<English Lounge 11/12 Topic>

Session1

1. Introduce yourself.

2. Do you use any AI tools? If so, explain about that.

Students Worry About Impact AI Has on Learning

"The real question is not whether machines think but whether men do," American psychologist BF Skinner once said.

And as AI continues to become more popular, many people might be worried about whether people are really thinking at all anymore ― and that includes students.

Oxford University Press surveyed 2,000 students aged 13 to 18 all over the UK. It found that about 80% of students in the UK already use AI for schoolwork.

However, not all students are necessarily happy about their use of AI. More than 60% say they feel that AI has a negative impact on their skills and learning, with one in four saying AI makes it too easy for them to find answers without having to do much work themselves.

Many students say they're worried that AI tools encourage copying instead of original work, and they also worry about the accuracy of the information AI generates.

In fact, fewer than half of participants say they can tell if AI content is correct, and many say they'd like their teachers to help them understand what information they can trust.

A lot of students are also not sure when they should be using AI for their schoolwork; about half say they're worried that other students are using AI, and that teachers don't always know this.

However, the results aren't all negative. Many students say that AI has helped them get new skills, such as getting better at understanding problems, and thinking of new ideas. One student said AI also helps him "think faster."

Alexandra Tomescu from Oxford University Press said the results of the survey show that students have a "mature" understanding of how AI impacts learning, in both good ways and bad.

1. Do you think AI may be affecting people's ability to think?

2. Do you think AI skills should be taught in schools?

3 What do you imagine you would have used AI for if it was around when you were in school?

Session2

1. Introduce yourself.

2. Have you ever tried to reduce your screen time?

3. What's the longest time you've gone without using your phone?

South Korea Bans Smartphones from Schools

South Korea has passed a bill banning the use of smartphones and other digital devices in schools across the country. The bill, which was passed on August 27, will become law in March 2026.

The new law only bans the use of smartphones during class hours, but it also gives teachers the power to stop students from carrying or using their phones on the school site. It does not say how students should be punished if they break the rules. The law also asks schools to teach students how to use digital devices in a healthy way.

Research has shown that smartphone addiction can be damaging to young people's mental health. Many parents and teachers in South Korea also believe that too much smartphone use can have a negative effect on students' academic performance ― and some research backs this up.

A 2024 government survey found that almost 25% of the country's 51 million people have a serious smartphone addiction that is having a negative effect on their life. That figure increases to 43% for people aged between 10 and 19.

In response to the problem of smartphone addiction, most schools in South Korea have already restricted the use of phones in classrooms. But the new law will make it illegal to use smartphones during class hours, unless there is an emergency or an educational purpose for their use.

Students with disabilities or special needs will still be allowed to use assistive devices.

South Korea is not the only country to restrict smartphone use in schools. Other countries that have done so include France, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland and China.

People Power Party lawmaker Cho Jung-hun, who introduced the South Korean bill, said he was encouraged to do so after seeing other countries act on the issue.

The bill gained support from all parties and received 115 votes in favor, out of the 163 members who were present.

1. What are your thoughts on South Korea's ban on digital devices in classrooms?

2. Do you expect the new law to have a positive impact on students' mental health and academic performance?

3. How common do you imagine smartphone addiction is where you live?

4. At what age do kids in your country typically get their first phone?

5. What age do you think is best for kids to get their first phone?