Day 10: AI Friends.
Connection or illusion?
Connection or illusion?
A flexible discussion activity exploring AI companionship and what "real connection" means. Use it as a quick speaking task or expand it into a full speaking lesson.
Goals: practice expressing opinions on AI and relationships, develop the ability to predict and understand others' perspectives.
Timing: 15-60 minutes. Totally up to you and your students: you can keep it as a quick speaking activity, or keep on talking because the topic is rich!
If you only have 10 minutes: Watch the friend.com’s ad and ask for initial reactions, focusing on 1-3 questions to discuss.
Timing: 15-60 minutes. Totally up to you and your students: you can keep it as a quick speaking activity, or keep on talking because the topic is rich!
If you only have 10 minutes: Watch the friend.com’s ad and ask for initial reactions, focusing on 1-3 questions to discuss.
Lesson ideas
Say something like: “As the year rounds up, one of the big trends of 2025 has been AI companions: using AI not just as tools, but as friends, partners, or even therapists. Today I want to talk about one ad!"
Watch the ad. For lower-levels, use a shorter/cropped version. Tell them it’s fine to focus on the vibe, not every word.
Watch the ad. For lower-levels, use a shorter/cropped version. Tell them it’s fine to focus on the vibe, not every word.
This part gradually introduces students to more info as you go! Pick as many questions as you see fit!
Part A - Friend.com's ad getting vandalized
Lower-level students
Lower-level students
Part A - Friend.com's ad getting vandalized
Lower-level students
- Why do you think people reacted this way?
- Do you agree with the vandals' message?
- Why do you think it caused such a stir?
- Do you agree with the message?
- What about “person” vs “someone”? Do you think it makes a difference?
Lower-level students
- Do you see it as a positive or a negative trend?
- Do you think there is a difference between AI-friend and AI-boyfriend or AI-girlfriend?
- What do you think this says about our society?
- Do you think having an AI friend is any better than having an AI spouse or romantic partner? In what way?
Students need to imagine they ARE another person (a classmate or the teacher if you teach 1-to-1) and answer questions as that person would. Please, note as a teacher you can do this type of activity with any topic, not just AI. It’s a great way to connect because it builds information and opinion gaps and gives a genuine reason to listen to each other!
Ask:
Compare answers:
Ask:
- How well do you think you know the people in this class?
- Can you predict what someone would say just by knowing them well?
- Questions for A2-B1
- Questions for B2+
Compare answers:
- Did you guess correctly?
- What surprised you?
- Why do you think you got some right and others wrong
- How many did you get right? What was the most surprising answer?
- Could AI ever do this? Why or why not? :)