TEACHER’S GUIDE Fluentize, LLC Copyright 2022. For use only with license.

Brief Bio of Martin Luther King Jr. (B2)

Preview
Part 1. Discussion about Martin Luther King Jr. and life for African Americans in the 1950s in the
USA. Answers will vary.
Part 2. Definitions / examples of the vocabulary terms:

(1) Racial discrimination: Treating someone, for example, a job applicant or employee,
unfairly because he/she is of a certain race. Examples would be a black person not getting
the same pay as a white person despite having the same qualifications or level of skill, or
a student being treated unfairly in school due to the student’s race.
(2) Segregation: The practice of restricting or separating people to certain areas of
housing, or to different institutions (e.g., schools, churches) and facilities (parks, play-
grounds, restaurants, restrooms) on the basis of race
(3) Civil rights: The rights of individuals to receive equal treatment and to have
individual freedom protected. Examples would be the right to vote or freedom of speech.
Part 3. Matching activity (nouns). (1) b (2) e (3) c (4) a (5) d
Part 4. Words that fit the passage from King’s famous 1963 speech: dream / skin / character

Viewing Activity
Part 1. List the events in the order they were mentioned in the video.
5
4
2
1
6
3
Part 2. Short answers.
(1) Schools and fountains
(2) The power of nonviolent sit-ins and marches
(3) He was shot and killed at a hotel. He was in Memphis (in April, 1968).

Part 3. The identities used to describe MLK Jr. in the video.
(1) a civil rights activist
(2) a preacher

Post-Viewing 1
Part 1. Vocabulary words in the context of the quotes.
(1) A privilege is a special benefit that only certain people have in society.
(2) Answers will vary. Teacher’s answers: (the ability to go to college or get married)
(3) When Martin Luther King Jr. refers to the “table of brotherhood”, he means a place
where people from different backgrounds can be together peacefully.
Part 2. Adjectives describing MLK Jr. Answers will vary.

TEACHER’S GUIDE Fluentize, LLC Copyright 2022. For use only with license.
Brief Bio of Martin Luther King Jr. (B2)

Post-Viewing 2
Part 2. Activity using “despite”.
(1) Wendy always complains about life being unfair despite the very privileged life that
she has. (d)
(2) Richard does not show any regret for his violent crimes despite the serious prison
time he is facing. (f)
(3) Karen was able to find a job with a high-paying salary despite her low socioeconomic
status. (c)
(4) Simon continues making racist comments to people of color despite the emotional
pain he causes them. (b)
(5) Allen continues showing great respect to police officers despite the police brutality
he has experienced. (e)

Post-Viewing 3
‘I have a dream’ Tasks. Answers will vary. Correct students’ speaking mistakes and write your
own speech if the lesson is one to one.

Optional Bonus Activity
Speaking & Writing Tasks. Answers will vary. Correct students’ speaking mistakes and contribute
your own thoughts to the conversation.

Quiz & Review

Part 1. Questions. Refer to Viewing Activity.
(1) Martin Luther King Jr. was an outspoken preacher who had the support of President
John F. Kennedy. He was an advocate for civil rights for African Americans in the 1950s. He
made his voice heard in the form of nonviolent sit-ins and marches. He also expressed
himself in speeches.
(2) The two examples of segregation were that African Americans attended separate
schools and were forbidden to drink from the same fountains as whites.
(3) He was shot outside his hotel by a 40-year-old white man named James Earl Ray.
(4) Outspoken and nonviolent.
Part 2. Vocabulary context usage.
(1) force (2) privileges (3) brotherhood
Part 3. Finish writing the sentences using a noun clause after the conjunction despite.
1 Martin Luther King Jr. believed in the power of nonviolent sit-ins and marches
despite the use of force by police.
2 Racism is still a big issue in the USA despite much progress over the years.
3 Many people disliked Martin Luther King Jr. despite his high moral character.