2  Orientation

2.1 Course Purpose

This course teaches AI as an English communication and decision-support skill. It is not a programming course. You will use AI to practice English, organize ideas, compare options, read sources, describe visuals, prepare short communication tasks, and build a final portfolio.

2.2 Who This Course Is For

This course is for English language learners with almost no previous AI knowledge. Beginner and low-intermediate students can use the sentence frames and templates. Higher-level students can write longer answers and add more detail.

2.3 English-First Work

Your final course work should be in English.

You may use your first language to understand instructions when your teacher allows it. But your portfolio files, prompts, answers, reflections, and presentation should be in simple English.

flowchart TD
  O[Orientation] --> L[10 lessons]
  L --> H[Homework]
  H --> P["Portfolio<br/>artifacts"]
  P --> T["English AI<br/>Decision Toolkit"]
Figure 2.1: Your path through the English for AI course.

In simple English: each lesson and homework task helps you build one part of your final toolkit.

2.4 Tools

Students need only a basic device with a browser. A low-end Chromebook is enough.

Teachers may provide:

  • the course website
  • printed handouts
  • PDF or Word exports
  • a safe AI tool approved by the school
  • teacher-provided sample AI outputs when internet access is limited
  • a printed or mock privacy settings page for Lesson 1

Avoid paid accounts when possible. Save important work outside any AI tool.

2.5 If You Need Support

This course should feel safe and useful. If something is hard, you have options. Tell your teacher early.

  • You can ask for a printed copy of any page.
  • You can ask for more time to finish a task or save a file.
  • You can write some answers instead of saying them, if your teacher allows it.
  • You can say some answers instead of writing them, if your teacher allows it.
  • You do not need to create a new AI account for this course.
  • You do not need to show your private account settings to anyone.
  • You do not need to record your voice unless your teacher says it is allowed.
  • You can use your first language to think, but please write final work in English.
  • Tell your teacher if a tool, link, or activity does not work on your device.
  • Never share private information to complete an activity. Ask for a safer example.

Asking for help is part of learning. You are not behind for asking.

2.6 Portfolio Folder

Create this folder on your device or in your approved school storage:

English AI Decision Toolkit/

2.7 Lesson 1 Privacy Check

In Lesson 1, you will practice checking AI provider privacy/data settings. You will look for words like:

  • Privacy
  • Data Controls
  • Account Settings
  • Improve the model
  • Train our models
  • Chat history
  • Data sharing
  • Personalization

If a tool allows it, you should opt out of training, data sharing, or personalization. If you cannot find the setting, write: I could not find this setting.

Opting out is helpful, but it is not enough. Do not type private information into AI tools.

2.8 Final Submission Checklist

Your complete English AI Decision Toolkit should include:

Lesson 1 - My First Safe English AI Prompt and Privacy Check.md
Lesson 2 - Prompt Practice and Vocabulary Log.md
Lesson 3 - English Decision Matrix.md
Lesson 4 - Revised Prompt and Decision Matrix.md
Lesson 5 - Source-Grounded Answer in English.md
Lesson 6 - Source Check and Paraphrase.md
Lesson 7 - Visual Description and Attribution Note.md
Lesson 8 - Speaking Script and Consent Check.md
Lesson 9 - Presentation Draft and Portfolio Checklist.md
Lesson 10 - My AI Decision Assistant Prompt.md
Lesson 10 - Final Project - My English AI Workflow.md
Vocabulary Log.md
Sentence Frames I Can Use.md
Personal AI Safety Checklist.md
TipOpen File Formats

Use open or easy-to-export formats when possible:

.md, .txt, .csv, .png, .svg, .wav, .ogg, .pdf, .docx

2.9 My Progress

Use this tracker to see where you are in the course. Check each box when you finish and save the file in your English AI Decision Toolkit folder.

Step What to finish Done?
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 - My First Safe English AI Prompt and Privacy Check.md [ ]
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 - Prompt Practice and Vocabulary Log.md [ ]
Lesson 3 Lesson 3 - English Decision Matrix.md [ ]
Lesson 4 Lesson 4 - Revised Prompt and Decision Matrix.md [ ]
Lesson 5 Lesson 5 - Source-Grounded Answer in English.md [ ]
Lesson 6 Lesson 6 - Source Check and Paraphrase.md [ ]
Lesson 7 Lesson 7 - Visual Description and Attribution Note.md [ ]
Lesson 8 Lesson 8 - Speaking Script and Consent Check.md [ ]
Lesson 9 Lesson 9 - Presentation Draft and Portfolio Checklist.md [ ]
Lesson 10 Lesson 10 - My AI Decision Assistant Prompt.md [ ]
Lesson 10 Lesson 10 - Final Project - My English AI Workflow.md [ ]
Reference Vocabulary Log.md [ ]
Reference Sentence Frames I Can Use.md [ ]
Reference Personal AI Safety Checklist.md [ ]
Final check I reviewed all files for private information. [ ]
Final check I saved my files outside the AI tool. [ ]

2.10 Colab AI in the Labs

Some Optional Colab Labs use Colab AI. Colab AI is Google Colab’s built-in AI helper. When you open a lab and the AI cell runs, the lab tries to use Colab AI automatically. You do not need to turn it on.

If Colab AI is available, you will see a short answer in the lab. Read it carefully and decide what to keep, change, or reject. The AI answer is for review only.

If Colab AI is not available, the regular lab steps will still work, and you can finish your portfolio without AI.

Safety rules for every Colab AI cell:

  • Use safe examples only.
  • Never type private information into the lab.
  • Check important AI answers with a real source.
  • AI may be wrong. You decide what is true.
  • You make the final decision.

2.11 Lesson Routine

Use this routine in every lesson:

  1. Read the task in English.
  2. Highlight key words.
  3. Ask: What do I need to do?
  4. Use sentence frames.
  5. Complete the task in English.
  6. Check the answer with a partner or teacher.
  7. Save the work in your toolkit.
  8. Finish the homework task after class.

2.12 Can-Do Goals

By the end of the course, you can say:

  • I can write a simple prompt in English.
  • I can check privacy/data setting words.
  • I can compare two choices using simple English.
  • I can ask AI to explain an answer more clearly.
  • I can identify private information I should not share.
  • I can check an answer with a source.
  • I can give a short presentation about my AI workflow.
WarningHigh-Stakes Warning

For health, legal, immigration, money, taxes, safety, school records, or work contracts, use AI only to organize questions or learn vocabulary. Ask a qualified person before making a final decision.