News-based lesson: 19 February 2011
Best books …
Teacher’s notes and key
Level: B1/B2 lower/upper-intermediate.
Aims:
 scanning a text for specific vocabulary
 detailed reading
 writing on the topic of books and works of art.
Timing:
 Tasks 1-5: 45 minutes – an hour
 Task 6: 40 minutes (could be done for homework).
Task 1 Self-portraits
Answers: Eugène Delacroix and Vincent van Gogh.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eugene_delacroix.jpg,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Van_Gogh_Self-Portrait_with_Straw_Hat_1887Detroit.jpg)
The self-portraits of the other artists mentioned in the text are still under copyright, but
you could display them onscreen via the following links:

Max Beckmann:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Max_Beckmann%27s_%27Selfportrait_with_Horn%27,_1938-1940.jpg

Alberto Giacometti:
http://www.art.co.uk/products/p8823490246-sa-i5299438/posters.htm

Francis Bacon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Study_for_a_Self_Portrait_-Triptych,_1985-86.jpg

Keith Vaughan:
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/visual-arts/kings-place-gallery/exhibitions/pastexhibitions/the-ruth-borchard-collection-of-self-portraits.
Task 2 Types of writing
Answers: 1b, 2c, 3f, 4e, 5e, 6a.
Task 3 Descriptions of books
Answers: a ED, b FB, c VG, d MB, e KV, f AG, g VG, h KV, i ED, j MB.
Task 4 Vocabulary in context
You might want to split students into group and give them a few words per group to look
up. They can then regroup and swap their findings.
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News-based lesson: 19 February 2011
Best books …
Task 1 Self-portraits
Look at the self-portraits below and discuss the questions.
 Can you name the artists? Do you know anything about them?
 Do you like the portraits? Why / why not?
..............................................
...........................................
You are going to read about some books by these and other artists. Look and the titles
and authors only.
 Can you name the above artists now?
 Do you know anything about the other artists mentioned?
Task 2 Types of writing
Before you read more, match the types of writing with their definitions:
1. interview
a. writing about someone’s own life
2. journal
b. discussion between a writer/journalist and a
person who is giving information about a subject
of interest
3. account
c. daily writing about events or thoughts
4. memoirs
d. writing about someone else’s life
5. biography
e. writing about a particular period of someone’s
own life
6. autobiography
f. description of events
Now scan the book descriptions to find the above words.
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News-based lesson: 19 February 2011
Best books …
Task 3 Descriptions of books
Read the descriptions again. What other parts do you understand? Don’t
worry about the parts that you don’t understand.
Now read the statements below. Which book does each describe? Write
the initials of the book next to the statement.
ED = The Journal of Eugène Delacroix
MB = Max Beckmann: Self-Portrait in Words
AG = Alberto Giacometti: Works, Writings and Interviews
FB = Interviews with Francis Bacon
VG = The Letters of Vincent van Gogh
KV = Journals, 1939-1977 by Keith Vaughan
a. This book is set in Paris during the nineteenth century. _____
b. The artist invents expressions to describe how he works. _____
c. This book is about the paintings and about the artist. _____
d. The writer tells of the problems and difficulties in the life of an artist. _____
e. This is a depressing book, although the artist sometimes has happy thoughts. _____
f. This book is about a talented artist, writer and talker. _____
g. The artist writes clearly about his own state of mind. ____
h. This artist hated himself so much that he ended his own life. ____
i. This book contains details of ordinary life as well as complex thoughts. _____
j. This book should be read by anyone who wants to be an artist. _____
Task 4 Vocabulary in context
Find the words below in the texts then use your dictionary to look up the meanings.
Word
Pronunciation
lofty (adj.)
/ˈlɒfti/
entwined (adj.)
/ɪnˈtwaɪnd/
eloquent (adj.)
/ˈelǝkwǝnt/
dilemma (n.)
/daɪˈlemǝ/
pitfall (n.)
/ˈpɪtfɔːl/
confront (v.)
/kǝnˈfrʌnt/
martyr (n.)
/ˈmɑːtǝ/
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Meaning
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News-based lesson: 19 February 2011
gifted (adj.)
/ˈgɪftɪd/
coin (v.)
/kɔɪn/
convey (v.)
/kǝnˈveɪ/
lucidity (n.)
/luːˈsɪdɪti/
poignant (adj.)
/ˈpɔɪnjǝnt/
instability (n.)
/ɪnstǝˈbɪlǝti/
bleak (adj.)
/bliːk/
idyllic (adj.)
/ɪˈdɪlɪk/
fantasy (n.)
/ˈfæntǝsi/
loathing (n.)
/ˈlǝʊðɪŋ/
Best books …
Task 5 Checking your understanding
Now you understand the vocabulary, go back to task 3 and make any changes needed
before you are given the answers.
Task 6 Writing about books or art works
Write 100-120 words on one of the following topics:
a. Write about your favourite book, saying what the subject is and giving a brief
description of the content.
b. Use books or the internet to find out more information about one of the artists in this
lesson. Write a brief biography of the artist. You
may include illustrations if you wish.
c. Use books or the internet to find out more
information about one of the self-portraits in this
lesson. Imagine you are the artist and write a
letter to a friend, telling him/her about your work.
d. Imagine you are a curator of an art gallery and
one of the self-portraits from this lesson has just
come into your collection. Write a brief
description for visitors to the gallery, including
important details about the portrait and the artist.
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