The Reading / Listening - Brad Pitt - Level 6

Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt has revealed he suffers from facial blindness. This is a neurological disorder that causes people to find it difficult to recognize people's faces. In more serious cases, sufferers can draw a blank when seeing the face of a family member or even one's own face. The condition is called prosopagnosia. It is a little-known ailment that afflicts about 1 in 40 people. It often triggers anxiety as people feel embarrassed in social situations when they struggle to remember who people are. Sufferers tend to avoid situations in which they will meet people, and as a result become withdrawn. In extreme cases, they will be reluctant to leave their home.

Brad Pitt, 58, says he has not been officially diagnosed with prosopagnosia. He first spoke about it in 2013. He said nobody believed him when he could not recall their name. He worried that people thought he was being "aloof, inaccessible and self-absorbed". He said: "People hate me because they think I'm disrespecting them." He said he has used many strategies to get around his lack of recall. He asked acquaintances where he had met them before, but said that made the situation worse. He explained: "People were more offended.…You get this thing, like, 'You're being egotistical. You're being conceited.'" He hopes speaking about facial blindness will raise awareness of it.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Brad Pitt - Level 4  or  Brad Pitt - Level 5

Sources
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/07/entertainment/brad-pitt-facial-blindness/index.html
  • https://metro.co.uk/2022/07/07/inside-brad-pitts-years-long-battle-with-face-blindness-16957863/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosopagnosia


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. PEOPLE'S FACES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about people's faces. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       Hollywood / heart-throb / facial blindness / faces / blank / ailment / anxiety / reluctant
       officially / worried / aloof / hate / strategies / lack / recall / acquaintances / awareness
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FAMOUS PEOPLE: Students A strongly believe famous people should speak about their health problems more to raise awareness; Students B strongly believe that isn't necessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. FORGETTING: How often do you forget these things? Why? What can you do to help you remember? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Often?

Why?

What You Do?

Names

 

 

 

Birthdays

 

 

 

Appointments

 

 

 

Homework

 

 

 

English words

 

 

 

Passwords

 

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. HOLLYWOOD: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "Hollywood". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. WORST THINGS TO FORGET: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • People's names
  • Where you put your phone
  • English words
  • Appointments
  • Homework
  • Birthdays
  • What day it is
  • Passwords

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. heart-throb a. An illness that disrupts normal physical or mental functions.
      2. neurological b. A man, usually a celebrity, whose good looks excite romantic feelings in other people.
      3. disorder c. Fail to think of something.
      4. draw a blank d. Caused pain or trouble to; affect adversely.
      5. afflict e. Relating to the anatomy, functions, and disorders of the brain, nerves and the nervous system.
      6. withdrawn f. Unwilling and hesitant.
      7. reluctant g. Not wanting to communicate with other people.

    Paragraph 2

      8. diagnosed h. Not friendly; cold and distant.
      9. aloof i. Angry because you think someone insulted you.
      10. self-absorbed j. Found out the nature of an illness or other problem by examining the symptoms.
      11. acquaintances k. Only thinking about one's own feelings , interests, or situation.
      12. offended l. Really, really absorbed in oneself; very self-centred.
      13. egotistical m. People you know slightly, but who are not close friends.
      14. conceited n. Excessively proud of oneself; vain.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Brad Pitt has revealed he's going blind.     T / F
  2. People with facial blindness find it difficult to draw.     T / F
  3. About one in forty people suffer from facial blindness.     T / F
  4. People who have facial blindness never leave their house.     T / F
  5. Brad Pitt was diagnosed with facial blindness last week.     T / F
  6. Brad Pitt worries that people think he's being aloof.     T / F
  7. Brad Pitt has tried many things to put names to faces.     T / F
  8. Brad Pitt hopes that he can raise awareness of prosopagnosia.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. revealed
  2. disorder
  3. anxiety
  4. struggle
  5. reluctant
  6. aloof
  7. strategies
  8. acquaintances
  9. offended
  10. awareness
  1. unfriendly
  2. apprehension
  3. upset
  4. disclosed
  5. approaches
  6. contacts
  7. hesitant
  8. disease
  9. consciousness
  10. stumble

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. This is a neurological
  2. sufferers can draw a
  3. It often triggers
  4. Sufferers tend to
  5. they will be reluctant
  6. Brad Pitt, 58, says he has not been
  7. people thought he
  8. He asked
  9. that made the situation
  10. raise awareness
  1. was being aloof
  2. to leave their home
  3. of it
  4. officially diagnosed
  5. disorder
  6. acquaintances
  7. avoid situations
  8. worse
  9. anxiety
  10. blank

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
triggers
revealed
reluctant
blank
situations
condition
recognize
struggle

Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt has (1) _____________________ he suffers from facial blindness. This is a neurological disorder that causes people to find it difficult to (2) _____________________ people's faces. In more serious cases, sufferers can draw a (3) _____________________ when seeing the face of a family member or even one's own face. The (4) _____________________ is called prosopagnosia. It is a little-known ailment that afflicts about 1 in 40 people. It often (5) _____________________ anxiety as people feel embarrassed in social situations when they (6) _____________________ to remember who people are. Sufferers tend to avoid (7) _____________________ in which they will meet people, and as a result become withdrawn. In extreme cases, they will be (8) _____________________ to leave their home.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
lack
recall
raise
officially
acquaintances
disrespecting
egotistical
aloof

Brad Pitt, 58, says he has not been (9) _____________________ diagnosed with prosopagnosia. He first spoke about it in 2013. He said nobody believed him when he could not (10) _____________________ their name. He worried that people thought he was being "(11) _____________________, inaccessible and self-absorbed". He said: "People hate me because they think I'm (12) _____________________ them." He said he has used many strategies to get around his (13) _____________________ of recall. He asked (14) _____________________ where he had met them before, but said that made the situation worse. He explained: "People were more offended....You get this thing, like, 'You're being (15) _____________________. You're being conceited.'" He hopes speaking about facial blindness will (16) _____________________ awareness of it.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt has revealed he ______ blindness
     a.  suffer from facial
     b.  surfers from facial
     c.  suffers from facial
     d.  suffices from facial
2)  In more serious cases, sufferers can ______
     a.  draw a plank
     b.  draw a blank
     c.  draw a black
     d.  draw a bloke
3)  when seeing the face of a family member or even ______
     a.  one's sown face
     b.  one's sewn face
     c.  one's zone face
     d.  one's own face
4)  It is a little-known ailment that afflicts about 1 in 40 people. It ______
     a.  often triggers anxious
     b.  often triggers and city
     c.  often trigger Zen city
     d.  often triggers anxiety
5)  avoid situations in which they will meet people, and as a ______
     a.  result become withdrawn
     b.  results become withdrawn
     c.  result becomes withdrawn
     d.  results becomes withdrawn

6)  He said nobody believed him when he could not ______
     a.  decal their name
     b.  reek call their name
     c.  rake call their name
     d.  recall their name
7)  He worried that people thought he was being aloof, inaccessible ______
     a.  and self-absorbent
     b.  and self-absorb
     c.  and self-absorbed
     d.  and self-absolved
8)  He said he has used many strategies to get around his ______
     a.  lack off recall
     b.  lack of recall
     c.  slack of recall
     d.  luck of recall
9) asked acquaintances where he had met them before, but said that made ______
     a.  the situate shun worse
     b.  the situ action worse
     c.  the situ way shun worse
     d.  the situation worse
10)  You get this thing, like, 'You're being egotistical. ______'
     a.  You're being conceit it
     b.  You're being conceited
     c.  You're being con seated
     d.  You're been conceited

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt has (1) ____________________ from facial blindness. This is a neurological disorder that causes people to find it difficult to recognize people's faces. In more serious cases, (2) ____________________ a blank when seeing the face of a family member or even one's own face. The condition is called prosopagnosia. It is a little-known (3) ____________________ about 1 in 40 people. It often triggers anxiety as people feel embarrassed in social situations when (4) ____________________ remember who people are. Sufferers tend to avoid situations in which they will meet people, and as a result become withdrawn. (5) ____________________, they will be (6) ____________________ their home.

Brad Pitt, 58, says he has not been (7) ____________________ prosopagnosia. He first spoke about it in 2013. He said nobody believed him when he could not (8) ____________________. He worried that people thought he was being "aloof, inaccessible and self-absorbed". He said: "People hate me because they think (9) ____________________." He said he has used many strategies to get around his (10) ____________________. He asked acquaintances where he had met them before, but said that made the situation worse. He explained: "People (11) ___________________....You get this thing, like, 'You're being egotistical. You're being conceited.'" He hopes speaking about facial blindness will (12) ____________________ it.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article describe Brad Pitt as being?
  2. What can sufferers draw if they have facial blindness?
  3. How many people have facial blindness?
  4. What can facial blindness trigger?
  5. What are some sufferers reluctant to leave?
  6. When did Brad Pitt first talk about facial blindness?
  7. What did Brad Pitt use to get around his lack of recall?
  8. Who did Brad Pitt ask where they had met before?
  9. How did people feel when Brad Pitt could not remember their name?
  10. What does Brad Pitt hope to do by speaking about facial awareness?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What does the article describe Brad Pitt as being?
a) a trendsetter
b) a Hollywood heart-throb
c) Hollywood's best actor
d) a superstar
2) What can sufferers draw if they have facial blindness?
a) silhouettes
b) faces
c) hair
d) a blank
3) How many people have facial blindness?
a) 1 in 80
b) 1 in 60
c) 1 in 40
d) 1 in 50
4) What can facial blindness trigger?
a) anxiety
b) forgetfulness
c) loneliness
d) thought
5) What are some sufferers reluctant to leave?
a) their names
b) their home
c) their identity
d) their glasses

6) When did Brad Pitt first talk about facial blindness?
a) in 2013
b) in 2018
c) in 2020
d) 2021
7) What did Brad Pitt use to get around his lack of recall?
a) his smartphone
b) an app
c) many strategies
d) an address book
8) Who did Brad Pitt ask where they had met before?
a) acquaintances
b) the USA President
c) his wife
d) his best friend
9) How did people feel when Brad Pitt could not remember their name?
a) sad
b) sympathetic
c) shocked
d) offended
10) What does Brad Pitt hope to do by speaking about facial awareness?
a) overcome the condition
b) keep his friends
c) raise awareness
d) get more friends

Role play

Role  A – People's Names
You think people's names are the worst things to forget. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): passwords, where you put your phone or English words.

Role  B – Passwords
You think passwords are the worst things to forget. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): people's names, where you put your phone or English words.

Role  C – Where You Put Your Phone
You think where you put your phone is the worst thing to forget. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): passwords, people's names or English words.

Role  D – English Words
You think English words are the worst things to forget. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): passwords, where you put your phone or people's names.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'face'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'blindness'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • heart-throb
    • blank
    • own
    • little
    • struggle
    • leave
    • officially
    • first
    • hate
    • lack
    • offended
    • raise

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Brad Pitt

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'face'?
    3. What do you know about Brad Pitt?
    4. What do you know about facial blindness?
    5. Are you good at remembering people's faces?
    6. Are you good at remembering facts?
    7. When was the last time you forgot someone's name?
    8. Do you ever feel embarrassed in social situations?
    9. Do you ever avoid social situations?
    10. What advice do you have for Brad Pitt?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'blindness'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think about Brad Pitt?
    5. Do you ever draw a blank?
    6. What do you do if you forget someone's name?
    7. How do you feel if someone forgets your name?
    8. Has anyone accused you of being aloof or egotistical?
    9. How can we raise awareness of facial blindness?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Brad Pitt?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt has (1) ____ he suffers from facial blindness. This is a neurological disorder that causes people to (2) ____ it difficult to recognize people's faces. In more serious cases, sufferers can draw a (3) ____ when seeing the face of a family member or even one's own face. The condition is called prosopagnosia. It is a little-known (4) ____ that afflicts about 1 in 40 people. It often triggers anxiety as people feel embarrassed (5) ____ social situations when they struggle to remember who people are. Sufferers tend to avoid situations in which they will meet people, and as a result become withdrawn. (6) ____ extreme cases, they will be reluctant to leave their home.

    Brad Pitt, 58, says he has not been officially (7) ____ with prosopagnosia. He first spoke about it in 2013. He said nobody believed him when he could not recall their name. He worried that people thought he was being "(8) ____, inaccessible and self-absorbed". He said: "People hate me because they think I'm disrespecting them." He said he has used many strategies to get around his (9) ____ of recall. He asked acquaintances where he had met them before, but said that made the situation worse. He explained: "People were more (10) ____....You get this thing, like, 'You're being (11) ____. You're being conceited.'" He hopes speaking about facial blindness will (12) ____ awareness of it.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     levered     (b)     levelled     (c)     revelled     (d)     revealed    
    (a)     search     (b)     uncover     (c)     discover     (d)     find    
    (a)     blink     (b)     blank     (c)     bloke     (d)     black    
    (a)     condiment     (b)     compliment     (c)     ailment     (d)     complement    
    (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     in     (d)     as    
    (a)     In     (b)     On     (c)     At     (d)     To    
    (a)     supposed     (b)     diagnosed     (c)     reposed     (d)     imposed    
    (a)     aloof     (b)     loafer     (c)     a laugh     (d)     affable    
    (a)     slack     (b)     lack     (c)     alas     (d)     last    
    (a)     offence     (b)     offensive     (c)     offended     (d)     upended    
    (a)     ego     (b)     ergo     (c)     egotistical     (d)     egalitarian    
    (a)     riser     (b)     rise     (c)     arise     (d)     raise

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Hollywood hetra-rboth Brad Pitt
    2. This is a iucllnrgaooe disorder
    3. errsfesuf can draw a blank
    4. It is a little-known ainemtl
    5. that tliaffcs about 1 in 40 people
    6. they will be tturealcn to leave

    Paragraph 2

    1. he has not been officially esgdniaod
    2. being aloof, lciaescsbien and self-absorbed
    3. He asked niaccaqnutsea
    4. People were more eefdfdon
    5. You're being asoetcltgii
    6. You're being enedcctoi

    Put the text back together

    (  1  ) Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt has revealed he suffers from facial blindness. This is a neurological
    (...)  conceited.'" He hopes speaking about facial blindness will raise awareness of it.
    (...)  blank when seeing the face of a family member or even one's own face. The condition is called
    (...)  become withdrawn. In extreme cases, they will be reluctant to leave their home.
    (...)  are. Sufferers tend to avoid situations in which they will meet people, and as a result
    (...)  in 2013. He said nobody believed him when he could not recall their name. He worried that people thought he was being "aloof,
    (...)  strategies to get around his lack of recall. He asked acquaintances where he had met them
    (...)  as people feel embarrassed in social situations when they struggle to remember who people
    (...)  before, but said that made the situation worse. He explained: "People were more
    (...)  inaccessible and self-absorbed". He said: "People hate me because they think I'm disrespecting them." He said he has used many
    (...)  Brad Pitt, 58, says he has not been officially diagnosed with prosopagnosia. He first spoke about it
    (...)  prosopagnosia. It is a little-known ailment that afflicts about 1 in 40 people. It often triggers anxiety
    (...)  disorder that causes people to find it difficult to recognize people's faces. In more serious cases, sufferers can draw a
    (...)  offended....You get this thing, like, 'You're being egotistical. You're being

    Put the words in the right order

    1. people's   find   difficult   to   They   it   recognize   faces   .
    2. face   .   when   seeing   blank   Sufferers   draw   the   a
    3. often   people   triggers   embarrassed   .   It   as   anxiety   feel
    4. people   .   they'll   They   avoid   situations   meet   in   which
    5. to   They   leave   be   will   their   reluctant   home   .
    6. been   officially   with   He   prosopagnosia   .   has   diagnosed   not
    7. was   people   being   aloof   .   thought   worried   He   he
    8. to   Strategies   around   of   lack   his   recall   .   get
    9. them   .   he   met   He   asked   acquaintances   where   had
    10. Speaking   raises   blindness   of   about   awareness   it   .   facial

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt has revelled / revealed he suffers from facial blindness. This is a neurological disorder / disorderly that causes people to find it difficult to recognize people's faces. In more serious causes / cases, sufferers can sketch / draw a blank when seeing the face of a family member or ever / even one's own face. The condition is called prosopagnosia. It is a little-known ointment / ailment that afflicts about 1 in 40 people. It often triggers anxiety as / has people feel embarrassed in social situations when they struggle for / to remember who people are. Sufferers tend to / on avoid situations in which they will meet people, and as a result become withdrawn. In extreme cases, they will be / have reluctant to leave their home.

    Brad Pitt, 58, says he has not been / done officially diagnosed with prosopagnosia. He first spoke about it / them in 2013. He said nobody believed him when he could not retell / recall their name. He worried that people thought he was being "aloof, inaccessible and self-absorbed". He said: "People hate him / me because they think I'm disrespecting them / him." He said he has used many strategies to get around / up his lack of recall. He asked acquaintances where he had met them previous / before, but said that made the / a situation worse. He explained: "People were more defended / offended....You get this thing, like, 'You're being egotistical. You're being conceited.'" He hopes speaking about facial blindness will raise awareness of / on it.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    H_llyw__d  h__rt-thr_b  Br_d  P_tt  h_s  r_v__l_d  h_  s_ff_rs  fr_m  f_c__l  bl_ndn_ss.  Th_s  _s  _  n__r_l_g_c_l  d_s_rd_r  th_t  c__s_s  p__pl_  t_  f_nd  _t  d_ff_c_lt  t_  r_c_gn_z_  p__pl_'s  f_c_s.  _n  m_r_  s_r___s  c_s_s,  s_ff_r_rs  c_n  dr_w  _  bl_nk  wh_n  s___ng  th_  f_c_  _f  _  f_m_ly  m_mb_r  _r  _v_n  _n_'s  _wn  f_c_.  Th_  c_nd_t__n  _s  c_ll_d  pr_s_p_gn_s__.  _t  _s  _  l_ttl_-kn_wn  __lm_nt  th_t  _ffl_cts  _b__t  1  _n  40  p__pl_.  _t  _ft_n  tr_gg_rs  _nx__ty  _s  p__pl_  f__l  _mb_rr_ss_d  _n  s_c__l  s_t__t__ns  wh_n  th_y  str_ggl_  t_  r_m_mb_r  wh_  p__pl_  _r_.  S_ff_r_rs  t_nd  t_  _v__d  s_t__t__ns  _n  wh_ch  th_y  w_ll  m__t  p__pl_,  _nd  _s  _  r_s_lt  b_c_m_  w_thdr_wn.  _n  _xtr_m_  c_s_s,  th_y  w_ll  b_  r_l_ct_nt  t_  l__v_  th__r  h_m_.

    Br_d  P_tt,  58,  s_ys  h_  h_s  n_t  b__n  _ff_c__lly  d__gn_s_d  w_th  pr_s_p_gn_s__.  H_  f_rst  sp_k_  _b__t  _t  _n  2013.  H_  s__d  n_b_dy  b_l__v_d  h_m  wh_n  h_  c__ld  n_t  r_c_ll  th__r  n_m_.  H_  w_rr__d  th_t  p__pl_  th__ght  h_  w_s  b__ng  "_l__f,  _n_cc_ss_bl_  _nd  s_lf-_bs_rb_d".  H_  s__d:  "P__pl_  h_t_  m_  b_c__s_  th_y  th_nk  _'m  d_sr_sp_ct_ng  th_m."  H_  s__d  h_  h_s  _s_d  m_ny  str_t_g__s  t_  g_t  _r__nd  h_s  l_ck  _f  r_c_ll.  H_  _sk_d  _cq___nt_nc_s  wh_r_  h_  h_d  m_t  th_m  b_f_r_,  b_t  s__d  th_t  m_d_  th_  s_t__t__n  w_rs_.  H_  _xpl__n_d:  "P__pl_  w_r_  m_r_  _ff_nd_d....Y__  g_t  th_s  th_ng,  l_k_,  'Y__'r_  b__ng  _g_t_st_c_l.  Y__'r_  b__ng  c_nc__t_d.'"  H_  h_p_s  sp__k_ng  _b__t  f_c__l  bl_ndn_ss  w_ll  r__s_  _w_r_n_ss  _f  _t.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    hollywood heartthrob brad pitt has revealed he suffers from facial blindness this is a neurological disorder that causes people to find it difficult to recognize peoples faces in more serious cases sufferers can draw a blank when seeing the face of a family member or even ones own face the condition is called prosopagnosia it is a littleknown ailment that afflicts about 1 in 40 people it often triggers anxiety as people feel embarrassed in social situations when they struggle to remember who people are sufferers tend to avoid situations in which they will meet people and as a result become withdrawn in extreme cases they will be reluctant to leave their home

    brad pitt 58 says he has not been officially diagnosed with prosopagnosia he first spoke about it in 2013 he said nobody believed him when he could not recall their name he worried that people thought he was being aloof inaccessible and selfabsorbed he said people hate me because they think im disrespecting them he said he has used many strategies to get around his lack of recall he asked acquaintances where he had met them before but said that made the situation worse he explained people were more offendedyou get this thing like youre being egotistical youre being conceited he hopes speaking about facial blindness will raise awareness of it

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Hollywoodheart-throbBradPitthasrevealedhesuffersfromfacialblind
    ness.Thisisaneurologicaldisorderthatcausespeopletofinditdifficultto
    recognizepeople'sfaces.Inmoreseriouscases,suffererscandrawabla
    nkwhenseeingthefaceofafamilymemberorevenone'sownface.Theco
    nditioniscalledprosopagnosia.Itisalittle-knownailmentthatafflictsab
    out1in40people.Itoftentriggersanxietyaspeoplefeelembarrassedins
    ocialsituationswhentheystruggletorememberwhopeopleare.Suffere
    rstendtoavoidsituationsinwhichtheywillmeetpeople,andasaresultbe
    comewithdrawn.Inextremecases,theywillbereluctanttoleavetheirho
    me.BradPitt,58,sayshehasnotbeenofficiallydiagnosedwithprosopag
    nosia.Hefirstspokeaboutitin2013.Hesaidnobodybelievedhimwhenh
    ecouldnotrecalltheirname.Heworriedthatpeoplethoughthewasbeing
    "aloof,inaccessibleandself-absorbed".Hesaid:"Peoplehatemebeca
    usetheythinkI'mdisrespectingthem."Hesaidhehasusedmanystrateg
    iestogetaroundhislackofrecall.Heaskedacquaintanceswherehehad
    metthembefore,butsaidthatmadethesituationworse.Heexplained:"
    Peopleweremoreoffended....Yougetthisthing,like,'You'rebeingegoti
    stical.You'rebeingconceited.'"Hehopesspeakingaboutfacialblindnes
    swillraiseawarenessofit.

    Free writing

    Write about facial blindness for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Famous people should talk more about medical problems. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. PEOPLE'S FACES: Make a poster about people's faces. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FAMOUS PEOPLE: Write a magazine article about famous people talking more about their problems to raise awareness. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on forgetting people's faces. Ask him/her three questions about this. Give him/her three of your ideas on what people with prosopagnosia can do. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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