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24 Sept 2026
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5 Things to Remember When Talking to a Chatbot
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Section: Warm Up
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) Chatbots can feel sad and cry
b) Chatbots need lots of electric energy
c) Chatbots are real living humans
Ask:
(1) Have you ever talked to a chatbot on a computer or phone?
(2) Why is it important to protect your secret passwords?
VOCABULARY
private (/ˈpraɪ.vət/, adjective)
Meaning: Secret or personal, and not shared with everyone.
Example: Keep your home address private when you are online.
mistakes (/mɪˈsteɪks/, noun)
Meaning: Things that are wrong or not correct.
Example: The chatbot made mistakes on my maths homework.
feelings (/ˈfiː.lɪŋz/, noun)
Meaning: Emotions like happiness, sadness, or anger.
Example: Computers do not have real human feelings.
advice (/ədˈvaɪs/, noun)
Meaning: Good ideas to help someone solve a problem.
Example: Ask your teacher for advice if you feel stuck.
centres (/ˈsen.təz/, noun)
Meaning: Large buildings filled with computers and technology.
Example: Data centres store information for internet sites.
energy (/ˈen.ə.dʒi/, noun)
Meaning: Power used to make machines and lights work.
Example: Big computers use a lot of electric energy.
Many young people talk to computer chatbots today. Chatbots are clever computer programmes. They can speak like human friends. However, you must remember five important tips.
First, keep your private details safe. Do not tell a chatbot your secret password, full name, or home address.
Second, chatbots can make silly mistakes. Sometimes, a chatbot gives wrong facts. Always check the true facts with a helpful teacher or parent.
Third, chatbots do not have real feelings. They can sound polite and very kind. But a chatbot is only a machine. It cannot truly care about you.
Fourth, ask real people for important advice. If you feel sad or confused, talk to your family or teachers. Computer chatbots cannot replace true human friends.
Finally, chatbots need lots of electric power. Huge computer data centres run all day and night. This technology uses a lot of energy. So, use chatbots wisely and stay safe online!
Reaching out to real people who you know and trust will get you meaningful, honest feedback. A chatbot “doesn’t know you” and “can’t like you,” says Linda Charmaraman. “That’s not possible.”SDI Productions/E+ /Getty Images Plus
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(1) Why do people like talking to chatbots on their computers?
(2) What private details should you never share with a chatbot?
(3) Who can you talk to if you need helpful advice?
(4) Why is a chatbot not a real living friend?
(5) How can we save electric energy when using computers?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: advice, centres, energy, feelings, mistakes, private
Many young people talk to computer chatbots today. Chatbots are clever computer programmes. They can speak like human friends. However, you must remember five important tips.
First, keep your _______(1) details safe. Do not tell a chatbot your secret password, full name, or home address.
Second, chatbots can make silly _______(2). Sometimes, a chatbot gives wrong facts. Always check the true facts with a helpful teacher or parent.
Third, chatbots do not have real _______(3). They can sound polite and very kind. But a chatbot is only a machine. It cannot truly care about you.
Fourth, ask real people for important _______(4). If you feel sad or confused, talk to your family or teachers. Computer chatbots cannot replace true human friends.
Finally, chatbots need lots of electric power. Huge computer data centres run all day and night. This technology uses a lot of energy. So, use chatbots wisely and stay safe online!
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this text?
a) Chatbots are real human friends who help us.
b) Chatbots are useful, but we must use them safely and wisely.
c) Chatbots should do all our homework for us.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
(1) You should share your secret passwords with chatbots. T/F
(2) Chatbots can sometimes give wrong facts. T/F
(3) Computer data centres use a lot of electric energy. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Put the story points in order (1-3):
a) Remember that chatbots use a lot of electric energy. [ ]
b) Keep your private details and secret passwords safe. [ ]
c) Ask real people like teachers or parents for good advice. [ ]
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. private
2. mistakes
3. feelings
4. advice
5. energy
a) Power used to make machines run
b) Things that are wrong or not correct
c) Secret and not shared with everyone
d) Good ideas to help solve a problem
e) Emotions like happiness or sadness
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) I need good _______ for my school project.
a) advice
b) energy
(2) Always keep your secret passwords _______.
a) mistakes
b) private
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) Unscramble the sentence:
A) details
B) keep
C) private
D) your
E) safe.
(2) Unscramble the sentence:
A) are
B) chatbots
C) computer
D) only
E) machines.
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up Answer: b) Chatbots need lots of electric energy
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) private
(2) mistakes
(3) feelings
(4) advice
Section 2: Main Idea
b) Chatbots are useful, but we must use them safely and wisely.
Section 3: True or False
(1) False
(2) True
(3) True
Section 4: Put Events in Order
a) 3
b) 1
c) 2
Section 5: Vocab Match
1-c, 2-b, 3-e, 4-d, 5-a
Section 6: Discussion Builder
(1) a) advice
(2) b) private
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
(1) D-B-D-A-E (Keep your private details safe.)
(2) B-A-D-C-E (Chatbots are only computer machines.)
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Student individual spoken/written responses.
Thank you for your feedback!