TEACHING ENGLISH WITH IMPRESSionism

Speaking Activities Based on Famous Impressionist Paintings

BY JORGE SETTE

BLOG: LINGUAGEM: www.jorgesette.wordpress.com

Adapt the questions as you see fit

Suggested questions based on the paintings are meant as a guideline for revision of grammar, vocabulary and functions. We indicate the level based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Feel free to

adapt the questions to your needs.

Monet, Claude. Impression, Sunrise

1872

cefr – A1

• What can you see in this picture by Monet?

• Where are the people from?

• What time is it in the picture?

• What do they do?

• What time do they go to work?

• What do you do in your free time?

CEFR – A2

• How much is this painting by Monet?

• Do you like this painting? Why? Why not?

• Describe the daily routine of the people in the boat.

• What did they do yesterday? It was Sunday, a special day.

• What advice would you give to those people in the boat to improve their life?

Degas, Edgar. Place de la Concorde

1875

CEFR - a2 / b1

• What did you use to do when you were a child?

• Describe some of the people in the painting (compare them to members of your family, using not…enough, too, (not) as…as

• Imagine you are the man with the umbrella: introduce yourself to us (tell us about yourself: name, age, job, lifestyle, likes and dislikes, things you used to do when you were a child, etc.)

• Compare the way people lived in France in the late XIX century to now.

Cassatt, Mary. The Child’s Bath

1893

Cefr - a1

• What can you see in the picture?

• Where are they?

• What is the woman doing?

• What is the relationship between the woman and the child?

• Ask your partner anything you want to know about the woman (pair work, partner makes up suitable answers)

CEFR - B1

• Describe the woman’s personality.

• What does she do?

• Imagine this is a very naughty and difficult child. What advice would you give her mother?

• Would you like to be a mother/father? Why / why not?

• The mother says: I wish she hadn’t broken the vase. What else would she say at then end of a very bad day.

Monet, Claude. Poppies At Argenteuil

1873

cefr - a2

• Describe the painting. What do you like about it?

• Tell us what you like doing on the weekend.

• Imagine the woman’s daily routine: use always, usually, often, almost never, never, etc.

• Where are they going now? What for?

• How long does it take to get there?

• Walking is a good way to exercise: what do you do to keep fit? For how long do you usually work out?

cefr - a2 / b1

• A friend wants to go to the countryside on vacation: what would be your advice (pair work): use must, need to, (don’t have to), ought to, etc.

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of going to the countryside on vacation?

• Where would you like to spend your next vacation?

• What can you do in the countryside that you can’t in the city?

Caillebot, Gustave. Paris Street, A Rainy

Day1877

cefr – A2

• Describe the scene.

• What is the relationship between the man and the woman in the foreground?

• Imagine what their family is like and tell us.

• Tell us what they usually enjoy doing on the weekend.

• What is the weather like? What’s your favorite kind of weather? Why?

cefr – B1

• The man in the picture regrets having left his house in this rainy weather. What is he saying to the woman? Use I should have; I should not have; If I had…

• What have they been doing for the past 30 minutes?

• When they got home, they were really surprised. What were the kids doing while they were away?

• What are they going to do about the it?

Thanks!

JORGE SETTE

www.jorgesette.wordpress.com