $19 million
4) How many of Japan's 47 prefectures have a matchmaking service?
a) a quarter of them
b) half of them
c) a third of them
d) a tenth of them
5) What does the article say AI software can perform better?
a) algorithms
b) dating
c) advanced analysis
d) finding romantic restaurants

6) What does the article say is one of the world's lowest in Japan?
a) the dating rate
b) the fertility rate
c) the romance rate
d) the happiness rate
7) How many children will the average Japanese woman have?
a) 1.26
b) 1.63
c) 1.62
d) 1.36
8) What does the article say is rapidly ageing?
a) the world
b) Japan's population
c) the Internet
d) dating
9) What does the article say is the highest in the world?
a) the longevity rate for women
b) the price of meals in Italian restaurants
c) Mount Everest
d) the date rate

10) What are there fewer and fewer of to pay for pension costs?
a) companies
b) salaried workers
c) taxpayers
d) younger workers

Role play

Role A – Movie Theatre
You think a movie theatre is the best first date. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dates. Also, tell the others which is the least romantic of these (and why): hiking, restaurant lunch or picnic on the beach.

Role B – Hiking
You think hiking is the best first date. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dates. Also, tell the others which is the least romantic of these (and why): movie theatre, restaurant lunch or picnic on the beach.

Role C – A Restaurant Lunch
You think a restaurant lunch is the best first date. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dates. Also, tell the others which is the least romantic of these (and why): hiking, movie theatre or picnic on the beach.

Role D – A Picnic On The Beach
You think a picnic on the beach is the best first date. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their dates. Also, tell the others which is the least romantic of these (and why): hiking, restaurant lunch or movie theatre.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'love'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'couple'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

•Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

dates

born

decided

half

worker

data

size

rate

lifetime

reverse

highest

costs

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - A.I. Matchmaking

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'dating'?
What do you think of matchmaking?
What's the best way to find a partner?
Why might A.I. matchmaking be better than a person at matchmaking?
Are parents good matchmakers?
Have you ever fallen in love at first sight?
Where's the best place to go on a first date?
How do you feel on a first date?
How important is it your partner has the same hobbies as you?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'artificial intelligence'?
What do you think about what you read?
What problems does a shrinking population cause?
How can the government get people to have more children?
What is the best thing about falling in love?
What kind of person is your ideal partner?
Is it ever too old to fall in love?
Would you use the A.I. matchmaking service?
What questions would you like to ask Japan's government?

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

Japan is trying to get more men and women to go (1) ____ dates. It wants to increase its birth rate because there are fewer and (2) ____ babies being born. Japan is going to use artificial intelligence (AI) to match couples and help residents find love. The government has decided to use $19 million next year to (3) ____ the software up. There are already matchmaking services in (4) ____ of Japan's 47 prefectures. These involve filling out forms and answering questions on hobbies and interests. A worker then matches people (5) ____ on the answers. Some prefectures are now starting AI projects to automate the system. AI software can perform more advanced analysis (6) ____ data and get better matches.

The government (7) ____ the project will increase the size of the population. Japan's fertility rate is one of the lowest in the world. The average number of children a Japanese woman is (8) ____ to have in her lifetime is 1.36. This figure is continuing to go down, which is why the government is trying the AI programme. A government spokesperson said: "We hope this support will help (9) ____ the decline in the nation's birth rate." Japan's population is (10) ____ ageing because people are living longer. The (11) ____ rate for women is the highest in the world. This is a problem for the economy. There are fewer and fewer younger workers to pay for the pension and welfare costs of (12) ____ people.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) by (b) at (c) in (d) on
(a) phew (b) fewest (c) few (d) fewer
(a) let (b) set (c) met (d) net
(a) halve (b) halved (c) half (d) halving
(a) based (b) biased (c) boasted (d) basted
(a) of (b) on (c) as (d) in
(a) heaps (b) hops (c) hoping (d) hopes
(a) expected (b) forecasting (c) prediction (d) guess
(a) risky (b) reverse (c) elevator (d) cure
(a) rapidity (b) rapids (c) rapidly (d) rapid
(a) lengthen (b) longing (c) longevity (d) longs
(a) retried (b) retired (c) retread (d) retro

Spelling

Paragraph 1

iarcesne its birth rate
match cpesluo and help residents
These ielvnov filling out forms
answering questions on hobbies and nieertsts
etumoata the system
advanced snslyaia of data

Paragraph 2

Japan's yreliftti rate
epcexted to have in her lifetime
help eesrrev the decline
The vyegolitn rate for women
fewer younger workers to pay for the nneispo
welfare costs of eitrred people

Put the text back together

( 1 ) Japan is trying to get more men and women to go on dates. It wants to increase its birth
(...) 1.36. This figure is continuing to go down, which is why the government is trying the AI programme. A government
(...) out forms and answering questions on hobbies and interests. A worker then matches
(...) intelligence (AI) to match couples and help residents find love. The government has decided to use $19 million next
(...) year to set the software up. There are already matchmaking services in half of Japan's 47 prefectures. These involve filling
(...) automate the system. AI software can perform a more advanced analysis of data and get better matches.
(...) The government hopes the project will increase the size of the population. Japan's fertility rate is one of the lowest
(...) in the world. The average number of children a Japanese woman is expected to have in her lifetime is
(...) world. This is a problem for the economy. There are fewer and fewer
(...) rate because there are fewer and fewer babies being born. Japan is going to use artificial
(...) spokesperson said: "We hope this support will help reverse the decline in the nation's birth rate." Japan's population is rapidly
(...) ageing because people are living longer. The longevity rate for women is the highest in the
(...) people based on the answers. Some prefectures are now starting AI projects to
(...) younger workers to pay for the pension and welfare costs of retired people.

Put the words in the right order

increase birth its rate . It wants to
born . fewer are There and being fewer babies
prefectures . services Japan's 47 half in of Matchmaking
match people on the based Workers answers . then
of analysis Software perform advanced can a data . more
one Japan's rate fertility of is lowest . the
This continuing to down . figure is go
nation's Reverse in rate . the decline the birth
The highest . longevity for is the women rate
pension . pay for to the Fewer workers younger

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Japan is trying to get more men and women to go on date / dates. It wants to increase its birth rate because there are fewer and fewest / fewer babies being born. Japan is going to useful / use artificial intelligence (AI) to match couples and help residence / residents find love. The government has decided to use $19 million next year to set the software up / down. There are already / readily matchmaking services in half of Japan's 47 prefectures. These involve filling up / out forms and answering questions on / in hobbies and interests. A worker then matches people based on / by the answers. Some prefectures are now starting AI projects to automate the system. AI software can performance / perform a more advanced analysis of data and get better matches.

The government hopes the project will increase the sized / size of the population. Japan's fertility / ability rate is one of the low / lowest in the world. The average number of children a Japanese woman is expected to have / born in her lifetime is 1.36. This figure is continuing to go down, which is why the government is trying / tying the AI programme. A government spokesperson said: "We hope this support will help reserve / reverse the decline in the nation's birth rate." Japan's population is rapidly / rapid ageing because people are living longer / lengthen. The longevity rate for women is the highest in / on the world. This is a problem for the economy. There are fewer and fewer younger workers to pay for the pension and welfare costs of retired person / people.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

J_p_n _s try_ng t_ g_t m_r_ m_n _nd w_m_n t_ g_ _n d_t_s. _t w_nts t_ _ncr__s_ _ts b_rth r_t_ b_c__s_ th_r_ _r_ f_w_r _nd f_w_r b_b__s b__ng b_rn. J_p_n _s g__ng t_ _s_ _rt_f_c__l _nt_ll_g_nc_ (__) t_ m_tch c__pl_s _nd h_lp r_s_d_nts f_nd l_v_. Th_ g_v_rnm_nt h_s d_c_d_d t_ _s_ $19 m_ll__n n_xt y__r t_ s_t th_ s_ftw_r_ _p. Th_r_ _r_ _lr__dy m_tchm_k_ng s_rv_c_s _n h_lf _f J_p_n's 47 pr_f_ct_r_s. Th_s_ _nv_lv_ f_ll_ng __t f_rms _nd _nsw_r_ng q__st__ns _n h_bb__s _nd _nt_r_sts. _ w_rk_r th_n m_tch_s p__pl_ b_s_d _n th_ _nsw_rs. S_m_ pr_f_ct_r_s _r_ n_w st_rt_ng __ pr_j_cts t_ __t_m_t_ th_ syst_m. __ s_ftw_r_ c_n p_rf_rm m_r_ _dv_nc_d _n_lys_s _f d_t_ _nd g_t b_tt_r m_tch_s.

Th_ g_v_rnm_nt h_p_s th_ pr_j_ct w_ll _ncr__s_ th_ s_z_ _f th_ p_p_l_t__n. J_p_n's f_rt_l_ty r_t_ _s _n_ _f th_ l_w_st _n th_ w_rld. Th_ _v_r_g_ n_mb_r _f ch_ldr_n _ J_p_n_s_ w_m_n _s _xp_ct_d t_ h_v_ _n h_r l_f_t_m_ _s 1.36. Th_s f_g_r_ _s c_nt_n__ng t_ g_ d_wn, wh_ch _s why th_ g_v_rnm_nt _s try_ng th_ __ pr_gr_mm_. _ g_v_rnm_nt sp_k_sp_rs_n s__d: "W_ h_p_ th_s s_pp_rt w_ll h_lp r_v_rs_ th_ d_cl_n_ _n th_ n_t__n's b_rth r_t_." J_p_n's p_p_l_t__n _s r_p_dly _g__ng b_c__s_ p__pl_ _r_ l_v_ng l_ng_r. Th_ l_ng_v_ty r_t_ f_r w_m_n _s th_ h_gh_st _n th_ w_rld. Th_s _s _ pr_bl_m f_r th_ _c_n_my. Th_r_ _r_ f_w_r _nd f_w_r y__ng_r w_rk_rs t_ p_y f_r th_ p_ns__n _nd w_lf_r_ c_sts _f r_t_r_d p__pl_.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

japan is trying to get more men and women to go on dates it wants to increase its birth rate because there are fewer and fewer babies being born japan is going to use artificial intelligence ai to match couples and help residents find love the government has decided to use 19 million next year to set the software up there are already matchmaking services in half of japans 47 prefectures these involve filling out forms and answering questions on hobbies and interests a worker then matches people based on the answers some prefectures are now starting ai projects to automate the system ai software can perform a more advanced analysis of data and get better matches

the government hopes the project will increase the size of the population japans fertility rate is one of the lowest in the world the average number of children a japanese woman is expected to have in her lifetime is 136 this figure is continuing to go down which is why the government is trying the ai programme a government spokesperson said we hope this support will help reverse the decline in the nations birth rate japans population is rapidly ageing because people are living longer the longevity rate for women is the highest in the world this is a problem for the economy there are fewer and fewer younger workers to pay for the pension and welfare costs of retired people

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Japanistryingtogetmoremenandwomentogoondates.Itwantstoincre
aseitsbirthratebecausetherearefewerandfewerbabiesbeingborn.Jap
anisgoingtouseartificialintelligence(AI)tomatchcouplesandhelpresi
dentsfindlove.Thegovernmenthasdecidedtouse$19millionnextyeart
osetthesoftwareup.TherearealreadymatchmakingservicesinhalfofJ
apan's47prefectures.Theseinvolvefillingoutformsandansweringque
stionsonhobbiesandinterests.Aworkerthenmatchespeoplebasedont
heanswers.SomeprefecturesarenowstartingAIprojectstoautomatet
hesystem.AIsoftwarecanperformamoreadvancedanalysisofdataand
getbettermatches.Thegovernmenthopestheprojectwillincreasethes
izeofthepopulation.Japan'sfertilityrateisoneofthelowestintheworld.
TheaveragenumberofchildrenaJapanesewomanisexpectedtohavein
herlifetimeis1.36.Thisfigureiscontinuingtogodown,whichiswhytheg
overnmentistryingtheAIprogramme.Agovernmentspokespersonsai
d:"Wehopethissupportwillhelpreversethedeclineinthenation'sbirthr
ate."Japan'spopulationisrapidlyageingbecausepeoplearelivinglonge
r.Thelongevityrateforwomenisthehighestintheworld.Thisisaproble
mfortheeconomy.Therearefewerandfeweryoungerworkerstopayfor
thepensionandwelfarecostsofretiredpeople.

Free writing

Write about A.I. matchmaking for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Computer matchmaking is the best way to find a partner. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MATCHMAKING: Make a poster about matchmaking. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. A.I.: Write a magazine article about using A.I. for matchmaking. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on matchmaking. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how people can find a partner. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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Breaking News English Lesson: A.I. Matchmaking

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