Keanu Reeves is famous for The Matrix and John Wick, but the internet loves him for something else: he is known as one of the kindest, most normal people in Hollywood. This lesson tells his story and gets students talking about fame, kindness and role models. This B2 version uses an article about his career and reputation to teach vocabulary for describing people and success, and to get students discussing celebrity and public image.
Level: B2 · Time: 45 to 90 minutes. Pick the activities that suit your class. They work in almost any order.
Lesson Activities
- Warmer: Who Is This? – Reveal the photo tile by tile. How old is the person? What is their job? Who is it?
- Prediction: True or False? – Before reading, students guess which 10 statements about Keanu Reeves are true. They check their answers after reading.
- Vocabulary: Pre-teach the Key Words – Match 10 words and phrases from the article to their meanings before reading (reputation, down-to-earth, drop out, breakthrough, comeback, modesty…).
- Reading: Keanu Reeves, Hollywood’s Nicest Star? – An article with 12 gaps. Choose without a word bank or with a word bank for extra support.
- Discussion: Fame, Image and Kindness – 12 discussion questions on celebrity role models, public image, comebacks and social media.
- Speaking: Ranking – What makes a good role model? Students rank nine qualities, from kindness and honesty to talent and success, then compare with a partner.
Teacher Tips
- For a shorter lesson, use the warmer, the reading and the discussion cards.
- Language focus: look at how the article describes people (down-to-earth, modest, out of touch, bitter). Students use these words to describe a celebrity they admire or dislike.
- The text mentions sad times in his life without details. Keep this light if it might be sensitive for your class.
- Follow-up: students write a short profile of a famous person they admire, using the reading as a model.
Teaching a lower-level group? Try the A2 version of this lesson.