As you already know, Mr. Bean is a British comedy television series created and played by Rowan Atkinson. His character rarely speaks, however he is a celebrity around the world thanks to its common and funny situations based on silent films. And you will think... “well, if he does not speak... what can I do in my ESL classes??? Keep reading and I will tell you...
You can take many ideas from an almost silent video, discuss with your learners on a lot of topics and review many aspects on grammar or vocabulary depending on your lesson plan. In this way, your students will learn a lot of vocabulary, express opinions or ideas according to the situation and improve their speaking or listening activities. Here you are a sample!
At the moment, Mr. Bean is at the library...
You can practice...
... Past simple: What did he do before he borrowed the book?
... Present perfect (simple or continuous): What has he done? or What has he been doing?
You can stop the video just a moment to...
... review the 1st conditional: What do you think he will do if it does not work?
... review the 2nd conditional: What would you do if you were in his place?
... review the 3rd conditional: Would he have done that if he had known that it would break?
... review Future simple/Future immediate: What do you think will happen next? or What do you think is going to happen next?
Your students can learn a new and useful vocabulary...
Nouns: library (not bookshop o second-hand bookshop), librarian (not bookseller), librarianship, library curator, researcher, contents, cut, bookmark, hand-written, manuscript, bookcase, bookshelves, gloves, lending service, interlibrarian loan service, cutter, case work, reading room, bookrest, case, notepad, collection of books, research library, public library, special library...
Verbs: to borrow, to lend, to read, to research, to have hiccups, to sneeze, to hold one´s breath, to cut, to correct, to tear, to take back, to trace, to copy, to inform, to conserve...
Furthermore, your students can write a composition about the clip...
And please, don´t follow his example!
*Idea taken from Musical English Lessons International (England). For further information, please, go to its website: http://www.musicalenglishlessons.org/
