Famous People Lessons: English Lesson on Bjork

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THE READING / TAPESCRIPT

Björk Gumundsdottir was born and raised in Reykjavík, capital of Iceland. She is one of her country’s biggest exports. She sings, writes songs, and acts. This multi-talented artist is best known for her powerful and emotional singing style, her on-stage energy, and her political opinions. She experiments with many kinds of musical styles, from ambient and jazz to techno and trance.

Her musical ambitions started at elementary school when she studied classical piano. Her teacher sent a recording of Björk singing to Iceland’s only radio station. A record label executive heard it and offered her a record contract. She released her first album in 1977, aged 11. She started a variety of punk bands and in 1986, formed the group that would make her famous, The Sugarcubes.

The Sugarcubes’ first single was a surprise hit around the world. Their quirky sound and style soon got them a loyal international following of fans. Björk split from the band in 1992 to pursue a solo career. Her debut album, ‘Debut’, was released in 1993 and was named album of the year in Britain. Many other accolades followed.

In 2000, Björk starred in the movie ‘Dancer in the Dark’ and was nominated for an Oscar. She continues to produce original and creative albums which music critics continue to praise. Björk is also known for some of her views on world politics. She upset China at a 2008 concert in Shanghai by dedicating her song ‘Declare Independence’ to the Tibet freedom movement.

248 words

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.

SYNONYM MATCH

Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?

Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.	raised	a.	views
2	biggest	b.	mixture
3.	opinions	c.	goals
4.	ambitions	d.	top
5.	executive	e.	brought up
6.	variety	f.	big-wig
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.	quirky	g.	awards
8.	pursue	h.	recommended
9.	accolades	i.	zany
10.	nominated	j.	giving
11	praise	k	follow
12	dedicating	l	speak highly of

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.	She is one of her country’s	a.	world politics
2	musical styles, from ambient and jazz	b.	executive
3.	Her musical	c.	biggest exports
4.	A record label	d.	and creative albums
5.	She started a variety	e.	following of fans
6.	a loyal international	f.	to techno and trance
7.	pursue	g.	freedom movement
8.	She continues to produce original	h.	of punk bands
9.	her views on	i.	ambitions
10.	the Tibet	j.	a solo career

LISTENING GAP FILL

Björk Gumundsdottir was ________________ Reykjavík, capital of Iceland. She is one of her country’s ________________. She sings, writes songs, and acts. This multi-talented artist is best known for her powerful and ________________ style, her on-stage energy, and her political opinions. She experiments __________________ musical styles, from ambient and jazz to techno and trance.

Her ________________ started at elementary school when she studied classical piano. Her teacher ________________ of Björk singing to Iceland’s only radio station. A record label executive heard ________________ a record contract. She released her first album in 1977, aged 11. She started a variety of punk bands and in 1986, formed the group ________________ famous, The Sugarcubes.

The Sugarcubes’ first single ________________ around the world. Their ________________ style soon got them a loyal international following of fans. Björk split from the band in 1992 ________________ career. Her debut album, ‘Debut’, was released in 1993 and was named album of the year in Britain. Many other ________________.

In 2000, Björk starred in the movie ‘Dancer in the Dark’ and was nominated for an Oscar. She continues to ________________ and creative albums which music critics continue to praise. Björk is also known for ________________ on world politics. She upset China at a 2008 concert in Shanghai ________________ her song ‘Declare Independence’ to the Tibet ________________.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:

Björk Gumundsdottir was born and rise / raised in Reykjavík, capital of Iceland. She is one of her country’s biggest exports / imports. She sings, writes songs, and acts. This multi-talented artist is best known for her powerful and emotional singing stylish / style, her on-stage energy, and her political opinions. She experiments with many kinds of musical styles, from / for ambient and jazz to techno and trance.

Her musical ambitions started / starting at elementary school when she studied classical piano. Her teacher sent a recording of Björk singing / song to Iceland’s only radio station. A record label executive heard it and offered she / her a record contract. She released her first album in 1977, aged 11. She started a variety / various of punk bands and in 1986, formed the group that would make her famous, The Sugarcubes.

The Sugarcubes’ first double / single was a surprise hit around the world. Their quirky sound and style soon got them a loyal international following of fans. Björk split / spilt from the band in 1992 to pursue a solo career. Her debut / debit album, ‘Debut’, was released in 1993 and was named album of the year in Britain. Many other accolades following / followed.

In 2000, Björk starry / starred in the movie ‘Dancer in the Dark’ and was nominated for an Oscar. She continues to produce original and creative albums which music critical / critics continue to praise. Björk is also known for some of her view / views on world politics. She upset China at a 2008 concert in Shanghai to / by dedicating her song ‘Declare Independence’ to the Tibet freedom movement.

SPELLING

The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	born and isdera in Reykjavík
2.	one of her country’s biggest sroxetp
3.	her political ipnoinos
4.	She experiments with many kinds of isulcma styles
Paragraph 2
5.	Her musical asinbtomi started at elementary school
6.	Iceland’s only radio inastot
7.	a record ncttarco
8.	She started a aietvry of punk bands
Paragraph 3
9.	Their quirky donsu and style
10.	a ayoll international following
11.	pusreu a solo career
12.	Many other accolades fllooewd
Paragraph 4
13.	She continues to produce ailngior and creative albums
14.	music critics continue to peiras
15.	her views on world stlipioc
16.	the Tibet demefro movement

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	produce original and creative albums which music critics continue to praise. Björk is also known for some of her views
( )	style, her on-stage energy, and her political opinions. She experiments with many kinds of musical styles, from ambient
( )	In 2000, Björk starred in the movie ‘Dancer in the Dark’ and was nominated for an Oscar. She continues to
( )	exports. She sings, writes songs, and acts. This multi-talented artist is best known for her powerful and emotional singing
( 1 )	Björk Gumundsdottir was born and raised in Reykjavík, capital of Iceland. She is one of her country’s biggest
( )	the group that would make her famous, The Sugarcubes.
( )	contract. She released her first album in 1977, aged 11. She started a variety of punk bands and in 1986, formed
( )	‘Declare Independence’ to the Tibet freedom movement.
( )	international following of fans. Björk split from the band in 1992 to pursue a solo career. Her debut album, ‘Debut’,
( )	was released in 1993 and was named album of the year in Britain. Many other accolades followed.
( )	Her musical ambitions started at elementary school when she studied classical piano. Her teacher sent a recording of
( )	and jazz to techno and trance.
( )	The Sugarcubes’ first single was a surprise hit around the world. Their quirky sound and style soon got them a loyal
( )	on world politics. She upset China at a 2008 concert in Shanghai by dedicating her song
( )	Björk singing to Iceland’s only radio station. A record label executive heard it and offered her a record

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.	biggest country’s her of one is She exports
2.	best and known emotional for singing her style powerful
3.	musical started elementary Her ambitions at school
4.	started variety punk She a of bands
5.	would her the that make famous group
6.	world Sugarcubes’ first single was a surprise hit around the The
7.	the from split Björk career solo a pursue to 1992 in band
8.	produce to continues She albums creative and original
9.	known also is Björk politics world on views her of some for
10.	upset concert China in at Shanghai a She 2008

DISCUSSION (Write your questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	What do you know about Björk?
2.	Would you like to meet Björk?
3.	What would you like to know about Björk and why?
4.	___________________________________________________
5.	___________________________________________________
6.	___________________________________________________
7.	___________________________________________________
8.	___________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	What did you learn from this text about Björk?
2.	What questions would you like to ask Björk?
3.	What would her answers be to those questions?
4.	___________________________________________________
5.	___________________________________________________
6.	___________________________________________________
7.	___________________________________________________
8.	___________________________________________________

THE BJÖRK SURVEY

Write five questions about Björk in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out. Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about Björk for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Björk. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. BJÖRK POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Björk. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?

4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Björk. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she does every day and what she thinks about.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to Björk. Ask her three questions about her life. Give her three suggestions on what she should do in her future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Björk expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.	raised	a.	brought up
2	biggest	b.	top
3.	opinions	c.	views
4.	ambitions	d.	goals
5.	executive	e.	big-wig
6.	variety	f.	mixture
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.	quirky	g.	zany
8.	pursue	h.	follow
9.	accolades	i.	awards
10.	nominated	j.	recommended
11	praise	k	speak highly of
12	dedicating	l	giving

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	She is one of her country’s	a.	biggest exports
2	musical styles, from ambient and jazz	b.	to techno and trance
3.	Her musical	c.	ambitions
4.	A record label	d.	executive
5.	She started a variety	e.	of punk bands
6.	a loyal international	f.	following of fans
7.	pursue	g.	a solo career
8.	She continues to produce original	h.	and creative albums
9.	her views on	i.	world politics
10.	the Tibet	j.	freedom movement

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.

Famous People Lessons.com English Lesson Plan on Bjork