Close-up p 40. Historical Characters. Extra Oral Mediation

A friend of yours from England is going to give a TED talk about historical figures in different parts of the world. While doing his research, he came across these pictures of Spanish historical characters on Google. He sends them to you so that you can shed some light on them. Your friend also asks you some questions about this topic. You decide to send your friend a voice message with an explanation of 2 minutes.

 

 

1. Have a look at the photos above. Discuss what you know about these historical characters.
2. If you had to choose one for a presentation who would you choose? Why? How would you prepare your presentation?
3. Which historical characters from your country would you include in a similar selection of pictures? Why?
4. Think of someone you know- or know of (it could be a member of your family) – that you feel had an interesting life and give a little talk about this person.
5. “History is written by victors” – Do you agree with this famous quote by Walter Benjamin? What do you think it means?
6. Who is – in you opinion – the person of the year in your area? Why?
7. How – in your opinion – should History be taught at schools?


Ideas:
Spain has given the world immensely talented painters, writers, athletes, and leaders. These outstanding individuals have influenced billions of people through power, sport, and culture.
 
Widely considered to be one of the greatest tennis players in the world, Rafael “Rafa” Nadal has won..., making him only the second man to earn .... He is known for his particular skill on clay courts, ... While he plays left-handed he is actually ambidextrous. In addition to his on-court success, Nadal has founded several schools for youth tennis, including one as part of his charity, the Rafa Nadal Foundation.
 
Salvador Dali is one of the most recognized painters of the modern era. In addition to painting, Dali delved into other art forms, including sculpture, film, and photography. Probably Dali’s best-known piece, The Persistence of Memory, features soft, melting watches across a bleak landscape.
 
One rarely thinks of art without thinking of Pablo Picasso. He is considered to be one of the most influential artists in the 20th century, establishing the Cubism movement.
 
One of the masters of Baroque painting, Diego Velazquez is one of the most famous portrait artists in history. Velazquez influenced a great many painters, but particularly Edouard Manet, who notably described Velazquez as “the painter of painters.” His most well-known painting is Las Meninas – Pablo Picasso painted 58 versions!
 
Miguel de Cervantes was a writer known for his influence on the Spanish language. His greatest work, Don Quixote, is widely considered to be the first modern novel, and it has influenced cultural works ...
 
Queen Isabella I of Castile was responsible for the 1492 Columbus expedition, as well as the Spanish Inquisition, which led to the forced conversion or expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain. These actions contributed to Isabella leading Spain into a globally dominant position for over a century.