Wading Through AI Slop

This C1 ESL lesson explores the rise of AI slop through a thought-provoking article about bizarre, AI-generated content online. Students will learn how low-effort AI production affects trust, online platforms, and information quality. Along the way, they’ll practice 12 high-level vocabulary words such as misleading, scrutinize, erode trust, and wade through. The lesson includes lively discussions about ridiculous AI-generated images, vocabulary-focused activities, and in-depth summarizing tasks. As always, it’s packed with beautiful visuals and is an ideal fit for curious adult learners.

Lead-in

The lesson begins with a warm-up discussion on 12 widely used AI tools, from ChatGPT to Midjourney. Students are encouraged to reflect on which ones they’ve tried, share honest experiences, and offer practical tips for using them more effectively. This opening activity helps activate prior knowledge and sets a conversational tone before diving into the core topic of AI slop. On the following page, the focus shifts to AI image generators, with more targeted and thought-provoking questions. Teachers are free to spend as much time as needed here—it’s a flexible section designed to match the interests and engagement level of the group.

Vocabulary preview, Definitions

The vocabulary preview section introduces 12 key words taken directly from the article. Students begin by checking off the words they already know and writing brief explanations in their own words. This encourages active recall and helps the teacher gauge their initial understanding. On the next page, students explore the unfamiliar words more deeply, using clear, student-friendly definitions as support. If needed, feel free to expand with your own examples or explanations—especially useful for clarifying tricky expressions like erode trust or wade through.

Article, Charts, Pair-work

After completing the vocabulary preview, students move on to reading the article. They should pay close attention to each section, as they’ll be summarizing them afterwards. The article is around 1,300 words and takes about seven to eight minutes to read. While it’s written in a clear and accessible style, students may take a bit longer than usual to process the ideas. After reading, they’ll use three charts to summarize the key sections, using all the target vocabulary and adding any extra details they remember. This task can be done individually to give each student plenty of space to reflect and express themselves. Once the summaries are complete, students pair up for a short, focused discussion. Each pair chooses one topic and talks for three minutes—by this point, they should feel confident using the term AI slop and discussing its implications. Afterwards, pairs share their main points with the class.

Context rewrite, Cause & effect

The vocabulary practice section includes two focused activities to help students internalize the target words. The first task, Context Rewrite, asks students to rewrite 12 simple sentences using a more advanced word provided in brackets. This encourages them to think critically about word choice and sentence structure while reinforcing meaning. The second task, Cause and Effect, challenges students to select any three words from the vocabulary list and create a logical chain showing how those words could connect in a real-life context. A sample is provided to guide them, and students are encouraged to write full, well-developed sentences—remind them to go beyond basic phrasing and aim for clarity, logic, and natural expression.

Speaking, Optional video

The speaking page features four strange and clearly manipulated examples of AI slop. Students are asked to share their reactions and explain what’s visually or logically wrong with each image. The text on the slides may appear small, so feel free to zoom in or read the captions aloud if needed. If you’d like to explore more examples, similar images can easily be found on platforms like Twitter or Reddit. The final slide includes an optional 17-minute video—not recommended for classroom viewing due to time constraints, but it works well as a follow-up assignment or homework for students who want to dive deeper into the topic.