Genesis of personality Lesson 1.

An autobiography is the story of one’s life as written by oneself. What Should be Included in an Autobiography

Here is a short example of autobiography ideas and topics to include:

1. I was born (month day, year):

2. The place (city, state) where I was born:

3. My parents chose to name me _________ because…

4. My memories of childhood.

5. Memories of school.

6. The people living in my home now are…

7. The characteristics that best describe me are…

8. My interests are …

9. My goals/dreams for the future are…

10. If I had the power to change anything in the world, I’d …

You may put more information answering these rapid-fire questions:

YESNO - I like to cook

YESNO - I am a morning person

YES NO - I’m a vegetarian

YESNO - I’m a smoker

YES NO - I like crossword puzzles

YES NO - I am a good whistler

YES NO - I like being on the phone

YES NO - I’m often late

YES NO - I’m a shopoholic

YES NO - I read in the bathroom

YES NO - I talk in my sleep

S tages of Life

1. Basic vocabulary.

Put these words into the following sentences:

childhood

adolescence

birth

puberty

1. Was he present at the … of his son?

2. I think I had a very happy … .

3. Girls usually reach …. about a year before most boys.

4. … can be the best or the worst years of your life.

Now use these words, which relate to the later years of life.

old age

retirement

marriage

middle age

5. My first …. unfortunately only lasted a couple of years.

6. Now that I am over 40, I can feel … approaching.

7. I want to stop work when I am 60 and have a long and happy … .

8. In his … my father wrote a book about his wartime experience.

2.When I get old.

Match the beginnings of these sentences with the endings below:

1. I don’t want to go to university

2. I’m going to spend more time with my grandchildren

3. Will you still love me

4. We won’t be able to go out as much

5. At least we’ll have some peace and quiet

a. when the kids grow up and leave home.

b. when I am old and grey?

c. when I leave school.

d. when I retire.

e. when we have children.

3. Important events in people’s life.

Match the verbs with the words on the right:

1. leave	a. your wife / your father
get	b. schools/ jobs / your career
change	c. a baby/children
have	d. engaged / married/ divorced
move	e. school / home
lose	f. house

4. Quickly read through the story to guess the identity of the speaker. Then answer the questions to check your guess.

I lived a long time ago, but I had a very exciting life, you know. I was the James Bond of the eighteenth century. In fact, his character must have been based on me. Let me tell you something about myself.

I was born in Venice in 1725. My father, Gaetano, and my mother, Zanetta, were actors, which is probably why I am so theatrical. They spent their lives travelling around Europe and left me in the care of my grandmother. When I was nine, I was sent to study under Dr. Gozzi, in Padua. I was an excellent student and received my doctorate at just seventeen years old. Naturally, I thought I would have a career in the Church, but destiny had other plans for me. My three weaknesses: wine, women and gambling, were a constant source of trouble for me. A scandal forced me to leave Rome, where I was working as a secretary for Cardinal Acquaviva.

I travelled around Italy, finally settling back in Venice in 1764. I worked for a while as a violinist in the San Samuele Theatre and during that time I made friends with some very powerful people.

In 1749, I was busy enjoying the good life when I met the love of my life. She was a Frenchwoman called Henriette. The months we spent together were the happiest days of my life, and when she left me to return to France she took my heart with her.

I had to make a fresh start so I went to Lyons, where I became a Freemason. I met and made friends with some more powerful people. I was under suspicion from the Inquisition for my conduct and so had to travel very frequently and I needed places to stay. I moved to Paris, then Dresden, Prague, Vienna, and once again back to Venice. I did some writing and some translation but in 1755 my luck ran out. I was arrested and denounced as a magician. It sounds rather comical now but it wasn’t at the time; I was sentenced to five years in prison, although I managed to escape after one year and fled to Paris. Once there, I introduced the Lottery, a move that made me a millionaire. However, I was a gambler and when I had spent all of my money, I borrowed some from other people. When they wanted it back, I ran away to England, Germany and then Spain.

In 1787 I met Mozart in Prague and attended the first performance of the opera Don Giovanni, which was marvellous. Of course, by this time I was an old man working as a librarian in the Bohemian castle of Dux (now in the Czech Republic), with just my memories to keep me company until my death in 1798.

You probably aren’t interested to know that I translated Homer’s Iliad into Italian verse, or that I wrote a number of other literary works. No, you’re no doubt more interested in my love life; everyone else is. Well, I wrote all about that in my autobiography, which is called The Story of My Life. Do you have any idea who I am yet?

2. Answer the questions. Write the answers in the crossword to reveal my name.

1. My father’s name (6)

2. Where I came from (6)

3. My mother’s name (7)

4. I was convinced that I would have a career in the ______ (6)

5. The profession of my parents (6)

6. Who did I meet in Prague? (6)

7. I should have spent five years here but I only stayed for one (6)

8. This forced me to leave Rome (7)

9. I translated this famous story from Greek into Italian (5)

10. I became one of these in Lyons (9)

11. The love of my life was from this country (6)

12. What was the name of my true love? (9)

13. What did I start up in Paris? (7)

14. Which musical instrument did I play? (6)

15. What was my last job? (9)

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