The Reading / Listening - Deepfake - Level 3

A new online technique called deepfake is causing people to be worried about more fake news and other things that can mislead people. The word "deepfake" is a combination of "deep learning" (which is an important part of artificial intelligence) and "fake" (which means not real). Deepfake software allows people to replace part of a picture or video with another picture or video image. The result is a fake video. The software means you can put your face over the face of a talking president or movie star. This process will make your face speak in the voice of that president or movie star. Many people are worried the technology will be used during national elections. Deepfake videos could be used to trick voters.

A new deepfake app has gone viral in China. It lets users of the app put their face over the top of actors in scenes from movies or TV shows. The app is called Zao. It went to number one on the Chinese iOS App Store chart in just a few days after its release. A Twitter user has achieved a little fame by posting the Zao videos of himself in famous TV and movie scenes. His videos show that he really looks like the main actor in the movies The Hulk, Titanic, and in the TV fantasy drama Game of Thrones. It takes just eight seconds to do this. The Zao app is currently only available for people with a Chinese phone number. It cannot be downloaded from app stores in the USA or Europe.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Deepfake - Level 0,  Deepfake - Level 1   or  Deepfake - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/disturbing-deepfake-app-lets-you-convincingly-superimpose-your-face-onto-celebrities
  • https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/9850586/deepfake-app-tv-scenes-face/
  • https://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/deepfake-app-puts-your-face-19171373


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. DEEPFAKE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about deepfake. 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?
       online / technique / fake news / combination / artificial / intelligence / technology /
       app / viral / actors / movies / chart / fame / fantasy / drama / eight seconds / phone
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. APPS: Students A strongly believe apps are always good and helpful; Students B strongly believe they aren't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DEEPFAKED: Who would you want your face to replace in a deepfake app for these people? Why? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

 

Who?

Why?

Historical figure

 

 

Cartoon character

 

 

Movie role

 

 

Person in the news

 

 

Sports star

 

 

Character from literature

 

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

5. DEEP: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "deep". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. FAKE: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst fake things at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • perfume
  • injury
  • identity
  • news
  • fur
  • medicine
  • smile
  • brand watch

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. technique a. A way of doing a particular job or task.
      2. mislead b. A vote taken to choose a leader.
      3. combination c. Make someone to have a wrong idea about someone or something.
      4. allow d. A series of actions or steps taken in order to reach a particular end.
      5. process e. The joining or two or more things.
      6. election f. Let someone do something.
      7. trick g. A cunning or skillful act or scheme intended to fool someone.

    Paragraph 2

      8. gone viral h. The most important.
      9. chart i. Being famous.
      10. release j. An image, video, piece of information, etc., spreading quickly and widely from one Internet user to another.
      11. fame k. At this moment; now.
      12. main l. A listing of the current best-selling items.
      13. currently m. There now and ready to be used.
      14. available n. The action of making a movie, recording, or other product available for people to watch, listen to or buy.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Deepfake is a very old technology.     T / F
  2. The "deep" in deepfake comes from the term "deep learning".     T / F
  3. Deepfake allows people to change the colour of their eyes and hair.     T / F
  4. Many people think deepfake will be useful in national elections.     T / F
  5. A new deepfake app is quickly spreading around China.     T / F
  6. The deepfake app is top of China's iOS App Store chart.     T / F
  7. A Twitter user has become famous by getting a role in Titanic 2.     T / F
  8. Only people with Chinese phone numbers can get the app.     T / F

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

  1. technique
  2. deceive
  3. replace
  4. worried
  5. during
  6. users
  7. chart
  8. achieved
  9. fantasy
  10. available
  1. concerned
  2. for sale
  3. in
  4. lie to
  5. gained
  6. exchange
  7. make-believe
  8. method
  9. list
  10. operators

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

  1. fake news and other things that
  2. artificial
  3. Many people are
  4. national
  5. Deepfake videos could be used
  6. A new deepfake app has gone
  7. scenes from movies
  8. It went to number one on the Chinese
  9. posting the Zao videos
  10. It cannot be downloaded
  1. elections
  2. of himself
  3. viral in China
  4. iOS App Store chart
  5. can mislead people
  6. or TV shows
  7. from app stores
  8. to trick voters
  9. worried
  10. intelligence

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
artificial
trick
part
voice
technique
worried
things
means

A new online (1) ____________ called deepfake is causing people to be worried about more fake news and other (2) ____________ that can mislead people. The word "deepfake" is a combination of "deep learning" (which is an important part of (3) ____________ intelligence) and "fake" (which means not real). Deepfake software allows people to replace (4) ____________ of a picture or video with another picture or video image. The result is a fake video. The software (5) ____________ you can put your face over the face of a talking president or movie star. This process will make your face speak in the (6) ____________ of that president or movie star. Many people are (7) ____________ the technology will be used during national elections. Deepfake videos could be used to (8) ____________ voters.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
one
viral
downloaded
main
fame
currently
scenes
drama

A new deepfake app has gone (9) ____________ in China. It lets users of the app put their face over the top of actors in (10) ____________ from movies or TV shows. The app is called Zao. It went to number (11) ____________ on the Chinese iOS App Store chart in just a few days after its release. A Twitter user has achieved a little (12) ____________ by posting the Zao videos of himself in famous TV and movie scenes. His videos show that he really looks like the (13) ____________ actor in the movies The Hulk, Titanic, and in the TV fantasy (14) ____________ Game of Thrones. It takes just eight seconds to do this. The Zao app is (15) ____________ only available for people with a Chinese phone number. It cannot be (16) ____________ from app stores in the USA or Europe.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  a new online technique called deepfake is causing people to be worried about ______
     a.  more flake news
     b.  more fake new
     c.  more fake knew
     d.  more fake news
2)  Deepfake software allows people to replace ______ picture
     a.  party of a
     b.  part of a
     c.  parts of a
     d.  part off a
3)  The software means you can put your face over the face ______ president
     a.  off a talking
     b.  of a talk in
     c.  of a talking
     d.  off a talk in
4)  Many people are worried the technology will be used during ______
     a.  nationally elections
     b.  national election
     c.  national re-elections
     d.  national elections
5)  Deepfake videos could be used to ______
     a.  tricky voters
     b.  tricks voters
     c.  trick voters
     d.  tricked voters

6)  A new deepfake app has gone ______ China
     a.  vital in
     b.  rival in
     c.  viral in
     d.  libel in
7)  It lets users of the app put their face over the top of actors ______ movies
     a.  in scenes from
     b.  on scenes from
     c.  in seen from
     d.  on screens from
8)  It went to number one on the Chinese iOS App ______
     a.  Store chant
     b.  Store charge
     c.  Store chart
     d.  Store chat
9)  His videos show that he really looks like ______
     a.  the moan actor
     b.  the mean actor
     c.  the mine actor
     d.  the main actor
10)  The Zao app is currently only available for people with a Chinese ______
     a.  phony number
     b.  phone number
     c.  phoned number
     d.  phones number

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A new online technique called deepfake (1) ___________________ to be worried about more fake news and other things that can mislead people. The word "deepfake" (2) ___________________ of "deep learning" (which is an important part of artificial intelligence) and "fake" (which means not real). Deepfake software allows people (3) ___________________ of a picture or video with another picture or video image. The (4) ___________________ fake video. The software means you can put your face over the face of a talking president or movie star. This (5) ___________________ your face speak in the voice of that president or movie star. Many people are worried the technology will be (6) ___________________ elections. Deepfake videos could be used to trick voters.

A new deepfake app (7) ___________________ in China. It lets users of the app put their face over the top (8) ___________________ scenes from movies or TV shows. The app is called Zao. It went to number one on the Chinese iOS App Store chart in just a few days (9) ___________________. A Twitter user has achieved a little fame by posting the Zao videos of himself in famous TV and movie scenes. His videos show that (10) ___________________ like the main actor in the movies The Hulk, Titanic, and in the TV fantasy drama Game of Thrones. It (11) ___________________ seconds to do this. The Zao app is currently only available for people with a Chinese phone number. It cannot be downloaded (12) ___________________ in the USA or Europe.

Comprehension questions

  1. What is deepfake making people worried about?
  2. Where does the "deep" part of "deepfake" come from?
  3. What did the article say fake means?
  4. Whose faces did the article say could be replaced?
  5. When could deepfake be used to trick people?
  6. What did the article say a deepfake app has done in China?
  7. What is the name of the app?
  8. Where is the app on the iOS App Store chart?
  9. What kind of drama did the article say Games of Thrones was?
  10. What do people need to be able to download the app?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is deepfake making people worried about?
a) passwords
b) fake news
c) identity theft
d) security
2) Where does the "deep" part of "deepfake" come from?
a) Deep Purple
b) deep thinking
c) deep blue seas
d) deep learning
3) What did the article say fake means?
a) not real
b) unreal
c) really
d) unrealized
4) Whose faces did the article say could be replaced?
a) cartoon characters
b) animals
c) presidents
d) literary characters
5) When could deepfake be used to trick people?
a) when they log on
b) during elections
c) when they are tired
d) on news websites

6) What did the article say a deepfake app has done in China?
a) gone viral
b) increased awareness
c) increased computer sales
d) caused anger
7) What is the name of the app?
a) Pao
b) Xao
c) Zao
d) Jao
8) Where is the app on the iOS App Store chart?
a) number one
b) in the middle
c) top ten
d) number four
9) What kind of drama did the article say Games of Thrones was?
a) a fantasy drama
b) a historical drama
c) a love drama
d) a comedy
10) What do people need to be able to download the app?
a) a special voucher
b) $4.99
c) a Huawei phone
d) a Chinese phone number

Role play

Role  A – Fake Smiles
You think fake smiles are the worst fake things. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their fake things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): fake news, fake IDs or fake medicine.

Role  B – Fake News
You think fake news is the worst fake thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their fake things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): fake smiles, fake IDs or fake medicine.

Role  C – Fake IDs
You think fake IDs are the worst fake things. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their fake things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): fake news, fake smiles or fake medicine.

Role  D – Fake Medicine
You think fake medicine is the worst fake thing. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their fake things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): fake news, fake IDs or fake smiles.

After reading / listening

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

'deep'

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

    • and 'fake'.

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

    • • 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:

    • viral
    • top
    • few
    • really
    • eight
    • number
    • new
    • combination
    • part
    • allows
    • means
    • trick

    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 - Deepfake app puts your face in famous movie scenes

    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 'deep'?
    3. What do you know about deepfake?
    4. What do you think about deepfake?
    5. Would you like to use the deepfake app?
    6. What fake news do you know about?
    7. What do you think about fake news?
    8. What movie star would you like your face to replace?
    9. Would you like to see your face replace your country's leader's face?
    10. How can deepfake videos trick voters?

    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 'fake'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are your favourite apps?
    5. What movies would you like to see yourself in?
    6. What app would you like developers to make?
    7. Are there worries about privacy with this app?
    8. What do you think of Twitter?
    9. Do you always believe the news you read?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the app developer?

    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)

    A new online (1) ____ called deepfake is causing people to be worried about more fake news and other things that can (2) ____ people. The word "deepfake" is a combination of "deep learning" (which is an important part of artificial intelligence) and "fake" (which means not (3) ____). Deepfake software allows people to replace part of a picture or video with another picture or video image. The result is a fake video. The software (4) ____ you can put your face over the face of a talking president or movie star. This process will make your face (5) ____ in the voice of that president or movie star. Many people are worried the technology will be used during national elections. Deepfake videos could be used to (6) ____ voters.

    A new deepfake app has gone (7) ____ in China. It lets users of the app put their face over the top of actors in scenes from movies or TV shows. The app is called Zao. It (8) ____ to number one on the Chinese iOS App Store chart in just a few days after its release. A Twitter user has achieved a little (9) ____ by posting the Zao videos of himself in famous TV and movie scenes. His videos show that he really looks like the (10) ____ actor in the movies The Hulk, Titanic, and in the TV fantasy drama Game of Thrones. It (11) ____ just eight seconds to do this. The Zao app is currently only available for people with a Chinese phone number. It cannot (12) ____ downloaded from app stores in the USA or Europe.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     tech     (b)     technical     (c)     technician     (d)     technique    
    2. (a)     miser     (b)     misled     (c)     misread     (d)     mislead    
    3. (a)     really     (b)     real     (c)     realist     (d)     realism    
    4. (a)     sees     (b)     defines     (c)     means     (d)     gets    
    5. (a)     speak     (b)     talking     (c)     discuss     (d)     say    
    6. (a)     trick     (b)     flick     (c)     slick     (d)     brick    
    7. (a)     libel     (b)     rival     (c)     vital     (d)     viral    
    8. (a)     went     (b)     gone     (c)     made     (d)     did    
    9. (a)     famous     (b)     fame     (c)     famously     (d)     famed    
    10. (a)     mine     (b)     mean     (c)     main     (d)     moan    
    11. (a)     does     (b)     is     (c)     takes     (d)     has    
    12. (a)     do     (b)     be     (c)     have     (d)     buy

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. A new online eiuehqcnt
    2. a bnnoacmotii of...
    3. apelcer part of a picture
    4. This rocspse will make your face speak
    5. national ncotielse
    6. used to trick rovste

    Paragraph 2

    1. A new deepfake app has gone irval
    2. in ecssen from movies
    3. A Twitter user has cevahdie a little fame
    4. the TV fnstyaa drama
    5. only avilabela for people
    6. anoeoldwdd from app stores

    Put the text back together

    (  1  ) A new online technique called deepfake is causing people to be worried about more fake
    (...)  president or movie star. This process will make your face speak in the voice of that president or movie
    (...)  top of actors in scenes from movies or TV shows. The app is called Zao. It went to number
    (...)  of "deep learning" (which is an important part of artificial intelligence) and "fake" (which means not real). Deepfake software
    (...)  image. The result is a fake video. The software means you can put your face over the face of a talking
    (...)  posting the Zao videos of himself in famous TV and movie scenes. His videos show that he really
    (...)  people with a Chinese phone number. It cannot be downloaded from app stores in the USA or Europe.
    (...)  news and other things that can mislead people. The word "deepfake" is a combination
    (...)  star. Many people are worried the technology will be used during national elections. Deepfake videos could be used to trick voters.
    (...)  A new deepfake app has gone viral in China. It lets users of the app put their face over the
    (...)  allows people to replace part of a picture or video with another picture or video
    (...)  one on the Chinese iOS App Store chart in just a few days after its release. A Twitter user has achieved a little fame by
    (...)  looks like the main actor in the movies The Hulk, Titanic, and in the TV fantasy drama
    (...)  Game of Thrones. It takes just eight seconds to do this. The Zao app is currently only available for

    Put the words in the right order

    1. news   .   people   worried   Causing   fake   be   to   about
    2. important   of   This   is   intelligence   .   artificial   part   an
    3. picture   .   of   to   people   a   part   Allows   replace
    4. national   The   technology   will   be   used   during   elections   .
    5. to   videos   trick   be   could   used   Deepfake   voters   .
    6. has   in   A   app   gone   China   .   viral   deepfake
    7. fame   .   A   achieved   a   Twitter   has   little   user
    8. takes   just   It   seconds   to   do   this   .   eight
    9. people   number   .   Available   for   phone   with   Chinese   a
    10. be   from   stores   .   app   downloaded   cannot   It

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A new online / inline technique called deepfake is causing / casing people to be worried about more fake news and other things that can misled / mislead people. The word "deepfake" is a combination of "deep learning" (which is an important part of / for artificial intelligence) and "fake" (which means not real / really). Deepfake software allows people to replace part of a picture or video with other / another picture or video image. The result is a fake video. The software means you can put your face over the face of a spoken / talking president or movie star. This process will make your face voice / speak in the voice of that president or movie star. Many people are worried / worries the technology will be used during national elections. Deepfake videos could be used to tricky / trick voters.

    A new deepfake app has gone vital / viral in China. It lets users of the app put their face over / under the top of actors in seen / scenes from movies or TV shows. The app is called Zao. It went to number one on the Chinese iOS App Store graph / chart in just a few days after its release. A Twitter user has achieved a little fame / famous by posting the Zao videos of himself in famous TV and movie scenes. His videos show that he real / really looks like the main actor in the movies The Hulk, Titanic, and in the TV fantasy drama / dramatic Game of Thrones. It takes just eight seconds to do / doing this. The Zao app is currently only availability / available for people with a Chinese phone number. It / They cannot be downloaded from app stores in the USA or Europe.

    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)

    A n_w _n l_n_ t_c h n_q__ c_l l_d d__ p f_k_ _s c__ s_n g p__ p l_ t_ b_ w_r r__ d _b__ t m_r_ f_k_ n_w s _n d _t h_r t h_n g s t h_t c_n m_s l__ d p__ p l_. T h_ w_r d " d__ p f_k_" _s _ c_m b_n_t__ n _f " d__ p l__ r n_n g " ( w h_c h _s _n _m p_r t_n t p_r t _f _r t_f_c__ l _n t_l l_g_n c_) _n d " f_k_" ( w h_c h m__ n s n_t r__ l ) . D__ p f_k_ s_f t w_r_ _l l_w s p__ p l_ t_ r_p l_c_ p_r t _f _ p_c t_r_ _r v_d__ w_t h _n_t h_r p_c t_r_ _r v_d__ _m_g_. T h_ r_s_l t _s _ f_k_ v_d__ . T h_ s_f t w_r_ m__ n s y__ c_n p_t y__ r f_c_ _v_r t h_ f_c_ _f _ t_l k_n g p r_s_d_n t _r m_v__ s t_r . T h_s p r_c_s s w_l l m_k_ y__ r f_c_ s p__ k _n t h_ v__ c_ _f t h_t p r_s_d_n t _r m_v__ s t_r . M_n y p__ p l_ _r_ w_r r__ d t h_ t_c h n_l_g y w_l l b_ _s_d d_r_n g n_t__ n_l _l_c t__ n s . D__ p f_k_ v_d__ s c__ l d b_ _s_d t_ t r_c k v_t_r s .

    A n_w d__ p f_k_ _p p h_s g_n_ v_r_l _n C h_n_. I t l_t s _s_r s _f t h_ _p p p_t t h__ r f_c_ _v_r t h_ t_p _f _c t_r s _n s c_n_s f r_m m_v__ s _r T V s h_w s . T h_ _p p _s c_l l_d Z__ . I t w_n t t_ n_m b_r _n_ _n t h_ C h_n_s_ _O S A p p S t_r_ c h_r t _n j_s t _ f_w d_y s _f t_r _t s r_l__ s_. A T w_t t_r _s_r h_s _c h__ v_d _ l_t t l_ f_m_ b y p_s t_n g t h_ Z__ v_d__ s _f h_m s_l f _n f_m__ s T V _n d m_v__ s c_n_s . H_s v_d__ s s h_w t h_t h_ r__ l l y l__ k s l_k_ t h_ m__ n _c t_r _n t h_ m_v__ s T h_ H_l k , T_t_n_c , _n d _n t h_ T V f_n t_s y d r_m_ G_m_ _f T h r_n_s . I t t_k_s j_s t __ g h t s_c_n d s t_ d_ t h_s . T h_ Z__ _p p _s c_r r_n t l y _n l y _v__ l_b l_ f_r p__ p l_ w_t h _ C h_n_s_ p h_n_ n_m b_r . I t c_n n_t b_ d_w n l__ d_d f r_m _p p s t_r_s _n t h_ U S A _r E_r_p_.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a new online technique called deepfake is causing people to be worried about more fake news and other things that can mislead people the word deepfake is a combination of deep learning which is an important part of artificial intelligence and fake which means not real deepfake software allows people to replace part of a picture or video with another picture or video image the result is a fake video the software means you can put your face over the face of a talking president or movie star this process will make your face speak in the voice of that president or movie star many people are worried the technology will be used during national elections deepfake videos could be used to trick voters

    a new deepfake app has gone viral in china it lets users of the app put their face over the top of actors in scenes from movies or tv shows the app is called zao it went to number one on the chinese ios app store chart in just a few days after its release a twitter user has achieved a little fame by posting the zao videos of himself in famous tv and movie scenes his videos show that he really looks like the main actor in the movies the hulk titanic and in the tv fantasy drama game of thrones it takes just eight seconds to do this the zao app is currently only available for people with a chinese phone number it cannot be downloaded from app stores in the usa or europe.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Anewonlinetechniquecalleddeepfakeiscausingpeopletobeworriedab
    outmorefakenewsandotherthingsthatcanmisleadpeople.Theword"d
    eepfake"isacombinationof"deeplearning"(whichisanimportantparto
    fartificialintelligence)and"fake"(whichmeansnotreal).Deepfakesoft
    wareallowspeopletoreplacepartofapictureorvideowithanotherpictur
    eorvideoimage.Theresultisafakevideo.Thesoftwaremeansyoucanpu
    tyourfaceoverthefaceofatalkingpresidentormoviestar.Thisprocessw
    illmakeyourfacespeakinthevoiceofthatpresidentormoviestar.Manyp
    eopleareworriedthetechnologywillbeusedduringnationalelections.D
    eepfakevideoscouldbeusedtotrickvoters.Anewdeepfakeapphasgon
    eviralinChina.Itletsusersoftheappputtheirfaceoverthetopofactorsin
    scenesfrommoviesorTVshows.TheappiscalledZao.Itwenttonumber
    oneontheChineseiOSAppStorechartinjustafewdaysafteritsrelease.A
    TwitteruserhasachievedalittlefamebypostingtheZaovideosofhimself
    infamousTVandmoviescenes.Hisvideosshowthathereallylooksliketh
    emainactorinthemoviesTheHulk,Titanic,andintheTVfantasydramaG
    ameofThrones.Ittakesjusteightsecondstodothis.TheZaoappiscurre
    ntlyonlyavailableforpeoplewithaChinesephonenumber.Itcannotbed
    ownloadedfromappstoresintheUSAorEurope.

    Free writing

    Write about deepfake for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Technology is becoming scary. 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 news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. DEEPFAKE: Make a poster about deepfake. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FAKE: Write a magazine article about banning all fake things. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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. DEEPFAKE: Write a letter to an expert on deepfake. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to make sure deepfake does not mislead people. 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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