Emulating Ishiguro's use of an artificial voice in 'Klara and the Sun'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can emulate Ishiguro’s use of mechanical and spatial language to craft my own artificial voice.
Key learning points
- The narrator of Ishiguro’s ‘Klara and the Sun’ is an artificial intelligence companion for children.
- In order to emulate Ishiguro’s use of an artificial voice, we might describe the character in mechanical terms.
- They might offer a description of their surroundings that focuses on spatiality rather than sensory language.
- You could also show how the character doesn’t fully comprehend social situations or interactions.
Keywords
Mechanical - operated by a machine, or connected with machines or their parts
Artificial - made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally
Sensory language - the use of words to create a connection to any of the five senses: sight, touch, sound, taste, smell
Spatial - relating to the position, area, and size of things
Common misconception
That you just need to say that your character isn't human to create an artifical voice.
To create an artificial voice, you want to consider how your character would describe themselves, their surroundings, and their interactions in a way that shows they are not human.
Teacher tip
It might be useful to read the first chapter of Ishiguro's 'Klara and the Sun' to help pupils see how Ishiguro has crafted an artificial voice.
Equipment
You will need a copy of the 2021 Faber and Faber version of ‘Klara and the Sun’ by Kazuo Ishiguro for this lesson (not provided).
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'The use of words to create a connection to any of the five senses: sight, touch, sound, taste, smell' is the definition of language.
Q2.If someone is smiling, then we might assume they are...
Q3.Which of the following sentences uses the sense of touch?
Q4.'Klara and the Sun' is a novel written by...
Q5.'Made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally' is the definition of something...
Q6.'Intelligence exhibited by machines, particularly computer systems' is the definition of intelligence.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In Ishiguro's 'Klara and the Sun', Klara is...
Q2.In Ishiguro's 'Klara and the Sun', Klara describes herself as which of the following in the opening sentence?
Q3.'Operated by a machine, or connected with machines or their parts' is the definition of which word beginning with 'm'?
Q4.Which of the following descriptions feels mechanical rather than human?
Q5.'Relating to the position, area, and size of things' is the definition of...
Q6.Which of the following descriptions focuses on spatiality?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Emulating Ishiguro's use of an artificial voice in 'Klara and the Sun', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Emulating Ishiguro's use of an artificial voice in 'Klara and the Sun', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Fiction: inner musings unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.