Phone scams

This ESL lesson focuses on the topic of phone scams and highlights an innovative solution—a British company’s development of an “AI granny” to combat scammers. Students will expand their vocabulary, engage in discussions about phone scams, and watch an insightful video. Related video-based lessons include “Cybercrime and Cybersecurity,” “How to Avoid Job Scams,” “Don’t Fall for These Crypto and NFT Scams!,” “Are You Being Catfished? (Cybercrime),” and “How to Spot a Liar,” along with the worksheet “Phrasal Verbs: Telephone.”

Speaking and vocabulary: The lesson begins with a speaking activity where students discuss strange phone calls, unknown numbers, and the warning signs of potential scams. This is followed by a vocabulary-building section, where students learn key expressions such as “to target,” “to clamp down on,” “keep someone on the line,” “hold a conversation,” and “take the call.” Students match these terms to definitions, complete a gap-fill exercise, and participate in a discussion about strategies to address phone scams.

Listening: Students watch the video “This ‘AI Granny’ Is Taking on Telephone Scammers” and complete two comprehension activities. A post-listening discussion encourages critical thinking and reflection on the video’s content.

Reading and speaking: Students explore common phone scams, match scams to example phrases used by scammers, and role-play four real-world scenarios.

Vocabulary review: Students complete sentences using verbs from the lesson and create their own sentences to reinforce understanding.

For additional speaking opportunities, teachers can use the conversation cards, providing further practice with the lesson’s key concepts and vocabulary. This lesson is ideal for students looking to improve their practical English skills while learning about the relevant topic of phone scams.