Japan has fewer workers because its population is getting smaller. To help with this problem, companies are using artificial intelligence (AI). For example, Osaka Ohsho uses AI cameras to check dumplings, and Nihon Nohyaku has an app that helps farmers with crops. Even though AI helps, it can’t fully replace human workers yet.

Japan’s worker shortage is expected to get worse. By 2040, the country might need 11 million more workers. The main reasons are that people are having fewer babies and many people are getting older. The government is trying different ideas, like using AI, to solve this problem, but AI is just a tool to help, not a full solution.

AI is also being used in schools. A company called Equmenopolis made an AI tool for students to practice English with an avatar. This tool helps, but it can’t replace real teachers. The government is also using AI for tasks like writing meeting notes to save time. Japan is using AI to help with its worker shortage, but still needs human workers.

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:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and then summarize the main points in their own words. They can take turns sharing their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: In small groups, students will discuss and share their opinions on the use of AI in Japan to solve the worker shortage problem. They can ask each other questions and take notes on their group members’ responses. Afterwards, they can present their findings to the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will take turns choosing a vocabulary word from the article and drawing a picture to represent it. Their group members will then try to guess the word based on the drawing. This activity can help reinforce vocabulary and comprehension.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Students will individually think about and jot down their ideas on the following question: “In what other ways do you think AI could be used to help with Japan’s worker shortage problem?” After a few minutes, they will pair up with a classmate and share their ideas. Finally, they can share some of their partner’s ideas with the whole class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In small groups, students will take turns making predictions about the future of AI in Japan and its impact on the worker shortage problem. They can discuss the potential benefits and challenges, and support their predictions with reasons. Each group can present their predictions to the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why are companies in Japan using artificial intelligence?
2. What problem is Japan facing with its workers?
3. How many more workers might Japan need by 2040?
4. Why is Japan’s worker shortage expected to get worse?
5. How is artificial intelligence being used in schools?
6. Can AI completely replace human workers yet?
7. What is the government using AI for?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Japan has fewer workers because its (1)______ is (2)______ smaller. To help with this problem, companies are using artificial intelligence (AI). For example, Osaka Ohsho uses AI cameras to check (3)______, and Nihon Nohyaku has an app that helps farmers with crops. Even though AI helps, it can’t fully replace human workers yet.

Japan’s worker (4)______ is expected to get worse. By 2040, the country might need 11 million more workers. The main reasons are that people are (5)______ fewer (6)______ and many people are getting older. The government is (7)______ different ideas, like using AI, to solve this problem, but AI is just a tool to (8)______, not a full solution.

AI is also being used in schools. A company called Equmenopolis (9)______ an AI tool for students to practice (10)______ with an avatar. This (11)______ helps, but it can’t replace real teachers. The government is also using AI for tasks like writing meeting notes to save time. Japan is using AI to help with its worker shortage, but still (12)______ human workers.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
2. How would you feel if a robot took your job?
3. Do you think AI can completely replace human workers in the future? Why or why not?
4. What are some reasons why Japan has a worker shortage?
5. How do you think AI can help solve the worker shortage problem in Japan?
6. Do you like the idea of using AI in schools? Why or why not?
7. What are some ways AI can be used in education?
8. How do you think AI can help save time in the workplace?
9. Do you think AI tools can replace real teachers? Why or why not?
10. How do you think AI can benefit society?
11. What are some other ways AI can be used to help with different problems?
12. Why do you think Japan still needs human workers even with the use of AI?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. artificial
2. intelligence
3. dumplings
4. crops
5. shortage
6. expected
7. government
8. avatar
9. replace
10. solution
11. practice
12. tasks

Meanings:
(A) The ability to learn and understand things
(B) Not enough of something
(C) Plants grown by farmers
(D) Small pieces of dough filled with meat or vegetables
(E) A picture or character that represents a person
(F) Doing something over and over to get better at it
(G) An answer to a problem
(H) Jobs or activities that need to be done
(I) The group of people who run a country
(J) Made by humans, not natural
(K) To take the place of something or someone
(L) Thought to happen in the future
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are companies in Japan using artificial intelligence (AI)?
(a) Because AI is more efficient than human workers
(b) Because AI is cheaper than human workers
(c) Because AI can replace human workers completely
(d) Because there are fewer workers in Japan

2. What is one example of how companies in Japan are using AI?
(a) AI robots to clean houses
(b) AI cameras to check dumplings
(c) AI apps to play games
(d) AI tools to practice math

3. What is the main reason for Japan’s worker shortage?
(a) People are getting younger
(b) People are moving to other countries
(c) People are having fewer babies
(d) People are getting more jobs

4. How many more workers might Japan need by 2040?
(a) 1 million
(b) 100,000
(c) 10,000
(d) 11 million

5. Can AI fully replace human workers yet?
(a) No
(b) Yes
(c) Sometimes
(d) It depends

6. How is AI being used in schools?
(a) To help students practice English with an avatar
(b) To replace real teachers completely
(c) To clean the school buildings
(d) To play games during recess

7. What is one task the government is using AI for?
(a) Cooking lunch for the workers
(b) Writing meeting notes to save time
(c) Driving buses for school trips
(d) Playing music during meetings

8. Does Japan still need human workers?
(a) No
(b) Maybe
(c) Yes
(d) It’s unclear

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The government is trying different ideas, like using AI, to solve the worker shortage problem.
2. Japan’s worker shortage is expected to get worse by 2040.
3. The government is using AI to write meeting notes and save time, and does not need human workers.
4. Japan is not using artificial intelligence (AI) to help with its worker shortage.
5. The main reasons for Japan’s worker shortage are more babies being born and a young population.
6. AI is being used in schools in Japan to help students practice English with an avatar.
7. AI can’t fully replace human workers yet.
8. Companies in Japan are not using AI cameras to check dumplings and an app to help farmers with crops.
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. How is Japan using artificial intelligence (AI) to help with its worker shortage?
2. What are some examples of companies in Japan using AI?
3. Why is Japan facing a worker shortage?
4. What is the government doing to try to solve the worker shortage problem?
5. How is AI being used in schools in Japan?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why are companies in Japan using artificial intelligence?
Companies in Japan are using artificial intelligence to help with the shortage of workers caused by a shrinking population.

2. What problem is Japan facing with its workers?
Japan is facing a problem of not having enough workers because its population is getting smaller.

3. How many more workers might Japan need by 2040?
Japan might need 11 million more workers by 2040.

4. Why is Japan’s worker shortage expected to get worse?
Japan’s worker shortage is expected to get worse because people are having fewer babies and many people are getting older.

5. How is artificial intelligence being used in schools?
Artificial intelligence is being used in schools to help students practice English with an avatar and to assist with tasks like writing meeting notes.

6. Can AI completely replace human workers yet?
No, AI cannot completely replace human workers yet. It is just a tool to help, not a full solution.

7. What is the government using AI for?
The government is using AI for tasks such as writing meeting notes to save time.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) population
(2) getting
(3) dumplings
(4) shortage
(5) having
(6) babies
(7) trying
(8) help
(9) made
(10) English
(11) tool
(12) needs
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. artificial
Answer: (J) Made by humans, not natural

2. intelligence
Answer: (A) The ability to learn and understand things

3. dumplings
Answer: (D) Small pieces of dough filled with meat or vegetables

4. crops
Answer: (C) Plants grown by farmers

5. shortage
Answer: (B) Not enough of something

6. expected
Answer: (L) Thought to happen in the future

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

8. avatar
Answer: (E) A picture or character that represents a person

9. replace
Answer: (K) To take the place of something or someone

10. solution
Answer: (G) An answer to a problem

11. practice
Answer: (F) Doing something over and over to get better at it

12. tasks
Answer: (H) Jobs or activities that need to be done
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are companies in Japan using artificial intelligence (AI)?
Answer: (d) Because there are fewer workers in Japan

2. What is one example of how companies in Japan are using AI?
Answer: (b) AI cameras to check dumplings

3. What is the main reason for Japan’s worker shortage?
Answer: (c) People are having fewer babies

4. How many more workers might Japan need by 2040?
Answer: (d) 11 million

5. Can AI fully replace human workers yet?
Answer: (a) No

6. How is AI being used in schools?
Answer: (a) To help students practice English with an avatar

7. What is one task the government is using AI for?
Answer: (b) Writing meeting notes to save time

8. Does Japan still need human workers?
Answer: (c) Yes
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The government is trying different ideas, like using AI, to solve the worker shortage problem. (Answer: True)
2. Japan’s worker shortage is expected to get worse by 2040. (Answer: True)
3. The government is using AI to write meeting notes and save time, and does not need human workers. (Answer: False)
4. Japan is not using artificial intelligence (AI) to help with its worker shortage. (Answer: False)
5. The main reasons for Japan’s worker shortage are more babies being born and a young population. (Answer: False)
6. AI is being used in schools in Japan to help students practice English with an avatar. (Answer: True)
7. AI can’t fully replace human workers yet. (Answer: True)
8. Companies in Japan are not using AI cameras to check dumplings and an app to help farmers with crops. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧