Comedians are using AI to help with writing jokes and creating shows. Some use tools like ChatGPT to come up with ideas and scripts. Anesti Danelis, a comedian, used AI to write a show called “Artificially Intelligent.” He says that while AI can help, human creativity and performance are still very important.

People watching these shows often enjoy the mix of AI and human jokes. They think it’s creative to use technology in comedy. But some comedians, like James Roque, feel that real comedy comes from human feelings and honesty. They worry that audiences can tell when jokes aren’t made by the performer.

Comedy is becoming more popular, with more people buying tickets to live shows. AI can be helpful, but comedians like Anesti Danelis warn against using it too much. The debate continues about how much AI should be used in comedy. Comedians like Viv Ford and James Roque try to find a balance between using technology and keeping comedy personal and unique.

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:

– Word Association
Instructions:
Divide the class into small groups. Start with a word related to comedy, like “joke.” The first student says a word related to “joke,” and the next student has to say a word related to the previous word. For example: joke – laugh – funny. This activity helps students practice vocabulary and think quickly.

– Sketch It
Instructions:
Choose a few keywords from the article related to comedy and AI, such as “comedian” or “technology.” Have students take turns coming to the board to sketch out the keyword while the rest of the class tries to guess what it is. This activity encourages creativity, vocabulary practice, and listening skills.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions:
Divide the class into pairs. Each pair has to summarize a different paragraph of the article in one minute. Then, they switch partners and summarize another paragraph. This activity helps students practice speaking fluently, summarizing skills, and comprehension of the article content.

– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions:
Write two statements on the board, such as “AI is essential for modern comedy” and “Comedy should always be fully human-created.” Have students stand on a spectrum in the classroom based on how much they agree or disagree with each statement. They can discuss their opinions in small groups before sharing them with the class. This activity encourages critical thinking, speaking skills, and expressing opinions.

– Pass the Story
Instructions:
Have the class sit in a circle. Start by summarizing the article briefly and then say the first sentence of a made-up comedy story related to AI. The next student continues the story, adding one sentence, and so on. This activity promotes creativity, storytelling skills, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What are some tools comedians are using to help with writing jokes and creating shows?
2. What is the name of the show that comedian Anesti Danelis wrote with the help of AI?
3. Why do some people enjoy the mix of AI and human jokes in comedy shows?
4. What does comedian James Roque believe real comedy comes from?
5. Why do some comedians, like Anesti Danelis, warn against using AI too much in comedy?
6. What is the debate about in the comedy world regarding the use of AI?
7. How do comedians like Viv Ford and James Roque try to balance using technology in comedy while keeping it personal and unique?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Comedians are (1)______ AI to help with writing (2)______ and creating shows. Some use tools like ChatGPT to come up with ideas and scripts. Anesti Danelis, a (3)______, used AI to write a show called “Artificially Intelligent.” He says that while AI can (4)______, human creativity and performance are still very important.

(5)______ watching these shows often enjoy the mix of AI and human jokes. They think it’s creative to use technology in comedy. But some comedians, like (6)______ Roque, feel that real comedy comes from human (7)______ and honesty. They worry that audiences can tell when jokes aren’t made by the performer.

Comedy is becoming more popular, with more people buying (8)______ to live shows. AI can be (9)______, but comedians like Anesti Danelis (10)______ against using it too much. The debate continues about how much AI should be (11)______ in comedy. Comedians like Viv Ford and James Roque try to find a balance between using (12)______ and keeping comedy personal and unique.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is AI and how do comedians use it for writing jokes?
2. How would you feel if a robot wrote a joke that made you laugh?
3. Do you like the idea of AI helping comedians create shows? Why or why not?
4. Why do you think some comedians believe real comedy comes from human feelings and honesty?
5. Do you think audiences can tell when jokes are written by AI instead of a human? Why or why not?
6. What do you enjoy more, jokes made by AI or jokes made by humans? Why?
7. How do you think technology can make comedy more creative?
8. Why do you think some comedians warn against using AI too much in comedy?
9. Do you think it’s important for comedians to find a balance between using technology and keeping comedy personal? Why or why not?
10. Have you ever been to a live comedy show? How was it different from watching comedy on TV or online?
11. Why do you think more people are buying tickets to live comedy shows nowadays?
12. How do you think comedy will change in the future with the use of AI and technology?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. comedians
2. scripts
3. creativity
4. performance
5. audiences
6. honesty
7. debate
8. balance
9. unique
10. technology
11. feelings
12. important

Meanings:
(A) People who tell jokes and make others laugh
(B) Machines and tools that help us do things
(C) Being one of a kind, not like anything else
(D) Telling the truth and being real
(E) Written plans for plays, movies, or shows
(F) Keeping things even or fair
(G) A discussion where people have different opinions
(H) Using imagination to make new things
(I) Groups of people watching a show
(J) Emotions or things we feel inside
(K) Something that matters a lot and should not be ignored
(L) Acting or showing something in front of people
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What tool are some comedians using to help with writing jokes and creating shows?
(a) Instagram
(b) ChatGPT
(c) TikTok
(d) Snapchat

2. What did Anesti Danelis use AI for in his comedy?
(a) Perform magic tricks
(b) Cook a meal
(c) Paint a picture
(d) Write a show

3. How do some people feel about the mix of AI and human jokes in comedy shows?
(a) Enjoy it
(b) Dislike it
(c) Ignore it
(d) Fear it

4. Who worries that audiences can tell when jokes aren’t made by the performer?
(a) Viv Ford
(b) Anesti Danelis
(c) James Roque
(d) Ellen DeGeneres

5. What is becoming more popular, with more people buying tickets to live shows?
(a) Comedy
(b) Drama
(c) Opera
(d) Ballet

6. What do comedians like Anesti Danelis warn against using too much in comedy?
(a) Social media
(b) Stage props
(c) Costumes
(d) AI

7. What do comedians like Viv Ford and James Roque try to find a balance between?
(a) Using animals in their shows
(b) Using only AI for jokes
(c) Using technology and keeping comedy personal
(d) Using music in their performances

8. According to the article, where do some comedians believe real comedy comes from?
(a) AI only
(b) Human feelings and honesty
(c) Robots
(d) Outer space

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Some comedians, like James Roque, believe real comedy comes from alien feelings and honesty.
2. Comedy is getting more popular, with more people buying tickets to live shows.
3. Comedians are using AI to help write jokes and create shows.
4. People do not enjoy shows that mix AI and human jokes.
5. AI cannot help with writing jokes, but human creativity and performance are still important.
6. Anesti Danelis used AI to write a show called “Artificially Intelligent.”
7. Comedians like Anesti Danelis encourage using AI more in comedy.
8. Some comedians use tools like ChatGPT to come up with ideas and scripts.
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 AI for?
2. Who used AI to write a show called “Artificially Intelligent”?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What are some tools comedians are using to help with writing jokes and creating shows?
Comedians are using tools like ChatGPT to come up with ideas and scripts.

2. What is the name of the show that comedian Anesti Danelis wrote with the help of AI?
The show is called “Artificially Intelligent.”

3. Why do some people enjoy the mix of AI and human jokes in comedy shows?
Some people find it creative and interesting to see technology being used in comedy.

4. What does comedian James Roque believe real comedy comes from?
James Roque believes that real comedy comes from human feelings and honesty.

5. Why do some comedians, like Anesti Danelis, warn against using AI too much in comedy?
Some comedians warn against using AI too much because they think audiences can tell when jokes are not made by the performer.

6. What is the debate about in the comedy world regarding the use of AI?
The debate is about how much AI should be used in comedy and whether it takes away from the personal touch of the performer.

7. How do comedians like Viv Ford and James Roque try to balance using technology in comedy while keeping it personal and unique?
Comedians like Viv Ford and James Roque try to find a balance between using technology and making sure their comedy stays personal and special to them.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) using
(2) jokes
(3) comedian
(4) help
(5) People
(6) James
(7) feelings
(8) tickets
(9) helpful
(10) warn
(11) used
(12) technology
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

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

2. scripts
Answer: (E) Written plans for plays, movies, or shows

3. creativity
Answer: (H) Using imagination to make new things

4. performance
Answer: (L) Acting or showing something in front of people

5. audiences
Answer: (I) Groups of people watching a show

6. honesty
Answer: (D) Telling the truth and being real

7. debate
Answer: (G) A discussion where people have different opinions

8. balance
Answer: (F) Keeping things even or fair

9. unique
Answer: (C) Being one of a kind, not like anything else

10. technology
Answer: (B) Machines and tools that help us do things

11. feelings
Answer: (J) Emotions or things we feel inside

12. important
Answer: (K) Something that matters a lot and should not be ignored
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What tool are some comedians using to help with writing jokes and creating shows?
Answer: (b) ChatGPT

2. What did Anesti Danelis use AI for in his comedy?
Answer: (d) Write a show

3. How do some people feel about the mix of AI and human jokes in comedy shows?
Answer: (a) Enjoy it

4. Who worries that audiences can tell when jokes aren’t made by the performer?
Answer: (c) James Roque

5. What is becoming more popular, with more people buying tickets to live shows?
Answer: (a) Comedy

6. What do comedians like Anesti Danelis warn against using too much in comedy?
Answer: (d) AI

7. What do comedians like Viv Ford and James Roque try to find a balance between?
Answer: (c) Using technology and keeping comedy personal

8. According to the article, where do some comedians believe real comedy comes from?
Answer: (b) Human feelings and honesty
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Some comedians, like James Roque, believe real comedy comes from alien feelings and honesty. (Answer: False)
2. Comedy is getting more popular, with more people buying tickets to live shows. (Answer: True)
3. Comedians are using AI to help write jokes and create shows. (Answer: True)
4. People do not enjoy shows that mix AI and human jokes. (Answer: False)
5. AI cannot help with writing jokes, but human creativity and performance are still important. (Answer: False)
6. Anesti Danelis used AI to write a show called “Artificially Intelligent.” (Answer: True)
7. Comedians like Anesti Danelis encourage using AI more in comedy. (Answer: False)
8. Some comedians use tools like ChatGPT to come up with ideas and scripts. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧