Lesson 7: Self-Driving Cars
They’ve actually started testing the waters already.

I can discuss self-driving cars.

INTRODUCE

Although it's known for being a car-manufacturing giant, Japan has been lagging behind the US in the development of self-driving vehicles. However, several car companies in Japan have recently joined global efforts to develop and improve this technology.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the first two expressions with your tutor and answer the questions. Then, guess the meaning of the third expression based on the clues provided.

    1. To warm up to the idea of something means to begin to like or be interested in a concept.

     

    I was against it at first, but I’m slowly warming up to the idea of working abroad.

     

    Q: Which picture shows an activity that you could warm up to the idea of?

    skydiving

    cliffdiving

     

     

    2. To test the waters means to find out what something would be like before actually doing it.

     

    Sell a few baked goods to your friends and test the waters first before you quit your job and open a bakeshop.

     

    Q: Which picture shows something you would test the waters with first before actually doing?

    a new expensive hobby

    a new relationship

     

     

    3.                                                                .

     

    The autonomous robot folded the laundry, cleaned the floor, and watered the plants without any human assistance or supervision.

     

    Q: What do you think autonomous means?

STEP B SPEAK YOUR MIND

Sometimes you want to indirectly say that you don’t trust someone at all.

    I don’t know if we should include Mark and Ben in our plan. Can we trust them?

    Definitely not! They’ll just mess everything up. I wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Hitomi and her foreign friend Cara are chatting as they window shop in Shinjuku.

Cara:

Did you hear about the accident that happened near here yesterday? A car crashed into a building!

Hitomi:

Yeah, I did. I heard that an old man was driving the car.

Cara:

I hope he was okay. Did he fall asleep at the wheel or something?

Hitomi:

No, the news said that he accidentally stepped on the gas instead of the brake.

Cara:

Again? Isn’t that the third accident like that this month?

Hitomi:

Yeah, I think so.

Cara:

Maybe they should take away people’s licenses after a certain age.

Hitomi:

I don’t think that’s really fair. Some people are good drivers well into their 80s. And besides, they already make older drivers take tests every so often to keep their licenses. I think that autonomous vehicles are the answer.

Cara:

Autonomous vehicles?

Hitomi:

You know, self-driving cars! They’re already selling cars around here with driver-assist features. I thought they were kind of stupid, but my parents bought one a few months ago, and it already helped them avoid an accident. I warmed up to the idea of self-driving cars when my mom told me about how theirs automatically swerved to avoid a big rock on the highway.

Cara:

Really? That’s actually kind of cool!

Hitomi:

Yeah, I think so too. What’s even cooler is that they’re developing cars that are fully autonomous. No human driver! They’ve actually started testing the waters already – apparently taxi companies in several cities are trying them out.

Cara:

I think the driver-assist features are good, but driverless cars? No way. I wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them. What if they malfunctioned? What if they were hacked? I trust my own driving skills more than a machine!

Hitomi:

Well, I just hope you drive better than you ride a bike. Didn’t you tell me you almost pedaled straight into a street lamp? (laughs)

TRIVIA

Mcity, located in the northern US state of Michigan, is a 32-acre town that has been specifically designed to test self-driving cars. The town has its own buildings, intersections, street lights, crosswalks, and even robotic pedestrians that will help test self-driving cars in different road scenarios.

PRACTICE

Choose the best follow-up sentences.

1. Many elderly residents are warming up to the idea of driverless buses. __________.

  1. They’re afraid and refuse to ride them.
  2. They were afraid at first, but now they ride them to the supermarket.

 

2. The politician is testing the waters for the next election by hosting small events. __________.

  1. He’s trying to see how people react to him and his ideas.
  2. He just wants to socialize and have fun.

 

3. I raised my children to be autonomous. __________.

  1. They make good decisions based on their own personal judgment.
  2. They still need me to decide everything for them, even what to wear or what to eat!

 

4. My financial advisor said I should test the waters before really getting into investing. __________.

  1. That’s why I’m going to start by investing just a bit.
  2. That’s why I’m going to start by investing my whole bonus!

 

5. I’m warming up to the idea of driverless cars. __________.

  1. I didn’t like it at first, but now I think it would be kind of nice to relax on my way to work.
  2. I thought it was amazing from the moment I first heard about it.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your friend just got into an accident and needs to buy a new car. Talk about what kind of car he/she should get.

Today's Expressions

  • warm up to the idea of something
  • test the waters
  • autonomous

Speak Your Mind

  • I wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them.

Challenge 2

What do you think? What does your tutor think? Discuss.

If Time
Allows
1

SELF-DRIVING CARS
2

ROAD SAFETY
1

SELF-DRIVING CARS

  1. How would you feel if you saw a fully autonomous car on the road?  
  2. Do you think self-driving cars will eventually replace regular cars?
  3. What other features would you like to add to a self-driving car (ex. sensors to detect health issues in passengers, an interactive tour guide app)?

2ROAD SAFETY

  1. Is road safety a big issue in your country?
  2. What are the common causes of car accidents in your country?
  3. Have you ever been in a car accident?

FEEDBACK

I can discuss self-driving cars.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK