Generating a set of reading comprehension questions from a news report hyperlink

 Following Ms Jenny Leung's example, I generated a set of reading comprehension questions based on a newspaper report with reference to the HKDSE curriculum.

Below, the prompt is mainly the one used by Jenny Leung. I used another newspaper report hyperlink. 

PROMPT

I am an ESL teacher in Hong Kong teaching HKDSE curriculum. I am creating a reading comprehension exercise for my secondary 6 students preparing for the HKDSE exam. Here is the news I want them to read. 

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3319765/trump-and-european-officials-talk-trade-tariffs-scotland?module=top_story&pgtype=subsection

I need to generate reading comprehension questions in HKDSE English reading paper format. Can you create the questions for me? There should be a variety of question formats including MC questions, short answer questions, fill in the blanks and a few long answer questions. The focus should be on language and reading skills.

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OUTPUT: 

Here is a set of HKDSE-style reading comprehension questions based on the news article "Trump and European officials talk trade, tariffs in Scotland." The questions include a variety of formats (multiple choice, short answer, fill in the blanks, and long answer) and are focused on developing language and reading skills, inference, and comprehension.

PART A: Multiple Choice

1. What was the main purpose of President Trump's meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland?

   • A. To discuss the expansion of his golf resorts.

   • B. To finalize the details of a new transatlantic trade deal.

   • C. To resolve a personal dispute.

   • D. To attend a sporting event.

2. According to the article, which of the following best describes the mood surrounding the possibility of reaching a trade deal before the meeting?

   • A. Certain

   • B. Hopeless

   • C. Unclear, with a 50-50 chance

   • D. Celebratory

3. What did President Trump insist regarding US import taxes during the negotiations?

   • A. He was willing to go below 10%.

   • B. He would not go below 15%.

   • C. He wanted to eliminate all tariffs.

   • D. He would accept any offer from the EU.

PART B: Short Answer

4. According to the article, what would happen if no deal was made between the US and the EU?

5. What sector in the EU was specifically mentioned as being affected by the new baseline levy?

PART C: Fill in the Blanks

6. The new agreement includes a _____% tariff on EU goods entering the United States, which replaced the previously threatened rate of _____%.

7. President Trump's five-day visit to Scotland was mainly centered around _____ and promoting his _____.

PART D: Vocabulary and Language Skills

8. Find a word or phrase in the article that means "to bring something to completion after difficulties or negotiations."

9. According to the article, what does the word "framework" in the phrase "struck a framework trade deal" most closely mean?

   • A. An outline or basic structure

   • B. A building material

   • C. An obstacle

   • D. A conclusion

PART E: Long Answer (Extended Response)

10. In your own words, explain what both President Trump and the European Commission President hoped to achieve during their meeting in Scotland. Support your answer with evidence from the passage.

11. Evaluate the likely impact of the agreed baseline 15% tariff on the relationship between the US and EU. Consider the reactions of European companies and the initial ambitions of the EU side in your answer.

PART F: Inference and Critical Thinking

12. Why do you think Trump chose to meet at his Turnberry resort in Scotland rather than in a formal government office? What effect might this have had on the atmosphere or outcome of the talks?

These questions are designed to challenge students’ comprehension, vocabulary, inference, and analytical skills, which align with HKDSE reading examination standards1234.

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/i-am-an-esl-teacher-in-hong-ko-8PdyZeO8SHSX_fzVfA8LFA

Created a set of 4 images on SRL using Canva AI

 Canva AI > Create an Image

PROMPT

1. SRL Cycle for Language Learners
   A circular flow diagram with three phases: Forethought, Performance, and Self-reflection.
   Each phase has a smiling student character engaged in activities like goal-setting, practicing speaking, and reviewing notes.
   Colorful icons (target, speech bubble, checklist) illustrate the cycle.

OUTPUTS (4 versions)

Example version: 

BOTTOM LINE

Did a much better job than Perplexity. 

Created a vocab-hover-tooltip reading passage with POE and Canva AI

 In my previous attempt, I asked Perplexity to create the HTML code which I then used in POE's Create Canvas app, and then with Canva AI. 

Both apps succeeded. But POE created an interactive page which spanned across the whole screen. Canva AI did a better job. 

Then, i thought 'why don't I just use a normal prompt directly to get POE and Canva AI to create that hover tooltip passage. 

PROMPT

Create an interactive app that helps ESL students understand the passage below. There are 7 words in the passage that the ESL students may not understand. While reading, If they do not understand one of those 7 words, they will hover their cursor over the word, and then the meaning will pop up.

The passage:
A huge farm in northern Hong Kong was submerged in around three hours during Typhoon Wipha, causing about 70,000 sunflowers to wilt and leaving a 73-year-old farmer with six-figure losses.

Leung Yat-shun, a farmer at Shun Sum Yuen farm in San Tin, said on Saturday that he and three colleagues had spent about 10 weeks to grow tens of thousands of sunflowers to shoulder height, but their efforts were in vain within hours of Typhoon Wipha hitting the city last weekend.

“During the typhoon, the flood rose rapidly, reaching chest level in around three hours. The water was so rapid that I could not enter the farms and could only watch [the sunflowers flood],” he said.

Leung said the farm had suffered six-figure Hong Kong dollar losses, but it was difficult to calculate the exact amount.

The flower farm, near the border with mainland China, makes a large part of Leung’s income by charging visitors a fee of HK$50 (US$6.40) to enter and take pictures.

The 7 words which they may not understand: submerge, wilt, colleague, flood, suffer, calculate, border

=================

OUTPUT: 

poe: 

https://poe.com/preview/au8Wvip1E5sRchqriDcI

Canva AI:

https://paulsze.net/passage-hover-tooltips-vocab

Bottom Line: Both apps have done quite a good job. 

Created an interactive text with word-definition pop-ups in Canva AI

 https://paulsze.net/popup-definition-text

The original idea came from Google's AI for Educators Course. 

One lesson in the course was about using AI for differentiated instruction. One of the possibilities mentioned is to create an interactive text that has some pop-up definitions for words that may be difficult to some learners. 

1, I went to Perplexity:

- pasted in a short paragraph,

- named three words which would be turned into pop-ups (I did not provide the meanings of the 3 words)

- said I wanted an interactive task. 

2.  Perplexity returned an HTML text. It is not interactive yet. 

3. I copied the HTML text, went to Windows Notepad, pasted in the text, and saved it as an HTML file. 

4. I opened it a Chrome. It worked. But the text spanned across the whole screen. I didn't know how to format the page (in Notepad). 

5. I went to POE's create Canvas app; pasted in the HTML text; and asked it to generate the interactive artifact. It worked, but the formatting was the same: it spanned across the whole screen. 

6. I went to Canva AI, and repeated the step. Voila, it ended up with the above interactive text, nicely formatted.  

Sitting in on an AI-powered English lesson for new S1 students

 So glad to have the opportunity to sit in on an AI-powered English lesson for new S1 students. The main students' learning task was to generate an image about their new school life. In the process, the students learnt something about prompt engineering, and the language they could use to write an effective prompt to achieve that end. 

The new S1 students were entralled throughout. A very meaningful activity for an S1 bridging program.

Specifying a sequence in a prompt when consulting a Chatbot

This is one reminder in the Google's AI in Education course. Otherwise, the chatbot might return a collection of random ideas. 

 MY PROMPT: 

What are five questions or issues, in sequence, that my ESL student teachers should contemplate when planning an ESL lesson?

OUTPUT: 

Five Sequential Questions for ESL Lesson Planning

1. Who are my learners?

   • Consider the students' language proficiency, age, learning styles, interests, cultural backgrounds, and specific needs12. Understanding your learners is foundational to effective lesson design.

2. What are the lesson objectives?

   • Define clear, specific, and measurable learning goals focused on what your students should be able to do by the end of the lesson. Distinguish between content objectives (what to learn) and language objectives (how to use language)345.

3. What language or skills will be taught, and why?

   • Decide which language structures, vocabulary, or skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) are the focus. Align these with learners' needs, previous knowledge, and lesson objectives to maintain relevance and coherence246.

4. How will learning be structured and supported?

   • Plan the sequence of lesson stages (e.g., engage, study, activate), materials, and activities. Ensure the flow moves from presentation and controlled practice to freer production, scaffolding appropriately for student success7489.

5. How will I assess and support learning?

   • Consider methods for checking understanding during and after the lesson (e.g., formative assessment, exit tickets). Decide how feedback will be provided and include opportunities for reflection and revision to enhance long-term learning147.

By systematically addressing these five questions or issues, your student teachers can create focused, engaging, and effective ESL lessons that are tailored to their learners and aligned with best practices.