English Lesson on Helen Keller

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THE LESSON ON HELEN KELLER

Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Helen Keller. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:


READ

Helen Adams Keller was an American author, activist and lecturer. She was the first American deaf and blind person to graduate from college. From an early age she decided to communicate with the world, despite her barriers to communication. She became a prolific author, anti-war campaigner and spokeswoman for women’s and worker’s rights. She is also an inspiration to millions.

Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. When she was nineteen months old, she contracted a mysterious illness that left her deaf and blind. She developed a friendship with the daughter of her family’s cook, who created a sign language with her. By the age of seven, Helen was using over 60 signs with her family. She knew she could communicate.

In 1886, her mother read Charles Dickens' book ‘American Notes’ about the successful education of a deaf and blind child. She decided to seek help for Helen and was put in touch with 20-year-old teacher Anne Sullivan. She became Helen’s instructor and friend for the next 49 years. Helen learnt Braille and used it to learn French, German and Greek.

Keller had great ambitions and went on to become a world-famous speaker and author. She campaigned for people with disabilities, among many other causes. She travelled to 39 countries and was friends with US presidents and famous figures, including Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain. Keller also wrote twelve books and many articles on social issues. Keller died in her sleep in 1968, aged 87.

247 words

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

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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.

author

a.

got

2

barriers

b.

guiding light

3.

inspiration

c.

get her message across

4.

contracted

d.

formed

5.

developed

e.

writer

6.

communicate

f.

obstacles


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

successful

g.

in contact

8.

seek

h.

fought

9.

in touch

i.

effective

10.

campaigned

j.

people

11

figures

k

passed away

12

died

l

look for

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

barriers

a.

with disabilities

2

She is also an inspiration

b.

illness

3.

she contracted a mysterious

c.

a friendship

4.

She developed

d.

to learn French

5.

Helen was using over 60

e.

in her sleep

6.

She decided to seek

f.

signs with her family

7.

Helen learnt Braille and used it

g.

to communication

8.

She campaigned for people

h.

to millions

9.

famous

i.

help for Helen

10.

Keller died

j.

figures

LISTENING GAP FILL

Helen Adams Keller was an American author, _________________. She was the first American deaf and blind person to graduate from college. From _________________ she decided to communicate with the world, despite her barriers to communication. She became a prolific _________________ campaigner and spokeswoman for women’s and worker’s rights. She is also _________________ millions.

Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. When she was nineteen months old, _________________ mysterious illness ______________ deaf and blind. She developed a friendship with the daughter of her family’s cook, who _________________ language with her. By the age of seven, Helen was _________________ signs with her family. She knew she could communicate.

In 1886, _________________ Charles Dickens' book ‘American Notes’ about the successful education of a deaf and blind child. She decided _________________ Helen and was _________________ teacher Anne Sullivan. She became Helen’s instructor and friend for the next 49 years. Helen learnt Braille _________________ French, German and Greek.

Keller _________________ and went on to become a world-famous speaker and author. She campaigned for people _________________ many other causes. She travelled to 39 countries and was friends with US presidents _________________, including Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain. Keller also wrote twelve books and many articles on social issues. Keller _________________ 1968, aged 87.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

Helen Adams Keller was an American author, activism / activist and lecturer. She was the first American deaf and blind person / people to graduate from college. From an early era / age she decided to communicate with the world, despite her barriers to communication. She became a prolific author, anti-war campaigner and spokeswoman for women’s and worker’s rights. She is also an inspiring / inspiration to millions.

Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. When she was nineteen months old, she contacted / contracted a mysterious illness that left / right her deaf and blind. She developed a friendship for / with the daughter of her family’s cook, who created a sign language with her. By the age of seven, Helen was used / using over 60 signs with her family. She knew she could communicate.

In 1886, her mother reading / read Charles Dickens' book ‘American Notes’ about the successful education of a deaf and blind child. She decided to hide / seek help for Helen and was put in / on touch with 20-year-old teacher Anne Sullivan. She became Helen’s instructor and friend for the next 49 years. Helen learnt Braille and used to / used it to learn French, German and Greek.

Keller had great ambitions / ambitious and went on to become a world-famous speaker and author. She campaigned for people by / with disabilities, among many other caused / causes. She travelled to 39 countries and was friends with US presidents and famous figures, including Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain. Keller also wrote twelve books and many articles on social issues. Keller died in her sleeping / sleep in 1968, aged 87.

SPELLING

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

Paragraph 1
 

1.

deaf and lbndi person

2.

her earrirbs to communication

3.

She became a fciploir author

4.

an inspiration to smoilnil


Paragraph 2
 

5.

she contracted a mysterious nlilsse

6.

She eedolvdpe a friendship

7.

created a sign uglngeaa

8.

Helen was gisun over 60 signs with her family


Paragraph 3
 

9.

the successful identouac of a deaf and blind child

10.

She ediecdd to seek help

11.

She became Helen’s tuitrsrcno and friend

12.

Helen learnt laeilBr


Paragraph 4
 

13.

Keller had great omitibnas

14.

people with ileaistidibs

15.

friends with US nitseprdes

16.

articles on social sussei

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

Keller had great ambitions and went on to become a world-famous speaker and author. She campaigned

(    )

 

person to graduate from college. From an early age she decided to communicate with the world, despite her barriers

(    )

 

a sign language with her. By the age of seven, Helen was using over 60 signs with her family. She knew she could communicate.

(    )

 

blind child. She decided to seek help for Helen and was put in touch with 20-year-old teacher Anne Sullivan. She

(    )

 

illness that left her deaf and blind. She developed a friendship with the daughter of her family’s cook, who created

(    )

 

became Helen’s instructor and friend for the next 49 years. Helen learnt Braille and used

(    )

 

it to learn French, German and Greek.

( 1 )

 

Helen Adams Keller was an American author, activist and lecturer. She was the first American deaf and blind

(    )

 

In 1886, her mother read Charles Dickens' book ‘American Notes’ about the successful education of a deaf and

(    )

 

presidents and famous figures, including Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain. Keller also wrote twelve books and

(    )

 

to communication. She became a prolific author, anti-war campaigner and spokeswoman for

(    )

 

many articles on social issues. Keller died in her sleep in 1968, aged 87.

(    )

 

Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. When she was nineteen months old, she contracted a mysterious

(    )

 

women’s and worker’s rights. She is also an inspiration to millions.

(    )

 

for people with disabilities, among many other causes. She travelled to 39 countries and was friends with US

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.

American    to    deaf    graduate    and    the    blind    first    person

2.

a    She    prolific    became    author

3.

an    to    She    also    inspiration    millions    is

4.

illness    and    that    blind    left    a    her    mysterious    deaf

5.

over    family    60    Helen    signs    was    with    using    her

6.

education    blind    of    child    a    the    deaf    successful    and

7.

instructor    Helen’s    became    She    friend    and

8.

Helen    it    learnt    to    Braille    learn    and    French    used

9.

campaigned    She    disabilities    with    people    for

10.

in    in    aged    died    sleep    ,    Keller    her    1968    87

HELEN KELLER DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

What do you know about Helen Keller?

2.

Would you like to have met Helen Keller?

3.

What would you like to know about Helen Keller 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 Helen Keller?

2.

What questions would you like to have asked Helen Keller?

3.

What would her answers have been to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

HELEN KELLER SURVEY

Write five questions about Helen Keller 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 Helen Keller 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 Helen Keller. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. HELEN KELLER POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Helen Keller. 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 Helen Keller. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she did every day and what she thought 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 Helen Keller. Ask her three questions about her life. Tell her how important she is in today’s world. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Helen Keller expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

author

a.

writer

2

barriers

b.

obstacles

3.

inspiration

c.

guiding light

4.

contracted

d.

got

5.

developed

e.

formed

6.

communicate

f.

get her message across


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

successful

g.

effective

8.

seek

h.

look for

9.

in touch

i.

in contact

10.

campaigned

j.

fought

11

figures

k

people

12

died

l

passed away

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

barriers

a.

to communication

2

She is also an inspiration

b.

to millions

3.

she contracted a mysterious

c.

illness

4.

She developed

d.

a friendship

5.

Helen was using over 60

e.

signs with her family

6.

She decided to seek

f.

help for Helen

7.

Helen learnt Braille and used it

g.

to learn French

8.

She campaigned for people

h.

with disabilities

9.

famous

i.

figures

10.

Keller died

j.

in her sleep

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.

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