People. Biography.
Discover more from ELT Buzz Teaching Resources
People. Biography.
Lessons about famous people or even just people in our lives are extremely powerful. Here are some ideas and resources.
Linkedin | Videos | Blog | Library | ELT News | TpTs | Youtube Channel
People are so interested in other people, the lives of others. It’s a human trait. This fact can be harnessed and applied to our lessons for students to learn English and also, learn about the lives of others.
The most common way teachers might design lessons focused on the lives of people is through a project. Provide students with an example, then have students choose their own person to research and present to the class.
This template is great for this kind of exercise.
You might also instead, just use a list of questions for students to answer about the person. Also, provide students with a list of famous people to choose from.
Another approach is an imaginary interview with a famous person. Students prepare and then role play for the class, a mock interview with the imaginary person. These Proust Interview questions are a great prompt for this kind of activity.
Teachers might just want to deliver a lesson about one famous person as a model for this kind of activity. We have 100s in our Lesson Library, look under “famous” or “biography”. Tina Turner, Greta Thunberg, Maradonna, Leonard Cohen and so many more. You’ll also find templates and resources for students to use to research the lives of famous women, scientists, footballers, Olympians, Black Americans, even “Crazy Ones” and so many more categories.
Lastly, a “people” focused lesson needn’t be about “famous” people. Students can research and present on the lives of family members, people in their community, their heroes and so many other categories - even each other! I love this lesson where students interview an elderly person.
Teachers might also focus on writing obituaries. It can be done if handled sensitively. I love this lesson based on a Google commercial - Loretta’s Life.
Lessons about individual people and lives are powerful. Hopefully, this has inspired you in some way!
P.S. - if you have any particular resource and curriculum needs, send an email - support@eltbuzz.com We’ll be happy to point you in the right direction and help with this - we know the lesson library is huge!