ESL TED Talk Activity - Can we build AI without Losing control over it

ESL TED Talk Activity Worksheets - Can we build AI without Losing control over it - Sam Harris

Make English language learning more meaningful and inspiring with this engaging ESL TED Talk activity worksheet based on Sam Harris’s powerful talk, “Can we build AI without Losing control over it" (speech that warns that Artificial Intelligence can become superintelligent and how even tiny misalignments between machine goals and human values could lead to catastrophic outcomes—and urges we act now to ensure control).

Ideal for middle school and high school English language learners (Grades 7–12), this resource encourages students to practice listening, speaking, vocabulary, and writing skills in a real-world context. Whether you're teaching in an ESL classroom, tutoring one-on-one, or running a language center, this ready-to-use worksheet is an excellent addition to your ESL lesson plans.

🧩 What’s Included in This ESL Resource?

This 3-page printable ESL worksheet set includes a variety of dynamic and student-centered tasks:

• TED Talk Overview Section
  A brief introduction space for students to note important background information (title, speaker, date, and main theme of the talk).

• 1 QR Code linked to the TED Talk's Youtube Video

• Pre-Listening Discussion (Warm-Up)

• Vocabulary Builder
  Space to identify and define new vocabulary words from the TED Talk, helping learners improve word recognition and usage.

• Listening Comprehension Questions
  Targeted questions to check understanding of key ideas, supporting details, and examples from the talk.

• Speaking Activity
  Thought-provoking discussion questions designed to get students talking about the TED Talk's theme

• 3 Writing Activities
  Includes a summary writing task, a personal opinion paragraph, and a creative response assignment where students imagine giving a follow-up TED Talk.

🎯 Who Is This ESL Worksheet For?

• English language learners at the intermediate to advanced levels

• Middle school and high school ESL/ EFL students (Grades 7–12)

• Newcomers and English learners from diverse cultural backgrounds

• ESL teachers, tutors, and English language centers around the world

This resource is especially useful for educators seeking authentic, real-world content that makes English learning both effective and inspiring

This ESL Teaching Resource (ESL TED Talk Activity - Listening + Writing + Speaking) can be great for Back to School Activities

"Learning with Alan" is dedicated to provide high-quality teaching resources and educational materials for ESL EFL TESOL teachers. It aims to support teachers, educators, and tutors in both online and offline environments, helping them achieve their teaching goals while creating a fun, stimulating atmosphere for learning English. Always remember: learning is fun, and so is English!