Topic: Future Planning, Scenarios, and Resilience
Instructions: Complete the Preparation tasks first. Then watch the TED Talk and answer the questions.
What does the future mean to you? Does planning help? Have you prepared for something big?
Read the sentences and choose the correct meaning for the capitalized word.
AI Prompt:
“Explain TWO words: SCENARIOS and ANTICIPATE. Use simple B1 English. Write ONE short sentence for each.”
Instructions: Check if meanings match the listening. Which word is more useful for planning?
Many people struggle to think about the future because they focus on what is familiar. Jane McGonigal, a futurist, suggests that we overuse words like unthinkable and unimaginable, which make the future seem impossible to predict. Instead, she encourages people to think creatively and courageously about multiple possibilities.
McGonigal introduces three hypothetical scenarios. These are stories about what might happen in the future. Creating scenarios helps people prepare for risks, challenges, and new opportunities. By imagining these different futures, people can build mental tools for responding with confidence and flexibility.
She also emphasizes that the future is not something that simply happens to us. We can learn to see early signs of change, notice patterns, and pay attention to unusual events that others might ignore. This kind of preparation, she says, can make individuals and communities more resilient and better ready for whatever comes next.
Through practice and creative thinking, we can train ourselves to understand that the future is not random. It can be anticipated, shaped, and used to make smarter decisions today.
Why is the future hard to imagine? Why are scenarios useful? How do early signs help? What attitude is suggested? Can the future be planned?
AI Prompt:
“Give ONE reason why using scenarios can help people prepare for the future. Use B1 English. Write 2 short sentences only.”
Task: Agree/Disagree? Support with idea from summary.
Is thinking about multiple future possibilities helpful in real life? Why or why not?
Scenario: Student preparing for career change.
Scenario: Community expects flooding.
Scenario: Small business wants to stay competitive.
AI Role Prompt:
“You are a SKEPTICAL COLLEAGUE who believes planning for the future is a waste of time because the world changes too fast. Give ONE argument supporting this view. Use B1 English and 2 short sentences.”
Debate Guidelines:
Most useful idea? AI help? One way to prepare?