Downton Abbey Teacher’s Notes B1
This document aims to allow you to work on the trailer of the upcoming movie
Downton Abbey at a B1 level. Downton Abbey was first a British historical period
drama television series that aired from 2010 to 2015. It was set as a fiction based
in a historical landscape between 1912 and 1926, in the post-Edwardian era where
historical events had a real influence on the British social hierarchy. The movie
takes place after the end of the last season. Fans will definitely recognise the
famous characters.
The trailer: hypotheses to a comprehension of
[Link] the implicit. You can choose to verify
downton-abbey/video/official-trailer-1 collectively step by step or after the global
A bit long for class use, but if you would and/or the detailed comprehension in order
like a quick primer on who’s who, this ten to develop more autonomous strategies.
minute video summarises the six seasons You can also choose to provide this grid in
of the TV series: [Link] French.
watch?v=6veDL2tlvMY n However, if you choose to use this
document for an evaluation of the students’
n At a 2nde level, it could be used within the comprehension, we have provided you with
theme “the past in the present”. Question activities to do so. In this case, it could be
suggested: what place for the past in our interesting to start with a pre-listening
present? activity: the students could work in groups
n At a 1e level, it could be used within the having previously divided the pre-listening
theme “private spaces and public spaces” or objective into three areas of research.
“fiction and reality” or even “identities and n One research area could be about the
exchanges”. historical background from 1912 to 1929 in
England: main world events that affected
Vocabulary: England, internal events, Royals of the time.
n A second research area could be around
nBritish aristocracy, mansion lifestyle,
modern versus old-fashioned the fictional aristocrats of the family
(upstairs) in the form of a family tree.
Grammar: n A third research area could be around
n preterite, passive form
the fictional staff of Downton Abbey
Cultural element: (downstairs) in the form of an organigram.
n British social classes and history
Step 2 - Speaking or writing
Step 1 - Pre-listening and listening n It could be timely at this stage to explain
n It is a good opportunity to introduce the situation for these aristocratic families
a method that will help students find at the turn of the previous century. David
personal strategies to apprehend an audio Cannadine, a British historian explained
document. The students can follow a quasi- that after 1880 the old powerful families
blank grid that goes from pre-listening declined rapidly and had almost vanished in
[Link] - September 2019 B1 Downton Abbey Teacher’s Notes |1|
the years after World War II, symbolized by Mrs Hughes: I want every surface to gleam
the destruction of country houses, such as and sparkle.
Downton Abbey. However, their wealth and Onscreen text: We’ve been expecting you.
political power has rebounded strongly since Mrs Patmore: A royal luncheon, a parade and
the 1980s thanks to the increase in value of a dinner? I’m going to have to sit down.
the land and fine art which many owned in Lady Violet: How’s it all going?
quantity. Lord Robert: Mary’s got it all under control.
n In light of this historical background, Lady Mary: Hardly.
have the students, in groups of 3, discuss Lady Mary: I need your help, Carson.
and come up with a hypothesis about the Carson: I’ll be there in the morning, milady.
role of this type of movie and one about Don’t you worry.
the appetite for the television series. In Lady Mary: Shall we really go on with it?
2nde, their hypotheses could feed into the Anna: You mean, leave Downton? Downton
question “what place for the past in our Abbey is the heart of this community and
present?” you’re keeping it beating.
Lord Robert: Remember to pray for us.
Step 3 - Language skills Lady Violet: I’ll put in a word.
n This activity enables students to learn new Lady Cora: Your majesties, welcome to
expressions they are not used to. Downton Abbey.
Lady Violet: Will you have enough clichés to
get you through the visit?
To go further….
Mrs Crawley: If not, I’ll come to you.
Ask students in groups of 3 to report on a
Lady Violet: Oh, here we go.
similar type of television series or movie that
has currently or in the past sparked equal
enthusiasm. Each group could make a visual
report to the class. Some students might Step 1- Listening activities
find it interesting to explore what hasn’t
been done yet but would also be interesting A. 1. Downton Abbey (a Yorkshire country
for producers and directors to develop. house, home and seat of the Earl and
Countess of Grantham)
2. England, U.K
Transcript
3. 1927
[Link]
4. roughly 12 (Robert and Cora Crawley,
downton-abbey/video/official-trailer-1
Mary and Edith Crawley, Dowager Countess
Lord Robert: No maid? No valet? No nanny
of Grantham, Isobel Crawley, Tom Branson,
even?
Mr. Carson, Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Barrow, Anna,
Bertie Hexham: It’s 1927. We’re modern folk.
Mrs. Patmore) - students must watch out
Thomas: Blimey!
for recurring faces as well as main actors
Lord Robert: The King and Queen are coming
speaking. The names of these characters are
to Downton.
not important nor relevant to find but can be
Lady Mary: What?
matched to the family tree and organigram.
Onscreen text: Welcome to a new era.
5. 3
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6. The Royals, the aristocracy and the
servants
B. 1. “No maid, no valet, no nanny even”
2. The King and Queen of England
3. Every surface must gleam and sparkle.
4. A Royal luncheon, a parade and a dinner.
5. Mary hardly seems to have the
organisation under control so she calls in Mr.
Carson. Some students may guess he USED
TO work at Downton Abbey and that perhaps
he has retired. So Mary pulled him out of
retirement for this event.
C. 1. Mary asks, “Should we really go on with
this?”
2. Anna rephrases, “You mean, leave
Downton?”
3. “Downton Abbey is the heart of the
community and you’re keeping it beating”
means the entire town thrives thanks to
the activities and the work provided by the
Crawleys who live at Downton Abbey.
Step 3 - Language Skills
1. f 2. h 3. a 4. d 5. b 6. e 7. c 8.g
[Link] - September 2019 B1 Downton Abbey Teacher’s Notes |3|
