Microsoft is making a new helper called Microsoft 365 Copilot. It will be ready on November 1. This helper can go to meetings for you and tell you what was talked about. It can also write emails, make documents, charts, and slides very fast. But some people are worried that this helper might take away jobs and make people too dependent on it.

In a show-and-tell, Copilot was good at office work. It could make sense of long emails and reply to them. It could make slides from a document and tell you what was talked about in meetings. But, it may not understand some things or tell people apart in meetings. You need to pay $30 every month and have internet to use Copilot. Some people are worried that using this helper a lot could cause problems and risks. They also think it’s important to tell others when you’re using something made by the helper.

Original news source: Microsoft’s new AI assistant can go to meetings for you (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary words related to the article (e.g. Microsoft, helper, meetings, emails). One student from each group will act out the word without speaking, while the other students try to guess the word. The group that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: Read the article aloud to the class. Then, have students work in pairs to summarize the main points of the article in their own words. After a few minutes, ask some pairs to share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write the following statement on the board: “Using Microsoft 365 Copilot is a good idea.” Have students stand on one side of the classroom if they agree with the statement, and on the other side if they disagree. Ask a few students from each side to explain their reasons for their opinion.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write a list of vocabulary words from the article on the board. Divide the class into teams. Each team takes turns sending one student to the front of the class. The student must draw a picture to represent a word from the list, while their team tries to guess the word. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about and write down their answer to the question: “Do you think Microsoft 365 Copilot will be helpful or harmful in the future?” Then, have students pair up and share their answers with their partner. Finally, ask a few pairs to share their thoughts with the whole class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Microsoft making?
2. When will the helper be ready?
3. What can the helper do for you?
4. Why are some people worried about the helper?
5. What was the helper good at in a show-and-tell?
6. How much money do you need to pay every month to use the helper?
7. Why do some people think it’s important to tell others when you’re using the helper?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

(1)______ is making a new helper (2)______ Microsoft 365 Copilot. It will be ready on November 1. This helper can go to meetings for you and tell you what was talked about. It can also write emails, make documents, charts, and slides very fast. But some people are worried that this (3)______ might take away jobs and (4)______ people too dependent on it.

In a show-and-tell, Copilot was good at office work. It could make sense of long emails and reply to them. It could make (5)______ from a (6)______ and tell you what was talked about in meetings. But, it may not understand some things or tell people apart in meetings. You need to pay $30 every month and (7)______ internet to use (8)______. Some people are worried that using this helper a lot could cause problems and risks. They also think it’s important to tell others when you’re using something made by the helper.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?
2. How would you feel if you had a helper like Microsoft 365 Copilot?
3. Do you think Microsoft 365 Copilot can take away jobs from people? Why or why not?
4. What are some things that Microsoft 365 Copilot can do?
5. Do you like the idea of using a helper like Microsoft 365 Copilot? Why or why not?
6. How do you think Microsoft 365 Copilot can help in the office?
7. Do you think it’s important to let others know when you’re using a helper like Microsoft 365 Copilot? Why or why not?
8. Why do some people worry about using Microsoft 365 Copilot too much?
9. How do you think Microsoft 365 Copilot can make people dependent on it?
10. What are some problems and risks that could come with using Microsoft 365 Copilot?
11. How would you feel if Microsoft 365 Copilot couldn’t understand some things or tell people apart in meetings?
12. What do you think about paying $30 every month and needing internet to use Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. helper
2. meetings
3. emails
4. documents
5. charts
6. slides
7. jobs
8. dependent

Meanings:
(a) Someone who helps you do things
(b) When people get together to talk about things
(c) Needing someone or something to help you
(d) Pictures that show information in a clear way
(e) Things that people do to make money
(f) Pages that show information in a presentation
(g) Messages you send on the computer
(h) Papers with words and pictures on them
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the new helper made by Microsoft?
(a) Microsoft 365 Copilot
(b) Microsoft Office
(c) Microsoft Word
(d) Microsoft Excel

2. When will the Microsoft 365 Copilot be ready?
(a) December 1
(b) January 1
(c) November 1
(d) February 1

3. What can the Microsoft 365 Copilot do for you?
(a) Cook dinner for you
(b) Go to meetings and tell you what was talked about
(c) Play video games with you
(d) Walk your dog

4. What are some things that the Copilot might not understand?
(a) Everything and everyone
(b) Nothing at all
(c) Only short emails
(d) Some things or tell people apart in meetings

5. How much do you need to pay every month to use the Copilot?
(a) $10
(b) $50
(c) $30
(d) $100

6. What do some people worry about when using the Copilot a lot?
(a) It could make them too dependent on it
(b) It could take away jobs
(c) All of these answers
(d) It could cause problems and risks

7. Why is it important to tell others when you’re using something made by the helper?
(a) So they can use it too
(b) So they know you’re using a helper
(c) So they can take your job
(d) So they can ask for help

8. What kind of work was the Copilot good at in the show-and-tell?
(a) Office work
(b) Construction work
(c) Cooking work
(d) Cleaning work

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The Copilot can go to meetings for you and tell you what was discussed.
2. The helper will not be available on November 1.
3. The helper may make people too dependent on it.
4. It can also write emails, make documents, charts, and slides quickly.
5. Some people are not worried that the helper might take away jobs.
6. In a show-and-tell, Copilot was not good at office work.
7. Microsoft is creating a new helper called Microsoft 365 Copilot.
8. To use Copilot, you don’t need to pay $30 every month and have internet access.
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 is Microsoft making?
2. When will the new helper be ready?
3. What can the helper do for you?
4. Why are some people worried about the helper?
5. How much money do you need to pay every month to use the helper?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is Microsoft making?
Microsoft is making a new helper called Microsoft 365 Copilot.

2. When will the helper be ready?
The helper will be ready on November 1.

3. What can the helper do for you?
The helper can go to meetings for you and tell you what was talked about. It can also write emails, make documents, charts, and slides very fast.

4. Why are some people worried about the helper?
Some people are worried that the helper might take away jobs and make people too dependent on it.

5. What was the helper good at in a show-and-tell?
In a show-and-tell, the helper was good at office work. It could make sense of long emails and reply to them. It could make slides from a document and tell you what was talked about in meetings.

6. How much money do you need to pay every month to use the helper?
You need to pay $30 every month to use the helper.

7. Why do some people think it’s important to tell others when you’re using the helper?
Some people think it’s important to tell others when you’re using the helper because using it a lot could cause problems and risks.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Microsoft
(2) called
(3) helper
(4) make
(5) slides
(6) document
(7) have
(8) Copilot
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. helper
Answer: (a) Someone who helps you do things

2. meetings
Answer: (b) When people get together to talk about things

3. emails
Answer: (g) Messages you send on the computer

4. documents
Answer: (h) Papers with words and pictures on them

5. charts
Answer: (d) Pictures that show information in a clear way

6. slides
Answer: (f) Pages that show information in a presentation

7. jobs
Answer: (e) Things that people do to make money

8. dependent
Answer: (c) Needing someone or something to help you
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the new helper made by Microsoft?
Answer: (a) Microsoft 365 Copilot

2. When will the Microsoft 365 Copilot be ready?
Answer: (c) November 1

3. What can the Microsoft 365 Copilot do for you?
Answer: (b) Go to meetings and tell you what was talked about

4. What are some things that the Copilot might not understand?
Answer: (d) Some things or tell people apart in meetings

5. How much do you need to pay every month to use the Copilot?
Answer: (c) $30

6. What do some people worry about when using the Copilot a lot?
Answer: (d) It could cause problems and risks

7. Why is it important to tell others when you’re using something made by the helper?
Answer: (b) So they know you’re using a helper

8. What kind of work was the Copilot good at in the show-and-tell?
Answer: (a) Office work
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The Copilot can go to meetings for you and tell you what was discussed. (Answer: True)
2. The helper will not be available on November 1. (Answer: False)
3. The helper may make people too dependent on it. (Answer: True)
4. It can also write emails, make documents, charts, and slides quickly. (Answer: True)
5. Some people are not worried that the helper might take away jobs. (Answer: False)
6. In a show-and-tell, Copilot was not good at office work. (Answer: False)
7. Microsoft is creating a new helper called Microsoft 365 Copilot. (Answer: True)
8. To use Copilot, you don’t need to pay $30 every month and have internet access. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧