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World languages
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Comprehension Text (B1-B2)
Here is a comprehension text on the life of Mozart.
It can be used for native speakers but has also been designed for learners of English (B1-B2). It will be fine for B1 given that the vocab activity will help them with some of the more advanced vocab.
Firstly there is a running dictation that can be done in lesson one then students can read the definitions and translate. In Lesson 2 they can read the text on Mozart’s life and answer the True or False exercise and then rewrite the false sentences.
The answers for the exercises are given at the end.
Uluru, Aborigines, Australia Day, Australia Cultural lessons (PPT, exercises)
Lesson 5 Uluru
Lesson 6 Aborigines
Lesson 7 Australia Day (updated for 2023)
Lesson 8 Australia Cultural class
This is the second part of my Australia scheme of work, but naturally you could use any of these lessons separately.
There are two booklets. In the easier one there are two different exercises (just made a bit easier for weaker students).
I have added the video clips to a Youtube list but some can’t be added
The Uluru video on the PowerPoint is from the BBC and for some reason videos designed for children on Youtube cannot be saved to a playlist. But they are embedded in the PowerPoint lessons.
Regarding the biographies: Hugh Jackman, Margot Robbie and Chris Hemsworth I get the students to, in groups of 3 or 4 take the text and try to summarise it then they read in front of the students who take notes (a kind of dictogloss) to see what they understand. After all this then students can read the biographies together in class.
The biographies for Jackman, Robbie and Hemsworth have been taken from different sources edited, rewritten and like all my other lessons I’ve added pics and formatted it myself.
Greta Thunberg Biography Comprehension + Dictogloss
Hi
(Updated to reflect that Thunberg now has almost 15 million followers and I changed Prince Charles’ name to King Charles III)
I have made a biography of Greta Thunberg taken from different sources. It’s been edited and reworded, along with my own information added
It is designed primarly for non-native speakers but please don’t be put off it could be easily used for native speakers! You’ll just need to remove the vocab exercises. For this there are basically two versions (one is slightly easier).
To begin with there are sentences introducing the new vocabulary, then students need to match up the definition with the new words along with a translation in their L1, then you can start the dictogloss.
Then there is the comprehension that the dictogloss is based on along with comprehension questions. Finally there is a gap fill exercise from the “How Dare You?” speech (the video link is provided).
Adidas vs Puma - A feud between brothers
Adidas vs Puma
This is a lesson on the feud between the founders of Adidas and Puma - two brothers. I find that teenagers find this topic interesting as most kids nowadays wear Adidas, Puma and Nike.
Firstly, if time there is a dictogloss. On the first page of the dictogloss is a picture of the brothers to show the students and a map with Herzogenaurach.
During the dictogloss I get students to just write HZ as it’s much quicker!
Then is the text on the brothers’ feud and story, accompanied by comprehension questions.
This has taken several hours to create,merging, editing and rewriting material from multiple sources.
Call me Nick, Hitchcock Presents Literature with a Devil article (B2+)
Hi
This is an excellent and dark short story by Jonathan Crag: “Call me Nick” from 1968 and featured on Hitchcock presents.
Content
Call me Nick - I have edited this short story to remove some really difficult words and use some slightly easier synonyms
The Devil - an article on the Devil slightly adapted from a site online with images added showing the cloven hooves, trident and horns.
Workbook - difficult vocab is defined (e.g. gasp, chuckle, stare, sin etc) and there are comprehension exercises along with a few idioms with the word devil.
This has been used for a literature class with B2/B2+ students. I have divided the short story into two parts and between these parts students have an article about the Devil to read. This breaks it up nicely.
This could also easily be used in a literature class for native speakers. I think my students enjoyed it! It took two whole classes to read and finish the questions (55 minute classes in my school, so if your classes are shorter you might need 3 lessons).
United Nations and BTS Speech by RM
This is a collection of lessons from an idea to use an excellent speech by RM from BTS
An introduction to who BTS are (with information on their military service)
United Nations Guide
RM’s BTS Speech along with a transcript (the transcript was copied for answering the questions afterwards)
One Ok Rock - Stand out, fit in song - chosen because it’s linked to the topic that RM discusses
The last 2 pages has the questions which I would print separately so it’s easier to refer to the text to answer the questions.
For each link (e.g. Youtube) they are embedded into each image:
About the United Nations
António Guterres speaking in several languages
Love Myself promotional video
RM’s speech
One Ok Rock - Stand out, fit in
The face changing dancer
Sumo Wrestling Comprehension
This is a video comprehension I created as the chapter in the textbook was on sports.
There are some general facts on sumo wrestlers (e.g. they cannot drive a car) then the video comprehension. Some words are translated but you could either define these words or translate into your students’ L1.
I run a blog so I created a blog version which is a bit different so I just kept it on the third page just in case.
The OJ Simpson murder case: Dictogloss and Comprehension text
The OJ Simpson murder case: Dictogloss and Comprehension text
This is a text I created based on different sources and my own editing.
If you don’t know what a dictogloss is, full instructions are included in the document.
Great Barrier Reef Lesson (updated for 2023)
This is my lesson on the Great Barrier Reef
Here is a continuation of the lesson: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/sharks-whales-dolphins-humpback-whales-orcas-12683202
Adolf Hitler Biography Comprehension (B2/B2+)
Here you have the biography of Adolf Hitler.
UPDATE: I decided to make this longer and part of my WW1 lessons, just after the Great Depression, so it would be better to download that one. It’s longer but better I think.
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12611367
WW2 Booklet 4: Liberation of Auschwitz, Hiroshima and the end of WWII
Hi
Here is my 4th and final booklet of World War Two
Liberation of Auschwitz
Hitler’s last days
Execution of Rudolf Höss
Hiroshima
WWII Booklet 3 : Holocaust, Anne Frank, D-Day
Here is my third booklet on WW2
9 The origin of the hatred of the Jews and the Holocaust
10 Anne Frank
11 Sophie Scholl
12 D-Day
Momčilo Gavrić - The youngest soldier in WWI
Momčilo Gavrić - The youngest soldier in WWI from Serbia at the age of 8.
Please note - the preview shows the file in a weird format. The real file isn’t like this!
This is basically a biography of Momčilo Gavrić.
It’s been taken from different sources, edited and I’ve created some comprehension questions and added some pictures.
His story is very interesting!
(Edited on 20.10.2021)
Young Musicians comprehension texts + videos (Nandi Bushell, Mozart) (B1)
In my middle school class the chapter of the textbook was music so I thought I would do some activities related to songs / artists.
There are some short comprehensions on videos on young musicians: Christian Li (violinist from Australia), Anke Chen (pianist from China), Lydian Nadhaswaram (pianist from India).
In a separate resource I added a Mozart comprehension (obviously on the theme of young musicians!) so I will add it here too for ease. For this exercise the students have a ‘running dictation’ to do.
Then there is a comprehension text on the wonderful story of Nandi Bushell and her drum-off with Dave Grohl. Finally, as Nirvana are mentioned in the Nandi Bushell text I created a gap fill for a parody song (for some humour in class) for Weird Al Yankovic’s “Smells Like Nirvana”. My teenage students liked it! They also asked to hear the original so I have added this link. All of the links for the songs are supplied in a separate Microsoft Word document for you.
The Weeknd (Featuring Ariana Grande) - Blinding Lights + Save your tears (grammar)
The Weeknd - Save your Tears (featuring Ariana Grande)
The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
With this activity it’s not just a simple gap fill. The intention is rather to get the students to focus on some of the grammar points that they’ve studied this school year (well at least my students have!)
I have attached the Youtube links in the Word document.
The first part is a gap fill then students need to analyse the text to find particular tenses or rhymes, then finally create their own verse of either song.
Of course you could modify any of the grammar based on what your students do or don’t know.
Sharks, Whales, Dolphins (Humpback whales, Orcas)
Hi
This is basically a continuation of my Great Barrier Reef lesson: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12677847
I have created comprehension texts on:
Sharks
Dolphins and whales
Humpback whales
Orcas
Tilikum (the orca from the Netflix documentary Blackfish)
PETA
Why the Berlin Wall rose and fell
This text is taken from the National Geographic then I modified certain parts and added a little extra. I also got some images from google to make it look nicer.
It was primarily designed for non-native speakers (B2 level) as there are some definitions of difficult words added (carve, brain drain, plot, stunned etc) but it could easily be used for native speakers.
There are comprehension questions added as well.
Animals in Australia - Snakes, Spiders, Kangaroos and Koalas
This is a collection of lessons starting with a general lesson on animals unique to Australia, then moving on to kangaroos, koalas, the tasmanian devil, snakes and spiders.
Australia origins workbook
This is a workbook with lessons on the origins of Australia