Hibiscus Teach · Comedy · Futurama
Futurama 2: Let the robot do it
Saving effort sounds wonderful. But where should it stop?
A small favour becomes a big complaint. A robot assistant becomes rather too useful. Explore two comic situations and practise asking for help, negotiating a request and choosing what to do yourself.
Created by Denis M., British English teacher.
Start speaking · 20 seconds
Name one everyday task you would happily give to a robot. Explain why. On your own, say one complete sentence. With your tutor, answer: “What would you do with the time you saved?”
Your goal: Make a polite request, respond clearly, explain a joke with evidence and describe which responsibilities you would delegate.
How to use this lesson
Read the three words before each clip and make a prediction. Watch once for the main idea, then replay for detail. Complete the quiz and read the feedback. Choose one speaking prompt after each clip. Finish with the mastery check, your robot's job description and the short pronunciation practice.
On my own: Say your answers aloud or make a voice note. Open the model only after trying. No recording or upload is required by this page.
With my tutor: Discuss the same prompts, then respond to a follow-up question. Focus on communicating a clear idea rather than copying every word of the model.
B1 support: Replay, slow the video down where the player allows it, or open the short recap after your first attempt. B2 challenge: Explain the humour using something you can point to in the clip. Captions may be unavailable or inaccurate.
Content note: Adult animated comedy with dismissive replies and dark humour. Use the selected sections; the full uploads may include material outside this lesson. The comic behaviour is not a model for speaking to colleagues.
Bender and the sweaters
When does a small favour become too much?
The Professor needs Bender's help with a task in the laboratory. Listen for what he wants and how Bender responds. You do not need to know the rest of the episode.
Benderama · Hulu. On YouTube, stop at 0:33. The full upload may include material outside the lesson.
First watch: Does Bender respond as though this is a small favour or a major demand?
Need support after watching? Read a short recap
The Professor wants help with his sweaters. Bender objects by making a joke about his name. The Professor changes the wording, but Bender still complains about the amount of work.
Clip 1 quiz · 3 questions
Use the language · Ask, agree or negotiate
For a polite request, use Would you mind + -ing?
Would you mind checking these figures?
To agree, make your meaning clear:
Not at all. I'll check them now.
Here, Not at all means “I don't object.” It does not mean that you refuse. An action sentence after it makes your intention especially clear.
You can also offer a different time:
I can check them after lunch. Would that work?
Or explain a limit politely:
I'm sorry, I can't check everything today, but I can look at the first page.
Try it · A favour before a presentation: Ask a colleague to check three slides. Your partner agrees, offers a later time, or offers to check just one slide. Respond to what they actually offer and agree on the next step. On your own, speak both parts before opening the model.
See one possible exchange
A: Would you mind checking these three slides before lunch?
B: I can check them after lunch. Would that work?
A: Yes, that would be fine. Could you focus on the figures?
B: Of course. I'll check those first.
Keep talking · Choose one prompt
Speak for 30–45 seconds. Give an answer, a reason and a specific example.
- Your colleague asks for help when you are busy. Offer a realistic time or a smaller amount of help without sounding dismissive.
- What makes Bender's reaction funny? Explain the contrast between the task and his response. Then give a more cooperative reply.
- When is refusing a favour reasonable? Describe a situation and give the actual words you would use.
Useful language: Would you mind…? / I can…, but… / Would that work? / The funny part is that…
Need an idea? See one example
I can help with the presentation, but I need to finish another task first. Would it be useful if I checked the figures after lunch? I cannot redesign every slide today, but I can check the three that matter most.
Tutor or partner: “I need it before lunch. Is there any part you could help with now?” On my own: Answer that question in one extra sentence.
The scientist who delegates everything
What should an assistant do for you, and what should it leave to you?
In a short fictional story within the programme, a scientist builds a robot to save himself work. Watch how far he takes this idea. You do not need the scientist's name to understand the scene.
Benderama · Voodoo God. On YouTube, stop at 0:57. The full upload may include material outside the lesson.
First watch: Does the scientist hand over only work, or something more?
Need support after watching? Read a short recap
A scientist gives his work to a robot. The robot receives recognition and takes on personal roles too. When the scientist sees an unhappy result, he even asks the robot to experience his reaction for him.
Clip 2 quiz · 3 questions
Use the language · Decide what to delegate
Delegate (verb): Give a task or responsibility to someone else to carry out.
I can delegate the research, but I will check the final report.
For an imagined decision, I'd means I would. Use let + object + base verb to say what you would allow:
I'd let it organise my files.
Do not add to after let it. Here, let expresses permission or willingness; to give an instruction, you can say “I'd ask it to organise my files.”
Use I'd rather + base verb to say what you would prefer to do yourself:
I'd rather make the final decision myself.
Not “I'd rather to make” or “I'd rather making.”
Try it · 20–30 seconds: Name one task you would allow a robot to do and one you would prefer to do yourself. Add a reason with because. There is no single correct choice.
Keep talking · Choose one prompt
Speak for 30–45 seconds. Use a specific example instead of making a claim about all technology.
- Think of a skill you enjoy or need. Which parts could a robot help with, and which parts would you still practise?
- Would an achievement still feel satisfying if a machine did most of the work? Explain what your contribution would need to be.
- What makes the scientist's final request more extreme than ordinary delegation? Explain the joke without assuming that all assistance is a problem.
Useful language: I'd let it… / I'd rather… / It could help me with… / What matters to me is…
Need an idea? See one example
I'd let a robot organise my notes because that would save time. It could suggest a structure for a talk, but I'd rather choose the main message and practise presenting it myself. I want help with preparation without losing the chance to improve my speaking.
Tutor or partner: “Suppose the robot could give a clearer presentation than you. Would you change your decision?” On my own: Give one reason to keep or change your original choice.
Finish with confidence
Mastery check · 3 questions
Your robot's job description · 45–60 seconds
Your robot's job description · 45–60 seconds
You now have a robot assistant. Decide on two tasks it can do independently, one task it can help you with, and one responsibility you will keep entirely for yourself. Explain your choices.
Plan: Two independent tasks → one shared task → one personal responsibility → reasons.
On my own: Make brief notes, speak without reading the model, and try again if one part is missing. With my tutor: Explain your choices, then respond to one objection or changed condition.
See one possible response
I'd let my robot clean the kitchen and organise my files because those jobs take time and do not need much input from me. It could help me prepare a presentation by checking the layout, but I'd choose the message and practise delivering it myself. I would keep the responsibility for apologising to a friend. The robot could remind me that I need to do it, but I'd rather have that conversation myself. For me, the point is not to avoid every effort; it is to save time on routine tasks and stay involved where my own participation matters.
Check yourself: Did I name all four responsibilities, explain my reasons, use let and would rather accurately, and speak in my own words? Different decisions are welcome when the reasons are clear.
Go further · Optional B2–C1 discussion
Which matters more: the result, the learning, or your personal involvement? Choose one responsibility from your job description. Explain how your answer might change if the robot did it faster or better. Someone who delegates more can give as strong an answer as someone who delegates less.
Now compare the two clips in one or two sentences. What do Bender and the scientist have in common, and how does the second scene take the idea further? Support your interpretation with something in the selected scenes.
Listen and repeat
Practise the seven words and five useful expressions below. These are lesson vocabulary and original teaching phrases, not a recreation of the actors’ dialogue.
Press the button beneath an item, listen, then repeat aloud. Change one detail in a phrase to make it true for you. Use Stop before moving to another item if you need to.
British English · Libby
Choose an item to listen and repeat.
Word review
fold
bend
a hassle
research
an achievement
an award
delegate
Useful expressions
Make a polite request
Would you mind checking these figures?
Agree to help
Not at all. I'll check them now.
Negotiate the timing
I can check them after lunch. Would that work?
Allow the robot to do a task
I'd let it organise my files.
Keep a responsibility for yourself
I'd rather make the final decision myself.
Make it yours: Ask for a real favour, respond with a realistic time, and say what you would rather do yourself. This is extra practice, not another test or a requirement to record your voice.