Learn English with the News: “Robot asks Santa for a present”

Hallo!

(that’s  “hello” in dutch).

It’s not just children who are asking Father Christmas to bring them gifts this year, it’s also a robot. Can you imagine? We truly live in the XXI century!

To learn some English AND find out what this news articles is about, follow the 1-2-3:

1. Read the text
2. Understand the vocabulary
3. Watch the news

Text

Naughty or nice, every kid wants to ask Santa for a Christmas present. Now, robots too. Japan’s first robot astronaut met human astronaut Koichi Wakata at the International Space Station, and had a special request:

– Do you have anything to ask Santa for Christmas?

– A toy rocket!

– Then let’s ask Santa

He was developed by Japanese developer Takahashi and is seen as a blueprint for future human-robot co-existence.

– These types of robots may play an active role in space. For instance, they can convey the directions to the astronauts from earth, and they can think by themselves to support the astronauts’ living activities and work.

With or without toy rocket, what you could call Japan’s first ‘robonaut’ is due to return to earth in December 2014.

Vocabulary

Naughty – behaving badly — used especially to describe a child who does not behave properly or obey a parent, teacher, etc.

Request – to ask for (something) in a polite or formal way.

Developed – to create (something) over a period of time.

Blueprint – a detailed plan of how to do something.

Role –  part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation.

Convey – to make (something) known to someone.

News