Listening: Interview with JK Rowling

Part 1 (speaking)

Are you a fan of the Harry Potter books or films? Have you read or seen any of them? What do you like (or dislike) about them? Who, if any, are your favourite characters?

What do you know anything about their author, J K Rowling?

Think about:

her background
her career as a writer
her personal life
any other details you know that are not connected to Harry Potter

Part 2 (speaking and writing)

Work with your partner. Imagine that you are a TV journalist.You are assigned to interview J K Rowling for a short item on a morning magazine programme.

(1)How would you introduce her to the audience. Write two or three sentences below that would start the piece.Take care with the use of tenses and time phrases.

(2)Think of three questions you would ask her and write them below.

Part 3Listening

Watch the first 3 minutes of the interview. Are your questions answered?

If not already included in your questions, which of the following does she mention and what does she say about them?

her background

the last Harry Potter book

the next Harry Potter book

other writing

her family

her charity work

her business interests

Part 4 Grammar
Complete the following summary

Introduction

(1)The last Harry Potter book ______(publish) eight years ______.

(2)______then, JK Rowling ______(focus) on writing for adults.

(3)The presenters wanted to know if she ______(write) for children again.

Interview

(1)She ______(appear) on TV for two years.

(2)During that time she ______(finish) the latest instalment of Harry Potter.

(3)When asked about another Harry Potter book, she said, 'I don't think ______'

(4)One reason why she hasn't written an eighth Harry Potter book is that she ______busy.

(5)At the moment she ______(focus) on her charity, Lumos.

(6)Lumos ______(help) children living in orhpanages.

(7)She became concerned with this issue when ______in a newspaper.

(8)The charity ______(try) to show the world the harm done to children in institutions.

Part 5 Vocabulary

What do you understand by the words and phrases in bold?

Attention all you Muggles out there.

Never say never.

The trigger was when she saw a picture of a small boy in a cage.

Eight children are living in orphanages and institutions.

The aims of the charity are twofold.

We need to shine a light on the problem.

Answers - Part 4 Grammar

Introduction

(4)The last Harry Potter book was published eight years ago.

(5) Since then, JK Rowling has focused on writing for adults.

(6)The presenters wanted to know if she would ever write for children again.

Interview

(9)She hasn’t appeared on TV for two years.

(10)During that time she has not been finishing the latest instalment of Harry Potter.

(11)When asked about another Harry Potter book, she said, 'I don't think that’s going to happen.'

(12)One reason why she hasn't written an eighth Harry Potter book is that she has been busy.

(13)At the moment she is focusing on her charity, Lumos.

(14)Lumos helps children living in orhpanages.

(15)She became concerned with this issue when she saw a photograph of a boy in a cage in a newspaper.

(16)The charity is trying to show the world the harm done to children in institutions.