Talking about the future: open questions and role-play
A closed question has a short answer: Do you like robots? Yes, I do. An open question starts with how, why or what and needs a longer answer: How will AI change our school? Why do you think so? What will happen if the machine makes a mistake? Open questions keep a conversation going, because the other person has to explain. When you answer, use will for predictions (Homework will be sorted by subject) and the future passive when the doer is not important (A reminder will be sent). Give a reason with because and, if you can, an example. For fluency, keep speaking even if you make a small mistake, and repeat key words to give yourself time to think; for accuracy, check verb forms afterwards. Your book has a conversation about AI in the future on page 50: read it after this lesson and find two open questions in it. Then use the role-play on page 51 with your own sentences.
| Closed question | Open question |
|---|---|
| Is AI useful? | How can AI be useful? |
| Will robots help us? | What will robots do for us? |
| Do you like new technology? | Why do you like new technology? |
| Will jobs change? | How will jobs change? |
What do you think about the new AI homework planners?
I think they will be very useful. Homework will be sorted by subject, and a reminder will be sent every evening.
Why do you think that is a good thing?
Because I forget things! But how will the planner know what I need?
Students will enter their tasks, and the planner will suggest a plan. We will still make the final choices.
What will happen if the planner makes a mistake?
A teacher or a parent will check it. People will still be needed.
That’s a good answer. I will try it next week.
Future interview. Ask a grown-up five open questions about the future: how a town will change, what will be invented, why people will need to learn new skills, what machines will do, what people will still do better. Write one sentence of their answer for each question, then tell them one prediction of your own with will be + participle.