English Lesson on Rowan Atkinson

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THE LESSON ON ROWAN ATKINSON

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


READ

Rowan Atkinson is an English comedian, actor and writer. He is famous around the world for his character Mr. Bean. He was listed in the top 50 funniest people ever by a group of comedians. Atkinson shot to fame in Britain in the late 1970s. Throughout the 1980s he starred in one of Britain’s most successful comedies, Black Adder. Mr. Bean brought him worldwide fame and acclaim.

Atkinson was born in the north of England in 1955. He went to very good schools and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. While studying for a Master’s degree at Oxford University he fell in love with acting and comedy and joined an amateur theatre company. He took his comedy sketches to the Edinburgh Festival in 1976 and performed on the street.

After university, Atkinson got a lucky break and made a one-off comedy show for a British TV company. He quickly went on to appear in the hit comedy show ‘Not the Nine O'Clock News’. This made him one of Britain’s most popular comedians. From 1993, he starred in the incredibly successful Black Adder series, which he also co-wrote.

Mr. Bean came along on New Years Day, 1990. It was originally just a one-off show. The character was a hit and Atkinson made more episodes throughout the 1990s. It was eventually made into a movie which made Atkinson an international star. His visual comedy style has earned him the nickname "the man with the rubber face".

246 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.

ever

a.

stardom

2

fame

b.

fine

3.

acclaim

c.

acts

4.

good

d.

praise

5.

joined

e.

of all time

6.

sketches

f.

became a member of


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

break

g.

shows

8.

appear

h.

appeared

9.

incredibly

i.

act

10.

came along

j.

opportunity

11

episodes

k

got

12

earned

l

very

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

famous around the world for his

a.

for a Master’s degree

2

the top 50

b.

the rubber face

3.

Mr. Bean brought him worldwide

c.

break

4.

While studying

d.

character Mr. Bean

5.

he fell in

e.

successful Black Adder

6.

Atkinson got a lucky

f.

funniest people ever

7.

the incredibly

g.

off show

8.

Mr. Bean came

h.

love with acting

9.

It was originally just a one-

i.

fame and acclaim

10.

the man with

j.

along on New Years Day

LISTENING GAP FILL

Rowan Atkinson is an English comedian, _______________. He is famous around the world _______________ Mr. Bean. He was listed in the top 50 funniest people ever by a group of comedians. Atkinson _______________ in Britain in the late 1970s. Throughout the 1980s he starred in one of Britain’s most successful comedies, Black Adder. Mr. Bean brought him worldwide _______________.

Atkinson was born in the north of England in 1955. He went to very good schools and _______________ a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. While _______________ Master’s degree at Oxford University he _______________ acting and comedy and joined an amateur theatre company. He took his comedy _______________ Edinburgh Festival in 1976 and performed on the street.

After university, Atkinson got _______________ and made a one-off comedy show for a British TV company. He quickly ________________ in the hit comedy show ‘Not the Nine O'Clock News’. This _______________ of Britain’s most popular comedians. From 1993, he starred in the incredibly successful Black Adder series, which _______________.

Mr. Bean _______________ New Years Day, 1990. It was originally just a one-off show. The character was a hit and Atkinson made _______________ throughout the 1990s. It _______________ made into a movie which made Atkinson an international star. His _______________ style has earned him the nickname "the man with the rubber face".

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

Rowan Atkinson is an English comedian / comedy, actor and writer. He is famous around the world for his character Mr. Bean. He was listed in the top 50 funniest people never / ever by a group of comedians. Atkinson shot to fame / famous in Britain in the late 1970s. Throughout the 1980s he starred in one of Britain’s most successful comedies, Black Adder. Mr. Bean brought him worldwide fame and acclaim / reclaim.

Atkinson was born in the northern / north of England in 1955. He went to very well / good schools and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. While studying for a Master’s degree at Oxford University he fallen / fell in love with acting and comedy and joined an amateur theatre company. He took his comedy sketches to the Edinburgh Festival in 1976 and performed / performance on the street.

After university, Atkinson got a lucky / luck break and made a one-off comedy show for a British TV company. He quick / quickly went on to appear in the hit comedy show ‘Not the Nine O'Clock News’. This made him one of Britain’s most popularity / popular comedians. From 1993, he starred in the incredibly successful / success Black Adder series, which he also co-wrote.

Mr. Bean came long / along on New Years Day, 1990. It was originally just a one-off / -on show. The character was a hit and Atkinson made more episodes throughout the 1990s. It was eventually made into a movie which made Atkinson an international star. His visual / vision comedy style has earned him the nickname "the man for / with the rubber face".

SPELLING

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

Paragraph 1
 

1.

his ehrcrctaa Mr. Bean

2.

the top 50 tisnfeun people

3.

successful sodeicme

4.

worldwide fame and accimal


Paragraph 2
 

5.

graduated with a Bachelor’s egered

6.

he fell in love with acgnti

7.

an uaermta theatre company

8.

emrefrpdo on the street


Paragraph 3
 

9.

Atkinson got a lucky baerk

10.

paaper in the hit comedy show

11.

Britain’s most lpurapo comedians

12.

the lnrcibdyei successful Black Adder series


Paragraph 4
 

13.

ilyaorginl just a one-off show

14.

Atkinson made more sopseeid

15.

His silauv comedy style

16.

the man with the brbreu face

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

After university, Atkinson got a lucky break and made a one-off comedy show for a British TV company. He quickly went on

(    )

 

Atkinson was born in the north of England in 1955. He went to very good schools and graduated with a Bachelor’s

(    )

 

comedians. From 1993, he starred in the incredibly successful Black Adder series, which he also co-wrote.

(    )

 

degree in electrical engineering. While studying for a Master’s degree at Oxford University he fell in love with

(    )

 

the nickname "the man with the rubber face".

(    )

 

comedies, Black Adder. Mr. Bean brought him worldwide fame and acclaim.

( 1 )

 

Rowan Atkinson is an English comedian, actor and writer. He is famous around the world for his character Mr.

(    )

 

to appear in the hit comedy show ‘Not the Nine O'Clock News’. This made him one of Britain’s most popular

(    )

 

acting and comedy and joined an amateur theatre company. He took his comedy

(    )

 

into a movie which made Atkinson an international star. His visual comedy style has earned him

(    )

 

in the late 1970s. Throughout the 1980s he starred in one of Britain’s most successful

(    )

 

Bean. He was listed in the top 50 funniest people ever by a group of comedians. Atkinson shot to fame in Britain

(    )

 

Mr. Bean came along on New Years Day, 1990. It was originally just a one-off show. The character was a

(    )

 

sketches to the Edinburgh Festival in 1976 and performed on the street.

(    )

 

hit and Atkinson made more episodes throughout the 1990s. It was eventually made

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.

ever    people    funniest    50    top    the

2.

Bean    and    brought    acclaim    him    Mr    worldwide    .    fame

3.

of    north    the    in    born    was    Atkinson    England

4.

engineering    electrical    in    degree    Bachelor’s    a

5.

fell    he    comedy    and    acting    with    love    in

6.

lucky    a    got    Atkinson    ,    university    After    break

7.

Black    Adder    successful    incredibly    the    series

8.

was    -    originally    off    just    show    a    It    one

9.

movie    was    made    a    It    eventually    into

10.

the    ”    "    with    face    nickname    man    rubber    the    the

ROWAN ATKINSON DISCUSSION

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

1.

What do you know about Rowan Atkinson?

2.

Would you like to meet Rowan Atkinson?

3.

What would you like to know about Rowan Atkinson 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 Rowan Atkinson?

2.

What questions would you like to ask Rowan Atkinson?

3.

What would his answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

ROWAN ATKINSON SURVEY

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

3. ROWAN ATKINSON POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Rowan Atkinson. 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 Rowan Atkinson. 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 Rowan Atkinson. 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 “Rowan Atkinson expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

ever

a.

of all time

2

fame

b.

stardom

3.

acclaim

c.

praise

4.

good

d.

fine

5.

joined

e.

became a member of

6.

sketches

f.

acts


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

break

g.

opportunity

8.

appear

h.

act

9.

incredibly

i.

very

10.

came along

j.

appeared

11

episodes

k

shows

12

earned

l

got

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

famous around the world for his

a.

character Mr. Bean

2

the top 50

b.

funniest people ever

3.

Mr. Bean brought him worldwide

c.

fame and acclaim

4.

While studying

d.

for a Master’s degree

5.

he fell in

e.

love with acting

6.

Atkinson got a lucky

f.

break

7.

the incredibly

g.

successful Black Adder

8.

Mr. Bean came

h.

along on New Years Day

9.

It was originally just a one-

i.

off show

10.

the man with

j.

the rubber face

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

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

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