aiMOOC

E9 G - Public image and real person

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E9 G - Public image and real person

Mini description: You learn with fictional profiles that a public image is selected and shaped. It can be true, but it never shows a whole person.

Level: English as a first foreign language, class 9, G level, Baden-Württemberg.

Learning route: English first → understand → respond → ask → hint → improve → use again.

Safety rule: We use fictional profiles and open educational media. Do not use private social-media data. Recordings are voluntary and stay private. Do not upload photos, voices or personal data without clear permission. Do not send them to external AI tools.

Media start – Look, think, speak.

What can you see?
What can you guess?
What can you NOT know from one profile picture?

Sentence help: I can see ... / I think ... / I cannot know ...

I can ...

After this aiMOOC, you can say:

I can explain public image in simple English.
I can find selected information in a profile.
I can say what a profile does not show.
I can react, ask a question and give a reason.
I can write a short profile or job text.
I can check if a source or AI answer is reliable.
I can protect private information.

What do you already know?

Look at the picture again. Work with a partner.

A: A profile shows ...

B: Yes, and it does not show ...

A: Why?

B: Because ...

If you need help, use: photo – hobby – skill – friend – school – private – true – selected.

Key idea: public image is selected

A public image is the impression other people get from information they can see or hear. A person can choose a photo, a short text, clothes, examples of work or hobbies. These choices can shape the public image.

A public image is not automatically false. It can show real parts of a person. But it is only a selection. A real person has more experiences, feelings, strengths, problems, roles and private moments than one profile can show.

Use the iceberg.

Above the water: profile photo, caption, hobby, school project, job skill.

Below the water: many other moments, feelings, mistakes, relationships, routines and experiences.

Say: The public image shows ... / The real person is more than ...

Listening and viewing 1: your digital footprint

Watch first without subtitles. Do not stop after every word. Listen for the main idea.

First viewing – understand:

What is the main topic?
Is the message mainly about sharing, cooking, sport or travel?
Write three words you understood.

Second viewing – respond:

Turn on captions only now if you need them.
Check your three words.
Complete: A digital footprint is ...
Tell a partner one safe action.

Ask: What do you mean by ...? / Can you say that again?

Hint: Think before you post. Some online information can stay visible or be copied.

Reading: two fictional profiles

Important: Sam and Alex are fictional. The data below is invented for learning.

Public profile: Sam	More context about Sam
Sam, 15. Likes basketball, coding and school events. Caption: “Always ready for a new challenge.” Wants a weekend job.	Sam also gets nervous before presentations, sometimes needs help with deadlines, enjoys quiet evenings and makes mistakes like everyone else.

Task:

Underline three things that shape Sam's public image.
Name two things the public profile does not show.
Is the public profile false? Give one reason.

Sentence help: The profile shows ... / It does not show ... / I think it is fair because ...

Public profile: Alex	More context about Alex
Alex, 16. Plays guitar, helps at school events and writes: “Creative, friendly and reliable.”	Alex practises a lot, sometimes feels tired, does not always feel confident and has many interests that are not in the profile.

Compare: Both profiles select true information. The selection creates an impression, but it is not the whole person.

Media check: one photo is not a whole person

Look at the photo. Do not identify the person and do not guess private facts.

Safe description: The person is taking a selfie with a smartphone.

Unsafe guess: “She is always happy.” One image cannot prove this.

Rule: Describe what the media shows. Mark guesses as guesses.

Context vocabulary

Word	Easy meaning	Example
public image	what other people may think from public information	The public image looks sporty.
profile	selected information about a person	The profile shows two hobbies.
private	not for everyone	My home address is private.
audience	the people who see or hear something	A job profile has a different audience.
caption	short text with a photo or post	The caption sounds positive.
skill	something you can do	Teamwork is a useful skill.
selected	chosen from more information	The profile has selected facts.
impression	an idea you get about someone	The photo gives a friendly impression.
misleading	giving a wrong impression	An edited claim can be misleading.
digital footprint	data and traces connected with online activity	Posts can be part of a digital footprint.

Use again: Choose four words and make two sentences about Sam or Alex.

Pronunciation and fluency

Say the chunks, not every word alone:

PUBLIC image – REAL person – DIgital FOOTprint – PRIVATE information

Now read with a steady rhythm:

A profile shows one part of a person, but it does not show the whole person.

Fluency goal: Be easy to understand. You do not need to sound like a native speaker.

Partner feedback: I understood ... / Please repeat ... / Stress this word: ...

Listening and viewing 2: what do teens say?

Watch the teen voices. First listen without captions. Focus on ideas, not every word.

First try:

Who is speaking: one person or several people?
What topic do they discuss?
Write one idea you agree or disagree with.

Second try with captions if needed:

Find one reason a speaker gives.
Compare it with your first answer.
Say: I agree / I partly agree / I disagree because ...

Question skill: Why do you think that? / Can you give an example?

From social media to a job context

A public image also matters outside social media. In a job application or interview, people select relevant information: skills, experience, interests and examples.

This is normal. The important point is to stay honest and relevant.

Fictional application card:

Field	Fictional information
Name	Jordan Lee
Age	16
Goal	weekend job in a sports shop
Skills	friendly, punctual, basic computer skills
Experience	helped at a school sports day
Private data not needed here	home details, private chats, passwords

Task: Which information supports the job goal? Which information should stay private?

Listening and viewing 3: check before you share

Before watching, predict three words you may hear.

After watching, complete:

Before I post, I should think about ...

Then compare your answer with a partner.

Functional grammar

For this topic, communication is more important than many grammar rules. Focus on four useful patterns.

Function	Pattern	Example
describe	The profile shows ...	The profile shows hobbies.
contrast	... but ...	It looks confident, but it shows only one moment.
give a reason	... because ...	I would change the caption because it is unclear.
give advice	should / should not	You should check the audience.

Accuracy focus: Remember he/she/it + s in the present simple: The profile shows ...

Speaking: react, ask, explain

Use this mini-dialogue.

A: I think Sam's profile gives a positive image.

B: Why do you think that?

A: Because it shows hobbies and a goal.

B: I see. But it does not show the whole person.

Now change the ideas. Use Alex or Jordan.

Support level 1: Read the sentence starters.

Support level 2: Use keywords only: positive – selected – because – private.

Support level 3: Speak for 30–45 seconds without reading full sentences.

Short presentation

Prepare a short talk about one fictional profile.

Plan:

Who is the fictional person?
What public image is created?
Which details create this image?
What is missing?
Is the profile fair or misleading? Give one reason.

Speaking frame: This is ... / The profile shows ... / People may think ... / However ... / In my view ...

You may record yourself only if you want to. Keep the recording private. No upload is needed.

Writing: improve a fictional profile

Write 70–100 words.

Task: Create a safe, honest public profile for a fictional teenager who wants to join a school project or apply for a simple weekend job.

Include:

a goal
two skills
one hobby or activity
one example
one sentence about privacy or audience

Do not use a real person's private data.

Writing frame: My name is ... I am interested in ... I can ... For example, ... I would like to ... I keep ... private because ...

Mediation: explain, do not translate every word

Your German-speaking classmate asks: „Was ist der Unterschied zwischen public image und real person?“

Explain the key idea in German in 3–4 short sentences. Use the English lesson as your source. Do not translate every sentence.

Help: Auswahl – Eindruck – nicht falsch – nicht vollständig – Privatsphäre.

Media literacy: check the source

Online information can create a picture of a person. But a picture can be incomplete, old, copied or taken out of context.

Before you believe a claim, ask:

Who made it?
What is the source?
Is there evidence?
Is important context missing?
Is it fact, opinion or guess?

AI check: keep control of your work

AI can suggest words or feedback, but it can also be wrong.

Safe classroom rule:

Keep your own first version.
Do not enter real private profile data.
Do not upload faces or voices without permission.
Check factual claims with reliable sources.
Compare AI feedback with your task and your own text.
Accept only changes you understand.

Mini check: If an AI says, “This person is lazy because of this photo,” what is the problem? Answer: A photo does not prove a private character trait.

Feedback: hint → improve → use again

Read the first sentence. Use the hint. Improve it.

First try	Hint	Better version
He show only hobbies.	he + verb + s	He shows only hobbies.
The profile is the person.	use “one part”	The profile shows one part of the person.
She is always happy.	do not turn a photo into a fact	She looks happy in this photo.
This is bad.	give a reason	I think this is risky because private data is visible.

Use again: Write one new sentence with because and one with but.

Error detective

Which sentence is safer and more accurate?

A: He wears sports clothes, so he is a good person.

B: He wears sports clothes. The photo does not tell us what kind of person he is.

Choose B and explain why.

Now improve this sentence:

“Her profile proves that she is perfect for the job.”

Hint: Use suggests, shows or may give the impression.

Transfer: create two public images

One fictional person can present different true information to different audiences.

Situation A: school music project.

Situation B: weekend job in a café.

Create two short profile versions for the same fictional person. Change the selected information, but do not invent false facts.

Think: What changes because the audience changes?

Can-do check

I can ...	Yes	With help	Not yet
explain public image	□	□	□
find selected information	□	□	□
say what is missing	□	□	□
give a reason with because	□	□	□
ask a follow-up question	□	□	□
protect private information	□	□	□
check a source or AI claim	□	□	□

Next step: If you marked “with help” or “not yet”, go back to one task, use the hint and try again.

Follow-up course: E9 G - Digital footprint and future choices

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What is a public image? (The impression people get from selected public information) (!A complete record of a person's whole life) (!A secret password) (!A private message)

Why can a true profile still be incomplete? (It selects only some information) (!It must contain a lie) (!It shows every private moment) (!It has no audience)

Which sentence is careful and accurate? (The photo shows one moment) (!The photo proves the person is always happy) (!The photo shows the person's full character) (!The photo tells us every private fact)

What should stay private? (A password) (!A fictional hobby) (!A public project title) (!A general skill)

What does audience mean? (The people who see or hear something) (!A photo filter) (!A password manager) (!A school subject)

Which word gives a reason? (because) (!but) (!photo) (!profile)

What is a good first step when watching a short English video? (Listen for the main idea) (!Translate every word immediately) (!Stop after every word) (!Skip the video and guess)

What is a safe use of AI feedback? (Check the suggestion and keep control of your text) (!Upload private profile data) (!Accept every change automatically) (!Treat every AI claim as a fact)

What is a digital footprint? (Data and traces connected with online activity) (!Only a shoe mark) (!A private paper notebook) (!A camera lens)

What is the main message of this course? (A public image can be shaped but it is not the whole person) (!A profile always lies) (!One photo shows a full personality) (!Private data should always be public)

Memory

public image	selected public impression
audience	people who see or hear a message
caption	short text with a photo or post
privacy	control over personal information
digital footprint	online data and traces
context	information around a post or situation

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
public image	selected information for an audience
real person	more than one profile can show
private information	should not be shared with everyone
source check	asks who made a claim and what evidence exists
safe feedback	helps you improve while you keep control

Kreuzworträtsel

Profile	A selected set of information about a person
Audience	The people who see or hear a message
Privacy	Control over personal information
Caption	A short text next to a photo or post
Context	Information around a situation that helps you understand it
Footprint	A word used in the phrase digital ...

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

One-photo check: Beschreibe ein freies Commons-Bild in vier einfachen englischen Sätzen. Schreibe danach einen Satz: “This photo does not tell us ...”
Vocabulary cards: Erstelle sechs kleine Karten mit englischem Begriff, einfacher englischer Erklärung und eigenem Beispielsatz.
Fictional profile: Erstelle ein sehr kurzes Profil einer erfundenen Person. Nutze nur erfundene Daten.
Ask and answer: Führt zu zweit ein 60-Sekunden-Gespräch mit “What do you mean?”, “Why?” und “Because ...”.

Standard

Two versions: Gestalte für dieselbe fiktive Person ein Schulprojekt-Profil und ein Job-Profil. Markiere, was du für die jeweilige Zielgruppe auswählst.
Video notes: Sieh eines der eingebetteten Videos zuerst ohne Untertitel. Notiere Hauptidee und drei Schlüsselwörter. Prüfe erst danach mit Untertiteln.
Profile rewrite: Überarbeite einen fiktiven Profiltext so, dass er ehrlich, klar und passend für eine Zielgruppe ist.
Peer feedback: Tauscht eure fiktiven Texte. Gebt genau ein Lob, eine Verständnisfrage und einen Verbesserungshinweis.

Schwer

Public image talk: Halte eine 60–90-Sekunden-Präsentation darüber, wie Auswahl und Zielgruppe ein öffentliches Bild verändern können.
Guided mediation: Erkläre einer deutschsprachigen Person mündlich die Kernaussage eines englischen Kursabschnitts, ohne Satz für Satz zu übersetzen.
Source comparison: Vergleiche zwei öffentlich zugängliche sachliche Quellen zum digitalen Fußabdruck. Notiere Autor, Zweck, Datum und zwei gemeinsame Kernaussagen.
AI feedback check: Nutze nur dann ein freigegebenes KI-Werkzeug, wenn die Lehrkraft es erlaubt. Gib keine personenbezogenen Daten ein. Vergleiche einen KI-Sprachhinweis mit deinem Original, begründe deine Entscheidung und bewahre deine eigene Version.

Lernkontrolle

Audience switch: Eine fiktive Person bewirbt sich zuerst für ein Schulprojekt und dann für einen Ferienjob. Erkläre, welche wahren Informationen jeweils ausgewählt werden könnten und warum.
Photo limits: Erkläre anhand eines Bildes, welche Aussagen Beobachtungen sind und welche nur Vermutungen wären.
Context problem: Ein alter Screenshot wird ohne Datum neu geteilt. Erkläre, warum Kontext für die Bewertung wichtig ist.
Respond and ask: Reagiere auf die Aussage “A profile shows who you really are.” Gib deine Meinung, einen Grund und eine Rückfrage.
Fair profile: Schreibe einen kurzen fiktiven Profiltext, der positiv wirkt, aber keine falschen Behauptungen enthält.
AI claim check: Eine KI behauptet aus einem Profilfoto einen Charakterzug. Erkläre zwei Gründe, warum du diese Aussage nicht ungeprüft übernehmen solltest.

Lernnachweis

Für einen Lernnachweis sind wichtig:

Du erklärst den Unterschied zwischen public image und real person.
Du zeigst an einem fiktiven Beispiel, wie Auswahl und Zielgruppe einen Eindruck formen.
Du beschreibst Medien, ohne unbelegte private Eigenschaften zu behaupten.
Du reagierst, fragst nach und begründest deine Meinung in verständlichem Englisch.
Du schreibst einen kurzen strukturierten Profil- oder Berufstext.
Du nutzt zentrale Wörter und die Muster but, because und should verständlich.
Du gehst mit privaten Daten sicher um.
Du prüfst Quellen und KI-Aussagen, bevor du sie als Fakten übernimmst.
Du kannst Feedback nutzen und eine verbesserte Version deines eigenen Textes zeigen.

OERs zum Thema

Weitere passende Artikel: Digitaler Fußabdruck, Selbstdarstellung, Datenschutz, Medienkompetenz

Freie Medien im Kurs: Die Bilder stammen aus Wikimedia Commons. Prüfe bei einer Weiterverwendung jeweils die Lizenz- und Urheberangaben auf der Dateiseite.