Stories About People (Biographies) Text & MP3 Files
Activists & people important to social reform.
- Betty Friedan - Women's Rights
- Cesar Chavez - Labor Activist
- Frederick Douglass - African-Americans's Rights
- Jane Jacobs - Activist, Writer, Moral Thinker And Economist
- Labor Leaders: Samuel Gompers, John L. Lewis, Walter Reuther, A. Philip Randolph, and Cesar Chavez
- Margaret Sanger - Led the Fight for Birth Control for Women
- Martin Luther King, Jr. - Part 1 - African-Americans's Rights
- Martin Luther King, Jr. - Part 2
- Molly Brown
- Rosa Parks - - African-Americans's Rights
- Samuel Gompers - 'The Grand Old Man of Labor'
- Susan B. Anthony - Women's Rights
- W.E.B. Du Bois - African-Americans's Rights
- Note: Many people listed in other categories were also activists.
- Andy Warhol - The Father of Pop Art
- Diane Arbus - Photographer
- Edward Hopper - Painter
- Edward Weston - Photographer
- George Catlin - Part 1 - Painter
- George Catlin - Part-2 - Painter
- Georgia O'Keefe - Painter
- Isabella Stewart Gardner - Art Collector and Cultural Supporter
- Jackson Pollock - Painter
- Mary Cassatt - Painter
- Nam June Paik - Video Artist
- Robert Rauschenberg
- Winslow Homer - Painter
Athletes (People Who Do Sports)
- Arthur Ashe - Tennis
- Babe Ruth - Baseball
- Bob Feller - Baseball
- Jackie Robinson - Baseball
- Jesse Owens - Runner
- John Wooden - Basketball
- Kay Yow and Betty Jameson - Founders Of Women's Sports Organizations
- Lou Gehrig - Baseball
- Roberto Clemente - Baseball
- Wilma Rudolph - The First American Woman to Win Three Gold Medals in One Olympics
Business & Industry
- Henry Ford - Part 1 - Automobiles / Cars
- Henry Ford - Part 2
- Katharine Graham - Owner and Publisher of The Washington Post
- Madam C.J. Walker - Hair-Care Products
- Mary Kay Ash - Cosmetics
- Milton Hershey - Candy Company
- Ray Kroc - McDonald's.
- William Randolph Hearst - Newspaper Business
Entertainers
- Annie Oakley - Sharp Shooter
- Billy Wilder - Movie Director
- Bob Hope - Comedian
- Charlton Heston - Actor
- Cliff Robertson - Actor, Writer, Producer and Director
- Eartha Kitt - Singer and Actress
- Edward R. Murrow - Radio and TV Broadcaster
- Elizabeth Taylor - Actress
- Fred Astaire - Dancer and Actor
- Gene Kelly - Dancer and Actor
- George Abbott - "Mr. Broadway"
- Harry Houdini - Magician
- Hollywood: Cecil B. DeMille, Samuel Goldwyn and Louis Mayer
- Jack Benny - Comedian
- James Stewart - Actor
- Jessica Tandy - Actress
- Katharine Hepburn - Actress
- Lucille Ball - Actress and Comedian
- Mae West - Actress
- Marilyn Monroe - Actress
- Marlon Brando - Actor
- Martha Graham - The Mother of Modern Dance
- The Marx Brothers - Actors and Comedians
- Milton Berle - Actor
- Patricia Neal - Actress
- Paul Newman - Actor
- Sydney Pollack - Movie Director And Producer
- Walt Disney
- Willis Conover - VOA Radio Program on Jazz
- Kennedy Center Honors of 2009 - Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro, Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, and Bruce Springsteen
- Kennedy Center Honors of 2008 - Barbra Streisand, Morgan Freeman, George Jones, Twyla Tharp, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey
- Kennedy Center Honors of 2007 - Brian Wilson, Steve Martin, Leon Fleisher, Martin Scorsese, and Diana Ross
- Clara Barton - Started the American Red Cross
- Doctor Spock - Baby and Child Care
- Elizabeth Blackwell - Doctor
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver - Creator of the Special Olympics
- Six Medical Research Heroes - Jesse William Lazear, Clara Maass, Joseph Goldberger, Matthew Lukwiya, Carlo Urbani and Anita Roberts
Inventors, Designers, Developers, Explorers, ...
- Buckminster Fuller
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- George Ballas - Inventor of the Weed Eater
- James Rouse - A Developer of Shopping Malls and a Planned City
- Louis Kahn - Building Designer
- Philo Farnsworth - The Father of Television (4:00)
- Radio Pioneers - Guglielmo Marconi, Lee De Forest, Edwin Armstrong, David Sarnoff, William S. Paley, Edward R. Murrow & William Shirer
- Steve Fossett - Adventurer
- Thomas Edison
- The Wright Brothers
- Six Building Desingers - Frank Gehry, Tadao Ando, Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Norman Foster and Eduardo Souta de Moura.
Journalists
- Margaret Bourke-White-1 - Photojournalist
- Margaret Bourke-White-2
- Carl Rowan - Reporter
- Henry Loomis - VOA Special English
- Ida Tarbell - Reporter
- Jacob Riis - Reporter
- Nellie Bly - Reporter
- Walter Cronkite - Reporter
- Aaron Copland - Composer
- Bess Lomax Hawes - Folk Musician (4:00)
- Billie Holiday
- Beverly Sills
- Burl Ives - Actor, Singer Recorded Hundreds of Songs
- Irving Berlin
- The Carter Family
- Celia Cruz - Salsa
- Charlie Parker - Jazz
- Cole Porter- Part 1
- Cole Porter- Part 2
- Duke Ellington- Part 1
- Duke Ellington- Part 2
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Elvis Presley
- George Gershwin - Part 1 - Composer
- George Gershwin - Part 2 - Composer
- Hank Williams - Country
- Isaac Stern - Violinist
- Itzhak Perlman - Violinist
- James Brown - Soul Music
- Janis Joplin
- Jerome Kern - The Father of American Musical Theater
- John Coltrane - Jazz Saxophonist
- John Lewis - Jazz Pianist / MJQ
- Johnny Cash - Country
- Julia Ward Howe - Wrote the "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
- Lena Horne - Singer and Actress
- Leonard Bernstein
- Les Paul - Guitarist
- Louis Armstrong - Jazz
- Maria Callas - Opera Singer
- Marian Anderson - Part 1 - Singer
- Marian Anderson - Part 2
- Michael Jackson
- Nina Simone
- Patsy Cline - Country Singer
- Paul Robeson - Singer And International Political Activist
- Ray Charles - Part 1
- Ray Charles - Part 2
- Richard Rodgers - Composer
- Roger Miller - Singer-Songwriter
- Sam Cooke - Singer-Songwriter
- Scott Joplin - Ragtime Composer
- Shirley Horn - Jazz
- Stephen Foster - Songwriter
- Todd Duncan - Broke a Major Color Barrier for Black Singers of Classical Music
- Woody Guthrie - Part 1 - Singer-Songwriter
- Woody Guthrie - Part 2
Native Americans / American Indians
- Crazy Horse - A leader of the Lakota Indians
- Pocahontas - The First Native-American to Marry a White Person
- It is highly likely that there are other native Americans listed in other categories.
- Doc Holliday - A Famous Gunfighter
- Frank and Jesse James - Famous Outlaw Brothers
- Gunfighters - Part 1 Luke Short, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and William Matthew Tilghman
- Gunfighters - Part 2 James Miller and John Slaughter
- Alan Shepard - The First American to Travel into Space
- Amelia Earhart - The First Woman to Fly Alone Across the Atlantic
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh - Pilot & Writer
- Bessie Coleman
- Charles Lindbergh - The First Person to Fly Alone Across the Atlantic
- Jackie Cochran - Set Many Speed, Distance and Altitude Records
- Jimmy Doolittle
- Wiley Post - The First Pilot to Circle the World Alone
- Aviation Hall of Fame Members Harriet Quimby, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Charles Lindbergh, Neil Armstrong, Edwin Link, John Montgomery, Giuseppe Bellanca, Charles E. Taylor, Calbraith Rodgers and Jacqueline Cochran
Politicians
- Barbara Jordan
- Bella Abzug
- Davy Crockett - Hunter, Fighter, Storyteller and Elected Official
- Edward Kennedy
- Eleanor Roosevelt - Wife of a President
- Eugene McCarthy
- Franklin Roosevelt
- Lady Bird Johnson - Wife of a President
- Ronald Reagan
- Sam Houston - Part 1 - An Early Leader of Texas
- Sam Houston - Part 2
- Shirley Chisholm - The First Black Woman Elected to Congress
- Albert Einstein
- Barbara McClintock
- Charles Darwin
- Dian Fossey - Studied Gorillas
- Edward Teller - 'Father of the Hydrogen Bomb'
- Edwin Hubble - Astronomer
- Isaac Newton - One of the World's Greatest Scientists
- Margaret Mead - Anthropologist
- Norman Borlaug - Agricultural Scientist
- Oppenheimer and Fermi - Two Developers of the First Atomic Bomb
- Percival Lowell (Planet Pluto)
- Rachel Carson - Environmental Protection Movement
- Sigmund Freud - Psychiatrist
Teachers and Educators
- John Dewey (4:00)
- Mary Lyon - A Leader in Women's Education
- Stanley Kaplan - A Test Prep Pioneer (4:00)
- Jaime Escalante - A Math Teacher (4:00)
- Ann Landers - Advice Columns
- Arthur Miller - Playwright
- Barbara Cooney - Children's Books
- Charles Schulz - "Peanuts" Comic Strip
- Clare Booth Luce - News Reporter, Magazine Editor, Member of Congress and Ambassador
- Doctor Seuss - Children's Books
- Dorothy West
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Edith Wharton
- Emily Dickinson - Poet
- Ernest Hemingway - Part 1
- Ernest Hemingway - Part 2
- F. Scott Fitzgerald - Part 1
- F. Scott Fitzgerald - Part 2
- Flannery O'Connor
- Gwendolyn Brooks - Poet
- Helen Keller - Part 1
- Helen Keller - Part 2
- James Baldwin
- John Kenneth Galbraith - Economist, Liberal Thinker, Author, Professor, Presidential Advisor And Ambassador
- Kurt Vonnegut
- Langston Hughes - Part 1 - Poet
- Langston Hughes - Part 2
- Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Louisa May Alcott - Children's Books
- Lucille Clifton - Poet
- Maurice Sendak
- Pearl S. Buck
- Phillis Wheatley - Early African-American Poet
- Ralph Ellison
- Ralph Waldo Emerson - Philosopher and Writer
- Robert Frost - Part 1 - Poet
- Robert Frost - Part 2
- Shel Silverstein - Poet, Writer, Composer, Singer, Musician and Artist
- Stephen Vincent Benet - Part 1 - Popular Writer of the Early 1900s
- Stephen Vincent Benet - Part 2
- Susan Sontag
- Truman Capote
- Walt Whitman - Poet
- Willa Cather
- William Faulkner - Part 1
- William Faulkner - Part 2
- William Shakespeare - Part 1
- William Shakespeare - Part 2
- Zora Neale Hurston
Year-end Special Programs
- Some People Who Died in 2010 Elizabeth Edwards, Paul Miller, Dorothy Kamenshek, Leslie Nielsen, Louise Bourgeois & Jerry Bock
- Some People Who Died in 2009 John Updike, Frank McCourt, Farrah Fawcet, John Hope Franklin, Abe Pollin & Mary Travers
- Some People Who Died in 2008 David Foster Wallace, Odetta, Irvine Robbins, Cyd Charisse & George Carlin
- Some People Who Died in 2007 Brooke Astor, Evel Knievel, Leona Helmsley & Max Roach
- Some People Who Died in 2006 Robert Altma, Ann Richards, R.W. Apple, William Styron & Ruth Brown
- Some People Who Died in 2005 Johnny Carson, Gladys Tantaquidgeon, John H. Johnson, Anne Bancroft & Shelby Foote
- Some People Who Died in 2004 Christopher Reeve, Julia Child, Mattie Stepanek, Estee Lauder & Robert Merrill
More People
- Brigham Young - A leader of the Mormons
- Douglas MacArthur - Military Leader
- Johnny Appleseed - He Planted Many Apple Trees
- Joshua Abraham Norton - He Declared Himself Emperor of the USA
- Red Adair - Famous for Putting Out Dangerous Oil Well Fires
- Robert Edison Fulton - Rode Around the World on a Motorcycle
- Thurgood Marshall - The First African American to Serve on the US Supreme Court
More Than One Person, Groups of People, ...
- The Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
- Shadow Wolves - They Track Smugglers
More People - Four-Minute Programs
- Earl Cooley - One of the First Smokejumpers
- Joseph Juran - A Leader in Quality Control
- Michael DeBakey - A Heart Surgeon
- Peter Drucker - A Management Expert
More People - Excerpts
- Women Spies: Virginia Hall, Harriet Tubman, Josephine Baker and Julia Child (8:12)
Only the Text, No MP3 Files
- zz-Artie Shaw- No MP3 File
- zz-Nat King Cole - No MP3 File
- These are good for people studying English because it is possible to read along while listening.
- These are in VOA's Special English .
- These will print very cleanly (without printing the MP3 player and menu.)
- "All text, audio and video material produced exclusively by the Voice of America is public domain. However, some images and graphics are licensed for use and covered by all applicable copyright laws. "
- Though the source material was in the public domain, I have done some editing . If you need the public domain version of any of these stories, please visit http://voanews.com/specialenglish/ .
Other VOA Material on This Web Site
- Voice of America Special English Study
This page is part of Interesting Things for ESL Students .
Copyright © 1997-2015 by Charles Kelly
Biography ESL Lesson Plan [Free PDF]
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Biography ESL Lesson Plan is designed to introduce students to the concept of biographies and help them develop their language skills through the exploration of real-life stories. This lesson plan aims to engage students in learning about different people’s lives, while also expanding their vocabulary, reading, and writing abilities. By delving into the lives of various individuals, students can gain cultural insights and improve their language proficiency. This topic provides a rich opportunity for language practice and cultural understanding, making it an essential part of an ESL curriculum.
Vocabulary Building
Contextual Usage
Esl warm-up activity.
To kick off the Biography ESL Lesson Plan, start with an engaging activity called “Guess the Biography.” Prepare a set of flashcards, each featuring a famous person or historical figure. Without revealing the names, describe each person using adjectives and key events from their lives. Encourage students to guess the identity of each individual based on the clues provided. This activity not only captures students’ attention but also introduces them to the concept of biographies and the vocabulary associated with notable figures.
Main ESL Lesson Activities
Vocabulary activity: who am i, listening exercise: biography podcast.
Provide students with a short podcast episode featuring a biography of a well-known individual. After listening, facilitate a group discussion where students share what they learned and express their opinions about the person’s life. This exercise enhances listening skills and promotes collaborative learning.
Roleplay: Interview with a Historical Figure
Esl homework assignment.
For homework, students will choose a historical figure or a person of interest and write a short biography about them. They should include key events, achievements, and the impact the individual had on society. Encourage students to use the vocabulary and concepts learned in class. Additionally, they can prepare a brief presentation to share their biographies with the class in the next session. This assignment reinforces writing skills, research abilities, and public speaking.
Why this topic is great for ESL learning
Enhanced language skills.
Studying biographies provides a rich opportunity for ESL learners to expand their vocabulary, improve reading and writing abilities, and enhance their overall language proficiency.
Cultural Understanding
Real-life relevance, post navigation.
Lesson Plan on Homeostasis [Free PDF]
The Red Badge of Courage ESL Lesson Plan [Free PDF]
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Famous People
- 154 English lessons
- View a Sample Lesson
From inventors to politicians to celebrities and humanitarians, your students will love reading about these famous, legendary, and influential people from across the globe. Each lesson includes a one-page biography, comprehension questions, vocabulary development tasks, and discussion questions.
Sample Lesson
Susan b. anthony.
Go to this sample lesson from Famous People to get a feel for the lessons in this section. A paid subscription to Ellii gives you access to all of our 1,000+ lessons and 3,000+ flashcards.
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WHEN EDUCATORS UNITE, LEARNERS TAKE FLIGHT
***Disclaimer: In this blog, the terms ESL students (English as a Second Language), ELLs (English Language Learners), and ML (Multilingual Learners) are used interchangeably. While “Multilingual Learners” is becoming the more widely accepted term, “ESL students” and “English Language Learners” are still commonly used in various contexts. My aim is to be inclusive and clear to all readers, regardless of the terminology they are familiar with.
Biography Writing Strategies For ESL Students – Part Two
Welcome to Part Two of our Biography Writing Series! Explore practical strategies for guiding ESL students through the writing phase of biography projects.
I. Introduction
Ii. biography writing, iii. enhancing language skills in biography writing, vii. assessment and feedback, iv. conclusion.
Welcome back! In the first part of this blog series, we dug deep into laying the groundwork for ESL students to excel in research. We covered everything from the vital role of research skills to the nitty-gritty of biography writing. If you haven’t checked it out yet, I highly recommend checking out Empowering ESL Students: Effective Strategies for Biography Writing – Part One.
Now, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the writing phase of our research journey. In this second part of our biography series, we’ll be shifting gears to focus on turning those research findings into captivating biographical narratives. We’ll be exploring practical strategies and activities designed to supercharge your ESL students’ writing skills.
Let’s get started
A. Understanding the Structure of a Biography Essay:
Before exploring the world of biography writing, it’s important for students to explore different biographical works. Just like how we learn from others’ experiences before starting on our own journeys, students should read various biographies to grasp the essence of this genre.
Teachers play a vital role in guiding students through this process by sharing examples of mentor texts, including those crafted by fellow students. These mentor texts offer tangible examples of well-written biographies created by peers. By studying these texts together, students can pick up on effective writing techniques, such as captivating introductions, organized body paragraphs, and meaningful conclusions.
Through this collaborative learning approach, teachers help students develop their writing skills while fostering a supportive classroom environment. By providing real-life examples and discussing writing strategies in a relatable manner, teachers empower students to become confident and proficient biographical writers.
Introduction:
The introduction of a biography is vital, setting the stage by providing background information about the subject and engaging the reader.
ESL students should learn to craft introductions that introduce the subject, establish the narrative’s purpose, and include key details such as the subject’s name, occupation, historical significance, and relevant background information. Mastering this skill improves writing proficiency and enhances communication about important figures.
Therefore, emphasizing the importance of a well-crafted introduction is fundamental in guiding ESL students toward becoming proficient biographical writers.
Body Paragraphs Detailing Key Events and Accomplishments:
In writing a biography, the body paragraphs are crucial. This is where students delve into the subject’s life story, bringing attention to important events, achievements, obstacles, and influences. It’s like telling a story of someone’s life.
For ESL students, it’s helpful to suggest organizing these paragraphs in either chronological order or based on themes. This choice depends on what aspects of the biography they want to emphasize and the structure they’ve chosen.
To ensure clarity and coherence, it’s important to guide students in selecting and presenting relevant information. They should aim to communicate their points clearly, using transitions to smoothly connect ideas and maintain a natural flow throughout the biography.
Conclusion:
In writing a biography, the conclusion serves as an important element. It offers a summary of the subject’s life, reflecting on their impact, legacy, and significance.
For ESL students, it’s essential to learn how to create concise conclusions. These conclusions should revisit the main points of the biography and provide insights or reflections on the subject’s life and contributions.
Emphasizing the importance of leaving a lasting impression on the reader is key. Reinforcing the biography’s central message or theme in the conclusion helps tie everything together effectively.
B. Brainstorming and Outlining Key Points:
Before drafting the biography, it’s important to encourage ESL students to engage in brainstorming and outlining key points they intend to cover in each section.
Structured brainstorming activities, such as utilizing graphic organizers or concept maps, can aid students in organizing their ideas effectively while identifying significant events, achievements, and characteristics of the biography subject.
Additionally, guiding students in creating outlines that delineate the structure of their biography—including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion—can help them develop a clear roadmap for their writing, ensuring that key points and supporting details are incorporated cohesively throughout the narrative.
C. Drafting the Biography Using the Research Gathered:
Once students have completed the brainstorming and outlining process for their biography, they can start drafting the narrative by incorporating the research gathered in the previous phase. If you haven’t checked out my previous blog, “ Empowering ESL Students: Effective Strategies for Biography Writing – Part One ,” I highly recommend it. In that blog, we focused on essential research strategies to gather information about the biography subject.
It’s important to encourage ESL students to seamlessly integrate information from their research sources while ensuring a coherent narrative flow and utilizing their own words to convey the story authentically.
Throughout the drafting process, provide continuous support and constructive feedback to students, addressing language errors, clarity issues, and organizational concerns to aid them in refining their writing and developing a polished biography.
D. Peer Review and Revision Strategies:
Following the completion of their initial drafts, initiate peer review sessions where students engage in exchanging feedback on each other’s biographies.
Instruct students on providing constructive feedback, emphasizing the identification of strengths, areas for improvement, and suggestions for revision. Encourage ESL students to carefully consider peer feedback and undertake revisions accordingly, addressing any identified issues or areas requiring clarification.
Additionally, demonstrate the revision process by modeling how to revise for clarity, coherence, and effectiveness of expression, offering guidance to support students in refining their narratives to achieve their intended impact.
E. Exploring Creative Biography Writing Projects:
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Encouraging ESL students to infuse creativity into their biography writing projects can significantly enhance engagement and deepen understanding. Here are three creative projects that students can explore:
Biography Flipbook:
A biography flipbook is an interactive and visually engaging project that allows students to showcase different components of a biography in a dynamic format. Each section of the flipbook can focus on a specific aspect of the subject’s life, such as early childhood, significant achievements, major events, and legacy.
Students can include illustrations, photographs, and brief descriptions to accompany each section, providing a multi-dimensional view of the subject’s life journey. By flipping through the pages, readers can gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject’s life story in an engaging and interactive manner.
Biography Trifold Brochure:
Creating a biography trifold brochure offers students the opportunity to present key information about their chosen subject in a concise and visually appealing format. The brochure can be divided into sections, such as introduction, early life, major accomplishments, and lasting legacy, allowing students to organize their content effectively. Students can incorporate text, images, and graphics to capture the essence of the subject’s life and convey important details to the reader.
With its portable and compact design, the biography trifold brochure serves as an informative and aesthetically pleasing resource that can be shared with classmates or displayed in the classroom.
Historical Marker:
Designing a historical marker provides students with a hands-on opportunity to commemorate the life and contributions of their chosen biography subject. Students can research significant events, locations, and milestones associated with the subject’s life and use this information to create a visually impactful marker. The historical marker can include a brief biography, notable achievements, and historical context to educate viewers about the subject’s significance.
By displaying the historical marker in a prominent location, such as the classroom or school courtyard, students can raise awareness and appreciation for their chosen biography subject within the school community.
To support ESL learners, especially beginners, consider incorporating scaffolding and differentiation strategies such as providing sentence frames, guided questions, word banks, and opportunities for collaborative work. Additionally, allowing beginning ELLs to illustrate, label, and write short sentences about their drawings can further enhance their engagement and language development throughout these creative biography projects.
By integrating these supports, ESL students can enhance their research skills, storytelling abilities, and language proficiency while engaging in meaningful and creative writing activities.
A. Language Activities to Reinforce Research and Biography Writing:
Vocabulary games related to biography subjects:.
Engaging ESL students in vocabulary games related to biography subjects can enhance their understanding of key terms and concepts while making learning enjoyable.
For instance, a word matching game where students match biographical terms (e.g., “biography,” “autobiography,” “timeline”) with their definitions can reinforce vocabulary retention.
Another activity could involve creating crossword puzzles or word searches using vocabulary words from the biographies students are studying. By actively engaging with vocabulary in a playful context, students not only expand their word bank but also deepen their comprehension of biographical content.
Writing Prompts to Encourage Descriptive Language:
Providing ESL students with writing prompts that prompt descriptive language can strengthen their narrative skills and foster creativity in biography writing.
For example, prompts like “Describe a significant event in the life of your biography subject using vivid sensory details” encourage students to paint a vivid picture with words.
Additionally, prompts that ask students to imagine being the biography subject or a witness to a key moment in their life can inspire imaginative storytelling and language expression.
By responding to these prompts, students practice descriptive language while exploring different perspectives and aspects of their biography subjects’ lives.
Oral Presentations of Biographies:
Organizing oral presentations of biographies allows ESL students to practice speaking skills while sharing their research findings and biographical narratives with peers.
Students can prepare short presentations summarizing their biography subjects’ lives, highlighting key events, achievements, and personal traits. Encourage students to use descriptive language and engaging storytelling techniques to captivate their audience.
Peer feedback sessions following the presentations provide opportunities for students to receive constructive criticism and refine their oral communication skills further.
B. Integrating Grammar and Language Structure Practice within the Writing Process:
Throughout the biography writing process, integrate grammar and language structure practice to reinforce language skills.
For example, focus on specific grammar points relevant to biography writing, such as past tense verbs for recounting historical events or transition words for connecting ideas within paragraphs.
Provide mini-lessons or grammar activities tailored to address common language errors observed in students’ writing. Additionally, scaffold language structure practice by modeling sentence construction and paragraph organization techniques.
Encourage students to revise their drafts with a focus on grammar and language accuracy, incorporating feedback from peer evaluations and teacher guidance.
C. Supporting ESL Students with Classroom Posters
In addition to the strategies discussed earlier, utilizing posters around the classroom can provide valuable support for English Language Learners as they navigate the biography writing process. These posters can serve as helpful references and tools for students to access key information and prompts as they work on their biographies.
One effective way to use posters is by providing sentence frames or sentence starters for the different sections of the biography. For example, posters could feature phrases like:
- Introduction: “This biography is about [biography subject], who was known for…”
- Early Life: “In the early years, [biography subject] was born in [place] and…”
- Achievements: “One of [biography subject]’s major achievements was…”
- Legacy: “Today, [biography subject] is remembered for their impact on…”
By having these sentence frames displayed prominently around the classroom, ESL students can refer to them for guidance and inspiration as they craft their biographies. This not only helps scaffold their writing process but also reinforces key language structures and vocabulary related to biography writing.
Teachers can strategically place these posters in areas where students frequently work or gather, ensuring easy access and visibility. Additionally, encouraging students to interact with this visuals by reading aloud the sentence frames or discussing how they can incorporate them into their writing can further reinforce their understanding and application of biography writing conventions.
Incorporating posters into the classroom environment empowers ESL students to independently access support resources as they engage in the biography writing project. It promotes a collaborative and inclusive learning environment where students feel supported and equipped to succeed in their writing endeavors.
By integrating grammar and language structure support and practice into the writing process, students develop proficiency in both writing mechanics and content expression, thereby enhancing the overall quality of their biographical narratives.
A. Formative Assessment Techniques during the Research and Writing Process:
Implement various formative assessment techniques throughout the research and writing process to monitor students’ progress and provide timely feedback. For instance, conduct regular check-ins or conferences with individual students or small groups to discuss their research findings, writing drafts, and any challenges they may be facing.
Use informal assessments such as exit tickets, journal reflections, or concept mapping activities to gauge students’ understanding of key research concepts and writing strategies.
Additionally, provide opportunities for peer review and self-assessment, where students can evaluate their own work and that of their peers against predetermined criteria.
B. Rubrics for Assessing Research Skills, Writing Quality, and Language Proficiency:
Develop rubrics that clearly outline expectations and criteria for assessing various aspects of students’ research projects and biographical narratives. Include categories such as research skills (e.g., selecting credible sources, synthesizing information), writing quality (e.g., organization, coherence, mechanics), and language proficiency (e.g., vocabulary usage, grammar, fluency).
Break down each category into specific criteria and descriptors, assigning point values or levels of proficiency for each criterion. Provide examples or anchor papers to illustrate different levels of performance.
Rubrics serve as valuable assessment tools for both students and teachers, fostering transparency, consistency, and accountability in the evaluation process.
C. Providing Constructive Feedback to Support Improvement:
Offer constructive feedback that focuses on specific strengths, areas for improvement, and actionable suggestions for growth.
When providing feedback on research skills, commend students for effectively identifying relevant sources or synthesizing information from multiple texts. Encourage them to expand their research scope or delve deeper into specific aspects of their biography subjects’ lives.
For writing quality, highlight well-developed ideas, clear organization, and engaging language, while addressing areas of confusion, repetition, or lack of coherence. Offer strategies or resources to help students revise and refine their work, such as modeling revision techniques or providing additional research materials.
When assessing language proficiency, pinpoint language errors or awkward phrasing, suggesting alternative expressions or grammar structures.
Encourage students to seek clarification, ask questions, and actively engage in the revision process to enhance their writing skills and overall proficiency.
By incorporating formative assessment techniques, rubrics, and constructive feedback into the research and writing process, teachers can support ESL students in developing essential skills, refining their biographical narratives, and achieving academic success.
Throughout this blog series, we have explored essential strategies for teaching ESL students how to conduct research and write biographies. From understanding the research process to incorporating language skills into writing, I hope that we’ve provided you with some practical guidance to support your students in developing these important academic skills.
Cultivating research and writing skills is crucial for your ESL students as it equips them with the tools necessary for academic success and future endeavors. By honing these skills, your students not only improve their language proficiency but also enhance their critical thinking, communication, and self-expression abilities, empowering them to navigate various academic and real-world contexts with confidence.
As educators, it’s essential for us to recognize that each ESL student comes with unique strengths, challenges, and learning styles. Therefore, I encourage you to adapt and personalize the strategies presented in this blog series to meet the specific needs and interests of your students.
By incorporating diverse instructional methods, providing differentiated support, and fostering a supportive learning environment, you can maximize student engagement and achievement in research and biography writing.
It’s time to hear from you! What aspects of this blog resonated with you the most? Did you discover any new insights or strategies that you’re excited to implement in your classroom?
Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below. Your feedback not only helps us understand your needs better but also creates a space for valuable discussion and collaboration among educators. Let’s continue learning and growing together!
- Empowering ESL Students: Effective Strategies for Biography Writing – Part One
- How to Teach Personal Narrative Writing to ESL Students
- 9 Strategies In Teaching Persuasive Writing to ESL Students
- How to Teach Writing to ESL Newcomer Students
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Empowering ESL Students: Effective Strategies for Biography Writing – Part One
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Biographies and Profiles ESL/EFL Lesson Plans
A great directory for teachers and educators looking to use biographies in their lessons. Each Lesson plan includes a transcript and optional downloads (Word Doc, PDF, MP3 Listening and an Online Exercise). There are over 10 different exercises all based on the transcript, as well as group extension projects and homework ideas.
- English ESL Worksheets
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How to Write a Biography in English With Example
At some point in your education career, you will be asked to write a biography about yourself or someone else. Writing a biography is not a difficult task if you know what biography is then you can easily write. If you don’t know how to write a biography in English, read carefully the following article.
How to Write a Biography in English
A biography is a detailed description or account of a person’s life. It entails more than basic facts (education, work, relationship, and death). A biography also explains the subject’s experience of these events. Like a profile or curriculum vitae (resume).
A biography presents a subject’s life story, highlighting various aspects of his or her life, including intimate details of experience, and may include an analysis of a subject’s personality.
Biographical works are usually non-fiction, but fiction can also be used to portray a person’s life. One in-depth form of biographical coverage is called legacy writing. Biographical works in diverse media—from literature to film—from the genre known as a biography.
Biography of General Muhammad Musa
General Musa Khan Hazara (H.PK., HJ, HQA, MBE, PSC 1908 – 1991) was the commander in chief of Pakistan Army. He succeeded Filed Marshal Ayub Khan, who assumed the presidency of Pakistan.
He was the eldest son of Sardar Yazdan Khan, born on 20 October 1908 in a Hazara Shia Muslim family in Quetta. He was from the Sardar family of the Hazara tribe in Baluchistan, Pakistan. He was a Naik (Junior Non-commissioned Office) in the 106 th Hazara Pioneers, went to the Indian Military Academy in Dehra Dun as a cadet, and graduated with the first batch of British Indian commissioned officer on 1 February 1935.
He was posted to the 6 th Royal Battalion, the 13 th frontier Force Rifles as a platoon commander in 1936. He took part in the Waziristan Operations in 1936-1938 and in World War 2, where he served in North Africa. He served with distinction in the Pakistan Army and rose to the rank of the commander in chief of Pakistan Armed Forces during President Muhammad Ayub Khan’s regime (1958-1969).
His promotion to commander in chief saw the suppression of two seniors: Major General Sher Ali Khan and Major General Latif Khan, both Sandhurst graduated in 1933.
General Muhammad Musa commanded the Army in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 and had overall responsibility for operations throughout the conflict. As army chief, he was criticized for not anticipating an assault across the international border. However, he was given credit for blunting the Indian offensive towards Sialkot during the Battle of Chawinda.
He has narrated the events and experiences of the war his book” My Vision”. In the book, he was given accounts of the secret war that was going on in Kashmir between the two countries, long before the real war actually began.
General Musa is the author or his autobiography, “Jawan to General” in which he describes his life experiences from a simple foot-soldier rising to the rank of a general.
After the retirement from Pakistan Army, President Ayub Khan appointed him as the Governor of West Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from 1967 to 1979. After serving for few years, he retired and settled in Karachi.
In 1987, he was once again involved in politics. He was appointed as Governor of Baluchistan Province by then president General Zia-ul-Haq. In Baluchistan, Governor General (Retd) Musa dissolved the provincial assembly in December 1988. However, the Baluchistan High court restored the assembly amid public condemnation of Governor’s move. The step towards dissolving the assembly was believed to have been taken with the consent to the president and prime minister.
He died on 12 March 1991 at Governor House in Quetta.
Conclusion:
I hope now you know how to write a biography in English. If you have any question please don’t hesitate to comment it in the comment section below.
Also, read: How To Write An Autobiography In English
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Famous People Lessons: Ready-to-print handouts (166 so far) for English lessons on the lives of famous people. FREE Word and PDF downloads.
Pre-intermediate (A2-B1) In this audio-based lesson, students will learn about the life and many achievements of Leonardo da Vinci. The lesson focuses on vocabulary, listening comprehension, word families and speaking. There is also an optional extension activity which focuses on art equipment and materials.
Biographies. Students look at the chart which has some information about a famous person and write a paragraph about him. 436 uses. A selection of English ESL biography printables.
James Rouse - A Developer of Shopping Malls and a Planned City. Louis Kahn - Building Designer. Philo Farnsworth - The Father of Television (4:00) Radio Pioneers - Guglielmo Marconi, Lee De Forest, Edwin Armstrong, David Sarnoff, William S. Paley, Edward R. Murrow & William Shirer. Steve Fossett - Adventurer.
Biography. Things about themselves. 276 uses. A selection of English ESL biographies printables.
The Biography ESL Lesson Plan is designed to introduce students to the concept of biographies and help them develop their language skills through the exploration of real-life stories. This lesson plan aims to engage students in learning about different people's lives, while also expanding their vocabulary, reading, and writing abilities. ...
Famous People. From inventors to politicians to celebrities and humanitarians, your students will love reading about these famous, legendary, and influential people from across the globe. Each lesson includes a one-page biography, comprehension questions, vocabulary development tasks, and discussion questions.
Biographies. This collection of lessons offers B1/B2 students an opportunity to practise listening and speaking skills, add to their vocabulary, briefly explore language points and increase their general knowledge. The lessons cover a range of famous (and infamous) figures including scientists, political leaders and artists and writers.
Welcome to ESL Printables, the website where English Language teachers exchange resources: worksheets, lesson plans, activities, etc. Our collection is growing every day with the help of many teachers. ... Emma Watson�s Biography Level: elementary Age: 10-100 Downloads: 181 : Alexander Graham Bell, the.. Level: intermediate Age: 17-100 ...
physics. Twelve years later he was a university professor and in 1921, he won the Nobel Prize for Physics. He went on to publish over 300 scientific papers. ( ) entrance exams to a technical college. ( 1 ) Albert Einstein was a German-born physicist, although most people probably know him as. ( ) happened to change our world.
The introduction of a biography is vital, setting the stage by providing background information about the subject and engaging the reader. ESL students should learn to craft introductions that introduce the subject, establish the narrative's purpose, and include key details such as the subject's name, occupation, historical significance, and relevant background information. Mastering this ...
Biographies and Profiles ESL/EFL Lesson Plans. A great directory for teachers and educators looking to use biographies in their lessons. Each Lesson plan includes a transcript and optional downloads (Word Doc, PDF, MP3 Listening and an Online Exercise). There are over 10 different exercises all based on the transcript, as well as group ...
writing a biography about favourite celebrity. fill in information on biography. what about their family , birth.1. Watch video on How to write a Biography. 2. Choose my favourite celebrity. 3. Scan and identify what information to fill in from the graphic organizer. 4. Find information about my favourite celebrity using google.com 5. Fill in the graphic organizer 6. Fill in exit card
A biography is a non-fiction text about someone's life. Biographies are true pieces of text, based on fact, so biographers (the people who write biographies) have to do a lot of research. They use ...
A biography is a detailed description or account of a person's life. It entails more than basic facts (education, work, relationship, and death). A biography also explains the subject's experience of these events. Like a profile or curriculum vitae (resume). A biography presents a subject's life story, highlighting various aspects of his ...
Welcome to ESL Printables, the website where English Language teachers exchange resources: worksheets, lesson plans, activities, etc. Our collection is growing every day with the help of many teachers. ... My auto-biography Level: elementary Age: 10-17 Downloads: 773 How to write a biography Level: intermediate Age: 9-14 Downloads: 723 ...
sold over 80 million records iedwwlrdo. 3. a vialrve of teen pop in the late 1990s. 4. problems with drugs and ahclloo. Paragraph 2. 5. Spears was a budding yngmast when she was a child. 6.
Working with biographies. The biography section of portfolios is a documentation of the learners' personal language learning history and can include, for example, a short narrative about the summer camp they attended and for which they may include a certificate of attendance in the passport section. This biography lends itself well to 'show ...
Module 1 Past and present Pages 12 - 13 Panning and writing a biography. Organization and proofreading. Correction exercise on draft biography of Rowan Atkinson. The following ESL / EFL resources are available for Writing a biography (writing): 1 book cross-reference (s), 1 online quiz exercise (s),
In this English article, learn about the difference between a biography and an autobiography, and have a go at autobiographical writing yourself.
A handy ESL checklist for the key features of a biography. The above video is from a third-party source. We accept no responsibility for any videos from third-party sources. Please let us know if the video is no longer working. Twinkl ESL Resources Age 7-11 Reading and Writing Writing Aids.
Elon Musk was born in South Africa on June 8, 1971. His father is South African and his mother is Canadian. Musk was fascinated by technology from an early age. At 12 years old, he coded his own video game and sold it for $500. Five years later, he moved to Canada to avoid mandatory military service.
Language: English (en) ID: 948847. 27/04/2021. Country code: ID. Country: Indonesia. School subject: English as a Second Language (ESL) (1061958) Main content: Biographies (2012321) From worksheet author: biography exercise.
ESL Biography Abraham Lincoln + Exercises ESL Biography Abraham Lincoln + Exercises. vartej Member for 2 years 4 months Age: 10+ Level: B1. Language: Spanish (es) ID: 7658353. 16/04/2024. Country code: ES. Country: Spain. School subject: English as a Second Language ...
His grandfather wasn't in the stands. No one was. But Nick Mayhugh knew his grandfather was there in Tokyo with him — encouraging him, cheering him on, unconditionally proud of him.. Mayhugh was giving the world a lot to be proud of during the Tokyo Paralympics. Just a decade removed from having his life completely rocked, a few years after relearning how to run, Mayhugh was bolting down ...