Comedians are using computers to help make jokes and shows. Some use tools like ChatGPT to write funny scripts. Anesti Danelis, a comedian, used AI to help with his show. He says computers can help, but people are still the best at telling jokes. His show had both computer-made and people-made jokes.

People watching these shows like the new ideas from computers. But some comedians think real jokes come from human feelings. They worry people might notice if a joke isn’t made by a person. Using computers too much might make all jokes sound the same. Comedians want to keep their own special way of being funny.

Original news source: No laughing matter – how AI is helping comedians write jokes (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
Divide the class into two teams. Provide each team with a list of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g., comedian, computer, joke, show, AI). One student from each team will come to the board and draw the word while their team tries to guess what it is. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
Prepare a list of questions related to the article, such as “Do you think comedians should use computers to write jokes?” or “Do you prefer jokes written by people or computers?” Have students move around the classroom and ask their classmates these questions, tallying the responses. Afterward, discuss the results as a class.

– Headline Creation
Instructions:
Ask students to work in pairs or small groups. Their task is to create a catchy headline related to comedians using computers to write jokes. Encourage them to be creative and use vocabulary from the article. After they have come up with their headlines, each group can share their headline with the class.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions:
After reading the article together, ask students to think quietly for a moment about their opinion on comedians using computers to write jokes. Then, have them pair up with a classmate to discuss their thoughts. Finally, open up the discussion to the whole class, encouraging students to share their opinions and reasons.

– Charades
Instructions:
Write down some keywords from the article on separate pieces of paper (e.g., comedian, computer, joke, show, AI). Have one student come to the front of the class, pick a keyword, and act it out without speaking while the rest of the class tries to guess the word. This activity can help reinforce vocabulary from the article in a fun and engaging way.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are comedians using to help make jokes and shows?
2. Who is Anesti Danelis and how did he use AI for his show?
3. Why do some comedians think real jokes come from human feelings?
4. What are some worries comedians have about using computers to make jokes?
5. Why do people watching these shows like the new ideas from computers?
6. What might happen if comedians use computers too much to make jokes?
7. What do comedians want to keep even if they use computers to help with jokes?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Comedians are (1)______ computers to help make jokes and shows. Some use tools like (2)______ to write funny scripts. Anesti Danelis, a comedian, used AI to help with his show. He says (3)______ can help, but (4)______ are still the best at telling jokes. His show had both computer-made and people-made jokes.

People watching these shows like the new (5)______ from computers. But some (6)______dians think real jokes come from human feelings. They worry people might notice if a joke isn’t made by a (7)______. Using computers too much might make all jokes sound the same. (8)______ want to keep their own special way of being funny.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a comedian?
2. How would you feel if a computer helped you tell jokes?
3. Do you like watching shows with jokes from computers?
4. Do you think jokes are funnier when they come from people?
5. What is a script?
6. Why do some comedians worry about jokes made by computers?
7. How do you think a computer can help with making jokes?
8. Do you think all jokes made by computers sound the same? Why or why not?
9. What is a special way of being funny?
10. How do you think people feel when they watch shows with jokes from computers and people?
11. Do you think it’s important for comedians to keep their own way of being funny?
12. Why do you think some comedians prefer jokes made by people instead of computers?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. comedians
2. computers
3. tools
4. scripts
5. feelings
6. notice
7. special
8. ideas
9. worry
10. sound

Meanings:
(A) People who make others laugh
(B) To see or hear something
(C) Emotions like happy or sad
(D) Different and unique
(E) Things that help you do a job
(F) Words written for a play or show
(G) Machines that can think and do tasks
(H) To feel scared or nervous about something
(I) Thoughts or plans
(J) What you hear with your ears
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are some comedians using to help make jokes and shows?
(a) Cars
(b) Trees
(c) Computers
(d) Books

2. Who used AI to help with his show?
(a) Anesti Danelis
(b) A doctor
(c) A firefighter
(d) A chef

3. What do some comedians worry about if they use computers too much for jokes?
(a) Getting more audience
(b) All jokes sounding the same
(c) Winning awards
(d) Traveling the world

4. What do people watching these shows like from computers?
(a) Old ideas
(b) Sad ideas
(c) New ideas
(d) Scary ideas

5. What do some comedians think real jokes come from?
(a) Computers
(b) Human feelings
(c) Animals
(d) Plants

6. What might happen if a joke isn’t made by a person?
(a) People might laugh more
(b) People might cry
(c) People might sleep
(d) People might notice

7. What do comedians want to keep when using computers for jokes?
(a) Being serious all the time
(b) Being quiet
(c) Using only computers
(d) Their own special way of being funny

8. Who do comedians think are still the best at telling jokes?
(a) People
(b) Computers
(c) Birds
(d) Fish

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. His show had jokes made by only computers and people.
2. Comedians are avoiding technology to help make jokes and shows.
3. Some comedians worry jokes made by computers might not feel real.
4. Anesti Danelis, a comedian, used AI to help with his show.
5. People watching these shows like the new ideas from computers.
6. He thinks robots are still the best at telling jokes.
7. Some comedians use ChatGPT to write funny scripts.
8. Comedians want to change their special way of being funny.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What are comedians using to help make jokes and shows?
2. Who is Anesti Danelis and how did he use AI for his show?
3. Why do some comedians think real jokes come from human feelings?
4. What are some worries comedians have about using computers to make jokes?
5. Why do comedians want to keep their own special way of being funny?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are comedians using to help make jokes and shows?
Comedians are using computers to help make jokes and shows.

2. Who is Anesti Danelis and how did he use AI for his show?
Anesti Danelis is a comedian who used AI (Artificial Intelligence) to help with his show by writing funny scripts.

3. Why do some comedians think real jokes come from human feelings?
Some comedians think real jokes come from human feelings because they believe jokes are best when they come from people’s emotions and experiences.

4. What are some worries comedians have about using computers to make jokes?
Some comedians worry that using computers too much might make all jokes sound the same, and people might notice if a joke wasn’t made by a person.

5. Why do people watching these shows like the new ideas from computers?
People watching these shows like the new ideas from computers because they bring fresh and different perspectives to jokes and shows.

6. What might happen if comedians use computers too much to make jokes?
If comedians use computers too much to make jokes, all jokes might start to sound similar and lose the unique touch that comes from human creativity.

7. What do comedians want to keep even if they use computers to help with jokes?
Comedians want to keep their own special way of being funny, even if they use computers to help with jokes.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) using
(2) ChatGPT
(3) computers
(4) people
(5) ideas
(6) come
(7) person
(8) Comedians
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. comedians
Answer: (A) People who make others laugh

2. computers
Answer: (G) Machines that can think and do tasks

3. tools
Answer: (E) Things that help you do a job

4. scripts
Answer: (F) Words written for a play or show

5. feelings
Answer: (C) Emotions like happy or sad

6. notice
Answer: (B) To see or hear something

7. special
Answer: (D) Different and unique

8. ideas
Answer: (I) Thoughts or plans

9. worry
Answer: (H) To feel scared or nervous about something

10. sound
Answer: (J) What you hear with your ears
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are some comedians using to help make jokes and shows?
Answer: (c) Computers

2. Who used AI to help with his show?
Answer: (a) Anesti Danelis

3. What do some comedians worry about if they use computers too much for jokes?
Answer: (b) All jokes sounding the same

4. What do people watching these shows like from computers?
Answer: (c) New ideas

5. What do some comedians think real jokes come from?
Answer: (b) Human feelings

6. What might happen if a joke isn’t made by a person?
Answer: (d) People might notice

7. What do comedians want to keep when using computers for jokes?
Answer: (d) Their own special way of being funny

8. Who do comedians think are still the best at telling jokes?
Answer: (a) People
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. His show had jokes made by only computers and people. (Answer: False)
2. Comedians are avoiding technology to help make jokes and shows. (Answer: False)
3. Some comedians worry jokes made by computers might not feel real. (Answer: True)
4. Anesti Danelis, a comedian, used AI to help with his show. (Answer: True)
5. People watching these shows like the new ideas from computers. (Answer: True)
6. He thinks robots are still the best at telling jokes. (Answer: False)
7. Some comedians use ChatGPT to write funny scripts. (Answer: True)
8. Comedians want to change their special way of being funny. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧