Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Kitano Takeshi. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
The multi-talented Kitano Takeshi, a.k.a. Beat Takeshi, is a Japanese comedian, actor, TV presenter, author, poet, painter, video game designer, award-winning film director and academic. He is one of the few Japanese entertainers to be famous around the world. His highly unique style and creative genius have kept him at the forefront of film and television for decades.
Kitano’s career is so varied it’s difficult to know where to begin. In his native Japan, he is best known as a TV host and comedian. Switch on Japanese TV and you’re likely to see Takeshi in one of his many zany roles. He started in comedy in the 1970s as half of the manzai comic duo Two Beats. Their TV debut made them both household names.
Takeshi decided to go it alone in the 1980s and his resume greatly broadened. In 1983, he appeared in the movie ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’ and became world famous. He starred in and directed ‘Violent Cop’ in 1989, which was the beginning of his career as a filmmaker. His 1997 ‘HANA-BI’ established his international status as one of Japan's top directors.
Kitano won the prestigious Silver Lion award at the Vienna Film Festival for 2003’s ‘Zatoichi’. Since April 2005, he has been a professor at Tokyo’s National University of Fine Arts and Music. He continues to paint, write, be funny, and make movies. There’s no telling in which direction his career will move next.
239 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.
a.k.a.
a.
head
2
academic
b.
pair
3.
forefront
c.
crazy
4.
varied
d.
professor
5.
zany
e.
also known as
6.
duo
f.
diverse
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
broadened
g.
respected
8.
appeared
h.
expanded
9.
established
i.
way
10.
prestigious
j.
predicting
11
telling
k
confirmed
12
direction
l
acted
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
award-winning
a.
where to begin
2
His highly unique style
b.
Silver Lion award
3.
it’s difficult to know
c.
alone in the 1980s
4.
you’re likely to see Takeshi in one
d.
film director
5.
Their TV debut made them
e.
as one of Japan's top directors
6.
Takeshi decided to go it
f.
both household names
7.
the beginning of his
g.
and creative genius
8.
established his international status
h.
his career will move in next
9.
Kitano won the prestigious
i.
career as a filmmaker
10.
There’s no telling in which direction
j.
of his many zany roles
LISTENING GAP FILL
____________________ Kitano Takeshi, a.k.a. Beat Takeshi, is a Japanese comedian, actor, TV presenter, author, poet, painter, video game designer, ____________________ director and academic. He is one of the few Japanese entertainers to be famous around the world. His highly unique style ____________________ have kept him at the forefront of film and television for decades.
Kitano’s ____________________ difficult to know where to begin. In his native Japan, he is best known as a TV host and comedian. Switch on Japanese TV ____________________ see Takeshi in one of his many zany roles. He started in comedy in the 1970s as half of the manzai comic duo Two Beats. Their TV debut made ________________________.
Takeshi decided ____________________ the 1980s and his resume greatly broadened. In 1983, he appeared in the movie ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’ and ____________________. He starred in and directed ‘Violent Cop’ in 1989, which was the beginning of his career as a filmmaker. His 1997 ‘HANA-BI’ established his international ____________________ Japan's top directors.
Kitano ____________________ Silver Lion award at the Vienna Film Festival for 2003’s ‘Zatoichi’. Since April 2005, ____________________ at Tokyo’s National University of Fine Arts and Music. He continues to paint, write, be funny, and make movies. There’s ____________________ direction his career will move next.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
The multi-talented Kitano Takeshi, a.k.a. / ala Beat Takeshi, is a Japanese comedian, actor, TV presenter, author, poetry / poet, painter, video game designer, award-winning film director and academic / academy. He is one of the few Japanese entertainers to be famous around the world. His highly uniquely / unique style and creative genius have kept him at the forefront of film and television for decades.
Kitano’s career is so varied / various it’s difficult to know where to begin. In his native Japan, he is best known as a TV host and comedian. Switch on Japanese TV and you’re likely / likeness to see Takeshi in one of his many zany roles. He started in comedy in the 1970s as half of the manzai comic trio / duo Two Beats. Their TV debut made them both housework / household names.
Takeshi decided to go it / them alone in the 1980s and his resume greatly broadened. In 1983, he appeared / appearing in the movie ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’ and became world famous. He starred on / in and directed ‘Violent Cop’ in 1989, which was the beginning of his career as / was a filmmaker. His 1997 ‘HANA-BI’ established his international status as one of Japan's top directors.
Kitano won / wins the prestigious Silver Lion award at the Vienna Film Festival for 2003’s ‘Zatoichi’. Since April 2005, he had / has been a professor at Tokyo’s National University of Fine Arts and Music. He continues to paint, write, be humour / funny, and make movies. There’s no telling / ordering in which direction his career will move next.
SPELLING
The jumbled words underlined below are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
a Japanese aonicmed
2.
video game dgeiensr
3.
His highly enuuiq style
4.
at the forefront of film and television for daeecsd
Paragraph 2
5.
Kitano’s career is so avider it’s difficult to know where to begin.
6.
In his iatvne Japan
7.
He started in moeycd in the 1970s
8.
Their TV ebtdu made them both household names.
Paragraph 3
9.
Takeshi decided to go it loena in the 1980s
10.
He starred in and tdirceed ‘Violent Cop’
11.
the beginning of his ceearr as a filmmaker
12.
established his international tusast
Paragraph 4
13.
Kitano won the strgeiiusop Silver Lion award
14.
a esrfosrpo at Tokyo’s National University
15.
He teionnusc to paint
16.
in which rinctdeoi his career will move next
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( 1 )
The multi-talented Kitano Takeshi, a.k.a. Beat Takeshi, is a Japanese comedian, actor, TV
( )
presenter, author, poet, painter, video game designer, award-winning film director and academic. He is one of the
( )
Kitano’s career is so varied it’s difficult to know where to begin. In his native
( )
few Japanese entertainers to be famous around the world. His highly unique style and creative genius
( )
Takeshi decided to go it alone in the 1980s and his resume greatly broadened. In 1983, he appeared
( )
his international status as one of Japan's top directors.
( )
on Japanese TV and you’re likely to see Takeshi in one of his many zany roles. He started in comedy in the 1970s as half
( )
for 2003’s ‘Zatoichi’. Since April 2005, he has been a professor at Tokyo’s National University of Fine Arts and Music. He continues
( )
of the manzai comic duo Two Beats. Their TV debut made them both household names.
( )
to paint, write, be funny, and make movies. There’s no telling in which direction his career will move next.
( )
was the beginning of his career as a filmmaker. His 1997 ‘HANA-BI’ established
( )
Japan, he is best known as a TV host and comedian. Switch
( )
Kitano won the prestigious Silver Lion award at the Vienna Film Festival
( )
in the movie ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence’ and became world famous. He starred in and directed ‘Violent Cop’ in 1989, which
( )
have kept him at the forefront of film and television for decades.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
Takeshi Takeshi .a.k.a. Beat Kitano
2.
creative His unique and genius highly style
3.
know to it’s to where begin difficult
4.
the He in in 1970s started comedy
5.
TV Their names household both them made debut
6.
decided Takeshi alone it go to
7.
filmmaker a as career his of beginning the
8.
‘HANA-BI’ status international his established
9.
won prestigious Lion Kitano the Silver award
10.
telling no There’s direction which in
KITANO TAKESHI DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Kitano Takeshi?
2.
Would you like to meet Kitano Takeshi?
3.
What would you like to know about Kitano Takeshi 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 Kitano Takeshi. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. KITANO TAKESHI POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Kitano Takeshi. 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 Kitano Takeshi. 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 Kitano Takeshi. 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 “Kitano Takeshi expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
a.k.a.
a.
also known as
2
academic
b.
professor
3.
forefront
c.
head
4.
varied
d.
diverse
5.
zany
e.
crazy
6.
duo
f.
pair
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
broadened
g.
expanded
8.
appeared
h.
acted
9.
established
i.
confirmed
10.
prestigious
j.
respected
11
telling
k
predicting
12
direction
l
way
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
award-winning
a.
film director
2
His highly unique style
b.
and creative genius
3.
it’s difficult to know
c.
where to begin
4.
you’re likely to see Takeshi in one
d.
of his many zany roles
5.
Their TV debut made them
e.
both household names
6.
Takeshi decided to go it
f.
alone in the 1980s
7.
the beginning of his
g.
career as a filmmaker
8.
established his international status
h.
as one of Japan's top directors
9.
Kitano won the prestigious
i.
Silver Lion award
10.
There’s no telling in which direction
j.
his career will move in next
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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