Reading text: Robot teachers If you think of the jobs robots could never do, you would probably put doctors and teachers
at the top of the list. It’s easy to imagine robot cleaners and factory workers, but some jobs
need human connection and creativity. But are we underestimating what robots can do? In
some cases, they already perform better than doctors at diagnosing illness. Also, some
patients might feel more comfortable sharing personal information with a machine than a
person. Could there be a place for robots in education after all?
British education expert Anthony Seldon thinks so. And he even has a date for the robot
takeover of the classroom: 2027. He predicts robots will do the main job of transferring
information and teachers will be like assistants. Intelligent robots will read students’ faces,
movements and maybe even brain signals. Then they will adapt the information to each
student. It’s not a popular opinion and it’s unlikely robots will ever have empathy and the
ability to really connect with humans like another human can.
One thing is certain, though. A robot teacher is better than no teacher at all. In some parts of
the world, there aren’t enough teachers and 9–16 per cent of children under the age of 14
don’t go to school. That problem could be partly solved by robots because they can teach
anywhere and won’t get stressed, or tired, or move somewhere for an easier, higher-paid job.
Those negative aspects of teaching are something everyone agrees on. Teachers all over the
world are leaving because it is a difficult job and they feel overworked. Perhaps the question
is not ‘Will robots replace teachers?’ but ‘How can robots help teachers?’ Office workers can
use software to do things like organise and answer emails, arrange meetings and update
calendars. Teachers waste a lot of time doing non-teaching work, including more than 11
hours a week marking homework. If robots could cut the time teachers spend marking
homework and writing reports, teachers would have more time and energy for the parts of the
job humans do best.

Task 1
Are the sentences true or false?
1. Most jobs seem as if they can be done by robots or computers.
2. Many experts agree robots will replace teachers by 2027.
3. One advantage of robot teachers is that they don’t need to rest.

Writing
Task 2.
⦁ What restaurant in place you live do you recommend?
⦁ Why is it a good place?
⦁ What is your opinion about eating out?
⦁ What food do you prefer most: homemade or take-away?
⦁ What are the eating habits in your country?
⦁ Are there any eating rules in your family?

Jakclin    2   06.05.2021 09:40    63