The Reading / Listening - Robot Police Officer - Level 3

The world's first robot police officer has started working. Its name is 'RoboCop' and it went into service for the Dubai Police earlier this week. Robocop's first official duty was to greet guests at the opening of a security conference in Dubai. Apart from greeting visitors, its job was to answer questions and give directions. RoboCop has a built-in tablet for people to interact with. People can use the tablet to pay traffic fines and use other smart police services. The tablet is linked to a police station, so people can talk to human police officers. In addition, RoboCop can speak six languages, including English and Arabic. The 170-centimetre-tall robot can also shake hands, salute people and recognize people's emotions and facial expressions.

Dubai Police says RoboCop is the first of many robot police officers for the city. A spokesman said that by 2030, 25 per cent of the Dubai Police force will be robots. He said: "We are looking to make everything smart in Dubai Police. By 2030, we will have the first smart police station which won't require human employees." He added: "The RoboCop is the latest smart addition to the police force and has been designed to help us fight crime, keep the city safe and improve happiness levels." He said RoboCop will, "assist and help people in the malls or on the streets". An official at the security conference commented that the future is here now, saying: "The age of the robots is no longer coming. It has arrived."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Robot Police Officer - Level 0,  Robot Police Officer - Level 1   or  Robot Police Officer - Level 2

Sources
  • http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/dubai-police-gets-first-robot-policeman
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/robocop-mall-cop_us_5925d8b4e4b062f96a336c3c?8gx§ion=us_theworldpost
  • http://www.newsweek.com/robot-cop-deployed-dubai-614943


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. ROBOT POLICE OFFICERS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about robot police officers. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       robot / police officer / official duty / security conference / greeting visitors / traffic fines
       smart / human / employees / force / fight crime / improve happiness / help / future

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. ROBOTS & HUMANS: Students A strongly believe robots police will be better than human police; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. ROBOT JOBS: What would they be like in these jobs? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

Police officer

 

 

Teacher

 

 

Doctor

 

 

Country's leader

 

 

Soldier

 

 

Chef

 

 
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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. SECURITY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "security". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. ROBOTS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about robots at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • they are helpful
  • humans can rest
  • our lives are better
  • they are cool
  • they work 24 hours a day
  • they don't say no
  • they don't make mistakes
  • cheaper than humans

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The world's first robot police officer, RoboCop, started work in Dubai.     T / F
  2. RoboCop's first duty was to be greeted by guests at a conference.     T / F
  3. RoboCop had to ask questions and ask for directions.     T / F
  4. RoboCop can speak more than six languages.     T / F
  5. By 2030, half of Dubai's police force will be robots.     T / F
  6. Dubai will have the world's first smart police station by 2030.     T / F
  7. Robot police officers will help improve people's happiness.     T / F
  8. A security conference official said the age of the robots has arrived.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. started
  2. task
  3. greeting
  4. linked
  5. emotions
  6. smart
  7. require
  8. designed
  9. commented
  10. age
  1. welcoming
  2. feelings
  3. Internet-connected
  4. job
  5. created
  6. began / begun
  7. era
  8. remarked
  9. connected
  10. need

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. The world's first robot police officer has
  2. it went into
  3. greet
  4. pay traffic
  5. recognize people's emotions and facial
  6. the first of
  7. we will have the first smart
  8. designed to help us fight
  9. assist and help
  10. The age of the robots is no
  1. guests
  2. crime
  3. expressions
  4. many robot police officers
  5. people
  6. started working
  7. longer coming
  8. police station
  9. service for the Dubai Police
  10. fines

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
smart
service
facial
directions
including
duty
human
tablet

The world's first robot police officer has started working. Its name is 'RoboCop' and it went into (1) ____ for the Dubai Police earlier this week. Robocop's first official (2) ____ was to greet guests at the opening of a security conference in Dubai. Apart from greeting visitors, its job was to answer questions and give (3) ____. RoboCop has a built-in (4) ____ for people to interact with. People can use the tablet to pay traffic fines and use other (5) ____ police services. The tablet is linked to a police station, so people can talk to (6) ____ police officers. In addition, RoboCop can speak six languages, (7) ____ English and Arabic. The 170-centimetre-tall robot can also shake hands, salute people and recognize people's emotions and (8) ____ expressions.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
looking
official
addition
age
spokesman
happiness
require
crime

Dubai Police says RoboCop is the first of many robot police officers for the city. A (9) ____ said that by 2030, 25 per cent of the Dubai Police force will be robots. He said: "We are (10) ____ to make everything smart in Dubai Police. By 2030, we will have the first smart police station which won't (11) ____ human employees." He added: "The RoboCop is the latest smart (12) ____ to the police force and has been designed to help us fight (13) ____, keep the city safe and improve (14) ____ levels." He said RoboCop will, "assist and help people in the malls or on the streets". An (15) ____ at the security conference commented that the future is here now, saying: "The (16) ____ of the robots is no longer coming. It has arrived."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The world's first robot police officer has ______
     a.  started working
     b.  start it working
     c.  started work in
     d.  start it work in

2)  Robocop's first official duty was to ______
     a.  greets guests
     b.  greet guest
     c.  greet guests
     d.  greets guest

3)  its job was to answer questions and ______
     a.  give it directions
     b.  give in directions
     c.  giving directions
     d.  give directions

4)  People can use the tablet to pay ______
     a.  traffic finds
     b.  traffic fines
     c.  traffic vines
     d.  traffic fine

5)  shake hands, salute people and recognize people's emotions and ______
     a.  facially expressions
     b.  facial expression
     c.  facial expressions
     d.  face all expressions

6)  A spokesman said that by 2030, 25 per cent of the Dubai Police ______ robots
     a.  force will be
     b.  forces will be
     c.  forced will be
     d.  forces will be

7)  we will have the first smart police station which won't ______ employees
     a.  require human
     b.  requires human
     c.  required human
     d.  requiring human

8)  smart addition to the police force and has been designed to ______
     a.  help us fight crime
     b.  helps us fight crime
     c.  help us fight grime
     d.  helps us fight grime

9)  keep the city safe and improve ______
     a.  happiness revel
     b.  happiness levels
     c.  happy nest level
     d.  happy nest revels

10)  The age of the robots is no longer coming. It ______
     a.  had arrived
     b.  has a raved
     c.  has a rivet
     d.  has arrived

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The world's first robot police officer (1) ___________________ working. Its name is 'RoboCop' and it (2) ___________________ for the Dubai Police earlier this week. Robocop's first official duty was to greet guests at the (3) ___________________ security conference in Dubai. Apart from greeting visitors, its job was to answer questions and give directions. RoboCop has a built-in tablet for people (4) ___________________. People can use the tablet to pay traffic fines and use other smart police services. The tablet is linked to a police station, so people (5) ___________________ human police officers. In addition, RoboCop can speak six languages, including English and Arabic. The 170-centimetre-tall robot (6) ___________________ hands, salute people and recognize people's emotions and facial expressions.

Dubai Police says RoboCop is (7) ___________________ many robot police officers for the city. A spokesman said that by 2030, 25 per cent of the Dubai Police (8) ___________________ robots. He said: "We are looking to make everything smart in Dubai Police. By 2030, we will have the first smart police station which won't require (9) ___________________." He added: "The RoboCop is the latest smart addition to the police force and has been designed (10) ___________________ fight crime, keep the city safe and improve happiness levels." He said RoboCop will, "assist and help people in the (11) ___________________ streets". An official at the security conference commented that the future is here now, saying: "(12) ___________________ robots is no longer coming. It has arrived."

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the robot police officer in Dubai?
  2. What was the robot's first official duty?
  3. What will the robot also give to people who ask?
  4. What can people pay using a tablet on the robot?
  5. How many languages can the robot speak?
  6. What percentage of the Dubai Police force will be robots by 2030?
  7. What kind of police station in Dubai will be the world's first?
  8. What will the police station not need?
  9. What will the robot police officers help to improve?
  10. What did an official at a security conference say has arrived?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the robot police officer in Dubai?
a) RoboCop
b) Robbie
c) CopRobo
d) Robbo

2) What was the robot's first official duty?
a) to help security
b) to arrest criminals
c) to greet visitors
d) to smile at officials

3) What will the robot also give to people who ask?
a) a smile
b) directions
c) candy
d) advice

4) What can people pay using a tablet on the robot?
a) attention
b) credit card bills
c) water pills
d) traffic fines

5)  How many languages can the robot speak?
a) 6
b) 7
c) 8
d) 9

6) What percentage of the Dubai Police force will be robots by 2030?
a) 30%
b) 23%
c) 27%
d) 25%

7) What kind of police station in Dubai will be the world's first?
a) a gold police station
b) a smart police station
c) a green police station
d) a floating police station

8) What will the police station not need?
a) criminals
b) electricity
c) computers
d) human employees

9) What will the robot police officers help to improve?
a) police training
b) robot science
c) happiness levels
d) robot life

10) What did an official at a security conference say has arrived?
a) the pizza delivery
b) the age of the robots
c) the VIPs
d) the mail

Role play

Role  A – They Work 24 Hours a Day

You think they work 24 hours a day is the best thing about robots. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): they don't make mistakes, humans can rest or they are cool.

Role  B – They Don't Make Mistakes

You think they don't make mistakes is the best thing about robots. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): they work 24 hours a day, humans can rest or they are cool.

Role  C – Humans Can Rest

You think humans can rest is the best thing about robots. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): they don't make mistakes, they work 24 hours a day or they are cool.

Role  D – They Are Cool

You think they are cool is the best thing about robots. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):  they don't make mistakes, humans can rest or they work 24 hours a day.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'robot'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'police'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • many
    • looking
    • human
    • levels
    • streets
    • age
    • started
    • duty
    • apart
    • pay
    • In addition
    • hands

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - 'Robocop' – first robot police officer starts work

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'robot'?
    3. How do you feel about robots?
    4. What do you think of giving guns to robots?
    5. In what ways would robots be better police officers than humans?
    6. What would happen if robots took over the world?
    7. Why are most robots in robot movies scary or bad?
    8. How would you feel about having a robot to do your housework?
    9. Do robots take away people's jobs or create more jobs?
    10. What role do robots play in your country?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'police officer'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How useful does the RoboCop in Dubai sound?
    5. What do you think of a police station staffed by only robots?
    6. How can robots increase happiness levels?
    7. Which jobs do you think robots should never be allowed to do?
    8. Will robots ever think and feel just like humans?
    9. What will robots be doing in our lives in 50 years from now?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a robot expert?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The world's first robot police officer has started working. Its name is 'RoboCop' and it (1) ____ into service for the Dubai Police earlier this week. Robocop's first official duty was to (2) ____ guests at the opening of a security conference in Dubai. Apart from greeting visitors, its job (3) ____ to answer questions and give directions. RoboCop has a built-in tablet for people to interact with. People can use the tablet to pay traffic (4) ____ and use other smart police services. The tablet is linked to a police station, so people can talk to human police officers. In addition, RoboCop can speak six languages, (5) ____ English and Arabic. The 170-centimetre-tall robot can also (6) ____ hands, salute people and recognize people's emotions and facial expressions.

    Dubai Police says RoboCop is the first (7) ____ many robot police officers for the city. A spokesman said that by 2030, 25 per cent of the Dubai Police force will be robots. He said: "We are (8) ____ to make everything smart in Dubai Police. By 2030, we will have the first smart police station which won't (9) ____ human employees." He added: "The RoboCop is the latest smart addition to the police force and has been designed to help us (10) ____ crime, keep the city safe and improve happiness levels." He said RoboCop will, "(11) ____ and help people in the malls or on the streets". An official at the security conference commented that the future is here now, saying: "The (12) ____ of the robots is no longer coming. It has arrived."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     gone     (b)     worked     (c)     went     (d)     did    
    2. (a)     greet     (b)     great     (c)     grade     (d)     greed    
    3. (a)     was     (b)     had     (c)     told     (d)     it    
    4. (a)     fines     (b)     penalty     (c)     license     (d)     jams    
    5. (a)     inclusion     (b)     includes     (c)     inclusive     (d)     including    
    6. (a)     shaken     (b)     shaking     (c)     shook     (d)     shake    
    7. (a)     of     (b)     by     (c)     for     (d)     as    
    8. (a)     scanning     (b)     observing     (c)     seeing     (d)     looking    
    9. (a)     require     (b)     requite     (c)     requisite     (d)     request    
    10. (a)     victor     (b)     fight     (c)     brawl     (d)     war    
    11. (a)     desist     (b)     assist     (c)     resist     (d)     consist    
    12. (a)     age     (b)     years     (c)     eternity     (d)     length

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. it went into esvrcie for the Dubai Police
    2. iearrle this week
    3. Robocop's first ffocaiil duty
    4. the opening of a useitcyr conference
    5. give setdnrioic
    6. people's imoeotsn

    Paragraph 2

    1. A ssnoekmap said that by 2030…
    2. rrqeuie human employees
    3. the latest smart tiaioddn
    4. sndedgei to help us fight crime
    5. improve seasniphp levels
    6. aistss and help people

    Put the text back together

    (    )     smart in Dubai Police. By 2030, we will have the first smart police station which won't

    (    )     service for the Dubai Police earlier this week. Robocop's first official duty was to greet guests at the opening of

    (    )     a security conference in Dubai. Apart from greeting visitors, its job was to answer questions and give

    (    )     is here now, saying: "The age of the robots is no longer coming. It has arrived."

    (    )     human police officers. In addition, RoboCop can speak six languages, including English and Arabic. The 170-centimetre-

    (    )     been designed to help us fight crime, keep the city safe and improve happiness levels." He said RoboCop will, "assist

    (    )     require human employees." He added: "The RoboCop is the latest smart addition to the police force and has

    (    )     directions. RoboCop has a built-in tablet for people to interact with. People can use the tablet to pay traffic

    (    )     and help people in the malls or on the streets". An official at the security conference commented that the future

    (  1  )     The world's first robot police officer has started working. Its name is 'RoboCop' and it went into

    (    )     Dubai Police says RoboCop is the first of many robot police officers for the city. A spokesman said that by

    (    )     2030, 25 per cent of the Dubai Police force will be robots. He said: "We are looking to make everything

    (    )     fines and use other smart police services. The tablet is linked to a police station, so people can talk to

    (    )     tall robot can also shake hands, salute people and recognize people's emotions and facial expressions.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. has   first   started   robot   working   police   The   officer   world's   .
    2. this   It   service   Dubai  week   into   the  earlier   went   for   Police   .
    3. to   people  for   tablet   in  -   built   a   has  RoboCop   with  interact   .
    4. People   to   can   pay   use   traffic   the   fines   tablet   .
    5. RoboCop   ,   addition   In   languages   six   speak   can   .
    6. officers  police   robot  many  of   first  the   is  RoboCop  city  the  for  .
    7. By  Police  per  robots  Dubai  25  be  the  ,  will  of  2030  force  cent  .
    8. 2030 ,  police    have  station   the   By   first   we   smart   will   .
    9. and  improve  happiness  levels  Fight  crime  ,  keep  the   city   safe   .
    10. the  The  It  longer  robots  age  has  coming  is  of  arrived    .   no   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The world's first robot police officer has / had started working. Its name is 'RoboCop' and it went into / onto service for the Dubai Police earlier this week. Robocop's first officially / official duty was to greet guests at the opening / open of a security conference in Dubai. Apart from greeting visitors, its job was to answer questions and give / gave directions. RoboCop has a built-in tablet for people to interact on / with. People can use the tablet to / for pay traffic fines and use other smart police services. The tablet is linked to / of a police station, so people can talk to human police officers. In addition, RoboCop can speak six languages / language, including English and Arabic. The 170-centimetre-tall robot can also shake hands, salute people and recognize people's emotions / emotional and facial expressions.

    Dubai Police says RoboCop is the first for / of many robot police officers for the city. A spokesman said that by / at 2030, 25 per cent of the Dubai Police force will be robots. He said: "We are looking / looked to make everything smart in Dubai Police. By 2030, we will have the first smart police station which won't require / requiring human employees." He added: "The RoboCop is the latest smart added / addition to the police force and has been designed to help us / them fight crime, keep the city safely / safe and improve happiness levels." He said RoboCop will, "assist / assistance and help people in the malls / mails or on the streets". An official at the security conference commented that the future is here now, saying: "The aged / age of the robots is no longer coming. It has arrived."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_ w_rld's f_rst r_b_t p_l_c_ _ff_c_r h_s st_rt_d w_rk_ng. _ts n_m_ _s 'R_b_C_p' _nd _t w_nt _nt_ s_rv_c_ f_r th_ D_b__ P_l_c_ __rl__r th_s w__k. R_b_c_p's f_rst _ff_c__l d_ty w_s t_ gr__t g__sts _t th_ _p_n_ng _f _ s_c_r_ty c_nf_r_nc_ _n D_b__. _p_rt fr_m gr__t_ng v_s_t_rs, _ts j_b w_s t_ _nsw_r q__st__ns _nd g_v_ d_r_ct__ns. R_b_C_p h_s _ b__lt-_n t_bl_t f_r p__pl_ t_ _nt_r_ct w_th. P__pl_ c_n _s_ th_ t_bl_t t_ p_y tr_ff_c f_n_s _nd _s_ _th_r sm_rt p_l_c_ s_rv_c_s. Th_ t_bl_t _s l_nk_d t_ _ p_l_c_ st_t__n, s_ p__pl_ c_n t_lk t_ h_m_n p_l_c_ _ff_c_rs. _n _dd_t__n, R_b_C_p c_n sp__k s_x l_ng__g_s, _ncl_d_ng _ngl_sh _nd _r_b_c. Th_ 170-c_nt_m_tr_-t_ll r_b_t c_n _ls_ sh_k_ h_nds, s_l_t_ p__pl_ _nd r_c_gn_z_ p__pl_'s _m_t__ns _nd f_c__l _xpr_ss__ns.

    D_b__ P_l_c_ s_ys R_b_C_p _s th_ f_rst _f m_ny r_b_t p_l_c_ _ff_c_rs f_r th_ c_ty. _ sp_k_sm_n s__d th_t by 2030, 25 p_r c_nt _f th_ D_b__ P_l_c_ f_rc_ w_ll b_ r_b_ts. H_ s__d: "W_ _r_ l__k_ng t_ m_k_ _v_ryth_ng sm_rt _n D_b__ P_l_c_. By 2030, w_ w_ll h_v_ th_ f_rst sm_rt p_l_c_ st_t__n wh_ch w_n't r_q__r_ h_m_n _mpl_y__s." H_ _dd_d: "Th_ R_b_C_p _s th_ l_t_st sm_rt _dd_t__n t_ th_ p_l_c_ f_rc_ _nd h_s b__n d_s_gn_d t_ h_lp _s f_ght cr_m_, k__p th_ c_ty s_f_ _nd _mpr_v_ h_pp_n_ss l_v_ls." H_ s__d R_b_C_p w_ll, "_ss_st _nd h_lp p__pl_ _n th_ m_lls _r _n th_ str__ts". _n _ff_c__l _t th_ s_c_r_ty c_nf_r_nc_ c_mm_nt_d th_t th_ f_t_r_ _s h_r_ n_w, s_y_ng: "Th_ _g_ _f th_ r_b_ts _s n_ l_ng_r c_m_ng. _t h_s _rr_v_d."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the world's first robot police officer has started working its name is 'robocop' and it went into service for the dubai police earlier this week robocop's first official duty was to greet guests at the opening of a security conference in dubai apart from greeting visitors its job was to answer questions and give directions robocop has a built-in tablet for people to interact with people can use the tablet to pay traffic fines and use other smart police services the tablet is linked to a police station so people can talk to human police officers in addition robocop can speak six languages including english and arabic the 170-centimetre-tall robot can also shake hands salute people and recognize people's emotions and facial expressions

    dubai police says robocop is the first of many robot police officers for the city a spokesman said that by 2030 25 per cent of the dubai police force will be robots he said "we are looking to make everything smart in dubai police by 2030 we will have the first smart police station which won't require human employees" he added "the robocop is the latest smart addition to the police force and has been designed to help us fight crime keep the city safe and improve happiness levels" he said robocop will "assist and help people in the malls or on the streets" an official at the security conference commented that the future is here now saying "the age of the robots is no longer coming it has arrived"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Theworld'sfirstrobotpoliceofficerhasstartedworking.Itsnameis'Robo
    Cop'anditwentintoservicefortheDubaiPoliceearlierthisweek.Roboco
    p'sfirstofficialdutywastogreetguestsattheopeningofasecurityconfer
    enceinDubai.Apartfromgreetingvisitors,itsjobwastoanswerquestion
    sandgivedirections.RoboCophasabuilt-intabletforpeopletointerac
    twith.Peoplecanusethetablettopaytrafficfinesanduseothersmartpoli
    ceservices.Thetabletislinkedtoapolicestation,sopeoplecantalktohu
    manpoliceofficers.Inaddition,RoboCopcanspeaksixlanguages,inclu
    dingEnglishandArabic.The170-centimetre-tallrobotcanalsoshak
    ehands,salutepeopleandrecognizepeople'semotionsandfacialexpre
    ssions.DubaiPolicesaysRoboCopisthefirstofmanyrobotpoliceofficers
    forthecity.Aspokesmansaidthatby2030,25percentoftheDubaiPolice
    forcewillberobots.Hesaid:"Wearelookingtomakeeverythingsmartin
    DubaiPolice.By2030,wewillhavethefirstsmartpolicestationwhichwo
    n'trequirehumanemployees."Headded:"TheRoboCopisthelatestsm
    artadditiontothepoliceforceandhasbeendesignedtohelpusfightcrime
    ,keepthecitysafeandimprovehappinesslevels."HesaidRoboCopwill,"
    assistandhelppeopleinthemallsoronthestreets".Anofficialatthesecur
    ityconferencecommentedthatthefutureisherenow,saying:"Theageo
    ftherobotsisnolongercoming.Ithasarrived."

    Free writing

    Write about robot police officer for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Robot police officers are better than human police officers. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. ROBOT POLICE OFFICERS: Make a poster about robot police officers. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. HUMAN POLICE: Write a magazine article about robot police officers being better than human police officers. Include imaginary interviews with the inventor of the RoboCop and with people who believe this and with people who do not.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on robot police officers. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how they can help us. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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