Famous People Lessons: English Lesson on Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman

THE READING / TAPESCRIPT

The United Arab Emirates is brimming with success stories. One of them is the visionary Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman. Dr. Omar is a prime example of how vision and enterprise can combine to reach great heights. He is only in his thirties, but he is an inspirational role model for young and aspiring Arabs. Dr. Omar has shown that more than anything is possible.

His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman has excelled in everything he has ever done. He decided from a young age that education is one of the keys to success in life. After gaining a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, he went on to achieve a Master’s in Education. He then studied for a second postgraduate degree, an MBA in Finance, followed by a Ph.D. in leadership.

Dr. Omar’s varied educational background gave him the know-how to become a remarkably successful business leader. His resume is unbelievably impressive, especially for someone so young. He is Vice Chairman of the UAE Central Bank and Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). His ideas and leadership have helped shape Dubai’s incredible success.

Dr. Omar is a guiding light behind many high-profile projects. He is chairman of the Young Arab Leaders, founder of the Dubai International Financial Exchange, and co-founder of Dubai Knowledge Village and the Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. He is a board member of many of the UAE’s biggest companies. Dr. Omar also supports the Arts and many charities. He is married with two children.

247 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.	brimming with	a.	gain
2	prime	b.	ambitious
3.	aspiring	c.	shone
4.	excelled	d.	full of
5.	achieve	e.	doctorate
6.	Ph.D.	f.	classic
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.	varied	g.	mastermind
8.	resume	h.	develop
9.	shape	i.	funds
10.	guiding light	j.	wide-ranging
11	founder	k	inspiration
12	supports	l	CV (curriculum vitae)

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

1.	brimming with	a.	to success in life
2	He is only in	b.	successful business leader
3.	an inspirational role	c.	unbelievably impressive
4.	education is one of the keys	d.	success stories
5.	He then studied for a second	e.	his thirties
6.	Dr. Omar’s varied educational	f.	model
7.	an incredibly	g.	postgraduate degree
8.	His resume is	h.	Arts and many charities
9.	a guiding light behind	i.	background
10.	Dr. Omar also supports the	j.	many high-profile projects

LISTENING GAP FILL

The United Arab Emirates ___________________ success stories. One of them is the visionary Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman. Dr. Omar is a prime ___________________ vision and enterprise can combine to reach great heights. He is only in his thirties, but he is an inspirational role ______________________ Arabs. Dr. Omar has shown that ___________________ is possible.

His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman ___________________ everything he has ever done. He decided from a young age that education ___________________ to success in life. After gaining a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, he _________________ a Master’s in Education. He then studied for a second postgraduate degree, an MBA in Finance, _________________ leadership.

Dr. Omar’s varied educational background gave __________________ become a remarkably successful business leader. His resume is unbelievably impressive, especially ________________ young. He is Vice Chairman of the UAE Central Bank ___________________ Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). His ideas and leadership ___________________ Dubai’s incredible success.

Dr. Omar is a ___________________ many high-profile projects. He is chairman of the Young Arab Leaders, founder of the Dubai International Financial Exchange, _______________ Dubai Knowledge Village and the Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. He __________________ many of the UAE’s biggest companies. Dr. Omar __________________ and many charities. He is married with two children.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

The United Arab Emirates is brimming with success / succeed stories. One of them is the visionary Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman. Dr. Omar is a prime example of how vision and enterprise can combine to reach great heights. He is only in his thirty / thirties, but he is an inspirational roll / role model for young and aspiring Arabs. Dr. Omar has shown that more than anything are / is possible.

His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman has excellent / excelled in everything he has ever done. He decided from a young age that education is one of the keys / key to success in life. After gaining a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, he went on to achieve a Master’s in Education. He then studying / studied for a second postgraduate degree, an MBA in Finance, followed by a Ph.D. in leadership / leaders.

Dr. Omar’s varied / various educational background gave him the know-how to become a remarkably successful business leader. His resume is unbelievably impression / impressive, especially for someone so youngish / young. He is Vice Chairman of the UAE Central Bank and Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). His ideas and leadership have helped / helpful shape Dubai’s incredible success.

Dr. Omar is a guiding light / lighter behind many high-profile projects. He is chairman of the Young Arab Leaders, found / founder of the Dubai International Financial Exchange, and co-founder of Dubai Knowledge Village and the Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. He is a board membership / member of many of the UAE’s biggest companies. Dr. Omar also supports the Arts and many charities / charity. He is married with two children.

SPELLING

These jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	success iosrtes
2.	reach great esihhgt
3.	an inspirational role eodlm
4.	anything is pbslsieo
Paragraph 2
5.	exdcllee in everything he has ever done
6.	education is one of the kyes to success
7.	a Bachelor’s greeed
8.	a Ph.D. in driehlsepa
Paragraph 3
9.	Dr. Omar’s areivd educational background
10.	a remarkably successful business erdlea
11.	someone so nguoy
12.	Dubai’s rbieencild success
Paragraph 4
13.	a guiding lghti
14.	high-pofrlei projects
15.	a odbra member
16.	Dr. Omar also pturpsos the Arts

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	heights. He is only in his thirties, but he is an inspirational role model for young and
( )	of the UAE Central Bank and Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). His ideas
( )	business leader. His resume is unbelievably impressive, especially for someone so young. He is Vice Chairman
( )	Dr. Omar’s varied educational background gave him the know-how to become a remarkably successful
( )	His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman has excelled in everything he has ever done. He decided from a young
( )	went on to achieve a Master’s in Education. He then studied for a second
( )	postgraduate degree, an MBA in Finance, followed by a Ph.D. in leadership.
( )	Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. He is a board member of many of the UAE’s biggest companies. Dr. Omar also supports
( )	founder of the Dubai International Financial Exchange, and co-founder of Dubai Knowledge Village and the
( )	age that education is one of the keys to success in life. After gaining a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, he
( )	Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman. Dr. Omar is a prime example of how vision and enterprise can combine to reach great
( )	the Arts and many charities. He is married with two children.
( 1 )	The United Arab Emirates is brimming with success stories. One of them is the visionary
( )	and leadership have helped shape Dubai’s incredible success.
( )	aspiring Arabs. Dr. Omar has shown that more than anything is possible.
( )	Dr. Omar is a guiding light behind many high-profile projects. He is chairman of the Young Arab Leaders,

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.	and reach enterprise great can heights combine vision to
2.	role inspirational an is he model
3.	has excelled ever in done everything Sulaiman he has
4.	keys in is the success education of to life one
5.	Ph.d. by leadership followed a in
6.	become leader business successful remarkably a
7.	resume impressive is His unbelievably
8.	Bank of He the is UAE Vice Central Chairman
9.	supported conservation He on legislation
10.	two with married is He children

DR. OMAR BIN SULAIMAN DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	What do you know about Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman?
2.	Would you like to meet Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman?
3.	What would you like to know about Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman 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 Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman?
2.	What questions would you like to ask Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman?
3.	What would his answers be to those questions?
4.	___________________________________________________
5.	___________________________________________________
6.	___________________________________________________
7.	___________________________________________________
8.	___________________________________________________

DR. OMAR BIN SULAIMAN SURVEY

Write five questions about Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman 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 Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman 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 Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. DR. OMAR BIN SULAIMAN POSTER: Make a poster showing the different achievements of Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman. 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 Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he does every day and what he 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 Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman. Ask him three questions about his life. Give him three suggestions on what he should do in his future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.	brimming with	a.	full of
2	prime	b.	classic
3.	aspiring	c.	ambitious
4.	excelled	d.	shone
5.	achieve	e.	gain
6.	Ph.D.	f.	doctorate
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.	varied	g.	wide-ranging
8.	resume	h.	CV (curriculum vitae)
9.	shape	i.	develop
10.	guiding light	j.	inspiration
11	founder	k	mastermind
12	supports	l	funds

PHRASE MATCH:

1.	brimming with	a.	success stories
2	He is only in	b.	his thirties
3.	an inspirational role	c.	model
4.	education is one of the keys	d.	to success in life
5.	He then studied for a second	e.	postgraduate degree
6.	Dr. Omar’s varied educational	f.	background
7.	an incredibly	g.	successful business leader
8.	His resume is	h.	unbelievably impressive
9.	a guiding light behind	i.	many high-profile projects
10.	Dr. Omar also supports the	j.	Arts and many charities

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

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

Famous People Lessons.com English Lesson Plan on Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman