Great Britain and the Commonwealth

 

Great Britain and the Commonwealth

Great Britain and the Commonwealth: A reciprocal influence?

Démarrage : 26/11/25

Study axis of the official programme: Commonwealth countries: legacies, unity and diversity.

Theme: Commonwealth representations from its conception to today.

Documents studied in this chapter:

CO, What is the Commonwealth?

CE, The Notting Hill Carnival

CO, Benin Bronzes

CE, The Commonwealth Games

CE, Writing a letter to the King of England

CO, Barbados becomes republic

MISSION : Collecter des informations à partir d’un document audio ou vidéo (CO). Tu pourras t’en servir, en plus des choses que tu as apprises dans ce chapitre, pour réaliser un poster sur un pays du Commonwealth.

 

LESSON 1

=>  Découverte du thème et de la problématique. Projeter cartes*, puis** pour laisser chercher les élèves. Quand ils ont trouvé, distribuer le document*** pour compléter le titre du chapitre et la problématique.

HW: Use 6 different colours to differenciate the continents of each country (list on sheet) + remember at least one country/nationality from each continent.

 

 

LESSON 2

 

C0, What is the Commonwealth?, BBC What's New, 2021

 

HW: Grammar exercice on the passive voice (on sheet)

 

A little revision: the passive structure  Subject + BE (in the correct tense) + Past Participle (+ "by" + agent, if needed)

Exercise: Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice. 1) Leaders formed the modern Commonwealth in 1949. 2) Member states pressured South Africa about its apartheid policies. 3) The Commonwealth adopted the Commonwealth Charter in 2012. 4) Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003.

 

LESSON 3

 

 

=> CE, “Notting Hill’s Carribean Carnival”, The Evening Standard , 2014, PART 1

 

HW : Read text again and look up + try and answer the guiding question in the light of the document.

 

 

LESSON 4

 

=> CE, “Notting Hill’s Carribean Carnival”, The Evening Standard, 2014, part 2

 

HW: Read + do exercice on sheet  simple past VS present perfect*

 

 

*

Simple past VS Present perfet

 

 

=> Le simple past : on utilise le simple past/ prétérit pour parler d’un évènement passé dont le moment est précisé par une indication de temps comme une date, une  heure, un contexte, etc.

 

Voici 3 exemples : in 1965, last year, yesterday… Entraîne-toi à en trouver d’autres.

 

Il se construit ainsi : S+ BV+ed

 

=> Le present perfect :  il est utilisé pour parler d’un évènement passé qui a un lien avec le présent mais sans date précise. Il est souvent accompagné d’adverbes comme just, already, often, never, before, etc.mais aussi avec for et since.

 

Il se construit ainsi : S+ HAVE/HAS+ BV+en (past participle)

 

Practice makes perfect…

 

Conjugate the verb in the right tense:

 

a) Ranja’s parents (leave) their home country in 1957.

b) I already (visit) India.

c)  Benjamin Zephaniah (meet) Nelson Mandela in 1996.

d) We (live) in England for 10 years now.

 

LESSON 5

 

=> CO, British museum agrees to return stolen Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, Al Jazeera, 2022, PART 1

 

HW: Make a sentence using the passive voice

HW: Make one sentence explaining what happened to the Nigerian artefacts, using the passive voice:       (Structure = Subject + be + past participle + by + agent)

 

LESSON 6

=> CO, British museum agrees to return stolen Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, Al Jazeera, 2022, PART 2

HW: Exercice on the passive voice (on sheet)

HW: put these sentences into the passive voice: 1)  The British Museum holds many historical artifacts from different countries.     2) Researchers are studying the origins of looted artworks.     3)  Governments have requested the return of stolen cultural objects.     4)  Some institutions will discuss future repatriations of artifacts.

 

Going further: Listen to the following podcast….

 

Today in Focus, from the Guardian.com: The Benin bronzes and why their return to Nigeria matters.

 

LESSON  7

=> Collaborative writing workshop/ A letter to King Charles III

HW: On which continents are the countries mentioned on the sheet located? What aspects of the guiding question does this shed light on?

Expressions you can use for a formal letter or e-mail: Opening: Dear [Recipient's Name], Your Majesty, I hope this letter finds you well. Introducing the Purpose: I am writing to inquire about… I would like to bring to your attention… Making Requests: I would be grateful if you could… Could you kindly… Expressing Thanks/Appreciation: Thank you for your time and consideration. I sincerely appreciate your support. Closing: I look forward to your response. Yours sincerely, / Best regards

 

LESSON 8

=> CE, “Are the Commonwealth Games a joyful extravaganza – or anachronistic, offensive and a waste of time? », The Guardian, 2022, PART1

HW : Read text again and look up the words you don't know.

9/10

=> CE, “Are the Commonwealth Games a joyful extravaganza – or anachronistic, offensive and a waste of time? », The Guardian, 2022, PART1

HW : The comparative (exercice on sheet)

10/10

=> CO, Barbados and the Commonwealth - BBC News, 2022

 

HW:

Use modal auxiliaries to fill the gaps below:

 

Barbados ___ be proud of its decision to become a republic. This change ___ have been a difficult choice, but many people felt it ___ be the right step forward. The Prince of Wales ___ have been emotional about the ceremony, as it marked a significant moment in history.

 

 

HW: Watch video again + use modal auxiliaries to fill the gaps below: Barbados ___ be proud of its decision to become a republic. This change ___ have been a difficult choice, but many people felt it ___ be the right step forward. The Prince of Wales ___ have been emotional about the ceremony, as it marked a significant moment in history.