Pract

The Flatmates
Meet The Flatmates

Teacher’s pack
Lesson plan and student worksheets
with answers

BBC Learning English – The Flatmates
Introductory lesson plan: Meet The Flatmates
CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.

Aim, level, topic, preparation, lesson time
Teachers notes: Lesson procedure with answers
Student worksheet

Aim
Level
Preparation

An introductory session which introduces theFlatmates
characters to students
Low intermediate level and above.
One copy of the student worksheet per student.
Students also need internet access, or a copy of the
'background' pdf available at:
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/people.pdf

One copy of each of the 6 A4 flatmates posters available
at:
http://www.bbclearningenglish.com/teachingenglishLesson time

Approximately 45 - 60 minutes

______________________________________________________________
Teachers' notes: Lesson Procedure
Stage 1
Show the students the A4 flatmates posters (or project them on to the
whiteboard if you can) and ask them to guess what each character is called.
There are several ways you can do this:
•

Stick the A4 posters around the class: students walkround and write
their suggested names on the posters. When they have finished, read
out the names – count the most popular ones.

•

Write the names on the board and get students to match them to the
characters. Give one point for each correct match.

•

Write the names on the board and students vote for which character
has which name.

Stage 2
Give out the student worksheet:students check the characters' names.

© BBC Learning English

bbclearningenglish.com
Page 2 of 6

BBC Learning English – The Flatmates
Introductory lesson plan: Meet The Flatmates
Stage 3
Students work in small groups to do task 1 on their handouts. Circulate and
encourage discussion, speculation & justification of their answers.
Stage 4
Students do task 2 on their handouts ie. theycheck their answers to task 1 by
looking at the Flatmates Background webpage or handout. The answers are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Who moved to Britain at the age of 12? Helen
Who fell in love with Michal? Helen
Who works as a nurse? Alice
Who comes from Poland? Michal
Who is interested in sport, fashion and music? Khalid
Who stole some chicken from the kitchen? Kitty (this is not
mentionedin the reading text)
7. Who has had some problems with the police? Tim
8. Who left the flat when their father was ill? Michal
9. Who is the newest flatmate? Khalid
10.Who wants to run his/her own business? Tim
Stage 5
Students read the text more carefully to find the answers to task 3 on their
handouts. Get them to check their answers in pairs or small groups before
feeding back as a class.The answers to task 3 are:
1. Tim wants to be a successful businessman. True: 'Tim's ambitious and
very competitive. He'd like to start up his own business...'
2. Tim got sacked from his job because he was cheating the customers.
False: 'Tim realised it was his boss who was behind the fake watches
and in a show-down with him, Tim resigned.'
3. Helen is studying politics and history atuniversity. False: 'She is at
university studying politics and economics.'
4. Helen is a very hard-working student. False: 'She wants to get a good
degree but doesn't study as much as she should.'
5. Helen doesn't like Michal any more. False: She's heartbroken, but she
still daydreams about Michal.
6. Khalid doesn't get on too well with Tim. True: 'After a chat with Tim
recently, he realisedthere might be some tension between them. '
7. Alice is divorced. False: 'Paul is going to get a divorce.'
8. Michal is Tim's uncle. False: 'Michal is Tim's cousin from Poland.'

© BBC Learning English

bbclearningenglish.com
Page 3 of 6

BBC Learning English – The Flatmates
Introductory lesson plan: Meet The Flatmates
9. Michal's uncle had a heart attack. False: 'Michal's father had a...