English Lesson on Amy Winehouse

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THE LESSON ON AMY WINEHOUSE

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


READ

Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter. She was known for her marvelous voice and controversial private life. She debuted in 2003 at the age of 20 with the album ‘Frank’. It set her on the road to fame. Music lovers everywhere were excited about her talents and how her career would progress. She was one of music’s hottest stars but constantly battled against drugs and alcohol.

She grew up in a family that loved jazz. Her musical talents were clear to see from a very young age. Aged ten, she formed a rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour with a childhood friend. She got her first guitar when she was 13 and she began writing music. She signed to a major record label after they heard her distinctive voice.

Winehouse’s second album “Back To Black” made her an acclaimed international star. She won dozens of awards, including five at the 2008 Grammy’s. Some of the biggest names in rock were waiting to collaborate with her. George Michael said: "Amy is the best female vocalist I have ever heard in my entire career, as well as one of the best writers."

Winehouse was constantly the focus of media attention. She couldn’t escape the reporters who followed her every move.  She has given them good reason to write about her. Her battles with drug and alcohol abuse and her self-destructive behaviour was often tabloid news. The world has lost an amazing talent who had so much more incredible music to offer. She died in July, 2011, aged 27.

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.

marvelous

a.

unique

2

debuted

b.

develop

3.

progress

c.

started

4.

clear

d.

wonderful

5.

formed

e.

made her first appearance

6.

distinctive

f.

obvious

Paragraphs 3 and 4

 

 

7.

acclaimed

g.

continually

8.

collaborate

h.

whole

9.

entire

i.

damaging

10.

constantly

j.

admired

11

destructive

k

amazing

12

incredible

l

work together

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

1.

singer and

a.

see from a very young age

2

the road

b.

drug and alcohol abuse

3.

Her musical talents were clear to

c.

dozens of awards

4.

she formed

d.

to fame

5.

her distinctive

e.

to collaborate with her

6.

She won

f.

songwriter

7.

the biggest names in rock were waiting

g.

was often tabloid news

8.

She couldn’t escape the reporters

h.

voice

9.

Her battles with

i.

a rap group

10.

her self destructive behaviour

j.

who followed her every move

LISTENING GAP FILL

Amy Jade Winehouse was an English ___________________. She was known for her marvelous voice and controversial private life. ________________ 2003 at the age of 20 with the album ‘Frank’. It ________________ to fame. Music lovers everywhere were excited about her talents ________________ would. She was one of music’s hottest stars but constantly battled against drugs and alcohol.

She grew up in a family ________________. Her musical talents were ________________ a very young age. Aged ten, she formed a rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour with a childhood friend. She got her first guitar when she was 13 and she ________________. She signed to a major record label after they ________________ voice.

Winehouse’s second album “Back To Black” made ________________ international star. She ________________ awards, including five at the 2008 Grammy’s. Some of the biggest names in rock were _________________ with her. George Michael said: "Amy is the best female vocalist I have ever heard ________________, as well as one of the best writers."

Winehouse was constantly ________________ attention. She couldn’t escape the reporters ________________ move.  She has given them good reason to write about her. She ________________ and alcohol abuse and her self destructive behaviour is often tabloid news. The world has lost an _____________________ had so much more incredible music to offer. She died in July, 2011, aged 27.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter. She was known / know for her marvelous voice and controversial private live / life. She debuted / debut in 2003 at the age of 20 with the album ‘Frank’. It set her on the road to fame. Music lovers everywhere were excited about her talents and how her career would progressive / progress. She was one of music’s hottest stars but constantly battled against drugs and alcohol.

She grew up in a family that loved / loving jazz. Her musical talents were clearly / clear to see from a very young age. Aged ten, she formed a rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour with a childhood friend. She got her first guitar when she was 13 and she began wrote / writing music. She signed to a major record label after they heard / listened her distinctive voice.

Winehouse’s second album “Back To Black” made her an acclaimed international star. She beat / won dozens of awards, including five at the 2008 Grammy’s. Some of the biggest names in / on rock were waiting to collaborate with her. George Michael said: "Amy is the best female vocals / vocalist I have ever heard in my entire / entirely career, as well as one of the best writers."

Winehouse was constantly the focus of media / medium attention. She couldn’t escaped / escape the reporters who followed her every move.  She has given them good reason to writing / write about her. Her battles with drug and alcohol abuse and her self destructive behaviour was often tabloid news. The world has lost an amazing talent who had so much more incredible / incredibly  music to offer. She died in July, 2011, aged 27.

SPELLING

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

Paragraph 1

1.

singer and wosretgrni

2.

controversial vripaet life

3.

Music lovers everywhere

4.

one of music’s ehtttso stars

Paragraph 2

5.

a family that dovle jazz

6.

she efodrm a rap group

7.

She got her first itragu when she was 13

8.

her distinctive eivoc

Paragraph 3

9.

She won snozde of awards

10.

naigiwt to collaborate with her

11.

the best female covsailt I have ever heard

12.

in my tniree career

Paragraph 4

13.

constantly the usfoc of media attention

14.

She couldn’t caspee the reporters

15.

Her ttelbas with drug and alcohol abuse

16.

so much more incredible music to forer

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

writing music. She signed to a major record label after they heard her distinctive voice.

1  )

Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter. She was known for her marvelous

(    )

Winehouse was constantly the focus of media attention. She couldn’t escape the reporters who followed her every move.  She has

(    )

progress. She was one of music’s hottest stars but constantly battled against drugs and alcohol.

(    )

Winehouse’s second album “Back To Black” made her an acclaimed international star. She won dozens of

(    )

tabloid news. The world has lost an amazing talent who had so much more incredible music to offer. She died in July, 2011, aged 27.

(    )

voice and controversial private life. She debuted in 2003 at the age of 20 with the album ‘Frank’. It set her on the road

(    )

to collaborate with her. George Michael said: "Amy is the best female vocalist I have

(    )

ever heard in my entire career, as well as one of the best writers."

(    )

awards, including five at the 2008 Grammy’s. Some of the biggest names in rock were waiting

(    )

called Sweet 'n' Sour with a childhood friend. She got her first guitar when she was 13 and she began

(    )

given them good reason to write about her. Her battles with drug and alcohol abuse and her self-destructive behaviour was often

(    )

She grew up in a family that loved jazz. Her musical talents were clear to see from a very young age. Aged ten, she formed a rap group

(    )

to fame. Music lovers everywhere were excited about her talents and how her career would

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1. and   English   songwriter   singer   an
2. about   excited   were   everywhere   lovers   Music   talents   her
3. one     music’s     stars     was     of     hottest     She
4. She   family   grew   that   up   loved   in   jazz   a
5. a   record   She   to   major   label   signed
6. with   her   the   biggest   names   in   rock   were   waiting   to   collaborate
7. have   I   vocalist   female   best   the   heard   ever
8. constantly   attention   media   of   focus   the
9. and   abuse   battles   drug   alcohol   Her    with
10. talent     world     lost     amazing     The     has     an.

DISCUSSION (Write your questions)

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

1.

What do you know about Amy Winehouse?

2.

What do you think of Amy Winehouse’s?

3.

What would you like to know about Amy Winehouse 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 Amy Winehouse?

2.

What questions would you like answered about Amy Winehouse?

3.

How would her career have gone if she hadn’t died?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

THE AMY WINEHOUSE SURVEY

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

3. AMY WINEHOUSE POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Amy Winehouse. 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 Amy Winehouse. Include an imaginary interview with her fans.

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

5. OBITUARY: Write an obituary about Amy Winehouse.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2

 

 

1.

marvelous

a.

wonderful

2

debuted

b.

made her first appearance

3.

progress

c.

develop

4.

clear

d.

obvious

5.

formed

e.

started

6.

distinctive

f.

unique

Paragraphs 3 and 4

 

 

7.

acclaimed

g.

admired

8.

collaborate

h.

work together

9.

entire

i.

whole

10.

constantly

j.

continually

11

destructive

k

damaging

12

incredible

l

amazing

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

singer and

a.

songwriter

2

the road

b.

to fame

3.

Her musical talents were clear to

c.

see from a very young age

4.

she formed

d.

a rap group

5.

her distinctive

e.

voice

6.

She won

f.

dozens of awards

7.

the biggest names in rock were waiting

g.

to collaborate with her

8.

She couldn’t escape the reporters

h.

who followed her every move

9.

Her battles with

i.

drug and alcohol abuse

10.

her self destructive behaviour

j.

was often tabloid news

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

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

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