ESL
CONNECT

Should We Contact Aliens? B2/C1 Lesson

B2/C1 ESL Connect Video lesson based on the tapescript: SETI, METI, alien contact, risk, democratic decision-making and the Fermi paradox.

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Lesson Aim

Students watch a video about the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and debate whether humanity should listen quietly or actively send messages into space.

Video structure: Part 1 introduces the Fermi question, SETI and METI. Part 2 explores the risks of messaging aliens, the Zoo Hypothesis, language barriers and long timescales.

Before watching

Do you think intelligent alien life probably exists somewhere in the universe?
Should humans try to contact aliens, or is it safer to stay quiet?
Who should have the right to send a message on behalf of Earth?

SETI and METI

Watch in two parts and complete the tasks.

Prep Part 1

Drag the correct meaning into each gap.

1. extraterrestrial intelligence

2. anomaly

3. convey information

4. make the first move

Answer options

something unusul or different from what is expectedintelligent life from outside Earthinitiate contact efore the other side doesommunicate meaning or data

Watch Part 1

Watch from 0:00 to about 1:40. Focus on the Fermi question, SETI, METI and why some scientists want to reach out first.

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Comprehension 1

Click each question to reveal the answer.

What question has humans asked for a very long time?

Are we alone?

What did Enrico Fermi ask in 1950?

If we re not alone, where is everybody?

What does SETI look for?

Anomalies or artifiial signals that may suggest intelligent civilisations

Why are artificial radio waves described as “spiky”?

Because they convey information

What does METI believe?

Listening my not be enough, so humans might reach out first.

Vocabulary from Part 1

The universe is full of natural radio .

Artificial signals may be the signature of intelligent .

METI believes someone has to make the first .

Making contact may open humanity up to rejection or .

Options

movecreativitywavesworsecivilisations

Prep Part 2

Drag the correct meaning into each gap.

1. red herring

2. leakage

3. Zoo Hypothesis

4. timescale

Answer options

an argument or detail that distrats from the real issuethe length of time involved in a processthe ide that aliens know about us but are observing from afarradiation or signals escaping into space unintentionally

Watch Part 2

Watch from about 1:40 to the end. Focus on Stephen Hawking’s warning, the Zoo Hypothesis, democratic concerns and long-distance communication.

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Comprehension 2

Click each question to reveal the answer.

What warning is associated with Stephen Hawking?

Trnsmitting signals might not turn out well for Earth.

Why does METI see the hiding argument as a red herring?

Beause Earth has already been leaking signals into space for decades.

What is the Zoo Hypothesis?

Aliens may know we exist ut are studying us from afar.

What is one of Mike Garrett’s concerns?

Who speks for Earth and who has the right to send messages?

What makes interstellar communication difficult?

Huge distanes, long timescales and fundamental differences.

Vocabulary from Part 2

Earth has been leaking radiation into .

Aliens might be studying us from .

Sending signals arbitrarily may not be very .

A message to a planet 1,000 light years away would take 1,000 years to them.

Options

spaceladderreachafardemocratic

Vocabulary Review

Expression	Meaning	Example
SETI	Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence	SETI listens for unusual signals from space.
METI	Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence	METI argues that humans should reach out first.
red herring	a distracting or misleading argument	METI sees the hiding argument as a red herring.
Zoo Hypothesis	the idea that aliens may be observing us from afar	The Zoo Hypothesis suggests we may already be known.
Goldilocks Zone	a region not too hot or cold for potential life	METI targets planets in the Goldilocks Zone.

Phrasal Verbs and Expressions from the Video

Drag the correct expression into each sentence.

METI believes humans should first.

Aliens might be to send us signals.

Stephen Hawking warned that contact might not well.

METI argues that it is too late to .

SETI will keep an ear to the sky and try to signals.

Options

reach outgoing out of their wayturn outjot downpick uphide

Use the Same Phrasal Verbs to Form Questions

Use the same phrasal verbs and expressions from the previous exercise to complete the questions.

1. Should humans to alien civilisations first?

2. Why might aliens not be to contact us?

3. How could contact with aliens badly for Earth?

4. Is it already too late for Earth to from advanced civilisations?

5. What kind of signal would SETI most hope to ?

Options

pick uphideturn outgoing out of their wayreach outshow up

Collocations from the Video

Drag the correct word to complete each collocation.

radio waves

civilisations

signals

barrier

timescales

Options

languageintelligentnaturalrandomdifficultartificialintentional

B2/C1 Grammar: Speculation, Risk and Cautious Argument

This video discusses uncertainty and risk, so the grammar focus is on speculative modals, conditionals and cautious argument language.

Click each grammar question to reveal the answer.

Complete: “Alien life ___ exist somewhere in the universe.”

may

Which sentence is most cautious?

It could be that aliens already know we exist.

If we send messages into space, we ___ attract attention from unknown civilisations.

might

Which sentence is correct?

If planet were 1,000 light years away, a message would take 1,000 years to arrive.

Which phrase is best for presenting a careful opinion?

It could e argued that...

Complete: “One possible concern is ___ no single group has the right to speak for Earth.”

that

Thought-Provoking Questions

Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups. Give reasons, examples and possible consequences.

1. Should humanity actively send messages to alien civilisations, or simply listen?

2. Who has the right to speak for Earth?

3. Is Stephen Hawking’s warning realistic caution, or unnecessary fear?

4. If aliens already know we exist, does that change the ethical debate about sending messages?

5. What should a message from Earth contain, and what should it avoid?

6. Could communication across thousands of years ever create a meaningful relationship?

7. Would discovering alien life make humanity feel more united or more divided?

Challenge: Choose one question and prepare a one-minute answer using cautious language such as: It could be argued that..., One possible risk is..., This becomes more complicated because...

Role Play

Arguing for METI	Arguing for SETI	Reaching a compromise
Listening may not be enough. Someone has to make the first move. We may already be known.	We need to be more cautious. Who has the right to speak for Earth? The risks are difficult to predict.	Perhaps we could agree to... Before sending anything, we should... A democratic process would require...

Context

Situation: An international space committee is debating whether Earth should send a new message to a potentially habitable planet. Student A supports METI. Student B supports SETI’s cautious approach.

Student A

Argue that humanity should reach out first and demonstrate intelligence and willingness to communicate.

Student B

Argue that sending messages is risky, undemocratic and scientifically uncertain.

Role play task: Discuss the proposal for five minutes. By the end, agree on one condition that must be met before Earth sends a message.

Finish