look at adjectives to describe personality / character
1) Discuss
What is "charm"?
In what jobs do you need to be charming?
Can both women and men be charming?
Are people less charming than they used to be?
What are the origins of the word?
Are charm and charisma the same thing?
Can charm be learnt?
2) Listen
Author and critic Stephen Bayley has said the UK is becoming less charming. In this discussion from Radio 4's Today program he debates the subject along with columnist Rowan Pelling. 1) Listen to the clip. How many of the questions above are answered?
Useful vocabulary You will hear these words. Do you know what they mean?
How many would you associate with someone who was "charming"
Highlight below to see the positive words
= appealing, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charismatic, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, glamorous, magnetic, seductive, spellbinding, exciting, hypnotizing, interesting, pleasant
B) Write
Think of some people you know. Describe them in a sentence. Use the adjectives in the list. Say why he / she is appealing, engaging, glamorous etc
4) Discuss Look at the postcard What does it tell you about being polite in English?
Do you think being polite or having good manners is the same as being charming?
Are being charming and having good manners important?
Why are we polite to each other?
In what situations is it important to be polite or charming?
Are you likely to be more impressed by someone who is polite or charming?
In what ways do you show politeness or respect in your language?
Does politeness change according to language and culture?
How do we show politeness in English? What words or expressions do we use?
More What is love?Intermediate, Listening, Love, Relationships, UpperIntermediate
Why are jeans so popular? Fashion, Intermediate, Jeans, Listening, Passive, Past Simple, Reading, Tenses Review, UpperIntermediate Willpower - How can you improve it?Advanced, UpperIntermediate, CAE, FCE, IELTS, Life and how to live it, Listening, Success,
listen to someone talking about ideas of fashion, beauty and health
1) Discuss in pairs / write a list
In 60 seconds how many words can you think of which describe a person's appearance?
Make a note / write a list of them
eg tall, short...
2) Match
A) Choose the right category for each of the words below. Is it Build, Hair, Height or Opinion?
B) Now make a table and put all the words from the exercise and your list in the right column
Build
Hair
Height
Opinion
tall
3) Discuss
What is beauty?
What makes someone beautiful or attractive?
Where do we get our ideas of beauty from?
Do ideas of beauty vary around the world?
4) Watch
Watch the clip "Food for Thought" below.
You are going to watch a woman called Mable talk about the first time she came to the UK.
A) Listen and answer
Where does Mabel get her idea of beauty from?
Why is she scared of coming to England?
What does she learn about the British?
B) Watch again and fill in the gaps in the sentences
5) Discuss
Why does Mabel think that beauty is what she sees in the magazines?
What do you think “junk in the trunk” means? Junk = rubbish. Trunk (American) = the place where you put the bags in a car (boot in UK English). Can you guess what she means when describing people?
Why do you think it is easier for an African to eat well and be healthy than for the British?
Is it easy to eat healthily in your country?
Do you eat healthily?
She says "the magazines show what the British want to look like." Do you think this is true for all nationalities?
Why do we want to look like the people in the magazines?
Why does Mabel think she is lucky at the end?
6) Do the crossword
Click on a number and type in your answer. Click check to see the answers.
7) Play a game 20 questions.
Someone in the class thinks of a famous person. The others ask Yes / No questions to guess the name of the person. - Is it a man? Yes it is - Is he tall? - Yes he is. - Has he got long hair? Yes he has
Continue until you guess. If you can't guess in 20 questions you lose!
8) Discuss / Write
A) In Pairs. Describe someone. Talk about their appearance and their personality. Don't say their name. Read your description to your partner or to the class. Can they guess who you are describing?
B) - IELTS
The Fashion and clothing industry is becoming increasingly important in modern society. Is this a good or bad thing?
Eating a balanced diet is the most important factor for a healthy life. To what extent do you agree?
More
What Britain Loves Advertising, Beginners, Gerunds, Life in the UK, Present Simple, Travel and Tourism
What is the weight of the human race? Advice, Crossword, FCE, Food, Health, IELTS, Jamie Oliver, Listening, Obesity, Obligation, Writing,Intermediate, UpperIntermediate
watch a video and do a listening comprehension quiz
write a description of someone you know
1) Discuss
How many words do you know to describe someone?
How many can you think of in one minute?
2) Vocabulary match
Look the words below. Can you match them?
Drag and drop each word on the right to its nearest opposite on the left.
3) Discuss
Most of the words in the exercise are adjectives.
How many are nouns?
How many are verbs?
Answers - highlight below
nouns = a pensioner, a toddler, a party animal, a loner
verbs = to fit in, to stand out
4) Watch
Miss Devine
You are going to listen to cousins Cherrie Johnson and James Ransom who spent many weekends at their grandparents house in Florida. During these visits they attended the local methodist Church Sunday school. They now remember their neighbour and Sunday school teacher, Miss Lizzie Devine.
Look at the photo.
Describe the photo.
What kind of person do you think she is? Kind, generous, short-tempered?
Watch the clip and answer.
How do they describe Miss Devine's appearance? What did she look like?
How do they describe her character or personality? What was she like?
What stories do they tell about her?
Do you think they like or admire her?
Did they learn anything from her?
5) Gap-fill
How much do you remember?
Here is a summary of the clip. Fill in the blanks.
Who inspires you?
Write about someone who inspires you.
Plan
1. Introduce the person. Who are they? Why are they important to you?
2.
Describe the the person in more detail. Describe their character /
personality. Why / How do they inspire you? Do they inspire you because
of their beliefs / their actions? What exactly have you learnt from
them?
3. Are you a better person because of them? How have they changed you? Give an example of something you do that they inspired.
4. Conclude. How would your life be different without them? Restate why they are important to you in a few words.
Look at vocabulary and expressions to describe personality
Discuss keeping diaries and blogs
Discuss and write about an achievement using a variety of past tenses
Discuss and write some IELTS style questions
1) Introduction A) Who is Laura Dekker? What do you know about her?
Where is she from?
How old is she?
What is her achievement?
How long did it take?
Why did the authorities try to stop her?
B) Watch the news report to check your answers
C) Watch again, listen and fill in the spaces in the gap-fill exercise with a verb
D) Grammar - Look again. What are the tenses in each sentence?
2) Discuss
Look at the map below
Would you like to sail around the world on your own?
What skills do you think you need?
What kind of a person do you need to be? Think of some adjectives or expressions.
Do you agree with the Dutch authorities that Laura was too young to do the trip?
What do you think Laura learned from the trip?
3) Reading
3a) Read the text below quickly and put these paragraph headings into the correct spaces in the text. Each heading describes the paragraph which follows
A) She is determined
B) She is a reluctant superstar
C) She is good with cockroaches
D) She was born to sail
E) She becomes the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe
Read the text again and find the answers to these questions.
3b) What expressions or adjectives are used to describe Laura? 3c) What did she learn from the trip?
4) Vocabulary
Check / Guess / Find out What do these underlined expressions from the text mean? Try and guess from the other words in the sentence.
Paragraph 1
a trip her father had hoped would "cure her wanderlust"
Paragraph 2 She took on six-metre-high waves and extreme weather heading into the Cape of Good Hope
her storm jib (a sail used in storms) got jammed
Another of her sails ripped completely
She dodged near-collisions with cargo ships
Not in the least squeamish, she had to rescue live flying fish that had flung themselves into her cabin, and scrub the stinking remains of decomposing squid from the deck
the ants and cockroaches that had stowed away in her cabin. Paragraph 3
she set off
in the meantime
Paragraph 4
Dekker has just pipped the previous youngest
Now do the exercise
5) Grammar
Tenses. Look again at part 1D. What were the tenses?
How many tenses can you find in the reading text? Give one example of each.
Find a past simple = She survived weeks at sea...
Find a past continuous =
Find a present perfect =
Find a past perfect =
Find a conditional =
Find a passive =
6) Discuss
What do you think of Laura's achievement?
Do you think she is a heroine?
Was she right to follow her dream or was she too young?
Were the Dutch authorities right to try and stop her?
What are the advantages of keeping a learning diary or blog in English?
Think of an achievement in your lifeand talk about it eg learning to drive, learning English, entering a competition, doing a course...
Why did you decide to do it?
Describe doing it. Was it difficult? How did you feel during and after?
What did you learn from it?
What did you learn about yourself?
7a) Writing
Now write about your achievement
Organise and plan
Paragraph 1 - Introduce the achievement. Say why you wanted to do it. Use past tenses - past simple and continuous / past perfect
Paragraph 2 / 3 - Describe doing it - preparation, difficulties, your feelings. Use past tenses - past simple and continuous / past perfect.Use some adjectives to describe the activity and your feelings.
Paragraph 4 - What have you learnt from doing it? How has it changed your life? How have you changed? What are the benefits? Would you recommend the activity to others? Try and use a variety of tenses; past simple and continuous / past perfect / present perfect / conditional / passive
7b) Writing (IELTS)
Discuss and prepare to write about one of these questions
Should parents be obliged to send their children to school? Or should they have the right to choose how to educate them?
Some people believe that governments have a duty to make sure all their citizens are healthy, safe and well educated. Others say that this can lead to state interference and infringes on the freedom of the individual to choose how to live. Discuss both views and give your opinion
“Not everything that is learned is contained in books.” Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
1D Answers 1) Present Perfect. 2) Past Simple. 3) Past Perfect. 4) Past Simple, Past Passive. 5) Past Simple x 3. 6) Past Perfect, Past modal - should. 7) Present Perfect Passive.
3a) Answers
She was born to sail
She is good with cockroaches
She is determined
She becomes the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe
She is a reluctant superstar
3b) Answers
stoic, a cool head, wanderlust, not in the least squeamish, determined, experienced solo sailor, values solitude and a proximity to nature, has a deep appreciation of the beauty the world has to offer, "mostly I simply enjoy the endless silky blue ocean and the quiet peace that it brings," "At sea, I feel comfortable and I come to rest."
3c) Answers
- To prepare for the trip Dekker had done training in first aid and sleep management, and had become a more experienced solo sailor,
- Sailing around the world, navigating difficult port approaches, storms, dangerous reefs, and the full - responsibility of keeping herself and her boat safe
- Learned to value and appreciate nature
5) Answers
past simple - She survived weeks at sea...
past continuous - Her Dutch parents were living on a yacht...
present perfect - Her mother has said...
past perfect - ... flying fish that had flung themselves into her cabin
conditional - If Laura had drowned people would have accused us of not doing enough to protect her
passive - Dekker was placed under state guardianship by a Dutch court
Read and listen for information about two celebrities
Compare and contrast them
Write a biography of someone famous
Note; This post was updated 30/12/2011 due to the Shakira biography clip being removed from Youtube. I replaced it with another clip and altered the comprehension questions.
1) Discuss
Look at these people.
Do you know who they are?
What are they famous for?
Have you ever dreamed of being famous?
Would you like to be famous?
What do you think it takes to achieve fame or success?
Do you think any of them have changed the world we live in or made our lives better?
Highlight here for answers;
Leo Di Caprio, Bob Marley, Martin Luther king, The Beatles, David Beckham
Che Guevara, Mother Teresa, Shakira, Elvis Presley, Beyonce
2) Read and watch Clip 1
You are going to watch a clip about Shakira
What do you know about Shakira?
Where is she from?
How old is she?
What does she do?
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2, 1977), known professionally as Shakira is a Colombian singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, and philanthropist who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s. Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira revealed many of her talents in school as a live performer, demonstrating her vocal ability with rock and roll, Latin and Middle Eastern influences with her own original twist on belly dancing. Shakira is a native Spanish speaker and also speaks fluent English and Portuguese as well as some Italian, French and Arabic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakira
Answer these questions;
What was her dream when she was growing up?
What did she know at 18 months old?
What could she do at 3?
How old was she when she started writing songs?
When did she get a record deal?
What does her foundation do?
What awards has she won?
How succesful is she now?
Highlight below for answers
To become a famous performer
She knew the entire alphabet
Read
8
13
It provides high quality school facilities, nutritious meals and homework assistance and counselling
Various Grammy music awards
She sells millions of records and is one of the top earning women in music
How old was she when she entered her first talent competition?
How old was she when she was chosen for "Girls Time"?
Why did her father give up his job?
When did she make her 1st solo album?
What was the name of her first film?
What kind of charities does she support?
Highlight below for answers
Her father was record manager and her mother was a costume designer
They had a star on their hands
7
11
To represent her group
2003
Dream Girls
Childrens charities
Add the information below with what you know from the texts and clips
Shakira
Beyonce
1) Date of Birth
February 2nd 1977
September 4th 1981
2) Nationality
Colombian
American
3) Early life
Started performing at an early age
Entered singing and dancing competitions as a child
4) Career
Has won several Grammy awards and has sold millions of discs
Rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. Now has a solo career and makes films
5) Other interests outside performing
Philanthropist; her foundation provides high quality school facilities, nutritious meals and homework assistance and counselling
Fashion designer, supports childrens' charities.
Highlight the spaces above for the answers
3) Compare and contrast
Look at the information
What do Shakira and Beyonce have in common?
What differences are there?
Can you compare and contrast them (say what the similarities and differences are)?
useboth, also, as well, too to express similarities
use but, however, whereas, on the other hand to express differences.
eg Both of them are singers. Beyonce is from the USA whereas Shakira is from Colombia.
Write 5 more sentences
Highlight below for suggested answers
Beyonce was born in 1981 but Shakira was born in 1977
Beyonce started performing as a child and Shakira did as well / too
Shakira has always been a solo artist, on the other hand Beyonce started in a group
Beyonce has made films however Shakira has remained a singer
Beyonce and Shakira both help children
Look at the people in the photos (above or below)
Can you make similar sentences to compare or contrast them?
Now listen to both of them in this clip. What do you think of the song?
4) Writing
A) Watch this clip and discuss the questions below
How many of these people do you know?
Why are they famous?
Did they change the world?
How did they think differently?
Text
"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify and vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as crazy, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."
Look at the words from the text in the left column below.
Can you match the words from the text on the left to the definitions on the right. Drag and drop the words to the correct place.
B) Write about someone famous.
Think of a famous person. Take a few minutes to find any information on the internet about him / her. Only look for important information.
Use this plan to help you. Write your biography with 4 paragraphs. If you are writing about someone who is dead. Talk about why you think they are important today in paragraph 3
If anyone wants to write about someone and post it in the comments below please go ahead :)
Armando created a Sliderocket presentation of this post which is here
2) Find some more worksheets about famous people here
Famous People Lessons.com http://www.famouspeoplelessons.com/index.html
EFL / ESL Lesson Plans Using Biographies And Profiles - From Sean Banville
3) Choose some people from the website and make sentences to compare and contrast them.
or
choose some people you know and compare and contrast them.
