Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

English Newsroom

Learn English through news articles - complete lesson plans, including articles, listening, classroom activities, quiz questions and more!

Man Plays Chess with Brain Tool, No Hands Needed!

A paralyzed patient showcased the potential of Elon Musk's Neuralink device by playing chess using his mind.
Try this article at a different level?

A man named Noland Arbaugh showed people how he can play chess on a computer by just thinking about it. He uses a special device in his brain made by a company owned by Elon Musk. Noland can't move his body from the shoulders down because of an accident, but this device lets him control a computer cursor with his mind. He thinks it's really cool and is excited about what this technology can do.

During a live video, Noland played chess with the help of Bliss Chapman, who works on the brain device. They talked about how this technology can help people who can't move parts of their bodies. Watching Noland play chess by thinking about it shows how amazing this brain device is. It gives people a peek into how these devices might help people with disabilities in the future.

Noland called using the device "wild" because it's so different and new. The video showed that this brain device could really help people who can't move to do things by thinking. It makes people hopeful that in the future, more advancements will come. This live video was a way to show everyone the hard work going into making life better for people with disabilities.

Original news source: Neuralink patient seen playing chess using brain implant (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

πŸ“– Vocabulary:

1. chess
2. device
3. disabilities
4. cursor
5. technology
6. advancements
7. peek
8. wild
9. disabilities
10. hopeful
11. live
12. advancements

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out different actions or activities related to the article, such as "playing chess," "moving a computer cursor," or "thinking." The other groups will try to guess what they are acting out.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and a pen. Write down different vocabulary words from the article, such as "device," "technology," "disabilities," or "advancements." Each student will take turns drawing a picture to represent one of the words, while the rest of the class tries to guess what word it is.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Each pair will create a headline for the article using only a few words. Encourage them to be creative and capture the main idea of the article. After a few minutes, have each pair share their headline with the class and discuss the different ideas that were generated.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write down different statements related to the article on the board, such as "Using a brain device to control a computer cursor is amazing," or "Advancements in technology can greatly benefit people with disabilities." Have the students indicate whether they agree or disagree with each statement by raising their hands. After each statement, encourage a brief discussion to hear different opinions and perspectives.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Have the students work in pairs or small groups. Ask them to think about how the technology described in the article might evolve in the future. Have them discuss and make predictions about the potential impact and implications of this technology on society, healthcare, or everyday life. After a few minutes, have each group share their predictions with the class.

πŸ€” Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is Noland Arbaugh and what can he do with his mind?

2. Why can't Noland move his body from the shoulders down?

3. How does the brain device made by Elon Musk's company help Noland?

4. Who did Noland play chess with during the live video?

5. What did Noland and Bliss Chapman talk about during the video?

6. Why is Noland excited about the brain device?

7. What does the video show about how the brain device can help people with disabilities?

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A man named Noland showed people how he can play chess on a by just thinking about it. He uses a special device in his brain made by a company owned by Elon . Noland can't move his body from the shoulders down because of an accident, but this device lets him control a computer cursor with his . He thinks it's really cool and is excited about what this technology can do. During a live video, Noland played chess with the help of Bliss , who works on the brain device. They about how this technology can help people who can't move parts of their bodies. Watching Noland play chess by about it shows how amazing this brain is. It gives people a peek into how these devices might help people with disabilities in the future. Noland called the device "wild" because it's so different and new. The video showed that this brain device could really help who can't move to do things by thinking. It makes people hopeful that in the future, more advancements will come. This live video was a way to show everyone the hard work into life better for people with disabilities.

πŸ’¬ Discussion Questions:

1. What is a brain device?
2. How would you feel if you could control a computer with your mind?
3. Do you think it's cool that Noland can play chess just by thinking about it? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the idea of using brain devices to help people who can't move their bodies?
5. How do you think this technology can help people with disabilities in the future?
6. Do you think it's important to develop new technologies to help people with disabilities? Why or why not?
7. What other things do you think brain devices could help people do?
8. How do you think Noland feels about using the brain device?
9. Would you like to try using a brain device to control a computer? Why or why not?
10. What do you think about the live video showing Noland playing chess with the brain device?
11. How do you think this technology can make life better for people with disabilities?
12. Do you think it's good that people are working hard to make life better for people with disabilities? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

πŸ“–πŸ’­ Vocabulary Meanings:

Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.

Words

1. chess
2. device
3. disabilities
4. cursor
5. technology
6. advancements
7. peek
8. wild
9. disabilities
10. hopeful
11. live
12. advancements

Meanings

(A) New developments or improvements in science, technology, or other fields
(B) Feeling positive about the future or the success of something
(C) A thing made for a particular purpose, often electronic
(D) New developments or improvements in science, technology, or other fields
(E) A moving point on a computer screen that shows where you are looking or working
(F) Happening now, in real time, especially when watched on the internet
(G) A game played on a board with pieces that move in different ways
(H) Conditions that make it difficult for some people to do things that others can easily do
(I) A quick look at something
(J) Conditions that make it difficult for some people to do things that others can easily do
(K) Very unusual or surprising
(L) The use of science in industry, engineering, etc., to invent useful things or to solve problems

πŸ”‘ Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What does Noland use to play chess on a computer?
(a) His hands
(b) A joystick
(c) A keyboard
(d) A special device in his brain
2. Why can't Noland move his body from the shoulders down?
(a) Because of an accident
(b) Because he was born that way
(c) Because he is lazy
(d) Because he doesn't want to
3. Who owns the company that made the special device in Noland's brain?
(a) Bliss Chapman
(b) Noland Arbaugh
(c) Elon Musk
(d) None of the above
4. What can Noland control with his mind using the brain device?
(a) A computer cursor
(b) His body
(c) A chessboard
(d) A robot
5. What did Noland and Bliss talk about during the live video?
(a) How to play chess
(b) How the brain device can help people who can't move parts of their bodies
(c) What they had for breakfast
(d) The weather
6. What did the live video show about the brain device?
(a) That it can make people fly
(b) That it can read minds
(c) That it can make people invisible
(d) That it can help people who can't move to do things by thinking
7. How did Noland describe using the brain device?
(a) "Boring"
(b) "Scary"
(c) "Wild"
(d) "Easy"
8. What did the live video aim to show?
(a) How to play chess
(b) The hard work going into making life better for people with disabilities
(c) How to use a computer
(d) The latest fashion trends

πŸ•΅οΈ True or False Questions:

The brain device enables Noland to control a computer cursor with his thoughts.
Noland thinks the brain device is interesting but is not particularly excited about its potential.
The video demonstrated how the brain device can assist people who have limited mobility.
Noland is unable to move his body from the shoulders down due to an accident.
Noland uses a special device in his brain made by Elon Musk's company.
The live video aimed to show the progress being made in improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.
Bliss Chapman, who works on the brain device, played chess with Noland during a live video.
Noland Arbaugh cannot play chess on a computer using only his mind.

πŸ“ Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

1. What is the special device that Noland Arbaugh uses to play chess on a computer?
2. Why can't Noland move his body from the shoulders down?
3. Who helped Noland play chess using the brain device?
4. How does the brain device work?
5. Why is the live video important for people with disabilities?

How about these other Level 2 articles?

Online
Class
Writing
Coach
β˜• 컀피 3μž” &
무료 ν”Όλ“œλ°±! πŸŽ“
β˜• 컀피 3μž” & 무료 ν”Όλ“œλ°±! πŸŽ“

X

[100% 온라인] λž­μ»€μŠ€ν„° λŒ€ν•™κ΅ μ˜μ–΄ 연ꡬ μ°Έμ—¬μž λͺ¨μ§‘
λ³„λ„μ˜ μ°Έκ°€λΉ„ 없이 영ꡭ λŒ€ν•™ 연ꡬ에 도움도 μ£Όμ‹œκ³ , 무료 μ˜μ–΄ μ‹€μ „ μ—°μŠ΅κ³Ό ν”Όλ“œλ°±λ„ λ°›μ•„λ³΄μ„Έμš”!

영ꡭ λž­μ»€μŠ€ν„° λŒ€ν•™κ΅(Lancaster University)μ—μ„œ ν•œκ΅­μΈ μ˜μ–΄ ν•™μŠ΅μžλΆ„λ“€μ„ λŒ€μƒμœΌλ‘œ μƒˆλ‘œμš΄ 연ꡬ ν”„λ‘œμ νŠΈλ₯Ό μ§„ν–‰ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€. μ „ κ³Όμ • 온라인으둜 μ§„ν–‰λ˜μ–΄ μ–΄λ””μ„œλ“  νŽΈν•˜κ²Œ μ°Έμ—¬ν•˜μ‹€ 수 μžˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€. μ—¬λŸ¬λΆ„μ˜ μ†Œμ€‘ν•œ μ°Έμ—¬λ‘œ ν•œκ΅­μΈμ˜ μ˜μ–΄ μ‚¬μš© 방식을 μ•Œμ•„λ³΄λŠ” ν₯미둜운 연ꡬ가 μ™„μ„±λ©λ‹ˆλ‹€.

🎁 μ°Έμ—¬ ν˜œνƒ:
– 원어민 μ—°κ΅¬μ›κ³Όμ˜ 1:1 νšŒν™” μ—°μŠ΅
– μ‹€μ „ μ˜μž‘ μ—°μŠ΅ & λ§žμΆ€ν˜• μ˜μ–΄ ν”Όλ“œλ°± 리포트
– 컀피 κΈ°ν”„ν‹°μ½˜ 총 3μž” μ„ λ¬Ό! (첫 μ„Έμ…˜ ν›„ 1μž”, λ§ˆμ§€λ§‰ μ„Έμ…˜ μ™„λ£Œ ν›„ 2μž” 더 λ“œλ €μš”! β˜•β˜•)

πŸ“… μ°Έμ—¬ 방식: 총 2회의 온라인 μ„Έμ…˜ (Zoom 등을 이용, 각 μ„Έμ…˜λ‹Ή μ•½ 60~80λΆ„ μ†Œμš”) λ§ν•˜κΈ°μ™€ μ“°κΈ° ν™œλ™μ΄ μ„žμ—¬ μžˆμ–΄ λΆ€λ‹΄ 없이 즐겁게 μ°Έμ—¬ν•˜μ‹€ 수 μžˆμŠ΅λ‹ˆλ‹€.

βœ… λŒ€μƒ: μ˜μ–΄ μ‹€λ ₯에 상관없이 μ°Έμ—¬λ₯Ό ν¬λ§ν•˜λŠ” 18μ„Έ 이상 ν•œκ΅­μΈ λˆ„κ΅¬λ‚˜

Feedback