Mind maps

In our case, we are going to ask ChatGPT to generate text-based mind maps to prepare materials for the class.

We can create mind maps for speaking sessions about pros and cons of current issues, such as use of social media or use of artificial intelligence or mass tourism to name a few. ChatGPT will generate ideas for discussion that we can take to the class setting by displaying on the board in the front or by simply taking a few notes from the information displayed on our computer or phone.

Imagine we want our B1 students discuss pros and cons of using social media. We can input this query into ChatGPT: Play the role of an English teacher and create a mind map in text form about pros and cons of use of social media for a class of young adults at an Intermediate level of English.

Branch 1: Pros of Social Media

1. Communication
   • Stay connected with friends and family
   • Easy to meet new people around the world
2. Learning
   • Access to educational resources (videos, tutorials, articles)
   • Join study groups or discussion forums
3. Entertainment
   • Watch videos, play games, follow trends
   • Share photos, memes, and fun content
4. Networking
   • Build professional relationships (LinkedIn)
   • Find job opportunities or internships
5. Self-expression
   • Share personal experiences, thoughts, and creativity
   • Showcase talents through blogs, photography, music
6. Business Opportunities
   • Promote products and services
   • Reach a global audience for free or low cost

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Branch 2: Cons of Social Media

1. Addiction
   • Spend too much time online
   • Hard to focus on work or studies
2. Privacy Issues
   • Personal information can be shared without permission
   • Risk of being hacked or scammed
3. Cyberbullying
   • Harassment or negative comments from others
   • Can lead to stress, anxiety, or depression
4. Misinformation
   • Fake news spreads quickly
   • Difficult to know what’s true or false
5. Mental Health
   • Comparing yourself to others can lower self-esteem
   • Social media can create pressure to be perfect
6. Distraction
   • Social media can interrupt important tasks
   • Reduces productivity at school or work

I would personally write down the numbered items on a piece of paper and leave aside the bullet points. Then I would simply take these items to the ELT class and ask the students to discuss pros and cons of using social media. They can think about benefits of social media such as in terms of communication, entertainment, learning and so on and also about the drawbacks of social media as in addiction, privacy issues, etc. We could just write down these items on the board.

In addition, we could ask ChatGPT to generate a series of discussion questions for us based on the mind map. Here’s the next prompt: Based on the mind map that you created around the use of social media, can you now create 15 conversation questions for my Intermediate learners of English?

Conversation Questions: Social Media

1. How often do you use social media? What platforms do you use the most?
2. Do you think social media has changed the way people communicate? How?
3. What are some benefits of using social media to stay in touch with friends and family?
4. Have you ever learned something useful from social media? Can you give an example?
5. Do you think social media is a good place for self-expression? Why or why not?
6. How do you feel about people comparing their lives to others on social media? Is it healthy?
7. In your opinion, how does social media affect people’s mental health?
8. Do you think social media can be addictive? How do you control the time you spend on it?
9. Have you ever experienced or witnessed cyberbullying on social media? How did you react?
10. How can people protect their privacy while using social media?
11. How do you feel about using social media for professional networking or job opportunities?
12. What are the risks of believing everything you see on social media? How can you check if something is true?
13. Have you ever used social media to promote something, like a product or event? Was it effective?
14. How do you balance using social media for fun with other activities, like studying or working?
15. What do you think is the biggest disadvantage of social media, and how can we overcome it?

These questions may be copied and pasted onto a Word document, Google Doc or a slide on a presentation programme such as Powerpoint or Google Slides for later use in class.

Let’s delve into it a bit more. I can now ask ChatGPT to generate useful vocabulary for possible answers, as in: Can you suggest useful lexical items in context for possible answers for question number 8?

Possible Lexical Items in Context:

1. Addictive:
   • “Yes, I think social media can be quite addictive because it’s easy to lose track of time scrolling through posts.”
2. Hooked:
   • “Sometimes I feel hooked on social media, especially when there’s something trending.”
3. Scroll endlessly:
   • “I often find myself scrolling endlessly through my feed without even realizing how much time has passed.”
4. Lose track of time:
   • “It’s so easy to lose track of time when you’re constantly checking notifications or watching videos.”
5. Set limits:
   • “To control the time I spend, I try to set limits by using an app that tracks my screen time.”
6. Screen time:
   • “I’ve started to monitor my screen time to make sure I don’t spend too many hours on social media.”
7. Take a break:
   • “I make sure to take regular breaks from my phone so I’m not tempted to check social media all the time.”
8. Detox:
   • “Sometimes I do a social media detox where I don’t use it for a few days to focus on other activities.”
9. Stay focused:
   • “I turn off my notifications when I’m working or studying so I can stay focused.”
10. Distraction:
    • “Social media can be a big distraction, so I’ve started scheduling specific times during the day to check it.”

This is great teaching material, which, again, we can take note of (mentally or on a piece of paper) so that when we meet our students we can expose them to this vocabulary by introducing it in questions or in reformulation in the speaking interaction.