Japan has fewer people to work, so they are using smart computers called AI to help. Some companies use AI to check food and help farmers with their crops. AI can find bad dumplings and tell farmers what is wrong with their plants. But, AI can’t do everything people can do. It helps, but it can’t replace people.

Japan’s problem with not enough workers is getting worse. By 2040, there will be many fewer workers because of fewer babies being born and older people retiring. The government is trying different things to fix this, like using AI. But, AI is just a tool to help, not to take over all jobs. People are still very important for many tasks.

Original news source: Can AI help solve Japan’s labour shortages? (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team takes turns choosing a word or phrase related to the article and acting it out without speaking. The other team has to guess what the word or phrase is. The team that guesses correctly gets a point.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “AI” on the board. Have the students take turns saying a word that is associated with AI, such as “technology” or “robots”. Keep going until the students can’t think of any more words.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and a pen. Choose a vocabulary word from the article and write it on the board. The students have to draw a picture of the word without using any letters or numbers. The first student to guess the correct word gets a point.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One student has 30 seconds to summarize the article to their partner. After 30 seconds, the roles switch and the other student has to summarize the article. The pair with the most accurate and complete summary wins.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have the students think about the following question: “What are some ways that AI can be helpful in solving Japan’s worker shortage problem?” Then, have them pair up with a partner and discuss their ideas. Finally, have a few pairs share their ideas with the whole class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are smart computers called in Japan?
2. How do smart computers help farmers?
3. Can smart computers find bad dumplings?
4. What is the problem in Japan with not enough workers?
5. Why will there be fewer workers in Japan by 2040?
6. What is the government doing to fix the problem?
7. Are people still important for many tasks?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Japan has (1)______ people to work, so they are using smart computers called AI to help. Some companies use AI to check (2)______ and help farmers with their crops. AI can find bad dumplings and tell (3)______ what is wrong with their (4)______. But, AI can’t do everything people can do. It helps, but it can’t replace people.

Japan’s problem with not enough workers is getting worse. By 2040, there will be (5)______ fewer workers because of fewer babies being born and older people (6)______. The government is trying (7)______ things to fix this, like using AI. But, AI is just a tool to help, not to take over all jobs. People are still very (8)______ for many tasks.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is AI and how does it help farmers?
2. How would you feel if a smart computer helped you with your work?
3. Do you like dumplings? Why or why not?
4. What are some things that AI can’t do that people can do?
5. How do you think AI can help with the problem of not enough workers in Japan?
6. Do you think AI will be able to replace all jobs in the future? Why or why not?
7. What are some tasks that people are still very important for?
8. How do you think AI can make our lives easier?
9. Have you ever used a smart computer or AI before? How was your experience?
10. What are some other ways besides using AI that the government can fix the problem of not enough workers?
11. Do you think it’s important for people to have jobs? Why or why not?
12. How do you think AI can help with checking food for safety?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. fewer
2. smart
3. companies
4. crops
5. dumplings
6. replace
7. retiring
8. government
9. important
10. tasks

Meanings:
(A) Small pieces of dough filled with meat or vegetables
(B) Plants grown by farmers for food
(C) Very needed or special
(D) Groups of people working together in business
(E) To take the place of something or someone
(F) Clever and quick to learn
(G) Stopping work because of old age
(H) Things you need to do
(I) The group of people who run a country
(J) Not as many
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What are smart computers called in Japan?
(a) Robots
(b) Computers
(c) AI
(d) Machines

2. How do some companies use AI in Japan?
(a) To check food and help farmers with their crops
(b) To play games
(c) To clean houses
(d) To watch movies

3. What can AI find in food?
(a) Good dumplings
(b) Bad dumplings
(c) Bad pizza
(d) Good pizza

4. What can AI tell farmers?
(a) How to cook dumplings
(b) What is wrong with their plants
(c) How to fix a computer
(d) What time it is

5. What is the problem in Japan?
(a) Not enough workers
(b) Too many workers
(c) Too much food
(d) Too many babies

6. Why will there be fewer workers in Japan by 2040?
(a) More babies being born and older people retiring
(b) More workers coming from other countries
(c) Fewer babies being born and older people retiring
(d) More robots taking over jobs

7. What is the government trying to fix the problem in Japan?
(a) Using robots
(b) Using computers
(c) Using magic
(d) Using AI

8. Are people still important in Japan?
(a) No
(b) Maybe
(c) I don’t know
(d) Yes

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Japan is using smart computers called AI to help with work because they have fewer people to do it.
2. The government is not trying different things to fix the problem, like using AI.
3. AI can check food and help farmers with their crops.
4. By 2040, there will be even fewer workers in Japan because fewer babies are being born and older people are retiring.
5. AI is not a tool to help, not to take over all jobs.
6. Japan’s problem with not having enough workers is improving.
7. AI can find bad dumplings and tell farmers what is wrong with their plants.
8. AI is not helpful, but it cannot do everything that people can do.
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 smart computers called in Japan?
2. How do smart computers help farmers?
3. Can smart computers do everything people can do?
4. Why does Japan have a problem with not enough workers?
5. Is AI a tool to help or to take over all jobs?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are smart computers called in Japan?
Smart computers are called AI in Japan.

2. How do smart computers help farmers?
Smart computers help farmers by checking food and telling them what is wrong with their plants.

3. Can smart computers find bad dumplings?
Yes, smart computers can find bad dumplings.

4. What is the problem in Japan with not enough workers?
The problem in Japan is that there are not enough workers to do all the jobs.

5. Why will there be fewer workers in Japan by 2040?
There will be fewer workers in Japan by 2040 because fewer babies are being born and older people are retiring.

6. What is the government doing to fix the problem?
The government is using AI to help fix the problem.

7. Are people still important for many tasks?
Yes, people are still important for many tasks.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) fewer
(2) food
(3) farmers
(4) plants
(5) many
(6) retiring
(7) different
(8) important
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. fewer
Answer: (J) Not as many

2. smart
Answer: (F) Clever and quick to learn

3. companies
Answer: (D) Groups of people working together in business

4. crops
Answer: (B) Plants grown by farmers for food

5. dumplings
Answer: (A) Small pieces of dough filled with meat or vegetables

6. replace
Answer: (E) To take the place of something or someone

7. retiring
Answer: (G) Stopping work because of old age

8. government
Answer: (I) The group of people who run a country

9. important
Answer: (C) Very needed or special

10. tasks
Answer: (H) Things you need to do
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What are smart computers called in Japan?
Answer: (c) AI

2. How do some companies use AI in Japan?
Answer: (a) To check food and help farmers with their crops

3. What can AI find in food?
Answer: (b) Bad dumplings

4. What can AI tell farmers?
Answer: (b) What is wrong with their plants

5. What is the problem in Japan?
Answer: (a) Not enough workers

6. Why will there be fewer workers in Japan by 2040?
Answer: (c) Fewer babies being born and older people retiring

7. What is the government trying to fix the problem in Japan?
Answer: (d) Using AI

8. Are people still important in Japan?
Answer: (d) Yes
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Japan is using smart computers called AI to help with work because they have fewer people to do it. (Answer: True)
2. The government is not trying different things to fix the problem, like using AI. (Answer: False)
3. AI can check food and help farmers with their crops. (Answer: True)
4. By 2040, there will be even fewer workers in Japan because fewer babies are being born and older people are retiring. (Answer: True)
5. AI is not a tool to help, not to take over all jobs. (Answer: False)
6. Japan’s problem with not having enough workers is improving. (Answer: False)
7. AI can find bad dumplings and tell farmers what is wrong with their plants. (Answer: True)
8. AI is not helpful, but it cannot do everything that people can do. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧