Topic Eight (1.8): Autobiography

Topics Icon.png Objectives for this topic

  • to read and listen to an autobiography.

Introduction Icon.png Introduction

In this topic, you will read and listen to an autobiography from the book My Name is Tani by Tanitoluwa Adewumi.

Interact Icon.png Working through your coursebook

Please work through the following sections in your coursebook, completing all listed exercises:

  • Page 28 – Do you know what an autobiography is? An autobiography is the story of the life of a person, written by that person. An autobiography can be identified easily, as it’s written in the first person from that person’s point of view. What is the difference between an autobiography and a biography? Why do you think people write autobiographies?
  • Page 28 – Read the information about Tani in the box at the top of this page.
  • Page 28, Exercise 1 – Read and listen to the first extract from My Name is Tani on page 29. There will undoubtedly be words in this text that are new to you and that you do not understand. Make sure that you look up the meaning of these words then write them down. Try to learn how they are pronounced - you can check the correct pronunciation by listening to the audio again. What impression do you get of Tani?

LISTEN – Track 06

  • Page 28, Exercise 2 – Find the phrases in the text and try to work out what they mean from the context.
  • Page 28, Exercise 3 – Complete the exercise.
  • Page 28, Exercise 4 – Answer the questions.
  • Page 30, Exercise 5 – Read and listen to the second extract. What is Tani’s attitude towards Coach Shawn?

LISTEN – Track 07

  • Page 30, Exercise 6 – Read the second article again carefully and answer the questions.
  • Page 30, Exercise 7 – You are going to write either an appreciation of someone you know or an appreciation of a particular lesson you have learned from a teacher or someone like Coach Shawn. Look at the bullet points in this exercise and using either the first or second extract from Tani’s book, choose one to write about.

Download Icon.png Check your answers

  • If you would like to check your answers to the exercises in this topic, please consult this document Download here. The section with the answers is highlighted in yellow.
  • If you would like to access the audioscript(s) for this topic, please click Download here.