December being the holiday season, I decided to see how helpful an AI could be in planning an appropriate lesson, using Google's Gemini., I told Gemini I was planning an adult ESL class and asked about the vocabulary people use in queries over the holidays. Then, based on Gemini's results, I narrowed the lesson down to the subject of buying gifts. Below is our conversation resulting in pretty good ESL classroom materials.
I do have one criticism of Gemini. He (she/they?) felt he had created a dialog on an intermediate level. I felt it was closer to an advanced level. Still, this goes a long way toward creating classroom materials.
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Me:
In the gift-giving category, if I were teaching a class of
ESL students the English vocabulary based on what they would need to ask
questions of a store clerk, what words would they most often use based on what
they ask you:
Gemini:
That is a fantastic way to bridge AI data with a practical
ESL lesson. When users ask me for gift advice, they use specific functional
language that mirrors what a customer would say to a store clerk.
To help your students, I’ve broken these down into the most
common "keywords" and phrases that appear in my gift-giving queries:
1. Describing the Recipient (Nouns & Adjectives)
When users ask me for help, they always start with the
person's profile. Your students will need words to define who they
are shopping for.
- The
"Into" phrase: "He is into [tech/gaming/sports]."
- Interests: "Hobby,"
"fan," "collector," "outdoorsy."
- Demographics: "Toddler,"
"teenager," "co-worker," "mother-in-law."
2. Identifying the "Vibe" (Adjectives)
Before buying, people usually have a specific
"feeling" in mind for the gift.
- Practical: "Useful,"
"everyday," "functional."
- Sentimental: "Meaningful,"
"thoughtful," "personalized."
- Whimsical: "Funny,"
"unique," "quirky," "gag gift."
3. Price and Constraints (Budget Vocabulary)
This is the most common constraint in my data. Students need
to know how to talk about money politely.
- Budget: "Under
[Amount]," "affordable," "high-end."
- Value: "Good
deal," "on sale," "worth it."
- Limits: "Price
range," "maximum," "cheap" (Note: teach them to
use "inexpensive" or "budget-friendly" to sound more
polite!).
4. The Store Clerk Interaction (Action Verbs)
Based on what people ask me to find, these are the verbs
they would use with a clerk:
- To
Recommend: "What do you recommend for...?"
- To
Suggest: "Can you suggest something
else?"
- To
Look for: "I am looking for a gift
that..."
- To
Gift-wrap: "Do you offer gift-wrapping?"
Comparison Table: AI Query vs. Store Interaction
|
What
they ask ME (The AI) |
What
they ask THE CLERK (In a Store) |
|
"Give
me gift ideas for a gardener." |
"What
do you have for someone who likes gardening?" |
|
"What
is the best gift under $50?" |
"I’m
on a budget. Do you have anything under $50?" |
|
"Is
this gift appropriate for a boss?" |
"Would
this be suitable for a professional setting?" |
|
"Where
can I buy a unique watch?" |
"Do
you carry any unique or limited edition watches?" |
Would you like me to create a "Roleplay Script" based on these words that your students can practice in class?
Me:
Yes, thanks.
Gemini:
Here is a roleplay script designed for an intermediate ESL
level. It incorporates the "budget," "interest," and
"recommendation" vocabulary we discussed.
The Scenario
Setting: A "General Gift &
Lifestyle" Store. Characters:
- The
Clerk: Knowledgeable, polite, and helpful.
- The
Customer: Looking for a birthday gift for a friend but isn't sure
what to buy.
The Script: "The Perfect Birthday Gift"
Clerk: Good afternoon! Are you looking
for anything in particular today?
Customer: Hi! Yes, I’m looking for a birthday
gift for a close friend, but I’m not sure what to get.
Clerk: I can help with that. To give you a
good recommendation, tell me: what is your friend into?
Customer: She’s very outdoorsy. She
loves hiking and camping, but she’s also a big fan of coffee.
Clerk: Oh, we have some unique items
for coffee lovers who travel! We have this portable espresso maker. It’s
very practical for camping.
Customer: That looks thoughtful, but
I’m worried about the price. What is the price range for that?
Clerk: This one is $65.
Customer: Oh, that’s a bit over my budget.
I was hoping to find something under $40. Do you have any
other suggestions?
Clerk: Of course. We have these personalized insulated
travel mugs. They keep coffee hot for 12 hours. They are on sale today
for $25.
Customer: That’s a good deal! It’s
very useful and fits my budget perfectly. I’ll take the blue
one. Do you offer gift-wrapping?
Clerk: Yes, we do! It’s an extra $5, or I can
give you a small gift bag for free.
Customer: The free bag is fine, thank you.
You’ve been very helpful!
Teacher’s Key: Vocabulary to Highlight
|
Category |
Key
Words to Practice |
|
Phrasal
Verbs |
Looking
for, into (interested in), on sale. |
|
Budget
Talk |
Price
range, under [Amount], budget, good deal. |
|
Adjectives |
Outdoorsy,
practical, thoughtful, unique, useful. |
|
Functional
Phrases |
"What
do you recommend?", "What is your friend into?", "I’ll
take it." |
Suggested Class Activity
- Pair
Work: Have students perform the script once as written.
- The
"Swap": Have students change the Recipient
Profile. Instead of an "outdoorsy coffee lover," have them
choose from a hat (e.g., "A 10-year-old who likes space" or
"A grandfather who loves cooking").
- The
Budget Challenge: Tell one student they only have $15, forcing
them to use "budget-friendly" vocabulary.
Would you like me to generate a list of 5-10
"Recipient Profiles" (like the ones above) to help your students
practice these variations?
Me:
Not today, thanks.
Gemini:
No problem! I'm glad I could help you put that lesson plan together. It sounds like a great way to make English vocabulary feel immediate and useful for your students.
