ted talk cars discussion activities for english students

driverless cars

1. TED TALKS
SPEAKING AND
LISTENING B1-2
Driverless cars

2. Pre listening questions
What is a driverless car? What can it do?
Is there anything similar available now?
Do you know anyone with a “smart” car?
Pre listening tasks
1) Write down some vocabulary or phrases
you would expect to hear in a Google
speech about driverless cars.
2) Write down a question or two you would
like to hear the answer to.

3. HTTPS://WWW.TED.COM/TALKS/
SEBASTIAN_THRUN_GOOGLE_S_DRIVER
LESS_CAR/TRANSCRIPT
Listen to the talk and find out if your
vocabulary is used, or if your question
is answered.
Write down any new and interesting
vocabulary you want to learn.

4. 2
ND
VIEWING QUESTIONS
Why was Sebastian Thun motivated to research the
idea of an intelligent car?
Was Thun the only person to research the idea of
the driverless car?
What is the perfect driving mechanism he
describes?
How far was the car driven before anyone noticed
there was no driver?
Thun describes that he wants to “do away with
traffic jams”. What does that mean?
What other car problems does he want to solve with
driverless cars?

5. 2
ND
VIEWING QUESTIONS + answers
Why was Sebastian Thun motivated to research the idea of
an intelligent car? – his friend died in an accident.
Was Thun the only person to research the idea of the
driverless car?
No- he participated in a design contest with other designers.
What is the perfect driving mechanism he describes? –
Sensors which can see everything on the road
How far was the car driven before anyone noticed there was
no driver? – over 140 miles
Thun describes that he wants to “do away with traffic jams”.
What does that mean? – To stop traffic accumulating in cities
What other car problems does he want to solve with driverless
cars? – to stop wasting time and money in traffic, to reduce
accidents

6. Discussion – Intelligent cars

1) What types of “smart” technology do cars have?
2) Have you ever seen or driven a “smart” car?
3) Would you like to be a passenger in a fully
automated car?
4) What are the advantages and disadvantages of
driverless cars?
5) What about a driverless moped or motorbike,
could it be a good idea?
6) If you could have any type of smart technology
in your car, what would it be?
7) Do you prefer transport with modern technology
or more old fashioned transport?

7. PRACTICE TASK
Think of and practice 3 questions
you would like to ask a smart car
designer.

8. Part 2 – Driving and driving habits
Talk with your partner(s) about
your experiences and views of
driving.

9. Driving - Conclusions
What would you most like to
change about other peoples
driving habits?
What would you like to change
about your own way of driving or
travelling?
 Would you like to have a smart
car?