Note: this article was written and first published online by out dear friend and colleague,  ‘Teacher Dude’, on his blog: http://teacherdudebbq.blogspot.gr

For those who don’t know, November 5th is Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire night) in the UK. It was always one of my favourite celebrations when I was young. Fireworks, bonfires and lots of fun. I even enjoyed that the traditional fare of burnt/raw baked potato wrapped in aluminium foil. Only later on when I got myself an education did I realise the darker, bloodier story hidden behind the traditions.

Nearly every day somebody comes to my blog looking for a V For Vendetta lesson plan. I have talked about how much I liked the film but until now I haven’t had the chance to write about a lesson that could be used to teach EFL/ESL stuff. Many of you might question why I keep on insisting on using things such as films, songs and video games to teach. Isn’t learning a serious enterprise ?

I grew up with comics, movies and video games and I believe that many of the things that make me the person I am today have their roots in these media. For example my political education comes as much from comics such as 2000AD as anything I learnt in school. They taught me more about the horrors of racism, class consciousness and the dangers of authoritarianism than anything than was then available in the British educational curriculum of the 70’s and 80’s.

Lesson Plan
Level: Advanced
Resources: A copy of the DVD of the film

1. Tell students that they are going to see a scene from a film which depicts an important event from British history (Guy Fawkes’s attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605). They have to take notes on what they see and hear in order to do some research of their own.

2. Ask students to see the first scene from the movie (preferably on DVD with the English subtitles) and take notes.

3. Students get together in pairs or groups and discuss their notes. Show the scene again.

4. If students have access at the school they then go off for ten minutes and find out as much as they can about the event. Otherwise ask them to do this for homework.

5. Students report back to the class/teacher what they learnt.

6. Ask students to talk about the coups, rebellions, revolts or revolutions that have happened in their country in the last hundred years (you may have to work on the vocabulary before starting the discussion).

7. Ask them to make a time line.

8. Ask students to discuss whether violent social change is ever justified.

Next lesson

9. Show a short scene from the later part of the film (for example chapter 18 to 19) and ask the how the world shown in the film is different/similar to the one we know today. Students discuss their answers in groups.

10. Students discuss their answers in pairs then in groups then as a class.

Essay question: “People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” Discuss!

Notes from Jay: The following lesson idea comes from our dear colleague Craig Wherlock, a.k.a ‘Teacher-Dude’. He maintains a “blog” titled “Teacher Dude’s Grill and BBQ“. Craig is not only a teacher but also an avid photographer and ‘citizen journalist’. As far as teaching resources, Craig’s blog is a smorgasbord of practical lesson ideas and reflective teaching accompanied with graphics, video, and music he carefully has weaved into a Technicolor audio-visual extravaganza. I heartily recommend you chow down’ at his blog to see a prime example of reflective teaching in action. While you are online, also check out Craig’s http://eflcourse.wikispaces.com/ for a great internet primer.