Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Celine Dion. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Celine Dion is a superstar in both French and English. She is one of the most talented and successful artists of her generation. In May 2008, she received France’s highest award, but her beginnings were slightly more humble. She was the youngest of 14 children born to poor parents. Music was a key part of family life and her earliest dream was to be famous.
When she was eighteen, at a Michael Jackson concert, she decided she wanted to be a star like him. She needed a change of image and had cosmetic and dental surgery. She also had English lessons to polish her accent for singing songs in English. Her English debut, the 1990 album ‘Unison’, brought her to the world’s attention.
Dion has spent two decades making hit albums in English and sticking to her roots by singing in French. She says she is a French singer who occasionally records in English. Her 1995 release ‘D’eux’ is still the best-selling French album of all time. She continues to perform regularly and is today regarded as one of pop music's most influential female vocalists.
Dion is also a clever businesswoman. She has branched out into different areas to market her name. She started and then sold a successful restaurant franchise. She then signed a profitable deal with perfume giant Coty to release her own line of fragrances. She also supports many charities worldwide. She has achieved her childhood dream and helped countless people along the way.
247 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.
generation
a.
major
2
humble
b.
improve
3.
key
c.
simple
4.
image
d.
age group
5.
polish
e.
awareness
6.
attention
f.
appearance
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
roots
g.
important
8.
regarded
h.
expanded
9.
influential
i.
realized
10.
branched out
j.
origins
11
franchise
k
considered
12
achieved
l
chain
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
the most talented and successful
a.
more humble
2
her beginnings were slightly
b.
out into different areas
3.
Music was a key
c.
her accent
4.
English lessons to polish
d.
her roots
5.
the 1990 album ‘Unison’, brought
e.
artists of her generation
6.
sticking to
f.
influential female vocalists
7.
the best-selling French album
g.
her to the world’s attention
8.
one of pop music's most
h.
her childhood dream
9.
She has branched
i.
part of family life
10.
She has achieved
j.
of all time
LISTENING GAP FILL
Celine Dion is a superstar in both French and English. She ______________ talented and successful artists of her generation. In May 2008, she received France’s ______________, but her beginnings were __________________. She was the youngest of 14 children born to poor parents. ________________ family life and her earliest dream was to be famous.
When she was eighteen, at a Michael Jackson concert, she decided she wanted ______________ him. She needed a ______________ and had cosmetic and dental surgery. She also had English lessons ________________ for singing songs in English. Her English debut, the 1990 album ‘Unison’, ________________ world’s attention.
Dion has spent two decades ______________ in English and sticking ______________ singing in French. She says she is a French singer who occasionally records in English. Her 1995 release ‘D’eux’ is still the best-selling French album ____________. She continues to perform regularly and is today regarded as one of pop music's ______________ female vocalists.
Dion is also a clever businesswoman. She has ______________ different areas to market her name. She started ______________ successful restaurant franchise. She then signed a profitable deal with perfume giant Coty _________________ of fragrances. She also supports many charities worldwide. She has achieved her childhood dream and helped countless people ______________.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Celine Dion is a superstar in both / all French and English. She is one of the most / best talented and successful artists of her generation. In May 2008, she received France’s highest award, but her beginnings were slighter / slightly more humble. She was the youngest of 14 children born to poor parents. Music was a key / lock part of family life and her earliest dream was to be famous.
When she was eighteen, at a Michael Jackson concert, she decided she wanted and / to be a star like him. She needed a change of images / image and had cosmetic and dental surgery. She also had English lessons to scrub / polish her accent for singing songs in English. Her English debut, the 1990 album ‘Unison’, brought her to the world’s attention / attendant.
Dion has spent two decades making hit albums in English and sticking to her petals / roots by singing in French. She says she is a French singer who occasionally / occasion records in English. Her 1995 release ‘D’eux’ is still the best-selling French album of every / all time. She continues to perform regularly and is today regarded as / by one of pop music's most influential female vocalists.
Dion is also a clever businesswoman. She has branched in / out into different areas to market / bazaar her name. She started and then sold a successful restaurant franchise. She then signed a profitable deal with perfume ogre / giant Coty to release her own line of fragrances. She also supports many charities worldwide. She has achieved her childhood dream and helped countless / countable people along the way.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
one of the most tletenda and successful artists of her generation
2.
In May 2008, she received France’s highest warda
3.
her beginnings were istyhllg more humble
4.
her earliest dream was to be sfamou
Paragraph 2
5.
She needed a change of geiam
6.
cosmetic and dental regyrus
7.
English ubted
8.
English lessons to polish her tncace
Paragraph 3
9.
sticking to her tsroo
10.
a French singer who occasionally rocedsr in English
11.
the best-signlle French album of all time
12.
one of pop music's most influential afelem vocalists
Paragraph 4
13.
a successful restaurant fsnherica
14.
a profitable deal with fpemeur giant Coty
15.
She has dhceeaiv her childhood dream
16.
helped luosetnsc people along the way
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
by singing in French. She says she is a French singer who occasionally records
( )
Dion has spent two decades making hit albums in English and sticking to her roots
( )
of all time. She continues to perform regularly and is today regarded as one of pop music's most influential female vocalists.
( )
and successful artists of her generation. In May 2008, she received France’s highest award, but her beginnings were slightly
( )
childhood dream and helped countless people along the way.
( )
part of family life and her earliest dream was to be famous.
( )
her name. She started and then sold a successful restaurant franchise. She then signed a profitable deal with perfume
( )
in English. Her 1995 release ‘D’eux’ is still the best-selling French album
( )
more humble. She was the youngest of 14 children born to poor parents. Music was a key
( )
giant Coty to release her own line of fragrances. She also supports many charities worldwide. She has achieved her
( 1 )
Celine Dion is a superstar in both French and English. She is one of the most talented
( )
When she was eighteen, at a Michael Jackson concert, she decided she wanted to be a
( )
her accent for singing songs in English. Her English debut, the 1990 album ‘Unison’, brought her to the world’s attention.
( )
star like him. She needed a change of image and had cosmetic and dental surgery. She also had English lessons to polish
( )
Dion is also a clever businesswoman. She has branched out into different areas to market
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
of talented her and generation successful the artists most
2.
were beginnings her humble more slightly
3.
Music life family of part key a was
4.
image of change a needed She
5.
English accent her polish to lessons
6.
French in singing by roots her to sticking
7.
French the album best of all selling time
8.
has out different She branched into areas
9.
with Coty signed deal giant then profitable perfume She a
10.
way the along people countless helped
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Celine Dion?
2.
Would you like to meet Celine Dion?
3.
What would you like to know about Celine Dion and why?
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 Celine Dion. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. CELINE DION POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Celine Dion. 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 Celine Dion. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she does every day and what she 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 Celine Dion. Ask her three questions about her life. Give her three suggestions on what she should do in her future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Celine Dion expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
generation
a.
age group
2
humble
b.
simple
3.
key
c.
major
4.
image
d.
appearance
5.
polish
e.
improve
6.
attention
f.
awareness
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
roots
g.
origins
8.
regarded
h.
considered
9.
influential
i.
important
10.
branched out
j.
expanded
11
franchise
k
chain
12
achieved
l
realized
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
the most talented and successful
a.
artists of her generation
2
her beginnings were slightly
b.
more humble
3.
Music was a key
c.
part of family life
4.
English lessons to polish
d.
her accent
5.
the 1990 album ‘Unison’, brought
e.
her to the world’s attention
6.
sticking to
f.
her roots
7.
the best-selling French album
g.
of all time
8.
one of pop music's most
h.
influential female vocalists
9.
She has branched
i.
out into different areas
10.
She has achieved
j.
her childhood dream
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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