PREVIEW ACTIVITY Fluentize, LLC Copyright 2023. For use only with license.

Brief Bio of Martin Luther King Jr. (B2)

PAGE 1

Work with a partner, group, or your teacher. Do the activities below together.

PART 1 Discuss the questions below based on your knowledge.

1 What do you know about Martin Luther King Jr. and his influence?
2 Do you know what life was like for African Americans in the USA in the 1950s?

Below are some of the issues African Americans have suffered in the USA. What do
PART 2
you think each term means? What are some examples of each?

1 2 3
racial discrimination segregation police force/brutality

Match each noun below with its correct definition. Which one(s) do you think relate
PART 3
to Martin Luther King Jr. ?

1 a civil rights activist a. a person who collects or cleans trash/garbage

2 a slave
3 a preacher
4 a sanitation worker
5 a fugitive
b. a person who fights against social injustice
c. a priest or minister who gives a religious speech
d. a person who hides or goes on the run from police
e. a person who is owned by or the property of
another person

Below is a passage from one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous speeches. Which
PART 4 three nouns do you think could fit the context of the passage? Compare your answers
to the actual answer you teacher has. Then try to explain the quote in your own words.

“I have a that my four little children

will one day live in a nation where they will not be
judged by the color of their , but by
the content of their .”
BRIEF BIO OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. Fluentize, LLC Copyright 2023. For use only with license.
Brief Bio of Martin Luther King Jr. (B2)
PAGE 2

PREVIEW DISCUSSION: Read the discussion topic

below and discuss it with your partner or teacher.

What kinds of struggles do you think Martin

Luther King Jr. faced in his lifetime?

VIEWING ACTIVITY
List the topics in order they were discussed in the video from 2 - 6. The first one has
PART 1
been done as an example.

The opponent who tried to discredit Martin Luther King Jr.

The president who supported Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights
The types of civil rights action that Martin Luther King Jr. took
1 The fact that Martin Luther King Jr. wanted African Americans to realize
The circumstances surrounding Martin Luther King Jr.’s death
The examples of segregation that African Americans faced in 1950s America

PART 2 Discuss/Write short answers according to the information in the video.

0:37 1 Where have African Americans faced segregation in the USA?

1:00 2 What did Martin Luther King Jr. never stop believing in?

1:38 3 How did Martin Luther King die? Where was he when he died?

Tick () which 2 identities below were used to describe who Martin Luther King Jr.
PART 3
was. Were your answers in Preview, Part 3 correct?

a civil rights activist a fugitive

a preacher a slave
a sanitation worker
 POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY 1
Fluentize, LLC Copyright 2023. For use only with license.
Brief Bio of Martin Luther King Jr. (B2)
PAGE 3

PART 1 Read the quotes from both men below in the video and then discuss the questions.

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills

“Every American should get to enjoy
of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the
the privileges of being American
sons of former slave owners will be able to sit
without regard to his race or color.”
down together at the table of brotherhood.”

JOHN F. KENNEDY MARTIN LUTHER

KING JR.

1 What do you think the word privileges refers to in John F. Kennedy’s quote?

2 What do you think are some examples of privileges in society?
3 What do you think the table of brotherhood means in MLK Jr.’s quote?

Below are a few adjectives used in the video to describe Martin Luther King Jr.
PART 2
Add 3 more adjectives you would use to describe him based on what you learned in
the video. Explain your answers for each. Then discuss the questions below.

nonviolent

outspoken
MARTIN LUTHER
KING JR.

1 Can you think of any influential people who were/are outspoken? Explain

how they are/were outspoken.

2 Can you think of former or current activists who were/are nonviolent? Explain
how they are/were nonviolent.

3 Choose another adjective you wrote above. Can you think of someone else
in history who can be described using this adjective? If so, how?
 POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY 2 Fluentize, LLC Copyright 2023. For use only with license.
Brief Bio of Martin Luther King Jr. (B2)
PAGE 4

PART 1 Study the example and usage of the conjunction despite used in the video.

When discussing Martin Luther King Jr.’s beliefs, the narrator says...

“ Martin Luther King believed in the power of nonviolent sit-ins and

marches despite the use of force by police.”

We use the conjunction despite to express contrast between two things, situations, facts, or
conditions. It is often used to express surprising or unexpected facts or information. Despite is
usually followed by a noun clause.

MORE EXAMPLES Racism is still a big issue in the USA despite much progress over the years.
Many people disliked Martin Luther King Jr. despite his high moral character.

PART 2 Finish each sentence below after despite. Choose the answer that fits the context.

a. much progress over the years d. the very privileged life she has
b. the emotional pain he causes them e. the police brutality he has experienced
c. her low socioeconomic status f. the serious prison time he is facing

EX. Racism is still a big social problem in the USA despite...

much progress over the years .

1 Wendy always complains about life being unfair despite...

.
2 Richard does not show any regret for his violent crime despite...

.
3 Karen was able to find a job with a high-paying salary despite...

.
4 Simon continues making racist comments to people of color despite...

.
5 Allen continues showing great respect to police officers despite...

.
 POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY 3 Fluentize, LLC Copyright 2023. For use only with license.
Brief Bio of Martin Luther King Jr. (B2)
PAGE 5
‘I HAVE A DREAM...’ TASK:

• Work with your partner or on your own.

• Think about a dream you have for society, and how you’d like to see something in
society change. Write an inspirational speech about this dream (at least 5 sentences).

• Start your speech with the phrase “I have a dream that...”

• Use at least one example of despite + [a noun clause] in your speech.

• Present your dream to your teacher/class.

I have a
dream that...
‘I HAVE A DREAM...’ SPEECH:

Listen to the speeches of your classmate(s) / teacher. Give feedback about their speech

and/or ask your classmate/teacher some questions about it.

SPEECH FOLLOW-UP TASK:

Discuss the topics below about the speech you wrote.

1 What inspired you to choose the topic for change you chose to write about?
2 How realistic do you think your dream is? How can your dream be realized?
3 What was difficult about writing and giving this speech?
OPTIONAL BONUS ACTIVITY Fluentize, LLC Copyright 2023. For use only with license.
Brief Bio of Martin Luther King Jr. (B2)
PAGE 6
SPEAKING TASK:

Your teacher will choose a few of the speaking topics below to discuss. Discuss the topics
with your teacher or partner. In your discussion, explain your ideas in detail.

1 If Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, what do you think
he would be proud to see? What do you think he would be
upset to see?

2 What kinds of impacts can racism or racial discrimination

have on society?

3 How big of a social issue is racism or racial discrimination in

the country where you’re from?

4 How does racism start and how can society cultivate anti-
racist attitudes and behavior in future generations?

5 What kinds of general changes would you like to see take

place in society today? What do you think people can do to
make the world a better place?

WRITING TASK:

Imagine it’s 1963 and you are at one of the protests discussed in the video. Describe your
experience and the atmosphere of the protests. What is happening? What do you see,
hear, or feel? Write 3 - 5 sentences about your experience and then read it out loud.
QUIZ & REVIEW ACTIVITY Fluentize, LLC Copyright 2021. For use only with license.
Brief Bio of Martin Luther King Jr. (B1 - B2)
PAGE 7

Work with a partner. Complete the quiz and review activities below.

PART 1 Questions. Discuss and answer the questions below about the video.

1 Who was Martin Luther King Jr. and why is he important in American history?
How did he make his voice heard?
2 What types of segregation did African Americans face in the 1950s?
3 How did Martin Luther King Jr.’s life end?
4 Which adjectives used in the video to describe Martin Luther King Jr.?

PART 2 Vocabulary: Write the nouns that fit the sentences from the video below.

1 During the civil rights movement, police often used against

those who tried to protest in the form of sit-ins and marches.

2 US President John F. Kennedy said that every American should get to enjoy
the of being American without regard to his race or color.

3 Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that the sons of former slaves and the sons
of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of
.

Grammar: Explain the usage of the conjunction despite. Then finish writing the
PART 3
sentences below with a noun clause that fits the context.

1 Martin Luther King Jr. believed in the power of nonviolent sit-ins and marches
despite...

2 Racism is still a big issue in the USA despite...

3 Many people disliked Martin Luther King Jr. despite...