Warming-up.

Why are some people more famous than others? Would you like to become famous?

What famous Brits do you know? What has been their way to fame and success? Would you like to meet some of them? What would you ask them about?

     Read the facts about the most outstanding British people. What other names would you include in this list of fame?

     Make sure you understand the meaning of the following words and word-combinations:

to consider

to puzzle

to invent

a noted statesman

to receive the prize

expansion

a car accident

an authorship question

charity work

to feel inspired

the most iconic celebrity

Outstanding people of the United Kingdom

William Shakespeare

The name of the English national poet William Shakespeare is known all over the world. During his life he wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. He is considered to be one of the greatest writers in the world literature. Shakespeare’s authorship question however still puzzles the greatest minds.

Sir Isaac Newton

This man is very often referred to as the greatest and the most influential scientist who ever lived on this planet. Sir Isaac Newton was theologian, alchemist, natural philosopher, astronomer, mathematician and physicist. He formulated the theory about the nature of life, the theory of universal gravitation and invented different calculus.

Sir Winston Churchill

Sir Winston is one of the greatest wartime leaders, an officer in the British Army, an artist, a writer, a historian, an orator, a noted statesman and a British Conservative politician. He served twice as a Prime Minister in 1940-1945 and in 1951-1955. He is the only Prime Minister in Britain who received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria has reigned the country for 63 years and 7 months which makes it the longest reign in the British history. This period came down to the history as the Victorian era. It is marked by expansion of the British Empire. This period is characterized by the military, scientific, political, cultural and industrial change in the United Kingdom.

Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana has always been the most iconic celebrity from the moment of her marriage to the Prince of Wales till her death in the car accident. She is known for her charity work as well as for being the president of the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher was the United Kingdom's first woman prime minister. She got her nickname “Iron Lady” for a reason. She is the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century.

JK Rowling

JK Rowling  is the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series. She's sold over 400 million copies of her Harry Potter books. She encourages children from different corners of the world to be creative, to feel inspired and to read books. She is ranked 48 in the list of the most powerful celebrities in the world by Forbes magazine.

Sir Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney is an English musician, composer, songwriter and singer of the legendary rock band of the 1960s – the Beatles. He is considered to be one of the wealthiest people in the United Kingdom. In the year 2010 his fortune was estimated in £475 million.

John Lennon

John Lennon was a musician and composer, a founding member of the Beatles. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him the fifth greatest singer of all times. Together with Paul McCartney they formed one of the greatest songwriting partnerships.

David Beckham

Beckham is a leading English footballer and a former star of the legendary Manchester United. Nowadays he plays for Los Angeles, Galaxy. He was the first British football player to play 100 Champions League matches. In the year 2004 he was named the world's highest-paid footballer.

Questions to discuss:

1. Describe a successful person.
2. Is your idea of success the same as your parents’ idea of success?
3. Do you think people focus too much on appearing to be successful?
4. Why is money the most common way of judging success?
5. Can money buy happiness?
6. How much pressure do your parents put on you to be successful?
7. How much pressure will you put on your children to be successful?
8. Have there been any failures that made your life better?
9. Is there a right time to give up and stop trying? Or should you never give up?
10. Can you think of any famous people who failed spectacularly at something?
11. Talk about a time you failed at something you tried. Don’t talk about anything that will make you uncomfortable or embarrassed.
12. Can you think of any famous quotes or idioms about success or failure?
13. Who are the most popular singers or groups in your country?
14. What are some crazy examples of fan worship you have heard of?
15. How far is too far when talking about fan worship?
16. Are there any groups that you are huge fans of?
17. What were some of the groups that you really loved when you were younger?