ESL Lesson Plan: Warm-up
1) How are people different from computers?
2) What are some things you would like to accomplish before death?
3) Are you afraid of the dark?
Hawking: Heaven is a ‘Fairy Story’ (May 17th, 2011)
At 69 years old, Stephen Hawking is one of Britain’s most eminent scientists. In a recent lecture,
Hawking compared the human brain to a computer. When computer components break down,
they stop working. Using this analogy, Hawking argues that there is no heaven or afterlife for
human beings, just as there isn’t for broken-down computers. Heaven is “is a fairy story for
people afraid of the dark,” he claims.
According to Hawking’s new book, Grand Design, the Big Bang created the world, not a divine
creator. In the book, Hawking dismisses the idea of God and emphasizes the need for human
beings to fulfill their potential on Earth.
Like Albert Einstein, Hawking is working to develop a “theory of everything” that can describe
every particle and force in the universe. Some physicists believe that M-Theory, the topic of
Hawking recent lecture, may be the best hope science has of developing such a theory.
Hawking’s philosophy of life is remarkable considering his situation. At the age of 21, Hawking
was diagnosed with a disease that eventually paralyzed him. The disease is supposed to kill
Hawking within a few years of symptoms arising. Instead of praying for a better life in the
afterlife, Hawking buried himself in science. He has spent the last 29 years in a wheelchair,
aware that death could be right around the corner. While he says that he is not afraid of death,
he is in no hurry to die. “I have so much I want to do first”, he states. [253 words]
[Original: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/05/16/stephen-hawking-heaven-is-a-fairy-story/?hpt=C2 ,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/may/15/stephen-hawking-interview-there-is-no-heaven]
ESL Lesson Plan: Comprehension Questions
1) According to Hawking, how are human beings like computers?
2) What do some physicists believe M-Theory can do?
3) Why does the author think Hawking’s philosophy is remarkable considering his situation?
4) What does the expression “bury yourself in science” mean? (last paragraph)
5) True or False: Hawking has always believed he would live long.
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Match the words with their meaning as used in the article.
eminent
component
analogy
divine
dismiss
emphasize
potential (noun)
paralyze
symptom
comparison of two similar things
capability, promise
sign
part
disable, cripple
reject, deny
godly
distinguished, well known
stress, highlight
Master the language: Connect the below ideas to make a sentence.
government / crush / uprising
eminent / Einstein
computer / component
analogy / brain / computer
divine / message
lifeguard / emphasize / safety
paralyze / accident
humans / potential
symptom / influenza
e.g. The government crushed the uprising.
ESL Lesson Plan: Debate
Student A:
You are a scientist. You believe in the Big Bang Theory. Spend a minute
thinking of reasons why science is the best explanation for life on earth. Your
partner will start the conversation.
Student B:
You don’t believe science can explain this wonderful universe. The world was
clearly designed by someone. Spend a minute thinking of reasons to support
your argument. Start the debate by asking your partner what he/she thinks of
the Big Bang Theory.
ESL Lesson Plan: Discussion Questions
1) Do you agree with Hawking’s philosophy?
2) What are some limitations of science?
3) Is a scientific explanation of life depressing for you?
4) Have you ever witnessed a miracle or something supernatural?
5) Do you believe in the idea of a soul, separate from the physical body?
6) Would your view on life change if you were severely handicapped?
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7) Hawking talks about humans fulfilling their potential on Earth. How do you think a person
can fulfill his or her potential?
8) Free Will: If human beings are like computers, then are we really free to make
decisions?
--Lesson plan copyright Matthew Barton of Englishcurrent.com
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