Small Talk with the FORD & HEFE Methods

Do you find it hard to start talking to people at a party when you do not really know them that well? How can you avoid an awkward silence when you are early for a work meeting and some other colleagues are already waiting in the room? Of course, you can just grab your phone, look down and pretend that you checking your mail to reduce social exposure, but have you ever ventured into the old art of conversation?

Dr. Elisabeth Yuko is a Bioethics lecturer and a regular writer for Lifehacker, where she discusses self-improvement techniques to reduce social anxiety in situations where you do not feel overly confident, for example, when you desperately need ideas for "small talk" to avoid an awkward silence. In two of her latest articles, she presents two methods to start a conversation, the first article is entitled "Use the FORD Method to Master Small Talk", and the second "Use the HEFE Method to Strike Up a Conversation". Both articles are short and not too difficult, including the informal comments from the readers, so they can be accessible to B2 students and above. In the FORD Method article you will find interesting words like: small talk, to strike up [a conversation], a check out [line], public transit, challenging, an acronym, to come up with [a method], to jog [your] memory, to go blank, to launch [into your questions], lest, to be up to [you], a sibling, to follow up [a question], connection, a casual [encounter], to come in handy, open-ended [questions], to engage with [your questions], a meaningful career, a spouse, to put a damper on [a converstation], the same holds for [talking with someone], to [fully] acknowledge, to be disrespectful, to diminish [you], sanitized [responses], schmooze, fake [friendliness], tongue-tied, a safe-haven, to wave, a grocery store, invasive, to disclose [information], to lay [people] off, to floss, to scrape, awkward, to shore up [investments], to inquire, to catch [somebody] off guard, snowflak(y).

In the HEFE article, you will come across words such as: to strike up [a conversation], to figure out, to stand for, renovations, crowded, low-stakes, awkward, to require, expertise, controversial [subjects], the appeal, predictability, to take the focus off [yourself], to revolve around, a belief, to loathe, nippy, clumsy, a trait, [my] forte, loathesome, to yearn for [personal connections], a chasm, a gateway, a stand-up [comedian], banter, wallflower awkwardness, convenient, a diversion, to bring [others] out [of their shell], to seek, approachable [people], a [delayed, eyes-rolled] nod, stuff, dismissive, disrespectful, to compromise, a bold [idea], intimidating, a teleprompter, geez, garbage. 

If you want to listen to a TED-Talk where Dr. Elizabeth Yuko discusses some Bioethics principles illustrated with a number of episodes from the sitcom The Golden Girls -which was very popular in the 80's and 90's, you can watch this 12:22 YouTube video from Fordham University. This video with subtitles is recommended for C1 students and above:

AI's potential Threats (to Privacy, U.S. National Security, Elections & Equality)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the buzz word at the turn of this new year. Everybody is exploring the opportunities that the hottest apps, namely Chat GPT, Bing or Bard, offer to improve performance in their jobs. In the previous post, we learnt that the major consumer electronics companies presented an array of AI powered appliances at CES 2024 Las Vegas. In this post we are going to look at some of the concerns that AI is raising in a number of areas, from espionage to personal freedom. 

Lesson plan tip: these interviews and articles can be used as background information for a "flipped-classroom" homework task: each student chooses one story and listens to it during the weekend. Then, on Monday, students share a short oral summary of the interview in small groups of up to 4 students and they talk about some of the key words they have learnt. After that, they can discuss the opportunities and the threats that AI offers, for example with the "For & Against" list published by Phoebe Reynolds in English Teachers Around the World (Facebook). It is a simple, but challenging information gap activity to practice authentic listening/ reading, speaking, summarizing, debating and to activate passive vocabulary. 

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If you are interested in face-recognition technology, you can start by reading the Digital Trends article Clear View AI's facial-recognition app is a nightmare for stalking victims about Clear View, an app that can identify an individual with minimal information, and it is widely used by government and law-enforcement agencies to search for criminals. But the power of Clear View can be used for the wrong purposes in the hands of authoritarian governments or wrongdoers, as you can learn if you listen to Fresh Air's interview to New York Times reporter Kashmir Hill, Inside the Secretive AI Company that Knows your Face. C1 students can read the Digital Trends text first to build up background information and they will find interesting words like: to stalk, hubris, a startup, to snap [a photo], a creep, a boon, a stalker, a nefarious [purpose], a statement, to monetize, to scrape [information], to track [somebody] down, to harass, a flaw, a stark [increase], an ongoing [problem], disruptive [tech], to launch, [sexual] assault, to misuse, to rape). The 42 minute NPR interview with a script is recommended for C2 students who will encounter interesting words like: to unlock [a phone], to scrape [photos], to log into [an app], a beat (area), a [tech] dystopia, Planned Parenthood, to harass, creepy, to wield, chilling, to name and shame, a restroom, to blend in [with the population], a corpse, [to turn the] tide, the toll, an outlet, bodybuilding, workout, a counter, the breadcrumb, state-of-the-art [technology], to be pulled over [by the police], a warrant, larceny, bewildered, a gang, a consignment store, [surveillance] footage, a bunch of [photos], [the charges (law)] to be dropped, shoplifting, [to be in the] lineup, faulty, wrongfully [arrested], [a technological] breakthrough, to rig up, the brim [of a baseball cap], countless [photos], a building block, a cease-and-desist [letter], a whim, to harness [the benefits], to track [someone], to harvest, a seasoned [consultant], a vintage [store], a dive bar, astounding, buggy, to pitch [this technology], a venue, to sue, to hang out with [artists], to shift, to be anointed [the candidate], nefarious [purposes], a fine-tuned [technology], a rioter, to storm [the Capitol], the blowback, to let the cat out of the bag. 

AI tools have long been utilized in cyberwar and espionage. In How AI is Transforming National Security,  Mary Louise Kelly interviews FBI Director Chris Wray and U.S. National Security Agency Director, Paul Nakasone for NPR's Consider This Podcast. The segment lasts 11 minutes and has a script, so, it can be easily accessible to C1 students and above. You will come across interesting words like: a thriller, sneaker, [under] siege, to hack into [computers], to compromise [data], a go-to [tool], devastating [consequences], to ponder, on the flip side, cyber snooping, a formidable [adversary], ransomware, penchant, overreach, what makes [it] tick, a stride.

If you want further information about the race and gender bias of facial recognition tech, you can listen to the Fresh Air interview  Unmasking AI's racism and sexism where the computer scientist and founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, Joy Buolamwini, explains the inbuilt biasses of AI's algorithms.  This is a long, 37 minute interview with a script, so it can be recommended for C2 students, where they will find interesting words like: the male gaze, the coded gaze, to coin [a term], grad school, a glitch, [to issue] an executive order, a landmark [executive order], to endow, fanciful, to debug, to bake in [priorities], messiness, mahogany, a windfall, to floor, a nuance, a slew [of letters], overreliance, to misgender, a benchmark, to take steps, to regulate, a class-action lawsuit, an opt-in [program], to opt-out, groundbreaking [technology], to label, to speak up, a burden, to come off [like an angry black woman], a gimmick, a stake, a gasp, to dip my toe into[something], a hoax, a fraudster, a fallback, a high-paying [job], a low-paying [job], an inmate.

If you want to know how AI tools can be used in modern political campaigns, including deepfake videos, you can listen to AI's Influence on Election 2024  where radio host Meghna Chakrabarti has a conversation with several experts, including Darrell West, author of the book How AI Will Transform the 2024 Elections, for her WBUR (Boston) programme On Point. This 47 minute radio show is fast and very complex audio, due to the references to domestic American politics, and because it deals with several topics in a row, which limits the help that a single context can offer to learners of English, so, although there is a script, it is recommended for teachers and Experts (Ex), above C2 level.  Some key words you will find are: a bill, sparsely, a giveaway, a deepfake [video], a disclaimer, malarkey, heck, to utter [a word], to wreak havoc, a bribe, [highly] polarized, to endorse [a candidate], tinny, shady, a caretaker, to curb [the use of harmful AI content], grass roots [level], a deterrent, a loophole, the boogeyman, to pass the legal muster, to reach out [to voters], to level the playing field, to cast [a vote], to crack down on [misinformation], a purveyor [of this information], wary, to flag [instances of virality], a circuit breaker, mainstream, to open the floodgates, to triple check [information].

CES 2024 Las Vegas, the Latest Gizmos & Gadgets

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2024) is the number 1 electronics fair in the world, where the most competitive technological companies showcase their latest innovations, and where the most powerful CEO's meet to do buisness and present their corporate visions for the future. The event is held in Las Vegas, and the speeches can be followed online at ces.tech or on the social media. This Las Vegas tech show is certainly worth watching.

The media around the world cover the event to report about the latest and wierdest gadgets that are going to shape our near domestic future. Here you can find 3 videos which feature different, and, sometimes, the same technological breakthroughs.

The first one, from Euronews, has few words and subtitles, so, it can be accessed by B2 students. It is entitled CES 2024: Some of the weird and the wonderful tech innovations and gadgets unveiled so far, you can find it on the link and just under this list of interesting words: hairdryer, to unveil, gadget, infrared light, thermal rods, to heat, up to  [30% less energy],a valet, a concept [car], weird, angle, an assembly plant, a rental car, a twin, a memo, to claim, to monetise (Am Eng), a 9 to 5 [job], a break, an aero taxi, affordable, aircraft, to target, man-made, regulations, foldable, to showcase, tough, an array, a [temperature] shock, icing, a display, scenario, freezing, a screen, a fair, to run. 

Firstpost, the Indian news website, highlights the Top 5 Gadgets at the CES 2024 Tech Show. C1 students can find a number of AI powered robots and machines like the Afeela car by Sony & Honda, the Mobion car by Hyundai, a digital fishtank and OLEG transparent TV set by Samsung and LG, ¨ballie" a home companion robot by Samsung, and an AI enhanced robot masseuse. Some interesting words in this video are: a tech show, brand, a tech gala, to show off, flavour, AI powered, dashboard, a barista, to crab walk, gadget, a steering wheel, to decree, to come up with [an alternative], a prototype, to manoeuver, run-of-the-mill, a racing game, to charge [the car], a pin, to hit the market, a concept, unique, to take a peek, parallel parking, a viewing experience, wireless, a click, new age, to release, to end up [making TVs], obsolete, altogether, to enhance, to rush, [to change] the game, to map out, appliance, a switch, a stalker, a chore, to get rid of, a pick, to round up, masseuse, some tissue, a hit, a marvel, to get a glimpse.

The Washington Post reports about The Weirdest and best of CES 2024, including an AI ring, an AI cat door, and electric ski shoes. This video is denser and faster so it is recommended for C2 students without subtitles and C1 with subtitles, and you can find words like a glimpse, a backpack, comfy [shoes], a standout, a display, to double, a catch-all, home assistant, to ship, built-in, homebound, seniors, to be [fully] fleshed out, to work out [details], to tote, to track, well-being, veteran, telekinesis, IR blaster, a device, a [flat] switch, a toggle, an appliance, prey, to strap, a handle, a brake, off you go.