Hollywood actors are on strike against big video game companies like Activision and Disney. They are worried about how these companies might use artificial intelligence (AI). The actors think AI might copy their voices and looks for video games without paying them fairly. The actors’ union, called Sag-Aftra, is helping them fight for better rules.

The union is upset because the companies won’t promise to protect the actors from AI misuse. They want a contract that stops companies from using AI in a way that hurts the actors. The video game companies say they have already tried to fix some of these problems. They say they will pay the actors fairly and get their permission before using their voices and faces.

Last year, TV and movie actors also went on strike and got better pay and protection from AI. That strike lasted 118 days and changed a lot in the entertainment world. It even cost California a lot of money. Now, this new strike might change how video game actors are treated in the future.

Original news source: Actors go on strike over video games AI threat (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Students will take turns acting out words or phrases related to the article, such as “strike,” “actors,” “video games,” and “AI.” The rest of the class will guess what the student is acting out. This will help them familiarize themselves with vocabulary from the article.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a whiteboard or large paper, students will create a mind map about the article’s main ideas. They will start with “Hollywood Actors” in the center and branch out with related topics like “AI,” “strike,” “fair pay,” and “union.” This will encourage them to visualize and organize the information from the text.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Students will be divided into small groups and discuss their opinions on whether they think actors should be concerned about AI in video games. After the discussion, each group will share their main points with the class. This will promote speaking and listening skills while engaging with the article’s content.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In pairs, students will create catchy headlines for the article. They should focus on summarizing the main idea in an engaging way, such as “Hollywood Actors Strike Back Against AI!” After creating headlines, pairs can share them with the class to practice summarization and creativity.

– VOCABULARY PICTONARY
Instructions: Students will draw a scene or an object related to the article without using words. Other students will try to guess what they are drawing based on the vocabulary from the article. This will enhance their understanding of key terms and encourage creative thinking.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who are the Hollywood actors striking against?
2. What are the actors worried about when it comes to video game companies?
3. What does the actors’ union, Sag-Aftra, want for the actors?
4. Why are the actors upset with the video game companies?
5. What did the video game companies say they would do for the actors?
6. How long did the last strike last, and what did it help the actors get?
7. Why is this new strike important for video game actors?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Hollywood actors are on (1)______ against big video (2)______ companies like Activision and Disney. They are worried about how these companies might use artificial intelligence (AI). The actors (3)______ AI might copy their voices and looks for video games without paying them fairly. The actors’ (4)______, called Sag-Aftra, is (5)______ them fight for better rules.

The union is upset because the (6)______ won’t promise to protect the actors from AI misuse. They want a contract that stops companies from using AI in a way that hurts the actors. The video game companies say they have already tried to fix some of these problems. They say they will pay the actors fairly and get their (7)______ before using their voices and faces.

Last (8)______, TV and (9)______ actors also went on strike and got better pay and (10)______ from AI. That strike lasted 118 days and changed a lot in the entertainment (11)______. It even (12)______ California a lot of money. Now, this new strike might change how video game actors are treated in the future.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a video game you really like?
2. How would you feel if someone copied your voice without asking?
3. Do you think actors should be paid more for their work? Why or why not?
4. What is a job you would like to do when you grow up?
5. How do you feel about using robots or AI in jobs?
6. Do you like playing video games? Why or why not?
7. What is a movie or show that you really enjoy?
8. How would you feel if you were on strike for something you believed in?
9. Do you think it’s important to protect people’s work? Why?
10. What do you think makes a good actor or actress?
11. How would you feel if video games didn’t have real actors anymore?
12. Do you think video game companies should listen to actors? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. strike
2. artificial intelligence
3. union
4. contract
5. misuse
6. permission
7. entertainment
8. protection
9. promise
10. actors
11. companies
12. future

Meanings:
(A) Saying it’s okay to do something
(B) Saying you will definitely do something
(C) Keeping someone or something safe from harm
(D) People who perform in movies, TV shows, or plays
(E) When workers stop working to get better pay or conditions
(F) The time that comes after now
(G) Businesses that make or sell things
(H) Using something in a wrong or harmful way
(I) A group of workers who join together to get better work conditions
(J) A written agreement between people or groups
(K) Computers or robots doing things that usually need human smarts
(L) Things like movies, games, and shows that people enjoy
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who is on strike against big video game companies?
(a) Musicians
(b) Hollywood actors
(c) Directors
(d) Writers

2. What are the actors worried about?
(a) Bad weather
(b) Movie scripts
(c) Artificial intelligence (AI)
(d) Ticket sales

3. What does the actors’ union want to stop?
(a) Low ticket prices
(b) Bad reviews
(c) Long movie hours
(d) Misuse of AI

4. Which companies are mentioned in the article?
(a) Netflix and Amazon
(b) Activision and Disney
(c) Sony and Microsoft
(d) Warner Bros and Paramount

5. How long did the previous strike last?
(a) 50 days
(b) 75 days
(c) 100 days
(d) 118 days

6. What did the last strike help actors get?
(a) Better pay and protection
(b) More movie roles
(c) Bigger awards
(d) More fans

7. What might this new strike change?
(a) How video game actors are treated
(b) The types of games made
(c) The number of actors in games
(d) The prices of video games

8. What is the name of the actors’ union?
(a) Actors Guild
(b) Film Workers Union
(c) Sag-Aftra
(d) Movie Actors Association

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Hollywood actors are on strike against big video game companies like Activision and Disney.
2. The union wants a contract to expose actors to AI misuse.
3. The actors think AI could copy their voices and looks without paying them.
4. Last year, TV and movie actors went on strike and got worse pay and no protection from AI.
5. The new strike could reinforce how video game actors are treated in the future.
6. The actors are excited about how these companies might use artificial intelligence (AI).
7. The actors’ union, called Sag-Aftra, is helping them in their fight.
8. The video game companies say they will pay the actors fairly and ask for permission before using their voices and faces.
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. Why are Hollywood actors on strike against video game companies?
2. What do the actors worry about when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI)?
3. What does the actors’ union, Sag-Aftra, want to do for the actors?
4. How long did the last strike last, and what did the actors achieve from it?
5. What might happen to video game actors because of this new strike?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who are the Hollywood actors striking against?
They are striking against big video game companies like Activision and Disney.

2. What are the actors worried about when it comes to video game companies?
The actors are worried that video game companies might use artificial intelligence (AI) to copy their voices and looks without paying them fairly.

3. What does the actors’ union, Sag-Aftra, want for the actors?
Sag-Aftra wants better rules to protect the actors from the misuse of AI.

4. Why are the actors upset with the video game companies?
The actors are upset because the companies won’t promise to protect them from AI misuse.

5. What did the video game companies say they would do for the actors?
The video game companies said they would pay the actors fairly and get their permission before using their voices and faces.

6. How long did the last strike last, and what did it help the actors get?
The last strike lasted 118 days and helped the actors get better pay and protection from AI.

7. Why is this new strike important for video game actors?
This new strike is important because it might change how video game actors are treated in the future.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) strike
(2) game
(3) think
(4) union
(5) helping
(6) companies
(7) permission
(8) year
(9) movie
(10) protection
(11) world
(12) cost
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. strike
Answer: (E) When workers stop working to get better pay or conditions

2. artificial intelligence
Answer: (K) Computers or robots doing things that usually need human smarts

3. union
Answer: (I) A group of workers who join together to get better work conditions

4. contract
Answer: (J) A written agreement between people or groups

5. misuse
Answer: (H) Using something in a wrong or harmful way

6. permission
Answer: (A) Saying it’s okay to do something

7. entertainment
Answer: (L) Things like movies, games, and shows that people enjoy

8. protection
Answer: (C) Keeping someone or something safe from harm

9. promise
Answer: (B) Saying you will definitely do something

10. actors
Answer: (D) People who perform in movies, TV shows, or plays

11. companies
Answer: (G) Businesses that make or sell things

12. future
Answer: (F) The time that comes after now
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who is on strike against big video game companies?
Answer: (b) Hollywood actors

2. What are the actors worried about?
Answer: (c) Artificial intelligence (AI)

3. What does the actors’ union want to stop?
Answer: (d) Misuse of AI

4. Which companies are mentioned in the article?
Answer: (b) Activision and Disney

5. How long did the previous strike last?
Answer: (d) 118 days

6. What did the last strike help actors get?
Answer: (a) Better pay and protection

7. What might this new strike change?
Answer: (a) How video game actors are treated

8. What is the name of the actors’ union?
Answer: (c) Sag-Aftra
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Hollywood actors are on strike against big video game companies like Activision and Disney. (Answer: True)
2. The union wants a contract to expose actors to AI misuse. (Answer: False)
3. The actors think AI could copy their voices and looks without paying them. (Answer: True)
4. Last year, TV and movie actors went on strike and got worse pay and no protection from AI. (Answer: False)
5. The new strike could reinforce how video game actors are treated in the future. (Answer: False)
6. The actors are excited about how these companies might use artificial intelligence (AI). (Answer: False)
7. The actors’ union, called Sag-Aftra, is helping them in their fight. (Answer: True)
8. The video game companies say they will pay the actors fairly and ask for permission before using their voices and faces. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧