Robot teachers

Robot teachers

Read an article about robot teachers to practise and improve your reading skills.

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Reading text

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.

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Average: 4 (86 votes)

Submitted by DIỄM PHÚC on Mon, 07/12/2020 - 01:58

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I prefer to get to teaching from teachers because we can communicate, learn control feeling, study experience from teachers

Submitted by togrul01 on Thu, 12/11/2020 - 16:14

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I prefer to get to teaching from teachers. In this text, there is a good sentence that wrote that robots will be able to help the teachers in the future. I agree with this sentence but robots never can replace the teachers.

Submitted by Ugulhan on Mon, 09/11/2020 - 08:05

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No never, I would not have a robot as a teacher because he could not scold me if I make some mistakes. :)
Profile picture for user Rafaela1

Submitted by Rafaela1 on Thu, 05/11/2020 - 12:32

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Hello admins, I'm just wondering what the point of the verification of 'I'm not a robot'... I'm definitely not a robot, a cat though.... ;)

Hello Rafaela1,

The CAPTCHA test is designed to prevent spambots from creating accounts on LearnEnglish, which helps us keep the site free from spam and other inappropriate content.

We're sorry if you find it a little less convenient to log in.

Cats are welcome!

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Thank you Kirk, Hmmm, sounds a bit difficult for my tiny brain just like the forehead of a cat! ;)

Submitted by Elbay on Fri, 30/10/2020 - 13:05

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100 years later British Council:Robot students))

Submitted by Lilly098 on Fri, 30/10/2020 - 03:51

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I would love to have a robot teacher. In my experience, teachers sometimes make mistakes on teaching. It would be efficient if a robot takes a role in teaching. While it gives us a lecture, a teacher can walk around a class to help students. It would ensure everyone catches up with the class!

Submitted by Alma Lanie on Mon, 12/10/2020 - 02:05

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Yes, why not! I would love to have a robot teacher that is a part of our world's experts increase in knowledge and wisdom. Experts are trying to help reduce the burden of human beings in this world. Taking the robot as a classroom teacher would really be a massive help for all teachers. I know what it would be like but why not try. Less work and less stress for a human being in the class. Why would not try!