1. education
2. english as a second language

University of Oxford Lesson: Higher
Level
Aim: By the end of the lesson, students will have gained greater knowledge of Oxford University, the
different places in Oxford from a video and will have created their own video tour of their own school –
in this case LTC Eastbourne.
Materials: Video Listening: True or False, Transcript of Video (Vocabulary Missing), Vocabulary Meaning
& Definition and Pictures of Famous Landmarks (Oxford).
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9EUqIoBJXA
Key Vocabulary:
A guided tour
(phr.)
Author (n)
Botanic garden
(n)
Creative (adj.)
Curiosities (n)
Entry charge
(n)
Hallowed (adj.)
Imagination (n)
Intrigue (v)
Monument (n)
Portraits (n)
Punting (n)
Purpose-built
(n)
Quaint (adj.)
Stage
Warmer
Oxford
Landmarks
To share someone’s insights into something (phr.)
Waterways (n)
Timing
Procedure
Notes
5-10
mins
Ask students if they know of any famous
universities in the UK. Board these up on the
whiteboard and correct pronunciation. Ask if they
know anything about Oxford University but tell
them not to worry as they will be watching a video
about it. Ask students to tell you what universities
they know from their own country.
Students find where
universities are located
in the UK and are
immediately engaged in
the topic of the lesson.
10 mins
Tell students that they are going to learn a bit
more about Oxford and things that they could see
when they visit. Show the pictures of famous
Oxford landmarks and activities that they could
see on a trip.
Students will learn
about
the
famous
Oxford landmarks and
activities
the
area
around the city.
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Stick up the images on the whiteboard and elicit
possible names of the landmarks and activities
from students. Ask them if they know any of the
images or have seen them in movies or TV
programmes before.
Tell students that they are going to watch a video
about visiting Oxford but before doing so, will be
introduced to vocabulary.
Vocabulary
Matching
10-15
mins
Hand out the vocabulary matching exercise and
ask students to match vocabulary with suitable
definitions. Tell them they can only use a
monolingual dictionary to help if they wish but
they shouldn’t translate into their own language.
Monitor and help where necessary.
Students are introduced to
vocabulary during this
stage of the lesson and
before watching the video.
They match vocabulary to
corresponding definitions.
Once students have completed the exercise,
nominate students, or get learners to nominate
each other, definitions for key vocabulary. Check
pronunciation and correct where expected.
Tell students that they are going to watch the
video about the city of Oxford and that they need
to listen out for the key vocabulary.
Video
Gist
Listening
10-15
mins
Play the video and ask small groups of students to
reorganise the transcript from the video as it has
all been jumbled up – with the vocabulary missing
as well. Students have to listen in detail and put
Students watch the
the script into order. Play the video a couple of
video about Oxford and
times and ensure students are able to put the text
places of interest but
into order.
they have to reorder
the text.
Check with students that they have put the text
into the correct order and then ask students to
insert the key vocabulary into the transcript.
Play the video a few times and ensure that they
are working together in small groups during this
activity as well. Once you have played the video
twice, check answers with all students.
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Video
Detailed
Listening
10-15
mins
Tell students that they are going to listen to the
audio again but this time the transcript (which
they reordered in the last stage) has some of the
Students listen for key
key vocabulary missing which must be added.
vocabulary to be added
Monitor students and assist when required.
into the transcript.
Once students finish, check as a whole class to
ensure answers are correct.
Tell students to put away their transcripts and
anything related to the video in their folders as
they will be taking an Oxford Quiz.
Ask students to work together in pairs and decide
whether the sentences are True (T) or False (F).
Give them a short amount of time to decide and
then hand out pieces of paper with ‘True’ and
‘False’ written on them.
Answers:


True or
False Quiz
15-20
mins











Oxford is also known as ‘the city of steaming
spires’. (F – dreaming spires)
The University of Oxford is the oldest university in
the world. (F – it is the oldest English speaking
university in the world)
The statue is the 3rd Earl of Pembroke. (T)
Bodleian Library is now only available for guided
tours. (T)
The Ashmolean opened in 1653. (F – 1683)
The Ashmolean was a purpose built museum and is
the oldest in the world. (T)
The janitor to the museum kept a record of all the
portraits and curiosities held. (T)
There was an entrance charge to this museum but
it is now free. (F – there was an exit charge)
‘The Inkling’ was a group of people who met at
“The Eagle and Child” pub to discuss their latest
homework. (F – they discussed their writing)
Bodleian Library is in the centre of Oxford. (T)
C.S. Lewis and J.R. Tolkien used to meet at the pub.
(T)
The Botanic Garden was established more than
400 years ago and has over 5000 species of plants.
(T)
The University of Oxford is made up of 39 different
colleges. (F – there are 38 colleges)
Students to remember
facts about Oxford from
the video and test their
memorisation skills.
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Tell students that they now need to plan a video
tour of LTC Eastbourne and they need to work
together as a class to create a similar video to the
one that they have just seen.
LTC
Eastbourne
Tour
45 mins
Brainstorm with students about possible things
that they could mentioned about LTC Eastbourne:
the library, the history of the property, the school
Students create their
etc. Let them know that they are allowed to find
own video tour of their
out more information about the property on the
own school that they
internet with their smartphones.
are attending.
Once you have some ideas for things to be
included in the video, put students into groups of
three or four and tell them that each group will be
working on that particular part of the video.
Monitor students and ensure that they are on task
during this activity.
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Vocabulary Matching Exercise
Match the vocabulary on the left to the corresponding definitions on the right. Check with a
partner if you are unsure. The first one is done for you.
Author (n) / (v)
Someone who escorts visitors around a place of interest and
describes important information about it.
Botanic garden (n)
A painting, photograph, drawing, etc of a person or less commonly,
of a group of people.
Creative (adj.)
Noun: a long, narrow boat with a flat bottom and a square area at
each end, moved by someone standing at one end.
Verb: To travel in a long, narrow boat.
Curiosities (n)
The ability to form pictures in the mind.
Entry charge (n)
To tell someone else your thoughts, feelings and opinions about
something in particular.
Guided tour (n)
The writer of a book, article, play, etc.
Hallowed (adj.)
A narrow area of water, such as a river or canal, which ships and
boats can sail along.
Imagination (n)
Designed and built for a particular use.
Intrigue (n) / (v)
The cost to go into a place that you are visiting, such as a museum,
nightclub, etc.
Monument (n)
A structure or building that is built to honour a special person or
event.
Portraits (n)
A garden, usually open to the public, where a wide range of plants
are grown for scientific and educational purposes.
Punt (n) / (v)
Attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned.
Purpose-built (n)
Something that is interesting because it is rare and unusual.
Quaint (adj.)
Producing or using original and usual ideas.
To share an insight into
something (phr.)
To interest someone a lot, especially by being strange, unusual, or
mysterious.
Waterways (n)
Very respected and praised because of great importance or great
age.
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Oxford Quiz: True or False
Decide if the following sentences below are either True (T) or False (F). Check your answers
with a partner. You will listen to the video two or three times.

Oxford is also known as ‘the city of steaming spires’.

The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the world.

The statue is the 3rd Earl of Pembroke.

Bodleian Library is now only available for guided tours.

The Ashmolean opened in 1653.

The Ashmolean was a purpose built museum and is the oldest in the world.

The janitor to the museum kept a record of all the portraits and curiosities held.

There was an entrance charge to this museum but it is now free.

‘The Inkling’ was a group of people who met at “The Eagle and Child” pub to discuss
their latest homework.

Bodleian Library is in the centre of Oxford.

C.S. Lewis and J.R. Tolkien used to meet at the pub together to talk about their
stories.

The Botanic Garden was established more than 400 years ago and has over 5000
species of plants.

The University of Oxford is made up of 38 different colleges.
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Oxford has long been known as ‘the city of dreaming spires’, and there’s plenty here to
______________ the ______________.
My friend Patrick, loves ____________________________ this historic British
town.
The University of Oxford is the oldest English speaking university in the world.
Within these ______________ halls, every building and every ______________ has
a story.
He is the 3rd Earl of Pembroke. He sponsored the publication of the very first
collective edition of Shakespeare’s plays.
The University of Oxford is actually a collection of 38 individual colleges, with the
Bodleian library at its heart.
And while the Bodleian is a working library for students and academics, it can be
visited on ____________________________.
The Ashmolean Museum is another of my favourites.
It began as a gallery of ______________ and ______________, with a catalogue
being written by the janitor.
It soon became the model of the modern museum.
It was the first ____________________________ museum, anywhere in the world,
and now it is the oldest museum in the world.
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And it’s free I hear.
It’s free now. It wasn’t when the Ashmolean opened in 1683.
What did it cost then?
Hard to say because there was no ____________________________. There was an
exit charge instead.
So the longer you stayed inside, the more you paid on exit.
That’s right.
Very clever.
“The Eagle and Child” pub, established in 1650, provides a look into the
______________ space of some of the worlds’ greatest ______________.
It was in this very room that C.S. Lewis and J.R. Tolkien and a group of their friends,
who were known as ‘The Inklings’, used to meet to talk about the books that they were
writing.
For a breath of fresh air, explore the ____________________________.
Founded almost 400 years ago, it’s home to more than 5000 plant species.
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Or get out and explore the city’s ______________ ______________.
I highly recommend an afternoon of quietly ______________ along.
Oxford is a city of many delights.
We can’t wait to share them with you.
Please cut up the transcript above and jumble up before handing out to
students.
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Original Transcript (Key Vocabulary Included)
Oxford has long been known as ‘the city of dreaming spires’, and there’s plenty here to intrigue the imagination.
My friend Patrick, loves sharing his insights into this historic British town.
The University of Oxford is the oldest English speaking university in the world.
Within these hallowed halls, every building and every monument has a story.
He is the 3rd Earl of Pembroke. He sponsored the publication of the very first collective edition of Shakespeare’s plays.
The University of Oxford is actually a collection of 38 individual colleges, with the Bodleian library at its heart.
And while the Bodleian is a working library for students and academics, it can be visited on a guided tour.
The Ashmolean Museum is another of my favourites.
It began as a gallery of portraits and curiosities, with a catalogue being written by the janitor.
It soon became the model of the modern museum.
It was the first purpose built museum, anywhere in the world, and now it is the oldest museum in the world.
And it’s free I hear.
It’s free now. It wasn’t when the Ashmolean opened in 1683.
What did it cost then?
Hard to say because there was no entry charge. There was an exit charge instead.
So the longer you stayed inside, the more you paid on exit.
That’s right.
Very clever.
“The Eagle and Child” pub, established in 1650, provides a look into the creative space of some of the worlds’ greatest authors.
It was in this very room that C.S. Lewis and J.R. Tolkien and a group of their friends, who were known as ‘The Inklings’, used to meet
to talk about the books that they were writing.
For a breath of fresh air, explore the botanic garden.
Founded almost 400 years ago, it’s home to more than 5000 plant species.
Or get out and explore the city’s quaint waterways.
I highly recommend an afternoon of quietly punting along.
Oxford is a city of many delights.
We can’t wait to share them with you.
Hand out the following transcript at the end of the lesson for all students to keep as a record.
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